Melbourne Wrap-up... -

Stories of 2008.  

My Australian Open finished up on Wednesday as I was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the mixed doubles.  I had little time to worry about the loss as I was looking forward to watching the night match of Blake-Federer.  James had given me a few extra tickets for his box so I could take my parents too.  The match turned out good as I thought James played some great tennis.  He pushed Federer and had a couple opportunities, but like usual, Fed just raised his level and prevailed.  It reminded me so much of the Federer-Roddick match from the US Open where I thought Andy played his best tennis, but Roger has another level when he needs it.    I guess Roger did not have another level against Djokovic though as he went down in straights.  I missed this one unfortunately as I was in the middle of a 30hr journey from Melbourne back to Minneapolis.  




Capsicum Spray

Violence and trouble in the stands - I don't know how much this portrayed in the states, but it was big in Australia.  There was some trouble in the stands during the Econimidis-Gonzalez match, but I think it was blown out of proportion.  As a player, Australia is usually the best slam to play because you can find a davis cup atmosphere on each court.  There's nothing like this in the French or Wimby and while the US Open night matches can really get loud, they don't have the same patriotic feel where fans will dress up in their country's colors and sing songs and chant for their respective player.  I hope the "Aussie" doesn't crack down too hard on fans cause if it does, it will lose one of its best qualities.  


French Cassius

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga - I wrote in a blog that the first round match-up of Tsonga-Murray was going to be one of the best matches and was it ever.  I knew Tsonga was capable of having big weeks due to the firepower that he has in his game, but I can't say I expected his run to continue bulldozing Gasquet, Yhouzny and Nadal.  And tell me you see the Ali resemblance, its just too bad his english isn't good enough to hear what he really has to say.  Have you noticed his post match speeches often focus on a new word he most likely recently learned.  After he beat Nadal, it was "like a dream for him."   When asked what his parents said when he called home, they said it was "like a dream for them." I've gotten to know him over the past few years and I'm so happy for him, because he's a light hearted, enjoyable, kind person....which can be rare among the French players.  


The "Sharapova-throat shlash"

If you didn't see it, Maria's dad, Yuri, looking like an "assassin" according to her with  his sunglasses and hood up gave a throat-slash motion after she best Henin in the quarterfinals.  First of all, maybe it was a joke, maybe not, whether or not he should be punished is debatable.  But I'll tell you from what I've seen, this guy is awful.  He routinely treats people with no respect.  As we were standing by the tv monitors at the practice court desk last week and someone walked in front of the monitor he was watching stopped, he yelled at them to get out of the way, through his arms up and let out a big puff of air as that person moved.  My coach and I stood an watched for the next 10 minutes just hoping someone would stop in front of the monitor again.  There's just no need to treat people the way he does, I would love to see him removed from the game or at least punished for some of the behavior he shows on a regular basis.  


Doubles #1's?  

Most people know who the #1 doubles team in the world is, its Bob and Mike Bryan.  Do many doubt that they are the best team on tour?  Probably not.  But, we do have an issue here.  The Bryans according to the rankings are #1, but they have not won a grand slam in the past 12 months (nor the year-end championships).  I will have to check this, but I don't even know if they have reached a final.  Now, Clement and Llodra, have won wimby and are looking on track to win Australia without even dropping a set.  Depending on how you look at things, I think they have an adequate argument that they are the best team.  I lost to them this week, and I can tell you they are every bit as tough as Bob and Mike.  


I hope you enjoyed my stories from the '08 Australian, I'll be back again soon...

- Eric

Mixed continues... -

Mixed Doubles...

After going down in the 3rd round of the Men's doubles, it was time to turn my focus to the mixed doubles.  

I was partnered with Yun-Jan Chan of Taiwan.  Also known as "Latisha" (her American name) we were dealt a tough draw in the first round, the number 4 seeds, Zheng and Nestor.  We started slow in both sets, down a break in each one, but turned it on when it counted and won 7-5, 7-6.  The Taiwanese crowd was very impressive in this one.  They had painted faces, flags, signs and were chanting for most of the match.  While I couldn't understand the majority of the cheers, they did throw in the occasional "Let's go Eric....Let's go!"  That was very appreciated.

It was on the to the 2nd round and a match-up that wasn't supposed to be as tough, but turned out to be.  We played the team of Razanno-Wassen.  They came out on fire and we were anything but.  After spotting them a 6-1, 4-2 lead, we decided it was time to start playing some ball.  We broke back, broke again to win the set and were into the all important "super-tiebreaker."  We rode the momentum again and charged to a 10-5 win.  

Next up will be the team of Dechy-Ram, another very good team and I'm sure will be very tough...

...let you know how it goes.

- Booty

Mixed Doubles -

Mixed Doubles -

Mixed Doubles -

2nd-3rd round match... -

First round match... -

Kevin and I cruised through our first round this week 6-3, 6-1 in about an hour in a real carnival like atmosphere as the 60 Gustavus students made us feel like we were playing a Davis Cup home tie.  There was face paint, body paint, chants, songs, cheers, the whole works.  I've never been part of such a fun atmosphere in a grand slam match before.  

Next up for us will be the team of Brezecki-Calleri, two Argentine grinders who rip the ball from the baseline.  It should be a good matchup for us, but they did look very impressive in their first match beating the two giants, Isner and Karlovic.  

