Unlike older brother, Patrick McEnroe gets best to play Davis Cup for US team Thursday, January 31, 2008
John McEnroe's brief tenure as U.S. Davis Cup captain was marked by frequent laments about how tough it was to get Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi to play for his team.
McEnroe's successor as captain, his younger brother Patrick, has no such trouble getting the current crop of top Americans to participate -- which probably is why he finally won a championship. And when the United States opens defense of its first Davis Cup title since 1995 next month, he'll once more be able to rely on Andy Roddick, James Blake and twins Bob and Mike Bryan.
"I've been extremely lucky. We've got a group of guys that love to play for their country, that love supporting each other, and that have answered the call every single time I've asked them," McEnroe said Wednesday in a conference call. "That's pretty amazing, considering the world we live in. I certainly understand the players that do skip matches here and there."
The Feb. 8-10 series at Austria will mark the record ninth consecutive time that Roddick, Blake and the Bryans comprise the U.S. team.
No other quartet from the country ever participated in more than three Davis Cup series in a row, according to the U.S. Tennis Association.
"I'd love to take the credit, but to be quite honest, the credit goes to them, because they really do enjoy it and they really do enjoy the weeks together," McEnroe said.
"When I first became captain, the first thing I said was: 'I want to try to get players that really want to play, that want to be there.' I've been lucky that those guys happen to be the guys that are our best players."
Roddick is currently ranked No. 6 in singles, with Blake at No. 9. The Bryans lead the doubles rankings.
They ended the longest U.S. championship drought in Davis Cup history by beating Russia in December on an indoor hard court at Portland, Ore.
Now the quick turnaround has the group heading to Vienna to face Stefan Koubek, Jurgen Melzer, Werner Eschauer and Julian Knowle on indoor clay. Koubek is ranked 55th, Melzer 71st.
The United States has won the title 32 times, Austria none.
But McEnroe knows how tough it can be to play on the road, in a hostile environment.
"It's very important for them to keep their wits about them and mentally just stay solid," he said. "That's something that Andy has really, really improved over the years. And I think we're seeing signs that James is starting to do the same thing. James has, quite honestly, had a little trouble doing that in some of the away matches. He gets a little too up and down."
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 1:57 PM,
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Andy Roddick, James Blake and Bryan brothers return to defend Davis Cup title against Austria Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Andy Roddick and James Blake will lead the defending champion United States against Austria in the first round of the Davis Cup.
The top-ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan also will return for the U.S. team, the International Tennis Federation said Tuesday. The quartet helped the U.S. win its record 32nd Davis Cup title last month against Russia.
Stefan Koubek will lead Austria, along with Jurgen Melzer, Werner Eschauer and Julian Knowle for the best-of-five series on indoor clay in Vienna on Feb. 8-10.
"The United States will bring their best players for sure, which means they show respect for our team," Austria captain Gilbert Schaller said.
Roddick is ranked No. 6 and Blake is No. 9.
Novak Djokovic, who won the Australian Open, will play in the first round for Serbia against Russia on indoor hardcourts in Moscow. The Russians will have Marat Safin back on the team, after he missed the competition with injuries last year.
Rafael Nadal, who missed both World Group matches last year because of injuries, was left off the Spain team, which will play at Peru on outdoor clay. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the Australian Open runner-up, will make his Davis Cup debut for France against Romania.
Koubek, the highest-ranked Austrian on the team at No. 55, and Melzer are expected to play singles, and Melzer will likely team with Knowle in doubles. Eschauer will be a substitute.
Koubek knows his team will be the underdog when the Americans come to Vienna.
"But if our team works really well and we take every chance we get, maybe we can cause an upset," Koubek said.
Knowle has struggled with injuries lately.
"I suffered from dizziness and a chronic elbow inflammation," said Knowle, who won the doubles title at the U.S. Open last year with Simon Aspelin. "I still need treatment for that, so hopefully I will be fit by next week."
The match between the United States and Austria will be the third in the Davis Cup. The Americans won the previous two, first on clay in Vienna in 1990 and hardcourts in Connecticut in 2004.
Also in the first round: Czech Republic vs. Belgium; Argentina vs. Britain; Israel vs. Sweden; and Germany vs. South Korea.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 8:16 PM,
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Fresh faces get 2008 tennis season off to special start Sunday, January 27, 2008
Will we look back on the 2008 Australian Open as a sea-change moment in tennis? Certainly the order of things Down Under turned upside down.
For just the second time at a Grand Slam since 2002 - a span of 24 majors - the men's and women's finalists featured none of the players who have dominated the sport this decade: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Justine Henin. (The other was the 2004 French Open.)
MEN'S FINAL: Djokovic tops Tsonga for first Slam title
In crowning new champions Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic, the complexion of the season changed in a fortnight.
"It puts a different twist on it, no doubt about it," said Darren Cahill, a former coach for Andre Agassi who now comments for ESPN.
On Saturday (Friday night ET), Russian Sharapova fended off fellow 20-year-old Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3 to win her third Grand Slam title. On Sunday, Serb Novak Djokovic captured his first major with a smothering 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) victory against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
Here are some issues to consider after the most intriguing start to the tennis season in years:
Cracks in Federer's reign?
Federer maintained his record streak of 209 uninterrupted weeks at No. 1 by reaching his 15th consecutive major semifinal in Melbourne. But Federer's uncharacteristically flat performance against Djokovic (not to mention his near escape in the third round against Janko Tipsarevic, another Serb) have at least raised the question of how much longer he can maintain his stranglehold on the game.
