August 21, 2013
Sharapova Out of U.S. Open With Shoulder Injury
By REUTERS
(Reuters) - Third seeded Maria Sharapova has pulled out of next week's U.S. Open due to a shoulder injury, tournament organizers said on Wednesday.
"Maria has informed us that she will be unable to compete at the US Open this year due to a right shoulder bursitis and has withdrawn from the tournament," tournament director David Brewer said in a statement.
"We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year."
(Reporting By Simon Evans, editing by Nick Mulvenney)
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Maria Sharapova Withdraws From US Open
BREAKING NEWS
Monday, August 19, 2013
The Rear View Mirror - Western & Southern Open
by Savannah
Before we talk about yesterdays matches let's look at stats of the two finalists posted by Bobby Chintapalli
That's what makes yesterdays outcome inevitable. Emphasis mine.
Now don't get me wrong. The third set of that match, Serena playing on fumes but still trying to figure out how to get a win, Azarenka, the much fresher of the two, hanging tough and countering Serena's every move with one of her own, was one of the best we've seen played on the WTA tour this year. Azarenka deserved the win and while coach Patrick Mouratoglou had already said Serena had a lot of matches on her Serena would never use that as an excuse.
Picture via Reuters
But you know what was the best part of the match for me? No on court coaching. Sam Sumyk, Azarenka's coach, was very close and would've come if summoned but he wasn't. Patrick was sitting a few rows up but he knew he wouldn't get the call. This is what tennis is supposed to be. Two people across the net from each other each one trying to out smart the other. No one flying out of the stands to talk to his or her seemingly disinterested charge while she towels off, checks her nails or sips at her water. Two sweaty, somewhat disheveled athletes who happen to be female, battling to win a prize that would be a first for both of them. It was a great match for a tennis fan. It was a great match for women's tennis. Too bad so many fans did not hang around to see it.
Picture via Reuters
The mens final was a bit different in tone and meaning. John Isner, who will be in the top twenty starting Monday August 19, is the only US player who seems to really, really care about how he plays. He's changed his game from one of just mindless ball bashing and added some subtlety, even some movement into his play. And yes, he shows some emotion.
The only thing that bothers me about Isner is his aversion to playing overseas because he's uncomfortable. He can't eat what he likes. And darn it they speak other languages. Even the British form of English isn't what he's used to. How many times did the comms say that he plays better in the States because he likes it here? How many times did they say he can eat what he likes here? I guess it's me. When someone is college educated I expect them to have a broader outlook, to want to see the world on its terms not on his or her narrow perspective.
I don't think I ever heard Andy Roddick say something so silly. Everyone prefers the food they grew up with but if you travel you know you are going to have to eat the way the natives of the country you're visiting eat. If this is the attitude of United States players we're going to be happy to be in the top 20 for a long time.
For Rafael Nadal can I say winning that match at a venue where he's never played well, on a surface that his detractors said he'd never play well on, can only be seen as a triumph? "They" wanted him to have surgery. He didn't. "They" said he wouldn't play Cincinnati because back to back hard court tournaments would not be good for him. "They" questioned whether he'd ever be at the top of the game again.
But even the commentators had to give him his due. They talked about how he adjusts to what the player across the net is doing. They talked about his patience. They had no choice. For Rafa fans this is nothing new. It's how the man plays. I don't know why comms based in the States always act surprised that Rafa can think. They do the same thing when it comes to Serena though don't they?
Miscellany
This selfie, courtesy of @Marion_Bartoli, perhaps gives a hint as to why Marion felt she was physically unable to continue to play tennis. But don't weep for the Maiden. She's got a gig commentating for Eurosport and will start next week covering the US Open. Life goes on.
Before we talk about yesterdays matches let's look at stats of the two finalists posted by Bobby Chintapalli
That's what makes yesterdays outcome inevitable. Emphasis mine.
“Entering the Cincinnati final, Williams is 29-2 on hard court so far this season, and Azarenka is 24-1.” This little tidbit is why I’m completely against the tennis habit of not counting withdrawals as losses, particularly when a player has already played a match in a tournament. When you read quote above, you’d think Azarenka has only lost one hard court match all year, right? You’d think she’d have won a bunch of titles, given the sheer number of wins. But no – she’s won only two (one of which is the Australian Open). That hardly equals to 24 wins and just one loss.
Now don't get me wrong. The third set of that match, Serena playing on fumes but still trying to figure out how to get a win, Azarenka, the much fresher of the two, hanging tough and countering Serena's every move with one of her own, was one of the best we've seen played on the WTA tour this year. Azarenka deserved the win and while coach Patrick Mouratoglou had already said Serena had a lot of matches on her Serena would never use that as an excuse.
Picture via Reuters
But you know what was the best part of the match for me? No on court coaching. Sam Sumyk, Azarenka's coach, was very close and would've come if summoned but he wasn't. Patrick was sitting a few rows up but he knew he wouldn't get the call. This is what tennis is supposed to be. Two people across the net from each other each one trying to out smart the other. No one flying out of the stands to talk to his or her seemingly disinterested charge while she towels off, checks her nails or sips at her water. Two sweaty, somewhat disheveled athletes who happen to be female, battling to win a prize that would be a first for both of them. It was a great match for a tennis fan. It was a great match for women's tennis. Too bad so many fans did not hang around to see it.
Picture via Reuters
The mens final was a bit different in tone and meaning. John Isner, who will be in the top twenty starting Monday August 19, is the only US player who seems to really, really care about how he plays. He's changed his game from one of just mindless ball bashing and added some subtlety, even some movement into his play. And yes, he shows some emotion.
The only thing that bothers me about Isner is his aversion to playing overseas because he's uncomfortable. He can't eat what he likes. And darn it they speak other languages. Even the British form of English isn't what he's used to. How many times did the comms say that he plays better in the States because he likes it here? How many times did they say he can eat what he likes here? I guess it's me. When someone is college educated I expect them to have a broader outlook, to want to see the world on its terms not on his or her narrow perspective.
I don't think I ever heard Andy Roddick say something so silly. Everyone prefers the food they grew up with but if you travel you know you are going to have to eat the way the natives of the country you're visiting eat. If this is the attitude of United States players we're going to be happy to be in the top 20 for a long time.
For Rafael Nadal can I say winning that match at a venue where he's never played well, on a surface that his detractors said he'd never play well on, can only be seen as a triumph? "They" wanted him to have surgery. He didn't. "They" said he wouldn't play Cincinnati because back to back hard court tournaments would not be good for him. "They" questioned whether he'd ever be at the top of the game again.
