Djokovic’s Year of Wonder

Serb Surges to U.S. Open Title Over Rafa

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Standing tall, moving with ease, oozing with a quiet confidence based on months of success, Novak Djokovic hit out with astounding ease.  Stepping in with his flawless technique and balanced power, he blasted flat and accurate lasers from both wings and returned serve like a deft swordsman.

The Shot

Novak Djokovic's ‘Shot Heard 'Round the World’ Changes Everything

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — There have been many great moments in sports. Bobby Thompson‘s “shot heard ‘round the world” in ’51; Ted Williams clubbing a Fenway Park homer in his last at bat. “The Play” by Cal’s rugby-like/never-say-die football team, and “The Catch,” when 49er Joe Montana hit a leaping Dwight Clark in the back [...]

Roddick and the Best Match Only 584 Fans Saw

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Back in 2003, we called the Andy Roddick vs. Younes El Aynaoui Australian Open marathon, which stretched into the middle of the night and was aired at an ungodly hour, the best tennis match nobody ever saw. Roddick’s fourth-round match against David Ferrer on Thursday at the U.S. Open was the [...]

U.S. Open: A-Rod Exclusive

Not Exactly Another Day At the Office For Andy Roddick

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — As Andy Roddick raced off Court 13 after his memorable 6-3, 6-4, 3-6 6-3 payback win over Spaniard David Ferrer, Inside Tennis risked life and limb to penetrate a hefty New York-tough phalanx of beefy, yellow-clad security guards, protecting the heroic-once-again Texan from adoring crowds. As the USO quarterfinalist wound his way [...]

Inside Tennis Exclusive: Spike On Serena

Director Spike Lee On Williams' 'Intelligence, Athleticism, Heart’

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Spike Lee, who’s often spotted courtside at Madison Square Garden during Knicks games or at Yankee Stadium, is a bit of a tennis buff, too, and makes a habit of taking in matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium.  Inside Tennis spoke with the “Do the Right Thing” director following Serena Williams‘ 6-3, [...]

U.S. Open Scare: Rafa Cramps

World No. 2 Slides to Interview Room Floor In Agony

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Something’s been happening in Rafael Nadal’s press conferences. With growing maturity and vastly improved English, the 25-year-old has become incredibly insightful and surprisingly reflective. But not today.

‘I Really Thought She Was Going to Die’

Richard Williams: An Exclusive Interview

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Inside Tennis caught up with Richard Williams only moments after his daughter Serena’s 6-1, 7-6(5) third-round win over No. 4 seed Victoria Azarenka at the U.S. Open.

Emotional Rescue

Does Tennis Need to Loosen Up and Let Players Show More Emotion?

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Times change.  Thirty years ago Vic Braden — then a beloved popularizer — bemoaned the state of a game where rude and rowdy (expletives not deleted) rants were commonplace. “The sport, he insisted, should be X-rated. Going to a tennis match is like going to the World Wrestling Federation.

More Drama: Venus Withdraws

Williamses' Long and Winding Road Takes Another Surprising Turn

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Drama. Sports is all about it. And no one attracts it like the Williams clan. It started from  the get-go.  When the California-born kids first started knocking yellow balls about, there were echoes of gunshots as they practiced on the hardscrabble courts of Compton. When Venus Williams first won a tournament, her proud [...]

Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation

Which Era In Tennis Is Best?

Okay, the whole notion of “a generation” is a sticky wicket, a big-picture shortcut that invites oversimplification. Still, we adore our categories. We love to compartmentalize, label and list.  So, ever since the Lost Generation, pop culture gurus have divided and wrapped up our eras into nice neat, user-friendly packages.