1h50 on court, a 13-11 decider, Team Europe back level with Team World. Carlos Alcaraz had Sam Querrey’s microphone under his chin when a spectator shouted: “Marry my sister, Carlos!”, as report ed by We Love Tennis.
His reply: “What is this? I’m still too young. What was the question again?” The London crowd fell about laughing.
On court, the match itself had been serious enough: Alcaraz took the first set 6-3, dropped the second 4-6 to Taylor Fritz, then clawed out the decider 13-11. Enough to put Team Europe back in the hunt, and the London crowd in a teasing mood.
Céline, holder of a club-level ranking she calls transitional, has watched the clip three times. Not for the tennis.
What people miss is the post-match management. You’ve just come through a 13-11, you’re running on empty, and someone throws you a question completely out of the game plan. What does he do? He puts the ball back in the middle of the court, “what was the question again?”, and carries on the point. That’s exactly what I do at the clubhouse bar when someone asks my exact ranking. That shot, I make it. Not every time, but I make it. The level in club league (interclubs, Belgium’s weekend team league) has gone way up, people don’t realise: we get asked all sorts between two rounds of chips as well. And at least he didn’t have court 4’s floodlight in his eyes. Two practice sessions away, mind you, and I’d have answered the same.
The spectator never got an answer on the substance. Neither did Sam Querrey’s question. Céline, meanwhile, is already working on her own dodge for January, when the club rankings come out.
It’s true, we checked: We Love Tennis.
