May 16th, 2008
After my little display of drama earlier today about Maria Sharapova assuming the number one spot, I figure I should talk about something inane and arbitrary. So let’s talk about license plates.
I’ve never been the type to have some flashy specialty license plate on my vehicle. Perhaps because I don’t drive a particularly flashy set of wheels. In fact…yes, let’s not go there. But for you Floridians, your chance to support the wonderful sport of tennis via your license plates has finally arrived. Thank goodness! Any longer, and you might have passed out from the breath you’ve been holding for years.
Apparently, a law tennis license plates is on the governor’s desk and is expected to be signed shortly. The proceeds from the extra fees will go towards grants for nonprofit organizations to use on youth tennis programs and to keep up public tennis facilities.
So not only will the money be used to possibly groom a future American all-star, it will also be used to help keep the rest of Florida’s aging population in shape and out of the doctor’s office by providing acceptable courts for them to play on.
I, personally, would find it quite ironic if the law was not signed. I’m probably alone in that…yeah, definitely alone.
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By Erica -- 0 comments
May 15th, 2008
Well, now I’m pissed. Yesterday, Justine Henin retired. I wasn’t mad or upset - maybe a little disappointed, but I wasn’t ticked. Now I am. I’ll be the first to say that I didn’t know how rankings worked when someone abruptly retired. Let me see - when was the last time a world number one left the game? Exactly. But apparently, Henin requested that she be removed from the rankings (apparently my premonition from yesterday about how this whole deal felt final is getting some proof to back it up). Now my arch nemesis Maria Sharapova will be No. 1 when the new rankings come out Monday.
Well hell.
She didn’t earn it. I don’t really care how it came about, that it was Henin’s decision and Maria didn’t ask for it, she inherited the crown and that doesn’t sit so well with me. I wouldn’t be okay with it no matter who was moving into the number one slot. I’m just doubly not okay with it because of who it happens to be.
Well hell…that’s really all I have to say.
(Image: Newscom)
Maria Sharapova serves at the Bausch & Lomb Championships looking appropriately awkward.
Tags: Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, rankings, womens-tennisShare This
By Erica -- 0 comments
May 14th, 2008
In the wake of Justine Henin’s retirement earlier today, everything else pales in comparison. Even the fact that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are still going strong in the hunt for the Hamburg Masters title.
Federer blew past Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-3 to reach the third round. Nadal struggled a bit with Potito Starace but finally got the W 6-4, 7-6(8-6).
Actually that’s not that interesting. But this is interesting. In James Martin’s Viewpoint column on Tennis.com, he talks about the hype surrounding the “looming” shake-up at the top of the men’s tour. And then he points out that the statistics actually don’t show that…Roger, Rafa and Novak are all just about where they were last year, give or take a loss or two.
Interesante, no?
(Image: Newscom)
Roger Federer lifts his racket after his victory over Jarkko Nieminen at the Hamburg Masters.
Tags: Hamburg Masters, men's tennis, Rafael Nadal, Roger FedererShare This
By Erica -- 0 comments
May 14th, 2008
It’s official: Justine Henin has retired from professional tennis.
In a news conference Wednesday, the world No. 1 announced her retirement, effective immediately. Her retirement comes just before the French Open, a slam she has won four times. Hmm - I distinctly remember talking about Henin thinking about retirement about a week ago.
“It’s the end of a wonderful adventure, but it’s something I have been thinking about for a long time,” said Henin at her news conference. “I’ve won everything I need to win, I have more money than I can use in three lifetimes, and I don’t have the will to play one day more.”
I wasn’t really expecting her to just BAM be done with it. I thought she might try to get her game back on track since she’s been slumping the last few months and then phase out of the game.
I liked her game a lot. She was an under-sized player in a field full of power-hitting giants. She was number one in the world for three years. She had speed to burn and a wicked one-handed backhand. And if she isn’t loving every minute she’s on the court, then she did the right thing to retire.
