Made My Day

by Craig Hickman

The 2011 Sony Ericsson Open is now history. Before play was officially underway, Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick, Caroline Wozniacki and Ryan Harrison supported the Greater Miami Tennis and Education Foundation as part of Cliff Drysdale's fundraiser at the Ritz-Carlton of Key Biscayne inside the tennis center that bears his name.

Last year, Clijsters and Roddick considered the same event their good luck charms as both went on to win the Sony Ericsson Open. I guess it's true, then, that lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place. But the defending champions had a great time. Seeing tennis players doing what they love to do without the stress of a match was a beautiful thing.

The Ritz-Carlton of Key Biscayne is more like a palace than a hotel. I couldn't help but thinking we were approaching royalty as we drove into the gated grounds. Perfectly designed and manicured landscaping all around, we finally found the tennis center valet. Once on the courts, I was able to see what Serena Williams once said about green clay being slower and grittier than the crushed red brick used in Europe and South America. It almost looks like gravel. On one of the outside courts, I recognized former Miami runner-up Guillermo Cañas playing a double's match with other members.



The staff at the Ritz-Carlton gave customer service new meaning. Attentive, genuinely nice, they made us feel at home. Perfect weather, live musicians, an open bar, passed hors d'oeuvres, and the chance to test-drive Cadillac's new models would have attracted anyone who wanted to support a worthy cause.

Even with the great atmosphere and fun tennis exhibition, the event highlight came at the end when I approached Drysdale, who'd kept the proceedings efficient and light-hearted with his infectious personality and wit. He's practically a stand up comedian.

"Just in case I never have another opportunity to say this to you, I just wanted to let you know that you are the voice of tennis for me. Didn't matter where I was in the house, if I heard your voice on the television, I knew tennis was on. I enjoy your commentary, your humor, and the personality you bring in the booth is always a perfect foil for your colleagues."

His face lit up more than it naturally does. "Wow. Thank you so much for telling me that. You have made my day," he replied with an outstretched hand. Next thing I knew, he touched the side of my face as though I were his son. He made my day, too.

Michelle, the media relations director who invited us to cover the event, insisted that I pose with Drysdale for a photo. As we posed, I told him of my sister's home in South Africa and JD, who's originally from the Netherlands, asked him if he spoke any Afrikaans, the Dutch dialect spoken by the Nederlanders who settled there centuries ago. Personal connections make every experience more memorable.

The entire event benefited the Greater Miami Tennis and Education Foundation and like last year, kids from the foundation attended the event as ball boys and girls. They earned that privilege based on their report cards, attendance, leadership and other factors. The $13,000 raised will benefit these socially and economically challenged Miami children, will help them learn tennis and valuable life skills by participating in free, affordable GMTEF tennis and education programs throughout the school year, as well as during the summer.

Next year's event promises to be even better.

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Video Highlights

Best In Show

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Not sure how he's doing it, but he's doing it mighty mighty well. Novak Djokovic won his 26th straight match in 2011 defeating Rafael Nadal in the Miami final 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). It was only fitting for such a match to end in a tiebreak, but as soon as it got there, it was Djoke's to lose.

Confidence is funny that way.

Djoke has it, Rafa doesn't. I forget how difficult it is to remember how to win when returning to competitive play from even a short injury absence. Rafa's serve and return of serve didn't allow him to control many of the rallies and, by the end of this dramatic match, he found himself doubled over gasping for oxygen in the smothering Miami heat.

If winning is habit forming, Djoke's an addict. His defense continues to elicit gasps. There was a point when Rafa struck a backhand so hard and flat into the corner, you just didn't figure Djoke would get a racquet on it, and even if he did, the reply would be something upon which Rafa could pounce. Not so. Djoke simply flicked the ball right of the baseline, effortlessly, it seemed, changing its direction to down the line, and Rafa had to scrambled to the other side of the court just to get his own racquet on the return shot. Djoke ultimately won the point, a microcosm of the match.

