Russian Soul, Tennis Icon

What makes Maria Sharapova tick? Is she more Russian or American? What about her toughness, her doubts and, yes, her grunts? An interview.

QUESTION: You’ve said you’re not the most gifted athlete, yet you’ve had such success. How did you pull that off? MARIA SHARAPOVA: I have no idea. My mom was never an athlete. She was more of a dancer. My dad, he played hockey, but when I saw him ski, I’d say, “I don’t know how [...]

Sugarpova

Beauty and Brains, Swagger and Sweat, Glory and Grunts — Maria Sharapova Has It All

My goodness, she even has a song named after her. Maria — that would be Lady Sharapova — has everything. A name with an “ova,” a bank account with a bundle, a backhand with depth and precision, endless legs, a pretty face, three Slams and that grunt; oh, that world-class, decibel-blasting, almost-as-loud-as-Azarenka‘s grunt.

Fish Fries America’s Next Great Hope

Top-Ranked American Defeats Harrison 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(3)

LOS ANGELES – Hopes were high. Ryan Harrison – just 19, baby face – was close to being anointed with that critical mantel in tennis: America’s next great hope. Why not?

Harrison: Hopes and Hurrahs, Hubris and Heaves

19-Year-Old Advances to Farmers Classic Semifinals

LOS ANGELES — He gave a simple answer to a simple question. Inside Tennis asked Ryan Harrison, “Your friend Andy Roddick was the last American to lift a Grand Slam trophy. Will you be the next?”  His answer?  “Yes.”  Surprising? Not really, if you know the guy.  Love him  or hate him, Harrison is the [...]

Mardy Still Looking to Reel In Big Fish

Top-Ranked American Targets More Second-Week Appearances

LONDON — Mardy Fish, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals and is now ranked No. 9, reflected on his surge with reporters at the All England Club. QUESTION: What do you take away from reaching the Wimbledon quarters? MARDY FISH: Knowing that I haven’t broken through and haven’t had that huge win at a major. I [...]

Larry Stefanki: The Brightest Mind In Tennis?

A Candid Conversation with the Brain Power Behind Andy Roddick

LONDON — Here’s a curious question. Among the top coaches in the game, who has the best mind? Certainly, Andy Roddick‘s skipper, Larry Stefanki, who’ll be inducted into the Northern California Tennis Hall of Fame on July 28 and who’s coached an array of other great champions, including John McEnroe, Tim Henman, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Marcelo [...]

Adventures In Serenaville

The Saga Continues

FIVE WORDS THAT BRING SMILES TO THE FACES OF THE WTA ESTABLISHMENT: The Wimbledon chair ump utters words we were never sure we would hear again: “Miss Serena Williams to serve” SERENA’S BACK AND SO IS THE POSSIBILITY OF HER PLAYING INDIAN WELLS: Serena has been chatty of late. She told Doug Robson that when [...]

Andy Murray and the British Art of Losing

LONDON— For 73 years a cloud has hung over this island. But this most celebrated island, a civil isle at the heart of civilization, the home of Shakespeare and Churchill, that once created a vast empire, could not even rule its own lawns. The brave people who in war rebuffed an evil European foe, fell in [...]

Win Vic Braden’s VIP Weekend at the U.S. Open

Join the Bryan Bros. and More For an All-Expenses-Paid Weekend of Heart-Pounding Action

World famous tennis instructor Vic Braden raffles off two luxury suite tickets to the U.S. Open on Sept. 10 and 11, dinner at the Legends of Tennis Gala, a three-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park and more. Meet with the Bryan Bros., the ’11 Wimbledon doubles champions, and enjoy dinner with tennis [...]

Davis Cup Destiny Denied

The Angst of Austin Andy

The Spaniard’s groundstroke – usually so precise – drifted just a tad long. At last, Austin Andy Roddick had turned the tide of what seemed like a dreary day. David Ferrer’s errant shot gave Roddick the first set of the second rubber of the U.S.’s Davis Cup battle with the mighty Spaniards. Proud, celebratory and [...]