Infinite Jest: Not an Easy First Reaction

I Started Reading Infinite Jest Not an Easy First Reaction (Some Spoilers) Prologue – My History with DFW I first read David Foster Wallace in the summer of 1996 when I was a work-study intern at Georgetown University.  Our office was full of tennis fanatics (always a good thing for me).  One of my bosses…

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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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Can Tennis Save My Life?

  The title may be a bit of hyperbole, but I am 42-years-old, I need to lose weight, and I have a stressful situation surrounding one of my children.  I don’t know if you have noticed, but Tennis Abides has had a bit of a sporadic last 12 months in terms of my ability to…

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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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