Australian star Nick Kyrgios is at it again – the natural born controversy starter unleashed yet another strange eruption in Shanghai.
Days after winning his third ATP singles title of the season in Tokyo, Kyrgios dogged it today in losing 6-3 6-1 to 110th-ranked qualifier Mischa Zverev in a weird encounter that lasted just 48 minutes.
The usually respectful Chinese fans were disgusted with Kyrgios’s poor effort and expressed it by heavily booing what they were subjected to.
After the debacle, the ATP no 14 Kyrgios was defiant and defensive – insisting he does not “owe (the ticket buying fans) anything. I feel like if they knew what they were talking about they’d be on the tennis court and being successful, as well. No, I can’t really understand (the booing) at all. They don’t know what I’m going through.”
In the second set, the 20 year old Kyrgios actually began walking in the direction to his chair before Zverev’s serve even landed.
It was a chaotic scene with Kyrgios arguing with a heckler as well as the chair umpire Ali Nili. Another bizarre act by Kyrgios was him tapping a soft serve like a beginner into Zverev’s return box as he was broken for 4-1 in the opening set.
Apparently totally unmotivated today (or blatantly tanking) after winning his first rounder vs Sam Querrey 64 64 Kyrgios lost all five break points he faced vs Zverev, and did not even take a step for some shots. Kyrgios even verbally attacked fans afterward saying: “If you don’t like it… just leave.”
The Twilight Zone circus show continued: “I’m good at hitting a tennis ball at the net. Like, big deal. I don’t owe them anything. It’s like it’s my choice. If you don’t like it, I didn’t ask you to come watch. Just leave. If you’re so good at giving advice and so good at tennis, why aren’t you as good as me? Why aren’t you on the tour?”
Kyrgios also received an audible obscenity warning and argued with a fan as Zverev was ready to serve for the match. “You wanna come here and play? Sit down and shut up and watch,” Kyrgios snapped at the guy who bought his ticket to see a professional tennis match.
Kyrgios was a bit gentler after the loss, conceding that he “tapped out a little bit” and “took the easy way out” and he still feels like “a work in progress.” But you have to wonder if tennis fans will tolerate this guy’s crude rebel act – or will they revolt by spending their hard earned money on other forms of entertainment?
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1 2 Next »Dan Markowitz · October 13, 2016 at 5:56 am
This happens all the time, maybe not with the same blatant disregard for trying to put up a fight, but when a player wins a preceding tournament, he often is burnt out and loses early in the next event he plays in . Kyrgs is certainly not Andy Murray in this regard, but he could be hurt or just tired. The fight with the fans isn’t wise, but it could’ve snowballed over him being tired and just down and out.
Hartt · October 13, 2016 at 6:23 am
There was even more. The umpire actually told Kyrgios that he had to be more professional. And at one point Kyrgios asked the ump: “Can you call time so I can finish this match and go home?”
I’ve already said here that I don’t think I will bother watching his matches. I don’t want to be bothered to see if Kyrgios is bothering to try to play that day. And I imagine there are lots of other people who are starting to feel the same way.
If he was so tired he could have withdrawn from the match, not a great thing but better than subjecting the fans to his tanking. Players must be exhausted a lot of the time and perhaps they can’t play their best but they aren’t tanking matches the way Kyrgios did. David Goffin has also played a lot of tennis lately, was in the Tokyo final and had the same trip to Shanghai. He managed to win his match without a lot of fuss.
If this were unusual behaviour from Kyrgios it would be bad enough, but it is part of a pattern.
Kyrgios is 21 years old, has been a professional tennis player for a few years. He is not a kid any longer, in fact the actual teenage players are much more mature.
Hartt · October 13, 2016 at 8:43 am
I thought Andy Murray put it well. He likes Nick Kyrgios and is generally supportive of him.
“Nick will be disappointed, obviously, to have performed like that. He had a great week last week and it is not easy to back it up in a different city the following week if you are feeling a bit tired and jaded. But obviously you have to give your best effort of what you have on that day, that is your job as a professional athlete.”
