30 Days of Tennis Challenge – Day 26: A match that makes you happy

A match that makes me happy. Interesting. I could go all the way on a philosophical analysis of tennis and sports in general, how they touch us and gave us all different reasons to cry and crack a laugh. And you would like that, wouldn’t you?

But nah. Instead, I will talk about the process.

There are just so many matches I could put here, from these three years since I turned into a hardcore tennis fan. But this match I choose here has a… uh… different story.

 

[I can’t link the video. So, click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oE4CYOZy2eg“>here]

 

Andy Roddick’s last Masters title up to date, in Miami, where he beat Tomas Berdych for the trophy.

Here’s the story: I didn’t watch this match. Exactly. The final week of the 2010 Miami event was played during the Easter here. And I, still unclear to me why, accepted an invitation for a trip to the seaside. For this reason, I missed Roddick’s semifinal win over Nadal – which made me truly happy, you know, because you put your favorite player beating one of your least favorite ones and there’s just no way this doesn’t please you.

On Sunday, I was on the car back home. Exactly. On Sunday. The whole day. We left Ilhabela – which can literally and erroneously translate into “Beautiful Island”, “La Isla Bonita” or what-fucking-ever – by the early morning, was probably around 8 or 9 a.m. And I arrived in São Paulo 8:30. P-FUCKING-M. Since that day, I swore an oath I would never a) Miss one of Roddick’s important matches b) EVER return to that place.

We were in São Paulo already, and the radio was tuned on to one of those news stations. So, I heard as the voice on the radio announced: “And, in Miami, final of the Masters 1000 event. The American Andy Roddick beat the Czech Tomas Berdych to claim the title”.

I exploded in contained laughter. Really, it’s a paradox. I was afraid of looking like a total psycho in the car with my parents. It’s pretty funny how you just can’t forget some things. I explained myself – of course, I needed to – saying: “I’m happy this guy won. I like him, you know. Following sports just make way more sense if you root for someone”.

That match didn’t save my Sunday. But made it just much better.

Worth the mention:

Robin Soderling def. Roger Federer, Roland Garros/2010

Robin Soderling def. Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros/2009

Julien Benneteau def. Roger Federer, Paris/2009

Andy Roddick def. Rafael Nadal, Miami/2009

And many more I don’t remember now.

 

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

Day 11 – A player nobody would expect you to love

Day 12 – A player that you aren’t a fan of but you respect

Day 13 – Favorite Grand Slam tournament

Day 14 – Favorite non-Slam tournament

Day 15 – Most attractive women’s player

Day 16 – Most attractive men’s player

Day 17 – Favorite women’s outfit

Day 18 – Favorite men’s outfit

Day 19 – Who were the #1 the day you were born

Day 20 – Favorite men’s Slam champion

Day 21 – Favorite women’s champion

Day 22 – Favorite umpire

Day 23 – Favorite mixed doubles team

Day 24 – Favorite tennis couple

Day 25 – Favorite tennis WAG