Taking the metro out of Wimbledon

This blog is about women's tennis, among many other things, but I am going to go off-track today to discuss a "controversy" about the great Roger Federer's decision to enter the Wimbledon court wearing a crested, cream-colored blazer. First, let me say that I thought he looked stunning. Second, the blazer was a nod to the whole Wimbledon tradition, which may sicken us in some respects, but is nevertheless an important part of tennis culture.

A lot of people did not like the blazer, and that's fine; it is a matter of taste. Except for those many men, including a number of sportswriters, who went berserk over Federer's "prissiness." And here I thought the metrosexual (has there ever been a more offensive term?) man was "in" in the West. There is nothing prissy about Roger Federer, but perhaps good manners and a lot of poise, both on and off the court, count against him in certain circles.

This criticism of Federer's blazer advances a conviction I have had for some time--that because tennis is largely a mental sport and is not violent, some men who play it feel a bit insecure about the masculine aspect of their athleticism. That notion is absurd, of course. A professional (or a good amateur) tennis player, male or female, must conform to a rigorous training program, and must be a top-rate athlete to excel. (It is ironic, of course, that for decades, female tennis players have had to "prove" their "femininity; somehow, when they enter the court, they run the risk of being too "masculine.")

Consider the nastiness and abuse perpetrated by John McEnroe, and--to a somewhat lesser extent--Jimmy Connors and Ilie Nastase. Their antics included hrowing chairs, cursing at umpires and saying the most vile things imaginable to their opponents during the changeovers. It is my opinion that McEnroe should have been banned from a number of tournaments, but I was "corrected" a couple of weeks ago by an eighteen-year-old male, who told me I should be ashamed of myself for criticizing McEnroe.

Then there is Marat Safin, who has broken more racquets than most people will ever see, but who tells us that female players are "emotional." And former ATP player Brad Gilbert, now a coach and commentator, who is actually pretty entertaining, but whose language and manner are hyper-masculine. And let's not forget Lleyton Hewitt, whose manly sniping is as well-known as his game. And the latest addition to this group--former tennis great Mats Wilander, who told the press that Federer played with "no balls" when he competed against Rafael Nadal in the 2006 French Open final.

Who knew that a simple blazer would cause so much hyperventilating among so many men? Poor Roger--number one in the world, eight-time Grand Slam winner, attractive, articulate, multi-lingual, sportsmanlike, and well-mannered. But, you know, so prissy.