Rookie Takes: US Open and Monza
Still learning a lot about sports, and still relatively new to suddenly being emotionally invested in them (e.g. actually being a fan who follows them). But that doesn't mean I don't have opinions. So here's my rookie perspective on the weekend - light on numbers, heavy on the feelings.
US Open
I've loved following tennis this past year. Despite not actually playing, I've grown to actually appreciate watching the sport, observing the athletes, and seeing narratives unfold. Before this year, I was merely aware of tennis and its big players (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Venus and Serena), but I was never quite invested in it. I guess I never realized how easy it is to actually watch the sport as a fan. There are tennis tournaments all year round! Tournaments and slams last 3 weeks at most! Fans are always fed! The stories, the drama, the successes, the failures - they happen all the time! Players hit reset, and it's time to go again.
First things first: I'm sooo happy and proud of Alex Eala. This year has been a dream for her, and for us fans. I know she hasn't unlocked her full potential yet, and she still has a long way to go, but I'm glad she's climbing slowly and surely. It seems that her successes this year are matched in equal measure by her defeats (she had so many opportunities to really breakthrough after that incredible Miami Open showing). But these are things that can only help her become mentally and emotionally tougher. Imagine defeating WTA world #2 and world #5! She is capable of doing it! She just lacks the experience and mental tenacity, but she's getting there. She finally won a US Open match! And she won a WTA 125 title in Guadalajara! There's nowhere to go but up, hopefully. I'm cautiously optimistic about her. It's also super easy to root for her. She's so eloquent, calm, and level-headed. And she's not shy about speaking in Filipino! She truly feels like she's one of us.
On to the WTA front: I'm just gonna go out there and say this - I think I'm slowly becoming a Sabalenka fan. She impresses me so much, not just her pure power on the court, but more so the way she is unashamed of her emotions and her strength. Lately, this has drawn me into her. Most people like rooting for underdogs (and I too, have my underdog athlete faves in tennis and in other sports). But I think there's a part of me that strongly admires generational talents who know about it and who don't give any fucks. Who may have the tendency to be "jerks" in the moment, but can apologize and recognize the error of their ways, and just use it as fuel to come out even stronger. So I'm incredibly glad that she defended her US Open title, and finally, finally won a Grand Slam for 2025. She's world #1 for crying out loud. She's up there for a reason. She deserves a trophy to cap off this year. (She's also just really fun to watch both on court and off! And I like her outfits!)
I also really enjoyed seeing Venus and Leylah's run in the doubles category. Leylah letting Venus do her famous twirls - ugh, so adorable and cute. The name Venus Williams transcends the sport (as well as Serena). Even if you don't follow tennis, you know who Venus is. Even just the first name is enough. I'm glad she's still getting wins, and is still getting the adoration from the fans at this stage in her career. She rightfully deserves it! Hope she gets more chances to do so and just soak it all in.
And now to the Men's. Ah. Where do I even begin. A Sincaraz final, again. Funny thing is, it never gets tiring. Like I said in my previous post, it feels surreal watching the birth of a new legendary saga. But wow, I'm amazed at how both of them are amazed at each other. It seems that their rivalry is couched in genuine admiration and friendship. To become a successful athlete, you have to think that you're the greatest. But to become a Great Athlete, you have to know how to gracefully acknowledge someone else's talent. These two observe each other, learn from each other, and respect each other. And in return, we get incredible matches. I hope this goes on for a long while! I'm not rooting for anyone in particular between the two of them; I like them both a lot! I'm so, so glad Carlos trudged through that epic RG finals and locked in for the US Open. And I'm happy that Sinner got a taste of Wimbledon this year, while also defending the AO. I can't choose. I like them both too much. May be a safe take, but it is what it is.
A more controversial take, probably: I'm sad that Djokovic probably won't ever win another Slam. He is still miles and leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else, but with Sincaraz there, I can't see him making it through, unless there's an injury or surprise loss somewhere in the early rounds. I'm not particularly a fan of Nole; I know his stand on certain things and rightfully question them. And yet, I have a fondness for the old Greats. The same way I'm not a fan of LeBron, but I sure as hell respect the way they're still hustling their way through the sport and just playing for the love of it (and ok, fine, the money too, probably, but you get what I'm saying). That last SF with Alcaraz, I'm sure he realized that the doors are closing in on him and it might be time to hang it up soon enough. But hopefully, not yet. Hope he still keeps on playing because he's still entertaining to watch. He's so chaotic. His villain-y is what makes him fun.
F1 at Monza
Nature is healing, Max Verstappen is winning. What a weekend, huh. Even the Tifosi couldn't help themselves, singing Du du du du, Max Verstappen as the Dutch national anthem was playing. 20 seconds ahead of the orange rocketships? The stuff of legends. We are sooo back.
Not gonna get too much into the McLaren Papaya clownery this weekend, but I'll just go right ahead and say this: I hope Oscar Piastri wins the whole damn thing. The whole team forcing a "we have two #1 drivers and everything should be fair" policy is stupid, especially when it's evident who the better one is. Oscar is more deserving and more talented. Unfortunately though, he's being forced to "play nice" because it feels like McLaren is not "his" team. And even more unfortunate, I think he just doesn't have that aggressiveness that comes with a generational talent like Max, Lewis, or Fernando. A WDC leader shouldn't have to play nice and let team orders dictate a race. So while I'm really rooting for him and want him to ultimately defeat his teammate, I also don't think he's a Great -- at least not yet. He's certainly not yet on the level of those three, emotionally and mentally. Come on, Oscar. I know it's fun to be the new Ice Man Raikkonen on the grid, but we need you to embrace your inner pissed-off-Australian-driver-not-getting-the-preferential-treatment-within-the-team in you! Unleash it! Rise above Webber and Ricciardo! Because I really want you to win!
(I won't talk about Lando because I don't like Lando, haha.)
Next up, my perpetual heartache. Carlos Sainz and Williams. One thing is clear: I will forever be rooting for him no matter what. But also another thing that's evidently crystal: bad luck follows him around like a depressed puppy trying to seek out its master. I cannot believe the amount of shit-housery that happens every Sunday to him. He seems to have adjusted to the car, he seems to have pace. But Idk man. Something always freaking happens. He is getting frustrated, and it shows. While I'm happy that Albon is finally proving his naysayers wrong, I'm gutted that it has now turned the tide against Carlos, with people saying he's washed and deserved the Ferrari boot. When it has nothing to do with him, and everything to do with circumstance! Hay, why did I get myself into this? Let me soothe myself by saying "Carlos is still the last Ferrari grand prix winner" ad infinitum, until a podium emerges suddenly. Please. I'm begging the universe to give him (and myself) a win. I do not want the almost-200-euros I've spent on Sainz merch to be for nothing.
Aaaand, yeah I think that wraps up most of my weekend feelings for sports. Let me go back to taking screenshots of memes and watching press conference interviews until the next matches.