This and That

by Savannah


Spain will travel to the Czech Republic to play for the Davis Cup.

Somehow I don't think that the final will be played on European red clay. I'm thinking the Czech's might use a hockey rink.

In Other News...

Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna will pay for their actions leading up to the Olympics.

NEW DELHI (AP) -- The All India Tennis Association says it will not consider veterans Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna for Davis Cup for two years after both refused to partner with Leander Paes in doubles at the London Olympics.

The association said in a statement Sunday it had "decided not to consider" Bhupathi and Bopanna for selection until June 30, 2014. Bhupathi has been a Davis Cup player since 1995 and Bopanna for 10 years.

Both players were dropped from the squad for a relegation playoff matchup against New Zealand in which a second-string India team completed a 5-0 victory in Chandigarh on Sunday.

The AITA said it would move forward with the young team of Yuki Bhambri, Vishnu Vardhan, Divij Sharan and Sanam Singh.

LINK

'Wounded' Federer wants break from tennis

Roger Federer has admitted to suffering from exhaustion following his return to the top of the world rankings, saying he is "wounded” and "needs some time off".

Federer, 31, had a fantastic return to form this season, winning the Wimbledon title for a seventh time to retake the world number one slot.

However, he has since suffered defeats in the Olympic final and the quarters at the US Open, and the Swiss master believes his body is paying the price for a run which has seen him play 69 matches so far in 2012.

"I need a holiday badly," Federer said after leading the Swiss to a Davis Cup play-off win over the Netherlands.
"I'm wounded, tired, and exhausted and need some time off right now and see where I go from here.

"Nothing has been decided for the rest of year, even though there is a plan in place, that plan might change. I need to go back to drawing board to see what's important."

Sounds as if there's a chance that Mr. Federer won't be defending all those points he has to defend from last years indoor season. Time will tell.

SOURCE

It's back to work for Rafael Nadal. He posted this picture to his Facebook page.




Young Taylor Townsend Tweeted thanks to Lindsay Davenport, Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams for their stands against her bullying by the USTA on Sunday.



Olympic Gold Medalist and US Open Champion Andy Murray was given a heroes welcome in his hometown of Dunblane, Scotland. I'm sure he'll be Knighted at the first opportunity. It'll be fun seeing a Knight of the Realm cursing up a storm on court won't it?

"It Speaks of Horrible Ignorance"

By Tom Perrotta

The Wall Street Journal reported in Friday’s newspaper that Taylor Townsend, a Chicago native and the No. 1 junior girl tennis player in the world, was benched from tournament play this summer by her coaches at the U.S. Tennis Association because of her fitness. Townsend lost in the quarterfinals of the junior singles tournament Friday afternoon but advanced to the doubles final with her partner, Gabby Andrews.

On Friday, the Journal spoke with Lindsay Davenport and Martina Navratilova, two former No. 1 players and Grand Slam champions who struggled with their weight as teenagers and as pros. Davenport and Navratilova were sharply critical of the USTA’s decision.

“You cannot punish someone for their body type,” Davenport said.

“I’m livid about it. Livid,” Navratilova said. She added: “It speaks of horrible ignorance.”

The Wall Street Journal: You struggled with weight as a junior and a pro. What was it like for you growing up?

Lindsay Davenport: My dad is 6-foot-8. He blew out his knee in 1973, and after bad surgery, an infection ravaged his knee. He hasn’t been able to bend his knee since then. He was probably 150 pounds overweight my whole life. So all through the 80s, when I was a little girl, my dad was huge. My mom was not. But I had this dad with big genes, and we were never thin.

My first year playing the [12-and-under] nationals in Florida [at age 11], another mom reported me for being too old. And I was standing right there, and my mom was like, “I’ve got news for you, she can play next year, too.” And this woman was like, “Oh my gosh!” I had these big, chubby, baby cheeks and people thought that because I was tall and big, I was older.

