The Sarasota Open has been a very eventful week with all the fine court action as well as the astounding occurrence on Tuesday evening with the unscripted sound effects by the two lovers which has snowballed into an international news story as well as unbelievably huge promotion for the tourney. The Pro Circuit live stream commentator Mike Cation told me he has done dozens of interviews for some of the largest media outlets around the world about the unique controversy and the tournament director/owner Tony Driscoll said the web site has gotten millions upon millions of visits, and the new shirts with Frances Tiafoe’s famous line “It can’t be that good” are already selling briskly.
It’s poetic justice that Kid Showtime Frances Tiafoe will contest the final after edging 35 year old veteran Jurgen Melzer in tonight’s semi 76 in the third. In the final Tiafoe will meet 25 year old veteran Tennys Sandgren who told me after his straight set semi win over Frenchman Vincent Millot that he’s played Tiafoe twice already in the past and BOTH matches went all the way to third set tiebreakers which both were won by Tiafoe.
I’ve become a big fan of Sandgren this week based on his story of perseverance which entails years of struggles along with recent success including winning his second career Challenger this year in Arizona and contesting in his very first ATP main draw last week in Houston (he’s yet to reach a Grand Slam major main draw). Also I did a terrific Biofile with Sandgren which I will post next week and surely you will enjoy it because he has a very interesting story and he’s very candid about the ups and downs of his career. Tiafoe is also a favorite who is a rare tennis-transcending athlete and personality who seemingly looks bigger and stronger and more spectacular every time you see him. Tiafoe also has a natural flair for the big matches and actually performs better when the stakes are higher. The teenager has been in Bradenton (yes the event is actually in Bradenton not Sarasota) with his fitness guy Paul Kinney and his coach Robby Ginepri who knows a thing or two about winning ATP titles (three) and reaching the semis of a major (US Open). But now as you probably know, Tiafoe is best known around the world for his role in the infamous noisy love-making session during his match earlier in the week with Mitchell Krueger and his funny reactions and spontaneous comment “It can’t be that good.” It’s been that kind of week down here.
The doubles final features the ragtag combo of teen Stefan Kozlov and veteran Peter Polansky versus the pair of 35 year olds Jurgen Melzer and Scott Lipsky who are also playing together for the first time. Lipsky is one of the most interesting doubles players because he’s perhaps one of the most unsung Grand Slam champs of the era (French Open mixed in 2011 with Casey Dellacqua) and has been able to achieve an outstanding and lengthy career in pro tennis after a slow start in singles after turning pro in 2003 after a successful college career at Stanford. Lipsky (coached by Rick Leach in California) is a player that gets very little press attention but he’s a great story and has a lot to offer for those who request an interview. Lipsky has won fifteen career ATP doubles titles and even has a win over Andy Roddick at the 1995 junior US Open.
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« Previous 1 2 3 Next »Andrew Miller · April 24, 2017 at 6:54 pm
Thomas’ take sounds right
Scoop Malinowski · April 24, 2017 at 8:45 pm
jg: The two old guys in this dubs were between 70 and 80 and could not move well and kind of negated each other out maybe my guy was a little more mobile but only fractionally – such an interesting match where me and the other strong guy had to run all over the court to cover – the son was pretty fast too and hit a huge ball – Never played a match like this one before – we won 7576 – Great great match –
Scoop Malinowski · April 24, 2017 at 8:47 pm
Hartt; Putin can hack anything 🙂 He can hack me in as Khachanov’s coach 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · April 24, 2017 at 8:48 pm
Andrew; You obviously have not seen Johnson play this year – he is moving as well as any player in the ATP – Seriously – Check out how well Johnson is moving on hard courts this year – Could be the fastest guy in the ATP – 100% serious –
Dan Markowitz · April 24, 2017 at 10:04 pm
Hartt,
We all know Galo Blanco is expendable as a coach and Scoop can take over just like Luby did for Galo when Milos showed Galo the door.
Milos had a chance to make Galo his Brian Barker, but instead he made him his Tarik Benhabiles. Also, think of what a great coach Scoop would be. Although, I think he’d be better for a female player. Can’t you see Scoop coming out of the stands at a change over, sporting one of his 25-year-old Volkl racquets and foisting it on his charge.
