Thursday Scoops At The Sony Ericsson Open

I roll into the front gate at 10:15 and there is Richard Berankis right in front of me, he plays F-Lo this afternoon.  A few seconds later I spot Florent Serra and Adrian Mannarino on their way to a practice court. I need Serra because he played Marcelo Rios in his second to last match in a Challenger in Mexico. Serra obliges and tells me what he remembers about the match is “I look and play, I didn’t play. I was watching him play.”

Roddick is out playing with Melzer in front of a big crowd on a small practice court in the back corner. Roddick is pounding on poor Melzer and showing his well-known sense of humor. Melzer somehow lunges and returns a high deep ball that falls in Roddick’s back left corner. Roddick gets behind it and hits like what can be described as an overhead but it was well below his shoulders. It was the weirdest shot I’ve seen in years. Melzer somehow handled it and managed a drop shot but since Roddick was so far behind the baseline, he couldn’t do anything. But Roddick’s shot was amazing, everyone smiled or laughed at it. After a pause, Melzer commented, “That was impressive.”

Roddick, with  his quick wit, replied, “It would have been more impressive if you missed that shot.”

A few minutes later Roddick asked Stefanki what time it was. “Seven minutes left was the reply.” Roddick asked Melzer, “Tiebreaker?”  So they played one and Roddick annihilated Melzer 7-0. Roddick then said, “Hey is that a bonus dinner?”

Roddick looking in very strong and sharp form.

I ask Larry Stefanki if he would like to talk about Marcelo Rios for my book but he says, “I’m not interested.” It seems the subject of Rios is still a bitter topic for Stefanki who was relieved of his services shortly after Rios became world #1. But it’s okay, I have collected a huge collection of information on Rios. Though it would have been very nice to hear Stefanki’s perspective. It’s almost like Stefanki has removed Rios from his mind. Stefanki was a guest call in during the USA-Chile Davis Cup tie earlier this month and he spoke about everything – the Chilean people, Gonzalez, Kafelnikov, etc., but he did not mention Rios. It’s not surprising because Rios rebellious and illogical manners ticked off no sportage of people in the tennis world, and that’s putting it mildly.  

On the way to the two practice courts, F-Lo is headed back to the locker room with his coach Francisco Clavet after a hit, he is signing an autograph for a kid but looks lethargic. He better wake up for Berankis who is a tough fighter.

Bagdhatis is practing with Monaco.

Blake saved three match points last night with Michael Russell, tough result for Iron Mike who seemed to have the match in control when I left early in the second set.

Stay tuned for more updates…

* 12:55 Janko Tisparevic, wearing a black and gold Fila combo,  just eliminated Robin Haase on stadium, it was 5-5 in the second set tiebreak and after a tough rally, Tipsy struck a sudden backhand winner down the line. Haase looked deflated and then served a double fault to lose the match 46 67.

* For Mike: Andy Murray on playing doubles with Djokovic: “We were talking about maybe trying to play in Indian Wells and then I sort of said that, you know, I wanted to try to play with my brother if I get the chance. But Miami, we can play if we’re both up for it and yeah, both wanted to play. I think it can be pretty beneficial for your game to play doubles. And if he’s up for it as well, I think we can do well together.”

Andy on Olympics with Jamie: “I’d love to play with my brother. I don’t know how exactly how it works. I can’t just sort of say, I don’t think I can say, Yeah, I want to play with my brother. I think it depends on ranking and how many teams from your country you get in. And, you know, we’ve got six guys from Britain in the top 100 in doubles just now, so I don’t know exactly how that works. I’d love to play with my brother if we get the chance.”

* Check out Novak’s new Sergio Tacchini outfit. This shot was taken during his practice with David Ferrer on court 10 at about 1:30 in afternoon:

* A French reporter told me Fabrice Santoro’s book “My Two Hands” was published in France. She did not know if it was printed in English, which I suspect it was not.

* Jack Sock lost the first set to Carlos Berloq 7-5 and I heard one newspaper reporting on his way back to the media center, “What a choke by Sock. He sure is not on the same level as Harrison.” Sock is up a break and serving now for the second set at 5-4.

* Spotted Darren Cahill walking the grounds to somewhere by himself in shades and Adidas hat, shirt, shorts and shoes. Nobody else recognizes The Killer, he looks completely like a tennis fan today.

* Talking with the great Australian journalist Craig Gabriel while we both waited for JJ down by the interview room and he told me about the Hewitt-Coria Davis Cup classic on grass in Australia. When things got REALLY heated and Coria kept grabbing his crotch area between points. Craig Gabriel said Hewitt came up with one of the best one-liners on the spot when he said, “What’s the matter mate, can’t you find ’em.” (BIG LOL). Hewitt eventually won the match but Argentina was the tie.

* F-Lo holds off Berankis on grandstand, he lost the first set 6-4, pulled out the second set tiebreak with some help from some very intense and vocal backers right behind the baseline. F-Lo showed big passion and did not want to go down to the young gun. Then Berankis was up a break in the third but F-Lo battled back for the big win. Great match. F-Lo is a very interesting player to watch, with the big lefty serve and forehand, the slice backhand but he can also snap topspin winners to stun the opponent. He’s a tough competitor too when he wants to be. Berankis is very solid, mentally tough, very machine-like. Good styles matchup. Good win for the previously slumping Spaniard who has had a quiet year so far.

* Wildly captivating late afternoon into early evening duel between Paul Capdeville, ATP #146 and Federico Gil, #84. Intense vocal support from Chileans and Portuguese for their heroes. They battled all the way to the third set tiebreak, and Capdeville, who fought like his life was on the line on clearly weary legs, earned a 6-3 lead but could not capitalize. Gil hit some pressure shots and leveled it at 6. Then Capdeville capsized and lost the next two points, the clincher saw a backhand sail wide. He chucked his racquet to his chair and had the look of a man who just gave everything he had. Devastating loss. But a heroic comeback saving 3 MPs by the diminutive warrior Gil. Tremendous spectacle of Sony Ericsson Open outer court tennis at it’s best.

*Earlier in the day I saw Li Na walking back from practice with head down and a team member with her, she had the body language of someone in a bad mood. Then about 20 yards behind her was her husband/coach who also had his head down and shoulders slumped. Hours later Na was defeated by Johanna Larson 7-5 in the third. Not a good day for the Li Na gang.

* But it was a spectacular performance by Peng Shuai, who bageled WTA #24 Aravane Rezai in the first set. I watched over a set of this match from the first media row behind Peng’s chair. Peng pummels every ball and hums to herself as she strikes the ball. Rezai called for her coach at 0-3 in the first and Nicolas Escude came on court and gave her animated counsel, face to face, instead of from the side like most of the other coaches I’ve seen. It looked like very sound advices but Rezai couldn’t get her game going because Peng wouldn’t allow it. Second set was closer but Peng took it 6-4. Peng has risen from #72 at the beginning of the year to #32 now. She looks lighter and is very focused, when she comes back to her chair she only looks at the chair, her eyes never wander during her time on court. She is very focused and a very tenacious feisty competitor.

Roddick hits an amazing shot on Melzer

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