Funny how hype works. Back when the Serbian was hyped as the Next Big Thing before he had the results to back it up, I was flummoxed. Now, while some would suggest Djoke is the true ATP world No. 1, there's another emerging group of fans, some of whom also call themselves "journalists", who are suggesting that Djoke will never reach the heights of Nadal and Roger Federer and that his rivalry with Nadal will never transcend tennis the way Fedal has.

Tennis fans are strange that way.

Like him or not, Djokovic's 26-0 start in 2011 is historic. As he alluded to in his pre-tournament interview, he has come through some personal, emotional issues and feels he's now free to produce his best tennis on the court. He's always maturing into a true ambassador or the sport. While I don't believe he deserves to be called the "real No. 1" by anyone, that ranking my come, it may not, he's certainly cemented his place at No. 2. As for his rivalry with Nadal, I'm going to quote Brad Gilbert, who gets it right in this tweet during the match:

I know they don't want to admit it out loud, but this is the new rivalry, definitely best in show.

I wonder who the "they" are in this quote. His fellow pundits in the commentary booth? The "journalists" who promote the sport to the detriment of real reporting? Whoever he means, I find it most interesting that he knows that they don't want to say so out loud.

Ultimately it doesn't really matter. The proof is in the witnessing. The fans who were chanting both players' names yesterday afternoon weren't trying to pull a listless player getting his ass handed to him into the match so they might actually see a match, as they did in the Fedal semifinal. These fans were jacked up because their players, both of them, were putting out. Best in show indeed.

Bring on the clay.

RafaNole, Part XXV

The most competitive rivalry in men's tennis. Overshadowed by Fedal (for good reasons), Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic is the most competitive rivalry in men's tennis. They've played the other more times than any two active players, and I suspect if both remain healthy throughout the year, they'll face each other in many more finals. While they've so far only contested one Slam final at last year's US Open, which Rafa won in four sets to complete the Career Slam, many of their encounters have been brutal battles, despite some of the straight-set scorelines, the ultimate winner in question till the bitter end. Who can forget that spectacular 2009 Madrid semifinal that Rafa won 7-6(9) in the third? Djoke held 4 match points, if memory serves, and Rafa denied them all. That was easily the best best-of-three match that year. Shortly thereafter, Rafa left the tour to heal his knees and Djoke's tennis teetered between brilliant and woeful, losing early in Paris as well as his next two finals.



A fortnight ago, against Rafa in the Indian Wells final, Djoke rallied from a set down to earn his second Masters shield in the desert and keep his 2011 record unblemished. Today, the rematch is on. Djoke knows how to win here; he took the title in 2007. If Rafa has turned his first serve around, as he did when facing 0-40 early in the final set of his quarterfinal against Tomas Berdych, I suspect he'll put a stop to the Serbian steamroller. The World No. 2's form has dipped over his last few matches while Rafa's has risen. The World No. 1 has never won in Miami so I believe he'll be extra motivated to finally get to the winner's circle, even if it takes three sets.

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Watch the Sony Ericsson Open men's final live on CBS at 1:oo EDT

Car Wreck

Getty

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Thank goodness for Marion Bartoli. She actually gave us a big event final to watch in the Californian desert two weeks ago tomorrow against the reigning World No. 1. I found myself wishing the Indian Wells runner up was on the court across the net from Victoria Azarenka in today's championship match in Miami. Instead, I chose to put up with Maria Sharapova spraying balls like a garden hose in a drought. I didn't have to, mind you. But the match had the lure of a car wreck. I simply couldn't look away.

The WTA has to (well, maybe it doesn't have to, but the hero campaign is banal and outdated) update its marketing campaigns for the remainder of 2011 against the backdrop of this fact: The runner up at the calendar's "fifth Slam" held her serve exactly once in a 6-1, 6-4 drubbing at the hands of a player who's never even contested a Slam semifinal, neither of whom participated in what might have been the most dramatic women's match of the tournament, which wasn't televised anywhere on the planet.

I'm going to say that again: The runner up at the calendar's "fifth Slam" held her serve exactly once in a 6-1, 6-4 drubbing at the hands of a player who's never even contested a Slam semifinal, neither of whom participated in what might have been the most dramatic women's match of the tournament, which wasn't televised anywhere on the planet.

That's all.

