Class Act

"Sports, or tennis, is cruel sometimes. We know it,'' Roger Federer said after winning his 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon yesterday. "I went through some five-setters in Grand Slam finals, too, and ended up losing. It's hard.'' But Federer, who can make it all look so easy, was forced to work darned hard to eclipse Sampras' mark, and Andy Roddick was left heartbreakingly close to finally winning Wimbledon on his third finals attempt.

But what stood out for me after the match, was watching Andy Roddick, clapping and cheering for Federer when introduced as champion. I have always felt Roddick was a congenial and funny man with ability to laugh loudest at himself. A little brash to begin with, but very much a class act. Tennis is a sport that seems to throw up sports men and women with great character, those who are at public ease, even when deeply hurt through a major loss. It’s one of the things that makes tennis great. Thank you Andy, for a wonderful, hard-fought, historic match, and for your undoubted class.