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The Williams sisters have gone down a notch in my mind after their failure to confront the Dubai issue head on by taking anything resembling a stand. Here’s Venus, who I’ve always believed to be the most intelligent player on all the women’s tour, trying to put the Dubai discrimination in perspective: “I felt like […]
February 24, 2009
Andy Roddick telling Serena to put down her drink and think Way to go Andy Roddick. He just withdrew from Dubai to protest the treatment of Isreali Shahar Peer. Andy did not have to make this stand. He could hide behind the decision to allow Andy Ram to play in the men’s event. He could […]
February 23, 2009
While we were wringing our hands over Dubai last week, actual tennis was being played. In Dubai, the tournament that never should have happened, Venus beat Serena in a 7-6 third-set tiebreaker and then defeated Virginia Razzano in the final. This is the first time Venus has been back in the top 5 in 5 […]
February 18, 2009
The UAE has apparently relented on Andy Ram: In the wake of the Gulf state’s denial of a visa for a female Israeli tennis player, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) had scheduled a news conference on Wednesday to press the ATP to withdraw its backing for the tournament, a spokesman for the congressman said. But Yousef […]
February 18, 2009
Steve Tignor backed up his strong blog post on Tennis.com with an article at ESPN today about the role of money in the Dubai Disaster. Role as in “determinative factor.” As I pointed out earlier, Venus Williams’ initial statement focused on the fab prize money available in the UAE. Money rules. Money quote from Tignor: […]
February 18, 2009
One of the people I looked forward to hearing from on the Dubai Disaster was Pam Shriver. A past player president of the WTA, Pam has never minced words. She’s also demonstrated a long-time commitment to social justice issues and never worried about talking politics. She went on the record with ESPN’s Bonnie Ford and […]
February 18, 2009
The one person on the women’s tour who has leadership potential is Venus Williams. She has been a fantastic advocate for equal prize money – the best and most articulate voice on the issue since Billie Jean King. She is the only top player regularly involved in tour issues. So it is a bit disappointing […]
February 18, 2009
The Controversy The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department apparently has a war on its hands between dodgeball people and tennis players after the artful dodgers invaded the public tennis courts. When the tennis players complained, the city told the dodgeball players to scram. They even gave the dodgeball folks gyms to play in – but they […]
February 18, 2009
Dubai resident Roger Federer will not be playing in the tournament next week due to a back injury. I take him at his word. But it is a convenient out for the big guy. Fed originally started hanging in Dubai when he was being coached by Tony Roche and was looking for a halfway point […]
February 18, 2009
I almost feel sorry for pro tennis that it is taking the heat for the Dubai mess when the country has had support of many governments and multinationals and athletes…But still, I have to criticize the game here. Next week the men play in Dubai. Guess what? So far Andy Ram, a top ten doubles […]
February 17, 2009
Reuters is reporting that Wall Street Journal Europe has withdrawn its sponsorship in Dubai, but the newspaper refuses to say how much money it had in the tournament.
February 17, 2009
In an outrageous move, Dubai is blaming Israeli Shahar Peer for the UAE’s decision to bar her from entering the country. See, their “security” is at stake. “We do not wish to politicize sports, but we have to be sensitive to recent events in the region and not alienate or put at risk the players […]
February 17, 2009
And the recriminations are starting to roll in for the WTA. Kudos to the Tennis Channel for pulling the plug on its planned tv coverage of the women’s tennis event that started today in Dubai. Attention Larry Scott, this is what the CEO of the Tennis Channel had to say about its decision. “This is […]
February 17, 2009
The #48 player in the world, Israeli Shahar Peer, was denied a visa by the United Arab Emirates, effectively prohibiting her from playing the tournament in Dubai. The UAE only allows Israelis with dual citizenship to enter the country. Yeah, we know what that’s all about don’t we? WTA Tour president Larry Scott issued a […]
February 16, 2009
Darren Aronofsky’s new movie, The Wrestler, is winning rave reviews for its tale about a broken down ex-wrestling star who yearns for one more shot at glory. They could easily make such a movie about an old tennis pro who wants to walk on the Wimbledon grass one more time. Better yet, they could chronicle […]
February 11, 2009
Ana Ivanovic has hired Craig Kardon as her new coach, parting ways with Sven Groenevald. This is a smart move. Kardon captained Martina Navratilova during the last few years of her singles career and also worked with Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport and Mary Pierce. I don’t think he’s been coaching anyone in the recent past, […]
February 11, 2009
This is the kind of post that I would attack if it was written by an opposing attorney in support of a motion…since it is pure speculation. However, that is what the internet is for, no? Jon Wertheim ranked his concern level about Sharapova’s career as a 7 out of 10. And that was in […]
February 11, 2009
Women’s tennis players are once again featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. I have a question – in the age of porn on demand, your wife’s Victoria’s Secret catalogues and Go Daddy Super Bowl commercials, do men even care about the SI Swimsuit issue anymore? Really? Ok. So here are Daniela Hantuchova (who David […]
February 3, 2009
At the end of 2008 I thought Roger was ok with his status as world #2. I thought the fall had been jarring to him, but that he ultimately was embracing the less-pressure inherent in the second spot. But from the moment he showed up in Australia I knew he was still in deep denial. […]
February 3, 2009
I’ve never set my alarm at 3:30 a.m. watch a tennis match before yesterday but something just told me this Federer-Nadal was not to be missed. These two have officially surpassed McEnroe and Borg in the rivalry department. Their Wimbledon final in 2008 was the greatest match of all time, surpassing the McEnroe/Borg battles in […]
Passing Shots 
February 24, 2009
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