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It Pays To Sign In To Be An On-Site Alternate At The Delray Beach Open

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

It pays to sign in as an on-site alternate at the Delray Beach Open.

One year after part-time competitive player and full-time real estate professional Matija Pecotic became one of the best stories in the tennis year by actually getting to the second round of the main draw as a last minute on-site alternate entry into the event’s qualifying tournament, there were an incredible six on-site alternates who made the 16-player, two-round qualifying field at the 2024 event….at least at the start of the qualifying competition. Players who did not qualify for the event, but got in by signing in as alternates were

Sho Shimabukuro of Japan (ranked No. 165)

Valentin Vacherot of Monaco (ranked No. 173)

Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan (ranked No. 177)

Illya Marchenko of Ukraine (ranked No. 234)

Guido Andreozzi of Argentina (ranked No. 254)

Brandon Holt of the United States (ranked No. 278)

An on-site alternate into a tour-level qualifying event is a player who has an ATP ranking who randomly signs-in for an ATP tournament despite their ranking not being high-enough to originally be accepted into the qualifying rounds of the tournament. They are basically taking a chance that someone will pull out at the last minute. It’s kind of like walking up to the most difficult restaurant you can think of at prime time on a Saturday night and waiting outside to see if someone doesn’t show up for their reservation.

So the aforementioned six players took a chance and “signed in” to be an on-site alternate -with no guarantees that they would get into the tournament – and all were rewarded. However, for a reason not discovered, two of the six Yevseyev and Andreozzi, then withdrew from the qualifying tournament, and were then replaced by the No. 7 and No. 8 players on the on-site alternate list, which were

August Holmgren of Denmark (ranked No. 296)

Preston Brown of the United States (ranked No. 996)

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely there will be another Cinderella run like that of Pecotic, who while ranked No. 784 beat former top 10 star Jack Sock in the first round of the main draw of the event. The five alternates that played on the first day of qualifying all lost, leaving only Brandon Holt, who will play his first round qualifying match on Sunday.

Alternate Sho Shimabukuro of Japan (right) hugs Nicolas Moreno de Alboran after losing 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 in three hours and five minutes in the first round of the Delray Beach Open qualifying tournament

Tennis Players Most Likely to Win Tournaments in 2024

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More people than ever seem to follow tennis, as data suggest the sport now has a billion fans. And, without argument, 2024 should be as exciting of a year as we have ever seen, packed to the brim with fierce competition. On that note, below, we list five players (male and female) who will likely win super notable tournaments this year. Let’s get to it.

Iga Swiatek – French Open

Swiatek is the current top singles player per the Women’s Tennis Association. The pole has held this spot for over a year and a half, and she won the French Open these past two years and in 2020. The twenty-two-year-old has an all-court playing style with a terrific baseline drop-shot. She was named TIME’s one hundred most influential people in 2023, the same year she was awarded the Polish Sports Personality of the Year title.

Iga is a dominant force on all surfaces, and at her young age, she has done more than most top-rated players will ever do. As a three-time French Open winner, most Internet bookies have her as a 6/5 favorite to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup one more time. Pundits believe she will do so many times more before calling it a day, as on red Earth, she is as dangerous as Nadal, earning the nickname – the Queen of Clay. Gauf and Svitolina must display consistent improvements to pose realistic threats to Iga, but few think they will threaten in 2024.

Novak Djokovic – US Open

Novak surprisingly lost the 2024 Australia Open semi-final to Jannik Sinner, who went on to win the tournament. Various reports came out after the Djokovic-Sinner contest concluded, with some journalists speculating that the Serbian struggled with an elbow injury and others said he might have had the flu. Members of his camp came out with a statement that Novak was just fine going into the match, and it was just a case of the better man coming out on top.

Despite the surprisingly poor showing against Sinner, most top-rated online sportsbooks still have Novak as a favorite to go in the US Open, giving him 9/5 outright odds at the time of writing. Djokovic claimed the top prize in the tournament and has now played at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2023. Hence, he is its reigning champion.

