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Venus Williams Hints At Her Return To The WTA Tour

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Venus Williams looks set to make a sensational return to the court after she recently revealed via social media she plans to head back onto the WTA tour in the near future.

The 41-year-old hasn’t played since the WTA tournament in Chicago back in August 2021 as she’s been struggling with a leg injury. CBS reported that was why she pulled out of playing in the U.S. Open last year; despite that, Williams was offered a wildcard spot for the Australian Open earlier this month, but she didn’t take up the offer citing her lack of fitness as the cause for her latest withdrawal.

However, fans soon forgot any disappointment arising from her not traveling to the Southern Hemisphere when she announced her plans to be back on the court soon. It’s huge news for the tennis world to see the return of the former world number one, who has won seven major singles titles and Olympic gold medals in her career to date.

Williams took to Instagram to speak to fans, and when one of them questioned her about a possible return to play and her fitness, she said: “I’m doing great. More than anything, I am, guess what? Gearing to get back on tour. Can’t wait.”

It’s fantastic for the sport to see her aiming to come back, although as she’s only currently ranked 464 in the world, Williams is unlikely to be amongst the frontrunners in the tennis markets from Ladbrokes for a Grand Slam title this year. Not only because she’s missed a great deal of tennis, but her recent record hasn’t been the most spectacular. In the ten tournaments she played in 2021 before picking up her leg injury, she only won three games and lost nine and was on a six-game losing run before winning her first-round match at Wimbledon in July.

For Venus’ sister, Serena, the last year hasn’t been the best either. The most successful women’s tennis player in the modern era has also slipped down the rankings; at the time of writing, she’s dropped out of the top 200 players in the world. However, like her older sibling, she’s not prepared to hang up her racquet just yet.

Serena has had recent struggles with injury, which meant she also couldn’t feature in Australia, making it the first time that neither of the sisters had played in the tournament since 1997. Although she hasn’t been on the court since withdrawing in the first round at Wimbledon with her ankle injury, Serena is still considered one of the greats by a legend of the game, John McEnroe. The former U.S. Open champion anticipates Serena coming back strong and wouldn’t discount her from being amongst the frontrunners in a Grand Slam this year. It could prove interesting if she does as Serena still aims to surpass the record of 24 Grand Slam wins set by the Australian Margaret Court back in 1973 before she ends her career.

While their current rankings would suggest that neither of the sisters will trouble the current crop of champions, it’s impossible to dismiss the pair who have won 30 titles between them, making 2022 a real year to remember.

Venus Williams

Reilly Opelka and John Isner Play The Longest Men’s Singles Tiebreaker Ever At The Dallas Open…Or Was It?!?!

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Records that are equaled five different times deserve to be broken.

Saturday at the first-year Dallas Open in Texas, John Isner and Reilly Opelka played the longest tiebreaker in men’s singles play in ATP history when Opelka won a 24-22 second-set tiebreaker in his 7-6 (7), 7-6 (22) semifinal win.

Back at Wimbledon in 1973, Bjorn Borg, then just a 17-year-old won a 20-18 tiebreaker over Premjit Lall to close out a 6-3, 6-4, 9-8 (20-18) first round victory. 1973 Wimbledon. Since then, five times (as outlined below), the 20-18 tiebreaker threshold was equaled, but not eclipsed in men’s singles, in matches featuring Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, Goran Ivanisevic and others, including another player named “Bjorn.”

While a women’s singles match and women’s doubles match broke the 20-18 mark (as seen below), the longest ever tie-breaker on record in a “tour-level” match was 50 points (26-24) Michael Mortensen and Jan Gunnarson beating John Frawley and Victor Pecci 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (26-24) in the first round of Wimbledon in 1985.

The Opelka vs. Isner match harkened me back to a story I wrote about an even longer tiebreaker in very distinct and unusual circumstances, as excerpted below.

The longest tie-breaker on record was played last weekend.

Except, it’s not on record.

The talk of the tennis world on Monday – particularly on Twitter – was of a 70-point tie-breaker played Sunday between two members of Monaco’s Davis Cup team in the third round of qualifying at the $10,000 USTA Futures event in Plantation, Florida – Benjamin Balleret defeating Guillaume Couillard 7-6 (36-34), 6-1. The tie-breaker was 20 points longer than the previous longest tie-breaker on record, which was, according to THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS, a 50-point (26-24) tie-breaker in a Wimbledon doubles match from 1985.

