Another whirlwind day here, in no particular order here’s what I saw…
Gulbis and Dolgopolov had a practice together in late afternoon, what a display of amazing tennis. Two wizards brawling. Good spirited play too, these two are friends. Gulbis will play Brit wildcard Kyle Edmund or Benneteau in thje second round. Dolgo gets Tomic or Nieminen.
Jack Sock was irritated by the Latino fans who were prodding on Dominican vet Victor Estrella. Sock was up a set and down 2-3 when I got there and he was yelling some very angry VAMOSes. Sock won every game after the fans bothered him with, I was told by an observer, yelling Sock Sucks and other such insults. Sock served it out at love and yelled a vicious VAMOS as a punctuation point to an impressive performance. It was good to see Sock show his fire – and it provoked his best tennis.
I met a Japanese woman named Hirono who just graduated from college in Japan. She came all the way here to Miami to see tennis for eight days before she begins her employment. She was taking photos of Dimitrov’s one hander during a late afternoon practice with Sam Querrey. Hirono loves one hand backhands and her favorite of all is Gasquet, because of his backhand.
Federer was hitting with Edberg on stadium, it was a light hit. Fed was serving easy, Edberg pushed the returns high and deep and then Fed would try to blast the winner. That was it, a nice easy practice.
Then Rafa came out with Souza, Fed walked by and shook his hand and gave a smile but that was about it. Rafa is all oranged out with shoes, t-shirt and backwards ball cap, all orange (with two-tone gray shorts).
Feliciano Lopez was playing a set with Kei Nishikori on stadium, they were first on.
Milos Raonic was playing with the young Russian wildcard Karen Kachanov who is coached by the now retired Igor Kunitsyn. Raonic’s PR man Austin Nunn told me Raonic had dinner with LeBron a couple of days ago, it was set up through a mutual friend. Raonic had chicken with LeBron at some establishemnt in ghetto Miami. Raonic said LeBron is a big tennis fan. Raonic loves hoops and the Raptors, his generation of friends in Canada are all big into the Raptors, more so than the Maple Leafs.
Gasquet was hitting with Fognini.
Jerzy Janowicz was hitting with Berdych. It was the first time I ever saw Berdych on the court without a cap on. He should keep going hatless.
I was hitting with media buddy Kenny Evans at night and Carlos Berlocq came by our court looking for something. He said his coach lost his wallet with all his cards. Kinda odd to see the famous player trying to find what his coach lost. By the way, the missing article was not at our court. Unfortunately for the coach of Berlocq.
Kenny told me saw Daniela Hantuchova jogging down the bike path on Rickenbacker the night before.
Americans Madison Keys, Christina McHale, Lauren Davis and Allison Riske were all hitting together.
Gilles Simon was hitting with Tsonga, who was wearing a cap. Never saw Tsonga wear a cap on court before. The last point they played Tsonga was back by the wall and Simon served an underhand serve and Tsonga tried to jet up to it but he just missed it. It seemed like a set play they do to close practice.
Also, I was asked by Heidi Berger of CNN to answer some questions about HawkEye technology.
For my Facing Hewitt book, Malisse, Tsonga, Simon and Grosjean all shared their Hewitt match memories.
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Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2014 at 10:21 pm
Also, Stanimal smashed a racquet on stadium practicing with Garcia Lopez.
Bryan · March 18, 2014 at 10:34 pm
I like these color pieces on player sightings. Was Jerzy wearing a hat or just Berdych? They should can the hats, Tommy Haas is the only one who gets a pass.
Checkout Jerzy’s draw, it’s soft. He has a R1 bye, R2 a qualifier, R3 Fognini. If he can’t go at least to round 4 it’s a dire sign.
Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2014 at 11:06 pm
Jerzy had on shades, no hat. Jerzy’s girlfriend and Playboy poser of last year Marta Domchowska is here training but I don’t think she’s in the main draw or qualies.
Dan Markowitz · March 19, 2014 at 2:11 am
Nice Scoop. Like that Gulbis and Dolgo were practicing together. Who was it at Indy Wells who was playing against Dolgo and the announcer said that player’s coach should set up a practice session with Dolgo because the player couldn’t read Dolgo’s serve in the match.
Miami has to be a totally different scene than Indy Wells where the weather was mostly in the seventies and no humidity. Sounds like you are getting around.
loreley · March 19, 2014 at 4:32 am
Thank you for the reports, Scoop. Love them.
The crowd in Miami seems always annoying when one of the Latin guys plays. Remember last year JJ vs. Bellucci?
Will they get crazy for Robredo too if he plays against Gulbis? Are they for all spanish talking guys or just for those from South-America?
Doogie · March 19, 2014 at 9:19 am
Wow this is a surprise:
Murray splits with Lendl!
scoop thx for your reports.
Dan Markowitz · March 19, 2014 at 9:45 am
Wow, Murray’s reputation for being a guy who doesn’t suffer coaches for very long continues. Lendl saying that he wants to focus on playing more around the world sounds hollow. I may be wrong, but I can’t think Lendl in his current state and girth is too big of a draw for tennis fans.
Abe Froman · March 19, 2014 at 10:24 am
cool scoops scoop !….i was there last year and it was freezing at night…..suppose to watch the haas / simon match but opted for dinner indoors instead lol
Mitch · March 19, 2014 at 11:07 am
Maybe it was Lendl who bolted. Doesn’t seem like Andy is going to reach any new highs, especially not in the near future.
Abe Froman · March 19, 2014 at 11:18 am
murray could win a few more slams but probably any others would be anticlimatic as he already fulfilled his destiny with winning wimbledon…once is enough for this lad and his USO win was just a stepping stone for his priority target one….the big W at W..