Aryna Sabalenka – US Open

Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarus sensation, has won only two major singles titles, the 2024 and 2023 Australian Open tournaments. Sabalenka burst onto the scene in 2017 and drew attention due to her aggressive playing style, which features numerous unforced errors. That is a distinct prop market that some bookmaker sites allow. Yet, many renowned ones do not permit it, as evident in this EveryGame review.

In 2024, Sabalenka had her best run of form at the US Open, beating multiple top contenders en route to the competition semi-final. On her way there, she defeated Clara Burel, Catherine Harrison, and Karolína Plískova, among others. But she faced world No. 1, Iga Swiatek, in the semi-finals and lost again to the Pole. Most experts agree that Belarus is poised for great things in 2024, and she proved that with her second consecutive Australian Open title. Most tipsters think she can go all the way in the Queens-based Grand Slam.

Jannik Sinner – Olympics

In Tokyo 2020, technically 2021, Alexander Zverev claimed a gold medal for Germany in men’s singles tennis. The German pro, born to Russian parents, would again get touted as the player most likely to win the Paris 2024 games in men’s singles if Italian Jannik Sinner did not make his first Olympics appearance at the Paris Games.

Sinner will undoubtedly get the favorite role as Russian Daniil Medvedev will probably choose not to compete in the Olympics, which is very likely as Medvedev was super dissatisfied with the conditions in Tokyo, asking the press who would take responsibility if he died on the court amid a game on account of spiking temperatures and humidity in Tokyo. Sinner will be making his Olympics debut, and expectations are that he will easily find himself on the podium above the number one.

Ons Jabeur – Wimbledon

Tunisia has never been a land famous for producing high-quality tennis professionals. Yet, Africa’s northernmost country now gets associated with this super popular leisure and competitive activity. That is owed to Ons Jabeur, the second-highest-rank women’s player in the world, who is the first female Arab to win titles at the top level of sports. Most credit here goes to raising tennis’s profile in Arifa and breaking stereotypes about competitions from the continent.

Jabeur reached the Wimbledon final twice, in 2022 and 2023, losing in both efforts against Elena Rybakina and Markéta Vondroušová, respectively. However, 2024 seems to be her year, and authority figures agree, despite many odds setters giving Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Rybakina better-winning chances. Jabeur should have gotten enough experience playing at Wimbledon under pressure to beat the odds and get the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy.

How Do Tennis Players Build Muscles?

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In the realm of tennis having muscles is crucial for performance. Developing muscles allows players to deliver shots, move swiftly on the court and maintain endurance throughout the game. Tennis players engage in exercises that target muscle strengthening and enhancement for their sport.

They incorporate routine exercises utilizing their body weight and resistance training to effectively condition their muscles. These exercises specifically target the muscle groups utilized in tennis enabling players to improve their game while reducing the risk of injury.

Having developed muscles empowers players to generate ball strikes and maneuver around the court with agility. Additionally, these enhanced muscles provide them with the stamina to sustain play without succumbing to fatigue. Let’s delve into the realm of muscle development in tennis and explore how it facilitates peak performance on the court.

The Basics of Muscle Growth

When you work out, your muscles get damaged. It’s like when you get a small cut on your finger; it takes a few days to heal. The same happens to your muscles. 

When you rest, your body fixes the little muscle damage and makes new muscle fibers. This makes your muscles bigger and stronger, and we call this growing process “hypertrophy.”

When you exercise, you’re breaking down your muscles a bit. This sends a message to your body to start fixing and rebuilding the muscles, which happens when you rest. 

Your muscles don’t grow while you’re working out; they grow when you take a break. Just like using wrist support helps your wrist recover, giving your muscles time to rest and heal is key to making them grow and become even more powerful.

Will Playing Tennis Increase Muscle Mass?

Playing tennis serves as a way to challenge your muscles due to its paced and dynamic nature. The sport requires movements and rapid reactions. In terms of its impact on the body, it is more akin to exercise than weightlifting since it gets your heart rate up. 

Do You Know?

