Randy Walker

The One Point That Defined Andy Roddick’s Career

September 6, 2012 by Admin

By Randy Walker

Can one point make a Hall of Fame career?

What path would the tennis career of Andy Roddick been like had he lost one particular point back at the 2003 US Open?

In looking back at the career of Roddick, ended by Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 6-7 (1), 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4 Wednesday in the US Open fourth round, it is interesting to look back nine years ago today on Sept. 6, 2003, that one swing of the racket defined his career.

Roddick, then 21 years old, seeded No. 4 and playing in his first semifinal at a major tournament, faced a match point against him down two-sets-to-love and serving at 5-6 down in the third set tie-breaker to David Nalbandian, ironically the countryman and Davis Cup teammate of del Potro. Roddick rips a 138 mph service winner to wipe away Nalbandian’s one sniff at reaching the US Open final. Roddick then wins the third-set tie-breaker four points later and goes on to complete the two-sets-to-love comeback win 6-7 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1, 6-3.

Roddick goes on to beat No. 3 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets the following day to win what would become his only major singles final. But what if Roddick had missed that rocket first serve and, instead, spun in a second-serve and lost an extended baseline rally with Nalbandian to lose in straight-sets in the US Open semifinal?

For starters, he would not have reached the No. 1 ranking later in the fall and where he would end the season. He would be in the top 4, but his semifinal ranking points would not have vaulted him to No. 1. Roger Federer, the man who would go on to win 17 major singles titles and sit at the No. 1 ranking for nearly 300 weeks (and counting), would take firm hold of his dominance of men’s tennis early the next year when he won the 2004 Australian Open, his second major singles title.

Would Roddick had gained the confidence to vault him to a new level of play without winning that title at the 2003 US Open? Would he have been more motivated by a disappointing semifinal loss that he would have worked harder to achieve the heights that he did? Perhaps he would have drifted into a career like that of players like Nikolay Davydenko, David Ferrer – or Nalbandian himself – perpetually reaching the quarterfinals and semifinals at majors, and winning a nice collection of singles titles, but not winning majors or reaching the No. 1 ranking.

That one swing of the racket. That one serve. That one point. Without it, he doesn’t win the US Open and does not achieve the No. 1 ranking, two of his three best career accomplishments – to go with his 2007 Davis Cup victory – that highlight his resume for future consideration into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Without that serve, millions of dollars of endorsements do not follow immediately suit. He does not famously host the TV show “Saturday Night Live.” Perhaps he doesn’t meet and marry his now wife, actress and model Brooklyn Decker.

People always ponder what their lives would be like if one thing happened and not another. A movie called “Sliding Doors” starring Gwyneth Paltrow is based on this premise where the Paltrow character’s love life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train and both scenarios are played out in the movie.

Speculation like this is a bit silly and a waste of energy, but one can’t help but ponder. Roddick did execute the shot that he needed to and won the match and won the US Open and became world No. 1 and had a Hall of Fame worthy career. It is similar to speculating what would have happened had Roddick connected on a high-backhand volley up 6-5 in the second-set tie-breaker against Federer in their epic 2009 Wimbledon final. Roddick would have been up two-sets-to-love on Federer and many have said that he would have gone on to beat Federer to win the title, but one will never know those circumstances or how both athletes would have reacted to the situation.

What we do know is that Andy Roddick is no longer an active professional tennis player. His name is etched on the US Open men’s singles trophy as the 2003 champion. His name is in the record books as the year-end world No. 1 in 2003 and his name is on the Davis Cup as a member of the championship U.S. team in 2007. It is safe to say, we will see his plaque one day in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The 2012 US Open’s Best Comeback – Bud Collins!

August 31, 2012 by Admin

By Randy Walker

Much has been made of the numerous two-sets-to-love comebacks in the men’s field at the 2012 US Open.

Mardy Fish of the United States became the 10^th man at the tournament this year to wedge out of an 0-2 hole, defeating former world No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 4-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 Thursday.

However, perhaps the biggest comeback at the 2012 US Open didn’t happen on the courts.

It happened in the press room.

One year after injuring his knee in a freak fall in his hotel room at the 2011 US Open, legendary journalist and tennis personality Bud Collins made his return to tennis Thursday. It had been 12 months since Collins had been in attendance at any tennis event – missing the Australian Open, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, the French Open and others. The tournament that he is most closely associated with, Wimbledon, was without Collins this year for the first time in 45 years.

Since last year’s US Open Collins has undergone 10 knee surgeries – one more knee surgery than Billie Jean King’s infamous knees had in her entire playing career. Multiple procedures were needed to heal his leg that for years so famously were covered in the most colorful and garish patterned pants.

You could say that Bud staged his own two-sets-to-love comeback victory Thursday.

