Before the 23,700 fans at the US Open went crazy over the triumph of Flavia Pennetta, they went crazy over a friend. That would be James “You’ve Got a Friend” Taylor. Years ago, just after a US Open final, Inside Tennis editor Bill Simons tried to interview Robin Williams, Lance Armstrong and James Taylor. He spoke with Williams and Armstrong, but never got to Taylor. Today, he spoke with the beloved singer and tennis fan.
INSIDE TENNIS: What do you love about tennis and the spectacle of it?
JAMES TAYLOR: It’s wonderful to see…I particularly love women’s tennis because it reminds me more of the tennis that I came up playing. To me it’s a more accessible game. Longer volleys, [it] just seems not so extreme to me. But I love everything about it. I wish I could be here for the Federer-Djokovic match tomorrow. That’s going to be so fantastic, to see those two games. To see Fed-Ex playing, at this point in his career, the best tennis of his life… I’ll be watching on TV. I can’t stay.
IT: You’re known for your mastery and your longevity – do you see that in Roger?
JT: Well, to me Roger’s a young guy, but I realize that he’s fairly advanced in age to be playing championship tennis like this, and it really is inspiring.
IT: But Djokovic is quite a craftsman, too.
JT: He’s amazing. It’s going to be an amazing match.
IT: Where did you play as a youngster?
JT: I played on courts at home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and, in the summertime, in Massachusetts.
IT: You’re known for having friends. If you could have a friend in the game on the women’s side, who would you have?
JT: Oh, man. Well, I just met Billie Jean King, and I admire her hugely. She’s so great. What she did for the game, for women’s tennis…I deeply admire Steffi Graf.
IT: She’s so gracious…and her whiplash forehand.
JT: And Martina also – Navratilova.
IT: Your first memories of top players – was it Borg and Connors?
JT: [Yes], Connors and Borg.
