Congrats to Melzer and Sofia. What a tragic for that kid only 4

photographer is fun but seems hard to catch those action pictures

Thank you, Bobby, for the series of articles from Memphis.

Great win for Melzer. Congratulations, Jurgen. Commisserations to Milos and fans.

What a lovely post, so interesting to read a different perspective on player reactions - or through another 'lens' so to speak.

Personally, I hate the backwards cap. But I do like the pictures that capture cap wearing players when they give that 'half-look' from underneath the brim. The 'I'm looking but I don't want you to see me looking' peek.

Morning, everyone. :)

Loved all the Memphis posts, Bobby, especially this one, as it's a view we don't often get to see. :)

Congrats to JMDP, Ferru, Arvidsson and Melzer (warrior moment?) fans, and commiserations to Raonic, Erakovic, Almagro & Llodra fans. I had a tennis break yesterday and watched football instead. :)

Morning all.

Morning, Manix.
Is the website at work working well?

Love the headline of this article about Delpo's win in Marseille: "The new musketeer"
http://www.canchallena.com/1451866-del-potro-el-nuevo-mosquetero

Thanks for some real posts! The by friday this place was in desperate need of them....

Did Del Potro's ranking change after winning Marseille?

jewell,
Juan Martín's ranking hasn't changed (10) because the 250 points from Delray Beach in 2011 have been discounted. But... Delpo is only 5 points behind the nr. 9, Janko Tipsarevic.

Cheers, zenggi. :) I guess everything's a bit out of kilter for the Olympics? 5 points...nice. I can't see JMDP *not* being at the WTFs, barring injury issues.

hi all, just want to thank you Bobby for these really enjoyable posts "all the way from Memphis." :) Very interesting to hear a photographer's perspective on the players, but yeah, hard to move past the idea of a 4 year old dying of cancer. :´(((

zenggi

No errors from my end at least on the website. I see Marko got thumped.

Very glad for you, Manix.

Happy for Andrey. It would have been embarrasing if he lost. Next Juan Martin or Alex.

Morning everyone , the errors coming off Andreas Beck racket today has been quite embarrassing .

Ouch every ball in the middle of the court Beck makes an error

Morning everyone,I went to bed a little bit sad for Viola last night but since I love Meryl and haven't seen her movie I left it to the judges and gave them the benefit of the doubt respectfully...

I think the only actor that I really got mad about not geting nominated let alone an oscar ever was my belove HARRISON FORD,oh that one now I'm mad

Ok how's my "virtual fam" doing? cheers and salutation every one!

It's monday,therefore not fun!

Fish defeat Beck 6-1, 6-1 , Fish played struggled in this match but Beck was making errors to early in the rally and basically give fish this match on a platter.

Bobby, fabulous read and thanks much for all the great work you've done, at some angles it felt I was there,absolutely appreciated,keep up the good work!

TC is now replaying the Marko-Golubev match. Apparently, Marko was actually up 3-1 in the first set (his only lead, but the meanies started the replay at 3-3 from which point it was downhill all the way for Marko. Not nice, fellas. :)

zenggi,"se habla no espagnol"lol, but liked the picture and since Del Mano is also "Your awesomeness" I can imagine what's said in there:)
thanks for sharing the link!

Morning all,

Bobby,

Thank you for all your fine work in Pete's absence, much appreciated.

Aube,

Hoping for peace in your country, Senegal.

Love the picture of Melzer.

Morning Lynne,
Thank you,they' re being reasonable so far,knock on wood!

I'm out for a while, happy Monday and take care!

look at what Marcos had to say about his prospects at Dubai :-):

"When I am in the tournament I don't see Novak winning," Baghdatis told Gulf News on the sidelines of the official draw held at the Majlis of the Dubai Tennis Stadium here yesterday.

