Keep Poltics out of Tennis - Losing player refused to shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka

 

Marta Kostyuk gets HEAVILY booed by the French crowd 

She refused to shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka.

 

 

 

Seles Attacker Relocates to Afterlife

 Headline:   Monica Seles's assailant relocates to the afterlife and complains about the lack of air conditioning while taking the elevator down

 This was a terrible event for tennis as Seles may have been the best ever woman player based on her amazing results so early in her career cut shot by a crazed attacker bent on giving Graf a helping hand.

Comments by Martina indicate that she felt Seles had to be among the very best ever but for the career damaging attack.

Seles attacker moves on. 

Azarenka hits back at Swiatek regarding war in Ukraine and the WTA

 Azarenka

Swiatek wants  more support for Ukrainian Players

The Economics of Professional Tennis in one Quote

 

Iga is Playing the Long Game

 The Long Game: This philosophy is the way to continuous improvement in any endeavor. Incremental improvements for changing circumstances are better than complete overhauls once you've reached a high level of performance. Thoughts?

 Iga goes for the Long Game

British Tennis Russian Ban May Continue into 2023

 So what will the ATP do if Wimbledon keeps Russians out in 2023? The ATP should discuss a boycott or huge fines to force Wimbledon to undo this bad idea. At least the WTA showed some backbone.

 British Tennis Russian Ban May Continue into 2023

Raducanu Out in Rome - back injury

 A back injury so early in her career is a bad omen. I fear she may end up with limited future results and early retirement. 

Raducanu out from back injury in Rome

Andreescu to meet Raducanu in Rome - wants to play her and got her wish

 Andreescu to meet Raducanu

Andreescu high ranking #4 with 3 titles and 1 slam- age 21

Raducanu high ranking #11 with 1 title and 1 slam - age 19

 

 

Naomi Osaka - I want to have fun when I play

 "Girls just want to have fun." Cyndi Lauper 

"I really just want to have fun in every match l play because tennis is a game."

-Naomi Osaka…

Osaka has a right to play for whatever reason she chooses.  I'd like to add that with her early financial success, she has the luxury of only playing for fun. Her saying that is also a way to take away any expectations that others may have of her, and also those she places on herself.  She has no reason any longer to even show up on the court if she isn't driven to win,  or in her case just wants to enjoy itIn some sense, she's a victim of her early success and also of the working life that she's probably never known.  

 Danna Nashaat, I agree with what you've written on this, and I'd like to add that with her early financial success, she has the luxury of only playing for fun. Her saying that is also a way to take away any expectations that others may have of her, and also those she places on herself. She has no reason any longer to even show up on the court if she isn't driven to win, or in her case just wants to enjoy playing, she's a victim of her early success and also of the working life that she's probably never known.

If she was reminded of a prior job as a fast-food cashier, or barista she might take this more seriously. Also, say in this case had she taught tennis for a living at some point and learned that it's not all glamour and fun, and is often really hard work, especially after an 8 -12 hour day on the court, she might appreciate any better-paying alternative that is tennis related.

She probably has no experience with any of these things and just simply can't see that her moneyed situation is rare. Most of the other players out there have pressures that she doesn't have which involve making enough income to keep competing. Pro tennis is strange like that where those not that far down the ranking ladder are making a small portion of what the top twenty players can earn.

Whatever emotional constraints she has now when it comes to competition, she is in a position to just walk away from the game and still be financially secure for the rest of her life. Few other players have that option after only two years of competition.

At this stage of the Osaka saga, I hope that the newer faces on the women's tennis scene will allow her to fade into tennis history. Four slams are great, but she's not even in the all-time top ten of women's players and appears unlikely to break into that group unless she changes course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serena Billionaire?

First Female Billionaire Athlete -will it happen?

Of course, I think she married a Billionaire so maybe she's one already.  

Osaka - Is She done?

I thought she had too many distractions unlike some of the long-running players. I think it took away from her training as well and added to her psychological strains. One example was her foray into social issues that backfired. It almost never profits a player to get into these things, especially early in a career. Her early success also gave her access to huge financial sponsorships and I think it actually dropped her motivation causing her to lose focus. Big early success without climbing the ladder can be a curse. Having four slams is still enough for any one player to say they're satisfied.

Maria Sharapova is going to have a child

 Maria Pregnant

Congratulations

Azarenka quits match.

 https://www.rfi.fr/en/fruhvirtova-16-becomes-youngest-player-in-miami-fourth-round-since-2004

 Azarenka quits the match after losing the first set 6-2 and down 3-0 in the second. Injury or just losing?

Others say it's nerves because her kids are watching.   Who knows.

Barty Retires from Tennis

 Worn out, Tired, and No Longer Motivated

 Good article on her decision making 

Bencic gets Covid - Hopefully she'll make it to the AO

 

The AO is likely going to run into problems like this among the many players arriving to play. 

 

 

WTA - Gabby wins final

Gabby 

Vampire Tennis - Transylvania Style

 Enjoy

 Twitter 

 

Badosa takes Indian Wells

 Paula Badosa