30 Days of Tennis Challenge – Day 11: A player nobody would expect you to love

oboHow can one possible know what is expected from him? Tennis-wise? As I write this post, I’m still trying to figure this one out. But the show must go on, and a while ago I already had chosen who will illustrate this post.

It’s a woman. And she’s not among that group of four or five I always bring up when talking about my tennis acquaintances (huh… can I use this word?). I also wasn’t a fan of her in a first moment, then I started respecting her and the respect evolved into cheering.

 

Playing tennis, of course. Because that's why.

So, even though I won’t root for her if she plays one of my Tier I favorites, I can say Bethanie Mattek-Sands is the player nobody would expect me to love/like. Surprised? Because I was surprised myself when I realized I liked her. That’s guaranteed her entrance in this list.

And why I surprised myself? Well, I don’t know. I have this feeling only girls, mainly American girls and ultimate WTA KADs like Bethanie – and I meet none of these requirements. And did I mention I didn’t like her before? You may find the story here, a post I wrote, dedicated to her and Fish, by the time of Roland Garros, praising their top rankings among American players.

In case you won’t click the hyperlink (most of you), here goes a quick recap: I always thought she was just seeking for attention to make up for her lack of results and keep her on the spotlight. And for a long time I believed that, thought she was way overrated, and that I could never like a player for those reasons.

But just like that, she started winning. Not enough to get her to the top-10, or to a Grand Slam final, but enough to attract some attention to her results. Well, kinda – she will be forever remembered by her… well, that thing she wore at the Wimbledon players’ party.

Whatever. She’s the American #1 as of today. And it’s not about circumstances (ok, totally is), but about saying ‘hi’ and taking the Chances on a romantic date, on a rooftop, drinking wine, to the light of two candles. If life gives you lemons… or if injuries sideline the Williams sisters, you go out there and turn into the #1 American.

 

Useful:

Prologue and explanation

Day 1 – Favorite men’s player

Day 2 – Favorite women’s player

Day 3 – Favorite doubles team

Day 4 – Least favorite men’s player

Day 5 – Least favorite women’s player

Day 6 – Most memorable match

Day 7 – First player you became a fan of

Day 8 – Earliest tennis memory

Day 9 – Favorite retired men’s player

Day 10 – Favorite retired women’s player

American #2

Yahoo! Images

First, to the fact: In case you still don’t know, Bethanie Mattek-Sands defeated Varvara Lepchenko in three sets today, became the first American whose surname is not Williams to reach the third round at Roland Garros since 2006 and will also overtake the older Sis’ to become the #2 American in next week’s rankings.

 

Second, to the article itself. Fair-and-square: at a first glance, I didn’t like Bethanie. Ok, that was at a second look – in the first, she became nothing but merely irrelevant for me. Just like many, I thought she dragged more attention thanks to her clothes than to her game – a capital sin for someone like me, though I always recognized her as a great doubles specialist.

But, hell, regret doesn’t kill, right? Never did, never will. And I can’t tell for sure when did it happen, but it did. Maybe was during the clay season. It somehow ticked inside my brains, and I was like “Hey, Beth is cool, looking from here”. Maybe that’s due her improving results, mainly on clay – which doesn’t happen to be her best surface – or maybe that’s her smile on the WTA website profile pic. Don’t know, it happens sometimes, the same way it happened when I first looked at Dulgheru’s photo and thought “Aww I want to pinch your cheeks”.

It happened, and that’s what really matters. I grew admiration for her, and started having fun with her on and off court behavior (that visit to Moulin Rouge is just so what you expect from her), plus also cheering for her success.

So yes, I decided to write this few words to congratulate her – because I’m truly happy, for Beth and for American tennis itself. Of course, Serena and Venus are still the leading horses of the Yankee tennis (both men & women), but Mattek-Sands, just like Mardy, shows there is still life where everybody says there is only grief. The unsuspected heroes, having their breakthrough when everybody less expect. Sure, let’s not fool ourselves and think they can echo the glory of the past, but why not, believe?

After accepting there will be life after the Williamses, believe Fish and Mattek-Sands, relatively modest players for the standards we are used to have, could lead the charge of the New Era of the American Tennis (NEAT), leading the transition, guiding younger players and showing them how it is indeed possible to triumph even when the odds are against you. Why not?

That being said, I end this one wishing not but the best for Mattek-Sands in her 3rd Round match against Jankovic – keep carrying the flag, girl.

And keep rocking.