But even the commentators had to give him his due. They talked about how he adjusts to what the player across the net is doing. They talked about his patience. They had no choice. For Rafa fans this is nothing new. It's how the man plays. I don't know why comms based in the States always act surprised that Rafa can think. They do the same thing when it comes to Serena though don't they?
Miscellany
This selfie, courtesy of @Marion_Bartoli, perhaps gives a hint as to why Marion felt she was physically unable to continue to play tennis. But don't weep for the Maiden. She's got a gig commentating for Eurosport and will start next week covering the US Open. Life goes on.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Well That Didn't Take Long
By Savannah
Photo via AP
Well that didn't take long at all. The deal IMG cobbled together putting Jimmy Connors in charge of Maria Sharapova's tennis future has already fallen apart.
News reports out of Britain say she fired the American after her error strewn loss to Sloane Stephens at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
ESPN UK reports the following:
It also seems rumors were floating around Twitter yesterday that Connors was being paid $20,000 a week under the terms of the contract.
Oh well. It was a stunt meant to give Connors some quick cash and, in my opinion was never serious. It's going to be interesting to see whether Sharapova hires someone to help steer her through the US Open or whether she'll fly solo at a major.
Stay Tuned.
The article, by Neil Harman , reporting the firing is behind a paywall. Here is as much of the article as can be had by me.
Lots of folks on Twitter were saying they didn't believe that Pova had dumped Connors and wouldn't until Neil Harman confirmed his own story via a Tweet. I hope this works for them.
The bigger question for me is why the story broke in London and not in the United States? Surely there are well paid tennis journalists in this country who still know how to do basic reporting so why have they been silent about this story that broke early on Friday morning London time? Could it be that they're too close to the story, that they wait for their sources to give them the okay to release information and don't do what a reporter is supposed to do, track down a story and publish letting the chips fall where they may?
This is a huge tennis story and one that will continue for a few day's. I'm sure all the "journalists" will start leaking "inside information" momentarily.
Is there irony in this story? You betcha. As I'm sure you recall Pova's former coach dumped the woman he was coaching online. Pova unceremoniously dumped him saying he didn't want to travel while stories surfaced almost at once that he was going to work with Caroline Wozniacki. Then with everything just short of a brass band attending the announcement Jimmy Connors ascended the throne. The choir of angels was otherwise engaged. Heads were scratched. Some called it a sham. And the debut of the new pair was eagerly awaited. If this had been a wedding you could say the bride was left at the altar.
It's not going to be said by too many professional tennis people but fans are already saying that what happened in Sharapova's loss to Sloane Stephens is that she has lost the ability to think her way out of trouble, to adjust. And that, in my opinion, is the direct result of on court coaching. Every time the going gets tough a WTA player, all except one, look into the stands for their guru who makes a beeline to her side to tell her what to do.
Some will argue that Sharapova has never had a Plan B, that all she knows how to do is hit hard and harder - mindless ball bashing - and that is a valid perspective. She's also been prone to the yips most of her career, and her movement, while improved, is not and never will be great.
As it stands right now, as I type this, Maria Sharapova is going to play the US Open without a coach. Will Daddy come back? Will she beg Thomas Högstedt to come back? Would he say yes?
Get your popcorn ready.
Photo via AP
Well that didn't take long at all. The deal IMG cobbled together putting Jimmy Connors in charge of Maria Sharapova's tennis future has already fallen apart.
News reports out of Britain say she fired the American after her error strewn loss to Sloane Stephens at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
ESPN UK reports the following:
Maria Sharapova has dispensed with the services of coach Jimmy Connors - after only one match and a handful of practice sessions.
The Times reports that Sharapova made the call on Wednesday hours after her second-round loss to Sloane Stephens in the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
Connors was shown more than once shaking his head courtside as Sharapova lost in an error-strewn performance and he left the venue within minutes of the end of the match.
It will leave Sharapova without anyone in her corner going into the US Open and she is certain to face a barrage of questions as to what went wrong.
Connors' only previous coaching experience came when he partnered with Andy Roddick for a little over a year from 2006 but he found it hard to make an impact in what was essentially a part-time role.
It also seems rumors were floating around Twitter yesterday that Connors was being paid $20,000 a week under the terms of the contract.
Oh well. It was a stunt meant to give Connors some quick cash and, in my opinion was never serious. It's going to be interesting to see whether Sharapova hires someone to help steer her through the US Open or whether she'll fly solo at a major.
Stay Tuned.
UPDATE
The article, by Neil Harman , reporting the firing is behind a paywall. Here is as much of the article as can be had by me.
It seems as if it was not much fun while it lasted. Maria Sharapova’s experiment of bringing Jimmy Connors, winner of eight grand-slam titles, in to coach her is believed to have involved a single defeat and a few practice sessions before the player decided it was not going to work.
It is understood a call was made to the former world No 1 yesterday saying that Sharapova’s loss to Sloane Stephens in the second round of the Western & Southern Open was the first and also last straw.
UPDATE #2
Lots of folks on Twitter were saying they didn't believe that Pova had dumped Connors and wouldn't until Neil Harman confirmed his own story via a Tweet. I hope this works for them.
Neil Harman @NeilHarmanTimes
Max Eisenbud, Maria Sharapova's agent, confirms story in @TheTimes this morning that Maria and Jimmy Connors have split after 1 match
The bigger question for me is why the story broke in London and not in the United States? Surely there are well paid tennis journalists in this country who still know how to do basic reporting so why have they been silent about this story that broke early on Friday morning London time? Could it be that they're too close to the story, that they wait for their sources to give them the okay to release information and don't do what a reporter is supposed to do, track down a story and publish letting the chips fall where they may?
This is a huge tennis story and one that will continue for a few day's. I'm sure all the "journalists" will start leaking "inside information" momentarily.
Is there irony in this story? You betcha. As I'm sure you recall Pova's former coach dumped the woman he was coaching online. Pova unceremoniously dumped him saying he didn't want to travel while stories surfaced almost at once that he was going to work with Caroline Wozniacki. Then with everything just short of a brass band attending the announcement Jimmy Connors ascended the throne. The choir of angels was otherwise engaged. Heads were scratched. Some called it a sham. And the debut of the new pair was eagerly awaited. If this had been a wedding you could say the bride was left at the altar.
It's not going to be said by too many professional tennis people but fans are already saying that what happened in Sharapova's loss to Sloane Stephens is that she has lost the ability to think her way out of trouble, to adjust. And that, in my opinion, is the direct result of on court coaching. Every time the going gets tough a WTA player, all except one, look into the stands for their guru who makes a beeline to her side to tell her what to do.
