We'll start this week with two open calls. I received my ballot for the 2010 inductions to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Doubles is the theme this year and the nominees are Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva (as a team), Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge (as a team), and Anders Jarryd (individually).
Be sure to check out Andre Agassi's revealing autobiography excerpt in this week's Sports Illustrated. I'll be taking all questions on the must-read next week.
Are you really equating a couple of sets of exhibition tennis to the demands of a long tour season? -- Henry Brito, Atlanta
While wondering whether Serena Williams' new, shiny No. 1 ranking will have any subconscious bearing on the pending ITF decision ...
Thanks to Joe, Kanye, Serena, and other misfits, a lot of people are talking about how society is undergoing a rash of rudeness.
Serena Williams just wants to move on. But the controversy around her obscenity-laced tirade at a line judge at the U.S. Open continues.
I feel as though tennis has never been so popular. Lead segments on the news, hot topics in the blogosphere, hundreds of questions rolling in here. Were it not for Kanye West, we might have even had the president weighing in on Serena-gate. We may as well ride the wave with a quick post-U.S. Open mailbag.
NEW YORK -- The U.S. Open felt like two separate tournaments. The first was an exciting, spirited 10-day party, played amid ideal conditions. The second was a soggy circus. But in the end, the sun came back out and we were treated to some compelling finals. Herewith, some scattered observations and opinions:
NEW YORK -- Here it is the men's semifinals and all anyone wants to talk about is the end of Serena Williams' loss to Kim Clijsters on Saturday night. I keep seeing this referred to as a "controversy," but I struggle to see what exactly was controversial.
SI.com caught up with Sports Illustrated senior writer S.L. Price, who is covering the U.S. Open in New York, after Serena Williams was penalized on match point in her 6-4, 7-5 loss to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals Saturday night. Clijsters will play Caroline Wozniacki in the final at 9 p.m. ET Sunday.
We'll start this week with two open calls. I received my ballot for the 2010 inductions to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Doubles is the theme this year and the nominees are Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva (as a team), Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge (as a team), and Anders Jarryd (individually).
Be sure to check out Andre Agassi's revealing autobiography excerpt in this week's Sports Illustrated. I'll be taking all questions on the must-read next week.
Are you really equating a couple of sets of exhibition tennis to the demands of a long tour season? -- Henry Brito, Atlanta
While wondering whether Serena Williams' new, shiny No. 1 ranking will have any subconscious bearing on the pending ITF decision ...
Thanks to Joe, Kanye, Serena, and other misfits, a lot of people are talking about how society is undergoing a rash of rudeness.
Serena Williams just wants to move on. But the controversy around her obscenity-laced tirade at a line judge at the U.S. Open continues.
I feel as though tennis has never been so popular. Lead segments on the news, hot topics in the blogosphere, hundreds of questions rolling in here. Were it not for Kanye West, we might have even had the president weighing in on Serena-gate. We may as well ride the wave with a quick post-U.S. Open mailbag.
NEW YORK -- The U.S. Open felt like two separate tournaments. The first was an exciting, spirited 10-day party, played amid ideal conditions. The second was a soggy circus. But in the end, the sun came back out and we were treated to some compelling finals. Herewith, some scattered observations and opinions:
NEW YORK -- Here it is the men's semifinals and all anyone wants to talk about is the end of Serena Williams' loss to Kim Clijsters on Saturday night. I keep seeing this referred to as a "controversy," but I struggle to see what exactly was controversial.
SI.com caught up with Sports Illustrated senior writer S.L. Price, who is covering the U.S. Open in New York, after Serena Williams was penalized on match point in her 6-4, 7-5 loss to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals Saturday night. Clijsters will play Caroline Wozniacki in the final at 9 p.m. ET Sunday.
We now enter the Hit Parade portion of the athletic calendar, the annual Casey Kasem phase, when first college football, then basketball, is consumed by weekly rankings.
Plus, the tennis star speaks for the first time about the "dark period" after her sister's death
I am a Roger Federer fan, but it gets harder to support him after postmatch interviews where he bashes his opponents and fails to credit them with good play. Case in point: the interview after his loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Rogers Cup. Federer choked, and Tsonga stepped it up. Enough said. At what point does greatness turn into arrogance? -- Jose, San Antonio
Programming note: I'll be on vacation next week. Our oxymoronic "guest host" will be Sam Querrey, who will be taking questions from the Farmers Insurance L.A. Tennis event.
Each week, SI.com's Richard Deitsch will report on newsmakers from the world of TV, radio and the Web.
Some scattered thoughts on a historic Wimbledon ...
Four things we learned while watching the all-American women's final at the All England Club on Independence Day ...
Even if you believe Serena Williams is "the real No. 1" on the women's tour, which she probably is, you've got to question the timing of her cocksure, matter-of-fact declaration on the eve of last week's Italian Open.
Has there been a more fun time in men's tennis than now? Rafael Nadal is definitively on top, Roger Federer is still in the mix with a will to regain his form, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have officially arrived, Juan Martin del Potro is continuing to make strides, and Andy Roddick seems to be right on the verge this season. With variations for surface, there seem to be six players in the mix to some extent for any major tournament right now. Let's hope they all stay healthy. -- Dan, Atlanta
Here I thought we had closed the retractable roof on the 2009 Australian Open. But after the remarkable men's final and even more remarkable trophy presentation, the questions/comments/laments keep pouring in. So a special edition Mailbag.