Soon after his arrival on the grounds in Flushing, Collins and his wife Anita soon went to the media seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium to take in Fish’s comeback win. Retreating to the press room, he was greeted by a cavalcade of hugs, photos and salutations from his numerous friends and admirers, happy to see the man they all looked up to for so many years. Among his media colleagues, Bud is still accorded with top-seeded status – a “protected ranking” one could say, using WTA and ATP Tour tennis lingo accorded to injured players who miss significant playing time due to injuries.

Collins, 83, is covering the U.S. Championships for a 59^th consecutive year. He will do some writing and reporting, spread his usual charm and good will, although a bit slower with a cane this year, and of course, he will be signing copies of his famous tennis encyclopedia THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS almost daily at the US Open bookstore. Fans can also buy the historical tennis compilation here on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/The-Collins-History-Tennis-Authoritative/dp/0942257707/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346415653&sr=8-1&keywords=bud+collins+history+of+tennis

Let’s count Bud’s “win” as the 11^thtwo-sets-to-love comeback victory so far at the 2012 US Open.

Bud Collins, right, with Randy Walker, this story's author and the publisher of THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS — Bud Collins, right, with Randy Walker, this story’s author and the publisher of THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS

Photo courtesy of Anita Ruthling Klaussen

Andy Roddick Retirement Not A Big Surprise

August 30, 2012 by Admin

By Randy Walker

“Thank you all for coming. I’ll make this short and sweet. I’ve decided that this is going to be my last tournament.”

This is how Andy Roddick opened an impromptu press conference Thursday – held on his 30^th birthday – announcing his retirement from professional tennis at the conclusion of the 2012 US Open.

For those who saw Andy Roddick walk off Centre Court at Wimbledon following his third-round loss to David Ferrer in July, this should not come as a big surprise. The way that Roddick waved goodbye to the Wimbledon crowd that day, it was pretty clear that he was saying a final farewell. Roddick knew in his head that it was time to walk away from the game, but his heart was telling him that it was not yet time to let go.

After his wave good bye at Wimbledon, which Roddick brushed off in a post-match press conference, I was half expecting an announcement to be made before the US Open. However, I also thought that perhaps he would finish out the year and then just issue a press release announcing he would not play pro tennis in 2013 and that is how he would go out — in an understated, humble way which seemed to fit his character. Roddick, however, said that he wanted to go public with his decision to have an opportunity to say good-bye at his home Grand Slam tournament and the site of his highest achievement in tennis, winning his lone major title in Flushing in 2003. Friday night’s second-round match with Australian upstart Bernard Tomic may turn into yet another Arthur Ashe Stadium career swan song, just like Kim Clijsters had Wednesday in her career-ending loss to British upstart Laura Robson.

“Just with the way my body feels with the way that I’m able to feel like I’m able to compete now, I don’t know that it’s good enough,” said Roddick Thursday. “I don’t know that I have ever been someone who is interest in existing on tour. I have a lot of interests and lot of other things that excite me. I’m looking forward to those.”

Successful people like Roddick always have clear goals in what they want to accomplish in life or in a career. Roddick achieved some lofty goals for a tennis career, winning a major singles title at the 2003 US Open, earning the No. 1 world ranking and winning the Davis Cup for the United States like he and his teammates did in 2007. While he was not able to crack through and win Wimbledon, despite three final-round appearances, sometimes in life all lofty goals are not accomplished and Roddick looked at the tennis landscape ahead with nothing left to accomplish that he realistically could achieve.

“I’ve always, for whatever my faults have been, felt like I‘ve never done anything half way,” said Roddick. “Probably the first time in my career, I can sit here and say I’m not sure that I can put everything into it physically and emotionally. I don’t know that I want to disrespect the game by coasting home. I had plans to play a smaller schedule next year, but the more I thought about it, I think you either got to be all in or not.”

Roddick brought a lot of flair and excitement to American tennis over the last decade. While currently ranked No. 22, one could argue he is the probably the fifth most dynamic personality in the men’s game at this time. Whenever he was eliminated from a tournament, the excitement level of the tournament certainly dropped. The sport will now be without one of its most electrifying figures.

A Behind-the-Scenes US Open Memory of Kim Clijsters

August 30, 2012 by Admin

By Randy Walker

Kim Clijsters is someone who comes into my mind when I think of retirement ceremonies at the US Open.

And it has nothing to with her career-ending singles match Wednesday at the US Open.

This memory dates back to another retirement ceremony held at the USTA National Tennis Center. On the opening night of the 2003 US Open, Arthur Ashe Stadium was the stage for Pete Sampras to announce his retirement from the sport – 12 months after his farewell signature on the game in winning the 2002 US Open final against Andre Agassi. While working for the USTA at the time, I was assigned to be with Pete and his coach Paul Annacone throughout the late afternoon and evening, moderating his retirement press conference and escorting him to various interviews and duties through his on-court speech and ceremony. While waiting in the referee’s office for the ceremonies to begin, who happened to come into the office to check on a practice court or match schedule but Clijsters.

