Double Down: A Picture Perfect Ending

August 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This is how you do it.

The end of the Winston-Salem Open was unforgettable- for the few dozen people left to witness it. With the Singles Final completed about a third of the crowd stuck around on a nice but windy afternoon to see Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram take on Christopher Kas and Alexander Peya in the Doubles Final. But two rain delays and a couple of hours later and the crowd of hundreds had dwindled into a crowd of approximately two dozen.

The match resumed for a final time around 6:20PM with Erlich and Ram leading 7-6 4-2 0-40. About fifteen minutes later Erlich and Ram had secured their Doubles Championship and Tournament Director Bill Oakes had one last surprise up his sleeve- he invited all the remaining spectators and volunteers onto court for the Trophy Presentation.

It was a classy gesture by a classy guy and gave the die-hard fans an experience they could never forget. Fans even got to hand out the trophies. Erlich, Ram, Kas, and Peya were incredibly gracious. They posed for pictures with everyone and gave heartfelt speeches- sans microphones- thanking Bill, the volunteers, and the fans who stayed to support them.

What a great end to a stellar week of tennis. Southern hospitality at it’s finest.

(photo courtesy of Susan Mullane)

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Processing: Isner d. Benneteau

August 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

John Isner d. Julien Benneteau 4-6 6-3 6-4.

I’m both elated and gutted. I want to cheer and I want to cry. I am praising the tennis gods and I am cursing them. But I know that when you’re this torn after a match you’ve seen something good.

It wasn’t a pretty match. Irene’s presence was very much felt and the gusts of wind forced a lot of errors. The match for the most part was on Isner’s racquet- he had 45 winners and 34 UFEs (to 23 and 13 for Benny), and once he got past his “lackluster” start he was pretty much in control.

But Benny also showed flashes of the brilliant tennis that has gotten him to the final, a path that included 9 matches in 8 days. His serve was much improved from last night and he can hit passing shots that send tingles up your spine.

In the end the tournament likely ended the way it should. Hometown boy John Isner (I’m a bit sick of using that phrase to be honest) won his third title (his second in two months) and moved to #3 in the U.S. Open Series standings. After a more than lackluster first 6 months to the year Isner has re-established himself as a threat and is headed into the Open with confidence.

But it was a gut-wrenching loss for Benneteau who is still searching for a first title. The enigmatic Frenchmen had a career week and was one set away from making it the most memorable one of his life. It was tough to see him sob into his towel when the match was over, but I hope he takes the positives from this week and runs with them. If he keeps up this level he should be surpassing his career high of 32 in no time.

Congrats John, thanks Benny. What a week.

(I have a lot more to process about this week and this final, and will be doing so over the next couple of days here on this blog, but I wanted to go ahead and get this up. What are your thoughts on the final?)

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Processing: Benneteau d. Haase

August 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

WHAT A SPORT! (

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Catching Up With Alexandr Dolgopolov

August 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Alexandr Dolgopolov is a breath of fresh air. The giggly Ukranian with the long hair and longer last name has been in the spotlight since making the quarterfinals of the Australian Open this year, charming fans with his perma-smile and refreshingly diverse game.

He’s had a bit of an up and down year since then but is currently sitting just outside the Top 20. He was nice enough to sit down with us after he won an exhausting match against Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 1-6 7-6(7) in the Third round of the Winston-Salem Open. Once he got going he pretty much smiled and giggled throughout the interview, I’ve just highlighted the particularly intense giggle-fits.

 

That was a really tough match today. How do you feel?

Feels good, I got some matches. Because I was sick in Cincinnati it feels nice to win a match like that. I was match point down and somehow got a bit more luck in the end so I got the win and I’m happy.

What was wrong in Cincinnati?

I got some virus, it was since Montreal. I was sick and had a fever so it was pretty tough to play. It’s finished, (and I’m) trying to get my form back and to get top form for the U.S. Open.

You’re known for always being in a good mood. Does anything ever make you angry?

