This was Roger’s 19th career Grand Slam and his 8th Wimbledon men’s singles’ title. The feat was amazing and satisfying, but to be perfectly frank, the final match wasn’t very exiting. Roger adding his name to the green wall felt a bit inevitable the entire tournament. If you had told me at the start I would get more butterflies watching American Sam Querrey beat Andy Murray or watching Jo Konta come back to best Simona Halep in the quarters, I would have said, “You cray.”
The seas parted. Roger didn’t drop a set the entire tournament. Murray had a bum hip. Novak Djokovich had a bad elbow. Rafael Nadal was gone after losing in five sets to Giller Mueller, which was probably the men’s match of the tournament (6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13). It was definitely the match that me late for an eye-appointment. 15-13!
The first four games on the men’s Sunday final were exciting, because Roger’s opponent Marin Cilic was there to play. But then Cilic fell, his foot blister flared up, and a few games later he had a break down in his chair, dissolving into tears as he spoke to the medical staff. It was heartbreaking, and it wasn’t very fun to watch him become a toy for the greatest male player of all time.
And the women’s final was equally “meh.” Venus Williams was back on form and playing some of her best tennis. She was unflagging on the grass, meeting Spain’s Garbine Murgurza in the ladies’ final. The first set was even, with the women hitting amazing pace and matching each other shot for shot. But when Venus was broken in the first game of the second set, she appeared to give up. You could see her deflate, the fortnight catching up with her, as Gabby bageled her 6-0 to take the title.
What does it all mean?
After every Slam, we tennis fans thank the gods that we no longer have to watch incessant IBM Watson ads as we try to find larger meaning in who won and who lost on that chewed up grass.
The big stories:
- Like his Rolex, Roger is timeless.
- Venus was dealing with the aftermath of a fatal car crash and found the emotional fortitude to play some of the best tennis of her life.
- But the most revealing moments to me had a recurring theme of feminism. Maybe I was hyper-focused on it considering the biggest tennis story of recent was John McEnroe saying Serena Williams would be ranked in the 700s if she had to play on the ATP Tour. It’s not that his assumption is wrong; it’s that the assumption is dumb. Once again we compare the accomplishments of a woman to a man. The women’s game is its own separate entity, and McEnroe is comparing apples to fuzzy yellow balls and it only denigrates women.
Here are my favorite feminist moments of Wimbledon 2017:
Those Are Judy Murray’s Sons
Like Mike Pence says, you can’t fake good kids. I applaud Judy Murray for raising two great tennis champions, but for also raising men who respect the women’s tennis game. Jamie Murray knows how fun it is to play with the girls, winning the Wimbledon mixed doubles title with Martina Hingis. You get to play with chicks and win a trophy!
And after Andy Murray lost in the singles’ quarters to Querrey, he sat down for his press conference.
Dude reporter: “Andy…Sam is the first U.S. player to reach a major semi-final since 2009, how would you describe…”
Andy Murray: “Male player.”
Dude: “I beg your pardon?”
Andy Murray: “Male player. Right?”
Dude: “Yes. “
Andy Murray may have lost, but nothing got past him post-match…#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Uniks77WKu
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2017
Andy does not have time for your causal sexism.
Don’t Mansplain to Kate
Prince William and Princess Kate sat in the the Royal Box at Centre Court on Sunday, along with Eddie “The Mumbler” Redmayne and Breixit enthusiast, Theresa May. Kate was not going to miss a chance to watch the male GOAT go “bahhhhhh” all over that chewed up grass.
During the first set, the camera panned to the couple, as Will was talking in Kate’s ear. ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe said it appeared that the future King might be explaining to Kate about the last point. Next to him in the booth, Chris Fowler reminded McEnroe that Kate knows the game very well and doesn’t need Will to “mansplain” anything to her. Is the first time the words “mansplained” have been uttered in the broadcast booth?
LOVE the commentary at wimbledon saying that kate doesn't need william to "mansplain" the sport to her because she's a huge fan 🙌✌️👋
— claire (@cecks22) July 16, 2017
A Man In A Skirt Trying to Return Kim Clijsters Serve
When you are a portly chap watching in the stands and you request Hall of Famer (inducted this week!!!) Kim Clijsters jam her opponent with a body serve, she might put you in a white skirt and body serve to you.
Don’t Talk Over Chris Evert
HT to my good friend Andrea for pointing out this moment to me.
https://youtu.be/VPHiqvhQ9_Q
Tennis is one of the few sports that have women umpiring men’s matches on the court. It’s one of the few sports with professional women commenting on the men’s game in the booth. Brad Gilbert won 20 titles, zero Grand Slams, and gives out stupid nicknames like Muzzard (Andy Murray) and Kerber Baby (Angie Kerber). Chris Evert has won 157 career titles, 18 Grand Slams and rocks a floral dress like no one else can. Let your betters speak, Brad.
