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Apr/16

11

My set against Michelle Larcher De Brito at Longboat Key

56 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios

wmldbCycling Longboat Key after a sushi lunch in downtown Sarasota with my friend Nana I spotted Michelle Larcher De Brito training at the Longboat Key public clay courts. So I challenged her to a set the next day – if she can beat me I’ll fork over fifty bucks (we had played mini tennis two years ago on the same courts with her winning 11-9 and 11-8). She smiled and hesitated and then agreed. I looked up her ranking at the ITF site and she’s down to 227 because of missing half of last year with some kind of injury suffered in the third set of the third round of Wimbledon qualies. She’s 23 now and has resumed her career but it’s been a struggle back to her previous form which was once so formidable she beat Sharapova on center court at Wimbledon and took a set off Serena as a teenager at the Stanford event.

So we meet at 3:30 to play. I set up to hit with a local friend for an hour at two to get ready. I hit well and feel good despite it being my first time on har-tru in two weeks. Also I’m fresh off winning the media tournament at the Miami Open so my confidence is strong. Larcher De Brito arrives with her mom and coach dad in their van and are extremely nice people. As nice as anyone you will meet in pro tennis. The first thing I ask Michelle is if she ever hit with Monica Seles who lives in the area. She actually did very early in her career and just after Seles retired and was still playing exos. Seles’ intensity had not diminished at all though. Seles would even run to pick up balls between points – just like Connors was known to do. And this was AFTER Seles had retired. .
So we begin to warm up doing mini tennis at the net, and I realize I feel comfortable with her balls. We drift back to the baseline and we both keep the rallies going down the middle. I’m actually surprised that I’m not missing any balls at all and she’s the one who first misses by hitting the net cord. We continue to hit and I actually never miss anything and she narrowly misses two more – again they go into the net cord. This fuels my confidence and I begin to believe that I can actually win this set! She comes in for volleys and I keep feeding perfectly for her and then I take volleys and don’t miss any of those either. We both do overheads and serves. Her serve seems just average and something I can handle quite comfortably. I do the racquet toss for serve and she calls up and wins and elects to serve. I crack that we’re both not known for our serves and she smiles.

I remember the first point – she served to my forehand and I returned to her backhand and she went cross court and I got it back but she hammered a winner to my forehand side which was out of reach. She won the game easily with the same patterns of battering me around the baseline like a yo yo but she did have one double fault. I did notice that she started doing breathing sounds – not grunts – which I interpreted as her amping up her intensity because she respected my game and perhaps was somewhat threatened? We switched sides and I hit a very good first serve which she netted with her forehand. I won the second point on serve as well after a short rally and a miss for 30-love. She won the next two by running me back and forth. Once she got a rally going she was able to dictate me around the court side to side. She never missed any of those when she had time to set up. I was lucky to get two good serves to win the game for 1-all. I still remember it being ad-in and serving one off the sideline which her backhand netted. That was to be my final game though. After that she really locked in and dominated the rallies. Hitting into her strike zone was not smart on my part. I did win a few scattered points like when I sliced a shorter ball inside the service line to her forehand or I hit a good return from the ad court up the line to her forehand – twice she missed on those with errant forehands into the net. But I just could not get her off balance enough. And when she was balanced and had time she just ate me up and made me pay. Even high deep balls she teed off on and moved me to a corner and ran me ragged. By the third game I suddenly felt tired from all the running back and forth and I was actually thinking to myself that the court seemed so much bigger against her. I rallied though. In the 5-1 game I had another break point at 30-40 and tried to step in and whack a return to her forehand again but I got too close to the ball and netted it. That was my last gasp. She rolled me from there for 6-1. At our handshake she said thank you but I thanked her instead. It was an honor to share a court with a player who actually beat Sharapova at Wimbledon. Her father Antonio remarked that women’s tennis is all bang bang and that once players get behind a ball they can just push you all over the court and that’s exactly what his daughter did to me.

