Even if you don’t like tennis, you’ll love this story. Last night, during the U.S. Open (televised on ESPN), Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, the world’s top-ranked men’s player, was clearly on his way to bageling Carlos Berlocq of Argentina. The scores of 6-0 and 6-0 told the story in the first two sets. In mens tennis – it’s the best three out of five sets wins a match. Winless in 12 games, Berlocq never gave up.
He wasn’t playing that badly, but you’ll never see that in a news report from Reuters, Associated Press or other news media that indicated Djokovic thrashed, smashed, humiliated and demolished Berlocq.
Those news folks missed some of what I watched.
Commentator John McEnroe said it best: Berlocq was playing the best tennis of his life. He was honestly in a lot of games and pushing Djokovic on some points, but he couldn’t win one game. Then again, Djokovic is a machine. No one beats him.
In NYC, Berlocq’s effort received big cheers. The nighttime crowd in Arthur Ashe stadium rooted loudly as Berlocq battled hard. He came up with some extraordinary shots that would have been winners against any other player. In the third set, after 66 minutes, after losing 14 straight games, Berlocq finally won a game, and even Djokovic smiled.
The crowd rose to its feet in a loud and heartwarming standing O. Appreciative, Berlocq won another game – even beating Djokovic on his serve, but it ended there. Djokovic took control and ended the run in the third set at 6-2.
Berlocq will never forget Sept. 1, 2011 when he took two games from the world’s No. 1 tennis player.
Encouraging words, actions or just a pat on the back for a job well done goes a long way for all of us no matter what challenge we face.
Here in Erie, in less than a month, hundreds of women will don running shoes and enter the 6th Annual Her Times 5K that takes place at Presque Isle, Oct. 1. Whether you are running or not, you can encourage the women who will run. Take a moment to visit http://www.etnextras.com/hertimes5k/.
Encouraging words pack a lot of power. This one’s for the girls.