backhand

“YOU’RE NOT A GOOD TENNIS PLAYER!”

April 13, 2010 by WTM

By Charles Bricker

“You have no chance. You’re not a good tennis player. You’re a nice person and you’re good at your day job at the Tennis Channel. But you’re not a good tennis player.”

Justin Gimelstob paused to watch the butt of his comic patois hit another clumsy shot. “You know you have to keep the balls within the lines,” J-Gimel said sarcastically.

It’s a funny couple minutes of an internet clip which you can see at tennischannel.com/dreams and it got a special little smile from me because Gimelstob’s fall guy here, producer/director Brandon Moglen of the Tennis Channel, and his actress sister, Laurel, grew up around the corner from my family in Sunnyvale, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley. It felt good to see Branny getting some face time, even if it was to collect a lot of mock ridicule.

The hook for this clip is the U.S. Open’s decision to give a wild card to some nobody with a USTA rating of 4.0 to 5.0 who wins a series of local and then national tournaments. The U.S. Open Dream for 2010, they’re calling it.

And the clip begins with Moglen doing the voice over as he hits a few balls on a court under

Gimelstob’s critical eye. “Only 15 matches away from achieving my lifelong dream,” he says.

And then, he asks Gimelstob: “Justin, honestly. What are my chances?”

“You have no chance. . . etc., etc., etc.” Gimel tells him. And when Moglen asked him to rate his best shots, it’s pile-on time.

“You don’t have any best shot, so we’re dealing with levels of mediocrity here,” Gimelstob says. “Gimelstob does tell him that his backhand is better than his forehand. But, he adds, “Your forehand is an abomination. I haven’t seen a grip like that since Thomas Muster. You’ll never sniff the courts at the U.S. Open.”

Someone will. Some club player who catches a hot streak. Maybe some guy who played in college and gave up the game, then became electrified by the chance to win a series of all-comers tournaments and get a wild card in the main draw of a Grand Slam.

Moglen comes with a little pedigree. His late father, Lloyd Moglen, played No. 1 singles for Columbia University. Brandon went on to a career in journalism, first as a reporter and then at the Tennis Channel, where he was able to combine his communication talents with his love of tennis.

Charles Bricker can be reached at nflwriterr@aol.com

CLIJSTERS vs. HENIN: INCONSISTENCY RULED THIS CLASSIC

April 2, 2010 by WTM

By Charles Bricker

Kim Clijsters is into Saturday’s Sony Ericsson Open final against Venus Williams and here I am 20 minutes after this confounding 6-2, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6) victory over her compatriot, Justine Henin, and I’m still not sure how she reached the championship match.

I imagine Henin about this time is sitting on a bench in the locker room also pondering how this one got away or, rather, how Clijsters could have won after all the points she donated.

* Clijsters: One ace and 10 double faults, including a few of the worst second serves you’ll ever see from a former No. 1 player in a crucial situation.

* Clijsters: 37 winners and 63 unforced errors, and the vast majority of those gaffes in the final two sets after she was just about impeccable in set number one.

* Clijsters: Serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set, looking about as torpid as a slug.

* Clijsters: Up 6-3 in the third-set tiebreak and she (a) flaps a backhand cross-court five feet wide, (b) just misses on a forehand up the line and (c) slops a 70 mph Henin second serve into the net. Incredibly, Henin lost the final two points, and the match.

But, despite all the bad stuff coming off Clijsters’ racket, please note. She won, and I doubt she’s deeply interested in how.

The triumph came on her fourth match point, and then she cracked a broad smile as she took the obligatory winner’s bow on court. I wasn’t certain if the smile was relief or happiness because it was the first show of emotion in the two hours and 33 minutes it took to put a wrap on this less than classic semifinal.

There was some great shot-making out there, as you would expect with two of the best three players in women’s tennis opposing each other. But the sad fact is that far too much of this match was a confusing mix of great running forehands followed by blown overheads, spectacular defensive plays followed by double faults. Henin is not to be excused here. She had two aces, eight doubles and more inexplicable errors than I can recall her having in the recent past.

You could argue that with a couple of extremely aggressive hitters you’re going to get some uneven tennis — the sort you often get with Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams. But this didn’t have that sort of feel to it after the opening set. It just felt like a couple of champions who forgot how to string together a run of solid play.

