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Some final random obervations at The Sony Ericsson Open
7 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Spotted mom and dad Djokovic strolling the outer courts before son Novak took on Istomin. And if you’re curious, no, Mr. Djokovic, was not wearing that custom T-shirt plastered with his son’s face.
I saw David Ferrer practicing his serve, without a shirt, yesterday afternoon and he is rock solid and ripped. By the way, after missing a few serves, Ferrer, flicked his racquet into the court and cracked the frame. He walked all the way over to the other end to change, giving the busted Prince to a kid on the side.
By the way, David Ferrer is the cover boy for the March/April issue of Tennis View magazine which is published Teresa Thompson in Seminole, Florida.
F-Lo Feliciano Lopez looked in super sharp form in taking out Juan Ignacio Chela in three sets. He was serving as good as ever, and also killed Chela with about five cross court drops shots to the Chela forehand. Awesome display by F-Lo, watch out.
Olivier Rochus stunned Marcos Baghdatis with a 6-4 in the third set win. Baghdatis, as classy a player as any in the sport, embraced the head of Rochus at the net, fully aware of how much this win meant to the veteran of had to qualify into the event. Rochus, who’s brother Christophe retired last year, was omitted from the 2011 ATP media guide. Rochus defeated Kavcic in the first round, also in three tough grinding sets.
I was told #28 seed Ernests Gulbis is now being coached by Darren Cahill, but the pairing has not got off to a winning start. The eccentric Latvian was upset by Carlos Berlocq yesterday in three sets.
Sam Querrey looked excellent in defeating Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets though he did show a momentary lapse of absent-mindedness. After the first set, Querrey changed shirts. A fan in the front row noticed he had put on the white and black K-Swiss backward. Sam acknowledged the blooper and said thank you to the observant onlooker.
Sania Mirza looked really impressive pounding laser beams on the practice court yesterday (she’s in doubles with Vesnina), but she lost in singles to Kirilenko in the second round. Kirilenko was in the box supporting boyfriend Igor Andreev’s losing effort to Johnny Isner which was decided by a third set tiebreak.
Bud Collins was out and about this week, busy as ever in the press center and interview rooms asking his questions, watching the tennis and filing his stories, chatting with Davis Cup captain James Spencer Courier on the media veranda. Also Bud was on the stage in the outside area doing in-public interviews with players such as James Blake and Lisa Raymond. Well into his 80’s, Bud still has the love for this game which, he told me, first started when he heard tennis balls being struck outside his childhood bedroom window. He said he loved that sound. And here he, seven decades later.
Neither Bondarenko sister is here for the tournament. Hewitt is also missing, Craig Gabriel told me he has a foot injury.
That doubles point in the Djokovic/Murray vs. Stakhovskiy/Youzhny match is one of the best of the year. Djokovic and Murray lobbing back three or four overhead smashes, then regaining control of the net, only to waste all that effort with a Murray volley into the net. You can see the point at the ATP site.
Michael Baz, the renowned photographer asked why I wasn’t wearing my trademark fedora hat with press card affixed, as I should be wearing it because now everyone wears those hats and I was the one who started the trend again back in the early 90’s. Thanks Michael, I will wear it from now on to all events!
Remember Filip De Wulf? He made the semifinal of the 1997 Frrench Open. De Wulf now works as a journalist for a Belgium media outlet. He gave me some nice anecdotes about playing Marcelo Rios twice, which were both losing efforts to the tune of 61 62.
Speaking of tennis player turned journalists, Jelena Jankovic is writing a daily column this week for the Miami Herald.
That’s all folks!
Saturday was my last day at the Sony Ericsson Open, colleague Dan Markowitz will take over our coverage later this week.
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Dan Markowitz · March 27, 2011 at 11:40 pm
Thanks for passing the baton, Scoop. You did a wonderful job of keeping us up on the news in Key Biscayne. I’m not getting down there until Wednesday. One question, they say taking your car to the site is tough and that you should catch a bus from Brickell, do you know where Brickell is?
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Thanks Dan, it’s a breeze, just make sure you get your parking pass when picking up credentials. It’s for Lot 4. Might be tricky getting in the first time now to pick it up, they should let you in. Try to get there early, it’s hectic. Brickell is the avenue before the toll at Rickenbacher. Brickell is the road that runs parallel with the coastline. if that helps.
Sakhi · March 28, 2011 at 1:56 am
Thanks Scoop. Looking forward to Dan’s trenchant commentary as usual.
And Ferrer blasted Devarrman off the court today. It was like watching Ferrer lite play Ferrer plus. My Indian compatriot really does need a good finishing shot or he will be known as the Asian kid who runs a lot but doesn’t quite make the cut.
Watching Nishikori last night against Nadal, I wondered about the similarities between Devarrman and Nishikori, and why Nishikori definitely comes out the better player. I think Nishikori has the potential to rock a few boats under Gilbert’s tutelage.
And can someone provide more info on the Cahill-Gulbis coupling? Cahill is a smart chap—will he finally smack some sense into Gulbis?
Scoop Malinowski · March 28, 2011 at 2:32 am
My good friend coach and journalist and former hitting partner of Gabriela Sabatini, Gabriel Mateazzi of the Argentine site http://www.tennis7.net told me about the Gulbis-Cahill join of forces. You can’t get a much better coach than Killer Cahill, so Gulbis will be under the gun, it’s now or never for him. Ferrer is tough to beat these days. No shame in Devvarman losing to Ferrer at all.
Dan Markowitz · March 28, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Yes, but Gulbis’s last coach, Herman Gumy, is a good coach, too. Gulbis is a little like the young Roddick, not nearly as good, but switching coaches every every year or two. He’s never going to be any good b/c he doesn’t care enough and maybe his game is lacking the big shot, too.
Scoop Malinowski · March 28, 2011 at 6:49 pm
The way my friend who coaches and is around the pro circuit scene put it is Gulbis has everything in life. His whole life he has everything. Gotta wonder if he has enough motivation and inspiration to become the very best.
Ben · March 29, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Thanks Scoop, great to read comments from someone at the scene.