2008-11-03 15:09:18
With the end of the season upon us, I thought it would be appropriate to look back on 2008, a year that brought us a new world number one, a historic Wimbledon and a different grand slam champion for the first time in three years. It was also a year that offered some moments of such baffling absurdities and poor decisions, that it leaves tennis fans scratching their heads in disbelief. It is these moments that we celebrate today.
I'd like to give a special thank you to my crack research team at Men's Tennis Forums for many of these truly noteworthy submissions.
The number ten spot goes to the Australian Open for putting a match on Rod Laver Arena at midnight. Yes, you read that properly – it didn't START until midnight. This alone would perhaps not have made my list, except that one of the match's participants was Lleyton Hewitt. You know….the top Australian player. Usually, tournaments will make concessions for their country's big players by giving them certain scheduling advantages. Hewitt and Baghdatis ended up playing until 4:30 in the morning, making it the latest Grand Slam match in history, and Hewitt promptly lost his fourth round match against Novak Djokovic. I doubt if the Australian Open tournament people got a thank you note from Hewitt for their help.
I'm all for unique "we just won" rituals. The drop-to-the-court-and-roll-around thing has just been done to death. But Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka veered wildly from the unique to the downright weird with their Olympics doubles victory…er…dance? I'm not really sure what to call it, to be honest. Apparently, Wawrinka lying down on the court and Federer pretending to rub his hands all over Wawa's body was supposed to symbolize that Wawrinka was "too hot to handle"???????? Sure. Can you imagine how the conversation planning that particular move went? "Okay, Stan. You lay there, and I'm going to…." Well, we'll just give that one a wide pass, shall we?
My First Grand Slam by Novak Djokovic debuted this spring. It is a monography written by the man himself about….well….his first Grand Slam. For the bargain price of forty Euros, you can learn everything there is to know about Nole's long, illustrious career. For real. All three years of it. And if you happened to live in Serbia, you had the opportunity to pay another thirteen Euros to get a photo with the champ and have the book signed. The cover of the book promises interviews, testimonies and oppenents (spelled just that way). Too bad Roger Federer didn't write monographies for each of his Slam victories. We could be positively swimming in tennis testimonies.
There are certain tennis players who are rather well known for their physiques. Or I should say there is one particular tennis player….come on…. you know who I'm talking about……Right. Andy Murray. The once skinny, pasty Scotsman decided to show off his newly attained bicep muscles to the crowd at Wimbledon after a come-from-behind five set victory over Richard Gasquet. And really, Wimbledon was the perfect place to do that, since its spectators are the free-wheeling sort that would appreciate that type of gesture. Oh. And to really cap off the moment, keep in mind that his next opponent was to be Rafael Nadal….who was undoubtedly back in his rented house thinking "well at least he isn't skinny anymore..."
Or to be more precise, they broke into a television studio. During his match against Rafael Nadal in Hamburg, Nole's father Srdjan determined that the Serbian television commentators were not being complimentary enough to his son. Of course, his only recourse was to drive over to the RTS (National Serbian TV) station, break into the studio and verbally berate journalist Nebojsa Viskovic. Nole's uncle took it one step further, threatening Viskovic with physical violence if he didn't start cheering for Nole more. Pure class, these people. And I'm sure that Viskovic has learned his lesson. You never EVER point out the fact that Novak Djokovic has blown two significant leads when he has blown two significant leads.
Stay tuned for the next installment, where we will continue the countdown with the top five "What were they thinking" moments.
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lyta -
Yes, I'll admit that the Djokovic clan is particularly gifted in this area. I don't want to give TOO much away, but let's just say that Team Nole is not done having their say in this countdown. :D
The Roger/stan thing was just....I mean, there are really no words for that. :X
cherylmurray , 11/4/08 2:41 AM
Haha that was pretty good. Murray's bicep was particulary hilerious- his scrawny white arm, what exactly were we supposed 2 be looking at?
Fed and Stan's doubles celebrations had me laughing, tho I heard it was supposed 2 be Stan falling down dead and Federer bringing him back to life? haha... god knows. But uve gotta say, it was cool 2 see the relaxed side of Roger. I think he wont alot of fans that Olympics.
Since u mentioned Djok's book I expect Murray's to be mentioned too. I mean... at least Djok has ONE grand slam!
kaitepai , 11/4/08 5:38 AM
lol! i am very impressed with murray's game but his white pasty arm scares me to death!
gulbisfreak , 11/4/08 6:05 AM
Novak wrote a monography???? Geez.. I didnt even know about that..lol..
Is there any other player who has written monographies and all that? Sounds funny but will be interesting to read what Nole has to tell us...haha.
I really want to know what Roger and Stan were trying to convey through that celebration...looked like some kind of a ritual to me..lol..it was cute though..or maybe I liked it because Roger was doing it..haha.
janhavi , 11/4/08 7:56 AM
90% of you are obsessed by Novak, AMAZING, thinking you'd be bored without Nole, one more proof, he's great, you'll never be able to ruin picture of him, his monography is real and true story about a boy who made his dreams came through, all of you who disagree with the fact, can just don't like him, nothing else, but remember, behind him is whole nation, supporting him very much, that's most important, the rest, doesn't matter, Novak forever...
gordana , 11/4/08 9:17 AM
was just wondering whether that celebration was something 'traditional'...
janhavi , 11/4/08 8:53 PM
Well, it is kind of ridiculous, that monography. When I saw the price on internet I went "Geez!!!" We can all laugh about that but he simply took the opportunity to make an extra buck (as if he needs more?). He knew that there were kids out there who adore him and who would pay whatever the price.