Many tennis players incorporate strength training into their routines dedicating 2-4 times per week with a focus on muscle groups each day.

Tennis also contributes to muscle development but in a manner compared to weightlifting. It helps fortify and enhance muscle endurance without an increase in size.

Then emphasizing muscle mass gain tennis focuses more on improving speed, flexibility, and stability. 

Sure playing tennis can help you tone your muscles. It won’t give you the bulk, as weightlifting.

7 Best Strength Exercises For Tennis Players

Tennis players can try these seven exercises to work out their whole body and strengthen their muscles. These exercises focus on the important muscles used in tennis. If there’s a specific area you want to improve, you can do more of that exercise.

You can do many exercises on a tennis court using your body weight. But if you have extra equipment, like in a gym or your tennis club, it can make these exercises even more effective.

Ball Squeeze:

Take a tennis ball. Squeeze it as hard as possible for a count of 20. Then switch hands and repeat. This exercise helps strengthen your hand grip and forearm enabling you to generate power and control when hitting the ball during a game of tennis.

Jumping Exercises:

Imagine placing markers like cones or shoes on the ground. Quickly jump over them while landing on your toes before jumping. This exercise targets your leg muscles. Improves agility on the tennis court making it easier to reach for those to reach balls.

Rope Skipping:

Grab a skipping rope. Start jumping! Rope skipping is an exercise that also enhances coordination and footwork essential for success in tennis.

Try to rotate the rope around 150 times without taking a break. It’s like a fun game. Great for your health. Additionally, it improves your balance and quick reaction skills which can be beneficial in tennis.

Lateral Lunges:

Stand tall then take a step to the side and bend your knees. Return to standing position. Repeat on the side. This exercise mimics movements on the tennis court strengthening your legs and core for all the running and striking involved.

Chest Press/Press-up:

If you have access to a bench lie down on it. Push something upward as if lifting a pretend barbell. If not perform push-ups on the floor instead. This exercise targets your arms and chest muscles for hitting shots over the net and maintaining stamina during matches.

Cable Rotation:

At the gym stand to a cable machine hold onto it like you would grip a tennis racket then pull it across your body. This movement helps strengthen your core muscles for twisting and reaching actions in tennis. It’s, like doing a workout that engages your muscles.

Medicine Ball Throw:

Take a weighted ball. Hold it against your chest. Then throw the ball against a wall. Repeat this process by picking up the ball and throwing it again. This exercise is designed to enhance the strength of your body enabling you to hit the tennis ball with power and speed during gameplay. It’s similar, to playing catch. With yourself.

Wrap Up

Playing tennis demands developed muscles, which can be achieved through exercises such as squeezing balls jumping, and skipping rope. While tennis may not result in muscle bulking like weightlifting does it significantly improves speed and stability. Whether using a tennis ball or engaging in medicine ball throws these exercises contribute to building strength. Boosting confidence, on the court.

References:

[1]https://www.sportsver.com/does-playing-tennis-build-muscle-the-truth/

[2]https://www.asics.com/ie/en-ie/tennis-advice/best-strength-training-exercises-for-tennis-player/

[3]https://www.metroleague.org/does-tennis-make-your-arms-bigger/

Fan-Friendly Delray Beach Open Smart To Promote Star Start Times Well In Advance

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

The Delray Beach Open ATP 250 event in Delray Beach, Florida continues to be very fan friendly with its excellent pre-event promotion.

The tournament, run by former University of Georgia All-American Ivan Baron and his family, always make it a point to promote in advance WHEN exactly their top-ranked players are playing! This allows fans, with weeks of notice, to properly plan their week of tennis view so that can for sure see their favorite top players competing in the event.

In an advance press release touting that Frances Tiafoe will among the 2024 field of competitors, the tournament made sure to announce “Tiafoe will play his first match at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15.” It then also promotes that defending champion Taylor Fritz  will begin his title defense at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and that Tommy Paul, another of the leading entries, will play his first match during Thursday’s day session.

