The International Tennis Federation honored Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova for breakthrough years on Tuesday, as the duo were named the governing body's men's and women's world champions for 2011.
One of the toughest records to beat in tennis finally fell on Monday when the Bryan brothers Mike and Bob registered their 271st week at the top of the world doubles standings.
I hadn't seen much college tennis until the NCAA tournament came to my area (Stanford) last month, and it was a revelation. It struck me that a lot of talented young players have no idea what they're missing, and that current trends on the women's pro tour could affect significant change.
Second seed Novak Djokovic and third seed Roger Federer remain on course to face each other in the French Open semifinals, after both players reached the last eight with comfortable straight sets wins.
Novak Djokovic clocked up his 41st consecutive win of the season in the second round at Roland Garros on Wednesday, as his opponent Victor Hanescu was forced to retire.
Tennis Channel has come of age, and at the perfect time: during a Grand Slam event, with the whole world watching.
Novak Djokovic wasted little time in breezing through to the second round of the French Open with a straight sets victory over Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker in Paris Monday.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are on course to meet in the semifinals of the French Open after the draw for the second grand slam of the season was unveiled on Friday.
A single piece of evidence can be a fluke, and even a second misfire can be misleading. But Rafael Nadal has now lost three straight matches to Novak Djokovic -- twice on hardcourts, once on clay -- and there was something about Sunday's Madrid final that spoke to absolute command.
Second seed Novak Djokovic has equalled Ivan Lendl's record of 29 successive wins from the start of the season after cruising into the quarterfinals of the Madrid Masters on Thursday.
"Top Spin 4" makes full use of lifelike animations, combined with innovative controls, to provide the most realistic tennis simulation game yet.
There's nothing like a really strange list to get the tennis community up in arms. You know, the one that ranks Roger Federer No. 7 since the onset of the Open Era (1968). One's immediate impulse to create a more authentic list -- and I'll admit, I can't resist the temptation.
The Australian Open has come a long way from its formative years.
Ten thoughts on the ATP Tour World Finals, culminating Sunday with Roger Federer's convincing 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Rafael Nadal ...
Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year on Nov. 30. Here's one of the nominations for that honor by an SI writer.
updated: Wed Sep 29 2010 11:33:00
John McEnroe established his own $18-million tennis complex on Randall's Island. He is hoping to unearth the next American champ.
As his successful but often spiky career can testify, John McEnroe has never been one for convention.
Some of the greatest players never adjusted, if they even bothered to try. Pete Sampras knew he was doomed before the French Open even started. Bjorn Borg couldn't get his mind around the madness of New York City. Ivan Lendl tried to embrace grass courts, but he wasn't fooling anyone. John McEnroe skipped the French Open six times, and Jimmy Connors barely acknowledged its existence until he was 26 years old.
A quick post to start on Patrick McEnroe's decision to vacate his Davis Cup duties. This has been in the ether for a while. Unlike Mardy Fish, P-Mac has an awfully full plate these days, plus a wife and brood of young kids.
If the tour's young players have difficulty relating to the Williams sisters, so adept at balancing tennis against off-court pursuits, imagine their take on Kim Clijsters. In a tournament fraught with peril -- the upsets, the heat, the humidity -- Clijsters moves quietly and comfortably in a world entirely her own.
You raised some interesting points last week in your column about fixing some of tennis' marketing problems. But I'm surprised you didn't address the problem of style. Too many players just smack the ball without thinking. Hard, flat strokes. No volleys. No strategy. Two-handed backhand. Big forehand. No variety. Just bashing. I'm not sure what can be done about this, but to me that's a bigger turnoff than anything. --Doug, Texas
Call it an unintended side-benefit of the Great Recession. At least the adjustment period for most Americans to the "new normal" has been periodically and regularly brightened by the realization that rich people -- the ones who were supposed to be in the know and have it all figured out -- are suckers too.
It was one of the great shots of the year. It was the kind of shot that, not so long ago, had the likes of Rod Laver and John McEnroe calling Roger Federer the best they'd ever seen. The Rogers Cup title was on the line, between rainstorms in Toronto on Sunday night, so it couldn't have come at a better time.
As last week's Legg Mason tournament in Washington D.C. staggered to a connoisseurs-only conclusion, we heard a familiar lament: Where are the Americans, with all that hard-court talent? To me, this was the more pressing question: If Andy Roddick is about to vacate his post as the No. 1 U.S. player, where will we find the panache?
