Peace Out Mondays with Bob Greene
STARS
Ekaterina Alexandrova beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1 6-3 to win the Open BLS De Limoges in Limoges, France
Ana Bogdan beat Daria Snigur 6-1 6-2 to win the Al Habtoor Challenge in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
SAYING
“Once you start winning, some get cocky, but she’s stayed true to herself, win or lose.” – Gymnast Simone Biles, talking about Serena Williams.
“I’ve worked so hard to get myself into a situation where I can play at the top level and I’m gutted I’m not going to be able to play in Australia in January.” – Andy Murray, announcing he will skip next month’s Australian Open.
“We’ve been wanting to play doubles together for a long time but it just hasn’t worked out so I’m really excited that it’s finally going to happen, especially at one of my favorite tournaments on tour. It’s going to be so much fun.” – Caroline Wozniacki, saying she will team with Serena Williams in doubles at the ASB Classic next week.
“Warning. It’s not a Fed Cup retreat, it’s just an Olympic year and I chose to play in Tokyo.” – Simona Halep, announcing she will not play Fed Cup for Romania in February in order to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics later in the year.
“I want to announce 2020 as my farewell year as a pro tennis player.” – Leander Paes.
“Some of the guys on this list made their reputations on red carpets; others, in paparazzi shots. Roger Federer, on the other hand, has a case for most stylish man of the decade thanks to something as simple as this: When the guy puts on his Wimbledon whites, he stands basically alone. It’s not about his clothes so much as the righteously relaxed, preternaturally confident way he moves in them.” – Editors of GQ
STAR OF THE DECADE
Dominating the vote as much as she has her opponents, Serena Williams has been named The Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Decade. “When the history books are written, it could be that the great Serena Williams is the greatest athlete of all time,” USTA chief executive Stacey Allaster said of the latest honor. “I like to call it the ‘Serena Superpowers’ – that champions’ mindset. Irrespective of the adversity and the odds that are facing her, she always believes in herself.” Gymnast Simone Biles finished second in the vote of AP sports editors and beat writers. Swimmer Katie Ledecky was third, while skiers Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin took fourth and fifth, respectively. Williams won 12 Grand Slam titles over the past decade – no other woman won more than three over the past 10 seasons – and she became the oldest woman to be ranked number one in the world.
STOP AT THE TOP
After finishing 2019 ranked number one in the world, Ashleigh Barty added the WTA Player of the Year honors to her French Open title. The Australian won four titles and was the only woman to reach the second week at all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2019.
Barty wasn’t the only member of her team to capture a WTA year-ending award. Her coach, Craig Tyzzer, was named WTA Coach of the Year.
In voting by the media, other WTA award winners were US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, top newcomer; Sofia Kenin, most improved player; Belinda Bencic, comeback player; and Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic, doubles team of the year.
Rafael Nadal, who was named ATP Tour Player of the Year during the Nitto ATP Finals, was voted winner of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the second straight year and third overall. Andy Murray, who underwent hip surgery in January, was selected Comeback Player of the Year; Matteo Berrettini was named Most Improved Player of the Year; and Jannik Sinner the Newcomer of the Year.
Other winners included Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, the ATP number one doubles team; Kevin Anderson, the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award; The Australian’s Courtney Walsh the Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award; Gilles Cervara, ATP Coach of the Year; and Tony Roche, winner of the inaugural Tim Gullikson Career Coach Award.
Tennis fans continued their love affair with Roger Federer and brothers Bob and Mike Bryan. The ATPTour.com Fans’ Favorite Awards went to Federer for a record-extending 17th consecutive year and to the Bryan Brothers for the 14th time.
SKIPPING DOWN UNDER
A pelvic injury suffered during Davis Cup will keep Andy Murray home when the tennis tour makes its annual Australian swing. The 32-year-old Scot, who underwent hip surgery a year ago, has pulled out of both the inaugural ATP Cup team event, which begins in three Australian cities this week, and the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open. “After the AO (Australian Open) this year, when I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to play again, I was excited about coming back to Australia and giving my best, and that makes this even more disappointing for me,” Murray said.
