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Sydney Mystery Post 01/04/2008 - 6:28 PM

JhToday I'm pleased to pass along a dispatch from Down Under. This comes from someone I'll just refer to as Our Sartorially Resplendent Sydney Correspondent. He or she is covering the Aussie swing for a reputable paper and is passing along observations here as well. One of which is that the WTA's coaching rule seems to have been expanded.

I'm going to post a 2008 preview one of these days—hopefully before the end of 2008. I blame my day job.

Hi Steve,

The world No. 2 women's tennis player—you're correct if you happened to guess Svetlana Kuznetsova—rode out to the site of next week's Sydney tournament on the bus with 10 or 12 other players, coaches, and hangers-on.

As the down-to-earth Kuzzie arrived at the complex, the one player ranked higher than her was beginning practice at the courts—and it's very unlikely Justine Henin took anything except an official tournament car.

The grounds, which were the site of the tennis event at the 2000 Olympics, have about 8 practice courts side by side, all surfaced with the new two-tone blue Plexicushion that will be used at the Australian Open in 10 days or so. At first they look like a bunch of swimming pools, but after a while you get used to them. From the blue courts to the blue screens to the blue sky above, it's all a bit monochromatic. "If you're looking for a change of colour anywhere, you won't get it," said one female official. "Look up [at the sky] and all you see is more."

There was some shower potential in the forecast, but Friday in Sydney was lovely - 25 degrees (75 F). Lots of wind made it tough for tennis, however.

Henin began her practice routine by using an elastic stretch cord with handles—she held the handles and coach Carlos Rodriguez the cord as Justine mimicked her serving motion in an attempt to strengthen her
always-vulnerable shoulder joint. She began the practice session slowly, hitting with a guy whose accent suggested he was a local.

Henin's practice was completely ordered, and supervised at every step of the way by Rodriguez, who never stopped making comments and using his racquet to emphasize technical points.

After ground strokes, it was volleys, then overheads, lobs, then serves and then returns of serve. Interestingly, the practice partner did everything she did - he put up lobs for her to hit overheads, and then she put up lobs (very tricky in the seriously windy conditions) so he could hit smashes.

Note: Her volleys looked great -- very solid.

The only real moment of interest occurred when Henin hit a forehand volley and appeared to wince.
She walked over to Rodriguez, who looked genuinely concerned. But Henin soon gave him the signal that there was no need to worry. Still, she frequently made circular motions with her arm above her head to make sure the joint was loose.

Tzipora Obziler took over the court after Justine, after allowing her a few more minutes than the allotted hour, and engaged Justine in a little conversation -- but Justine didn't look terribly forthcoming.

Out on the competition courts, which are a level above and near the main stadium, women's qualifying had begun.

Some of the men were around—John Isner practising and Richard Gasquet and Stefan Koubek hitting together. The Frenchman was noticeably pale.

The match between Alize Cornet and Olga Savchuk brought bad news for tennis purists who had hoped the idea of coaching on the women's tour had become as obsolete as a third set in men's or women's doubles. Down a set and 3-4 in the second, Cornet had called for her coach.

A few adjustments seem to have been made to the rule. According to an official, the referee had told officiating personnel that morning that coaching was allowed once a set, but not necessarily at the end. In fact, a player can potentially name three or four coaches and receive visits (one per occasion) from any of them—father, mother, friend, coach, trainer, virtually anyone. Tournament clean-up staff might have an opportunity for a sideline job, the official joked. Even in doubles, players are allowed to appoint multiple coaches. That means if each player names four coaches, the coaching pool for four players on one court would be a total of 16!

There was only a smattering of spectators attending the free qualifying event but that should pick up by the time the main draw starts on Sunday. The cut-off ranking for the event is a tight No. 22.

The actual name of the Sydney event is the Medibank International, but a tournament communications person said that it's very difficult to get the papers (the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian) to use the Medibank name. Even worse, the national TV broadcaster for the event also refuses to use a Medibank reference. All prefer to go with the generic Sydney International.

Despite the meagre attendance, qualifying Friday was a hive of activity. Veteran Jill Craybas clawed out a tough two-set victory over the athletic, if diminutive, Chinese woman Yuan Meng, while on the court next door Marion Bartoli practiced with her somewhat eccentric father.

