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Mariya Konovalova
Mariya Konovalova
Mariya Konovalova is the Editor-in-Chief of ProTennisNews.net. When not watching, photographing, writing, and editing material about tennis, she enjoys buying books she won't have time to read and films she won't have time to watch, as well as not getting enough sleep. Mariya is a graduate of Columbia University and the London School of Economics. You can contact her by e-mail (mariya(at)TalkAboutTennis.com) and follow her on Twitter (@MariyaKTennis).
Tuesday's Rundown
The “Coachella Valley-wide” virus that has put unrest in the stomachs of many and fear in the stomachs of all others may have claimed one more victim among the players today, as Nikolay Davydenko withdrew from his match against Thomaz Bellucci with an unspecified “illness.” But the valley can likely blame tennis for the epidemic. Victoria Azarenka says she and some other players suffered from the virus a few days before the tournament began. Patient Zero?
Tuesday’s Costly Break
American Jamie Hampton was making her way through a comeback against fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, winning the second set 6-4 after dropping the first, when she began cramping in the beginning of the third. After losing the opening game, Hampton had to lie down on the court and was seen by a trainer. As the cramping rule in effect since January 2010 dictates, Hampton would lose a point every time she went over a 30-second time delay, leading her to forfeit two games today. Hampton then tried to play but was unable to continue, leaving the score at 6-3, 4-6, 3-0.
Radwanska was not an expert on this rule and had expected Hampton to be penalized fewer points: “So I was actually very surprised, to be honest. I knew that she can't have medical timeout, but also I thought maybe, you know, she’s gonna lose point or something… two games, that's a lot.”
Monday's Rundown
When asked about what advice she would give Caroline Wozniacki, who is in a similar position as Ivanovic as another “former No. 1,” Ivanovic said, “Um, yeah. Maybe they can give me advice. (Laughter.) Maybe I'm not the right person to ask that question.”
She went on to talk about the difficulty of having one’s goals in the rear-view mirror and having to reset them.
Monday’s Budding Auteur
Maria Sharapova, whose interview after defeating Simona Halep went with only a single match-related question, said she would like to write a fan-friendly, “easy reading,” book about her life. Would it be like Vince Spadea’s book? “I haven't read Spadea's. I don't think I will. No offense, Vince.”
Weekend Rundown
Maria Sharapova has been known to stare down an opponent or two into submission. Perhaps it’s all part of the Robert Lansdorp training method. Unlike Jankovic, who, on Friday, said she was scared of Nick Bolletieri at first meeting, Sharapova had only positive emotions about the Floridian. Not so with Lansdorp.
Sharapova says that, in early interactions, the renowned coach, “scared the living ‘beep’ out of me.” Sharapova says her coaching relationship with Lansdorp could produce a tome, “because there were just so many situations in which I was, like, ‘Wow, did this really happen?’” The Russian painted a picture of a rude and ruthless, but effective, mentor and says she does not regret a minute of the time spent under Lansdorp’s tutelage.
Friday's Rundown
In one of the earlier Friday matches, Ukrainian Qualifier Sergei Bubka led Nikolay Davydenko 5-0. Bubka proceeded to lose the next seven games to give Davydenko the set, then lost the second set, 3-6, making the Russian’s victory nearly routine. The Court 7 match was barely noticeable if not for the turnaround in the score and Davydenko’s past standing among the best players in the game.
Hours later, a similar scenario was unfolding on Stadium Court, and all were paying attention, as the player giving up a set and 5-1 lead was World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka. Azarenka, who came into the tournament riding a 17-match
Thursday's Rundown
Thursday’s What is he Thinking About?
During his pre-tournament interview, Rafael Nadal was asked at length about the impressive, by skill, effort, and length, 2012 Australian Open Final he had lost to Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard noted the match was “a great moment for sport.”
He said that, while he regretted some moments of the match, the first Grand Slam of 2012 was a very positive experience overall. The multiple losses to Djokovic in the last year have not gotten too far into his head, Nadal claims. “When I go to the court every morning, I don’t think about Novak… I don’t have a spirit of revenge or obsession,” he said.
Australian Open 2012 Final Review
If you missed the Men's Singles Final, you probably already know that this one was a must-see. My first urge is to suggest that when you watch it recorded, you skip the first two, or perhaps even three sets. That would save you over three hours and cringing at some average tennis (much below par, as far as Djokovic and Nadal are concerned).
However, to truly appreciate the remainder of the match and the players' last heroic act of being able to stand for the trophy photo-op, one must go through 'the agony and the ecstasy' of the entire 5-hour 53-minute battle. In fact, in addition to watching this – the longest Grand Slam final in history – in its entirety, I also urge you to watch, or re-watch, the semifinals, particularly Djokovic's Friday night five-set defeat of Andy Murray. Then, towards the end of the 7-5 fifth set to the final, when you yourself feel like you have no energy left to keep your eyes open, you might truly appreciate the inhuman effort from both finalists.
Australian Open 2012 Midterm Review
In fact, it made me feel downright nostalgic. No, not back to when the new Czech "It Girl" was Nicole Vaidisova (less than a year older than Kvitova!), or to even more recent times, when Ana Ivanovic was that "It Girl" recent Slam winner. No, my memory only extended as far back as the previous weekend, when the 2012 Australian Open was in its nascent state.
Now, sipping hot cocoa in front of a fire (all right, drinking wine out of a coffee cup in front of a space heater the previous tenants left in my apartment), I'll recall the memorable moments of Week One and wistfully look ahead to the coming late stages of the tournament.2011 Taste of Tennis Photo Essay
Each year, on Thursday before the US Open, players, chefs, tennis fans and foodies gather at the W New York Hotel on the East Side of Manhattan, to eat, drink, be merry, and raise money for charity. This year, the 12th Annual BNP Paribas event benefitted the New York Junior Tennis League.
(Scroll down for interviews and photos with tennis players)
Top New York and visiting chefs were the first to arrive on the Taste of Tennis green Red Carpet, and many brought their tasty treats to tease the media.
Book Review. The Wimbledon Final That Never Was...
Sidney Wood was the youngest man to win Wimbledon – and the only one who did not have to play a final – in 1931, at age 19 (Boris Becker became a 17-year-old Champion in 1985). Sidney was also the tournament's youngest male competitor at age 15. He was a top US player throughout his decades-long career and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1964. After his death in 2009 at the age of 97, his son David gathered Wood's notes for a memoir, then organized and annotated them into The Wimbledon Final That Never Was...
The Final Rundown: Sunday
Back in 2001, a teenage Serena Williams won the title in Toronto, her tenth singles crown, beating Jennifer Capriati in the Final. With Capriati long retired, Williams, through ups and downs, health scares and attitude flares, continues to be one of the most dominant forces in women's tennis, and, a decade later, has taken back the Toronto title.
Asked whether it surprises her to realize her longevity on Tour, Williams, who will turn 30 in September, jokingly refused to admit her age, "Oh My God, 10 years. Am I really 26 now?"
Sunday's In the MomentThere seemed to be little difference between Samantha Stosur and Williams, as both played aggressive tennis, powered by their services, until 4-4 in the first set of Sunday's Singles Final. Williams played a strong game to take Stosur's service game then, and, as the Australian admitted, the break gave Williams the kick she needed to run away with the match. While Stosur continued to compete and there were plenty of great points, Williams' serve was not in any danger until the last game of the match, when she momentarily gave in to nerves and played a loose game that allowed Stosur a break chance.