And Thomas, the new phrase for “safety shot” is a “rally ball.”
Scoop Malinowski · April 24, 2017 at 10:19 pm
Dan If a WTA player requests my services I would borrow the Rick Macci line that Andrew has shared here often “Hit HARDER” – No seriously I would have the WTA player hit slices for an hour a day and also practice lobs for an hour and also serve and volley for an hour and also play one vs two to work on precision of shot – also mini tennis in the four service boxes to enhance touch and feel – also lots of footwork sprint drills and beach sprints –
Andrew Miller · April 24, 2017 at 11:42 pm
Scoop, I think the us men are fast, though their court movement isn’t tops. Example, Sock scrambles well to run around his backhand and pound the forehand, but is then well out of position to make a backhand. I like Johnson a lot. Sock and Johnson are both pretty good doubles players as well, which helps with positioning. In general I find the us men’s movement to be lacking, not their overall speed. I think the states have attracted some very good athletes into the sport. That’s one reason there are so many unique styles on the men’s us squad, many more than the monotone games from many of the wta players.
catherine bell · April 25, 2017 at 2:55 am
Scoop –
The WTA should hire you as a coach instantly. At a vast salary.
Something else – don’t want to bring up this subject particularly or go on discussing it but I suspect that the fall out from the incident in Roumania is going to overshadow a lot of the year in women’s tennis and cause much lasting ill feeling.
catherine bell · April 25, 2017 at 3:28 am
I think we’ve become quite puritanical in public life these days,quick to condemn and maybe nervous about taking another stand.
Of course what we feel and express in private may be very different.
A strange disjunction.
Hartt · April 25, 2017 at 7:58 am
Dan, Blanco took Milos from outside of the top 150 to something like No. 37 within a few months of the beginning of their relationship. An amazing record. And was his coach when Milos continued to climb the rankings. There came a time when Milos needed a different approach to his game, but the split with Blanco was wrenching for both of them.
But totally agree – Scoop as coach for a WTA player! 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 9:01 am
I think this Fed Cup wackiness was a very good thing for tennis and an intriguing controversy is just what the WTA needs – Nobody was hurt and nothing really bad happened other than a few bad words being said but as we all know sticks and stones can break your bones but words hurt less than a bug bite – Tennis wins –
Andrew Miller · April 25, 2017 at 9:06 am
Blanco Benhabiles is a good comparison! If it’s Raonic Roddick though we’d have to say Raonic underperforms in an obvious way in this comparison. Raonic may get his slam and equal the one Roddick slam, but he still doesn’t pass Roddick. Guess talent really does exist!
catherine bell · April 25, 2017 at 9:31 am
Bouchard out early again – but she did win 4 games in Istanbul. I forget – does she have a regular coach now ?
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 9:50 am
Galo Blanco is now working with Khachanov –
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 9:52 am
Wonder if this USTA lawsuit or worries about if the suspected Kyrgios factor in the lawsuit episode is affecting her play? Clearly Bouchard has gone off the boil – The Bouchard ship be sinking and sinking fast –
Hartt · April 25, 2017 at 9:55 am
Scoop, you are behind the times – I said yesterday that Blanco was Khachanov’s coach – that is how he came into the discussion. 🙂
Hartt · April 25, 2017 at 10:00 am
Regarding Bouchard, she split with Hogstedt and then got back with him last year – apparently she apologized for whatever caused the split. Also listed is Cyril Saulnier, but I have no idea who that is.
catherine bell · April 25, 2017 at 10:17 am
Hartt –
Case of too many cooks ?
Strikes me that Bouchard probably needs a strong figure in the background to mentor/guide her and not to act as a one-to-one coach.
What about her parents – are they in the picture ?
BTW – if Angie wins 2 matches in Stuttgart she’s back at No 1 apparently.
Must make her dizzy 🙂
Haven’t seen her draw so don’t know if that is a big ask or not.
