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This week, stalling Delpo and Hawaii Five-O?
41 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
I watched two episodes this week of the old favorite police show Hawaii Five-O starring Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett, one of the greatest shows of all time. And in both episodes there were tennis influences. The first was about an “Eastern European” woman named Catarina Bukovsky who wanted to defect to be with her American boyfriend who was also a tennis pro. They were in a team event in Hawaii when a frame murder by Kurt Russell of all people. Russell portrayed another pro who was involved in money laundering. There were plenty of court action shots but the final credits didn’t show any prominent pro names in the cast.
The next episode had a closing scene where a political opposition was going to make a speech at the consulate and the hitman who wanted to murder him was spotted by a witness sparking McGarrett into a foot chase through a door to an outdoor tennis court where match was being played in front of a crowd. McGarrett and Danno cornered the hitman under the bleachers but he took his own life before Danno could “book him.”
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This email just in about the Del Potro Monfils match in Amsterdam. The inside word seems to be to try to agitate the big Argentine – remember Spaniard Garcia at the US Open night match last year faking leg injuries – provoking the normally mild mannered Delpo to complain during changeover. Well, Monfils seemed to try to bug Delpo yesterday but that tactic failed as Delpo won 76 63…
Source: “Delpo vs. Lamonf today and Lamonf either was nervous about playing or he played the stall card vs. Delpo. Prior two matches both went three sets so he had at least three hours in the locker room they get out for coin toss and Lamonf made Delpo stand there alone while he decides to wrap his grip. He was in locker room at least three hours and all of a sudden now he decides to wrap grip? Then he started complaining about kids noise to Carlos Bernardes and wouldn’t serve for a bit. I like Lamonf. never considered him a gamesmanship player but seems he definitely tried to rattle Delpo today but Delpo wasn’t buying. He won the match and gave Lamonf a nice embrace so maybe it wasn’t intentional but some weird moves from Lamonf, seemed like he was trying to play mental card on Delpo.”
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Hewitt vs. Russell are on collision course in Memphis after their off-court battle last summer. If Hewitt can beat Baghdatis, it’s game on. If you don’t remember, Hewitt was up in the Newport final but ended up losing in three to Mahut and later complained about scheduling and court assignments after both SFs were washed out by rain. Russell didn’t like Hewitt’s excuse making and Tweeted his thoughts which sparked enough controversy that Russell later claimed that the Tweets were not actually posted by himself but his “publicist.” I am told Hewitt is not one to carry grudges but if these two feiry competitors meet in Memphis, it should be interesting.
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It has been confirmed that Stan Wawrinka is the first pro tennis player to win a major singles title wearing Yonex shoes.
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Luke Jensen has curiously resigned as head coach of Syracuse women’s tennis, despite a successful record and a reported $350,000 salary. No specific explanations or reasons for the resignation have been given by Jensen, which has some in the college tennis coaching ranks speculating and wondering.
41 comments
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loreley · February 13, 2014 at 9:46 am
You never noticed Monfils antics in the past?
He seemed nervous to me or he was just annoyed that he drew Delpo for first round, right after his victoriy in Montpellier. The kids were really very loud. Delpo wasn’t happy about that too.
Gulbis had a good win over Dimitrov today.
Video-interview with Gulbis:
http://www.abnamrowtt.com/news-and-media/video/thursday-february-13th-2014/impressive-gulbis-sweeps-into-rotterdam-quarters
Here you can watch the highlights of the match:
http://www.abnamrowtt.com/news-and-media/video/thursday-february-13th-2014/highlights-gulbis-dimitrov
loreley · February 13, 2014 at 9:47 am
I forgot to tell that Dominic Thiem managed to qualify. He defeated Nieminen in 1st round & will face Murray this evening.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2014 at 10:35 am
Very good win for Thiem vs. Jarkko, he has a chance now to make a big statement vs. Murray.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2014 at 10:37 am
Loreley, yes Monfils is a performer on the court, I’ve seen many of his antics. Him doing this to Delpo is no surprise. Huge win for Gulbis, he’s redeemed himself and has regained his mojo. He put himself in the doghouse with that dismal loss to Querrey in Australia.
Andrew Miller · February 13, 2014 at 10:54 am
Jensen resigned! Yikes. When u leave like that it can’t be good.
Re: this weeks tournaments. Nice to see players like kusnetsov doing well in Memphis. That is until I see this week there are tons of other tournaments and challengers. Basically if you aren’t winning you are losing – some guy in Europe or south america will eat your ranking pts if you lose early at your own challenger.
