The Official Tennis Thread

[Prince Myshkin]

I'm afraid I can never have positive feelings towards a man who I have had to watch unironically kiss his bicep. That along with the fact he changed once the sponsorship came in and became British rather than English. The only positivity I had to him (prior to his bicep kiss, of course) was when he always got the Scotland flag out and didn't embrace anything south of the border because I knew it would annoy people and he was at least being honest, and it made me laugh. But then when i started watching and saw how much of a bad loser he was I just found he irritated me. Always angry, always getting hawkeye or whatever it's called when he'd clearly lost the point. If he was French everyone in this country would absolutely hate him.

 

Cracking player of course. I grew up watching Henman (a tiny bit, never really been a tennis fan) and you can really see the difference in power and pretty much everything else.

 

I will give him the benefit of the doubt with his maturing in terms of dickishness on court and say it's not necessarily to do with the sponsorship (the Beckham transformation of becoming as media friendly as possible). The fact he did it in the earlier days will never leave me though as I just found him so annoying. I think I like him least out of all British high profile sports people.

[coldplaymom]

Championships Ball pictures.

 

[coldplaymom]

A nice piece about my new man Patrick Mouratoglou.

 

Mouratoglou: The man behind Serena's latest surge

Douglas Robson, USA TODAY Sports 7:38 p.m. EDT September 2, 2013

2013-9-2 patrick mourataglou main

 

Serena Williams began working with Patrick Mouratoglou after the 2012 French Open

In the stretch since, she has played some of the best tennis of her career

"We have this great communication. It's definitely a two-way street," Williams says

 

 

NEW YORK — It started as a typical pro circuit acquaintance: Casual greetings, chats by the practice courts or conversations at tournaments.

 

In crisis, it became a partnership, and much more.

 

Fifteen months after Patrick Mouratoglou lent a hand to Serena Williams — then reeling from her first opening-round loss at a major — he has become the catalyst behind her return to the top of women's tennis.

 

Part guru, part promoter, presumed paramour and unquenchable tennis junkie, the 43-year-old Frenchman has gradually become part of the tight-knit inner circle of the Williams team — and, by most accounts, her heart as well.

 

 

 

"We have this great communication," Williams told USA TODAY Sports after winning her second French Open in June. "It's definitely a two-way street. I think coaches sometimes think it's always their way. And it's like, 'You do this because I say it.' Our dynamic is not like that at all. I think that's what makes him so good. He's open to me, and I'm open to him. It creates something special."

 

Since teaming up after last year's French Open, Williams, 31, has put together the most complete winning stretch of her career.

 

 

 

She captured Wimbledon, Olympic, U.S. Open, and French Open titles and has compiled a 95-5 match record, the best of any stretch during her 17-year career.

 

This period, which includes a personal-high 34-match winning streak in the spring, compares favorably with her dominant 12 months of 2002-03, when the American won four consecutive majors (but fewer matches and titles), the so-called Serena Slam.

 

As top-ranked Williams looks to defend her U.S. Open crown and notch a 17th Grand Slam title, no figure is more important than Mouratoglou. She takes on Carla Suarez Navarro, the No. 18 seed from Spain, in Tuesday's quarterfinals.

 

Mouratoglou sat down with USA TODAY Sports this summer to discuss the "very complex" personality of Williams and their evolving relationship, which he likened to becoming conversant in another tongue.

 

"If you just stick to what she says, you'd be wrong most of the time," he said. "You have to understand what's behind all of the time. You have to anticipate."

 

"You have to learn another language," he added.

 

Tennis was 'my life'

 

The eldest son of a Greek-born business mogul, Mouratoglou was a middle-rung junior player with professional aspirations who gave up the sport at 15 at his parents' behest to concentrate on school.

 

"My reality was that I would become a tennis player," says Mouratoglou, who whose mother is French. "I never had any doubt about it. It was my life."

 

He didn't touch a racket for seven years. Groomed to take over his father's company — one of the largest renewable energy firms in France — he instead quit at 26 to begin building a tennis academy on the outskirts of Paris.

 

Mouratoglou says it was a tough conversation, but his father took it well and supported his decision.

 

Patrick Mourataglou, the coach of Serena Williams, signs an autograph at the U.S. Open. "We have this great communication," Williams says.(Photo: USA TODAY Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)

Mouratoglou told his father he enjoyed business, but it didn't touch his soul.

