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Julia Cohen is reading “Facing Federer”
13 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
I ran into WTA player Julia Cohen (currently ranked 202) at the TennisGoal Pro Shop in Bradenton, FL. I remember her for grinding out a memorable long three set win at US Open qualies last year under the lights, impressing us all with her amazing consistency, patience and fighting spirit. She’s my kinda player.
Julia, who trains in Bradenton with former ATP pro and Marcelo Rios conqueror Julian Alonso, is off to Mexico to compete in her next pro event. Let’s hope the new book she’s reading will inspire her to her best season in the WTA.
Good luck Julia,
By the way, here are my comments about her first round qualies match at US Open last year, one of the most captivating battles I’ve seen this decade…
The match of the day came at night. Julia Cohen vs. Majeric. What a war. Cohen was up 64 40 and lost the second set, losing six straight games. Longest rallies you will ever see, 50 shot rallies. Moonballs galore, all defense. An incredible tussle. Then Cohen jumped to a 3-0 and 5-2 lead in the third and finally closed it out 6-3. But what a pressure match. She laid down at her chair after shaking hands and got an ice massage on court. Completely spent. Many people stayed to watch this marathon struggle. How could you leave? We just had to see who won. When the match finally concluded it was after ll.
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Abe Froman · February 27, 2014 at 3:43 pm
mazel tov julia !…..is that you in the photo scoop ?….when will you be back in our beautiful garden state for some tennis ?…i’m looking forward to getting a copy of facing fed as well LOL..
Dan markowitz · February 27, 2014 at 4:32 pm
She’s a battler, but I think she got destroyed by Camilia Georgii like 1 and love in the last round of qualis.
Scoop Malinowski · February 27, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Late April early May Abe, I look forward to meeting and playing some ball with you. What, you still haven’t read Facing Federer? What are you waiting for? If you want to tap into your inner Federer, you have to read this book )
Scoop Malinowski · February 27, 2014 at 5:58 pm
Yes Julia got beaten by Giorgi but she told me she had nothing left after those two exhausting quali matches. It’s a wonder she even tried to play that third quali match vs. Camila. JC’s effort in the first match was quite possibly the single most physically demanding effort I’ve ever seen from a WTA player. There were so many 30 40 plus shot rallies in that match it was mind boggling. One of the most compelling competitions I’ve ever seen on a tennis court.
Dan Markowitz · February 27, 2014 at 6:55 pm
Scoop, you and I had a different opinion on how compelling that match was, but one of the reasons why it went on for ever is that Cohen is one of the all-time pushers. She couldn’t hit a winner. I’ll give her that she is steady, but she makes Harold Solomon look like Roscoe Tanner. I credit her for her tenacity, but I don’t think she has a chance of breaking even into the top 100.
Scoop Malinowski · February 27, 2014 at 7:31 pm
Both were excellent defenders Dan, it was wall vs. wall. Neither could get the ball by the other. Counter punching, patience and consistency like these two have is a weapon. Hey it worked wonders for Hewitt. You can never count out a tough player like this, she can evolve. You prefer attacking tennis from the 80s 90s but those days are gone. Grinding is in now.
Dan markowitz · February 28, 2014 at 2:06 am
The other girl Cohen played that day walloped the ball, but she was overweight and not a great defensive player. Cohen might surprise, but I’d be shocked to see her make a tennis career .
Abe Froman · February 28, 2014 at 9:11 am
looking fwd to it scoop….i’ll buy direct from you lol
Scoop Malinowski · February 28, 2014 at 5:40 pm
She wasn’t overweight, she was just big bodied, not in the shape of Cohen though Cohen could do an ultra marathon. SOme of those eastern euro girls are just full bodied but they can battle. Majeric was her name, hope we see her again too.
Scoop Malinowski · February 28, 2014 at 5:40 pm
Yuo got it Abe, thanks,
Bryan · March 3, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Speaking of qualifiers any word on what’s up with Nicole Gibbs who played on Stanford women’s national championship team last year? She has been a pro only since the summer.
She was grinding qualifiers at AO and Rio but has been cryptic at Twitter lately talking about life changes and I don’t think she’s in qualies at Indian Wells. Is she bailing on the sport already?
Scoop Malinowski · March 4, 2014 at 8:56 am
Bryan, Gibbs is a really nice girl but she hasn’t made any inroads on the WTA Tour. She’s not big, doesn’t have a big weapon. She might be lucky to make top l00.
Bryan · March 5, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Thanks Scoop. She said she made the main draw at Rio but nothing further so I guess she busted in round 1. Hasn’t made any tennis specific comments lately so I’m wondering if she’s dropping out.
Stanford this fall was her first pro tournament so it seems she should give it more than a half year on tour before giving up. I do agree she’s undersized and doesn’t have one big weapon at this time.