Martina Navratilova: I put on 20 pounds in two weeks when I first came on the tour. I was 16, I played in Fort Lauderdale and then Dallas. By Dallas, I had to buy myself new shorts because I couldn’t fit into my shorts. I was playing three hours a day of tennis, or more. It was a change of metabolism and a change of diet. I wasn’t eating junk food, either. I was just eating too much. I was eating pancakes and steaks and hamburgers, I discovered corn flakes. It was just a different diet completely. I struggled with my weight for four years after that. I didn’t lose it until I was 20. And really, it just came off by itself. I was training hard and it started coming off in 1976.

How did your coaches approach your development, and how much of that had to do with fitness?

Davenport: There was a female who was in charge of the [USTA] women’s program in the 90s, Lynne Rolley. Lynne stood by me, was like a mother figure to me. I think she saw it as not only developing these great players, but developing us as people, and teaching us, when you walk into a room, look into someone’s eyes. It wasn’t just about trying to get players on Arthur Ashe. No one ever said to me, you’re fat, you’re heavy. Part of it is trying to figure it out on your own and trying to get the player to realize it. You’re dealing with a really difficult age for girls, and you’re talking about a life-changing, detrimental step. You cannot punish someone for their body type.

Navratilova: No matter what, the kid is 16. It’s baby fat, it’s going to come off. She would have to starve to the point of where she can’t play to lose weight, so then she can’t compete. And she’s the No. 1 junior. It is absolutely insane what they did, so irresponsible. If anything, play more. Don’t go into the gym. Just watch [what you eat], but in a positive and constructive and long-term way. But to throw this on her at 16? I’m trying to be nice here, but they totally blew it on this one.

Were there any fitness requirements you had to meet?

Davenport: When I was growing up, we had these USTA camps and a national team, and we would all go to these camps together. And you had to run a mile and a half in a certain time. I could never sleep the night before, I swear to God. I’m not a runner. I could hit the ball really well, and I liked to play tennis, but it was all getting too serious for me. I’ll never forget the anxiety I would feel the night before a run. And the time, whatever it was, it’s such a doable number now, but I’d be crying and stressed about it. And they would threaten that you couldn’t stay on the team. It didn’t happen, so I don’t know if I made the time, or they just kind of overlooked it.

When were your worst struggles with weight?

Davenport: I won the nationals at 15 [in the 18-and-under division]. My heaviest was more at 18, 19, when my parents were getting divorced. But I was never slim. I had an obese father, and we had a great childhood, but a good diet was not part of it, even though I was an athlete. I was not svelte at 15, and I was not fit at 15. If they had told me I could not play, I mean, that could have ruined my career.

There were definitely people within the USTA who didn’t think I had a chance to make it. I was very fortunate that I had Lynne, who was like, “This girl is doing great, she’s a nice girl, why wouldn’t we help her?” You just can’t turn your back on someone when they’re doing well and they’re a great kid. They’ve helped people with the worst attitudes, and that is way worse to me than someone’s body type.

Navratilova: What really pisses me off about this is, OK, weight is obvious, but what about attitude? Can we talk about other kids who they have been supporting for years whose attitude sucks and they still support them? I’m livid about it. Livid.

Is there a “too early” for off-court training like a pro would do?

Navratilova: Absolutely. Absolutely. I say play other sports, because that helps you become a better athlete, and most of all it makes you happy. I didn’t do core training when I was 16, I was climbing trees. I was swimming in the river, I was playing hockey, I played soccer, I road my bicycle a lot and then I played tennis. I did weight training like two weeks a year.

Davenport: I think the time is in your late teens. If you look at Martina Hingis, that great year she had in 1997, she was a twig, but it was just her tennis. Everyone has started doing things earlier, but that pressure is just exploding, and the long-term consequences of what potentially just happened I think are far worse than the benefit.

How much does fitness matter in tennis, say from your days on tour compared to now?