Anyhow, I like Nole for bunch of other reasons.
danica , 11/5/08 12:30 AM
Hey Danica, do you know what are you talking about, your name telling me you're most probably from Western Balcan, would you be so kind to tell me, where do you come from originally.
gordana , 11/6/08 10:22 AM
Andy Murray is "a piece of work"! Stan and Federer are poor performers! (I don't even believe they know what they wanted to do); Novak writing a monography at the age of 21 is just stupid! Is he planning on retiring? How did he find time to do that, or did somebody else do it for him? I am sure it is not Novak's idea! His parents are behind this! He should be concentrating on his tennis. I am sure there will be more to write about if he wins as he should, considering his talent. Gordana, stop playing the advocate, defending stupidity! Novak is a wonderful person and a great talented, professional tennis player. His parents are a story apart and I refuse to comment on them!
arailic , 11/6/08 10:57 PM
Hi arailic, how are you today, wondering if you're OK or not, having hope you are...
gordana , 11/7/08 11:57 AM
Roger was warming his hands on Stan because Stan was ''on fire"!! As if no one got it!
sal14 , 11/11/08 2:37 PM
hey ..i heard that somewhere but wasnt sure..thanks for confirming it sal14
janhavi , 11/11/08 3:18 PM
OMG!!! It was in the above article. And "I" need to learn to read!!!
jean , 11/11/08 4:28 PM
well.."too hot to handle" does not..to me.. convey the exact meaning ..i wasnt sure he was supposed to be on fire or something..maybe it did convey the meaning to you..so thts good..
janhavi , 11/11/08 6:58 PM
Djokovic writes his monography??? hahahahhahahahahahahahahahaah that is tooooooo funnnnnnnnnny. Can't wait for the next top 5!
tennisfan2 , 11/12/08 4:24 AM
Cheryl- you're making me feel sorry for Hewitt now! Yes, I think we can be sure Lleyton didn't write them a thank you note.
Federer and Wawrinka - hmm. Moving swiftly on...
Andy Murray insisted his bicep flex wasn't aimed at Nadal, and since they seem quite friendly I believe him. Of course, next to Rafa everyone looks scrawny. Well, maybe not Safin or Tsonga ;)
Not really a Djokovic fan, but feel he's being treated a little unfairly. The monography does seem kind of premature, though maybe it wasn't his idea? But I don't think he should be blamed for his family's behaviour.
tennisfan76 , 12/12/08 6:43 PM
Well Nole has his monography, Cheryl Murray will write Andy Murray's. She already monopolized this web site for propaganda work in his favor. And she gets paid for that!? Easy money, no doubt.
posmatrac , 12/14/08 1:52 AM
Getting increasingly nasty and personal. Do us a favour and leave please. CM writes for this website - you don't. Read it or leave it. We're getting tired of you.
jean , 12/14/08 3:20 AM
what can i say? roger's and stan's celebration, "weird and hilarious" to say the least. as far as murray goes, he was just caught up in trying to imitate nadal's intensity and he still is.
memi , 12/14/08 5:30 PM
We love to hear from you. Comments or concerns? Contact Cheryl at cheryl.murray [AT] tennistalk.com....
Wed 31/12 10:20
Rafael Nadal - Humble champion or falsely modest
Wed 17/12 14:58
Top tennis quotes of 2008 - Federer, Nadal and more
Thu 06/11 09:00
Top ten "what were they thinking" moments in 2008 Part II
Mon 03/11 15:09
Top ten "what were they thinking" moments in 2008 Part I
Fri 31/10 13:49
Andy Murray, new "it" boy
Thu 09/10 08:33
I don't miss Andre Agassi anymore
Fri 05/09 20:45
Next time, think BEFORE you speak, Nole
Wed 03/09 23:25
Rafael Nadal makes it easy to cheer for opponents
Mon 18/08 17:38
Federer and Nadal - Is it love, hate or something else entirely - Part 2
Fri 08/08 08:51
Federer and Nadal - Is it love, hate or something else entirely - Part 1
Tue 05/08 16:43
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Thu 24/07 16:23
Day two in Toronto - how my day was nearly ruined
Tue 22/07 19:58
Day one in Toronto - ATP players are pigs
Tue 08/07 17:43
Rafael Nadal the grass court god - who would have guessed
Fri 27/06 16:53
Nadal wins, Djokovic loses and Federer debuts THE SWEATER
View all posts
Did you know that... Jimmy Connors is the only player to have won the US Open on grass, clay and hard court.
tenstar, Jan 7, 2009 1:57 AM
sstay, Jan 7, 2009 12:03 AM
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samprallica, Jan 6, 2009 3:17 PM
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samprallica, Jan 6, 2009 3:11 PM
kaitepai, Jan 6, 2009 10:20 AM

Oh you are hilarious. Can't wait to see the top five or is that bottom five? I saw that post doubles ritual and thought, okay Roger's finally gone round the twist. What the hecks was that? Yeah, you're right, doesn't bear close examination.
On Murray .... still pasty.
The Djokovics get a double mention. Hmm. Are they in the top 5 also? Here's hoping that the apples does fall far from the tree.
lyta1138 , 11/4/08 1:11 AM