Lovely article and picture, Pete.

Will you please write something about Esther Vergeer? The ultimate champion.
Thanks.

Thanks Pete

What a great accomplishment

Yeah its Tops...Bethanie indeed...

A GS title

Cant Top That!!

good on horia. (and BMS)

was also delighted to see sexpanek/paes win the men's dubs.

Fed Cup (Saturday - Sunday USA EST)

World Group

Russia vs Spain(6 AM - 5 AM)
Sharapova, Kuznetsova, Petrova and Makarova vs Martinez Sanchez, Suarez Navarro, Parra-Santonja and Llagostera Vives

Belgium vs Serbia(8 AM - 7:30 AM)
Wickmayer, Flipkens, Hendler and Van Uytvanck vs Jankovic, Jovanovski, Krunic and Kostic

Italy vs Ukraine(9 AM - 9 AM)
Schiavone, Pennetta, Errani and Vinci vs K Bondarenko, Tsurenko, Savchuk and Beygelzimer

Germany vs Czech Republic(6 AM - 5 AM)
Lisicki, Goerges, Kerber and Groenefeld vs Kvitova, Benesova, Zahlavova Strycova and Hradecka

World Group II

United States vs Belarus (1 PM - Noon)
S Williams, McHale, V Williams and Huber vs Azarenka, Yakimova, Govortsova and Kustova

Japan vs Slovenia (10 PM Friday - 9 PM Saturday)
Morita, Date-Krumm, Nara and Fujiwara vs Hercog, Rampre, Kolar and Klepac

Slovak Republic vs France(7 AM - 6 AM)
Cibulkova, Hantuchova, Rybarikova and Cepelova vs Parmentier, Razzano, Cornet and Rezai

Switzerland vs Australia(5 AM - 4 AM)
Voegele, Sadikovic, Bacsinszky and Bencic vs Stosur, Gajdosova, Dokic and Dellacqua

The Top 4 under age 23

Victoria Azarenka 10 titles (8 finals including 2011 WTA Championships (Petra Kvitova) and 2011 Madrid (Petra Kvitova)). Record is 291 wins 122 losses
Grand Slams – 2012 Australian Open
Premier Mandatory - 2009 and 2011 Miami
Premier – 2010 Stanford, 2010 Moscow and 2012 Sydney
International - 2009 Brisbane, 2009 Memphis, 2011 Marbella and 2011 Luxembourg

Petra Kvitova 7 titles including 2011 WTA Championships (2 finals). Record is 208 wins 96 losses
Grand Slams – 2011 Wimbledon
Premier Mandatory – 2011 Madrid
Premier – 2011 Paris
International – 2009 Hobart, 2011 Brisbane and 2011 Linz

Agnieszka Radwanska 7 titles (2 finals including 2009 Beijing (Svetlana Kuznetsova))
Premier Mandatory – 2011 Beijing
Premier Five – 2011 Tokyo
Premier – 2008 Eastbourne and 2011 Carlsbad
International – 2007 Stockholm, 2008 Pattaya City and 2008 Istanbul

Caroline Wozniacki 18 titles (10 finals including 2009 USO (Kim Clijsters) and 2010 WTA Championships (Kim Clijsters)). Record is 303 wins 109 losses
Premier Mandatory - 2010 Beijing and 2011 Indian Wells
Premier Five - 2010 Montreal, 2010 Tokyo and 2011 Dubai
Premier - 2008,2009,2010,2011 New Haven, 2009 Eastbourne, 2011 Charleston and 2011 Brussels
International - 2008 Stockholm, 2008 Osaka(Japan Open) 2009,2010 Ponte Vedra Beach, 2010,2011 Copenhagen

The Top 4 under age 23

Victoria Azarenka 10 titles (8 finals including 2011 WTA Championships (Petra Kvitova) and 2011 Madrid (Petra Kvitova)). Record is 291 wins 122 losses
Grand Slams – 2012 Australian Open
Premier Mandatory - 2009 and 2011 Miami
Premier – 2010 Stanford, 2010 Moscow and 2012 Sydney
International - 2009 Brisbane, 2009 Memphis, 2011 Marbella and 2011 Luxembourg

