Tennis Prose




Archive for September 2015

Sep/15

30

For Bobby Hurley – my 5 Favorite Rios matches

PB151875Reader and tennis blogger Bobby Hurley Jr asked me to name my five favorite Marcelo Rios matches -- Here they are: Key Biscayne final '98 - with the pressure of having to win against Agassi (in their first meeting) to achieve the number one ranking just weeks after the disappointing Aussie Open final wipeout loss to Korda, Rios came up with one of the finest tennis performances of the decade, as one European match broadcaster called it - Rios obliterated Agassi in three straight electrifying sets with a game so sensational that it inspired a couple of young future ATP champions named Roger Federer and Alexander Dolgopolov. I spoke with Brad Gilbert for my Rios book and he told me the first thing Agassi told him after the match was "I thought I played good" -- basically meaning Rios was simply unbeatable. With this monumental and historic win Rios pocketed a $5 million dollar bonus, $2 1/2m each as bonuses from Yonex and Nike Continue to read full article...

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Sep/15

24

Champions Offer Advice To Rafael Nadal

rafangkWith his once mighty game and confidence flagging, the formerly invincible Rafael Nadal is enduring through the worst slump of his career, dropping out of the ATP top five this year. Nadal, the fourteen-time major champion, has always prided himself on refining his game and finding new ideas and tactics to constantly evolve and improve. But today, Nadal seems to have stagnated into a mediocre version of himself. Continue to read full article...

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Sep/15

24

New tennis web site Outsidetheball

1908141_10204210954250811_2322249958310536690_nMy name is Meredith Corsillo and I am the Social Media Director for outsidetheball.com, an online media channel that features fun, original content with top WTA & ATP players, hosted by Mayleen Ramey. We take viewers beyond the game with candid, playful interviews that are not ordinarily seen in the tennis world. For example, we’ve been breakdancing with Ana Ivanovic, karaoking with Grigor Dimitrov, and improv acting with Novak Djokovic, just to name a few! Continue to read full article...

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Murray_02 Davis Cup semifinals weekend is a momentous major occasion for the tennis season - two teams will survive and contest for the Davis Cup itself in Decemmber -- Australia is in Glasgow to challenge Great Britain and Andy Murray -- an interesting dynamic is that the opening match pits Andy against Thanasi Kokkinakis, who have established a bit of a big brother-little brother relationship from having practiced together several times earlier in the year, including a couple of sessions at Key Biscayne I witnessed - the two are very good buddies and horsed around most of the practice, clearly you could see Andy took a liking to young Thanasi -- but today they must put that unique friendship aside and thrash it out against each other for the very important first singles point -- Continue to read full article...

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P5221651 These are interesting factoids -- It took Federer 17 tries to win his first masters series title - Djokovic won his first masters in his tenth attempt -- Fed won his first grand slam in his 17th major appearance while Djokovic won his first in his 13th try -- Continue to read full article...

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Sep/15

12

Biofile: Flavia Pennetta Interview

flavia (Note: This Biofile was done about ten years ago at the US Open players lounge) Status: 2015 US Open champion Ht: 5-7 3/4 Wt: 128 DOB: February 25, 1982 in Brindisi, Italy. Childhood Heroes: “Superman I think [smiles]. Tennis Inspirations: “I like Capriati and Seles. I had the posters on the wall and I always saw them play and I love [them] so much.” Continue to read full article...

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mrios Last week after Roger Federer beat Steve Darcis in straight sets at the US Open, I attended the number two seed's press conference and asked him if he had a vote to induct Marcelo Rios into the Tennis Hall of Fame, would he vote "yes" or "no"? To the surprise of some, Federer answered: "I don't know what it takes, to be quite honest -- he was one of my favorite players to watch so I would vote yes" This past weekend, a reporter from a Chilean newspaper HoyxHoy named Nicolas Labra, contacted me for an interview -- Question- Why did you decide to ask Roger Federer on possible inclusion of Marcelo Rios in the Hall of Fame? It was something spontaneous or you are behind a campaign to included Marcelo in the Hall of Fame? Continue to read full article...

Sep/15

8

The Second Week Begins

asheroof Second week Tuesday always means three things - the grounds are practically empty of fans, most of the players have already gone home, and the US Open and east coast summer is almost over. The electricity and energy of all the matches on the outer courts is replaced by near vacant food courts and footpaths, save for a few junior and wheelchair matches. Continue to read full article...

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Sep/15

4

My Thursday At The US Open

hewtomic Arrive just at 11:35, Rohan Bopanna is getting out of the Chauffeur driven silver Mercedes SUV by himself carrying his Babolat bag - At 11:37 I enter through the media gate, see Paes and Verdasco going into the media entrance of Ashe on their way back to the locker room, Verdasco swings his racquet in a backhand volley punch, saying to Paes, "Like I was telling you..." Continue to read full article...

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2708-161420 The Laura Robson vs Elena Vesnina marathon finally ended with the Russian prevailing 7-5 in the third, and so we got to see the great Lleyton Hewitt take the court at the US Open for perhaps the final time. His opponent was Alexander Nedovyesov, the same guy he beat in three sets in Davis Cup in Darwin, Australia to clinch a berth for Australia into the semis vs England later this month. Hewitt marched out to the court to a nice applause with his black outfit and white cap pointed forward. His tall Kazak rival wore yellow and gray. Continue to read full article...

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