What made a lasting impression on me in those moments was how Kim, then age 20, became completely engaged in Pete’s infant son Christian, who Pete famously paraded around the court following his on-court retirement speech. Clijsters got on her knees and began baby-talking with the young Sampras child. She played with him, cuddled him and just adored this infant for an extended time. It was quite endearing and a strong reflection on what really matters and is important in life to this tennis champion – children and family.

I repeated this memory from 2003 Wednesday to a veteran tennis journalist in the US Open media room, shortly after Kim’s second-round 7-6, 7-6 loss to Britain’s Laura Robson in the farewell singles match in her Hall of Fame career.

“She loves children,” said the writer. “I would always see her at the nurseries with the kids at practically every tournament. I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets pregnant again in two months!”

It’s obvious that being a good mother, a good wife and having a good family life are of the greatest importance to Kim. It plays into why Clijsters has enjoyed almost unparalleled popularity and respect among fans, media and her peers. She married basketball player Brian Lynch in July of 2007 and together they had a girl, Jada, born in February of 2008.

She first retired from tennis back in May of 2007, citing injuries and the grind of the tour, in addition to her desire to start a family. Two years later, when she was asked to compete in the special exhibition to test the indoor conditions under the new Centre Court roof at Wimbledon, Clijsters caught the competitive tennis bug again and decided to return to pro tennis. She engaged herself in a full-fledged comeback that resulted in her capturing her second major singles title at the 2009 US Open, just weeks after her return. She became the first mother to win a major singles title since Evonne Goolagong won Wimbledon in 1980 and earned the respect of sports fans around the world, particularly working mothers who juggle a career with the task of properly raising children. The scenes of Kim posing for photos holding the US Open trophy, while playing with daughter Jada on court, were endearing images that turned her into a global sports sweetheart.

Kim Clijsters with daughter Jada at 2009 US Open

Clijsters has shown that she lives by the Jackie Kennedy creed, best summed up when the former First Lady said, “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much.” While Kim Clijsters has three US Open singles trophies and one Australian Open trophy somewhere in her household, it’s clear that daughter Jada, husband Brian and any future children to come, are the shiniest trophies in her collection.

A Look Back at Davis Cup History

December 1, 2011 by WTM

With Spain and Argentina set to do battle in the Davis Cup Final in Sevilla, Spain, WorldTennisMagazine.com looks back at some of the great moments in the history of the Davis Cup with excerpts from Randy Walker’s book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com). The following is the excerpt from the December 1 chapter.

1995 – In one of the most dramatic moments of his career, Pete Sampras collapses in cramps on match point as he outlasts Andrei Chesnokov 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4 to give the United States a 1-0 lead over Russia in the Davis Cup Final in Moscow, Russia. Struggling with cramps in both hamstrings in the latter stages of the fifth set, the top-ranked Sampras guts out a 25-stroke rally on the final point of the match to dramatically fend off the pesky No. 91-ranked Chesnokov in 3 hours, 38 minutes. Writes Lee Hockstader of the Washington Post, “Pete Sampras didn’t walk off the court after his grueling five-set victory against Russia’s Andrei Chesnokov. He didn’t limp off the court. He didn’t even manage to crawl off the court. He was dragged from it — his cramped legs limp beneath him — by two U.S. Davis Cup teammates seconds after a heart-stopping, hair-raising, 25-stroke match point that left the Russian crowd in an uproar and Sampras flat on his back in pain. You might say he was lucky to get out alive.” Says U.S. Davis Cup Captain Tom Gullikson of Sampras and overcoming his cramping in the fifth set, “Pete has that low-key approach – and I think that helps him, because in tight spots a lot of people show their competitiveness more and get fired up. But then their muscles get so tight they can’t swing at the ball. One of Pete’s real strengths is that he hits out in the big moments.” Yevgeny Kafelnikov defeats Jim Courier 7-6, 7-5, 6-3 to even the score at 1-1 after the first day of play.

1991 – France wins the Davis Cup for the first time in 59 years – since the last of six titles by the famed Four Musketeers in 1932 – as Guy Forget upsets Davis Cup rookie Pete Sampras 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to clinch France’s 3-1 triumph over the United States in the Davis Cup Final in Lyon, France. The win causes an uproarious celebration as the crowd sings the French national anthem, The Marseilles, dance and applaud, while Forget, teammate Henri Leconte and French captain Yannick Noah run around the court with the French Flag. Noah then leads his team and support staff in a conga-line around the court. Says Forget of the glory of winning the Davis Cup, “I don’t think the Americans realize how much the Davis Cup means to the French team and the public. We have World Cup soccer, the Tour de France and the Davis Cup. In America, they have 10 different things more important than the Davis Cup.” Sampras, playing in his first Davis Cup series, also loses on the opening day of the best-of-five-match series to Henri Leconte. Says the world No. 6 of the loss, “It’s very disappointing. I feel like I’ve let down my team… so life goes on, really.”

