Donald Young art collector? Yes. DY discovered the work of Bolivian American painter David Banegas on display at Delray Beach Open three years ago and purchased three originals including a striking Muhammad Ali oil, the same that is the cover of my Ali book. Ilona Young told me last week they love the style and colors integration. Banegas is an outstanding creative artist was missed this year in Delray because of a scheduling conflict with the Honda PGA event.
Geoff Burke, the USA Today photographer tipped me before the match last night that Danielle Collins is a fighter and fears no one and could take out Venus and that is exactly what the former UVA grad did in straight sets with a sensational display. Coach Pat Harrison deserves a load of credit. Harrison has not got the big results with Heather Watson or Madison Brengle but may have struck gold with Collins.
A colleague journalist took the tour of the new facility that will be used next year for the Miami Open and came away impressed and optimistic by the stunning venue and its potential.
Did a biofile with Karen Khachanov yesterday after his dubs win with Rublev. Double K also shared his Facing Safin memories. Khachanov said his best match was beating Berdych in three sets at French Open last year. His two inspirations were Delpo and Marat.
Also did my fourth interview of the week with a Chilean newspaper about this being the 20th anniversary of Marcelo Rios winning the final here in 1998 vs Agassi to become ATP world no 1.
I asked a Japanese journo if Nishikori has ever been involved in a single controversy and she could not think of one. Nishikori is as kind and polite as any tennis sportsman ever. A guy like Nick Kyrgios cannot go a month without creating some kind of stir uo. She said Kei and Nick get along well despite their philosophical conduct differences.
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Chazz · March 29, 2018 at 9:06 am
If Anderson and Zverev win their QF matches today, here are the heights of the final 4 semifinalists:
6’8″
6’6″
6’6″
6’10”
catherine · March 29, 2018 at 9:26 am
And that’s 26′ 6″ – standing on each other’s heads 🙂
Hartt · March 29, 2018 at 10:09 am
Scoop, am really looking forward to your biofile of Khachanov. Is he as charming as he seems to be in interviews?
Duke Carnoustie · March 29, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Here is a question posed by none other than the great Scoop himself…
Q. You have spoken very complimentary about Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin, Kuerten. Marcelo Rios won the title here 20 years ago. I’d like to hear your thoughts on him, memories of him.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I never play against Rios, but I know a lot the other guys, and they have big names. They are two South American former No. 1 in the world, and we grow up watching them.
I think it’s time to have a South American player fighting for the top positions and will be great if I am that player.
Duke Carnoustie · March 29, 2018 at 3:37 pm
Chazz. That is the future of tennis. It’s just logical and serves will get bigger too the more bigger guys dominate.
In 20 years they will have to change the rule because every men’s match will be like a John Isner.
Thank goodness women aren’t going to be as tall and rangy so we can enjoy some actual rallies.
Chazz · March 29, 2018 at 5:00 pm
I really hope not Duke. I don’t mind a big serve if they have other weapons, like Kyrgios. I do think there is a place for Chung and Coric in the top 10 pretty soon even though their serves aren’t huge. I’m also not yet convinced that someone like Opelka is destined for the top 10, but we’ll see.
scoopmalinowski · March 29, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Thanks Duke how did you know it was me asking Delpo? I just watched Danielle Collins hit. She practiced lobs off both wings and drop shots off both wings as well as baseline strikes especially bh up line and cc. This girl is serious and different. Pat Harrisons been working with her for 5-6 mths and an img boss told me “they have great chemistry.” which is key.
scoopmalinowski · March 29, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Sorry for late entry. Was busy training in morning for saturday morning media tourney with Harry Cicma on Hibiscus Island and we were joined by a Jersey friend for lunch in Brickell. Carrena Busta looked deadly today slaying his nemesis Anderson who semi choked at the end 76 in third. Busta is nice guy. Can see him going further than he ever has. Like win MS or a major.
Duke Carnoustie · March 30, 2018 at 1:09 am
Scoop
Who else is going to ask about Rios?
catherine · March 30, 2018 at 2:40 am
Scoop – Collins may be the future of the world but Ostapenko took care of her. The pro life sure is tough.
catherine · March 30, 2018 at 3:14 am
I know you won’t be in Cardiff tomorrow Scoop but will you be watching the Joshua/Parker fight ? Prediction ?
(I bet Marcello Rios is a boxing fan)
scoopmalinowski · March 30, 2018 at 7:32 am
Hartt yes Khachanov is very nice fella with charm and he gave thoughtful answers with eye contact. Named longest list of favorite tournaments of any reply to that Q and he reads books ) At end of interview he said Ill see you around.
scoopmalinowski · March 30, 2018 at 7:33 am
Duke. Brilliant deduction.:)
scoopmalinowski · March 30, 2018 at 7:35 am
Catherine yes that Joshua vs Parker is must see tv. Joshua to win. Joshua is the new king. His only threat is Tyson Fury. Parker is a strong challenger but Joshua will prevail.
Chazz · March 30, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Great tournament run for Collins, she showed she’s a fighter. She was serving for the 1st set at 6-5 but couldn’t pull through. Ostapenko hasn’t lost a set the whole tournament. Stephens will have her hands full with Jelena.
Dan Markowitz · March 30, 2018 at 4:19 pm
I was watching the beginning of Ostapenko and Collins and it didn’t look like Collins had the same verve as she did against Venus. What is it about Ostapenko that makes her so tough? I just don’t see it. She’s not in killer shape. Even though she goes for her shots, she doesn’t hit with big pace. Her serve is kind of weak.I do see that she’s as cool as cucumber and takes the ball early.
