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NADAL IS LIKE MY SISTER NANCY: CLIFF RICHEY BLOG

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By Cliff Richey

There has been a lot of buzz about Rafael Nadal winning the title in Monte Carlo for the sixth straight time – the first time a player has won six straight ATP titles in the Open era. Roger Federer almost won his sixth straight US Open title last September, falling a set short in losing to Juan Martin del Potro in a five-set final. Bill Tilden, of course, won six straight U.S. singles titles from 1920-1925.

When I think of players who have won six straight titles, the first person I think of is my sister Nancy Richey, who won the women’s singles title at the U.S. Clay Court Championships six straight times from 1963 to 1968.

Nancy Richey
Nancy Richey

The recent U.S. Clay Courts in Houston brought back memories of a day in August of 1965 when Nancy, played the women’s final and I played the men’s final at the same time! Not only that, but we played our respective finals on courts that were side by side.

Nancy played Julie Heldman. I played Dennis Ralston. It had to be the most difficult day either one of us spent on a tennis court. I would be in the middle of a point and suddenly hear advantage Richey — from the umpire on the other court.

There would be a sudden gallery roar right in the middle of an important point!  It was bizarre.  Nancy won her third straight U.S. Clay Court title that day. Unfortunately, I lost to Dennis.

Of Nancy ‘s six straight U.S. clay titles, she says that day was the most memorable. As anyone can understand, we always thereafter asked the tournament directors to never schedule us at the same time. And thankfully, we never had to repeat that wild day again. We both won the title the next year on the same day but not at the same time!

Cliff Richey is a former No. 1 ranked U.S. tennis player, U.S. Davis Cup hero and the author of the new book ACING DEPRESSION: A TENNIS CHAMPION’S TOUGHEST MATCH ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.CliffRicheyBook.com) written with his daughter Hilaire Richey Kallendorf. The book documents his life-long battle with depression. He and Nancy Richey, a former French and Australian singles champion, are considered greatest brother-sister combination in the history of American tennis.

RODDICK REMAINS NON-COMMITTAL ON DAVIS CUP

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Andy Roddick, this generation’s greatest American Davis Cup player, was non-committal about his future of representing his country in future series and ruled himself out of playing later this year.

During the Tennis Channel’s coverage of Serbia’s victory over the United States in Belgrade Sunday, Roddick phoned in on the air to good friend and Tennis Channel commentator Justin Gimelstob and, when asked about playing on the team in the future, Roddick said simply “I don’t know” stating again “it won’t be this year.”

Andy Roddick
Andy Roddick

Roddick, known as the ultimate team player, remained in touch with the U.S. team, saying he spoke to U.S. team member John Isner after his loss in his Davis Cup debut match Friday.

He hinted that he would sit out the rest of the year, bowing to Isner and Sam Querrey, the two U.S. singles players to play against Serbia, to play in the remaining U.S. match later this year.

“If you commit to Davis Cup, you have to commit for the whole year,” said Roddick.

The 3-2 loss to Serbia places the United States into the Davis Cup Play-off Round, set for September 17-19. The United States will have to win this round to remain in the elite 16-team Davis Cup World Group in 2011 and be eligible to win the Davis Cup title. The draw for the Play-off Round will be made in May and the United States will likely play against a team emerging from the Europe-Africa, Asia-Oceania or Americas Zone Group I, depending on the seedings and draw made by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Roddick decided not to play Davis Cup in 2010 after he was advised that playing tennis on clay courts in Serbia during the hard court season would create further knee problems for the 27-year-old. Roddick has been the stalwart of the U.S. team since making his Davis Cup debut in 2001, leading his country to the title in 2007 over Russia. He has a 31-11 Davis Cup record (all in singles) and ranks behind John McEnroe for most Davis Cup singles victories by an American player.

Insiders predict he will play for the United States again, pending he remains healthy. In order for him to be eligible to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Roddick will have to “make himself available” for Davis Cup for one series in either 2011 or 2012, according to ITF rules. A player must make themselves available for Davis Cup or Fed Cup for two years between Olympic years, provided that one of those years is either one of the two years preceding the Olympic Games. Roddick did represent the United States in the 2004 Olympic Games, but skipped the 2008 Games in Beijing to prepare for the U.S. Open. On his twitter profile, Roddick has said he would like to play in the new mixed doubles at the 2012 Games in London with Serena Williams.

When asked on the Tennis Channel if someday he would like to be captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, Roddick said he would “love to do it some day,” but admitted he would have to maneuver through some “political correctness” to get the job as the leading American tennis ambassador.