In a rare admission of the burden he carries, the 26-year-old Swiss said he had created his own "monster" by winning so much. Though he might have been weakened by a pre-tournament stomach ailment, the 12-time Grand Slam winner appeared stuck in fourth gear when Djokovic ended his record run of 10 consecutive finals in majors.
He's hardly done, but it might be more difficult to win two to three majors a year like he has since 2004.
"For the first time leaving the Australian Open in a while," says U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe, "I feel like the year-end No. 1 is up for grabs."
A star is born
Where has Muhammad Ali lookalike Jo-Wilfried Tsonga been hiding?
The 22-year-old Frenchman, who will rise to No. 18 in the world, won over the Melbourne crowds with his enthusiasm and soaring personality. And he opened the eyes of tennis experts with his rare combination of power, speed, athleticism and touch. It was almost a new brand of tennis.
"I think we've seen the rising of hopefully a new star," Cahill says. "There's no question he's not one of these surprise finalists that we've had here over the last 10 years. This is a guy that is the real deal and is here to stay. I expect him to challenge for one of the top spots in the ATP Tour rankings. He has a game that when he is on is capable of beating anyone and everyone."
A star is reborn
After a trying and disappointing year by her demanding standards, Sharapova reasserted herself at the top of the sport.
The Nick Bollettieri-trained Russian fell outside the top five and struggled with shoulder, wrist and leg injuries in 2007. But she blasted her way through a tough draw without dropping a set, snapping No. 1 Henin's 32-match winning streak along the way.
"Her performance, if you look at it through the whole tournament, it's about as dominant as you can get through a Grand Slam," said her coach and hitting partner, former pro Michael Joyce.
"This is like success the second time around, and it's actually a lot sweeter," Sharapova said.
Serbs affirm and confirm
Djokovic and Ivanovic put themselves firmly in discussions for the year-end No. 1 ranking. Both have been in two major finals in the last seven months and, at just 20, will continue to develop and improve.
Djokovic is one of very few players who isn't intimidated by Federer, and he has reached the semifinals in the last four Grand Slams - better results than Nadal. Ivanovic has a big game and once she gets her emotions under control the new No. 2 will challenge for majors on all surfaces.
"They still have some work to do to be No. 1, but they are very close," McEnroe says. "They are firmly in the mix about who can finish No. 1 at the end of the year, and the nice thing about both of them is that they are both all-surface players."
The Williams sisters
It would be foolish to write off champions such as Venus and Serena Williams, who have come out of nowhere to snag Grand Slam titles on too many occasions. But their time of dominance - winning Grand Slams in bunches - might be over, according to two-time U.S. Open champ Tracy Austin, who called matches for Australia's Channel 7.
In 2002-03, the sisters, who own 14 Grand Slam titles, reached four consecutive major finals, all won by Serena. Now the game has caught up to them.
Serena, 26, hasn't advanced past the quarterfinals in her last four majors, and reigning Wimbledon champ Venus, 27, has won just two majors since 2001.
"That time has passed," Tracy Austin says. "The other young women are too hungry, too confident and no longer afraid of the Williams sisters. They raised the bar. A lot of people have now met it."
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 11:25 PM,
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Djokovic wins Australian Open for first major title
Novak Djokovic fended off unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (2), in the Australian Open final today, earning his first Grand Slam title.
No. 3-ranked Djokovic's win broke a sequence of 11 straight majors won by either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal since Marat Safin's triumph at the 2005 Australian championship.
Djokovic had not lost a set in six matches leading into the final, including his semifinal win over two-time defending champion Federer.
But with Muhammad Ali lookalike Tsonga coming out swinging like he did in his straight-sets upset over No. 2 Nadal in the semifinals, that streak came to a sudden end.
The 20-year-old Djokovic rebounded in the second and third sets and after saving a crucial breakpoint in the fourth, clinched his first major at his 13th attempt.
He was the youngest player since Stefan Edberg defeated Mats Wilander in 1985 to win the Australian title and the first man from Serbia to win a major.
As well as Tsonga, he had to overcome cramps.
Djokovic got treatment on the back of his left thigh while holding for a 3-2 lead in the fourth set, then fended off a break point while serving at 5-5.
Wanting to finish it off quickly, he raced through the tiebreaker -- with some help from Tsonga, who double-faulted to make it 5-1 and then sent a running forehand long to give Djokovic four championship points.
He only needed one as Tsonga hit a forehand wide.
Djokovic fell on his back, then got up to shake hands with Tsonga and put his arm around the Frenchman. He got on his knees and kissed the court, shook hands with his family, then tossed two rackets into the stands before burying his face in a towel.
Tsonga, ranked 38th, was playing his fifth Grand Slam tournament and had never previously gone beyond the fourth round. He was aiming to be the first Frenchman in 80 years to win the Australian title and the first to win any of the four Grand Slams since Yannick Noah's win at Roland Garros in 1983.
Rod Laver Arena was packed and awash in red, white and blue, the national colors of both countries, but there was little doubt where the rowdy crowd's loyalties lay -- with underdog Tsonga, who has delighted the Melbourne Park fans with his ebullient personality and go-for-broke style.
A portrait of Ali, a racket sketched in one hand, was taped to a wall, and Tsonga sprinted onto the court for warmups.
Djokovic, who had complained after his semifinal victory over Federer that he had to fight two opponents because of the overwhelming support for the Swiss star, was at it again, frequently turning toward a pocket of chanting Serbian fans to get them fired up after he fired winners.
Both men looked tight at first, dropping their first service games before settling in.
