Time for Tea? No. Just plotting the next possible steps in an ongoing tennis match.

LONDON (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service) On Hold at 59-59. Wimbledon. You can toss out the famous Borg-McEnroe tiebreaker of 1980. This match refuses to quit.

For nearly ten hours, American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut have battled the elements and each other in the longest tennis match in history  – and its still not over. (more…)

Save for the wood racket (and predilection for pre-pubescent boys), Roger Federer models new look after Big Bill Tilden.

LONDON, ENGLAND (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service) While some argue that his game is just starting to show signs of decline, with Wimbledon drawing near, the conversation inevitably turns to the greatness of Roger Federer.  The ongoing debate among tennis pundits, players across generations and fans the world over is simply this: is Federer the greatest player of all time? Some argue that he’s the best since the open era began in 1968, when professionals were allowed to compete with amateurs.  The argument becomes increasingly complex when one considers the game’s evolution, from the more genteel sport played in slacks and sweaters to the breathtaking pace of today’s game. (more…)

In the ZZZZone. Rafael Nadal catches some Z's mid match in Paris.

PARIS (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service) Rafael Nadal captured his fifth French Open and his seventh career Grand Slam tournament Sunday when he defeated Robin Soderling of Sweden in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.  The win moved Nadal ahead of rival Roger Federer as the number one ranked men’s tennis player in the world.

But what puzzled Soderling and the capacity crowd and Roland Garros was Nadal’s decision to take a nap (see photo) in between the first and second sets. There were raised eyebrows when Nadal didn’t switch sides of the net and simply plopped himself down on his back and went to sleep. (more…)

Tennis buff Keith Richards sleeps off tough straight set loss to Brian Jones.

WESTPORT, CT (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service) While it’s hard to imagine drug-addled rock legend Keith Richards chasing down cross-court forehands in tennis whites, he is a self-professed “tennis junkie,” and has for years been a fixture at the US Open as well as other ATP events.

While Andre Agassi’s admission that he used crystal methamphetamine during the 1990 season prompted withering rebukes from some of the game’s most widely recognized names, from Martina Navratilova to Marat Safin, Richards blasted Agassi for what he believes to be a far greater offense: lying about his Mohawk toupe.   (more…)

Seventeen year-old Melanie Oudin celebrates as her 15 year-old manager plots her next big career move.

NEW YORK (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service) On Monday, Melanie Oudin’s Cinderella story continued as the 17 year old phenom came from a set down to beat 27 year old Russian Nadia Petrova in three sets. Lost in the post-match celebration was the announcement that her 15 year old boyfriend, Austin Smith, would join Oudin’s management team. (more…)

Save for the wood racket (and predilection for pre-pubescent boys), Roger Federer models new look after Big Bill Tilden.

NEW YORK (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service) Heading into the U.S.  Open with this year’s French Open and Wimbledon titles under his belt, the great Roger Federer has re-ignited debate among tennis pundits, players across generations and fans the world over: is he the best ever? Some argue that he’s the best since the open era began in 1968, when professionals were allowed to compete with amateurs.  The argument becomes increasingly complex when one considers the game’s evolution, from the more genteel sport played in slacks and sweaters to the breathtaking pace of today’s game. (more…)

Save for the wood racket, Roger Federer models new look after Big Bill Tilden.

LONDON, ENGLAND (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service)  Having attained the career grand slam by winning the French Open, the great Roger Federer has re-ignited debate among tennis pundits, players across generations and fans the world over: is he the best ever? Some argue that he’s the best since the open era began in 1968, when professionals were allowed to compete with amateurs.  The argument becomes increasingly complex when one considers the game’s evolution, from the more genteel sport played in slacks and sweaters to the breathtaking pace of today’s game. (more…)

Ana Ivanovic Agrees to Hike Skirt Higher at Sony Ericsson Open

Frazier vs. Ali — Chemical Ali, that is.

RodDICK Move – Andy Splits with Brother

Ok, not the best analogy in the world, but you get the point — the sour Scottsman is not the most likeable dude on the ATP tour.   Particularly in contrast to Roger and Rafa, who’ve set the bar high in terms of class and likeability.  Murray plays with all the sunny positivity of a banker looking for ways to deny you a loan.  But after winning yesterday’s Sony Ericsson — considered the fifth major — he’s clearly the sport’s rising star.  He’s already won three titles this year and since July his record is 57-7, best on the tour.

Given all the gloom and doom out there, maybe we should welcome Murray’s ascendance  – who needs another grinning, blissed-out superstar to remind us of the gap between the blessed and the stressed? Andy Murray:  gloom we can believe in.

Good to see the old Federer emerge from months of uninspired — for him — play.  And add a point if you wanted to see Djokovic spanked and sent packing (just to show my contempt I’m not even going to spell check Djokovic). Tonite’s final against Andy Murray should be something…Murray is playing great tennis, has beaten Roger twice in three meetings and has the all-court game to pose problems.  But I don’t see Federer losing — it would seriously fuck with the narrative (a season of frustration salvaged by an Open triumph in front of an adoring crowd of crazy New Yorkers…though, frankly, the crazy New Yorker thing is a bit overblown. I mean, it’s not like you’re getting rif-raff floating in off the street into Armstrong Stadium hitting you up for loose change. It’s mostly corporate types and tennis obsessives).  

BTW, anyone catch any of the post Nadal match interview with Scotsman Murray? Not exactly the warm and fuzzy type, eh?  But what’d you expect from the land of MacBeth and mournful bagpipes, sunny and slap-happy?