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 10:17 am
Hartt: Is Tarik Benhabiles still working with Andy Roddick? 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 10:20 am
Cyril Saulnier was a top 40 French player in the 90s who never won an ATP title but was a pretty steady player for several years on the Tour – I have interviewed Cyril for a couple of my books – he lives in South Florida (Boca Raton or Fort Lauderdale) and works as a liaison for the French Open – He is on Facebook –
Hartt · April 25, 2017 at 10:33 am
Scoop, thanks for the info.
Catherine, Bouchard’s parents aren’t together, but her mother used to travel with her constantly, don’t know if she still does.
I have not watched enough of Genie’s matches lately to be sure, but what I did see a couple weeks ago made me think she still has not learned a Plan B, what to do when her very aggressive game is not working, and it does not seem to be working these days.
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Hartt; Maybe Bouchard is burning out on tennis. Maybe she’s just not loving the tour life and grind anymore. It happened to a fair amount of young stars. Bouchard does not have a lot (or any) friends on the tour. Players have told me it’s a lonely life for the female players. Not all of them can handle it. Losing a lot just makes it even worse.
Hartt · April 25, 2017 at 1:18 pm
I can’t even guess why Bouchard is in this never-ending slump. She has always said she loved tennis, right from when first she played as a little girl. But it’s true that the grind, especially when you are continually losing, must be tough.
Andrew Miller · April 25, 2017 at 1:26 pm
Bouchard will be fine. She’s put in the work. Some doubles would help so she’s not always in the practice a zillion hours play one match routine. More matches = more winning. Even slumping players do better this way. What comes out in matches is usually a lot different than what comes out in practice. Practice should help matches, not be a separate sport unto itself (which it is, so divorced from real tennis).
catherine bell · April 25, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Next Big Thing in WTA is going to be Cori Gauff apparently, aged 13. I’ve had a look and she’s just the same as all the rest. Better no doubt, but just the same.
Andrew will be thrilled.
Bouchard – you’re in a bubble as a pro tennis player. Not a real life. If you have success early, as Genie did, there’s a time when it’s great, when you have everything done for you – when you probably don’t really mature as a person. Then, when you start losing, there’s often nothing to fall back on. Maybe no real lasting friends, maybe lost touch with where she came from.
All that.
catherine bell · April 25, 2017 at 1:32 pm
Andrew –
Bouchard may not be fine. That’s a possibility.
Hartt · April 25, 2017 at 1:57 pm
Genie is scheduled to play doubles in Istanbul. Between the slump, the concussion and the law suit, she has had a lot to deal with. After she lost so much weight she finally acknowledged that it was because she got so nervous she had a hard time keeping food down.
It is interesting that we are talking about her. I had said I wasn’t going to pay attention until she started to play better, but here I am! There is something about her that does generate interest. Her fans adore her and others say extremely cruel things. But whichever, people do pay attention!
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Catherine: I did a Biofile with Coco Gauff in Delray where she was observing the action. She is a major major prospect and I saw her play at Eddie Herr two years ago in the 12s where she made the final but lost to the Croatian redheaded lefty Noa Krzanic. A coach and I were actually talking about her at the most recent Herr and he said, ‘you better get a biofile with her now – while you still can.’ That’s how highly regarded she is. And she gave me a very very impressive interview for such a young kid. I like her a lot. Very nice young girl and very intelligent.
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 2:13 pm
Genie Bouchard gets a lot of attention because she is an intriguing player and an enigma. The WTA definitely has a good amount of intriguing personalities and players, just wish there was more diversity in the skillsets.
Andrew Miller · April 25, 2017 at 7:08 pm
Bouchard is a character. True she might not be fine as Catherine says. Anyways, I don’t dislike Bouchard, her game isn’t one dimensional as many of her peers and she gives a fair assessment usually on things. I also don’t quite buy the no friends spiel. As she has a twin sister I’m sure she knows how to be a friend. And anyways it’s awful hard for me to even take the friend line seriously, seems like a double standard to me. I don’t see Cilic and Fritz grabbing a pint after Cilic loses either, or Sharpie cracking jokes around Kerber.
