Tennis-X Notes: Nadal in New Haven, A-Rod in Top 10
Posted on August 21, 2006DAILY TENNIS-X E-NEWSLETTER
A round-up of what's going on in the sport each morning in your e-mail box. Read what tennis industry insiders read each morning to get their heads around the latest news, insight and opinion on pro tennis. A year's subscription costs less than a meal and a pint. Less than a trip to Starbucks. The question is, how can you afford not to subscribe? Get the Tennis-X Daily Dish in your e-mail in-box, even before it's posted on the web, by signing up for the net's most complete daily e-newsletter at http://www.tennis-x.com/subscribe.php
TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Jonas Bjorkman and Max "The Beast" Mirnyi are the first team to repeat as title winners in Cincinnati since 1937...Wildcard Ryan Sweeting beat Vince Spadea in the last round of the New Haven qualifying...From Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez blogging for the ATP: "I had a nice surprise for the tournament director Anne Worcester. I spoke to her on the courts today and told her that Rafa was coming to get in some practice. It's too early for him to go to New York to practice as none of the players are there. You can imagine that Ann was very surprised, but because the draw had already been made she knew there was no point asking if Rafa wanted to play the event. Rafa wants to practice here today and tomorrow. Today he couldn't find anyone to hit with so he hit with my coach. The fans were very surprised to see him here and when word started to get around it became packed around his practice court. Tomorrow I think he's going to practice with Blake."...Andy Roddick is back in the Top 10 at No. 10...IMG has signed Gael Monfils...From Lisa Raymond blogging for the WTA website: Speaking of Sam [Stosur], she is coachless this week so I have been designated her coach for "on-court coaching". Pretty funny! Since we started playing doubles together a year ago, we have become good friends and I have seen her play a lot of tennis. In her first round of qualies she called me out during the set break. When I got out there, we both just laughed. She was playing well, winning 6-3 and her opponent had called for her coach first so she figured, 'Why not?' I basically just told her to stay focused, keep doing what she was doing, and then asked where we were going to dinner later! No, I'm kidding. I think the best part of being able to have someone come out on court with you is just to keep you centered, focused, and calm you down if need be. Bottom line, the player has to go out there and execute, not the coach. By the way, Sam won and I'm taking 5% :) (Just kidding Sam, in case you are reading this!)"...Andy Murray moves into the Top 20 for the first time at No. 19...Amelie Mauresmo on her groin injury last month and shoulder injury last week: "It was good to have a rest but it was also frustrating because my injury stopped me from doing the sports I normally like to do while on holidays like surfing. Still, it was nice to be able to spend time with my relatives and friends...The doctors have detected a slight inflammation (in the shoulder) and told me to be careful. I concentrated on physical training and I'm confident I'll be ready for the US Open."...Roger Federer is aiming to join John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl as the only players to win three consecutive US Open titles in the Open Era...From Dale Robertson writing for the Houston Chronicle: "Despite much widespread skepticism -- I've certainly expressed my share -- Jim Courier already was insisting on Friday that Andy Roddick's decision to partner up with Jimmy Connors had had a profoundly positive effect on Roddick's game. And lo, three days later, Roddick won his first title in 10 months, taking the Masters Series event in Cincinnati and, with it, the U.S. Open Series championship. Roddick had reached his first final of the year a few weeks ago in Indianapolis. Connors, 54 next month, may be out of touch with the modern tour and its players, but what Jimbo did best in his prime, accounting for his eight Grand Slam titles, apparently translates into any era, and Roddick seems to be soaking up his advice like a sponge. "I haven't been around them personally," Courier said, "but (watching on TV), I saw a clear, distinct change in Andy's game -- things I've never seen him do, but things he needed to do." Courier, the winner of four Slams himself in the 1990s, was so excited by what he was seeing early in the Cincinnati tournament that he dashed off a congratulatory e-mail to Roddick. "I told him, 'I'm really excited for you -- you're going where you need to be going,'" Courier said. What really caught his eye? Roddick's vastly improved shot anticipation and footwork, as well as his refound swagger. "Andy was walking and moving like a man who believed in his game again, and that was great to see," Courier said. "I think good things are on the horizon for him, whether or not it plays out this week or at the U.S. Open. He's got the weapons, and now he's looking like he'll be able to use them in the right way."...Juan Carlos Ferrero was looking to become the first unseeded player to win Cincinnati since Miguel Olvera of Ecuador in 1960.
