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Federer & Nadal's best forehands | AO2020 hotshots.

 

 

Novak Djokovic hotshots | AO2020.

 

 

Chatting with Daniela : Stan Smith.

 

 

Chatting with Daniela : Gustavo Kuerten.

 

 

18-year-old Rafael Nadal vs 22-year-old Andy Roddick | US Open 2004 Round 2 Full Match.

 

 

Top 50 Dramatic Points in WTA History.

 

 

Top 10 Weirdest Interruptions to a Tennis Match!

 

 

Tennis marriage that even the cucumbers knew won't last - two hours.

 

Paradorn married Miss Universe 2005, Natalie Glebova of Canada in Bangkok, Thailand, on 29 November 2007.

In June 2010, Paradorn officially announced his retirement from the ATP tour but will coach Thailand's Davis Cup team.

In February 2011, Paradorn and wife, Natalie, announced their separation after three years of marriage stating the reason to be "work commitments had kept them apart."

Successful players from 'recent' past who wouldn't win Jack today. Reason? Massively 'undersized'?

5'4".

5'6".

5'8".

Photos.

What now for tennis in 2020?

Professional tennis has been in cold storage since March due to the coronavirus pandemic with tournaments unlikely to resume before August.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points as the sport heads into June:

Fans in or out at US Open and Roland Garros?

-- In 2019, the US Open attracted a record crowd of almost 740,000 to its sprawling Billie Jean King Tennis Centre in New York.

The French Open last year at Roland Garros brought in 520,000 paying customers.

However, the 2020 editions of the two remaining Grand Slam events on the calendar will look very different with the chance of them being played behind closed doors a real possibility to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.

Roger Federer, whose 20-Grand Slam title haul includes five titles at the US Open and one in Paris, is not keen on seeing rows and rows of empty seats.

"I can't bear to see an empty stadium. I hope that won't happen," the Swiss star was quoted as saying by Brazilian media recently.

Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova said she too has no desire to play a Slam with without spectators.

"I would like to play another Grand Slam, but if it's like this, I'd rather cancel them," Kvitova said.

"Playing without fans who are our engine doesn't look nice to me and the Grand Slam doesn't deserve it."

As far as the rescheduled Roland Garros in September and October is concerned, Jean-Francois Vilotte, the director-general of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), told AFP: "The aim is that there will be spectators."

"But we will have the capacity to organise Roland Garros whatever the option decided, including behind closed doors."

Money matters?

-- There has been no prize money to play for over the best part of three months but that hasn't stopped it being discussed.

The ATP and WTA tours, the International Tennis Federation and the four Grand Slam tournaments -- the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open backed a fund worth more than $6 million to support low-ranked players hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

World number one Novak Djokovic had already said that he, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal -- the sport's biggest earners with over $100 million each banked in prize money alone -- were also willing to help.

However, world number three Dominic Thiem was not keen on giving money to lower-ranked players.

"Quite honestly I have to say that no tennis player will be fighting to survive, even those who are much lower-ranked," said the Austrian.

Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon champion, chimed in last week by suggesting a reduction in doubles events with prize money diverted to struggling players.

"You just don't make the same effort (in doubles) as a singles player. You don't practise so much, your routine is different.

"I don't know if we have to stop doubles completely, but to get less money and give that money to qualification and others, that could be the solution."

Are we making an exhibition of ourselves?

-- There is some tennis going on in the world at a series of tightly-controlled exhibition events.

Germany kicked it off on May 1 with an eight-man exhibition in the tiny town of Hoehr-Grenzhausen, near Koblenz which featured Dustin Brown, who famously defeated Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2015.

Strict rules over health and safety meant there were no fans, no ball boys or girls and no line judges. There was just a chair umpire.

Handshakes were banned, players handled their own towels and brought their own water and fruit to the clay courts.

Similar events followed in the US before Petra Kvitova won an all-Czech event in Prague last week.

"The gloves, face masks, the fact nobody handed us the towels, no handshakes, that was definitely bizarre," said Kvitova.

Other exhibitions are scheduled including a World Team Tennis tournament in West Virginia in July featuring Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens.

Andy Murray will return from his latest injury problem on June 23 in a charity tournament in London.

Nick Kyrgios joins Dominic Thiem at a grasscourt event - likely the only one this summer - at Berlin's Tempelhof Airport from July 17-19.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/now-tennis-2020-021247961--ten.html

Tennis doubles free to return - but players must still observe social distancing.

Tennis players can resume doubles with people from outside of their own household and share tennis balls as part of a further England-only easing of the lockdown restrictions.

While the Welsh government is still not permitting any form of tennis and the Scottish government has only just allowed people from different households to play singles with individualised balls, the Lawn Tennis Association has further relaxed their guidelines for England.

Under the new guidance, which was published on Sunday and will apply from Monday, both singles and doubles tennis is now permitted with people from outside of your household.

The LTA say that two metre social distancing rules must still be applied “at all times”, although the new guidance does also add the caveat “as far as possible”.

Many will question how doubles can operate while being sure to maintain social distancing and, in their guidance, the LTA advise people to “consider agreeing in advance which player will take the shot if a ball travels to the centre of the court”.  