Scoop, you’re training for the Media Tournament! Wow, must be a tough draw.
Did you really ask Duke how he knew it was you who asked Delpo about Rios? Who else is still talking about Rios if not you?
catherine · March 30, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Ostapenko went for Collins’ forehand. And as you say, she’s cool, she didn’t show she was impressed with Collins, and she didn’t really try to outhit her. Don’t think Collins has played her before either so may have found her hard to read.
Penko won her previous match with a high number of UEs but played better when it mattered. I suppose she’s learning to close out matches. Looks a little overweight – may get fitter as the year goes on. Penko’s not my favourite player but she’s only 20 and if she beats Sloane she’ll get confidence going into the spring tournaments on clay, which suits her.
Chazz · March 30, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Wow Dan, I kinda disagree on the ball Ostapenko hits. It sure looks to me like she hits with a ton of pace. Wasn’t it last year during her French Open run that they were saying she hit harder groundstrokes on average than a lot of men’s players?
catherine · March 30, 2018 at 5:09 pm
I had a look at the highlights again and as far as I could see Ostapenko was pretty much whacking it for most of the time. She also placed her shots well – she could dictate the direction Collins was going. At least in the highlights 🙂
Collins seems thin.
Hartt · March 30, 2018 at 5:44 pm
Isner beat Delpo pretty handily this afternoon, including a 6-1 score in the first set. In the very first game, I was surprised that my gut reaction was to root for John, although I am not generally a fan. He played very well, not just serving well, but making some other nice shots such as a terrific drop volley. His groundies were inconsistent, as they so often are – a brilliant shot one minute followed by a couple poor ones.
The pro Delpo fans got more rowdy in the second set, but Isner seemed to do a good job of blocking them out.
After the match John said he was playing his best tennis for a long time, and I think any observer would concur.
Chazz · March 30, 2018 at 6:45 pm
I found this blurb about Ostapenko:
“French TV flashed up a great stat during Ostapenko’s semifinal win Thursday over Timea Bacsinszky, showing the speed of various players’ forehands during this year’s tournament. Ostapenko’s average was 76 mph (122 kph). That is 2 mph faster than ATP world No. 1 Murray, whose forehand is not too shabby, and, wait for it, just 3 mph slower than Rafael Nadal, who has built his career on his forehand. “Normally, my backhand is my favorite shot,” Ostapenko said with a smile. “But I was working on the forehand, and I think it’s pretty good now.”
http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/19582080/why-jelena-ostapenko-history-making-run-french-open-final-no-fluke
Dan Markowitz · March 30, 2018 at 9:07 pm
Ok I stand corrected. Thanks Chazz and Catherine. I didn’t really see her play much except for the first few games against Collins. She walked right by me in the player’s dining hall and let’s just say she’s not a very imposing figure.
catherine · March 31, 2018 at 2:37 am
Ostapenko’s 68kg and 1.77 – to me that’s 10stone 7llbs and 5’8″+ tall – so a pocket battleship size for tennis. Packs a punch but not one of the amazons.
So if you’re around 6′ Dan you’d be looking down on her.
catherine · March 31, 2018 at 2:59 am
As a matter of interest, and re Penko’s forehand speed, I checked on some of the service speeds in Miami and was surprised to see how many top women serve 90 – 100 + mph on first serve which is actually in the range of many men who are not big servers.
May be true of groundstrokes too – so those who despise women’s tennis for being weak and feeble aren’t always right, although they sometimes are.
Hartt · March 31, 2018 at 9:08 am
Ostapenko is listed as 5’10” so she is slightly taller than many WTA players, but not in the 6′ plus (or Amazon) category.
catherine · March 31, 2018 at 9:31 am
I got her height from Wikipedia so maybe they’re wrong, or I’ve converted it wrongly. I only think in ft and inches! It’s hard to tell from the camera angles sometimes.
I’ve noticed some variations in heights and weights in WTA – I wonder if anyone actually goes out and measures/weighs them 🙂
Interesting about the Lendl/Sascha possibility. I wonder if Boris had anything to do with that, if it works out. Could be a good combination.
Hartt · March 31, 2018 at 9:52 am
Catherine, I can only cope with feet and inches as well. I got the info from 3 different sources, including Wiki, which did have it in feet and inches. And I persevered to get the WTA player page. Honestly, that site is hopeless! I could not find a way to access that page on the site, so had to go back to Wikipedia and click on external links.
But seeing Ostapenko next to Kasatkina, I thought 5’10” did sound correct. Penko is not as willowy as some WTA players, so perhaps that makes her look shorter than she is.
catherine · March 31, 2018 at 10:09 am
I’ve given up on WTA site.It’s useless, as well as being full of PR mush.
Yes, I’d call Penko ‘stocky’, although she’s a bit tall for that. ‘Well-covered’ is perhaps a nice way of putting it, although I’m sure she’ll get sleeker as she maybe trains more and grows older.
Joe Blow · March 31, 2018 at 3:01 pm
Serena W was listed at 138 lbs in WTA guide for many years. Biggest joke in Tennis
Hartt · March 31, 2018 at 3:28 pm
That is almost as good as 6’2″ Sharapova supposedly weighing around 130 lbs.