Felix Auger Aliassime is just 17 but the word is he signed lucrative mega deals with Nike and Babolat however his parents chose to not tell their son any specifics about how much money is sitting in his account.
Former American junior star Brendan Evans was able to get $2m from Nike and then flamed out as a professional, never making his mark on the ATP World Tour.
Roger Federer has decided to skip the clay season again.
Novak Djokovic will play Monte Carlo.
Miami Open tournament director did an autograph session today.
Doubles popularity growing? Johnson and Querrey played first on two days ago on court 8 and the court was completely filled by 10:30 am for the 11 start.
Former NHL star Ed Jovanovski attended the day session on Saturday. Other sightings…ex Italian soccer star Christian Vieri, former Roland Garros mixed doubles champ in 1974 with Navratilova, Ivan Molina of Colombia, Guillermo Canas.
Canas said he was a finalist here and the following year he did not get a credential.
My book Facing Marat Safin is 90% done and will be published by US Open.
Nick Kyrgios has accepted a wildcard into Houston.
Lacoste t shirts are selling here for $50.
Sugarpova is available in the main gift shop. There are new flavor offerings including chocolate.
Sharapova agent Max Eisenbud was spotted strolling the grounds, of course chatting on his cellphone while wearing a Sugarpova cap while Maria is currently training at IMG Academy in Bradenton which is up route 75 about four hours north.
Fila has introduced some catchy new shoes and attire, using bright yellow for the first time for their shoes, polos and caps.
Su-wei Hsieh is still without any sponsors. She uses a Yonex racquet without a contract. She buys her gear off the rack and she carries a no name blue bag to the court. She wears Nike Vapor shoes, adidas skirt, no name top and Under Armour visor. Hsieh was WTA no 1 in the world in doubles. She has won Wimbledon, Roland Garros and most recently Indian Wells.
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Joe Blow · March 26, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Shapovalov called for a trainer at 5-4 third set with Q ball to serve. Major BS move..gets a tape job, while Q Ball stews..
WEAK play
Joe Blow · March 26, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Like Shapovalov, but now rooting for Q, keep that Juniors crap move in the Juniors. You’re supposed to be big time now
Duke Carnoustie · March 26, 2018 at 5:04 pm
Just saw the end and Qball looked pissed. Must have been about the trainer?
Wonder what Brendan Evans is up to now.
Could be another Kyrgios-Zverev showdown.
Is there a Nike outlet there? Famously they didn’t have one at the US Open last year.
scoopmalinowski · March 26, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Nike section in main gift shop.
scoopmalinowski · March 26, 2018 at 5:23 pm
Interesting stats told to me today by fellow scribe Rod Coffee…
Chris Evert has the greatest win percentage. She won 89 percent of her matches. She also won a major for 13 straight yrs. Those are monster stats and no one can discredit them and her as a goat contender.
catherine · March 26, 2018 at 6:17 pm
I think Chris’ clay court streak still stands, at least for women, but can’t recall the figure off hand.
Chris was unbelievably dominant in her day but she didn’t do that well at Wimbledon – only 3. She said later that she wished she’d changed her game for W’don earlier in her career but I’m not sure it would have worked – her serve was not a natural stroke and she didn’t volley well – a bit like Lendl in that last area.
In a quiet way Chris was absolutely intimidating – from an early age. Showed no emotion. She made Billie Jean nervous.
Joe Blow · March 26, 2018 at 6:59 pm
Evert was in the era that switched from wood rackets to graphite. Evert, Austin( more injuries than racket) Borg,Vitas, Vilas never really adapted to Graphite sticks. Never added anything to their game. Connors had a little success, but don’t think he won any Majors using a graphite racket. JMac pulled it off, winning with Dunlop graphite
Dan Markowitz · March 26, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Been watching Sock v Coric match out on Grandstand. Sock’s acting pretty brash and petulant. Socked a ball out of stands when he was down 0-3 and fought back to win first set when Coric served for set at 5-3. But now Sock’s down 4-1 in second set.
Duke Carnoustie · March 27, 2018 at 12:35 am
Put a Sock in it! The chump goes down again. With clay court season ahead, he’s in big trouble.
Duke Carnoustie · March 27, 2018 at 1:58 am
Here are the details of what Kyrgios Tweeted about Verdasco…
http://kfgo.com/news/articles/2018/mar/27/kyrgios-verdasco-get-into-twitter-spat-at-miami-open/
Duke Carnoustie · March 27, 2018 at 2:01 am
This is what Verdasco posted to Nick…
https://twitter.com/FerVerdasco/status/978377603999588353
catherine · March 27, 2018 at 3:14 am
Sorry Hartt – Petra out of this one. Venus gets revenge for last year over Konta.
On twitter Angie thanks her fans for helping her run for 3 hours in the heat but I think Stephens will be too much for her next match. Looking at the draw it seems to be today unless rain delays.
Svitolina is lurking.