The only “problem” with the Balleret-Couillard tie-breaker is that there is, technically, no real “record” of it.

After word of the epic tie-breaker was distributed via social media from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), I sent an email to David Littlefield, the USTA/ITF Tour Supervisor on site at the event, to get more details on the historic match, such as number of set points each player had, how long the tie-breaker was in length of time and any other stats that could be mustered. The official chair umpire’s scorecard is always the official record of any tennis match that is played.

Littlefield reminded me in his return email to me late Monday night that the Balleret-Couillard match was only a qualifying match in a Futures event, the lowest level tournament in pro tennis and, as he wrote, “all matches in qualifying are played without any chair umpire or any lines people. The players call their own lines and the matches have a few ‘roving’ certified officials that watch several courts at once and may be called on from time to time to settle any disputes between the players. There is no ‘official’ record of the match, such as a scorecard, no total time of the set, nor any way to know the number of set points any of the players had in the course of the tie-break.”

He went on to write that the now famous tie-breaker was witnessed by spectators and that the players are true professionals who “would not just make up a score for the hell of it.”

Couillard tweeted that he had 11 set points in tie-breaker, meaning that Balleret had at least 19 set points.

Balleret is 29 years old and currently ranked No. 636 after posting a career high ranking of No. 204 in 2006. That year, he qualified for his hometown ATP tournament in Monte Carlo, defeating former top-five player Jonas Bjorkman in the final round of qualifying. Couillard is currently unranked, held a career-high ranking of No. 569 in 2002 and is 37 years old.

According to the authoritative THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS book ($35.95, available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559386/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_H3S87FHAE9J2X11RA0HY the longest tie-break on record – 50 points – came in the first round of Wimbledon in 1985 when Michael Mortensen and Jan Gunnarson defeated John Frawley and Victor Pecci 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (26-24). The full list of the longest tie-breakers from the Collins’ book is found below.

Longest Tie-Breakers

Men’s Singles

38 – (20-18) Roger Federer d. Marat Safin 6-3, 7-6 (20-18), semifinal, 2004 Tennis Masters Cup, Houston

38 – (20-18) Bjorn Borg d. Premjit Lall 6-3, 6-4, 9-8 (20-18), first round, 1973 Wimbledon

38 – (20-18) Andy Roddick d. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7 (18-20), 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, 6-3, first round, 2007 Australian Open

38 – (20-18) Goran Ivanisevic d. Daniel Nestor 6-4, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (20-18), first round, 1993 US Open

38 – (20-18) Jose Acasuso d. Bjorn Phau 7-5 7-6 (20-18), first round, Toronto, 2006

38 – (20-18) Goran Ivanisevic d. Greg Rusedski, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (20-18), semifinal, Queens Club, 1997

Women’s Singles

40 – (21-19) Emmanuelle Gagliardi d. Tara Snyder 6-7 (19-21), 6-1, 6-1, second round, Madrid, 1999

Men’s Doubles

50 – (26-24) Michael Mortensen and Jan Gunnarson d. John Frawley and Victor Pecci 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (26-24), first round, Wimbledon, 1985

Women’s Doubles

42 – (22-20) Nicole Pratt and Bryanne Stewart d. Corina Morariu and Rennae Stubbs 7-6 (5), 7-6 (22-20), first round, 2006 Amelia Island

Ben Balleret of Monaco has a unique footnote mention in "The Bud Collins History of Tennis"
Ben Balleret of Monaco has a unique footnote mention in “The Bud Collins History of Tennis”

Juan Martin del Potro Falls In Comeback Match And Likely Career Finale

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Juan Martin del Potro  was defeated in what is likely his final career match in front of home fans and family at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires Tuesday night..

The 33-year-old del Potro, who had not played since 2019 due to injuries to his knee, was defeated by his former Argentine Davis Cup teammate Federico Delbonis 6-1, 6-3.

“This is the moment I hoped would never come,” he said on Saturday in his pre-event press conference. “I don’t have the strength to go ahead. I gave it all.”

Del Potro has had multiple wrist and knee surgeries in the past decade. He once was ranked as high as No. 3 in the world and won the 2009 U.S. Open. He also won Olympic silver at the Rio Olympics and Olympic bronze at the London Olympics. Following his loss, he draped his headband over the net and hugged his mom Patricia, who watched him play in person for the first time.

In his post-match press conference, del Potro said he would leave himself open a bit to a return to tennis if a “miracle” happens and he is able to be without pain. However, he said he needs to not make tennis a priority and try to first live without pain in his knee.