Tsonga suddenly picked up his game when it appeared the first set was headed for a tiebreaker. He blasted three aces to take a 5-4 lead, then came up with two great shots to break Djokovic.
Serving at 30-30, Djokovic had an easy overhead, but didn't do enough with it. Tsonga ripped a forehand crosscourt passing shot for a winner, then raised his racket and roared with the crowd.
Another good forehand winner finished off the set, and Tsonga went down on one knee to pump his fist before dancing over to his chair to a standing ovation.
Djokovic refused to crumble. He never faced a break point in the second and third sets, yielding only 10 points in his nine service games.
Tsonga, who had been so aggressive in beating four top 14 players earlier in the tournament, including No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, seemed more content to rally from the baseline, especially after getting passed several times.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 2:18 PM,
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Sharapova provides service with style
Shades of last year popped to the surface, but only for the briefest of moments, and the damage was contained to one service game.
That was essentially the only time Maria Sharapova's nerve and serve truly faltered -- three double faults in one game in the first set, including two in a row -- in the Australian Open final today against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.
But the serve, which so bedeviled her in the final against Serena Williams last year, pulled her out of trouble later in the first set today when she was on the back foot, two points from losing it.
That escape seemed to embolden her and the fifth-seeded Sharapova lost only two points on her serve in the second set, as she beat No. 4 Ivanovic, 7-5, 6-3, in 1 hour 31 minutes.
Sharapova dropped to her knees after Ivanovic's final forehand sailed wide and was moved to tears. It was her third Grand Slam tournament championship, and the 20-year-old Russian, incredibly, is one major from a career Slam.
She added the Australian title to a resume that already included triumphs at Wimbledon (2004) and the U.S. Open (2006), and now is missing only the French Open.
But that's in the future.
Sharapova was extraordinarily focused from the first week in Melbourne, treating her second-round match against Lindsay Davenport like a semifinal or a final.
"Whatever it took, I was going to be there no matter what," said Sharapova, who did not lose a set in seven matches here, including a quarterfinal in which she dramatically ended Justine Henin's 32-match winning streak.
There were plenty of reasons for the emotion. The 20-year-old Ivanovic, who was playing in her first Australian Open final and her second major final, got choked up during her on-court speech when she thanked her supporters.
Inspiration was hardly lacking for Sharapova, who struggled with shoulder problems most of last year.
In a heartfelt speech during the award ceremony, she dedicated the title to Jane Joyce, the late mother of her longtime hitting partner, Michael Joyce. Sharapova later spoke of how they often thought about his mother, who died last year after a long battle with cancer, and how "tennis became so small" and put everything else in perspective. Said Joyce: "Maybe my mom was helping her from up above or something."
Sharapova was also self-deprecating after an official said she had been close to winning this title last year. Williams defeated her, 6-1, 6-2, and it set a dissonant tone for her 2007.
"I wasn't [close]," Sharapova said. "I only won three games. If someone had told me in the middle of last year, I'd be standing on this stage . . . with the big one, I'd probably say, 'Forget it.' "
Other inspiration came from tennis legend Billie Jean King, and the fact that Sharapova didn't want to lose again on her mother's birthday.
Before the final, King sent Sharapova a text message, saying, "Champions take chances and pressure is a privilege."
King left out the part about not hitting a bad drop shot when you are two points from winning a set. That's what happened to Ivanovic after she had rebounded from an early service-break deficit to pull even when Sharapova double faulted three times in the eighth game of the first set.
Ivanovic held to go up, 5-4, and Sharapova was down, 0-30, on her serve in the next game. At 15-30, Ivanovic hit a poor drop shot that landed in the net, and two points later, Sharapova was out of trouble, pulling to 5-5.
"It hurts. I can tell you that," Ivanovic said of the ill-timed shot.
She was still smiling, though, and will rise to No. 2 in the world when the rankings are released Monday. "It's a little bit disappointing because I felt like I had a lot of chances in the first set and I didn't use them," she said.
Sharapova took advantage of Ivanovic's shaky forehand and broke her in the next game, then held at love to take the first set, 7-5.
Said Sharapova: "I didn't get frustrated. I was trying to be steady. It was in her hands. . . . I think I served my way out of trouble in that game."
And the ghosts of last year slid away, banished to the rearview mirror.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 2:13 PM,
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Sharapova, Ivanovic take different paths to final Friday, January 25, 2008
Don't ask the charming Maria Sharapova or the appealing Ana Ivanovic about whether they're playing in a "Glam Slam" final. They vow that nothing beautiful will occur when they stride out onto the Australian Open court for the women's final Saturday.
The match will be a fight between two tigresses, pure and simple, with no bling, white pearls or high heels allowed. Sweat and effort will be at a premium, while cute smiles and the twinkles of their eyes will be left in the locker room.
Sharapova needs to prove she can be a dominant player once again, while Ivanovic needs to show she's not just a tourist in her hunt for the top ranking.
"I think the reason why we got to the final was because of our tennis and our performance," Sharapova said. "And I think that's something people should be looking at."
There will be no way to avoid catching a whiff of their brute power or will to win. They will enter the match locked at 2-2 in head-to-heads, with Ivanovic smothering Sharapova in the 2007 French Open semifinals on clay and Sharapova having crushed Ivanovic in the 2007 Sony Ericsson WTA Championships final on an indoor hard court.
"She's definitely a big fighter and she never gives up," Ivanovic said. "That's also something I feel like we have little bit in common, because I also try to fight for each point. It's going to be a big battle."
