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Newport 2015 Press Room Quotebook
13 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Bernard Tomic, after losing as a wildcard in the first round to John Patrick Smith, softened his verbal attacks on Tennis Australia but still tossed a couple of grenades, when asked who he would appoint to run TA: “Right now, the two guys there (Patrick Rafter and Craig Tiley), I don’t mind saying this, I don’t think them.”
Steve Johnson on Newport activities outside of the tennis casino venue: “I like to blend in, go out, have fun and eat dinner. This is a great town. I’ve done pretty much everything, the Cliff Walk, it’s great, you go down by the water (Thames St.) and have dinner. After a long Europe swing, it’s great to come here. It’s an all American city and you just come and relax.”
Bernard Tomic after losing to Smith: “On these courts, you can be a not very good player and play very good here. Some other players won who maybe should not have won this tournament, so it’s tough to play on this surface. The grass is not like Wimbledon, it’s not clean and it gives advantage to the other player.”
Rhode Island native eighteen year old Jared Donaldson (the top ranked teen on the ATP tour) after playing his first Newport main draw, which included a first round win vs. Austin Krajicek: “I always dreamed of being out there when I would come and watch this tournament when I was younger, I always wanted to be out there – somehow I was going to make my way there. And I did.”
“I don’t play for money. I feel pressure because I want to succeed. I feel pressure because I want to be great….I remember when I was ranked a thousand in the world, then (the goal) was to be 700. And I would tell myself I would give anything to be 500, then it was I’d give anything to be 300. Now it’s about 150.”
Rajeev Ram after upsetting John Isner 76 in the third set, saving one match point: “We don’t have anywhere else like this on the Tour where my game fits as well as it does here. It makes it so I have a better chance of having higher ranked wins here than anywhere else.”
First year tournament director Todd Martin: “If I didn’t have so much respect and confidence in the team that I inherited, this year would have been much different. The group is just solid as a rock and I’ve been afforded the opportunity to trust them and be confident in that. The result of that is putting on an event that looks great, feels great and is attracting a very nice crowd early in the week.”
“I, and the team here, are going to have a blast operating a place that has so much more potential than it had even a couple of years ago.”
“We’re not this huge community – we’re a pretty small community (referring to American tennis players who bolstered this year’s draw, and rising junior stars like Reilly Opelka, Tommy Paul, who figure to be part of the event in the future). If I don’t screw up and start behaving badly towards them, there’s no reason to believe anything other than good relationships will continue to be cultivated. It also requires me to build relationships with the next group of kids down.”
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Dan Markowitz · July 17, 2015 at 9:29 pm
Isn’t Borna Coric a higher ranked teen than Donaldson? Tomic is such a jerk. He just can’t get out of his own way. He’s done much better than Harry, and Harry has not had Tomic’s off the court fiascos, but the pair have really undershot with all the expectations set for them just four years ago.
The semis tomorrow have one real nice match up, Sock v Dr. Ivo, but the Ram v JP Smith match is not too sexy, certainly not what you want to see by the names and rankings of these two men, for an ATP semis.
Dan Markowitz · July 18, 2015 at 7:01 am
Here’s a mind-boggling stat for you folks out there. I’m in the hot tub last night at the Viking Hotel with Fabrice Martin. The guy’s huge, like 6-6 or so and he’s playing against Nick Monroe in doubles semis today. And I ask him if he plays singles and he says yes, but he’s focusing on doubles this year with his partner, Scoop loves, an Indian dude who looks in physique like he should be driving a cab rather than playing pro tennis, Pura Raja, but his singles ranking is No. 350 and that makes him No. 31 in France.
Can you believe that?! The guy is #350 in the world but only #31 in France. The #350 player in the US is probably ranked # 500 or more in the world. France is a sick tennis playing country.
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2015 at 8:32 am
Forgot about Coric Dan, yes Tomic is a train wreck, what a dummy. Smith vs Ram is a good match, both guys are desperate to final, ,gonna be a real dogfight..
