Rudy Coco!

Who'd have thought it?

Rudy Coco!

Let the name ring out.

On Sunday evening, Rudy Coco was crowned Senegal F1 champion 2007.

Rudy Coco!

By the semi-finals the tournament really came to life. Rudy Coco overcame Komvali Loglo 3-6 6-3 7-6(4) in a terrific match. No one thought Coco had a chance, but through sheer determination and guts, he achieved the impossible and broke Loglo's cool. During the second set after a call went against him, Loglo demanded that the Eagle-Eye system was removed and shot. The crowd turned against him, and Coco surged through on a wave of their support.  The Coco Pops sung and danced through the Dakar streets well into the morning.

Rudy Coco!

In the other semi, Sanon had an equally epic match with Charlie Villeneuve, edging it 3-6 6-4 7-6(3).  Ever the joker, Villeneuve got into trouble with the umpire, when it was found he'd been sprinkling the court with jelly babies.  Villeneuve said it was just a bit of fun, but the agitation it produced between the two players, was something we never like to see in tennis.

So Rudy Coco was in the final.  Again, Coco was the massive outsider.  But, for the second successive year, Sanon lost the final in a deciding set.  Rudy Coco won 7-5 6-7(4) 6-4.  On achieving his lifes ambition of becoming Senegal F1 champion, Coco was completely overcome with joy, he sunk to his knees, then seconds later danced a little jig, he thanked his mum, did some juggling, type-roped walked across the stand to show his appreciation to his coach, hugged his dad, squirted his brother in the face with a squirty-flower, swung through a hoop back down to the court, which he then parading around honking his car-horn at his baying fans, did a TV interview, and whilst playing Liberty Bell on the kazoo, left the arena in a collapsing comedy car.

What a star!

Rudy Coco!

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So ends another Senegal F1.  SBC1 have just played all the funniest bits to music, which I always love.  Another chance to see Loglo's entrances, the Coco Pops falling in the Dakar Fountain, Charlie Villeneuve pulling his shorts down at the umpire, Sanon's anti-custard T-shirts, the infamous Gregory Gumbs' Gallop, Andi Rook playfully whacking Tap Hacs over the head with his microphone, and Rudy Coco chucking buckets of water over his adoring fans.  It brings back the whole grandeur of these magnificent championships!

The world of tennis is succumbed with joy; stuck on a red nose; and now is practicing his custard pie throwing technique (with strawberries).

Bring me sunshine.  Bring me joy.  Bring me the head of the STA.

Goodbye.





-- Edited by Akhenaten at 14:18, 2007-09-17