Masharenka In Miami

JD Blom

Back in 2009 when Victoria Azarenka defeated a one-legged Serena Williams in the Sony Ericsson Open final, the Belarusian was hailed as the next Maria Sharapova. The 3-time Slam champion and former World No. 1 was struggling with injury and ennui and the WTA seemed to want another ball-bashing, blue-eyed blonde to rule the day.

Didn't quite work out. Azarenka didn't follow her Miami crown with any title of import (despite their premier designation, Stanford and Moscow only have 28 players in the draw so they don't count as big titles in my eyes), never even contesting a Slam semifinal. She's got weapons off the ground, to be sure, but has seemed frail on the biggest stages. Now, she's back in the finals of the fifth Slam and if she takes the title, she'll be back on track, at least in the minds of her fans, to do great things.


JD Blom

But she's got to get through the woman she was supposed to replace. Sharapova is fighting to return to the form that made her a force. Her Australian Open victory in 2008 remains one of the most dominating Slam performances I've ever witnessed from start to finish. Unfortunately, it was the last time we saw Maria at her best. Now, while her fight remains, her serve causes heartburn. She told me in Miami that her shoulder wasn't completely healed, but stable. Stable enough to return here for the first time in three years, and if she can win the fifth Slam, a title she's never won before, her long and arduous comeback will be fully realized.

While both women can struggle on serve, their returns are world-class. Azarenka moves better, Masha's tougher. I suspect there will be a ton of breaks so holds of serve will prove decisive. It will be most interesting to see whom the crowd gets behind, the former champion or the Floridian?

Who's going to take it?

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Watch the final in the United States on CBS at 12:30 EDT.

Circle Closed

JD Blom

Roger Federer talks to the press at the Sony Ericsson Open on March 23, 2011 in Miami, Florida.

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He looked a bit like Kim Clijsters during and after her loss to Victoria Azarenka the other night: detached. Like parents who realize their children are more important than the thrasing they just endured between the lines.

Or perhaps, in Federer's case, he simply was demoralized. It was a bit sad to witness. Rafael Nadal made it seem far too easy. Same way he did 7 years ago.

If Rafa is indeed in Raja's head, it had to have happened instantly. I remember there were murmurings that Raja was sick that calm, humid night in Miami 7 years ago. I don't remember where those murmurings came from as I was posting about on tennis forums all over the place, but they seemed there to comfort those who needed to believe the outcome of the match would have been different had Raja been 100% healthy. A year later, the next time they played, Rafa took the first two sets from Raja in the Miami final, though he ultimately lost the match.

And so it was this storied rivalry began with Rafa winning the first four sets. Talk about setting a tone.

Tonight, safe to say, the circle closed.

Will they ever play another important match? Will Federer settle for third or fourth best? Will he win another Slam? Who can see the future?

Savannah said that 2011 would be all about Roger Federer.

I'm beginning to see her point.

A Rarity: Rafa Vs. Raja In America

by Craig Hickman

The first time they ever played a professional match, Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in straight sets right here in Miami. It was 2004, back when the Sony Ericsson Open was called the Nasdaq 100 Open (which goes directly to the point Randy made earlier: corporate sponsors come and go, place names remain the same). Second time they played a professional match? The very next year, right here in Miami, in the final, when it was still best of five. After racing out to a two-set lead, Rafa wearied (yes, there was a time when the youngster got tired on the court), choked as well (he still does that), and lost the final in five sets.

For the first time since 2005, Rafa and Raja will play a match in the United States, in the only venue where they've played a match in the United States. Rafa leads four sets to two. And while his first serve has looked shaky over the last two events (though it got him out of trouble in the opening game of the third set last night), he's clearly a better player now than he was back then. Raja, not so much. Which means Rafa is supposed to win easily right? Well, Raja got a virtual walkover yesterday afternoon when Gilles Simon retired after 3 games citing a stiff neck. Rafa was on court later in the evening and night battling Tomas Berdych to a 3-set victory. Somewhere during that match, he needed his right shoulder tended. Some might say that for Raja to defeat Rafa these days, he'll need a lot of luck. Well....