Some will argue that Sharapova has never had a Plan B, that all she knows how to do is hit hard and harder - mindless ball bashing - and that is a valid perspective. She's also been prone to the yips most of her career, and her movement, while improved, is not and never will be great.
As it stands right now, as I type this, Maria Sharapova is going to play the US Open without a coach. Will Daddy come back? Will she beg Thomas Högstedt to come back? Would he say yes?
Get your popcorn ready.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
"I Just Can't Do It Anymore"
by Savannah
With those words the reigning Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli of France retired from tennis.
After retiring from a match in Toronto down 0-5, and losing to Simona Halep 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli of France walked into her post match presser and after speaking those words retired from tennis effective immediately.
Ben Rothenberg quotes Marion as saying the following:
I understand.
Marion looked woefully out of shape in Toronto. I won't go so far as to say she was disheveled but she was close to it. She was gasping for air and looked to be nauseous. We can make all the snide remarks we want about her weight, her antics on court, there's a lot of material there but in the end I think it came down to being able to compete.
No one expected Marion to win Wimbledon but she played whoever stood across the net from her and ended up hoisting the Venus Rosewater Dish. She was Marion fit. Not a skinny Minnie but light enough to get around and play grass court tennis. That was not the Marion we saw in Toronto. I can't say much about her match against Halep because it was not on Center Court and the only women's matches with live coverage so far have been on that court in Cincinnati.
But that's another story for another day.
Let's not forget the withering battles Marion and her father Dr. Walter Bartoli fought with the French Tennis Federation (FFT). Or her inability to get a clothing contract until recently. What's sad is that Amélie Mauresmo seemed to be able to mediate between the warring parties and succeed in getting Marion back into the good graces of the FFT.
But with success Marion had to face the fact that she wasn't going to get a draw like she did at Wimbledon again. I won't say never would have, but it was going to be awhile. Marion had also said that it's easier to be the hunter than the hunted, and after winning Wimbledon, as Petra Kvitova has found out, you are the hunted. And everyone, competitor or not, is not able to deal with the pressures that brings.
Earlier this year Marion was casually munching a Twix candy bar during a changeover. That was not going to be tolerated any more. She's 28 now and all the exercises she and her father concocted to help her be as strong as she could with her weight, all the quirks that made Marion Marion, were going to have to be cut back. I'd say that she was already doing less of that.
Then there were the coaching changes. It seemed for awhile there that every couple of weeks she had a new coach. That is never a good sign. To me it means there is instability somewhere, that the player doesn't have anyone around to take on the world for them so that they can focus on their tennis.
There were also signs that maybe some of the problems off court were more personal and involved the man she had leaned on all of her life. To talk about that is speculation though and that is not what this post is about.
Maybe when she's had time to process things, when whatever is stopping her from being the best she can be on court has been settled in her mind she will want to come back to tennis. Some are saying that that is what will happen. I've had no personal contact with the woman so I don't know if she'll want to come back. It would be nice to see a happy, focused woman come back not the one who was so distraught after a loss she retired.
I don't think this was a hasty decision. I know last week she was saying all the right things about belonging on a tennis court and that she wanted to play a tune up or two before the US Open but what was she really thinking? No one knows except Marion and her family.
I wish her well. I hope that she finds some kind of peace within herself. She's got the money and now the leisure time to lay on a pink sand beach somewhere and study her navel. Maybe put that brain of hers to work by going back to school. The world is hers. In today's world not too many 28 year olds can say that.
If she comes back, fine. If she doesn't, that's fine too.
With those words the reigning Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli of France retired from tennis.
After retiring from a match in Toronto down 0-5, and losing to Simona Halep 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli of France walked into her post match presser and after speaking those words retired from tennis effective immediately.
Ben Rothenberg quotes Marion as saying the following:
I’ve been already through a lot of injuries since the beginning of the year. I’ve been on the tour for so long, and I really push through and leave it all during that Wimbledon.”
She continued: “I really felt I gave all the energy I have left inside my body. I made my dream a reality, and it will stay forever with me, but now my body just can’t cope with everything. I have pain everywhere after 45 minutes or an hour of play. I’ve been doing this for so long, and, yeah, it’s just body-wise, I just can’t do it anymore.
(...)
Her eyes were red with tears when she made the announcement.
I understand.
Marion looked woefully out of shape in Toronto. I won't go so far as to say she was disheveled but she was close to it. She was gasping for air and looked to be nauseous. We can make all the snide remarks we want about her weight, her antics on court, there's a lot of material there but in the end I think it came down to being able to compete.
No one expected Marion to win Wimbledon but she played whoever stood across the net from her and ended up hoisting the Venus Rosewater Dish. She was Marion fit. Not a skinny Minnie but light enough to get around and play grass court tennis. That was not the Marion we saw in Toronto. I can't say much about her match against Halep because it was not on Center Court and the only women's matches with live coverage so far have been on that court in Cincinnati.
But that's another story for another day.
Let's not forget the withering battles Marion and her father Dr. Walter Bartoli fought with the French Tennis Federation (FFT). Or her inability to get a clothing contract until recently. What's sad is that Amélie Mauresmo seemed to be able to mediate between the warring parties and succeed in getting Marion back into the good graces of the FFT.
But with success Marion had to face the fact that she wasn't going to get a draw like she did at Wimbledon again. I won't say never would have, but it was going to be awhile. Marion had also said that it's easier to be the hunter than the hunted, and after winning Wimbledon, as Petra Kvitova has found out, you are the hunted. And everyone, competitor or not, is not able to deal with the pressures that brings.
Earlier this year Marion was casually munching a Twix candy bar during a changeover. That was not going to be tolerated any more. She's 28 now and all the exercises she and her father concocted to help her be as strong as she could with her weight, all the quirks that made Marion Marion, were going to have to be cut back. I'd say that she was already doing less of that.
Then there were the coaching changes. It seemed for awhile there that every couple of weeks she had a new coach. That is never a good sign. To me it means there is instability somewhere, that the player doesn't have anyone around to take on the world for them so that they can focus on their tennis.
There were also signs that maybe some of the problems off court were more personal and involved the man she had leaned on all of her life. To talk about that is speculation though and that is not what this post is about.
Maybe when she's had time to process things, when whatever is stopping her from being the best she can be on court has been settled in her mind she will want to come back to tennis. Some are saying that that is what will happen. I've had no personal contact with the woman so I don't know if she'll want to come back. It would be nice to see a happy, focused woman come back not the one who was so distraught after a loss she retired.