 

"I told him, I'm sorry," he said. "It is interesting, but it's not a passion for me, and I need passion in my life ... I really need my freedom."

 

His peers were dumbfounded.

 

"When I said to my friends I want to become the best coach in the world and win Grand Slams with players, they said to me, 'You are crazy, you don't know anything,' which was true."

 

Mouratoglou was a quick study. He rented land and gradually built his fledgling tennis dream into one of the biggest private academies in Europe.

 

Several successful players have passed through it, among them top-30 players Grigor Dimitrov, Jeremy Chardy, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Aravane Rezai. Martina Hingis recently helped coach there.

 

Mouratoglou does not deny that his motivation to make something of himself stems from frustration about his own stunted tennis ambitions.

 

"I think it's the best motor in life," he says.

 

Unvarnished opinion

 

When Williams crashed out in the first round at last year's Roland Garros to 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano, she needed a place to practice and reached out to Mouratoglou. Williams already owned an apartment in Paris' 7th arrondissement, and soon she was heading out to train with Mouratoglou daily.

 

Williams, Mouratoglou says, asked for his unvarnished opinion of the Razzano match, which Williams had several chances to close out before losing in three sets.

 

He told her she appeared emotionally uptight and often off-balance in her movements.

 

2013-6-8 serena williams wins the french usat

Serena Williams of the USA celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia 6-4, 6-4 to win the French Open.(Photo: Susan Mullane, USA TODAY Sports)

"I didn't know why she was like that, but I was shocked," he said of the 16-time major champion.

 

The relationship quickly blossomed.

 

Mouratoglou took on an informal role and accompanied Williams to Wimbledon, where she won her fifth championship. Her form continued through the summer with wins at the London Olympics and the U.S. Open.

 

There is little doubt Williams has become a more complete player.

 

She remains the best server in the women's game, but has improved statistically in nearly every return metric this year, from break points converted to points won returning first serve.

 

That was clear in her emphatic 6-4, 6-1 fourth-round defeat of No. 15 seed Sloane Stephens on Sunday. Her court coverage and defensive play wore the 20-year-old American down as much as her vaunted power.

 

"She is mutating," Mouratoglou says. "If you look at how she was playing when she was 20 and now, it's a completely different player."

 

'You have to break the walls'

 

Working with Williams has meant learning to read her moods. Just as important is integrating with her longstanding entourage.

 

"You have to break the walls to get in," Williams said.

 

"I just think in general we are kind of close, so it's never easy for the new person," she added. "Me, I'm always like, C'mon! It's everyone else that is so protective."

 

Isha Price, Williams' half-sister and frequent travel companion, says the process is ongoing.

 

"When you introduce a new member or something different it's a situation where you are still looking for that rhythm and how that person will fit into the mix," she said.

 

Though fluent in English, there have been cultural barriers and benefits.

 

He has helped Williams with her emerging French, which she showed off in on-court interviews at the French Open. She has taught him the joys of eating fast food in a car. Mostly they laugh off any awkwardness.

 

"American and French culture are really, really different, but in a way it's funny," says Mouratoglou, who admires what he calls the USA's "winning culture."

 

If he seemed tentative to partake in the post-match festivities at Wimbledon last year in his first tournament as informal adviser, after his victory in Paris Mouratoglou shared hugs and celebrated openly with Williams' family and inner circle.

 

On the issue of the growing dimensions of their relationship, both have been coy, evasive or silent.

 

Neither would comment to USA TODAY Sports about it. But paparazzi have caught the couple in various cozy poses over the past year.

 

Mouratoglou has three children ages 10, 12 and 19. He is separated from his wife but is not yet divorced.

 

"It's on the way," he said.

 

Not everyone is a fan

 

Mouratoglou has bright, intense eyes, dark hair and a cropped beard with patches of gray. Chatty and ambitious, he consults for Eurosport, writes a blog and prominently lists himself as Serena Williams' coach on his Twitter profile. She is front and center on his academy website.

 

Mouratoglou does not tend to look back.

 

Several years ago, he underwrote a talented 5-year-old American, who relocated with his family to live and train at his academy. (USA TODAY Sports wrote a 2007 profile on the student, Jan Silva.) The parents ended up in a messy custody battle and divorce. He said he has no regrets about what some saw as a risky bet on a young child, who is no longer with the academy.