A lot of players will be wanting to get to Europe before long where heat is not a problem at the moment.
catherine · March 27, 2018 at 3:36 am
UK is on BST now which is a joke – but maybe means a dry Wimbledon 🙂
Simon Briggs writes a kindly piece about Konta’s loss and her injury which involved MTOs and apparently wasn’t an injury at all, just a ‘spasm’. I can imagine William’s thoughts on that.
catherine · March 27, 2018 at 4:16 am
Kerber is proud of her fighting spirit which rarely deserts her but now a bit of adjustment to her defensive game and she would not have to run so many miles. A few more advances to the net, cutting off the rallies – Wang saved herself a lot of energy there. Asking too much ? – that’s Angie’s way and that’s how she’ll go on. But I can see Sloane doing this one easily.
Barty out in SS – her progress has stalled. Don’t know what to think about Muguruza. Maybe go into training camp like a boxer 🙂
OMG Twitter spats are soooo boring. I wish these guys would just get together behind the stands somewhere and slug it out.
Scoop – on that note, did you hear someone’s trying to promote back bare-knuckle fighting in the US ? It’s illegal in Britain. Kevin Mitchell in a Guardian boxing column says the idea’s disgusting.
Dan Markowitz · March 27, 2018 at 6:54 am
One of the interesting sidelights of attending a match in person is to watch the umpire Mohammed Lahyani call a match. He was officiating the Sock v Coric match yesterday and he has such a booming voice, he pronounced “Coric” “Tchoric” and he overruled an out call on Sock’s booming serve on the first point. I’ve never seen a player get into a heated exchange with Lahyani like they do all the time with Ferguson Murphy.
Lahyani though has somewhat of a bubbly presence in the chair. He’s always making little hand motions to linespeople and ball kids like he’s a maestro orchestrating the match. I once asked him if he had a theater background because his voice would be great for Shakespeare. Just hearing him call out the score, “Chorich leads” in a booming baritone then in a mellower intonation “five games to three.”
Lahyani’s a character and I’ve never seen him look or appear bored in the chair and it doesn’t matter who’s playing; he’s a show unto himself. Sock is also show unto himself. He’s a big Midwestern boy. I’ve seen him smile a lot on the court but yesterday he seemed dead serious. Even his entourage and there were like ten Sock-ites in the front row, looked nervous and somewhat glum. Jay Berger sits slumped in his seat like Don Corleone and he never claps or says anything like even Come On to Sock. I feel sorry for Michaela the girlfriend. She looks chastened and I’m sure she’s heard the buzz like Sampras’s wife did that she’s the reason Jack has taken a dive.
Sock fought hard last night; he broke the Croat both in the first and second sets when he was serving at 5-3, but Sock is not an ace machine and I can only remember one backhand winner from him last night. Even his forehand which is like a fireworks display fell short into the net often. Sock did more serve and volley last night, but he’s not fully committed to it and while he’s too talented to nosedive out of the top 25 probably, he’s a player in big need of some kind of change or shakeup in his game or team.
Dan Markowitz · March 27, 2018 at 7:04 am
Interesting to eat in Player’s dining room as I did late last night. There’s quite a spread. I had a big salad, a piece of salmon and then gluten-free penne with shrimp and broccoli and pesto sauce. I was hungry, after my flight I rented a bike in Miami and cycled over four bridges to get out to Crandon Park. But in the Player’s dining room I saw James Blake and his wife and two little daughters. Pat Cash came in and the guy still looks buff and cool like a rock star. Coco was there and she’s prettier in person than in the tube. Kevin Anderson’s wife came in and she was wearing tiny Jean shorts and looked pretty too. You realize these tennis people are beautiful by and large and some of them are already towing families with them and little kids.
Hartt · March 27, 2018 at 7:35 am
Dan, your description of your dinner made me very hungry – have not had breakfast yet. It must be fun to see the players and their families in an informal environment.
I enjoyed your description of Sock’s match. I once was at a Rogers Cup match where Mo was the ump, and remember jumping out of my seat more than once when that booming voice called the score. I think he enjoys shaking people up. He is a good umpire. As you said, he seems to enjoy himself. And I like the way he is not afraid to overrule, the way some umps are. And of course he is rarely wrong when he does overrule.
scoopmalinowski · March 27, 2018 at 7:39 am
Sock bungled that match. Sloppy shots, unlevel intensity. He roared come ons late in the second set but when he really needed that fire in the second he was silent. Coric wanted it more. At 3-2 Sock in third Sock tried the inj timeout to stall and ice Coric but it failed as Coric held 3-3. Sock wanted the easy way out, the shortcut. Not to be in a dogfight. I hate Socks look on court with the backward hat. Junior look. Too many silly exo type shots. It looks like Sock is playing an exo. Maybe he prefers exos and doubles than singles dogfights. Sock should have beat Coric who is more mature, more professional and more evenly intense through the match. Cant believe I didnt see you Dan. I couldve drove you back. I dropped Cicma off in Brickell.
scoopmalinowski · March 27, 2018 at 7:42 am
Not a fan of bare knuckle Cath but its out there. Verdasco vs Nick would be good. I like how Nick has Kokkinakis back bc Verdasco flimflammed the kid with those fake coaching accusations to unnerve and distract him. Verdasco pulls these stunts on younger players. Well done by Nick.
