Court Six: Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column (March/April 2012)

April 26, 2012 | By Emilie Katz
76755548 (3)
Photo credit: Creatas

The pros ring in 2012 …

►Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Happy New Year from @McIlroyRory and me in Thailand 🙂

►Shahar Peer (@shaharpeer): Happy New Year everybody! I wish all a great 2012! I’m sure u will all celebrate big time!

►Anastasia Rodionova (@arodionova): HAPPY NEW 2012 YEAR!!!!!

►Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole): L’Shannah Tovah 🙂

►Mardy Fish (@mardyfish): 2012 promise … Much more fan interaction this year.

►Mike Bryan (@bryanbrothers): Happy New Year from Miami! The party’s just getting started over here!

►Alina Jidkova (@alinajidkova): And will drink it for a great New Year! Stay safe and have fun tonight! Happy New 2012 Year to everyone!

What do the pros do when not on the court?

►Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): I just saw a scary movie, Apollo 18. I’m really scared. Every time I close my eyes, I see the scary creatures. what if one eats me 🙁

►Venus Williams (@venuseswilliams): I got wayy too much sun today … whoa!

►Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): Watching American football right now.

►Shahar Peer (@shaharpeer): Baking a cakeeeeee!!

►Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Always busy when I am back home. Looking forward to get some home cooked dinner, always a treat!

►Lindsay Davenport (@ldavenport76): I don’t like it when I hear my hubby’s 4:30 a.m. alarm. Well maybe now I can get some stuff done before my 2 little ones wake up.

►Sania Mirza-Malik (@mirzasania): Two practices, two treatments and one gym session later I am ready for Indian food and a Bollywood movie tonight 🙂

►Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob): SHAMELESS is my new show, bizarrely funny and entertaining.

Thoughts on the Aussie Open …
►Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): Dream came true! I can’t describe how happy I am! Thank u everybody for your nice messages! I appreciate every single one of u! Thanks a lot.

►Svetlana Kuznetsova (@svetlanak27): Rafa is playing very good! Roger is great but not at his best so far

►Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): Thanks to all the support out there today. I felt a little bit like an Aussie 🙂 You made this match special! Love you all

Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): I can’t possibly imagine that anyone is not watching match between Rafa and Roger! Even rethinking dinner :)))

Taylor Dent (@taylordent81): Congratulations to Djokovic! My stomach is in knots for Nadal. I know he’s tough and will recover from such an emotional loss. Great Oz Open!

Mike Bryan (@bryanbrothers): It’s 4am and I’m just about to lay my head on the pillow. Following a Nadal match in the night session = sleep deprivation.

Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Unfortunately today was the end of my 2012 Australian Open. Kim played really well today, lost 6-3 7-6. Next stop home.

Svetlana Kuznetsova (@svetlanak27): Such a good night so much of respect for Rafa! Good night my friends!

Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): Some moments watching tennis, you just want to stand up and clap on how much they give it all no matter what! Great match for Kim and Li Na.

Andy Roddick (@andyroddick): Djokovic-Rafa … Absolute war! Physicality of tennis has been taken to another level in the last five years. Six straight hours of power/speed.

►Jesse Levine (@jesselevine7): Tennis was the real winner in that final … sheesh, what a battle. Hats off to both players. Taking tennis to new levels.

►Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob): Me being SPEECHLESS, says it all … Congrats to two warriors @DjokerNole and @RafaelNadal taking the sport to new levels!

►Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole): Still cannot believe I am awake 🙂 Unbelievable match, I love tennis!

►John Isner (@johnisner): Can’t help but be impressed with Nadal and Djokovic. Ridiculous athletes

►Amer Delic (@amerdelic): Watching Dolgopolov vs. Tomic is like watching Tom & Jerry cartoons. However, I am not quite sure which one is which.

►Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): 500 wins? I can’t believe I did it. Really? I am so happy and I appreciate all the love! Could not have done it without you all! Love you!

►Taylor Dent (@taylordent81): Well GBR, your boy Murray gave you a lot to be proud of!! What an awesome gritty effort against a guy that’s playing amazing.

►Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): So funny I was so blind on my challenges today and when I really needed one I ran out 🙂 Always keep one remaining 😉



 No more dancing for Andrea …
You won’t be seeing Germany’s Andrea Petkovic do her much-publicized victory dance after some competitors deemed it insulting and rude, according to her father, Zoran. The Serbian-born star’s dance, which went viral on the Internet last year, featured the 24-year-old shaking her backside to celebrate each time she won a match. Her dad claims other players bellyached the dance was too "over the top."

