Probably the two most important guys there (the wire writers) barely look up from their desks, let alone go out to watch tennis. I asked one of them when the last time he had seen a match. He thought he might have seen a few minutes of one in Miami but not one since. When asked “why do you need to even attend the events if you don’t watch any of the tennis?” Answer: “For the quotes.”

With apologies to Spike Lee, for the rest of the evening I had the best seat in the house. In the player guest lounge I caught all the action in brilliant high-definition on a couch with Ivan Lendl (one of seven hall of famers in attendance…with Roger a lock, make it eight) and former Top 10 player Tim Mayotte. Needless to say, we had our own commentary, plenty of stories and the banter between Ivan and Tim was not nearly as one-sided as Lendl’s 17-0 career record against Mayotte (and you thought Andy Roddick had it bad with Roger)!

BURN SOME CALORIES, THEN HAVE A FEW BEERS: According to Consumer Reports magazine, tennis ranks among the top five activities for the most calories burned per workout. While playing just a half hour of singles tennis, a 140-lb. person will burn 254 calories and a 200-lb. person will burn 364 calories.

It’s amazing how quickly things change in tennis. Just a month the pro tennis circuit was nothing short of madness after three months of complete chaos and unpredictability.

So, I keep thinking I am forgetting something. Oh yeah, Rafael Nadal played today as well. That was where I was going with the opening heat comment and I fear I have gotten off track. Big news of the day, Nadal won. Considering he has won 101 of his last 102 matches on clay, I supposed that shouldn’t be too much of a shocker. Here is my big prediction for tomorrow: Nadal has a 99% chance of a victory. I’ll even go out on a limb to say the same is true for Sunday. If I’m wrong I’ll be the first one to stuff my high-heeled foot back in my mouth.

All hands on deck, “calling Dmitry Tursunov. Your ship has sailed!” German Gremelmayr, who ridded the event of the last American, James Blake, has now set Tursunov adrift in a 6-4, 6-0 match.

Secondly, call that most difficult opponent at your club or park, the one who moves well and plays without any power or pace, and determine to be patient, be light on your feet, and willing to improve your rhythm against this guy or gal.