WASHINGTON, May 8, 2020 (by Michael Dickens)
With professional tennis in the midst of an unprecedented lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, it has given players and others associated with the sport an opportunity to reflect on its current state. Of those who have recently spoken out, three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka feels that the global nature of tennis makes it difficult for it to return to any sense of normalcy this year.
In a recent TennisMajors.com “Major Talk” interview with Alize Lim, Wawrinka said, “We come from all around the world, that’s the issue with tennis. Then, we are all confined. So the first step, it’s to be able to get out. The second step is to reopen stores and restaurants. Then, there will be trips so it’s going to be take time (for tennis to be possible again). …
“I hope for the world that we will all be at the stage that we can compete again in September. That would mean that all went well. Currently, we’re so much in the middle of this crisis, that it is difficult to see the end.”
Also, ESPN broadcaster Patrick McEnroe, who recently recovered from the Covid-19 virus, told The Washington Post he doesn’t see tennis resuming in any fashion this year. As someone who views the sport from the perspective of having been a touring pro, as a former head of player development for the USTA and as past U.S. Davis Cup captain, the younger brother of Hall of Famer John McEnroe said this week, “I’ve been saying from the start, professional tennis will be one of the last things to come back, just because of the international nature of the sport.
“Whether it’s the US Open or the Marseille Open, you have players coming from all over the world. Until the world is back to some semblance of normal, I dont see how the game as we know it can restart.”
Ymer Brothers to play fund-raising exhibition Sunday
Brothers Mikael and Elias Ymer of Sweden will play an exhibition match against each other at the Tennis Against Corona, a new initiative produced by the Stockholm Open, Sunday afternoon in an empty Royal Swedish Hall in Stockholm. The online event will help raise funds for the Red Cross’s Global Covid-19 Emergency Relief. A small TV crew will be on hand to broadcast online at SolidSport.com at 1 p.m. UTC for a fee of €3.99. The match between Sweden’s top two male players, will also be broadcast on Swedish national TV, SVT1 and SVT Play.
“We are both excited to contribute to the relief efforts that are being put forward to help those most affected from COVID-19,” the Ymer brothers said, as quoted by the ATP Tour website. “Our sole and main focus by playing a fun exhibition match with each other is to use the platform that we are so privileged to have as tennis players and contribute this way to the fight against this global pandemic.”
🇸🇪 Tennis in Sweden 🇸🇪
Join the @sthlm_open on Sunday the 10th of May at 3pm CET, as @MikaelYmer takes on brother @eliasymer!
All surplus of the event will be donated to the Red Cross Global COVID-19 Emergency Relief. #TennisAgainstCorona #WeAreInThisTogether pic.twitter.com/knmFVRsIEn
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 7, 2020
Passing shots: Will racquet tap replace post-match handshake?
The roar of tens of people – not thousands – may become the new normal when, and if, tennis resumes later this year. During a round table discussion Wednesday on Tennis Channel Live, commentator Mary Carillo and analyst Jon Wertheim shed some thoughts about the “new normal” and pondered whether the racquet tap will replace the post-match handshake.
“We have to be ready to make changes with the game,” said Carillo, speaking in a serious tone of voice.
“I don’t think any of these events are going to look like what we’re accustomed to from a tennis tournament,” added Wertheim. “The remaining majors (US Open and French Open) are trying to be creative. We’re all going to have to be nimble. These are not going to be conventional sporting events until we have a vaccine.”
Carillo responded pragmatically: “I think more than anything, what’s going to be happening (soon) is I think going forward everything’s going to be regional. We’ve already seen in Belarus at the end of a match there was no handshake, no fans in the stands. They’re trying to do this in Germany and in the U.S. in Florida this weekend. We do have to get more creative. I can see going forward if we’re going to show tennis on Tennis Channel without fans, we have to make it more interactive. We have to make it like FaceTime and develop algorithms for applause on the big shots. We can put speakers on the court so the players can hear it. I’m being serious. If we don’t come up with some atmosphere, you’re going to see some deadly dull stuff.”