"[People] didn’t tell me to my face and I don’t read about myself so I wouldn’t know [if there was criticism], but the questions they started saying, ‘Don’t you feel like it’s disrespectful towards your opponent?’ … and this question came up over and over again," she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Petkovic decided to shelve the shuffle to avoid repeated questions from reporters in the United States. "It’s strange—on the one hand the Americans really like me and they come to my matches, but they’re like really bipolar," she told the Australian paper. "They either love me or they hate me."

Petkovic tacitly suggested she’s a victim of sexism, especially since guys in the NFL and soccer are allowed to have similar victory dances.

"The thing I used to say was always, listen, the soccer players when they shoot a goal and they celebrate with all kinds of things and they don’t even win the match, and nobody would ever say something against them. Or the American football guys, when they do a touchdown they do a cha-cha-cha and nobody ever says anything against them."

While fans won’t be seeing the popular "Petko Dance" anymore, she is working on her next move. Should you attend one of her matches in the coming weeks, expect to see the much more conservative "Petko Dunk," which is part of a lost bet with German soccer star Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Petkovic began playing tennis at the age of six. She’s the highest-ranked German singles tennis player in the world at 10th. The 5’11" right-hander speaks French, German, English and Serbian.




Wozniacki on dining in NYC …

Caroline Wozniacki spoke with TheTennisSpace.com: Favorite restaurant on the tour: Les Halles, in New York. "I love New York,” said Wozniacki. “I’m not sure it loves me yet. Actually, no Grand Slam seems to love me yet. But I will keep hitting on them."

 

 

 




Mike Bryan engaged …

Mike Bryan got engaged to longtime girlfriend Lucille Williams. "She knows a good thing when she sees it!" Mike tweeted/exclaimed after proposing. Brother and doubles partner Bob Bryan responded, "Congrats, bro! Way to step up!"

 

 

 

 




30 under 30 …

Caroline Wozniacki, still all of 21 years young, has added to her many plaudits with inclusion on one of Forbes magazine’s "30 Under 30" lists. Said the mag of Woz: "Outgoing, top-ranked tennis beauty has rich roster of sponsors including Compeed, Turkish Airlines and Sony Ericsson." The only other athletes who appeared on Forbes’ broadly based entertainment roster were NBA baller LeBron James and college quarterback/Heisman Trophy candidate/NFL draft number one bait Andrew Luck. Other notables who made the cut included actors Donald Glover, Jonah Hill, Jennifer Lawrence, Chloe Moretz and Jaden Smith.




Tennis babies

Mahesh Bhupathi’s wife, actress Lara Dutta, gave birth to a baby girl on Friday in Mumbai. The excited new dad made the announcement on Twitter: "ITS A GIRL!” Bhupathi tweeted that he got to speak to his wife, a former Miss Universe, and see the baby via Skype. He also said she got to watch his doubles match in Melbourne on television in the hospital.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport, has also gave birth to a baby girl. The 2000 Australian Open winner announced on Twitter the arrival of her third child with husband Jon, the brother of former Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon doubles champion.




Back to school …

Serena Williams has enrolled in two online courses that began on Jan. 23, one in management, the other in kinesiology. She’s already texted one of her professors to tell him she won’t get the first assignment in on time.

"He was like, it’s fine. I was wondering if it was really you," she told reporters after beating Greta Arn, 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the fourth round at Melbourne Park. "I haven’t been able to reach my kinesiology teacher. Hopefully she will understand that I am going to get those assignments in. But I’m a wee bit busy."

Serena, a 13-time Grand Slam champion who’s cultivated off-court interests in fashion and acting, said she became interested in kinesiology because of the rash of injuries she’s experienced over the course of her career.
"Every time I go to the doctor, I can pinpoint and tell him exactly what’s wrong with me," said Serena. "I’ve always thought if I could just learn about my body and keep learning about physiology, sciences, stuff like that, just for the future I thought it would be really cool. You never stop learning about your body."

Serena said the more she’s struggled with injuries, the more interested she’s become in holistic approaches to healing. Her latest passion—acupuncture.

"I think it’s really cool," said Serena. "I actually wanted to take an acupuncture class, but I have to be there. I can’t do that one online. I would never get any clients."


