Sinclair Broadcast Group Owning the Tennis Channel Raises Issues

In January 2016, the Sinclair Broadcast Group bought Tennis Channel for $350 million.  Sinclair Broadcast Group is currently embroiled in a scandal in which anchors at its many television stations read strikingly similar statements lobbing salvos against more mainstream news sources in the US.  Sinclair did not publicize its role in crafting or promoting these…

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2018 and the ATP Tour – 2003 Redux?

2017 – The Echo Year? 2018 – The Realigning Year? Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal neatly divided most of the biggest prizes in tennis in 2017.  It looked a lot like 2005-2010 in which the two won all but 3 majors.  I called 2017 “the Echo Year” to my friends. Yet, something odd happened at…

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Tennis Power Ranking 2018: Isner Takes Miami

Post-Miami Momentum for Isner Roger Federer – Federer won the Australian Open and Rotterdam.  He also finished as a runner-up at Indian Wells.  Still, his 2018 start is not matching his 2017 start.  Federer not playing the clay season means he will drop this top ranking after Monte Carlo or Madrid. Juan Martin del Potro – JMDP’s…

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Masters Miami 2018: Men’s Singles Predictions for March 26th

Predicted Winners in BOLD Stadium  (11 a.m. start) [16] Pablo Carreño Busta (ESP) vs. Steve Johnson (USA) – This should be a fun match for anyone with tickets.  These two guys play heady tennis and battle with all they have to offer on a given day. [17] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) vs. [15] Fabio Fognini (ITA) – If Kyrgios is healthy…

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Miami Open 2018: March 26th Women’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Stadium (11 a.m. start) [3] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) vs. [13] Sloane Stephens (USA) – Either is capable of winning this match, but Muguruza has a slightly better chance of advancing. [8] Venus Williams (USA) vs. [11] Johanna Konta (GBR) – Venus had a great 2017, but this could be the type of win to propel her toward similar…

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Masters Miami 2018: March 23d Men’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Stadium  (11 a.m. start) [2] Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) – Cilic will get a needed win. [9] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Benoit Paire (FRA) – I like Novak to get this win. [5] Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) vs. Robin Haase (NED) – JMDP is riding high Grandstand [7] David Goffin (BEL) vs….

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Miami Open 2018: March 23rd Women’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Quick picks today Stadium  (11 a.m. start) [4] Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs. Naomi Osaka (JPN) – All good things come to an end, but … not yet [8] Venus Williams (USA) vs. [Q] Natalia Vikhlyantseva (RUS) [2] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Monica Puig (PUR) – Will Puig ever rise to the heights she did at the 2016 Olympics?…

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Masters Miami 2018: Men’s Singles Predictions for March 22nd

Predicted Winners in BOLD Stadium (11 a.m. start) Leonardo Mayer (ARG) vs. Donald Young (USA) – I wrestled with this prediction.  Mayer should love the slow conditions.  Young is always tough on US soil. Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs. Nicolas Kicker (ARG) – Tiafoe was #11 in my recent power ranking. Grandstand Denis Shapovalov (CAN) vs. Viktor Troicki (SRB) – Can…

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Miami Open 2018: March 22nd Women’s Singles Predictions

Spring has…sprung?#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/tR8IfSJ3cd — Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) March 21, 2018 Why Miami is played in March and Cincinnati in August Predicted Winners in BOLD Stadium (11 am. start) [10] Angelique Kerber (GER) vs. Johanna Larsson (SWE) – Kerber’s excellent 2016 and strong 2015 seem to be more relevant than her poor 2017 campaign. [1] Simona Halep…

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Doubles and Poaching

Like many people, I am playing more and more doubles as I get older.  My net game in doubles is pretty vanilla despite me generally wanting to get to the net in singles and having pretty good hands.  Being more active at the net in terms of one’s footwork seems to be the first key…

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