Davenport: It seems to have gone to where it’s a bit more than in the 90s, but it’s still about hitting the ball well. It’s still, in women’s tennis, about the chance to overpower someone. Certainly it’s a more important component when you get older, but it’s not that important when you’re 15, 16 years old. And I think that we’ve seen cases, Martina [Navratilova], myself, where people get over that, and we’ve seen the opposite where eating disorders occur.

[Taylor] is a baby to me. I couldn’t imagine, if someone did that to one of my kids, that would be the end of it. It’s horrible to put that kind of pressure on someone. I can’t imagine at 16 what my parents would have done.

What does a kid like Taylor, at her age, need most?

Davenport: I might take it the opposite way. They need love and support and good role models, and good role models aren’t people who punish and don’t allow things to happen. What really helped for me to lose weight was to try to have fun in the beginning, and just learning things like, you don’t want to eat bread at dinner. You just need to nurture them and I think that’s how it gets better.

If the goal is developing top pros, is that too narrow, or missing the bigger picture?

Davenport: Their whole goal should be to try to develop this player into the best player they can be, and the best person and try to teach them tools to go through life, and hopefully that includes playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium. If this is the player you’re choosing to help, you think they’re going to be good, it’s up to you to make them get there, to bring out their best as a coach.

Bringing out their best isn’t making them feel bad about themselves and having a horrible self-image. You get it out of them by getting them happy, by getting them excited to play, not by tearing them down.

Navratilova: It speaks of horrible ignorance.

The Weekend - And A Response To Criticism

by Savannah

There is a new member of the WTA winners circle. Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino won the title in Bogota. Will she be the Spanish woman to take the top ten by storm?


Meanwhile Victoria Azarenka played despite what looked like an ankle turn and won the title in Doha.

Roger Federer showed that despite that US Open victory, one that seems to have taken place in an alternate universe, Juan Martin del Potro is his bitch romping to victory over the Argentine player.

Nicolas Almagro successfully defended his title in Sao Paulo.

Milos Raonic of Canada did the same in San Jose.

Doubles Results

Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond won in Doha.
Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic won Rotterdam.
Mark Knowles and Xavier Malisse are the San Jose champions.
Eric Butorac and Bruno Soares took the title in Sao Paulo.



Former WTA #1 Caroline Wozniacki has decided to go all in on her critics going as far as naming the name of the former player now commentator who has been an icon of women's tennis longer than Wozniacki has been alive.

Excerpts from her interview are below.

Dubai - Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki hit back at Martina Navratilova on Monday for claiming that the Dane had never deserved to be top of the world rankings.

Wozniacki also suggested she has lost respect for Navratilova, regarded by many as the greatest female player ever, implying that her TV commentating sought to stir things up and that it would be better to "think a little bit."

"I would never say Martina was No 1 when there was no-one playing," Wozniacki said, "or that she was the best when no-one was playing. That would be disrespectful."

Her comment was an echo of Navratilova's remarks at an Australian Open press conference, in which the 55-year-old legend said: "Clearly nobody feels Wozniacki is a true No 1."

Navratilova, whose 18 Grand Slam singles titles were achieved when the women's game had less depth, also criticised the modern ranking system which placed Wozniacki at the top for 68 weeks.

This places too much emphasis on the quantity of wins rather than their quality, Navratilova alleged, suggesting fellow Czech Petra Kvitova, Wimbledon champion and winner of five other titles last year, should have become No 1 instead.

When Wozniacki was asked if she had lost respect as a result of some of the remarks made about her on television, she reacted immediately.

"I think I have to be honest, lost a little bit of respect. Because I respect what they have achieved," she said, referring to players of a previous era who are now commentators.

"And I really respect what someone else (has done), I know how hard it is to reach the top level of a sport like tennis.

"I think I would never say Martina was No 1 when there was no-one playing, or she was the best when no-one was playing. I mean that would be disrespectful.

"She was unbelievable. She won so many Grand Slams, her touch was unbelievable. Martina Hingis was unbelievable as well - for me my favourite player.