In another new piece of guidance, it is said that players do not now need to clearly mark their own tennis balls but, should they use shared balls, “extra care must be taken to ensure you do not touch your face during play, and you should clean your hands before play and immediately after finishing”.

In Scotland, the government has continued to insist upon individually marked tennis balls and playing doubles only with people from within your household.

Group coaching for up to six people is also now permitted in England and, although it is not recommended to share equipment, the guidance says rackets can be shared if they are cleaned thoroughly before and after use. 

In Scotland, tennis coaching is restricted to one-on-one sessions and players are told not to share any equipment, including rackets.

LTA Youth Box Leagues as well as internal club singles and doubles leagues and ladders in England can also now resume and there is a hope to again behind country and district leagues before the end of July.

The LTA said that the guidelines “have been developed in consultation with Government, with a set of practical guidelines put in place to help venues and coaches deliver small group coaching safely”. A key element in considerations is understood to have been evidence that the risk of catching coronavirus is significantly greater indoors than outdoors. Safety concerns have already been raised, however, while one tennis club - Tower Hamlets Tennis - immediately told members that it might take time to adapt to the latest guidelines. “Please be clear that organisations may need time to implement changes, we’ve only just settled hundreds of daily customers into the last set of guidelines,” they said.

The new tennis rules follow the Government’s wider easing of the lockdown to allow groups of six, from different households, to meet outdoors from Monday. This has also meant that small team sports can resume, as well as golf games of up to four people, provided that social distancing guidance is met.

https://sports.yahoo.com/tennis-doubles-free-return-players-161400649.html

In case you missed.

 

 

US Open plan in works, including group flights, COVID tests.

Charter flights to ferry U.S. Open tennis players and limited entourages from Europe, South America and the Middle East to New York. Negative COVID-19 tests before traveling. Centralized housing. Daily temperature checks.

No spectators. Fewer on-court officials. No locker-room access on practice days.

All are among the scenarios being considered for the 2020 U.S. Open -- if it is held at all amid the coronavirus pandemic -- and described to The Associated Press by a high-ranking official at the Grand Slam tournament.

“All of this is still fluid,” Stacey Allaster, the U.S. Tennis Association’s chief executive for professional tennis, said in a telephone interview Saturday. “We have made no decisions at all.”

With that caveat, Allaster added that if the USTA board does decide to go forward with the Open, she expects it to be held at its usual site and in its usual spot on the calendar. The main draw is scheduled to start Aug. 31.

“We continue to be, I would say, 150% focused on staging a safe environment for conducting a U.S. Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on our dates. It’s all I wake up -- our team wakes up -- thinking about,” Allaster said. “The idea of an alternative venue, an alternative date ... we've got a responsibility to explore it, but it doesn’t have a lot of momentum.”

An announcement should come from “mid-June to end of June,” Allaster said.

All sanctioned competition has been suspended by the ATP, WTA and International Tennis Federation since March and is on hold until late July.

The French Open was postponed from May to September; Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since 1945.

There is no established COVID-19 protocol for tennis, a global sport with several governing bodies.

“Everybody would agree to the fundamental principles, I’m sure: protecting the health of participants, following the local laws and minimizing the risk of the transmission of the virus,” said Stuart Miller, who is overseeing the ITF’s return-to-tennis policy. “But then you have to get down into the specific details.”

One such detail: The USTA wants to add locker rooms - including at indoor courts that housed hundreds of temporary hospital beds at the height of New York’s coronavirus outbreak - and improve air filtration in existing spaces. Also being considered: no locker-room access until just before a match. So if anyone goes to Flushing Meadows just to train, Allaster said, “You come, you practice, and return to the hotel.”

The USTA presented its operational plan to a medical advisory group Friday; now that will be discussed with city, state and federal government officials.

“The fundamental goal here is to mitigate risk,” Allaster said.

Governors around the country, such as New York’s Andrew Cuomo, who are open to allowing professional sports resume say that should be without fans.

“We are spending a lot of time and energy on all the models, including no fans on site,” Allaster said. “The government will help guide us.”

In 2019, about 850,000 people attended the U.S. Open site from the week before the main draw through the finals.

Lew Sherr, the USTA’s chief revenue officer, told the AP it is “less and less likely” spectators would be at the U.S. Open this year.

That, Sherr said, means “forgoing ticketing revenue, forgoing hospitality revenue, forgoing a portion of your sponsorship revenue.” But TV and digital rights fees, plus remaining sponsorship dollars, are “significant enough that it’s still worth it to go forward with a no-fans-on-site U.S. Open,” he said.

Other areas Allaster addressed:

SCORING

Having best-of-three-set matches in men’s singles “has hardly been discussed,” she said. “If the players came to us and said, ‘That is something we want to do,’ we would consider it. But we will not make a unilateral decision on that without player input.”

TESTING

Before traveling to New York, players would need proof of a negative COVID-19 test. “Once they come into our, let’s say, ‘U.S. Open world,’” Allaster said, “there will be a combination of daily health questionnaires, daily temperature checks and ... some nasal or saliva or antibody testing.”