"I am here to win and I don't care if he is there. I doubt he can win here this week, not when I am here at least."
http://tinyurl.com/7znhjvf

LOL at Marcos
I hope Jo-W teaches him a good lesson :-))

Monday Order of Play

ATP: Dubai at 10 AM - Djokovic vs Stebe followed by Lacko vs Bubka
ATP: Delray Beach at 11 AM - Kudla vs Sela
ATP: Delray Beach at 1 PM - Ebden vs Istomin
ATP: Delray Beach at 2:30 PM - Sweeting vs Young
WTA: Acapulco at 4 PM - Johansson vs Foretz Gacon, Dubois vs Czink, Hermoso vs Mayr-Achleitner, Cornet vs Brianti and Bacsinszky vs Begu scheduled
ATP: Acapulco at 4 PM - L Mayer vs Andujar, Bellucci vs Granollers, Bagnis vs F Mayer, Giannessi vs Starace and Cabal vs Paire scheduled
ATP: Delray Beach at 9 PM - Haas vs Tomic
ATP: Acapulco at 10 PM - Chela vs Ramirez

maybe he meant Novak can't win the tournament in first round? :-) because I'm pretty sure Marcos will be gone by the second round

sokol: Marcos was clearly joking, same as "Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row!" Baghdatis has a 0:6 record against Nole.

I actually caught a bit of that Marko match hours ago. All that sturm und drang yesterday over nothing. He lost. But it wasn't the complete embarrassment I think some people were hoping for.

hellooo
whats this I'm hearing about Novaks younger brother getting a wc into Dubai....o he's out already
nevermind

Ups and Downs by Roddick's Rangers as they prepare for battle in Delray Beach, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami:

Andy fell to #30 and has 100 pts to defend thru Miami
Mardy is at #8 and has 370 pts to defend thru Miami
John is at a career high #11, 630 pts behind Juan Martin, with 135 pts to defend thru Miami
Donald is at a career high #38 with 87 pts to defend thru Miami

The 3 19 yr olds--
Ryan is at a career high #65 with 90 pts thru Miami
Denis is at a career high #179 with 7 pts thru Miami
Jack is at #307 with 15 pts thru Miami

I assume Denis and Jack will at least get wild cards into IW/Mia qualies and all 3 may play the 125,000+H Dallas Challenger between IW/Mia. At least I would in their position.

Finally it's Nole time and I'm stuck at work with no video.

And he already broke his opponent.

"Marcos was clearly joking"

well, then it was funny :-)

msf, got your memo from last thread. Not sure if you noticed, but I was talking about shooting guards guards, not shootERS per se. I doubt even the most rabid Wade/Kobe defenders would argue that their guy is a better shooter than Nash.

As for Kobe forcing shots more than he has to, well, that's almost a given by now, isn't it? His shooting % was never that great, even in his prime. I will say, though, that he doesn't let that deter him in clutch situations, and that's what separates him from the likes of LeBron, Melo & other pretenders.

BTW, huge respek for Nash, who's still the league leader in assists as a near-fortysomething. The guy deserves a ring more than any1 else right now.

Ryan Sweeting is at #82 with 644 pts and has over 320+ to defend thru Houston, which he won last yr. he meets Donald in Delray and could, like Rajeev Ram after failing to defend Newport in 2010, fall way back to 150+. He hasn't taken advantage of his ranking to protect from his Houston win's pts falling off. He wouldn't be the first or tenth to win 1 and fall back to the pack, but I hope he can improve in his play to return should he fall away.

Roddick better start to get his act together quickly , he need to get some kind of points at Delray Beach , Indian Wells and Miami since we know he will disappear during the clay court season that being said he has to hope for a favorable draw at Indian wells and Miami because he could face any of the top players in the third round but considering his luck lately he would probably will have to face one of the top 4 players.

Oh, TDeb - sorry you're stuck with no video. It feels like months since I've seen him play. Stebe is playing better now, but still having a hard time holding.

