Fallen Leafs

krisitay:

In which Steffi Graf becomes my favorite tennis player.

I remember watching that Steffi Graf game in Wimbledon on television with my mom, who was an avid tennis fan. Steffi Graf was struggling to a much lower ranked player in that match, and I think she was even a set down. Graf wasn’t going to win that night, and the crowd was stunned and completely silenced.

When Graf uttered that classic response, her wit alone almost saved the match. People were genuinely surprised that underneath an intensely private Steffi Graf belied a sharp tongue and understanding. The crowd was finally buzzing, and they actually tried to encourage Graf to shake out of her current funk. 

It didn’t happen.

Graf was obviously off her game, continuing to make unforced error after unforced error. Graf should have been eliminated from Wimbledon that night. But her wry sense of humour must have appeased the tennis gods. The match was suspended due to darkness soon afterwards.

I later found out that Steffi Graf quickly disposed of her opponent the following day, and she eventually won the Wimbledon crown. In romanticizing this particular Steffi Graf moment, I completely forgot that Steffi exhibited a fairly poor attitude for most of that night, seemingly determined to get the match suspended. As such, nobody expected Steffi Graf to indulge in that fan’s hopeful request.

Steffi Graf gained a legion of new fans after that Wimbledon, and it had little to do with her winning a championship. All it took was six words, which even brought a smile to my Monica Seles appreciating mom.