After the shortest month of February, March often feels like the longest month. For three years, we has taken a weekend trip to watch the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, the closest ATP tennis event. Often cited as the fifth slam, Indian Wells Tennis Garden has the second largest tennis stadium with nearly half a million of spectators every year, even more than the French Open.
Located in Southern California desert among golf resorts, tropical gardens, fine restaurants in a nice quiet neighborhood, Indian Wells makes a vacation paradise in March. The weather is dry and the day could be blazing hot, though still mild when compared to 120°F in summer months. The tennis tournament spans over two weeks. In 2014, we went there in the first weekend, there was hustle and bustle, some long lines, in return, we saw many tennis stars. We switched to the championship weekend with more weighty matches, but there was no guarantee which players would end up playing. Regardless, we always have a great time.
Larry Ellison bought the tournament for 100 millions and has done amazing things with his money power. Indian Wells has become one of the world’s premier tennis venues, attracting top players from both men’s and women’s professional tours. Over the years, we have seen Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Raonic, Nishikori, Wawrinka, Williams and many tennis stars play single or double in the tournament. The tournament experience has got better and better. Just this year, 22 new restaurants have been added including Spago by Wolfgang Puck, the Melissa market with fresh salad, Dave’s dog house with 2-michelin stars? hotdog. For $150 extra, one can watch stadium 1 match, while dining inside the Spago restaurant. New and contemporary restroom facilities have been added, which almost extinguishes any lines. And there are accessible water stations to keep us hydrated.
When the 2017 draw was released, Federer was in the Quarter of Death widely agreed by the players to be the toughest in history. We had no expectation to see him in the championship weekend. Then the news got better and better as Federer beat Nadal soundly in the fourth round, and he would play on the Friday quarter-final.
We spent more bucks for tickets to his quarterfinal match with Kyrgios. After 5 hours of driving, we arrived at the Tennis Garden just in time, to be told that Kyrgios withdrew. Federer showed up in the stadium for an interview and “tried” to entertain us with his funny singing video.
His semi-final match on Saturday with Sock, US #1, did not disappoint. I got to the stadium early so as to be part of the roaring welcome as the players walked out to the court. It was like rock star entry to a concert filled with tens of thousands of fans. No matter who Federer played against, you always felt it in the air that people wanted him to win. His play was mesmerizing, he was just so skilled, so poised and beautiful to watch. Anyone loves tennis would love to see him play. As a recreational tennis player, I knew that even in super slow motion, it was impossible to play his shots, let alone in a match condition when the ball was traveling often at 70+ miles per hour. His match was like a movie with surprises at any moment in time, keeping the spectators engaged. The first set was pretty one-sided, but the second set got to tiebreaker. At matc
h point, the anticipation was palatable and it was pleasantly converted to a 6-1, 7-6 win. The momentous and joyful cheers throughout the stadium made the best human vocals . We enjoyed the fighting and aggressive play of Sock, but it was obvious everyone was happier with a Federer win.
The all-Swiss men’s final awaited on Sunday, we waited long under the blazing sun at 95 °F as the all-Czech women’s final lasted over 3 hours with plenty of twists and turns. When the men’s final started, either we got used to the heat or it was no longer as hot. The final was exciting to watch, both Stan and Roger played well and had their chances. The power play of Stan was intimidating and could blow opponents off the court any day. The skill and variety of Roger continued to impress, and it was humbling to see how he could still improve over the years. His shot making went from powerful gust to soft breeze as he transitioned from baseline rally to net volley. On any day, a power player can beat a more skilled player; in this championship, Roger got the 6-4, 7-5 win. As the championship point played out with a volley winner from Roger, the stadium erupted with a joyful roar and thousands of hands up in the air, it was a scene to freeze in memory and remember forever.
The trophy presentation was memorable. Stan choked back as he congratulated Roger, and their brotherly affection was quite on display. Tommy Haas, in his first year as the tournament director, then presented the trophy to Roger, his close friend on the tour. It was so special. Roger did his graceful speech. Everybody thanked Larry and everybody. Roger then hoisted the beautiful and heavy crystal trophy. His dream run, after 6-month injury break, continues to provide one of the greatest inspiration way beyond the sports of tennis.
When Roger last won the Indian Wells, it was 2012, same year he won Wimbledon #7. Could this be a good omen for his 2017 Wimbledon campaign? Please let the fairy tale continue.
