Martina Navratilova Abides!

I was not going to post this until I had a column to go with it.  With all of the talks about most this or greatest that, if doubles and mixed doubles are considered Martina Navratilova is the most decorated tennis player ever.*  Getting a tweet from her was a thrill. Not at all…and with…

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Yevgeny Kafelnikov Abides

Yevgeny Kafelnikov responded to a non-sensical, social distancing induced question I asked him on Twitter.  YK, the 1996 French Open, 1999 Australian Open, 2000 Olympic gold medalist in singles, and former world #1, has not seen the Soviet produced version of The Hobbit (1985). I didn’t 🤷‍♂️ — Kafelnikov Yevgeny (@KYevgeni) March 26, 2020  

Don’t Call it a Comeback or Time to Hang it Up?

Can these bones live? Wake up call … I got my brains beaten out in both singles and doubles when I played in during a high school tennis practice this past Saturday.  To add injury to insult, I lunged/dove for a ball when trailing and lost my balance falling on my left knee and hand. …

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Tennis Power Ranking 2020: Australia Shakes Things Up

Novak Djokovic –  Winning the first major of 2020 makes Djokovic the easy choice for the first #1 in Tennis Abides’ power rankings. Dominic Thiem – The Austrian is getting closer to claim his first major.  At 26, he is no youngster, but he is taking the ball earlier on hard courts and this should…

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Australian Open 2020: All Hail King Novak VIII and Queen Sofia I

Five. Straight. Points! Kenin blasts three consecutive winners on break point and escapes her way out from 0-40 to hold for 3-2.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/gVsNdr6sjO — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 1, 2020 NOTE from the Tennis Abides Legal Team*: Whatever fond memories I have of watching Sofia the First with my children when they were younger,…

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Australian Open 2020: CGI Saltwater Crocodiles Play Tennis!?

The bushfires in Australia hopefully will raise awareness of and support for wildlife and wildlands among tennis fans.  Not sure what to say about this, but the Australian Open did help raise funds for the cause of Australia’s ecosystems.  

Australian Open 2020: Thiem vs. Djokovic is Set as the Main Event

Backhand Blitz Thiem seizes the moment to break and erases a Zverev chance to claim the 3-1 edge in the third set.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/vfrr9Rtib8 — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2020 Does Thiem have a Chance? Yes!  Dominic Thiem will pose the toughest match Novak Djokovic will face in his 7 matches in Melbourne.  Thiem…

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Australian Open 2020: Djokovic Eyes a 17th Major

The Australian Open has made one big and one small surface change since 1987.  In 1988, the Australian Open left grass behind and debuted a highly rubberized hard court called Rebound Ace.  This type of hard court was used from 1988-2007 but its tendency to “grab” the soles of players’ shoes and ruin ankles on…

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