A former New York City art gallery owner has been sentenced to six to 18 years in state prison for defrauding clients of $120 million, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said.
Eight-time grand slam champion Ivan Lendl is to return to competitive tennis and renew his rivalry with John McEnroe in a Champions Tour event in Paris later this year.
With the U.S. Open only a few weeks away, Mardy Fish might be the best tennis player in America -- a pretty sweet notion if you've been among his loyal fans all these years.
Wimbledon stories from the SI Vault
Three quick thoughts on the men's final at Wimbledon on Sunday:
The occasion cries out for an encore. Who wouldn't want to see Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on Centre Court in the Wimbledon final, a reprise of the greatest match ever played?
Perhaps there's no resurrecting Roger Federer. Maybe he dropped the definitive hints at recent Wimbledons, strolling onto the court in those over-the-top evening jackets, as if preparing for a bit of pipe smoking with Alistair Cooke. Perhaps the rest of his career is just one big barnstorming tour -- "Come see the greatest player who ever lived!" -- as he swats those legendary groundstrokes, generally dominant but occasionally laying a massive egg.
So the aftermath for Francesca Schiavone, apparently, goes something like this in the realm of television and marketing: "Nice story, good for Italy, that's about it, let's move on."
I live in Berkeley. I'm liberal ... but even I thought Venus' outfit was inappropriate. What is the difference between lingerie and "outer" clothing designed to look like lingerie? (And please don't tell me it's the "illusion.") --Caryn, Berkeley, Calif.
This story appeared in the April 26, 2010, issue of Sports Illustrated.
"Tiger Tim" is on the prowl again and ready to face up to the likes of Pete Sampras, Pat Rafter and Goran Ivanisevic but this time with just pride and title glory on the line.
updated: Tue Mar 23 2010 07:22:00
Tennis ace Rafael Nadal pairs up with pop singer Shakira for her latest music video titled "Gypsy".
When it comes to the appeal of American men's tennis, there is no set standard for the public. Over the course of the Open Era, we've embraced class (Arthur Ashe), petulance (Jimmy Connors), combustible genius (John McEnroe), rock stardom (Andre Agassi) and the monotonous (Pete Sampras). So I guess I should be excited that two young players -- any two -- are simultaneously on the rise after so much negative conversation.
I was watching Verdasco vs. Davydenko yesterday, and was just in awe on how complete of a player Nico is. Mentally, he's shown he isn't afraid of anyone. I mean, losing a two-set lead to take it in the fifth is impressive on any scale. What dawned on me while I watched the game was, where's all the Davydenko hoopla, fanfare, flashy endorsements, etc.? I almost know nothing of the man, but he can sure play a mean game of tennis, evidence by his recent wins over top tenners. It's a crying shame that a normal dude like himself doesn't get the attention (positive, that is) he deserves. --Dave Clerc, Mexico (land of tasty baby goat)
Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year on Nov. 30. Here's one of the nominations for that honor by an SI writer.
Are you really equating a couple of sets of exhibition tennis to the demands of a long tour season? -- Henry Brito, Atlanta
Any chance that the WTA extends an invite to Mrs. Lynch for the Sony Ericsson Championships? The rules seem to allow for it, and with Fila signing on this week as the championships' official clothing sponsor, it seems everything could be falling in place for us to get one last look at Mrs. Lynch in the '09 season. -- Karl Miller, Phoenixville, Pa.
While wondering whether Serena Williams' new, shiny No. 1 ranking will have any subconscious bearing on the pending ITF decision ...
I feel as though tennis has never been so popular. Lead segments on the news, hot topics in the blogosphere, hundreds of questions rolling in here. Were it not for Kanye West, we might have even had the president weighing in on Serena-gate. We may as well ride the wave with a quick post-U.S. Open mailbag.
When I was young, I used to practice tennis trick shots. It was my way of handling the monotony of tennis practice. Well, I was never good with monotony. I would stand in the supermarket parking lot, and hit shot after shot after shot after shot into that brick wall, and I would imagine being on Centre Court facing John McEnroe. Then I would imagine being at the U.S. Open facing Jimmy Connors. Then I would imagine hitting the ball so hard that it would knock back the bricks, a millimeter at a time -- WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! -- until finally I hit the final ball so hard that it would break through the wall and come out the other side, right into the produce section where it would hit the guy spraying lettuce with a water bottle. These reveries would usually sustain me for as long as 15 minutes. Then I would practice trick shots.