The 20-year-old Sharapova has been through the wars before, as she came of age much earlier than Ivanovic, winning her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2004, when she was just 17. She followed that up two years later with a confirmation crown at the 2006 U.S. Open, and last year she struggled with a bad shoulder and her confidence.
Even though she's only five months younger than Sharapova, the 20-year-old Ivanovic is more of a late bloomer, as she didn't have the same facilities and support available to her that the Russian did while learning the game in war-torn Serbia.
Sharapova moved to Florida when she was 8 and spent hundreds of hours honing her game at the Nick Bollettieri Academy. Ivanovic and her family were forced to move to Switzerland when she was 15 because she couldn't get enough support at home to fund her travel or lessons.
When Sharapova was raising the trophy at Wimbledon in 2004 after her breakout triumph over Serena Williams, Ivanovic was still competing in minor league ITF events in Europe and learning her trade.
Up-and-comer Ana Ivanovic is looking for her first Grand Slam title. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
But the 6-foot-1 free swinger has more than made up for the years when she could practice for a couple hours per day due to impossible playing conditions. When she walks on the court Saturday, she's the one who will be strutting in with the world No. 2 ranking, while Sharapova, who reached the final last year before being devastated by Serena, will come in at No. 5.
But the numerals don't make much difference, because while Sharapova was on and off the tour last year trying to strengthen her sore shoulder, Ivanovic was healthy enough to make a major move, winning three titles and reaching the French Open final and the Wimbledon semis.
Still, for how impressive Ivanovic has been at the Australian Open — scoring her first win over six-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams in the quarterfinals and coming back from a 6-0, 2-0 deficit against Daniela Hantuchova to stun the Slovak in three sets — Sharapova has been razor sharp. She scored knockouts over an impressive field of rivals, including three-time Slam champ Lindsay Davenport, two-time Slam finalist Elena Dementieva, top-ranked Justine Henin and No. 3 Jelena Jankovic. She lost all of 14 games in those matches.
So when asked who the favorite in her final should be, Sharapova said it didn't really matter and then added, "On paper, she definitely is."
While both women are chatty off the court and have a good sense of humor, Sharapova is a bit more intense than the easygoing Ivanovic. Sharapova does not suffer fools gladly, while the more innocent Ivanovic is willing to entertain absurd questions about her personal life while still keeping a smile on her face.
Sharapova's mysterious and part-coach father, Yuri, is a constant fixture on tour and caused an uproar during the tournament when he made a throat-slitting gesture after his daughter's stomping of Henin. It comes much to the detriment of his daughter, who has worked long and hard in developing positive relationships with the rest of the tennis industry.
Ivanovic's father, Miloslav, is a businessman who does not attempt to coach his daughter. He quietly pops on and off the tour.
It's her mother, Dragana, who is a constant fixture in her life, and Ana remains very much a mother's girl.
"It's like mother, daughter and friend, because she's like my best friend, too," Ivanovic said. "It's so important to have her on the road. If she wouldn't be with me, it would be much harder. I have someone to talk to, not only in my native language, but also to ask for advice. Because who can give you more honest advice than your mom? It's such a great thing to have her there. And she's also my biggest supporter. She hates to see me getting upset, hitting my racquet. (But) she never really beats me up or gets upset with me. So it's great because I feel like she understands me."
Sharapova's mother, Yelena, has rarely been seen around the tour. She's separated from Yuri, but has been a constant in her daughter's life since she managed to emigrate to the United States two years after Yuri and Maria arrived. She's the one who made sure that her daughter got a good education, and now helps to take care of Maria's houses in Florida and Los Angeles. The two are very close, but Yelena prefers to skip tournaments and spend time with her daughter when she's not in the heat of competition.
"My mom brings such good energy and positive chi into myself and all the people that are around her," said Sharapova, who describes her mother as an Uma Thurman look-a-like. "She's a very quiet and intelligent woman that just is happy with life, is happy for me. But it's one of those things I feel like if she did travel around, I would really feel like I'm taking her life away from her."
Unless her form strangely slips below the hot blue court, Sharapova will enter the final a sizeable favorite. She has a more powerful and accurate serve and uses her backhand like a sharp scythe to dry wheat. She's moving forward much more confidently, and her swing volley is as dependable as her loud grunt. Ivanovic has a bigger forehand, perhaps is a little quicker, and is a more sure-handed, traditional volley player.
It will certainly be the woman who gets a clean first strike on most of the balls that will come ahead, but Sharapova is too experienced to get nervous. It's up to Ivanovic to prove that she won't let her emotions get the best of her, like they did in the French Open finals when Henin took care of her before the clay began to dust the sidelines.
If Ivanovic can play freely, it could be a brilliant final between two women who should be contending for the year's top ranking.
If she doesn't, Sharapova will be off the court in an hour and will happily display her glamorous side.
"I was thinking, 'Oh my God, maybe I can win a Grand Slam," said Ivanovic of her desultory performance in the French final. "I start thinking more emotionally. It was very overwhelming. The whole atmosphere, everything, was just too big to a moment. (But) emotions are definitely not a bad thing. It's something that actually got me where I'm at today. It's just important to learn how to make it work for you instead of against you. But now I can control my emotions a little bit better and just direct them in a positive way. I really hope I can be mentally strong out there tomorrow and do the same thing."
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 10:17 PM,
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Sharapova's game sizzling at the right time
If Maria Sharapova's magazine shoots, megamillion-dollar endorsement deals and A-list cachet never diminished in 2007, her game and confidence dropped off. She struggled with shoulder and leg injuries, missed seven weeks in the spring and served up an uncharacteristic flurry of double faults on occasion. Her ranking at one point fell outside the top five.