Caroline Larcher De Brito – the mom told me about the wrist injury that happened at Wimbledon qualies last summer. It happened in a fluke instant – from just hitting a ball to the ballkid across the net at the other back wall. She couldn’t finish the match and had to miss the rest of the year. At first the injury was suspected to be a pinched nerve (by the WTA physio) but it was actually a tendon separation and surgery was needed and then a three month stint wearing a cast which meant no tennis for months in the middle of summer in Florida. The cast in the heat caused some skin problems and it was basically three months of misery. But injuries are a part of tennis and today Larcher De Brito departed to Alabama for a $25k ITF tournament on clay which is her least favorite surface with grass being her preference because of the lower bounce. She is considering to try yoga and kick boxing training to strengthen up her body as she enters the next chapter of her professional career.

56 comments

  • Dan Markowitz · April 12, 2016 at 3:52 am

    Nice report, Scoop. I really can’t believe you would challenge a player of De Brito’s class. That is amazing in itself. (What was in that sushi)? But for you to even get a game and a break point, I’d say is pretty impressive. It doesn’t sound like you hit too many winners that your points came mostly on her mistakes, but it just shows you that players of her class, especially when they are a couple of decades younger than you are, are going to be too much for you to handle, as good as you are in the USTA events.

    George Plimpton in his prime certainly wouldn’t have fared better. Who’s next on your list, Melanie Oudin? Now here’s the big question, did she make you fork up the $50?

  • Michael · April 12, 2016 at 6:03 am

    Is this story fictional ? I can’t believe she agreed to play you. She plays random club players ? I wish there was some video.

    And you know she was never sweating it if she wasn’t screeching. I’m impressed you won a game — you must be pretty good for an old man.

    Remember that match she was up at USO and melted down playing the third set in tears. That was among the more painful matches I’ve witnessed. I hope she gets back — she’s better than a 25K event. It seems like she’s been around forever — I remember she played Miami Masters main draw at age 14 or 15.

    This would be a good book or a website even. You go around challenging your way through that WTA Tour. You should set up a Kickstarter. I’m in for the first $25.

    You should allow bets on how high up the rankings you need to go until you win.

  • Michael · April 12, 2016 at 6:07 am

    It’s nearly as bizarre as this:

    https://youtu.be/wdsBWXcvQcc

  • Jg · April 12, 2016 at 6:34 am

    Very impressive, I saw her practicing on a hard court a few years ago and she could really blast the ball. I thought you would hit her those high moon balls then drop shot her.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 8:47 am

    Thanks Dan – you know my game is to grind and mix it up – I did ace her down the tee to the deuce court too – that was a highlight point – But you’re right I didn’t hit any winners – she didn’t give me any balls to be able to – I was too busy chasing and retrieving – the only points I won was when I got her off balance with a good return or good shot in a good location – I did get her scrambling another time and she threw up a desperation forehand lob that landed right in the deep corner of my backhand like three inches from the lines – I couldn’t do anything with that and she resumed control of point and won it – even when I came to net she passed me easily with forehand – No she did not make me fork over the $50 I was quite happy too – she handled my game like I would handle a 4 player while only getting to use one serve each point:) Hey that’s an idea maybe next time I will challenge her to a set but she only gets one serve 🙂

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 8:52 am

    mike: I know her and her family for a few years now as we train next to each other about a dozen times – very nice people – she was generous to accept my challenge 🙂 But don’t forget I am the three time miami open bud collins hackers media tournament champion and also the best or second best player on longboat key and ranked no 6 in the USTA eastern open division so I do have credentials 🙂 But not the overall game to seriously threaten a world class player like michelle larcher de brito – Hey I like that kickstarter idea about challenging WTA players like some kind of offbeat Bobby Riggs wanna be goofball 🙂

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 8:55 am

    jg: I should have hired you as my coach 🙂 Didn’t think of that – part of me wanted to just play her game and play to her strengths – I like her and deep down didn’t want to take away any of her confidence – But her shots were so penetrating and steady that it’s really hard to handle them to do those variety shots or drop shots – I did try two drops shots and both were very poor and she easily came in and whacked easy winners on – she can handle those low balls really well and she just finishes them off perfectly –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 9:01 am