1996 – France wins the Davis Cup title for an eighth time in the wildest final day in Davis Cup history as the final two singles matches last a total of 9 hours, 12 minutes in Malmo, Sweden. With France leading 2-1 entering the third and final day of the best-of –five-match series, Cedric Pioline of France nearly clinches victory in the fourth rubber, leading No. 9-ranked Thomas Enqvist of Sweden two-sets to love and 5-2 in the final set, only to lose 3-6, 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-4, 9-7 in 4 hours, 25 minutes. Arnaud Boetsch of France, ranked No. 31, then wins the closest Cup-deciding match in the event’s history, beating No. 64 ranked Nicklas Kulti, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 10-8. Boetsch saves triple-Cup point down at 6-7, 0-40 in the fifth set, but wins the epic in 4 hours, 47 minutes.

2007 – The United States ends its longest title drought in Davis Cup history, winning its first title in 12 years as identical twins Bob and Mike Bryan defeat Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-2 giving the United States a clinching 3-0 lead over Russia in the Davis Cup Final in Portland, Ore. “No words can explain how we feel right now, except Woooooooo!” Mike Bryan says to the crowd following the victory, the record 32^nd title for the United States. The Bryans victory comes a day after their teammates Andy Roddick and James Blake put the United States up 2-0 on the first day of play. Roddick, the No. 6 player in the world, defeats Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in the opening match and No. 13 ranked Blake beats Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3). Says U.S. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe after the Bryans clinching victory, “It’s been a long road; I couldn’t be happier for those guys, because they’ve been through it all together.”

1990 – In front of a crowd of 18,156 fans at the Florida Suncoast Dome – the most to watch a Davis Cup match in the United States – Rick Leach and Jim Pugh clinch the 29th Davis Cup title for the United States as they defeat Pat Cash and John Fitzgerald 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (2) in 3 hours, 6 minutes in the Davis Cup Final in St. Petersburg, Fla. The title is the first for the United States in eight years when John McEnroe leads the U.S. to victory over France in the 1982 Final in Grenoble, France.

1973 – Rod Laver and John Newcombe defeat Stan Smith and Erik van Dillen 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 giving Australia a match-clinching 3-0 lead over the United States in the Davis Cup Final in Cleveland, Ohio. The win ends the five-year reign of the United States as Davis Cup champions and earns Australia its 23rd Davis Cup title. Laver and Newcombe’s win takes only 66 minutes and is the worst doubles loss ever inflicted upon a U.S. Davis Cup team. Newcombe and Laver never face a break point, serve nine love games and lose only one point on serve in the third set. Says Laver, “I think it’s the best I’ve played in doubles.

Jim Courier’s Davis Cup Highlight

December 7, 2010 by WTM

Jim Courier was named the new U.S. Davis Cup captain by the United States Tennis Association on October 27. At age 40, Courier is the 40^th man to serve as captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, 11 years after ending an illustrious Davis Cup career that saw him help the United States to Davis Cup titles in 1992 and 1995. He played Davis Cup for the U.S. for seven years (1991-1992, 1994-1995, 1997-1999), posting a 17-10 record (16-10 in singles, 1-0 in doubles).

The two-time French and Australian Open champion and Hall of Famer was part of the famous “Dream Team” of himself, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and John McEnroe that beat Switzerland 3-1 in the 1992 Davis Cup Final in Ft. Worth, Texas. It was 18 years ago today, December 6, where Courier clinched victory for the USA in this famous final, as outlined below in the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com) by Randy Walker.

1992 – Jim Courier, the No. 1 player in the world, clinches the 30th Davis Cup title for the United States defeating Jakob Hlasek 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to give the United States a 3-1 victory over Switzerland in the Davis Cup Final in Ft. Worth, Texas. Says Courier following the title-clinching win, “There is certainly nothing like winning for a team. It’s not something we get to do too often as tennis players. Hopefully we’ll win this thing for the next eight or nine years.” Adds U.S. DavisCup Captain Tom Gorman of his team’s performance, “They felt very proud to be in the final and they were going to make sure they did themselves proud. They had their entire country behind them.” Following his victory Courier is carried off the court by his teammates John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and team support staff. All four players then take victory laps around the court waving the American flag.

Federer Wins his Fourth Year-End Title

November 18, 2010 by WTM

WorldTennisMagazine.com takes a look back at ATP World Tour Finals from yester-year in this special series – ATP World Tour Final Rewind. Today we look back to matches from November 18, as excerpted from the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com) by Randy Walker.

