World Tennis Magazine

Unique Tennis Perspectives

cynthia lum

World Tennis Magazine Special Year-In-Review Book Available

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WorldTennisMagazine.com has announced that a special “Grand Slam Year-In-Review” hardcover magazine is now available for tennis fans in time for the holidays. This special gift item features summaries of all four major tournaments in 2012 with spectacular photos from Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York taken by acclaimed tennis photographer Cynthia Lum.

The book retails for $10, plus shipping and handling and can be purchased by emailing World Tennis Magazine at TennisGrandstand@Gmail.com. Orders can be facilitated via paypal or via personal check.

WorldTennisMagazine.com is a leading tennis outlet operated in conjunction with www.TennisGrandstand.com and www.TennisBloggers.com.

 

World Tennis Magazine 2012 Grand Slam Tournament Review
World Tennis Magazine 2012 Grand Slam Tournament Review

Paris in the spring

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By Cynthia Lum

Paris in the spring. What could be better? I checked into my studio apartment in the Latin Quarter and am pleased to see that nothing has changed from when I stayed here last year. I’m more that a little tired after being up for 24 hours, but I grab a quick shower and head out to Roland Garros. Lugging my gear up and down many flights of stairs to and from the metro makes me wonder how the handicapped get along here. Of course in 1900 when the metro opened, no one thought about this sort of thing and nothing has changed for over 100 years. However, for getting around Paris this system is fast, easy and inexpensive.

Emerging from the station, I walk along the beautifully shaded Avenue Porte d’ Auteuil, lined with huge trees that border the French version of Central Park, the Bois de Boulogne. Ticket touts accost fans all the way to the entrance of Roland Garros. This is a huge business, reportedly bringing in a whopping 17 million euros in revenues for the fifteen days of play. Several of the sellers are recognizable from past years. They shout “cherche de place” which loosely translated means “looking for a place (ticket)?” and hold up handmade signs. Some lounge on motor bikes reading the paper between sales, while other are more aggressive moving up and down through the crowds, working deals. Some of them I recognize from past years, the tall one with long dreads is in his usual spot about halfway between the metro station and the entrance. I wonder if there is some sort of agreement among them as to territory. This is the only tournament where they ply their trade openly, with police paying no attention to them.

Presenting my official acceptance letter at the press gate I proceed to the press center to check in. Familiar scenes roll across my vision. The fashionable French are unmistakable here. Smartly dressed men and women waving cigarettes, talking with their hands, and sipping wine at the outdoor eating area, draw a sharp contrast to tourists in cargo shorts and flip flops.

Checking in, I get my press gift, an official French Open tee …very nice. I love the fact that they have cute French cut women’s shirts in small sizes rather than the usual men’s tee’s that only come in large and extra large that most events give to the media.

I get a locker and find my desk. I’ve lucked out…I’m at the end of the aisle with and empty desk next to me, so I have no one crowding me on either side. The gods are smiling on me.

Okay, now that I’ve figured out the wifi, found the match schedule on the TV monitor over my desk, had a bite to eat, said my hellos to everyone, I can’t find any other way to procrastinate, so it looks like I’ll have to actually go to work.

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His Hotness: Rafael Nadal

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By Cynthia Lum

I arrived in the Land Down Under, The Land of Wonder, better known here as Oz, Wednesday. Had a very nice flight on VAustralia, Nightclub atmosphere at LAX check in, very pleasant personnel, and no line. It made the process surprising pleasant.

I was not able to write yesterday. Actually, was not able to think yesterday. Totally whipped after the long journey but I’m good to go today.

I started the afternoon looking through a long lens at Rafael Nadal. The passion, the hair, the cherry red shirt. Gotta love the new shirt. Looks like it was painted on him with a blow  torch. Nike finally came up with something worthy of “His Hotness.”

And the shirt wasn’t the only thing hot about the Spaniard today. A sweating Sweeting went out only winning four games in the three set match. Rafa, looking to stretch his Grand Slam winning streak to four after winning Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010, cruised through this match marking his 23 consecutive Grand Slam win. The 2011 year could be the year for a calendar-year Grand Slam for Rafa…and the photos will be great!

