Charming little handmade sailboats in the Tuileries
PARIS – Rafael Nadal sat in his courtside chair, contentedly munching a banana while 14,845 aficionados surrounded him, checking his banana-eating form. It was neat, but overpowering, the way he treats opponents.
In a couple of minutes, one more game, he would smack the last tennis ball of the French Open, and became the planetary top banana, regaining No. 1 status. continue reading »
June 06 2010 | French Open | 1 Comment »
George Washington Bridge from Ft. Tryon Park
NEW YORK – Is he risking a Samsonian downfall? Was Rafael Nadal’s visit to a barber shop a wise decision? Trimmed of what seemed his lucky locks, does he yet have the muscle and hustle to win a two-week tussle called the US Open.
“Why, he has ears!” exclaimed a woman who saw him yesterday, during what seemed a cameo: 33 ½ minutes of making “Gonzo” (Chilean Fernando Gonzalez) go gone-zo in the direction of Santiago. All that hair accompanying him to the heights of the tennis world is also gone-zo. continue reading »
September 12 2009 | US Open | 8 Comments »
Closeup of a cluster of Jacaranda flowers on a tree in bloom
KANGAROO VALLEY, Australia – Wending our way toward Melbourne and another Australian Open, which will be quieter this year. Unfortunately the Siberian Siren, Maria Sharapova, won’t be there to defend her title.
She was so terrific a year ago, winning 14 of 14 sets, looking very No. 1, crushing then No. 1 Justine Henin in the quarters, 6-4, 6-0 (perhaps making the retired mini-gem, Justine wonder if life among the musculars was worth continuing). Alas, Sharapova needs more time to rehab and train following right shoulder surgery. Not that shriekers won’t be heard – Venus and Serena to name two. But nobody’s in a vocal class with Maria, whose arias turn many off – or to earplugs.
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January 14 2009 | Australian Open | No Comments »
At the entrance to Flushing Meadows Park and the USTA Tennis Center, the David Dinkins Circle was dedicated on 2 September with hundreds of friends in attendance to honor his work with the parks and with the building of the Tennis Center. Shown here are David Dinkins, his wife and son, Billie Jean King and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe.
NEW YORK – A patch of blue asphalt flooring Ashe Stadium became Scotland Yard Sunday. It belonged to a sharpshooting Scottish sleuth in short pants, who apprehended a strongarmed trouble-maker from Spain after a two day chase.
Although Arthur Murray may have taught your parents dancing, the up-to-date Scotsman, Andy Murray, danced a highland fling to perfection in collaring Rafa Nadal, who has been pushing everybody in the tennis business around all year. Rafa had flattened Murray five straight over the last two seasons, but Andy was on his trail.
Murray, a 21-year-old out of Dunblaine, almost nabbed his man Saturday. However, a windy, wet harridan called Tropical Storm Hannah washed out some clues, and interrupted his semifinal pursuit at the U.S. Open with Nadal still on the loose. Andy was getting close, leading, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 2-3.
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September 07 2008 | US Open | No Comments »
