The 10 Best Tennis Stories of 2016

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…

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Olympic Tennis Review: 1988 Graf was Golden

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,…

Petra Kvitova Attacked

I have no special words and do not know any details beyond what has been reported regarding Petra Kvitova being attacked during a home robbery and sustaining injuries. Petra Kvitova underwent hand surgery after this attack. I hope the tennis world rallies around her.  Focus on the sport of tennis can wax and wane due…

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Thomas Muster: What Was and What Might Have Been

I am not sure anyone can overstate what Muster did to come back from his injuries in early 1989.  An automobile accident in Miami nearly cost Muster his life.  In 1989, Muster reached the Australian Open semifinal round losing to Ivan Lendl and had reached the championship round at Masters Miami hours before being injured…

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Davis Cup 2016: Argentina Shocks the World (and Me)!

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…

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Davis Cup 2016: Day 3 Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Marin CILIC vs. Juan Martin DEL POTRO – At the 2010 Australian Open, Cilic won a 5 set match over Delpo that seemed to draw battlelines for a coming decade of big man tennis. These are the two best practitioners of Big Man tennis in my view.  When healthy, each can…

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