Xavier Malisse retired from tennis in 2013 after a 16 year career but got the itch to compete again last year at Antwerp doubles with the player he coached Lloyd Harris and reached the semis in the doubles draw. 42 year old Malisse is playing Antwerp doubles again this year with Diego Schwartzman and they won yesterday 76 75 vs Marcelo Melo and Raven Klassen. Malisse had also played a Futures in doubles in Belgium in 2015 (reached semis). Malisse won Roland Garros doubles Grand Slam in 2004 with Olivier Rochus.
Ken Rosewall announced in the summer of 1978 he was retiring just before the July Washington DC tournament but ended up still playing about a dozen more ATP tournaments in 1979 and 1980.
Lleyton Hewitt retired at the 2016 Australian Open after losing in the second round to David Ferrer 62 64 64 but continued to play doubles in 2018 (9 tournaments) and then part-time through 2019 and 2020 at Australian Open, concluding in a loss with Jordan Thompson to JiSung Nam and MinKyu Song 62 63.
Ruben Bemelmans retired earlier this summer but two months later returned in August to play doubles at Vancouver Challenger. This week Bemelmans, age 34, received a wildcard into Antwerp qualies but was defeated by Geoffrey Blancaneaux 46 63 63.
Martina Hingis retired from tennis in February 2003 at age 22 due to injuries. She returned two years later in Pattaya, Thailand and lost first round to Marlene Weingartner. She quit again but then re-emerged in July to play World Team Tennis, scoring two wins over top 100 players in singles. In November 2005, Hingis announced she would compete again in the WTA in 2006. She lost in the singles QF to Kim Clijsters but won the mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi. This was her first mixed doubles Grand Slam and 15th overall.
Hingis retired again in 2007 following a positive drug test. Hingis was inducted into the ITHF in July 2013, and in the same month, announced that she was coming out of retirement to play a doubles tournament, with Daniela Hantuchová as her partner, in Carlsbad, California. She was accepted as a wildcard entry. She also played doubles in Toronto, Cincinnati, New Haven, and US Open.
In 2017 Hingis won the US Open mixed doubles title with Jamie Murray and then women’s doubles title with Latisha Chan, for her 24th and 25th Grand Slam titles overall. At the end of 2017 Hingis retired for the final time at WTA Finals in Singapore, while ranked WTA no. 1 in doubles with Chan.
Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, Thomas Muster, Pat Cash and Guillermo Vilas also made comeback attempts after leaving the ATP World Tour, achieving no notable successes compared to their renowned glory years.
Given the extensive track record of players changing their minds about retirement, it’s more than possible that the two all-time icons who quit pro tennis this summer, might decide to try again in 2023.
Bjorn Borg · Guillermo Vilas · Lleyton Hewitt · Martina Hingis · Xavier Malisse
catherine · October 21, 2022 at 10:58 am
This is a surprise – maybe we’ll see a ‘retirement’ here.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/21/simona-halep-suspended-doping-test-wimbledon-champion-tennis
I’ve never heard of the drug in question and I have to admit I find it hard to believe.
catherine · October 21, 2022 at 12:03 pm
It’s a drug used for treating anaemia in dialysis patients, increases red blood cells. You can probably get it over the counter in Roumania.
Murky situation. Someone tampered with something but I find it hard to believe Simona is knowingly guilty.
Scoop Malinowski · October 21, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Catherine, Halep was never a favorite of the establishment, like Barty she’s a great player but her marketability is limited. Halep has earned the most money in women’s pro tennis after the Williams sisters. Something tells me Halep knew this was in the works for months and it may explain the decision to take the rest of the year off. Also Mouratoglou quickly latching on to Rune now makes more sense.
catherine · October 21, 2022 at 1:35 pm
I left another comment re the drug but here just to say the WTA has so far made no mention of Simona’s suspension. People have referred to her marriage breakdown and Patrick M’s departure so who knows how the drug got where it did. Didn’t help at the USO.
