As I watch the Wimbledon Men's final on Sunday 16th July 2017, between Roger Federer and Marin Cilic, I'm impressed and always continually impressed by how well behaved a crowd is at a tennis match. Just imagine how unruly a match would be if it was an atmosphere like a football final.
Not being my typical sport of choice to watch, (as I prefer all things cricket), I always try to keep an eye on the major tournaments and catch the finals of them. Imagine if someone took an active interest in cricket, football, tennis, athletics, basketball, one wouldn't have the time for anything else. Well that would be a good goal wouldn't it, get paid for watching and writing about different sports.
Some brief pointers on the scoring in Tennis -
A game consists of a sequence of points played with the same player serving, and is won by the first side to have won at least four points with a margin of two points or more over their opponent. Normally the server's score is always called first and the opponent's score second. Score calling in tennis is unusual in that each point has a corresponding call that is different from its point value.
For instance if the server has won three points so far in the game, and the non-server has won one, the score is "forty-fifteen".
When both sides have won the same number of points then: when each side has won one, or two, points, the score is described as "15-all" and "30-all" (or "15-up" and "30-up"), respectively. However, if each player has won three points, the score is called as "deuce", not "40–all". From that point on in the game, whenever the score is tied, it is described as "deuce", regardless of how many points have been played.
In standard play, scoring beyond a "deuce" score, in which both players have scored three points each, requires that one player must get two points ahead in order to win the game. This type of tennis scoring is known as "advantage scoring" (or "ads"). The side which wins the next point after deuce is said to have the advantage. If they lose the next point, the score is again deuce, since the score is tied. If the side with the advantage wins the next point, that side has won the game, since they have a lead of two points. When the server is the player with the advantage, the score may be called as "advantage in". When the server's opponent has the advantage, the score may be called as "advantage out". These phrases are sometimes shortened to "ad in" or "van in" (or "my ad") and "ad out" (or "your ad"). Alternatively, the players' names are used: in professional tournaments the umpire announces the score in this format.
Confusing? Yes, I know, it was only after watching a few finals that I really started to understand the points system which is so wonderfully convoluted yet so simple at the same time.
I've always admired tennis players and I first really got interested in tennis when a certain player called Rafael Nadal, won a fascinating 2008 Wimbledon final. He defeated five time defending Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in five sets. It was the longest match in Wimbledon history with play lasting four hours and 48 minutes.
This final is widely considered to be the greatest match in tennis history.
As Roger Federer broke Marin Cilic's service twice to win the first set 6 games to 3, already it may be clear that this match may not be going down in history as one of the top matches in tennis history.
This may be one of the shortest finals, as Federer breaks Cilic's service again in the second set, slightly disappointing to be honest. Cilic seems to be imploding as the match continues. Oh dear, Cilic is in tears on worldwide television, what a thing to happen. I wonder what's wrong?
As an aside, while I love watching tennis finals, I grow bored at times with the one dimensional nature of tennis, back and forth confined by hitting a tennis ball in the lines. So just watching finals is a good thing so I don't get totally turned off the sport.
I wonder if he had a panic attack?
One of the attractions watching Rafael Nadal, is that he's left handed and makes watching a game that much more interesting.
Fun fact, how many people knows ESPN is owned by the mouse house Disney?
It's amazing how calm and collected Federer looks, Cilic looks as if he's hyperventilating.
6-3, 6-1 so far to Federer, ah, it's now possibly revealed that Cilic came into the final with a foot injury as the trainer or physio is unwrapping a heavily bandaged left foot. So we're in for a slight delay in the completion of the final where it seems to be inexorably going to Federer. And it's being rapidly bandaged again.
I went to Wimbledon in 2010, I went with my brother with an all access ground pass except sadly centre court where all the truly important matches are. I was two feet away from Andy Murray, who was signing autographs for fans.
So as it turns out this is a historical game if Federer wins this match is that it will be the first time someone won Wimbledon 8 times. Intriguing and possibly final set ahead.
An added bonus of watching today's final is that BBC, is going to introduce to the world the identity of the 13th Doctor, who the actor will be of course in my other love Doctor Who.
Cilic is showing some fighting spirit, which is pleasing to see, we can't have a short final, it'll be a bad advertisement for the game.
Federer, four points away from the Championship, what a quick unfortunate final it has been. Into the third set and Federer is up 5-4 and serving. It's been not an enjoyable final for one side and not a final to be remembered for the ages, but it would end up being a final just for the statistics of it.
And Federer has won! Creating history being being the first person to win Wimbledon 8 times second behind Nadal winning the French Open 10 times.
Clearly this was not a very interesting final, sadly and regrettably, hoping for a better Women's World Cup final next week Sunday where I'll be blogging my thoughts live in this format.
Australia vs England! Fingers, toes, arms and legs and eyes crossed hoping against hope for that final.
And... BBC just unveiled the newest Doctor - Jodie Whittaker and as expected the Internet is melting at the fact that after 54 years we have our first female doctor, interesting times ahead, hopefully the new show runner - Chris Chibnall can do a good job.
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