Red Haired Step Children 3/2/2008

by Savannah


That is how the WTA treats every player not named Sharapova. She of course is the Golden Girl, the one who tour sponsor Sony Ericsson has made its world wide spokesperson. Not the women of the tour. Just the Golden one. And that is the WTA’s loss and missed opportunity. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a chance to see women’s tennis outside of the usual American or European tour stops and I have to say that this week I got a chance to see the joint ATP/WTA stop at Acapulco, the end of the spring South and Central American swing, and the Dubai women’s final. Lets just say you need to open your wallet to be able to see either of these, or have a good ISP. Acapulco was carried live on ESPN Deportes which is a paid addition to the cable menu in my neck of the woods. The Dubai event was carried live on a Russian television feed that costs 43 euros every three months. That translates to $65.00 American. With the exchange rate I think you all can do the math for what the feed costs. Is it worth it? Yes. I’m learning to read Russian to boot.

But I digress. I saw Dubai first. Given the participants, Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova, I had no idea what kind of match I’d see. The last time I saw Elena her serve was, well, to be kind, weak. Svetlana Kuznetsova in my mind plays well to get to a semi or a final and then goes on walkabout forgetting that the object of the game is to get the ball over the net.

The match turned out to be quite good. Both women came out fighting and Kuznetsova snatched the first set from Elena with bold confident and aggressive play. Elena looked like she was going to wilt in the second set but fought past her nerves and self doubt and found a way to win. Elena has worked on her serve and while it’ll never create a sonic boom when it works it works well enough to let her establish her powerful ground strokes. All even after two the third set started. I should say that in the middle of the second set Kuznetsova began to spray balls all over the court while Elena seemed to focus and begin to play with more confidence and aggression. It was a matter of whether Elena would hold onto her confidence. She did.

I’m not a big fan of hard court tennis but this match had all a good match needed; strategy, building points, and good play.

As I said I’m lucky enough to pay an extra few dollars a month to Cablevision to see ESPN Deportes. It’s the Spanish language ESPN outlet and sometimes they offer their own coverage of events featuring players of interest to their demographic. This week they gave excellent coverage to Acapulco. This coverage was also available on ESPN360, one of the best things ESPN has done. All that is required is that your internet service provider subscribe to it. Mine does. Play started late in the day but they gave complete coverage to the matches played on Center Court and occasionally to those on the second court when a top seed was playing.

From the beginning it was clear that Flavia Pennetta was on a mission. She’d started out well last year and then seemed to go completely off track. She came into Acapulco with one title under her belt and it remained to be seen if she could hold it together and win it all in Mexico.

Acapulco is a clay court event. I’m a fan of clay. A big fan of the dirt. And it was great seeing clay court play so early in the year. The South/Central American clay court swing is a nice set up for what is to come. With television coverage this go around it was nice seeing the players this viewer rarely gets to see. It was a total treat. Hearing the players speak and seeing them off court, Flavia showing us what is in her tennis bag as well as her fluency in Spanish was cool. David Nalbandian trying to catch a wave was great. Nico Almagro showed us his hotel room. Again, seeing the players, these players, treated as the top athletes they are was a good thing and left me thirsty for more.

About the women’s final; French teenager Alize Cornet fought her way to the final for the chance to play Pennetta. I thought Pennetta would have an easy two setter against Cornet who had had trouble with the heat and the sun during her semi final match. The match was played at night so the sun wasn’t an issue. And Cornet was not just happy to be there. She fought the more experienced Pennetta forcing a third set. Pennetta does not have a “big” game but she has a good one. And her skills are solid. She was the top seed here and she played like it. It was a good match and one that is very relevant to the clay court season coming up. Both women showed they’re ready for it.


These two matches made me a WTA fan again. Two different surfaces half a world away from each other showcased the women’s tour quite well. But will any of these women ever be seen waving Sony Ericsson products around on a billboard near you? I doubt it. Kuznetsova is deemed unmarketable. Elena Dementieva is a very attractive woman but you’ll never see her dolled up and smiling down at you as you drive by. She has done some great photo shoots but she is not golden enough. Forget Flavia Pennetta. I’ve seen her in person and let me tell you pictures do not do her justice. But she is not golden enough either. Cornet is average in looks. She’ll never be golden enough for the image makers. And it’s that myopia that is causing the WTA to lose fans. I know I’m beating that same dead horse but these were the types of matches that got me hooked on tennis in the first place. This was back when on the weekends you could see tennis on network television. Now you have to pay to see these matches. Everyone who is a tennis fan isn’t able to do so which is why live streams have become so popular. Tennisheads will stare at a postage stamp sized screen in order to see the sport they love.