A year after being blitzed by Serena Williams in the Australian Open final here, No. 5 seed Sharapova will be a heavy favorite to add a third Grand Slam tournament title to her 2004 Wimbledon and 2006 U.S. Open crowns when she takes on No. 4 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia on Saturday (Friday night ET).
Sharapova, 20, has looked unbeatable, dropping an average of 3.3 games in her six matches and ending top-ranked Justine Henin's 32-match winning streak with a dominating 6-4, 6-0 victory in the quarterfinals.
"From the beginning of the tournament, you want to go a step further than you've done in the past," said the Siberian-born and Nick Bollettieri-trained Russian after another clinical performance in the semifinals against No. 3 seed Jelena Jankovic. She won 6-3, 6-1.
Ivanovic, also 20, scratched back from a 0-6, 0-2 deficit to beat No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 in her semifinal.
Sharapova's turnaround can be traced back to November's year-end championships in Madrid.
"Before Madrid, I was very close to just saying, 'You know, this was a pretty difficult year,' " she said. "I needed to go to an island and just get my mind off things and get healthy no matter how long it took."
She showed up and pushed Henin to the brink in a 3-hour, 24-minute epic final that was among the longest in WTA Tour history. She rediscovered her confidence.
It's good that Sharapova's form has been irresistible because her camp has done her image no favors during the fortnight. Her father, Yuri, was caught on camera making a slashing motion across his throat at the conclusion of the Henin match. Sharapova's handlers said it was an inside joke.
According to Melbourne's The Age newspaper, Yuri verbally attacked a reporter who approached him to ask a question Thursday, yelling, "You guys are (like) sharks!"
Sharapova and Ivanovic, who reached the French Open finals last year, are big hitters who like to take control of points. That, and handling the pressure of a major final, will be key.
"It will come down to who dominates the first-strike," says Tracy Austin, who is calling women's matches for Australia's Channel 7. "Experience is in Maria's favor, but it also depends on how they execute on the day and who handles the situation better."
"I've been playing with good form," Sharapova said. "I've beaten some good opponents. Hopefully that confidence and experience will help me get through this one."
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 8:56 AM,
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French Open champion Chang elected to tennis Hall
French Open winner Michael Chang was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and IMG creator Mark McCormack and Tennis Week magazine founder Eugene Scott were selected posthumously.
McCormack and Scott were selected in the contributor category, the hall announced Wednesday. The induction ceremony is July 12 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum.
Chang was only 17 when he won the 1989 French Open - the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam title. He was the first U.S. champion at the clay-court Grand Slam since Tony Trabert in 1955.
Chang's run to the French Open title included a memorable five-set upset of No. 1 Ivan Lendl in the fourth round, when a cramping Chang resorted to underhand serves. He defeated Stefan Edberg in the final.
Chang reached No. 2 in the rankings in 1996, finished runner-up three times at Grand Slam tournaments and won 34 singles titles.
McCormack, who died in 2003 at 72, was a sports marketing pioneer. He created International Management Group in 1960 and turned success in sports into commercial marketability. His clients included Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe.
Scott, a former top 20 player, founded Tennis Week in 1974 and served as its publisher and editor until he died in 2006 at 68. He also was a tournament director, player agent and author of more than 20 tennis books.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 8:45 AM,
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Djokovic ousts Federer at Aussie Open
Top-ranked Roger Federer's streak of 10 straight Grand Slam finals came to an abrupt end Friday when he lost to No. 3 Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the Australian Open semifinals.
Federer, who had been seeking his third consecutive title here, didn't look like the same player who appeared well on his way to winning his 13th major. The emotional Djokovic had a lot to do with that, hitting 13 aces and 50 winners, largely avoiding the nerves that have occasionally troubled him.
"I am just very amazed I coped with the pressure today," Djokovic said. "In the most important moments, I played my best tennis."
"It's just amazing, indescribable, to beat the No. 1 player of the world, one of the best players this sport has ever had, in straight sets."
He will face unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Sunday's final. Tsonga beat No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals Thursday.
In the women's final Saturday another Serbian, fourth-seeded Ana Ivanovic, will meet No. 5 Maria Sharapova.
Other than a twitchy third-round victory over Janko Tipsarevic that went to 10-8 in the fifth set, Federer has been in good form after a stomach ailment interrupted his pre-tournament preparations. He dominated James Blake in the quarterfinals and appeared to be peaking at the right time.
Instead, he fell to his first straight-sets loss in a Grand Slam tournament since a third-round defeat to Gustavo Kuerten at the 2004 French Open.
"I think he made the more important points today, it was a bit unfortunate for me," said Federer, who rubbed his eyes frequently at his post-match news conference. "You can't always play your best. There is no doubt I have played better before.
"I've created a monster that I need to win every tournament - still the semifinals isn't bad."
Despite a 1-5 record against Federer that included a loss in the U.S. Open final in September, Djokovic was far from intimidated on a muggy night in a packed Rod Laver Arena, even after getting broken in the first set.
Federer, who is usually at his best as the pressure builds toward the end of a set, pulled ahead at 5-3 only to be stunned as Djokovic ran off the last four games, with the Swiss star hitting backhands long on the last two points of the set.
Federer grimaced or hung his head as his groundstrokes and feathery drop shots lacked their usual punch and accuracy, or deserted him entirely.
"He covered the court well," Federer said. "I couldn't come up with the passing shot when I needed to.
