Fortune Favours The Brave or Does It ?
This saying had a lot of effect in my life personally. Throughout the time I tried getting through those exasperating engineering competitive examinations, I always kept in mind the adage, inspiring myself to work hard, and to have a go for fortune only favours the brave.
A very popular saying is quoted at the entrance of centre court – “Wimbledon”. The saying goes like this – “If only I could meet both triumph and disaster and treat the two impostors just the same.” Well the general idea is that you don’t need to go looking for disaster. Sooner or later it comes your way itself.
Returning to the topic, as most of you I too watched the Wimbledon final match between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. The result was not out of the blue. But for those who were with me watching the match, it was definitely unforeseen. Wondering that after all these years what will it take to beat Roger at the grandest stage of them all, the aforesaid came to my mind. I wondered whether Andy had come prepared for it this time or not.
Well, the first set removed all the suspicion. Andy was a changed man. The determination could be very well seen in his eyes. He was completely up to the challenge and did not fear a bit, as a result producing those winners which a couple of years back he could have only dreamt of. To add to his armour, was his impeccable serve which unsettled the maestro completely. Never in any match had I seen the master getting in such an uncomfortable position facing the body serve. As a result, breaking the Federer serve he won the first set 7 games to 5.
The valour did not die in the second set for Andy and it went to a tie break. Well at a stage in the tie break, he was 6-2 ahead of federer and had 4 set points. He could have easily won the second set but it seems that lady luck was on Roger’s side. Fortune betrayed him although he was clearly the one with all the valour out there. Between the clash of the two of them, the tennis racket seemed like a magic wand in the hands of federer and a military weapon in the hands of roddick serving aces and producing winners. Roddick lost the second set as federer out of nowhere produced those amazing winners and aces that enabled him not only to save those four set points but also name the set after him 8-6.
Without discussing the third and the fourth set, I want to come down straight to the final set. Out of the approximately four hours of play, not even once had federer been able to break the roddick serve. The set went on, both players unable to break the opponent’s serve. The result was clear. From a game of tennis, it had become a game of breaking the serve. The one to do it first, will win the championship. Earlier, roddick had broken the federer serve twice whereas federer was unable to do it even once. He came close to doing it a couple of times but he just couldn’t get it done. As a result, the idea started setting down in the minds of all, roddick had almost done it. Then came the twist that was needed in the game for federer. With him serving the points tally grew to 15-14. If only roddick could have held his nerves. This game was at a deuce. How many times had we seen before roddick serving two straight aces to get out of the trap. But this time, there was not getting out. There was no escape for roddick. With federer winning the advantage point, roddick just couldn’t calm down his nerves. It is said that the centre court could be either very intimidating or very encouraging for those who play on it. Roddick lost the match. Federer had become the all time champion.
Wait, what went wrong out there? Wasn’t roddick the braver one out there? Wasn’t he the one who should have won the title? My mind was at a fix. I couldn’t believe it. But such is reality. It could carve you with a smile. It was done. Roddick had to eat it. The determination poured down as tears from his eyes. But yeah he did accept it and that too gracefully.
Looking back on what I have written above, what’s the point in writing this? Well there is one. There is this indecision which I took in assuming roddick as the braver one out there. No it wasn’t roddick. Yeah he played superbly, but it was federer who held the nerves at those crucial situations. Although his smiling face never shows any expression of rage or discomfort except a few “come-on”, his mind must have been boggling. Last year he had lost to Nadal in a five setter. It took a great deal out of him to retain his nerves in such a crucial match of his life. But he did it. He was the braver man out there. Yeah lady luck was bringing down rain on his side but I guess now that’s explainable.
This is my first post and am really looking forward to your comments and suggestions. As of me, I am an engineering student pursuing computer science at IIIT, Hyderabad. I would like to be called upon as “sam” by the way.
Thank You.