And should I mention that new mother Lindsay Davenport continues to show that with grit and determination an "older" player can carve a niche for herself on the tour. Isn't that a great feel good story that could bring young mothers to turn in and watch a match? Apparently not.


Mexico showed that it has a promising young woman player as well. Melissa Torres Sandoval (pictured at the top of this post) impressed with her gutsy first round win. She lost to the eventual finalist Alize Cornet. It'll be interesting to see what she does the rest of the year.

The WTA is once again becoming a laughing stock. It’s too bad it wasn’t easy for fans in the States to see these two good matches so that they can see that there is good women’s tennis being played even if it’s not “golden”.

The Winners

Here are the rest of the winners from last weeks play. I saw nothing of Memphis which was played right here in the States. Go figure.


Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine winner PBZ Zagreb 2008

Lindsay Davenport Woman's Champion Memphis 2008

Cara Black and Liezel Huber Women's Doubles Champions Dubai 2008

Lindsay Davenport and Lisa Raymond Doubles Champions Memphis 2008

Bhupathi and Knowle Doubles Champions Memphis 2008

Nicolas Almagro Men's Champion Acapulco 2008

M Mertinak and O Maranch Doubles Champions Acapulco 2008

Llagostera Vives and Martínez Sánchez Womens Doubles Champions Acapulco 2008

Congratulations also go out to P Hanley and J Kerr Doubles Champions PBZ Zaghreb 2008

Winners All! 2/24/08

Here are the winners of four of the five events that occurred this past weekend. The SAP event is still underway. The winning pictures will be added later.


David Nalbandian 2008 Copa Telmex Buenos Aires Argentina


Bethanie Mattek and Nicole Benesova 2008 Copa Colsanitas Doubles Bogota Colombia


Nuria Llagostera Vives Copa Colsanitas 2008 Bogota Colombia


Maria Sharapova 2008 Qatar Open Doha Qatar


Mikel Llodra 2008 ABN Amro Rotterdam

Congratulations also go out to Kveta Peschke and
Rennae Stubbs 2008 Doubles Champions Doha Qatar
and to Dmitry Tursunov and Tomas Berdych Doubles Champions ABN Amro Rotterdam


Andy Roddick 2008 SAP Champion San Jose California

An Interview with Nishikori Kei And Other News 2/19/08

by Savannah


ESPN did an interview with 2008 phenom Nishikori Kei of Japan. Kei has a tough draw in San Jose but from reading this I'm sure he'll do his best. I love that the questions were sensible and that tennisheads acquitted themselves well. By the way it seems his name is pronounced "Kay".

SportsNation Buzzmaster: We've got Kei right here! Send in those questions!

Art, San Francisco: Congrats, Kei! What is your new goal for this year, now that you've won a tournament?


SportsNation Kei Nishikori: My goal was to make the top 100 by the end of this year. But I'm already 131 right now. I would like to get a main draw for the French Open and the top 50 by the end of this year. That's my goal.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama): Kei, Who was your fav. tennis player growing up?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: Roger Federer. He's so talented. I like to see him in his prime. He's fun to watch.

Yuko Watanabe, Yokohama, Japan: Do you miss Japan? Do you miss your friends and family?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: So much. Yes. But when I first came here, I was so home sick. But right now it's OK. Sometimes I still get homesick but I have friends here in the U.S.

Laurelin (Boston): I really enjoyed watching you play in Delray. What do you consider your best shot? I liked the flying forehand!!

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: My forehand, but everyone tells me my backhand is better.

Shaun, Little Rock, Arkansas: What effect will your success in Tennis have in getting more people involved in tennis in Japan?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: It's that famous in Japan, but right now I'm No. 1 in Japan. I hope tennis gets more popular.

Satoru, Tokyo: Many Japanese sports-shimbun cerebrate your brave challenge! Congratulations!

Lisa, Boynton Beach, FLA: Kei, I saw in the paper you don't call your parents during a tournament. Why not?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: Yeah, I used to call my parents after a big match. But the next day I lose every time. That's bad luck. So I don't call them if I'm still winning.

