WASHINGTON, April 16, 2020 (by Michael Dickens)
Like many tennis players, Britain’s Jamie Murray has been staying inside his London home during the coronavirus, doing his part to help to flatten the pandemic curve. Yet, his positive attitude speaks volumes. He’s been using his unexpected free time to improve himself physically – working on simple drills to refine his footwork and overall strength – while also having some fun, too.
Recently, Murray, a seven-time Grand Slam champion (two doubles and five mixed doubles), and his wife Alejandra took his younger brother Andy Murray up on his 100 volley challenge and they’ve played Monopoly online, too. Jamie Murray’s fitness routine has been captured in some videos he has posted on social media.
“We’ve been beating them in Monopoly the last few times we’ve played them online. So, we thought we would get them at that and well get them at tennis as well,” said Jamie Murray during a guest appearance via Skype this week on Tennis Channel Live broadcast in the United States. Murray and Monica Puig of Puerto Rico have co-starred in the current season of Tennis Channel‘s weekly online series My Tennis Life. “This is the most I’ve ever trained. I’m feeling like Iron Man all of a sudden.”
Fancy Footwork.
2 exercises to get you ready for getting back on court.
Exercise 1: 4 x 30s on 30s off
Rest 1-2mins
Exercise 2: 4 x 30s on 30s off#StayAtHome #stayactive #TennisAtHome @atptour pic.twitter.com/PBv5GZ2T2k— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) April 11, 2020
Auger-Aliassime penning blog for ATP Tour website
As part of the ATP’s Tennis at Home campaign, Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime has begun penning a blog for the tour’s website. In his first blog post, Auger-Aliassime wrote:
“I’m not used to being away from the courts for this long. It’s almost like what happens when you’re dealing with an injury, but I’m not actually hurt.
“The good thing is I’m holding up well. My spirits are good. Luckily everyone in my family is healthy. My grandparents are good, everyone is healthy. I’m happy about that. But I know it’s not the same for all the families out there, unfortunately, especially for grandparents and older people.
I haven’t slowed own on my fitness, and I am keeping up with my routines. As tennis players, we don’t have many months to train and to get better physically, so I’m taking this time to do that. I can stay active and keep getting better, which is good. There’s never a day when you cant improve somehow. In every aspect of my life, personal or professional, I try to do things better and move forward in the right direction.”
Cornet plans to publish book about travels
Alizé Cornet of France is already a world traveler. Her career as a pro tennis player means traveling the globe to play in tournaments. Now, the 59th-ranked Cornet from Nice plans to release a book later this year about her travels on the WTA Tour.
“Ive always been a big fan of literature,” said Cornet during an interview posted on the French Tennis Federations website. “It’s all my own work. Its a mixture of autobiography and travelogue.”
This year, before the current season was interrupted by the novel coronavirus, Cornet had competed in tournaments in New Zealand, Australia, Russia and France.
Publication of Cornet’s book was originally scheduled to coincide with the French Open in late May. However, it has been pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Have a good week everyone ✌🤗 #StayHome #StayStrong #WeAreInThisTogether
Joyeuse 4ème semaine de confinement ✌😉 #JeResteALaMaison #memesicacommenceafairelong pic.twitter.com/pq0XMWMgIG— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) April 6, 2020
Serena takes Roger’s volley challenge
On Wednesday, 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams became the latest to take the Roger Federer volley challenge, posting her video on Instagram. She used a racquet given to her by Federer last year when they faced each other in the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia.
View this post on Instagram
Couldn’t have done this challenge without my racquet from @rogerfederer. #tennisathome
What they’re podcasting
NCR Tennis Podcast, co-hosted by New York Times tennis correspondent Ben Rothenberg and WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen, features an interview with Citi Open owner Mark Ein. The Washington, D.C., ATP/WTA combined event is looming on the tennis calendar – just four weeks before the US Open. Ein describes the various scenarios of what might happen to the Citi Open.
New NCR!@CitiOpen owner @Markein chats about what it’s like being the next big combined event on the tennis calendar (despite being three months away) as tennis figures out when and how it might return in these uncertain times.
Listen:https://t.co/F85UmeSES4
— NCR Tennis Podcast (@NCR_Tennis) April 14, 2020
What they’re tweeting
Randy Walker, tennis author/publisher
The end of the Tour de France in Paris will be the same day that Roland Garros begins….will be a big day in Paris (hopefully!) https://t.co/qyffwoSXjB
— Randy Walker (@TennisPublisher) April 15, 2020
Johanna Konta, Great Britain, ranked No. 14
Lockdown recovery with @BonoDachshund makes it all better. 🏋️♀️😴 pic.twitter.com/toArDkIBQb
— Johanna Konta (@JohannaKonta) April 15, 2020
Mutua Madrid Open Virtual Pro
Started my preparation for the @mutuamadridopen virtual pro charity event. Be prepared @andymurray @KikiMladenovic @rafaelnadal @AngeliqueKerber @geniebouchard I’ll be ready! Just won my first tournament 😎🎾 pic.twitter.com/o4jNAdIa0B
— Kiki Bertens (@kikibertens) April 15, 2020