Emilie Katz
Tennis Pro

Court Six: Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Gossip Column (March/April 2012)

April 26, 2012 | By Emilie Katz
76755548 (3)
Photo credit: Creatas

The pros ring in 2012 …

►Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Happy New Year from @McIlroyRory and me in Thailand 🙂

►Shahar Peer (@shaharpeer): Happy New Year everybody! I wish all a great 2012! I’m sure u will all celebrate big time!

►Anastasia Rodionova (@arodionova): HAPPY NEW 2012 YEAR!!!!!

►Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole): L’Shannah Tovah 🙂

►Mardy Fish (@mardyfish): 2012 promise … Much more fan interaction this year.

►Mike Bryan (@bryanbrothers): Happy New Year from Miami! The party’s just getting started over here!

►Alina Jidkova (@alinajidkova): And will drink it for a great New Year! Stay safe and have fun tonight! Happy New 2012 Year to everyone!

What do the pros do when not on the court?

►Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): I just saw a scary movie, Apollo 18. I’m really scared. Every time I close my eyes, I see the scary creatures. what if one eats me 🙁

►Venus Williams (@venuseswilliams): I got wayy too much sun today … whoa!

►Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): Watching American football right now.

►Shahar Peer (@shaharpeer): Baking a cakeeeeee!!

►Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Always busy when I am back home. Looking forward to get some home cooked dinner, always a treat!

►Lindsay Davenport (@ldavenport76): I don’t like it when I hear my hubby’s 4:30 a.m. alarm. Well maybe now I can get some stuff done before my 2 little ones wake up.

►Sania Mirza-Malik (@mirzasania): Two practices, two treatments and one gym session later I am ready for Indian food and a Bollywood movie tonight 🙂

►Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob): SHAMELESS is my new show, bizarrely funny and entertaining.

Thoughts on the Aussie Open …
►Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): Dream came true! I can’t describe how happy I am! Thank u everybody for your nice messages! I appreciate every single one of u! Thanks a lot.

►Svetlana Kuznetsova (@svetlanak27): Rafa is playing very good! Roger is great but not at his best so far

►Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki): Thanks to all the support out there today. I felt a little bit like an Aussie 🙂 You made this match special! Love you all

Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): I can’t possibly imagine that anyone is not watching match between Rafa and Roger! Even rethinking dinner :)))

Taylor Dent (@taylordent81): Congratulations to Djokovic! My stomach is in knots for Nadal. I know he’s tough and will recover from such an emotional loss. Great Oz Open!

Mike Bryan (@bryanbrothers): It’s 4am and I’m just about to lay my head on the pillow. Following a Nadal match in the night session = sleep deprivation.

Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki): Unfortunately today was the end of my 2012 Australian Open. Kim played really well today, lost 6-3 7-6. Next stop home.

Svetlana Kuznetsova (@svetlanak27): Such a good night so much of respect for Rafa! Good night my friends!

Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): Some moments watching tennis, you just want to stand up and clap on how much they give it all no matter what! Great match for Kim and Li Na.

Andy Roddick (@andyroddick): Djokovic-Rafa … Absolute war! Physicality of tennis has been taken to another level in the last five years. Six straight hours of power/speed.

►Jesse Levine (@jesselevine7): Tennis was the real winner in that final … sheesh, what a battle. Hats off to both players. Taking tennis to new levels.

►Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob): Me being SPEECHLESS, says it all … Congrats to two warriors @DjokerNole and @RafaelNadal taking the sport to new levels!

►Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole): Still cannot believe I am awake 🙂 Unbelievable match, I love tennis!

►John Isner (@johnisner): Can’t help but be impressed with Nadal and Djokovic. Ridiculous athletes

►Amer Delic (@amerdelic): Watching Dolgopolov vs. Tomic is like watching Tom & Jerry cartoons. However, I am not quite sure which one is which.

►Serena Williams (@serenawilliams): 500 wins? I can’t believe I did it. Really? I am so happy and I appreciate all the love! Could not have done it without you all! Love you!

►Taylor Dent (@taylordent81): Well GBR, your boy Murray gave you a lot to be proud of!! What an awesome gritty effort against a guy that’s playing amazing.

►Victoria Azarenka (@vika7): So funny I was so blind on my challenges today and when I really needed one I ran out 🙂 Always keep one remaining 😉



 No more dancing for Andrea …
You won’t be seeing Germany’s Andrea Petkovic do her much-publicized victory dance after some competitors deemed it insulting and rude, according to her father, Zoran. The Serbian-born star’s dance, which went viral on the Internet last year, featured the 24-year-old shaking her backside to celebrate each time she won a match. Her dad claims other players bellyached the dance was too "over the top."

