I Just Read About That…

[READ: August 27, 2009] “Perfect Match”

This is my second un-“regular” Infinite Jest-related post this week (it’s getting a little out of hand).

I would normally not read a 6 page article about doubles tennis.  But, since we’re in the midst of a heated tennis battle between Hal and Stice, it seemed like mandatory reading.

First off, Burkhart Bilger (wonderfully near-fictional name notwithstanding) is no David Foster Wallace.  While his writing style is much more streamlined, I feel that his passion for tennis is not quite as strong.

Nevertheless, the article was really fascinating.  It’s not available online, but the abstract is here.  I was particularly struck by the explanation that a good doubles game can only help your singles game.  Singles has become very baseline dominated, while in doubles there is a lot more running to the net, giving for broader skills.

Of course, the more IJ-related stuff concerns a) eating.  Bob Bryan says that if he eats just three meals he will lose 3-5 pounds in a day (!) and b) the synchronicity of twins during doubles.

Okay, but let’s back up.  Bob and Mike Bryan are identical twins who have been playing tennis since they were 4.  Their mother, Kathy, was a national champion at 15 and a mixed doubles finalist at Wimbledon, and their father, Wayne, was the top player at UC Santa Barbara.  The boys were very successful at singles (interestingly Bob was noticeably bigger and faster, which must say something about twin physiognomy.  They started playing as a doubles team exclusively a few years ago (and they are fantastic).  They have almost single handedly revived the doubles circuit which was seriously losing fans (and even top rated players).

And so, the article talks about their near psychic connection on the court.  Of course, I immediately thought of IJ‘s Vaught Siamese twins (conjoined at the head).  And then, in the middle of the article we get this (Technically this isn’t a proper quote since I pastisched it from several sections, but it looks better this way).  It concerns another set of identical twins who are also quote exceptional.

Earlier this year, in San Jose, the Ratiwatna [twins] played the Bryans in the first match of identical twins in tour history.  And Bud Collins [(sports columnist and television commentator) had this to say about] the Ratiwatnas, “They’re from Thailand, so I guess you could call them Siamese.”

Serendipity is fun.