Dan idea on the challenger book and the bolletieri academy book are both winners. I mean if you want to understand why David wheaton became a household name it is in part because that group of players didn’t see themselves as just happy to be here guys. They were following in Mac and Connors footsteps and they were ready to rumble.
Andrew Miller · February 13, 2014 at 11:52 am
Three strategies like Doogie said. The Thiem/Harrison strategy where you play the hardest tournaments and hope to fail forward. The u.s. / Europe / s. America strategy where you play local challengers despite harder competition. Then the soft stratwgy where you play where draws are softer and win.
I’d say vesely is doing a combo of strat egy one and two. Thiem is doing one and Harrison for most part. Then three which I think is the klahn/bhambri strategy . can’t tell which one works – to a degree I think klahn and bhambri lighter tournaments are easier from their training locations .
Andrew Miller · February 13, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Other consideration is what happens when you play light then face stepanek. You have to have the tools to beat him because in all likelihood you are going to draw a jarkko niemenen or some excellent ATP regular in rd one. If playing light allowed you to experiment with new strategies or raise the level of your game you probably feel good going in. If not niemenen will run you over. Thiem did good to beat him.
I think people believe Thiem is ready for the top fifty. If you can beat jarkko you can probably hang with a lot of #40 to #50 players and probably belong there.
Dan Markowitz · February 13, 2014 at 2:06 pm
350 g’s for coaching the Syracuse women’s team is pretty nice payday, but a few winters in Syracuse could get to anyone.
Harry has had one of the most colossal drops in status in pro tennis history. Here was a guy who a former 7-time slam winner said would be No. 3. Now he’s losing to players like Bogey, Groth, Steve Johnson and Zverev! Something has gone seriously wrong or Harry was just vastly overrated.
And you’re right, Andrew, DY losing 1 and 1 to Kudla shows you the guy has no sustaining power or he goes into some matches just not giving a hoot.
Nice win for Ernie! But he is a more potent indoors player, I’d say.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Bogie is still a quality tough player to beat, works very very hard. Tough out for anyone, remember he did beat Murray a few years ago. Nobody is easy inside the top hundred. Nobody. Well maybe DY was for Kudla yesterday.
Andrew Miller · February 13, 2014 at 2:46 pm
Harrison needs Spadea’s number!
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2014 at 5:56 pm
A college coach emailed me this about the Syracuse situation today: Scoop, It’s coming out. His players revolted on him. Parents, lawyers and threat of law suits for abuse. Not moral kind but over working them and making them do more stuff than NCAA allows. Word is Shelly will be done by end of year as well
Info came from current player on team.
Thought you would like to know what’s in the rabbit hole.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2014 at 5:58 pm
I saw some of Thiem (pronounced Team) vs. Murray. Wow this kid is the real deal. Monster forehand. Solid one hander. Quick movement good defense. Cool. Poise. Challenged Murray to the limits, took him to 63 in the third. VERY IMPRESSED. Top ten material is Thiem.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2014 at 5:59 pm
I can’t believe there are only about 25 people watching Gulbis-Dimitrov. Wow. Where is everybody? Prices too high?
Hartt · February 13, 2014 at 6:53 pm
Regarding the few people watching Gulbis – Dimitrov, it was a small audience for the Sijsling match as well, even with a Dutch player. Saw the entire Thiem – Murray match. It was terrific and agree that Thiem played some amazing tennis. It will be interesting to see if he can keep up that level of play.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2014 at 7:23 pm
Thiem was there supporting Gulbis vs. Dimitrov. I am really impressed by Thiem. He just has that look like he belongs. And he has the game. Very good call Doogie.
Andrew Miller · February 13, 2014 at 7:35 pm
Wow on Jensen. Fired for pushing his players. Unless there is more to the story. I wasn’t on the team so I would never know. I though Jensen was always a good analyst and seems like a good motivator. Maybe he is a bully. He is the winningest tennis coach in Syracuse women’s tennis history. Maybe this came at the price of something more important .
As for Thiem I think scoop reported he trains like rocky balboa. It is hard to put stock in Murray now as he is not playing top five ball – nonetheless Thiem is the most impressive up and coming player this year. Vesely is taking risks too but he is under performing. Based on veselys play you start second guessing the play softer draw category as vesely played softer draws up to his top eighty ranking and has been playing less well since us open.
Doogie · February 13, 2014 at 8:18 pm
As loreley wrote it:
Gulbis and Thiem have the same coach and practice together all time (and they are close friends in the mean time).
