WIMBLEDON 2024 BEGINS TODAY!
So what that means, basically, is…do not disturb me for the next fortnight!!!
The weird thing is that the heyday of tennis is essentially over for me. The Stranger I Love Most, Roger Federer, retired a couple of years ago. So long ago in tennis years, in fact, that a documentary about his last season of playing just came out! Nothing says “it’s over” more than a long-form video history.
How beautiful is this place?!
And even though I hated that he had such talented rivals, it’s getting to the end of the road now for Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, as well. Due to continuing injuries, Rafa isn’t playing in this Wimby tourney; he tried to make a comeback, of sorts, from years of injuries, at last month’s French Open, only to lose in…the first round!!! Of the Grand Slam tournament that he’s won a record fourteen times!!! And Novak actually got injured there in a tough five-set win, and had to undergo knee surgery just a couple of days later! I think they’re learning that getting old is not fun. For anyone, except kids.
But, shockingly, (especially to me, who has actually had two knee surgeries, both because of dancing,) Djokovic is competing at Wimbledon again! And as the #2 seed! I don’t think he has a chance of winning, but it’s still pretty amazing that he’s going to chance playing, just three and a half weeks post-surgery. Wow.
And let’s spare a thought for former Champion, Britain’s Andy Murray. I believe he’s announced that this will be his last Wimbledon, and possibly last pro tournament ever, so it should be very emotional to see him walk on, (and even moreso, off,) the court. Let’s all enjoy him as much as possible now.
With the unlikeable Williams sisters finally gone, there are not even any females to hate anymore! I’m not a fan of young American, Coco Gauff, nor of Latvian perennial bad sport, Jeļena Ostapenko. But that’s it. I like some girls more than others, but I’m not a crazed fan of anyone. I’ve rooted for Ons Jabeur for the past few years, but I have to admit that I am getting a tad tired of her intense strong-fist-motion celebration after every point she wins. Enough already.
So, now it’s all about the young guns, of both genders, but I rarely root for one of them over another.
On a side note, I dislike that the players are allowed to get coached from the stands nowadays.
Just a small part of the Wimbledon crowd.
But I love sports so much, and tennis, in particular, that I’m still going into self-imposed exile today, and for the following two weeks.
No worries, though—I’ll still be publishing my semi-weekly columns during that time. Perhaps even about the goings-on at Wimbledon! I’m sure that someone there will piss me off, not least of which the commentators, especially that female host who still has no idea how to correctly pronounce “draw” and “Murray!” I’m getting upset just thinking about that stupidity right now. But oh well—let the tennis begin!
I just hope that nice people win and everyone will be safe.
And, of course, I’ll be tweeting, @MajorCelebrity, some of my more important thoughts on it all as the tournament goes along. So if you don’t already follow me, this will be a great time to begin. I’ll meet you over there as soon as I something fun, (or snarky,) to say about the proceedings.
