Dear Language Enthusiast, Welcome to the Portuguese Monthly, the Internet newsletter from Transparent Language. In this issue, we look at the exciting world of sports. Examining the traditions and pageantry surrounding competitive sports offers a fascinating window into the very soul of a culture. Even if you are not a sports fanatic, I’m sure you’ll find this month’s article both intriguing and helpful in building your language skills. Sincerely, Transparent Language www.transparent.com Em português: O tenista brasileiro Gustavo Kuerten comemorava seu segundo título no French Open cedo demais. Ele achava que já tinha vencido e até aproximou-se da rede para cumprimentar seu oponente, mas Magnus Noman, da Suécia, que não iria desistir tão facilmente, contestou o que parecia ser a última decisão do árbitro no torneio. Para a surpresa de todos, o árbitro revogou a decisão do árbitro de linha, e aquela bola, uma poderosa back hand que todos pensaram ter ido fora, aparentemente tocou a linha. Até aquele momento, o jogo tinha sido lento e Kuerten demonstrava que o título poderia ser dele sem muito esforço. Entretanto, a partir daquele momento, a final masculina do French Open tornou-se mais excitante, pois Norman usou esta oportunidade para desafiar Kuerten e tentar salvar o jogo. Depois da controvertida decisão, Kuerten desperdiçou muitas chances, perdendo pontos importantes, falhando repetidamente em arrematar o jogo. Norman ainda estava atrás, mas continuou segurando o jogo. Recuperou-se e empatou o set em 6-6, forçando um tie-breaker. Guga, como este magro tenista é chamado por seus fãs, deve ter sentido que a vitória estava em risco. Estava fisicamente exausto. Além de estar sentindo fortes dores nas costas, as conseqüências dos dois últimos jogos, nos quais cinco sets foram jogados na mais alta intensidade, começaram a afetá-lo. Seus seguidores continuavam a animá-lo. Mas o apoio confiante tornou- se mais e mais ansioso com o passar dos segundos. Finalmente, o suspense acabou. Durante o tie-breaker de 6-6, Kuerten assegurou os dois pontos finais e venceu o French Open. Os fãs brasileiros explodiram com o seu típico grito de "Gu-GA, Gu-GA", dançando e comemorando ao som de tambores, geralmente usados em grandes estádios de futebol com times como Flamengo e Corinthians. O jogo tinha acabado finalmente, e Guga venceu a partida em três horas e quarenta e quatro minutos. "Estou tão feliz de estar aqui novamente, disse Gustavo Kuerten, 23, olhando para a multidão na cerimônia de entrega do troféu do título já conquistado por ele em 1997. Aceitou seu cheque do prêmio de $600.000 e pulou a arquibancada para abraçar um membro da audiência especial, Carlos de Almeida Braga, banqueiro brasileiro que tem apoiado e patrocinado repetidamente jovens talentos. O centro da quadra estava coberto com bandeiras verdes, amarelas e azuis que Kuerten e seus conterrâneos agitavam no ar. Com esta proeza, Kuerten passa para a primeira posição no ranking da ATP, deslocando nomes conhecidos como Andre Agassi e Pete Sampras. Brasileiros no mundo inteiro ficaram orgulhosos, pois seu conterrâneo Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten tornou-se o melhor do mundo. In English: Brazilian tennis star Gustavo Kuerten began to celebrate his second French Open title a little too soon. He thought he had won and had even approached the net to shake his opponent’s hand, but his opponent, Magnus Norman from Sweden, who was not about to give up that easily, contested what seemed to be the umpire’s final call of the tournament. To everyone’s surprise, the umpire overruled the linesman’s call, and that ball, that powerful back- hand that most people thought was out, had apparently touched the side-line. Until that moment, the game had been rather dull, and Kuerten had demonstrated that the Title would come to him without much effort. However, from that point on, the men’s final of the French Open became very exciting because Norman used this opportunity to challenge Kuerten and try to salvage the game. After the controversial call, Kuerten kept missing chances, losing important points, failing repeatedly to clinch the match. Norman was still behind, but kept the game dragging on. He came back to tie the set 6-6 and forced a tie-breaker. "Guga," as this lanky Brazilian tennis player is known by his fans, must have felt that his victories were in jeopardy. He was physically exhausted. Apart from feeling a strong pain in his back, the consequences of the past two games, in which five sets were played to the highest intensity, began to effect him. His followers continued to cheer him on, but their otherwise confident support became more and more anxious as the seconds passed. Finally the suspense came to an end. During the tie- break, at 6-6, Kuerten secured the final two points and won the French Open. The Brazilian fans exploded with their typical "Gu-GA, Gu-GA" chants, dancing and celebrating to the beat of the steel drums usually found at gigantic stadiums featuring Brazilian soccer teams like Flamengo and Corinthians. The game was finally over and "Guga" won the match in a total of three hours and forty-four minutes. "I am so happy to be here once again," said the 23- year-old Gustavo Kuerten as he faced the crowd at the trophy ceremony of a Title he had attained once before in 1997. He accepted his $600,000 winner's check and climbed over the seats to embrace one specific audience member, a Brazilian banking pal named Carlos de Almeida Braga who repeatedly sponsors and supports the young talent. Center court was covered by the green, yellow, and blue flags that Kuerten and his fellow countrymen waved up and down in the air. Upon that feat, Kuerten moved to the top position in the ATP ranking, displacing household names such as Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. Brazilians all over the world were proud because that day their very own Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten became the best in the world. --Written by Ilán Greenfield --Translated by Katia Parker

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