This young German Stebe has plenty of talent I expect him to at least be seeded at next year Australian Open.

Djokovic holds for a 4-2 lead

It's hilarious to hear these guys talking about "support" in Serbia and "they're building a new tennis center". Guess they think it's the Serbian Federation or the government - when it's all down to Novak.

Good hold by the German after trailing 0-30

What is Stebe ranked now, and how many spots does he need to move to get to 32? Mind, this would likely also require the guys in the top 32 to drop points.

Tina , Stebe is ranked 72 he is 507 points behind toget to number 32 , the only 500 points he played last year was Hamburg and the only Grandslam he played was Wimbledon all his results is basically challengers so if he get some go results he should go up in the rankings.

No Dubai telecast till tomorrow here, so watching on the dodgy livestream, but I might as well just watch scoreboard..
The left-handed Stebe is hanging in there, even had a break point on Novak's serve earlier in the set.

There been some serious ball striking in this match Stebe is holding his own with Djokovic.

Stebe saves one set point deuce

Thanks for that. Stebe is playing well here. That inside-out backhand a couple of games ago was amazing.

Djokovic Ace , Set Point number 2,Miss return by Stebe, Djokovic wins the first set 6-4 , if it was not for the nervous start by Stebe in the opening game this match would of still been even.

Since his given name is hyphenated, I keep confusing Stebe with Carl-Uwe Steeb.

@ tina - I know, I've been going through withdrawals!!! But then I saw to my excitement that it's on ESPN3 so I'll be able to watch a replay of it tonight (or tomorrow?) online. Yay!

Granted, first round matches aren't usually that exciting, but I need my fix. It's been a month.

Stebe's bio from ATP:

Plays with a two-handed backhand...Started playing tennis aged three at a local club...Nicknames are "Cedi" or "Ced"...Speaks German, English, French, Italian and some Spanish...Father, Heinz, is an engineer...Mother, Claudia, is an insurance tradeswomen...Brother, Christopher, and sister, Sabrina, are students...Idols growing up were Marat Safin and David Nalbandian...Hobbies include playing golf, drums, piano, reading books and hanging out with friends...Favourite shot is forehand down the line...Trains at the Schüttler & Waske Tennis Academy in Frankfurt...Managed by Heinz Stebe...Physical Trainer is Christian Rauscher (since 2010)...Coached by Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh and Alexander Waske (since 2010).

Stebe hold for a 2-1 lead in the second set.

The commies for Dubai here are David Mercer and Anabel Croft.

The shot making by Stebe has been outstanding break point for Stebe

Forehand winner Djokovic Deuce, the fans seem to be behind Stebe they are enjoying his effort against the world number 1

How is Djokovic serving?

net court winner give Djokovic break points bad luck , Stebe save the first one with a Djokovic backhand error in the net, Save the second one with a backhand winner deuce

TennisDeb ,Djokovic is serving well today.
Djokovic breaks for a 3-2 lead in the second set.

So Stebe is just playing well and going all out? Excellent.

Well, it's serve to the rescue for Novak ..on more than one occasion I think..

You mean I've been dealing with dropped streams when this is on ESPN3?!

TDeb: Novak's first serve was at 81% earlier, now dropped to 66%. Saving break points 100% (3/3).

A break to lead in the second set should seal the deal. I like the net approaches I've seen today.

@ Ronald & tina - thanks for the updates, guys!

I was surprised it's on ESPN3, too. I guess it's before March Madness and nothing else is going on this morning.

Djokovic serving for the match

And Novak cruising to take the last three games.
But Stebe looks like a very solid player, got the potential.

All credit to stebe today he played great despite losing 6-4 6-2 he had his chances in the match this should be a confidence booster for him.

On time for Lacko-Bubka. Young promising players. H2H 2-1 for Lukas.

I forgot to congratulate my countryman Sijsling for his win in Wolfsburg. Thanks to that win he goes up 17 places. Nice, Igor!

