92,000 Reasons Why Serena Won the Australian Open

She only had 92,000 reasons to win the Australian Open.

After all, just five months ago, Serena Williams imploded in New York and her late night  x-ranted rant, prompted many to say that she should be banned from even playing in Melbourne. Instead she was fined $92,000.

Serena was not pleased. And it’s not such a swell  idea to get little sis Williams mad. Remember that when her then-boyfriend, NFL star Lavar Arrington, told her to take a hike, the jilted gal went on a crazy-good tear, winning the Serena Slam as she collected four straight Slams. Now again, after her big humiliation in the Big Apple, she was more-than-motivated.

More »

An Australian Open Notebook (Day 12)

Cahill Chats With Federer, PMac's Math, Murray Mania

Some said that ESPN commentator Darren Cahill’s post-match interview of Roger Federer was more engaging than Federer’s one-sided 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 one-hour/28-minute domination of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the AO semis.  Here’s the exchange:

DARREN CAHILL: Roger, a great match, a perfect way to go into a final.

ROGER FEDERER: No wasted energy, that’s for sure. I’m very surprised, obviously, how the match went. I’d expected quite differently. He’s got such great potential. I’m sure we’ll see much more of him. But tonight was one of the those days where he needed that first set so badly and maybe after that he sort of just let his head hang a bit and was a bit disappointed and I took advantage of it. I’m very happy. More »

Let a Thousand Tennis Balls Bloom

Intended (and Not So Intended) Consequences

Sometimes it’s obvious.  On-court tennis events often quickstart long lasting trends. In the ’70s, Bjorn Borg – such an  appealing lad with flowing blonde locks — broke through and a (Wilander-to-Edberg-to-Enqvist)  Swedish boom swept tennis.

Other times, “it’s not about the tennis, stupid” as events far from the court impact our game. Obviously, the winds of WWII’s battles diminished the competitive fire of  many a star. Spy Alice Marble, diva Helen Wills, Coast Guardsmen Jack Kramer and Don Budge (who suffered a modest but significant injury during the war) come to mind. More »

A Knockout Puncher At a Buck 54

An Australian Open Notebook (Day 10)

THAT’S NO STRETCH: As the ever-languid Roger Federer prepped for his quarterfinal matchup with Nikolay Davydenko, Pam Shriver quipped, “Watching him warm up is like doing yoga.  I feel relaxed already.”

WHO SAYS 13′S AN UNLUCKY NUMBER?: After dropping the first set in just 34 minutes, Federer reeled off 13 straight games and eventually overcame Davydenko 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5.  Said Fed, “Winning that many games in a row against a player that’s been on fire like this, it’s a great sign.” More »

Reflections On Haiti

Agenor: Island Nation’s Leading Pro Speaks of Disaster

In the wake of the destruction in Haiti, where a 7.0 earthquake has reportedly claimed more than 200,000 lives, IT spoke with former ATP pro Ronald Agenor, who rose as high as No. 22 in the world during a 23-year pro career in the ‘80s and ‘90s.  The son of a diplomat, Agenor was born in Morocco, but regularly represented Haiti in Davis Cup play, amassing a 39-9 record in 24 ties. A French Open quarterfinalist in ‘89 (he was knocked out by eventual titlist Michael Chang), Agenor is married to former model Tonya Williams and lives in Beverly Hills, Calif. More »

Australian Open Buzz (Day 7)

'Unpredictable Consistency'

ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU THINK OF IT, IT MAKES SENSE: As Fernando Gonzalez gave Andy Roddick more than he bargained for in the fourth round, Justin Gimelstob said, “He’s playing with such unpredictable consistency. That’s a contradiction, but …”

CUTTING EDGE COMMENTARY OF THE AO: Reflecting on a nervous Juan Martin Del Potro, Chris Fowler said, “I think he’s an edgy Argie.” More »

Australian Open Buzz (Day 6)

Beware the Bare Rear

NO KIDDING: Reflecting on how Roger Federer doesn’t hesitate to celebrate his genius, Brad Gilbert noted, “He has a quiet cockiness.”

UNKIND TO BERNIE POO AND OTHER BEDTIME CRITIQUES: After the promising, but controversial Aussie Bernard Tomic, 17, complained about playing at night, Greg Baum referred to him as Bernie Poo and then pounced, “When little Bernard wakes up, he might see that he is playing with men, not boys … He cannot play with men and ask for special dispensation for being a boy. Bernie-poo…[said] ‘I requested to play during the day, and it didn’t happen. It’s ridiculous.’ What is ridiculous is that a gifted, privileged and pampered young athlete should somehow see himself as a victim. He needs to wake up. To himself.” More »

Learning to Love Andy Roddick

At last we can spare the A-Rod

Since ‘68 and the dawning of the Open era, it’s been rather simple. You could divide American men’s tennis into four comfy eras.  First there were the dignified pioneers like Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith. Then came the raucous (wake ‘em up at the country club”) bad boys  Jimmy Connors and Johhny Mac, followed by the bounty of America’s Greatest Tennis Generation  – Sampras, Agassi, Courier and Chang. More »

Australian Open Buzz (Day 5)

A 42-Foot-Tall Goliath (and Other Tennis Tales)

JUST A SLIGHT EXAGGERATION: Justin Gimelstob said John Isner had a great advantage “by being 42 feet tall.”

THE TALL AND SHORT OF IT: During the clash between 6-foot-9 John Isner and 6—foot-4 Gael Monfils, Chris Fowler noted, “If you want to feel short, just walk around a tennis tournament these days.”

WHAT’S MORE OUTRAGEOUS?: That Serena and Venus Williams, who won the Australian, Wimbledon and U.S. Open doubles titles last year and are now going for their 12th  doubles Slam, are not seeded No. 1?  That the great and wondrous Justine Henin (she of ONLY six Slams) isn’t seeded at all? That Elena Dementieva had to face Henin in the second round? That Henin has never lost in the third round of a major (she has 25 W’s)?  Or that so many fabulous players (Henin, Clijsters, Dementieva and Kuznetsova) were crammed into the power quarter of the women’s draw? More »