I, for one, am actually more interested in the first semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Mardy Fish. Yes, Djoke has literally been unbeatable in 2011. But he's got to lose sooner or later. And while Fish has never been able to beat the Serb in five tries, outside of the US Open, Fish has won a set in each of their three meetings in the United States, all on hard courts, one in the finals of Indian Wells three years ago. As Jim Courier always says, if you can win one set you can win two. As the last American standing in both draws, Fish will be the overwhelming crowd favorite. The daytime conditions will keep his big serve moving through the court. He'll have to play a near perfect match, though, because Djoke is playing with house money. The only player to participate in the charity soccer event for Japan relief still in the draw, he's looking more like a machine than a tennis player. Frankly, I'm becoming bored by his dominance. It would be just like Fish to end his streak, especially since so few believe he can.

Ultimately, I believe we'll have a repeat of the Indian Wells final two weeks ago. Here's hoping the way there is exciting, dramatic, and full of great tennis.

Miami Men's 16: Sony Ericsson Open 2011 Day 8 Open Thread

All about the serve.

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ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2011

STADIUM start 11:00 am
[14] M Fish (USA) vs J Del Potro (ARG)

Not Before 12:00 PM
[21] A Dolgopolov (UKR) vs [15] J Tsonga (FRA) 67(2) 64 32 - to finish 67 64 32

Not Before 1:00 PM
[21] A Petkovic (GER) vs [6] J Jankovic (SRB)
[19] A Ivanovic (SRB) vs [2] K Clijsters (BEL) - Round of 16 heldove
[16] V Troicki (SRB) vs [2] N Djokovic (SRB) - Possible Court Change
[1] R Nadal (ESP) vs [21] A Dolgopolov (UKR) or [15] J Tsonga (FRA)

Not Before 7:30 PM
[16] M Sharapova (RUS) vs [26] A Dulgheru (ROU)

Not Before 9:30 PM
[3] R Federer (SUI) vs [Q] O Rochus (BEL)

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
[6] D Ferrer (ESP) vs M Granollers (ESP)
[30] J Isner (USA) vs K Anderson (RSA)
F Mayer (GER) vs [7] T Berdych (CZE)

Not Before 5:00 PM
J Tipsarevic (SRB) vs [25] G Simon (FRA)

COURT 2 start 12:00 noon
[3] M Bhupathi (IND) / L Paes (IND) vs M Lopez (ESP) / D Marrero (ESP)
D Hantuchova (SVK) / A Radwanska (POL) vs N Llagostera Vives (ESP) / A Parra Santonja (ESP)
X Malisse (BEL) / J Murray (GBR) vs [6] M Llodra (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB)
[WC] A Ivanovic (SRB) / A Petkovic (GER) vs S Peer (ISR) / S Peng (CHN)
[1] G Dulko (ARG) / F Pennetta (ITA) vs [8] M Martinez Sanchez (ESP) / A Medina Garrigues (ESP)

Quote For The Day

"We lived through a decade of Carlos Rodriguez coaching Justine Henin after every single point and nobody called it on them."

--Lindsay Davenport, Tennis Channel commentary during the Maria Sharapova, Samantha Stosur match on Monday, March 28, 2011.

Apparently, Sharapova was called out for on-court coaching from the stands during a previous match in Miami. Davenport seemed to be underscoring a double standard. Or maybe she was simply stating her perception of a widely known "fact."

I put fact in quotations for I remember Carlos and Maria being called out once. But only once. Back in 2004 during Justine's quarterfinal against Svetlana Kuznetsova in Indian Wells. I remember being surprised by the call out, but not by the coaching, which only the blind couldn't see. Those in denial wouldn't admit. Carlos was telling his charge to charge the net more in order to turn around the second set. Sveta was leading 5-4 or 5-3, according to my memory. Justine took her coaching advice and won the last 3 or 4 games to take the match in straights.

Miami Marquee Match Monday: Sony Ericsson Open 2011 Day 7 Open Thread

by Craig Hickman


JD Blom for Tennis Panorama News

Samantha Stosur at the Sony Ericsson Open WTA Roundtable on March 22, 2011 in Key Biscayne, Florida.

