JUST WONDERING: Will Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 player in the world, and Spain’s Rafal Nadal, No. 2, eventually face each other in the Davis Cup final in December?…What’s more astounding — Nadal’s mid-point ability to go from defense to offense, or the ease with which he goes from snarling, fierce competitor to a kind and increasingly reflective lad off-court?… Is Ryan Harrison the foremost racket heaver in tennis since Ernests Gulbis?
OBVIOUSLY: Maria Sharapova told Teen Vogue, “I wouldn’t be a professional athlete if I weren’t a professional athlete”…When Pam Shriver asked Mardy Fish about the difference between playing all his matches at night and an upcoming day match, he replied, “It’s a matter of night and day.”…When asked why he wears a cross, Juan Martin Del Potro replied, “Well, I’m Catholic.”
CARLS(BAD) TRAVEL DAY: In a logistical snafu reminiscent of Ivan Lendl nearly heading to Auckland instead of Oakland, Serbian teen Bjoana Jovanovski boarded a flight for Carlsbad, site of the Mercury Insurance Open. Problem was she headed to Carlsbad, New Mexico, not Carlsbad, California. After a night in the desert town, Jovanovski managed to arrive 30 minutes prior to her match. Then she lost.
SAY IT AIN’T SO: Fish joked that he treats his dachshund, Charlie, better than he treats his model wife, Stacey Gardner…Tennis is incredibly susceptible to gambling, yet the German Open was sponsored by BetAtHome.com.
DUE TO ECONOMIC WOES: Andrea Jaeger has reportedly put her Colorado ranch (which is dedicated to serving terminally ill kids) up for auction…The population of Gublis’ native Latvia has recently dropped from 2.7 to 1.8 million.
TEN AND (NOT) UNDER THE RADAR SCREEN: The USTA has had a long series of major initiatives. (Tennis Welcome Centers, Cardio Tennis, etc.) Its latest move — the 10 and Under Tennis program — which hopes to make once so-imposing tennis far more appealing for youngsters — seems to be a big hit. In particular, the USTA just began offering a first-year-free membership to kids 10 and under. In a little over three months, more than 20,000 kids and parents have joined the USTA. With more exposure during the U.S. Open, the USTA expects this number to reach close to 40,000 by the end of the year.
THE NEXT AMERICAN MAN TO LIFT A GRAND SLAM TROPHY?: It’s an increasingly interesting question: Does Harrison, with his speed, high tennis IQ and Jimmy Connors-like ferocity, have the right stuff to become America’s next great champion? (Fish and Billie Jean King see a bright future; Cliff Drysdale is a doubter.) Just 19 and now ranked No. 76, Harrison boldly said he could “compete with anyone,” and asserted he would be the next American man to lift a Slam trophy. Then again, he reached back-to-back semis in Atlanta and L.A. and he has quite the athletic lineage. His grandfather, a tough legendary Louisiana high school football coach, could throw a football 50 yards with either arm and his father, Pat, is a longtime teaching pro.
‘EVERYONE SHOULD SPEND A NIGHT IN JAIL’: En route to winning the Farmers Classic, Gulbis mused on his ’09 arrest for soliciting a prostitute in Stockholm. “My only mistake is that I like girls…That’s my only sin,” he recalled. “I meet with a nice girl on the street and I invite them to come over to my room, and then the police come and they put me in handcuffs and they bring me in jail. So I spend one night in jail. But it was a fun experience. No, really. I think everybody should spend one night in prison. The worst part was when they pushed me. I knew it’s not going to last for long, maybe eight hours in the cell, alone, but…[then] I told them, ‘Yeah, I need a phone call,’ and they told me, ‘In Sweden we don’t have this rule.’ So in the morning…I told this guy everything, he said, ‘Okay, it’s a mistake, but anyway you have to pay the fine. If you pay the fine, we’ll let you go now. If you don’t pay, we can keep you up here for three more days until after we investigate.’ I had to play Feliciano Lopez in two days, so of course I paid the fine…It was like $300…It was nothing. That’s the whole point — it was nothing. Just one of many stupid, stupid rules. You should know — you also live in a country with a lot of stupid rules.”
RODDICK’S KARMA? Asked if his student, Andy Roddick, could win another Slam, Larry Stefanki said, “At this moment, I’m going to say yes. If everything falls into place, if the karma and the energy is going in the right direction and he allows himself to free up, I believe Andy can.”
COACHES IN SUITS: Tennis — Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier; Baseball — Connie Mack; Football — Tom Landry; Basketball — Pat Riley; Hockey — Scotty Bowman.
SERENA’S INDIAN WELLS WAFFLE: Earlier this year, while reflecting on her near-death experience, Serena Williams told Tennis magazine that she was so moved that she would even consider a return to Indian Wells, which she’s boycotted for a decade. But when asked about the quote, she back-tracked, saying, “I said I would consider playing Indian Wells? I must have been high on medicine, or something just as nice. I must have been misquoted or literally [been] on meds. I mean, Indian Wells is a great place, I guess, but just not for me. That’s, like, so 2000. I’m not going back there. It’s 2011 now.”
