Tennis legend Gordon Forbes: on tennis in the modern era Sport written & compiled by: Tony O’Hagan The Australian Open is in full swing and with Novak Djokovic trying to emulate Roy Emerson's record of six Australian men’s singles titles, I thought a few words from good friend Gordon Forbes appropriate. Gordon played in the era of Emerson and knew him well, as a friend and adversary. Gordon Forbes was an ex-South African singles champion, a top player in world tennis, both singles and doubles with Abe Segal. Gordon is also well known as a tennis author, having written two books, ‘A handful of summers’ and ‘Too soon to panic’, both best sellers with the Guardian in London describing ‘A handful of summers’ as the most raucous sporting memoir ever written. Via email this week, I asked Gordon for his thoughts on modern day tennis and a brief insight into Emerson as a person. Here is Gordon Forbes' response via email. Modern era of tennis: "I do remember putting on the TV and coming upon a bright blue court, a green surround,
no dust, no imperfections, slick in every detail, orange coloured balls clearly visible against the blue court, players dressed in striking technicolor, Andy Murray in black playing an Australian in yellow shoes, with a brave Mohican haircut and tattoos all over his arms, and I asked myself the question "who would want simple, suntanned arms when they can easily be decorated with crocodiles and dragons?'' "For me, tennis used to be a game played in white clothes, for the fun of it. Nowadays the fun of the game seems to have been polluted. Money, purple shoes, clenched fists, yelping and grunting, injuries to order, time outs, too many statistics. Rallies can go on for fifty shots – very good, but they're all the same. What price my old wooden racket with cat-gut strings? If our rallies went for more than six shots we became claustrophobic... On Emerson: "What struck me most about Emerson was that above all, he loved tennis. Playing it, I mean, feeling a ball on his racket, hitting up, for the fun of it. He was always trying
things out – experimenting with shots, enjoying it... Nadal's shots, for example, are all the same, hundreds of them. There he is frowning away, sorting out his twitches like an accountant checking his figures, as if he's at work and knocking off for a teabreak every second game. In retrospect, I am now certain Emerson had the best temperament – a cheerful exuberance, leaking into grins, sly remarks, and a kind of energy all his own. His game – logical, effortless, quick. He was never where you last saw him, and always where you thought he wouldn’t be. His love of playing tennis overruled all else. His game was full of humour and he relished a challenge, never having the slightest fear of losing.” On South African Tennis: "South African tennis is an enigma, the perfect catch 22 situation. Nothing to sell until you have money, and no money until you have something to sell. Gone, it seems, are the days when good players 'came out of the woodwork'. Now, to make champions, they say, you need money, coaches, sponsors, overseas play and
squads. You can't have those until you have money, and you can't earn money until you have those! One day, perhaps, a wealthy patron will come to the rescue. Straight sponsorship is very unlikely...” These are some of Gordon Forbes' thoughts on the modern era of tennis and reflections on a time long gone in the game of tennis. The fun, laughter, banter in the locker room and enjoyment of the game has now moved into the professional arena where money, coaches, trainers, psychologists etc. are the order of the day. Interestingly, many of the top tennis players do not participate for their country in the Davis Cup. The game has moved on and we have entered into the sphere of money, sponsorship and bonuses. However, one needs to acknowledge the abilities of the modern tennis player, their skill and the pace at which the game is played is phenomenal. These modern day athletes have changed the game, taken it to a new level and one can only reflect on the passing of a bygone era of tennis.
Sports Quiz No. 8
Here is a taste of our sports quiz which will be a sponsored corner in the weeks ahead with prizes for our readers. In the meantime try your hand at the following questions. submit your name, telephone number and answers via email to news@thehermanus-news.co.za 1. P r i o r t o t h e c u r r e n t A u s t r a l i a n O p e n t e n n i s championships, how many Australian Men’s Singles titles has Novak Djokovic won? 2. Which young South African golfer won the 2016 South African Open recently played at the Glendower Golf Club? 3. At which race course is the J & B Met. run? 4. Which South African cricketer made his test debut in the recent cricket test against England, played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg ? 5. Who is captain of the England National soccer team? See answers in our next edition.
Answers to Sports Quiz No 7 1. In the recent cricket test played at Newlands in Cape Town, which South African batsman scored his maiden test century? Answer: Temba Bavuma 2. Which South African Premier League soccer team have the nickname "The Urban Warriors"? Answer: Ajax, Cape Town 3. Who has recently been appointed as interim coach of the Stormers rugby team? Answer: Robbie Fleck 4. According to the latest ATP tennis rankings, who is the No. 2 ranked men’s tennis player? Answer: Andy Murray 5. Who is known for the saying, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee"? Answer: Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay)
Stand the change to win a free car wash by simply entering the Hermanus News Sport Quiz. Send your answers and contact details to news@thehermanusnews.co.za and if you have answered all the questions correctly your name will go into a lucky draw to have your car washed at Eastcliff Auto.
The Hermanus Bowling Club kicked off the festivities to celebrate their 80th birthday by hosting the 89th Ayala Tournament on 14 & 15 January. Ayala is the name of a prestigious Champagne House situated in the village of Äy in France, which has historic links with Hermanus dating back to the 1920s when Edmond de Ayala, founder member of the Champagne House, visited the Riviera Hotel. De Ayala was so impressed with the bowling green that had been laid down at the hotel in 1924 by its owners, the Luyts, that he sponsored the first Ayala Tournament in 1927. It is one of the oldest bowling tournaments in the country and continues to be played every year. At first the tournaments were held at the Riviera Club, which later became the Hermanus Bowling Club and moved to the current greens in 1938. The tournament was won by a Hermanus team under skip Paul Naylor together with Alick Bruce-Brand, Jan de Wet and Peter Gordon.
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