Novak Djokovic Reigns at all 4 Majors – Don’t expect to see this happen again.  It might happen again, but no male player had held all 4 major trophies simultaneously since 1969.  Steffi Graf held all 4 majors at the end of 1988 and after the 1989 Australian Open.  Serena Williams twice held all 4 majors…

Originally posted on Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life:
Preview Olympic Tennis has had a lot of ups and downs.  During some Olympic years, the tennis events have seemed at best like a 500 point tour level tournament while other years have produced high drama for the sport.  With Davis Cup, Federation Cup,…

Originally posted on Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life:
Jim Courier: the Entrepreneur  The 1992 and 1993 Australian Open Men’s Champion Jim Courier has been a strong presence in tennis since retiring without  overshadowing active players.  Although Courier made his Grand Slam breakthrough in Paris on red clay, I think the Australian Open…

Originally posted on Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life:
Familiar Faces Sampras ushered in a new age in 1990 By some luck for tennis junkies, Pete Sampras was born on August 12, 1971 and Roger Federer was born on August 8, 1981.  The two men are almost exactly 10 years apart in age. …

Originally posted on Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life:
This is the first installment in a series looking at the best performers at each Grand Slam event.  I will look at the 10 best champions on the male and female sides of Open Era tennis and explain why they are ranked where they…

Croatia led 2 to 1 heading into the final day of the Davis Cup.  Marin Cilic is a top 10 player who had won matches on days 1 and 2.  A home court crowd plus a surface selected to benefit the Croatians spelled doom for Argentina in my mind.  I figured even if JMDP won…