I don't think this was a hasty decision. I know last week she was saying all the right things about belonging on a tennis court and that she wanted to play a tune up or two before the US Open but what was she really thinking? No one knows except Marion and her family.
I wish her well. I hope that she finds some kind of peace within herself. She's got the money and now the leisure time to lay on a pink sand beach somewhere and study her navel. Maybe put that brain of hers to work by going back to school. The world is hers. In today's world not too many 28 year olds can say that.
If she comes back, fine. If she doesn't, that's fine too.
Monday, August 12, 2013
The Rearview Mirror: Roger's Cup Edition
by Savannah
Where to start?
The hype? The bullshit that was being presented as hype? That's harsh. Wishful thinking maybe? Maybe it's all the same thing.
Let's start with the winners.
Photo: The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette
What is there left to say? As her father predicted years ago Serena Williams has become the dominant woman not only of her generation but of the next one too. She's reduced two of the women she faced finals to tears and proven that your sometime coach may be a tennis player whisperer but if the player he's whispering to ain't got the goods there's nothing he can do.
I mean really did anyone sincerely believe that Sorana Cirstea was going to be led by the hand to the championship? Like Sabine Lisicki before her she found out that hype doesn't win matches. Skill and experience win matches. If you need to be treated like a four year old scared to get on the pony to get through a match at a Premier 5 what the hell are you going to do at a Grand Slam when there is no coaching allowed? In the end Cirstea was the player she's been for the last couple of years. Unable to think clearly on court her play is erratic and ineffective.
During the semi final her sometime coach told her to stop looking at him and to focus on wht was going on on the court. Tennis 101.
Serena lose to her? Not unless, God forbid, she's injured in some way. I mean she was sick and got past Agniezska Radwanska for goodness sake. Did I say she was sick during that match?
I've learned to avoid ESPN's announcers unless I don't have a choice so I missed what was apparently a mind boggling bit of commentary from Ms Pam Shriver. I didn't hear it directly but people I trust were Tweeting that she feels Serena has had a disappointing year, clarifying her statement by saying that not winning Wimbledon had to be a disappointment. I think every one on the tour will take her year, Wimbledon or no Wimbledon.
(I should mention that the Wimbledon Champion, Marion Bartoli, looks like she's back to eating Twix again. She was woefully out of shape looking, and moving, like a beached whale before she took herself out of competition but I like Marion and hope she can get herself back to some level of fitness soon. Petra Kvitova has but she's on the new boyfriend diet.)
AHEM.
Anyway Serena romped through her draw and should be the odds on favorite for the US Open crown. She's played more tennis than she usually does this year but I think it's safe to say that she's on a mission no?
By the way I see some of the hacks, uh, journalists, who cover tennis for pay are whining about the poor attendance in Toronto. Excuse the language but where the fuck have they been for the last five years or more?! Attendance at WTA matches is woeful and has been for a long time. Regular readers of this space know I've been talking about it at forever but now that Serena is dominant and has no one to really worry about on the tour all of a sudden they're worried about attendance. One went so far as to hint that if Maria Sharapova had played attendance figures would be up. Like I said they haven't been paying attention, or they're pretending not to be paying attention. If they really haven't been paying attention here's a news flash for them: NO ONE WANTS TO WATCH WOMEN'S TENNIS BECAUSE OTHER THAN SERENA THERE IS NO ONE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE TO SEE!!!
I know that's harsh but hear me out. As I mentioned before Serena is the top dog. No one can beat her unless she's having a bad day. Okay. Now. Dyed in the wool tennis fans don't like Victoria Azarenka. I know that bothers some of her fans but it is what it is. Aga has no personality on court. If you're not used to watching tennis she'll have you in the land of Nod in no time. Like it or not there are people who will never warm up to Li Na. Sara Errani? That she is in the WTA top ten with no serve worth mentioning is a disgrace. Marion is just not presenting as an athlete right now. Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova have the same problem as Aga. No on court swagger.
Now. I'm going to say this again very slowly. The WTA has to stop selling personality and start selling the women's tour. You know, women's tennis? That thing these women all work hard to excel at? It also has to stop trying to pretend it's racism isn't racism. I don't like to play that card but when professional journalists start saying attendance would've been better if Sharapova had played what are they saying? Is this what tournament officials are saying instead of telling Stacy Allaster to do a better job with promoting ALL of her players not just one? I used to talk about the blonde pony tail brigade being the be all and end all of women's tennis. Looks like I'm going to have to resurrect that meme.
By the way did Sharapova ever make it up to Toronto to do her promotional work for the tour? I kept reading about cardboard cutouts and candles but nothing about her sitting in a booth and signing autographs. I could've just missed it but enquiring minds and all that ya know?
Getty ImagesPhoto By Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Let's talk about the men's draw. After everyone withdrew to rest their weary bones (or fevered brains - take your pick)it was a very strange one indeed. Since Roger Federer wasn't there due to his back the hype machine was in overload about Andrew Murray's return to the hard courts. He had a nice little section of the draw that included Ernests Gulbis, a man who really keeps you guessing about which persona he's bringing to the court that day.
The match I really wanted to see and couldn't was the one between Gulbis and Fabio Fognini. I wanted to see who would be able to mind fuck who. Gulbis, Fognini and Gael Monfils are a subculture on the main tour: guys who like to distract you with their antics and when you look up they've beaten you. Monfils hasn't done much of that lately and we all know how Fognini had big fun in Europe after Wimbledon but it was Gulbis who was standing after disposing of Murray rather routinely. For his part Murray played like he'd rather be someplace else. Of course he always plays like that but this time he was the one getting played. I should've included him in the same group with Monfils, Gulbis and Fognini.
While mini/major upsets were taking place the Canadians were showing they weren't there as cannon fodder. A new star named Vasek Pospisil reintroduced himself to the tennis world while a compatriot showed that he's ready to do whatever it takes to win a match. And it was ugly.
There's an old expression "character is what you do when no one is watching." What does it mean when a tennis player with a preexisting injury, one he's being treated for, walks to the sidelines when his opponent is ready to serve and says he can't grip his racquet returning to the court thirteen minutes later and seeming to be fine. The comm said the medics had already given the player the recommended dose of pain killers and that they couldn't provide him with any more. It didn't matter because he appeared to be fine after the MTO.