Harold · July 18, 2015 at 9:44 am
Just like their government, the French players bail when the going gets tough.32 years since they won a Major.
Dan markowitz · July 18, 2015 at 10:02 am
They might not be winning slams the French, but think of that stat, of the top 350 players in the world, there’s 31 French guys. I don’t think any other country can claim that.
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2015 at 10:07 am
For how many talented and high quality players France produces, for there to be not ONE of them to win a major in 32 years is very very strange. There has to be some cultural and or psychological factors involved. You wonder why can’t the inspiration of Borotra, Cochet, Lacoste be of more impact?
Harold · July 18, 2015 at 12:56 pm
The 31 French guys probably beautiful games. Technique, aestetically great to watch. Simon might have the most heart and fight, but no big weapons to win Majors.
The other top guys, break a nail, out for 6 weeks. Deep in matches, deep in tournaments, you just know it’s not going to end well for the French guys.
On another note, pretty weak for The Missile and Popsicle to both skip DC quarters. Thought Canada was going to get to a final aye. Maybe they are hurt or played already so they will qualify for the Olympics in 16
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2015 at 1:17 pm
You see that happen with a lot of players, they commit to Davis Cup when young and are dedicated Davis Cup players for a few years, then they gradually begin to skip ties, whether nursing injuries or prioritizing their singles ranking over DC activities. The only players I can think of who were full fledged all out Davis Cuppers from the beginning to the end are John McEnroe and Lleyton Hewitt.
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2015 at 6:51 pm
Karlovic vs Ram final, Dr Ivo is just a marvel isn’t he? 36, going for another title this year. Look at how many big guns are done at 36 and he’s still out there getting the job done.
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2015 at 7:20 pm
Some other quotes from the week: Tommy Haas, agitated that he couldn’t close out Mannarino in straight sets, struggling the second set with sunlight fading fast, after losing a point late in the set, blurted out: “Can you turn the lights on, if you have any.”
I asked Todd Martin if it was possible to invite Federer to play Newport someday and he said he has had discussions with Fed’s agent but it looks like a longshot because Fed still feels he can win Wimbledon and with Newport the following week, it’s too tight a schedule for Roger. Martin also jokingly asked if tennis-prose.com would cover the appearance fee of Federer 🙂
Dan markowitz · July 18, 2015 at 8:37 pm
Amazing. I saw the first set and Sock had the first break. He was blasting forehand returns at Dr Ivo’s feet on the backhand side and Dr Ivo netted the volleys. But that serve is incredible. At set point on Ivo’s second serve, he blasted a 123 mph zapper up the middle. Sock was stunned thereafter. I was stunned when at one point Dr Ivo screamed, “Wake up!” I’d never heard utter anything on the court. Ram doesn’t have much of a chance even as his game is suited for Newport.
Scoop Malinowski · July 19, 2015 at 7:32 am
Dan do you remember Sock was talking to himself to “wake up” vs Lacko, maybe Karlovic was playing some kind of mind game on Sock by also using the wake up line. Very uncharacteristic for Dr. Ivo to use verbal tools during his match, he usually operates in silent precision. Be nice to see Ivo win this thing, after the painful 3rd set TB loss last year to Hewitt, who by the way saved Australia from 0-2 down by winning the doubles with Groth and the fifth rubber vs. Nedovsayov in straight sets. Hewitt subbed for Kokkinakis – amazing show of greatness by Hewitt in Darwin, Australia now into the DC semis in this wide open year of Davis Cup world group, Belgium, Argentina, Australia and most likely Great Britain the four semifinalists.
Scoop Malinowski · July 19, 2015 at 8:57 pm
Ram defeats hard luck Karlovic 76 in the third, second year in a row Ivo loses by a third set tiebreak. Second career title in Newport for the 31 year old Ram, who saved a MP in the Isner match in the first round, and two more in the QF vs Mannarino. I’d say that it was a thrilling and sensational week of tennis in Newport. As usual.