KANGAROO VALLEY, Australia – Wending our way toward Melbourne and another Australian Open, which will be quieter this year. Unfortunately the Siberian Siren, Maria Sharapova, won’t be there to defend her title. She was so terrific a year ago, winning 14 of 14 sets, looking very No. 1, crushing then No. 1 Justine Henin in the quarters, 6-4, 6-0 (perhaps making the retired … [Read more...] about ANOTHER EDITION OF THE MAJORS, AUSTRALIAN LEADS OFF DOWN UNDER
Tennis
DON’T THROWN IN THE TOWEL; USE IT
NEW YORK – Jelena “Jelly” Jankovic didn’t throw in the towel when she fell behind. But she knew how to use it to rattle her foe. Jelly, the tennis player from Belgrade – a superb Serb – is no dummy. She had begun university, and was despairingly planning to go back for a degree in dramatic arts when her mom talked her out of that scenario and back onto the court — also out of … [Read more...] about DON’T THROWN IN THE TOWEL; USE IT
GOOFY SCHEDULING MARS THE OPEN
NEW YORK – The Busher went home with $ 160,000, a surge in his world ranking and a newfound reputation as the De-luxembourger. Everybody at the U.S. Open was glad for the big man from the little country. Six-foot-6 Gilles Muller, on a left-winged serve and a prayer, had bombed his way through a string of upsets, including No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko, and as a kind of serf – a … [Read more...] about GOOFY SCHEDULING MARS THE OPEN
A BRIT IN THE SEMIS – IS THAT RIGHT?
NEW YORK – Waiting for Fred (or a reasonable facsimile). That’s been the turgid status of the British sporting crowd for — let’s see? – 72 years. Yearning for another Fred Perry. Such are in very short supply. Although the Brits invented tennis as we know it, they haven’t been able to play the game for decades. The guys anyway. I mustn’t slight the gracious and graceful … [Read more...] about A BRIT IN THE SEMIS – IS THAT RIGHT?
THANK-YOU’S FROM HER COMPATRIOTS
NEW YORK – People say, “Thank you!” Elena Dementieva doesn’t know them. They are strangers, but they know her: Olympic gold medalist in tennis. She encountered them during the one day she had at home, Moscow, on the way to Flushing Meadow from Beijing. “You know, when you win a tournament, or a big match, people will say, congratulations, or well done,” says the tall, … [Read more...] about THANK-YOU’S FROM HER COMPATRIOTS