Shaun, Little Rock, Arkansas: I saw you play last year at the St. Vincent tournament in Little Rock. Back then, it looked like your conditioning was high enough yet to compete on the big stage, what or who has been the biggest contributor to your improved stamina?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: I didn't get tired last week. These last two months I was working very hard. I was using weights and more training. I feel so much stronger now.

Fred (Houston): Do you train here in the States or back home in Japan? Did you go to high school? Do you have a fallback plan if this tennis thing doesn't work out?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: Here, in the Florida.

A. Fitch (San Jose): How do you feel about becoming a Japanese superstar overnight? You are like the Roger Federer of Japan!!

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: I still can't believe it that I won an ATP tournament. I don't feel like a superstar yet.

John Eisner, San Francisco, CA: What is your favorite food?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: Sushi or the Japanese food.

Mika, San Jose california: Did you eat Asian food in San Jose?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: I'm trying to get Japanese food tonight.

Carrie (Austin, Texas): One of the most noticable aspects about your game is your jumping forehand. How did you start doing that motion and what advantages do you think it brings? Thanks and good luck in the future!

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: I used to do it when I was young. Sometimes on the return, I can lift it and the shot just feels good.

Jacob Eifir, Fort Wayne, IN: Kei, what other pros have inspired you at the Bollitteri Academy?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: Tommy Haas. Xavier.

Nik, San Francisco: Congratulations on your first title Kei. How would you describe your style of game and what is your favorite surface to play on?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: I say an all-around player. I like to use more forehand. And I like clay courts.

Yuki, Tokyo: I heard you hit with Rafael Nadal before his Roland Garros final in 2006. What did you learn from the experience?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: Yeah, it was right after I won junior doubles. I was more nervous doing that than playing the doubles final. He hit every ball heavy. It's tough to play against a guy like him.

Mike in Seattle: Are you a baseball fan? Do you follow Ichiro and the other Japanese stars over here?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: No, actually. I know Ichiro and all the guys from Japan, but I don't follow them.

Jacob Eifir, Fort Wayne, IN: Why do you like red clay so much? What about the clay that suits your game?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: I have to be stronger mentally and physically. It's fun to play on clay, because I have to use all the shots - drop shots, top spin. It's fun to play on the clay.

Robert (Orlando): Is there anything in particularly different about last week regarding the way you played that helped you to win the tournament?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: My serve was better. It was good. And mentally, I was stronger than before.

Alice (Phoenix, Arizona): I heard you played soccer as a kid. How popular is that sport in Japan?

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: I think it's No. 1 or 2. When I was 12, but the tennis was more fun, so I chose tennis.

SportsNation Kei Nishikori: Thank you for all the support. It was fun to play last week. A lot of people were cheering me. It was fun.

Someone who likes playing in the dirt. Let's see what happens for this young man the rest of the year.

In Other News

So how did the press know to camp out in front of Goran Ivanisevic's place? I mean if the mother of your children is throwing you out over an affair with another woman would you expect papparazzi on your doorstep? Goran is said to have broken one press person's camera.

ProTennis live scores has been the pits so far this week. It got so bad that it showed Karin Knapp had retired in a match she was winning when in fact she had won the match. Guess that crack IT team that put together the Doha site is working overtime.

Shahar Pe'er made history this week by being the first Israeli athlete to play in an Arab country. She was photgraphed in traditional garb along with the rest of her peers in a great series of pictures taken during the opening ceremony in Doha.


Justine Henin and Roger Federer won Laureus Awards. No surprise about either player winning but it is jarring to see sportsmanship and Justine in the same sentence.


The French Fed Cup team lost it's appeal and China is the official winner of their tie. The controversy came about when the French Captain said that Peng Shuai, who left for France to play the tournament she was entered in, did not do her drug testing prior to leaving. Peng, who it seems has never turned pro, did her drug test in France.
China will play Spain in Beijing in April.

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been! 2/17/08

by Savannah

I think it's safe to say that tennis was not what Jerry Garcia had in mind when he penned those words but I don't know how else to describe this last week in the tennis world. Once again the Old Guard has been challenged and while there were some members of that circle who held on some who've been standing outside the gate are laying seige to the castle. An eighteen year old qualifier won Delray Beach, an event many tennis heads had conceded to James Blake. From all reports Blake was powned and had no answer for young Nishikori Kei of Japan who took one set from the veteran player 6-1.


Andy Murray won over Mario Ancic in Marseille. Ancic is returning to the tour after a long illness and Murray skipped Davis Cup play for Britain due to a chronic knee injury.