CHARTERS

Paris, Vienna, Frankfurt, Buenos Aires and Dubai are among the cities where players could catch a flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport on an airline that is a tournament partner. Afterward, players might be taken to where they play next; tournament sites in later September could include Paris, Madrid or Rome.

 

ENTOURAGES

“A player coming with an entourage of five, six, seven, eight is not something that’s in the plan,” Allater said. One possibility: Tournaments could provide physiotherapists and masseuses so players don’t bring their own.

OFFICIATING

Matches could use fewer line judges than usual, with more reliance on line-calling technology. “It’s a hard one,” Allaster said. “Obviously, we want to ensure that we have the highest level of integrity.”

BALL PERSONS

The current plan is to have them -- only adults, no kids.

https://sports.yahoo.com/us-open-plan-works-including-group-flights-covid-213755466--ten.html

Roger Federer tops list of highest-paid athletes due to COVID-19 salary cuts for Ronaldo, Messi.

There are precious few sports happening right now due to the ongoing COVID-19 shutdown, but that didn’t stop Forbes from releasing its yearly list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. This year’s list features a tennis player at the top for the first time and a change in the highest paid female athlete, but COVID-19’s effect on the sports world is already being felt by athletes — and it won’t stop with this year.

Roger Federer at the top for the first time

For the first time ever, a tennis player is gracing the top of Forbes’ list. Roger Federer with his $106.3 million in total earnings was this year’s top earner, pushing international soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo ($105 million) and Lionel Messi ($104 million) down to No. 2 and 3 respectively. Messi was No. 1 in 2019 and Ronaldo was No. 2.

According to Forbes, Federer landed at the top of the list after the salaries of Ronaldo And Messi were both cut due to shortened seasons. Federer makes the vast majority of his money from endorsement deals, while Ronaldo and Messi make far more from their salaries.

 

Roger Federer is the world's highest paid athlete. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

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LeBron James ($88.2 million), Steph Curry ($74.4 million), and Kevin Durant ($63.9 million) were basketball’s top earners, landing consecutively at No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7. Tiger Woods ($62.3 million) was the highest placed golfer at No. 6. Kirk Cousins ($60.5 million) was the NFL’s highest earner at No. 9, with Carson Wentz ($59.1 million) at No. 10.

This is the first year since 2016 that two women have made the list. Serena Williams is usually the world’s top earning female athlete, but this year she got beat by Naomi Osaka — both on and off the court. Osaka made her debut at No. 29 with $37.4 million. Williams came in at No. 33 with $36 million.

The continuing effects of COVID-19

The effects of COVID-19 on the sports world were already evident on this year’s list. Total athlete revenue fell for the first time in four years because COVID-19 has obliterated the tennis season, shortened the golf season, interrupted soccer, basketball and hockey, and put the MLB season on indefinite hold.

Many sports leagues have already come to terms with their players regarding pay cuts or prorated salaries for this shortened season, and since salary and winnings are a part of Forbes’ metric, that’s already affected the list and will likely continue to do so in the future.

MLB has yet to settle with its players on salary for whatever portion of the season might be played, which means most players have been paid just a tiny portion of what their salary was supposed to be. That caused 14 MLB players to drop off the list between 2019 and 2020, leaving just one: Clayton Kershaw at No. 57.

It will go beyond smaller salaries, though, since endorsement and sponsorship deals are part of Forbes’ metric. Decreased revenue across numerous sectors of business means less money to spend on advertising. Athletes and their possible endorsements will likely feel that down the road, and it could change what this list looks like in a year.

https://sports.yahoo.com/roger-federer-tops-list-of-highestpaid-athletes-due-to-covid-19-salary-cuts-for-soccer-players-154010956.html

More photos.

Photos.

American tennis champion Billie Jean King posing in a white evening dress and holding a rose, 1976. (Photo by Terry O'Neill/Iconic Images/Getty Images)

Billie Jean King and her husband Larry before they leave for Wales where Billie Jean plays in the Welsh Tennis Championships, 3rd July 1966. (Photo by Charlie Ley/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

Sport/Tennis, London, England, 6th July 1972, U,S,A's Billie-Jean King at Wimbledon with her husband, She won 20 Wimbledon titles her first Singles success was when she beat Margaret Court in 1962 (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Tennis: Closeup portrait of Billie Jean King. Los Angeles, CA 10/22/1972 CREDIT: Stephen Green-Armytage (Photo by Stephen Green-Armytage /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images) (Set Number: X17206 TK2 )

IRVINE, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: Coaches Billie Jean King (L) and Sir Elton John (R) participate in the Advanta WTT Smash Hits celebrity tennis match to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation at the Bren Center at UC Irvine on September 14, 2006 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

English pop singer Elton John (left) with American tennis player Billie Jean King and actor Cary Grant (1904 - 1986) backstage at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, where Elton is performing, October 1975. (Photo by Terry O'Neill/Iconic Images/Getty Images)

Wimbledon Tennis, Billie Jean Moffitt (later King) jumping for joy, 26th June 1962. (Photo by Burton/Daily Herald/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

Happy Birthday to Gracie: May 30.

