Hey everybody. Let’s get started heavy…
• Stu Fraser has this horrifying tale on 21 year-old Tanysha Dissanayake, pressured to retire from skilled tennis as a result of Covid.
• Wheelchair tennis legends Esther Vergeer of the Netherlands and Rick Draney of the United States sign up for seven achieved ATP and WTA gamers on the poll for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. Draney and Vergeer are nominated for the Hall of Fame’s Wheelchair Tennis Category. In the Player Category, eight-time primary doubles champion Daniel Nestor of Canada makes his poll debut.
The six further nominees in the Player Category, all returning to the poll for the Class of 2023, are:
- Cara Black
- Juan Carlos Ferrero
- Ana Ivanović
- Carlos Moyá
- Flavia Pennetta
- Lisa Raymond
• Come for the pickleball chatter; keep for the Ons Jabeur essay at the finish
Onward…
Mailbag
Jon,
In an legit free up, Team8 Sports & Entertainment, the promoter of the Laver Cup, said the following relating to the 2022 Laver Cup: “We are incredibly proud to announce another record breaking year at the Laver Cup in London.” As a proud USTA member and noting that the USTA invested hundreds of thousands, via Team8, to acquire 20% fairness in the Laver Cup, we’d like to know if the (nonprofit) USTA will in the end obtain a distribution or dividend from Team8 due to the “record breaking” 2022 Laver Cup. The Laver Cup is not going to be hung on US soil once more till, at earliest, 2025 or even then, does the tournament in point of fact move the needle on the USTA’s said challenge: “to promote and develop the growth of tennis” in the United States? Therefore, the solely believable take pleasure in the USTA’s subject material money funding in the Laver Cup would be the receipt of income again from Team8 that may be used to re-invest in the USTA’s unmarried challenge. If the USTA does now not obtain income from Team8 in the maximum a hit 12 months of the Laver Cup ever, then I imagine tennis reporters want to ask USTA Director of Comms, Chris Widmaier, the justification for the hundreds of thousands invested through the USTA in the Laver Cup.
Brian from Brooklyn
I believe that is from a subject matter I raised all over the U.S. Open. The Laver Cup ought to be searching for buyers. But must the USTA be amongst them, making an investment in an tournament like this?
First, right here’s Widmaier’s reaction:
“First off, let me say how much we appreciate when our members show the depth of understanding and the depth of passion that your reader certainly does. The USTA is very comfortable with its investment in the Laver Cup for two main reasons. First, financially we believe the event has been successful, and will remain financially successful for years to come. Second, and perhaps more importantly, we viewed our investment into Laver Cup as an investment into an event that can and does attract new audiences to the sport of tennis. When appropriate, the USTA seeks out innovative avenues for the sport’s growth and supports those innovations. The Laver Cup is a strong example of that approach.”
Again, I believe you’ll take factor with the USTA funding on two counts. One moral, one sensible. First, must the USTA be forming partnerships with person gamers? Should it be aligning with a rival tournament? Should it be aligning with an tournament that chooses gamers subjectively? Hypothetical: consider you’re an American participant who desires to play Laver Cup and doesn’t get requested. How do you’re feeling about your federation supporting this tournament? Too a lot attainable for battle and dangerous optics.
Second is just the knowledge of the funding. Does it in point of fact comport with the challenge of the USTA—a non-profit, we hasten to upload—to sink $6 million into an tournament that has but to flip a cash in and that, best-case situation, brings tennis to the U.S. as soon as each and every 104 weeks? Imagine if that $6 million had long gone towards—dare I say it—purchasing pickleball and folding it underneath its umbrella. Speaking of….
Hi, Jon
What’s your tackle Sam Querrey and Noah Rubin taking over pickleball—instead of what an intimidating poacher Querrey will be? I will be able to’t lend a hand however suppose that may lend a hand spoil down a few of the resistance tennis traditionalists have towards PB.
Clint Swett, Sacramento, CA
Or it is going to solely sharpen department? Sam Querrey, racket recreation Copperhead.
If I’m any such pickleball leagues, I’m combing school tennis for gamers. Most of them won’t ever turn out to be tennis execs. Take—for instance—the No.2 participant at Indiana or Purdue, male or feminine, and inform them, “You can scavenge for tennis ranking points playing challengers in Tegucigalpa, sleeping on hammocks and spending more in travel than you’ll ever make in prize money. Or you can earn a nice living in this ascending sport.”
This would be a win-win. In a tacit approach, tennis would nonetheless assert its superiority. Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff ain’t defecting to pickleball. On the different hand, if you’ll proceed making money from pickleball after you retire from tennis, it’s all the extra reason why for kids to select up tennis. And on this situation, pickleball would get gamers with title reputation and athletic bona fides. That would be every other step in the path of creating tennis and pickleball complementary and now not competition.