Then there was the whole running into the net, seeing that the chair umpire, doing his job, is focused on where the ball landed not you so you twist and turn to make it seem you did everything to avoid the net and succeeded in not touching it. Meanwhile everyone in the stadium and around the world saw you. Your opponent was worn out from a late match the night before and it's more than likely that the match was yours, that you didn't need the point you would've lost had you confessed to running into the net. If that's what you do with the world watching what are you up to when it's not?
Anyway Milos Raonic made it through to the final. One day he'll tell his grand children about a match that he was never in. The big story will be how he responds to the loss.
Don't forget Milos, we can see you when you're on court.
Where to start?
The hype? The bullshit that was being presented as hype? That's harsh. Wishful thinking maybe? Maybe it's all the same thing.
Let's start with the winners.
Photo: The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette
What is there left to say? As her father predicted years ago Serena Williams has become the dominant woman not only of her generation but of the next one too. She's reduced two of the women she faced finals to tears and proven that your sometime coach may be a tennis player whisperer but if the player he's whispering to ain't got the goods there's nothing he can do.
I mean really did anyone sincerely believe that Sorana Cirstea was going to be led by the hand to the championship? Like Sabine Lisicki before her she found out that hype doesn't win matches. Skill and experience win matches. If you need to be treated like a four year old scared to get on the pony to get through a match at a Premier 5 what the hell are you going to do at a Grand Slam when there is no coaching allowed? In the end Cirstea was the player she's been for the last couple of years. Unable to think clearly on court her play is erratic and ineffective.
During the semi final her sometime coach told her to stop looking at him and to focus on wht was going on on the court. Tennis 101.
Serena lose to her? Not unless, God forbid, she's injured in some way. I mean she was sick and got past Agniezska Radwanska for goodness sake. Did I say she was sick during that match?
I've learned to avoid ESPN's announcers unless I don't have a choice so I missed what was apparently a mind boggling bit of commentary from Ms Pam Shriver. I didn't hear it directly but people I trust were Tweeting that she feels Serena has had a disappointing year, clarifying her statement by saying that not winning Wimbledon had to be a disappointment. I think every one on the tour will take her year, Wimbledon or no Wimbledon.
(I should mention that the Wimbledon Champion, Marion Bartoli, looks like she's back to eating Twix again. She was woefully out of shape looking, and moving, like a beached whale before she took herself out of competition but I like Marion and hope she can get herself back to some level of fitness soon. Petra Kvitova has but she's on the new boyfriend diet.)
AHEM.
Anyway Serena romped through her draw and should be the odds on favorite for the US Open crown. She's played more tennis than she usually does this year but I think it's safe to say that she's on a mission no?
By the way I see some of the hacks, uh, journalists, who cover tennis for pay are whining about the poor attendance in Toronto. Excuse the language but where the fuck have they been for the last five years or more?! Attendance at WTA matches is woeful and has been for a long time. Regular readers of this space know I've been talking about it at forever but now that Serena is dominant and has no one to really worry about on the tour all of a sudden they're worried about attendance. One went so far as to hint that if Maria Sharapova had played attendance figures would be up. Like I said they haven't been paying attention, or they're pretending not to be paying attention. If they really haven't been paying attention here's a news flash for them: NO ONE WANTS TO WATCH WOMEN'S TENNIS BECAUSE OTHER THAN SERENA THERE IS NO ONE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE TO SEE!!!
I know that's harsh but hear me out. As I mentioned before Serena is the top dog. No one can beat her unless she's having a bad day. Okay. Now. Dyed in the wool tennis fans don't like Victoria Azarenka. I know that bothers some of her fans but it is what it is. Aga has no personality on court. If you're not used to watching tennis she'll have you in the land of Nod in no time. Like it or not there are people who will never warm up to Li Na. Sara Errani? That she is in the WTA top ten with no serve worth mentioning is a disgrace. Marion is just not presenting as an athlete right now. Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova have the same problem as Aga. No on court swagger.
Now. I'm going to say this again very slowly. The WTA has to stop selling personality and start selling the women's tour. You know, women's tennis? That thing these women all work hard to excel at? It also has to stop trying to pretend it's racism isn't racism. I don't like to play that card but when professional journalists start saying attendance would've been better if Sharapova had played what are they saying? Is this what tournament officials are saying instead of telling Stacy Allaster to do a better job with promoting ALL of her players not just one? I used to talk about the blonde pony tail brigade being the be all and end all of women's tennis. Looks like I'm going to have to resurrect that meme.
By the way did Sharapova ever make it up to Toronto to do her promotional work for the tour? I kept reading about cardboard cutouts and candles but nothing about her sitting in a booth and signing autographs. I could've just missed it but enquiring minds and all that ya know?
Getty ImagesPhoto By Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Let's talk about the men's draw. After everyone withdrew to rest their weary bones (or fevered brains - take your pick)it was a very strange one indeed. Since Roger Federer wasn't there due to his back the hype machine was in overload about Andrew Murray's return to the hard courts. He had a nice little section of the draw that included Ernests Gulbis, a man who really keeps you guessing about which persona he's bringing to the court that day.
The match I really wanted to see and couldn't was the one between Gulbis and Fabio Fognini. I wanted to see who would be able to mind fuck who. Gulbis, Fognini and Gael Monfils are a subculture on the main tour: guys who like to distract you with their antics and when you look up they've beaten you. Monfils hasn't done much of that lately and we all know how Fognini had big fun in Europe after Wimbledon but it was Gulbis who was standing after disposing of Murray rather routinely. For his part Murray played like he'd rather be someplace else. Of course he always plays like that but this time he was the one getting played. I should've included him in the same group with Monfils, Gulbis and Fognini.
While mini/major upsets were taking place the Canadians were showing they weren't there as cannon fodder. A new star named Vasek Pospisil reintroduced himself to the tennis world while a compatriot showed that he's ready to do whatever it takes to win a match. And it was ugly.
There's an old expression "character is what you do when no one is watching." What does it mean when a tennis player with a preexisting injury, one he's being treated for, walks to the sidelines when his opponent is ready to serve and says he can't grip his racquet returning to the court thirteen minutes later and seeming to be fine. The comm said the medics had already given the player the recommended dose of pain killers and that they couldn't provide him with any more. It didn't matter because he appeared to be fine after the MTO.
Then there was the whole running into the net, seeing that the chair umpire, doing his job, is focused on where the ball landed not you so you twist and turn to make it seem you did everything to avoid the net and succeeded in not touching it. Meanwhile everyone in the stadium and around the world saw you. Your opponent was worn out from a late match the night before and it's more than likely that the match was yours, that you didn't need the point you would've lost had you confessed to running into the net. If that's what you do with the world watching what are you up to when it's not?
