Volleyball Could Learn from Tennis

Around the Net Shots I attended a high spirited clash of regional high school volleyball powers this past week.  To be sure about two things, not all net sports are the same, and I prefer tennis to volleyball by a wide margin.  Having said that, the games were fun and the student sections were animated….

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Is Djokovic’s 2011 the Best Year Ever?

Wait Until the Year Ends or Did 2011 End in NY? There may be wisdom in letting the rest of 2011 play out before selecting Novak Djokovic’s  awesome season as the best ever single season.  Novak won the season ending championship in 2008 and adding a second season ending title would be a significant achievement….

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6’9″ John Isner’s Road Map to the Top 10

Career High 18 John Isner is the #18 player in the world.  This is his highest career ranking.  Isner followed a disappointing Wimbledon with titles in Newport and Winston-Salem.  Isner was also runner-up in Atlanta and a semifinalist in Washington, DC.  Those four events alone netted Isner 830 points.  He garnered 360 points from his…

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Review of ‘Unmatched’ ESPN’s 30 for 30

ESPN’s 30 for 30 Takes on Navratilova and Evert Review of Unmatched Directed and Produced by Lisa Lax and Nancy Sterm Winters It was by accident that I got to watch this great sports documentary.  Considering that Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova won 36 combined singles Grand Slam titles and faced one another 80 times,…

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Sam Stosur and the GOAT Debate (Steffi and Serena)

Graf-esque (esque and fjord need more uses) Samantha Stosur put together a comprehensive win against the most dominant female player since the Graf-Seles Era.  She did it by hitting big forehands and serves, moving well, being fit, and slicing her backhand.  Sound like anyone else?  Sure Sam can hit a two handed topspin drive, but…

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Davis Cup Semifinal Predicitons

Preface – Who Put the Puritans in Charge of ITF Scheduling? Tennis has the best sense of scheduling of any global sport as fans can build up to big events and then ease off for a few weeks before building up again  How can we be less than one week removed from one of the…

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Links to Some of My Favorite Pieces on Tennis

Here is a quick look at some of my favorite tennis articles ever written.  You may want to bookmark this one and read one per month.  I am listing them chronologically from oldest to most recent. 1. Raised by Women to Conquer Men by Frank Deford Sports Illustrated 28 August 1978 This is a must…

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