Before his knee injury, del Potro suffered from a serious of wrist injuries. However, as documented in the biography of del Potro “The Gentle Giant” by Argentine reporter Sebastian Torok, (for sale and download here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559920/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_0F64H1Z1BXN7WJE5P6E0 the “Tower of Tandil” as he was also called, persisted and was able to return to the No. 3 ranking, the U.S. Open final and win Olympic silver in Rio in 2016.

Can Novak Djokovic Reclaim Grand Slam Lead?

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A great rivalry at the top of tennis has existed for quite some time as the battle between Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic for who would be the first to claim 21 grand slams has been around for a while – whilst Djokovic would have been the clear wagering favorite at sites like these offering wagering odds, his ban from the Australian Open which Nadal would go on to win put an end to hose hopes, but there are plenty more tournaments to come and Djokovic still has some good years left in his career – so can he reclaim the grand slam lead?

At least for one of the competitors, the hopes of competing may not be around for too much longer – Roger Federer has been battling with health issues and at 40 years of age may be coming towards the end of his career – if he is to compete at another grand slam there is still the possibility of a surprising win, but his career may end at the current 20 wins. At 35, Nadal still has a good chunk of his career left so will continue to be a big competitor and this recent win will inspire more confidence, particularly with the French Open and Nadal’s best tournament coming quickly which could secure an easy 22nd if injury can be avoided and good health remains.

Djokovic’s hopes may have been temporarily put on hold when it was announced he may not be able to play at the French Open following the Australian Open drama, but that decision was soon overturned and the world #1 will have a chance to compete once again – there are still questions around future events too, under usual rules Djokovic may not be able to enter Australia to compete in its tournaments for the next three years but that ban can be waived under certain circumstances, and the likelihood of the situation is that any potential block will be lifted and he’ll return to normal play in future events, but there was a moment in time where his entire international career could’ve been jeopardized by actions leading up to the Australian Open.

Djokovic will certainly remain a wagering favorite for many tournaments to come and much like Nadal, at 34 years of age he still has a long career to go, there will be plenty of opportunities to re-claim the lead in the grand slam standings particularly with the change in entry to the next big tennis open, and perhaps with a fiery passion to secure a big win.

Novak Djokovic

Juan Martin del Potro Announces Likely Retirement In Buenos Aries

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Juan Martin del Potro has revealed that the Argentina Open could mark his farewell from tennis as he attempts to come back from a devastating knee injury.

The 33-year-old former world, No. 3 will return from almost three years on the sidelines when he meets fellow Argentine and former Davis CUp teammate Federico Delbonis in the first round of the ATP 250 event on Tuesday in Buenos Aires.

“I have been feeling it and imagining it for a long time and it may be more of a farewell than a return,” an emotional Del Potro told a news conference on Saturday. “I have been putting in a big effort to make progress and the knee has been turning my life into a nightmare.”

The 2009 US Open champion has not played competitively since June 2019, when he suffered a fractured right patella for the second time in nine months during the Queen’s ATP 500 tournament in London.

He has since undergone four operations, the most recent of which took place in Chicago last March.

“I never imagined a possible retirement from tennis that wasn’t while playing on a court and I couldn’t find a better tournament than the one in Buenos Aires to do it,” he said.

“These next few weeks we will see what happens with my future. I can’t wait to get on the court on Tuesday to relive what I’ve done for my whole life. I love this sport and I will be trying to win until the last point.” 

Del Potro’s life, career and persistence through his injury-ridden career is documented in the book “Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” by Sebastian Torok here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559920/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_ETMHMM5ZVPJ5MP142Y07 via Amazon,com

Juan Martin del Potro

Sebi Korda Gets First Davis Cup Nod For Team USA Match With Colombia In Reno

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Sebi Korda, the 21-year-old son of former world No. 2 Petr Korda and brother of LPGA super star golfers Nelly and Jessica Korda, has been named to the U.S. Davis Cup team for the first time. The United States Tennis Association and United States Davis Cup Captain Mardy Fish announced that Korda would represent the USA along with American No. 1 Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Jack Sock and Rajeev Ram for its Davis Cup by Rakuten Qualifying tie vs. Colombia March 4-5 in Reno, Nevada.

Korda, 21, is ranked No. 43 and will be making his Davis Cup debut. A former junior world No. 1 and one of the sport’s top young rising stars, Korda rose from outside the Top 300 to inside the Top 40 in a span of less than two years and won his first ATP singles title in 2021.