    Are you kidding me? I would not lose one single point to Gail Falkenberg 60 60 and two golden sets – she can’t move – Can’t believe Donald Young Sr is sitting there coaching her for that match 🙂 Taylor T should have given him the afternoon off! Credit to Gail for daring to be great but come on she should not have wasted anyone’s time – she should be playing USTA 3/5 senior leagues –

  • Dan Markowitz · April 12, 2016 at 9:38 am

    The one tact I found like when I was 40 and playing the college players at Pace that I was coaching, was to hit low slice shots to the service line and make them try to handle those balls. My no. 1 player was from Germany and not quite a Satellite player, but she was good and she had a lot of trouble with low short balls, but when you’re dealing with a very good player that’s probably not going to work very much.

    I was also thinking the same thing Michael was–even though I know how good a player you are–that de Brito should probably try to find some better practice partners. Do you see her hitting with players of her ability or does she mostly just hit or drill with her dad?

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 10:20 am

    Two times I did this – one was a hard short return barely over the net and she missed it into the net because she was a little off balance – the other was a short slice by the service line and she had time and stepped in and easily hit the bh winner cross court – I could see the way to challenger her was to be able to get her off balance and rushed but it was hard to do that off her shots which were safe (for her) but penetrating and damaging for me – She was not no 79 in the world for nothing – she does not have wins over Kuznetsova Sharapova Dulko Ivanovic Zheng Jie makarova Pliskova mladenovic Lucic Baroni Brendle and Puig for nothing – This is a great player: a world class player with an extraordinary skillset – I’m a tough player who has won close to 40 tournaments and I can grind and counter punch but I do lack the world class pedigree and I do lack the ability to trade power for power –

  • Andrew Miller · April 12, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    Sheesh. That’s the real story with these players. They are that good.

    Surprised you weren’t serving her into corners. She must have some return of serve.

  • jg · April 12, 2016 at 2:46 pm

    i just looked at that You Tube, the blurb below said it was a 2nd round match–am I to believe that the 69 year old won a round, who could she possibly beat. She moves terribly for a 69 year old, my father who has 2 bad knees and is 90 can beat her 6-0.

  • Pittsburgh Tennis · April 12, 2016 at 4:20 pm

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  • Moskova Moskova · April 12, 2016 at 4:29 pm

    video clip or photos next time pls ! 😉

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 7:08 pm

    I was serving on the lines quite a bit actually and did get free points but its hard to keep up that kind of accuracy – she does have good return – doesn’t go for winners but gets control of point and sets up next attack shot –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 7:10 pm

    She did win 1R! Probably beat a very offensive and not very intelligent player – for her to take a shot at this pro event indicates her style works well vs a lot of local hackers – you have to have a lot of confidence to enter a professional tourney –

  • Michael · April 12, 2016 at 7:31 pm

    Agree with MM, please get someone to tape any future Scoop v. WTA player match.

    I’m telling you this should be a web site reality show. It would be YUUUGE. You verse the WTA.

    Maybe ask Falkenberg to play some doubles too.

    You must be a very good player if you can hang with MLB. And I’m not surprised her family is very nice because she is very nice.

    Have you ever played in the USTA open tournament for the USO qualies ?

    When I was a kid I remember watching Bud play tennis during the USO at Forest Hills and what I remember most is he played barefoot.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 9:00 pm

    I’ll play the WTA when serena plays johnnymac 🙂 I do wonder if I can beat some of the players who do look beatable – Hsieh lacks the power but has the touch – Radwanska would be interesting – but of course they all look easier on TV or from the side – you get on court and it gets real fast –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 13, 2016 at 9:25 am

    michelle lost yesterday in alabama to lauren albanese 36 36 – she had beaten her earlier in the year on hard court 76 76 –

  • Dan Markowitz · April 13, 2016 at 11:18 am

    Memo to Scoop, don’t challenge Lauren Albanese. One point about MLB, if she can’t get a real coach and a real practice facility to train at, I doubt she has much of a chance of a top-tier career. I mean, really, who practices with their parents, who I’ve seen, they looked like they’ve both dipped into the cookie jar a bit too much if you know what I mean, and plays a 40-something tennis scribe as a warmup to a pro tournament? I mean that is crazy.

