Notable Results:
- Dubai F: Venus Williams d. Alize Cornet, 6-3, 6-0
- Rio de Janeiro F: Kurumi Nara d. Klara Zakopalova, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
- Rio de Janeiro F: Rafael Nadal d. Alexandr Dolgopolov, 6-3, 7-6(3)
- Delray Beach F: Marin Cilic d. Kevin Anderson, 7-6(6), 6-7(7), 6-4
- Marseille F: Ernests Gulbis d. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7-6(5), 6-4
News and Links:
In his Dubai opener, Roger Federer hit this amazing tweener lob.
Speaking of Federer, the 17-time Slam champion believes his best tennis is around the corner:
“I am playing top tennis,” the Swiss said. “For me it’s just a matter of staying healthy, staying consistent and getting to semis and finals. I feel as if I’m in as good a shape as I have been for a year, so that’s very encouraging. I feel my best tennis is around the corner.
“I know I’ve said that a few times, but this time I really feel it’s the case. I have zero pain and spent a very encouraging month in Dubai training in December. I am confident for the year ahead.”
Here’s the full transcript from Venus Williams’ presser after winning the title in Dubai.
In the final of an ITF event in Arizona, Jovana Jaksic saved 14(!) match points to beat Tamira Paszek:
Jaksic was clearly elated after closing out her first title of the year. “I still can’t believe I saved 14 match points,” she said. “I have no idea how I did it. I have to say that each time I faced a match point, I played an amazing shot and managed to hit winners on most of them. And I was thinking, ‘If I can save one, I can save the second and the third.’ But I stopped counting after the sixth match point! I didn’t even know the score in the tie-break until the end of the match, I was just fighting and fighting.”
Courtney Nguyen picked out her favorite excerpts from the English version of Li Na’s book.
Steve Johnson and Kevin Anderson spoke about college tennis during the tournament in Delray Beach:
“This gives college tennis some credibility,” said Johnson, of Orange, Calif., who beat Anderson in Aukland in January. “I’ve heard guys say me going to college for four years was the dumbest idea I could make.
“I wasn’t mature tennis-wise or good enough, fitness-wise, not even close to the right level. College gave me a chance to grow up and realize what was important and not important in my life.
“Myself, Bradley and Rhyne, we’re all just itching to get a real big breakthrough. Hopefully, this is my week and who knows who next week?”
Steve Tignor previewed this week’s tournaments over at Tennis.com.
Tennis on Twitter:
Had fun playing with @delpotrojuan today and in front of a great crowd too… Playing singles tom at 2pm. Good night! pic.twitter.com/gwYjclHDIv
— stepec78 (@stepec78) February 24, 2014
#helicopterselfie with @GrigorDimitrov pic.twitter.com/5aPBWy05nk
— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) February 24, 2014
Federer's mum in the house (apparently she still gets nervous watching him): pic.twitter.com/4FxKfq7hsi
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 24, 2014
Tea time in Dubai: Del Potro experienced the luxury of @emirates private Airbus A319 aircraft yesterday. #dailydelpo pic.twitter.com/IlLnnlEBFz
— Elena Scuro (@TheSliceTweets) February 24, 2014
Genie and Dimitrov spending quality time together? Uh oh. Get the rumor mill started!
LOL!
dubai bottom 1/2 of draw opened up after delpo retired, probably berdy going for another final?
The success of players like Steve Johnson and Kevin Anderson can only serve to advance college tennis. It’s a fantastic game to watch in person if you have a chance to see two high-level programs compete and now, I think it’s getting the proper respect for being a solid training ground for future pros.
In the not-so-distant past, choosing college over jumping into the pro game was seen as nothing more than wasting some of your prime years, but with the “peak” age of players creeping closer to 25 rather than 20, I think college is becoming more of a viable option for players.