Anyway Milos Raonic made it through to the final. One day he'll tell his grand children about a match that he was never in. The big story will be how he responds to the loss.
Don't forget Milos, we can see you when you're on court.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Oh Canada!
by Savannah
via The Guardian
Lets start with Samantha Stousur's win over nemesis Victoria Azarenka in Carlsbad Sunday afternoon.
Better yet lets go to Victoria Azarenka's victory over Ana Ivanovic on Saturday. Azarenka needed three sets to win that match, a win that leap frogged her over Maria Sharapova and into the #2 ranking behind Serena Williams. Victoria had already been seeded #2 in Toronto but after losing to Stosur she withdrew citing a bad back. You don't have to be a match whiz to know why Azarenka would, uh, find her back giving her a problem after that three set win and err on the side of caution. I get it. If Sharapova sits out Cincinnati as well I'd like to be the second seed at Flushing Meadows too.
Sorry for that long aside Samantha. You played well despite your opponent being injured. In fact no one has seen you play that well in ages. Playing to win not playing scared is a good thing.
via ATP World Tour
Way across the sea Marcel Granollers defeated the King of Kitzbühel Robin Haase of the Netherlands on his way to winning the title there. He faced Juan Monaco in the final.
via Seattlepi.com
Washington DC in the summer has all the charm and personality of the swamp it sits on. It's nasty hot and humid. During the Citiopen they love to show images of a cool stream flowing through nearby Rock Creek Park but those in the know aren't fooled.
There are players who seem to thrive there though. One of them is Magdalena Rybarikova. She won the title last year and repeated this year, defeating Andrea Petkovic in the final.
via France24.com
The other player who thrives here is Juan Martin del Potro. He defeated American favorite John Isner in three sets after playing his semi final against Tommy Haas into the wee hours of the morning thanks to a rain delay. Isner finished his match before the rains came and got a good rest but you wouldn't have known it by the way he crumbled from the end of the first set to the end of the third set. Delpo blew Isner off the court rendering his aces a footnote to the match. Delpo's forehands coupled with his movement left Isner rooted in place, unable to react quickly. Then again the way Delpo was hitting the ball his racquet would've been knocked out of his hands. Congratulations Juan on your third Citiopen title.
There is something that I heard one of the ESPN2 comms say that has to be mentioned. They were all gushing on how well Isner is doing of late and one said that he seemed to be doing something different the last few weeks asking out loud if it was better fitness and possibly scouting players that was behind the change. POSSIBLY scouting players? Why would scouting players be a new thing for Isner? What he just walks on court thinking he'll blow them away so there's no need to look at an opponent to see what tactics should be used? If that is how he rolls that's not even arrogance. It's stupidity.
Rogers Cup 2013
The Europeans are on North American soil! Play begins Monday April 5 in Montréal, Quebec and Toronto, Ontario. Both are of course part of the country of Canada and not a part of the United States.
I should like this event but it's always been "meh" for me. Maybe it has to do with the strong arm tactics the USTA and Tennis Canada used to try and strong arm the top players into coming by messing with the European spring clay court calendar or maybe it's the way they've split the venues so that on a good day you'll need your computer, tablet and television to watch matches.
The tournament(s) are a huge part of the US Open series with the distinction of having the top players in the world on their courts. It's going to be interesting to see who makes the trip from Canada to the normally hot and humid Mid West of the United States.
Still it's tennis, in my time zone, no waking up at some obscene hour of the morning and falling asleep in the middle of the first game of the first set. I'll be sitting at home having a leisurely day of it watching what I hope is high quality tennis.
Idle Chit Chat
Remember when Serena caught hell from the tennis media and some fans for skipping out on a tournament while legitimately injured and showing up at a wedding? Remember that? Well guess what? Maria Sharapova begged off Toronto due to injury sustained at Wimbledon. She was supposed to do P.R. work in Toronto as is the norm when you pull out of a major. It helps fulfill your commitment and avoid a fine. Guess where she was this weekend?
Dancing at a wedding. In some kind of get up with the bride's head dress on. Or something.
Meanwhile all I hear are screams of delight from fans because her image will be in Toronto next to the booth featuring her candy. Rolling eyes. Hard. Oh, I didn't see any pictures of her with her fiancé at the wedding.
If you follow Twitter you know Patrick Mouratoglou is quite chatty. He promotes his players and drops in little personal asides from time to time. I'm trying to picture Ivan Lendl on Twitter. I'd better stop doing that or I'll end up like BMO and fry my circuits.
Miscellany
An interesting interview with Li Na's husband Jiang Shan popped up on a fan site:
I've been tempted to talk about Chinese tennis but due to lack of familiarity I haven't. Jiang's comments are honest and open, the way he appears to be. I wonder why he wasn't asked if height affects the Chinese men? Nishikori Kei isn't a big guy and he's doing okay but he trained in the States. David Ferrer isn't a giant but it took him years to get where he is today. Until or unless more is known about the Chinese tennis scene Jiang's comments stand as the best analysis to date.
via The Guardian
Lets start with Samantha Stousur's win over nemesis Victoria Azarenka in Carlsbad Sunday afternoon.
Better yet lets go to Victoria Azarenka's victory over Ana Ivanovic on Saturday. Azarenka needed three sets to win that match, a win that leap frogged her over Maria Sharapova and into the #2 ranking behind Serena Williams. Victoria had already been seeded #2 in Toronto but after losing to Stosur she withdrew citing a bad back. You don't have to be a match whiz to know why Azarenka would, uh, find her back giving her a problem after that three set win and err on the side of caution. I get it. If Sharapova sits out Cincinnati as well I'd like to be the second seed at Flushing Meadows too.
Sorry for that long aside Samantha. You played well despite your opponent being injured. In fact no one has seen you play that well in ages. Playing to win not playing scared is a good thing.
via ATP World Tour
Way across the sea Marcel Granollers defeated the King of Kitzbühel Robin Haase of the Netherlands on his way to winning the title there. He faced Juan Monaco in the final.
via Seattlepi.com
Washington DC in the summer has all the charm and personality of the swamp it sits on. It's nasty hot and humid. During the Citiopen they love to show images of a cool stream flowing through nearby Rock Creek Park but those in the know aren't fooled.
