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Mar/17

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Scoop is at MIAMI OPEN

miamiopenMiami Open observations today. Yoshihito Nishioka is just falt out amazing. He got trounced by Jordan Thompson in the first set -1 but then dominated 64 63 showing wizard-like tennis that had the Aussie shaking his head in awed frustration. At duece in the first game of the third set Jordan slammed a missed ball high into the air that Nishioka caught in his pocket Bahrami style. The crowd laughed and the 21 year old cruised from there to a 3-0 lead. I asked Nishioka about it after and he said he was practicing that trick and this was the first time he ever used it in a match. Nishioka has the artistry of Rios and the fire of not quite Hewitt but not far away from that . Bollettieri told me later that Nishioka got pummedled at his academy for a few years but he kept battling and he stuck with his western grip. Nick advised Nishioka to study and emulate Rios at 16 and Nishioka told me “I love marcelo Rios” but he also was inspired by Verdasco and Nadal but now it’s Rios…

Nick was also watching Tommy Haas vs Jiri Vesely at the end at 5-4 in the third and he said Haas left his academy at eleven crying because he didn’t speak English and he stayed over for Christmas because his sister was in the Orange Bowl but then Haas returned at 13 and the rest is history. Haas again battled to the finish line but fell just short again 7-5 in the third because he’s not match tough. During the match on court one an iguana was on the scoreboard and then ran onto the court which stopped play for ten minutes. Haas actually took a selfie with the lizard… Brenda Schultz is here working with Lauren Davis since the US Open last year and Davis is on fire lately even winning a tournament. Brenda said Davis had her self belief kicked out of her by constantly hearing she’s too short etc but Davis has battled back and her belief is growing. A former WTA top tenner Brenda feels Davis can be top ten and that she reminds of Arantxa Sanchez Vicario with a less top spinny forehand… I watched Ernesto Escobedo blast Dan Evans off the court in three sets with his monster forehand. Escobedo is the real deal. He had Evans on the verge of a meltdown and then Evans did crack and uttered a verbal obscenity which a lineswoman tattled to the chair ump which cost Evans a crucial penalty point on game which gave Esco 4-2 lead in third after Evans blew two break points. I could Evans was muttering “Stop fn feeding him balls. You’re feeding him.” Evans half-heartedly denied the charges but there is no way the lineswoman would make it up. Escobedo did a Biofile with me after… I saw Dominic Thiem doing some savage core exercises on his back with a ball by the media center steps. The kid is a beast… Nadal’s practice with Cilic was beyond packed with fans… Steve Johnson was battling with Verdasco on a practice court while Isner was hitting with a hitting partner I did not recognize… I watched Amanda Anisimova win the first set from Taylor Townsend. AA is a hot junior who is 15 but has been touted for years by insiders… Donald Young continued his winning ways taking care of Dustin Brown in three sets. DY is at a new level now and his confidence is soaring since beating Isner in Tennessee… Raimon Sluiter is working with Kiki Bertens and they were out watching the Escobedo vs Evans battle… Brenda Shultz told me for “Facing Steffi” that she never beat Steffi but had match point in the Tokyo semifinal but Graf hit a wicked running forehand up the line which injured her knee but she continued to play and won the match but had to default the final to Hingis… Bollettieri told me he loves this event and Indian Wells equally for different reasons – he said he told Larry Ellison his desert event is like “tennis heaven” and Key Biscayne is always special because of the energy and location. Nick said Showtime is filming a documentary about his career to be shown in the summer.

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173 comments

  • Hartt · March 28, 2017 at 7:14 am

    Catherine, regarding the shorter hair for women players, I often wondered why so many had long hair. It must be a real pain to deal with when they are washing it so often. Short hair can be becoming but also just a lot more practical. I am also simply tired of the one braid look, how about some individuality?

  • catherine bell · March 28, 2017 at 7:43 am

    Hartt –
    Yes – to add to the monotony of the women’s game you have monotony of hair. I was joking a bit when I hazarded the reason the WTA might make long hair ‘mandatory’ but I suspect I might not be that far off.

    The article I saw suggested that at times of political instability women tend to cut their hair – so we can see a lot of cropped heads in the era of Trump and Brexit 🙂

  • catherine bell · March 28, 2017 at 8:25 am

    Re Muguruza’s retirement – she says she retired because of exhaustion in the heat – I find that hard to credit in 77 deg. Perhaps she’s not super fit ?
    Kerber and Permentier played 2+ hours in 94 deg heat in full sun at IW – Kerber looked tired and relieved at the end but not otherwise affected.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 28, 2017 at 8:26 am

    Yes indeed Simona crossed herself on way to shaking hand of Stosur. Onviously devoutly catholic. Simona gave a great nice biofile about an hour after the win. Shes very nice and playful to interview smiles a lit with twinkle in her eye which does not come out on court. Totally different person off court.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 28, 2017 at 9:14 am

    Carla Suarez Navarro has the shortest hair. Short hair by young women is very very rare these days. Long hair styles is the norm. But it can be disadvantageous. Chakvetadzes long ponytail once got caught in her racquet throat during an espn tv match. Funny moment.

