Hello everyone…
• The US Hardcourt Swing has begun. Good soldiers, here is a list of your tennis channels.
• Why do international players make up more than half of the DI tennis roster?
Mail bag
There were many questions and social media chats about Novak Djokovic and his US Open status. Avoid the Covid protocol, its logic, and illogical proceedings. Avoid semantic discussions about anti-vax, pro-choice and antiscience. Let’s resist the simple play of turning this into a Djokovic vs. USTA referendum. John McEnroe, as everyone knows better, seems to have done it. Some points of fact:
1) Denying admission to unvaccinated non-citizens is not a USTA policy and is not a policy specifically targeted at Djokovic. It is a federal policy that the USTA has chosen to follow without pushback.
2) We already have a clear illustration of what turmoil and unsightly morals can occur when a tennis tournament opposes the government. You can hardly blame the USTA for avoiding the Australian Open blunder. The USTA basically says, “No matter what you tell us to do, we’re not going to fight it.”
3) Read the policy and there are exceptions for unvaccinated non-citizens. Professional tennis players, even skilled players, do not seem to fall into these categories. In addition, the USTA clearly states that it does not require any exceptions or exemptions from any player.
4) Give Djokovic some credit in this regard. He is aware of the policy and has made a decision. He is ready to deal with the consequences. He is not lobbying for special treatment. Comparing Djokovic and Muhammad Ali is a terrible hot take. But it should be mentioned that Djokovic is not martyring himself. It’s his fans who do it on his behalf.
5) Does it make sense that Djokovic can play in 2020 and 2021 and not in 2022? Or can you play unvaccinated Tennys Sandgren but not Djokovic? No on that face. But contradiction is a way of life. Especially in a pandemic where the target and data are moving.
6) It’s late July. Policies are subject to change. Djokovic’s stance is subject to change. Both are unlikely. To call a great sport cliché, that’s what it is. The policy (again, the government policy, not the USTA policy) is X. Djokovic’s stance is Y. The result is Z.
That’s why it happens.
7) I can’t remember a player (athlete?) Who is polarized and magnetized like Djokovic. Can we all agree that it is a noteworthy fact pattern? This is a great player beyond the 35-year-old generation at the limit of history. And you may miss two majors this year, not because of injury or illness, but because of an ambitious decision. “If he received only one vaccination that was received by billions of people around the world, he was not necessarily wanting it, but because he was jointly responsible, and we are not here. Some people say, “Well.” Others will say, “It’s good for him to stick to his beliefs.” Can we all pause and simply be amazed at all the sequences and combinations weaved into the GOAT race we saw this coming?
[Osaka] Literally just dropped her coach … yes, for example Priscova earlier this month. Where did you think about it? !!
@saraelisgarvey
•• There were two sources of rethinking the organization, including last week when Osaka suddenly broke up with the team and reinstated his father. And, in general, she reassessed her position in sports and what tennis means to her. Coach Wim Fissette quickly confirmed her split on her Instagram. She was able to confirm that the relatively new trainer Daniel Paul broke up with Osaka.
I also tweeted a lot. And the reaction was fast and ferocious, generally split into three. 1) The media is the worst. 2) How about … Priscova, thinner, Halep, etc. 3) Leave her alone.
Scroll and continue
Let’s bomb this truth. We are all sensitive to Osaka, her challenges and her peculiar personality. However, this needs to be balanced with news judgment and independent coverage. This is the player who has won four majors since 2018. A person who earns tens of millions of dollars in addition to prize money. Especially after the sudden retirement of No. 1 in the former, it has a great influence on women’s tennis because the WTA Tour is a private equity transaction of about 9 digits. She hasn’t won the match in the last 90 days. However, she separated from her previous management group. She entered the management game herself. She has signed a controversial player, a Wimbledon finalist accused of domestic violence, and is now split with her team.
It is difficult to make an objective claim that this is of no press value. It is difficult to make an objective claim that this should not be noticed. It is difficult to make an objective claim that her admission of brilliant vulnerabilities should take precedence over the press. And “whataboutism”, as is often the case, level off. Karolina Pliskova is not a four-time major winner. Jannik Sinner does not earn $ 60 million outside the courtroom. And all sorts of pixels and print and airtime have been spent on Sinner’s shake-up, Simona Hallep’s curious recent personnel changes, and more.
