Just gonna share with you some random things that I see and hear todayĂ‚Â at the Sony Ericsson Open…
Davydenko is out practicing on the stadium court just outside my window. Can’t tell who his partner is.
Kevin Anderson is out behind the stadium, dressed in white shirt and black shorts,Ă‚Â with racquet in hand, shadow hitting forehands, backhands and volleys, getting ready for his match with Davydenko. Anderson would later win 64 63, big win for the rising big hitter from South Africa who hadĂ‚Â a big first round win here three years ago against Novak Djokovic.Ă‚Â
First on stadium is Bethanie Mattek Sands and once again she is wearing a color combo which nobody in tennis history as ever worn: orange top, white shorts, orange socks up to her knees. I got a Biofile with her after the match and it’s one of the best ones ever. Stay tuned for that.
I go out to the Corona deck to eat my lunch and walk by Sania Mirza who is on her way toĂ‚Â a practice court with her coach/hitting partner (I don’t know his name), she has her head down and is totally unrecognized.
When I get back, Federer is due in the interview room at 1, Roddick was in and out at 12:30. Fed really is interesting to listen to. So smart and nice and he handles any question with the same ease he exhibits on the court, in even the most tense of moments.
As you would expect, many media people are questioning if it’s the end of Roger as the king of tennis…
Bud Collins asked:Ă‚Â You have a very solid outlook but are you puzzled, annoyed or amused byĂ‚Â people who say that the Federer era is over, he’s down to three and sinking?
Roger:Ă‚Â “Well, depends on who saysĂ‚Â that. I don’t know if it’s 5% saying it, 95% saying it. Then at the end of the day, it doesn’tĂ‚Â matter too much to me if someone is saying that or not. I still think I’ve had a great six months. I feel like I’m playing really good tennis and right now Novak is just a bit better than theĂ‚Â rest. And that’s okay. I’ve gone through phases like this on multiple occasions with Rafa, with Murray, with even Agassi and Hewitt and Roddick and so forth. It’s just something that’s part of the game.”
“I never expected myself to dominate for 15 years, you know. So it’sĂ‚Â always – it goes in phases. This is a good one. I think at the top right now I think actually everybody is playing well, Rafa, myself, even Murray. You know, maybe he has not had the best last couple tournaments but he did make the finals of the Australian Open. I’m sure he’s gonna be extremely strong again this year. And Soderling, maybe if he were not, if he would feel better physically, also I think he’s also had a great six months winning Paris and I think two or three titles this year. So every body is playing reallyĂ‚Â well at the top, but then you hear stories being made up. They are also part of our sport. And it’s fine, whateverĂ‚Â it is, as long as I don’t get affected by them. That’s what counts.”
Then someone asked this: Off the question he just asked, one of the criticisms of you came recently from Martina Navratilova saying she doubted whether you’d be backĂ‚Â at the level of three or four years ago or back at #1.Ă‚Â The fact it’s coming from her, does that register at all for you?
Roger: “Sure. You’d rather hear other things, you know. Maybe she missed the London World Tour finals. I don’t know. Maybe she was somewhere climbing Kilimanjaro, I don’t know. I love her. Look, I think she’s been an inspiration to my wife and IĂ‚Â always love seeing her, but if you had the microphone in front of you and you getĂ‚Â a negative question, you get dragged into it. You have to answer it. So that’s what happens. And she’s in front ofĂ‚Â the microphone a lot of times, you know, like other experts, as well, and eventually you can’t just say only good things. You have toĂ‚Â also say more negative things. Then you pick up on these and nextĂ‚Â thing you know its like I’m being asked and then I have toĂ‚Â answer it, which is unfortunate. I have no problem with Martina. She’s allowed to say.”
On the way up to the third floor where the media center is, I see one of Andy Murray’s physio guys walk by with a plastic bag filled with two waters. Also see Patrick McEnroe entering the grounds with his baby daughter onĂ‚Â his shoulders and Christina McHale a few steps behind.
Look out the window and Kimiko Date Krumm is up 64 53 duece, she is serving for the match against Zuzana Ondraskova. Is that a nice shot of ball contact on a serve or what?
Stay tuned for more updates…
Djokovic on a practice court, after Almagro. Djokovic stretching and pulling those things, to stretch shoulders, about five minutes of getting ready for the hit. While Djokovic did his routine, Gasquet sat on his chair with his leg crossed and spinning his racquet from the throat. Almagro stayed and watched the hit sitting in a chair, with his soaken wet gray t-shirt.
Bogomolov was broke to fall down 2-1 in the third to Hanescu, and then threw his racquet at his chair. But Bogie battled back from the break down and Hanescu serving for the match at 5-4 to score the big win 7-5. Bogie’s camp was exhorting him on with an uncountable amount of Come on, Let’s go and Focus. Big win for Bogie over the little-known but veteran Romanian.
When I left the match I saw Mrs Murray walking down a path presumably toward that court, as Andy Murray’s opening match will be against Bogie.
Spotted Peter Lundgren in conversation with the female working the Corona beer stand. Not sure if the conversation was business about the tastes and or ingredients of Corona’s product or some other subject. But the length of the discussion prevented us finishing the Biofile we started but did not complete at the Heineken Bar at the U.S. Open last year. I also wanted to ask Peter about the rabid Rock and Roll looking supporter in the Wawrinka box during the win over Murray.
Biofile with Aravane Rezai as she was on her way to watch Cornet vs. Razzano. She said a swarm of bees once chased her off a court in Spain. More details to follow…
6:35 pm James Blake is hitting on stadium right now with brother Thomas again, like two days ago. Blake is still wearing the taped up Nikes to look like Filas who know supplies Blake with his apparel. Blake wears Fila shorts (black), shirt (white and black) and hat (black) but, for some reason, refuses to wear the Fila shoes. Interestingly, Thomas is wearing the Fila shoes with his Fila attire (maroon shirt and white shorts).
Greg Sharko told me Milos Raonic is the first man born in the 90’s to win an ATP title. Raonic is also in the top 2 of five of six “Service Game Leaders” statistics which includes aces, First serve points won, Second serve points won, Service games won and break points saved. The only category Raonic is not top 10 is First serve %.
I like this quote from Roddick in his press conference:
Q: …What do you imagine when people are trying to put away Roger given he’s fallen to #3?
Andy: “That’s ridiculous. That’s ridiculous. I mean, whoever wants to – and I said this about someone last week – whoever wants to criticize Roger for the way he’s playing tennis right now better be very, very good at their job. Very good.”
Roger handles tough questions with grace and ease