 

 

He has detractors, too.

 

In January, former top-10 player Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus scoffed at the idea Mouratoglou contributed much to a player with 14 Grand Slam titles when they started working together.

 

"I don't think it changed too much in her game," said Baghdatis, who spent his teenage years at Mouratoglou's academy and was Mouratoglou's breakout student before ultimately severing ties. "I think she's a great player, and he's lucky to be there."

 

Asked about him last week before he lost in the third round at the U.S. Open, Baghdatis said: "I tried to work with him, and it didn't work out. I don't like the way he worked. I don't really want to talk about it."

 

Mouratoglou does not shy away from self-promotion and sometimes falls victim to what in today's parlance some call humble brag.

 

"I think I had a lot of impact on every player," he said. "Maybe it sounds cocky, but if I don't feel I have an impact or a big impact, I wouldn't be able to be excited about my work every day."

 

But players that have worked with Mouratoglou describe him as an astute, dedicated coach who is "in love" with tennis.

 

"He put tennis as a priority before everything," said Rezai, a former top-15 player from France.

 

Victor Hanescu, a Romanian who has used his academy as a base for the past year and a half, says he "can't see another explanation" for Mouratoglou's chosen profession but for his love of the game.

 

"He has a rich family and he can do of course many things," Hanescu says.

 

Agrees Mouratoglou: "Since 6 years old I am completely obsessed."

 

Williams values commitment

 

Mouratoglou says he tailors his style based on what players need, whether it's strategy, fitness or mental toughness. He likens himself to a medical doctor that is both "generalist and specialist."

 

He is proud of his association with Williams, which he compared to coaching Real Madrid or Manchester United in soccer because it means he is at the top of his profession.

 

Williams said they found an immediate coaching connection because Mouratoglou thinks like her father, Richard, who taught her the game.

 

"That's the only reason I was able to work with him — because of that mind frame," she said. "We have the same forward way of thinking."

 

Despite her accomplishments, Mouratoglou says Williams can be hardheaded and stubborn but is open to ideas and always willing to improve.

 

She values commitment.

 

"He seemed to be 100% with whoever he was with," Williams said. "If I want to work with someone, I want that kind of loyalty."

 

Mouratoglou sounded philosophical when asked about the road ahead. He plans to continue coaching others when Williams hangs up her rackets, or if they part ways earlier.

 

"You know," he said, "she takes what she wants from me, and she probably takes also from other people like her father, her mother, all those things. So it's teamwork. What is important is at the end of the day she's winning and she's successful. That's what we all want."

[Nikola]

Novak's been pretty weird mentally lately. Nadal's a beast. Still hate Murray. Federer's history. WTA sucks.

[coldplaymom]

Yeah, Roger is pretty much done if he gets beaten by an aging and not 100% Robredo. Novak wasn't going to dominate fast courts for ever. I'm so very proud Rafa. Players don't usually recover and get back at the very top of their profession after a 9 months lay-off. His dedication and work ethic is simply unparalleled. Azarenka has beaten Serena the last 2 matches they played, so I'm still nervous even though Serena looks so good this fortnight.

[Nikola]

If I were Roger, I'd only play Grand Slams till Rio and then give absolutely everything to win the Gold Medal. (And then retire.)

Other than that he needs 2 more QFs (42 lol) to be the absolute King of GSs.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATP_World_Tour_records#Grand_Slam_tournament_history

[Coeurli]

^ :nod:

 

Apparently Gasquet and Ferrer are having a pretty incredible fight at the moment in the quarters of US Open. Go Gasquet! :dance: (although this is the 5th set and Ferrer has better probability to win)

 

edit: RICHARD WOOOOOONNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :dance::dance::dance:

HE'S IN SEMI-FINALE!!!!! That's HUGE for him, in a Grand Slam tournament!

[coldplaymom]

So happy for Richard. The poor guy has had bad luck with all the injuries in the book.

[Nikola]

There's gonna be a new champion which is fine with me. :D

 

Nole or Stan

Rafa or Richard

 

Well I know who Curly's gonna cheer for in the second match. :whistle:

 

 

 

:\

 

[Coeurli]

There's gonna be a new champion which is fine with me. :D

 

Nole or Stan

Rafa or Richard

 

Well I know who Curly's gonna cheer for in the second match. :whistle:

 

 

 

:\

He's going to have to find that strength, that rage, that determination that he had when he beat Rafa that day...when they were 13 years old!

