Family Circle Cup - Female Turns Pro at Fourteen

Which female player turned pro when she was fourteen and then finished the next year ranked in the top twenty?

Family Circle Cup - Winningest Player of All Time

Who is the winningest player of all-time, from either gender, including all team formats?

Family Circle Cup - Petkovic's 2014 Win Revisited

Many of the matches, many at the Family Circle Cup, were fantastic to watch.

I don't remember too many blow-outs nor many upsets not fought hard for.

If you watched Petkovic at Family Circle Cup or other more recent tournaments, you have to realize how sound her strokes are and for the most part, her shot selection.

But, what I've realized over the last few weeks, is how she manages her game. Soon I believe she will be managing her opponent's game, even more so, as she did this last week.

She overwhelmed Sabine Lisicki in two sets at 6-0, 6-1. She then took down Lucie Safarova in three sets 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. There was nothing about her arrogant or over-confident in the first and nothing about her that seemed worried in the latter, but the prior was not like seeing Pete Sampras rifle through a match and then waiting for him to smile sometime the next day after he had his favorite breakfast.

Five Reasons to go to the Family Circle Cup

We aren't going to provide press coverage for the Family Circle Cup (beginning April 4) this year or have prize drawings and handouts, but we are going the last few days, hopefully to simply relax and enjoy some great tennis.

Perhaps, we may provide a few blog posts or a few tweets while we're there.

Here a few reasons you should go to this WTA tournament if you can:




1. Family Circle Tennis Center is a wonderful facility. No, it's not Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. It's homier and there is usually plenty to enjoy, see or do while matches aren't underway. The event and facility staffs are fantastic and helpful. There are a vast number of national and local vendors there, tennis-related and otherwise. Also, because this is not a monster of a stadium, even the highest seats are good seats.

2. Daniel Island is a beautiful community and you don't have to go far for some fantastic food; vistas of rivers, creeks and marshlands; or to perhaps find your next home.

3. Charleston is within view of Daniel Island and is only a 10 to 15 minute drive away. Voted one of the top U.S. cities to visit for many years, its history, architecture and style of living is not all there is to take in. There are usually some local events beginning this time of year aside from all the fantastic shopping, not to mention that Charleston has received high regard from the culinary industry nationally and beyond. Also, there are beaches east and south of Charleston and plenty of water sports to partake.

4. There is much history behind Family Circle Cup and is the largest women's only tournament of the year. Andrea Petkovic is back to defend her title from last year and although there is obviously only one singles and doubles winner, almost every player has said they enjoy the tournament, the atmosphere and the people.

5. It's Tennis.

So, if you haven't made plans to go the Family Circle Cup, do so. The links above should help you in discovering what you need to know.

And, we'll be providing some posts over the next several days to highlight some items you may find interesting.

Save Money on Just About Everything!

ATP Hot Shot - Again, Ryan Harrison

Not to get carried away with Ryan Harrison, but since our article yesterday about his win over Grigor Dimitrov to get to the quarters at the Albierto Mexicano Telcel tournament in Acapulco, he shows up on the ATP Hot Shot with this flick-shot against Ivo Karlovic.

Although he lost the point, he went on to beat Karlovic (23 world, 6th seed) in three sets 4-6, 7-6(0), 7-6(4).

Rumor has it that Andy Roddick worked with Ryan on this shot at the behest of Grant Doyle, coach. I made that up. Who knows?

Harrison takes on Ferrer tonight in the semis no earlier than 10:00p (Central Time U.S.; GMT-6) and I believe it's only being covered on TENNISTV. Correct me if I'm wrong.

See the story and video.

Learn More!

American Defeats Defending Champ in Acapulco

American tennis player, Ryan Harrison, born in Shreveport, Louisiana, defeated defending 2014 Abierto Mexicano Telcel champion, Grigor Dimitrov, to move on to the quarterfinals.

Ryan, ranked 169th, comes from a bloodline of tennis players and athletes and has been ranked in the top 100 before and it appears he is ready to clear that barrier again.

