Top U.S. male pros got game, but are wanting in style

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John Isner, Sam Querrey and Mardy Fish should not be criticized for falling one or two victories short of reaching the U.S. Open quarterfinals; they (and the coaches who developed them ) should be hammered, however, for trying to do so while playing a game unsuited for their physical talents.

Like their smaller, fellow pros, Isner, who is 6'9", Querrey (6'6") and Fish 6'2" are primarily baseline automatons. They shouldn't be. Instead of relying on ground-strokes, alternately pounding forehands and two-handed backhands, they should be serving-and-volleying, moving to the net at every opportunity on slicing approach shots. Once there, they should punch put-away volleys or smash overhead winners.

Why they refuse to take advantage of the physical gifts they've been given is inexplicable. It's analogous to Dwight Howard refusing to dunk or using his strength and height to score easy layups. Isner, Querrey and Fish insisting on playing from the baseline is like Shaq insisting on shooting only three-pointers. Okay, that might be a bit too much of a stretch.

I believe Isner, Querrey or Fish would have won a couple of major titles by now had someone made them abandon their two-handed backhand years ago and helped them develop the instincts and style of a serve-and-volleyer. Robert Landsdorp helped Pete Sampras (6'1")make the switch and the rest is history. Sampras won 14 major titles, Martina Navratilova (5'8") won 18, Rod Laver (5'-7") won 11, John McEnroe (5'11") won seven, Stefan Edberg (6'2") won six and Boris Becker (6'3")won six. All were classic serve-and-volleyers.

Had someone schooled Venus Williams (who is 6'1") years ago on the potency of the serve-and-volley game, she - not little sis, Serena - would now be the game's dominant pro, and probably on course to break serve-and-volleyer Margaret Smith Court's record of 24 major titles. Too often Venus rushes the net after hitting topspin approach shots (instead of slice), as she did in a quarterfinal victory against Francesca Schiavone Tuesday. With the ball sitting up, Schiavone easily smacked it by her. Developing sound serve-and-volley tactics takes time. Venus and her six-foot plus male compatriots occasionally flirt with an aggressive style of play, but It might be too late for them to make the dramatic style and mindset changes that are needed .

The USTA, indeed, the tennis world, needs to do something quickly about the absence of routine creativity and contrasting styles or the magic might soon be gone. The rest of the sports world needs more than Roger Federer's annual shot between the legs antics to stay tuned.

In recent years tennis coaches/entrepreneurs have abandoned the serve-and-volley game, probably because youngsters 10-and-under can't swing the racket with one hand. Many, no doubt, fine it easier -and more profitable - to teach the two-handed backhand and de-emphasize the antiquated serve-and-volley game.

With no American men in the U.S. Open quarterfinals for a second consecutive year, it's time for USTA executives and coaches to resurrect the serve-and-volley game. They should do this with a junior development program staffed with former pros capable of teaching promising juniors the fundamentals and nuances of the game inside the service box, as well as behind the baseline. Read Full Article

USTA honors Navratilova, the best there ever was

NEW YORK --- Tennis experts/analysts have debated- and will continue to debate for years-to-come - the issue of which player in tennis history should be recognized as the game’s greatest champion.

Because major titles (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open) weigh heavily in their deliberations many favor Roger Federer, who has 16 major titles, Rod Laver who has won 11, including two Grand Slams (all four majors in the same calendar year), Margaret Smith Court (24, including the Grand Slam in 1970) or Steffi Graf (22, including the Golden Slam , which is four majors and the Olympic singles in 1988).

But I vote with Billie Jean King, who says Martina Navratilova is “The greatest singles, doubles, and mixed doubles player who’s ever lived.”
The Czech-born 53-year-old was honored by the USTA on Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday night for changing the face of women’s tennis “with an aggressive game and an inspirational desire to be the best."

She won 167 titles (a record for men and women), including 18 major titles, 31 major doubles crowns and 10 mixed doubles titles. She won a record 74 consecutive matches and finished the 1983 season with a remarkable 86-1 record. Navratilova was denied a perfect season by compatriot Helena Sukova, who beat her 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the French Open fourth round. She maintained an extraordinary level of excellence for three years (1982-84), losing only six matches during that stretch.

Though she fell six short of Court’s record 24 major titles, giving the greatest-champion-nod to Navratilova is a no-brainer for me primarily because she was not just a great tennis champion but a gifted athlete who went the extra mile to become a complete player. She was a master server-and-volleyer but also possessed a strong baseline game. She hit topspin, slice, half-volleys and drop shots with enviable touch or power, whichever was needed. And she moved about the court with grace and quickness, always setting up or searching for an easy put-away.

Her career is even more notable because of the hostility and obstacles she endured from the start. She turned pro in 1975 and immediately sought and received political asylum in the United States. Six years later, she announced that she was gay.

“That was not a good thing to do back then,” she said. “There were a lot of doors shut in my face because of that, but you know what? I could still play tennis no matter what.”

