Jannik Sinner, an Italian with an unusual name particularly for someone from a country home to the Pope, has won the US Open Single's title.
Surprised? One could be as Italians have not known to be world champions at Tennis but are passionate about Football. In 1976, on my first visit to Rome, Italy, my hosts asked me what I would like to do over the weekend. I had read in the papers that an Italian league match was scheduled between Roma and Lazio, so seizing on the opportunity, I said I would love to go and watch that game. My hosts were reluctant as apparently violence often broke out between the two fierce rivals, Roma who considered themselves urban and sophisticated, and Lazio, the regional team sneered at by Romans as lowly rustics. However, sensing my keenness, they took me to the game.
The packed stadium was divided into two distinct sections of Roma and Lazio supporters. Our seats were chosen in a small neutral corner strategically placed for a quick exit. Throughout the match the crowd was boisterous, the two supporting groups trying to out cheer the other. Fortunately, the match ended peacefully in a goalless draw and my hosts heaved a huge sigh of relief as we made our way cautiously out of the stadium.
More than surprised, I was delighted with an Italian win. I have been fond of Italy right from my childhood days. From the time I started listening to Western music, I was enchanted by the Neapolitan songs sung by the likes of Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti and presently, blind Andrea Bocelli. "Santa Lucia", "O Sole Mio" and "Torna E Surriento" are timeless classics in an exclusive niche of their own. In more modern times, Jimmy Fontana's "Il Mondo", Emilio Pericoli's "Al Di La" and Umberto Tozzi's "Gloria" have been unmatched in their appeal to touch one's heart.
And Italian women! The first to catch my attention was the vivacious Anna Magnani referred to as "La Lupa" ot "perennial toast of Rome" who was the first Italian to win the Best Actress Oscar award in 1955. Then came Silvana Magnano dancing her way into our hearts with "Anna", the catchy theme song of "Bitter Rice". Bewitching Sophia Loren was perhaps the most famous of all and won Oscars and Golden Globes but on the lighter side, who can forget her delightful duo with Peter Sellers "Goodness Gracious Me" with the 'boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom-boom-boom' line.
I round off the list of women with the ravishing Gina Lollobrigida specially remembering her role with Rock Hudson in "Come September". On the men's side, Marcello Mastroianni is my exclusive favourite not the least because many friends, maybe just to lift my spirits, have said I resembled him!
But it's true that during my trips to Italy, many locals said I could pass as one of them. Brainwashed with all that, I have lured myself into believing I was an Italian in my previous life and always root for Italy in crucial matches. My joy knew no bounds when they won the 1982 World Cup led by the magical Paolo Rossi shortly after my visit to Genoa and Rome that summer.
No wonder then that I was delighted with an Italian victory. Italy did have some outstanding players early on though few and far between. Nicola Pietrangeli won the French title in 1959 and '60 and was world number 3 in those days. Then in 1976, Adriano Panatta won the French Open becoming the first Italian to win a grand slam title in the Open era. The highest rank he reached was No. 4 in '76.
Italy had to wait 48 years for another grand slam winner when Sinner won the Australian Open. Shortly after, he became the first Italian to reach No. 1 world ranking though he was just 22. And now he is the US Open champion.
At the post match on-court interview after winning the US Open, he was asked, "You came into this tournament saying I am not sure I have very high expectations. For someone with low expectations....how did you get this done over two weeks?" His reply in the usual Italian lisping way, "I did pretty well I guess!"
No comments:
Post a Comment