    Got to like this kid Dzumhur who beat Berdych today. He’s another player cut out of the Ollie Rochus mold. And say what…!!!!!! Djoko lost to Vesely!! There goes the Grand Slam.

  • Moskova Moskova · April 13, 2016 at 11:34 am

    down goes djoko ! let’s kick him while he’s down everybody haha

    so, scoop – do you think this was a self-tank before the big one at RG ?? and do you think vesley will win RG now ?? LOL 😉

  • Rob · April 13, 2016 at 11:53 am

    a self tank? how? you think such a figure contemplates the thing?

  • catherine bell · April 13, 2016 at 12:38 pm

    As I predicted on a previous thread Djoko has lost 🙂 Just happened sooner than I thought….

  • Andrew Miller · April 13, 2016 at 12:58 pm

    For 1 set, I bet I’d get under 4 points from Radwanska.

    Played a few guys who “used” to be on the challenger/future tour. They gifted me about that many points. And this included whaling on serves, etc. Or hitting during practices and “winning” practice points (arguably, I looked like a better player than they were).

    Winning practice points means nothing. These players are ridiculously good. They make some stupid mistakes during real matches, but if I were on there on court with them during a real match? I bet my “under 4 points” would turn into a perfect shut-out for them – I might manage “2 points”.

  • Andrew Miller · April 13, 2016 at 1:04 pm

    Top 10 is crumbling! Djokovic dropping so early in a Masters is unheard of. Maybe there wasn’t an oxygen pod around where he lives in Monte Carlo, or it was held at customs on his way back from the Miami victory.

    Or some racquet stringer loosened his strings.

    Or someone put a hole in his socks.

    Vesely? A past favorite of TP comments? The guy who charged up the rankings on the back of back to back challenger wins in obscure parts of Europe?

    The Czech version of Spain’s Pablo Carreno, who once made a torrid run through the challengers that Vesely later dominated?

    A poor man’s Thomaz Bellucci? Downing the great Djokovic?!

    Food poisoning. I mean…come on Djoko!

  • Andrew Miller · April 13, 2016 at 1:07 pm

    At least Djoker can walk home. He lives in Monte Carlo.

  • catherine bell · April 13, 2016 at 3:08 pm

    Welcome back, Maria Sharapova – courtesy of WADA.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 13, 2016 at 5:45 pm

    Well to be more accurate I gave her an offer she couldn’t refuse – 50 bucks to kick my butt – perhaps playing me threw off her game – but she did train and drill with her dad after our set so I will not accept all the blame for this loss to Albanese – Dzumhur is obviously the real deal – he beat Rafa and now Berdych – I first saw Double D playing Sock on Armstrong in US Open juniors SF the year Sock won it – here we see another smaller guy scoring big success on the ATP Tour – GOffin is another – GOGO is a winning machine – this all shines well for the future of Stefan Kozlov –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 13, 2016 at 5:49 pm

    I saw the third set parts that TC showed and Vesely earned this win – it did not look like a subconscious tank – Djokovic appeared to be trying his best but Vesely hit the shots to finish it – Down love-15 in the final game serving it out JV hit a fantastic drop shot with his backhand that totally froze and fooled Djokovic – JV showed he’s a big time player today – So too did Raonic with that third set tiebreak win over Cuevas from a mini-break down – the key point was the 3-2 point when Raonic scrambled like Ferrer and Hewitt and showed incredible defense before finally forcing Cuevas to net a backhand – incredible rally – Raonic looked like a major champion today – I think Raonic can win this tourney now with Djokovic out –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 13, 2016 at 5:53 pm