Cynthia Lum is one of the world’s most celebrated sports photographers and has traveled the world covering all the major tennis events for 18 years. In addition to tennis she is currently shooting horse racing, golf, surfing, and beach volleyball.  Visit her on-line photo archive at www.cynthialum.com where her photos are for sale for professional and personal use. She is available for hire for corporate and editorial clients. She is based in Hermosa Beach, Calif.

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Venus Williams Gives us Something to Talk About (Besides Tennis)

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By Cynthia Lum

What’s up with the tug of war some of the women players are having with their skirts?

Shall I start with Venus, or should I save the best/worst for last? What the heck.. may as well just go for it and lead off with V. What in the world is she thinking? I get it… the black sparkly dress for night time in NYC. I can sort of go along with that, but the fuchsia with the flashy fireworks pattern for day matches? The effect is blinding, with the sun bouncing off the diamond like jewels. I’m surprised that her opponents aren’t complaining.

And what about those white shoes and visor? Why in the world is the self-proclaimed fashionista wearing clunky unattractive white shoes with that dress? Especially the black evening attire. It’s like wearing army boots with your designer gown on the red carpet. I defended her when everyone else was writing trash about her “illusion” outfit in Australia and Paris, but if she has the illusion that this is cool, she is dead wrong on this one. I’m all for someone daring to be different, and putting their identity out there for everyone to see, but this fashion statement is, in my opinion, is not well thought out. Truth  is, either dress might be cool at 3 AM, in a dance club with drinks flowing and music pounding but it’s not working for tennis. It looks uncomfortable and distracting the way it rides up on every shot so she has to keep tugging at the hem after every point. Then on long points it slithers up her body to the point where it look like she is just wearing a shirt with her nude-colored knickers.

Don’t these players try wearing their outfits for a practice session before unveiling them at a Grand Slam? Of course maybe the undies peep show thing is supposed to be part of the look, she does have them emblazoned with the same eye popping pattern as the dress. She apparently has a different one for every match. Tuesday night has really topped herself with a neon pink that hurts your eyes even on TV, and up close in the photo pit, makes my eyes tear. Oh yeah, I almost forgot the black bra straps – not good Venus.

John McEnroe and Dick Enberg had an interesting exchange about the dress..

John McEnroe: I think that dress has distracted [Venus].

Dick Enberg: It’s distracting you.

McEnroe: That’s a fair point.

CBS went on to give a tug count… Venus 42 tugs during her match against Shahar Peer.

Venus beat Francesca Schiavone in the quarterfinals, so let’s see what she has in store for us for the semifinals. At least she’s giving us something to talk and blog about in an otherwise pretty uneventful US Open.

Then there is Caroline Wozniacki. Her LITTLE gray dress is so short, that no matter how much she pulls at the hem, it is never going to cover her bum. However, she does get fun irreverent points for matching her nails to her underwear.

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BLAKE vs. SHRIVER, SAMBA WITH THOMAZ, AND NIGHT STEALTH IN SOUTHFIELDS

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By Cynthia Lum

It was another beautiful sunny day at The Championships on Tuesday.  In the morning, I say at my desk and listened to one of my all time favorite trumpet players… jazz great Horace Silver, and some fresh strawberries and Greek yogurt… forget the cream, the yogurt was yummy and much better for you.

I had a bit of a nerve-wracking situation Monday night.  I’m renting a room in a house with a family in Southfields.  Normally I share a house with a friend from Australian, but he didn’t get a sponsor this year, so did not come, and I decided to just take a room rather than try to find an apartment just for myself.  The place I’m staying is terrific.  A loft room at the top of the house, all newly remodeled, with a private bath and power shower.  This is huge in England as they mostly have showers that dribble water and it takes forever to get the shampoo out of my long hair.

Anyway, all the houses in this area look alike. Tall skinny Victorians attached on one wall.  I remembered my house by the fact that it has a green door.  Well, Novak Djokovic went five sets, and now that there is a roof and lights on Center court, they can play late, so the match ended at 10:59 pm.  I ended up getting back to the house around midnight. Yes, I said midnight, when it is pitch dark and I couldn’t see which door was green.