"But I think they should respect players that are playing now as well. Because they know how hard it is. You don't just wake up and say okay I want to win this tournament, and it just happens like this. At that point, you are like, they should just think a little bit."

Wozniacki reacted almost as strongly when asked about Navratilova's comment that it was Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka who now formed the game's best rivalry.

"They always have to make comments, and that's what they get paid for - to be comments, because they are not playing any more. And they need to stir everything up," Wozniacki said.

"When I was No 1 they needed to make a story so in the beginning when I was coming up they were saying I was the next big thing.

"Then when I had been there for a while and it got boring... then they said she hasn't won a Grand Slam - because and because and because.

"Soon it will be if Victoria (Azarenka) loses a match, 'how could she lose a match?'"

Just picture what the firestorm would be if Serena Williams said something like this for public consumption. I'm being nice saying there would be a firestorm. There would be a lot of icky brown waste matter clogging tennis blogs and columns wouldn't there? Instead Wozniacki will be patted on the head like an over indulged child and excuses will be made. What's that comment about heat and kitchens again?

by Savannah

"This is the only week I'm not going to drop points. If I lose in the first round, I'll stay exactly the same, but it's a big mistake to think of defending points. You have to think of earning points. This is a 500 pointer, there are only three in the whole year, and Barcelona is the one that has most history and is of most importance."
Translated from marca.com by nou.amic
On the way to his champagne bath Rafael Nadal won the 500th match of his career making him number two to Bjorn Borg as the youngest man to attain this. By winning Barcelona Rafa, who did not play here last year won his sixth title at the historic site.

Julia Goerges win over top ranked Caroline Wozniacki on the fast indoor clay at Stuttgart wasn't that big a surprise if you had the chance to watch Goerges play during the week. She was one of four German women who made it to the quarterfinals and the only one left standing when final's day rolled around. Goerges doesn't have as high a profile as her countrywoman Andrea Petkovic but her solid aggressive play has put her on the list of the hunted for the time being. Wozniacki was the one missing and rushing shots as Goerges never let up on her. Goerges was not only firing away she was accurate and used the court to her advantage exposing the weakness of the Wozniacki forehand and net play. After the match Wozniacki's camp announced that they are pursuing Martina Navratilova to work with Caroline on a consulting basis.

This was one of the weeks where a fan had to choose which women's tournament to follow. TennisTV was featuring Stuttgart but Fes was not available in the States except via live stream. I didn't see any of it. Apparently Dinara Safina fought her way to a quarterfinal win only to come down with the flu and give Alberta Brianti of Italy a walkover into the final. The extra day of rest did Brianti well as she routined Simona Halep to win her first ever WTA main tour title.

Double Winners

There were surprise winners in the doubles at Barcelona. The new team of Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico and Scott Lipsky of the United States defeated Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan 5-7, 6-2, 12-10.

Samantha Stosur and Sabine Lisicki paired to win the doubles crown at Stuttgart.

The Czech team of Andrea Hlavackova and Renata Voracova are the doubles champions at Fes.

Heard Around

by Savannah

Thanks to "Karen" for bringing this article to my attention. It's a transcript of a conference call featuring Martina Navratilova posted by GVGirl on her blog. Martina, as usual, is being real.

When asked about whether or not Serena and Venus at one and two in the world is a good thing or a bad thing, Navratilova remarked: “You would not be asking that if Federer-Nadal were one and two. You wouldn't be saying oh, does that mean that the men's field are not so strong because they are number one and number two again. Uh... no. I think those guys are two great champions and Serena and Venus are two great champions. They will be two of the greatest champions that the game has had. It just so happens that they are from the same family. ..but ... I think you would not be asking that if they weren't sisters as much. And, maybe be asking that question if it were guys rather than women. But, no, of course, they are fantastic athletes. They play the game on another level. They have so much power and so much speed. You think the point is over and somehow the ball comes back again. Not only do they get there, but what they do with it when they get there because again, they are so strong. Venus with her wingspan and Serena with her raw power. Yeah, they are two phenomenal athletes. But ... you should just be fortunate that they are still playing the game.”