This wasn’t even remotely close to the sensational final they played at Brisbane in early January.

I have a pretty good idea what happened to Henin out there tonight. A certain amount of fatigue set in and that dicey lower back of hers also might have flared up. Her backhand was horribly off much of the match.

Clijsters, however, is a mystery. She’s at her best when she’s sitting on the baseline dictating play and letting the smoothness of her stroking generate the pace, and that’s what she delivered in the opening set.

But then she has those moments when she feels like superwoman and tries to turn the volume up a couple notches, and things go off. For some time she looked OK in the second set, if not brilliant. She was up 2-0, then 3-1, but gave the break back on a double-fault into the net. Slowly, her consistency disintegrated.

In the tiebreak, Henin bolted out to 4-0 and won it when a Clijsters lob drifted wide.

Into the third set they went with Henin carrying the momentum. Clijsters tried to return to the sort of relaxed aggressiveness she displayed in the opening set, but by this time, with both players starting to drag, you could see they would both struggle to the finish line.

Give both players deserved credit for mental strength, though you would expect that from them. Both have played matches similar to this and they know there’s no reason to start pouting on court. You stay the course, put up with the errors and hope there’s just enough winners in your racket to bail you out.

Ultimately, Clijsters won this match with superior ground stroking, even if she had to hit two unforced errors to get one winner. Henin of course won’t be happy with this loss, but she’s only three months into her return and she’s doing everything but winning the big ones.

I think she’s still laboring a bit to find her identity on court. She wants to be an aggressive service-returner, but she’s not picking her spots well, often trying to crush a return from a difficult position wide of the sideline.

It will come. Her conditioning could be her only problem and probably accounts for her lack of rally consistency, especially off the backhand side. The mild fatigue also showed up in her serving. Her toss was a periodic problem throughout this match and, of the 32 combined service games, there were 12 breaks.

Did Venus Williams watch this match? Not likely. She’s played Clijsters 11 times, so she shouldn’t need much of a scouting report. Williams raced into the final earlier in the day with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Marion Bartoli.

Charles Bricker can be reached at nflwriterr@aol.com

FEDERER SHOCKED BY BAGHDATIS IN INDIAN WELLS

March 17, 2010 by WTM

World No. 1 Roger Federer wasted three match points and then lost to Marcos Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (4) Tuesday night in a third-round shock upset result at the BNP Paribas Open.

A joyous Baghdatis bent down and kissed the court after his first win over Federer in seven matches.

Federer hadn’t lost when having a match point since 2006 in Rome, when he lost to Rafael Nadal in five sets.

It was the Swiss star’s second loss in 13 matches this year, and in his first tournament since winning his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

“It was one of those matches that just happens,” Federer said. “I didn’t play terrible. It just happens.”

Federer had his third match point on Baghdatis’ serve in the 12th game, but he netted a backhand for deuce. Baghdatis went up and then forced the tiebreaker when Federer mis-hit a backhand return that sailed high over the baseline.

Federer played some loose points in the tiebreaker, committing seven errors that included netting a forehand volley to give Baghdatis a match point, which the Cypriot converted on Federer’s backhand return sailed long.

The match was a re-match of the 2006 Australian Open final, won by Federer 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2. Rene Stauffer, the author of the book THE ROGER FEDERER STORY: QUEST FOR PERFECTION ($24.95, New Chapter Press, www.RogerFedererBook.com), summarizes that 2006 match in this exclusive book excerpt below.

In his six matches en route to the final, Federer lost four sets—more than previously surrendered while reaching a Grand Slam final. The man from Basel, however, was still the overwhelming favorite to win the title when he faced unseeded upstart Marcos Baghdatis—a 200-1 outsider to win the title. The 20-year-old bearded maverick from the island of Cyprus was the major story of the tournament—defeating Andy Roddick, Ivan Ljubicic and David Nalbandian in succession to become an unlikely Grand Slam finalist. Cyprus, a small island nation off the Greek and Turkish coast in the Mediterranean with no tennis history whatsoever, was suddenly stricken with tennis fever as businesses closed and children skipped school to watch his matches. Baghdatis was unseeded, ranked No. 54 in the world and had never won an ATP tournament in his career at the time. To boot, he held an 0-3 record against Federer and Federer had never lost a Grand Slam final—let alone to an unseeded player.

