Author Archive
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.
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 [...]