Happy Birthday to M's Mom: May 30.

Photos.

'Am I next?' Tennis star Gauff joins chorus of protest after Minneapolis death.

Teenage tennis phenomenon Coco Gauff released a video protesting killings of African-Americans in the United States on Friday, joining a chorus of outrage across the country that followed the death of an unarmed black man in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged on Friday with murder in the death of 46-year-old George Floyd after cellphone footage of the white officer kneeling on Floyd's neck prompted a wave of protests.

Sixteen-year-old African-American Gauff said on Twitter this week she would "always use my platform to help make the world a better place," and on Friday called for action from others in a TikTok video posted to her Twitter account https://twitter.com/CocoGauff/status/1266432721884192770.

"This is why I am using my voice to fight against racism," the caption reads, as the video cuts to images of Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black man whose shooting in Brunswick, Georgia, was also captured on video. Three white men were charged in his death earlier this month.

Gauff's video also includes a photo of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager whose killing helped spark the "Black Lives Matter" movement.

The words, "Am I next?" appear on screen, as Gauff, wearing a black hoodie, faces the camera and raises her hands.

"I am using my voice," the caption concludes, "Will you use yours?"

Gauff joins numerous other athletes, including basketball stars LeBron James and Lisa Leslie, who have spoken out following Floyd's death.

Gauff seized the tennis spotlight at last year's Wimbledon, where she defeated her idol Venus Williams in the first round and made it through to the fourth.

She backed up that performance with strong showings at the 2019 U.S. Open and 2020 Australian Open, ultimately breaking into tennis' top 50 at the age of 15.

https://sports.yahoo.com/am-next-tennis-star-gauff-212242291.html

Federer tops highest-earning athlete list at more than $100M.

Roger Federer leads the annual Forbes ranking of highest-paid athletes with what the magazine says is $106.3 million in total earnings.

He is the first tennis player to top the list since it was first compiled in 1990.

The owner of a men's-record 20 Grand Slam singles titles made $6.3 million of that haul from tennis prize money, with the rest from endorsements and appearances fees, according to Forbes.

Soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar took spots 2-4, with the NBA's LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant at Nos. 5-7, followed by Tiger Woods at No. 8.

NFL players Kirk Cousins and Carson Wentz round out the top 10.

Two women were in the top 100, both tennis players.

Naomi Osaka was at No. 29 after setting a record for a female athlete with $37.4 million in earnings over the past 12 months. Serena Williams was No. 33 with $36 million.

https://sports.yahoo.com/federer-tops-highest-earning-athlete-list-more-100m-182700433--ten.html

Postponed French Open topics: Rafa's 20th? Serena's 24th?

If the French Open were being held as scheduled right now -- instead of postponed to September because of the coronavirus pandemic -- Rafael Nadal would have been seeking a 20th Grand Slam title to equal Roger Federer's record for men.

While Federer was going to skip the entire 2020 clay-court circuit because of arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in February, Nadal fully expected to be in Paris, focused on trying to win his 13th championship at Roland Garros.

''Thirteen is just a number that boggles the mind. To be able to play 13 times at any major is already a pretty remarkable achievement for a pro. To win it 13 times, through the ups and downs of one's career?'' said Jim Courier, whose four Grand Slam titles included a pair in Paris in 1991 and 1992.

''His has been mostly up, but ... he's had some years when he wasn't at his best physically -- and some of those years, he still won, at a tournament that has historically been known as the most physically challenging tournament,'' Courier said. ''He's been the one who's run away with it and rarely been challenged.''

The professional tennis tours have been on hiatus since early March and will remain so at least until late July because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

That means players and fans alike are left to merely think and talk about what might have been happening in Paris during the 15-day period that began Sunday and ends June 7, the original date of the men's singles final at Court Philippe Chatrier.

Here is a look at other potential storylines had the French Open happened this week and next:

SERENA'S CHASE FOR 24

Serena Williams again would have had a shot at her 24th major to pull even with Margaret Court for the most in history. Williams, who turns 39 in September, has reached four Slam finals since returning to the tour after having a baby, going 0-4. She has won three French Opens; in 2019, Williams exited in the third round. Her older sister, seven-time major champ Venus, would have played the last major of her 30s; she turns 40 on June 17.

DJOKOVIC'S GAP

Novak Djokovic has won five of the past seven majors to get to 17 Slams and close in on Federer and Nadal. He also might have arrived in Paris unbeaten, like he did in 2011: The guy was 18-0 in 2020 when tennis was suspended.

COCO TAKES TO CLAY

Could this have been Coco Gauff's next big step in her rapid development? The American, who turned 16 in March, followed up a stirring run to the fourth round on Wimbledon's grass last year by getting just as far on the Australian Open's hard courts in January.

BARTY'S DEFENSE

Ash Barty would have been at a Grand Slam tournament as the defending champion for the first time. She also was No. 1 when the rankings were frozen. Another woman to watch: Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin would have entered a major as a past Slam champ for the first time. ''She feels pressure in a really different way than we all do,'' said Bethanie Mattek-Sands, a frequent doubles partner of Kenin's. ''We all would look at it and say, 'Oh, she's going to go into the next Slam and feel some pressure.' I really don't think so.''