By the way, Cornet, who white as a sheet, appeared as though she was going to pass out and lost the second set 6-3 to Pavchuk. She walked off the court and sat in the front row of seats and cried, talking actively to a woman who looked like her mother, occasionally resting her unhappy head on mom's shoulder.

On another court, Jarmila Gajdosova, a transplanted Eastern European who is now an Aussie resident, defeated Ai Sugiyama. Sugiyama lost the first and was down 2-5 in the second before mounting a comeback. She had chances at 5-5 but lost to Gajdosoba, a solidly built woman who packs a serious
wallop.

On a nearby court, Obziler, who would eventually win, and her opponent Anastasiya Yakimova both called for their coaches at the end of the first set.

The battle of the Stephanies was won by Stephanie Dubois, who defeated Stephanie Foretz 6-3 in the third. Foretz has big strokes but she was ridiculously erratic, not helped by the windy conditions or Dubois' consistency.

A few courts over, Anne Keothavong of Britain was losing to Karin Knapp of Italy. Keothavong wore an attractive burgundy dress with a pinkish sash which would have been more striking if Alicia Molik hadn't worn the same dress during the Hopman Cup. It looks like it's this year's general issue from Adidas.

Expect a lot of that dress at the Australian Open. It happens every year -- you see a nice creation but soon discover everyone is wearing it.

On television, tennis in the Australian market has to compete with a big cricket match going on now between Australia and India. News programs on the two main networks Friday morning only reported on Hopman Cup -- Australia losing to the U.S. (Serena and Mardy) and the Serbs (a wounded Jankovic and
Djokovic) reaching the final. There was also, of course, an item on Hewitt winning his match in Adelaide. But not a word about the Gold Coast tournament, where both Mauresmo and Vaidisova had been were upset.

Riding back on the bus in the afternoon, you might have been sitting across from Feliciano Lopez. He was listening to his Ipod the whole way, but when the bus driver made a brief, unscheduled stop before Sheraton Four Points, F-Lo was in a mini-panic that something had gone seriously wrong.

It was a bit like last summer at the U.S. Open when he couldn't figure out why he was playing so well against Federer. But he calmed down and it all ended without a major hitch.

—Your Sartorially Resplendent Sydney Correspondent
 
36
Comments 		 

Posted by Codge 01/04/2008 at 06:56 PM

I love it.
Hope to read more from the GQ ready correspondent.

Why on God's green is the WTA still experimenting with this ridiculous coaching scheme?
The original incarnation was awful, but now they add an even worse wrinkle!
WTA carried tennis for time there in the late 90's early 00's, but now it simply a joke.
Posted by Chiconinja 01/04/2008 at 07:05 PM

Justine has a new racquet!

I want it!
Posted by Chiconinja 01/04/2008 at 07:10 PM

Wait,

None of us said first!

So, first!
Posted by Sher 01/04/2008 at 07:32 PM

[ According to an official, the referee had told officiating personnel that morning that coaching was allowed once a set, but not necessarily at the end. In fact, a player can potentially name three or four coaches and receive visits (one per occasion) from any of them—father, mother, friend, coach, trainer, virtually anyone. ]

argh!
Posted by Sher 01/04/2008 at 07:37 PM

[It was a bit like last summer at the U.S. Open when he couldn't figure out why he was playing so well against Federer. ]

LOL

Nice post, I look forward to more from YSRSC (sounds like a mutual fund, Your Sartorially Resplendent Sydney Correspondent).
Posted by Ali C 01/04/2008 at 07:49 PM

Ohh, Alize, Alize. Dropping in the first round of qualifiers?!?

Hope she's just got stomach flu or something and will be better by the AO.

As for Justine...shoulders are a problem, even after they're healed. I tore a rotator cuff years ago, and it still gets very tight, and very sore if I sleep on it wrong. It wouldn't surprise me if these a normal beginning-of-season aches and pains, and she'll work them out by the time Sydney's over. At least, that's what I'm hoping for!