No. Nothing really makes me angry, that’s tough. (Smiles)

That’s amazing. So you never get pissed off?

Yes, I do get pissed off but it doesn’t last for long. (Laughs)

How do you stay so happy?

I don’t know, everything is fine so I’m happy right now.

You won a lot of fans in the U.S. when you won the Doubles Title in Indian Wells with Xavier Malisse. What are your memories from that run?

It was a lot of fun because we just had some fun. We played a lot of doubles guys and they were playing serious, so we just had a lot of good matches. I think we won all the matches on the Super Tie-break. So it was interesting and really nice to win a title.

Do you guys plan on playing any more tournaments together?

We’re not playing together now… but I think we’ll play together sometime.

Who are your best friends on tour?

I’m friends with all the players, maybe more the Russian speaking guys, because it’s easier to communicate with them, but I’m really good with anyone.

What’s your biggest hobby outside of tennis?

Cars. Fast Cars. (Laughs)

What car are you driving right now?

Nissan GTR.

How fast do you drive it?

Pretty fast. (Laughs hysterically)

I noticed your family was here in Winston. Do they usually travel with you?

No, it’s actually just the Second time this year, they just had some time off and they came to support me. It’s nice.

Will they be at the U.S. Open?

Yes. (Smiles)

A lot of tennis player have been shaving their heads lately. Do you plan on joining them?

I don’t think so! I was surprised actually, I don’t know why but yeah, there were a few guys but no, not me. (Laughs)

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Processing: Isner d. Roddick

August 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

WHOA. John Isner d. Andy Roddick 7-6 (7) 6-4.

I don’t really know what to say you guys- this match-up always kills me. It doesn’t matter the outcome, the quality of play, or the circumstances- I always feel a bit like death for a few minutes after this match. CAN’T THEY BOTH WIN?

I wouldn’t be a tennis fan, I wouldn’t be a tennis tweeter or blogger or writer or whatever-the-hell-I am, if it wasn’t for these two guys. Andy Roddick is the reason I got into tennis back in 2001, and Isner’s run to the finals in Legg Mason in 2007 is what solidified me as a 24/7/365 crazy-person fan. He’s from my hometown, around my age, and it’s just impossible not to root for the guy.

This match was strange. Roddick was the better player for much of the first set, but Isner played a superb tiebreak and, in his words, got a bit lucky. “I was flat out just luckier than him in the first set.” Isner told the press afterwards. Roddick went up an early break in the Second set, but Isner immediately got the break back and steamrolled from there.

Roddick didn’t play his best tennis, far from it, but he stayed composed throughout the match and looked healthy mentally and physically, which is a big deal after the year he’s had. His game just feels a few degrees off- he’s still playing too defensively, and he’s not aggressive enough on the second serve anymore. When his first serve breaks down, like it seems to 2-3 games per match these days, he’s in big trouble. He has spoken recently about a grip issue with his serve, and it seems that he loses focus throughout the match and reverts back to his old grip.

It was my first ever Roddick post-loss press conference, and I must admit I was a bit nervous after hearing some old stories, but he was fairly upbeat and positive after this loss. All week you’ve been able to feel the relief rolling off of him as he strung together three wins in a row, something he’s only done once since February.

Isner, meanwhile, has just continued to build on the confidence he gained when he won Newport at the beginning of this summer, a win he credits with turning his year around. He had an aggressive game-plan and admitted in his presser that was something he needed to do more often.

It’s been a rough year for both guys and it was nice to see them play a fairly high-quality semifinal match. I think in the end it works out for the best- Roddick gets to beat the hurricane to New York and get settled up there. Considering he loves the city and is used to getting to New York a good week before the Open starts, I think at the end of the day that will be a relief to him.

The Greensboro native John Isner gets to prolong his stay at home a couple of more days, and it’s clear the time sleeping in his bed and getting fed by his Mama is good for him. He has already decided to delay his travel plans to New York until Monday since the bottom half of the draw won’t start until Tuesday or Wednesday (and he sounds confident he can get a Wednesday start). A true Southerner at heart, he said that was just fine for him. “The city stuff isn’t for me.”

