1. Novak Djokovic is the best hard court player in tennis history Forget the statistics and the titles, while Djokovic is closing in, Federer's numbers still have the edge. After watching Novak play Down Under, however, I suggest that no one has played better hard court tennis, not Roger, not Pete, not Andre, not Ivan….
The sweltering courts of the Australian Open seem inviting right about now, as the local area is starting to freeze. Some hot weather might be helpful to warming the bones of the best women's tennis players in the world because they are hurting. World number one Serena Williams has an injured left knee. Second-ranked Simona Halep has achilles tendon issues. Garbine Mururuza,…
Fresh on the heels of its first Davis Cup victory since 1936, the LTA, the governing body of Great Britain tennis, is giving away 10,000 free rackets and tennis lessons to children across the country. It's a wonderful idea to grow participation and create excitement for the sport. The great American player, Vitas Gerulaitius, championed…
The ITF and newly anointed President David Haggerty have just announced a sponsorship deal for both Davis and Federation Cups with Betway, one of the world's leading betting and gaming companies. While Haggerty acknowledges the potential conflict of interest, he assures us that that this partnership will maintain the cleanliness of the sport. Now maybe it's…
The USTA announced the hiring of eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl to work with top-ranked U.S. juniors, and I could not be happier. As a player, Lendl was a true student of the game, possessing great mechanics, supreme fitness and a relentless work ethic. Lendl might be the best ball striker I have ever…
The current group of young American men is impressive. You would have to go back to 1977 to find two Americans with junior Grand Slam titles. Today, U.S. tennis has three with Taylor Fritz the current U.S. Open Junior Champion; Tommy Paul, the reigning French Open Junior Champion; and Reilly Opelka, the Wimbledon Junior Champion….
Jon Wertheim talks with the great jazz pianist and composer Fred Herch on his podcast "Sports Illustrated Tennis Beyond the Baseline" and it's fascinating to hear Mr. Herch parallel tennis and jazz. His first bit of advice is that young pianists, like young tennis players, should learn to "slow down take their time and don't try to…
Jon Wertheim talks with the great jazz pianist and composer Fred Herch on his podcast "Sports Illustrated Tennis Beyond the Baseline" and it's fascinating to hear Mr. Herch parallel tennis and jazz. His first bit of advice is that young pianists, like young tennis players, should learn to "slow down take their time and don't try to…
10. The Grounds We bid adieu to the Grandstand, perhaps the best place to watch on the grounds and hello to the completed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium with no more rain outs. 9. The Heat It was hot and humid with a record 12 first round retirements (16 in total). Many matches were affected…
Men's tennis popularity would benefit from the excitement of a new bad boy, but Nick Kyrgios is not yet the man for the job. Kyrgios is too crude, over the top and just not good enough yet to be forgiven by the fans for being a tortured genius. Kyrgios trash-talked Stan Wawrinka during an ATP…