1990 – Twenty-year-old Andre Agassi defeats defending champion and world No. 1 Stefan Edberg 5-7, 7-6, 7-5, 6-2 in 3 hours, 15 minutes to win the year-end ATP Tour Championships, played in Frankfurt, Germany. Says Agassi, “It’s unbelievable to accomplish this at my age. It’s very special. I am proud. There is no question that this is the high point of my career.” The tournament is played for the first time in Germany after a 13-year stint at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

2007 – Roger Federer wins the year-end Tennis Masters Cup for a fourth time, defeating surprise finalist David Ferrer of Spain 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in Shanghai, China. The title is Federer’s 53^rd of his career and his eighth on the season, which for the third time, sees him win three of the four major tournaments (Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.) Says Federer. “It was a nice victory, especially proving it, to myself and the world, that I can do it over and over again. This is the year-end tournament that only the best can make it to…I practiced hard to get (to) this level. So when it all comes together in a final like today against Ferrer – it’s fantastic.”

2001 – Twenty-year-old Lleyton Hewitt dominates Sebastien Grosjean 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to win the year-end ATP Masters Cup in Sydney. Grosjean actually hits significantly more winners than Hewitt in the championship match – 31 to Hewitt’s 12 – but also registers 47 unforced errors.

2006- James Blake upsets defending champion David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the final of the year-end Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China, one of the biggest wins of his career. The win allows Blake to finish the season as the No. 4 ranked player in the world and the No. 1 American – ahead of friend and Davis Cup teammate Andy Roddick.. Roger Federer defeats rival Rafael Nadal 6-4, 7-5 in the other semifinal.

Sampras Rallies to Beat Courier

November 17, 2010 by WTM

WorldTennisMagazine.com takes a look back at ATP World Tour Finals from yester-year in this special series – ATP World Tour Final Rewind. Today we look back to matches from November 17, as excerpted from the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com) by Randy Walker.

1991 – Pete Sampras rallies to defeat Jim Courier 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-4 in 3 hours, 10 minutes to win the year-end ATP Tour Championships in Frankfurt, Germany. Says Courier of Sampras, “When he is hot, he is hot, he can knock you off the floor. He goes for shots most of us wouldn’t even think of hitting. It was his day today.”

2002 – World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt battles Juan Carlos Ferrero for four hours and five sets, but successfully defends his title at the year-end ATP Masters Cup in Shanghai, China, defeating the Spaniard 7-5, 7-5, 2-6, 2-6, 6-4. The event is the biggest sporting event ever to be staged in China at the time, with 9,000 fans in attendance and global television audience of millions.

Mikhail Youzhny’s 15 Minutes of Fame

September 10, 2010 by WTM

By Bob Stockton

Mikhail Youzhny is into the semifinals of the US Open for the second time in his career.

He will face Rafael Nadal in Saturday’s semifinals – in a rematch of their 2006 US Open quarterfinal that Youzhny won 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-1.

While New York and Arthur Ashe Stadium provide one of the grandest stages in sports, Youzhny’s most high profile moment came on March 31, 2008 at the Sony Ericsson Open, when the Russian became a YOUTUBE sensation.

The following is the excerpt from Randy Walker’s book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com) on the episode.

2008 – Mikhail Youzhny of Russia gains more exposure and international attention for an strange outburst of anger in the third round match at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla., than he does in coming back from two-sets-to love to clinch the Davis Cup title for Russia in 2002. Trailing Nicolas Almagro 4-5 in the third set of their third-round match, the No. 11-ranked Youzhny bangs his head three times with his racquet strings, causing him to bleed down the front of his face. The video becomes a viral video sensation on the internet, registering 500,000 hits on YouTube within 24 hours. Youzhny wins the match 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (6).

The last time Youzhny and Nadal played on a hard court, Youzhny won by an incredible 6-1, 6-0 margin. The January 6 chapter from ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com) documents that infamous match.

2008 – World No. 2 Rafael Nadal has nothing left in the tank in a 57-minute, 6-0, 6-1 loss to Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in the final of the Chennai Open in India. The previous night, Nadal defeats fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya 6-7 (3), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (1) in 3 hours, 54 minutes – saving four match points in the second-set tie-break – in the longest three-set match on the ATP Tour in 15 years.”Rafa was not Rafa,” says Youzhny of Nadal winning only one game against him in the final. “I did not win today, it was Rafa who lost. I did not expect it to be so easy. I was lucky as he just couldn’t move and couldn’t play.” Says a classy Nadal, “Maybe I was a bit tired after the long semifinal, but I lost the final because Mikhail played very well.”

US Open Ceremony Anniversaries Abound

August 25, 2010 by Admin

August 25 is an historic day for the United States Tennis Association and the U.S. Open as it was on this date in 1997 that the new Arthur Ashe Stadium was christened in a moving on-court ceremony, as documented in the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY by Randy Walker ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com). August 25 also marked the day that Pete Sampras officially ended his miraculous career in another memorable on-court ceremony, while August 26 marks the date when the 2002 U.S. Open kicked off paying homage in an opening ceremony to the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City by raising the American flag that flew over the World Trade Center over Arthur Ashe Stadium. Events from August 25 and August 26 are documented below in this exclusive book excerpt.