Fritz, 24, is the top-ranked American man at No. 20 and reached the final 16 at the Australian Open this year. The Californian has competed for the U.S. in Davis Cup since 2019, when, at 21 years old, he became the youngest American to debut in the Top 25 since Andy Roddick in 2004.

Paul, 24, is ranked No. 42 and will be making his second Davis Cup appearance. A former junior French Open champion and 2020 Tokyo Olympian, Paul earned his first career win over a Top 5-ranked opponent and won his first ATP singles title in 2021.

Sock, 29, has been ranked as high as No. 2 in doubles and No. 8 in singles and has been playing Davis Cup since 2015. A three-time Grand Slam doubles champion and 2016 Rio Olympic men’s doubles gold medalist, Sock is 9-4 overall in Davis Cup play with a 5-1 mark in doubles.

Ram, 37, is ranked a career-high No. 4 in doubles and is making his second consecutive Davis Cup appearance. A two-time U.S. Olympian and 2016 Rio silver medalist in mixed doubles, Ram won his second Grand Slam and third ATP Masters 1000 doubles titles last summer at the US Open and Toronto, respectively, and owns 22 career ATP doubles titles.

Not named to this particular U.S. Davis Cup team are U.S. No. 2 Reilly Opelka (ranked No. 24), U.S. No. 3 John Isner (ranked No. 28) and U.S. No. 4 Frances Tiafoe (ranked No. 32).

This is the first time Davis Cup has been played in Northern Nevada. Davis Cup has only come to Nevada once before, a 1995 matchup between the U.S. and Sweden at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas that the U.S. won en route to winning the title that year. The United States owns an all-time record of 114-19 when playing at home and last won the title in 2007.

Davis Cup is the World Cup of Men’s Tennis and is the largest international team competition in world sport, with nearly 150 nations competing each year. The Qualifier vs. Colombia is a best-of-five match series played over two days, beginning with two singles matches on Friday, March 4. A doubles match and two reverse singles matches will follow on Saturday, March 5. The first to win three of those matches will advance to the 2022 Davis Cup Finals – a 16-nation, multi-city competition held later this year with dates and locations to be announced. 

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at usta.com/daviscup or via Ticketmaster.

The U.S. and Colombia have split their four Davis Cup meetings, with the Colombians winning the latest matchup in the group stages of the 2021 Finals last fall in Turin, Italy.

Deloitte is the official sponsor of the U.S. Davis Cup Team. Wilson is the official ball of the U.S. Davis Cup Team.

For more information, including access to player and historical records, visit www.usta.com/daviscup or www.daviscup.com.

Sebi Korda

Althea Gibson’s Autobiography “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” Re-Released By New Chapter Press

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“I Always Wanted To Be Somebody,” the autobiography of tennis legend Althea Gibson, has been re-released by New Chapter Press.

Originally published in 1960, the book had fallen out of circulation and was only available for exorbitant prices by book resellers. However, New Chapter Press, a leading publisher of tennis books, worked with the Althea Gibson family, estate and the newly formed Althea Gibson Community Tennis Association to republish the book and make it available for the masses at a reasonable $19.95 price ($9.95 via Amazon Kindle here https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559971/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_AQM1EE03M4KEZRT2ZJMK). A portion of sales for the book will benefit the Althea Gibson Community Tennis Association.

“I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” is the intimate and candid story of a girl who grew up in the asphalt environs of Harlem, skipping school, drinking hard liquor, stealing and fist-fighting, but went on to break the color barrier in tennis and achieving the pinnacle of the sport by winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships and becoming an inspiration for many future champions.

Hall of Fame tennis legend and pioneer Billie Jean King, who said she used to sleep with “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” under her pillow as a girl, contributed the foreword to the new edition, writing, “Althea was our Jackie Robinson of tennis, and the barriers show broke down and the doors she opened have paved the way for generations of tennis players. Her contributions to our sport and to our world are many. Without Althea, there may not have been an Arthur Ashe, Leslie Allen, Zina Garrison, James Blake, Chanda Rubin, Mal Washington, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Francis Tiafoe or Naomi Osaka.”