THIEM'S TIME?

Seemingly forever, the big question in men's tennis is: Who will be the next new major titlist? A popular pick is Dominic Thiem, a 26-year-old Austrian who is now a three-time Slam runner-up, including losses to Nadal in the 2018 and 2019 finals in Paris.

CLIJSTERS' COMEBACK

This could have been the site of four-time major champion Kim Clijsters' return to the Slam stage. The Belgian, who turns 37 on June 8, came out of retirement in February to play a limited schedule.

THE ROOF, THE ROOF, THE ROOF IS ON CHATRIER

Whenever it is next contested, the French Open finally is set to join the modern age with a retractable roof over its main stadium, Court Philippe Chatrier - the last of the four Grand Slam tournaments to be able to cover a court when it rains.

https://sports.yahoo.com/postponed-french-open-topics-rafas-20th-serenas-24th-060342169--ten.html

Nadal, the horse, retires and sends tennis fans into panic mode.

Nadal unexpectedly retired on Thursday afternoon.

No, it wasn’t that Nadal.

Famed horse trainer Bob Baffert’s horse Nadal was retired on Thursday after a condylar fracture was found in his left front leg, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. Baffert’s Kentucky Derby qualifying points leader had mounted a perfect record and swept his division at the Arkansas Derby earlier this month, too.

Nadal had earned more than $1 million in four races and was widely considered a top contender for both the Belmont Stakes and the Derby.

“He got a very serious injury today, and he’s fine now,” co-owner George Bolton said, via the Courier-Journal. “We’re lucky. We got four great races out of him … The good news is the injury was found, right? It could have been catastrophic.”

If you panicked when first reading that Nadal had retired, you weren’t alone. 

Plenty of sports fans understandably freaked out on social media after initially thinking that the tennis great Rafael Nadal had retired. 

https://sports.yahoo.com/bob-baffert-horse-nadal-retires-injury-tennis-fans-panic-twitter-reaction-rafael-nadal-005106810.html

It HAS to be 'respect'. What else can it be??????????????????????????????

Chatting with Daniela (Episode 3) - Marat Safin.

 

 

Andy Murray - The Best Lob Shot in Tennis?

 

 

Federer v Gaudio 2005: The Only Double Bagel in ATP Finals History!

 

 

Photos.

Djokovic to host Balkan event after finally returning home from Spain.

Novak Djokovic marked his return to Serbia, after being stranded in the Spanish resort of Marbella for two months due to the coronavirus lockdown, by announcing that he has organised an event which will be contested across the Balkans.

When the world number one had travelled to Marbella with his family in mid-March to visit his younger brother Marko, he had no idea it would be another two months before he could return to his homeland on Sunday.

But it was not all bad news for Djokovic.

"Unlike many other players, I was able to train almost every day because we resided in a house with a tennis court," a tanned Djokovic told a news conference at his private tennis complex in downtown Belgrade by the Danube river.

"I refrained from posting clips on social networks because I didn't want to infuriate other players. I am fit and in good shape, so I am looking forward to the Adria Tour, which I am organising."

Australian Open holder Djokovic, who went on an 18-0 run at the start of the season, confirmed there would be three big names apart from himself at the June 13-July 5 tournament.

"I am delighted that Dominic Thiem, Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev will be my guests here in my hometown," said the 17-times major champion.

"This is the first time any of them will be playing here and I will do everything in my power to be a good host.

"We would dearly love for fans to be able to attend but that’s still not certain because we have to abide by the Serbian government’s coronavirus regulations."

The first leg will take place on red clay in Belgrade on June 13 and 14 at Djokovic's complex and the second in Croatia's coastal resort Zadar on June 20 and 21.

Montenegro and Bosnia have been designated to host the final two legs but Djokovic said the infrastructure was still not in place.

"Bosnia and Montenegro are still not 100% certain as the hosts of the final two legs because we haven’t had enough time to prepare the infrastructure, but we are very nearly there.

"As for the three big names coming over, they will all play in the opening leg in Belgrade. Zverev might play in Croatia too while Dimitrov could appear in Croatia and in Montenegro."

All four tournaments will feature eight players, competing in two pools of four on a round-robin basis with the winners of each pool advancing to the final.

Djokovic added sets would be slashed to winning four games instead of six, with a total of 13 matches to be played over two days in each leg.

Asked whether he considered inviting longtime rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to the event, Djokovic said: "Quite frankly, inviting Federer didn't cross my mind because... he is still nursing a knee injury.

"As for Nadal, I have no problem giving him a call but I wouldn't expect him to come over."

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/djokovic-host-balkan-event-finally-183900865.html

In defense of Serena.

There is a point on the scale where the transgression-recording meter begins the 'cleansing' process sometimes not stopping until 'infringements' are so overwhelmingly enveloped that the subject emerges with close to 'angel-like' glow. Heard of Ali. He refused to serve his country, married and screwed a thousand women - a day, abused his opponent verbally and sometimes needlessly, tortured his opponents in the ring............

