Madam, - In an era when competitiveness is the watchword, it was heart-lifting and inspiring to witness an example of genuine competition last Sunday. I refer to the Wimbledon men's final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, where each man wore his heart out, but each could respect the other's success. That is an ideal worth cultivating. Also apt for our times is the Kipling quotation that is inscribed at Wimbledon: "If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same. . ." - Yours, etc,
JOE CASEY,
Beechfield Road,
Dublin 12.
****
Madam, - Your coverage of the Wimbledon Championships in Monday's edition includes the statement that "Nadal joins Borg, Rod Laver and Andre Agassi as the only players to have won grand slams on clay and grass in the Open era". That list should also include Mats Wilander, who won the Australian Open in 1983, 1984 and 1988. The first two of these wins occurred when the Australian Open was still played on grass at Kooyong, Sydney, before the move to hard courts in Melbourne.
Wilander won the French Open in 1982, 1985 and 1988 as well as the 1988 US Open. Although he never won Wimbledon he is one of the few players to have "won grand slams on clay and grass in the Open era". - Yours, etc,
GARRY O'REILLY,
Barcelona,
Spain.
****
Madam, - The Wimbledon singles finals of 2008 will always live on in the memories of those of us who love the special game of lawn tennis. What a privilege it was to watch players such as the Williams sisters, Federer and Nadal, with such talent, dedication and positive attitudes.
Tennis may have become highly professionalised, but somehow these ambassadors for the sport still manage to show what is at its core: incredible skill, self-belief and passion. - Yours , etc,
JEAN TUBRIDY,
Tramore,
Co Waterford.