    “Winning practice points means nothing” is painfully true – You can feel so good and so steady and not miss anything in practice but then the real match is a WHOLE DIFFERENT Ball Game – I would think Aga would get bored and make a few loose errors – but if she had extra incentives to golden set me or you Andrew she probably could – These players are all magicians – it’s like me playing a 3 point 0 player – easy work because they just can’t hurt me with anything – I don’t think I or you could throw anything at Aga that she hasn’t seen before –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 13, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    I would suspect that possibly Djokovic is not at his peak now he’s still on vacation from miami and is probably aiming to peak in late may not april – no reason to expend his best clay tennis now – Paris is the target – no reason to go ALL OUT now and risk burn out by Rome or madrid –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 13, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    Looks like Sharapova got a big BIG BIG BIG Favor today 😉

  • Andrew Miller · April 13, 2016 at 9:09 pm

    Honestly ARad would golden set.

  • sharoten · April 13, 2016 at 10:57 pm

    “Dzumhur is obviously the real deal – he beat Rafa”

    He did not beat Rafa. For the first time in six years Rafa had to retire from a match. He was suffering from heat stroke and was about to pass out on the court.

    And yeah right, Djokovic was ‘vacationing’. It was his home tournament and one he desperately wanted to win.

  • Michael · April 14, 2016 at 12:26 am

    @bell, @Scoop:

    I would not pop the champagne yet.

    Because I haven’t heard anything to suggest either (1) that she stopped taking the drug pre-ban and (2) that she tested below the threshold in that memo.

    In fact, do you buy given her story at the press conference that she meant to imply (it certainly wasn’t explicit) that notwithstanding “taking full responsibility” for taking the drug “for the past 10 years” and not challenging the “A” drug sample test result that she really meant I’m not challenging the violation even though I’m not guilty because I never took the drug post-ban ?

    I suspect this “addendum” to her story won’t be raised as it will turn out to be moot because nothing her lawyer was quoted as saying in response to the memo gave me a warm and fuzzy warm that either let alone both of the two requirements were met.

    In any case, the original post still cracks me up. MLB played Scoop — on a public court no less. It’s fantastic !

  • Gaurang · April 14, 2016 at 2:11 am

    Novak was not playing his best clay-court tennis. It was clear that he hadnt fully transitioned to clay-court tennis yet — he was playing it like it was hard court. Also there was some complacency — he has been winning so easily last several months, that he forgot how to bring out his best level. He played only 4 matches this year at his best level: Raonic in IW Finals, Federer in AO SF, Murray in AO Finals, and Nadal in Doha Finals. Rest he was playing it easy and still winning.

    He needed this wake up call to make sure he returns to his best level in the clay season so that he can win RG. On clay, his competition can give more stronger fight than on hard courts I feel. Clay slows down the ball, and rewards different kinds of playing styles. He needs to play his best tennis to win.

    Jiri played well today, and especially his drop shots were amazing and Novak was caught off guard.

    Its good for Novak to loose also because otherwise pressure keeps building up. Now he can relax and take it easy for a couple weeks until he plays Madrid on May 1 or something.

  • Gaurang · April 14, 2016 at 2:12 am

    I think it will be the traditional final now this time in Monte Carlo. Nadal defeats Federer in the finals.

  • catherine bell · April 14, 2016 at 7:29 am

    Michael –

    I agree – champagne’s on ice.

    WADA’s statement didn’t clarify things particularly well so we’ll have to wait for the hearing.

    My guess is MS won’t walk off scot-free and if she does I expect a warm welcome in the WTA dressing room for her 🙂 🙂

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 14, 2016 at 9:53 am

    Rafa was forced to retire – that took a Herculean effort by DD to force Rafa to throw in the towel and quit a match – Djokovic desperately wants to win the French Open not another trophy awarded by Prince Albert – it’s about saving his best for Paris – Sharoten I assert that you wont bet on Vesely to beat Djokovic 1R in Paris if the draw goes like that –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 14, 2016 at 9:54 am

    You know it Gaurang – very well said —

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 14, 2016 at 9:55 am

    Backroom deals? I wouldn’t rule it out —

  • Andrew Miller · April 14, 2016 at 1:51 pm

    Djokovic only struggles vs unknowns and Wawrinka, with an occasional loss to Federer. So either the usual suspects have to play like different players Djokov hasn’t played and give him a new look, like Roddick did in the Wimby final in 2009 against Federer, or an unknown has to take veteran like chances and knock him off in their first match against him.