And who knows, he might even make the flight with a new trophy!

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Catching Up with Sergiy Stakhovsky

August 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There’s a lot to love about Sergiy Stakhovsky. Don’t believe me? Check out his fabulous website, his friendship and doubles partnership with Mikhail Youzhny, and his great ATP World Tour Uncovered video:

 

I was elated to get the chance to sit down with the eccentric and thoughtful Ukranian after his Second Round win over Andrey Golubev (6-2 4-6 6-4) here at the Winston Salem Open. He was just as charming and engaging as I hoped he would be, and even broke the news to us about his marriage and his new coach!

_______

You had a tough match today but managed to pull it out. How are you feeling?

Well a win is always a good win so I’m satisfied with the result. I wouldn’t say I’m not that satisfied with the game I produced but I’m satisfied with the result.

You’re defending Championship points from New Haven last year. How does the change of venue from New Haven to Winston Salem effect you?

Well, it’s just changing the venue but the week it stays, you have good feelings for the week you played. Maybe different conditions, bit different courts. But you try to do your best.

So you can keep the winning feeling from last year?

Well I try to, yes. (Smiles)

You have a great record in finals, 4-0 in Singles Finals and 3-0 in Doubles Finals. What do you attribute that to?

I believe not many players can say that. I’m just quite lucky to have this record running.

Well it can’t all be luck…

I don’t know. Every single final I’ve played is completely different so I can’t really judge why does it happen that way, but I know that every time I’m stepping out on the court I’m trying to win. And thank God it happens so that I am capable of pulling the matches around and turning them if I’m losing and win in the end. I’d say it is sort of luck, and sort of determination.

A lot of players can’t handle their nerves during finals. Do you ever get nervous?

My first final I was very nervous. In Zagreb 2008 I was really nervous because it was indoors, I was playing Ljubicic , and it was about five and a half thousand people indoors, it was fully packed. Literally the first two games I didn’t hear the sound of the ball flying off my racket I was so so nervous. I mean, if I would lose those first two games, if I didn’t hold my serve, I would lose maybe two and three, but I was somehow able to keep my serve in. And then it changed. Then you start focusing more on the game than the people surrounding you and cheering. But definitely that was one of the most nervous situations I’ve had on the court.

So that was the most nervous you’ve ever been?

Absolutely, because I think I said before the semis I couldn’t sleep and before the final I slept like two or three hours and after the final I couldn’t sleep again. So you know, for your first time being in a final, winning a title, beating Ljubicic in a final, it was such an emotional rise for me that I couldn’t, I just couldn’t sleep. I was like on coffee nonstop. (Laughs)

How do you deal with nerves now?

Well now for me it’s a bit easier because you know age is different, you’ve been there, you know what it takes, you know that not always you can win because sometimes you play bad, and sometimes your opponent just plays much better than you. There’s many things around it but you just try to play your best tennis and you just try to show the tennis you want to show to the people that are watching. Because you know … tennis is a game that you play for people that are watching because it’s not- it is your life, but if you lose you don’t lose your life. You still go there, you still practice, and you move on. So for me I would say I’m a very happy person to have a wife that is supporting me and that’s my happiness in life.

How long have you been married?

Well officially we’ll get married in one month. Well we’ve done the church so basically we are married but we didn’t sign the papers.

When did you do the church ceremony?

Just the week before Wimbledon.

You play doubles a lot with Mikhail Youzhny. How did you two team up?

(Smiles and laughs) Well, that’s a good question. I’ve known Mischa for about six or seven years, I’d say seven years, but we’ve been really close friends for another three I think. I always (would) go to Mischa and ask him to play doubles because ranking wise I was in the 70s and I needed Mischa, if I play with Mischa I would get in more. But I know that Mischa doesn’t really, you know, focus on Doubles. He’s obviously focusing on Singles and Doubles is more as practice, and for me it was fine… if you don’t feel like playing Doubles or you’re injured and you need to focus on Singles it’s fine. For me it’s also better because you know I can do the same thing. So you know, I had a really great relationship with him, and I have a really great relationship with his coach Boris. His son is coaching me.

