What is it with the Russians? Is it part of their training system? There is
definitely something going on because in both the men's and women's game, it's a Russian who does the best sign off.
Maria Sharapova is the more famous of course, so her sign off is probably the better known. At the end of her match, if she has won, Marie goes back onto the court and blows a kiss and gives a wave to each of the four sides of the arena. It's cute, and another reason why the sponsors love her.
definitely something going on because in both the men's and women's game, it's a Russian who does the best sign off.
Maria Sharapova is the more famous of course, so her sign off is probably the better known. At the end of her match, if she has won, Marie goes back onto the court and blows a kiss and gives a wave to each of the four sides of the arena. It's cute, and another reason why the sponsors love her.
Not as cute as Mikhail Youzhny though! Well not as far as I'm concerned. I mean, just look at him, making a salute with his racket on his head - sort of military - old Soviet - very sexy. He's a good tennis player as well, making the quarter finals of all four Grand Slams and reaching a career high of World number 8. But I'll always remember him for his sign off when he wins a match: the four sides like Maria, each getting a salute. You gotta love him for it.
I was thinking of Mikhail when I wrote the ending of Lewis's first match at the Australian Open in The Journey Away. He's had a spot of crowd trouble during the match - a lot of trouble in fact - and I'm sure he would have liked to give his own two fingered salute to those who had heckled him. He doesn't, but I borrow a little from our Russian friends. It's the first time Lewis does a sign off, which actually is a turning point for him. No more hiding and slinking away. Go out there and sign off in style.
Here's how he does it...
It could only have been an hour later when Lewis shook hands with his defeated opponent. The applause might have been muted, but it was there nonetheless. After the hand shake, Lewis stood at the centre of the court and looked around. To each of the four stands he turned one after the other and gazed into the small crowd, gave them a wave and a bit of a smile, with perhaps just a tinge of sarcasm added in one direction. That was only fair. They were such a nice bunch of boys.
Having completed the square, Lewis looked around again, first to Jim, with a forced grin that disguised the disappointment that he felt for his silence whilst others had acted. Then to Lee, with endless questions in his eyes, and a gesture that said he would call him. A final look was made, but he didn’t know whom he sought - just a voice that could no longer be heard beyond a haunting echo of familiarity.
I was thinking of Mikhail when I wrote the ending of Lewis's first match at the Australian Open in The Journey Away. He's had a spot of crowd trouble during the match - a lot of trouble in fact - and I'm sure he would have liked to give his own two fingered salute to those who had heckled him. He doesn't, but I borrow a little from our Russian friends. It's the first time Lewis does a sign off, which actually is a turning point for him. No more hiding and slinking away. Go out there and sign off in style.
Here's how he does it...
It could only have been an hour later when Lewis shook hands with his defeated opponent. The applause might have been muted, but it was there nonetheless. After the hand shake, Lewis stood at the centre of the court and looked around. To each of the four stands he turned one after the other and gazed into the small crowd, gave them a wave and a bit of a smile, with perhaps just a tinge of sarcasm added in one direction. That was only fair. They were such a nice bunch of boys.
Having completed the square, Lewis looked around again, first to Jim, with a forced grin that disguised the disappointment that he felt for his silence whilst others had acted. Then to Lee, with endless questions in his eyes, and a gesture that said he would call him. A final look was made, but he didn’t know whom he sought - just a voice that could no longer be heard beyond a haunting echo of familiarity.