Tennis Chatter

I know that this is a tennis blog but we can digress sometimes if only to give way to the humor in the world.

Take this: the City of Clifton in New Jersey will soon introduce an ordinance setting a limit on how long dogs can bark.

Hey, I too wonder if canines ever get sore throat from too much barking (a beloved labrador is quite guilty on this one) which they are very capable of doing. So a fine will be imposed. And? How could you fine the essence of being a dog? What’s next? A gag order?

Somebody educate me.

Venus Williams earned The Cellular South Cup title in Memphis by defeating Israel’s Shahar Peer 6-1 6-1.

Just like watching a tennis ball at play, let us swing our attention from the Middle East to the West today, shall we?

In Dubai, Justine Henin must have that Alladin genie upon her each time she sets foot in the Arabian territory. On Saturday, she won her fourth Dubai title (winner in 2003,2004 & 2006) beating Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 7-5 on Saturday in almost two hours of play.

This is Justine’s second tournament since her recent separation from her husband. Coming back as a strong winner is the best gift a champion can give to herself.

Inspired by the storybook comeback of her younger sister Serena, Venus Williams is vying for the title in the Tier III event Cellular South Cup in Memphis in only her first tournament since October. She has been perennially suffering from a left wrist injury and is working her way to shaping up for bigger tournaments. She will face the talented Shahar Peer of Israel.

Also on Saturday, we saw that American Andy Roddick is quite becoming a Connors. He swept The Scot Andy Murray 6-3, 7-6 (4) off the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships title contenders shortlist in Memphis during their semifinal match returning the loss he suffered in the hands of the younger player last week in San Jose. That means that Roddick has slightly improved his head-to-head statistics against Murray at 2-3. Yes, folks, this one he is literally closing the gap. However, I see this as a continuing rivalry so I would not exactly bet my cards on it yet. Both players have a lot to give yet. As in anything in life, when not a single speck is left in you, nothing moves you one iota. These two are still so full of life we can be assured of a more meaningful tennis in as many years.

If there is a lesson I learned in hitting that yellow ball coming towards me during a tennis game it is that one has the ability to block things and focus on the task at hand. I am currently tied to a very difficult task and I have been trying hard to build a wall around me for my own sanity. One would think that by this torturous exercise one is impregnable to the elements of nature. Absolute bullshit.

For the truth is the harder the concentration the more heightened the senses and the more sensitive one becomes. Life is not a 120’ x 60’ standard court size. After one steps out of it, all hell breaks loose. One can control things within the court but outside, the forces of nature will ram into you - hard. Yes it is true that one can find happiness in one’s little corner. One can also get hurt, the kind that ranges from the normal dose to the … wait, there seems to be no overdose when it comes to that in my case.

With an out-of-tennis court battle that can be quite important (this is relative, folks), sometimes you have not much choice no matter how cleverly you view the angles. So I am taking whatever hurt I can in and store it somewhere spacious or offer it to the heavens to at least unload me. At the same time I am extremely grateful for the sparks of happiness that breeze in every now and then like my candid electronic conversations with my brutally honest best friend in New York. She comes across like hot chocolate to me even though the Big Apple is in serious blanket of snow.

I just do what I have to do to finish this endeavor I have long ago started, giving it my best shot everyday of the week repeatedly, like a routine (wait, it is a routine!), that one day I just found myself buying a calendar (the kind with big numbers) to keep track of the days. Weekend? What is that? What local holiday? It was a miracle I was still persuaded by a college classmate to watch a movie. I could not even recall the movie now.

I cannot see the horizon (some people can with so much confidence it invites envy) and sometimes I miss seeing the large dewdrops in the mountains I used to climb or hearing the mini waves on the peaceful shore. These days if I am given the chance to complete my 24 hours, I can only hope that it will entitle me to another.

Hello there! I’ll make it brief today because what I have to share to you is too profound for me to top at this time.

I grew up when Martina Hingis had her golden years. I loved her then. I still love her now. How she has come so far in life amazes me. In my humble opinion, her maturity is astounding. She has never lost her own sense of self but she has enhanced her life so much from being away for three years from the tour which only reflects in her whole grounded personality now.

So go forth, Martina!

Yes, I owe you a post on my bet Andy Murray’s commendable win at the SAP Open in San Jose last week which probably made even his clansmen proud. He toppled the 27-year old Croatian finalist and ace-wonder Ivo Karlovic 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/2). I have been living in between pages of books and exams so pardon the delays once in a while.

Moving on, it was a hard fought victory for Andy, one that spelled variety in a finals game which is becoming rare nowadays.

On the road to the finals the Scottish Andy beat the American Andy for the third time in their four meetings. Hmmm… should Roddick worry about another gap to fill in? Both are set to wreck possible havoc in the semifinals of the $757,000 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships this week in Memphis where Murray hopes to reach world No. 11 if he could earn the needed points. He is currently ranked No. 13.

Two hours and thirty-four minutes of high quality and fast paced tennis and the crowd did not mind at all. The tallest player in the ATP, Ivo Karlovic discharged 26 aces to total his ace haul to 113 in the entire tournament. No shame on that at all. Despite the bombs, however, the skillful 19-year old Murray still found a way to break him twice and clawed his way out. It was a show of clever passing shots and not just linear tennis. In Murray, you know there is a considerably thick gray matter in between those ears.

