This is one of my favorite Biofiles of 2014, after you read it you will understand. Just classic... ef="https://www.tennis-prose.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/bgottfried.jpg"> Status: Former ATP #3. Winner of 24 singles titles, 54 doubles titles. 1977 French Open finalist. Winner of three major doubles titles. DOB: Jan. 27, 1952 In: Baltimore, MD First Tennis Memory: "Orange Bowl juniors. We kept players at our house from Japan for the tournament. Eddie Herr approached my dad about housing players. I used to go watch them play and that's how I started." Tennis Inspirations: "The Japanese players who started me [smiles]. I guess I really liked the old Australians, Roy Emerson is at the top of the list for me. Fitness was always a big part of his game. He was just such a physical player. And I loved it, that was sort of my M.O. when I was playing. I worked hard. He was at the top. Those guys were special. And eventually I played with them. And even now I do some corporate things with them, after the fact. It's just a blast. And I picked the right heroes - they're great guys." Continue to read full article...

Brian Gottfried · Jimmy Connors · Roland Garros · Roy Emerson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7isO9iyRJFc Meet one of the top 12 year olds in the United States, or perhaps, the world... Continue to read full article...

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Switzerland's exciting conquest of the Davis Cup this year inside a packed 27,000 seat soccer stadium in Lille, France is going to be a tough act to follow in 2015. Sports betting site MTS reports that it's unknown if superstars Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka will commit to defending the Cup, as both may prioritize to add to their Grand Slam major title totals instead of devoting potentially four weeks of the season to winning a second Davis Cup. Mats Wilander interviewed both Federer and Wawrinka after their triumph in the final vs. France. Another major absence will also be missed in this year's competition: Struggling Spain has dropped from the World Group and is now being captained by former professional woman player Gala Leon. Leon controversially replaced former ATP World Number One and Davis Cup hero Carlos Moya - a move that Rafael Nadal publicly called "strange." Continue to read full article...

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One of the most memorable and fascinating passages of tennis journalism I have ever read was about the meeting of author Eliot Berry and tennis legend Fred Perry. Berry, for those who don't know, is the author of "Topspin" - one of the most enjoyable books ever written about tennis, in my opinion. Berry interviewed the then 85-year-old Perry at Wimbledon in 1994. Berry had to work for it though. "Look. I'm sorry. I just can't talk to you know," said Perry. "SKY TV wants me this afternoon. This German TV crew thinks I can open the door for them at Wimbledon if I let them interview me this morning but I can't and I won't. I'm doing BBC radio at noon for the rest of the day. It's just not a good time to talk." Continue to read full article...

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ref="https://www.tennis-prose.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/hewl.jpg"> Look at Hewitt's unbelievable intensity for this IPTL doubles, this is Hewitt at his most intense, it's like a major final or Davis Cup!! Continue to read full article...

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Bradenton, FL — Reilly Opelka was stunningly impressive in neutralizing the red hot Michael Mmoh 64 64 to win the prestigious Boys 18s title at the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships competed at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The match was high quality throughout but it was the six-foot-ten Opelka’s precision and all […] Continue to read full article...

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I am in awe. Of the talent. Of the intensity. Of the quality of tennis. Miomir Kecmanovic and his Japanese partner were up 9-8 in the super tiebreak. The match point was UN BEEE LEE VUH BULLL. It had to be 40 shots with everyone on the court hitting something. So many gets, so many rips, so many survival shots. Finally, finally the tall feisty Japanese kid had a put away about a yard from the net but he somehow netted it. Both he and Kecmanovic stood there frozen in disbelief, holding their heads, shocked at the miss. 9-9, switch sides. Here we go again, another great point. Continue to read full article...

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Two fifteen year old powerhouses put on a spectacular display of tennis today at the Eddie Herr 18s. Miomir Kecmanovic, of Serbia, edged Caspar Ruud of Norway 67 64 64 in a three hour clash of junior titans. It looked like two professionals battling it out tooth and nail on a hot sunny day on […] Continue to read full article...

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Over 1,200 entrants from all over the world. Singles and doubles, 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s, boy and girl, all held in one week on one site. The Orange Bowl has spread out over different dates for different age groups and it’s played at several different sites. Eddie Herr is played entirely at the IMG Academy […] Continue to read full article...

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I went to see some of the day one action at the Eddie Herr tournament at IMG today… Saw a couple of 18s battling, both with one handers, the American is named Catalin Mattias, the Euro was a lefty. Long points, long rallies. Phil Dent was there watching one of the kids from his academy […] Continue to read full article...

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