Meanwhile, need to see genuine internecine struggle? Watch how a majority of these more than a few competing pickleball leagues and associations whack each and every different spherical those following few years.
Hey Jon,
I had to snort at Fernando’s remark about Fed’s “good-bye” rite. Does someone in point of fact equate real-life heroes like first responders, academics, nurses, scientists, and so on. with athletes or celebrities??? Of direction now not. We all know that the ones other people are underpaid and famous person athletes and celebrities are overpaid when put next. So making that time is ridiculous at excellent. But even on the scale of what different athletes have had for his or her good-byes, I did not in finding Fed’s “over the top” in any respect. What? There used to be a brief video. An interview with Roger. And some gal sang. That used to be it. All the hugging and Roger-being-carried through his LC buddies simply took place. Good grief, it is not like Roger were given some star-studded downtown parade with a marching band for goodness sakes!
As for the different remark about in need of Roger and Rafa to be nominated for ‘SI Sportsman of the Year’. I believe you… it does not in point of fact observe right here. Picture of the Year? Absolutely! Moment of the Year? Sure. Or such as you mentioned, some award about being an instance of a Rivalry-as-Friends. Still, I’ll by no means forgive SI for now not opting for Federer ‘Sportsman of the Year’ in 2006. He deserved it. Everyone knew it. Even Dwayne Wade knew it. After that, I misplaced all appreciate for that award.
Michelle
I encourage your forgiveness. (Didn’t giving the Sportsperson Award to Serena in 2015 claw again a little bit nice will?)
More common level: such a lot of folks in such a lot of professions and contexts battle with the choice to retire. The when, the why, the how. Imagine you’re an athlete. Imagine being in the heart of your lifestyles and being informed, “You’re unlikely ever to be as good at anything else ever again.” Then upload the needle to thread ahead of a self-glamorizing rite/excursion and a quiet retreat, which might deprive fanatics the alternative for a birthday celebration. This sounds simply as nerve-racking as any unexpected loss of life extra time or penalty kick shootout or 6-6 in the decisive set. I believe we ought to lengthen an terrible lot of latitude to the retiring athlete.
Hi Jon,
Saw an editorial from my all-time favourite American participant, John Isner, (An opportunity 5 minute dialog at an airport, greater than a decade in the past, would have me pull the lever that Isner is considered one of the nice guys), that mentioned Novak is the solely participant who has ever made him really feel helpless from time to time when attempting to grasp serve.
Made me take into consideration a couple of serving stats that might be fascinating, as Isner possesses the excellent person stroke in the historical past of tennis –
% of Isner provider video games held, occupation
% of Isner provider video games held vs Novak, Rafa, Roger & Andy Murray, respectively
% of all excursion provider video games held , ATP reasonable for a season, as a comparability
% of Isner provider video games damaged, at Love ( Given his serve & all–time occupation lead in # of aces; this quantity has to be subsequent to 0 )
BTW – I nonetheless suppose a fit that is going to all tiebreakers must be referred to as an “Instant Isner”
Bill in NJ
Start right here: Isner’s occupation grasp proportion is 91.82. (Note that Ivo Karlovic is tops at a fair 92 p.c.) This must be normed for high quality of opponent, possibly. A top-20 stalwart, Isner definitely confronted more difficult competition total than Karlovic, and thus, it’s anticipated his price may be somewhat decrease. But, sure, at the same time as ATP gamers have a tendency to grasp serve about 77 p.c of the time, Isner’s price is sensationally top.
To your greater level: John Isner is your favourite participant of all-time? Really? Just kidding. To your greater level: does Isner possess the excellent person stroke in the historical past of tennis? Or no less than males’s tennis? Interesting query. For one, the serve must get particular weight right here. Players are hitting that stroke—essentially—in each and every different recreation. As the nice Paul Annacone as soon as put it (paraphrasing somewhat), “You can try and avoid your opponent’s strength. But you can’t keep the ball away from the other guy’s serve.”)
And it’s now not merely that Isner wins extra suits as a result of his serve than participant X wins as a result of his forehand or backhand (and even go back). It’s that it figures so closely in his occupation luck. Another approach to have a look at it: what’s John Isner’s score if his serve had been simply reasonable?
Two aspect issues. In some way this speaks neatly of John Isner. If he solely had a serve, he would be Ivo Karlovic. Though I’m positive he needs he had the next price of breaking serve, he should be doing one thing greater than squeezing off unreturnable serves if he’s spent 15-plus years at the best possible echelon. It additionally speaks neatly of tennis. You can’t possess what’s arguably the largest weapon in the recreation’s historical past and nonetheless now not a win a big, or input the height 5, if you happen to don’t have further guns on your arsenal.