Posted by Eddy 01/04/2008 at 08:35 PM

Thanks for the report...SRSC.
Ya Codge, I agree the coaching thing is ridiculous. Tennis is supposed to be gladiator style. Gladiators don't get pointers in the middle of the fight.
By the way, it might sound crazy but I'm expecting Serena to retire this year or next. Same with Venus. If I were Henin I wouldn't take Serena's warning too seriously. What do you think?
Posted by Sam 01/05/2008 at 02:50 AM

SRSC: Thanks for the report - well done!

Ali C: Hasn't Justine had shoulder issues for a while now?

Posted by Ali C 01/05/2008 at 03:26 AM

Sam, yeah. I think she's had shoulder issues for much of her career. And putting the kind of stress on that shoulder as she does, well, it's to be expected.

Still, though - she needs to stay healthy for awhile!

Posted by Or 01/05/2008 at 08:30 AM

**Tzipora Obziler took over the court after Justine, after allowing her a few more minutes than the allotted hour, and engaged Justine in a little conversation -- but Justine didn't look terribly forthcoming.**


Tzipi, next time - don't be so nice.
Posted by turtle 01/05/2008 at 09:10 AM

patrick et al, here are my thoughts on the sydney draw:

quarters: justine - elena; ana - anna; nikki - tati; kuzzy - li.

semis: justine - ana; nikki - kuzzy.

final: justine - nikki.

champion: justine.

ho hum, another routine justine victory. really, who among all these faux challengers is going to trouble her? (unless, lucie gets hot in the second round and beats her like she did at paris last year).
Posted by Sam 01/05/2008 at 09:32 AM

"Still, though - she needs to stay healthy for awhile! "

Definitely, Ali! When she changed her service motion (summer of 2006?), was that due to shoulder issues?
Posted by Samantha 01/05/2008 at 12:05 PM

I've to disagree with Eddy, I think both Williamses are playing excellent tennis, so why would they retire. Venus just won Hong Kong over Sharpova in straight sets and Serena just won the Hopman cup. Both have said they don't plan to retire for a long time, I think they are the rivals for Justine and I look forward to it. People have been predicting the Williamses are through forever and they keep surprising their critics, I hope they continue to do it. Good luck to them both. Steve, great article and picture of Justine. Go Justine!
Posted by JSe123 01/05/2008 at 12:45 PM

I CANNNOT WAIT FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN TO START. IT IS GOING TO BE OFF THE HOOK. By the way I agree with Chiconinja, I love Justine's racquet. I was watching the Hopman Cup and all of players seem to have new racquets. 2008 is gonna be sooooo exciting.
Posted by jb 01/05/2008 at 12:49 PM

Very nice post - oh SRSC! i'll be looking for the burgundy dress...

made me laugh about F-lo and the bus, but then I realized that would happen to me... sigh. Do keep the reports coming?!

pfft. coaching. bahhh humbug. i just had a vision of the womens matches being reduced to little princesses crying midmatch on their mommies shoulder.... if a coach can't get enough tennis smarts and sense into someones head for them to be able to execute for 1 - 2 hours without them whispering in their ears, either:
a. they're a lousy coach
or
b. their player is thick
therefor
c. the player doesn't deserve to win.

as for serena - she was looking great at hopman. looks like she took 'getting in shape' to heart, and she's looking lean, mean and ready to rumble. lets hope she delivers!

Posted by turtle 01/05/2008 at 01:02 PM

i completely and heartily disagree with smuncha. venus embarrassed herself at the asian tour at the end of last year, winning only one final in three at basically challenger level events. beating masha at an exo is hardly much of a statement. for that matter, shuai peng beat ana for third place in the same tournament. does this mean peng is a better player?

as for serena, she suffered one embarrassing loss after another in the european indoor season with the ultimate flop occurring at the yec. the hopman cup is a joke, played more for fun than in the spirit of true competition.

eddy is right. the williams sisters are done and this year should be their swansong.
Posted by Eddy 01/05/2008 at 01:56 PM

Samantha, I think their decline begins this year. But did they really say they intend to play for a long time? I can't help looking at all the chances Serena had to beat Henin last year and didn't. To me that was a foreshadowing of this year. As for Venus, I don't think she'll retire until at least next year. Same with Serena, though I expect Serena's decline to begin this year...and not necessarily Venus. I wish Venus good luck this season anyway. I've had enough of Serena's conceitedness for a while...and Justine of course :-).
Posted by Eddy 01/05/2008 at 02:00 PM

