It’s the week of the World Tour Finals which marks the end of the tennis season. Time for an annual ritual which has been going on ever since I was at primary school. During the year I write down the winner of every men’s singles tournament. Early records are in school exercise books in my best handwriting accompanied with crayon drawings. I later progressed onto spreadsheets. I always end with a final entry about something memorable that has happened to me that year. The life changing events are all there. Changing schools, starting work, special holidays, getting married, moving house.
Tennis and cancer have been intertwined throughout this year for me. The season started in January in Brisbane. There was no enjoyment in Andy Murray’s win as it happened on the same day as the announcement that the player Ross Hutchins had been diagnosed with cancer. I remember the shock I felt when I heard the news. I recall saying to someone that I couldn’t imagine what the poor lad and his family must be going through. Little did I know I was very soon going to get a pretty good idea.
I was diagnosed after the Australian Open. I recovered from my first operation by watching Indian Wells and from the second one by watching Monte Carlo. Started my radiotherapy and chemo during Queens week. Wimbledon came along right in the middle of my treatment. I watched most of it on the TV in the waiting room of the Oncology Department or the one on the Chemo Ward. Fortunately I was at home on my sofa for the final. Then the US Open took my mind off my struggles with my recovery.
So what are my strongest memories of 2013? I’m surprisingly pleased to discover that they aren’t haunted by cancer. I’ll never forget the experience but when I look back the memories are all positive. All the friends I have made on this site. The kindness of the hospital staff and my transport drivers. All the wonderful patients I encountered at the hospital and the conversations we had. It was a honour and privilege to meet you all, but what sticks out in my mind is the gentleman who enthusiastically shared his childhood memory of Fred Perry winning Wimbledon in 1936.
So that’s why there will be no mention of cancer when I make my entry for this year’s memorable event. 2013 – The year Andy Murray won Wimbledon.