"[People] didn’t tell me to my face and I don’t read about myself so I wouldn’t know [if there was criticism], but the questions they started saying, ‘Don’t you feel like it’s disrespectful towards your opponent?’ … and this question came up over and over again," she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Petkovic decided to shelve the shuffle to avoid repeated questions from reporters in the United States. "It’s strange—on the one hand the Americans really like me and they come to my matches, but they’re like really bipolar," she told the Australian paper. "They either love me or they hate me."

Petkovic tacitly suggested she’s a victim of sexism, especially since guys in the NFL and soccer are allowed to have similar victory dances.

"The thing I used to say was always, listen, the soccer players when they shoot a goal and they celebrate with all kinds of things and they don’t even win the match, and nobody would ever say something against them. Or the American football guys, when they do a touchdown they do a cha-cha-cha and nobody ever says anything against them."

While fans won’t be seeing the popular "Petko Dance" anymore, she is working on her next move. Should you attend one of her matches in the coming weeks, expect to see the much more conservative "Petko Dunk," which is part of a lost bet with German soccer star Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Petkovic began playing tennis at the age of six. She’s the highest-ranked German singles tennis player in the world at 10th. The 5’11" right-hander speaks French, German, English and Serbian.




Wozniacki on dining in NYC …

Caroline Wozniacki spoke with TheTennisSpace.com: Favorite restaurant on the tour: Les Halles, in New York. "I love New York,” said Wozniacki. “I’m not sure it loves me yet. Actually, no Grand Slam seems to love me yet. But I will keep hitting on them."

 

 

 




Mike Bryan engaged …

Mike Bryan got engaged to longtime girlfriend Lucille Williams. "She knows a good thing when she sees it!" Mike tweeted/exclaimed after proposing. Brother and doubles partner Bob Bryan responded, "Congrats, bro! Way to step up!"

 

 

 

 




30 under 30 …

Caroline Wozniacki, still all of 21 years young, has added to her many plaudits with inclusion on one of Forbes magazine’s "30 Under 30" lists. Said the mag of Woz: "Outgoing, top-ranked tennis beauty has rich roster of sponsors including Compeed, Turkish Airlines and Sony Ericsson." The only other athletes who appeared on Forbes’ broadly based entertainment roster were NBA baller LeBron James and college quarterback/Heisman Trophy candidate/NFL draft number one bait Andrew Luck. Other notables who made the cut included actors Donald Glover, Jonah Hill, Jennifer Lawrence, Chloe Moretz and Jaden Smith.




Tennis babies

Mahesh Bhupathi’s wife, actress Lara Dutta, gave birth to a baby girl on Friday in Mumbai. The excited new dad made the announcement on Twitter: "ITS A GIRL!” Bhupathi tweeted that he got to speak to his wife, a former Miss Universe, and see the baby via Skype. He also said she got to watch his doubles match in Melbourne on television in the hospital.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport, has also gave birth to a baby girl. The 2000 Australian Open winner announced on Twitter the arrival of her third child with husband Jon, the brother of former Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon doubles champion.




Back to school …

Serena Williams has enrolled in two online courses that began on Jan. 23, one in management, the other in kinesiology. She’s already texted one of her professors to tell him she won’t get the first assignment in on time.

"He was like, it’s fine. I was wondering if it was really you," she told reporters after beating Greta Arn, 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the fourth round at Melbourne Park. "I haven’t been able to reach my kinesiology teacher. Hopefully she will understand that I am going to get those assignments in. But I’m a wee bit busy."

Serena, a 13-time Grand Slam champion who’s cultivated off-court interests in fashion and acting, said she became interested in kinesiology because of the rash of injuries she’s experienced over the course of her career.
"Every time I go to the doctor, I can pinpoint and tell him exactly what’s wrong with me," said Serena. "I’ve always thought if I could just learn about my body and keep learning about physiology, sciences, stuff like that, just for the future I thought it would be really cool. You never stop learning about your body."

Serena said the more she’s struggled with injuries, the more interested she’s become in holistic approaches to healing. Her latest passion—acupuncture.

"I think it’s really cool," said Serena. "I actually wanted to take an acupuncture class, but I have to be there. I can’t do that one online. I would never get any clients."


Emilie Katz
Tennis Pro
USTA NTC
Pointset

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