Petra Kvitova 7 titles including 2011 WTA Championships (2 finals). Record is 208 wins 96 losses
Grand Slams – 2011 Wimbledon
Premier Mandatory – 2011 Madrid
Premier – 2011 Paris
International – 2009 Hobart, 2011 Brisbane and 2011 Linz

Agnieszka Radwanska 7 titles (2 finals including 2009 Beijing (Svetlana Kuznetsova)) Record is 296 wins 136 losses
Premier Mandatory – 2011 Beijing
Premier Five – 2011 Tokyo
Premier – 2008 Eastbourne and 2011 Carlsbad
International – 2007 Stockholm, 2008 Pattaya City and 2008 Istanbul

Caroline Wozniacki 18 titles (10 finals including 2009 USO (Kim Clijsters) and 2010 WTA Championships (Kim Clijsters)). Record is 303 wins 109 losses
Premier Mandatory - 2010 Beijing and 2011 Indian Wells
Premier Five - 2010 Montreal, 2010 Tokyo and 2011 Dubai
Premier - 2008,2009,2010,2011 New Haven, 2009 Eastbourne, 2011 Charleston and 2011 Brussels
International - 2008 Stockholm, 2008 Osaka(Japan Open) 2009,2010 Ponte Vedra Beach, 2010,2011 Copenhagen

zenggi, I agree that Esther Vergeer deserves a tremendous amount of credit for what she's accomplished. No doubt. No question.

However. I also can't help but wonder... where's the competition if she can have such an incredible run? If a singles player or doubles team had that kind of run, we would be inundated with more 'weak era' arguments than we could imagine. But in this politically correct world, we can't ask that without being called, well... you know.

"was also delighted to see sexpanek/paes win the men's dubs."

Yeah, that was a big upset. But you also have to wonder how focused the soon-to-be Bryan daddy was! :)

Biz

+ 1 with Paes and Sexpanek

I watched that live and indeed they were a great pairing

Mr Bodo

Forget zenggi, do a piece on Roy Emerson.
I wrote a great poem about him a week ago.
I wanna repost it and inflate my ego.

Tecau and Mattek-Sands played well and were enjoyable to watch.

I also enjoyed Paes/Stepanek, who not only won their doubles slam title as an unseeded team, but managed to provide a high-quality match (vs. Bryan Bros.) to make up for the awful Azarenka vs. Sharapova match.

And by the way

Kudos to everyone on the last thread over the last few hours

We brought that sucker back from the brink

Nice article, especially about the added burden of affecting your partner's result not only yours in doubles!

Humm, maybe Tecau was safer staying on the court, rather then leaving with Mattek-Sands? I know I would have stayed on the court as well.

MA(from the previous thread): Are you also hinting the Caro, by hiring a new coach is aiming for more services (if you mention the Khundrashian wedding)?

Grant: Seriously, you'd rather pretend Murray doesn't exist?

I, for one, don't. And as I've started viewing his semi against Nole and seeing Nole stretched/pushed back at the begging at the match I had a feeling that were Murray to be in the final(instead of Rafa) he would have won.

Finally I liked what Jim Courrier had to say about the level of play in the singles final (Rafa-Nole):

"The tennis Novak and Rafa were able to summon late in the match boggles my mind."

As oposed to some posters who thought quality was low...
Truth be told, Courrier carries on implying he was referring especially to the fitness level:

"Ivan Lendl and I were talking about it Monday morning on our way back to the States, and both of us were shaking our heads and asking the same question: How could they possibly not cramp up out there?"

Nice to see BMS (and her fine looking partner) take home a slam title. I really enjoy playing mixed-it eliminates the cattiness you sometimes (heck, most of the time) find when one plays strictly ladies dubs. I wonder if RAndy and Serena will be healthy for London? Out of those FedCup matchups MA posted, I think the Germans have a good shot of upsetting the Czechs. Will be watching the Mericans and hoping to see a Venus sighting.

"Nice to see BMS......"

Good thing her first name isn't Pam.

Okay, I'm done.

Later y'all.

Hmm, according to the posters Jim Courrier also hints at doping (Don't know if you guys go read that thread or just stay here forever in Peter land, or Bodoland?)