He stands 6' 1", weighs 185 pounds and can send a tennis ball pretty much anywhere he pleases. He's won on a variety of surfaces, collecting Grand Slam singles titles at a breakneck pace. He projects professionalism and grace and a distinctly European dignity. For all his success, he remains modest and grounded, uninterested in the usual trappings of modern celebrity, attracting attention only with his play.
Some scattered thoughts on the heels of another Australian Open:
Where does Fernando Verdasco go from here. He just lost a classic semifinal to Rafael Nadal. Does he turn into a pumpkin? Or do you see him challenging for Slams? -- Marty, New York
The past three years, we have had surprise men's finalists. My vote this year goes to Fernando Verdasco. I think he might surprise us all and make it to the finals. -- Michael White, Fort Worth, Texas
I know you'll never touch this question but here's nothing. Serena said: Being a Jehovah's Witness kept her from voting in the election, but didn't prevent her from watching Barack Obama's campaign and victory. "I try to stay politically neutral, don't get involved in worldly matters," she said. "For me, because I am black, seeing that happen, I would be blind if I didn't take interest in it or I would be lying if I said I wasn't interested in what was going on. Obviously I am." As an African-American, I'm curious as to whether winning slams and other tennis tournaments is somehow religious or unworldly? My point is that she and her sister set a poor example for young kids. Voting is ungodly but chasing Slams isn't? Your opinion? -- Ray Vinson, Hampton,Va.
We'll do some periodic baggies off the Australian Open. Also, I'm considering "live blogging" the final, so stay tuned for details.
I used to think this notion was controversial and didn't want to submit it for fear of being ridiculed, but I think the time has finally come: Jelena Jankovic is a better No. 1 than Ana Ivanovic. Here's a few reasons why.
Have you ever just not been in the mood to go out on yet another first date, but force yourself to do it anyway? You talk yourself into it, reasoning, "What if he's the one and instead of meeting him, I stayed home to eat cereal out of the box and watch 'Gossip Girl?'"
This our last Baguette. Check back Monday for our wrap-up. Thanks to all of you who sent questions ...
Since the U.S. Open (among other tennis events) is all about gender equity, do you think we will ever have the evening session "start" with a men's match and then be "followed" by the women's match. For a working person on the East Coast, it's hard to stay up and watch the men's matches, such as the Blake/Young match, especially when they start after 9 p.m. Just looking for equal rights. -- John, Greenville, S.C.
I love Federer. I am not trying to make excuses for the year because, in some ways, I like the new drama. However, Michael Wilbon, a great writer but not the best at tennis, says he is done. No mas! My question is this; as you've alluded to his "tiredness and fatigue" I think much of it has to do with his extended schedule. Aside from the new high-profile endorsement commitments, I look at: mono, the battle of the surfaces, the clash of times ( 3 matches etc. ) and the impact that had on training. Thoughts? Last thing: How soon would he be capable of reclaiming No. 1? -- John Allen, Baltimore
Cleaning out the Wimbledon notebook while still in awe of that final.
The Wimbledon champ says her most challenging opponent is also her inspiration
The champ defeats younger sister Serena in their seventh Grand Slam final meeting
Five things we learned from women's final Saturday at Wimbledon:
Five years since their last title matchup, the Williams sisters are back in the Wimbledon final with another Grand Slam championship -- and family bragging rights -- at stake
The tennis champ will only admit about the rapper, "I think he's a great guy"
Hopefully I am first off the blocks with this question: What is your opinion on Henin's retirement? As a long time fan (before she even won her first title), there is no doubt that she would be in the Hall of Fame. Do you consider her someone who has overachieved despite the physical nature of the modern game? Could she have won more titles or is she another by-product of the power game? How is the media taking it since she has finally opened up to you last year? -- Ed Chew, Melbourne, Australia
True or False: Women's tennis is like men's tennis, only slower, with less variety and more errors. Seriously, give me a reason or two that a rational person would want to watch women's tennis that has nothing to do with sex appeal. -- Wafo Rodriguez, San Antonio
I don't claim to have watched every match Serena Williams has played, or read every article about them, but it seems to me that if Mary Carillo and almost every other tennis announcer/journalist says that Serena only loses when she plays badly, why is it soooo awful when Serena says it? Against Jelena Jankovic [in the Sony Ericsson Open final], it was obvious that Jelena had nothing to do with the outcome of that match. Your thoughts? -- P-Sqaured, NYC
What do you see Lindsay Davenport accomplishing before she eventually retires?
She faces off against Rafael Nadal over a 43,000-gallon pool in Miami
The singer-actor gets cozy with the tennis star – and praises costar Angelina Jolie
First, Serena Williams wins the Australian Open out of shape and ranked No. 87 in the world. Then Venus wins Wimbledon ranked in the 20s after not getting past the quarters of a Grand Slam since she won Wimbledon two years before.
We have a week left and only one defending champion still standing. Like the weather, Serena Williams is unusually hot. The American men have given a terrific accounting of themselves. Herewith, our midterm grades from the year's first major:
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