Am I disappointed? Sure - but not in Henin. I’m just disappointed that I no longer have my favorite player on tour. I’m not going to sit here and declare that Henin should have played another two years. I’d tell someone to go take a hike if they tried to tell me I needed to stay in my job another two years; I’m not going to do it to anyone else.
Some think she’ll come back - to win that elusive Wimbledon title. I’m just not so sure. Maybe Henin will leave tennis and find out she really does love it, but there was something about this retirement address. It sounded final; it felt final. And, at the very least, Henin went out on her own terms and I can respect that in anybody.
(Image: Newscom)
Justine Henin at the press conference announcing her retirement from professional tennis.
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By Erica -- 3 comments
May 13th, 2008
With the noose of its budget tightening around its throat, Arizona State cut three men’s programs: tennis, swimming and wrestling. Oh…and the cut of the programs also handily keeps ASU in agreement with Title IX. Darn lucky how that worked out.
But pretend that just wasn’t put out there. I don’t want to have this huge discussion. I wrote papers about it in college and it inevitably comes up when you work in athletics and I’m just sick and tired of talking about it.
Really I have nothing new to add to this tired-out argument, but I think a moment of silence is in order for those athletes who no longer have a team. I don’t think they woke up thinking today was the day they were no longer going to have a coach or teammates or competitions in the same uniform.
Sure, they can transfer. But transferring doesn’t always pan out. And what about the kid that had always wanted to be a Sun Devil tennis player? What if that had been his dream since he was boot high? Ohhh well. Budget cuts son, buck up. Title IX kid, get over it.
I think a lot of people in important places don’t realize just how far the effects of these decisions trickle down. Were they necessary? Meh, I don’t know. I’m not the one pushing numbers. But it doesn’t make it suck any less for those athletes who technically aren’t varsity athletes anymore.
Tags: Arizona State, College Tennis, cut programShare This
By Erica -- 0 comments
May 13th, 2008
Well, did we ever have any doubt? I’m actually a little surprised the WTA compromised with Maria Sharapova about the photo shoot before the Italian Open which began yesterday. Obviously this should be a lesson to all of us: don’t underestimate the negotiating powers of a Russian raised in America.
Sharapova haggled with the WTA until the officials condensed the four- or five-hour shoot into 90 minutes. The world No. 2 accepted the deal.
Actually I kind of liked what Sharapova had to say about the whole ordeal: “When I set foot in Rome, my priority is to play tennis. I already did the talking, and now it’s time to play tennis.”
I never thought I’d say this, but…you go girl.
(Image: Newscom)
Tags: Italian Open, Maria Sharapova, womens-tennis, WTAShare This
By Erica -- 1 comment
May 12th, 2008
I’d love to share about my tennis escapades as a child, but I can’t. I didn’t play tennis until after I had flown the coop. I was fascinated with the sport, but tennis was so far from being a big deal in my hometown that it wasn’t even a deal at all.
So what does a kid who loves sports do when hitting a fuzzy yellow ball isn’t an option? She runs. I competed in track, and I was good. For some reason, I had a natural talent to place one foot in front of the other faster than almost everyone in my district. Ahh, the simplicity - it was beautiful.
The particular incident I’m thinking of occurred before I reached hicktown fame for my fleetness of foot. I was in seventh grade, I believe, and I was running the 100 meter dash. I hunkered down in the blocks with no idea of how to really use them, but I pretended like I did.
I wiped my sweaty palms on my black shorts, shoved the glasses that took up half my face to a more comfortable position. To your marks! I settled my hands on the rough surface of the track and waited. Get set! With the echo of the gun still sounding in my ears, I bolted down the track with my skinny legs churning and my arms flapping. I was flying! I felt like I was flying anyway. In all reality, I’m sure I looked like an awkward pigeon strung out on crack, but at the time I was positive I was going to be the next big thing.