Another interesting look at the fallout from the match. The Sydney Morning Herald ran a poll that I accessed online. The question was: “Are Nick Kyrgios’ on-court antics wearing thin?” There were over 3200 responses. The biggest one at 59% was “lost interest watching him play a long time ago.” Next, at 31% was “yes, time to move on.” Only 10% responded “no, he’s human, give him a break.”
Scoop Malinowski · October 13, 2016 at 9:10 am
Perhaps Nick needs to take advantage of the TUE loophole so he can feel stronger – I wonder if there were any unusual betting patterns on Kyrgios vs Zverev – Because if there were Nick could face a whole lotta trouble –
catherine bell · October 13, 2016 at 10:11 am
I was pleased to see two columnists in the top UK sports papers agree with me – or I with them more like. 🙂
Some people should perhaps be more forgiving. Nick has problems. He needs help in finding his way out of them.
Scoop Malinowski · October 13, 2016 at 10:29 am
Catherine: He’s just a young rebel under a lot of pressure and high self expectations – Yes he’s a bad boy but tennis has had a lot of those throughout (especially recent) history –
Ryan Balon · October 13, 2016 at 10:32 am
Dan I have much respect for you and your tennis IQ but that is the lamest excuse for why he acted the way he did.
He’s a professional and basically wasted talent. Have you ever seen any of the top professionals act this way? Fed Rafa Novak
Of course he’s tired but so is Goffin who made it to the final last week as well and he just beat an on fire Monfils
Opposed to acting like a spoiled brat he should have either pulled out of the tourney or at least gave some effort – but that serve he hit was an embarrassment to the game and especially Tennis Australia
NK is a JOKE
Hartt · October 13, 2016 at 12:58 pm
On to another topic, what else is happening in Shanghai. Jack Sock beat Milos Raonic in 3 sets, after Milos won the first set 6-0. Jack won a tight 3rd set TB 10-8. They have had close matches, although Milos had won their last 8. I could not see the match, my sports channel carried Novak vs. Pospsisil instead, but they did show the TB. Jack hit 3 very good shots at the end to win.
And is Goffin about to replace Ferrer as the Energizer Bunny? Another unexpected win. And the poor guy is scheduled to play Antwerp next week and I imagine he will fulfill that commitment because it is his home country.
Hartt · October 13, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Had meant to add that Raonic will be No. 4 in the rankings with Monfils, the only player who could be a spoiler, now out of the tourney. Sock is now at No. 23 in the live tennis rankings.
A couple other interesting results. Mischa Zverev defeated Granollers in 3 sets. It has been quite the tourney for Zverev the Elder. However, younger brother Sascha lost to Tsonga in 3.
Given how erratic Wawrinka can be, guess Simon defeating him in SS is not a huge shock.
Scoop malinowski · October 13, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Ryan Balon unchained! Question to all…do you see Nick going the route of Agassi or Rios? All three were controversial young rebels. Great win for Sock to sack Raonic who had previously dominated him. Another sign Sock is ascending upwards and Raonic is fading. Sock now in his first masters series QF.
Dan Markowitz · October 13, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Look, I didn’t see Kyrgs match and I didn’t like before the US Open him saying that if he won the tournament (which he didn’t come close to doing, losing I think to Marchenko in the 2nd rd) he’d basically quit playing pro tennis. But he comes off the Japan tournament beating Monfils and Goffin, beats Qball in the first round in China, and then he laid an egg. The guy is clearly a punk, but so was Johnny Mac at that age and older, although I don’t think Mac ever blatantly tanked a match.
I see similarities between Trump and Kyrgios. Obviously, I despise Trump, I think he’s the worst representative of a human being there is. I think I’d like mass murderers more than the big Orange Narcissist, but I do admire that he doesn’t let anyone push him around and even though he’s running for president, he hasn’t been coerced to learn anything about government and how it works or foreign policy; just couldn’t care. We should all vote for him because he marries sexy women, has kids who all work for him and he names his youngest son Barron, and oh yes, I forgot, he’s going to make America great again.
