I’m delighted to be working this week with Andrea Nay, a fabulous photographer and writer. She’s sweating it out in Cincy right now with the WTA and will continue next week with the ATP, taking fabulous photos and gathering first hand reports from the press room and practice courts. I love her description of current [...]
Upsets, routs and heroics, what a way to start the second week at Wimbledon. All singles players played their Round of 16s today, and the frantic schedule and rising heat seemed to effect everyone a little differently. Post-match, the players were asked about everything from their tennis, World Cup referees and Jennifer Capriati’s drug overdose. [...]
It wouldn’t be Day One of a Major without a little controversy! Just after 8:30 pm, as Olivier Rochus took the third to go up two sets to one against Novak Djokovic on Centre Court, tournament referee Andrew Jarrett declared that the players would be taking a 30 minute break while the roof was closed [...]
Well, that was kind of a bummer. Schiavone vs. Dementieva had all the components of a great match: two tough veterans, a power baseliner vs. a wily dirt baller, a Russian vs. an Italian, the Best Player Never to Win a Slam vs. the definition of deserving dark horse. And what did we get? No [...]
Rain held back the start of play by over four hours on Thursday at Roland Garros, with two additional interruptions after that. I think all the rain delays and tricky conditions are starting to make the players a little batty (and the city officials more open to a roof over center court.) It’s still the [...]
Aravane Rezai’s fabulous run in Madrid, where she – as an unseeded player – beat Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic and Venus Williams on the way to the title, has made her a legitimate dark horse pick for this year’s Roland Garros title. If you think that still sounds pretty ridiculous, just watch this video. The [...]
A quick look at what turned out to be a surprising weekend on the tennis tour: The repeat victor in Portugal this weekend wasn’t 2008 Estoril Open titlist Roger Federer. It was defending champ Albert Montanes of Spain, who took out hometown hopeful Frederico Gil, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5, just a day after beating Roger in [...]
“Beating two Williams sisters in two days is amazing. I’m very proud of myself.” So said Jelena Jankovic on Friday, after beating Serena Williams 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) in the Rome semifinals. She destroyed Venus Williams, 6-0, 6-1 on Thursday. Things heated up on the Roman clay, despite chilly weather conditions. Serena – the Big Kahuna, [...]
I thought “good for her” when the 58 ranked Ana Ivanovic – who hasn’t won more than one match at a tennis tournament since making the semis in Brisbane in January – beat world No. 32 Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of Rome. I raised an eyebrow when she took out No. [...]
Yay! I never feel like a tournament’s really started until I watch the Players Party video. Bonus – listening to Jelena Jankovic imply that she doesn’t wear a full face of makeup on the court. Body glitter must count as an accessory. Any guesses on what magazines Caroline looked to for inspiration? Senior Showgirls Quarterly? [...]
Miami’s Sony Ericsson Open Kick-Off Party on Tuesday night featured ATP and WTA stars and the music of Pharrell Williams and N.E.R.D. Let’s take a look. Or maybe not! Ack! Caroline! If Agnieszka is really such a great friend of yours, how could she let you leave the hotel in that dress? Flashback!!!! (Not Caro’s [...]
The Andy Murray vs. Robin Soderling quarterfinal was the most dramatic singles match in the desert on Friday. After surviving four break points in his first service game, the Swede went on a tear. It took Murray most of the first set just to win a single game. Things got interesting in the second, when [...]