1997 – The United States Tennis Association dedicates Arthur Ashe Stadium with a dramatic on-court ceremony featuring Ashe’s widow Jeanne Moutassamy Ashe, Whitney Houston and 38 former champions. Tamarine Tanasugarn wins the first-ever match on Arthur Ashe Stadium defeating Chanda Rubin 6-4, 6-0. Future world No. 1 and two-time U.S. Open champion Venus Williams makes her U.S. Open debut, also on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court, and defeats Larisa Neiland of Latvia in the first round 5-7, 6-0, 6-1.

2003 – In an emotional on-court ceremony at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the opening night of the U.S. Open, five-time U.S. Open champion Pete Sampras officially announces his retirement from professional tennis. Just 12 months earlier, Sampras, seeded No. 17, brushing off the critics that say he is washed up and dramatically wins the U.S. Open – ending a tournament title slump of nearly 26 months – beating arch rival Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the final. Sampras appears on the court with his wife Bridgette and his 9-month-old son Christian, whom he carries in his arms as he takes one final victory lap around the center court at the U.S. Open. “I’m going to miss playing here,” Sampras tells the crowd. “I really loved playing in New York, loved playing in front of you guys. But I know in my heart, it’s time to say goodbye.”

1927 – Althea Gibson, the woman who broke the color barrier at the U.S. Championships in 1950 and became one of the world’s most talented and accomplished players, is born in Spring, S.C. Gibson is the first black player to win a major title at the French Championships in 1956 and also becomes the first black player to win at Wimbledon (1957-1958) and at the U.S. Championships (1957-1958).

1950 – Play begins at the 50th anniversary edition of the Davis Cup Challenge Round as the United States and Australia open up play at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y. Australia takes a 2-0 on the Davis Cup holders as Frank Sedgman defeats Tom Brown 6-0, 8-6, 9-7 and Ken McGregor defeats Ted Schroeder 13-11, 6-3, 6-4. Australia goes on to claim its first Davis Cup title since 1939 the next day as Sedgman and John Bromwich defeat Gardnar Mulloy and Schroeder 4-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 giving Australia an insurmountable 3-0 lead. Brown prevents an Australian shutout on the third day of play as he comes back from two-sets-to-love deficit to defeat Ken McGregor 9-11, 8-10, 11-9, 6-1, 6-4 in the fifth and final match. Brown, a finalist at Forest Hills in 1946 and at Wimbledon in 1947, continues to play competitive tennis well into his 70s. In 1994, he undergoes shoulder replacement surgery where his arm was disconnected from his body and surgically re-attachment with an artificial shoulder.

2007 – James Blake wins his 10^th career ATP singles title, defeating good friend Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-4. in the final of the Pilot Pen Championships in New Haven, Conn., just down the road from Blake’s childhood home of Fairfield, Conn.

August 26

1933 – Helen Wills Moody’s 45-match winning streak at the U.S. Championships ends in controversial circumstances as she quits her match with rival Helen Jacobs while trailing 0-3 in the final set of the women’s singles final at the West Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills. Trailing 0-3 in the final set, Moody walks to the chair umpire and informs him that she can no longer continue due to pain in her back. Jacobs pleads with Moody to continue, but the seven-time U.S. champion retreats to the dressing room, giving Jacobs the 8-6, 3-6, 3-0, ret. victory in front of a shocked crowd of 8,000 fans. Moody’s loss is the first of any kind, in any circumstance since 1926. Moody issues a statement that reads, “In the third set of my singles match, I felt as though I was going to faint because of pain in my back and hip and complete numbness of my right leg. The match was long and by defaulting I do not wish to detract from the excellence of Miss Jacobs’s play. I felt that I have spoiled the finish of the national championship, and wish that I had followed the advice of my doctor and returned to California. I still feel that I did right in withdrawing because I felt that I was on the verge of a collapse on the court.” The loss marks the first loss for Moody in the championship since the 1922 U.S. women’s final.

1951 – Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor clinch the first Grand Slam in doubles, defeating fellow Aussies Mervyn Rose and Don Candy 10-8, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in the doubles final of the U.S. Championships, played at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y.

1986 – John McEnroe suffers his first – and only – first round loss at the U.S. Open, when fellow Long Island native Paul Annacone fires 23 aces and dismisses the four-time champion 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 on the opening day of the tournament. McEnroe, the four-time U.S. Open champion, plays only his third event after returning from a six-month sabbatical from the game that featured him being married to actress Tatum O’Neal and the birth of his first child. Says McEnroe of his lack of vigor in his first-round exit, “I have to look at myself in the mirror and ask whether I have the enthusiasm. There’s not much sense in pretending it’s there.” Says Annacone of the victory, “I kind of felt awkward beating him. He’s a great champion. He’s entertained so many millions of people and done so much for the game. I want to see him come back, but I feel he has got to get some more matches under his belt.” While McEnroe is beginning the downward path of his career, Andre Agassi, a standard bearer for the next generation of American tennis, makes his U.S. Open debut as a 16-year-old. The future two-time U.S. Open champion also loses in the opening round, falling to Jeremy Bates of Great Britain, 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

1991 – No. 8 seed Andre Agassi commits 61 unforced errors in his 7-5, 7-6, 6-2 first round loss to Aaron Krickstein at the US Open. Says Krickstein simply of Agassi and the upset-win,” He had a lot more to do with what happened than I did.” Says Agassi, who lost in the finals of the U.S. Open to Pete Sampras the previous year, “I don’t know what is harder, to lose in the first round or to lose in the finals.”

2002 – The United States Tennis Association pays tribute to the City of New York nearly one year after the Sept. 11 World Trade Center tragedy with a moving on-court “Opening Night” ceremony at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The World Trade Center flag that flew over the Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan is unfurled on-court, then raised over the stadium. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Tony Bennett, actor Judd Hirsch, Queen Latifah, John McEnroe and Billie Jean King join New York City police and fire fighters during the ceremonies.

1949 – Twenty-one-year-old Richard “Pancho” Gonzales makes his Davis Cup debut defeating Frank Sedgman 8-6, 6-4, 9-7 to help the United States to a 2-0 lead over Australia after the first day of the Davis Cup Challenge Round at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y. Born of Mexican parents in Los Angeles, Gonzalez wins the singles title at the U.S. National Championships at Forest Hills the year before in 1948 and goes on to defend his title in 1949. Following his triumph at Forest Hills in 1949, Gonzales, short of money, turns professional thus not being eligible to play Davis Cup again until the advent of Open tennis in 1968.

1974 – Bjorn Borg, who earlier in the year wins the Italian and French Championships, wins the U.S. Pro Championships in Boston, defeating Tom Okker in the final, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-1. Borg rallies from being down 2-5 in the first set to easily capture his first title in the United States. In the semifinals, Borg comes back from a 1-5 deficit in the fifth set to beat Jan Kodes 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) in the semifinals.

1991– After mysteriously skipping Wimbledon earlier in the summer, Monica Seles is unveiled as the spokesperson for the blue-jean manufacturer “No Excuses” in a press conference in New York. Seles, who absence from Wimbledon was the only blip on a season that saw her win the other three major tournaments she entered, used the excuse of shin splits for her Wimbledon withdrawal after weeks of speculation and secrecy regarding the reasoning for her no show.

2006 – Nikolay Davydenko of Russia defeats Agustin Calleri of Argentina 6-4, 6-3 in the final of the Pilot Pen Championships in New Haven, Conn., to win his eighth career ATP singles title. Davydenko wins the crown in New Haven – his first title in North America – without losing a set.

MARDY IS THE GOLDFISH IN NEWPORT

July 12, 2010 by WTM

By Randy Walker

NEWPORT, R.I. – In a tennis tournament where one of the title sponsor’s most popular snack products is “GoldFish” it seems only appropriate that the singles champion also be named Fish.

In one of the most entertaining and well-played finals in the 34-year history of the only professional grass-court tournament in the United States, Mardy Fish of the United States defeated Olivier Rochus of Belgium 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 Sunday in the final of the $442,500 Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

Fish earned $75,500 for his fourth career ATP World Tour final and the first grass court championship of his career.

“It means a lot to me to win here,” said Fish, whose first of eight appearances in Newport was in 2000 on a special invitation from Hall of Fame tournament director Mark Stenning. “This is a special place for me.”

Fish, 28, continued to improve his ranking after undergoing knee surgery last fall. The Olympic silver medalist from the 2004 Olympic Games will see his ATP World Tour ranking move from No. 79 into the top 50 after peaking at No. 17 in 2004.

Fish had been the top-seeded player in Newport the last three years but this year was the first time he was able to reach at least the semifinals at this New England coastal town. Fish was the top seed in Newport in 2007, where he lost in the first round to Aisam Qureshi of Pakistan, in 2008, when he lost in the second round to Rohan Bopanna of India, and last year, before pulling out of the event after the start of the tournament to replace Andy Roddick on the U.S. Davis Cup team in the USA’s match against Croatia. Fish did, however, win the doubles title here in 2008 with John Isner.

Rochus won the first by breaking Fish’s serve at 5-5, after Fish did not play a backhand shot hit by Rochus, believing it had landed out. Fish complained vigorously to the linesman and chair umpire Steve Ulrich, but to no avail.