There are players who seem to thrive there though. One of them is Magdalena Rybarikova. She won the title last year and repeated this year, defeating Andrea Petkovic in the final.
via France24.com
The other player who thrives here is Juan Martin del Potro. He defeated American favorite John Isner in three sets after playing his semi final against Tommy Haas into the wee hours of the morning thanks to a rain delay. Isner finished his match before the rains came and got a good rest but you wouldn't have known it by the way he crumbled from the end of the first set to the end of the third set. Delpo blew Isner off the court rendering his aces a footnote to the match. Delpo's forehands coupled with his movement left Isner rooted in place, unable to react quickly. Then again the way Delpo was hitting the ball his racquet would've been knocked out of his hands. Congratulations Juan on your third Citiopen title.
There is something that I heard one of the ESPN2 comms say that has to be mentioned. They were all gushing on how well Isner is doing of late and one said that he seemed to be doing something different the last few weeks asking out loud if it was better fitness and possibly scouting players that was behind the change. POSSIBLY scouting players? Why would scouting players be a new thing for Isner? What he just walks on court thinking he'll blow them away so there's no need to look at an opponent to see what tactics should be used? If that is how he rolls that's not even arrogance. It's stupidity.
Rogers Cup 2013
The Europeans are on North American soil! Play begins Monday April 5 in Montréal, Quebec and Toronto, Ontario. Both are of course part of the country of Canada and not a part of the United States.
I should like this event but it's always been "meh" for me. Maybe it has to do with the strong arm tactics the USTA and Tennis Canada used to try and strong arm the top players into coming by messing with the European spring clay court calendar or maybe it's the way they've split the venues so that on a good day you'll need your computer, tablet and television to watch matches.
The tournament(s) are a huge part of the US Open series with the distinction of having the top players in the world on their courts. It's going to be interesting to see who makes the trip from Canada to the normally hot and humid Mid West of the United States.
Still it's tennis, in my time zone, no waking up at some obscene hour of the morning and falling asleep in the middle of the first game of the first set. I'll be sitting at home having a leisurely day of it watching what I hope is high quality tennis.
Idle Chit Chat
Remember when Serena caught hell from the tennis media and some fans for skipping out on a tournament while legitimately injured and showing up at a wedding? Remember that? Well guess what? Maria Sharapova begged off Toronto due to injury sustained at Wimbledon. She was supposed to do P.R. work in Toronto as is the norm when you pull out of a major. It helps fulfill your commitment and avoid a fine. Guess where she was this weekend?
Dancing at a wedding. In some kind of get up with the bride's head dress on. Or something.
Meanwhile all I hear are screams of delight from fans because her image will be in Toronto next to the booth featuring her candy. Rolling eyes. Hard. Oh, I didn't see any pictures of her with her fiancé at the wedding.
If you follow Twitter you know Patrick Mouratoglou is quite chatty. He promotes his players and drops in little personal asides from time to time. I'm trying to picture Ivan Lendl on Twitter. I'd better stop doing that or I'll end up like BMO and fry my circuits.
Miscellany
An interesting interview with Li Na's husband Jiang Shan popped up on a fan site:
Author: Chinese women’s tennis, as a whole, is quite strong nowadays, but what about men’s tennis? What’s holding them back?
JS: The knowledge of how to be successful is there. What’s lacking is someone with enough courage and conviction to go ahead and do those things. Starting young, training abroad, taking losses and grinding out wins in tournaments all around the world – it just takes someone committed enough to take that risk and not give up. I think it’s a cultural issue.
Author: What do you mean ‘a cultural issue’?
If a young Chinese player tried to break through internationally for 2 years, without getting the right results, he will come to the conclusion that he does not have the talent, and give up. A young North American in the same situation will instead think that it is because he is not working hard enough. The North American was brought up in a culture which has always taught him that he can do anything if he sets his mind to it. Not so in China. My generation (on the ATP tour, Jiang Shan topped off at #987 in the world back in 2001) was brought up with a “weak country” mindset. Everything was “beat the US,” or “beat England,” but when they showed up, we might as well have called them uncle. We just didn’t think we were good enough to compete. Nowadays, it’s better. China’s GDP has gone up and there’s more belief in us being on the same level as other global powers. I have a feeling that Chinese kids born after 1995 will not have the same negative mentality as we did growing up. After that, success will just be a matter of time.
Author: What about table tennis or badminton? Is there more success for Chinese players in those sports because the mindset is different?
JS: No. The reason why China does so well in those sports is simply because North Americans and Europeans generally don’t care for them. Outside of China, sports are market-driven. If there is no interest, there is no money. If there’s no money, then there will be less high-level players; the best athletes will go to other sports. If Americans or Europeans decided that they want to be a global power in table tennis, they could do it within a few years. Look at Old Wa (Jan-Ove Waldner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan-Ove_Waldner). He’s been playing at the highest level for 30 years, and beaten all the best Chinese players. But it’s just him. Everyone else in Sweden is playing hockey.
Author: Do you think Li Na winning a Grand Slam title would’ve been possible without the “Fly Alone” strategy (Note: in 2008, Li Na partially broke away from the traditional centralized Chinese tennis program in order to set her own tournament schedule as well as manage her commercial interests and training routines)
JS: You need to take risks and get away from a culture which promotes mediocrity and “just getting by.” The French Open victory would never have happened has we stayed with the Chinese federation. Tennis is an individual sport and you have to do things differently if you want to have an uncommon level of success.
I've been tempted to talk about Chinese tennis but due to lack of familiarity I haven't. Jiang's comments are honest and open, the way he appears to be. I wonder why he wasn't asked if height affects the Chinese men? Nishikori Kei isn't a big guy and he's doing okay but he trained in the States. David Ferrer isn't a giant but it took him years to get where he is today. Until or unless more is known about the Chinese tennis scene Jiang's comments stand as the best analysis to date.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
As The Ball Bounces August 1 2013
by Savannah
This is a post about nothing in particular. Just stuff going on in the wonderful world of tennis. I mean in a week where Stefan "Redfoo" Gordy and Victoria Azarenka went totally public withe their feelings for each other and Andy Roddick is telling people to stop dragging Caroline Wozniacki and her golfer why not? Was it about two weeks ago that Patrick Mouratoglou was posting fuzzy pics of him with Serena Williams in the background after she won Båstad? As that eminent philosopher Bugs Bunny once said "Ain't love grand?"
Then again the poor guy who married Martina Hingis thinking it was twu wuv found out it may be twu luv but a girl gets bored. I mean she married him so he had to be able to scratch her itch at one point right? Maybe it's just a phase for Ms Hingis. Tennis players don't really have lives during their teen years so what did he expect? I'm sure she loves him in some way shape or form. Girls just wanna have fun.
