Court Six: Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column (May/June 2012)

June 18, 2012 | By Emilie Katz
socialz

Tweets from the pros … what the stars do when off the court

►Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): I am embarrassed to say that I lost to @McIlroyRory in table tennis 11-9 in the third and deciding set!

►Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): I was stuck in traffic in Miami. Needed almost an hour for a usual max 15 min. ride!

►Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92): Currently 37,000 feet above ground on the way to Miami. Couple days to relax and enjoy the beach.

►Murphy Jensen (@murphyjensen): Living the dream for two days in Savannah Ga. and back to Sea Island on Wednesday! Come on!

►Lindsay Davenport (@ldavenport76): DISNEYLAND!

►Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim): Dinner at Nobu with my sister.

►Casey Dellacqua (@caseydellacqua): Early morning swim and breakie down at Quinns Beach. Just beautiful.

►Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Watching the @MiamiHEAT game. Let’s go Heat!

►Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): Watching Jerry Maguire movie! Show me the moneeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

►Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): Had a good day of practice, but have been VERY busy including doing a shoot for the WTA.

►Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92): Great night tonight! Got to see the Heat play from the fourth row.

►Casey Dellacqua (@caseydellacqua): Had a wisdom tooth taken out today.



Hall for Guga

One of Brazil’s most beloved and successful athletes, Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten, has been elected to receive the highest honor in the sport of tennis … induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Kuerten was the world’s number one player for 43 non-consecutive weeks, and he is a three-time major tournament champion, having captured French Open titles in 1997, 2000 and 2001. Kuerten’s induction was announced in a special presentation in São Paulo at the offices of Banco do Brasil, a long-time sponsor of the tennis champion.

 



Martina’s Time to Dance

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova competed Dancing With the Stars, which aired for 10 weeks. Martina danced with Tony Dovolani, a Kosovan-American professional ballroom dancer. Unfortunately, Navratoliva’s dancing is not on par with her tennis ability and she was the first person voted off. Navratilova was joined this season by The View co-host Sherri Shepherd; Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Donald Driver; Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls on the TV series “Little House on the Prairie;” Actor Jack Wagner of “Melrose Place” fame; Motown legend Gladys Knight; Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan; Opera Singer Katherine Jenkins; Singer Gavin DeGraw; Cuban-American Actor William Levy; Entertainment Reporter Maria Menounos; and Actor Jaleel White, who played the role of Steve Urkel on the ’80s show “Family Matters.”



60 Minutes for Djokovic

The war in Yugoslavia and the bombing of Belgrade were a frightening distraction for a young boy trying to become a tennis champion. But it also meant no school and more tennis, says Novak Djokovic. And he credits the war and the hardships it caused with instilling a hunger in him that ultimately drove him to fulfill his dream of becoming the world’s top ranked player. Djokovic told his story to Bob Simon for a 60 Minutes profile. He was a 12-year-old tennis prodigy during the bombing campaign, and now looking back, Djokovic says it was a formative time for him and his family. "[The war] made us tougher. It made us more hungry, more hungry for the success."



Who is the best ever?

Tennis Channel hosted the 100 Greatest of All-Time, presented by Ally Bank, a five-night series ranking the top tennis players of all-time. Roger Federer was named the greatest of all-time, and the series was hosted by Jack Nicklaus, Jerry Rice, Wayne Gretzky, Lisa Leslie and Carl Lewis. The program aired for five consecutive nights with Federer being announced the top player on the show’s finale episode. Here is the top 25 of all-time according to Tennis Channel:

25. Stefan Edberg, Sweden
24. Suzanne Lenglen, France
23. Fred Perry, Great Britain
22. Venus Williams, United States
21. Boris Becker, Germany
20. Ken Rosewall, Australia
19. Monica Seles, United States
18. Ivan Lendl, Czech Republic
17. Roy Emerson, Australia
16. Bill Tilden, United States
15. Jimmy Connors, United States
14. Serena Williams, United States
13. John McEnroe, United States
12. Andre Agassi, United States
11. Don Budge, United States
10. Billie Jean King, United States
9. Chris Evert, United States
8. Margaret Court, Australia
7. Bjorn Borg, Sweden
6. Rafael Nadal, Spain
5. Pete Sampras, United States
4. Martina Navratilova, United States/Czech Republic
3. Steffi Graf, Germany
2. Rod Laver, Australia
1. Roger Federer, Switzerland



Gonzo hangs them up

Former Australian Open finalist Fernando Gonzalez of Chile has announced his retirement from the sport, after a 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(3) loss to Nicolas Mahut of France at the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Gonzalez wants to be remembered as someone who gave “100 percent every single time when he went to the court. And, of course, I think it is much better to be remembered as a person than as a tennis player.” Gonzalez was only able to play four tournaments last year after undergoing right hip surgery in October of 2010. His best 2011 result was reaching the third round at Wimbledon. He reached the 2007 Australian Open final, won 11 career singles titles, a gold medal in doubles and bronze medal in singles at the 2004 Olympic Games, along with a silver medal in singles in 2008.



Top of the class

John Isner defeated Novak Djokovic in the semifinals but fell to Roger Federer in the finals of Indian Wells. Below is the back and forth between Djokovic and Isner post tourney:

@DjokerNole: Congrats to @JohnIsner for breaking into the top 10 and having a great week! Congrats to Roger Federer for winning another big title in IW.

►JohnIsner: @DjokerNole Classy stuff. Thanks man. See u in Miami.

 


Emilie Katz
Tennis Pro
Pointset
Oneononedoubles banner art resize

March/April 2024 Digital Edition