About 25 spectators in Gulbis match:
It was played 1 hour before midday (!!!)
How on earth Krajicek (tournament director) can make such a schedule?
They should not start before 2 pm imo. But 11am is just shit. Sisjling match was one hour before midnight btw – so all visitiors left building after Murray match.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2014 at 9:48 pm
I actually watched Syracuse team practice two years in a row in Florida in Anna Maria Island as they came down for a dual meet and training week, stayed at assistant coach Shelly’s family’s home. They worked hard but nothing out of the ordinary. Luke wasn’t there either time, he was with another player at a Futures, Shelly ran the show and it was just a normal practice, everyone was playing against each other on all three courts. And they’d rotate. Good positive vibe. I remember the players would just randomly yell out Come on orange. Then a second later, as if cued, all the rest of the team would reply “Syracuse.” From all over the different courts they were on. Enjoyed watching them. WHo knows what the real story is, source says it’s coming out. Stay tuned…
Dan Markowitz · February 13, 2014 at 9:58 pm
Who really cares about women’s college tennis? That’s a awful lot of dough to pay the women’s coach at SU. I can’t imagine they draw much crowds. Jensen seems like a laid-back guy with a good sense of humor, but maybe as he’s gotten older and he put on a lot of weight, his humor drained.
Haven’t seen Thiem play, but excited to hear he has a one-hander.
Scoop Malinowski · February 14, 2014 at 10:36 am
Gulbis is toying with Delpo right now, up a set and a break and how about that drop shot/lob combo on poor Delpo. Awesome tennis by Gulbis here, with young Thiem taking mental notes from the front row.
Scoop Malinowski · February 14, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Very very impressive win by Gulbis over Delpo 63 63. Gulbis could have choked it away, blew two MPs on Delpos serve, then one on his serve with an ace out wide in ad court. But Gulbis kept it together, hit some forehand winners after contstructing the set up. Even charged the net and hit a nice backhand volley winner on MP. Delpo was really fighting hard to win this match, as defending champion of this event. REally liked his calm and poise throughout the whole match and also after the MP volley, it was as if he expected this result. He looked like a major champion today. This win could catapult Gulbis and give him that extra confidence which has been missing in the past against the ATP elites. VERY impressive win by Gulbis on so many levels.
loreley · February 14, 2014 at 12:49 pm
Gulbis gave his female supporters a nice Valentine present 😉
Last year when he lost against Delpo in a tight match in 2nd round as qualifier it was also 14th February.
After the Australian Thiem & Gulbis practised for two weeks in Tenerife. The hard work pays off finally.
Scoop Malinowski · February 14, 2014 at 2:19 pm
Loreley that was one of Gulbis’ best wins. To thrash Delpo 63 63 at a tourney where he is defending champ could be that elusive huge win he’s been waiting so long for. Berdych is a winnable match for him.
Andrew Miller · February 14, 2014 at 2:21 pm
From the results world:
Bergamo Challenger, Italy: Can D. Brown win this thing? Will Bolleli spoil it in front of a home crowd? If I’m D. Brown, I’ve got to win.
Quimper, France Challenger: Muller should win this tournament, but Copil (of the nice backhand) and Millot (of the lefty french game) might spoil this, or someone else still in that draw. Muller’s to lose, but if I’m Copil I want to win this thing, get myself to the ATP.
ATP buenos aires:
Robredo still doing good, but Ferrer, Chardy, Almagro, Fognini, Andujar still around. If miracles happen Chardy finds his imposing game and shows he can win on the dirt in another country. Barring that this is a pick em. Technically Ferrer should win because of the higher ranking and he probably feels less pressure. But so does everyone else.
Memphis, interesting stuff.
Bogo is a set up on Nishikori
Hewitt – Russell fireworks
Lu-Kuznetsov
Sock-Karlovic
You have the potential for an all-american final here with Kuznetsov on one side of the draw and Sock/Russell on the other. Or you could have all americans out after the quarters. If I’m Jack Sock, this is my best chance to nab my first atp tournament victory. But if I’m Jack Sock I also lack a backhand, and if I am Karlovic I am serving to that backhand all day. The story of this tournament could be the return of Russell’s fired, non-existent facebook publicist. It might also be a test of what the U.S. players do when they have winnable matches. Draws dont get any better than this – if Russell can sneak by Hewitt that would only fuel the ambition of Sock and Kuznetsov who has a winnable match vs. Lu, however solid Lu always is.