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Day 7 at the Sony Ericsson Open features both world No. 1's Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki, major champions and former world No. 1's Maria Sharapova, on court against Stosur (most engaging player I met in Miami, but more on that some other time) right now, Roger Federer, Ana Ivanovic, Kim Clijsters, and the doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan. Neil Harman tells us storms are in the forecast. Let's hope they blow over.

I, for one, am most interested in Alexandr Dolgopolov vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Happy to see it open the night session on Stadium.

ORDER OF PLAY - MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011

STADIUM start 11:00 am
[4] S Stosur (AUS) vs [16] M Sharapova (RUS) - WTA
[1] C Wozniacki (DEN) vs [21] A Petkovic (GER) - WTA

Not Before 2:00 PM
[3] R Federer (SUI) vs [32] J Monaco (ARG) - ATP
[1] R Nadal (ESP) vs F Lopez (ESP) - ATP

Not Before 7:30 PM
[21] A Dolgopolov (UKR) vs [15] J Tsonga (FRA) - ATP

Not Before 9:00 PM
[19] A Ivanovic (SRB) vs [2] K Clijsters (BEL) - WTA

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
C Berlocq (ARG) vs [7] T Berdych (CZE) - ATP
[Q] O Rochus (BEL) vs [13] M Youzhny (RUS) - ATP
A Medina Garrigues (ESP) vs [6] J Jankovic (SRB) - WTA

Not Before 4:30 PM
[5] F Schiavone (ITA) vs [9] A Radwanska (POL) - WTA
[25] G Simon (FRA) vs P Cuevas (URU) - ATP

COURT 1 start 11:00 am
[WC] S Stephens (USA) / Y Wickmayer (BEL) vs [7] B Mattek-Sands (USA) / M Shaughnessy (USA) - WTA
M Mertinak (SVK) / D Norman (BEL) vs [7] R Bopanna (IND) / A Qureshi (PAK) - ATP
[8] R Lindstedt (SWE) / H Tecau (ROU) vs J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) - ATP
S Stakhovsky (UKR) / M Youzhny (RUS) vs [2] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN) - ATP
- WTA

COURT 2 start 11:00 am
S Peng (CHN) vs [26] A Dulgheru (ROU) - WTA
P Petzschner (GER) vs J Tipsarevic (SRB) - ATP
[11] N Almagro (ESP) vs F Mayer (GER) - ATP
[15] M Bartoli (FRA) vs [3] V Zvonareva (RUS) - WTA

Not Before 5:00 PM
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs O Marach (AUT) / J Tipsarevic (SRB) - ATP

COURT 3 start 3:00 pm
A Kleybanova (RUS) / Z Yan (CHN) vs S Peer (ISR) / S Peng (CHN) - WTA
L Dlouhy (CZE) / P Hanley (AUS) vs [4] J Melzer (AUT) / P Petzschner (GER) - ATP

Sony Ericsson Open Week 1 Review

JD Blom for Tennis Panorama News

Kourtin' Karen, owner of Tennis Panorama News has posted her highlights of the first week down in hot, hot Miami. She's included some new photo galleries with previously unpublished photos we shot on- and off-site.

I attended one other charity exhibition in the first week that I haven't gotten around to writing about yet.

Stay tuned.

Sony Ericsson Open Day 6 Open Thread

JD Blom

Juan Martín del Potro changes directions to track down a shot by Ricardo Mello on March 23, 2011.

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I arrived home safely today and happy to be eating farm fresh eggs and in front of tennis on the tube.

ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

STADIUM start 11:00 am

[14] M Fish (USA) vs [17] R Gasquet (FRA) - ATP

Not Before 1:00 PM
[5] F Schiavone (ITA) vs L Dominguez Lino (ESP) - WTA

Not Before 3:00 PM
[27] M Martinez Sanchez (ESP) vs [2] K Clijsters (BEL) - WTA
J del Potro (ARG) vs [4] R Soderling (SWE) - ATP