In my column in 2020 on the Delray Beach Open, I discussed promoting the advanced start times for the star players and how the tournament really understood “Tennis Promotion 101” as you can read here https://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/18290

The 2024 Delray Beach Open will played Feb. 9-18 and tickets are on sale at DelrayBeachOpen.com.

The event starts on Friday, February 9 with what the tournament calls an ATP Champions Tour Legends event, although there really isn’t an ATP Champions Tour anymore and this event is just a series of attractive exhibition singles and doubles matches featuring the Bryan Brothers, the Jensen Brothers, Ivo Karlovic, Sam Querrey among others.

The Delray Beach stop on the global ATP Tour annually plays in front of over 60,000 fans and reaches television audiences in nearly 90 countries. The tournament is the first North American hard court event of the outdoor season, and one of just 10 ATP Tour events in the United States.

Jelena Ostapenko Wins Title In Linz

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Jelena Ostapenko is the new queen of Linz! The world No. 12 convincingly won the premiere of the WTA 500 tournament in Upper Austria in Sunday’s final involving the top two players. The 2017 French Open winner and No. 1 seed from Latvia defeated No. 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 6-3 in only 70 minutes at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz. “I played in the final here five years ago and didn’t get the winner’s trophy, but this year’s trophy is much nicer anyway,” joked the 26-year-old from Riga holding the new Swarovski trophy. When arriving in Linz, Ostapenko revealed that she collects Swarovski figurines and that she had her eye on the iconic one-off. And it really was a happy ending in the city on the Danube.
 
“A big thank you to Sandra and her team, they spoil us and always look after us so well. I hope to be here again next year,” said Ostapenko during the trophy ceremony to great applause. For the third consecutive day, there was a capacity 2,500 crowd in Linz’s Design Center. In addition to the trophy adorned with 8,100 crystals, she also took home prize money totalling 123,480 euros. The defeated Alexandrova was gracious in defeat saying: “Congratulations to Jelena, she played great. Thanks to the fans, it was great fun to play in Linz again.” The world No. 21 lives not far away in Prague and is a regular at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz where she was the runner-up in 2018 against Camila Giorgi.
 
On Upper Austria Day, the local singer-songwriter Ina Regen provided the musical backdrop to the final, while tennis legend Ana Ivanovic was honoured in advance on Centre Court and interviewed by Tournament Ambassador Barbara Schett. The 2008 and 2010 Linz winner, who had already completed a photo shoot in the “Schlossmuseum” earlier in the day, also tossed the coin before the singles final together with Upper Austria’s Governor Thomas Stelzer. Other guests of honour included Markus Achleitner, Upper Austrian Councillor for Economic Affairs and Sports, Klaus Luger, Mayor of Linz, and Karin Hörzing, Deputy Mayor of Linz.
 
They saw a match that was typical for Ostapenko with her high-speed power tennis. The Australian Open doubles runner-up had only dropped one set in her three previous encounters – in her opening match on Thursday evening when she, despite jet lag and being a match point down, clinched the 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7) win against the young Danish star Clara Tauson just after midnight. “That’s what makes a champion, that you still fight your way through. After that I realised that I could win this tournament. And now I have the trophy!” It will take pride of place in her living room in Riga. “The trophy is so beautiful. I don’t have to hide it. I’ll put it in a place where I can always see it,” said the Latvian with a liking for interior design.
 

In the Upper Austria Ladies Linz doubles final, the Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini took on the No. 1 seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) and Ellen Perez (Australia). With Errani’s experience and Paolini’s carefree attitude, the unseeded duo finally claimed the doubles title with a 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 win. All four doubles players were full of praise of the atmosphere in Linz. Melichar-Martinez was particularly grateful saying: “Thanks to Sandra! She is probably the best tournament organiser on the whole tour!”
 
At the final award ceremony, tournament director Sandra Reichel was symbolically presented with the “Aces for Bees” donation by Kathrin Kühtreiber-Leitner, borad director of Oberösterreichische Versicherung. 346 aces were hit during the tournament, but Oberösterreichische rounded it up to 700. This means that 700 honeycombs will be handed over to beekeepers in Upper Austria. This campaign is part of the sustainability philosophy of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz, which was once again certified as a “Green Event” this year.