MAYBE NOT THE BEST REASON TO GET MARRIED?: Alex Bogmolov Jr., who reached Wimbledon’s fourth round, candidly admitted he rushed into his brief marriage to the former WTA player Ashley Harkleroad because “it was more of a prize…She was very popular with all our guys in the States. They dated her. Andy [Roddick] dated her, Robby [Ginepri] dated her, Mardy [Fish] dated her. Everybody dated her. So…I was competitive in tennis, I was competitive in the personal life…That’s just the way the juniors are. [If] you can take a girl away from a guy and feel good about it.”
DAVIS CUP DESTINY DENIED: THE ANGST OF AUSTIN ANDY: David Ferrer‘s groundie drifted just a tad long. At last, Andy Roddick had turned the tide of a very dreary Davis Cup day. Ferrer’s error gave Roddick the first set of the second rubber in a battle between the U.S. and Spain. Proud, relieved and celebratory, Roddick lifted his hand high, waving his forefinger — “We’re No. 1.” American hopes soared, the future at last bright. But sadly, we’ve danced this dance before. The great American warrior of our era, Roddick was once our Next Great American Champion. He won the ’03 U.S. Open, was No. 1 for 13 weeks, was a Davis Cup hero and reached the semis of 10 Slams. Time and again, he seemed to on the precipice of over-the-top greatness. But at Wimbledon, and overall in his career itself, he encountered many a speed bump. Now, as the sunset of his career approaches, the best Davis Cup player in American history (not named John McEnroe lobbied successfully for his buddy Jim Courier to become the Davis Cup captain and the tie against Spain to be in his hometown of Austin on a lightning-fast court. Rafael Nadal wouldn’t be there, but over 16,000 loud “Hook ’em Horns” Texans and his surging pal Mardy Fish, now No. 8, would. But in the opening match, Fish could never quite solve Feliciano Lopez’s swarming, lefty assault and fell 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(2), 8-6 in a frustrating heap of missed opportunities. And then, when Roddick raised his finger in triumph and seemingly had wrapped up the first set against Ferrer, Spain’s coach, Albert Costa, told his man to challenge the out call that gave Roddick the set. The call was reversed, and Ferrer – moving well and returning like a supple swordsman — promptly battled back to steal the set and win the match 7-6(9), 7-5, 6-3. The Bryan Bros. collected the doubles point, like they almost always do. Now Fish, who was Roddick’s basketball teammate in high school, absolutely had to come through (like he did heroically in Colombia last September) and score a win over Ferrer to set up the perfect final chapter in Andy’s fairy tale — a fifth and deciding tie in which Roddick — the godfather and spiritual leader of this American tennis generation — would gain redemption. Certainly, Austin Andy — who so loved his town and country, his sport and teammates — would prevail. It was destiny. But Ferrer, such a plucky, determined 5-foot-9 worker bee — the world No. 6 – was on a mission. His in-your-face 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-6(5) win prevented Texas’ not-so-Lone-Ranger from even taking his gun out of his holster against Lopez in what had promised to be a shoot-out for the ages. Commentator Ted Robinson called Ferrer’s deeds “utter thievery.” For there is no greater crime than to deny a man a shot at his destiny.
30-SOMETHING: ROGER, THE MAGICAL MASTER, IS SAID TO BE THE BEST EVER, BUT…
OF FEAR, FIRE AND DOUBT: Ryan Harrison dared to articulate what few others would say. While reflecting on his own intensity, out of nowhere, he asserted, “To be honest with you, I think that Federer…if he kind of had a little more fire right now, it would help him get back to the top.” Then he was asked, “[Do] you think Roger needed to think, ‘Hey, Rafa and Djokovic, you are taking away my crown and I’ve got to put everything [into it] out there? Did you think that in the French final he had enough fire against Rafa?’ Harrison responded, “I think the French final was the first final I’ve seen him play against Rafa — especially on clay — that I actually felt like he could win. I think that whenever Federer plays anyone other than Rafa or Djokovic, he plays with this swagger where it’s like, ‘It’s my match, I’m going to win.’ It’s a little more uncertain when he plays against Djokovic and Nadal right now…I think if he walked out with a little more — I don’t’ want to say ego, because ego sounds bad — but just like a little more fire, then I think it would help him.” Harrison quickly got the message that it’s not a good idea to criticize Fed and sent him an apology saying he was misquoted. Federer responded saying Harrison didn’t need to apologize, but it was nice of him to do so. Then Roger continued and almost seemed to agree with Harrison. “That’s his opinion [but] it doesn’t matter much to me because I know what I need to do to beat those guys…I’ve always had [fire]…[But] I went into the French Open final not maybe as confident as other finals when I got crushed…The result sort of showed. Against Rafa, in particular, I don’t want to say you don’t believe 100 percent, but you’re kind of in doubt with your game. He takes advantage of that. It’s happened to me…a couple of times. But that happens to all of us…When you…[play] one of the top guys who is on fire, [and] you’re not playing exactly your perfect game, it’s going to be tough to win. Sure, you try, you do every- thing you can, but sometimes your game is not working… Maybe you are in the semis or the finals, but it doesn’t mean you’re playing the best tennis of your life. The fire has always been there clearly. I’ve always enjoyed my matches with both guys. Particularly the rivalry with Rafa…I have massive fire and power to play against those guys.”