Not Before 7:30 PM
[8] V Azarenka (BLR) vs [25] D Cibulkova (SVK) - WTA

Not Before 9:30 PM
[WC] J Blake (USA) vs [2] N Djokovic (SRB) - ATP

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am

K Anderson (RSA) vs P Andujar (ESP) - ATP
[6] D Ferrer (ESP) vs S Devvarman (IND) - ATP
[Q] A Bogomolov Jr. (USA) vs [30] J Isner (USA) - ATP
[28] J Groth (AUS) vs [3] V Zvonareva (RUS) - WTA

Not Before 5:00 PM
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [WC] R Harrison (USA) / J Sock (USA) - ATP

COURT 1 start 10:00 am

[8] R Lindstedt (SWE) / H Tecau (ROU) vs S Aspelin (SWE) / J Knowle (AUT) - ATP

Not Before 11:30 AM
V Razzano (FRA) vs [19] A Ivanovic (SRB) - WTA
[3] M Bhupathi (IND) / L Paes (IND) vs E Butorac (USA) / J Rojer (AHO) - ATP
[6] I Benesova (CZE) / B Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) vs [WC] A Ivanovic (SRB) / A Petkovic (GER) - WTA
[17] A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs [12] P Kvitova (CZE) - WTA

COURT 2 start 11:00 am

[15] M Bartoli (FRA) vs E Makarova (RUS) - WTA
[24] M Kirilenko (RUS) vs [9] A Radwanska (POL) - WTA
[23] M Llodra (FRA) vs M Granollers (ESP) - ATP
[16] V Troicki (SRB) vs [19] S Querrey (USA) - ATP

Not Before 6:00 PM
J Chela (ARG) / J Monaco (ARG) vs [6] M Llodra (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) - ATP

Slideshow: Rafael Nadal Practice Session

All photos by JD Blom for Tennis Panorama News

Slideshow: Roger Federer Practice Session

Roger Federer practices with Andy Murray on March 22. Didn't seem to do Murray a whole lot of good. I'm sure Federer won't have much difficulty with Radek Stepanek later today, though the Czech does enjoy playing the world No. 3.

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Video of practice session

Maria Sharapova Enjoys 'That Latin Flavor'

All Photos by JD Blom for Tennis Panorama News. I've included a lot at the special request of a fan on twitter who wanted to see all aspects of her dress. Best viewed on full screen.

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Last night, I attended my first-ever night session on Stadium Court at the Sony Ericsson Open. Outside of the Slams, this is among my favorite tournaments. I've always considered it the fifth Slam, even though recently, I've heard Indian Wells referred to as such. What I love about this slam is the high-energy crowds that come out at support Central and South American players. When JD asked me what the biggest tournament in South America actually was, I drew a blank. In my mind, this is it.

Which is why I ought to have gotten out to Court 2 a lot earlier and watched the compelling drama unfold between Paul Capdeville of Chile and Frederico Gil of Portugal. By the time I arrived, the match was at a few points shy of the final set tiebreak, which Capdeville let 4-1 and 6-3, only have the match stolen from him by the tenacious "Fred" (his fans where chanting his name after almost every point) who struck two outrageous passing shots to save two of the four match, deflating the Chilean who was gutted after the match. I shot a video of his interviews after the match to post for fans in Argentina and Spanish speakers who follow him, but unfortunately the footage exceeded the 90 seconds I'm allowed to publish and my editing skills are rudimentary at best.

Back on Stadium Court, Maria Sharapova played her first match in Miami match in three years. After she cruised to victory 6-3, 6-2 over Croatia's Petra Martic, I was the only writer, along with five photographers, who showed up for her news conference. Because it was late and she appeared to be a bit insulted by the empty room, joking that more children showed , I kept my one-on-one with the former No. 1 and face of the WTA succinct.

How are you feeling?

Good. Great.

When was the last time you played in Miami?

Three years ago.

That's what I thought. How does it feel to be back?

Way too long.

Feels really good. This is one of my favorite events. It's crazy that I've missed it this many years because of injuries. So I'm just so happy to get back on that court today and just I love playing in front of the crowd. They're so enthusiastic. They love their sports and have that Latin flavor about them. You know, it's fun.

How is your shoulder?

MS: Doing good. Yeah, stable.

Are you healed?

Healed? Tough to say an athlete is healed, but, yeah, I'm doing really well. Thank you.