Gibson is one of the most iconic and talented female athletes of all time, breaking the color barrier in tennis and becoming the first black player to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships. After becoming the first black player to participate in the U.S. Championships (the modern-day U.S. Open) in 1950 (three years after Jackie Robinson integrated baseball), she won the first of her back-to-back titles there in 1957, also winning singles titles at Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958. After her tennis career, she also became the first black person on the LPGA Tour in golf. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971 and died in 2003. She was an athlete, coach, leader, activist, singer, actor and one of the most illustrious and celebrated tennis players in history.

About New Chapter Press

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” by Sebastian Torok, “The Pros: The Forgotten Era of Tennis” by Peter Underwood, “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All-Time” and “Pete Sampras: Greatness Revisited” by Steve Flink, “Pioneers of the Game: The Evolution of Men’s Professional Tennis” by Marshall Happer, “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “The Secrets of Spanish Tennis” by Chris Lewit, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins, “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was” by Sidney Wood, “Titanic: The Tennis Story” by Lindsay Gibbs, “Macci Magic: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others” by Rick Macci with Jim Martz, “Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion: The Full Extraordinary Story” by Mark Hodgkinson, “Cattle To Courts: A History of Tennis In Texas” by Ken McAllister, “Sport of a Lifetime: Enduring Personal Stories From Tennis” by Judy Aydelott, “Trojan Tennis: A History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” by S. Mark Young, “Absolute Tennis: The Best And Next Way To Play The Game” by Marty Smith, “How To Permanently Erase Negative Self Talk So You Can Be Extraordinary” by Emily Filloramo, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, “Your Playbook For Beating Depression: Essential Strategies For Managing and Living with Depression” by Cliff Richey and Mary Garrison, “The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All-Time” by Sandra Harwitt, “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” by Rene Stauffer, “The Days of Roger Federer” and “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker, “Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” by Jan Kodes with Peter Kolar, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by Tony Serksnis, “Court Confidential: Inside The World Of Tennis” by Neil Harman, “A Backhanded Gift” by Marshall Jon Fisher, “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli (www.Boycott1980.com), “Internet Dating 101: It’s Complicated, But It Doesn’t Have To Be” by Laura Schreffler, “How To Sell Your Screenplay” by Carl Sautter, “Bone Appetit: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog” by Suzan Anson, “The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle” by Stewart Wolpin among others.

"I Always Wanted To Be Somebody" by Althea Gibson
“I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” by Althea Gibson

“Breaking Boundaries In Black Tennis” Digital Exhibit Launched By Tennis Hall of Fame

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The International Tennis Hall of Fame has launched its newest digital exhibit, Breaking Boundaries in Black Tennis, which highlights the breakthroughs, evolution, and impact of Black tennis players and influential contributors to the sport globally.

The initial launch of Breaking Boundaries features 70 individuals representing 19 nations, and will continue to expand with many more inspiring stories to be added on an ongoing basis. Fans are also encouraged to submit their own suggestions of athletes and contributors for inclusion through a form included in the exhibit.

Visitors to the exhibit can browse athletes’ and contributors’ profiles by navigating an interactive map grouped by region. Breaking Boundaries features biographical information and interactive profiles that highlight the on-court achievements and the lasting impact of players’ successes on the sport of tennis.

“Because of what so many of these inspiring people accomplished on and off the court, I have had the opportunity to walk in their footsteps and accomplish all that I have because of their courage,” stated Katrina Adams, chair of the ITHF’s Black Tennis History Committee and Past Chairman & President of the USTA. “I am truly grateful for the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s commitment to preserving this history, celebrating their success and inspiring the next generation of Black players.”

Breaking Boundaries is the latest step in the ITHF’s ongoing initiative to educate and shine a spotlight on Black tennis history. In 2021, the ITHF introduced the digital exhibit Breaking the Barriers: The ATA and Black Tennis Pioneers to showcase the history of Black tennis in the United States. The new exhibit serves as a global extension on that concept, highlighting several of the pioneers included in Breaking the Barriers and drawing direct lines to the accomplishments of future generations.

The exhibit was piloted by the extensive research and contributions of the ITHF’s Black History Committee, which includes scholars, former players and global tennis experts: Roxanne Aaron, Katrina Adams, Leslie Allen, Lakshman Charanjiva, Bob Davis, Matt Leipzig, Ismail El Shafei, Sara Fornaciari, Nicolas Pereira, Andrea Rice, Chanda Rubin, Ken Shropshire, Damion Thomas, Jon Vegosen, and MaliVai Washington.

“It has been a pure labor of love, bringing light to the importance of Black Tennis History on a global front,” said Adams. “I am grateful for the committee’s passion and vision in bringing this to life.”