I’m still slightly gobsmacked.
Sam · October 22, 2022 at 5:30 am
Something tells me Halep knew this was in the works for months and it may explain the decision to take the rest of the year off.
Scoop, so are you buying Halep’s explanation? 😏
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2022 at 8:14 am
Catherine, maybe Halep got the news at US Open and then tanked the match?
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2022 at 8:16 am
Sam, no not buying it yet. The truth is never told it has to be learned. Interesting that Jelena Jankovic said they all knew about Halep’s doping but didn’t want to talk about it with fans. JJ was a suspect too.
catherine · October 22, 2022 at 11:14 am
Scoop – what’s the source of Jelena Jankovic’s comment ? When did she say it ? And surely it’s not just fans who’d have liked to know about Simona’s ‘doping’.
My other question would be – why now ? Simona’s near the end of her career, sure, but why should she sully her name and reputation for all time ?
But I have to say that in Halep’s case there are a number of people around her, personal and professional, we know nothing about and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to hear that one or two of those people may have had fingers in the pie, motive unknown.
Except Simona is a very wealthy woman.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2022 at 11:31 am
Catherine I saw it on twitter and found it surprising and memorable, it is possible it may be a fake news quote. Why now? Only logical guess is the establishment wants to get rid of her and install the new faces, new stars, new energy at the top. And you know who that is. The ones who sell more than Barty, her, Kvitova, Rybakina, Ostapenko, Krejcikova, Muguruza, Pegula, Kerber, Kenin, Sakkari, etc. The Wta has a huge void now with the Williams “sisters” essentially gone.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2022 at 11:32 am
Emma and Coco are both marketing juggernauts. They could save the Wta in 2023.
catherine · October 22, 2022 at 12:10 pm
I agree that there’s a void at the top of the WTA. Frankly I couldn’t care less about most of the top 20.
Pity Naomi’s disappeared – she did fill seats. Coco has her fans but she’s not a universal star, at least not yet.
Emma’s not playing anywhere at the moment. Potentially she’s the biggest draw in the WTA but whether she can commit herself – who knows ? She’s elusive – all eyes are on her but I often get the feeling she really wants to be somewhere else.
As for Angie, she thinks she’ll still be playing at the age of 36 with a baby in tow. Mad.
Scoop Malinowski · October 22, 2022 at 1:35 pm
Don’t forget Bouchard is bouncing back and she’s winning some matches again, maybe Genie’s Army will reunite.
Sam · October 22, 2022 at 11:32 pm
Interesting that Jelena Jankovic said they all knew about Halep’s doping but didn’t want to talk about it with fans. JJ was a suspect too.
So you’re saying, Scoop, that Jelena doesn’t have much room to talk herself?
with the Williams “sisters” essentially gone.
😁 Just curious, Scoop—if there had been no Williamses on the tour, who do you think would’ve been the dominant female player of the past two decades? Hingis? Davenport? Henin? Capriati?
Scoop Malinowski · October 23, 2022 at 7:24 am
Sam yes I think JJ was a suspect as are most all top players. I know for a fact that big academies recommend and supply HGH to top teens, to give them their best shot to make pro. A top coach told me this shocking truth. It’s an open secret on the FLorida tennis scene. If no Williams, also considering if no stabbing in Hamburg, I think Seles would have dominated and broke the slam total record. The stabbing really altered the evolution of women’s tennis.
catherine · October 23, 2022 at 8:17 am
More hoo-ha from Ilie Nastase who just wants to keep his tarnished name in the news:
https://www.ubitennis.net/2022/10/ilie-nastase-makes-controversial-claim-following-simona-haleps-failed-drugs-test/
Anyone can say anything, it seems. More should follow Nadal’s example – he sued the French woman who constantly accused him of doping and he won and finally shut her up.
