Thankfully, they eschewed the pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot. I’m not sure when the move fully kicked in and they changed the nature and texture of the grass to make it play like a slow hard court, but that’s what’s happened and it’s a crying shame. You can tell even at the two grass court events last week in London and Germany, that the grass played more like grass used to play, slick, the ball sliding rather than hopping off the surface and the grass wearing down more as the week progressed. But somewhere along the line with Pete Sampras and Goran Ivanisevic booming down aces,

John McEnroe and Gianluca Pozzi · Joni Mitchell

Roger Federer won his first ATP title of the year yesterday in Halle, overcoming Mikhail Youzhny in three sets. For Federer it was his 77th overall singles title…seemingly a long way away from the ATP overall singles record of 109 by Jimmy Connors.

Federer, soon to turn 32, will need to win 33 more ATP events to surpass Connors historic mark. It may seem like an impossible goal for Federer, but if Connors could do it, why can’t Federer?

Not many records left for Federer to break

It’s been a rough year for German vet Benjamin Becker, who started 2013 ranked #65.

He made R32 in Auckland then R64 at the Australian Open, losing in straights to Delpo. He made quarters at the Heilbronn Challenger, then lost first round in Zagreb, then he fell to Istomin in the R16 in San Jose after beating Harrison.

Ten tough losses in a row followed. First round in Memphis to F-Lo 4-6 in the third.

Becker got back on track in Nottingham

The grass court season 2013 has commenced. In Queens Querrey survived the newcomer Aljaz Bedene. Feliciano Lopez outlasted Ricardas Berankis. Jarkko Nieminen edged Ryan Harrison 63 63. Denis Istomin beat the young Russian Andre Kuznetsov 6-3 in the third.

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By Christian Koskorelos

I started tennis at the age of ten at Overpeck Park in Leonia, N.J. It was an accident, you know. I was with my friend Peter who lived upstairs from me in Palisades Park. We found a bunch of old racquets and we just started playing against the wall. Eventually we made our way to the court. I got hooked on tennis but he didn’t. Soon, he moved to River Edge and eventually I moved to another apartment in Palisades Park. I never thought I would take tennis so far after that first encounter. I started bashing the wall every day while my mother walked the circle at Overpeck. Once she was finished with the circle, we would leave.

"Tursunov invited us to dinner"

Vince Spadea was in town for the weekend to play in the Pro-Am at Westchester Country Club. Vince was the defending champion and he got to the finals against such competition from Kevin Kim, Robert Kendrick, Richey Reneberg and others. But Spadea and his partner, maybe a 3.5 player, faced Robert Pinsky, a former player from Harvard and Alex Stone, a former Dukie, in the finals. Spadea’s team was granted five freebie points because Vince was playing against two former Div. 1 players who are 25, according to Vince.

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There have been some lopsided major finals over the years where we just knew it could be a one-sided rout…Seles vs. Huber in Australia, Graf vs. a silenced Seles at Wimbledon, Clijsters over Pierce at US Open, Henin vs. Pierce in Paris, Myskina vs. Dementieva in Paris, and of course Graf vs. Zvereva in Paris.

Super Serena vs. Miracle Maria

By Henk Abbink

Today is THE big day! The whole tennis world will be watching over Novak’s and Rafa’s shoulders what, maybe, should or could have been the Roland Garros final. That is IF the Roland Garros organizers would have followed a Wimbledon-like seeding system. On the other hand, warriors Ferrer and Tsonga have been looking strong enough to be worthy contenders for a first Grand Slam crown. So, maybe, just maybe, today’s semis line-up is correct. One thing is sure: whatever the outcome of today’s expected battles, we’ll see one new finalist.

The moment of truth is here

Before I get into the main body of my post I want to express something about the women’s game. It’s hard to take seriously. I mean besides Serena and Sharapova is there one player you pine to watch play? I can’t think of any. Sloane Stephens bores me. Maybe Madison Keys has that IT factor, but it’s not there yet. There are no Hingis’, Graf’s, Capriati’s, Henin’s, Clijster’s or young Williams’ sisters anymore.

Ferrer/Nadal All-Spanish French Open Final

Stan Wawrinka wanted it but not enough. Tommy Haas wanted it but he ran into the superior player.

Federer doesn’t really want it anymore, like he used to, he’s already won enough and he told us last year it’s not so much about breaking records now, it’s about enjoying the process of playing the game he loves.

Hunger for victory