HAPPY HE IS GETTING OLDER: Roger reflected on turning the big Three-Oh, saying: “Birthdays happen. They’re part of life. I’m happy I’m getting older. I’d rather be 30 than 20. Nothing changes. Do you listen to your body more? Yes, you do. Are you more wise? Yes, you are. Are you more experienced? Yes. Do you have a thousand matches in your body? Yes…The important thing is I work hard, I’m professional, I enjoy…I’ve won so much you feel like if you do all the right things, you’ll definitely get a shot again at winning any big tournament…I’m already thinking be- yond the Olympics next year.”
FED BEST OF ALL TIME, BUT CAN’T BEAT HIS MAIN RIVAL: Larry Stefanki, thinks that Roger all-around “has the best game I’ve ever seen, bar none. For years Stefanki called Fed “The Denny’s Chef” because “any- thing he wanted, he flip-flopped it around and pulled it off, even a miraculous winner from a bad position…But Nadal has kicked his behind. It has to do with Rafa being a lefty. The matchup doesn’t feed into Roger’s strength. He likes to extend on the forehand. [But with Rafa] everything’s hooking into his body. He does not like hitting the backhand out and away from his body on serves. He ends up hacking short…He’s learned to bunt it short and it feeds into the righty’s backhand…[But] When you play a lefty, it plays into Nadal’s forehand. He can drag it up the line or he can hook you back off the court and go back into your weakness — your backhand. Roger doesn’t like to move in and take the ball off the rise with the backhand. You have to do that against lefties, espe- cially off the return. Otherwise, Rafa’s so quick with his feet moving to the right, he’s going to dictate control with that little bunt slice return. [Then] he’s off to the races.”
BOOZE, BEANS AND BUCKY (FULLER WHO INVENTED THE GEODESIC DOME): Japan hosted Uzbekistan in Davis Cup play at the Bourbon Beans Dome.
LIKE FATHER/LIKE SON PIONEERS: The late Jack Kramer created a whole new world of pro tennis by paying players in the ’50s. His son, Bob, the Farmers Classic tournament director, is also a pioneer. This year, he rather courageously declined to pay any new player appearance fees. No problem. Even without those often-bloated guarantees, the L.A. tournament had increases in sponsorship and attendance.
QUOTEBOOK
“I take it as a compliment.” — Germany’s Sabine Lisicki on assertions that she serves like a man
“We do appreciate that over-talking can irritate our audience.” — The BBC, responding to complaints that their broadcasters are too verbose
‘I AM WHO I AM’: Victoria Azarenka said, “It’s very important to be open and really show yourself. You don’t want to be fake. There are a lot of players who are made up and they have this image… For me, I think, ‘Screw that,’ I am who I am.”
TALL ORDER: John Isner, 6-foot-9, extends to 11-foot-3 on his serve.
SADLY THAT’S BECOMING MORE AND MORE APPARENT: Brad Gilbert said, “It’s not our birthright as Americans that we are going to have great players.”
MARRIAGE VOW: When Pam Shriver was presented with her Hall of Fame ring in L.A., the maritally-challenged broadcaster said, “This will be the last ring I’ll ever get.”
RAFA HOMAGE: Commentator Nick Lester said of Rafa, “It would be a struggle to find a more humble sportsman in all of tennis, in all of sports. He has the deepest respect for his sport and for his opponents.”
THE CHALLENGE OF TENNIS: While comparing tennis to team sports, Chris Evert told Liz Clarke, “Team sports probably teach you more about giving — about being unselfish and being flexible…To be a tennis champion, you have to be inflexible. You have to be stubborn. You have to be arrogant. You have to be selfish and self-absorbed — kind of tunnel vision. You have to protect yourself and save all your mental energies for tennis.”
WOZ’S GRAND TRIUMPH: When word got out that Caroline Wozniacki was dating U.S. Open golf champ Rory McIlroy, wise guys quipped, “It’s been easier for Woz to win a grand guy than a Grand Slam.”
TIME WILL TELL: With an eye on being eligible for the Olympics, Serena has committed to playing two Fed Cup ties in ’12.
9/11 REMEMBERED: The U.S. Open men’s final, which will be played on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, will feature special ceremonies and court markings. A decade ago, IT left New York City a day before the attack. A few days later we wrote: “We’ll mourn all the destroyed lives and shattered destinies, and once an unswerving punishment is wrought, we hope somehow — a blessed people with unending resources — can muster a more profound wisdom, a deeper compassion and rise above the lingering anger, the twisted rubble of our fear to rediscover our finest spirit — that noble instinct, that god-given gift — which could somehow empower us to take a small yet brave step beyond hatred and war to a world we can now only imagine: a world of harmony, beauty and justice.”
A MESSAGE THAT THE STAFF OF THIS PUBLICATION HEARTILY ENDORSES: After losing in the Farmers Classic final, Fish walked into the interview room with a T-Shirt that read: “HAVE AN AWESOME DAY.”