Serena hasn’t sued people who have accused her of a) being a man and/or b) doping because she can’t be bothered.
Nastase was one of the most unpleasant players ever to ‘grace’ a tennis court. Unfortunately a number of deluded persons thought he was funny.
catherine · October 23, 2022 at 1:47 pm
An endorsement of Simona from one of the people who surely knows her best:
https://twitter.com/ReemAbulleil/status/1584174525704380416/photo/2
Scoop Malinowski · October 23, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Catherine, Nastase is most likely telling the truth you don’t want to hear. It’s been said many times before by other prominent ATP players. Let me remind you:
Marcelo Rios: “If Agassi or Sampras ever test positive, you guys in the media will never know about it because they are too important to the economics of the tour.”
Jonas Bjorkman: “I have heard of cases of the ITF covering up positive tests.”
Neither was sued for these widely circulated statement.
Serena and Venus were also listed in the therapeutic use exemption documents allowing them to use PEDS because of some unknown condition. That’s also suspect and likely a loophole to protect big stars who need PEDS. Because the establishment never releases the TUE information on which players are permitted to use PEDS. Why keep that secret?
Scoop Malinowski · October 23, 2022 at 2:57 pm
It’s honorable that Cahill has come to the defense of Halep. Still waiting for her former agent (fired this year) Virginia Ruzici to show public support too.
catherine · October 23, 2022 at 3:43 pm
Have you seen Patrick’s less than overwhelming endorsement ?
Some fans have been pointing fingers.
I’m well aware that athletes get away with all sorts (Lance Armstrong ?) and I’m quite willing to believe that somehow this substance (popular with cyclists BTW) was slipped into Simona’s food etc. It’s easy to do and may be tasteless. And as far as I know Simona never had TUE.
What I don’t believe is that Nastase knows anything at all.
Scoop Malinowski · October 23, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Catherine, Nastase is connected and an insider and he’s very intelligent, he’s also a touch mad, he’s also a loose cannon with zero fear of political correctness. He got into trouble for making passes at the UK Fed Cup captain Anne Keothavong but there’s nothing wrong with aggressive masculinity, she declined his rude crude advances, end of story. Also of note Nastase’s name is in Jeffrey Epstein’s black book.
Pam Shriver’s implying all the blame on Mouratoglou and not Halep suggests the tennis establishment is firmly anti Mouratoglou…
Pam Shriver
@PHShriver Oct 21
Players on all tours at all levels, beware of totally changing your team and letting go of all trusted and familiar colleagues of years and years. It’s easy to be manipulated and controlled by people good at controlling and manipulating.
Sam · October 24, 2022 at 6:09 am
catherine wrote:
Serena hasn’t sued people who have accused her of a) being a man and/or b) doping because she can’t be bothered.
Serena hasn’t sued anyone because he doesn’t have a leg to stand on! 😉
Sam · October 24, 2022 at 6:12 am
Sam yes I think JJ was a suspect as are most all top players.
I knew the men were suspects, but the women too, huh? 🤔 Not that I’m exactly shocked.
I know for a fact that big academies recommend and supply HGH to top teens, to give them their best shot to make pro. A top coach told me this shocking truth. It’s an open secret on the FLorida tennis scene.
Ouch. So, basically, there’s no “innocent” reason that Halep could’ve had such a substance in her blood?
If no Williams, also considering if no stabbing in Hamburg, I think Seles would have dominated and broke the slam total record. The stabbing really altered the evolution of women’s tennis.
Totally agree.
Sam · October 24, 2022 at 6:19 am
To me, Halep’s “theatrical” denial implies she’s guilty. 🎭 “The idea of cheating has never once crossed my mind!”??? Gimme a break. 😛
A more believable denial would be something like: “Yes, people cheat, and there’s always a temptation to do that. But since doing so goes against my values, I’ve never used performance-enhancing drugs.”