"There is some sort of a disappointment. The way I tried, that's all I could give. When you give 100 percent, you're sort of happy with your performance. It can't always go your way."
Djokovic broke him to pull ahead at 3-1 in the second set. He finished off the game by getting to a drop shot on the dead run and flicking a backhand past Federer that kissed the line. Djokovic roared and raised his fist, then repeatedly pounded his chest.
He broke again to pull ahead at 5-1. Serving for the set, Djokovic looked a little tight, and Federer took advantage to break. When he held to make it 5-3, the crowd erupted into chants of "Let's go Roger, let's go" that nearly drowned out shouts of "No-vak, No-vak."
"I felt the crowd was not behind me, but that's OK ... I fight two opponents," Djokovic said.
Federer forced deuce as Djokovic served again for the set.
Known for his tendency to bounce the ball up to two dozen times before serving, the Serbian got a time delay warning. Instead of being shaken, Djokovic was fired up. He ripped a forehand winner and glared up at chair umpire Pascal Maria of France, then blasted an ace and stared defiantly at Maria again.
The two men combined to fend off seven break points early in the third set. Federer had two chances to break as Djokovic served at 5-6, but the Serbian refused to crack, hitting two great serves, then getting to a drop for a forehand crosscourt winner to force a tiebreaker.
From 3-3, the two players combined for five straight winners, the last a good serve by Djokovic that set up match point. Federer netted a forehand to finish it in 2 hours and 48 minutes.
The crowd slowly rose to its feet, almost in disbelief, before applauding Djokovic, then gave Federer a standing ovation as he quickly left the court.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 8:33 AM,
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Time for Djokovic to prove he belongs Thursday, January 24, 2008
Roger Federer is a master at releasing the pressure from his finely tuned body when the critical moments come at the majors, but his opponent in the Australian Open semifinals — Novak Djokovic — has yet to learn not to boil over.
The 20-year-old Serbian is on the verge of becoming a great player, but at this point he's little more than a standout No. 3, and the history books rarely recall the bottom end of the trifecta.
Men's tennis hasn't seen such a strong trio in many years, when three men have stood so clearly on top of the rest of the tour that it seemed as if they are playing one version of tennis and the rest are engaged in a backroom game of ping pong.
Let's put it this way: In the past four Grand Slams, Federer has won three of them (the Aussie Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open) and reached the final of the other, the French Open. World No. 2 Rafael Nadal won the French and reached the final of Wimbledon.
Djokovic reached the semifinals in each of the last four majors and lost in the final of the U.S. Open.
No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko, who is light years behind Djokovic in the points race, had fine runs in Paris and New York, where he reached the semifinals and was stymied by Federer, but he was nowhere to be found at Wimbledon or at this Aussie Open, where Mikhail Youzhny bullied him in the fourth round. No. 5 David Ferrer of Spain has certainly put together his best 12 months ever, but all he has to show for it is one U.S. Open semifinals and a quarterfinal showing in Melbourne. No. 6 Andy Roddick has made four Grand Slam finals, but he had a washout against Philip Kohlschreiber in the third round in Melbourne.
The Federer-Nadal-Djokovic trio combined for 19 titles last year, (all four majors as well eight of the 10 ATP Masters Series crowns) largely snuffing out the opposition at any event of note.
But before this threesome can be compared to the likes of other great historical trios, like Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors (who dominated play between 1975-1981), or Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Jim Courier (who as a group ruled the universe between 1991-1995), Nadal has to stand up taller on hardcourts. That's because by the looks of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who stomped Nadal in the semis, there's a new kid in town and he might turn the terrorizing trifecta into a fearsome foursome.
Plus, Djokovic has to start winning Slams. He does hilarious imitations of the greats when matches are over, but he has yet to mimic their winning ways when it counts the most.
Sure, Djokovic is only 20 years old, but he says that he's playing the best tennis of his life during the Australian fortnight, where he has yet to drop a set, blasting the likes of two-time Slam champ Lleyton Hewitt and Ferrer.
But he comes into his semifinal with a 1-5 record against Federer. As brilliant as he can be and as much as he pushed the Swiss in the U.S. Open final, where he failed to take care of seven set points, he has to prove that he has the nerve to stay with the Swiss.
'It's a question as to whether or not Djokovic really believes deep down that he can beat him," the Tennis Channel's Justin Gimelstob said. "When the pressure builds, Federer responds like no other player and the other guys tend to slip. That's what Djokovic has to show, that when the big points come, that he can bring out his best and respond in the clutch."
What Djokovic has to do is to narrow his focus and worry about executing, rather than whether he's better, more entertaining or tougher than Federer.
Federer is entering his record 15th straight Slam semifinal (five more than any other player in history). He certainly looked tight in his 10-8 tiebreaker in the five-set victory over Janko Tipsarevic, but he wheedled his way through that match. Then in straight-set victories over Tomas Berdych and James Blake, he was by no means perfect but did have the answer for everything they threw at him.
Federer is so good that he doesn't have to fall into the proverbial zone to win his semifinals.
"I don't look forward to playing my best tennis about Novak Djokovic," he said. "I look forward to playing to win. That's what my mindset is, really."
Gimelstob talks about how Djokovic has a much improved first serve and how he and the other younger guys can now run with the 26-year-old Federer. He doesn't believe that the Serbian has to grind all night, because he thinks instinctually, Djokovic knows when to turn the power on or go into a counterpunching mode.
"He plays along and hits out when he feels its right," Gimelstob said. "He has to get a good strike at the first ball. It's a matter of keeping a consistent high level throughout the match. If he can do that, he has the talent to stay with Federer, but we still have to see it."
