LONDON – Normally the aged tennis tournament known as Wimbledon opens its gates in much the same manner employed by the log-ago Romans at their Colosseum. Throw some citizens to the lions, and see who could be entertaining. Sometimes, but only rarely, the lesser known of the tennis crowd escape their first round fate by giving the seeded lions indigestion. It’s bannered as … [Read more...] about WAKE UP CALL FOR FEDERER, THREE POINTS FROM DEFEAT, THE LION ROARS BACK
Tournaments
HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP: FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE IS THE ONLY ITALIAN WOMAN TO WIN A MAJOR
Paris – Don’t stand too close to a lion. You might get bit. A nice young woman a long way from home, Aussie Samantha Stosur, found that out Saturday as 14,845 tennis devotees shrieked, clapped, howled and flapped the flags of Italy and Australia in wild disbelief while the new champion of France was sharpening her teeth, both participants playing in their first major … [Read more...] about HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP: FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE IS THE ONLY ITALIAN WOMAN TO WIN A MAJOR
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!
EASTER ON KEY BISCAYNE
KEY BISCAYNE, FL – Forget the Easter egg allusions. Eggs had already been laid on the blueberry-toned tennis court by such embarrassed participants as Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Venus Williams. If you had bought tickets for yesterday’s Sony Ericsson Open finals, you probably muttered, “Where’s Federer? Where’s Nadal? Aren’t they supposed to play the final? … [Read more...] about EASTER ON KEY BISCAYNE