Boris’s son is coaching you? How did that come about?

Well I think that after last year at the U.S. Open I ended up having no coach. Because you know, circumstances, as you become more mature as a player you’re looking for a coach which you really trust. Unfortunately for me it happened that I was trusting more Boris than I was trusting my former coach. So Boris was helping me for some time with Mischa and then Boris’s son had a vacancy because he was coaching another junior and they broke up, so now Boris’s son is coaching me and I’m quite enjoying it.

Do the four of you hang out often?

Well you have to because you spend a lot of time together. It’s really nice, you know, spending time with people that I would say are intellectually, you know- we’re not coming and talking about tennis, we’re talking about different stuff- about politics, about other sports, about different situations, which is great because you educate yourself as well.

Other than Youzhny who are your best friends on tour?

I’m really good friends with Sergei Bubka. He’s playing Quallies right now (in the U.S. Open) and he just won his first round match. I’d say I spend most of my time with Youzny and Bubka and if I have my wife with me I spend most of my time with my wife. We’re also good friends with Victoria Azarenka because we’ve known each other since a long time ago. So, you know, not many. I don’t have many enemies but I wouldn’t say I have many good friends. (Smiles and Laughs).

You said at the beginning of the year your goal was to reach the Top 20 in 2011. You’re ranked 42nd right now, is that still is case?

Yeah, I mean, it was a good start of the season for me. I ended up not bad in Sydney and (made the) Third Round of the Australian Open- I had good chances to go into the Round of 16. Then Quarterfinals in Dubai. The season started really not bad for me and somewhere things didn’t work right, as I was expecting (them) to work. Maybe it was because of luck or because I just started to work with Boris’s son right after Wimbledon. So I didn’t really have a coach who would help me through this hard period before Wimbledon and during Wimbledon. So now the goal is still the same. There’s still many chances to do that and to do better but it’s just I need to find my game.

So Boris’s son has only been working with you since Wimbledon- do you feel more settled now?

Life is about changes and I hope this is my last and steady change with a coach because you know I believe that when people communicate and when you trust your coach you don’t lose your face that easy. But you really have to trust.

What are your passions outside of tennis?

Well now my head is (focused on) spending lots of time with my wife because we don’t see each other and we have to organize the wedding which is in less than one month, so that’s sort of my thinking. (Laughs).

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Roddick, Corona, and Flip-Flops

August 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This is all just too much.

Andy Roddick made a surprise appearance today at the Winston-Salem Corona Tailgate where five lucky raffle winners won a photo opportunity and a pair of signed Corona flip flops from the No. 1 seed.


Andy Roddick, beer (er, I mean, Corona), and FLIP-FLOPS. I cannot think of three things I love more in this world. How come I’m never the “lucky raffle winner”?

Anyways, Roddick plays North Carolina native John Isner at noon today in the semifinals of the Winston Salem Open. So please, keep those Coronas coming!

(photos courtesy of Susan Mullane/Winston-Salem Open)


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French-Russian Dramedy

August 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Julien Benneteau d. Igor Andreev 2-6 6-1 7-6(5).

I mean, of course. Was there any way this match wasn’t going to go like this? Each player disappearing for a set just to end in a 3rd set tiebreak after two hours and thirty-three minutes in the blazing hot August midday sun? It would have been intense if it wasn’t all so amusing.

The French and the Russians know drama, and this was a Veteran display of it. Benny spent the entire match talking to himself in French, and I have never wanted to understand a language more. He stroked the netting, hit balls high into the air, and yelled at spectators on the sidewalk. He even bossed around ball boys, first in French, then eventually switching to English (“You, stand over there. Give me the ball, do I have to say it again?”). Igor, meanwhile, had a more sarcastic frustration with his game when he was down- smiles, eye-rolls, and then the occasional completely random insanely loud Russian scream.

