Wordplay: Remembering Rosol's Short-Lived God Status at Wimbledon

News

Scores

Rankings

Lucky Letcord Podcast

Shop

Pro Gear

Pickleball

Gear Sale

Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Wordplay: Remembering Rosol's Short-Lived God Status at Wimbledon

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Neil Tingley/ AFP

(June 30, 2012)—Two days have now passed since Lukas Rosol’s epic upset of Rafael Nadal on Centre Court Thursday. Not so surprisingly the Czech bowed out meekly today at the hands of Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(6) on Court 12, proving that anybody can land the part of playing god at Wimbledon but if you forget your lines you’ll quickly be sent packing.

Anyhow, before we send Lukas Rosol off to Tennis Channel to be packaged up in their next “Best of 5” show on upsets, let’s read what some fellow players were saying about his shining moment in its aftermath.

Roger Federer’s Take:

“Well, this is not against Rafa, but it was nice to see it's still possible. I think 15 years ago you had matches like this so much more often on the faster surfaces, that a guy could catch fire and just run through you.

“Today it's virtually impossible because you make so many more returns these days and conditions are so much slower with the elements. It's so much harder to be, you know, in that state, I think.

“Whereas it was just amazing to see that it was possible. Okay, he didn't play like that for five sets, but in the fifth it was just a joke. I was laughing because of his performance for 10 minutes after that. I couldn't believe that he pulled it off the way he did.

“Of course I do feel bad for Rafa because it's a tough loss; it's Wimbledon; it's the way things happen. You figure he was not the overwhelming favorite going into the fifth outdoors, but we have all been unlucky and lucky over the years playing in tough, better, or worse conditions for yourself or for the opponent that they just equal out over the course of your career, really.”

Rafa’s take:

“At the end, when the opponent wants to play like he wanted to play in the fifth, you are in his hands, no? Everything was going right for him in the fifth.”

“You play against an inspired opponent and I am out. That's all. Is not a tragedy. Is only a tennis match. At the end, that's life. There is much more important things. Sure, I wanted to win, but I lost. That's it.”

Novak's Take:

“Well, look, you know, there is not much to say about that match aside from the fact that Rosol played [an] incredible match. There's not much you can do. I don't think Rafa played that bad. You know, just Rosol came up with incredible serves, very aggressive shots. He was taking his chances.

“You have those days when your opponents have really nothing to lose and they're going for all the shots. So congratulations to him. It's been an incredible match. Everybody thought maybe he's going to have some ups and downs probably in the fifth set, but he proved everybody wrong.

“That's what happens. I mean, everybody plays tennis nowadays. Even though somebody is ranked 100 places lower than you are, on a given day, especially on the grass, if somebody serves that big, anything can happen.”

Sam Querrey’s Take:

You know, I didn't really think about it too much, but it was just... I was happy for him. It was fun to watch the highlights.

Juan Monaco’s Take:

“Could happen. I mean, the guy has nothing to lose, playing unbelievable, great serves. Final set, I mean, he got an early break. Then he played so relaxed, like all the shots go through like so easy. Nothing to lose. I mean, he really deserved to win.”

Kim Clijster’s Take:

“I was like, No. I don't know. I don't know. I just wanted Nadal to win and come back. I think he did everything right to try to stay in the match, especially in the fifth set. But the guy played incredible.

“I'm curious to see how he's going to play tomorrow because a lot of times I don't know. Yeah, to me he looked a little bit arrogant out there, so I wonder how he'll react in his next match, if he can stay grounded, keep his feet on the ground, and try to keep that result going.

“Nobody cares too much. You can beat Nadal, but if you lose the next round, you know, then yeah. I'm going to definitely watch him tomorrow and see how he will play.

“There's only one word, and I think it's 'adrenaline.' Somebody said during the commentary that was it his first time playing at Wimbledon? It was unbelievable. The decisions he was making, whenever he touched the ball, it was either a winner or an ace. It was unbelievable. You kind of think, Okay, at 5 4 let's see if he maybe gets a little bit nervous. To his credit, he played really, really well. That's why I said I'm going to be curious to see how he does.”

And here are a few classic quotes from John McEnroe as he commentated for ESPN Thursday:

“I keep waiting for him to, you know, choke.”

“I can’t believe what I just witnessed.”

“Lukas who?”