In addition to Hall of Fame legends like Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson (whose autobiography “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody has been re-released here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559971/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_AQM1EE03M4KEZRT2ZJMK via Amazon) and Dr. Robert Johnson, trailblazers who smashed barriers to Black participation in tennis are also showcased in Breaking Boundaries, such as African greats Tony Mmoh and Nduka Odizor of Nigeria, ATP Tour player Jo-Wilfred Tsonga of France, who has been ranked in the world top-5, current WTA top 100 player Heather Watson of the United Kingdom, and the first South American to officiate a Grand Slam, Carlos Bernardes of Brazil.

These trailblazers’ profiles sit in the exhibit alongside the present-day stars that followed directly in their footsteps, including today’s superstars: Venus and Serena Williams of the United States, Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, Gael Monfils of France, and Naomi Osaka of Japan. Also featured are the inspiring stories of world No. 1 Ash Barty and Hall of Famer Evonne Goolagong, who hail from a background of Indigenous Australian heritage.

Breaking Boundaries in Black Tennis is available now to view online at breakingboundaries.tennisfame.com.

International Tennis Hall of Fame

Rafael Nadal Hits Blackjack for Record-Breaking 21st Major In Dramatic Australian Open Comeback

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Blackjack for Rafael Nadal.

The ferocious Spanish left-hander won a record-breaking 21st men’s singles title at a major championship with a superbly tenacious 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory in five hours and 24 minutes.

It marked the first time Nadal came back from two-sets-to-love down in 15 years and it was the first time a player came back from 0-2 down in an Australian final since Fred Stolle turned the trick on Roy Emerson.

The tournament victory separates Nadal from his chief rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, who now both stand in second place all-time among men with 20 majors each.

Nadal’s hand of “Grand Slam” blackjack now consist of a “2” in Australia (he also won in 2009) and a “2” at Wimbledon and “ace” and a “2” at Roland Garros (13 titles) and a “4” at the U.S. Open.

Medvedev seemed poised to win his second straight major title after his U.S. Open victory leading two sets to love and looking at 2-3, 0-40 advantage on Nadal’s serve. Medvedev, however, seemed to tighten up on the cusp of the title and Nadal squeezed out the third set and continued his momentum into the fourth and fifth sets. Nadal actually served for the title at 5-4 in the fifth set, but faltered. However, he quickly gathered himself to break Medvedev right back and serve out the match at love.

Medvedev denied Djokovic his chance to win a 21st major – and the Grand Slam sweep of all four majors in a singles calendar year – in the U.S. Open and hoped to again be the tennis history spoiler. Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open champion, was unable to play the event due to Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination rules for entry into the country. Federer has struggled with knee injuries over the last two years and, at age 40, will appear to be a long-shot to again contend for major singles titles.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal

Before Ash Barty’s Australian Open Win, The Last Home-Grown Aussie Champ Was Chris O’Neil

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by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Before Ash Barty’s singles victory at the 2022 Australian Open, the last Australian to win a singles title at their home Grand Slam tournament was the 1978 tournament, which concluded on January 3, 1979. As documented in the book “On This Day In Tennis History” that Chris O’Neil of Australia, ranked No. 111 in the world, won the Australian Open women’s singles title defeating Betsy Nagelsen of the United States 6-3, 7-6 in the final. O’Neil shed tears as she accepted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy – and her $6,000 first prize check – for winning, what she admitted was “probably the weakest Australian Championship tournament.” Says O’Neil “I feel very fortunate to have won as this year’s field was not as strong as in past years.”

The 1978 Australian Open women’s draw featured only 32 players (18 from Australia) and no players from the top 20 players in the field, including Australians Evonne Goolagong (ranked No. 3), Wendy Turnbull (ranked No. 7), Kerry Reid (ranked No. 9) and Dianne Fromholtz (No. 10).

Wrote Bud Collins in “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” book of the O’Neil victory: “Tallest major winner of the year was unseeded, six-footer Chris O’Neil, who ruled her island by winning the Australian Open, defeating No. 7-seeded and No. 68-ranked Betsy Nagelsen, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Ranked No. 111, O’Neil was the longest shot ever to win a female major.  A tepid field contested for the $35,000 pot, the champ getting help from compatriot Di Evers, who knocked out top-seeded Barker, No. 26, in the quarters, 6-2, 7-6. Nevertheless, 22-year-old serve-and-volleying O’Neil, with the lone title of her career and $6,000 to show for it, joined another record long shot achiever, countryman Mark Edmondson, No. 212 as the 1976 Australian victor.”