In addition, when most of the other top players believe that a certain player is doping . . . well, ’nuff said. 😏
Sam · October 24, 2022 at 6:31 am
Nastase is connected and an insider and he’s very intelligent, he’s also a touch mad, he’s also a loose cannon with zero fear of political correctness.
That article about Nastase was poorly written. 😛 In the quotes included, he didn’t say that the reporting of Halep’s failed test was “racially motivated.” He merely said that if you live in a highly favored nation like the U.S., you’ll be protected.
And I think he’s right on target! 🎯 So, while I don’t really have any sympathy for Halep (unless she’s truly innocent), I do believe that she’s being unfairly singled out. In other words, something of a scapegoat. 🐐
Scoop Malinowski · October 24, 2022 at 7:52 am
Sam, yep Nastase is a target because he’s dangerous to the establishment, so they try to marginalize him as a crazy racist. But Serena is went over the line far worse than Nastase and the media does not smear her with the crazy racist narratives, because of her black privilege she’s essentially the Mother of Tennis.
Scoop Malinowski · October 24, 2022 at 7:55 am
Good analysis Sam, yes Halep is now a major suspect and her defensive words were far from convincing, nor were her former employee Cahill’s. With all the money in tennis, I doubt any one has ever resisted the temptation to cheat or gain an edge. Every single player is a suspect even the gods and highest heroes.
Scoop Malinowski · October 24, 2022 at 7:58 am
Sam and it’s also top players of today going on HGH at the age of 14, to gain the edge even back then. Look at the ones who are a foot taller than their father, the ones half a foot taller and chiseled than their brothers, the giant behemoths, based on what my ears have heard over the years from reliable inside sources, EVERYBODY is a suspect. And the quote that applies in boxing, probably fits tennis too… A boxing champ once told me, “Everybody in boxing is on something.”
catherine · October 24, 2022 at 10:17 am
‘Most of the other top players believe a certain player is doping….’
Source please. Otherwise, rubbish.
English is not Simona’s first language so she’ll most likely reach for well worn phrases than something that sounds less rehearsed. Proves nothing.
For what it’s worth I believe Simona, and I also think Pam Shriver spoke words of wisdom. She knows what she’s talking about.
Scoop Malinowski · October 24, 2022 at 11:03 am
Catherine, have you noticed no players ever talk about doping or match betting. Therefore neither form of corruption exists in the sport, right?
catherine · October 24, 2022 at 12:55 pm
That was a specific quote so obviously someone was talking.
Can’t have it both ways.
Scoop Malinowski · October 24, 2022 at 1:34 pm
Catherine, no reason to talk much about doping or betting in tennis, those are the too biggest taboo subjects. Off limits. Everybody is on gag order. Just like everybody in politics and entertainment is on gag order not to discuss Jeffrey Epstein or his island activities with underage girls and boys and why no clients are being arrested or investigated despite the overwhelming physical evidence collected but now covered up.
Sam · October 26, 2022 at 6:47 pm
catherine wrote:
‘Most of the other top players believe a certain player is doping….’ Source please. Otherwise, rubbish.
Scoop, didn’t you say that Jankovic said this about Halep on Twitter?
English is not Simona’s first language so she’ll most likely reach for well worn phrases than something that sounds less rehearsed.
Since Halep’s statement was written, all she had to do was reach for something like Google Translate. So, no—that excuse doesn’t quite cut it. 😏
Sam · October 26, 2022 at 7:01 pm
so they try to marginalize him as a crazy racist.
Yes, Scoop, I think that’s exactly their plan.
But Serena is went over the line far worse than Nastase and the media does not smear her with the crazy racist narratives, because of her black privilege she’s essentially the Mother of Tennis.
Serena could shoot someone on live TV, and they probably still wouldn’t arrest him. “Oh, Serena didn’t know the gun was actually loaded!!” 🙄
nor were her former employee Cahill’s.
What exactly did Cahill say?
