Guillermo Coria Calls It Quits
April 28, 2009
Yes, it is a sad day today but Guillermo Coria has called it quits. The Argentine had an up and down career reaching as high as the #3 ranking and of course losing in the French Open final being up 2 sets to Love against my boy Gaston Gaudio. Coria finished his career with 9 titles and during his hay-day was one of the premiere dirt ballers. He had exquisite touch and resembled a Michael Chang with his speed and grit. Coria’s statement on his retirement below:
“I didn’t feel like competing anymore. I’ve made the decision I will not play again. In 2005 I began to feel less and less like competing,” he said. “My passion just wasn’t the same and it’s impossible to do things well when it’s like that. In this sport, you have to be at 100 percent.”
A-Rod Talks About Wedding
April 28, 2009
Andy recently opened up about his wedding nuptials with the smoking hot Brooklyn Decker and we have what he said:
“The actual ceremony was great… Elton played at our reception and it was very very surreal. it was beyond awesome of him to make time for us and needless to say it was beyond amazing.
“We had a really big party the next night at a famous bbq place in Austin and i think everyone had a blast… it was probably the only time in our lives that we will have family, our best friends from home, and our professional worlds in the same place at the same time and it definitely all went too fast…
“[W]e went to our honeymoon last week and it was a lot of fun. We did zip-lining and kayaking and the golf course was amazing also… it was a bunch of fun, but we got a little restless and left early to catch the Dave Matthews show…”
Lleyton Takes On Management Company
April 28, 2009
It seems like our boy Lleyton is making more news off court than he is on court these days. Hewitt is taking on his former management company, Octagon with whom he invested hundreds of thousands of dollars offshore with. He claims that the company took up to $2 million/year from him and wrote it off as an expense.
In the battle, Hewitt also claims that the company failed to make the money they promised him as a return on investment. Lleyon, c’mon, everyone lost money. At least you have some as a back up, not to mention a smoking hot wife. Relax, life is good. Focus on the twilight years of your career and maybe you can make that money back.
Run for cover
April 28, 2009
With constant rain creating extreme tension in regards to the order of play at the Roma Masters this week, it got me thinking, should every major tournament on the calender be forced to have a roof, or some sort of cover on there show courts? 
The All England Club unveiled there new roof on center court this week, as rain and Wimbledon have gone hand in hand now for over a century. The state of the art roof is ready to go, and will allow the shrine of the tennis world to be well manicured, over the fortnight this summer.
The Aussie Open has two retractable roofs, and the up coming Madrid Masters, has believe it or not, three courts that can be covered. Magic box which is the new name of the Madrid venue, is to my mind the model that should be looked at, as new tennis stadiums are built around the world.
However, is it really a cost effective practice for roof-less venues, to get roofed, or is it in the best interest of each and every tournament to just deal with mother nature and take it as it comes? Well, I will say this, having tennis is always better than not having tennis. With ticket exchanges becoming a nightmare for events to honor, as well as T.V. coverage commitments, putting in a removable umbrella on a center court or two, only has positive outcomes.
I remember having some of the worst weather that I can recall in recent memory, at the 2008 Masters Toronto event. Everyday included some sort of rain, resulting in empty stands when matches actually began, and not allowing players adequate practice time, therefore effecting their level of play throughout the week.
I believe some careful considerations needs to be taken into account here in regards to this subject, as orders of play are meant to be kept, not put off and lost.
I know what many of you will be thinking, what about those days after a wash out occurs? Those days which perhaps Nadal or Federer would be forced to play two matches, to the approval of the crowd? I never said having a roof was perfect, and being allowed to view ones favorite player twice during a certain day, is all but a mouth watering proposition. But when looking at it from the perspective of the player, I can tell you that is not what they are looking for.
Just think, having no more rain delays, would be a delightful idea for a spectator or player to have when waking up the day of a match and having the certainty that irrespective of the conditions above, there will be a cool drink to be enjoyed by the viewership, as the bull ring will be alive and animated with good clean, and dry action.
Any thoughts?
Rankings as of April 27, 2009
April 27, 2009
Nalbandian = Hip Surgery?
April 26, 2009
It seems like Nalby pulling out of the Barcelona event was a lot more serious than once believed. The Argentine may follow in the path of Andre Agassi and more recently Lleyton Hewitt and decide to opt for right hip surgery. His physician in Europe, Angel Cotorro, told the Argentine newspaper Clarin that Nalbandian would receive three or four days of treatment including physical therapy and medication before a decision is made on surgery.
Nole Hires Muster Fitness Coach
April 26, 2009
It looks as if Nole is starting to take his fitness a lot more seriously. Nole hired Thomas Muster’s (remember him?) ex fitness coach Gebhard Phil-Gritsch. If you don’t remember Muster he was an absolute animal on the court and his fitness was top notch. He recovered from an accident where he was struck by a car from behind while putting something into the trunk of his car. Although many people would have frowned on this, Muster committed himself and got in even better shape and became the epitomy of clay court tennis back in the 90’s.
Djoko started working with Gebhard after his loss to Rafa in the finals of Monte Carlo and the move couldn’t have come at a better time with Novak’s fitness still coming into question and trying to defend his Roma title this week. Not to mention the fact he has his inaugural Belgrade tournament to follow as well as Roland Garros.
“Fitness is what I’m going to need a lot of in the next period, which is very difficult,” Djokovic said Sunday.
Rome Preview Vid
April 26, 2009
We have some video fromt the ATP’s site of upcoming Roma Masters Serirs event. Check it out below.
Fed Having Trouble With Baby Names
April 26, 2009
No wonder the guy can’t beat Rafa, he can’t even come up with a name for his first born! Just teasing Roger. R-Fed and Mirka are expecting to have a baby boy sometime this summer and the two have admitted that they are having a difficult time in deciding what to name the baby. Given that Federer is such a historian of the game, I wouldn’t be surprised if he named the child a former players name. Roger, what about calling him Rafa? “We haven’t decided anything yet. I have no clue right now myself. Thank God we have time left to decide.” The couple also decide to tie the knot in a last minute ceremony this month.
“We’ve been talking about it for many years now. Basically 95% of the people we invited couldn’t come, so they changed their schedules around for us. Everything really worked out really well for us, otherwise we would have waited and done it maybe one month down the road, or maybe one year down the road. But everything worked out for this last weekend.” he said.
R-Fed, Nole + Other Pay Tribute To Fallen Luzzi
April 26, 2009
Roger Feder, Novak Djokovic, Tommy Robredo, Marat Safin, Potito Starace, Andreas Seppi, Simone Bolelli and Filippo Volandri paid tribute to Federico Luzze who died last year of leukemia. The guys played an exo at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to raise funds for FedeLux which was established as a leukemia foundation in memory of Luzzi. The most touching moment was Luzzi’s parents Maurizio and Paola meeting with Roger Federer.
“It was a nice match for me to play, knowing that Federico is up above watching us, having his parents here.” Federer said.
“We played in his honour and for the foundation that his family has created to fight against leukemia. It was very emotional for all of us who knew him. He was a very positive guy and I always remember him with a smile on his face.” Novak Djokovic said.
If you want to see Luzzi’s career profile click the link below:
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