For Bismarck,
Lovely video of Thomas Berdych and his girlfriend, Esther, with the dolphins in Dubai. "I'm so exciting"
http://www.atpworldtour.com/

one good thing this time is no shortcuts to a "correct" stream,ESPN3 is so far fabulous...

OMG, this one of the best Rafa's interviews that I've ever seen
Tuulia and everyone who understands Spanish and Rafa's fans, you are gonna to love it!
He talks about eveything. His best match, his always dream about to win Wimbledon and the Olympics, his continuous foot pain (more practicing that playing a match and more when the temperature is cold) but his good luck since he never has had to be out of the court more than 3 months, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to keep the #2 so many years and also to be able to reach the #1, his interest to improve his game, about the RG crowd who now has better behavior than years ego, his close opponents, etc, etc.

http://www.rtve.es/deportes/20120227/rafa-nadal/501857.shtml

thanks Carol amiga,now let me go find some help translating this other than google translation:)

Aube, hope you could be able to find someone who can tranlate it for you correctly, it's worth it

Bobby, thanks for all your posts. Really enjoyable reading.

All the way from Memphis.....he he. Thanks, H2L. Mott lives! :)

Thanks Carol,I sure will find someone and even though Pappi's not perfect he can tell me grosso modo what it is,now to get him to read this,hum,another story,lol!

Oh, almost at the end of the interview she ask him how he can see himself in 15 years more and Rafa says that he loves the sports so he thinks to do something about it, then she ask him: "maybe the R.Madrid trainer?" and Rafa laughing says: "I don't think I would be capable to do that" lol

hi all. Just came back but saw some Novak's match. Great great for first match, Novak played very well.
That young Stebe is going to be a good player if he works hard, he has talent and good attitude.

As for Marko he did not ready but give him some time and if he is healthy he could improve and we may see him in matches ATP. Now he must go and play as many matches on challengers and futures and get some form there

wow. Bubka had 6 MPs, but Lacko takes the 3rd set TB 16-14. It wasn't Isner-Mahut, but nice respectful exchange at the net. Lacko better get a massage and some rest before he faces the winner of Becker/Berdych.

G-day everyone.

I think being a professional photographer is one of the coolest jobs I can imagine. Being a tennis photographer, even cooler. (Though perhaps not in the literal sense - too much sitting in the sun.)

A Yahoo Headline a certain WTA player is unlikely to appreciate..

http://tinyurl.com/7ghjv9v

I just tried to catch some of the Rafael interview. Thanks Carol. I understood most of it, I think :)

In the times like you feel great because you grandma made you watch spanish tv shows all the time with her (Mexican, Venecuela, Argentinian... each one had more than 100 epizodes...)

The Wimbledon Olympics is going to be HUGE. All the top players are talking about them constantly and dreaming big. Every Novak's interview is about how he wants to carry the flag Serbian in the ceremony, how he dreams gold... Nadal the same, not to mention Federer who has been saying the same for years, Murray at home you can imagine how bad does he wants it... It is going to be amazing to watch
So many dreams only one will come true

"So many dreams only one will come true"

Really rooting for Nole vs Andy final at the Wimbly Olympics this year. I think that would be a great story and a great final, with the crowd fully behind Andy and yet Nole gunning very hard for the Gold medal that means so much to himself and to his country.

As for Federer, his best chance at an OG was in 2004. Even without the abysmal loss to Blake, it's hard to see Federer beating Nadal in the final in 2008, and Federer's grass game has really declined these past two years (mostly due to his worse-than-before return game). It's hard to see Federer winning Wimbledon or the Olympics on a grass court, just looking at his most recent grass results, but hey, this is sports -- anything can happen.

