Bill Simons
Love was in the air today at Indian Wells.
After Australian Open winner Madison Keys won a tough match today, Coco Gauff was asked what was the key to Keys’ surge since her marriage in November, Coco replied, “She just looks a lot happier lately. That was kind of the biggest change more than anything technically. She’s more positive…I can feel energy off of people…She seems happier around the locker room.”
Coco’s observation takes us back in time to 1999, when Andrei Medvedev was rejuvenated by his romance with the German tennis pro, Anke Huber. The inspired Ukrainian managed to reach the Roland Garros final. He gushed, “When there is love, you’re inspired – you can write poems, write music, you can play good tennis, whatever.”
Little did Andrei know that the opponent he’d lost to, Andre Agassi, was head over heels in love with his future wife, Steffi Graf.
With all the good vibes going around, we decided to collect our favorite 25 commentaries on love.
1) Decades ago, Helen Wills Moody Roark offered the most loving commentary on tennis that we can recall. The all-time great said, “In tennis there is another world in which there is sunshine, the wonderful feeling of movement through space and air and speed…A sunny day, white balls, fresh white tennis clothes, a good-natured opponent, and a brisk game describes heaven for the one who loves tennis.”
2) Asked about the subject of love, 19-year-old Mark Philippoussis replied: “I don’t know, but I’ve heard rumors that it’s wild.”
3) Tracy Austin explained Martina Hingis’ off year by noting that the Swiss “didn’t have a boyfriend at age 16, and was extremely focused. Now the intensity isn’t there. We all go through this. I did at 17, too.”
4) When asked if he noticed Princess Diana cheering for him during Wimbledon, Pete Sampras replied, “Maybe she has a crush on me.”
5) Gabriela Sabatini reflected on her rotten love life, saying, “I’ve never been in love. I’m looking forward to it. It must be a great feeling. For me, it’s very difficult to find a boyfriend. I move around so much. It’s hard to meet people. Because I’m famous, it’s difficult for men to approach me.”
6) When a Canadian fan yelled out, “I love you, Jennifer!” Capriati replied, “I’m available. What do you look like? How old are you?” When a Wimbledon fan yelled out to Steffi Graf, “Marry me!” the German shouted back, “How much money do you have?”
7) Loredana Berte, an Italian pop singer who was madly in love with Bjorn Borg, said, “I will do everything possible not to lose him…What woman wouldn’t want to be in my shoes? When I’m by Borg’s side, finally I feel like a woman. A man like this only comes along once.”
8) Long ago, singer Dinah Shore compared tennis and golf: “Tennis is like a wonderful, long-lasting relationship with a husband. Golf is a tempestuous, lousy lover. It is totally unpredictable, a constant surprise.”
9) When loud sounds of ardent lovemaking from a nearby apartment interrupted his Sarasota Open match, Frances Tiafoe called out to the distant couple, “It can’t be that good!”
10) Mick Jagger’s ex-wife Bianca once discounted casual sex, commenting, “Unless there’s some emotional tie, I’d rather play tennis.”
11) Li Na reported, “People in China say, ‘If you love your children, send them to New York. If you hate your children, also send them to New York.”
12) Patrick D’Arvor wrote, “When I think of Roland Garros, I think first of the chestnuts in flower, then of young women and the strange pink pollen that falls on the alleys, and in some hearts, but not all.”
13) When asked why his game seems to falter every time he falls in love, Agassi countered, “It’s completely the opposite. You can argue when I fall in love I start playing better…It’s completely a result of where I am in my own heart and mind. The ladies can’t resist me. What can I say?”
14) After Kobe Bryant’s sudden death, Novak Djokovic said, “This is a reminder to all of us that we should stick together. Being with our families, staying close to the people that love you and care about you…There are more important things in life [than tennis], and it’s important to be conscious and humble about things around you.”
15) When dedicating a US Open statue of Althea Gibson, USTA President Katrina Adams said, “The sport Althea loved so much didn’t love her back…but today, that all changes.”
16) Inside Tennis said Wimbledon fans “love Centre Court. Whether bright green or dull and dusty, it is a sporting cathedral like no other. And we embrace it dearly, with or without its wrinkles.”
17) In the movie “Battle of the Sexes,” just after Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs, the singular tennis sage Ted Tinling tells King, “Someday we will be free to be who we are and love who we love.”
18) Rafa Nadal explained, “My motivation comes from my love, my passion for this sport. I really need to have fun in what I do.”
19) A young Serena confided, “I don’t have time for a love life.”
20) Yannick Noah said, “Guga Kuerten has this look in his eyes. There’s love there. It’s almost religious. He’s not like, ‘I win, I’m the best.” It’s not an ego trip. It’s, ‘Oh my God, I won. I’m so happy for my people.’”
21) Roger Federer reflected on his career saying, “It all started when I was a junior world champion. I’ve loved every minute…I wouldn’t do it any differently.”
22) Andy Roddick said, “I’m never going to forget the innocent parts of this game we all love.”
23) Nick Kyrgios confessed, “I don’t love the sport. But I don’t really know what else to do without it.”
24) The Bryan Brothers once said, “We bring some joy to people’s lives…It’s really why we love to play…It’s about giving back…It’s why we’re out there.”
25) Venus Williams told IT, “People love sports because everything is on the line. In that moment there is no do-over, no retake, there’s no voice-over. It’s a triumph and disaster witnessed in real time. This is why people live and die for sports, because you can’t fake it…Either you do [it] or you don’t.”
LOVE COUPLES
Here’s our list of tennis’ most distinguished lovers.
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf – The top-ranked couple of all time have 30 Slams.
Roger and Mirka Federer – Mirka was a former player. She enabled him to gain a certain professionalism and was a key part of his success.
Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors – Tennis’ first great “love couple” both won Wimbledon in 1974.
Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss – The foremost gay couple in sports may be the longest-lasting elite, high-profile duo in tennis.
Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina – the French/Ukrainian couple inspires many.
Lleyton Hewitt and Kim Clijsters – When, during their brief engagement, Kim suffered a wrist injury, Mark Woodforde suggested it was due to the Belgian “carrying her [huge engagement] ring around.”
Fabio Fognini and Flavia Panetta are the first couple of Italian tennis.
Madison Keys and Bjorn Frantangelo, who began dating in 2017 and married last year, are the latest example of the power of love.
