THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT: Rafael Nadal‘s shorts are getting longer and his hair is getting shorter.
NO MAYBES, NO QUESTIONS: ’05 U.S. Open semifinalist Robby Ginepri, who moved into the second round on Wednesday with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 win over Andrei Pavel and says he’s “about 80%-90% healthy,” told IT, “The crowd here definitely gives me a little bit more motivation. I play with a little bit more passion. Playing so many matches here in the juniors, making it to the final, I always felt like these courts play well and suit my game. It’s the last Grand Slam of the year, so I’ll give it all I got. There’s going to be no maybes or questions after this.”
MORTGAGE CRISIS: Asked why she historically raises her level at the Slams, Serena Williams quipped, “I don’t know. It pays more? I guess I’m trying to pay off my mortgage.”
KISS AND TELL: During the USO’s opening night festivities, Andre Agassi began his poignant return to Ashe Stadium with his patented move, blowing kisses to the four corners of the arena…Richard Gasquet‘s successful appeal of his ITF suspension for supposed cocaine use was based solely on being kissed by a still-mysterious woman, “Pamela,” at a club in Miami.
A NOSY QUESTION: Regarding Richard Gasquet‘s claim that a tainted kiss led to his positive cocaine test, a fan asked, “Are you sure he didn’t kiss her nose?”
REMEMBERING TED AND EUNICE: With the passing of Ted Kennedy and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Pam Shriver reflected on her cousins, telling Inside Tennis, “Growing up in Maryland, I’ve been touched by all the generations to public service, making a difference, the generations involved with the Special Olympics and new public service projects. It’s just ingrained. If I could take a little lesson, it would be teach it to kids early and often.”
THE NUMBERS
50: Minutes it took for Italy’s Flavia Pennetta to double bagel India’s Sania Mirza on Wednesday. (Said Pennetta, “I didn’t make any mistakes at all.”)
HEADLINES
Kickin’ Ashe
Nadal’s Hair to Win the Mane Event
Gasquet Nearly Kissed It Away
Gasquet’s Coke Claim Fails Sniff Test
QUOTEBOOK
“Do tweets help cheats?” — Adam Nichols
“You would seriously have to be a moron to send ‘inside info’ through a tweet.” — Andy Roddick (via Twitter, of course)
“If an American tested positive for coke, he’d surely blame a contaminated dollar bill, not a femme fatale.” — Filip Bondy
“Venus Williams took the court yesterday bearing more adhesive tape than a shelf at CVS.” — Marc Berman
“Next to Roger Federer, [Marat] Safin was always considered the man with the cleanest shots, the best hands; he could’ve been Federer, the line always goes, if he’d wanted it more. They ask the question still about Safin, from Moscow to Manhattan: What if?” — S.L. Price
