I was present at Serena and Samantha's first head to head meeting at the Rogers Cup in Toronto this year.
Aug. 14, 2011 Rogers Cup finals
Serena won 6-4 6-2. Serena leads 4-2 in head to head meetings.
Aug. 18, 2011 Cicinatti Open, 2nd round
Serena withdrew before her second round match against Samantha began due to a sore toe.
Sep. 11, 2011 US Open finals
My pre-match prediction: a 3-set match. Both women are playing for a great deal more than just themselves. They are playing for the pride of their nations.
Samantha is acutely aware of tennis history. In 2010, she was the first Australian woman to make the finals of a grand slam since Evonne Goolagong-Cawley won Wimbledon in 1980. She is the first Aussie woman to play in the finals of the US Open since Evonne did in 1977.
As an American, few victories could give Serena greater satisfaction than to win the US Open in New York on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, figuratively, in the shadow of the twin towers; especially in her come back year after an 11-month absence from tennis due to injury and serious illness.
Of course, I'm looking for Serena to win. This would be the crowning event to a Cinderella tennis season for her.
Sunday 11 September 2011
Tuesday 16 August 2011
Champions do it ONE POINT AT A TIME
As a Black man and an aspiring photo journalist, photographing Serena Williams during this year's Rogers Cup was truly a treat. Serena, like so many other tennis champions, wins games, sets and matches ONE POINT AT A TIME.
When you stop to think about it, it makes perfect sense. Now if only each of us athletic mortals could learn to live our everyday lives ONE DAY AT A TIME too.
Have you ever wondered how a tennis champion claws their way back into a match when they are down 5 games to 1 or when they are down a set and their opponent is serving for match point?
They do it ONE POINT AT A TIME. They don't focus on winning the match or even winning a set or a game. They only focus on winning the point that it is being played at that precise moment.
Another thing about champions; especially champion athletes in individual sports is their ability to believe in themselves. Their assessment of their skills, abilities and the possibility of winning the next point, the match and the tournament or race is not predetermined by external factors.
Consequently nothing on the scoreboard or any cutting remark made by someone who has never played their sport at their level is going to cause them to relinquish hope or to diminish their belief that they can overcome any and every obstacle en route to achieving their goal.
You see, being a champion is not the result of winning (competition day success). Being a champion is a mind set.
At this point, I have to borrow the words of Richard Williams, father, co-strategist along with their mother, and earliest tennis coach of Serena and Venus. In an August 2001 McLeans magazine interview, he described the four essential qualities that every champion possesses.
A champion has four qualities, and it’s not something you can teach.
1. You have to be rough.
2. You have to be tough.
3. You have to be strong.
4. You have to be mentally sound.
For me, in the world of women's professional tennis, Martina Navratilova, Venus and Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova all exemplify these qualities. On the tennis court, they are ferocious champions, thinking and fighting relentlessly during every second of every match that they play.
These women all inspire me to be the best that I can possibly be and to strive consistently to achieve my goals and dreams. Ladies, I thank you.
P.S. My biggest challenge while photographing Serena from the photographer's pit was to resist the temptation to cheer her on too enthusiastically.
Reference:
Q & A with Richard Williams, Venus and Serena’s famous father
The former-coach-turned-writer talks about creating champions, his critics, parenting, and the problem with tennis
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/01/richard-williams-venus-and-serena%E2%80%99s-famous-father-on-creating-champions-his-critics-parenting-and-the-problem-with-tennis
When you stop to think about it, it makes perfect sense. Now if only each of us athletic mortals could learn to live our everyday lives ONE DAY AT A TIME too.
Have you ever wondered how a tennis champion claws their way back into a match when they are down 5 games to 1 or when they are down a set and their opponent is serving for match point?
They do it ONE POINT AT A TIME. They don't focus on winning the match or even winning a set or a game. They only focus on winning the point that it is being played at that precise moment.
Another thing about champions; especially champion athletes in individual sports is their ability to believe in themselves. Their assessment of their skills, abilities and the possibility of winning the next point, the match and the tournament or race is not predetermined by external factors.
Consequently nothing on the scoreboard or any cutting remark made by someone who has never played their sport at their level is going to cause them to relinquish hope or to diminish their belief that they can overcome any and every obstacle en route to achieving their goal.