Dimitrov, 10th in the world, made no excuses after the match and wished Harrison the best - the way it should be done.

I imagine many Americans do as well.

See the story.

Learn More!

Grigor Dimitrov Takes a Dive in Mexico

I'm not certain if Grigor ever dove from the cliffs in Bulgaria bordering the Black Sea during his youth and although Monte Carlo (his current home) is quite hilly, the terrain somewhat tapers toward the sea, so the odds are unlikely there.

But, if he (somewhat) apparently chose not to launch from from the top of the cliff and chose a more sane perch at a lower altitude, this was probably a rather wise decision being that he's defending his title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.

We know he won't take a dive in the tournament.

Check out the video.

   

One of the First Aluminum Rackets

Whose name was on the first aluminum frame racket with inlay stringing (no outwardly exposed grommets or strings)?

Nadal's Shorts Finally Come Off!

After all these years of tugging on his shorts and whatever else, Nadal's shorts finally came off during a match.

See the video.

Tennis Has An Income Inequality Problem

The following article definitely merits attention and may pose many questions and stir up some ideas you have particularly if you have watched tennis tournaments or team matches on television and attended a few pro events at a variety of levels.

So many light bulbs lit up when reading this - mostly dim ones as this topic is so broad in scope and geography that one must consider so much when addressing the issue.

One will need the input from so many and it looks as if this is beginning to be done.

I would love to see (literally) more lower-level pros playing, knowing they are making a financial gain in doing so whether or not they are moving up to the big time.

Hell, I wish a lot more teaching pros were making a go of their careers successfully full-time. 

The article is by Carl Bialik of FiveThirtyEightSports.

Belgian Waffles, U.S. World Cup Soccer, Football and Wimbledon

Julian Green of the U.S. celebrates after
scoring a goal during extra time.
(REUTERS/Michael Dalder)

Well, I would be lying if I said, "I really know what's going on at Wimbledon." Except for a few updates...okay, I'd still be lying.

There's something much larger going on right now and I can't be bothered with tennis, a sport I love so much. 

Another sport, soccer, is having its World Cup right now. I began playing soccer as a child down here in the South when most people were clueless if you mentioned the sport of soccer and you dared calling it football. I was selected for the All-State team and went on to college to play and I should have looked at other colleges I didn't know were looking at me (long story). But, I never called soccer, football. There's good reason - to prevent confusion and also to avoid some angry fans of the other game I also like, from making ignorant comments about the one I was playing at the time.

That's it. We Are Done With Family Circle Cup - 2014

Well, almost. We still have to collect and compile all the prize entries from our various social networks. We will do so over the next few days and notify the winners.

The WTA, and more specifically, Family Circle and the facility and tournament staff did a fantastic job, a fact most all the competing pros seem to never overlook.

How about those pro ladies? Except for perhaps the 2nd round of singles, there were far more matches going three sets or tight two sets than otherwise.

The surrounding businesses and people of Daniel Island were gracious and inviting. The weather was mostly perfect for players and fans alike and even on the day of the most threatening forecast, clouds, some cooler weather and about 30 minutes of light rain was the worst the skies provided.

We truly enjoyed covering and watching the tournament, not to mention all the people we met and new friends we made. Many of you we will be contacting soon.

Thank you to all of you who participated and followed along with us. 

Play the Game!

Doug Ingbretsen
3rdToad.com Tennis

The WTA, SAP, HANA and HAL

Let's call this an opinion piece, a personal opinion, which I imagine most of my ramblings on about basically are.

The WTA has already partnered SAP to provide analytical point-by-point match data that can be used by coaches and players for their own post-match analysis and other purposes, but the technology, based upon or run on the SAP HANA platform is supposedly ready to offer such information real-time. See WTA Considers Allowing Players to Use Data On Court.

I imagine this has been mentioned or proposed and considered as a new offering for 2015.

Another Wozniacki Coach Goes on Permanent Holiday

According to the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, Caroline Wozniacki has fired yet another tennis coach, this time for wanting to go on holiday rather than join her for some training in Dubai.