 
­ Rounded Rectangle: Draws (Singles + Doubles)

U.S. Davis Cup Team Beats Ukraine 4-0 In Lithuania

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The doubles team of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram clinched the U.S. Davis Cup team’s spot in the Group Stage of the 2024 Davis Cup Finals on Friday in Vilnius, Lithuania, defeating a spirited Ukrainian team Vitaliy Sachko and Illya Beloborodko, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. The match was an indication of the fighting spirit of the Ukrainians, as exemplified in their struggle in war against invading Russia as Krajicek and Ram are ranked No. 3 and No. 5 in the world, respectively, while Sachko is ranked No. 301 and Beloborodko is ranked No. 947.

World No. 9 Taylor Fritz, having been subbed for Chris Eubanks for the opening day’s singles due to an injured right hip, recovered in time to finish off the tie, defeating Vladyslav Orlov, 6-3, 6-4, in a dead rubber to make the tie an even 4-0. 

On the first day of play, Eubanks won his Davis Cup debut to clinch a 2-0 lead for the USA. After Sebastian Korda outlasted Oleksii Krutykh, 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-4, Eubanks overpowered the 498th-ranked Viacheslav Bielinskyi 6-3, 6-2.

Vilnius was chosen as the site for the series due to the war in Ukraine, as you can read here: https://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/22653

The Group Stage will be played across four TBD cities September 10-15. The top eight nations advancing out of Group Play will play in the Final 8 stage of the competition, a knockout-style quarterfinal bracket to be played in November in Malaga, Spain, that will crown the 2024 Davis Cup champion.

The U.S. is captained by Bob Bryan, who made his Davis Cup debut alongside twin brother Mike in 2003, as you can read about in the ebook “U.S. Davis Cup Team Stories – The Bryan Brothers Debut In A 2003 Season of Change” here https://a.co/d/gruI3Lk #Amazon via @Amazon

Thursday, February 1 

Sebastian Korda (USA) d. Oleksii Krutykh (UKR), 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-4

Chris Eubanks (USA) d. Viacheslav Bielinskyi (UKR), 6-3, 6-2

Friday, February 2 

Austin Krajicek / Rajeev Ram (USA) d. Vitaliy Sachko / Illya Beloborodko (UKR), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Taylor Fritz (USA) d. Vladyslav Orlov (UKR), 6-3, 6-4

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From The Court To The Casino: Tennis Players Who Love To Gamble

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The world of professional tennis is not just about forehands and backhands; it’s also a realm where the thrill of the game often extends beyond the court.

From Australian online real money casinos to poker tables and roulette wheels. For some tennis stars, the allure of gambling offers a different kind of excitement. Let’s find out which famous tennis players enjoy the thrill of gambling just like you are!

[1] 

Rafael Nadal: The Poker Enthusiast

Rafael Nadal, renowned for his dominance on clay courts, is also a passionate poker player. His competitive spirit on the tennis court seamlessly translates to the poker table. Nadal’s involvement in gambling is not just a pastime; he has participated in professional poker tournaments, showcasing his strategic thinking and mental toughness, traits that have served him well in tennis.

Boris Becker: High Stakes Beyond the Court

Boris Becker, a legend in the tennis world, is equally known for his high-stakes gambling. Reports have detailed Becker’s affinity for casino visits, where he engages in various games of chance. Becker’s gambling habit has been a subject of much discussion, reflecting how a sports star’s competitive drive can find outlets beyond their primary field of fame.

Jimmy Connors: From Tennis Champion to Gambling Enthusiast

Jimmy Connors, an iconic figure in tennis with eight Grand Slam titles, also had a known interest in gambling. His presence in renowned gambling resorts was well-documented, indicating a life lived with the same vigor off the court as on it. Connors’ gambling hobby shows how the adrenaline rush of sports can parallel the excitement found in betting and gambling.