More Links
You don’t need to know much about tennis to like reading “Breaking Back” by James Blake. James Blake is a retired tennis pro and is two years older than Roger Federer. He achieved a career high ranking at number 4 after surviving a freak-accident during practice in Rome, the loss of his beloved father, and a potential career-ending illness. James Blake provides detailed recollections of his professional wins and losses, his relationship with family and friends, his struggles to overcome life challenges. It is a story of his relationship with life and how he overcome the dark days, and arrive on the other side with a new approach to everything on the court and off. It is an inspiring read.
professional tennis in the 90s – those were the years when Pete Sampras was on the rise and Stefan Edberg was fading. It covers some matches of Pete Sampras and some matches of Stefan Edberg. Yet, this is not a book about tennis stars, it is a book about those lesser-known and their path towards college or skipping college to be a professional tennis player. The author followed a few up-and-starters (Jonathan Stark, a pro made it to the top 30s at one point; Ania Bleszynski, a Stanford college tennis player). For those who love stars, there is a chapter covering a conversation with tennis legends in the 60s and 70s (Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall), and there is a chapter devoted to Wimbledon.
w Cronin, is the riveting account of the McEnroe vs Borg rivalry through the Wimbledon and US Open Finals in 1980. Many would remember the 18-16 tie breaker in the fourth set of the 1980 Wimbledon final and until 2008, the 1980 Wimbledon final has been considered by many as the greatest Wimbledon final. The author recollected the two finals with detailed accounting of many points in those engrossing five setters, and in between those sets, covered the personality, the career and the relationship of the two players. Their rivalry, their friendship, and their contrasting style was unmatched until almost 28 years later as Federer and Nadal played that “heart breaking” five setters in the Wimbledon final in 2008. “Epic” is a reminder of the many great tennis matches, and that the sport is bigger than any players.
I love tennis. The challenge is thrilling, there is that desire to play better and the happiness, associated with the presence of mind in the playing moments, delivers even at tough moments in life.
Every fan has different favorite tennis players. How much I hope Lendl would have won Wimbledon. He tried so very hard, he skipped French open for 2 years and focused on grass practice, but it was not meant to be, and he ended up as 2-times Wimbledon finalist. It was a good moment when Murray, his 
Nadal. The 2009 devastating loss of Federer against Nadal in AO final also hurt, in a match that Federer knew he should have won. That same year, Federer was rewarded with the elusive French Open, followed by a Wimbledon win. Those reverse of fortune is so telling that there is always something after the toughest setback. Tennis is greater than any player, but Federer comes that close to equate to tennis. 
的，電視也是後來才有的。可能回憶是有選擇性的，感覺小時比現在的年輕人開心，社會和諧多了 （social coherence），鄰居是會守望相助的。歌曲唱的是應該要自愛，辛苦時可聽
ic trips, I would not have understood. If someone told me that I would lose my parent-in-laws, a cousin and more bad news, I would have tried hard to stop time. Or that I would spend weeks of effort for a 20,000 character-long job promotion request. Or that I would visit 4 new countries. Or that I would be sad on my birthday. Or that my daughter and I become friends as much as family. Such is the character of the year with losses and burdens intertwined with comfort and new experience. 
to Scandinavian countries. Instead, there is direct flight from Oakland to Oslo, Norway or Stockholm, Sweden, operated by Norwegian 
Norway.
thing that needs to book ahead – there are some world famous restaurants in these cities, including 
of years ahead. It is a future time machine. It is about love. It is easy to love a bright future, it is something else to love the last mile of a journey. It is humbling and same deal to most. What motivates may just be the constant need to overcome new loss of ability to slow down the deterioration. Life is circular and we end where we start – nothing. Yet, if life is a circle, some draws a humongous one; some is more like a dot, a small number with negative radius. The world is almost shaped by those few who journeys a lot in their lives. Take an example, the smart phones are not a result of public voting, yet it changes how billions are spending their time every day. Internet and search are not the result of the work of the majority; it changes the lives of many. Automation of repetitive tasks is not the choice of majority of workers; it is the effort of bright minds who believe human intelligence will better be consumed in higher order than repetitive and mundane activities, maybe many would not mind mundane jobs to make a possible living. How the world evolves does not tie neatly with the advocacy of democracy in many political systems. No-one protest about technology, the smart phones, Internet, Wi-Fi nor the many apps, we endorse it most wholeheartedly. Are people being selective in the pursuit of democracy?
of mostly disruptive behavior, however people justify them. The city has its share of problems, and more shares of fortunes when compared to many other places. The way it is going creates a real possibility that this generation grows up to see things from great to good, and could be in the hands of a few folks, from good to bad. There could be better outcome from brighter minds, and if not, life is circular so could the path of a city.
n do we have a work week made up of two work days and three days of company holiday? It happened in this week of winter solstice, Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Day. The anticipation for the week started after Thanksgiving holiday. And the week had its fair share of movies, feast and gifts.
oliviatamccue 