  • Hartt · March 28, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Yes, CSN has thick, maybe wiry hair, so it would be difficult for her to wear it long. Now I will be looking for WTA players with short hair, along with my obsession about whether players read or not. (In a recent interview Strycova said she reads during rain delays – good for her!) 🙂

    Am really looking forward to the Halep Biofile.

  • catherine bell · March 28, 2017 at 10:22 am

    Scoop –
    I think you can catch some of Simona’s character on court in lighter moments. It’s just a another side to her. She can also be a bit down on herself and subdued after she’s lost which is understandable.

    Simona’s also very approachable for interviews etc . She does quite a lot. That’s probably why she got the WTA award last year for promoting the game. (I can think of a couple of top women players who are definitely not approachable.)

    As for crossing herself, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen anyone do that although I’ve watched players who I know to be observing Catholics.
    And the first time I’ve seen Simona do it.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 28, 2017 at 10:46 am

    Other players make the sign of the cross after wins… Del Potro, Johnson, and I think Ive seen Monfils too. Several others do too.

  • Chazz · March 28, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    Fognini dominated Young, what a performance by the Italian. Young was so angry with the chair umpire he didn’t shake his hand. I couldn’t tell exactly what was going on because I was watching a feed without announcers but I think it had something to do with challenges. Regardless it’s no excuse for Donald, he lost decisively.

  • Chazz · March 28, 2017 at 1:41 pm

    Speaking of domination, Sock took Donaldson to school. He lost 3 points on his serve the whole match.

  • Chazz · March 28, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    Thinking about that again, the announcer must have been wrong with that stat because Jared had a break point and also won a couple points in Jack’s last service game.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 28, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    Young got killed. I saw it all. Young even told Mom in first set, “Hes just playing too good. Dont even say anything. Youre not making any sense.” Fognini was like a cat playing with a mouse. He was getting bored it was so easy. Just slapping winners all over. Young was outclassed. Fog can win this title if somehow Fed loses. Fog looks like a major title contender right now. Young was complaining about not getting enough time to challenge compared to Fog. But it was a silly complaint. He flat out got hammered off the court by a superior player.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 28, 2017 at 1:47 pm

    Young was venting a lot at his mom. Looked like a junior in doing so. Its funny how certain veteran players always gave a parent still with them… Mirzas father. Both Chan parents. Mladenovic mom. Murrays mom.

  • Chazz · March 28, 2017 at 1:55 pm

    I was trying to figure out if Fognini was mocking him after the match with his hand gestures like talking. It was really lame for Donald to be complaining about that but if Fabio was mocking him after the match was over, it was equally lame.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 28, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    Yes I interpreted that hand gesture as insulting Young. I believe its Fogninis character to laugh at and disrespect players he doesnt like and there are a few of those. Hes had issues with Monfils Souza Gabashvili Young and surely plenty of others.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 28, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    Sock fixed his serve yesterday. Donaldson isnt ready to handle Socks firepower. Lets see if Nadal can. Assuming Rafa beats Mahut.

  • Chazz · March 28, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    I am definitely not rooting for Fognini against Nishikori after that.

    Random stat I saw yesterday on Tennis Channel: Isner’s kick serve at Indian Wells was on average 7.5 feet high at its peak!

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 28, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    Chazz; did you notice when Young celebrated a second BEFORE Fogs attempted backhand pass kanded just wide? I think that junior move by DY really annoyed Fogna and provoked his ornery side to rear its head.

  • Chazz · March 28, 2017 at 3:32 pm

    No, I didn’t catch that but it wouldn’t surprise me. I really wanted the match to go 3 sets because the drama would be at an all time high.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 28, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    Fognini is really confident and super intense right now. I see big things ahead in 2017.

  • Hartt · March 28, 2017 at 5:12 pm

    Fognini is another example of how getting married helps a guy’s tennis! 🙂

  • Andrew Miller · March 28, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    Fognino won a slam already. Her name is Flavia Pennetta!

  • Andrew Miller · March 28, 2017 at 7:24 pm

    Some players melt down. Harrison used to look like he would implode and then as if he’d trash his racquets. Still does on the trashing part, first they go after themselves, then the crowd, then the racquet

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