Like Federer does at the bat of an eyelash, Djokovic will have to go from defensive to offensive quickly. He also has to try to take big cuts at Federer's one-handed backhand, which has been shaky at times during the tournament. He'll have to take care of his service games, because Federer has been bailing himself out of tough spots all tournament long by mixing up his serves and hitting his spots.
He needs to play ambitiously, and not be afraid, just like Tsonga did in punching Nadal through the ropes. If he's really the heir apparent, Djokovic will make the semifinal a street fight and, like Tsonga, throw right-handed haymakers at Roger.
"I have a lot of expectations and pressure, and sometimes it's difficult to stay calm on the court," Djokovic said. "But I'm working on that."
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 9:59 PM,
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Williams sisters bid quick farewell to Melbourne
It was a pretty tough 24 hours for the Williams sisters at the Australian Open.
Defending champion Serena Williams was outclassed by Jelena Jankovic in a quarterfinal on Tuesday, losing in straight sets. A few hours later, she and sister Venus - one of the most formidable doubles teams in Grand Slam history - lost their quarterfinal match to China's Yan Zi and Zheng Ji in three sets.
A night's sleep didn't help Venus Williams on Wednesday, when she lost her singles quarterfinal 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 to Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.
A combined and unexpected 0-for-3, sending the Williams sisters packing for home.
"What's important to me is what goes on in my head," Venus Williams said after her loss to 20-year-old Ivanovic. "I've been a champion. I have full expectations and aspirations to continue to play high-quality tennis and to continue to be a champion."
Serena has eight Grand Slam singles titles, including last year at Melbourne Park. Venus has never won here, but has six majors elsewhere, including last year at Wimbledon.
Together, they have combined for six Grand Slam doubles crowns - Wimbledon and the Australian Open twice and the French Open and U.S. Open once each - and the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics.
"Serena and I, we don't have anything to prove," Venus said. "We get out there and we play our best. I think the way we're playing still maintains what other women are doing in tennis. So I think we still set a very high standard.
"Players are still playing very well. Everyone's improving. I don't get too caught up in what the next person thinks."
It's difficult to forget the Williams sisters in their prime, in particular the celebrated "Serena Slam," when the younger of the two siblings held all four Grand Slams at once - the 2002 French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open and the '03 Australian.
Serena beat Venus in each of those championship matches. And Venus won four Grand Slams from 2000-01, including beating her sister in the 2001 U.S. Open final.
At the time, talk centered on how women's tennis had become predictable because the Williams sisters won so frequently.
Five years later, Venus jokingly thinks she and her sister may have been the architects of their own demise.
"Yeah, I guess it's my own fault, huh?" Venus said, smiling. "Maybe I should serve a little softer, not run as fast. But I think everyone's playing better, everyone's hitting a good ball, trying to hit harder, run faster and serve bigger."
She wouldn't speak for her sister, but Venus believes she still has enough to win another Grand Slam. The Australian Open has so far eluded her, the nearest miss coming when she lost the 2003 final to Serena.
"I'm still improving. That's my goal, to be better at every tournament," Venus said. "If I don't have that goal one day, then that's a problem.
"I would love to win here. I still think that I can. Unfortunately, it won't be this year."
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 9:02 AM,
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Sharapova advances to Australian Open final
Just when it looked like the Serbian fans were going to head home very disappointed, Ana Ivanovic gave them something to cheer for.
Seemingly headed for a quick departure after drawing a blank in the first set, fourth-ranked Ivanovic made a dramatic turnaround and landed a spot in the Australian Open finals against Maria Sharapova with a 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova on Thursday.
Now she gets the unenviable task of trying to derail No. 5 Sharapova, who was sharp again in overwhelming Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-1. Third-seeded Jankovic saw any hopes for her own comeback ended by back pain.
Sharapova has shown focus and determination to get back to the final after losing to Serena Williams last year.
"You have your bad moments in your career and you have your good moments, and it's been a good ride so far," said the Russian, who has yet to drop a set in six matches as she seeks her third Grand Slam title. "But it's not over yet.
"It's about execution. You always have a plan in your mind of what you want to do. But sometimes it doesn't always go as planned."
It certainly has so far here, with Sharapova ending No. 1 Justine Henin's 32-match winning streak in the quarterfinals, then beating Jankovic.
With the roof of Rod Laver Arena closed just before the start due to a light rain, Jankovic looked anxious and tight. It didn't help that Sharapova came out loose and confident, whacking winners from all over the court and setting up easy putaways with shots that always seemed to find the lines.
Jankovic was left to smile bitterly toward her supporters, shrugging her shoulders as if to say, "What can I do?"
She fended off three set points while serving at 0-5 in the first set to take her first game, earning a big cheer from the crowd that included a strong presence from Melbourne's sizable Serbian community.
Sharapova, her high-pitched grunts sounding more like shrieks, just pounded the ball even harder, smacking an ace to set up her sixth set point, then getting to a drop shot for a clean winner.
Jankovic double-faulted three times to set up another Sharapova break to start the second set, then went off court for treatment of lower back pain. She called for the trainer again at the next two changeovers, burying her face in a towel.
"I wanted to withdraw, but it was a semifinal," Jankovic said.
The second match started as a near-replay. Ivanovic credited her fans for helping her rally.
"If it wasn't for you guys, I would already be booking my flight back home," she told the crowd.
Ivanovic appeared to have a letdown at the start after beating Venus Williams in the previous round. She repeatedly tried to psyche herself up as she won only nine points in the first set.
