Yannick Noah, the charismatic Frenchmen whose win at the 1983 French Open will be replayed ad-nauseum over the next three weeks, is 50 years old. The dread-locked swash-buckler was born May 18, 1960 in Sedan, France. The following is his biography as it appears in THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS ($35.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com) The kid looked like a … [Read more...] about NOAH IS FIVE-OH!
Good Gracious, Gaby is 40!
Wasn’t it just yesterday when Gabriela Sabatini was 14 years old, playing in the nationally-televised Family Circle Cup final on NBC against Chris Evert in 1985. Well, she’s all grown up now and is 40 years old (Sunday, May 16, 2010). Here’s her bio as it appears in my book THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS ($35.95, New Chapter Press, … [Read more...] about Good Gracious, Gaby is 40!
REMEMBERING PANCHO GONZALEZ
Richard “Pancho” Gonzalez would have been 82 years old on Sunday, May 9, if he was still with us. Here’s his biography as it appears in my book THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS ($35.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com) Very much his own man, a loner and an acerbic competitor, Richard “Pancho” Alonzo Gonzalez was probably as good as anyone who ever played the … [Read more...] about REMEMBERING PANCHO GONZALEZ
THOU SHALT VOLLEY AND DROP SHOT
ROME – Just when you thought it was against the rules of women’s tennis to serve and charge the net, a who-she? senorita with a boxcar length name landed amid the pines at Il Foro Italico to smack holes in the accepted wisdom. Apparently nobody told Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez out of Barcelona that the first commandment of the women’s game is: Thou shalt not volley. Is … [Read more...] about THOU SHALT VOLLEY AND DROP SHOT
RAVAGING RAFA , EMPEROR OF ROME –AGAIN!
While Roman emperors have come and gone over the centuries, the current one – of Spanish origin – holds the old town in the palm of his left hand. And has no intention of letting go. Crowned for a Roman record fifth time, Rafael I should be known as Ravaging Rafa as he comes to town, sweeps up the goodies, and nobody dares to resist. Rafa started winning the Italian Open … [Read more...] about RAVAGING RAFA , EMPEROR OF ROME –AGAIN!