SECOND TITLE
When Roger Federer took on Germany’s Alexander Zverev in an exhibition match in Mexico City, a record crowd was on hand. ESPN said 42,517 fans watched Federer’s 3-6 6-4 6-2 victory, smashing the old record of 35,681 set in Belgium in 2010 when Kim Clijsters took on Serena Williams in an exhibition match. The new mark might not last long. Federer announced he hopes to set a record when he takes on Rafael Nadal in an exhibition match in Cape Town, South Africa, in February. The stadium has a capacity of 55,000. A doubles match will also be held, pitting Federer and Microsoft founder Bill Gates against Nadal and South African comedian Trevor Noah.
STYLISH
Why were we not surprised when Roger Federer was named GQ’s Most Stylish Man of the Decade? Fans voted on the Instagram-based contest, selecting between two celebrities daily. Federer beat A$AP Rockey, Jonah Hill and Harry Styles before defeating Timothée Chalament for the title. Others in the competition included LeBron James, Kanye West and Ryan Gosling.
STICKING TOGETHER
They have been friends for a long time. Now, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki will play doubles together at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, next week. Wozniacki has announced that she will retire following the Australian Open, which the Dane won in 2018. Serena has not played doubles with anyone other than her sister Venus since Fed Cup World Group playoffs in 2015. She has not had another doubles partner besides Venus in a WTA event since 2002. Wozniacki hasn’t played doubles in three years.
SWINGING AGAIN
There’s been a stampede of former players returning to the WTA tour. The latest to announce her return is India’s Sania Mirza, who hasn’t played since the China Open in October 2017. She said she will team up with Nadiia Kichenok of Ukraine for doubles at the Hobart International. “I am playing in Hobart, then I am playing the Australian Open,” said Mirza, who is regarded as India’s best-ever women’s tennis player. She will partner with American Rajeev Ram in the mixed doubles at the Australian Open.
A knee injury sustained during practice has kept Kim Clijsters from rejoining the WTA tour until March. The Belgian now says she will begin her comeback in Monterrey, Mexico. After that, she plans to play at Indian Wells, California, and the Volvo Car Open in Charleston, South Carolina.
SWEET
Fabio Fognini and his wife Flavia Pennetta have a little girl. The Italian couple announced Farah was born on December 23, joining their 2-year-old son Federico. Fognini won his first Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo this year and ended 2019 ranked 12th in the world. Pennetta and Fognini were married shortly after she won the US Open in 2015.
SAYONARA
India’s Leander Paes says this will be his final year. In his 29-year career, the 46-year-old has won 18 doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam tournament titles and an Olympic bronze medal in singles, that coming at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He also is the most successful doubles player in Davis Cup history with 43 victories in 56 matches. At the peak of his career, Paes was ranked number one in the world in doubles along with partner Mahesh Bhupathi. Together, they won 26 doubles titles, including three Grand Slam tournament crowns.
Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic is ranked number one in the world in doubles, but at age 33 she is hinting at retiring. “I’d love to play at Wimbledon again,” Strycova said. “It’s the greatest tournament for me and if I get another chance to play there, I’ll be super happy.” Last year, Strycova reached the semifinals in singles – her best Grand Slam tournament singles result – and won the doubles with partner Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan. When she dropped David Kotyza as her coach last month, she hinted that her retirement is approaching. Strycova said that after Australia she plans on playing Doha and Dubai.
SKIPPING HAWAII
Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Russia’s Maria Sharapova have withdrawn from the Hawaii Open. The 29-year-old Nishikori said he was not ready to defend his title after undergoing elbow surgery. “I am not 100 percent ready yet,” he said. “It is very disappointing as I love coming here and look forward to meeting tennis fans here this week.” Nishikori has not played since the US Open, then underwent season-ending elbow surgery in October.
Sharapova confessed she is ill-prepared for the exhibition event. “I’m disappointed to announce my withdrawal from the Hawaii Open,” said the Russian, who has suffered a string of injuries since her doping ban ended. Sharapova will be replaced in the tournament by three-time Hawaii high school state champion Alyssa Tobita
Besides Nishikori and Sharapova, other stars who withdrew from the event include Canadians Milos Raonic and Bianca Andreescu. Germany’s Angelique Kerber is the top woman in the field, while the men’s draw includes Americans Sam Querrey and Taylor Fritz.
SIGHT SET ON TOKYO
Former world number one Simona Halep will focus on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. That means she will not play for Romania against Russia in Fed Cup competition in February. “After many discussions with the team, I chose the Olympics, I decided that I will play the Olympics and, for this, to be able and capable 100 percent in our minds with the preparation,” Halep said. “I chose to play only the Olympics next year.” The two-time Grand Slam tournament champion said she plans on playing singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the Summer Olympics.