Okay he's not gonna win.

[Nikola]

Nadal-Djokovic just became officially the greatest rivalry in the history of tennis (in the Open era). This will be their 37th match.

[coldplaymom]

Serena-Vika underway. Knot in the tummy.

[coldplaymom]

Very windy in Arthur Ashe stadium. Serena breaks Vika's very 1st service game.

Azarenka takes very big swings so the wind is going to affect her big time. Serena has a more compact swing and shouldn't be affected too much.

[coldplaymom]

Well, they trade breaks to start the match. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[coldplaymom]

The wind makes for sloppy tennis. Serena makes a couple of good shots to take the 1st set 7-5

[coldplaymom]

Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn already Serena! I can't take this anymore. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh

[coldplaymom]

Williams the U.S. Open

When the former president arrived at the U.S. Open, Serena fell apart.

 

By CHRIS CHASE – September 8, 2013 at 8:45pm EDT

 

 

When former president Bill Clinton showed up at Sunday’s U.S. Open final, Serena Williams was in the driver’s seat, up two breaks on Victoria Azarenka and just two games away from her 17th Grand Slam title. But in a scene that was eerily reminiscent of an incident with Andre Agassi 12 years ago, the presence of Clinton happened to coincide with a drop in the level of play of a top-ranked American in a Grand Slam. Serena twice failed to serve out the match and went on to lose the second set as whispers of the Curse of Clinton revved up.

 

Back in 2001, Agassi was playing a French Open quarterfinal against Sebastien Grosjean. Agassi won the first set with ease at 6-1. But when Clinton arrived at the beginning of the second and took a seat behind the baseline, Agassi’s game seemed to vanish. Grosjean won the next two sets, 6-1, 6-1. Then, in the fourth set, Clinton left his seat for a few games and Agassi found an instant spark, breaking Grosjean to go up 2-0. “But as if on cue, when the former president returned to his seat, Agassi’s game again collapsed,” the Associated Press wrote at the time. Agassi dropped the fourth set 6-3 and lost the match. All told, he won just three games when Clinton was in his seat.

 

The possible jinx was a big topic of conversation after that match. Grosjean noticed that he played better when Clinton was in his seat. But Agassi dismissed the idea of a Clinton jinx, saying he didn’t even see the former president. The AP used this quote, along with an interesting editorial aside that contradicted the declaration.

 

“I didn’t know he was there,” said Agassi — a curious claim because the former president received a rousing ovation when he arrived and sat in the first row behind the baseline on Agassi’s side.

 

Clinton agreed with Grosjean. “I was bad for [Agassi],” Clinton said after the match. “I was bad luck. When I left, he won three games. I hated to come back.”

 

He almost had the reverse midas touch again in 2013. But not even the Clintonian tennis curse could stop Serena Williams and her ongoing quest to become the most decorated female tennis player in history. Serena won the third set 6-1, taking home her fifth U.S. Open trophy.

 

 

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/09/bill-clinton-serena-williams/

[NMFWTTG__]

Beautiful match between Nole Djokovic and Rafa Nadal. I'm in the Team Rafa, but I respect Nole and I think that he's the best player of the world. Now they tied on 1 set to 1, but Nole gives the impression that he can win the game with a good attack.

[coldplaymom]

U.S. Open men: Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic to win 13th Grand Slam title

 

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/othersports/us-open-men-rafael-nadal-beats-novak-djokovic-to-win-13th-grand-slam-title/2013/09/09/1c30b5fe-19b0-11e3-8685-5021e0c41964_story.html

[NMFWTTG__]

That's great, vamos Rafa!

[Nikola]

So this season Federer won 1 title, Halle, an ATP 250 event. Unbelievable.

 

Novak just defeated him and will face Ferrer, who defeated Nadal, in the Paris Masters final.

[Coeurli]

Sad for Federer but yesssss Ferrer beating Nadal that's niceeee :dance:

[Nikola]

Awesome match. David is great but Nole is his old self again. Thrilling race to reclaim #1 till the end of the year.

 

He won this thing: