Monday, May 31, 2004
OK, SO Maria Sharapova can play. With that build and that aggressive nature, she reminds me of Venus Williams.
I'm not sure I'm sold on Sharapova as fashion model, though. She's striking, at least for an athlete, from a distance, but up close she's no Anna Kournikova. I must admit, though, that the Weingartner match even softened my opinions on that subject a little.
But the shocker of the day was learning the identity of Sharapova's coach:
Mauricio Hadad!
Hadad, the dimuinutive Colombian, is up there with Pozzi and Santoro among my favorite little guys. I first saw him in Washington, walking onto the court to play Todd Martin. Jacqueline and I burst out laughing when we realized he wasn't a ballboy, he looked so tiny next to Martin. He probably looks pretty tiny next to Maria Sharapova as well.
I'm not sure I'm sold on Sharapova as fashion model, though. She's striking, at least for an athlete, from a distance, but up close she's no Anna Kournikova. I must admit, though, that the Weingartner match even softened my opinions on that subject a little.
But the shocker of the day was learning the identity of Sharapova's coach:
Mauricio Hadad!
Hadad, the dimuinutive Colombian, is up there with Pozzi and Santoro among my favorite little guys. I first saw him in Washington, walking onto the court to play Todd Martin. Jacqueline and I burst out laughing when we realized he wasn't a ballboy, he looked so tiny next to Martin. He probably looks pretty tiny next to Maria Sharapova as well.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
HENIN LOSES and suddenly the commentators forget that they were calling her unbeatable and writing off the Williams sisters a couple of days ago. As when Lindsay Davenport was the flavor of the moment not so many years ago, I think it's always a mistake to write off either Williams sister.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
"NOWADAYS you have to be a hundred percent Dick in order to compete and contend at these majors."
-- Mary Joe Fernandez to Dick Enberg on ESPN
(Then why haven't I won Wimbledon?)
-- Mary Joe Fernandez to Dick Enberg on ESPN
(Then why haven't I won Wimbledon?)
IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE that ESPN showed the entire continuation of the Santoro-Clement match, though it's clear that the people at the network thought it would be over in a couple of games.
Monday, May 24, 2004
UNKNOWN FRENCH QUALIFIER beats former champion and all-time great, past his prime but still well inside the top 10, in the first round at Roland Garros?
It's not the first time. See Stephane Huet (q) d. Ivan Lendl (7), 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, 7-6, 1993 French Open.
Andre Agassi loses in the first round of a Grand Slam to quite possibly the worst player in the draw?
It's not the first time. See Doug Flach (q) d. Andre Agassi (3), 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6, 1996 Wimbledon.
It's not the first time. See Stephane Huet (q) d. Ivan Lendl (7), 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, 7-6, 1993 French Open.
Andre Agassi loses in the first round of a Grand Slam to quite possibly the worst player in the draw?
It's not the first time. See Doug Flach (q) d. Andre Agassi (3), 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6, 1996 Wimbledon.