SIGN COACHES
Ranked second in the world, Karolina Pliskova has taken on Daniel Vallverdu as coach, replacing Conchita Martinez. Vallverdu previously coached Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych and Juan Martin del Potro. The 27-year-old Pliskova, who has reached only one Grand Slam tournament final, falling to Angelique Kerber in the US Open title match in 2016, is hoping Vallverdu will help her capture a major title.
Naomi Osaka has two Grand Slam tournament titles – the US Open in 2018 and this past January’s Australian Open – and now has a new coach. The Japanese player hired Belgian Wim Fissette. She has been without a coach since she split with Jermaine Jenkins after the US Open. Jenkins had replaced Sascha Bajin, who Osaka fired just weeks after her Australian Open victory.
SICK BAY
Canada’s Bianca Andreescu may not be able to duplicate her US Open success at the Australian Open. The 19-year-old said her left knee injury will cause her to skip the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, next week. There’s a possibility she will be unable to compete in the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, although she is entered into the late January event. Andreescu won three singles titles in 2019, including the US Open where she shocked Serena Williams in the final.
Rio Olympics gold medalist Monica Puig is sidelined after having surgery for a nerve problem on her right elbow. The right-hander announced on Twitter that she would be missing the Australian Open.
Last year, Lucas Pouille reached the Australian Open semifinals. This year he will miss the year’s first tennis major because of a right elbow injury. “We followed all the protocols given by the doctors, but it was not enough,” Pouille said in a tweet. “I am extremely disappointed and sad to miss the start of the year. My goal is to be 100 percent competitive as quickly as possible.” The 25-year-old Frenchman has not played since October.
Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone said she has beaten cancer. “They diagnosed me with a malign tumor,” the Italian said on Instagram. “It was the toughest fight that I’ve ever faced. The best thing is that I was able to win this battle.” Schiavone, now 39, won the 2010 French Open and was a finalist at Roland Garros the following year. She reached a career-high ranking of fourth in the world in 2011 and retired in 2018.
SUSPENDED
Two women have been provisionally suspended by the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU). Ksenia Palkina of Kyrgyzstan, ranked 693rd in the world in singles, and Albina Khabibulina of Uzbekistan, ranked 294th in doubles, are not allowed to compete or attend recognized tennis events during the investigations. Details of their suspected offenses were not specified.
SO LONG
This column, Mondays with Bob Greene, started more than two decades ago while I was a writer with The Associated Press. Following my retirement from The AP, Randy Walker asked me if I would continue the column as part of the World Tennis Magazine. I have enjoyed my many years keeping track of tennis events around the world on a weekly basis, compiling them in some sort of order to make it easy for you, the reader, to share our love of the sport and keep track of what’s going on. This, however, will be my final column, perhaps predictably at the end of a decade. So, it’s goodbye, farewell, and may 2020’s matches be as good and as thrilling as those of the last two decades.
SHARED PERFORMANCES
Dubai: Lucie Hradecka and Andreja Klepac beat Georgina Garcia-Perez and Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-5 3-6 10-8 (match tiebreak)
Limoges: Georgina Garcia Perez and Sara Sorribes Tormo beat Ekaterina Alexandrova and Oksana Kalashnikova 6-2 7-6 (3)
SURFING
ATP Cup: https://www.atpcup.com/tickets
Doha: https://www.qatartennis.org/
Canberra: https://www.tennis.com.au/tournaments/pro-tournaments/australian-pro-tour
Brisbane: https://www.brisbaneinternational.com.au
Shenzhen: shenzhenopentennis.com/2020/chs/
Auckland: https://www.asbclassic.co.nz
TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
MEN
$15,000,000 ATP Cup, Brisbane/Perth/Sydney, Australia, hard (first week)
TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK
MEN
$15,000,000 ATP Cup, Brisbane/Perth/Sydney, Australia, hard (second week)
$1,465,250 Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Doha, Qatar, hard
WOMEN
$1,000,000 Brisbane International, Brisbane, Australia, hard
$775,000 Shenzhen Open, Shenzhen, China, hard
$275,000 ASB Classic, Auckland, New Zealand, hard