Andy’s serve which at times registered at 140 mph in the tournament is a product of hard work from developing his upper strength, one that he has promised he would do. To those who doubted him, his returns were anything but sloppy. He is enervated by having to face top-five players and conceals no ego really. He just says things as they are with that unflappable expression (picture: he is probably mentally jumping up and down with joy). It reminds me a lot of Roger Federer and if there would be another possible rival that The King could find challenging it would be The Scot.

Murray’s volleying skills is much better than Roddick’s and his anticipation remains his asset. He is one of the best movers on the court now (he admitted it matter-of-factly, by the way) and indicated that he wanted to gain more pounds to feel fit. He has been showing superb returning skills in the whole tournament.

As if his improving craft is not enough, he is mentally toughening as well. Down by a set he figured his giant opponent out and gritted his way to the title. In the past, he usually imploded or just wilted. The operative word is “past� now and Murray is certainly getting comfortable at the top echelon of tennis.

Murray’s game has been a topic of steady observation by everyone interested including the whole nosy British press who is desperate to put a Briton (excuse me, a Scot) on the front pages as a Grand Slam winner, preferably Wimbledon, please. After 1936 and Fred Perry, came a drought. So the hopes that this young man is carrying on his now stronger shoulder is no joke.

Blessings went over the rim at San Jose when Andy’s brother Jamie Murray and American partner Eric Butorac 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) won the doubles title beating Chris Haggard and Rainer Schuettler. Jamie is slowly becoming another gem of the LTA. He is now the highest-placed British player at world no. 53 on the doubles circuit. No one was prouder of Jamie than his brother Andy. They became the first brothers to win the singles and doubles titles at the same event since Emilio and Javier Sanchez at Kitzbuhel in 1989.

Maybe San Jose was the best place to experience the brothers’ twin victories. It was the place that rewarded both their hard work. San Jose as a saint’s name, after all, is known as Joseph the Worker.

Probably the most likable woman tennis player in many generations, Kim Clijsters of Belgium took her last bow at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp while the audience gave her a long chant and huge standing ovation. She lost to Amelie Mauresmo of France in the final 4-6 6-7 (5-7). The moment was full of unspeakable emotions the sparkling tears spoke it all. In fact, Kim looks even more beautiful in tears! Should I apologize for saying that? I am not sure really. Amelie was just in awe and very respectful of Kim’s moment.

I shared Kim’s tears today but for a much more different reason.

Enjoy this one, dear readers!

Just a quick update from Belgium. Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo rose to the occasion amidst a partisan crowd to deny hometown favorite Kim Clijsters 6-4 7-6 (7-5) a victorious farewell in one hour and 48 minutes. This is Clijster’s last match in Belgium before her retirement.

It is Mauresmo’s third victory in the Proximus Diamond Games which means that she just earned the much coveted prize, a diamond-studded tennis racket worth 1 million euros ($1.3 million), awarded to the first player to win the tournament in any five-year span.

Mauresmo beat Dinara Safina and Anna Chakvetadze on her way to the finals.

Ah, my favorite news of the day! Did I say I pick Andy in the semi-final match between Roddick and Murray? See my February 16 post.

Murray successfully hurdled his test against a top-five player once again with Roddick 7-6 6-4 which according to the Scot is “not as much of a shock to me.� The match was a repeat of last year’s semi-final where eventually he tasted his first ATP tour title.

Murray broke Roddick in the eight game of the first set and the American readily returned the favor to force a tie break. At first Roddick led the tie break but failed to convert on several set points. Murray officially owned the first set at 10-8 with a backhand pass.

The second set was no walk in the park for both players. However, Murray broke Roddick in the fifth game and with clever running passing shots it was a downturn from there for the American.

Murray served 14 aces during the match. He will next face the very dangerous Ivo Karlovic and it will be a test of the Scot’s guile and smart court sense to be able to outplay the heavy hitting Croat. He just served Becker with 27 bombs in their semi-final match.

What can I say? Stay tuned!

Anne Frank once said that no one has ever become poor by giving.

Giving to the world in need is always good. So let us give it the space due here, folks. Without overly analyzing the gesture, Maria Sharapova donated $100,000.00 to be distributed to eight youth-oriented UN development rural projects in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia recovering from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. It can be recalled that the expecting Sharapovs fled Belarus for Siberia in 1986 to avoid radiation from the Chernobyl disaster.

Maria Sharapova, at nineteen and the current number one in women’s tennis, has just also been named Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) last February 14 at the UN headquarters in New York. It is a worthy move to use one’s celebrity status to highlight the important cause of eradicating global poverty which is just one of the aims of the Millennium Development goals adopted by 189 countries. Working on clear timelines with a 2015 target, UNDP is working to achieve measurable improvements in the world’s poorest people — goals such as eradicating poverty, putting children in schools, promoting women’s rights, fighting killer diseases, and providing access to safe drinking water around the world.

Can you say that title five straight times?