Oh ya, I forgot to mention. Besides the fact that Henin had control of Serena last year, Serena kept getting injured before she chould challenge anything serious. It was always a battle of whether Henin or injuries would get to Serena first. I fully expect that to continue. For some reason, ever since Serena gained that husky figure (not fat, just thick) it's been full-go for injuries. Venus has had her own knee problems unfortunately. Maybe it's her height *shrug*. That's something neither turtle or I mentioned before: the injuries.
Posted by Bob 01/05/2008 at 02:11 PM

I'd love to see Justine practice. Great report. Shoulder problems forced me to quit playing tennis forever. Years later I had surgery, but never wanted to test it again. It didn't take away all of the pain, but did for normal non-athletic movement. They just get worse and worse. I kept going to doctors who said it was tendonitis, and used medication, shots, and stuff. Finally I went directly to an orthopedic surgeon who was apparently the best in our area, and after one shot, he said I needed surgery, and that solved a problem I'd had for ten years.

I see Justine, Maria, Venus, and Serena as the best players and likely to all make the quarters, but I'll be surprised and disappointed if Henin doesn't win. She's clearly better than everyone else; but a bad day against a really good player who is on fire and she could lose, as Federer can. He has the luxury of best of five to recover. Her shoulder has been a problem since Rogers, but manageable. She didn't know if she'd be able to play the final there. Slams are great for her, since she has an intensive warm-up event, and then days off in between her slam matches. I'm really looking forward to the AO. Li Na is playing well and healthy again. She's very dangerous, and Lindsay will be dangerous. It will be an incredibly strong field. If only Kim was still playing.

Serena and Venus will play until they can't compete for slams any longer. That might be two years, or four years.

Posted by Ali C 01/05/2008 at 03:12 PM

Sam,

I'm not sure if the changed service motion was forced by the shoulder injury, or was for some other reason and less-stress-on-the-shoulder was a nice side effect. Bob might know. Bob?

(I know Amelie had to change her service motion a few years ago for her back...)

Hmmm....I see that JJ has drawn Tati in the second round, assuming Tati gets past the qualifier. Anyone smell an upset brewing there?

Posted by donna wayne 01/05/2008 at 03:32 PM

serena and venus are still the best. i also like maria most of the time. I can't stand justine there is more to life than tennis she should get one. Than maybe she would not look like she just eat a lemon. Go girls in 2008.

Posted by Samantha 01/05/2008 at 03:35 PM

"The Williams sister are done". Ah right, I would be rich if I had a nickle every time I heard that nonsense. Eddy, I think you have to look at NOW. Serena looked in great shape at the Hopman and the Williamses beating Sharapova in their last 4 matches is no small matter. But we shall see, I would put my money on them rather than the wishful thinkers. Their decline begins this year, this year has started and so far both are winning, so where is the decline. I know it's coming. Go Venus and Serena, I'm looking forward to the rivalry.
Posted by Bob 01/05/2008 at 03:55 PM

Henin is obvously the best, having the best post Wimbledon year since Steffi in 1989, and against so much more competition that there is light years of difference. Her record since the start of the FO is probably unprecedented, in terms of matches and sets won. Only huge wind stopped her from going unbeaten since the start of the FO. She certainly has a life, but it doesn't interfere with her tennis. These women only have ten years or so do show their stuff. She'll have no regrets as to her committment to her sport for that period.

I'll pick Golovin over JJ almost any day. If she's playing well, she can beat almost anyone, and has more weapons than JJ.

Posted by Eddy 01/05/2008 at 04:13 PM

I don't think they are done. I just think Serena's declining. Venus, not yet. We'll have to see. I still think Venus could win a slam or two. I'm prepared to be wrong, but I have to call it like I see it. Last year, I believed Serena could win more slams. Not this year, although this time she is prepared for the AO.
Posted by patrick 01/05/2008 at 04:23 PM

Turtle:

SYDNEY
QF: Henin/Dementieva-Ivanovic/Chakvetadze-Vaidisova/Golovin-Li/Kuznetsova
SF: Henin/Ivanovic and Golovin/Li
F: Henin and Golovin
Champion: Henin (streak will be extended to 29)