Bigger point: Javy or national team? Independent coverage, not fan sites, hand-picked social media, or self-serving press releases, is a sign of profoundness, not weakness. Do top players miss the event because they refused to vaccinate? Kyrgios allegations of domestic violence? A legend that missed a historic opportunity because the tournament does not offer her a fleet of her cars? They are not fun stories. They may not be reflected well in the players you support. But they are related. Not admitting them may protect individuals in the short term, but it is detrimental to the sport.
John,
If they’re going to start out of the stupid European vs. World format in the Laver Cup, this year is this year and the way to do it is: (This is my fantasy, so I’ll assume everyone below participates.)
Team Old (or Team Rehab or Team Ash’n’Pain or whatever you want to call it)
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
Roger Federer
Andy Murray
Stan Wawrinka
Marin Cilic
Alternative: Dominic Thiem
Captain: Juan Martin del Potro (Sorry, Bjorn Borg, you were a legendary player, but bring nothing to this event)
New team
Six of the best players from anywhere in the world, preferably under the age of 30 (or under the age of 25). Assuming the Russians are not allowed to play in London, the team looks like this:
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Carlos Alcaraz
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Jannik Sinner
Taylor Fritz
Matteo Berrettini
Alternative: Hubert Hurkacz
Captain: Nick Kyrgios (yes, yes) (Brother McEnroe, thank you for your service, but you never won, and you got drunk last time 14-1; this is the real competition If so, it will sacrifice your work)
Wouldn’t it be interesting with all the star powers and clashes between generations? And despite the 72-0 disadvantage in Major League Baseball, is there a real chance for Team New?
Srikanth
• The Laver Cup has all sorts of elements we recommend. It is a net positive (forgive puns) and should be praised. But it can also be improved. When you have one American in the top 12 (a nice guy, but one with two career titles), you need a new dimension to split your team.
And this is the answer. Dodgeball style draft required. In addition to fairness, it’s value. (Which is better, Zverev or Tsitsipas? How much do you stock in Jack Sock’s doubles? Doing the right thing and adding women makes it even more strategic. Done! Next!
Hello John
How do players / journalists / historians feel about the fame of each major? The winner always says, “This major was something I dreamed of winning when I was a kid,” but I take it with a grain of salt. For example, in golf, the PGA Championship has always been pushed to fourth place in terms of fame, and the Open Championship was third, just as Australian Open players may not always be able to travel long distances. .. In my humble opinion, Wimbledon should be 3rd because the average person doesn’t play on the grass, 4th in Australia, 2nd in France and 1st in the US Open as many professionals skipped it. I think.
thank you,
Eric Bukjin, Long Island, Manorville
• Great question. And I submit that this is a true virtue of tennis. The four measures are well separated, but there is no clear hierarchy. For years, the Australian Open has run a distant consensus fourth. If you do, major apple. But Tennis Australia deserves a lot of praise for catching up. Each major has many advantages and some disadvantages. Dirty thumbnails, I would say:
4) Australia: On the democratic side, it features well-rested and optimistic players. Comfortable atmosphere. A nice and easy city. Disadvantages: Climate change has been a headache for this event in the long run. More soon: That it’s done far away for most of the world may get rid of a bit of publicity, if not fame.
3) Roland Garros: A glorious event in the city of glory. Disadvantages: Clay is not chosen by everyone. And it’s the smallest of the four venues.
2) Wimbledon: History, fame, tradition … grass, almost playless surface.
1) US Open: The size of the scale. And a hardcourt event at the end of summer (which usually offers more prize money than any other major) is as durable as tennis. Disadvantages: Confusion (and traffic) is not suitable for everyone.
But again, I don’t think there are any obvious weak links or obvious good measures. Different tastes and different priorities. I don’t know if this kind of natural equivalence exists in other sports.
John, a simple question:
Is there a better double sprayer on Planet Earth than Jack Sock?
Gregory S., Sag Harbor
• No, there is not.
shot
Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios He was awarded a wildcard at the Western & Southern Open in 2022 and was runner-up in 2017. This is Kyrgios’ sixth appearance in Cincinnati and the first since 2019.
New Balance and up-and-coming tennis superstar Coco Gauff officially unveiled her first signature sneaker under the brand. The New Balance Coco CG1 is a mid-top 90s-inspired silhouette built with the brand’s most innovative performance technology, with a timeless design designed to transcend sports and fashion. Today’s World # 11 debuted the CG1 Pompeii Colorway on the court at the Atlanta Tennis Open last night.
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