Court Six: New York Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column (July/August 2014)
Can’t we all just get along?
“We’re not friends, so there is that,” Eugenie Bouchard said of her relationship, or lack thereof, with Maria . “Of course as a child I looked up to her, and I remember watching her in the finals of Wimbledon and, you know, thought what she was doing was so cool. I wanted to do the same thing. We’re in the semis of a Grand Slam, so I’m going to respect her, but not put her too high on a pedestal and really just battle.”
Ernests Gulbis uncensored
On the distraction of women during tournaments …
“When I’m in a tournament, I don’t pay attention to those things. As strange as it sounds, I go to dinner with my team, I stay with them. What happens around the girls, that’s … I don’t want to lose energy for that. If you meet a new person, it takes energy, you know? If you meet a girl, I’m not ready to go in relationship with her straight away, so it’s like, what is in my mind? For every normal guy, in your mind is to get the girl in bed as soon as possible. It all takes energy. In a tournament, I don’t do that.”
On Novak Djokovic …
“I don’t like Djokovic that much. We have known each other since I’m 12. He was a normal guy then, but since his first big success, he has changed, his eyes changed.”
On what a night out on the town with him is like …
“What do people do when they go out? To go out and not drink? I don’t understand it. If you go to a nightclub, what is to enjoy there? Nothing. The music is too loud, everybody’s sweating, everybody’s dancing, it’s dark, everybody’s pushing, everybody’s drunk. And if you’re the only guy sober in the nightclub, you don’t enjoy it at all. If you’re into the groove, you know, you have a couple drinks, you’re on the same level as the club, you can sometimes get something positive out of it. But it’s not what I like. I prefer to stay in my friends’ company, invite girls over, we have drinks in a normal quiet environment.”
Serena the wedding crasher
Serena Williams wasn't expecting to have so much free time on her hands. But an early exit from the 2014 French Open freed up her schedule. So how did Serena decide to spend her leisure time in Miami one Saturday afternoon? By hitting the beach and crashing a wedding of course.
Serena also enjoyed herself by watching the Miami Heat eliminate the Indiana Pacers in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals. Perhaps losing early on in the French Open isn't so bad after all.
Maybe you should watch the match?
The following is a transcript from a post-match interview conducted with France’s Nicholas Mahut after Mahut’s early exit at the 2014 French Open at the hands of Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin …
Reporter: Congratulations.
Mahut: Congratulations? I lost.
Reporter: You lost? OK. So what happened out there?
Mahut: Are you serious? Did you watch the match?
Reporter: No, I didn't. I was told that you won. I'm sorry.
Splitsville
It wasn't utterly surprising that Rory McIlroy broke off his engagement to Caroline Wozniacki. It was shocking, however, that he would do so over the telephone—and that's just what happened.
“It's a hard time for me right now,” said Wozniacki. “Thanks for all the sweet messages! I support Liverpool right now because I know I'll never walk alone!”
60 Minutes sheds the secrets of Wimbledon
Inside Wimbledon’s clubhouse, the trophies bearing the names of tennis royalty are enshrined, as winners of the event that date back to 1877. To tennis aficionados, it is hallowed ground, but to others, it might still seem a hidebound relic ensconced behind ivy-covered walls. With tennis’ most prestigious tournament progress, 60 Minutes Sports takes a look inside this tennis mecca and finds some signs that things may be changing.
One of them is the virtual image of former star player and now tennis commentator John McEnroe. As a young phenom, his on-court tantrums drew boos at the exalted event. Now, he fronts a museum exhibit at Wimbledon. It’s an about-face for the club that once denied him the honorary membership it gives to all its winners. Mark Phillips reported from Wimbledon and interviewed McEnroe inside its famed Centre Court.
Tweets from the pros
►Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole): Grass courts with legend of Wimbledon MR. BB 🙂 Enjoyed hitting a few volleys with the man himself. @TheBorisBecker
►Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal): Nine titles on this special clay. Honored @NikeTennis have made me from the same stuff. #endlesstennis #RG14!
►Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams): @CBSSunday asked "How much longer do you expect to play?" The answer: "As long as I can, I will." #committed #loveofthegame #tennis
►Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker): Being a #father is certainly the most rewarding, challenging, difficult, loving and most important part of my #life #family #4 #kids
►Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert): I love the tears and humbleness of @RafaelNadal and @DjokerNole
►Andy Murray (@Andy_Murray): Tennis needs a commissioner
►Caroline Wozniacki (@Carowozniacki): Getting ready to watch the World Cup! Who else is excited?!! #worldcup2014
►Mardy Fish (@MardyFish): Getting my French Open fix this morning before golf. My guy @JohnIsner going to work …
►Victoria Azarenka (@Vika7): #GoSpursGo get that bling #NBAFinals
►Bob Bryan (@BryanBros): Always fun being greeted by a 6am needle. #drugtesting #keepingithonest #ouchie
►Justin Gimelstob (@JustinGimelstob): I'm not much of a hockey guy, but WOW, riveting stuff, AMAZING athletes, congrats @LAKings well played @NYRangers glad hockey gets some LOVE!
►Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania): Bye bye Paris … until we meet again.. j'aime <3<3
►Roger Federer (@RogerFederer): Always a pleasure looking at the Eiffel tower, on my way back from @rolandgarros had a good hit with #Hewitt
►Eugenie Bouchard (@GenieBouchard): A fan just asked me to take a 'duckface selfie' with her. #lol
►Maria Kirilenko (@MKirilenko): Let's gooooo Russia!!! No sleep tonight just because of you!!! @FIFAWorldCup
►John Isner (@JohnIsner): Anyone else sick of that Toyota highlander commercial?
►Serena Williams (@SerenaWilliams): Bedtime. I'm tired. Gonna watch Frozen … Heard it's great.
►Gael Monfils (@Gael_Monfils): Sorry Twitter, tonight it’s on Instagram 🙂
►Sloane Stephens (@SloaneTweets): Accept change and accept challenges that will mold your character into a better, stronger, wiser YOU.
►Sabine Lisicki (@SabineLisicki): Congrats to Martin Kaymer. First German to win the US Open!! #golf #glückwunsch #usopen
►Lindsay Davenport (@LDavenport76): All hockey fans will miss Teemu … one of the nicest guys in the biz. RT @ColinHanks: Nice salute to #8.