Granted Serena may not be close to the 'final' product but there are 'interventions' to the transgression meter that are too blatant to ignore suggesting - in the very least - that the 'cleaning' process may have started, if not nearing 'enveloping' stage.

It's not easy to be black and do ANYTHING. Heck, these days it's not even easy to survive @ NBA given the influx of 'foreigners'.

Try that notion @ tennis - the whitest sport. Heck, Djokovic and Nadal are struggling.

She has faced the 'music' ever since she picked up the tennis racket just like Tiger Woods did.

Heard of the Indian Wells incident where she faced racist and other derogatory remarks from the fans.

Heck, Sharapova 'deliberately' hit her with the ball.

Hinges tried her luck at berating Serena multiple times.

That Russian coach called them the 'Williams brothers'.

And she came from a place called Compton. For rock people, that's the ghetto of ghettos of Los Angeles.

So not only are you massively compromised from within (black, Compton, white sport, money.....), you are also being rudely and bluntly reminded of it regularly by fans, fellow players and the media to make sure you stay 'afflicted' forever.

To add fuel to the fire, you start beating up on EVERYONE thereby evoking even more vitriol, jealousy and outright hatred.

To barely function within that toxic setting should be considered a feat in itself but to excel to the degree where you are considered by many to be the greatest female tennis player of all time 'triggers' the 'cleaning' process - lavishly. Is it enough to overwhelm the 'transgression' meter yet?

It may be close, if not already there.

Major part of the 'transgressions' movement is the PED accusation given her body transformation through the years.

Now that she is at the end (near-end?) of her career, when you factor in everything that churned her career - good and bad - it's impossible to not allow the 'cleansing' process to slide VERY close, if not past, the 'transgression' meter.

You try operating under similar conditions. Heck, it may be close to excelling in a sport with your life on the line like boxing, NFL, cricket? etc. Too much? Had to - because nobody believes me until I push it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Add to all that her flourishing clothing business, motherhood etc. and the scale could be tipping any moment now?

The greatest athletes to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Lot of boxers?

Click here.

Chatting with Daniela - Episode 1 - Mary Pierce.

 

 

Anybody know why Federer - the GOAT - is not in this video????????

More photos.

Photos.

BELGRADE, SERBIA - MAY 25: Novak Djokovic of Serbia speaks to the media at a news conference on the upcoming Adria Tour tennis tournament at Novak Tennis Centre on May 25, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

What are you presenting, sir? The bulge? Green shoes with red shirt? That Superman hair lock? Bow legs?

BELGRADE, SERBIA - MAY 25: Novak Djokovic of Serbia pose for a photo at a news conference on the upcoming Adria Tour tennis tournament at Novak Tennis Centre on May 25, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

BELGRADE, SERBIA - MAY 25: Novak Djokovic of Serbia speaks to the media at a news conference on the upcoming Adria Tour tennis tournament at Novak Tennis Centre on May 25, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

"Did you get the accidental hair lock(s)?"

BELGRADE, SERBIA - MAY 25: Novak Djokovic of Serbia speaks to the media at a news conference on the upcoming Adria Tour tennis tournament at Novak Tennis Centre on May 25, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

BELGRADE, SERBIA - MAY 25: Novak Djokovic of Serbia pose for a photo after tje news conference on the upcoming Adria Tour tennis tournament at Novak Tennis Centre on May 25, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

A combined group photograph of the Australian cricket team and the Australian Davis Cup Tennis players who were travelling together on a voyage from Australia to England on board the SS Orford cruise liner, circa April 1934. The captain of the Australian cricket team, Bill Woodfull is seated centre, wearing a white jacket, and batsman Don Bradman is seated in the same row, far right. (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Kvitova: Cancel Grand Slams if there are no fans. Read: "I am 30. I wasn't going to win them anyway so If I can't have them nobody can".

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said she would prefer canceling the remaining Grand Slam events to playing them without spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I have my age and of course I would like to play another Grand Slam, but if it's like this, I'd rather cancel them," the 30-year-old told Agence France-Presse.

She made her remarks Monday on the eve of an all-Czech tournament being played this week in Prague behind closed doors. The event features eight men and eight women in separate draws, with no fans and no handshakes between participants.

"Playing a Grand Slam is the greatest thing there is and playing without fans who are our engine doesn't look nice to me and the Grand Slam doesn't deserve it," she added.

Wimbledon, originally scheduled to begin on June 29, was canceled for the first time since World War II. The French Open start was pushed back to Sept. 20, a week after the scheduled US Open final. The WTA Tour is on hiatus until at least July 20.

Kvitova won Wimbledon singles titles in 2011 and 2014.

https://sports.yahoo.com/kvitova-cancel-grand-slams-no-192339295.html

Georgian tennis star Nikoloz Basilashvili, ranked 27th in the world, was charged on Sunday with physically assaulting his ex-wife, prosecutors said.

A court in the Georgian capital Tbilisi charged Basilashvili with perpetrating "violence against a family member committed in the presence of a minor" before releasing him on bail amounting to $30,000 (27,500 euros), prosecutor Natia Guruli said.

