By Scoop Malinowski

Everybody is excited about the two new innovations in professional tennis this year, the sensational Laver Cup contested this past weekend in Prague, Czech Republic and the upcoming #NEXTGEN Finals in Milan, Italy for 21 and under ATP pros.

We know tennis is a traditional sport which is historically resistant to change and innovation but something is in the air this year and things are changing and so far the public response to Laver Cup and #NEXTGEN Finals has been extremely favorable.

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Did they have to make it World v Europe? Couldn’t they have made it like World against Eastern Europe? Then with a little free geographic license, we could’ve had teams like Rafa, Kyrgios, Tsonga, Kev Anderson, Qball and Shapovalov v Fed, Zverev, Berdy, Cilic and I don’t know a couple of other players. But to put Nadal and Fed on the same team to be matched up against Qball and Sock is almost criminal. I mean you have four Americans on the World Group and America can’t even get past the second round of Davis Cup.

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Pat Cash, Anders Jarryd, Tom Okker, Michael Stich, and Helena Sukova named Candidates for
2018 International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction

September 5, 2017 – Wimbledon champions Pat Cash and Michael Stich, along with Anders Jarryd and Tom Okker, who both won multiple doubles titles at Grand Slam tournaments, and Czech legend Helena Sukova, a 14-time major champion in doubles and mixed doubles, have been named candidates for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2018. The candidates were first announced this morning, live on Tennis Channel’s “Live from the US Open” show.

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By Scoop Malinowski

Status: Former ATP player won 2003 Sydney ATP title. Highest career ranking was 36 in 2007. Retired in 2009 and now operates Lee Hyung Taik Tennis Academy in Gangwon Province. Has career wins against Ferrero, Ferrer, Canas, Murray, Llodra, Schuettler, Ivanisevic.

DOB: Jan. 1, 1976 In: Seoul, South Korea

Childhood Heroes: “I looked up to Sampras – his game and his demeanor on the court.”

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Two favorite players of this site are Stefan Kozlov and Bryden Klein. Both Klein and Kozlov are personable, approachable, engaging players trying to carve out ATP careers.

But both are struggling right now with confidence issues. Klein lost a heartbreaking 76 in the third set at US Open qualies first round to France’s Vincent Millot after squandering a match point. Since then, Klein has lost in the first round to a teenager Will Blumberg in the Cary, North Carolina Challenger and this week he lost a three setter to the top seed in the opening round of the Columbus Challenger.

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I’m watching Liam Broady, the Brit, completely dismantle Ernests Gulbis in St. Petersburg and asking, “How come I’ve never seen this chap Broady play before? The Brit is good, like real good, and he’s a Matthew McConaughey look-alike. He is the fastest dude I’ve ever seen on a tennis court. Kind of moves like the […]

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Dominik Hrbaty: Former Slovakian won six ATP singles title was also known for tormenting Roger Federer with two three set wins over the Swiss maestro in Cincy and Paris Bercy before Fed finally won their last meeting at Wimbledon in Hrbaty’s final tournament in 2008.

Jiri Novak: The Czech baseliner won seven singles titles and over $7.6 million with a career singles record of 337-260. Best win was arguably the rout of Pete Sampras in the 2000 Davis Cup tie in LA, 76 63 62.

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The Chinese junior Yibing Wu won the US Open junior boys title last week and then flew to China to play as a wildcard in the main draw of the Shanghai Challenger.

Guess what? Wu has won three rounds, taking out the second seed Peter Polansky of Canada in the first round 63 76. Polansky has played in three Challenger finals this year.

China · Yibing Wu

The first reader who can identify the two ATP players who accomplished four consecutive match win streaks against Pete Sampras win a Scoop Malinowski Facing book of their choice.

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You just never know who you will run into on a tennis court. In the last year I have met an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, a national champion 400 meter hurdles star in China, two billionaires and a former president of a major record label. Greg Theberge, the former NHL defenseman, just alerted me that he met and played with the legendary British player Roger Taylor recently at his club in Toronto.

Roger Taylor