Some poster also mentioned this:

There are also some things that are not officially banned, even though very good arguments can be made that they give a competitive advantage.

Take, for instance, the CVAC Pod, an oxygen chamber many experts claim is as effective as blood doping:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904787404576532854267519860.html

In an interview with the Wall Stree Journal last year, Djokovic freely admitted to using the pod: "I think it really helps—not with muscle but more with recovery after an exhausting set," he said. "It's like a spaceship. It's very interesting technology." Then, when concerns were raised in the press about it offering an unfair advantage, he backpedalled and claimed that he hadn't used it since the US Open the year before. Since then, there has been conspicuous silence about the whole subject.

The point is, though, that even if he uses it, it would not be officially against the rules. That's the trouble about sports regulations: for obvious reasons, they are often not up-to-date with the newest technology.

Great article and kudos to BMS for how she played that match. She played exceptional with the pressure on. She should be proud.

Anne

I too am hoping for a Venus sighitng

I hope her health stays strong in 2012

+1 to both Ann and Madame President

Vee,even sitting on the bench clapping,that's how much I've missed her!

"Grant: Seriously, you'd rather pretend Murray doesn't exist?"

no, not seriously

Jee, Alexis. I don't know what the meaning of your comment is. Are you looking for more controversy? I doubt you want to see more people crippled by paraplegia to challenge Esther's achievements. I really don't understand.

soon to be daddy or not they were beaten square and fair on their own games
Kuddos to Paes and Mr Vaidisova

And I'm still wondering why the shattering silence on the behavior of one of the Bryan bro last US OPEN with am empire or linesperson can't recall,where as some get 10 days of coverage for behaving badly,I guess bad behavior depends on who you are!

Yeah, let's hope Venus stays healthy.

Oh come on, zenggi. You really think I was taking a swipe at handicapped people??? You really think I was calling for the need for more handicapped people??? I say a more emphatic GEE right back at you.

But be real. Take handicap out of it. Look at it as just straight tennis. When someone doesn't lose to anyone for years? What if Fed or Djoker or Nadal or Venus or Serena didn't lose to ANYONE for 5 or 10 or however many number of years? I highly doubt no one would question the level of competition in addition to the skill of the dominant one.

Good lord. I'm not saying to trash the girl. I said she deserves every accolade she gets. But the handicap card doesn't mean you can't ask a legitimate question.

Aube, Stepanek and Paes won fair and square, no doubt. I wasn't asterisking the victory at all. Heck, the Bryan daddy knew the baby was soon due the whole tournament and they got to the final anyway, so if the due date didn't bother him before the final, it could hardly be an excuse for the final.

Grand Slam titles:

Jamie Murray: 1
Andy Murray: 0

Alexis,
Will you, please, reread your two comments again? Thanks.
If you don't mind I'm not going to answer your "However" and "But" as I was asking something of Pete and I wasn't looking for any answer to my comment but Pete's if he'd feel inclined to it. That's all.

Well I was impressed with Andy Murray at the AO

Hopefully this year he will win his 1st GS title.I feel Lendl is the right coach that Andy has been looking for over the years.I hope he takes the positives and keep building.I feel Andy can have a real shot at Wimbledon this year.

"You really think I was taking a swipe at handicapped people??? You really think I was calling for the need for more handicapped people???"

The two seem mutually exclusive tbh

By the way I even think that the previous match they escape on the ones that held 5-2 on the tie break and still lost to them

MA,rescue me on the names of the ones they played please,I know shame on me!so terrible with names!SOS!

I see nobody has mentioned that John McEnroe's first grand slam title was in mixed doubles - with Mary Carillo - at Roland Garros, of all places. I'm sure it doesn't lessen his heartbreak over never winning the singles there, but still - not a bad way to start his career in majors.

What a great, happy picture of these two. Flove it!

Hopefully having Venus back will be a plus for Serena-she needs some of Miss Vs low key positive vibes. And maybe they can both help McHale and the other young US gals-I look forward to this weekend. Go US.

I'm with you, Marg, thinking Andy can pull off a slam this year. I'm thinking USO, though. Did you get to see him live?

Well if the Aussie Fed Cup team cant beat the Swiss

They need to go back to the drawing board ASAP

No offence to the Swiss Team.

