ROCKY RELATIONSHIPS, BAD LUCK IN SPORTS — WHAT BETTER FOUNDATION UPON WHICH TO BUILD A MARRIAGE?: Of Indian Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricket standout Shoaib Malik‘s proposed marriage, the web-based magazine Despardes asserted, “Both Sania and Malik have two things in common: rocky prior relationships and bad luck in sports.” (Mirza recently broke up with fiancee Sohrab Mirza, while Malik broke up with Ayesha Siddiqui. Plus, Malik is serving a one-year ban courtesy of the Pakistan Cricket Board, while Mirza is battling a wrist injury.)
THERE MUST BE SOME MISUNDERSTANDING: “I think there’s some kind of misunderstanding. I think he shouldn’t play at this point. He for sure should be suspended. It’s a bad feeling when I know he shouldn’t play. It’s very tough to play with that kind of guy.” — 19-year-old Pole Jerzy Janowicz, who came out on the short end of a 6-3, 6-4 decision against Wayne Odesnik at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston (Odesnik faces a possible two-year suspension after pleading guilty for possession of HGH)
OUT OF THE QUICKSAND OF PREDICTABILITY: Bruce Jenkins wrote that not long after Andy Roddick won the ’03 U.S. Open, “he went from cherished American hero to lamentable robot, trapped in the quicksand of predictability. People always appreciated his desire, his remarkable ability to bounce back, but I doubt they expected an outright career resurrection at the age of 27.”
THE NUMBERS
16: Years since Ivan Lendl (now 50) last wielded a racket in public. The former No. 1 and eight-time Slam champ will play an exo in Atlantic City on April 10.
312,386: Record total of visitors to the Crandon Park Tennis Center for the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
QUOTEBOOK
“[John] Isner‘s idea of a perfect day away from the court involves a boat, some beer and fishing for largemouth bass. He appears to be capable of reeling in some big ones on dry land as well.” — ESPN’s Bonnie D. Ford
“We’ve heard for years about what Andy Roddick isn’t. He isn’t Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. He isn’t a stylist. He isn’t a multiple Grand Slam winner. He isn’t a clay court specialist. Maybe it’s time we recast the discussion and talk about what Roddick is. He is someone who has spent almost an entire decade residing in the top 10. He is a limited player who has done everything in his power to improve. He is a fighter.” – Jon Wertheim