The Melbourne Age newspaper carried the headline “The Wizard And The Apprentice” before the final, but as the match began, the question was which was which. Baghdatis, supported throughout the fortnight by the many Greeks in Melbourne who created a soccer-stadium atmosphere with chants, cheers and flag-waving, continued to play boldly, aggressively and on the offensive—as he had the entire tournament—while Federer struggled, particularly off the forehand side. Federer lost the first set 7-5 and saved two break points to prevent a double-service-break 0-3 deficit in the second set. After he held serve, Federer then broke the Cypriot’s serve in the next game to square the set at 2-2. After the two players exchanged service holds, a stroke of good luck benefited Federer late in the set as an overruled call on set point gave Federer the second set 7-5. The momentum immediately turned in Federer’s favor and the challenge to his supremacy ended. Federer’s 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 victory secured him his seventh Grand Slam title—tying him with such legends as Richard Sears and William Renshaw—heroes of the 1880s—as well as John McEnroe, John Newcombe, Mats Wilander and two of four French Musketeers, Rene Lacoste and Henri Cochet.

Federer showed no exuberance as the award ceremony began, but when Rod Laver bestowed the Norman Brookes Trophy upon him, he was overcome with emotions. “I don’t know what to say,” he said at the start of his victory speech, before he fell silent. He barely managed to congratulate Baghdatis and thank his entourage and sponsors. When he mentioned Laver and that the title meant a great deal to him, his voice cracked, just like at his first Wimbledon victory, and he could no longer hold back his tears.

“I was terribly nervous,” Federer told Swiss television commentator Heinz Günthardt after he left the court. “It was an immense burden to be so clearly favored against a newcomer.” With seven Grand Slam titles, Federer began to compete not only against his contemporaries on the other side of the net, but against the ghosts of tennis history, including Pete Sampras and Rod Laver, who was standing next to him on this day.

VERDASCO TOPS RODDICK TO WIN SAP OPEN

February 15, 2010 by WTM

Fernando Verdasco defeated Andy Roddick 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to win the SAP Open in San Jose, his first title in the United States and his four career ATP title.

Roddick, ranked No. 7 in the world, was looking to win fourth San Jose title, following his win earlier this year Brisbane and reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

He started strongly, mixing up his attack to break the Spaniard twice and win the first set. But Roddick failed to carry his domination into the second and after being broken early on he received a code violation for hitting a ball into the stands when he missed a passing shot. He fought off two set points at 5-4 but left-hander Verdasco sealed the second set with an ace. Roddick failed to cope with Verdasco’s powerful first serves in the decider and the Spaniard broke to lead 5-4 after threading a low backhand pass, then served out the match with another ace.

“I served very well and I don’t think Andy served his best,” stated Verdasco, who notched 15 aces to Roddick’s 10. “I tried to be aggressive, change the rhythm and play with confidence.”

Verdasco’s wins ended 15-match losing streak for the Spaniard against top 10-ranked players.

“I know the top-10 guys are tough and last year I was really close in a lot of matches,” said Verdasco. “But of course this win will give me a lot of confidence. Beating Andy in his country, it’s special.”

Deadpanned Roddick when asked about Verdasco’s 15-match losing streak to top 10 players, “The top 10 players are good.”

RODDICK WINS SHOOTING MATCH WITH LOPEZ

January 22, 2010 by WTM

By Bud Collins

Bud Collins, the world’s most famous tennis journalist and author of the definitive tennis history book THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS, profiles the Andy Roddick and Felciano Lopez match Friday at the Australian Open. The following story – and other musings from Down Under – can be found at Bud’s official website www.BudCollinsTennis.com.

Ever been in a shooting gallery? Andy Roddick and Feliciano Lopez must have felt as though they’d stumbled into one Friday afternoon. And they were in the line of fire.

“Anything you can ace, I can ace better,” was their theme as they began bashing balls at each with the intent to kill off a rival, and enter the fourth round of the Australian Open.

