NEW YORK – As the 43rd season of the chase for dollars rolls toward its crescendo in Flushing (who will come out of it most flush?), few tennis junkies are aware that this monstrocity called the U.S. Open was once-upon-a-time a split personality. It was in a day when something amusingly labeled as “amateurism” held sway, and room-and-board was a prized goal on the tournament … [Read more...] about THE US OPEN — NO LONGER A SPLIT PERSONALITY IN FLUSHING’S BIG TENT
Tournaments
OLLIE IS A WONDER BUT FISH HAS THE TITLE
NEWPORT, R.I. – Little guy. Little country. Giant performance. But it wasn’t quite enough for the diminutive dynamo named Olivier Rochus, who did his best to wreck the afternoon for the homebodies – and very nearly did. You really couldn’t dislike this teddy bear of a tennis player, 5-foot-5, 140 pound Ollie. However, he was rocking the cradle of American tennis, the … [Read more...] about OLLIE IS A WONDER BUT FISH HAS THE TITLE
RAFA DEFENDS HIS 2008 TITLE, WINS EASILY
LONDON – Federer and Venus got beat. So did Roddick, Djokovic, Henin and Clijsters. Wimbledon upsets to be sure, but not the most startling reversals as the aged tennis tournament faded away for another year. Caught up in the most incredible upset of the fortnight was none other than that veteran performer – Jupiter Pluvius. Surely you remember the old rascal, the god … [Read more...] about RAFA DEFENDS HIS 2008 TITLE, WINS EASILY
SISTER SERENA SLAMS SHUT THE DOOR, TAKING HER FOURTH WIMBLEDON TITLE
LONDON – Why does Sister Serena remind me of the Statue of Liberty? Well, both of them are famous Americans, recognizeable heroines just about everywhere. They stand out in their occupations, symbols of the fact that anything is possible in the USA. Lady Liberty is a one-woman welcoming committee in New York. Sister Serena travels the world as the best female tennis … [Read more...] about SISTER SERENA SLAMS SHUT THE DOOR, TAKING HER FOURTH WIMBLEDON TITLE
THE CURSE OF FRED PERRY IS NOW 75 YEARS AND COUNTING
LONDON – If you were somewhere near the Atlantic and heard a horrendous, sound-barrier-breaking noise yesterday about noon, don’t be alarmed. It was merely the last groan raised throughout Great Britain as the last of the Brits at Wimbledon hit the last shot and lasted no longer in the oldest lasting tournament. That was a Scottish lad named Andrew Baron Murray who … [Read more...] about THE CURSE OF FRED PERRY IS NOW 75 YEARS AND COUNTING