Marcelo Ríos is an enigmatic character for we the Chileans. In one side, he’s by far the most successful sportsman in Chile’s history. No one before or after has reached the no. 1 in a professional sport (in Chile, only soccer, tennis, basket and boxing are professional sports) and no one helped more to bring new kids to tennis …but Ríos (not even Fernando Gonzalez or Nicolas Massú) with his victories in the late 90′s. I remember watching tennis on public TV, sometimes at early hours in the morning, and people celebrating every title.

"Massive database of facts."

Djokovic just won the first seven games vs. Ferrer in Abu Dhabi. He is making Ferrer look like a hired sparring partner

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Remember Attila Savolt? He played on the ATP Tour from 1994-2005, won seven Challenger titles, scored wins over Henman, Davydenko, J. Novak, Berdych, Ferrer, Youzhny, Gonzalez, Kiefer, Kucera, Gaudio. Schuettler, Canas, Grosjean and Srichiphan.

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Los seguidores que cosechó Marcelo Ríos en Chile, durante su exitosa carrera en la ATP, no son nada nuevo. Sin embargo, encontrar seguidores del “Chino” fuera de las fronteras del país es más complicado. Todavía más a uno que se dedique a escribir un libro sobre el zurdo de Vitacura.

Así es Mark Malinowski, periodista estadounidense que desde 1995 siguió a Ríos por los courts en los que jugó en Estados Unidos, principalmente.

http://www.latercera.com/noticia/deportes/2012/12/656-500570-9-habla-el-autor-del-libro-que-revela-las-mejores-historias-de-rios-en-el-tour-era.shtml

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Interesting article in the New York Times today (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/sports/tennis/taylor-townsend-americas-latest-tennis-prodigy-prepares-to-turn-pro.html?hp) about Taylor Townsend, the 16-year-old, No. 1-ranking girls junior player, who is turning pro in January. Townsend won the Aussie Open junior girls title last year, but she’s gotten more attention because of the USTA’s decision at the US Open in August not to pay for her trip to New York because they said she was not in peak condition.

American Players Behind the Curve in Fitness

Yessiree, folks, my pick of Rhyne Williams as the breakthrough American young gun in 2013 is starting to bear fruit in 2012. Williams won the USTA wildcard event last weekend receiving main draw entry into the Australian Open. He beat Kudla and then Smycek in the finals. He also beat Kosakowski, who a number of us liked as he almost qualified at the US Open. Think of this boon for Williams.

Can Williams Make A Run in 2013?

My son, Callum, is 6 years old and he hits a pretty mean ball. In the aftermath of the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut this past Friday, how well Callum, who is the same age and in the same grade (1st) as many of the 20 young boys and girls who were killed in Newtown, hits a tennis ball does not seem very important. But we connect with our children in various ways.

Parent Spectator

My friend Carlos tells me that Miguel Perez is available to coach players in N. Jersey…

As you know Miguel Perez is trying to start either teaching tennis at any level, and
specially to work with advanced players.
I don’t need to tell you how good he is.

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I was at the Knick game last night, watching the hometown team beat the Nuggets and start this very promising season, 15-5. And what happens as a reporter when you’re waiting for pro basketball players to talk to you (with the exception of Steve Novak, that is, the Knicks sharpshooter, who gladly answered my questions as he wrapped his own ankles and put on his black basketball shoes) is that you invariably start talking to the other reporters all milling around the near-empty locker room (the players escape onto the court for shooting practice or into the training room where reporters are not welcome).

It's Sampras the Decisive GOAT

Chile’s Christian Garin won the 2012 Eddie Herr 18s final by defeating Serbia’s Laslo Djere 06 64 75. Garin, the #8 seed, is the first Chilean to win the Herr title since Marcelo Rios won 19 years ago. Xavier Malisse and Brad Gilbert were in attendance to witness the exciting final which was played on Har Tru at the IMG/Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton, FL.

Chilean wins Herr 18s