Break Points: July 23, 2013

Break Points is a daily roundup of tennis news, videos, links, and tweets. If you have something you think I should include, email me at amy@changeovertennis.com.

Today’s notable results:

  • Umag: Blaz Kavcic d. Florian Mayer, 6-7(5), 6-0, 7-5
  • Gstaad: Federico Delbonis d. Thomaz Bellucci, 7-5, 7-6(2)

News and Links:

Gstaad gave Roger Federer another cow. Hilarity ensued.

Federer’s twin daughters, Myla and Charlene, turn four years old today. They’re my favorite spectators.

FedHaas8

WimbledonFederer-v2

Over at Tennis.com, Steve Tignor wrote eloquently about Ivo Karlovic:

There is always something of the novelty act to a Karlovic match. With his inability to break or be broken, what he ends up playing isn’t tennis in the conventional sense. Unfortunately, while the result may be novel, it’s not wildly entertaining. Andy Roddick echoed the thoughts of many fans when he played Karlovic in Washington, D.C., a few years ago. Sometime in the middle of the first set, after each player had made his way through a few routine holds, Roddick could be heard muttering, “Let’s just get to the tiebreaker.”

There has always been something of the misfit to Karlovic. Instead of playing the obvious sport for a man his height, basketball, he found his own way to a tennis court. Early in his career, he had trouble with a stammer. More limiting was his game itself, which consisted of his supersonic serve—he’s the only player I’ve seen hit completely flat aces out wide in the deuce court—and little else. But against the odds, and with a lot of work, Karlovic rounded out his game and turned what looked like a one-shot act into a 13-year pro career that’s still going strong. In 2004, Karlovic upset top seed Lleyton Hewitt in the first round at Wimbledon. In 2008, he reached a career high of No. 14 and beat Roger Federer in Cincinnati. And this weekend he won his fifth career title and re-entered the Top 100.

According to Tracy Austin, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka practiced together the other day. That would be a fun session to watch.

Tennis on Twitter:


Amy can be spotted on a tennis court in the Philadelphia area, shanking backhand volleys.

One Response

  1. Master Ace
    Master Ace July 23, 2013 at 7:34 pm |

    With Azarenka being scheduled to play Carlsbad next week and Sharapova being in California(at ESPYs last week), no surprise in them practicing. Stubbs reply to Austin was the surprise as she said about Austin not hearing them.

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