Fish stayed focused and broke Rochus to take a 3-1 lead and held on to force the third set. Both players battled valiantly in the third set, exchanging service holds until the pivotal ninth game of the final set. After Rochus fought off three break points, the Belgian tossed in a damaging double fault, giving Fish a fourth break point chance, which he converted with a briskly hit backhand approach shot and forehand volley into the open court.

Serving for the match at 5-4, Fish dug himself out of a 0-30 hole and saved two break points before converting.

Fish and Rochus both said that Fish’s serve was the difference in the match. The American hit 24 aces in the two hour, 3 minute match.

“I served great when I needed to,” said Fish. “I came up with some big serves.”

“Mardy has a huge serve. What can I say?” said Rochus, the 29-year-old ranked No. 66 “I made a few double faults here and there and he hit 24 aces. It was just one of two points (that made the difference).”

Sunday’s attendance was 2,815. Australians Chris Guccione and Carsten Ball won the doubles title, defeating Travis Rettenmaier of the United States and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico 6-3, 6-4.

Randy Walker is a communications and marketing specialist, writer, tennis historian and the managing partner of New Chapter Media – www.NewChapterMedia.com. He was a 12-year veteran of the U.S. Tennis Association’s marketing and communications division where he worked as the press officer for 22 U.S. Davis Cup ties, three Olympic tennis teams and was an integral part of USTA media services team for 14 US Opens. He is the author of the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY (www.TennisHistoryBook.com).

FISH TO PLAY ROCHUS IN NEWPORT FINAL IN REMATCH OF GREATEST TENNIS MATCH OF ALL-TIME YOU NEVER HEARD OF

July 10, 2010 by WTM

By Randy Walker

NEWPORT, R.I. – It could easily received consideration as “the greatest tennis of all time.”

Except it was a second-round match at the lowest-level ATP World Tour event between two middle-ranked players.

Prior to playing in Sunday’s championship match at the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Championships, the last meeting between Mardy Fish of the United States and Olivier Rochus of Belgium was the most closely contested best-of-three-set match ever on the ATP World Tour.

As documented in my book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com), it was on October 25, 2007 that Rochus saved five match points and defeated Fish by the narrowest of margins 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (17-15) in a second-round match at the event in Lyon, France.

In the aftermath of the famous John Isner-Nicolas Mahut 11 hour, 5 minute 70-68 in the fifth-set Wimbledon classic – that featured an incredible 113 aces from Isner and 103 from Mahut – kudos must go to Fish, who hit an incredible 43 aces in the loss to Rochus in Lyon.

“It was a crazy match in Lyon,” said Rochus Saturday of his epic with Fish. “He had a lot of match points, but Mardy is more solid and in a good way. Mardy has a lot of confidence at the moment.”

Saturday in Newport, Fish advanced into the final, his 15th in his ATP World Tour career, by defeating Richard Bloomfield of Great Britain 7-6 (5), 6-4. Rochus bested Argentina’s Brian Dabul 6-3, 6-2 to reach his eight career singles final.

Fish has been the top-seeded player in Newport the last three years but will be seeking his first singles title in the New England coastal town and his fourth overall ATP World Tour title on Sunday. Fish was the top seed in Newport in 2007, where he lost in the first round to Aisam Qureshi of Pakistan, in 2008, when he lost in the second round to Rohan Bopanna of India, and last year, before pulling out of the event after the start of the tournament to replace Andy Roddick on the U.S. Davis Cup team in the USA’s match against Croatia. Fish did, however, win the doubles title here in 2008 with John Isner.

The turning point in the Fish-Bloomfield match came at 4-4 in the second set when Bloomfield led 40-15 on his serve, only to double-fault three times in a row. The 27-year-old Brit was able to fight off the first break point with a volley winner, but wasn’t as lucky two points later as his backhand volley off Fish’s return of serve floated long. Fish then served out the straight set victory in the next game.

Said Bloomfield, “At this level, three double faults in a row is not good enough.”

Bloomfield, a qualifier ranked No. 552, was looking to become the lowest-ranked player to ever win an ATP World Tour title. Prior to competing in Newport, he had won only one ATP-level singles match in his career. His semifinal showing will earn him a ranking of approximately No. 292, according to Greg Sharko of the ATP World Tour.

Prior to the start of play Saturday, Australians Mark Woodforde, Todd Woodbridge and Owen Davidson, Puerto Rico’s Gigi Fernandez, Natasha Zvereva of Belarus, Brad Parks of the United States and Derek Hardwick of Britain were inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Randy Walker is a communications and marketing specialist, writer, tennis historian and the managing partner of New Chapter Media – www.NewChapterMedia.com. He was a 12-year veteran of the U.S. Tennis Association’s marketing and communications division where he worked as the press officer for 22 U.S. Davis Cup ties, three Olympic tennis teams and was an integral part of USTA media services team for 14 US Opens. He is the author of the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY (www.TennisHistoryBook.com).