Wertheim’s parting shot: “I think it’s going to be a big adjustment for these athletes playing in empty stadiums. … Who are we pumping our fists to when we hit a winner if there are no fans in the stands?”
The Way Back Machine – Nadal/Djokovic 2009 Madrid semifinal
The 2009 Madrid Open semifinal match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic was at the time the longest men’s best-of-3 set tennis match in the Open Era. It lasted for four hours and three minutes, with Nadal winning 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (9).
One of the most dramatic endings to match you’ll EVER see…@RafaelNadal v @DjokerNole at the 2009 #MMOpen was WILD 😱 pic.twitter.com/zKKC9cm0IK
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 5, 2020
Behind The Racquet – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
About three years ago, Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova went through a really tough period where she wasn’t enjoying herself on the tennis court. She described how she felt in a recently-written and published, first-person essay for the Instagram series Behind The Racquet. “I was dealing with some private things in my personal life that I couldn’t overcome. I wasn’t enjoying tennis, I wasn’t enjoying anything. I didn’t like where my life was at ranking wise and overall. I felt like a burnout. I had that for a couple of years and I just couldn’t figure it out.
“Slowly, I had some help and began working on myself. I am happy and that doesn’t affect me the same way. I still have a lot of will and potential in me and (I am) more ambitious than ever before. This tough experience is behind me, but I am happy I went through it. It made me who I am.”
What they’re saying
Vasek Pospisil of Canada is a longtime member of the ATP Player Council, who recently guested on TSN’s “Tennis in Depth” broadcast in his home country. He spoke at length about a number of issues including the economic shakeup needed to help lower-ranked players, praising ATP Player Council president Novak Djokovic for his work on behalf of them. “I’ve been really impressed with Novak, now much he cares for all the players,” he said. “Even the lower-ranked guys. I don’t know if it is because of where he came from or how he grew up. I know that his family. Went through tough times when he was a kid. He really cares for all the players and the lower-ranked guys and so I give him so much respect and credit for trying to actually affect positive change.”
What they’re writing
Liz Clarke, Washington Post sports features writer, from “See you in Melbourne? Tennis world, including U.S. Open, confronts grim outlook”: “New York remains the epicenter of the novel coronavirus pandemic, but U.S. Open officials haven’t abandoned hope of staging the Grand Slam event – even if it means moving it to the West Coast.
“The possibility of holding the tournament in November at Southern California’s Indian Wells Tennis Garden was raised by U.S. Tennis Association Executive Director Mike Dowse in an interview this week with Inside Tennis.
“It’s among myriad scenarios for resuming professional tennis in 2020 – proposals that have been lobbed and batted down at a dizzying pace by bullish event promoters and skeptical players in recent weeks.
“A combination of factors particular to tennis complicates its resumption before the development of a vaccine or, at minimum, significant strides in managing the pandemic.”
What they’re sharing on social media
Darren Cahill / Connecting sport through technology
Can’t wait to put the new @PlaySight GO system to use. We are sending a GO system to @Simona_Halep in Romania so I can watch practice sessions live and help coach with Arti. Connecting sport through technology to make the world smaller and better. pic.twitter.com/OPERD3uKo0
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) May 7, 2020
Borna Coric / Enjoying morning walks with Nala
Enjoying morning walks with Nala 🐶 pic.twitter.com/t2szIbe0jI
— borna coric (@borna_coric) May 7, 2020
WTA / I spy Top 100 player word search
I spy another batch of Top 100 players! 🤩
Who do you see? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/fp66oc3wVC
— wta (@WTA) May 7, 2020
Victoria Azarenka / Heartfelt thank you #TheRealHeroes
Araceli,
With all my heart, thank you. You selflessly gave your life fighting on the frontlines to keep our Miami communities safe, and for that we will be forever be grateful. You’re a hero to all of us women at
the @WTA. pic.twitter.com/mtk5BVaUIe— victoria azarenka (@vika7) May 7, 2020
