Please ignore the tears

Posted by Bess: I'm not sure if I've ever cried at the end of a regular tennis match before. Sure, I cried after Andre's last match, but that was his last match--complete with a moving good-bye speech! But aside from that very monumental moment, tennis doesn't usually move me to tears.

But it did today.

Sure, maybe it's because Nadal lost an epic final that he first probably should have lost and then--surprisingly--could have won. Or maybe it's that I'd invested nearly six hours into rooting for my favorite player, only to have him come up short against his nemesis... for the seventh straight time. Then again, it could be that my constitution is weakened from sleep deprivation after two straight weeks of late-night tennis viewing.

It could be all of those things. And probably, in part, it was.

But I think it was also this: In my mind, it just wasn't fair that Nadal lost. I watched him almost literally will himself back into that match with guts and determination and belief and fight I can only ever dream of having. And that should have been enough! But it wasn't.

Don't get me wrong--I marvel at all Djokovic has accomplished. And if we're being fair, I should admire the way he willed himself through that fifth set.

But just like life, fandom isn't fair. I wanted Rafa to win. And so I was crushed when he didn't.

I take comfort in the fact that Nadal handled himself with such class after the match and kept himself together throughout the belabored trophy ceremony (good grief). He offered gracious, humorous and seemingly heartfelt thoughts in an impressively coherent speech given the battle and the loss he'd just endured.

And reports from his post-match press conference indicate he was extremely positive about how he played and how close he came to winning. In fact, I didn't see or read about a single tear being shed. Proving once again just how much stronger Rafa is than I.

Perhaps I should take more of my cues from him.

So I've wiped away the tears and am moving on from denial and sadness to appreciation and positivity.

• It was one of the greatest matches ever played.


• Both players gave everything they had.


• It undoubtedly elevated the sport.


• We're fortunate to be witnessing this incredibly impressive era in tennis.


• The year ahead holds tremendous potential for many more must-see matches and continued plotlines.


• And it is, after all, just a game.

A thoroughly fantastic game. Well worth my time and my tears.

To quote Chris Fowler, "Thank you, Novak. Thank you, Rafa."
It's been a privilege.