At the level of ethnography, tennis tournaments are always interesting. Tennis is obviously being played, but a lot of other things are going on as well. This was especially true at the high school level. Happy Reunions First, I seem to bump into people I know at any tennis tournament I attend. This is true…
Month: May 2018
3rd Season: St. Xavier Sweeps Kentucky’s State Titles – Part 1 Match Impressions
I will look at last weekend’s 2018 Kentucky High School Athletic Association state tennis championships from the perspective of an observer/coach and from the perspective of ethnography. Match Impressions – Singles and Doubles Semifinal Rounds Saint Xavier and Manual High School dueled in their regional contest and entered the final day of the state tennis…
Roland Garros 2018: Men’s Thoughts
Not shockingly, I think the top tier of contenders for the 2018 Roland Garros crown is occupied by a lone individual. Here are my tiers of interest for the second Grand Slam event of 2018: Tier 1 – Rafa Rafael Nadal is ranked #1, the defending champion, a 10-time champion (!), and won Monte Carlo,…
Djokovic vs. Nadal: 51
Nadal when asked if he misses playing against Djokovic: “It’s better to not play him.” — Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) May 19, 2018 Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will square-off for the 51st time tomorrow. That alone is noteworthy, but when one considers how tightly meshed their careers have been, especially since early 2011, it…
Tennis Power Rankings 2018: Clay Update Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Madrid
Clay Brings Changes at the Top Rafael Nadal – Even with a loss in Madrid, which has never been Rafa’s best clay event, his 50 straight sets won on clay and titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona make Rafa the hot hand on tour and favorite for an 11th(!) Roland Garros title. Change since last ranking…
Second Season: Saint X wins Regional Title with Eyes on the State Tournament
What a Difference 1 Week Makes The 6th Region of Kentucky’s 16 high school tennis regions crowned a familiar champion before regional realignment goes into effect in 2019. Saint Xavier’s tennis team absorbed a tough upset loss on Senior Day 1 week ago. At the same venue, Saint X fended off duPont Manual High School to…
Saint X Hosts Trinity: Senior Night
I referenced not particularly liking losses in dual matches. My first season of being part of a tennis coach in three years ended with a dual match loss, but the atmosphere was something that I’ve never seen in all of my years of being around high school tennis at Saint X as a player, at…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 