Djokovic on the two best weapons in tennis…
Q. Obviously you faced Jo Willy’s serve today which is pretty tough. If you have to say three or four toughest strokes that you face out there on the circuit, what are the really toughest strokes that you have to handle?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, Nadal’s forehand would be probably right up there; Isner’s serve.
Yeah. I hope you’re happy with these two answers. (Smiling).
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The Dancing Scot?
Q: Out of anything what would you really like to do well?
ANDY MURRAY: What would I really like to do well? I think it would be good to be a really good dancer, like Monfils is a great dancer. He dances really well. Yeah, I think dancing would be good.”
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Gilles Muller was practicing with former FSU player Jean Yves Aubone on the free public courts about a 1/4 mile down the road from the Sony Tournament from 9-11. Muller spoke with me about his matches with Roger Federer for my book. Got to listen to some of the banter on the court and Muller, who lost to Rosol in the first round, said he buys his Asics shoes from Tenniswarehouse.com and gets a 40% discount for being an ATP member. He also said he disabled his Facebook page after a few months because of the sometimes nasty comments people would leave if he lost a match and people had gambled on it.
One of Muller’s interesting lines about his matches with Federer for my book which will be published later this year: “To be honest, I prefer to play (Roger) than to play Nadal, for example, or Djokovic, because they make you suffer on the court. They make you physically suffer on the court. And Roger’s more the guy who hits winners so it’s not as hard physically to play him.”
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Sat next to David Ferrer’s manager during the Ferrer-Gasquet practice (waiting to speak with Gasquet coach Sebastien Grosjean’s Federer memories). He told me Ferrer stays in downtown Miami not Key Biscayne because he prefers “the change.” I asked him if Ferrer was a boxing fan because many fans and media say he plays tennis like a boxer but no, Ferrer is a big fan of soccer and cycling which he does a lot of.
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Saw Jurgen Melzer jogging on Harbor Drive this morning at 10:15 am while on a bike ride. Melzer was decked out in his adidas gear. Was a bit surprised to see him running on the concrete sidewalk, considering how much running tennis players do during training and matches.
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Gasquet did a long warm up routine with jogging and band work before his practice with Ferrer. Two years ago I saw him do nothing before hitting with Djokovic here, he just sat on his chair and waited for the two players to finish their practice, with his legs crossed. Then he just got up and started hitting with Nole. Nole was doing all kinds of stretch moves and band work. Good to see Gasquet preparing his body better now for the rigours of tennis.
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Remember Jaime Oncins from Brazil? I saw him leaving the grounds. I remember him at the U.S. Open when I first started covering pro tennis in the early 90’s.
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Nishikori was practing hard with Berdych.
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Andy Murray did a signing at the Tennis Plaza store which attracted a huge line about 50 yards long.
"They make you suffer on the court"
Harold · March 21, 2013 at 6:17 pm
Oncins played a great match against Wilander in the early to mid 90’s out on old court 16…smooth game, not much power..
Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2013 at 7:51 pm
Harold, yes he’s tall and thin, he said his best shot was his return and when he played doubles vs. Fed in 1999 he said he could not read Fed’s serve at all and it nullified his returns. Also remember him playing Connors at the US Open when he was very young, but he got steamrolled. He’s coachinga young ATP player from Portugal now Gastao Elias.
Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2013 at 7:53 pm
I saw Serena driving a perfect white Bentley out of the back of the stadium after her win, it didn’t even have a normal license plate, just a letter M or H on the plate. You don’t get much flashier than a Bentley. What do they cost like $200,000?
Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2013 at 7:54 pm
I keep seeing this player Aljar Bedene of Slovenia, watched him finish Benny Becker 64 63, really nice player, has a nice demeaner on the court, always see him with a team around him. Keep your eye out for Bedene, he might be an up and comer.
Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2013 at 8:23 pm
Quick chat with former ATP top 15 from Argentina Mariano Zabaleta who was sporting a black eye around his left eye. He said he got it from playing rugby.
Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Would you believe this: There was not one single media request for Li Na after her match today. I found that stunning. I could have got a Biofile with her today. Will try after her next match.
Steve · March 21, 2013 at 9:12 pm
You may want to biofile Li Na’s coach and get some Justine Henin updates/remembrances.