Anne

I did see Andy live at the AO

Yes Andy does play well on the hard courts

Though I am impressed with his game on the grass

Remember the s/final last year agaisnt Rafa? he came close to getting into the final.

Didn't see it, and probably never will, but I've got to say that it is lovely to see that two clock-punching pros who do not have an ounce of "entitlement" attitude left in them have won a Grand Slam title. They appreciate it so much more than those who have gotten used to the feeling (imagining that that's even possible is crazy), or it appears so by the permanent smiles on their faces. Bravo!

Anne

May I also add his game on the clay has improved

I was live in Rome last year

I watched the s/final with him and Novak

If anyone will be able to out rope-a-dope Djoko, I'm thinking it'll be Andy. He came awfully close to beating him last week. Now Andy's just gotta BELIEVE. Maybe Ivan L will be able to help him get over that hurdle. Good to hear he even looks good on clay.

Game Lover, interesting article on that pod. The coming years are going to get pretty wild as far as this stuff goes. More advanced steroids and HGH, all sorts of training-ehancing devices like this, etc. Well, if this device actually works. Jury still seems to be out on it. As they discussed at the end of the article, the phsychological effects may be the real value there.

Anne

Yes he did come close to defeating Novak and I hope he can take the positives from that match and move forward.

Clicked on a link someone had on the pod thing on another of Pete's posts. It said using the pod would only help if the player was playing in a high altitude.

I stick to my prediction about THE HURRICANE on the other thread that the player who's going to first have a shot at him will not be one of the giants,it's going to be a lesser player talent wise!my bet!

Anne: "the pod would only help if the player was playing in a high altitude. "

Ha, you mean you never heard of athletes training at high altitude, for similar reasons Nole is using the pod?

A lot of athletes who train in high altitude eg cyclists,marathon runners use these type of chambers or pods.

My vote for a lesser player would be Delpo, Aube. Oh and I forgot to tell you, Marg-I absolutely loved, loved, loved Delpo's pic. +1 for Cougoring (could that become like Tebowing?)!

Sherlock yeah and truth be told I've also frowned at Rafa getting some shots with plasma (or similar) in his knees for teniditis/tendonitis...

Hey I for one, never got those!!!! :( j/k

Slice: Aza faked it a bit lol with her "What just happened? I don't understand"...

Anne

Thanks.He is such a lovely guy and when I asked him for a close up shot he just smiled and then I said to him 'I forgot you were soo tall' he laughed.

I took it to mean it would only work if he was actually playing on a mountain or something. Haven't done a whole lot of research @ high altitude training-I live @ sea level!

Thanks for this article on the mixed doubles champions. I love the way that mixed doubles birngs the two sexes together and the way the matches usually exhibit a combination of serious tennis skills and genuine enjoyment of the game.

I second zenggi's request for more about Esther Vergeer. I don't know enough about the wheelchair competition to know how deep (or not) the women's field is, but all I can say is that the only time that I saw wheelchair tennis played live (one short match at a WTT event in Philadelphia), I was left totslly amazed at the skills of the players -- and they weren't the best of the field.

(I've seen a few wheelchair matches on TV, and I wish that they showed more; but, as Pete intimated when discussing the doubles, "the world doesn't work that way.")

AM: +1

And were I to be BP I would have found a line about your "new head in 2012" :D

Anne: The training at high altitude helps at sea level as well, imo.

Anne, me three!,I mean Del Po has be re-named by me:DEL MANNO,and don't start me on tall men, I don't want my true colors out in the open here,lolol!

Feeling a bit wobbly in the knees at the thought of laughing with Juan Martin, aahh.

Game Lover

lol!

Anne

He gives me more than wobbly knees

Let me tell you....

Gotcha, Game. Totally not interested in running up mountains (or the incline on my treadmill)-sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen for me. Yes Aube, I think Delmanno is a highly appropriate moniker change!

Game Lover @ 3:07, +1. Murky waters there.

Well go for it Ann,lovely indeed!

Delmanno it is.

"The scores were 6-3, 7-5, 10-3 (match tiebreaker)" ???

Ruth

I have to agree with you and Zengii regarding Esther...she is a Legend

In Sydney there was a International Wheel Chair tournament and I was asked to attend.