This no friends line is a bit cheap. And I don’t think Laura Robson’s descent into irrelevance has anything to do with Bouchard, and has everything to do with British malaise for its wta players who aren’t Australian or Andy Murray’s mom.
Andrew Miller · April 25, 2017 at 7:11 pm
I refuse to discuss the next 5 year old with mega skills and talent and…this exhausts me. We cant hype juniors. Cant. Especially female juniors. There’s almost a negative correlation between elite junior female success and wta success. There’s something about juniors, probably its emphasis on winning (versus developing strategies etc) that brings out the worst in players.
Andrew Miller · April 25, 2017 at 7:18 pm
And that’s coming from me a Kristi Boogert and Dan Kosakowski plan with an affinity for obscure players with sweet shots. For me the junior game is almost impossible to watch. It’s not bad reference to see whether some elements of a players junior game shows up in the pros or if some elements disappear. But just enjoying the junior game? I can’t. The college game sure. An elite junior versus a top college player fine. But not two juniors. Hurts to watch it.
Andrew Miller · April 25, 2017 at 7:28 pm
NYTimes article on Azarenka is good content, in some ways very fascinating. Interesting how the coaching carousel works amongst the elite players, if you lose a job with Serena then Azarenka hires you etc. I’m no fan of Azarenka grunting but I like her game and Mike Joyce is in her corner. Who doesn’t want Mike Joyce to do well?
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 7:39 pm
Andrew; Laura Robson is slow footed and she is injury prone – that is why she’s ranked outside 200 – The WTA is a lonely place for a lot of players – Sure there are some friendships and alliances but even those can go up in flames for example Garcia and Kiki mladenovic – Sure there are a few social butterflies like Wozniacki etc but most of the players are isolated and go it on their own with their team(s) – Not aware of any Bouchard allies at all not even on the Canadian Fed Cup team –
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 7:42 pm
Andrew; Have you ever been to Eddie Herr or Orange Bowl recently? The qualify of the play is astounding and there are a few unconventional players like maria carle of argentina who won Eddie Herr 18s though she is 16 – you find a few players who play outside the junior handbook –
Scoop Malinowski · April 25, 2017 at 7:43 pm
Joyce is one of the best dudes in the business and one of the best interviews too – For sure he will work well with Vika – No doubt –
Andrew Miller · April 25, 2017 at 9:12 pm
Scoop, I’m all for anyone who is outside the junior handbook! I’m sure there are some good juniors. I just cant watch one and say they will be x ranking etc, because I don’t have the eye for judging junior talent. I thought Quinzi would make it. Nope.
Wonder what happened with Joyce and Pegula. I’m always a little worried when a reputable coach doesn’t motivate their charge to better performance. From the article Joyce seems to express some relief at working with an elite wta player again. I saw some of the same mindset when Murray dropped Brad Gilbert and Gilbert because of his contract with the LTA was required to work with Bogdanovic.
Bogdanovic, or Bogo, was excited to work with Gilbert. Gilbert was not excited to work with Bogdanovic at all! From what he said at the time he didn’t like Bogdanovic’ game or his prospects or anything. Bogdanovic felt he won the lotto, but Gilbert felt as if he was exiled to Antarctica.
Andrew Miller · April 25, 2017 at 9:16 pm
Scoop, I liked Robson’s serve and parts of her power game and the lefty take. She seemed to have a heft to her game. As usual though the British tabloids descended and Robson’s game melted down forever.
Andrew Miller · April 25, 2017 at 11:22 pm
Sheesh, 5 ATP titles for USA men this year already! Sock grabs two titles, Querrey wins a bigger one in Acapulco, Harrison his first in Memphis and Johnson his second in Houston. Only guys left out are DY and Isner in the top fifty. It’s been a solid year. I’d like to see DY will himself to an Atp title.
catherine bell · April 26, 2017 at 2:08 am
Andrew –
Don’t honestly think the tabloids are to blame for what’s happened to Robson. Those papers don’t have the power they used to exercise.
It was more Laura having injuries and just failing to develop. I never saw much variety in her game,
or the potential for it.