Chazz · March 27, 2018 at 10:11 am
Kyrgios-Verdasco thing seems like a silly online spat that would never happen in person.
Sock was tired in the third. He blew the second set tiebreaker and it was over after that. Dan, I think “Chorich” is the proper pronunciation. All announcers call him that. Cilic is pronounced “Chilich”. Croatian lingo.
How about Danielle Collins? Not much said about her but she has gone up 27 spots to #66 this week. R16 at Indian Wells and now QF at Miami. Should be a good match with Venus.
Tiafoe 5-4 over Berdych in the 3rd last night with the conclusion today. That would be another big win for Foe. Here is a funny clip of a prank he played as an undercover ticket scanner this week: https://youtu.be/R__2K3LFyoc.
scoopmalinowski · March 27, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Kyrgios obviously isnt fond of Verdasco. Or maybe any Spaniards. The Spanish vs Australia rivalry dates back to Hewitt who irritated many Spaniards with his in your face, obnoxious, ostentatious on court character. I think there is still some grudge and resentment from the two sides and Kyrgios vs Verdasco is the latest manifestation. I would not be surprised if the two have a confrontation today.
Duke Carnoustie · March 27, 2018 at 12:51 pm
Congrats to Isner for serving his way through another foe. Faced no break points and took down Cilic. Must be nice to win when you are so one-dimensional.
Joe Blow · March 27, 2018 at 2:10 pm
The Argentinians hated Hewitt the most. With Chela leading the hate
Hartt · March 27, 2018 at 2:19 pm
I did not see Slaone vs Angie, because I was watching Milos vs Chardy (Milos won in SS). But from the score, and from what I heard, Sloane creamed Angie, and Kerber was not putting up much of a fight. This is very concerning – what is going on?
catherine · March 27, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Stephens/Kerber scrappy match but Sloane wins easily SS. Angie very tired. Fisette told her to relax and have fun, ie. pretend it’s not important but Angie can’t do that. She had no mental or physical energy.
From now on she should measure her career in good matches played, not titles won.
Sloane was far from her best. Didn’t get a rhythm going.
Chazz · March 27, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Stephens is back to US Open form and Kerber looked slow and tired.
And yes Duke, Isner is one-dimensional. That’s part of his appeal. Just kidding. He hit 73% of his first serves in. Almost no one can beat him if he has his serve going like that.
catherine · March 27, 2018 at 2:24 pm
Hartt – nothing’s going on. Angie played 3 hours yesterday in grilling heat and it was too much to expect her to go out and beat Sloane 24 hrs later.
catherine · March 27, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Sloane will play Azarenka or Pliskova – either of whom will give her more of a challenge.
And Angie joins Kvitova,Simona,Muguruza on the sidelines.Plus Kasatkina. Enough for a consolation tournament 🙂
Duke Carnoustie · March 27, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Sloane is tough to figure out. She looked unstoppable today but not too long ago she couldn’t win a match. Nuts.
Isner would have a chance of being a great champion if the Slams were best-of-3. He is so tough to beat in this format. Over five sets, opponents tend to figure out his serve or at least get used to it. Today over 11 service games Cilic had no ‘Cance.’
Dan Markowitz · March 27, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Watched Tiafoe annihilate Berdman in 3rd set Breaker. Tiafoe is lightening fast. I’d say he goes from one corner to next faster than anyone. Watching Shapovalov and Chorich now and I’d say nobody hits ball w more flair today than Denis. Body parts are just flailing all over the place. It’s so different than Coric who’s rather contained in his strokemanship.
scoopmalinowski · March 27, 2018 at 4:29 pm
Tiafoe is an NFL tailback who was sekected by the tennis Gods to play the sport of grace. There is a sense of divine intervention with Tiafoe as evidenced by his back story and his uncanny ability to play spectacular tennis against the worlds best. We are witnessing something very special. Beating Edmund and now Berdych 76 in the third…magic in in the air.
catherine · March 28, 2018 at 3:37 am
Contrary to various comments about the men’s game being in trouble when the Big Four so-called fade away, I think it’s the women’s game which is going to be in bigger trouble, with various players not progressing as they should and stereotyped styles.
Younger generation ? I’ve seen most of the NBTs 16 + and they all play the same.
Definitely no ‘magic in the air’.
catherine · March 28, 2018 at 4:29 am
Coric beat all the body parts so maybe Denis could contain himself a little more and conserve the energy required to get all those body parts moving together 🙂