Kyrgs on the same line of acting, couldn’t care less about learning civil ways of conducting himself as a pro tennis player. He rails at the fans the way Trump rails at the media or anyone who accuses him of sexual molestation; Kyrgs will flat out not give an effort if he’s tired or disinterested even though fans and tennis intellectuals tell him that’s so wrong. I’m not going to stop watching him play tennis (just like I don’t stop watching Trump talk even though my wife will just walk away whenever he’s on tv). If anything, I might watch him play more because I like non-conformists, even if they’re acting badly, and especially if they have talent.
Let’s make one distinction, Kyrgs didn’t throw his racquet over the net and try to behead Zverev or bad-mouth him the way Harry did his bud, Kokky. He just gave up if what I hear is true. That might not be cool for the fans watching, but he didn’t, say, grope Zverev.
Hartt · October 13, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Scoop, Milos is not fading. He is now No. 4 in the rankings. I am very curious to see how he does in Paris in a few weeks time (and to a lesser extent, in Basel).
He played Shanghai with a partial ligament tear in his ankle and although I don’t think he has said it was an issue, it can’t have helped.
Scoop Malinowski · October 13, 2016 at 10:32 pm
Dan read this about your corrupt crooked puppet Hillary
If you are Gay, why are you voting for HÂillary when she wants to bring in millioÂns of refugees that believe gays should Âbe executed?
If you are a Christian, Hillary wants to put tens of thousands of Islamic people in your neighborhoods, remove church rights and do away with religious freedom. The word of God has no meaning for her because she is morally bankrupt. So why give her a vote?
If you are Black, why are you voting for Hillary when she defends Planned ParentÂhood and admires Margaret Sanger, who waÂnted to abort as many black babies as poÂssible and exterminate the black race beÂcause they are like “weeds.” Most of thoÂse clinics are in Black neighborhoods.
If you are a Woman, how can you vote for Hillary when she has buried all of BillÂ’s rape victims under the rug. As an attÂorney, Hillary also defended the rapist Âof a 12-year old girl and laughed about Âit later. She plays the woman-card and aÂcts entitled; implying that she deserveÂs your vote merely because of her sex. HÂow is that gender neutral?
If you have are a Miner, Steelworker or Âhave a Factory job, why are you voting fÂor Hillary when she supported NAFTA and ÂTPP, and workers are being laid off becaÂuse jobs are going overseas? She also weÂlcomes open borders and illegals to get Âbenefits with your tax money and competÂe for our jobs. Hillary boasts that undeÂr her administration miners and steelworÂkers will lose their jobs.
If you are a Law abiding citizen, how caÂn you vote for Hillary when she is clearÂly above the law? Hillary deleted thousaÂnds of secret e-mails *after* they had bÂeen subpoenaed by the courts (illegal). ÂHillary kept thousands of classified and top secret e-mails on her private servÂer; servers that had less security that Âg-mail and Hotmail. You can be sure RussÂia, Iran, and China have those now. The ÂDNC clearly broke the rules by heavy-hanÂdedly favoring Hillary over Sanders whilÂe they were still competing for the nomÂination.
If you are a Veteran, in the military, oÂr closely related to a military member, Âwhy are you voting for Hillary when she Âleft those men to die in Benghazi and haÂd the nerve to lie about it over and oveÂr again? They called for help, but the hÂelp was told to stand down. FurthermoreÂ, Hillary wants to eliminate the NRA, taÂke away your guns, and abolish the seconÂd amendment?
How about the Latino brother and sisters? Hillary has zero love for them because there is a video showing Bill twenty years ago who sounded just like Mr. Trump on the issues. You listen to him and she is the opposite! So there it is? What else?