He faces up to three years behind bars if found guilty.

Basilashvili's ex-wife Neka Dorokashvili told the Mtavari TV station on Sunday that he "physically assaulted" her Friday in the presence of their five-year-old son.

Basilashvili denied the charges, his lawyer Irma Chkadua told journalists.

The 28-year-old won his second ATP title at the China Open in 2018 by defeating world number four Juan Martin del Potro in the final, three months after winning the German Open in Hamburg.

He went on to defend the Hamburg title last year.

In May 2019, Basilashvili reached a career high of 16 in the world.

https://sports.yahoo.com/georgian-tennis-star-basilashvili-charged-assaulting-ex-wife-161106174--ten.html

Tennis, anyone? Not on this sunny Sunday at the French Open.

Tennis, anyone?

Not Sunday at the French Open. Nobody was there. Maybe they will be in September.

It should have been the first day of the clay-court Grand Slam tournament held annually at Roland Garros - with thousands flocking to catch a glimpse of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Serena Williams.

Instead, the grounds in leafy western Paris were deserted on a sunny, blue-sky day because of the coronavirus pandemic.

''Every year it's Roland Garros time, it's a bit like tennis fever. I was looking forward to seeing quality tennis and having a day out again. There's a certain mood, an atmosphere,'' said 34-year-old Hector Snowman, who attended the tournament in 2019. ''You see stars walking around there, it feels like a privilege to be there. Everyone's expecting a French player to do well and they have their favorites like (Roger) Federer.''

Court Philippe Chatrier, where 15,000 fans cheered Nadal's record-extending 12th title last June, wouldn't have needed the new roof that was supposed to debut in case of rain this year.

Viewed from outside, peering through one of the site's imposing iron gates, the towering roof looked grandiose with its 11 large sections, each 110 meters (360 feet) long and weighing 330 tons (660,000 pounds).

Also visible: construction equipment left behind when France went into lockdown on March 17 littering the inside of Roland Garros.

In early February, the French Tennis Federation proudly released a video to announce the roof was ready. A few weeks later, people were sheltering in place as the nation went into confinement. Soccer, rugby and tennis events all got called off.

If the French Open does start as hoped on Sept. 20, it might have to be played with no spectators present on the 17 courts for health and safety reasons. The maze-like grounds of Roland Garros are narrow, crammed, stuffy and sinewy, making social distancing impossible.

That would mean 10,000 fans missing out on watching Djokovic or Nadal on Court Suzanne Lenglen in the early rounds, and it would dash the FFT's hopes of beating the record 520,000 fans who came to watch last year.

Normally thousands of people would be pressed together on the surrounding streets, preparing to go through security as they walked toward the entrances down Avenue de la Porte d'Auteuil or Avenue Gordon Bennett. As folks waited in line to get checked, the chatter might have been something along these lines:

- Can Nadal win a 13th championship in Paris to raise his total of major trophies to 20 and equal Federer's record for men?

- Will Williams win a 24th Grand Slam title to equal Margaret Court?

- Will Djokovic claim an 18th major title to close in on Nadal and Federer?

- Can Ash Barty repeat her 2019 French Open triumph, which earned her her first major championship?

- Could Dominic Thiem, a runner-up to Nadal the past two years, finally win his first major?

But on this day, the long lanes leading to the stadium looked like any other tree-lined street in Paris. There were no stewards barking out instructions or beefy security guards checking bags. No panama-hat wearing volunteers guiding fans around or checking tickets.

Normally it would take 15 to 20 frustrating minutes to walk from the Porte d'Auteuil subway station to the main entrance. On Sunday, it took just six minutes.

There was plenty of time and space to admire the Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil, whose gardens stand opposite Roland Garros and have been there since 1898; the four white statues in front of the main gate look imperious under a cloudless sky.

Only handfuls of people walked down the avenue or rode bikes, some wearing protective masks.

One woman in a blue face covering stopped twice to take photos.

The first time, she photographed the roof. The second time, she walked around the corner and snapped a shot of the stadium entrance.

Tangled green foliage has draped itself over the main sign that says, ''Federation Francaise de Tennis'' - French tennis federation - with ''Stade Roland Garros'' written underneath in black letters.

Normally, that would not be visible with the amount of people around on Day 1 of the French Open.

https://sports.yahoo.com/tennis-anyone-not-sunny-sunday-french-open-190340878--spt.html

Look Nadal and Murray are attempting to 'match' with their scruffy beards. Heck, they think they ARE that beast!!!!!!

Roddick is losing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quiz question.

Name player whose parents - out of anxiety - famously roamed the nearest shopping mall while their son was competing at a Slam final.

Countries with the youngest and oldest populations. Your village in there?

Click here.

RAFA (Part 3): Legend.

 

 

More photos.

Photos.