Patrick Antonius: The Tennis Pro Turned Poker Star

Patrick Antonius, initially making his mark in tennis, shifted his focus to become a professional poker player. His journey from tennis courts to poker tables is a fascinating tale of transition, where skills like patience, reading opponents, and strategic planning are crucial in both domains. Antonius exemplifies how the attributes of a sports professional can translate into success in the gambling world.

[2] 

The Intersection of Tennis and Gambling

For these tennis stars, gambling is more than a leisure activity; it’s a continuation of their competitive nature. The qualities that make them exceptional athletes — strategic thinking, mental fortitude, and a knack for risk-taking — are equally valuable in the world of gambling. Their involvement in gambling also highlights the psychological parallels between sports and betting: the thrill of the win, the analysis of opponents, and the pressure of high-stakes situations.

Wrapping Up

The crossover of tennis players into the world of gambling is a fascinating study of how the skills and thrills of professional sports find resonance in other forms of competition. For these athletes, the casino offers a different arena where their competitive spirit can thrive. It’s a reminder of the diverse interests and talents of these sports stars, and how the rush of competition is a universal language, whether on the court or at the casino table.

Before Jannik Sinner, There Was Adriano Panatta

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by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Before Jannik Sinner, there was Adriano Panatta, who was the only other Italian man in the Open Era of tennis (since 1968) to win a major singles title.

All respect goes to perhaps the all-time Italian men’s tennis great Nicola Pietrangeli, who won back-to-back French titles in 1959 and 1960 and lost two other finals at Roland Garros. In the pantheon of Italian men’s tennis greats, he will still be regarded as the top cannoli.

In his famed tennis encyclopedia “The Bud Collins History of Tennis,” Hall of Famer Bud Collins described Panatta at the time as the “best Italian in the Open Era,” which is now up for debate with Sinner’s success. Panatta’s career record is quite similar to that of Sinner as it stands now – one major singles title (1976 French for Panatta, 2024 Australian for Sinner), 10 singles titles (against 11 now for Sinner) and a Davis Cup title for Italy. However, Sinner is only 22 years old. Panatta’s success is not quite up to snuff for the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which is why his bio, as seen in the official “Bud Collins History of Tennis” (which is for sale and download here https://a.co/d/fOGnbec is only written in short-hand note form, as you can read below.

PANATTA, Adriano—Best Italian in Open era, Adriano Panatta, RH, b. July 9, 1950, Rome. Slick 6 ft god at Il Foro Italico, Rome, responding winningly to feverish chants, “AD-REE-ANNO!” Strong serve, whipping forehand, called “Portiere” (Goaltender) for brilliant volleying saves. Spectacular 1976 (45-15 matches)—Won French singles, def. Harold Solomon (USA), 6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3). Won Italian singles, def. Guillermo Vilas (ARG), 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 7-6 (7-1). Lost Italian F, 1978, to Bjorn Borg (SWE) 1-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, a tumultuous verbal and tossed-coins assault on Borg. Led Italy to lone Davis Cup, def. Chile, 5-0 (10-1 singles; 5-1 doubles). Also to F, 1977, 79-80. Cup record, 1970–83, 38 ties, 37-26 singles; 27-10 doubles; one of 14 to play 100 matches. MP escapes in big titles, 1976: French, 1 MP, def. Pavel Hutka (CZE), 1st rd., 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, 0-6, 12-10; Italian, 11 MP, def. Kim Warwick (AUS), 1st rd. 3-6, 6-4, 7-6. Best world rank, No. 4 in Aug 1976, 7 at end of 1976. Career: won 10 singles (364-223 matches), 18 doubles (233-152 matches) pro titles, $776,187 prize money. Younger brother, Claudio Panatta (b. Feb. 2, 1960, Rome) played Davis Cup, pro tour.

