FACE.

Over the two weeks, I didn’t watch any of the tennis. A yearly sport that I grew up watching and enjoyed most of my life, now it seemed all the greats were no more.

I do know, that when you take the time and chill and watch a match from the start to finish, you get to know a player.

It was my weekend to be with Mum. Mum loves Wimbledon. So, I would watch the women’s final on Saturday and the next day the men’s finals with Mum.

I didn’t know the women, nor had I ever heard their names. One was from America the other from Poland. We watch the short match, both women made history. The American lost big time! She cried buckets at the end. The Polish lady, she smashed it!

 The American, to lose got over a million pounds, so that wasn’t so bad. The winner, the world would be now at her feet, and lots of sponsors to choose from. The winner also became a life long member of Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club.

It was another very hot day in England, so at 3pm Mum and I sat in the garden and ate ice-cream, Mum had her favourite strawberry ice-cream, I had chocolate ice-cream.

Before the match, my brother Stephen asked me, “Who do you want to win?” I said, “The Italian.” He told me something negative about him, I said, “Well I know nothing about either men.” I then said, “If at the start of time, that there was a long queue, and we were standing before God, and it was my turn, and we could then choose what nationality we would like to be, I would choose to be Italian.” So, for me, it was automatic, that I would choose him.

If you had showed me a face, anytime of the year, and said, “Who is this?” I would not have the foggiest! If I was shown the same face at the start of Wimbledon and say to me, “Who is this?” I would still not have a clue. The face was unknown to me.

Just before it started, the commentator said, “Arthur Ashe, is remembered today, his Wife and family is here, by invitation.” Mum’s telly does not rewind, or pause so I missed them! It was good that he was fondly remembered, for it was 50 years ago that he won it.    

We settled down to watch the Men’s Singles Final, and Mum soon fell asleep. I suppose, the heat, the sun and ice-cream and worn her out! I took a picture of Mum, and sent it to the close family, with the words, “Watching tennis, with Mum.”

My brother Stephen and a cousin wanted the Spanish lad to win.

I was very pleased that Sinner won! It always amazes me how many of these sports people speak such good English. I have been trying to learn Italian since I went to night college at age 20, and on my phone, the last 3 years with Duolingo. I still can’t speak Italian. I can recognise about 100 words, but to make a sentence, no chance! My favourite word in Italian is, ‘farfalla’. So, to be able to asked questions in front of millions of people around the world, and to reply is awesome. Fair play, to all of them.

Lovely Sinner became a lifelong Member of the All-Tennis club. Was SO pleased for him, him Mum and Team.

Rest in Peace A. Ashe. x