From the vantage point of a spectator, there is nothing more spectacular and beautiful than watching a well-played game of Tennis on grass, especially on the courts at Wimbledon. And for a tennis player, what is required to shine on these grass courts is not merely the traditional shot-making skills the game demands, but a certain Joie de vivre, an infectious effervescence of spirit, a touch of flair, and most importantly, an instinct and intelligence for the game. The Wimbledon Men’s final today showcased two such players with contrasting personalities and skills. Nick Krygiois, the lanky, brash, rebellious, eccentric Aussie versus the focussed, clinical, and six-time champion Serb Novak Djokovic. It was a great match, sublime tennis, and in the end, it is the superior focus of Djokovic that won the day in four sets. The scoreboard may not reflect the quality of the tennis, but for those of us who watched the game ball by ball, it was evident that each point was fought with tenacity and infused with a quality of tennis intelligence of the highest order.
Watching Nick and Novak play, I was reminded of Mozart and Bach, the great western classical composers. Like Mozart’s early musical pieces, Nick’s game is unpredictable, spontaneous, and punctuated with moments of sudden beauty. On the other hand, Djokovic’s game is focused and sustained and slowly builds up to a crescendo, just as Bach’s Brandenburg concertos do. Nick played the perfect grass court tennis in the first set. There was nothing he did wrong. The tennis instincts flowed unhampered: big first-serves into all the four corners of the box and sublime passing shots that unfailingly brushed the lines. But come the second set, the momentum imperceptibly changed. The master began to take control. One could hear the twang of the balls as they began to come out of the sweet spots from Novak’s racquet, and his wrists were loosening up. Those delicate drop shots began arriving at Nick’s court with precision and spin. Always a sure sign that Novak has got a measure of the court and speed. When the reigning champion is warmed up and into his groove, the end is near. In three clinical sets, Djokovic dismantled Nick’s brilliance.
Over the years, Nick has struggled to integrate his game with his personality. Nick has never attempted to live up to his potential, and more often than not, has allowed his rebellious behavior on the court to get the better of his game. The game is there, and the gift of tennis instinct is in abundance, but unless, these forces are reined in and channelized towards an outcome, it is impossible to play the game at the highest levels. Though Nick is a feared opponent anytime he walks onto the court, players believe that he will defeat himself if pushed a little. That mental equanimity, the ability to forget a lost point and re-focus before it is too late, is such an important part of a champion’s mental skill set, and which, unfortunately, Nick has never mastered until this year. Since the beginning of 2022, after he won the Men’s doubles in the Australian Open, a certain degree of self-confidence and sustained effort is visible in Nick’s game. He is twenty-seven years of age, and perhaps, he is now flowering into the best period of his tennis career. When in full flow, there is no better player to watch than Nick Krygiois, but the problem is, we don’t see such a phase often enough or for any length of time. Nick’s personality and the game are as mercurial and priceless as the legendary John McEnroe’s, without, perhaps, the consistency and the sustained genius of the latter.
Novak Djokovic has been on a roll for more than a decade now. What a journey it has been for the boy from Serbia? Seven Wimbledon titles and counting still. What surprises me is the fitness of the man and his mental strength. Novak’s stand on the vaccination and his ostracism from some major tournaments have not deterred him in his single-minded pursuit of excellence on the court. He has honed his grasscourt skills so much that he looks invincible on it right now. His game may lack the elegance of a Federer in full flow, but in terms of consistency, focus, and effectiveness, he has no rival, except Nadal. The other thing I have come to admire about Novak is how he has evolved as a personality, an articulate champion, over the years. I have been Watching Djokovic since his early days when he would walk around shy and introverted, and hardly communicate beyond what was necessary. But now, he is the consummate charmer on and off the court. His responses to questions, his exchanges with the dignitaries, and the grace of his gestures to all those around him, attest to an expansion in personality, a sense of growth within and without. His large hazel-colored eyes look straight at you, and glitter with passion and intellectual integrity. He knows he has reached the highest echelons of the sport, and is still the top contender in any tournament, at least for a couple of more years, if not more. I am sure by the time Novak hangs his boots, he would leave a winning record that may well be impossible to catch up. We hope the rules are modified and Novak can play in the upcoming US Open. It will be a shame for Tennis if he cannot.
All in all, a wonderful weekend of grass-court tennis, and two worthy champions for the year. The Wimbledon champions are in many ways therapeutic for me. With its unchanging customs and traditions, somber settings, purity, and dignity, the experience of watching the championships are similar to visiting a place of pilgrimage, even if it is on television. There is a sense of fulfillment, an unbroken connection with something hallowed and sacred. In this modern age, we are inclined to venerate change so much that sometimes we forget that it is the experience of changelessness that roots us, anchors us, and gives meaning to daily lives.