Hi Jon,
What’s the excellent approach to touch Tennis Channel if I’ve ideas about its protection and content material that I’d like to percentage? Is there a selected individual to whom I must direct my ideas? An e-mail deal with or postal deal with? This knowledge does not appear to be to be had—or no less than is not displayed prominently—on the Tennis Channel website online. Thanks.
Srikanth
This wouldn’t be a few positive recreation, named after a vinegary, brined cucumber, wouldn’t it?
Shots
• The Credit One Charleston Open, the greatest ladies’s-only tennis event in North America, will welcome again 3 former champions subsequent 12 months to Charleston— Belinda Bencic, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens—for the highly-anticipated clay season kickoff on the WTA Hologic Tour. The WTA 500 event is about to go back April 1 – 9, 2023 in the renovated and modernized Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina.
• Message from the All England Club: “I am delighted to let you know that Usama Al-Qassab has been appointed to the position of Marketing & Commercial Director and he will be joining the business on Monday 10 October. With recent changes at director level following the departures of Alex Willis and Gus Henderson, Sally has taken the opportunity to review our requirements going forward and made the decision to remerge the marketing, communications and commercial functions into one team. Usama’s responsibilities will therefore include all aspects of marketing, communications, brand, broadcast, official suppliers, retail, hospitality and ticketing.
Usama brings a wealth of global experience within marketing, brand management, digital transformation and innovation in digital entertainment, along with a strong commercial background. He was most recently Vice President Marketing (Disney+) EMEA for The Walt Disney Corporation where he led the launch of Disney+, the fastest growing broadcast subscription video on demand business. Prior to that, as Vice President Marketing EMEA for Sony PlayStation, he was responsible for launching the PlayStation 4 which was the most successful, fastest and best-selling console.
• Lubna Qureishi, take us out:
AllOns-y, Ons
This past July, I was sitting on the couch, watching the Wimbledon women’s final, drinking a cup of tea (okay, it was coffee but tea sounds more appropriate). Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan was playing Ons Jabeur of Tunisia. I had been following Jabeur, who had broken out just recently as the first Arab to reach the world’s top ten and the first Arab woman to play in a Grand Slam final. Not only that, her game was exciting, with its seething slices and clever drop shots; and her goals were gracious, in wanting to inspire the next generation of Arab and African tennis players. And even though she lost the final, I was impressed that she had a smile on her face, a nod to her country giving her the title, Minister of Happiness. “I just want to wish Eid Mubarak to all Muslims around the world.” she mentioned, wrapping up her speech. What? Did she simply say “Eid Mubarak” on are living TV to a crowd of hundreds at Centre Court and to the hundreds of thousands looking at round the international?
When I used to be rising up in the seventies and eighties in California, I bear in mind all over Eid, our Muslim vacation, my sister and I accumulated round our aunts who put henna paste on the arms of our palms. When washed off, the henna left a wonderful, brief design in a deep purple colour; the darker the colour, the longer it lasted. The solely factor used to be, what would the youngsters in class say? No one knew about Muslim vacations. I used to be too shy to give an explanation for what Eid Mubarak intended and why a henna design would be cool whatsoever in any respect? I used to be amongst a handful of Indians and considered one of two Muslims (the different being my sister) at school, and I felt like I used to be dwelling in two other worlds. Today you’ll stroll right into a Starbucks dressed in a pashmina scarf and a henna “tattoo” in your palms and order a turmeric latte as though it used to be the most conventional factor. But now not when I used to be rising up.
The solely time I noticed an individual who seemed like me on TV used to be an Indian lady in a display (visitor celebrity at that), being rescued through her blonde male…rescuer. The dolls we performed with had been blonde, the ladies we watched in sports activities regarded a definite approach. I beloved the Barbies and admired Chris Evert. But I couldn’t in point of fact see myself in them.
Sports deliver folks in combination, bodily, as they collect to watch an tournament; emotionally, as they revel in the sheer pleasure of the win or the gutting sorrow of the loss. But luck in sports activities is going past victory. Athletes have the energy to be ambassadors of figuring out and to deliver worlds in conjunction with their phrases.
So now not solely used to be I satisfied when Ons Jabeur reached the Wimbledon ultimate, I used to be ecstatic to listen her inform the hundreds of thousands looking at her, Eid Mubarak; fearlessly, with out embarrassment. Two phrases that validated, trained, and celebrated. And despite the fact that she used to be a finalist at the 2022 US Open, I’m positive the recreation and center of Ons will translate into a big victory quickly. But in my thoughts she is already victorious. AllOns-y, Ons!
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