Speaking of Ms Hingis I have a question. I thought you got inducted into the Hall of Fame when your career was done, when you might play an exho here or there but really main draw like stuff is not in the cards.
I find it odd that she's going to play doubles and might accept a wild card into singles after the US Open.
Anyone notice how many seeded players are being upset this week? Boy those under dogs are having a great summer aren't they? No one thinks for a minute that The Rogers Cup in Canada or the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati have anything to do with these odd losses. Nope. Fans are getting to see just how deep the tours really are.
But wait the fans aren't getting to see how deep the tours are because the cameras are off in US Open Series tournaments until Thursday or Friday. I forget which and I don't care. It would be nice to see some of the lower ranked players getting a chance to shine but I guess fans will just have to wait until the cameras go on. Can't have live streams showing such high quality play can we? Damn fans will get to watch when the TD's and US networks want them to see play. That's the trouble with tennis fans. Bitch. Bitch. Bitch. It's not like players or their camps do that right? What's wrong with seeing just the semifinal and final of a tournament? With any luck one of the players will be an American and all the talk about the decline of US tennis will stop.
In this era of players with public images that have become somewhat boring it's nice when someone who should know better pops off isn't it? It can only help your son's popularity if you go public with your opinion that he's being picked on by the mean guys. Everyone will feel sorry for him and like him better right? I get it. So what's everyone all upset about? a parent popping off about how his grown child is being bullied is a gold mine. Just think about it. It's almost as good as the mother of a player going on about one of her sons peers being delicious.
The US Open released its prize money levels yesterday. If you're still trying to figure out if you can afford to step foot on the grounds of the National Tennis Center here's what your faves will be making:
Winner: $2.6 million (a 37% increase)
Runner-up: $1.3 million (a 37% increase)
Semifinalist: $650,000 (a 37% increase)
Quarterfinalist: $325,000 (a 37% increase)
Round of 16: $165,000 (a 38% increase)
Round of 32: $93,000 (a 43% increase)
Round of 64: $53,000 (a 43% increase)
Round of 128: $32,000 (a 39% increase)
Thanks to the ATP Players Association shaming the Slams into spreading some of the wealth around lower ranked players of both tours will at least get a decent pay day. It's a big deal for players to get their air fare, maybe work with a coach, and get gear to play what for many will be one round of tennis.
A lot of people were surprised that Sloane Stephens, ranked #15 in the world, was relegated to the second court at the Citiopen in Washington DC while Melanie Oudin, ranked #123 and Christina McHale, ranked #70, played on the Stadium/Main Court. Surprisingly it was Oudin who won her first round match.
There is one thing that is still bothering me though. Why is the tennis media so excited about Hingis possibly playing singles again? It didn't work that well for her the last time did it? And with her soul sister Agniezska Radwanska getting taken out by Dominika Cibulkova I don't know why they're so excited.
This is a post about nothing in particular. Just stuff going on in the wonderful world of tennis. I mean in a week where Stefan "Redfoo" Gordy and Victoria Azarenka went totally public withe their feelings for each other and Andy Roddick is telling people to stop dragging Caroline Wozniacki and her golfer why not? Was it about two weeks ago that Patrick Mouratoglou was posting fuzzy pics of him with Serena Williams in the background after she won Båstad? As that eminent philosopher Bugs Bunny once said "Ain't love grand?"
Then again the poor guy who married Martina Hingis thinking it was twu wuv found out it may be twu luv but a girl gets bored. I mean she married him so he had to be able to scratch her itch at one point right? Maybe it's just a phase for Ms Hingis. Tennis players don't really have lives during their teen years so what did he expect? I'm sure she loves him in some way shape or form. Girls just wanna have fun.
Speaking of Ms Hingis I have a question. I thought you got inducted into the Hall of Fame when your career was done, when you might play an exho here or there but really main draw like stuff is not in the cards.
I find it odd that she's going to play doubles and might accept a wild card into singles after the US Open.
Anyone notice how many seeded players are being upset this week? Boy those under dogs are having a great summer aren't they? No one thinks for a minute that The Rogers Cup in Canada or the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati have anything to do with these odd losses. Nope. Fans are getting to see just how deep the tours really are.
But wait the fans aren't getting to see how deep the tours are because the cameras are off in US Open Series tournaments until Thursday or Friday. I forget which and I don't care. It would be nice to see some of the lower ranked players getting a chance to shine but I guess fans will just have to wait until the cameras go on. Can't have live streams showing such high quality play can we? Damn fans will get to watch when the TD's and US networks want them to see play. That's the trouble with tennis fans. Bitch. Bitch. Bitch. It's not like players or their camps do that right? What's wrong with seeing just the semifinal and final of a tournament? With any luck one of the players will be an American and all the talk about the decline of US tennis will stop.
In this era of players with public images that have become somewhat boring it's nice when someone who should know better pops off isn't it? It can only help your son's popularity if you go public with your opinion that he's being picked on by the mean guys. Everyone will feel sorry for him and like him better right? I get it. So what's everyone all upset about? a parent popping off about how his grown child is being bullied is a gold mine. Just think about it. It's almost as good as the mother of a player going on about one of her sons peers being delicious.
The US Open released its prize money levels yesterday. If you're still trying to figure out if you can afford to step foot on the grounds of the National Tennis Center here's what your faves will be making:
Winner: $2.6 million (a 37% increase)
Runner-up: $1.3 million (a 37% increase)
Semifinalist: $650,000 (a 37% increase)
Quarterfinalist: $325,000 (a 37% increase)
Round of 16: $165,000 (a 38% increase)
Round of 32: $93,000 (a 43% increase)
Round of 64: $53,000 (a 43% increase)
Round of 128: $32,000 (a 39% increase)
Thanks to the ATP Players Association shaming the Slams into spreading some of the wealth around lower ranked players of both tours will at least get a decent pay day. It's a big deal for players to get their air fare, maybe work with a coach, and get gear to play what for many will be one round of tennis.
A lot of people were surprised that Sloane Stephens, ranked #15 in the world, was relegated to the second court at the Citiopen in Washington DC while Melanie Oudin, ranked #123 and Christina McHale, ranked #70, played on the Stadium/Main Court. Surprisingly it was Oudin who won her first round match.
There is one thing that is still bothering me though. Why is the tennis media so excited about Hingis possibly playing singles again? It didn't work that well for her the last time did it? And with her soul sister Agniezska Radwanska getting taken out by Dominika Cibulkova I don't know why they're so excited.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