A Look Back At Roger Federer’s Final Major Title At The Australian Open

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From the “On This Day In Roger Federer History” book, fans can look back at all the great moments in the career of all-time legend Roger Federer. Let”s look back at Federer’s final major tournament victory…

January 28, 2018: Roger Federer wins his 20th and ultimately his final major singles title defeating Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the final of the Australian Open. Federer joins Roy Emerson and Novak Djokovic as a six-time winner of the Australian championships and, at the age of 36, Federer becomes the second-oldest man to win a Grand Slam singles title, only behind Ken Rosewall, who won the Australian Open in 1972 at 37. On winning his 20th

major singles titles, Federer says, “I was not allowed to think of it going into the match, because that’s exactly when things go bad, when you think too far ahead…All day I was thinking, ‘How would I feel if I won it? How would I feel if I lost it? I’m so close, yet so far.’ I think I was going through the whole match like this. I’ve had these moments in the past, but maybe never as extreme as tonight. Getting to 20 is obviously very, very special, no doubt.”

Buy or download the “On This Day In Roger Federer History” book here: https://a.co/d/ej9SQLV #Amazon via Amazon

Jannik Sinner Writes His Own Story In Dramatic Australian Open Win

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BY JAMES BECK

It’s been the same old story at the Australian Open for a long time in the men’s game.

One of the greats almost always would take the top prize Down Under. Either Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer or even Stan Wawrinka always prevailed since 2006 at Melbourne.

And then came Jannik Sinner in 2024.

None of the other superstars were still around for Sunday’s final.

A DIFFERENT AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Yes, this time it was a different Australian Open.

But actually Sinner may have written his own story when he upended Djokovic in the semifinals. Without that experience, the slender Italian may not have been able to handle the pressure that Daniil Medvedev sent his way in the final.

Sinner was ready for the finish line after shocking Djokovic in the semifinals. It just took time to get there.

Sinner played within himself most of the last three sets of the final. A first-time Grand Slam finalist, Sinner played as if he belonged there in those three sets.

But, oh, those first two sets when Medvedev dominated play with his backhand from the middle of the court. Backhands usually are reserved for the backhand side of the court, but not with the tall Russian on the court.

SINNER DIDN’T PLAY HIS GAME AT FIRST

In a similar manner as women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka, Sinner followed up a big semifinal win with his own Australian Open title. Only, Sinner had to fight for five sets to accomplish his dream Down Under with a 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Medvedev.

Sinner appeared to play far differently from his victory over Djokovic when he controlled the court with his aggressive play and power.

This time, Sinner started things conservatively with few aggressive winners, repeatedly leaving the corners wide open for Medvedev’s crafty, but hard hit strokes. Medvedev made Sinner  pay a price with a style of play that was just the opposite.

Medvedev played close to the baseline and aggressively hopped on balls with his backhand in whip-lash fashion. He hardly had to move as he conserved energy.

THE STRATEGY ALMOST WORKED TO PERFECTION

Medvedev’s strategy worked like a charm until Sinner served the ninth game of the third set as Medvedev once needed only six points for a possible Grand Slam title. Sinner managed to overcome a deuce score to win that game.

Medvedev fell behind 30-0 serving the 10th game of the set and then Sinner got his first set point. Sinner made it stand up and it was a new game after that.

Sinner didn’t appear to be ready for Medvedev’s game the first two sets, but the Italian then came alive. He became prepared for Medvedev, even after losing the first two sets.

Of course, Sabalenka got her boost from a surprising, but solid win over talented Coco Graff in the women’s semifinals. Sabalenka then was never really challenged by Qinwen Zheng in the final.

Sinner’s final was much different.  He was somewhat lucky to escape with  a win.

Medvedev almost wrapped up the title in the ninth game, but it didn’t happen. As a result, Sinner may have started his own success story in Grand Slam finals.

—

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award  for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

Emma Navarro USTA STORY BY BECK LINK

https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/southern/emma-navarro-s-quick-rise-to-no–31.html#tab=tournaments
Jannik Sinner

Move Over Coco, Sabalenka Is The New Star In Women’s Tennis

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BY JAMES BECK

Coco Gauff may have to wait a couple of years before she is proclaimed the greatest women’s tennis player.

