Sometimes you witness, either in person or on a screen, happenings in sport which nobody has to underline the importance of. Often the significance of which stretches well beyond the bounds of the sport concerned. For example, the penalty shootout in Genoa in 1990, Katie Taylor’s Olympic gold in London or Dawn Run winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Similar sentiments can of course be applied to negative and/or disappointing happenings. Such as the wintry night at Anfield when it was obvious the end of the Jack Charlton era had arrived without anybody ever having to officially say as such. There’s also a sense that – though hopefully the following won’t come to pass – Pat Horgan may come to the end of his career with the Cork hurlers without getting the All Ireland medal he so thoroughly deserves.
Now, in no way could it be said that Novak Djokovic missed out on much during his stellar career. However, yours truly can’t have been the only one with slight lump in throat looking at the sensational Serbian struggle – albeit manfully – against Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semi final on Friday night.
In terms of being a tough watch, the only I would count as coming close to it was seeing Istabraq pull up after what, from memory, was two flights of the 2002 Champion Hurdle.
Aidan O’Brien’s first equine superstar – yes younger readers, you did read that correctly, was at the time going for a fourth consecutive win in the race. And, were said attempts not scuppered by the meeting – necessarily or not – being cancelled owing due to the Foot And Mouth outbreak.
When what was essentially the four-in-a-row attempt did take place, a year later, it was a case of going to the well once too often.
Slmilarly, the same thought was inescapable on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Perhaps that was what so jarring about it. The reality that Djokovic didn’t play at all badly, just that, at 38, even his best wasn’t enough to repel the relentless and ferocious Spaniard.
It is said that time nor tide waits for no man or woman or beast, sure even Noah himself wouldn’t have been to save the animals without his Ark. Or put another way, Novak would have had to be fully fit and at the peak of his powers to withstand this Spanish inquisition. Sadly, he was neither.
Which is why, gut wrenching though it would be in its own way, you’d nearly rather see Djokovic hang up the raquet before going to the well once too often.
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