Heroic umpire of Isner-Mahut match, Mohamad Lahyani
LONDON – If you were somewhere near the Atlantic and heard a horrendous, sound-barrier-breaking noise yesterday about noon, don’t be alarmed.
It was merely the last groan raised throughout Great Britain as the last of the Brits at Wimbledon hit the last shot and lasted no longer in the oldest lasting tournament.
That was a Scottish lad named Andrew Baron Murray who stalled in the semifinals for a second straight year, and the long-lasting Curse of Fred Perry continues for a 75th year. Way back in the age of schoolboys wearing knickers and Model A Fords with rumble seats, a Brit named Fred Perry won the singles championship. He did it in 1934-35-36. None of his countrymen has imitated Fred since. continue reading »
July 02 2010 | Wimbledon | 2 Comments »
Australian Open 2010
The reign of Rafa I is over.
It was a night of fireworks in Melbourne – in the sky and on the tennis court below as Rafa Nadal lost his crown. The reign from Spain startlingly fell on the plain called Rod Laver Arena as Nadal dethroned Roger Federer a year ago in 5 thrilling sets.
But there was no 1-2 rematch. Nadal was ushered out in the quarter-finals by a brilliant Scottish upstart, Andy Murray. As I have said before, Nadal, though only 23, just ain’t the same guy who owned Paris, won Wimbledon and leaped past Federer to No. 1. continue reading »
January 26 2010 | Australian Open | 2 Comments »
Fitzroy Gardens' Fairy Tree created in 1931 by Ola Cohy. It seems to have been restored this past year.
Long John Isner has bashed a deep forehand along the sideline which ought to save a critical break point. It’s way out of Andy Murray’s reach.
Or is it?
Murray takes off from his right sideline and sprints frantically along the baseline, stretching in the direction of the ball, elongates his arm like Plastic Man, swings – bang! – drives a backhand past Isner. continue reading »
January 24 2010 | Australian Open | 4 Comments »
The old dump looked pretty good with its 14,359 seats filled, and Butch Buchholz handing the trophy to – can you believe it? – a tennis player from Scotland. continue reading »
April 05 2009 | Tournaments | 3 Comments »
