I’m writing this on a sun-lit early October afternoon which has an undeniably cool autumnal feel to it.
So it’s time to say good-bye to a remarkable sporting summer that included the highs of an England World Cup cricketing triumph, epic Wimbledon and US Open finals, the drama of the Solheim Cup and the eventual (but predictable) disappointment of watching Spurs lose in the Champions League final.
I was lucky enough to be at all those events, aside from the Lords drama which frustratingly clashed with that magnificent duel between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on centre court. Rafa’s roller-coaster ride against Daniil Medvedev in New York followed and has, of course, left him just one behind the Swiss Maestro at the top of the Slam list. With Djokovic four back and much younger than the other two it will be very interesting to see how that list changes over the next year or two. My feeling (not necessarily the same as my desire) is that by the time all three have hung up their rackets Djokovic will lead the way ahead of Nadal with Fed third. I write that with no great degree of confidence though!
From a personal point of view I was delighted to be asked to join the Prime Video line-up at the “Open.” Led by a dynamic management team Prime will continue to innovate and bring a new dimension to televised sport.
In the mean-time the focus shifts to the Rugby World Cup, discussions as to whether Spurs will learn to hang on to a lead (and indeed recover from their mauling by Bayern Munich) and the inspirational return of Andy Murray whose singles comeback is gaining momentum against, it has to be said, the expectation of many. It’s still a case of one step at a time for the great man but maybe, just maybe, he will be a major force in the game again come 2020. Now that really would be cool!