Rotterdam –
Prescription drug consumer Marin Cilic is up a set on “I won Wimbledon, I don’t care if the other guy didn’t play last year and he’s now beating me or the possibility that he’s taking something like Flinstone vitamins, wish I had a few!” Murray. Will Murray, coasting after his victories last year, get through this match? Maybe we should start calling Murray out for his return to planet earth.
Berdych beats JJ. You knew it would happen.
We know Gulbis. We just never know what will happen – big win on JMDP.
Then the match everyone wants to see – Sjisling v. Kohlschreiber. I take the German not as good as Federer but plenty good Phil here.
Kolkata, India
You have Donskoy vs. Bozoljac. Donskoy’s been playing pretty well. Bozoljac is known mostly for beating Kosakowski in college and playing doubles for Serbia. I like Bozoljac’s game but I think Donskoy takes this and wins this challenger. Sadly Donskoy’s an example of how quickly fortunes can change in this sport. He was #65 as of July 2013. Now he’s nearly double that in the rankings.
A warning is there ever were one to those who get their career high rankings then slip off the earth. This warning goes for Harrison, Kudla, DY, Steve Johnson, and especially for Klahn, who just got to the world’s top 70. Tennis is a gladiator sport and if you’re not making smart decisions on your scheduling and your training, then right after your career high ranking you’ll be right back where you started.
Last but not least, Doha.
Not important you say? Nonsense I say.
Jankovic back in the winners circle. Just showing she wants it. Maybe she and Ivanovic really have re-dedicated. Seems we’re going back in time when the talk of Serbia was of two girls taking the WTA by storm and then there was another ambitious player named Novak on the mens tour. JJ takes out Kvitova. Sorry but Kvitova hasn’t been the same since winning Wimbledon and it’s not Stepanek’s fault. She’s out of the winners circle. Period.
Radwanska beats Wickmeyer. ARad is always good. She self destructed vs. Cibulkova but she’s nonetheless still one of the WTA’s best.
And Simona Halep beats Errani quickly – bad outing for the Italian. Halep can win this.
I think Scoop’s predictions on Halep are going to happen – Halep’s serious.
Scoop Malinowski · February 14, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Nice write up Andrew. Comprehensive. Two in a row for Chardy over Dolgo I think. Robredo still a factor in ARGENTINA. AMSTERDAN: Cilic looks a lot stronger in upper body doesn’t he? Nice win vs. Murray. I can see Gulbis winning this thing. But T Berd will not go down easily. I guess everyone will ignore Sijsling’s chances vs. MEMPHIS: No way is Hewitt losing to Russell. I guarantee it. Shocked that Bogie took the first set from Kei. Ivo is going to be dangerous opponent on that court. Sock can surprise us though, he took out Raonic last year. This title is Hewitt’s. QATER: Halep is taking the next step. I like this new format called Center Court by Tennis Channel where they hop around to the different matches around the world with the in house commentators at the studio commentating. Fantastic idea by the TV braintrust.
Scoop Malinowski · February 14, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Wow, stunned to see Russell close out Hewitt 63 76, big time win for 35 yr old Russell over 32 yr old Hewitt. Sensed some suppressed tension out there between these two. Well done by Iron Mike. Hewitt comes up with another dud just like he did last year after beating Stan at Wimbledon, then he lost to Dustin Brown. Tough for these greats like Hewitt to get fully up for journeyman players I guess, especially after big wins.
Dan Markowitz · February 15, 2014 at 8:03 am
How about the serve and volleying man Sijsling beating Kohlschreiber. I’ve liked the Dutchman ever since I saw him play last year at Newport. He’s a nice guy. He’d sit up in the press area at Newport, big strong guy, but had a nice air about him.
How about Russell in his last year beating Hewitt. I’d still take Kei in this tournament indoors. Hope Kei doesn’t get injured here and come up lame in Delray Beach like what happened last year. Murray looks like he’s having a hard time reaching his form of the last couple of years.
Dan Markowitz · February 15, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Berdych playing very well in Rotterdam today in beating Gulbis. Ernests has a few things working against him in big matchups like this.
1. He doesn’t move like a gazelle.
2. The forehand is big, but not always accurate.
3. He loses his composure.
4. He’s not a great intangibles player. His slice, his volleys and his variety on serve are not stellar although he has good drop shots.
loreley · February 15, 2014 at 6:18 pm
Berdych over-powered Gulbis today. Ernests didn’t even play bad. And he does move well. Today he seemed a bit flat & lacked fire. He had a good week for a guy who didn’t play any match since the Australian Open.
