Another Becker Classic – Sampras v Becker ATP World Championship 1996

I will get my WTA awards out before New Year’s Eve, but I thought posting anything not Dick Enberg related would have been poor form.  Life has gotten busier since then. This match was an example that huge serving and power tennis could be wildly entertaining.  Becker was coming back from a wrist injury earlier in…

Dick Enberg: Rest in Peace

I always enjoyed his enthusiasm for tennis. His knowledge of nearly every sport and his enjoyment of competition were infectious. He will be missed. Dick Enberg: – 8 UCLA titles – 9 no hitters – 9 Rose Bowl’s – 28 Wimbledon’s – 3 Olympics – John Elway’s Drive – Bird v Magic NCAA Final –…

Tennis Abides 2017 Men’s Awards

  Having laid out that I am not a huge fan of bestowing honors not won or lost on the court, I will throw out my ATP awards for the 2017 season. Players of the Year: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer  Rafa put up the better computer numbers, but Roger dominated their head-to-head matches.  Rafa…

Forgotten Classic – Becker v Leconte 1993

I loved seeing the sort of shots they could generate given that the strings were not nearly as advanced as they are today.  Also, the serve and volley positioning is nice to see.

Happy Thanksgiving and a Glimpse Ahead for Tennis Abides

Dear Readers, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  I know days of thanks are celebrated on different dates in different countries, but it is always nice to recall things for which I am thankful.  My years of running my own tennis site have been rewarding and that is especially true given the great…

Remembering Jana Novotna

I am saddened to hear about Jana Novotna’s passing away after a battle with cancer.  Her career numbers speak for themselves.  Novotna won a Wimbledon singles title in 1998 after runner-up finishes in 1997 and 1993.  She was also runner-up at the 1991 Australian Open.  Novotna also won 3 Olympic medals (silver in doubles in…

ATP World Tour Finals 2017: Day 3 Round Robin Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD [5] Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. [8] Jack Sock (USA) H2H – The winner of this match will keep his semifinal hopes realistically alive.  Cilic has more experience and a more well rounded game.  Jack Sock has his massive forehand and momentum from winning in Paris.  Sock leads their head-to-head 2-0 with both wins coming in 2016 (Davis Cup…

World Tour Finals 2017: Day 1 Round Robin Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD (4) Dominic Thiem VS (6) Grigor Dimitrov – The surface favors Dimitrov, and Thiem has had a forgettable post-Roland Garros season. Rafael Nadal still has concerns about his knee ahead of the ATP World Tour Finals 👉 https://t.co/jIHNjQfmiA pic.twitter.com/cwiP7Fa3HP — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 11, 2017 (1) Rafael Nadal VS (7) David…