Hello good people,(anytime I say this it makes me miss Avidsports fan,wink if you're lurking avid!)

glad for you zeljana that you could go see some live tennis in your area,enjoy and thanks for sharing...enjoy more live tennis!

yes H2L,at first I wasn't into the match wacthing with a half-eye since I was finishing a lot of tasks down here but yeah tentalizing at the end seeing that Bubka held match pints at time,ohhhh!
Commiserations to him and his friends!

if my time-converting skills are correct, TMG will play his first match at 10AM tmrw.
should be a interesting one given Llodra net game and confidence he is carrying from last week's final.

Roddick fan from Virginia,
You need to tell Young to go back to the USTA for assistance as Sweeting fed him a fry.

Chegu,
That is probably correct as the marquee players get that time slot.

Hi folks.

Just *tuned in* to the Young Sweet-thing match and saw that, MA. Didn't Ryan S play pretty well in Oz?

CL @2:14 ... looks like the haters are after Ireland's handsome and talented no. 2, too :) For a while, it looked like Wozilroy was going to have a "number one" again.

Colette,
Yep, number 1 was close but no cigar for them as Mahan played well all week and deserved to win but if McIlroy wins the Masters(should have won last year but imploded on the 10th or 11th hole and ended with 80), he will move to 1(I think but it is a 2 year system which Nadal favors for tennis)

"When I am in the tournament I don't see Novak winning,"

Hahahaaa...I think I'm now becoming an unofficial Cypriot.

MA, thanks..
baggy might be kidding, he should have added the clause "when i am healthy":-))

Bobby, great piece. Not once did you mention, "Me, I, Myself, Mine". So refreshing.

Just found out there's a mini-joker? A Parick McEn-joker? And he's a wc in Dubai?
Very disturbing...

err...Patrick. Too far from the monitor. Another caning, drag.

Carol, that's the interview I was "advertising" yesterday. Saw it in the morning when it was broadcast. Just saw it again a while ago. I can totally understand why the interviewer was so impressed by Rafa. :)

Um, Donald....what was that?

Zeljana, you're welcome, I'm glad that you could understand it:-)

Tuulia, yes, I remember that you told us about that interview and that's why I went through RTV because I was sure to find it.
I love the way he says how he is thinking about tennis, opponents, injuries and another issues inside and outside of tennis.
I can totally understand the impressed interviewer too:-)

Wow...
Sweeting laid the hammer to Young Donald, probably the USTA's fault.

speaking of Marko Djokovic, the Williams sisters and Marat Safin/Dinara Safina are the two examples that come to mind of siblings doing reasonably well in one sport.
oops. Also forgot the Bryan boys.

Love the fact there's a tourney in Casablanca...of all the tennis joints in all the world.

Marko has to be pretty young? Just saw he lost.

"Sweeting laid the hammer to Young Donald, probably the USTA's fault."

*giggles*

"of all the tennis joints in all the world."

Lol. Well done. :)

1 and 1 to Sweeting just can't be good for the confidence. Wonder what Mama Young and the rest of the team think about it?

Yes Carol - it's not so much what he says but how he says it. :)
You might also like to listen to what Ana Pastor says about Rafa and the interview in today's Asuntos Propios, it's interesting.
http://www.rtve.es/radio/asuntos-propios/

It's weird Sherlock...I didn't see the match, but when Young was on that mini tear of his, he looked really solid. I'm guessing it's between the ears, and maybe too many chiefs.

"I'm guessing it's between the ears, and maybe too many chiefs"

I cosign this. Tennis should be played by the man or woman on court. Sure, sure you need a coach who suggests a game play b4 hand but I think the other half is execution. Oh yeah and remembering what worked for u last week or last month. How can he flip flop so fast? It is the junk between his ears. The too many chefs bit may indicate that the player has no effing clue what to do in the kitchen on his own. If Pierre says saute, he sautes. If Wolfgang says fry, he fries. Psh.

I'm starting to slowly lose hope for him. I saw him years ago when he was winning loads in the Junior, looking like a tennis Tiger. Now? Oh well.