What is your take on Yanina Wickmayer? Even though she is in the semifinals, it seems like we haven't heard much about her. -- C.T., London
NEW YORK -- Admiring consistency in the men's bracket, rolling out the red carpet for a rising star and checking your mail on Day 5 ...
No. John McEnroe didn't write the headline for this column. And yes, Sirius XM Satellite Radio posted a profit in the second quarter. Sort of.
The grassroots renaissance of tennis in the United States was the subject of an Associated Press feature that appeared online and in many newspaper sports sections over the weekend. The story argues, among other things, that "today's dearth of top American professionals" hasn't curtailed the sport's post-2000 growth:
These lists are not mere compilations of all-time bests in their respective sports but all-time bests at quickening the pulse and evoking a visceral response from those fortunate enough to have witnessed their artistry.
Tennis will make a cameo during the Final Four basketball games this weekend when John McEnroe stars in a public-education campaign called the "50 Over 50 Prostate Health Challenge." Outspoken as ever, McEnroe chatted with SI.com:
A Manhattan art dealer was arrested Thursday on an indictment charging that he stole $88 million from clients and investors, including tennis champion John McEnroe, authorities said.
Do the tennis authorities tell umpires to behave differently when the Hawkeye system is in play? Some chair umpires seem reluctant to overrule, instead leaving it to players to challenge. To me, that's plain wrong. Hawkeye shouldn't change their obligations. If they see it in or out, they should call it that way. All that's different is that the player has an option other than ranting, and that's how the referees should be told to play it.
Since the U.S. Open (among other tennis events) is all about gender equity, do you think we will ever have the evening session "start" with a men's match and then be "followed" by the women's match. For a working person on the East Coast, it's hard to stay up and watch the men's matches, such as the Blake/Young match, especially when they start after 9 p.m. Just looking for equal rights. -- John, Greenville, S.C.
Roger Federer's reign at No. 1 has ended after almost five years. I think it would be appropriate for you to dedicate a front thanking Mr. Federer for giving athletes and fans a five-year lesson on how to carry yourself when you're a champion. He's a class act on and off the court. In my case, I didn't follow tennis before him and now I love the sport. He's a real hero and inspiration for millions. I hope you honor him the way he deserves because even though his career is far from over, we don't know if he'll ever be number one again. Thanks. -- Alejandro Arias, Mexico
Five things we learned from women's final Saturday at Wimbledon:
The world's oldest tennis tournament retains many of the same customs and quirks 131 years after it was first staged. It's the only Grand Slam event still played on grass, despite perennial moans from the clay- and hard-court specialists who struggle to adjust. Players--who are always referred to as "gentlemen" and "ladies"--must wear predominantly white, and the courts are unsullied by conspicuous corporate logos.
"This is certainly different from Dancing with the Stars," she says at a N.Y.C. ballet event
Lleyton Hewitt started his challenge for a record fifth Queen's Club title with a 6-4 6-4 first round win over Briton Josh Goodall on Monday.
The actress says she's talked with her three children with ex-husband John McEnroe
The actress, who was arrested for buying drugs, says grief over her dead dog fueled the incident
updated: Tue Jun 03 2008 12:25:00
Showbiz Tonight's A.J. Hammer talks with his panel about actress Tatum O'Neal's arrest on drug charges.
The Oscar winner is released on bail after being arrested near her N.Y.C. home
Academy Award-winning actress Tatum O'Neal was released after an arraignment at a Manhattan courtroom Monday after her weekend arrest for buying crack cocaine.
Michael Lardon figures it was serendipity. A top table tennis player growing up in New York, he had always been fascinated with the mental component of competition. "Who gets in 'The Zone?' How do they get in 'The Zone?' And most important, How do they stay there?" He enrolled at Stanford, took a pre-med science course and was paired with Olympic speedskater Eric Heiden as a lab partner.
The Sports Curmudgeon's bile has been rising at the general level of tackiness he has witnessed in sports, and so he has requested time to vent.
One of the many things I'll remember about Justine Henin, who retired unexpectedly from tennis on Wednesday, is how she would talk about her mother taking her to the French Open when she was a young girl, and years after her mother passed away, how she won the event in her honor. It always struck an emotional chord with me when she would look skyward at Roland Garros in memory of her mother.
DÜSSELDORF, Germany -- To say it was fortuitous would be an understatement.
