En-route to Paris — Paris, the year’s second major, looms, along with a guy who may be more monumental than the Eiffel Tower. That would be Rafa Nadal of course, and here’s my advice to Messrs Federer, Murray, Djokovic, Roddick and anyone else who would hope to flatten him: Show up in a tank equipped with flame throwers. Rafa has become such a striking landmark in Paris, … [Read more...] about BEWARE THE SPANIARD WHO OWNS THE TOWN – ITS ROUNDHOUSE RAFA
Tournaments
HAPPY DAYS AT THE OLD DUMP; KEY BISCAYNE SHOULD GIVE MURRAY A KEY TO THEIR PLEASANT SAND BOX
The old dump looked pretty good with its 14,359 seats filled, and Butch Buchholz handing the trophy to – can you believe it? – a tennis player from Scotland. This was the climax of the Sony Ericsson Open, a tournament that Butch and his brother, Cliff, founded 25 a quarter-century ago, a venture as hopeful as peddling Obama buttons in North Korea. Nevertheless, after … [Read more...] about HAPPY DAYS AT THE OLD DUMP; KEY BISCAYNE SHOULD GIVE MURRAY A KEY TO THEIR PLEASANT SAND BOX
OTHER THAN SERENA, VENUS, VICTORIA WOMEN AS FLAT AS KEY BISCAYNE
The sun was shining, as usual, but the women weren’t. Don’t want to pick on the dolls, yet it’s hard not to recognize that this is a low period in their history. Of course they’ve got the Hall of Fame-bound Sisters Sledgehammer – Serena and Venus – high on the summit. However, everybody else seemed to burrow deep into sandy Key Biscayne at the Sony Ericsson. Maria … [Read more...] about OTHER THAN SERENA, VENUS, VICTORIA WOMEN AS FLAT AS KEY BISCAYNE
ROGER MANGLES HIS RACKET BUT CAN’T GET NO RELIEF
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Zing went the strings of his racket – along with the frame, his composure and hopes of reversing the reverse trend in his career. Can we be talking about Roger Federer, the paragon, clearly the most beloved player in today’s game?? Afraid so, folks. He has lost his way, and it’s no fun to watch him unravel as he did against Novak Djokovic in the semis of … [Read more...] about ROGER MANGLES HIS RACKET BUT CAN’T GET NO RELIEF
GONE WITH THE WIND? ANA IVANOVIC KNOWS HOW SCARLET O’HARA FELT
INDIAN WELLS, California — She was like a kitten chasing its tail. Vera Zvonareva tried to catch up with the yellow tennis ball that seemed to circle her. “I couldn’t actually get it in front of me,” she would say later of the point that ended so ignominiously. Waving vainly at the ball, she lost balance and fell on her face. Vera had been aced by a 68 MPH second serve, a … [Read more...] about GONE WITH THE WIND? ANA IVANOVIC KNOWS HOW SCARLET O’HARA FELT