Hantuchova had her constantly sprinting side to side with sharp groundstrokes mixed with well-placed spins that kept Ivanovic from finding any rhythm.
"I think she didn't miss a ball," Ivanovic said. "I just tried to tell myself that she can't keep up that level throughout the whole match. I knew I would get a chance at some point."
When Ivanovic finally held for her first game while already down 0-2 in the second set, the crowd erupted in cheers of sympathetic relief.
The small victory provided just what she needed - a jolt of confidence.
Finally hitting with authority, Ivanovic broke twice to pull ahead 5-3, then held at love. What had been a rout in the making was even with a set to go.
Hantuchova shockingly blinked while serving at 4-4. She fended off one break point at 15-40 and set herself up to save the second with a drop volley. Ivanovic scrambled to keep it in play but was out of court when Hantuchova netted an easy volley.
Hantuchova wasn't sure what happened to her.
"Good question," she said. "If I knew that I think I would have changed it while I was still on the court. That's tennis. I had a great opportunity, but it just didn't happen for me today."
She complained to the umpire that while she was serving, Ivanovic's shoes were squeaking loudly.
"That's ridiculous, I think," she said. "I think it's unfair. It's a distraction to the server. We played before and she never did it."
Ivanovic denied she was doing it intentionally.
"If you see other matches I was doing exactly the same thing," she said. "It's just the way these courts play. And if you listen to the guys I think they're doing the same thing. I just tried to move my feet, to return the ball."
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 8:53 AM,
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Nadal rocked by Tsonga in Aussie semis
Second-ranked Rafael Nadal, seeking to prove he can win a Grand Slam on a surface other than Roland Garros' clay, instead matched his worst loss in a major as the No. 39-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached the Australian Open finals with a dominating 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory on Thursday.
Nadal played well against Tsonga, who has struggled with injuries and had never gone beyond the fourth round in his four previous Grand Slams. But the Frenchman was virtually untouchable, smashing 17 aces against one of the best serve returners.
He faces the winner of Friday's semifinal between top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 3 Novak Djokovic.
Nadal had just 12 unforced errors - four combined in the first two sets - while matching the fewest games he has won in a Grand Slam, against Andy Roddick at the 2004 U.S. Open.
"I was playing fine," Nadal said. "He played unbelievable. Congratulate him."
Tsonga had 49 winners and didn't face any break points until the third set, when he saved three in one game in Nadal's only real challenge.
"It's unbelievable, just amazing," Tsonga said, calling it his best performance ever. "Nothing can stop me today. It's like a dream. I can't believe it's true. I was moving on the court like never I move. Everything was perfect."
While Nadal is popular, Tsonga has been adopted by the Melbourne Park fans for his go-for-broke style and outgoing personality. He frequently had them standing and cheering.
Nadal got a taste of what was ahead as Tsonga jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first set. After watching one untouchable service return zip past, Nadal simply stared at him in disbelief.
As three other seeded players already learned here, this guy is for real.
Tsonga picked up volleys off his feet with an amazingly deft touch. Changing speed and spin, he slugged it out with Nadal from the baseline the way few can. And anytime he got close to trouble, his big serve bailed him out.
"I can't believe some volleys," Nadal said. "I tried to play little bit slower; I tried to play a little bit faster; I tried to play more inside the court; behind the court. No chance. Not today."
He broke Nadal at love to finish off the first set, then reveled in the cheers, waving his arms to get the fans to yell even louder.
"They give me lot of energy," Tsonga said.
With Nadal serving at 3-4 in the second set, Tsonga set up break point with a lunging backhand volley that left him with his back facing the net, then raised a finger to indicate "One more." He smacked a blistering service return on the next point, then another stinging shot to set up an easy overhead.
Serving for the set, Tsonga blasted two aces, then another serve that clipped the net and landed on the line. Nadal challenged the call, clearly unwilling to give Tsonga another chance - and for good reason. The call stood, and Tsonga rang up another ace.
Tsonga broke for the seventh time, then served for the match at 5-2, finishing it off with another ace. He looked stunned it was over, then jumped around the court in celebration.
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posted by Brandon Schenz @ 8:46 AM,
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Nadal, Tsonga into Aussie Open semis Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Rafael Nadal is shedding that clay-court specialist label pretty quickly.
The second-ranked Nadal notched a 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 24 Jarkko Nieminen of Finland in the Australian Open quarterfinals Tuesday, making the semifinals for the first time in four trips to the year's first Grand Slam.
"Maybe I wasn't playing my best match, my best tennis today, but it was enough," Nadal said. "It's a good moment for me, first semifinals on hardcourt, Grand Slam."
Nadal, three-time French Open winner and two-time Wimbledon finalist, has now made at least the semifinals in all but one of the four major tournaments. His best showing at the U.S. Open was a quarterfinal loss in 2006.
The only player to beat Roger Federer in the past 10 Grand Slam tournaments, Nadal will face unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the surprise of the tournament so far, who ousted No. 14 Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 6-0, 7-6 (6).
Tsonga, ranked 38th, is playing in only his fifth Grand Slam tournament - partly because of a rash of injuries - and had never gotten past the fourth round.
"It's just amazing. I played just unbelievable," the ebullient Tsonga said. "I tried to relax. It's a very big event. It's very difficult to stay on this world."
On Wednesday, top-ranked Roger Federer was due to face No. 12 seed James Blake and No. 3 Novak Djokovic was to play No. 5 David Ferrer in the other two men's semifinals.
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