Interesting that the scoreboard operators at the Kooyong Tennis Club during the O’Neil – Nagelsen match incorrectly listed O’Neil’s name as “O’Neill” with an extra “L.” The singles title was the one and only singles title for O’Neil, who reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 80 and whose second-best career Grand Slam singles result was a third-round finish at Wimbledon in 1974. Her career record was 19-52. She won one career doubles title and reached at least the quarterfinals at all four majors in doubles, reaching the semifinals twice in Australia (1976-1978).

Tennis Australia posted a story on O’Neil being happy to hand over history to Barty here: https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2022/01/29/chris-oneil-happy-to-hand-over-history

Chris O'Neil
Chris O’Neil

Andre Agassi Withstood 51 Aces From Joachim Johansson In His Final Australian Open Match Victory

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Andre Agassi is regarded having one of the best returns of serve in the history of tennis. So what is the story with the seldom-remembered Joachim Johansson of Sweden once hitting 51 aces past him?

It was in the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2005 and Johansson, a 23-year-old who was seeded No. 11 in the event following a semifinal run to the U.S. Open the previous year, had, two days prior battled with Spain’s Feliciano Lopez for over four hours, winning an epic 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 13-11. To boot, Agassi and never played Johansson before.

“There’s a lot of sort of guesswork involved when you’ve never played somebody,” Agassi said prior to the match. “But he has one of the biggest serves and one of the biggest forehands in the game, there’s no question about that.”

Betway spoke to Johansson about the match and attributed his fatigue from the previous match and the oppressive Australian heat for the reason he had such success on his serve.

Johansson fought bravely, but it was Agassi who emerged victorious 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 6-4. The match win ended up being Agassi’s final match victory at the Australian Open. He lost to Roger Federer in the following round and never again played in the event. Perhaps not surprisingly, Johansson began to suffer from right shoulder problems, and only played two more major tournaments following his memorable 2005 Australian Open and retired from the game in 2008.

Andre Agassi and Joachim Johansson
Andre Agassi and Joachim Johansson

The Most Comprehensive Book About The History of The Administration of Men’s Professional Tennis

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“Pioneers of the Game: The Evolution of Men’s Professional Tennis,” the comprehensive tennis history book written by Marshall Happer, is now available for sale.

The book is the culmination of many years of research and work from Happer, who was the first and only “commissioner” of men’s professional tennis as the head of the Men’s Tennis Council, the first and last unified governing body of men’s tennis from 1974-1989.

“Pioneers of the Game” documents the saga and history of the inside struggles and conflicts of a surprisingly small group of international visionaries and activists who shaped the business, administration, and governance of men’s professional tennis from 1919 to 1990 and beyond. The book details the pioneer’s 40-year competition between amateur and professional tennis which eventually forced the approval of Open Tennis in 1968, followed by the creation and development of the business, administration, and governance of men’s tennis as a professional sport between 1968 and1990 and beyond, with the divided governance and the advent of the ATP Tour.

This historical volume profiles, honors, and ranks these administrative legends which include Jack Kramer, Phillippe Chatrier, Lamar Hunt, Herman David, Derek Hardwick, Robert Kelleher, Donald Dell, Mike Davies, Stan Malless, Tony Trabert, Arthur Ashe, and Cliff Drysdale, among others.

“I am proud that I had the opportunity to meet and work for and with many of the Pioneers of the Game,” said Happer. “I wish I had known all of this history when I was privileged to be involved in men’s professional tennis.”

Steve Flink, the Hall of Fame tennis writer and historian, contributed the Foreword to the book, writing, “In this compelling and immensely significant book, Marshall Happer—a central figure in the evolution of pro tennis and one of its most crucial citizens— writes the definitive historical account of how (men’s pro tennis) all transpired, of those who contributed most mightily to the growth and wellbeing of the sport, of why the many challenges confronted by the those in and around the establishment were ultimately successful in their quest to turn the men’s game into a place of growing prominence along the landscape of sports.”

The book, which has suffered through some supply chain delays but can be ordered now here https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559955/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_5JAJY5FXNJKJGACPCJ0F via Amazon.com, has also already captured the attention of some of biggest names from the board rooms to the courts over the last 50 years.

