August 2023 Guitar Newsletter: Wimbledon Tennis and Guitar Playing: Lessons From British Traditions
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What a thrill it was to watch Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in this year’s men’s Wimbledon tennis final! The game reunited me with the sport of my teens, and I found myself pondering why this match was so impressive and meaningful. It took place in England, home turf to top-notch guitarists, such as Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Jeff Beck. This historic match caused me to consider connections between tennis, the splendor of pairing together great talent and the need for sportsmanship in both circles.
Serious athletes and guitarists share a lot of common ground. Both can find themselves under pressure, suffering from anxiety, unable to reach goals, struggling to find their strengths or not dealing well with their weaknesses. They also need to muster up the grit to overcome setbacks. It is the same journey, in both realms, of striving for excellence, finding your personal style of playing, staying on the top of your game, winning an audience over and being capable of healthy relationships on and off the playing field.
42,000 spectators in the stadium along with 3.2 million tennis fans worldwide watched this Wimbledon final. This epic Bolero between Carlos, the 20-year-old Spaniard, and Novak, the stalwart Serb 16 years the new kid’s senior, was a constant turning of the tides. Witnessing two equally gifted players performing live at this level was entertaining and nerve wracking. My family and I were impressed, stunned, mesmerized, and inspired by such a high level of athletic ability, determination and stamina.
In the world of song, pairing stellar musicians is also key for astonishing results. John McLaughlin and Jerry Goodman, Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer, George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, Julian Bream and John Williams, Steve Howe and Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth and Jean-Luc Ponty, Albert Lee and Emmy Lou Harris, Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins are all examples of exceptional British guitarists joined with accomplished musicians. Music that requires great technical and intellectual ability, and yet remains beautiful and mystical, is worth cheering on in my book, and the same is true for a fantastic game of tennis.
However, playing at these high levels also has downsides and depending on one’s temperament, high performers can also find themselves in less praiseworthy situations. Towards the end of the tennis match, the more experienced Djokovic lost his temper and demolished his racquet. The impact of crushing it on the wooden net post left an imprint and might have injured his wrist. In that unfortunate moment, I had an apparition of Pete Townshend of The Who, violently smashing his guitar on UK stages to get attention, showcase political protest and express cultural upheaval. Perhaps it could also be boiled down to bad nerves or lack of self-control.
As much as I was startled by Djokivic’s loss of composure and believe it was a crucial downward turning point in the game, I was equally touched by his speech, congratulating Alcaraz’s victory and pointing out his opponent’s strengths. At the end of the day, aren’t we all playing some sort of game together, and shouldn’t being a better human being surpass our need for success at any cost? Also, we need each other to create something far greater than we could on our own, and how ironic is it that musicians at times find themselves making the best art with another musician while not necessarily seeing eye to eye?
Watching Alcaraz and Djokovic was not only a gripping tennis match, but also illustrated values I find worth emulating. I hope you can take with you into the month of August the lessons I was reminded of that are applicable to making music: play hard, do your best at all times, stay focused, control your temper, accept mistakes and move on, cherish good etiquette and celebrate the outcome of collaborations.
Game, set, match!
Chris