Andrew Miller · March 19, 2014 at 12:45 pm
Should yell Sock Sux more often! Plant the crowd every time so that Sock breaks through. Sounds like the Mardy Fish strategy: get a journalist to call him a journeyman going nowhere fast publicly and see Fish get top ten.
Good news for Murray – I felt sorry for him getting those two slams, all the pressure he must have faced in becoming a tougher and more complete player. It’s really too much for any player to endure, especially when it’s because of a former player/legend whose capabilities are vastly superior. I was really beginning to worry about Murray for awhile – you know, threatening the other top players by beating them in big matches, etc. I thought it was definitely upsetting to hear a new attitude from Murray, about how he actually was learning how to employ strategy during his matches, prepare for them better and become an overall better professional.
And I am glad that the announcements came from Murray’s PR managers – the joint statement was beautiful and keeps everyone’s reputation intact. Lendl stays a winner, and Murray becomes, well, Murray again. I’m glad he’s decided to down-grade his game, focus on winning best of three setters. I was afraid he was really reaching new horizons on the fitness, toughness front and that’s just out of character.
Hopefully everything goes back to normal soon and we can enjoy Murray winning best of three set matches at small tournaments while losing to under-dogs at slams. Everyone on tour wants a win against a top ten player and Murray is doing great in giving everyone a shot at this honor.
Abe Froman · March 19, 2014 at 1:51 pm
@ Andrew….that pressure murray faced must’ve been monumental…that’s why iguess he looks 45….plus the juicing haha
Andrew Miller · March 19, 2014 at 2:42 pm
Abe, no doubt – we need to ratchet up the sympathy for Murray. I mean, to do something no one’s done for almost 90 years and win Wimbledon – some boxes are better left closed. And “getting over the slump” in slam finals – it was probably better for his personality to keep losing them badly. Murray’s a melancholy guy who, before hiring Lendl, had the world’s worst on court body language. This was probably more a badge of honor for Murray, to appear to be the unhappiest pro tennis player in history – a guy who succeeds in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on the world’s biggest tennis stages.
It’s better for everyone – fans and other pro players – that Murray is himself again. I mean even for me, writing the “big four” was exhausting. Even thinking it was hard – that four top players were the favorites in every big tournament. It’s way easier for tennis fans to know that there are only “3” favorites with everyone else in the tournament capable of upsets. So for that I am thankful to Murray for restoring everything back to what it was in the post-Gilbert, pre-Lendl days.
Finally, it’s great to see Murray not pushing it anymore. It’s hard to be a champion – defending all those points! Taking it easier with the Xbox console is really the only way to get better in tennis. Why stress out – just get to the courts when your matches take place, unprepared, and without any expectations or anything, just say my opponent played too well AND I have a bad back. I mean this works for players all the time.
Witness:
“My opponent played a great match. I also have a bad back. I am feeling pretty good out there but you know, better luck next time.”
It’s perfect – it helps me to be charitable and a “player’s player” – giving my opponent the benefit of the doubt (sure, he was shanking balls right up to the moment he pulled it together to win 7-6) but also to give me a helpful excuse to make sure my fans understand me. No no, you didn’t just see your favorite player lose. Your favorite player has a tweak or whatever it is they call it and really needed some more time off, even though he only plays what, one tournament a month these days.
Good luck Murray…with Wawrinka ready to beat you every time out and the likes of Dimitrov, Raonic etc eating your lunch for the rest of the year, I’m sure you’re well on your way to being a top #11-20 player by the end of the year!
Kelsey · March 19, 2014 at 8:52 pm
XMan is awesome!
Scoop Malinowski · March 19, 2014 at 10:45 pm
You’re very welcome Lor. Yes i do remember JJ bothered by the crowd vs. Bellucci. But the crowd was even for Bag and Giraldo tonight on stadium, but Bag has a lot of respect. Huge huge huge win for Bag who got WCs into IW Delray and Miami. HUGE important win for Bag’s confidence.
Scoop Malinowski · March 19, 2014 at 10:47 pm
Murray at a crossroads now, needs a new voice new direction, he achieved the lifelong goal. For Lendl his job is done, complete. Perfect time for split. Not really a surprise. Murray doesn’t seem to have the burning freakish desire to be #l like Rafa Fed and Djok do. He’s satisified and relieved and sort of complete now that he finally won Wimbledon.
Abe Froman · March 20, 2014 at 9:33 am
well said Andrew & scoop…..murray’s fulfilled his destiny….no shame capitulating after winning the biggest and greatest match of his life..
Bryan · March 22, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Murray made huge inroads with Lendl winning the Olympics and Wimbledon. He’s content now and doesn’t want to dedicate himself to the Spartan lifestyle that Lendl expects. So they parted ways. Murray’s rankings and part of the so-called big 4 is going away soon.
patrick · March 24, 2014 at 6:12 am
aaaaa
Gregor · March 31, 2014 at 12:57 am
For my group of inner city dwellers in Philly, a sit down restaurant means that the section is poor, not Ghetto.
Ghetto areas have only take outs & it is hard to find a store with fresh fruits & vegetables.
I wouldn’t think you are using it as a code word for Black.
Sorry if I seem sensitive,but language does matter as a writer of your caliber knows all to well.
I know a disagreement in belief can not be logically resolved.
Scoop Malinowski · March 31, 2014 at 8:39 am
Gregor that was the word I was told by the source that was used in the description. Not my choice of word. Perhaps I should have used quotes around the word to make that clearer.