I see Cliff Drysdale arrives to the Crandon Park complex at l0:40 am.
First match on is doubles and Martina Hingis showed today there’s plenty of magic left in her Yonex. Her and Sabine Lisicki started off wobbly and were down a set and a break but Medina Garrigues and Shvedova could not finish the job. They had a match point and Medina missed by just centimeters an open court forehand at 53 deuce. From then on Hingis and Lisicki somehow rallied to win the set in a tiebreak and then the match tiebreak. At the end Hingis and Lisicki hugged like they just won a major title. It was one of the best matches I’ve seen all year, singles or doubles.
Hingis did it all, she traded from the baseline, served well enough to not get pounded but her best skill is that ability at the net to make the tricky volleys off difficult balls. This match was the epitome of stealing a victory from the jaws of defeat.
Chris Fowler is here early too and I ask him if tennis is his favorite sport to commentate. He says “Tennis and college football are my two favorites. I’m lucky to work them both,” then he added with a smile, “But tennis takes me to nicer places.”
At 2:03 I walk by the outdoor players lounge area and see Dolgopolov eating a place to pasta (ziti) with his dad. Two tables over is Team Tsonga. At this same time Berdych, dressed in all maroon and not wearing any cap, is hitting with his team, as his Rafa on the adjacent practice court.
Robert Farah and his partner Juan Sebastian Cabal win their doubles quarterfinal against Soares and Peya. I do a Biofile with Farah after the match and the Colombian who played at USC shares a fantastic interview, revealing his girlfriend is an LPGA golfer from Spain. Even Greg Sharko didn’t know that.
Serena’s coach Patrick Moroutoglo is talking on his phone at the food court big screen watching a portion of Radwanska lose to Cibulkova.
Andy Murray’s dad is in the third row of his box, Ivan Lendl, former coach and friend is in the front row.
A spy on the grounds tells me Kelly Rowlands of Destiny’s Child fame is here supporting her very good friend Serena.
Once again I pass by Novak Djokovic going out of his way to engage with young fans, the other day he got out of his car and took photos and signed for all the kids at transportation. Today he was entering the back door of the player restaurant tent and stopped on the steps and took photos with kids before ducking in. Serena ignored fans pleas for photos or autographs yesterday at the player entrance, pretending she didn’t hear them.
Djokovic’s match with Murray was another close one, with the controversial call at the net stirring buzz in the media center. At 56 Djokovic hit an attacking forehand that a lunging Murray lobbed back, but it was too short. Djokovic swatted it for a winner – however he had to reach over the net to make contact, which is against the rules. Murray approached to ask Djokovic about the rules infraction and the chair ump Damien Steiner said he was not sure if Djokovic’s shot was illegal. The slow motion replay showed conclusively that Djokovic indeed made contact with the ball on Murray’s side. From there Murray lost three straight points and the set 57. Djokovic later claimed he did not know the rules, and that he did not know he did something wrong. Djokovic then won the second set 63. There was no bitterness between the two friends after the match. But you have to wonder if the former ATP number one player could possibly not know the rule, when even park and recreation players do.
Rob Koenig told me today he read half my Facing Federer book last night. Ron also shared with me a wonderful anecdotes about his meeting Roger’s mom Lynette at the Basel tournament in ’99, when Lynette was in charge of distributing player credentials. I will share the entire anecdote later…
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Gans · March 26, 2014 at 11:59 pm
Hi Scoop,
Nice report. I haven’t had a chance to watch any of it as I am on continuous business travel.Based on what I read, here is my opinion:
Djokovic could have said he let the umpire make the decision, instead he chose to say he didn’t know the rules. He knows the rules. Either way it’s a shame. It’s all priorities in life. If winning makes someone happier than being honest then that’s what happens.
Cheers from Shanghai!
Gans
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Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2014 at 12:02 am
Also, during the second set of Murray Djok, I went to watch Sock Harrison on grandstand, they were up a set and at 23 with Nestor Zimonjic. They hung on to win the second set tiebreak with a very impressive performance. Harry knocked down an ace on the wide line on deuce court vs. Zimo to seal it. Harry and Sock were elated and embraced. Sock did not wear his customary backward cap for this match and looked much more formidable. He looks like a junior kid when he wears that backward cap. Both Sock and Harrison made many great shots, this kind of win could jumpstart their singles.
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2014 at 12:04 am
Thanks Gans, welcome back home. I agree it’s doubtful Djok didn’t know the rules but in the heat of the battle with ranking pts and money on the line, I lose no respect for him. He had the point won anyway. But this is now twice where this has happened, the other time was the FO vs. Rafa with the net touch mistake that killed his FO hopes. Djok has to get better when he’s on top of the net.
Abe Froman · March 27, 2014 at 9:31 am
my picks of remaining :
rafa over milos
the dog over the berd
yakidori over djoko
place your bets ! place your bets !! LOL
Dan markowitz · March 27, 2014 at 11:01 am
No way Dog is beating Berg. The Czeck is one of the big boys. I like Nishikori more than i do the Dog.
Abe Froman · March 27, 2014 at 12:05 pm
the dog is 0-3 lifetime against the berd….but i feel he’s due for one in miami..
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2014 at 10:26 pm
How do you like that rumor of Lendl coaching Berd? Cahill floated that one out there.
Dan Markowitz · March 28, 2014 at 5:24 am
Berd been with Krupa for five years. But maybe Lendl miraculously could lead Berd to that much sought-after 1st slam win. Would Lendl quickly ascend into Phil Jackson realm then?
Scoop Malinowski · March 28, 2014 at 8:33 am
Now that Lendl is a free agent it would be interesting to hear what he thinks about Berd’s chances and if he believes he can do it like he believed in Murray.
Andrew Miller · March 29, 2014 at 12:05 pm
“Her and Sabine Lisicki started off wobbly ” – Scoop man you must be running on adrenaline and little sleep. “Her and Sabine” aren’t starting anything – but “She and Sabine” probably will start everything. I was going to let this go but since this is TP we got to call it out.
Andrew Miller · March 29, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Koenig is the man.
Scoop Malinowski · March 29, 2014 at 8:44 pm
Thanks for the correction Andrew, I’m zapped out after two weeks here. It’s literally been at least ten hours of tennis every day at Crandon Park, but I loved every second of it. Got my second win after chatting a couple of days with Robby Koenig, he’s the coolest dude in tennis and a lot of fun to be around. Great stories, great company and just an ace of a guy.