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…”
Go to my desk and transcribe the taped interview of Rainer Schuettler talking about Facing Safin.
At around noon fringe journeymen hodge podge doubles team Amil Shamasdin of Canada and Philipp Oswald of Germany upset the tenth seeded Peya and Soares on court seven, as David Ferrer walks, or struts, by during the second to last game with his two Princes and a couple of entourage guys after a practice on one of the outer courts.
Lunch at the media center with Jon Levey from Tennis Magazine, we talk about footwear, USTA leagues, tournaments and some of the matches.
After lunch I see Nadal is on the P court with his coach and some guy wearing Fila but I can’t identify the player — Raonic is on the next court.
1:25 I go to watch Treat Huey and Colin Fleming play Fognini and Bolelli on court four, and seated behind me is Henri Kontinen’s dad Pentti, who tells me his son will play with Huey after the tournament as his regular partner Draganja of Croatia is out after hip surgery. I saw Henri win Sarasota doubles two years ago and noticed he’s become just about a regular on the ATP doubles circuit. He is playing mixed with one of my favorites Su Wei Hsieh, who messaged him an hour before deadline and that’s how they entered the mixed (they won their first round match later on). Pentti also told me that Henri’s best result in a major was second round but he’s suffered some close losses, 64 64 to Sock Pospisil at US Open and 67 67 to Tecau/Rojer and then the 68 in the fifth loss to Hewitt/Kokkinakis at the Aussie Open this year from two sets and a break up but then Draganja hurt his hip and couldn’t serve or move normally. Huey and Fleming upset the Italians today in a third set tiebreaker.
1:40 I see John McEnroe walking down the ramp from the Ashe stadium main entrance, no, not that John but the father, who I call John McEnroe Sr but he corrects me and says John is Jr but I’m not Sr, I ask what matches he’s going to see today and he says he has to leave now and “it’s a long reason why” – I also mention that I’m doing a “Facing McEnroe” book and he offers his assistance and how to reach him. Pretty cool guy, it’s the first time we’ve met.
2:00 Mark Woodforde walks by me in the Ashe hallway and he politely answers my one question about what advice would he give Rafa Nadal to regain his lost mojo, a man enters the door right after our interview, as I hold the door for him before noticing it’s — Michael Russell who says “it’s okay thanks”
2:02 Viktor Troicki is locked in a first set tiebreak with Rajeev Ram on court eleven and finally prevails in the breaker 12-10 , the Serbian does a Vicht to his box and coach Jack Reader midway through the TB.
2:05 Su Wei Hsieh is playing on the next court with her new partner Rodionova, I meet Hsieh’s friend – who I mistook as her sister because they look very similar – Cindy Wu who is a singer back in Taiwan and has blond and pink hair with a New York City hat on. And her friend Edwin Gerard, who is Hsieh’s temporary acting coach. They tell me Su is not really open to circuit training and doing sprint work to improve her movement and physicality, it’s just not for her. She’s also losing a bit of the hunger after winning two majors with Peng Shuai and being WTA world number one a couple of years ago. She lost in singles qualies to Alize Kim and is pretty much giving up on singles. If you haven’t seen Hsieh play, do yourself a favor and see her play – she has amazing hands and touch and court sense.
2:30 watching Barbora Strycova vs Qiang Wang in third set on court eight, Fed Cup captain of Czech Republic returns to seat in bleacher with two bags of Cape Cod potato chips and a Coke bottle. Veteran Strycova ends up winning over the highly touted young Chinese woman.
Paes and Verdasco take down Florian Mayer and Franky Moser, Paes nails Moser with a forehand that hits him square on the shoulder — Paes and Verdasco make an interesting team with the touch, guile and lefty power combo – they play Bryan Bros conquerors Querrey/Johnson in the second round.
With Dan to see Donald Young down a set to Bedene on court seventeen, and looks doomed, but DY fires himself up and wins the match — DY, is now wearing Boast all white attire after beginning the tournament with Lotto — I actually met and played the co-owner of Boast – Alex Tiger – who lives up in Green Pond, NJ.