After 3 ½ hours the Spaniard and the American had been riddled by their respective attacks that produced 58 aces – 29 apiece – and a victor who, I believe, has a genuine shot at the title: Roddick. It was Andy’s ball game, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), propelling him into the 16s against 2007 finalist, Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.

Roddick has beaten Lopez 6-for-6 now, but they agreed this was Felicio’s finest effort. There are fewer guys I would rather watch than Lopez, a silken strokemeister who brings such style to the game with his broad repertory of shots, speed, spins and quickness. His backhand passing shots, down the line or crosscourt, difficult for most left-handers, stream so effortlessly from Felicio’s racket. He is an artist and Roddick a house-wrecker, a contrast if there ever was one. But if Andy’s strokes seem homemade, don’t blow them off. They’re becoming more effective, even the backhand, and they’re backed up by the monster serve. Also his speed afoot that stole numerous points.

Roddick was reliable throughout, giving away only 18 points on errors, to Lopez’s 55. Felciano sighed, “I missed a few forehands at the end [4 in the decisive tie-breaker] and I think that was the difference.”

Andy’s serves were humming and kicking, avoiding trouble in the fourth, but “I got frustrated at the end, missing out on so many break points that could have settled it” – 6 in the fourth set.

After dropping the opening set in a breaker, Andy got through a critical passage in the second set, the 4^th and 5^th games. He held to 2-2 from 0-30, closing the game with a second ball ace, then broke to 3-2, his first real lead

Despite all the terrific shotmaking, the concluding tie-breaker contained a real weirdo. At match point (1-6 for Roddick), he and Lopez were at the net. Lopez popped up a ball and Roddick went into kill mode with an overhead smash. But instead of putting it away, he almost missed, grazing the ball with the top of his frame. The ball wobbled over the net, but returned with reverse spin to Andy’s side. There it was within the rules for Lopez to reach across the net and bunt the ball for a winner.

Lopez saved the next match point with a service winner (3-6), and almost saved a third. However, Roddick’s legs finished it as he made splendid gets, pushing Lopez to a last forehand mistake.

The shooting gallery was closed, and attention turned toward John Isner, still is – is yet in the Open on a stirring victory over the dynamic Frenchman, Gael Monfils with a liberating ace on match point, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5).

Young John, victor over Roddick at the U.S. Open, leaped as high as he could as the concluding ball whizzed past Monfils. Since Isner’s 6-9, he had a bird’s eye view for an instant.

On top of the world and the tournament goes on.

CLIJSTERS SAVES MATCH POINTS, BEATS HENIN IN BRISBANE FINAL

January 9, 2010 by WTM

In the all-Belgian final of the Brisbane International, it was Kim Clijsters who did not waffle.

Clijsters hung on to win a momentum-swinging final at the Patrick Rafter Arena in a vintage finish Saturday in Justine Henin’s tour comeback. Clijsters, only five tournaments into her own comeback which has already netted the U.S. Open title, saved two match points and then wasted three before winning 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (6) over the seven-time Grand Slam titlist.

Clijsters started strongly and led by a set and 4-1 before Henin staged a dramatic rally.

Henin, playing in the top tier for the first time since she quit while holding the No. 1 ranking in May 2008, won eight of the next nine games to take a 3-0 lead in the third.

Clijsters rallied to 3-3, then gave up a break and gave Henin match points in the 10th game.

She held her nerve and, 15 minutes later, held her arms in the air, celebrating what she thought was a championship-winning backhand down the line in the tiebreaker when the umpire overruled.

Henin got back to 6-6 in the tiebreaker but then double-faulted to give Clijsters a fourth match point. She made no mistake this time, with a forehand that Henin couldn’t get.

“Huh, what a match!” Clijsters told the crowd. “I think we set the bar pretty high for ourselves for the rest of the year.

“It’s a great tournament to start the year with. I couldn’t be happier with myself.”

The top-seeded Clijsters closed Henin’s lead in career head-to-heads to 12-11, ending the three-match winning streak that Henin had in 2006 — maintaining a sequence in which no player won more than three straight.

Clijsters took more than two years off the tour and got married to American Brian Lynch and had a daughter, Jada, in February 2008.

She was only three tournaments into a comeback when she won the U.S. Open in September and became the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980.