In Brasil Nicolas Almagro of Spain pulled out a win over countryman Carlos Moya.


Chile saw WTA tour stalwart Flavia Pennetta win the first installment of the Cachantun Cup at Vina del Mar.

Karin Knapp made it to her first final and while she didn't win she served notice on the already shallow WTA tour that she's not to be taken lightly. It was Justine Henin who won the Diamond Trophy but eyes are now on Knapp who has had a good season so far this year.


Men's Doubles should have been more of the same old same old right? Wrong. Max Mirnyi and Jamie Murray outplayed the Bryan twins. In Brasil the team of Melo and Sa of Brasil hoisted the winners trophy.

Congratulations to all the Winners!


Andy Murray Champion Marseilles 2008

Liga Dekmeijere (L) and Alicja Rosolska Doubles Champions Vina del Mar 2008

Flavia Pennetta Winner 2008 Cachantun Cup Vina del Mar

Justine Henin Winner Antwerp 2008

Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa Winners Men's Doubles Costa do Sauipe Brasil

Nishikori Kei Winner Delray Beach 2008

Nicolas Almagro Champion Costa do Sauipe Brasil 2008

Black History Month Profile of the Week
Paul Lawrence Dunbar

Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio to parents who had escaped from slavery; his father was a veteran of the American Civil War, having served in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and the 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry Regiment. His parents instilled in him a love of learning and history. He was the only black student at Dayton Central High School and he participated actively as a student. During college, he was both the editor of the school newspaper and class president, as well as the president of the school literary society. Dunbar had also started the first African-American newsletter in Dayton.

He wrote his first poem at age 6 and gave his first public recital at age 9. Dunbar's first published work came in a newspaper put out by his high school friends Wilbur and Orville Wright, who owned a printing plant. The Wright Brothers later invested in the Dayton Tattler, a newspaper aimed at the black community, edited and published by Dunbar.

His first collection of poetry, Oak and Ivy, was published in 1892 and attracted the attention of James Whitcomb Riley, the popular "Hoosier Poet". Both Riley and Dunbar wrote poems in both standard English and dialect. His second book, Majors and Minors (1895) brought him national fame and the patronage of William Dean Howells, the novelist and critic and editor of Harper's Weekly. After Howells' praise, his first two books were combined as Lyrics of Lowly Life and Dunbar started on a career of international literary fame. He moved to Washington, D.C., in the Le Droit Park neighborhood. While in Washington, he attended Howard University.

His wife Alice Dunbar-Nelson was a famous poet as well. A graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans, her most famous works include a short story entitled "Violets". She and her husband also wrote books of poetry as companion pieces. An account of their love, life and marriage was depicted in a play by Kathleen McGhee-Anderson titled Oak and Ivy.[1]

He kept a lifelong friendship with the Wrights, and was also associated with Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington. Brand Whitlock was also described as a close friend.[2] He was honored with a ceremonial sword by President Theodore Roosevelt.

He wrote a dozen books of poetry, four books of short stories, five novels, and a play. His essays and poems were published widely in the leading journals of the day. His work appeared in Harper's Weekly, the Saturday Evening Post, the Denver Post, Current Literature and a number of other publications. During his life, considerable emphasis was laid on the fact that Dunbar was of pure black descent, with no white ancestors.

Dunbar's work is known for its colorful language and use of dialect, and a conversational tone, with a brilliant rhetorical structure.

Dunbar traveled to England in 1897 to recite his works on the London literary circuit. He met the brilliant young black composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor who set some of his poems to music and who was influenced by Dunbar to use African and American Negro songs and tunes in future compositions.

After his return, Dunbar took a job at the Library of Congress in Washington. In 1900, Dunbar was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and moved to Colorado with his wife on the advice of his doctors. Dunbar died at age thirty-three on February 9, 1906, and was interred in the Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.

Monica Seles

by Savannah

A lot of things happened this week but I want to take a moment and talk about one of my all time favorites, Monica Seles.

As every tennishead knows Monica, 34, officially retired this past week. There had been rumors about a comeback but even those faded as it became clear that Monica had other things on her mind.

We all remember the giggly screeching phenomenon who burst on the scene at the tender age of 15 with a game that revolutionized women's tennis and ushered in the Big Babe era in the women's game.