It will surely be a popular showdown in the SAP Open semifinals between top-seed Andy Roddick and third-seed defending champion Andy Murray. Roddick disposed of fellowman Vincent Spadea 6-3 6-7 6-1, another match where the obviously better player blinked to hand the second set to the opponent. Frustrated with his errors, Roddick spewed hot-headedness, yelled at himself, hit a ball at the upper deck to earn a code violation, and showed obvious bad blood with Spadea on court. The latter earned some chilly reception from fellow players after he published a book about the men’s tour titled, Break Point: The Secret Diary Of A Pro Tennis Player. Holding on and scrapping his way in the match, at least Roddick redeemed himself in the emphatic decider set.
Andy Murray meanwhile smartly found a way to win against South Korea’s Lee Hyung-taik 4-6 6-3 7-6. That was certainly a Brad Gilbert trademark there. With the way he was troubled for the past two matches, I think Andy should now get a new haircut to clear his hot head off a bit.

On the other side of the draw it will be a Becker-Karlovic show. Germany’s Benjamin Becker took advantage of all his opportunities against the off-timing Russian Marat Safin 6-4 6-3 to earn a place in the semifinal.

The towering 6-foot-10 Croat Ivo Karlovic (right) interestingly fried world no. 25 Mardy Fish 7-6 (2), 6-4 spiced with his almost perfect serve and 17 aces. He was never threatened with a break point on his serve which registered 140mph. It did not help Fish much when he could not decipher the Karlovic serve. Where did this cannon-serving man come from all this time? Turns out he was injured for six months last year. The Croatian frustrated Fish to the point of slamming his racket when Karlovic finally got the only break in the match in the second set’s third game. From then on, Fish submitted to his fate.

This was from one of those benefit matches the players give time to where they can literally pull up their shorts and test the waters for possible commentating jobs in the future. But guess who these players are?

Play on and enjoy!

Last time I wrote, I did not include second-seeded American James Blake in my players to watch in the SAP Open. Just as well, he lost to Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-7 7-6 6-4. Who would not be “stunned� when the opponent is serving you 29 aces? Thus the headline “Croat Karlovic stuns Blake in San Jose.�

The Croat’s next assignment will be Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals. Maybe Fish can fry him for Blake, who knows?

Surprise winner to me is American rapper/tennis (no necessarily in that order) player and world no. 64, Vincent Spadea, over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 to advance to the quarterfinals. He probably rapped Lopez up. He just might have to compose new lyrics with either Andy Roddick or Sam Querrey.

Also German Benjamin Becker will face the winner of the Marat Safin and Taiwanese Yen-Hsun Lu match.

Meanwhile, on cruise is defending champion Scot Andy Murray who will have a clash with seventh-seeded Hyung Taik-Lee of South Korea who just defeated Germany’s Simon Greul. Andy should not repeat his slight lapse of concentration during his second set match with Dane Kristian Pless. He bageled the guy in the first set only to blink in the second when Pless threw caution to the wind and became the agitator. Andy could make use of his new 145mph serve again this time if it helps. Yes, he is still my bet.

This year marks the retirement of one of the nicest women in tennis, Kim Clijsters of Belgium.

She must be awfully tired of listening to questions about her possible reconsideration of her decision to retire by the end of the year. Her indecisiveness in the past has had a lot of people wondering if she would truly have the heart to leave the tour at such a young peaking age. Her geniality stands out from the the rat race of the highly commercialized tour full of women who are “fighters” for points and stare at each other up and down for intimidation effect…or not.

But, get over it, people! Kim is determined to have a normal life with her kitchen, dogs, friends, and husband-to-be Bryan whether or not she has that bediamoned racket at Antwerp. One can guess the line coming now: What good would that diamond-studded racket be if it cannot talk back to you?

In short, smart decision.

Clijsters is now vying for the title at the 2007 Diamond Games and this, being a favorite tournament (see how much of a patriot she is?), would surely rank high among the special moments in her career. It would be extra special if she can really win it for the home crowd.

In her honor, here is a short clip of the beautiful (I personally love her beauty) likable woman who has baffled and dazzled tennis fans all over the world for the past years.

The ATP - 2007 SAP Open is stirring some interest this week. There is 19-year old Sam Querrey, the tall (very tall at 6-foot-6) American teenager who passed up college to turn pro last summer. He just defeated famous journeyman and fellow American Paul Goldstein 6-2 6-1. His next match will be against top-seed Andy Roddick who will be coming from their successful Davis Cup match at the Czech Republic. Their games match well and it would be exciting to watch who will fire the most number of aces between the two.

Of course, there is the other 19-year old third-seeded Andy Murray of Great Britain who is now ranked 13th in the world. He will be defending his first ATP title under the wings of coach Brad Gilbert. After his phenomenal fourth round performance against Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open last month, it would be fascinating to observe if he can carry the success wave over in this tournament. If he can raise that trophy by the week’s end, the Scot can enter the top ten for the first time in his career.

Finally, Marat Safin will be making his appearance after some coaxing (and the right appearance fee presumably) from tournament organizers. He will be flying in from Chile after another successful Davis Cup first-round match.