TENNIS: WIMBLEDON 2022 BEGINS TODAY

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WIMBLEDON 2022 BEGINS TODAY

For some reason, even though I will watch every second of the Wimbledon tennis tournament which begins today, as I do every year, I’m more forcing myself to do so this time, rather than my usual looking forward to it.

I can’t quite put my finger on my first-time-ever ambivalence, but I think it’s down to three factors.

The pristine grass at the beginning of the Wimbledon fortnight.

The pristine grass at the beginning of the Wimbledon fortnight.

The first is that my beloved Roger Federer, The Stranger I Love Most, is not playing. I sort-of had expected him to play this one, and then retire here, which would be fitting since he’s won the Wimbledon Championships a record eight times. So, while I’m optimistic that his not playing now, (due to his long-term knee injury, on which he’s had three surgeries in the last two-plus years, ) means he plans to further his career, I remain a tad concerned.

The second is that the tourney doesn’t count for anything but pride this year. That’s because they banned all Russian and Belarusian players, which breaks my heart for them. I understand them taking that action, because, of course, I detest those countries now, because of what they’re doing to Ukraine. It’s absolutely barbaric! But none of that is the fault of the athletes.

I know that the Wimbledon powers-that-be are just trying to make sure that Putin and his fellow reprobates don’t get any pleasure from the success of the top Russians. (Daniil Medvedev, one of my absolute favorite players now, is the Men’s #1 in the world, while Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, ranked #20, is one of my favorite women; neither are allowed to play here this year.) But it hurts the players themselves even more than it does the beyond-evil government. They’re in a weird position because if they renounce Mother Russia, their families could get killed! The whole situation is horrible for them.

But this new policy actually hurts all the players, not just the ones who aren’t allowed to compete there! That’s because, to make it fair for the players who were banned, the world governing body of tennis has stripped the tournament of its ranking points. On one hand, it’s the right thing to do, so Meddie and company don’t suffer for no reason. On the other hand, all the people who do well here will not be able to move up in the rankings! It’s a no-win situation. (Except for the prize money, of course.)

A lovely view of Centre Court Wimbledon.

A lovely view of Centre Court Wimbledon.

My last reason for not being very into Wimby this year is that I have a feeling the men’s outcome will make me sick. At the beginning of the year, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic were all tied at a stunning twenty Majors wins apiece! That is just an incredible feat for all of them.

Rafa’s victories have come mostly in the French Open, while the other two have more balanced records. With Roger being over five years older than the other two, (he’s about to be forty-one in August!,) I knew it would be uber-difficult for him to stay ahead of them in the wins column. So I wanted both Rafa and Novak to never win another Major tournament.

And then, in January, my heart broke when Rafa won the 2022 Australian, thus going ahead of Roger by one victory. And then he repeated that accomplishment at last month’s French Open. In his forties, with bad knees, I just don’t have high hopes of Roger winning even one more let alone two! But if Rafa wins this Wimbledon, it seems just about impossible for Roger to catch him. And if Novak wins it, that means that both younger men will have passed Federer, (who is still the GOAT, in my opinion.) I wouldn’t be able to bear watching that happen.

Mattero Berrettini. Is anybody else playing in this tournament?

Mattero Berrettini. Is anybody else playing in this tournament?

With #1 Medvedev out for the reasons I stated above, my other fave #23 Gael Monfils out with a foot injury, and World #2, Alexander Zverev out due to a horrible ankle injury he suffered in the French Open Semi-Final, I have little hope that anyone other than Rafa and Novak will be the Wimbledon Champion this year. But a girl can hope, can’t she? And pray. And do voodoo. (Okay, now I’m spilling my secrets.)

At least I get to console myself with gazing upon the gorgeous (and newly-single) Matteo Berrettini, who has finally split with his girlfriend, the pairing of which I just could not understand to begin with. So onward and upward for me.

Matteo Berrettini. Swoon!

Matteo Berrettini. Swoon!

By the way, not only is #11 Matteo a dreamboat, but he’s lovely, as well. After his recent victory at the Queen’s Club Championships, (which is a grass court prelude to Wimbledon,) he did something few others would think to do. Sue Barker, the woman doing the interview for the BBC, is retiring after three decades of being a television “presenter.” And even though she was the interviewer and Matteo was the tennis celebrity who had just won an important tournament, he interrupted her questions to him to talk about her! Who does that??? He said, “I just want to say congrats for your career. I heard it is going to be your last Wimbledon. So good luck for the rest of your beautiful life, and congrats.” I’m crying just writing this!!! No lie. (Good thing I keep a box of tissues by the computer!) And Sue teared-up, as well.

So all I can say now is: You go, Matteo! Thank you for giving me someone to root for!

But also, wouldn’t it be something if oldster Brit, Andy Murray, (who’s the same age as Djokovic,) wound-up winning his home Major again after all his recent years of physical difficulties? I could live with that.

Andy Murray off to the left.

Andy Murray off to the left.

Oh, and yeah—I don’t really care about the girls much anymore, except that I hope that lovely Petra Kvitova wins. I’ll let you know on Twitter, @MajorCelebrity, if that changes along the way.

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