HOBART
QF: A Bondarenko/Dellacqua-Radwanska/Mirza-Azarenka/Kirilenko-Vesnina/Zvonareva
SF: A Bondarenko/Mirza and Kirilenko/Zvonareva
F: Mirza and Kirilenko
Champion: Kirilenko
Posted by Ali C 01/05/2008 at 04:50 PM

SYDNEY
QF: Henin/Mauresmo-Ivanovic/Bammer-Safina/Golovin-Li/Kuznetsova
SF: Henin/Ivanovic and Golovin/Kuznetsova
F: Henin and Golovin
Champion: Henin (streak will be extended to 29)

Why those picks? I think Amelie will be desperate (on the inside, of course) to put together some kind of momentum going into the AO. If she gets as far as Elena D, that's a match she SHOULD win. Assuming her head and adductors are all right. *rolls eyes*

Bammer - eh. Will be interesting to see where Chaka's head is at the moment.

Safina - Because she always does OK before she falls very, very flat.

And Kuzzie - well, she IS the world number 2. For a couple more weeks, anyway. ;)
Posted by patrick 01/05/2008 at 05:29 PM

Turtle,
If Azarenka was able to win a final, she may start to accelerate upwards in the rankingd. Victoria is 0-3 in finals with chances to win ALL of them. At least both tourneys have fields of comparable talent. Sydney has a lot of the Top 20 and Hobart has a lot of players ranked b/w 20-40.
Also, I will see the WTA live from Sydney Tuesday even though they will be on for only 2 hours on TC. Looking at HC was good even though Janky/Tati match never really happened except for one game. Serena had to serve very well to beat Molik at HC. Saw that match live. Serena faced 0 BP but was down love-30 in a few games.
Posted by patrick 01/05/2008 at 06:31 PM

Turtle,
NFL Wildcard winners - Seattle, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, San Diego.

Can not disagree on Victoria A on being a choker in the finals.

Speaking of TV coverage, I will see the WTA(only 2 hrs though) everyday from Tuesday forward which is great. ATP start their coverage on TC on Thursday. Do you think Janky will play Sydney due to her injury at Hopman Cup? Also, do you think Dani will be ready for AO since she hurt her abdomionals at Hong Kong? Will Tati finally be a contender in Slams?
Posted by patrick 01/05/2008 at 06:33 PM

Turtle,
ESPN and TC will cover AO. Prefer TC 'cuz I will have a chance to choose from 5 different matches. While Fed and/or Rafa is playing, I will be watching the WTA along with yourself.
Posted by Eddy 01/05/2008 at 07:05 PM

turtle, I like Henin. She's definitely good for the WTA and anybody will tell you that.
Posted by M-Life 01/05/2008 at 11:57 PM

V Az, a choker. Ohh... I don't know. I think she is just young and still learning the game. You watch, in a year, maybe a year and a half, she will be kicking some booty- big time. I think she is mentally tougher than Vaidisova, and Ivanovic, who one would most compare her with.
What's up guys, what's up Patrick, Eddy, Ncot, Sam.... Happy new year to all. Ready for another great year of tennis?

Posted by patrick 01/06/2008 at 08:20 AM

M-Life,
I am posting right now in The Fine Mists of Sydney. Tennis has been eventful already and this is only week 1. Serena winning HC, Janky hurting her leg, Venus winning Hong Kong exo, Ana I losing 2 matches at same exo, Maria beating Chaki at exo, Lindsay winning Auckland, and Li Na winning Gold Coast for her 2nd career title.
Posted by like.no.other 01/06/2008 at 08:23 AM

Ali C , well i completely disagree with you. Kuzzie retired in the second round of sydney last year and only makde the 4th round of the ao so she definitely would get points. She is btw an exciting player to watch as she has an amazing forehand
Posted by Samantha 01/06/2008 at 09:26 AM

Hey M-life, nice to see you back, kind of crazy what happened with Chaki. Just glad she got out of it OK.
Posted by MarkM 01/08/2008 at 03:04 AM

anyone knows what specific k-factor racquet justine is using in the picture above? thanks!
Posted by MarkM 01/08/2008 at 03:05 AM

anyone knows what specific k-factor racquet justine is using in the picture above? thanks!

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