Something is rotten in Denmark and perhaps with northern Europe. If you have looked at the Happiest Countries in the World reports, that began, I don't know when, you will notice most of the countries in the top ten are in Northern Europe and Scandinavia. My (I'm half Norwegian - #2 on the Happy Scale) Nordic brothers and sisters seem to be kickin' back and enjoying life.

What? No More Tennis?

So the U.S. Open is done. The last major, the last slam of the year is finished. Everyone who needed to announce their retirement has done so, maybe. The Davis Cup semi-finals are over as well and we have to wait until mid-November for the finals.

As sports spectators, here in the U.S., I believe many of us turn our eyes toward College Football and the NFL, but I also know this is a time when we get back on the courts for the Fall tennis league seasons across the nation with more lighted-court matches and chillier evenings.

However, the pros are still hammering it out across the globe. The TV coverage may not be what we are used to once the Australian Open kicks off earlier in the year, but rest assured Tennis Channel and a few other broadcasters will be covering the action.

Jon Cryer Playing Tennis? At the U.S. Open?

It must have been a late match, I caught some highlight clips or I was extremely exhausted.

I swear I saw Jon Cryer of Two and a half Men playing a match with Vasek Pospisil against the Bryan Brothers at the U.S. Open in Round 3.

This had to be some joke Charlie Sheen put him up to. Nah, Jon wouldn't do that.

Anyway, he and Vasek played one hell of a match until Mike and Bob desperately rallied in the third set.

Read more >>

U.S. Open Week One Recap

Well, I'm not really certain if we are technically done with week one, but I guess as the calendar goes, we are.

So here we go.

One of the Fab Four will have some extra time to watch the remaining three.

Serena is still the top lady and only U.S. woman standing after sending Sloane to the locker room, the stands or wherever, nonepically.

The Bryan Brothers keep the family moving onward.

U.S. Open, Day "Whatever"

I know it's Thursday, but what day is it at the U.S. Open?

I guess it's day four, but it feels more like day two, at least for Mens Singles.

Throw in some moisture and drizzle, along with the existing scheduling, particularly the men's first round singles, and you have a snowball's chance in hell of naming the day. And, it can snowball, into week two, easily, whenever that may begin.

Okay, I know this is nothing so unique to the U.S. Open, just ask your club owner/manager or a tennis tournament director. It's this kind of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde thing that occurs. They love promoting tournaments and doing all the fun stuff for members and tournament guests (not to mention the revenue and potential new members, oh beer and wine sales too), but go ask some inanely stupid or obvious question when the weather throws a wrench into the equation.

The U.S. Open - Pete's PreCap

Is this the U.S. hOpen for the American Men?

Just a few weeks ago, for the first time since around the time Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs, no U.S. Mens Singles player was ranked in the ATP Top 20. John Isner, who had fallen out of the Tumultuous Twenty recently, knocked a hole in the ceiling and burst through the floor by defeating Roger Federer in the quarters in Cincinnati at the Western and Southern Open and then taking down Juan Martin del Potro in the semis and is joined as a U.S. Open seed by Sam Querrey.

He lost to Nadal in the finals in two tie-break sets, but I'll watch a few of these matches any time before having to endure the Battle of the Sexes match again.

Nadal and Djokovic Face to Face, Well Sort Of

Did Rafa intend to tag Novak in the face with the tennis ball? Was there some message being sent by Rafa?

Novak was close to the net while Rafa was approaching to take a backhand shot, which could have easily been sent down Djokovic's line, not up his nasal cavity.

Novak did position his racket down and toward his left in anticipation of the down-the-line shot, making him a less protected target. 

We rarely see such shots made by players at this level. Nah, no way.

Even at the upper-middle club level rarely do you see a player put a shot at another's grill, but it does happen.

Heck, I even hit my ex-wife between points one time and I can absolutely, positively, tell you it wasn't intentional. Check it out at http://itoaduso.blogspot.com/2013/08/InTheDogHouse.html.



Only these two guys really know. Or, at least one of them does.