Chris Evert, who was dubbed ‘America’s Sweetheart,’ was her major rival and Navratilova felt the wrath of Evert’s fans each time they met, especially in the final of major events. But Navratilova’s dominance taught Evert and other women pros the value of physical training and encouraged young girls and women pursuing any sport to embrace their athleticism, not to suppress or abandon it.
When television news personality Christiane Amanpour, who hosted Monday night’s tribute, said her first tennis coach told her that she had “feet like a camel and I didn’t run fast enough,” Navratilova said, “Keep going; never stop.”

Navratilova says a positive attitude and never-give-up determination have fueled her success.

“You have to have a positive attitude to be a champion to be a great tennis player,” she said. “And you have to be in the moment. If you’re not with that ball right at that split second, if you’re just a second late, it’s too late.”

She was not always the best interview I encountered during my newspaper days, but she was – and probably will be for the next decade or so - the game’s best player. Read Full Article

Roddick renders smooth delivery on court and later with media

NEW YORK --- Thus far, Andy Roddick hasn’t compiled credentials comparable to those of his retired superstar compatriots such as Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Andre Agassi and probably never will. Still, he displayed a comparable level of poise, savvy, charisma, and at times, dazzled the media with thoughtful, sometimes comedic responses to a variety of hot topics.

Question: As a big Miami Heat fan, what is your reaction to this (new) team?

Answer: “I’m just sick of defending my fan-hood. I was going to their games in ’01 when they were paying people to come. I was just hoping , praying they’d re-sign Dwyane (Wade). And then when (Chris) Bosch came, I was ecstatic. Then when LeBron (James) came, it was bordering on ridiculous. Like everyone else, I’m excited to see how it all goes together.”

Question: “What were your thoughts when Roger Clemens was indicted?

Answer: “I’m not saying it’s not deservedly so, but everyone is kind of guilty as far as the accusations and that’s disheartening. If he’s innocent, it sucks because he’s guilty in the court of public opinion; if he’s guilty, it’s really unfortunate because you don’t want to see someone kind of in denial. So it’s just an ugly mess. There’s not really a positive thing that can come out of it."

Question: James (Blake) might be winding down his career. Your thoughts.

Answer: “His career is one thing, but I also like his character. I like the way he goes about his business. My biggest hope for James from this point forward is can he get healthy enough to have a run that he would like."

Question: What does it mean to be 28?

Answer: “It makes no difference what I think about it. You go out there and give the best of what you got on that day, that’s kind of what I’ve done all my career. Obviously, I know I’m closer to the finish than I am to the start. It’s a number, I’m barely older than I was yesterday.”

Determined to shake off a bout with mononucleosis, No. 9 seed Roddick took his first step in his quest for a second U.S. Open title Monday, defeating France’s Stephane Robert 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. He served big, moved easily and was never threatened.
“I feel 80% better than I did five, six weeks ago, that’s for sure,” he said. “To be honest, once you decide to play, you throw all the excuses and everything else out the window. Then it’s up to me to give 100% of what I have. So it’s not something I want to discuss to much from this point forward. I’m not going to analyst it every day.”

Roddick won his lone major title – the U.S. Open – in 2003 and was a finalist in ’06. Read Full Article

U.S. Open begins with lots of glitter but few Americans among contenders for the gold

The U.S. Open gets underway Monday with expectations high as usual in off-the-court glitter - as in side-show entertainment and good food at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, NY - but low in on-the-court gold performances - as in mesmerizing or classic clashes. And there are few Americans among the 256 players competing for the men's and women's singles titles.

A continuing decline in U.S. pros ranked among the top 100 on the men and women tours, combined with the withdrawal of several top stars from the game's final Grand Slam event has diminished interest, especially among television viewers, who are drawn to watch the game's superstars, not because they love the game.

No. 9 Andy Roddick is the highest ranked of 13 U.S. pros in the 128-player men's draw. Four others, including No. 20 John Isner and No. 21 Mardy Fish, qualified automatically based on their ATP ranking. No. 111 James Blake, who reached a career high No. 4 four years ago, was among five granted wild cards and Robert Kendrick, earned a berth by winning three matches in the U.S. Open Qualifying tournament.
Of only 10 U.S. women competing this year, three - No. 3 Venus Williams, No. 42 Melanie Oudin and No. 97 Jill Craybas - earned automatic berths. Six others received wild cards and Irina Falconi was among the qualifiers.

Defending U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro (wrist), two-time champion Justine Henin (elbow) and top-ranked Serena Williams (foot) are among several pros who withdrew from this year's event. Serena, 28, and her sister, Venus, 30, also a two-time U.S. Open champion, were the main reasons tennis earned a primetime slot for the the U.S. Open women's final nine years ago. CBS ratings for that time period jumped considerably when either or both of the Williams sisters reached the final but dove dramatically when they were not competing in the Monday night final. Venus, idle since Wimbledon due to a nagging knee injury, faces Italy's Roberta Vinci Monday night in the first round. Big sister's performance during the fortnight should determine if she'll continue to be considered a serious contender for major titles.

Except for the possible final matchup of top seed Rafael Nadal vs. No. 2 Roger Federer, it's doubtful that this year's final major event will have many epic battles or memorable matches.