Aryna Sabalenka appears to have that title wrapped up for the present.

Is the 25-year-old Belarussian better than the 19-year-old American? Obviously yes for the moment, after Sabalenka’s 7-6 (7), 6-4 win over Gauff in the Australian Open semifinals, and then Sabalenka’s 6-3, 6-2 breeze by 21-year-old Qinwen Zheng in Saturday’s women’s final Down Under

TOUGHER COMPETITION AHEAD FOR COCO?

Maybe to make matters tougher for Gauff, Zheng may be ready to join the battle quicker than anyone could have dreamed.

Yes, the final was a breeze, but the young and tall Chinese star demonstrated great potential against the powerful Sabalenka.

Then again, Sabalenka never seemed to be worried about winning a second straight Australian Open crown. No matter what Zheng came up with, Sabalenka generally had the answer.

Sabalenka just decided to concentrate a little deeper when Zheng tried to make things interesting.

SABALENKA TO MUCH FOR ZHENG

Sabalenka was simply too big, strong and talented to let the lean Chinese player make things real difficult for her.

And it’s those same features that might be Gauff’s toughest enemy to overcome in the near future.

But, of course, Gauff has plenty of time since she’s still a teen-ager.

TWO BIG SURPRISES IN TWO DAYS

This year’s semifinals may have been among the most surprising in a long time

Not only did crowd favorite Gauff go down in the women’s semifinals, the legendary Novak Djokovic didn’t have what it takes to go for an 11th Australian Open men’s title.

Novak appeared really worried and puzzled as early as the first set that he lost 6-1 to hard-hitting and talented Italian Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. And Djokovic didn’t appear any more in the match in a 6-2 second set.

At that point, it was over. Sinner just wouldn’t allow Djokovic to make a match of it. Sinner hit and served harder, and moved better than Novak.

Even though Novak won the third set in a tiebreaker only to lose the match 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3,  Sinner was just too good for the 36-year-old Serbian.

HAS THE FUTURE CHANGED?

Whether the match was a sample of what’s to come in the latter stages of Novak’s historic career, it likely was an example of the talented Sinner’s future.

Yes, in two days, the present outlook of both men’s and women’s professional tennis was altered.

No Coco. No Novak.

Both had headed home before the finals.

Indian Wells and Miami are still there, but the red clay of Paris in about four months probably holds the answers to both puzzles.

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award  for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

Emma Navarro USTA STORY BY BECK LINK

https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/southern/emma-navarro-s-quick-rise-to-no–31.html#tab=tournaments

Before Qinwen Zheng and Li Na, This Famous Personality From China Loved His Tennis (Until A Goat Ate His Net!)

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Before Qinwen Zheng and Li Na, there was another great personality from China who was almost equally passionate about tennis. It was Chairman Mao Tse-Tung….

There is much attention focused on tennis in China with the success of Zheng, following in the footsteps of Li Na, the first Chinese player to win a major singles titles at the French Open in 2011 and at the Australian Open in 2014.

It is interesting to know that Mao, the founder of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and its ruler until his death in 1976, was also an enthusiastic tennis player and that he played in a lot more tiring environments. Bud Collins, the one-and-only and irreplaceable tennis personality, author and Hall of Famer, wrote of Chairman Mao in the “They Also Serve” biography section of his authoritative book “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” which is for sale and download here: https://a.co/d/9V197JJ

Wrote Collins in his “tome” of Mao, “Chairman Mao’s biographer, Edgar Snow, reported that the chairman enjoyed playing tennis with comrades in Shensi Province after his army had survived the famed, brutal Long March of 6,000 miles in 1935. Unfortunately his tennis career ended when a goat ate the net. That must have gotten his goat. But he would have been proud of Zi Yan and Jie Zheng, first Chinese ladies to win majors, Australian and Wimbledon doubles, 2006. Mao was born December 26, 1893 in Shaoshan Xiang Tan, Hunan Province, China and died at the age of 82, September 9, 1976 in Beijing.”