Oh! One more thing! President Obama will become the greatest president in US history! How can this be? Well, in eight years he has opened the hearts and minds of the American people and what we will become! Through his lack of leadership and lawless ways he has shown Americans what we will become in the future. A real third world country. He wants Hillary to win so his communist idea will be in place and his destruction will continue! So thank you Mr. Obama for your eye opening lesson! So what else? The Police! The lack of respect? What else is needed to help you?
catherine bell · October 14, 2016 at 4:15 am
Dan/Scoop
This isn’t a political site, nor is it read only by Americans.
Can we be done with the rancour and bitterness and get back to tennis ?
That’s what I visit the site for.
Dan Markowitz · October 14, 2016 at 6:05 am
Important point here, Catherine, I wasn’t getting political I was just comparing Trump to Kyrgios and saying there are a lot of similarities. I’ve seen Trump play tennis though and Kyrgios has a much better backhand. Look, I’m sticking up for Kyrgios and Scoop is sticking up for Trump. It’s all good although I think Hillary has a lot better chance of winning this slam than Kyrgios has of winning any upcoming slam.
But I’ll get back to tennis (even though it’s not nearly as interesting; Catherine, even though you’re not an American you really should follow this presidential election, it’s a doozy; the best I’ve ever seen), I saw Brydan Klein win a real good match against Bemelmans, 7-6 in the third yesterday in Fairfield, Ca. and reach the quarters where I think he’ll play Tommy Paul with a chance to reach the semis where I think he’ll play Quentin Halys, who Brydan’s beaten the last two times they played.
Klein is a true character. He’ll all of a sudden stretch for a ball and come up flexing his knee or ankle. His opponent will hit a hard shot and Klein will miss it and he’ll start shaking his head like the ball must’ve been juiced. He’s an entertaining sort and to win the match yesterday at 6-5 in the breaker, he served and Bemelman’s, a poor man’s Patrick Rafter in looks and game, had him running all over the court and Brydan is not the most graceful runner. But he somehow got Bemelman’s in a vulnerable position at the net, and Ken Rosewalled a feathery slice backhand down the line for the winner and the match.
Dan Markowitz · October 14, 2016 at 6:10 am
Oh yes, another thing about Kyrgios, I agree with Steve Tignor’s response to his antics in Shanghai when he says:” And he doesn’t. You don’t have to like Kyrgios to still enjoy watching tennis, which features hundreds of other players to pull for—and maybe even one to root against. Is Kyrgios a saint? No, but nor is he a stain on the sport. I won’t go so far as to say that Kyrgios’ actions are good for the game, but from my experience as a sports fan, having a villain is rarely a bad thing. And what Kyrgios has done in 2016 isn’t even close to the villainy he exhibited in 2015.
“It’s my choice,†Kyrgios said plainly about his lack of effort…” The reaction has been overblown. You don’t have to like the guy to like what he does with a racquet and like Tignor says, it’s not like he’s one of 30 guys playing the tour, there are hundreds and you don’t have to follow him if you don’t like, but the guy at 21 is now no 14 and has won 3 titles this year so he’s obviously not squandering his talent and must be working pretty hard.
catherine bell · October 14, 2016 at 6:32 am
Dan –
I was referring to Scoops’ post really.
And, yes, I do follow the US election. I think it’ll be a re-run of 1964. Goldwater=Trump. (and yes, I do remember that )
Hillary will win.
Kyrgios will no doubt outgrow his problems.
Dan Markowitz · October 14, 2016 at 7:24 am
Great piece by Chris Clarey at the New York Times yesterday chronicling the Kyrgios “deplorable.” He has a quite different take on the matter than Tignor does.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/14/sports/nick-kyrgios-gives-up-and-tennis-gives-him-an-easy-out.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fsports&action=click&contentCollection=sports®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=6&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
Scoop Malinowski · October 14, 2016 at 8:24 am
Good article by Clarey -Kyrgios is really rocking the boat and risking a lengthy suspension – I would expect Bradshaw to suspend Kyrgios after this latest episode – the ATP can’t afford to have Kyrgios to continue to so blatantly disrespect the sport – Watching a player give zero effort is torture even if it’s at a public park – to pay $ to watch a player give zero effort is an outrage that cannot be tolerated –
Hartt · October 14, 2016 at 10:27 am
Thanks for the link to a terrific article. I agree totally with everything Clarey wrote. Had not realized that Kyrgios still faced a possible suspension.