Which leads me to lean toward underdogs in my U.S. Open predictions. On the men's side, I see Roddick rumbling to his second U.S. Open title, and No. 10 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, snatching her first major title. Read Full Article

Why Pavin Will Choose Woods for Ryder Cup

A multiple choice exercise for those who care.

Question: Why will Corey Pavin select Tiger Woods as one of his captain's picks to play for the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team, which will be held Oct. 1-3 at the Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales?

(A) -- Because the slumping Tiger, who finished tied for 28th at the PGA Championships last week, is still No. 1 and he wants to represent his country in the international team competition.
("I feel like my game is obviously a lot better than it was (two weeks ago), " said Woods, referring to his career worst performance at the Bridgestone Invitational. "I'm looking forward to (Ryder Cup). Hopefully, Corey will pick me.")

(B) --- Because he's the most gifted golfer of all time, the highest paid professional athlete in the world, has held the No. 1 ranking for the most consecutive weeks and for the most total weeks and has been selected the PGA Player of the Year for a record 10 times.
(C) --- Because the humiliating sex scandal that destroyed his family life, reduced his endorsements and shattered his fantasy world revealed him to be just like us, a human being, capable of doing good and evil, capable of shooting 8-under, as well as 8-over, hoping he'll be strong enough to find the right balance, become a better father, while reclaiming the magical touch that made him a great golfer.
("No, I haven't practiced as much as I used to, nor should I," Woods said recently. "My kids are more important.")

(D) --- Because he's an African/Asian American, who has been the most dominant and charismatic golfer of this generation in a predominantly white country-club sport and if Woods isn't selected, millions of people throughout the world, who know nothing about golf but follow it on television only when Woods plays.

(What Woods is accomplishing in golf and what Venus and Serena Williams sisters are achieving in tennis is truly extraordinary. But they won't receive - in this life anyway - the full-blown accolades they so deserve for overcoming the odds, enduring, soaring and staying at the highest level of their professions.)

Though golf writers/analysts will offer variations of the choices presented as the correct answer ad nauseam - until Pavin makes his pick, the correct answer is D. Neither ESPN nor ABC nor the PGA would tolerate a Tiger-less Ryder Cup team. The ratings would be embarrassingly low and too much money would be loss. Golf still needs Woods, like it or not.

The experts' new talking point suggests that the Woods era is just about over anyway. There's a new wave of bold young pros (PGA Champion Martin Kaymer, Dustin Johnson, , Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, et al), coming through the pipe, ready and able to shove Woods, Phil Mickelson, and the rest of the old-timers off the stage. That may be. Nothing to do but to wait and see. Read Full Article

Will 'Smartness' Sabotage Strode's bid for Pro Tennis Career?

Since Arthur Ashe won the U.S. Open singles championship more than 40 years ago (1968), no other African American male has won a major title.
Is Blake Strode next? Not likely.

A late bloomer at 23, Strode has the talent (raw though it might be), size (6'-2") and toughness needed to be a top-ranked pro, if not a Grand Slam singles champion. The St. Louis native, however, has one major weakness that he can't overcome: his smartness. Never thought I'd see that as a flaw in a young black man pursuing a career.

Yet clearly, his intellect is the source of his dilemma. Rather than focus exclusively on a tennis career for the next few years, the two-time scholar-athlete with Arkansas University, also wants to pursue his other childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. Strode, who graduated with a 3.976 GPA, recently told the Atlanta Constitution that he'll defer attending Harvard Law School, at least for a year, to chase balls on the pro tour.

" Law is something I have every intention of doing,” Strode said. ““Knowing I could still do it and play tennis, I sort of got to have my cake and eat it, too. In the next six or seven months, I’ll have to make another decision about law school."

Last week, Strode captured the inaugural U.S. Open national Playoffs in Atlanta, defeating Cecil Mamiit 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) in the final. The victory earned him a berth in next month's U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament. Since turning pro about a year ago, Strode won a minor league title in Joplin, Missouri, notched an impressive victory last year over Vince Spadea (who reached a career high No. 18 in 2005), but never reached the semifinals in 14 Futures/Challenger international events he played earlier this year.

Ranked No. 510 in the world, Strode knows that the level of competition will be keener at the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament, which consists mainly of players ranked a notch below the top 100. His serve already is a major weapon, but he could use additional work on his fundamentals, i.e. his grounds strokes need to be grooved, made more consistent, and his court movement should be smoother, more fluid. That might take a year or two but could be expedited if he had the opportunity to work with and talk tactics with a top caliber coach, such as Brad Gilbert.

None of that is likely, however, so Strode's tennis career probably will be short-lived. Then too, he might demand greater attention and get the support he needs by earning a berth in the U.S. Open main draw. That's his dream, and so many of his dreams already have come true. He credits Ashe for much of his success. Last year, Strode won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award.

"It's a testament to (Ashe) how much I've grown over the last 10 years," Strode said. "He's an example of what people can do and what they can accomplish through dedication, perseverance and hard work. "
The obvious good thing about Strode's dilemma is that he's in a win-win situation. With a little luck, he could become at least a multimillionaire whichever path he chooses to follow.

"I've always had these two dreams for my life," he said. "But for right now, I'm focusing on the tennis because that window is a little smaller." Read Full Article