She could have taken it one step further and said the question would not have been asked if Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters were ranked one and two in the world. It is vexing that after all this time and all they've contributed to women's tennis the Williams are still seen as interlopers by so many.

German/Jamaican player Dustin Brown has made it to the top 100 debuting at #99. If you remember I wrote about him a little while ago. He's one of the players I'm keeping my eye on.

Nishikori Kei is also back on the tour. He was out almost a year with injury and is making a good showing so far on the Challenger circuit.

The AP reports that eleven cities in the United States have shown interest in hosting the Fed Cup this November. The cities are Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Pacific Palisades, San Diego, Cleveland; the island of Hawaii; Jacksonville, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; St. Louis; and Surprise, Ariz. With many sports events pulling out of Arizona due to it's controversial immigration law I wonder if tennis will buck the trend. Final bids are due on June 4 with the announcement of the winner to be made on June 14.

Wimbledon has announced that Queen Elizabeth will attend the tournament on Thursday June 24. She last attended in 1977. Spain's Queen Sofia attended the men's final in Madrid on Sunday.

Here's Lookin' Atcha


Carlos Bernardes smiles for the camera


Bob Bryan cleans the court in Dusseldorf, Germany

Boris Becker's IQ and Andre Agassi

by Savannah


Sometimes you come across something, a picture, a short story, a novel, that brings you up short and makes your jaw drop in total shock. I'm posting this article by Dennis Fitzgerald that left me speechless. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

It's interesting how we all loved Andre Agassi (well, OK, not everyone) when he was exuberant, energetic, telegenic star in his younger days. Glamming it with Hollywood stars, enjoying life as tennis' man about town. And winning too.

Now, he is retired, still beloved by many. But apparently he hasn't lived up to other folks' expectations. He committed the mortal sin of being.....mortal! He exposed himself, along with some not so pretty demons, in a book. Self-serving, according to some. To sell some books, according to others.

Well Agassi didn't have to tell his story. Or tell the story he did. But it was his choice. For better or worse.

For those who don't like what they have read about him already, OK don't buy the book (and get the full picture). For those who feel that Andre let them down, my condolences. But I am curious. Just when did you ask Andre to be your personal guide and savior? And what did he say when you asked him?

While Andre made choices in his life (some I bet he regrets), and choices as to what he included in his book (don't know if he regrets any of those just yet), don't we all make choices in our lives? Are we all to be judged (and condemned) by random acts throughout our lives? And just why are celebrities put to a higher moral standard anyway? As a collection their moral standards are pretty low, if you ask me.

Andre bringing shame to himself? And tennis?

While Martina Navratilova's comments really burn me, and make me so annoyed at her pomposity. Shrillness. And sheer hypocrisy. I put it down to a lack of intelligence. And compassion. Ironic, because she always craved compassion and understanding from everyone else, but apparently is incapable of showing it to others! If gay marriage were legal, what number wife would Martina be on by now? You see what goes around comes around.

Becker's comments were just as ridiculous. But then Becker's IQ was a lot lower than a weak second serve. But he made up for it with an enormous ego. And Becker ought to be at the top of the list as far as former pros not making any comments at all about Agassi. I guarantee you that John McEnroe, among a few others, will not make any public comments and especially no public criticism at all of Andre.

For Becker to have admitted he was addicted to prescription drugs, and then take Agassi to task? Puh-lease. Take a good hard look in the mirror Becker.....then again perhaps we ought to pry Becker away from the mirror since I always suspects he spends far too much time admiring himself....or perhaps check in to Reality Hotel before making any further public comments. When you check into Reality Hotel, you get a healthy does of true introspection.

