I stopped for a brief second on 1400 The Ref this morning as I was driving to work because I heard my good buddy Berry Tramel lamenting the appeal of professional tennis.

He's not usually on in the mornings, and he's not really my good buddy although I do e-mail him often and respect the heck out of his writing. He's the best sports columnist I've ever read, and I've read plenty.

Nevertheless, I suspect this radio thing was an ad of some sort or a promo to his regular show, The Writer's Block, which frankly is a joy to listen to when I get the chance, which is not often. In the ad, Tramel referenced Bjorn and Johnny Mac, Jimmy Connors, Vitas Gerulaitis and even Ilie Nastase to expose just how Pong-like modern professional tennis had become.

Professional tennis, he said, had become a bore in this the modern age, the 21st century -- and for three hours I agreed with him.

But then, on the women's side of the Wimbledon bracket this morning, 7th-seeded Serena Williams was felled by a cramp, an acute muscle spasm in her calf. In the second set, up one set but tied at 5-5 in the second, Serena collapsed to the ground.

Later, we were told by her father, Richard Williams, that she was advised to not continue for fear of a career-ending injury. I was certain she would have to retire.

Serena got back up and in what was a really tough to watch sequence, she just hopped around and meekly swatted at balls as if her entire body had given up. Somehow, she managed to tie things at 6-6 before heading to a tiebreaker.

Well, six points into that, and rain started falling. Serena had caught a major break and had enough time to rest, get hydrated, get some ice on her calf and come back out and kick Daniela Hantuchova's hide.

However, it wasn't going to be that easy it turns out. Some two hours later, Serena came out, promptly whiffed on an Hantuchova ace, and we were headed to a third set.

She didn't look like the former No. 1 with eight grand slam titles, the champ who won her first professional title right here in Oklahoma City in 1998, a doubles title.

But then she channeled Jimmy Connors with plenty of fist pumps and shouts of "C'mon!" She outwilled her opponent to win by a surprisingly wide margin, 6-2, in the third.

I can't say that I know a ton about Serena or that I've followed her career. But, I do know that she's an American woman whose color and shape probably presented more of a challenge for her than any of these petite, angelic European babes.

In that regard, considering the injury, I found myself engrossed in her effort, inspired and motivated to a certain extent.

According to ESPN.com writer Bonnie DeSimone, Serena said: ""I just decided at one point, you know, it was over and I was going to die trying. I figured my heart wouldn't give out, so I had a good chance of making it."

Most would say Serena doesn't stand a chance against current world No. 1 Justine Henin -- and who knows, most could be right.

However, look back at Jimmy Connors' 1991 U.S. Open run or Goran's Wimbledon win in 2001.

When professional tennis is at its best, at its most inspirational, at its most motivational, it doesn't matter if the sport is on the upswing or in the depth of a popularity valley -- it's still at the top of the sports drama heap.

Serena might not win another match at Wimbledon this year. Nevertheless, her match on Monday will be relived for years for her sheer guts.

But just think if she goes on to win this bugger.