The heroes of the match, however, were Oliver Rochus and Eduardo Roger-Vasselin. They walked back into the match with me at the end of the fifth set when Benny was completely going mental. They laughed at him, cheered him up, and in the tiebreak even made him smile. I don’t think that he would have been able to keep it together without his friends.

Overall it’s great to see both of these guys getting their games back, and I think both could make some noise at the U.S. Open with a favorable draw. The Winston Salem crowd definitely got their money’s worth (and a good laugh) on Court 2 today!

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Catching Up with Robin Haase

August 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

Robin Haase, who is into the Quarterfinals of the Winston Salem Open, sat down and talked with me after his Second Round victory over James Blake. In the past I thought he had come across as a bit of a goof-ball, but that was not the side he revealed to me. Instead he was very polite, thoughtful, and clearly image-conscious. I most regret that I didn’t ask him what products he uses on his hair….

You recently won your first title. What was that experience like?

Of course it was a great experience. I was really happy that I won there. I needed the points as well because I would have dropped a lot because I won last year three challengers at this time. Of course these points they make up for all these three tournaments and that’s of course just a great feeling to don’t drop of course and even get a win. Yeah I was really happy. And it’s a title that’s in the stats. It hasn’t been done in Holland in my country for seven years so that was also a nice thing.

Did you do anything special to celebrate?

No. I had to play club matches the next day in Germany. I told them- it was the last match of the year for them and a lot of players were of course in Montreal, (so) I told them I could play even if I was in the finals- it was a joke. But once I made it to the finals of course I don’t say no to them so of course I went there. Then the next few days I was just in my home country doing press- TV things, and I couldn’t really have time to celebrate. The only thing I did was have a family dinner like in a restauraunt to celebrate.

You’re active on twitter. Is that something you enjoy?

Well it’s something I do for the fans. It’s not like I enjoy it actually. Also my website, it’s not for myself it’s for my fans. Of course it’s nice to get good reactions and it’s nice that you get good feedback and you know why you do it, but of course it takes a lot of time. Even now it’s been three or four weeks since I updated my website. It’s tough to do it because there’s so many things. It’s taking so long because at first my website was only Dutch but now it’s in English as well so that takes time and a lot of energy. So I’ll try and do it as best as I can and try and do it a little different as well so the fans will hopefully like it and come back. Also with my tweets I try and do something a little different than maybe other players will do. I think in the end it’s fun of course to see the reactions.

You recently tweeted about a crazy train ride…

That was one of the things people really enjoyed I think. I still get a few tweets about that every once in a while. Things like that of course that’s fun to do but I try to keep it serious as well. I think it’s different for an athlete to tweet than say a soap star or something. They can keep more things in there , more funny things than I think an athlete can do because I think we’re all professionals, we’re all role models, so we have to also watch out what we write.

Who are your best friends on tour?

I can get along with a bunch of guys. Like here this week- like Jarkko Nieminen is always one of the friendly and great guys. We have dinner sometimes, because for example this week he doesn’t have a coach with him because he’s in New York already, so then of course it’s nice because you can sit along with each other at night or in the evening and have a little chat. I mean that’s one of the guys I mention but there’s not one guy I’d say I can’t have a dinner with. But I think in the tennis world it’s of course a lot of countries, not just the counties, the languages. The Spanish speaking guys- so Argentina, Spain- it’s logical they have dinner together. The french with each other, they are eight or nine guys, they don’t need to (branch out). At the moment I’m the only one in the Top 100 in my country and Jarkko in his country, and let’s say in Belgium there are only two guys so of course you come together.

You have a nickname I’ve heard about, Schlobber. Where did that come from?

It’s an old nickname, nobody knows it anymore. I couldn’t explain it in English It’s a German/Dutch thing… It means something like- not a homeless person, but how a homeless person looks. It’s old and in English it makes no sense at all.