Berdych played well all week. He wants that title really. He is the only top-10 player who didn’t win one last season.
Berdych: “Probably it looks on paper that it was easy, but it definitely was not,” “I was more calm, more focused, and that was my advantage.”
“At 2-1 [in the second set], I was 40/0 up, but Ernests went full power and played some really great tennis. He got a break point, but I managed to save it with an ace.”
Dan Markowitz · February 15, 2014 at 7:38 pm
Lorely,
What do you think is behind Gulbis’ dismal Slam play? Losing to Haider-Maurer at the Open and Q-ball in straight sets at the Aussie? Will Gulbis ever break out?
Bryan · February 15, 2014 at 9:54 pm
My man Ernests Gulbis beat Delpo yesterday after banging out Dimitrov. Don’t know what happened against Berdych today but it’s a good run in a 500 ATP.
Tennis Channel has been annoying showing pretty boring matches at Rotterdam all week then switching to Cincy when the action is red hot back in the Netherlands.
loreley · February 16, 2014 at 2:22 am
Gulbis interview in l’Equipe after beating Del Potro in Rotterdam:
“My objective this season is the top 10. I knowing I’m aiming high, but it’s doable. I only need to be better in Slams and 1000s.
I arrive too nervous to these tournaments (Slams, 1000s). I thrash everyone in practice, then I rush things during the match. And make stupid shots.”
loreley · February 16, 2014 at 2:34 am
Berdych was just too good yesterday.
He got the break in first set with only one breakpoint & the set was gone for Gulbis. Ernests didn’t smash rackets or got visible upset.
Berdych told how he saved the only breakpoint against him: With an ace. Ernests might have had a chance against Tomas if he had hold his serve & win tiebreaks then. He wasn’t able to do that yesterday.
loreley · February 16, 2014 at 2:41 am
@Bryan
Rotterdam site has a lot of vidoes with highlights from matches & interviews:
http://www.abnamrowtt.com/news-and-media/video
It’s a great tournament.
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2014 at 7:48 am
Ernests has a new nickname now. “The Trasher.” 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2014 at 7:54 am
Happy to report I won a doubles tournament yesterday with my partner Steve Nanfelt. We won the final of the Sarasota County Clay Court Tennis Championships 62 26 63, held at Payne Park in downtown Sarasota. Fantastic match. I also played in the open singles and lost to British player who just graduated college 57 06, but this player named Adam played and won a match a few years ago in the ATP Sarasota Challenger qualies before losing to Richard Berankis. Played the best set of my life to hang in there but once he got into his top gear he left me in the har tru dust.
Coach Skelly · February 16, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Scoop!Your guarantees are as bad as mine!!Good for Iron Mike.He deserved it!!!!
Coach Skelly · February 16, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Scoop!Your guarantees are as bad as mine!!Good for Iron Mike.He deserved it!!!!
Bryan · February 16, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Thanks Loreley it’s appreciated. Good to see a fellow Gulbis fan here.
Scoop, congrats on the win.
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2014 at 6:24 pm
Coach Skelly, Iron Mike earned it for sure. Maybe the best win of his career. Zero titles, zero finals, age 35, got thrashed by Hewitt the only other time they played. But he played the match of his life. His focus was phenomenal. It looked personal. Russell’s intense focus reminded me of Lennox Lewis in the rematch with Hasim Rahman, after Rahman KOed him for the title and then called him a “homo” on national TV during the rematch press tour in an ESPN tv show appearance. Russell had that kind of total focus on beating Hewitt. Hewitt played the match almost nonchalant, like Russell was not worthy of him having to exort himself on with come ons and fist pumps, Hewitt seemed to treat Russell as an inferior and he could never get out of Russell’s stranglehold. Russell had control the entire match, broke Hewitt the first three times. Hewitt finally did a come on at 5-5 duece in the second but it was too late. I can’t wait to talk to Russell about this match in Delray, it has to be one of this best career wins. Crushing loss for Hewitt.
Coach Skelly · February 18, 2014 at 10:37 am
I agree totally Scoop!Definitely best win of his career!Left it all out there!!!Tough task to come back less than 24 hours later and play Neisokori who is ballin right now!Russel will gladly take the 30 G”s and 14 spot jump in rankings.But that means nothing compared to having the “W” over Hewitt on his resume.You right about outplaying Hewitt!!Good for Mike!!Hope all our American players are learning from his example#!!Right now he is still”Too legit to Quit!!!”