With all the money in tennis, I doubt any one has ever resisted the temptation to cheat or gain an edge. Every single player is a suspect even the gods and highest heroes.
Pretty scary. 😨
Sam and it’s also top players of today going on HGH at the age of 14, to gain the edge even back then. Look at the ones who are a foot taller than their father, the ones half a foot taller and chiseled than their brothers, the giant behemoths
Sorry if this is a silly question, but using HGH can increase one’s height?
based on what my ears have heard over the years from reliable inside sources, EVERYBODY is a suspect.
Sadly, I believe you are correct. 🙁 Isn’t it mainly just the top players, though? Do players ranked, say, below the top 50 really have the wherewithal to dope effectively?
And the quote that applies in boxing, probably fits tennis too… A boxing champ once told me, “Everybody in boxing is on something.”
Around what year did this start happening in tennis? For instance, do you think a player like Chris Evert was clean? My guess is that she was, but you know a whole lot more than I do.
Scoop Malinowski · October 26, 2022 at 9:10 pm
Sam, For sure Evert was clean, she never lost her femininity or looked remotely masculine.
Scoop Malinowski · October 26, 2022 at 9:13 pm
Not sure when steroids entered the tennis realm but Tatum Oneal did say in her book that her ex husband used steroids at the end of his career in the late 80s and early 90s. I’ve seen some photos of Becker when he was shockingly muscular upper body and legs, totally different than the way he looked at other times in his career, just a regular tennis player body. I think the 90s is when it began but who knows.
catherine · October 27, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Recreational drugs were used a lot in the 70s/80s. PEDs began to infiltrate sport through their wide use in the Eastern bloc, mainly Olympic sports since tennis wasn’t big at that time in the USSR.
On Simona: I don’t believe Simona knowingly took the drug. But I take Pam Shriver’s comment seriously. A lot of people hang around top players.
Scoop Malinowski · October 27, 2022 at 3:36 pm
Catherine, there are some shocking photos of Becker, huge legs and almost bodybuilder upper body, as a German he was a suspect. Halep is not a moneymaker for the tour, she makes too much money as a player. That’s what businesses do now, if the employee/salesman is making too much money they buy them out and get rid of them. One of my high school friends had this happen, he was making too much money as a sales manager and so they bought him out for $854,000, to leave his job. I think the wta business model would prefer certain other more marketable and sellable fresh faces to win the big titles next year, not someone like Halep.
catherine · October 28, 2022 at 2:16 am
Looks like Swiatek might be following that model – chances are she’s going to make more money on court than off it. WTA will just have to live with that since it’s unlikely Raducanu, who is more marketable, will be winning much.
Scoop Malinowski · October 28, 2022 at 8:24 am
Catherine, you probably saw yesterday the chart of the female athletes earnings and endorsement earnings, Osaka, Emma, Leylah, Coco getting huge endorsement millions while white women Iga and Barty were ignored even though they are/were the superior champions. It’s clear now the corporate establishment has anti white leanings. Without a doubt if Iga and Barty were half black or half asian or half hispanic, they would earn far more endorsement contracts.
catherine · October 28, 2022 at 9:43 am
Scoop – I did see the chart but I didn’t come to the same conclusion.
Swiatek will probably end up earning more in prizemoney because she’s the best player but she’s from a small country, economically, and not really a glamour figure. Barty has indiginous Australian blood, something she always emphasised. I’m not quite sure why Coco is considered so valuable actually – she may not turn out as good as predicted.
Emma has to start winning or the endorsements will begin to dry up. Some people think she’s white BTW. If you were to ask her what she is, she’d probably say ‘I’m British’. Same as Heather Watson, whose mother is from New Guinea.
Everyone’s different. And in the modern world the terms ‘white’ and ‘black’ are pretty meaningless.
For women non-tennis endorsements mainly come down to personal attractiveness and appeal to different markets. I don’t see any conspiracy here and yes, I’m white.