Even with a day off tomorrow, my coach and I decided to skip the big "player's party" tonight.  Last year it was great, but I opted for the relaxing night in to focus oa good practice tomorrow afternoon and hopefully another win on Saturday.  

Keep you posted on how it goes.  

Eric

Melbourne -

Melbourne -
 
Kevin and I have been in Melbourne since last Friday, practicing an getting ready for our first round match on Thursday.  We play the team of Zovko-Cibulic, a good team, but also a good matchup for us.  We've been playing lots of practice sets with other top doubles teams and playing great the last week.  Now we're just hoping it carries over to match time.
 
As doubles players, our matches don't start until the middle of the first week, so I've had the opportunity to sneak out and watch some of my friends play their first round singles matches.  By far the best match I have seen this tournament was Monday on Rod Laver Arena when Jo-Wilfred Tsonga upset Andy Murray.  I think this match was some of the best tennis we will see all tournament.  Tsonga is an up-and-coming Frenchman who is probably one of the top 15 players in the draw and Andy while playing quite well at the moment didn't have enough to fight him off. 
 
This trip has been extra special so far because my college coach, Steve Wilkinson, has brought 50 Gustavus students over for a J-term class about sports ethics.  They have been attending the matches here all week and will be in full force on Thursday at my match I hope.  I've had the opportunity to meet with them each morning before matches start, bringing a different tour player with me each morning to answer questions about the life on tour and anything else the students are interested in. 
 
We had another great morning of practice today, now I am off to get some rackets strung, head to the gym and maybe get a massage so I am all ready for the big match tomorrow.
 
I'll let you know how it goes...

Eric

Sydney -

Sydney

"Women's tennis is a very lonely world, especially when you're at the top.  You do not have that many friends.  There's a lot of jealousy out there.  - Martina Hingis

I saw it this morning when I went to breakfast.  Justine Henin sat down by herself, then eventually her coach joined her.  Same thing at the courts, Henin sitting by herself.  If Federer or Nadal were to walk into a room, nearly the entire room would greet them, but the same is not true on the women's tour.  

I've spoken with a number of women's players over the years and they all say the same thing, "lots of jealousy, not much friendliness."  This week in Sydney is one of the rare tour events that involve both men and women and it's very funny to see the interaction between them.  Most women actually tell me it helps having the men down as it drops the overall stress level of the women's tour.   Reason #5000 why I love being a guy. 

Also, look forward to 2009, where there is going to be an increased number of combined events (men's and women's).  I think it will be great for the tour.

- Booty

Adelaide 2 -

Adelaide - 1/3 midnight Suffered a tough loss tonight to two Aussies, Guccione and Smeets. Two big serving lefties that didn't give Frank and I chance to get into the match. We had a number of break opportunities in the first but failed to get one. Then on my serve at 4-4, 15-30, umpire Steve Ulrich decided he no longer wanted to be my favorite ump of all time as he over-ruled a (I feel correct) long call by the linesmen to give our opponents double set point. A big return two points later closed the first set for the Aussies and they went on to serve bigger and better in the 2nd. My dreams of winning the coveted Adelaide title were smashed and I returned to my hotel late Thursday night. No, in all honesty, these tournaments while worth reasonable points and money are more of a lead up to the Australian Open in Melbourne in a week and half. Since my expected partner, Ashley Fisher, had to have his knee scoped and will be out a month, I had to piece together different partners for this first month of the season. I will be playing Sydney with Zimbabwaen (is that a word, what would you call someone from Zimbabwe?) doubles specialist Kevin Ullyett. - Booty www.bootyandfish.com

Adelaide Blog -

Adelaide - 12/31

"I'm not backing down from anybody.  You don't play this game to win.  You play to kill people out there."  - Leyton Hewitt (2000)

Well the Men's tour kicks off this week in 3 spots across the world Australia, Qatar and India.  I'm here in Adelaide starting my season along with a large group many of which have been in Australia for a few days all in preparation for the Australian Open coming up in two weeks.  

Adelaide is also the hometown of Aussie #1, Leyton Hewitt.  On my flight over on Friday I read an article quoting Leyton that he is fitter than ever in his career and has spent the last eight weeks of intense training at a boxing gym.  

So, when my coach/friend, Gareth Keating (die hard Leyton fan) handed me a copy of the doubles draw on Saturday evening and said, "I don't know who to cheer for,"  I wasn't surprised.  I drew the "Rocky" himself, Leyton Hewitt (playing with Nathan Healy).  

My partner, Frank Dancevic, and I came out hot though...maybe cause it was 43 degrees Celsius in the shade, maybe 50 on court!  I think that's about 189 degrees Fahrenheit...I say that cause I've never played a match in the hot of conditions in my life.  Frank even had a singles match in the morning and was on his second of the day!  What an animal.  We cruised the through the first playing flawlessly.  Then the heat set in.   By the second I started feeling slow and weak, then came on the spotty vision and even the shakes.  I figure it was about a 100 degree temperature change from my Minnesota home just a few days ago.  We dropped the second, then went for the "bathroom break" after the 2nd.  I tell you, that 2 minutes I spent in the air-conditioned bathroom was maybe the best two minutes of my life!  

I came out of the super-breaker alive!....and with a win!....barely.

We'll play again on Wednesday.  
 
- Booty
www.bootyandfish.com