Who Will It Be?

by Savannah

What are fans looking for in a new leader for the WTA? There are the expected "ding dong the witch is dead" posts but there are also fans of women's tennis who are giving a lot of thought to what type of person should take over the reins from Larry Scott. Here are some of the people being mentioned.

Chris Evert
Martina Navratilova
Monica Seles
Stefani Graf-Agassi
Billie Jean King
Mary Jo Fernandez
Chanda Rubin
Pam Shriver
Zina Garrison

Scott is scheduled to meet with the press starting at 12:30p Eastern Time USA.

Heard Around November 25, 2007

by Savannah

Shahar Pe'er is now being coached by Gabriel Urpi who will still be working with Flavia Pennetta, and The Moonball Princess Conchita Martinez. Shahar made the decision after what is being called an intensive three weeks of training in Spain. First reaction? What the hell does Conchita know about attacking tennis? She's the main reason I was so turned off women's tennis for a long time. The link is in Hebrew.
Shahar's New Coaches

Fernando Gonzalez is going to be playing an exo in Chile on December 6. Playing with him will be Gisela Dulko,
Carlos Moya and Martina Navratilova.
The link is to a nice fan blog about Fernando.
Fernando Gonzalez

I have to give it to Martina Hingis fans. Despite everything many are holding out hope that somehow things will be reversed and she'll be back in the good graces of the WTA tour. One fan, when told that Martina's ranking had been removed from the WTA site said that was because she had retired forgetting that what usually happens is that the players ranking is allowed to fall after retirement until they're no longer on the ranking chart.
I don't say this to gloat. As I've said before I've never been a fan of Miss Motormouth but she has her place among the greats of women's tennis. To blow it all, literally, is a shame not only for her but for women's tennis.

Sportingo has a nice look at Jelena Jankovic's career and what she needs to do going forward.

Kevin Kim of the Unites States beat John Isner 6-2, 6-2 and followed that up by beating
Jesse Levine this week. Levine had won back to back Challenger events, one over Donald Young. Mr Levine you will remember is the young man Roger Federer summoned to Dubai to hit with.

Speaking of Roger his fans are going to Rovian (as in Karl Rove) lengths to spin his loss as meaningless in the context of Roger's World. True it was an exhibition match. True Pete had to win one or why bother with any future exhibitions. But if you get a chance watch this highlight film from the second exo. Never a big fan of Pete but watch the shot making and movement. Once a great tennis mind always a great tennis mind I say. Pete was gaining confidence here. And Roger was rattled.
Thanks to tennishead "mewug83" for posting this and other clips from the Asian Exhibitions.


Sampras is saying he will stay retired. Makes sense for him to say that at this time no?

By the way there are some very short clips of Rafa vs Gasquet in Malaysia on YouTube. If a longer clip shows up I'll post it here.


Longtime tennishead Graf_Sampras has posted an interesting article on professional tennis approach to the world of online viewing and the digital revolution on All Court Game. The article is by Lynn Mennillo and is worth a read.

You can tell the silly season is upon us when you find threads dedicated to Roger Federer's left arm, Maria Sharapova's choice of footwear, and who has the biggest boobs. I kid you not.

However, continuing in that vein here is Stella McCartney's 2008 line. These outfits will probably be worn by Maria Kirilenko who is Stella's muse when it comes to tennis fashion.





Only one looks like a tennis outfit but what do I know?

On The Baseline reports that the ASB Classic will feature live streaming on it's website. Hear that USTA?

The Legends Rock Dubai tournament was won by Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands. Congratulations!


Best Pics of 2007

I'll start with some from the WTA. There were some great ones and they can't all be contained in one post so as I see them I'll post them. Thanks to the fans over at
WTAw for the idea and the thread.
I've been scattering them throughout the post but here is a series of them. I'm concentrating on pics taken on the court this go around.
Fed Cup Ceremony

Lindsay and Jagger

Venus and Marion

Serena at Wimbledon

Marion at Wimbledon

Serena Australian Open