You see, being a champion is not the result of winning (competition day success). Being a champion is a mind set.
At this point, I have to borrow the words of Richard Williams, father, co-strategist along with their mother, and earliest tennis coach of Serena and Venus. In an August 2001 McLeans magazine interview, he described the four essential qualities that every champion possesses.
A champion has four qualities, and it’s not something you can teach.
1. You have to be rough.
2. You have to be tough.
3. You have to be strong.
4. You have to be mentally sound.
For me, in the world of women's professional tennis, Martina Navratilova, Venus and Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova all exemplify these qualities. On the tennis court, they are ferocious champions, thinking and fighting relentlessly during every second of every match that they play.
These women all inspire me to be the best that I can possibly be and to strive consistently to achieve my goals and dreams. Ladies, I thank you.
P.S. My biggest challenge while photographing Serena from the photographer's pit was to resist the temptation to cheer her on too enthusiastically.
Reference:
Q & A with Richard Williams, Venus and Serena’s famous father
The former-coach-turned-writer talks about creating champions, his critics, parenting, and the problem with tennis
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/01/richard-williams-venus-and-serena%E2%80%99s-famous-father-on-creating-champions-his-critics-parenting-and-the-problem-with-tennis
Tuesday 26 July 2011
Parent(s)'s Grief
I can't even begin to imagine the personal nightmare that is now an integral part of Mr. & Mrs. Winehouse's every waking moment. How can a parent handle receiving the tragic news that their 27-year-old daughter has been found lifeless in her bed? My daughter is 27. I have no idea how I would have handled such a personal crisis if I were in their shoes.
Two Saturdays ago, I attended the funeral service of a 22-year-old woman who drowned on Canada Day (July 1st). Her untimely death was a major shock to her parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, other family members and close friends.
I've never really thought about this situation before now. However, burying your child has got to be the worst possible tragedy that a loving parent could ever face. Children are supposed to bury their parents; not the other way around.
I have no words of wisdom to share. I have no advice to give. All that I can do is to pray for them.
This is one of life's hardest and most cruel tragedies; one that some new families were forced to face today.
At least for Mr. & Mrs. Winehouse, they have each other to hold onto, to cry together, to discuss this tragedy and to recount fond memories of experiences that they shared together with their daughter, Amy.
The couple who buried their daughter were no longer together. As a consequence, during their daughter's funeral service and also at her grave side, each one was not willing or able to reach out to the other. They were geographically together but yet they bore their grief alone.
Sometimes just the tender touch of a loved one is enough.
It lets you know that someone cares what you are going through.
It lets you know that someone wants to share your load.
It lets you know that someone wants to help you to carry your burden.
I hope that tonight when the darkness of sorrow envelopes mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, cousins, friends and neighbours who will never again hear a familiar laugh or be blessed with the dearly departed's beautiful smile, someone will be there to provide them that caring, loving, gentle touch that they need to make it through this storm.
Two Saturdays ago, I attended the funeral service of a 22-year-old woman who drowned on Canada Day (July 1st). Her untimely death was a major shock to her parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, other family members and close friends.
I've never really thought about this situation before now. However, burying your child has got to be the worst possible tragedy that a loving parent could ever face. Children are supposed to bury their parents; not the other way around.
I have no words of wisdom to share. I have no advice to give. All that I can do is to pray for them.
This is one of life's hardest and most cruel tragedies; one that some new families were forced to face today.
At least for Mr. & Mrs. Winehouse, they have each other to hold onto, to cry together, to discuss this tragedy and to recount fond memories of experiences that they shared together with their daughter, Amy.
The couple who buried their daughter were no longer together. As a consequence, during their daughter's funeral service and also at her grave side, each one was not willing or able to reach out to the other. They were geographically together but yet they bore their grief alone.
Sometimes just the tender touch of a loved one is enough.
It lets you know that someone cares what you are going through.
It lets you know that someone wants to share your load.
It lets you know that someone wants to help you to carry your burden.
I hope that tonight when the darkness of sorrow envelopes mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, cousins, friends and neighbours who will never again hear a familiar laugh or be blessed with the dearly departed's beautiful smile, someone will be there to provide them that caring, loving, gentle touch that they need to make it through this storm.
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