STROKES OF GENIUS

As the match unfolded and evolved into a classic, there was less and less talking. In the various Centre Court broadcast booths, commentators let long measures elapse without saying a word. John McEnroe, not generally known-or, for that matter, hired- for his restraint, sometimes spoke so seldom that viewers could be forgiven for checking to see whethe they'd inadvertedly activated the mute-button. As McEnroe would later recall, "Nadal and Federer were so eloquent out there with their tennis, I mean, what were any of us going to add?"