I agree with Catherine, let’s stick to tennis here. I promise not to talk about Justin Trudeau or the Blue Jays, although keeping quiet about the Jays could be difficult. 🙂
Hartt · October 14, 2016 at 11:48 am
Saw Jack Sock’s match against Gilles Simon. Although I generally like Sock, found myself rooting for Simon. Jack got off to a terrific start, with a 3-0 lead and I thought he would certainly win. But both guys were erratic, hitting some wonderful shots and some terrible ones. The camera showed the reactions of young boys in the crowd a couple times, their expressions were priceless, “How could Sock miss that shot?”
Overall it was a close, entertaining match, with Simon prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 7-6.
But this was still a good tourney for Sock.
Hartt · October 14, 2016 at 11:51 am
Tignor had an interesting piece on David Goffin on Tennis.com. Someone said Goffin is the true “anti-Kyrgios” and I think she has a point.
It is great to hear more about the players who don’t get a lot of press, like Scoop’s Biofiles.
Dan markowitz · October 14, 2016 at 2:23 pm
I’m rooting for the Blue Jays. I watched a lot of Sock v Simon and the did battle. The big hole in Sock’s game is his backhand. He just can’t win big hitting the ducks off that side. He’s a gritty player and the forehand is dynamic and so are his volleys, but his bh is not a strong shot.
Hartt · October 14, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Agree about Sock’s bh. Do you think he can improve it at this point of his career?
Am watching Djokovic vs. Mischa Zverev. Am thoroughly enjoying Zverev’s net play – we see so little of that throughout an entire match. It gives so much more variety to a match, even Novak has to do some different things – he has made some terrific lobs.
Thanks for rooting for the Blue Jays; they have a big game against Cleveland tonight.
Dan Markowitz · October 14, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Ditto on Zverev, Mischa and no, I don’t think can demonstrably improve his backhand at this point. It seems to me, the best backhands are from players who take the racket back with their arms pretty straight and extend out and really belt the ball. Sock’s arms and his racket are too bent.
Doogie · October 15, 2016 at 6:22 am
Socks BH will ever be his weak side. He has to improve if he wants to win something big – can he improve? From technical point of view he has to change his grip. Playing it bit better, he just has to move better! We all know if your body is right on the ball, u can he it clean and well. If not, your weak technique comes in play – no difference between amateur player and pro.
Anyway he will reach Top 10 just because of his strenghts.
Scoop Malinowski · October 15, 2016 at 7:44 am
Sock’s bh is as good as Roddicks was -Was moyas bh any better? I think Sock’s bh is sufficient -His movement is underrated and also sufficient -just needs to compete with a little more obsession and beast – “Brawl tennis” like Roddick Hewitt and Rafa –
Andrew Miller · October 15, 2016 at 8:50 am
Socks bh…i saw him play and it’s officially worse than Rodick. Occasionally he gets off a clean shot. But among pros it sucks. He’s also as good as Courier was at running around it, I’ve seen few players who truly operate out of a corner like Sock.
But his bh is horrible. His competitiveness is a plus, he’s completely underrated out there. Just that I’d like to see him develop a few options on movement, developing basically that wasteland of a bh wing so he’s not overcompensating for its weakness all the time.
It’s amazing Sock was the last us player standing at us open on the men’s side. Coinciding with Isners slide into top us player not anymore status with the departure of Gimelstib. Just that once he got there, beating former us open champ cilic, Tsonga exposed the bh side and made sock look well, like he had no bh.
As for Nick, I think top players on both tours give themselves a break if their next tournament is a big one. Sometimes they lose earlier in the small one to get more time at the big one. Sometimes they mail in their sick notice to tournaments and go fishing.