Said five-time U.S. Open champion Jimmy Connors, “This is about the development of men’s tennis from the beginning. The Pioneers molded the game, but did those involved have their own agendas? Marshall Happer had to deal with all the ‘players’ – those on the court and those behind the scenes. This is a story that needs to be told – to understand how tennis has gotten to where it is now. Many questions will be answered, and maybe, just maybe, a few more will be asked.”

Said three-time U.S. Open champion Ivan Lendl, “I was opposed to many of the rules that Marshall held us to and we fought all the time, but looking back he had an impossible job which he tried to manage in the fairest way possible.”

Said Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia and the tournament director of the Australian Open, “Success is optimised by having respect and a better understanding of the past. Marshall’s book will help everyone in tennis reflect and gain greater knowledge of what came before them.”

Said Cliff Drysdale, the first President of the ATP, “There were so many moving parts to this interesting story. At that time tennis organizations and players in this drama were staking their claim to a place at the table. Marshall Happer was in the right place then, and he led the game thru its formative stage when there was no clear end in sight. He steered the discussion forcefully but gently through those turbulent times. Indeed, for a long while he was the lead pioneer. Marshall has done diligent research so this book is a definitive historical account. It is a great trip down memory lane and a fascinating tale of the birth of pro tennis.”

Said Miami Open Founder and Former ATP Executive Director Butch Buchholz, “Men’s professional tennis today owes a huge thank you to Marshall Happer who was the Administrator for the Men’s Tennis Council, the first and only unified governing body for men’s professional tennis. Professional tennis needed someone with Marshall’s passion for tennis and legal background to build the foundation for the sport we enjoy today.”

Said long-time Indian Wells tournament owner and tournament director Charlie Pasarell, “As a founding member of the ATP and later a member of the Men’s Tennis Council representing the North American Tournaments, I had the privilege of spending many hours in meeting rooms with Marshall….Much of the success that Tennis has achieved is due to some sound fundamentals that were established under Marshall’s leadership then. This book tells the accurate historical story of that period. It is a must read for Tennis fans, and should be mandatory reading for all players, tournament directors and tennis officials.”

Said Micky Den Tuinder Lawler, President of the WTA, “Pioneers of the Game provides the reader with a unique and inside personal insight into the fascinating world of tennis. This game is as competitive and intense behind the scenes as it is on the court. The thick plots that evolved on the international stage rival any adventure in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series.”

Said Tennis Channel President Ken Solomon, “Marshall Happer has written the definitive history of one of the most unlikely and least understood origin stories of any major sport, chronicling the tumultuous 40 year birth of men’s, and eventually all, professional tennis. Commissioner Happer’s meticulous, fascinating and thoroughly entertaining narrative has never before been told, and is a must read for any tennis fan or player seeking the unique origins of the professional game.”

About New Chapter Press

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” by Sebastian Torok, “The Pros: The Forgotten Era of Tennis” by Peter Underwood, “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All-Time” and “Pete Sampras: Greatness Revisited” by Steve Flink, “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “The Secrets of Spanish Tennis” by Chris Lewit, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins, “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was” by Sidney Wood, “Titanic: The Tennis Story” by Lindsay Gibbs, “Macci Magic: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others” by Rick Macci with Jim Martz, “Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion: The Full Extraordinary Story” by Mark Hodgkinson, “Cattle To Courts: A History of Tennis In Texas” by Ken McAllister, “Sport of a Lifetime: Enduring Personal Stories From Tennis” by Judy Aydelott, “Trojan Tennis: A History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” by S. Mark Young, “Absolute Tennis: The Best And Next Way To Play The Game” by Marty Smith, “How To Permanently Erase Negative Self Talk So You Can Be Extraordinary” by Emily Filloramo, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, “Your Playbook For Beating Depression: Essential Strategies For Managing and Living with Depression” by Cliff Richey and Mary Garrison, “The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All-Time” by Sandra Harwitt, “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” by Rene Stauffer, “The Days of Roger Federer” and “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker, “Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” by Jan Kodes with Peter Kolar, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by Tony Serksnis, “Court Confidential: Inside The World Of Tennis” by Neil Harman, “A Backhanded Gift” by Marshall Jon Fisher, “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli (www.Boycott1980.com), “Internet Dating 101: It’s Complicated, But It Doesn’t Have To Be” by Laura Schreffler, “How To Sell Your Screenplay” by Carl Sautter, “Bone Appetit: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog” by Suzan Anson, “The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle” by Stewart Wolpin among others.

"Pioneers of the Game" by Marshall Happer
“Pioneers of the Game” by Marshall Happer