You are pretty popular in Asia. Can you talk a little bit about how you felt when you heard about the Japan earthquake?

Yeah, it was a tragedy. You know, you still see all the coverage in the papers and on video. It's crazy to think that something like that could just happen so quickly and destroy so many lives, so many emotions.

Japan is one of my favorite places to visit, to go to. I've had incredible memories ever since I think I was maybe 13, 14 years old my first time I went there. I love so many things about it. I love the people. I love the food. I love the culture. I mean, I have been to so many different parts of it, as well, I've got to experience. I mean, you go to a different town, people live differently. It's so unique there. I draw so much inspiration all my life from there and from those people. It's devastating to know what they're going through. Yeah, but I hope that it doesn't continue and become worse.

Where do you see yourself in the game right now?

Um, you know, I see myself building from what I can. You know, my goal this year is to consistently stay healthy and just really build on you know, last week I got to the semifinals. I was really happy, because I hadn't played a tournament in a while. So just, you know, play a lot more tournaments, you know, play a lot more matches, and I feel like my form will get to where I want it to be when I do that.

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Cross-posted to Tennis Panorama News

Video: Roger Federer Practice Session

Video by JD Blom and Craig Hickman

Videos: GR8 Friends For Japan Fundraiser With Novak Djokovic

by Craig Hickman







ATP World Tour No. 2 Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori and other ATP players held a fundraising event on Wednesday, March 23rd to benefit Japan relief efforts.

First Djokovic lead a team of ATP stars in an exhibition soccer match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers professional soccer team. After the match Djokovic and Nishikori hosted a dinner at the posh JW Marriott Marquis Miami. The $350 per plate exclusive dinner/ after-party featured a silent auction and donations were made to the American Red Cross Japan disaster relief efforts.

The event was hosted by GR8 Miami (www.GR8Miami.com).

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I shot all these videos. Pardon the shaky hands. I had no tripod. I'll try to write a report that does the forthcoming slideshow of the event justice sometime in the next day or so. It may have to wait till I return home to Maine on Sunday though, as I'm traveling to Boston tomorrow afternoon.

Slideshow: Andy Roddick Practice Session

Defending champion Andy Roddick gets in a good session with compatriot Ryan Harrison on Stadium Court.

Of War And Radiation: Kim Clijsters Speaks

by Craig Hickman


JD Blom

Tuesday morning at the Sony Ericsson Open, Caroline Wozniacki, Kim Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva, Samantha Stosur, Francesca Schiavone, Jelena Jankovic, Li Na, and Victoria Azarenka made themselves available for the WTA All-Access Hour.

But it was Clijsters who spoke most candidly about recent world events. Probably because she was sharing her thoughts and feelings in her native tongue to journalists from her country. Something about being around your people that opens you up. What follows is translated from Flemish by JD Blom.

Q: When you are looking at the world events of Japan and Libya do you think about what is happening to the world and Jada’s future?

KC: Certainly. As soon as I heard that there was a radioactive cloud on its way to the west coast, normally I would not have worried about that, because you think it’s so far away. But this time I was “Let’s get out of here as soon as possible,” and also with Jada you think about it differently. When I was younger I used to worry about stuff, like when we had to go to Australia or Tokyo, and the war in Kuwait (sic) was going on and then on your flight map you could see that we were flying over Iraq and Iran and I had quite a bit of fear. I want to follow world affairs, but I do know that when Jada is walking around I don’t want her to see those things. But Brian looks at it quite differently. He knows what is happening and feels badly about it but it does not affect him as much as it affects me.

I was like, “We need to get those pills.” I went to all the natural food stores to look for products with natural iodine like seaweed, spirulina, and kelp. I bought it all. And Brian just laughs at me. He is like, "If the government says it will not have any influence no problem," but I think they are lying. Of course, they say that because they can’t evacuate the whole west coast. But I won’t be fooled. Even in Belgium my sister and aunt called me saying, “You gotta leave because the cloud is coming, or you can just put Jada alone the plane and we’ll pick her up here at the airport.” What a panic. It was a bum. Do you really think it can get here in Indian Wells? I didn’t even want to imagine it.