Nick would be better to get up for masters events and play through it and then schedule well. Now that his ranking is high he’ll get to pick and choose where he plays. And given his feelings about the sport maybe he will win a slam grab the endorsements and run. Only that in light of his abilities, I think he can do better for himself. And tennis as a sport. The future looks bright if he applies himself, provides some competition to the emerging candidates for the tennis elite.
Alternatively he can do the boom bust cycle, win a tournament and drop out the next one.
Or he can decide that it isn’t worth it.
I think as Scoop mentioned Kyrgios actually does care about the sport and his role in it. Just that the expectations are so high that when he silences his critics and wins his biggest tournament yet as he just did, he finds that the expectations are even higher, exactly the opposite of what he wanted. And in the face of that, more of everything – more of Pat Rafter or Hewitt or the old guard saying now he will do this or that, face him. And he’s like I didn’t ask for this.
Agassi and Steffi Graf said they hated tennis. But they also realized there was something there for them. I think Kyrgios is just resentful like they were. It wasn’t that long ago he was a junior, few knew who he was, any win, even versus Kosakowski, was a big one.
Now it’s different.
But it’s too bad there isn’t much about Mischa Zverev. He’s been Harrison’s gauge over the summer, playing a lot of the same events, qualifying where Harry did, making a comeback that in Germany would rival Harrisons. Yet he makes a splash at a masters and like Dan said everyone pays more attention to Kyrgios’ inner turmoil and implosion than another player’s march back into relevance. He steals Kyrgios thunder and no one cared.
Maybe we do but few do. The tour has its stars but they wouldn’t be there if there weren’t players like Mischa plying their trade and aiming for the top fifty and more modest goals. That’s why its called the ATP tour and not the Nick Kyrgios Tour.
catherine bell · October 15, 2016 at 10:12 am
Andrew –
As I’ve said before I don’t believe that Graf and Agassi hated tennis – or at least not enough to leave it (others have done so). It’s easy to say those things looking back, a long time after.
Steffi certainly didn’t show any dislike in her early years – although she may have hated what her fame etc did to aspects of her family life and to her physically.
And why would Steffi have been ‘resentful’ ? From the time she was 15/16 it was clear she was going to be a significant player. She grew up with the game.
She retired relatively early probably most of all because of injuries and also because she just got tired of the yearly grind and had won most things worth winning.
Andrew Miller · October 15, 2016 at 11:19 am
Catherine I don’t know what motivates players. I think some of them may feel trapped and the young players who make a splash have to deal with the attention and scrutiny. Some of them had no choice and maybe feel resentful for being tennis players. Kyrgiis always talks about wanting to play basketball. Courier favored baseball. Some believe maybe if this or that event didn’t happen they’d have been playing different sports. Some players leave the tour, like Ancic who’s now a lawyer or Henin who I think had more in the tank at least when she wasn’t wd from slam finals!
Hartt · October 15, 2016 at 11:44 am
I wonder if Steffi Graf resented the spotlight, the loss of privacy, (especially when she had to deal the drama surrounding her father in public) rather than tennis itself. It must be very difficult for someone who is basically shy to deal with all that at a young age. And she was so very young, winning tournaments at 16, 17 and the Golden Slam when she was 19. So given all the injuries and the surgery it’s not surprising she retired at 30; she did well to compete for as long as she did.
I know this won’t ever happen but I wish the media paid more attention to a wider variety of players and not just those at the top or those who are controversial. Scoop, I like the way your Biofiles tell us about some of the under the radar players, and hope that you will have an opportunity to do one on Mischa Zverev. He did a brief blog for the Shanghai tourney website and came across as an engaging, interesting guy.
Hartt · October 15, 2016 at 12:17 pm
What do people think about the 2 SFs in Shanghai? I was totally amazed that Bautista Agut won his match, although thought he was the better player and deserved the win. What do you make of Novak’s current form?