Roger Federer ensured he will be world number one for the fourth successive season as he won his hometown tournament in Basel with a straight sets victory over Finn Jarkko Nieminen.
Tatum O'Neal, who's led her own troubled path on the road of motherhood, says that Britney Spears must get treatment and shield her children from media attention.
The kid assumed he was being punk'd. After a fine freshman season as Florida's No. 1 singles player, Jesse Levine was luxuriating at home in Boca Ratonlast month when his cellphone chirped. An IMG agent was calling in search of a practice partner for Roger Federer, a few days removed from winning Wimbledon for the fifth straight time. Would Levine meet Federer at his training base in the United Arab Emirates? "When I realized it wasn't a joke," says Levine, "I was like, 'Yup. That works for me.'"
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- In-your-face, obnoxious fans applauding double faults by the visiting team. Live DJs spinning music, emcees on the microphone, players dancing in between points while fans do the same in the stands. Popcorn, hot dogs, beer and soft pretzels fill the concession stands.
Did you see the photos of Tiger Woods' new baby? They were in all the papers. Now, leaving aside my astonishment at why showing pictures of celebrities' newborns is suddenly all the rage -- hey, I wanna see stars canoodling and throwing tantrums; I don't wanna see their babies that look like everybody else's babies -- leaving that aside, it occurred to me that this is yet another step up for athletes, crossing over into the entertainment world.
PARIS -- "Rain, rain, go away," has been the mantra around the grounds at Roland Garros the past few days, and nobody has been more frustrated than the players. A rain delay during the early stages of a Grand Slam is the equivalent of sitting in a dentist's chair for an extensive root canal.
A Mailbag as Pete Sampras returns to the tennis forefront:
Andre Agassi won't bow out as the greatest ever tennis player -- at least not on paper -- but in terms of what he's brought to the game, in my book he is number one.
John McEnroe is to launch another foray onto the main ATP Tour by teaming up again with Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman to play in the doubles event at the Stockholm Open in October.
French Open champion Rafael Nadal of Spain has confirmed he will play at Queen's Club this year for the first time to test his form on grass ahead of Wimbledon.
John McEnroe rounded off a remarkable return to the ATP Tour by claiming the doubles title in San Jose on Sunday with Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman.
John McEnroe moved to within one victory of his first doubles title since 1994 when he reached the SAP Open final on Saturday with Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman.
Third seed Lleyton Hewitt crushed Paul Goldstein 6-4 6-2 in the SAP Open first round, his first match since the Australian Open.
Here's three to avoid ...
Do you have a question about tennis for World Sport Anchor Candy Reid? E-mail candy@cnn.com.
Switzerland's Roger Federer and Belgian Kim Clijsters were crowned world champions by the governing body of tennis (ITF) on Monday.
Seven-times grand slam champion John McEnroe will return to the ATP tour in February after a 15 year absence to play doubles in the San Jose tournament.
Dominik Hrbaty gave Slovakia a fighting chance in the Davis Cup final by beating Croatia's Mario Ancic 7-6 6-3 6-7 6-4 to leave the tie poised at 1-1.
Slovakian number two Karol Beck must try to stop Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic after the draw for the Davis Cup final was made.
The winner of most women's doubles was American E.M. Ryan, winning 12 titles between 1912 and 1934.
The most successful male players in the history of Wimbledon are Pete Sampras and William Renshaw who took the title seven times. The most successful female player is Martina Navratilova who clinched victory at Church Road nine times between 1978 and 1990.
Andy Roddick overcame the stubborn challenge of Czech Radek Stepanek to reach the final of the Stella Artois championships at Queen's Club in London on Saturday.
CNBC is canceling "Dennis Miller" in an attempt to revive the network's struggling primetime, according to Variety.
Top seed Roger Federer raced into the French Open second round with a 6-1 6-2 6-1 destruction of Belgium's Kristof Vliegen at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
What makes some people good and others evil? That's the question Michael Shermer set out to answer in his forthcoming book, The Science of Good and Evil. The founder of the Skeptics Society, a nonp...
THOMAS E. CLARKE, 39 NIKE INC. Here's a marketer who puts himself in the customer's shoes -- literally. Clarke runs in his Nikes twice a day and has completed 30 marathons. His personal best: an im...
Your countdown to tax day begins here. First you'll decide to do, or not to do, your own taxes. Then on to: -- A calendar of must-do's from now to mid-April, page 60 -- How to pick (page 64) and us...
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