Stop spreading the news, I'm going to New York today

With remarkable speed, the US Open is upon us; the main draw commences on 30^th August.

The day after its opening is the 29^th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana in a car crash in a Parisian tunnel on the last day of the calendar northern summer on 31^st August, 1997.

Her death was certainly one of those “where were you when it happened?” moments: Older generations remember where they were when JFK was assassinated; younger ones remember the 9/11 attacks. Each event startled the world. Never to be forgotten. Or so we thought.

As a teacher of some of the over one billion ‘screenagers’ that occupy the world, I am more than startled when they fail to recall significant events and people, including those living during their lifetime. What one thought may have been seminal and salutary to their lives is revealed to be evanescent  and ethereal, until they are either reminded by an AI search engine that it occurred, or social media convinces them that events such as the moon landing are nothing but CIA inspired conspiracies.

And, of course, there are the celebrities that become instant metaphors of our time and place- for good and bad: George Floyd, Harvey Weinstein, Geoffrey Epstein, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, Prince Andrew, Taylor Swift, Martin Luther King et al

Tennis, thankfully, for many positive reasons has had players that have been emphatically emblematic of their times and of their pace. . The US Open will be played at the Billie-Jean King Tennis Centre. Billie-Jean radicalised the game and the perception of women’s tennis forever. She was the game’s ultimate feminist par excellence fighting for women on the court in the 1970s as Friedan, Greer and Steinem fought for women off the court. Think of Navratilova, the Cold War defector fighting for liberty and sexual freedom.

Think of McEnroe who captured the brawling, raw zeitgeist of a 1980s New Yorker.

Think of Federer who epitomised Swiss elegance sweeping players off the court with his bespoke and perfectly timed strokes. Think of Edberg with his supreme backhand and refined sportsmanship. As clean and orderly as the Nordic countries. Think of Nadal, the swaggering matador, willing to die on court to prove his mettle. Spanish stamina and grit exemplified. Think of the German pairing of Graf and Becker whose force of shot and sheer precociousness was astonishing. Much like Wagner’s triumphant nationalist music.

Yet sometimes the less dramatic, less permanent jolts are equally sobering. Last week, I lost the lid of a fountain pen that a student had presented to me in 1999. It is impossible to think of how many essays  and examinations have been corrected by that pen. Fortunately, I can still use the pen, now having to dip its nib into water to promote the flow of ink. Still basically intact, but not quite whole.

In many ways, this is the state of the body politic around the world. People see it ostensibly functioning but are increasingly anxious about its integrity and efficacy.

A quick review:

Australia- the nation’s debt has reached a trillion dollars and real wages for those outside employed outside the public service are declining. Many still struggle to purchase a home and those who have a mortgaged home are suddenly worried about incurring the invidious position of negative equity. Insidious social divisions, many of which are not the type not normally associated with Australia continue to contaminate, especially the scourge of anti-semitism.

Britain- its new Prime Minister seems no more competent and confident than the many have recently come before him. National concerns about immigration and economic opportunity are seemingly insoluble. The saga of the life and times of Jason Arday- Cambridge’s youngest ever black Professor who resigned over allegations of plagiarism and deceit and then took his life claiming systemic racial and institutional bullying against him- speaks of a society divided about its priorities, principles and, more worryingly, its sense of community.

So many social fault lines, so many cultural tripwires. Preferred pronouns and triggering words are just the start of it.  And now Harry and Meghan are wishing to return from their self-imposed exile in America, which is more than his great-great-Uncle Edward VIII was able to do after marrying his American divorcee.

Continental Europe-The running sore of illegal immigration across countries continues. The EU dream of free and humanitarian European citizenship seems all but dead.

America- In a year when celebrating the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was arguably a chance for national renewal, America seems trapped in a perpetual political brawl of its own making. The polarity of the Trump/anti-Trump camps is more pronounced than ever. Internationally, America seems unconcerned about alienating its allies, across the border and the Atlantic.  Whatever foreign policy direction Trump is taking his country it is not resolving conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Oh, and let’s not forget that America’s debt has now passed 40 trillion. Not even Elon and his Meta mates can fix that problem.

Middle Eastern and Latin American politics as febrile as ever, with natural disasters adding to the woes of life in Colombia and Venezuela.

Few of the world’s leaders seem worthy of the pantheon. Cometh the hour, where are the required leaders?

The Anglosphere stumbles along, but few would argue that the citizenry believes that these are the best of its days.  Still basically intact, but not quite whole. And who amongst us is not a little concerned that AI may be bringing changes to our daily lives as profound as those wrought by the machinery of  the Industrial Revolution?

Deep in the Southern hemisphere and not as directly touched by the world’s flashpoints, Australians have often turned to sport for necessary diversion and entertainment.  After all, it can provide a rush of carefree adrenalin.

Now, even this carefree pleasure has been blighted. Events of recent days have left many bilious and bewildered. Last weekend a group of elite footballers from the Sydney Swans Australian Football club were involved in an all-night drinking, possibly drug fuelled, night of debauchery to which exotic dancers were invited. Despite all the righteous assurances that ‘toxic masculinity’ has been conquered, all evidence appears to the contrary. It is still possible that charges of sexual assault may be laid arising from the night’s activities.

Naturally, Australia’s Prime Minister piously puffed in Parliament about the need for all women to feel safe, respected and protected. This from a man who objectified the Japanese Prime Minister as a sex object and happily discussed on radio who he would like to shag.

Now there’s respect for women for you.

Nick Kyrgios will not be participating in this year’s US Open because he has tested positive for cocaine use. He may never take to a tennis court again. Kyrgios took to social media to issue an ingratiatingly shallow mea culpa asking people to consider how difficult it has been for him to accept the demise of his tennis career.  A missed opportunity of entirely of his own making. Crass, boorish, indulgent, and indolent -who can really be sympathetic for his lack of responsibility?

So, who will win the US Open? Alcaraz missed Wimbledon and Sinner was triumphant. Now an injured Sinner must miss the US Open. Can Alcaraz, as the defending champion, retain his crown after a protracted absence? Can an American player- Fritz, Paul, Shelton, or Nakashima- win the title? No doubt Novak believes he can! Zverev  has struggled since winning the French Open.

The defending Women’s champion is Sabalenka. Her form since Wimbledon, has been true to her word about wanting to quit tennis after her London loss to Osaka. Sabalenka has since lost to lowly ranked players in lead up events in Montreal and Cincinnati. Swiatek has regained her swagger but still oddly stumbles and loses to her inferiors, Rybakina is injured, and Gauff still coughs up too many service errors, but not enough to lose to Pegula in the Cincinnati final.  How far will the unlikely Wimbledon champion, Noskova, progress?

After a long hot European summer, an enervating New York summer awaits the game’s best players. For the rest of us considering the world’s dilemmas, we are enervated enough already! May this year’s champions provide some inspiration and sustenance!