And even though Andy pulled out the win it was a scratchy performance, neither guy playing especially well. I could not believe all the breaks of serve in an ATP match.
Do you think Murray will get the No. 1 ranking in the near future?
catherine bell · October 15, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Hartt –
Yes- I think Steffi did pretty well considering the pressure on her in Germany and the dismal activities of her father. Probably she built a wall around herself.
The media respected her – she never had a major falling out in that area – I think there was a lot of respect and understanding of her youth, and on Steffi’s part she knew the deal you make as the top player.
I stopped working in tennis in 1989 but am glad I was there for her GS and to watch the torch being passed, as it were.
Big media will never be interested in also rans I’m afraid. There’s no publicity value there. I suppose that’s something magazines and websites can do.
Andy probably will get No 1 ranking.
Question – how long will Kerber hang onto hers ? 🙂
Hartt · October 15, 2016 at 12:58 pm
Catherine, it must have been amazing to witness a great player like Graf.
I guess to get info on the “other” players will mean digging to find it, which is a shame. Some of these players have compelling stories if the media could be bothered to seek them out.
Some of the sites have posted info on what Murray needs to get to achieve the No. 1 ranking but no one seems to agree on the exact formula. I hope he does make it – tennis could use more variety in the top ranked players as well as in winners of big tournaments. Otherwise it is just too predictable.
It sounds like you wonder if Kerber will stay at No. 1 for very long.
catherine bell · October 15, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Hartt –
It was pretty amazing watching Steffi winning at RG 6-0 6-0. Actually, Steffi’s GS didn’t work out that thrilling in the end. After W’don it was a bit foregone and Sabatini wasn’t inspired to stop her at USO.
Kerber ? Depends on Serena 🙂 But no, she doesn’t strike me as a natural No 1.
Unfortunately tennis is a sport which will be predictable if the best players win most of the time. I don’t really see anything wrong with that. It’s the way competition works – you want to watch the best performance. The exceptions of course can be interesting.
Scoop Malinowski · October 15, 2016 at 6:16 pm
Safin was another player who at the end complained about the Tour life and the travel etc but just a few months later he was out there playing the Champions Tour -these whiners who whine about the Tour are just being spoiled brats – it’s a great life and millions of players would probably kill to be on the ATP Tour – Then once a player gets there it’s even harder to stay there because so many players are so desperate to get there – Kyrgios spouting off is nothing new – Take it with a grain of salt –
Scoop Malinowski · October 15, 2016 at 6:20 pm
Graf just had enough at the end Catherine – she was about 30 been there done that – Navratilova is a freak and so is Hingis who I imagine will play for years and years or as long as she possibly and physically can stay relevant in doubles – Graf was so shy it almost seemed like she was a slave to the sport and never really had a choice in life to be or do anything else – It’s not natural for teen girls to dedicate their beings to playing and practicing tennis every day – She just was extraordinarily good at it and obviously enjoyed it enough and loved her father enough to keep going and going –
Scoop Malinowski · October 15, 2016 at 6:24 pm
Hartt: Graf was and I think still is extremely shy and introverted – you never see a long in depth interview with her – That she managed to deal with all the attention of the media was remarkable – Not sure how Graf would handle the even brighter media spotlight of today – Thanks for the kind words about Biofiles – I love doing them on all players particularly the outsider type players and will definitely try to get Zverev the Elder as I’ve interviewed a lot of Russians and they are always fantastic interviews ( Youzhny Tursunov Kafelnikov Safin Gabashvili Zvonareva ) –
Scoop Malinowski · October 15, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Djokovic has been strangely declining this year – losing to Agut is yet another odd loss for Djokovic who definitely has slipped a fraction this year – It’s almost like he’s growing weary of being no 1 and wouldn’t mind if his buddy Andy took it over for a while – Andy will be no 1 in my opinion next spring or summer – and Andy as no 1 will be huge for ATP business as the Great Britain market is a lot LOT bigger than Serbia’s – Andy is a little bigger and stronger than Djokovic so this apparently inevitable balance of power shift is not a huge shock if it evolves to Andy taking over no 1 –
Scoop Malinowski · October 15, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Shocks are so rare in tennis – once a player or player(s) know how to beat other certain players it’s very hard to break that pattern – This is the reality of tennis on all levels – the top dogs are there for a reason and the strivers are underneath them for a reason –
catherine bell · October 16, 2016 at 2:50 am
Scoop –
I do know a bit about Graf – saw her first when she was 14. She was naturally introverted and don’t believe minded her life being restricted to tennis when she was young. She didn’t change after her career.It’s her nature.