What was her record? Let me post excerpts from an article by Richard Pagliaro that quotes Jimmy Connors on her talent and heart:

The owner of a 595-122 record, Seles won concluded 1991 and 1992 as World No. 1. In a sensational, sustained span of dominance she won eight of the 11 Grand Slam tournaments she entered from 1989 to 1993. She inspired a legion of top players, including Venus Williams and Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic. In a past interview with Tennis Week, Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors said Seles' fighting spirit, willingness to play even closer to the lines on pivotal points and her aggressive baseline style made her the player that most reminded him of himself.

"Who reminds me of me? Monica Seles is the player I think who played the game the way I tried to play it." Connors told Tennis Week in a past interview. "She always played as hard as she could every single match and left it all on the court. I have tremendous respect for Seles."

A stress fracture in her foot caused Monica to step away from the game five years ago but it was the incident in Germany when she was nineteen that stopped Monica's march to what would have been uncontested greatness in the WTA. Here is a report from the New York Times with details.

Monica spoke about the incident in a radio interview before a recent appearance in California with Steve Hartman, Mychal Thompson and Vic "The Brick" Jacobs on "The Loose Cannons Show". Here are excerpts from that interview that appear in the Richard Pagliaro article.

On being stabbed at a match April 30, 1993 in Hamburg, Germany:
"I was only 19 when I got stabbed. It would never have happened in any other sport. I said to myself, `Why me,’ but I was proud of myself that I was able to move on and to get back to the sport that I loved and adore. That to me was the final triumph after a few bad years."
On the lack of punishment to her attacker:
"I really felt that I could not justify in my own brain someone stabs you in front of 7,000 people, admits that he planned it, and never spends a night in jail. I don’t feel safe playing there (in Germany) again after what happened to me."
On returning to tennis after her stabbing:
"I was lucky. My mom and dad had really strong personalities and supported me. At the end of the day, the love I had for the game I started at 7 years old motivated me to come back. I never imagined I would make a great living and travel throughout the world. I started playing tennis because I loved it. I tell kids, `don’t look at the fame and the money. Play tennis because you love it.’ I missed it."
On not hearing from other players after her stabbing:
"The women's tour is very competitive. There’s a lot of money at stake. It is what it is. It was very unfortunate. It changed my career and it changed Stefi’s (Graf). That’s life. It is a business."
On playing in the 1998 French Open after her dad, Karoly, died:
"My dad passed away a couple days before the French (Open). I thought, `What would my dad want me to do?’ He battled cancer. I thought, `follow your heart,’ and my heart told me to go out and play for my dad. He was a cartoonist. He always saw the lighter side of everything. Part of me said stay home, but I knew that was not what my dad would have wanted."
On her dad’s coaching philosophy:
"He saw the bigger picture of sports, instead of just win or lose. He was human. Sports is a business and cutthroat and people will do anything to win, but I was lucky I had my dad as my coach and he never put pressure on me. Win or lose, the love he gave me was the same. Sadly I see too many cases are the other way now."
On the state of women’s tennis:
"(Justine) Henin has on average dominated the (WTA) tour, but if you look at the championships in Madrid, you see Henin beat (Marion) Bartoli 6-0, 6-0. Those scores shouldn’t happen in the championships. You want to see the top players play each other. That’s the only way the fans will tune in."
On tennis players having shorter careers due to other distractions:
"It’s harder now. You have to be a multi-media athlete. You have to look good, speak well and do all the off the court stuff. In the old days, we did much less. Tennis is a brutal sport. We play 10 and a half months a year. It’s hard to stay injury-free. A lot of the top players struggle with that. Roger (Federer) has a different game. It doesn’t take as much out of him as Serena (Williams). Roger has played every Grand Slam since 1999. That statistic alone is amazing."
On becoming a U.S. citizen in 1994:
"It was the happiest day of my life. Playing in the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 and representing our country was the biggest honor I’ve ever had. It surpasses all the tournaments I played in."

I was a novice tennis fan when Monica burst on the scene. I had been used to watching Chrissie and Martina, Gabriella and remember wondering who this kid was. I'm sure many younger fans can only imagine how intense the rivalry was between Monica and Steffi and how you were a fan of one or the other woman.

How high passions ran are symbolized by what happened in Germany. When you go to a major to watch the current crop of players and see all the security when a player enters or leaves the court you have to remember that this guy just walked up to Monica and stabbed her in the back. Conversations on fan boards get heated these days and maybe that's a good thing. We can virtually pummel each other and the players we don't like instead of trying to attack someone physically. If you get to a major and hang on the practice courts when a major star is around you see the security as well. Fans pushing and shoving to see their fave when he or she comes off the court may seem harmless to many fans. Unfortunately the player's security has to be taken into consideration first.

