Bill Simons
PARIS – It is the most intriguing court in the world that virtually no one knows about.
Right between the renowned Stade Roland Garros and the much celebrated Bull Ring Court 1, the French Open’s Court 2 is a gem. Virtually every great has battled there. It’s a modest island amidst the Parisian frenzy. Old, randomly spaced trees peer down – are they really following the action? The tears of infants disrupt the moment. Here there are little overlooks, small pavilions and more nooks and crannies then an English muffin.
Nearby, a huge match – Murray vs. Del Potro – roars. Could either win this tournament?
But never mind – knowing tennis sages have packed this little court to ask a big question about a little woman.
Is CiCi Bellis for real?
Despite her youth, will the lithe teen from upscale Atherton, California be the next great thing? Dare we ask whether she will be able to pick up the mantle once Serena and Venus depart? Her idol is Kim Clijsters – can she attain greatness with grace?
Her advisor is Chris Evert – can she give us just some of the mental toughness “the ice maiden” displayed with such quiet ferocity?
Who knows? And who knows how to gauge future tennis greatness? Is it a matter of size, strokes, heritage, desire, intelligence, grit, discipline, toughness – or all of the above?
With Bellis, it’s hard to tell.
Still, there are certain things we know. She’s a fierce, focused and unafraid competitor who’s having fun – and she lights up when she’s on the big stage.
She’s had two phenomenal US Open runs and took down Aga Radwanska in Doha earlier this year. Her forehand is great, but she lacks truly “wow” shots, like Serena’s serve or Madison Keys’ groundies.
She’s just 5’6″, and hopes she’s still growing. But she’s limber, a bit mean (in a good way) and moves with a cat-like speed – such quick ease. Then again, her life now has the easy fluidity of an upbeat newbie rising. Like many 18-year olds, she’s in that intriguing space where she is no longer a girl but not yet a mature woman.
Cici decided not to go to Stanford and instead moved from Atherton CA to Florida to train with the USTA. She clearly is a player of the future. Her ranking is soaring. She’s gained a dandy splash of notoriety. She was profiled in the New York Times. Irate fans have called Inside Tennis, grousing that she’s not on our cover.
On the cusp of fame, she’s now but a breakout run from being a phenom. Beware – the hype machine hovers.
But not today. After her-two day 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 third-round loss to Caroline Wozniacki, this writer and the AP reporter were the only two Americans to show up at her press conference.
But the powers that be knew better. Her friends box at Court 2 was crowded with American tennis royalty. There was USTA President Katrina Adams and tennis godfather Donald Dell. Jose Higueras had to battle just to get a seat, and by the time Gordon Smith – the 6’6′ Executive Director of the USTA – got there, the VIP section was so packed he had to sit in the aisle.
USTA Director of Player Development Martin Blackman sat right behind me, so I turned and asked him during the changeovers about the appealing Bellis. “She is one of the best competitors I’ve ever seen,” he said. “She loves to put it on the line, to be challenged and play big matches. And even though she loves to compete, she is very process focused. She wants to get better.
“She’s a very special competitor. She’s embraced the challenge of seeing how good she can be. She can hurt you off both sides. She has great movement. She takes the ball early and takes time away from you and she’s constantly working to add more tools to her toolbox. Over the next couple of years you’re going to see her develop an all-around game.
“Throughout her career,” Blackman continued, “Cici has gone level by level. She’s never skipped a level. She hasn’t taken any wildcards. She’s just going to go up and up.”
Bellis, of course, had a huge breakthrough in 2014 when she beat that year’s Australian Open finalist, Dominika Cibulkova, to become the youngest US Open winner in 14 years.
Last year, she beat Shelby Rogers en route to the third round.
But today Bellis faced a savvy veteran, Caroline Wozniaki. Okay, of late, the Dane has drawn our attention more as a pal of Serena’s, as a marathoner, and as a shapely star of the Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue. But Wozniacki is a former No. 1 who is now No. 12.
Not surprisingly, Bellis dropped the first set, but she soon sprinted to a 6-2 second set win to even the delayed, two-day match. Then Wozniacki, who twice reached the US Open finals, took full advantage when Bellis’ game dipped in the final set, and comfortably won 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
Next week Bellis should be ranked about No. 40. And get this stat: there’s no one younger in the rankings.
Yes, Kayla Day had a great run at Indian Wells. Still, America hasn’t had this good a prospect since Madison Keys emerged four years ago.
Ultimately, there’s a certain “Je ne sais quoi” about Bellis. She’s so focused. She hits just the right notes. She’s serious, but far from glum. She pushes, but she’s not ahead of herself. There seem to be few loose parts in her approach. And she’s happy, but not giddy. “I’m having so much fun,” she says. “I get to travel to all the best places.”
Of course, we still see hints of her girlish side. Of the new USTA National campus where she trains, she tells us, “It’s just insane.” She knows herself, and when we ask her if she can imagine lifting the US Open trophy before 23,000 fans, she jumps in and says, “Oh 100%. Since I was little I’ve been dreaming about that. Hopefully I can do it.”
But what most impresses observers is Bellis’ tough competitive side. Where does it come from? She’s didn’t survive a war. She wasn’t raised in a freezing Moscow basement apartment, and she’s not from the hardscrabble inner city like the Williams sisters. Goodness, she’s from Silicon Valley, is the product of one of the most affluent suburbs in America, and lives just a few lobs away from Menlo Park’s Circus Club with its polo field.
Maybe she gets her toughness from her great great great grandfather, who survived California’s rough and tumble Gold Rush. Almost certainly Bellis will survive the crush of the hype machine, which may soon descend on her and try to chew her up. Cici just doesn’t blink. After a European writer asked her when will she break into the top ten, she hit a verbal winner, saying “It doesn’t matter to me. When my game is ready, I’ll be there.”
Exactly! After all, for the girl with the Gold Rush heritage, there’s really no rush.
