Court Six: New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column (May/June 2013)
Checking Out the NBA
World number one Novak Djokovic met up with Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat after the NBA reigning champions posted their 26th consecutive victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. The two-time defending Sony Open Tennis champion Djokovic arrived at the game in the third quarter after his 6-2, 6-4 third-round win over Somdev Devvarman. It was Djokovic’s 13th straight win at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament. Djokovic also met Miami Heat assistant coach, Bob McAdoo, who is an avid tennis fan. Former WTA world number one Caroline Wozniacki and her golfer boyfriend, Rory McIlroy, also watched the Heat-Bobcats game. Earlier in the year, Djokovic met Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Going for a Bike Ride
Serena Williams can claim another first and another victory: She beat the traffic by riding a bicycle to her match. With Key Biscayne's main road in a traffic snarl on the Saturday night of her third round match, Serena borrowed a bike at her hotel, rode to her match and beat Ayumi Morita in the third round of the Sony Open, 6-3, 6-3. Serena’s match was scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m., and she learned about the gridlock before leaving her hotel.
''The traffic was crazy and everyone was like, 'I have been here for an hour, and I'm staying like eight minutes away,''' Serena said. ''I'm like, 'OK, I'm not going to make my match.' So I asked for a golf cart, and the hotel didn't have a golf cart. Then they were like, 'We have a motor bike.' I'm like, 'I don't do motor bikes, 'We have a bicycle,' they said, 'I really don't do bicycles, but I will today.'''
Traffic jams are common on Key Biscayne, where only one road connects the island with the mainland and Miami. But Serena never had to resort to a bicycle before.
''It was fun,'' she said. ''It was probably one of my best memories I think ever, riding a bike to a match. That's pretty cool.''
Dinner With the Caps
Maria Kirilenko recently enjoyed a night out with her fiancée, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, along with Ovechkin’s teammate and fellow countryman Dimitry Orlov and his girlfriend Varya and took to Twitter for the photo opp.
Babies Born
Justine Henin and her partner Benoit Bertuzzo have announced the birth of their daughter, Lalie.
“We were anticipating this so much, and now it has happened,” Henin said. “This afternoon a little fairy arrived to illuminate our lives. She is called Lalie, she is in top form and we are really delighted!”
While Henin welcomed a girl, longtime rival Kim Clijsters and her husband Brian Lynch also gave birth to a baby boy.
Sony Open to Get Facelift
Sony Open organizers have unveiled plans for a $50 million project to improve the tournament site at Crandon Park, with work expected to take three phases and be completed by the start of the 2017 tournament. The tournament’s vision includes an improved stadium court, three additional permanent show courts, increased landscaped green space, and the addition of new park facilities that will be open to the public when the Sony Open is not in session. The Sony Open’s owner, IMG, is prepared to begin construction on April 1, 2014, immediately following next year’s tournament and the project is to be completed in three phases taking 10 months each. Miami-Dade county voters agreed last November to allow the $50 million makeover which will be financed solely by IMG and private Sony Open funds that include tournament revenues, such as ticket surcharges and parking fees.
Capriati Charged
Former tennis star Jennifer Capriati has been ordered to appear in a Palm Beach County court to answer allegations she sent hundreds of texts to an ex-boyfriend and then punched him four times while he was working out. The former world number one tennis player was charged with misdemeanor battery and stalking by the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, according to court records. Capriati, who lives on Singer Island in Florida was sent a summons to appear in county court in Palm Beach Gardens on April 17. Prosecutors filed the charges after a series of incidents in which an angry Capriati confronted ex-boyfriend Ivan Dwight Brannan after they broke up in February 2012. In addition to the alleged battery, Capriati also sent 283 texts to Brannan between Dec. 25, 2012 and Jan. 8, police said.
Redfoo in the Open?
Rapper Redfoo, whose real name is Stefan Gordy, has officially begun an attempt to qualify for the 2013 U.S. Tennis Open in Flushing, N.Y. The LMFAO member, who is the son of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, grew up playing tennis and has totally gotten back into the sport. Gordy has entered himself in the USTA Northern California Sectional Qualifying Tournament, which is scheduled to take place from June 18-23 in Salinas, Calif. The "Sexy and I Know It" singer is going to make a run in singles, and mixed-doubles with 17-year-old Ayaka Okuno, whom he is currently coaching. Redfoo has recently been party rocking the tennis circuit with "girlfriend" Victoria Azarenka. When asked about his goal, Redfoo said, "It's always been a dream of mine to play professional tennis."
Tweets from the tennis pros
►Maria Kirilenko (@MKirilenko): Looks like today will be a good shopping day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??oh I need so many … coats, boots, sweater…etc.
►Mardy Fish (@MardyFish): Venice Beach could be the most fun place in the world!
►Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki): Had fun at the @MiamiHEAT game tonight!
►Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole): Enjoying the game court side 🙂 #HeatGame
►Mardy Fish (@MardyFish): Free tennis lessons to Jay Wright if he comes to coach the Gophers. Ha ha!
►Andy Roddick (@andyroddick): There is a guy just randomly juggling at the airport …
►Bob Bryan (@Bryanbros): Floor seats at the@MiamiHeat game!
►Murphy Jensen (@murphyjensen): We had a great week here at Sea Island! I'm getting geared up for summer and @WashKastlesseason!!!! Refuse to lose!
►Laura Robson (@laurarobson5): Game of Thrones!!!!#epictv
►John Isner (@JohnIsner): First time ever in Boise and I'm a big fan. My kind of town. Beautiful city!
