Wimbledon Women's Finals: Liven Up the Draw

What an exciting tournament Wimbledon was this year! The championship match between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick was a thriller. Both men played extraordinary tennis and gave spectators a suspenseful final. I was among the spectators that watched from my living room sofa. I enjoyed every minute of the match. I did not watch the women's final, however.

The reason I did not watch was not that I have anything against the Williams sisters. On the contrary, I think they are both phenomenal athletes and exceptional tennis players. I watched their semi- final matches. Venus had an easy time defeating Dinara Safina whom she beat in straight sets 6-1, 6-0. It wasn't a thrilling or suspenseful match to watch but the American won. I always cheer for the American. Serena had a more difficult time defeating Elena Dementieva. That was an exciting match which Serena won in three sets, 7-6, 5-7, 8-6. Again the American won and I was rooting for her.

The championship match then became a contest between sisters. I was happy that no matter who won, it would be an American who would take home the prize. Serena defeated her sister in two sets, 7-6, 6-2. I don't know if the match was thrilling or suspenseful because I did not watch it. I had no desire to watch it. To me it was boring and I really didn't care which sister won.

There are some who were happy with the final pairing and smiled when the draw placed Venus and Serena in different halves. I think they're called "television executives." So I guess the advertising sponsors must have liked it too. To me watching the Williams sisters in the finals is becoming too repetitive and I wonder why the sisters cannot be placed in the draw so that they will play each other earlier in the tournament. I would watch the match between them then. I realize that the seedings are based on the players' rankings. According to Wikipedia, however, the majority of players in this tournament are unseeded. Each applicant is evaluated for entry by a committee and this committee can admit a wild card. The wild card is usually someone they think might encourage public interest. There must be some other players out there who would stimulate some excitement matched against either sister.

I have been a tennis fan for a long time. Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe were dominant players for quite a few years and three of my favorite players. I never got bored watching a match between them. Sometimes I even cheered for the Swede. Chris Evert and Martina Navralatova were competitors for a long time also. I never tired watching them play. If they had been sisters, however, I would not have been as interested in watching them in a final's match.

Although I do not play tennis anymore, I still enjoy watching the sport. Because I did play tennis when I was younger, I appreciate the hard work, physical conditioning and training that these athletes must endure. It is such a fast paced game and requires such fitness. I admire the athletes tremendously. I admire the Williams sisters. They have made tennis history in more ways than one. I just don't want to watch them in the finals so often.