A round-up of what's going on in the sport each morning in your e-mail box. Read what tennis industry insiders read each morning to get their heads around the latest news, insight and opinion on pro tennis. A year's subscription costs less than a meal and a pint. Less than a trip to Starbucks. The question is, how can you afford not to subscribe? Get the Tennis-X Daily Dish in your e-mail in-box, even before it's posted on the web, by signing up for the net's most complete daily e-newsletter at http://www.tennis-x.com/subscribe.php
TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Jonas Bjorkman and Max "The Beast" Mirnyi are the first team to repeat as title winners in Cincinnati since 1937...Wildcard Ryan Sweeting beat Vince Spadea in the last round of the New Haven qualifying...From Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez blogging for the ATP: "I had a nice surprise for the tournament director Anne Worcester. I spoke to her on the courts today and told her that Rafa was coming to get in some practice. It's too early for him to go to New York to practice as none of the players are there. You can imagine that Ann was very surprised, but because the draw had already been made she knew there was no point asking if Rafa wanted to play the event. Rafa wants to practice here today and tomorrow. Today he couldn't find anyone to hit with so he hit with my coach. The fans were very surprised to see him here and when word started to get around it became packed around his practice court. Tomorrow I think he's going to practice with Blake."...Andy Roddick is back in the Top 10 at No. 10...IMG has signed Gael Monfils...From Lisa Raymond blogging for the WTA website: Speaking of Sam [Stosur], she is coachless this week so I have been designated her coach for "on-court coaching". Pretty funny! Since we started playing doubles together a year ago, we have become good friends and I have seen her play a lot of tennis. In her first round of qualies she called me out during the set break. When I got out there, we both just laughed. She was playing well, winning 6-3 and her opponent had called for her coach first so she figured, 'Why not?' I basically just told her to stay focused, keep doing what she was doing, and then asked where we were going to dinner later! No, I'm kidding. I think the best part of being able to have someone come out on court with you is just to keep you centered, focused, and calm you down if need be. Bottom line, the player has to go out there and execute, not the coach. By the way, Sam won and I'm taking 5% :) (Just kidding Sam, in case you are reading this!)"...Andy Murray moves into the Top 20 for the first time at No. 19...Amelie Mauresmo on her groin injury last month and shoulder injury last week: "It was good to have a rest but it was also frustrating because my injury stopped me from doing the sports I normally like to do while on holidays like surfing. Still, it was nice to be able to spend time with my relatives and friends...The doctors have detected a slight inflammation (in the shoulder) and told me to be careful. I concentrated on physical training and I'm confident I'll be ready for the US Open."...Roger Federer is aiming to join John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl as the only players to win three consecutive US Open titles in the Open Era...From Dale Robertson writing for the Houston Chronicle: "Despite much widespread skepticism -- I've certainly expressed my share -- Jim Courier already was insisting on Friday that Andy Roddick's decision to partner up with Jimmy Connors had had a profoundly positive effect on Roddick's game. And lo, three days later, Roddick won his first title in 10 months, taking the Masters Series event in Cincinnati and, with it, the U.S. Open Series championship. Roddick had reached his first final of the year a few weeks ago in Indianapolis. Connors, 54 next month, may be out of touch with the modern tour and its players, but what Jimbo did best in his prime, accounting for his eight Grand Slam titles, apparently translates into any era, and Roddick seems to be soaking up his advice like a sponge. "I haven't been around them personally," Courier said, "but (watching on TV), I saw a clear, distinct change in Andy's game -- things I've never seen him do, but things he needed to do." Courier, the winner of four Slams himself in the 1990s, was so excited by what he was seeing early in the Cincinnati tournament that he dashed off a congratulatory e-mail to Roddick. "I told him, 'I'm really excited for you -- you're going where you need to be going,'" Courier said. What really caught his eye? Roddick's vastly improved shot anticipation and footwork, as well as his refound swagger. "Andy was walking and moving like a man who believed in his game again, and that was great to see," Courier said. "I think good things are on the horizon for him, whether or not it plays out this week or at the U.S. Open. He's got the weapons, and now he's looking like he'll be able to use them in the right way."...Juan Carlos Ferrero was looking to become the first unseeded player to win Cincinnati since Miguel Olvera of Ecuador in 1960.