Sigh cause this tournament which was being held at Homebush where the Apia International is played,was on at the same time I was to leave for the AO

At Sydney tournament this year we had a wheel chair doubles exhibtion on in our main stadium and the response from the crowd was just overwhelming.

all right since you guys mentionned treadmill and stuff, that's my 40 minutes work out prior to some light weight lifting,off then to the gym before "les diablotins" get home!

Ciao Aube!

Aube

Well its still raining cats and dogs in Sydney

I may very well have to go to the gym myself

Though I prefer the out doors myself

Bye

Anne 02/02/2012 at 03:15 PM

Neither is Nole, hence he's using the pod...

Congrats to Bethanie and Horia! And thanks for this article, Pete.

Bethanie now joins Melanie (and Jack) as a Slam Champion!!

Bye Aube and AM (in case you were curious I'm going to play...tennis) :D

Game Lover

I am still around just checking some mail

Enjoy the outdoors...I wish I could.

Lol AM, no outdoors tennis in Canada on Groundhog's day :) I'm going into the bubble.

Outdoors is fun, but just for walking, jogging, skating and such atm.

Cheers!

First of all, for all 'preachers' on their high horses who claim that posts are becoming 'bad' and 'uncivilized', etc., I say take a look at my moniker, especially what's inside the brackets!

Mixed doubles are the joke of tennis GS. Similar to "legends" matches.
I borrowed this statement from JJ herself who has won the Wimbledon once with Jamie Murray.

To more relevant things...
The true legend Johnny McEnroe has jus given a talk on the state of tennis. It's on the ATP site:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/02/Features/McEnroe-Hails-Djokovic-Tennis-Golden-Era.aspx

Game Lover

lol!

Master Ace

I just went to the front page news regarding Caroline and her split with Sanchez?

Honestly...I felt in way she was more aggressive

Though I must admit watching her at practice in Sydney...Papa Woz to my eyes was the main one telling her what to do.I took a photo of her and her father on court.Sanchez was sitting down on a chair off court.I thought that was strange? as I had said before I found Sanchez to be very open and approachable to me when I spoke to him.

Does Caroline really want to change her game?

Thats the one question I have in my mind.

I see The Brat aka Tomic has pulled out of a tournament for personal reasons?

Please give me strength...he is due to appear in court over his speeding.I guess his decision to sue the police came unstuck lol!

Tomic use a Push Bike...when you decide to grow up maybe then get back into a car not a BMW either.You were lucky you were given special compensation to drive one.Though youhave shown your not capable.Also I heard you said to the police officer 'do you know who I am?'Rolls Eyes!!!!

AM: Caro was a tad more aggressive, especially at the end.
Too bad about her old man etc

Tomic skips the tournment b/c of his court appereance.

Aussiemarg,

I think you should show a bit more respect to the best Australian tennis player with huge upside potential. He'll bring lots of joyfull moments to all Aussies in future.

Also I am pretty sure not all of us were 'saint' while teenagers. It was quite normal for a teenager who is all over cover pages and media in a country to say that to a policeman. If he said that when he's 27 I'd be worried.

When Tomic earns the respect

He will get it

Enough said.

Pete has posted another thread on the country of France

Tesla: Johnny Mac seems to be spot on and not only about toughness, return of serve but also on flexibility etc!

You should have seen trying to charm my way out of driving tickets when I was a teenagers: never got fined/nor suspended, the trick being able to figure out what the key was for each policeman (sometimes a lie would work, otherwise it was the plain truth like "I know I've done an illegal U turn officer, but I was late for a movie date", or a misture like "I admit to have been driving against the one way traffic, right in the middle of our ...Palace square, but it's my favourite cousin's weeding and we are stealing the bride! And no, I didn't know it was forbidden and no I'm not drunk either").

Sorry lol and bye-bye!

Game Lover

I am glad you noticed that too in Carolines game

I mean you cant expect a new coach to work wonders overnight

Gee Pete is busy with new posts isnt he lol!

Just to clarify: Driving against the one way traffic was forbidden, while stealing the bride it's a highley regarded Romanian custom (that usually lands you a whole box of champagne bottles from the groom, unless it's actually for real)!