It was as if her she knew instinctively how to keep people away.
I think she’d be the same today and handle the media just as effectively.
It was almost a two-way thing at press conferences – you could sense the barrier there and the protective attitude of the majority of press. That helped her a lot.
catherine bell · October 16, 2016 at 3:20 am
BTW – I do actually think the media intrusion was worse years ago – particularly in the UK with its tradition of foot-in-the-door tabloid reporting which seemed to surprise US journalists. One of Martina’s Wimbledon attempts was torpedoed by Murdoch hacks – that wouldn’t happen now.
Press conferences weren’t so regimented (there was a punch up in the press room at W’don one year but that’s another story)and players had no ‘media training’.
Made for a more interesting time IMO – today everything is PR bland – at least in tennis. Other sports maybe not so.
Hartt · October 16, 2016 at 7:27 am
I think interviews with players can be bland in other sports as well. Baseball is the one I’ve paid some attention to. They have such regimented responses that I keep thinking they need to be given a few new ones to memorize.
Don’t know what the answer is because if a player says anything the least bit off script he or she is open to major, ongoing criticism. And heaven help them if they make a joke that is misunderstood. Guess you need a thick hide if unwilling to be bland.
Hartt · October 16, 2016 at 7:32 am
A nice win for American players with Isner/Sock taking the doubles title in Shanghai over the Finnish/Aussie team of Kontinen/Peers, who have been having an excellent season.
Sock did a brief blog for the Shanghai tourney site after the win. He said he thinks he has improved a lot, especially with fitness and the mental side. Still won’t be playing doubles in the Slams. Said it is too much tennis and wants to concentrate on his singles at them. So it is the end of PospiSock, former winners at Wimbledon.
catherine bell · October 16, 2016 at 8:51 am
Hartt –
Discussing press conferences and players’ bland utterances – I always recall Chris’ crisp dismissal of Hana Mandlikova after their W’don final:
‘Hana played sloppy. She didn’t use her head out there. She didn’t deserve to win Wimbledon’.
Can’t see that one flying today. True though.
Hartt · October 16, 2016 at 8:56 am
LOL. That is great. We could use more of that honesty, but as you say, is not going to happen now.
catherine bell · October 16, 2016 at 10:15 am
Hartt –
Chris was always honest Another gem after winning W’don:
‘I always knew I was the best’.
Her press conferences were always worth going to.
BJK as well.
Hartt · October 16, 2016 at 10:38 am
Maybe there could be a compilation of those, as an incentive to today’s players! 🙂
I am going to be on the lookout for any honest answers in current press conferences, interviews. Wish me luck! Come to think of it, Zverev the Younger did have a good retort, but it was at the reporter’s expense. Will try to find it.
Hartt · October 16, 2016 at 11:13 am
Sascha Zverev exchange. Reporter asking about his upcoming match with Cilic, “How much chance do you think you have?” Zverev: “Well done.I have 47.8% chance of winning that.”
In looking for that quote came across a charming one from Bautista Agut, after his winning match against Novak (Oct. 15, 2016). “The first time I remember I played him I thought he was from another planet, and now I think I’m closer to him.”
Andrew Miller · October 16, 2016 at 11:28 am
Congrats to Bautista Agut. Not among favorites to watch, but works hard. Djoker is officially playing badly. Maybe he is in wilander territory after wilanders emotional three slam year.