Scoop Malinowski · October 28, 2022 at 10:08 am
Catherine, the establishment desperately wants their new Arthur Ashe, Serena Williams to puppetmaster and Coco is their chosen one. They want to march her around to be their next political activist puppet. Their Osaka project was a failure. Raducanu is half Chinese and super charming and photogenic, and she’s the ultimate underdog story from a huge, lucrative market. To her credit she’s totally apolitical and she wears her cross proudly. Barty and Swiatek are not what the establishment wants to market and promote. If Iga continues to win and dominate, and the establishment continues to ignore snub her then it will clear as day to see the establishment has an anti white agenda.
Scoop Malinowski · October 28, 2022 at 10:10 am
Catherine, as I said before, if you use the BJK equality model, then personal attractiveness, beauty, plain janeness and unattractiveness are all the same because we are all the same, equality, right? And every successful champion player should get the same endorsement opportunities, right? Or are you saying BJK’s equality is a giant political agenda SHAM?
catherine · October 28, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Sigh….I don’t know exactly what BJKs ‘equality’ agenda is and I don’t really care. I know what I mean by it and it’s nothing to do with everyone getting exactly the same things all the time.
Can’t see Swiatek being ignored and snubbed. The WTA constantly promote her. It’s desperate for a dominating player.
Emma’s semi-Chinese identity is problematic. She comes from a well-off family in London, has had coaching from childhood and is far from being a pin-up for billions of Chinese, who BTW are not Christian. China has players of its own, as you are reporting. Also, to be political, the country is growing further away from the West. Will we see WTA events back in China ? I wouldn’t be optimistic.
Scoop Malinowski · October 28, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Let’s watch and see how it plays out Catherine. Poland does not host many ATP or WTA tournaments. UK, USA, Asia, France, Spain are the tennis hotbeds now. Let’s see if Iga can expand her profile and marketability to be able to carry tournaments around the globe, like Serena, Fed, Rafa, Novak, Maria. Barty did not carry tournaments on her back, she tried though.
Sam · October 28, 2022 at 1:45 pm
Sam, For sure Evert was clean, she never lost her femininity or looked remotely masculine.
Good to hear, Scoop. While I’m not really a fan of Evert on a personal level, since she has always seemed to put her own wants above the needs of those close to her, at least I’m glad that she doesn’t appear to have been a doper. As for Navratilova . . . well, nothing would really surprise me. 😉
What do you think about Sampras? Any evidence that he was doing something under the table? ⺇
Scoop Malinowski · October 28, 2022 at 7:25 pm
I never heard anything until this year, a former ATP player/friend of mine messaged me this stunner when talking about peds…
I heard a story that in 1996 only two out of eight quarterfinalists in Roland Garros men tested negative….Stich and Karbacher … (so it means possibly Sampras, Courier, Kafelnikov, Krajicek, Pioline, Rosset, all tested positive, if the story is true.)
Sam · October 29, 2022 at 6:38 am
Hey, Scoop, well at least two tested negative!! 😏
Do you think that story is true??
Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2022 at 7:27 am
I do because this player competed for over two decades in ATP and he knows a lot, he is friends with a lot of prominent players, and has no reason to lie and he’s never lied about anything. And it affirms those two quotes by Bjorkman, “I have heard of the ITF covering up positive tests.” and Rios, “If Agassi or Sampras ever test positive, you guys in the media will never hear about it because they’re too important to the economics of the tour.”
Sam · October 30, 2022 at 3:01 pm
I think your hunch is correct, Scoop. So, even if you factor out the recent asterisked “Grand Slams,” it appears that the Grand Slam count—at least for the last 30 years or so—is a big joke. 🤡
Scoop Malinowski · October 30, 2022 at 7:44 pm
Everything about pro tennis was warped this year, hope the tennis deep state are stopped before they destroy the sport like boxing, nfl, nba.