Walk by multi-tasking Tracy Austin on the phone in the Ashe hallway and she’s with some man leading her somewhere, he tells her “It’s not until 7:30, we have plenty of time”
I had to take care of a personal issue, before heading out to grandstand to watch the end of Giorgi lose to Lisicki, which is a prelude to Hewitt vs Tomic. Harvey Araton of the New York Times sits with me and Dan in the first set and Harvey shares some fantastic McEnroe anecdotes for my Facing McEnroe book. Bryden Klein also sits with us for part of the first set. The atmosphere for Hewitt vs Tomic is excellent, with Kokkinakis in attendance, then later on Nick Kyrgios arrives. Andre Sa is also here. Tomic blows a two set lead, then saves two match points in the fifth and finally wins it 7-5 in the fifth.
9:20 Roger Federer gives his press conference after beating Steve Darcis, and I ask Roger if he was asked to vote Yes or No for Marcelo Rios to enter the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Roger replies that he doesn’t know the requirements for a player to be inducted but adds Rios was one of his favorite players to watch and for that reason he would vote yes.
Hewitt’s press conference is a few minutes after Roger’s, Hewitt says Nadal is his favorite player to watch and says Rafa is the best fighter he’s ever seen in pro tennis — I wonder if Hewitt’s example was an inspiring and motivating figure for the young Rafa, who surely watched the prime Hewitt play on TV many many times…
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Michael · September 4, 2015 at 3:01 am
“Roger replies that he doesn’t know the requirements for a player to be inducted but adds Rios was one of his favorite players to watch and for that reason he would vote yes.”
On that criteria I would vote in Karsten Brauch, Jeff Tarango and Ramesh Krishnan. And Adriano Pannata.
bjk · September 4, 2015 at 3:34 am
I actually have a McEnroe Sr. story, or my father does. He was a starting a job at a law firm after a long career in gov’t and on his first day he got a call from one of the partners welcoming him to the firm. It was of course McEnroe Sr. I don’t know if he did that for every employee at the firm, but my father wasn’t even a lawyer, so maybe.
Scoop Malinowski · September 4, 2015 at 8:42 am
If those three fine players had been number one in the world and won five Master Series titles, they’d be Hall of Fame worthy like Rios also, Michael —
Scoop Malinowski · September 4, 2015 at 8:43 am
Nice story bkk, thanks for sharing, again, he’s not Sr, he really seemed to firmly insist he’s not Sr, and John is Jr — maybe he was seriously joking with me, not quite sure —
Harold · September 4, 2015 at 8:48 am
You have no Rios argument about HOF, until Kafelnikov gets in or doesnt. Had a better career than Rios.
Scoop Malinowski · September 4, 2015 at 9:14 am
But Fed didn’t ever say Kafel was one of his favorite players to watch 🙂 No doubt Kafel should have been inducted five years ago – he’s a shoe in — but Federer’s stamp of approval saying Rios should be in is as high an endorsement as a player can get, you have to admit that Harold — and I will keep an eye and ear out if any journalist asks Fed if he would vote for Kafel Yes or No to be in 🙂
Harold · September 4, 2015 at 9:26 am
Don’t think Fed has a vote. You will probably have a vote before Fed does.
Scoop Malinowski · September 4, 2015 at 9:37 am
You’re wrong, I do have a vote and have voted on the ballots for the last five years —
Harold · September 4, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Cool that you have a vote.
Do you vote for Rios over Kafelnikov and Brugera?
Thomas Tung · September 4, 2015 at 2:20 pm
All 3 of them should be in, and the sooner the better. Who cares if Rios ruffled plenty of feathers? He was a true artist on the court (for better or worse). Kafelnikov/Bruguera did a lot more with their careers, but Rios, with his mecurial temperment, put in his share. Had a much better career than other artistic types like Santoro and Arazi (and probably Dogopolov, given how his career is going). Based on results, Kafelnikov/Bruguera should be inducted before Rios, but I see no reason why Rios shouldn’t be in the HOF.
Michael · September 4, 2015 at 7:33 pm
“I see no reason why Rios shouldn’t be in the HOF.”
Because his record in Majors sucked. If he is HOF worthy then the bar is low.