I know she’s still young but I’d be very surprised to see her become a threat now.
catherine bell · April 26, 2017 at 2:30 am
Andrew –
Re junior players and hype – I know this is going back a bit and conditions may not be quite the same but I’m always reminded that Billie Jean King never won a single junior title.
catherine bell · April 26, 2017 at 2:44 am
About friendships on the circuit – no reason any players, women or men, should be close friends. There are few of them, they come from different cultures and backgrounds and are constantly competitive.
There were possibly more friendships in past years when players did not tend to have large teams and entourages and people were more self-sufficient.
Hartt · April 26, 2017 at 8:09 am
Bouchard once said she did not believe in having friends on the tour because it was too difficult to compete against a friend. The press and hater types jumped all over her for that, ignoring the second part of her statement. (Muguruza and other players have said the same thing, but did not generate anything like that backlash.)
But not being friends does not mean a player can’t be pleasant with other players. Genie seems like a sociable type and especially after all her problems is probably friendly with other players. She and Taylor Townsend were friends, supporting each other, but Taylor has not been playing in the same tournaments. (They won the Wimby junior doubles title together and later played doubles in a WTA tourney.)
Hartt · April 26, 2017 at 8:19 am
When Dabrowski and Bouchard played doubles together in the Olympics they seemed to get along well. Genie made it clear that Gabi, as the seasoned doubles player, was the leader on the team and she followed Gabi’s lead.
An American player, unfortunately I forget her name (not a top player), said whenever she asked Genie to play doubles with her Genie agreed and was always gracious.
Hartt · April 26, 2017 at 8:26 am
Recognizing real potential in a junior player must take great skill. Recently there was a tribute to Louis Borfiga, who has been instrumental in making changes at Tennis Canada over the last 10 years. He is charge of the high development program and part of his job is to identify and groom young players. Raonic sent a message saying how great Borfiga was at seeing the potential in a young player, not just seeing the present. Milos himself was not particularly successful as a junior but Borfiga gave him his support, recognizing Raonic’s potential.
Scoop Malinowski · April 26, 2017 at 8:46 am
Andrew; Look up maria carle of argentina on you tube – you will love her playing style 🙂 Pegula just apparently wasn’t good enough but then again it’s not too late and she could blossom later like Bethanie Sands and Bacszinsky and Coco Vandy too was a little slow out of the gates –
Scoop Malinowski · April 26, 2017 at 8:51 am
Robson is Kvitova without the footspeed or the confidence or physical durability –
Hartt · April 26, 2017 at 9:16 am
I’ve realized that the American who played doubles with Bouchard was Jessica Pegula – it is a small world! She and Genie made 2 finals in 2012, winning one tourney. I don’t know if they played again before 2016, but she asked Genie to team up with her for an ITF tourney in Quebec and Genie agreed. Pegula is currently 203 in singles, and 219 in doubles.
Andrew Miller · April 26, 2017 at 9:16 am
Hartt, if I remember correctly Bouchard “stole” Nick what’s his name from Robson as her coach, rather than their coaching both of them he focused on Bouchard (Robson was injured maybe?) and there was some spat about “stealing the coach” and then the pieces about Robson and Bouchard’s strained relationship and Bouchard’s comment about friendships on tour etc. Much ado about nothing if you ask me. Canadian press if I understand correctly have a love hate thing with Bouchard, in that they love her outspoken presence but also love taking potshots at her for her past statements on wanting to be like Sharapova with the power media standing or friendships.
Sorry to say they seem to make things up. One yahoo tennis commentator, who didn’t seem to be at a tournament, blamed Bouchard’s early loss to Giorgi last summer on only wanting to hit with male hitting partners. Quite a statement especially given that I watched her play that tournament and she was hitting with every female peer she could find!!!
That statement from that Yahoo Canada journo of course was never corrected. Shows that there’s a market for articles that criticize Bouchard as well, for no good reason.
Her game is hurting. But not for the reasons given.
Andrew Miller · April 26, 2017 at 9:18 am
On Robson Catherine I have no idea. She has a big lefty serve, quite a weapon. Seems to have zero fitness, zero strategy, and zero killer instinct. Recipe for poor results.