You know damn right that I stayed up until 2 a.m. to watch the final point of the Jannik Sinner/Novak Djokovic match. And watching Djokovic get practically blown out (Sinner just blinked in that third-set tiebreaker) was worth the four pots of coffee I needed to survive the next work day. I know that theoretically, we're living in a great moment of tennis history, having had witnessed three greats at work in the game at the same time. And we all know where I stand on the GOAT debate between the them. I mean that ass alone has got to be the best thing that has filled out a pair of tennis shorts in a minute. Still. I never disliked or rooted against Federer (maybe a smidge when he played Rafael Nadal) and that's because he is a classy person. He wasn't overly humble to the point of ridiculousness. No. Fed knew how good he was and was forthright about it and it was never at the expense of someone else. Same with Nadal.
Djokovic? He can be a bit of a dick. Sorry, it's true. Goading the crowd while blowing out the entirely uncontroversial Adrian Mannarino? Why?? There was last year's U.S. Open, stealing Ben Shelton's phone celebration (which, you have to give credit to a 20-year-old for even understanding the concept of a landline) and using it against him when he beat him. (And then the discourse became about Shelton and his manners. You can't make this up.) He beaned a line judge in the throat in another U.S. Open and threw COVID parties at the height of the pandemic. He used his refusal to get a shot as some sort of rallying cry/pity point. At the same time he does this, he goes on about how much he just wants to be loved and admired. Djokovic breaks out the violin when talking about how fans don't like him and just like the vaccination situation, he uses his own actions as the fainting bed he takes to, wondering why he is not universally loved. Does anyone remember that scene in I Heart Huckabees, when Naomi Watts' character is having a breakdown and can't decide whether she wants attention or to be left alone?
Anyway, that's Djokovic.
But the men's draw had another problem, and it has been festering for a couple years now, and that is Alexander Zverev and his allegations of domestic abuse. They have been following him around for a long time although for some reason, the ATP leadership and also the talking heads of tennis have been supertightfocused only on his game and not that his girlfriend accused him of beating him up when he was at a tournament. That's not even the one he's on trial for in May. And one of the most violent and discomforting things I have ever seen on a tennis court was Zverev whacking the side of an umpire chair because he was mad about a line call. I mean what the what
There is one big problem here that has led to other offshoot problems. That is that the ATP doesn't have a policy regarding domestic violence. If it makes more sense to think of it as a code of conduct, do that. Most anyone with a job is expected to live up to standards outside the workplace. Look how many people lost their job after George Floyd. (Would be interesting to see how many of them got it back ...) Because there's no rules governing this in the ATP, Zverev has been allowed to be named to the player's council AND continue playing tennis in public in front of people. This dude almost won the Australian Open. Incidentally, I do not root for or against Daniil Medvedev. I am neutral on him even after that post-match speech in New York, although I have to say I edge towards his brand of chaos. But I was on my knees during that Medvedev/Zverev final begging Medvedev to come up with something -- probably like the ATP powers-that-be were. Except unlike me, they actually could have done something about it. Who knows. Maybe they are intrigued by the idea of Zverev playing an exo in prison, like Johnny Cash performing in Folsom?
OK, I guess it's time to focus on the winners. After Djokovic/Sinner, the thing I hoped for most for Jannik was that he had enough in the tank to go get the title he deserved. For all the smack I talk about Djokovic, he is the best in the world and there's a reason. But I think what sets Sinner apart from the field, or at least what did in this tournament, was the belief in himself. I mentioned earlier how ridiculous Andrey Rublev looked for celebrating a round one win. Well, in that final, when Sinner won the third set from Medvedev, he didn't celebrate. He took a deep breath, like he had been working hard, and that he had just finished the first half of his shift. That's the energy. He's indefatigable. And poor Medvedev. I really thought that year that Nadal left him in the dust after Medvedev had a two-set lead was a once in a lifetime disappointment. Turns out that for Meddy, it's not even once in a decade. 😬
And then there's Aryna Sabalenka. I remember a couple years back on Twitter, I was chatting with this tennis fan who had just had it with Sabalenka. She was done rooting for her. Too many mistakes. Going for stupid shots at the worst point. Does she even know where she is in the court when she's going for those shots? Why can't she serve? Making wayyyy too many mistakes. I didn't disagree. I could understand the frustration. You're watching someone who has the talent and power to beat just about anyone out there. And she beat herself before the opponent even got a swing at her. If Twitter weren't such a hellscape, I would ask that tennis fan how she felt now that Sabalenka is a two-time Slam winner and that she seems to have stopped shooting herself in the foot. For the asterisks crowd that's going to ask about her draw and the fact that her opponent in the final, Qinwen Zheng, was a newcomer to the big stage. She was just dominant this tournament and if her opponent had been Iga Swiatek, not sure the result would have been much different. Having said that, I'd say that she'll still have to work harder against folks with some court IQ, like Swiatek, especially on, uh, different surfaces. Like clay.