Q: Then there’s the Toray (Pan Pacific Open) in Tokyo in October.

KC: I won't go. And I won't go to Beijing either.

::

The world No. 2 retired from her fourth-round match in Indian Wells against Marion Bartoli citing a shoulder injury. She's now happy to report that her shoulder and her wrist are improving and she's ready to defend her title in Miami.

Cross-posted to Tennis Panorama News

Sony Ericsson Open 2011 Day 1 Open Thread

JD Blom

David Ferrer practice session.

::

ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2011

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am

[WC] S Cirstea (ROU) vs J Zheng (CHN) - WTA
J Goerges (GER) vs M Oudin (USA) - WTA
P Schnyder (SUI) vs [WC] M Keys (USA) - WTA
[WC] S Lisicki (GER) vs M Czink (HUN) - WTA

COURT 1 start 10:00 am

Qualifying - J Dokic (AUS) vs C Mchale (USA) - WTA
Not Before 11:00 AM
E Baltacha (GBR) vs S Bammer (AUT) - WTA
R Vinci (ITA) vs I Benesova (CZE) - WTA
A Morita (JPN) vs [WC] H Watson (GBR) - WTA
E Makarova (RUS) vs V Dushevina (RUS) - WTA

COURT 2 start 10:00 am

Qualifying - J Hampton (USA) vs K Flipkens (BEL) - WTA
Not Before 11:00 AM
B Jovanovski (SRB) vs M Niculescu (ROU) - WTA
K Barrois (GER) vs [WC] P Martic (CRO) - WTA
U Radwanska (POL) vs S Halep (ROU) - WTA
J Larsson (SWE) vs A Rodionova (AUS) - WTA

COURT 3 start 10:00 am

Qualifying - M Russell (USA) vs M Matosevic (AUS) - ATP
Qualifying - S Bolelli (ITA) vs A Bogomolov Jr. (USA) - ATP
Qualifying - R Kendrick (USA) vs J Reister (GER) - ATP
Qualifying - R Schuettler (GER) or B Reynolds (USA) vs I Navarro (ESP) or G Zemlja (SLO) - ATP
Qualifying - T Smyczek (USA) vs F Cipolla (ITA) or O Rochus (BEL) - ATP

COURT 5 start 10:00 am

Qualifying - Y Meusburger (AUT) vs V Manasieva (RUS) - WTA
Qualifying - R Farah (COL) vs M Ilhan (TUR) - ATP
Qualifying - N Llagostera Vives (ESP) vs A Tatishvili (GEO) or P Mayr-Achleitner (AUT) - WTA
Qualifying - I Kunitsyn (RUS) vs E Prodon (FRA) - ATP

COURT 6 start 10:00 am

Qualifying - [WC] M Larcher de Brito (POR) vs A Rus (NED) - WTA
Qualifying - S Zhang (CHN) vs E Birnerova (CZE) - WTA
Qualifying - L Hradecka (CZE) vs I Falconi (USA) or S Zahlavova (CZE) - WTA
Qualifying - A Hlavackova (CZE) or Y Chan (TPE) vs A Pivovarova (RUS) or A Keothavong (GBR) - WTA

COURT 7 start 10:00 am

Qualifying - P Capdeville (CHI) vs B Phau (GER) - ATP
Qualifying - D Munoz-De La Nava (ESP) vs P Lorenzi (ITA) - ATP
Qualifying - R Sweeting (USA) vs L Rosol (CZE) - ATP
Qualifying - G Dimitrov (BUL) vs [WC] N Massu (CHI) - ATP
Qualifying - F Dancevic (CAN) vs D Young (USA) or A Clement (FRA) - ATP

COURT 8 start 10:00 am

Qualifying - K Pervak (RUS) vs J Namigata (JPN) - WTA
Qualifying - [WC] S Stephens (USA) vs S Ferguson (AUS) - WTA
Qualifying - J Craybas (USA) or [WC] L Davis (USA) vs A Yakimova (BLR) or K Bondarenko (UKR) - WTA
Qualifying - R Voracova (CZE) or C Dentoni (ITA) vs X Han (CHN) or S Mirza (IND) - WTA