Dear Editor,
Apart from track and field athletics, I have also been a fan of tennis over the years. In the early ’90s in the Wimbledon women’s finals, Steffi Graf was either 1-5 or 2-5 down in the third set against Jana Novotna, and only God knows where she found her rhythm to come back and win the championship. Jana cried profusely on the shoulders of the royalty that was in attendance, but she eventually won the title a year or two afterwards.
The 2001 Wimbledon men’s final between Patrick Rafter and Goran Ivanisevic was so thrilling that I was on the edge of my seat. I was happy that Goran eventually pulled through and won the match.
Justine Henin’s thrashing of the Williams sisters on their home turf at the 2007 US Open was pure fun, and Justine went on to win the crown.
Andy Roddick against Roger Federer at the just concluded 2009 Wimbledon men’s final was sheer excitement. I had absolutely no care about the Swiss winning his fifteenth grand slam, but the sportsmanship that was displayed by the American was simply jaw-dropping.
This is the kind of performance that leaves a lasting impression, and I say to Guyana, this is the level for which you have to strive when competing on the international circuit. Apart from winning, it’s the fact that your opponent will always remember they didn’t get an easy win over you.
Yours faithfully,
T Pemberton