Andrew Miller · September 4, 2015 at 8:23 pm
No, no HOF for Rios. There are standards. Bruguera is a multi slam winner. Kafelnikov too.
Rios has an unreal game. But his slam record sidelines his chances. Kuerten won slams plural. I dont think Johannsen will be inducted either. I dont think Iva Majoli will make it.
Rios sadly doesnt qualify and shouldnt. He was unbeatable for stretches and certainly has the best game ive seen, but hall of fame is about slams.
Im sure if Rios had the Korda match back he would win it. Even that might have kept him.from the Hall.
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2015 at 12:06 am
Andrew, here’s the exact quotes of Roger in this link http://www.tennisnow.com/Blogs/NET-POSTS/September-2015/Roger-Supports-Rios-For-Hall-of-Fame.aspx
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2015 at 12:07 am
Well said Thomas Tung,
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2015 at 12:10 am
Rios has not yet been on the ballot, Kafel and Bruguera were last year and I voted yes to both, if next year’s ballot had Rios, Kafel and Brugeura and I had to vote for two I admit I’d vote for Kafel and Bruguera over Rios, but then if Rios is on the ballot the following year with Ivanisevic and Johansson – I’d vote Rios
Michael in UK · September 5, 2015 at 2:50 am
thanks so much Scoop, I really enjoyed this behind the scenes piece. And the bit about McEnroe sr jr is funny, sounds like a very decent man.
Look forward to your further reflections in the remainder of the tournament which is looking fascinating now.
Harold · September 5, 2015 at 10:31 am
If they release the results of the HOF voting, and you see on the bottom of the list, Spadea has 1 vote, you will know Dan has a vote…ha ha
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2015 at 11:16 am
Harold, Dan is sending emails again to Todd Martin to try to get Vince a wildcard into Newport qualies and doubles and onto the ballot for next year 🙂
Dan Markowitz · September 5, 2015 at 1:16 pm
I do have a Hall of Fame vote and yes, Spadea is a write in on every ballot I do. No, seriously, Scoop, how’d you get a Hall of Fame vote?
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2015 at 3:04 pm
I get the ballot in the mail every year for the last five years Dan, I think it began after I mentioned in a conversation with one of the Fame staffers about Pierce and Kafel not being enshrined yet and then they asked me if I wanted to be a part of the election process and I gratefully accepted the offer —
Andrew Miller · September 5, 2015 at 3:43 pm
If you let Rios in, you let Coria in. Why – this makes no sense.
As much as I love Rios game and believe few can even imagine how to play like Rios, he just doesnt have the results that others in HOF have. Todd Martin wont be in HOF either and doesnt belong there. Muster gets the nod way before Rios gets considered.
Again I love rios game. When it comes to playing well, no player Id rather see. Not many play in that stratosphere. But when it comes down towhat did you do on tour, i think Pioline would get the nod before Rios. Unfortunately that is sad but it is the way it is.
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2015 at 11:41 pm
Andrew – Rios was number one in the world, which is harder to accomplish than winning a major — ain’t no way to discredit or diminish being numero uno —
Harold · September 6, 2015 at 4:18 pm
If thats the case, why do number 1’s without Majors get so much grief?
Scoop Malinowski · September 6, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Harold, because the people who distribute the grief don’t believe that becoming number one is the more difficult achievement than winning a major, they think winning a major is the be all end all — F LO playing absolutely stupendous tennis right now, dominating Fogneenee in straight sets — barely breaking a sweat too boot — what a class player LO is GREAT PLAYER
Bryan · September 7, 2015 at 4:05 pm
“I’m doing a “Facing McEnroe” book”
Yo Scoop! Johnny Mac’s my favorite player all-time and I’ll be the first to line up when you publish it. Enjoyed your entry, I like these behind the scenes pieces.
Scoop Malinowski · September 8, 2015 at 8:08 am
Thanks Bryan, Facing McEnroe is coming along incredibly well so far, really enjoying the process and interviews, even if I can’t get Lendl and Jimbo, it will be a very entertaining read 🙂 Glad you liked the behind the scenes look, will keep on doing them, fun to do, so much happens at a big tourney, I only see the tip of the ice berg —