WASHINGTON, April 11, 2020 (by Michael Dickens)
Following in the footsteps of Roger Federer’s wildly successful “hat trick” volley challenge and in the spirit of camaraderie during the global pandemic, Andy Murray and his wife Kim created a volley challenge of their own. On Thursday, they issued a “100 volley challenge” to all tennis players and fans. However, instead of using a wall, it would require needing a partner. In a 60-second video posted on Twitter, set to a soundtrack of Ram Jam’s 1997 hit “Black Betty,” the Murrays are seen completing a sequence of 100 back-and-forth volleys filmed outside in the couple’s garden of their Oxshott, Surrey home in England.
In his tweet to promote the stay-at-home challenge, Murray wrote: “There was no bickering during the filming of the video … although I think the last volleyball was aimed at my head. … I can’t be the only one that wants to see Rog and Maria hitting a few balls together.”
A challenge to all tennis players and fans… The 💯 volley challenge. There was no bickering during the filming of the video 🙄, although I think the last volley was aimed at my head… I can’t be the only one that wants to see Rog and Mirka hitting a few balls together…🎾 pic.twitter.com/c0lMnNuSSQ
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) April 9, 2020
As it happened, on Friday Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena beat Roger and Mirka Federer to the punch and posted their own video in response to Murrays’ stay-at-home challenge. “Thanks for the nomination,” Novak Djokovic wrote on Twitter.
Idemooo the 💯 volley challenge was too easy for @jelenadjokovic haha bravoo 😂👏🏼💪🏼. Thanks for the fun nomination Kim and @andymurray!
Keep the challenges coming!!! 🔥 #100volleychallenge #tennisathome #stayhome #teamdjokovic #nolefam pic.twitter.com/tffUO9OOCs
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) April 10, 2020
Also, Kim Clijsters and her husband Brian Lynch completed the stay-ay-home challenge, which the Hall of Famer from Belgium posted on her Instagram account.
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A virtual Mutua Madrid Open
Earlier this week, the Mutual Madrid Open Virtual Pro, an online gaming and fundraising tournament, was announced. It is designed to be a virtual replica of the annual Madrid clay-court event – including a colorful recreation of Manolo Santana Stadium – that takes place in Caja Mágica, Madrid, the week of May 3. Only, this time, players will swap their racquets for PS4 video game controllers.
Thus far, the virtual tennis event has received commitments from Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Lucas Pouille, John Isner, Kiki Bertens, Fiona Ferro, Carla Suárez Navarro and Angelique Kerber. More details, including a full list participating players and the draw, will be forthcoming.
We have exciting news! 🚨This year, the #MMOPEN cannot be played on the scheduled dates, but… it can be played online! 😌 The biggest @atptour and @WTA stars will square off from their homes in a unique competition. #PlayAtHome 🎮https://t.co/ZFUjMzaSQs pic.twitter.com/Yj90ldCeQt
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 6, 2020
What they’re writing
Simon Briggs, London Daily Telegraph tennis corespondent – “As the new ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi gave his first public comments on the Covid-19 pandemic, a plan is emerging for the back end of the 2020 tennis season. It sounds far-fetched, but it is all that the professional game has to work with at the moment.
“The first plank in this model is that the United States Tennis Association is absolutely desperate to stage the US Open, in any form. Which would well involve playing behind closed doors.
“The tournament – which is still scheduled to run on its original dates of Aug. 24 to Sept. 13 – earned almost $400 million in revenues in its last published accounts. And, unlike Wimbledon, it is not covered by insurance against “infectious disease.”
What they’re podcasting
• Match Point Canada – This week, Canadian tennis coach Rob Steckley opens up about his coaching experiences and talks about life on the tour.
• Tennis With An Accent – This week, guest Magnus Norman talks about his rise as a player, the first generation of open-stance players and his partnerships with Stan Wawrinka and Robin Söderling.
What they’re tweeting
ITF salutes Andre Agassi on becoming World No. 1 25 years ago
#OnThisDay in 1995, @AndreAgassi became world No.1 for the first time…
He held the top spot for a total of 101 weeks throughout his career 🔝#StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/uSrhDRz5xC
— ITF (@ITF_Tennis) April 10, 2020
US Open Tennis celebrates National Siblings Day
▪️ Evert sisters
▪️ Williams sisters
▪️ McEnroe brothers
▪️ Bryan brothers
▪️ Murray brothersAnd so much more. Celebrate #NationalSiblingsDay by scrolling through some of the most prominent siblings in 🎾 👉 https://t.co/FWQ0aNbaxl pic.twitter.com/9Z9Fz8w4Jy
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) April 10, 2020
Garbiñe Muguruza, Spain, ranked No. 16
Train safe!!
Entrena segura!!
🤜🤛#PowerRunsInTheFamily
@beatsbydre pic.twitter.com/ZLQf6kZ2EE— Garbiñe Muguruza (@GarbiMuguruza) April 10, 2020