    Djokovic also seems poorly prepped for his Vesely match. He didn’t know about Vesely nice looking but fraught with inconsistency backhand and Vesely also drop shotted Djoker like a champ, making the Djok do more forward movement than he’s used to and unsettling his rhythm . Hyeon Chung did this in their Australian Open match, playing in an unpredictable way that for at least the first set frustrated the Djokobic

    My bet would be a French vet inspired by the crowd that rises to the occasion. After all Vesely just proved that Djokovic can be beat with a game that gives him no opportunities to get settled in his groove.

    Anyone content to rally will be ground into the dirt. Nadal might do some damage if his touch game is back.

    Sorry but Djokovic is moving out of the favorite role for Roland Garros. I don’t see how he ever could be given he hasn’t won one, even if the way he played up to this point was some of the best ball striking out there. That’s more likely on a hard court where the bounce is true.

    Frustrate Djokovic, epic win.

    Vesely did well. I don’t think it means much for the clay season for Vesely, but I think every player is bow youtubing the match and will take notes.

  • Andrew Miller · April 14, 2016 at 1:59 pm

    Medoniumova will be back! I’m actually glad about this. Without Maria the women’s tour has lost some star power. A lot of players haven’t stepped it up, save Sloane Stephens.

    Kvitova is on what, her ninety third coach in the past two years? She is the best lefty women’s player to pls like Steffi Graf in a Wimby final and then play a top 200 player after it. Maybe that final with Bouchard affected both players. But Bouchard is back with Saviano so maybe they will get it together and make life hard for Aga and Vika before the Serena slump ends.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 14, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Sharapova return will be a huge media boon for the sport – will get massive extra coverage and it will attracts the public’s attention – this whole situation will benefit the WTA in the long term –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 14, 2016 at 2:14 pm

    Andrew: I’m giving Djokovic a free pass on this loss – only if he loses early in the next event will I be worried for Djokovic in Paris – if he bungles another loss like this one to Vesely to another lower ranked player in three close sets only then will I start to wonder if Djokovic is suddenly showing cracks in his arsenal – But I think we all know this loss is no cause for alarm – Nobody remembers Pete Sampras lost on Long Island to Paul Henri mathieu the week before his final US Open –

  • catherine bell · April 14, 2016 at 2:20 pm

    Scoop –

    You’re not serious that a drug suspension – even if it’s lifted in murky circumstances, will be good for the women’s game ?
    Because of the publicity ?

    Shame on you 🙁

  • Michael · April 14, 2016 at 2:46 pm

    @scoop “Nobody remembers Pete Sampras lost on Long Island to Paul Henri mathieu the week before his final US Open -”

    I do. I sometimes attended The Hamlet though I was not at that match (I was at the USO final match though !).

    The Hamlet was a great tournament and routinely had a field that something like Del Ray Beach or Newport or most 250s can only dream of. Players like Lendl, Connors and Jmac. Edberg. Agassi. And Sampras as you said. Among many that played there over the years.

    Did you know Arias was at one time the “touring pro” for the Hamlet Development ?

    PS, Can you please post beforehand the time, date and location of your next WTA challenge match.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 14, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    Catherine: Isn’t it a saying that “there’s no such thing as bad publicity?” The steroids in baseball scandal did not translate into lower attendance figures or lower TV ratings –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 14, 2016 at 3:08 pm

    Sorry to underestimate your memory banks there michael 🙂 Did not know that about jimmy arias – just read a very long interview by Dave Kozlowski about Arias and he didn’t mention it – Arias is one of my favorite tennis TV analysts – Yes when I set up a match vs Serena or Sharapova or any WTA pro it will be posted on here –

  • Andrew Miller · April 15, 2016 at 12:58 am

    Djoker is good in clay. I’m not sure Vesely could pull it off again. But he has provided a template for other players. I’m guessing few could execute at that level for three sets.

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