AM: true on Caro's coach and on Tomic needing to behave in traffic actually.

Hats off to Tecau and BMS. I watch bits of the match live on TC and Bethany is a heck of a doubles player. She hit a winning running forehand and nearly took out a lines person. When I get a chance to watch doubles, I often question why I don't watch more. Its some good stuff.

AM,

My take on Tomic is not sympathetic either when it comes to driving recklessly and having a cavalier attitude. I saw the aftermath of a fatal care accident involving a 16yr old new driver. Her reckless hill hopping killed two 13 year old girls and destroyed not just their families but her own. Actions have consequences and I don't care how well you hit a tennis ball.

"I see The Brat aka Tomic"
Calling a player names.

"Tomic use a Push Bike...when you decide to grow up maybe then get back into a car not a BMW either."
So even when he grows up your highness would grant him the right to have a car, but not BMW cause he is not posh enough for a fancy car - he should stick to used car at best...

Before claiming that his place 'has deteriorated' due to name calling and barbaric undertones and it was 'so much better few years ago", take a look into a mirror!

And leave Bernie alone! He did more for Australian tennis in his 19 years than you will ever do!!!

Not sure how this thread got back to Novak again - but aside from the fact that he apparently hasn't used the CVAC pod since 2010, he actually does some altitude training, cycling in the Pyrenees.

Game Lover

Honestly that isnt the first incident with Tomic

He has been banned regarding that incident when his father told him to walk of the court?

Tennis Australia have also had their run ins with him and his father

His father once told Tennis Australia 'well I will take my son back to his home country"??? good riddence I say...shades of Dokic and her father.

Yes he is talented though his latest antics are beyond me.Locking himself in the house and then his father saying what they are doing to him is UnAustralian?? Please....Enough!!!

Telsa

You are skating on thin ice with me okay

I will not be spoken to like this for starters

End Of Conversation with you period.

Thanks

Tina do you sleep under Nole's bed? He just tries to save face, that's all.

Eri

Hi! yes this is the 2nd time he has been caught speeding.

Listen carefully Aussiemarg,

I have not insulted you, dear.
On the other hand, you keep insulting Bernie who did NOTHING to you. You shouldn be doing that. I will slightly modify your own words and make this: "Bernie will not be spoken to like this for starters."

He does not deserve to drive BMW even when ge grows up...
Perhaps I do not deserve computer...

Give me a break.

I don't sleep "under" anyone's bed. I'm just saying that there are ways of mimicking blood doping that don't require any special machines and are available to all. Training at altitude is one of them.
People are free to try to discredit his results, of course, but the results cannot be undone.

AM, thanks for the pictures on the previous thread,r eally enjoyed them, especially Del Potro's :-))

AM,

I know over indulgent parents have always been a fact of life but these as they term it here in the US "Helicopter Parents" are unreal. They hover and swoop down with the speed of a guided missile to "protect" their babies from the big bad meanies who hurt their poor, fragile feelings. It sickens me, to no end.

It would be irresponsible for anyone not just tennis fans, to endorse or try to sweep his life endangering actions under the table as just being a teen. I have pulled over teens in my prior life in law enforcement and showed no mercy. I simply wrote the ticket and any argument they had, they could tell it to the judge.

have seen a rumor that Serena is dating Dimitrov??? Hard to believe, but maybe she'll turn to be a cougar :-))

Game Lover, lol. I want you in my car the next time I get pulled over by a policeman. :)

Not to jump in where I shouldn't, but Tesla, I think there's some sarcasm from AM that you are missing regarding Bernie. It's actually pretty funny if you look at it that way. :)

"...when you decide to grow up maybe then get back into a car not a BMW either."

care to point me to the sarcasm here Mr. Holmes.

Telsa, never mind. You can only see what you want to see. Have a good day.

"but not BMW cause he is not posh enough for a fancy car"

or perhaps not BMW because people who drive recklessly probably shouldn't drive powerful cars

but i'm sure it's more fun to assume classism is at work

Sokol

Glad you like the photo's

Did you see my comments with Sveta and her coach being in Pink? lol!

My Dear Sherlock

*faints*

Like you finally got me

Its taken awhile

Better late than never.