Do you remember me? I am the one who leaves notes for you on your website, i mean one among the bazillion people who do that. Doesn't ring a bell? Let me take you down the memory lane..
You and I go way back.. To be specific it was the 2004 Wimbledon finals. You beat Andy and you swept me off my feet. I fell in love with your game and tennis all over again. The last time i had watched a game was during Steffi's era. The consecutive year, it was deja-vu.. Same tournament, same opponent and the same results! You kicked Andy's butt again! You were happy, I was happy, it was happiness all around.
It was 2006 French Open and there was this "punk" in green sleeveless T, long white shorts. Come on! Its not even an appropriate tennis attire for God's sake! But he won. I concluded he is a one hit wonder. I even concluded he would be prone to injuries and wont play much given the way he ran around in the court. I was wrong, Rafa turned out to be your nemesis. That's what i believed. He took many more French opens from you. I wanted to hate him, there were disappointments because of him. But how can I hate him? He is sweet, unassuming, humble and apologizes to you when he wins over you. I really could not garner even a little bit of dislike for him. Then there was 2007 Wimbledon where you gave me a fright! My heart skipped a beat thinking that Wimbledon slipped from your hands, but you won! That was such a sweet victory. But the next year Wimbledon really did slip from your hands..
Then there was this infamous Australian Open... I was devastated just like you. I shed tears for hours just the way you did. But like you, i believed in the same things and i knew you would come back and win many more titles. You and I thought alike in those days. I knew there would be a time when Rafa wouldn't make it to finals and that would be your year, and that was what happened in 2009 French Open.
And then things started changing. I could sense it. You and I didn't speak the same language. Our wavelengths did not match anymore, our antennae were tuned at different frequencies, our hearts didnt sing the same tune! I still cried after every loss of yours but you did not. I shed tears of joy after every win of yours, but you did not. You lost to Thomas Berdych and i thought "Thomas who???". But you said he played well. You lost to Jo the other day and your words were "someone has to lose". But i was crushed. I obsessively analyzed your game. How could you have a 2 set lead and lose? Even while i drove on the busy freeway, i went over your game in my head again and again and again.. I was angry at you. How could you spoil my day? How could you make the whole tournament lousy for me? How can you not be upset when clearly i am devastated? Has our relationship run its course? Are you transmitting a signal that i cannot decipher? Should i find someone else?
Hell no! Roger, you will always be in my heart no matter how you feel.. errr.. no matter how you play.. I consider you the greatest player ever (dead or alive) on this earth. No one can surpass your style, class, demeanor, technique, strategy and attitude... I hope we get over this hurdle and continue our glorious journey..
Love,
C