You guessed it, I couldn’t find my house.  There were four that all looked like possibilities.  After pacing the block several times, and trying to pull up a mental image, I decided the only thing to do was to CAREFULLY try my key in the most likely house.  As silently as possible, I crept to the door, praying that none of the neighbors would see me, and call the police to report a housebreaker. I tried the key… no go.  Okay, I’m going to have to try another.  Holding my breath and hoping that the owners didn’t have a dog, I tried the second house.  OH NO. This one didn’t work either.  Now I’m getting braver, on to the next . Am I going to have to go up and down the whole block? Third time was a charm. Big sigh of relief. Do you have any idea how happy I was to see my nice room?  So much for my exciting first night SW19.

Two Brazilians played on court 14 Thomaz Bellucci and Ricardo Mello, which inspired me to switch my Ipod to Samba mode.  Listening to drums and percussion with a clear soaring vocal singing BRAAAAAZILLLLL.. great, I could hardly sit still, I wanted to go out dancing.

Bellucci won in three 6-4 sets.  He is my player to watch.  Tall, and handsome, this lefty has game.  I knew he’d be tough on the clay at Roland Garros,  controlling points with that huge topspin forehand, but today he looked very comfortable on the green grass of the Big W.

In 2007, he started the year with a No. 582 world ranking and ended at 202.  A very nice move up.  After a solid performance at Roland Garros, defeating Michael Llodra, Pablo Andujar, and fourteenth seed Ivan Ljubicic, he came into The Championships seeded No. 25. Rafael Nadal stopped his run in the fourth round in Paris, but it was by no means a blow out.  It took Nadal a little over two hours of solid tennis to defeat the Brazilian.

Bellucci has been called a diamond in the rough, but it’s looking to me like this diamond is polishing off those rough edges nicely.  So dance along with me and I’ll keep you updated on Thomaz. Yes, Thomaz  a Z that is not a typo.

Now I have to talk about Blake a little.  Sadly, he has struggled for weeks with tendonitis in his right knee.  He missed the whole clay court season and has just started to play again, but aggravated it once more, in Eastbourne.

He went out in straight sets in the first round today to the young player from Netherlands, Robin Haase.  This prompted talk of possible retirement if the knee doesn’t show improvement.  He called his performance “embarrassing,” but it wasn’t the play on court that was embarrassing, it was his confrontation with ESPN announcer, Pam Shriver.

Midway through the second set, I see him looking up, obviously annoyed, to the broadcast box above the court.  I train my camera upwards to see what he is looking at and see Shriver leaning out of the box, microphone in hand.

Apparently the former player and veteran announcer was heard by Blake being critical of his less than sparkling performance.  Already frustrated and unhappy, Blake yelled up at her that he could hear her comments on court.  Shriver then went on to say, on air, “James just yelled at me, I’m way above the court, but evidently he can hear me.  He’s got rabbit ears.” To which, James shouted back “You have to be an ass about it, too? . . . And act like I’m at fault.”

I’ve seen a lot of matches, but have never seen or heard an exchange like this one.  Already down and disappointed in his play, the former top five player did not need this distraction.  Of course if he was really focused and on his game he may never have heard the comments.  Then if he was playing at his former level, Shriver wouldn’t be making critical comments.

I hope the upcoming hard court season is better for James.  I’d hate to see him go out like this,  he’s given a lot to American tennis and fans worldwide, been an outstanding supporter of our Davis Cup team, and an all around good image for young players.  It would be great to see him have one good run before bidding us farewell.

And speaking of farewell, once again I see the clock reading 12:25 AM so I’m signing off for today.

Cynthia

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Cynthia Lum is one of the world’s most celebrated sports photographers and has traveled the world covering all the major tennis events for 18 years. In addition to tennis she is currently shooting horse racing, golf, surfing, and beach volleyball.  Visit her on-line photo archive at www.cynthialum.com where her photos are for sale for professional and personal use. She is available for hire for corporate and editorial clients. She is based in Hermosa Beach, Calif.