I was the next big thing in a way because moments later, the entire crowd had its eye on me. I was a good 20 or 30 meters down the track and I faintly heard a loud bang behind me. I paid it no heed. I was racing, for crying out loud. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw I was in the lead and so I churned and flapped even harder. Another faint bang…and then people started to yell and wave their arms at me. They were cheering me on! And then a few people stepped out on the track and their words finally reached me, “Stop! Somebody jumped the gun. You have to go back and restart!”
What!?! I pulled up and then turned around and jogged back down the track, my face heated with embarrassment. Either Coach had never mentioned that little detail about false start or I had been so intent on running that the meaning of the gun shots hadn’t registered. Regardless, when the actual race was run, I was so far from the front I was eating up my opponents’ track tread they were kicking up.
I like to think that my bad result in that race was because my focus was completely shattered. But really, I just wasn’t very good at getting from Point A to Point B faster than everyone else. I learned though. And my dismal beginning turned into a shining track career, but I never forgot the lessons I had learned so early on. Win with class, lose with pride, leave it all out on the track and never, ever ignore the gun shot.
Tags: childhood sports memory, false start, track and fieldShare This
By Erica -- 1 comment
May 11th, 2008
Well, the Rome Masters finally saw a complete match played after several of the tour’s top players withdrew because of injuries. Novak Djokovic came from a set down (4-6, 6-3, 6-3) to beat Stanislas Wawrinka in the Rome Masters final.
The victory was Djoko’s 10th career title It also puts him 310 points behind second-ranked Rafael Nadal. The top two have been set in stone for so long; are we about to see some shake ‘n bake at the top?
(Image: Newscom)
Novak Djokovic hoists his trophy after winning the Rome Masters.
Dinara Safina capped a dream run at the German Open with a title-clinching victory over No. 9 Elena Dementieva. Safina also came from a set down (3-6, 6-2, 6-2) to get the big W. En route to the title, the 17th-ranked Safina also toppled No. 1 Justine Henin and No. 8 Serena Williams.
Not too shabby, is it? Maybe soon they’ll stop referring to her as “the sister of two-time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin.”
(Image: Newscom)
Dinara Safina celebrates her victory at the German Open.
Tags: Dinara Safina, German Open, men's tennis, Novak Djokovic, Rome Masters, womens-tennisShare This
By Erica -- 1 comment
May 10th, 2008
You can’t please all the people all the time, and a lot of times, it seems like you can’t please hardly anyone any of the time. And right now, it’s the Spaniards who aren’t happy.
Spanish tennis officials chose Madrid as the site for the Davis Cup semifinal with the United States. Players - including Rafael Nadal - had said Madrid was one of the worst locations to choose since the Americans would be benefitted by the high altitude.
Madrid is Europe’s highest capital at 600 meters and will be better for Andy Roddick’s fast serves than the coastal cities. So naturally, the Spanish team is - for lack of a better term - pissed off.
Maybe it’s just me, but I kind of thought the Spanish tennis officials would want to favor their country’s team if at all possible. I know - obviously it’s just me.
Tags: Davis-Cup, Madrid, men's tennis, Spain, United-StatesShare This
By Erica -- 0 comments
May 9th, 2008
The latest in a growing number of brushes with the law is Paul Hanley, Australia’s top-ranked doubles player. Hanley was released on bail in London after being detained with accusations of date-raping a woman outside of his home near Wimbledon.
The incident supposedly occured in early March and with Hanley’s recent bail posted, the British tabloids have jumped all over the news. Hanley lost in the Rome Masters earlier this week and is expected to play Hamburg.
What is the deal with this rash of tennis players embroiled in illegal/criminal doings lately? Not to say Hanley is guilty - a thing like date-rape is difficult to prove. It’s going to be even harder to make the case stick against a person of Hanley’s status. (It’s not right, but it is how it is.)
It’s all a game of information and Hanley is staring at a love-40 hole, but I’m going to bet he’s got a few aces ready to send cross-court. Who knows? Maybe one of his aces is that he’s actually innocent.
Tags: date-rape, Paul Hanley, Tennis ScandalShare This
By Erica -- 0 comments
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