Jak Beardsworth Tennis

Lucky for me, and everyone else, Tracey Austin was assigned to do the color on the Stephovsky-young Ryan Harrison exciting 5-set match today at the Open. Ian Eagle, the play-by-play man, could hardly get a word in, such was the incessant, never shut-up “analysis” provided by Austin after every single point, finding multiple ways to repeat exactly what we had just seen without a trace of any identified nuance of what was not obvious, endlessly droning on and on. Then I realized that, because she is in such demand on TV these days - must be her excellence – perhaps she  thought that she was doing commentary for BBC radio. What else could explain it?

Is there anything worse than screwing up and then attempting to blame someone else for your own shortcomings? NO! Roddick’s footfault tirade was an attempt to deflect responsibility from himself to the lineperson. Pathetic. Is this becoming a spoiled, ugly American thing? Think Serena 2009.

First, it was indeed a footfault as the replay clearly shows. Second, when he asked the linesperson which foot was responsible she indicated right foot instead of left foot. An honest, nervous mistake with Roddick bullying her at that moment. Of course it was his front foot (left) since, as he already knew, he doesn’t move his right foot, which he could have clarified immediately. Instead he chose to use that disingenuous opportunity to berate her and act like it was a bad call and didn’t really happen. What an a-hole. Punk? Absolutely. End of story.

Never my favorite player to say the least, but lately I was trying to pull for him. Never again. You?

Rafael Nadal will play the feature match tonight at the U.S. Open’s Day 2. This is the first time that he has arrived in NY without any injuries or fatigue after the U.S. Summer hardcourt season. Can he add to his collection the only slam that has eluded him. And he would be the first player to win the French, Wimbledon, and the Open in a row since 1969 when Rod Laver did it.

But the courts are fast. Federer is attacking more under new coach Paul Annacone (see Pete Sampras), and he’s got to be hungry after losing last year’s final to Del Portro after being up two sets to one. And what about Andy Murray – is he ready?

When asked about his history in the game Rafa becomes uncomfortable, “Just an honor to be close to these players. But I am 24 years old, and it’s very difficult to talk about history now.”

According to the likeable, humble Spaniard, the real satisfaction for him at this juncture is in the practice, improvement, and hard work.  Sounds as if he’s got a bit of zen working. I believe him. Do you?

Did anyone notice, does anyone really care, that Federer’s win yesterday over red hot American!! Mardy Fish in Cincinnati tied him with Bjorn Borg at 63 career titles in 5th place. Would you believe that Jimmy Connors is at #1 with 109 tournament wins. No way Rog, or anyone else for that matter. Connors was that good for that long. He’s becoming a good one on one interviewer of today’s players, always exuding that he’s a kindred spirit still. I also appreciate the way he’s so deferential to Martina Navratolova when they’re working together.  Respect.

Did you happen to see/hear their final’s match at Palo Alto/Stanford a week ago? The two top practicioners of high pitched on court screaming on tour. I had to turn the volume completely off.  A discredit to the great game of tennis. Where’s the on-court decibel meter? No wonder former WTA CEO Larry Scott got out of Dodge and left for the Pac 10. It’s completely out of control. The women’s game will become unappealing if all the upcoming kids are buying into this. Ridiculous and scary for the game.

Debbie Graham was a competent tour player in the late 80s. Yesterday I viewed her offering a segment on the Tennis Channel’s Academy instructional series. These are generally about 25/25/25/25…some good, some very good, some bad, some very bad. This one, featuring Graham, also a USTA player development coach, is an embarrassment.

She is joined by a 1o year old and they are hitting groundies with only 1 racket which they are passing back and forth hurriedly to keep up with, I suspect, a ball machine feeding balls out of camera range. Why? “This will really help you bond with your doubles partner and have fun.” No mention is made of utilizing this as a fun interlude for recreational beginning, young junior players, which is the only possible benefit.

Drivel! This is a USTA coach giving us insight on how to improve our game? Another example of USTA cronyism, and  USTA sponsored so-called player development crap.  You cannot make this stuff up. Very disappointing at best.

In one sense, it’s a sad state of American tennis affairs. In another, it’s a testimonial to the allegedly antiquated old school game of John McEnroe. Roddick defeated Mac 5-4 at the WTT NY Sportimes – Philadelphia Freedoms match last Wed at Randall’s Island.  5-4???  The #1 tennis player in the U.S. can only squeak by a 51 year old man with grips and court positions that are now judged as unworkablebad and in complete opposition with the, pardon me while I upchuck, “modern game.”

I heard a rumor that the USTA is lobbying to change the dimensions of the court perimeter behind the baseline to 40′ for the US Open Series that’s about to start. This way players like Roddick could then stand, comfortably, 35′ behind the baseline and have more time to mindlessly fire those howitzers – artillery tennis - from even longer range since actually being able to play shots on the rise from close proximity to the baseline is way too old school.  And, from way back there, our players are free to completely ignore any possibilities for drop shots or sharp angles, or, heavens, to come into the net and pressure an opponent.

Okay, I made it up, but, at the same time, you can’t make up the state of affairs of USTA led American tennis. Just take a look at the top 100 men or women. End of story.

How classy was Rafa in his on-court comments after defeating Tomas Berdych in straights at Wimbledon. Telling the crowd that he was so appeciative of their even keeled respect for the tennis itself without becoming crazed homers in his semi-final showdown vs the British Hope Andy Murray, and that you do not get that at any other court in the world.  Wow. All class.

When are these going to learn that they are not going to beat Rafa predominantly from the back of the court on any surface? They are guaranteed to lose from the back. Check the record. Time to finally get over the delusion guys…time to get real. Put Jimmy Connors, in his prime, in one of today’s big bodies with the same equipment and you’d have a player more than willing to get right in Rafa’s face, somrthing todays players appear to be so afraid of. Remember an ancient Jimmy screaming into the courtside microphone at the US OPen during his last hurrah, “He’s going to have to pass me 65 times,” in reference to knowing he could not beat his considerably better backcourter opponent from the back, so he came in, sometimes reckelessly with incredible effect.

We will see if anyone can step up and attack Nadal. Too bad a  younger Patrick Rafter isn’t available to show them how.

Total domination is a good way to describe the extremely fit Serena’s play and VZ’s inability to do anything about it. Got to hand it to her, Serena Williams is an incredible player and a better competitor. Zvonareva’s post match comment that “I wished I had played better but she didn’t allow me to play well” begs the question – would Serena have been so gracious if the results were turned around? I’m going with a resounding NO, since when was the last time she ever gave anyone credit after a losing effort?