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 23: Alison Riske of the United States enters her score on the UTR app and is interviewed by Tennis Channel after her match against Danielle Collins of the United States during the UTR Pro Match Series Day 2 on May 23, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 23: UTR cleaning staff sanitize the net between matches during the UTR Pro Match Series Day 2 on May 23, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 23: A nurse checks a UTR staff member's temperature as he arrives to the court for the UTR Pro Match Series Day 2 on May 23, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 23: Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia has her temperature taken in her car as she arrives to the UTR Pro Match Series Day 2 on May 23, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 23: A detail of a remote controlled CamBot camera during the UTR Pro Match Series Day 2 on May 23, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Following new COVID-19 safety guidelines, remotely controlled cameras were installed to limit the number of people on the court. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 23: Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia and Amanda Anisimova of the United States tap their rackets together after their match during the UTR Pro Match Series Day 2 on May 23, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Following new COVID-19 safety guidelines, players are not permitted to shake hands or hug after their match. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Undated file photo shows tennis star Naomi Osaka. Forbes reported on May 22, 2020 that Osaka earned $37.4 million in the last 12 months from prize money and endorsements, more than any other female athlete in history. (Photo by Kyodo News via Getty Images)

Shouldn't Kobe and Dimitrov lose massive career and legacy 'points' - irretrievably?

Should have Wall Of Famed it!!!!!!!!!!

Just thinking of brazenly and shamelessly modelling your style on the GOAT of your sport damages you - irreparably - mentally and physically.

To actually carry it out on the world stage invites perpetual guilt and stigma - just from within - forget what others on the 'outside' are saying and thinking.

Granted you want to shorten the learning curve but this is ONE line you don't cross - even if it guarantees immortality - statistically.

I mean, wouldn't you be chastised endlessly IF you do become the GOAT - for obvious freaking reasons?

How about if you don't even come close to the GOAT pedestal?

That's like cheating at your exam and still 'failing'.

Isn't it far more rewarding and satisfying to be yourself and let the chips fall wherever they do instead of 'cheating' with a guaranteed 'fail' outcome - with GOAT status - forget anything even slightly less?

There is a certain honor and dignity in 'paying' the price - regardless of degree of success - as opposed to 'winning' after compromising basic human principles - blatantly.

Heck, Graf is chastised just for the 'Seles' factor. Federer for the 'Nadal' factor.

And both involve severe abuse and suffering. And they are not even close to the 'modelling' beast.

Point?

There are enough factors already in play to malign you EVEN if you follow the rules. Why add a known one - from the get go - to compromise your psyche and physique - eternally - with no guarantee of success?

Could Kobe have gotten a higher rating for top NBA players of all time if he wasn't 'like' Jordan? It's possible.

With respect to Dimitrov, given his success and attitude, is it safe to say he is here largely for the 'lifestyle' and girls? It's possible.

Bottom line:

Honor trumps everything - in the long run.

25 Novak Djokovic Moments That Will Blow Your Mind! 🤯

 

 

Crab pulling other crab down?

That's what you are reminded of - most - watching Kyrgios - Djokovic spat?

To make sure the 'intention' is unmistakable, Kyrgios goes to the ultimate space called Wimbledon (Murray) to 'pull down' Djokovic.

For rock people, first Kyrgios accused Djokovic of one who desperately wants everyone to like him and second told Murray he is better than Djokovic.

Know what I am barking about?

No, you don't!!!!!!!!!!!!

Naomi Osaka passes Serena Williams as world's highest-paid female athlete.

Naomi Osaka made her name beating Serena Williams on the court.

Now, she’s topped the tennis icon at another key venue — the bank.

Osaka, 22, earned $37.4 million in prize money and endorsements over the last 12 months, supplanting Williams as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, according to Forbes. The figure is also the highest ever for a female athlete, passing the $29.7 million payday Maria Sharapova earned in 2015, according to the report.

Four-year streak for Williams snapped

There’s no need to shed a tear for Williams, though. The 38-year-old, 23-time Grand Slam winner did just fine, earning $36 million for the second-biggest payday ever for a female athlete.

Osaka’s money move snaps a four-year streak for Williams, who had been the world’s highest-paid female athlete since 2016. Sharapova held the honor the previous five years, earning at least $24.4 million in each year from 2011 to 2015.

 

Naomi Osaka already beat Serena Williams on the tennis court. Now, she's winning at the bank. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Osaka’s breakthrough win over Serena

Osaka burst on the scene in 2018 when she beat Williams at the U.S. Open for her first major title at 20 years old. The match was one of the year’s biggest sports controversies, as Williams berated chair umpire Carlos Ramos, calling him a “liar” and a “thief” during an on-court meltdown at the heated final.

It made for a difficult scene for Osaka as she fought through tears during the trophy presentation. But it also made for one of the year’s biggest stories, raising her profile even further.

She followed up her U.S. Open victory by claiming the Australian Open title in 2019 for back-to-back Grand Slam victories.

According to Forbes, Osaka has 15 endorsement deals with partners Nike, Nissan, beauty brand Shiseido and racket-manufacturer Yonex each paying her seven figures. Her deal with Nike is worth more than $10 million annually and runs through 2025.

https://sports.yahoo.com/naomi-osaka-passes-serena-williams-as-worlds-highestpaid-female-athlete-182159952.html