Anything in particular you’re looking forward to doing in New York?

Well I’ve been in New York only twice- once for the U.S. Open, I stayed there for two weeks because I played a Challenger before that. I look forward to going there again. My brother is coming from Holland. My girlfriend is here as well, she lives in Washington, so she knows New York good as well and I think she will let me see a few things. There’s not a particular place I’d like to go but it’s a big city, a fun city, so I’m looking forward to it.

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Catching Up with Denis Istomin

August 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

Denis Istomin, fresh off of two challenger wins in a row, sat down with us on Monday after his 7-6 (1) 6-1 defeat over Matthius Bachinger in the first round of the Winston Salem Open.

He was incredibly sweet and funny, and we giggled our way through the 10 minute interview. He talked about his crazy commute from Uzbekistan to Winston Salem, his mom, his friends on tour, and his memories from his match against Nadal at the U.S. Open last year.

Remember this point? The Uzbekistan Federation rewarded him in a very unique way!

 

 

You had a great win today. You’ve won two Challenger Titles in a row, how are you feeling?

I feel a little bit tired now

I hear you had a crazy commute!

Yeah, I finished Saturday night in Uzbekistan and I get flight at night. (I flew to) New York at Sunday noon, my flight was canceled yesterday, so I just took a flight in the morning. I arrived here 2:45PM.

So you just walked onto court?

I just came, changed my clothes, and just go onto court.

How do you get it together in times like that? Is it just instinct?

Yeah. Maybe it’s just- (in) two weeks I just won two challengers, so maybe it’s just a little bit confidence. In the beginning not so good, but then it was good. (laughs)

Your results have really improved lately, what do you attribute that to?

I just work hard, practice a lot, especially the last three weeks. I don’t know maybe a little bit lucky that it’s changed.

Nothing in particular?
Nothing. (laughs)
Are you still with your mom? (His mom is his coach)

Yes

How is this?

It’s always good. (Laughs)

Always?

Always. (Laughs). Very good understand(ing) together. I don’t know. I don’t want to change something or change a coach.

Last year this week you made your first ATP final in New Haven. What was that experience like?

It’s good memories. My first and just one final. (Laughs). So I keep work and I try to make another final. Maybe here, I don’t know. I try and do my best and just play.

What would you do on a typical Friday night?

I go with friends to cinema, bars, pubs. Just talk, spend time. Nothing special. Sometimes Dinner or bowling.

Are you good at bowling?

Not really (Laughs). I can do some strikes (Laughs). Nothing special.

If you weren’t a tennis player what would you do?

I think (long pause) football player. Wait- soccer, not football.

What are your favorite teams?

Real Madrid, Chelsea, Spartak Moscow.

Who are your best friends on tour?

I have a lot of friends. Everybody my friend. (Lots of laughter).

Anyone in particular?

Andrey Golubev. All Russians we are very friendly together. If we have time we spend it talking, going to dinner.

It’s been a year since you played that great match against Nadal at the U.S. Open. What are your memories from that match?

Memories? When I come home, the point- the one point, when I slide…I get present from (the) Federation- a refrigerator for this point. (Hysterical Laughter).

They gave you a refrigerator?

Yeah. That’s good memory.

Why did they give that to you?

I don’t know why this one.

Was it a nice refrigerator?

It was okay refrigerator. Nothing special (DYING LAUGHING). It was like, there was a couple- like “Best Shot” or “Best Something”. So I don’t know why.

It was like a refrigerator you keep food in?

Yeah.

Did it say “best shot” on it?

Yeah. But in my language.

Is that the weirdest thing you’ve ever received?

No, it was nice. Last year, this match was good match for me. I was playing like maybe (my) best tennis. It was (a) good experience for the future. I was playing with him before on grass court and on hard court and for the future, maybe, I will try and make same on clay court. (Laughs).

What are your goals this year at the U.S. Open?

I don’t have some plans. Just come and play and see what happens.

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