We are fortunate that someone of Monica's talent came along when she did. I don't think the image meisters of tennis would have allowed her to get the endorsements and publicity. She wasn't a babe, she wasn't rail thin, and her hair had a mind of it's own. It was all about the tennis.

In my opinion Monica was the greatest of her time because her effect on the game has lasted and made it impossible to go back to the genteel days of women's tennis. There were top players who did not play big babe tennis, Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis come to mind, but to me they were transitional greats. Their style of tennis won't get you past a first round in a Tier IV these days.

I hope Monica hangs around and decides to play an exho or two or three. I mean if Pete Sampras can still make millions playing exho's I don't see why Monica can't as well. I don't want to dictate to her what to do but it would be nice to see her on a court again.

Thank you Monica for all you gave this fan, and all of tennis.

Heard Around 2/13/08

By Savannah

ATP News

Hold a small tournament and the world beats a path to your door these days. Not only is Roger Federer going to play Estoril as part of his road to Roland Garros but he is also playing Stockholm later in the year. Needless to say the Swedish tennis authorities are as pleased as punch over this since David Nalbandian is also going to play there. Looks like James Blake, who is normally one of the top seeds here and won this event in 2006 is going to have some big league company. If the Swedish reports are true that would have Roger playing four weeks in a row.
Roger To Play Stockholm

In more Roger news he’s said to be looking for a coach. The short list is rumored to include Paul Annacone and Darren Cahill. Annacone has dealt with Pete Sampras and Cahill just comes across as a man who will go toe to toe with you at the drop of a hat. I don’t think either man would take well to being told to pick up the balls off the court while Roger chit chats with a hitting partner do you?

Belgian player Dick Norman is saying that another player will be suspended and fined for gambling next week.
Norman said the following on his website:

“Anyway, next week another player will be suspended. He already told me he won't agree with the suspension and the fines and will appeal against them. Next week you'll probably read his name in the papers.”

The link is in Dutch but if you scroll down you will see a word that looks like “Italians". Using the Google translator it translates to the above statement.
Tennis Gambling
We’ll all have to wait and see won’t we?

Guillermo Coria won his first round match at Costa de Sauipe in Brasil. It’s his first tour win since 2006. Many fans have a very selfish motive for seeing Coria back to winning on the main tour and it has nothing to do with his tennis.


Gustavo Kuerten bid an emotional farewell to his fans in Brasil after losing his first round match to Carlos Berlocq at Costa de Sauipe


WTA News

Agnes Szavay and Alona Bondarenko were both upset in their first round matches at Antwerp. Szavay lost to qualifier Alisa Kleybanova in straight sets while Bondarenko went down to Julie Ditty of the United States 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Szavay didn’t’ appear to have much in the tank after her final against Anna Chakvetadze in Paris Sunday. Top seed Justine Henin doesn’t play until Thursday when she’ll face Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.


Three fans were thrown out of Antwerp for live betting on their laptops. If anyone has caught the live feed on channelsurfing.net you will know that this would make the cavernous arena more empty than it already is. But zero tolerance is zero tolerance.

Flavia Pennetta is doing the WTA blog from the newly minted Vina del Mar women’s event. I’m just sayin’…

Was Sania Mirza’s decision to boycott events in her native India a result of all the criticism she’s received there or poor advice from her managers? Indian fans say it was the result of tennis politics on the sub continent.


General Tennis News

Indian Wells and Miami will not be carried on ESPN. Fox News (FSN) will carry televised coverage of these important hardcourt events. Check your cable package now. I found out that I have a bunch of FSN channels. Who knew? Now to find out which one will be showing tennis.

Ilie Nastase resigned as head of the Romanian Tennis Federation after the press there reported suspicious overcharges to various vendors for providing services to the Romanian team during the recent Davis Cup tie against France. Romania failed to win a single rubber. Televised reports quote Nastase as saying he may leave his country for good.
Nastase Resigns

Pictures of the Week
Looks like Gasquet and Tsonga had big fun in Sibiu, Romania. Guess this puts all those innuendos about Gasquet to bed huh? I don't get the shirtless thing but maybe it's because I'm old and when I was hanging out guys kept their shirts on and had just as much fun?