A Day At Indian Wells In Pictures

Posted By: Jeff McKown

The SoCal Desert right
outside the tennis center

A post for my fellow tennis geeks....

Paul and I made a whirlwind road trip this week to visit friends in Southern California and to stop by the BNP Paribas Open.

We drove from NorCal on Sunday and played tennis in the afternoon before enjoying a phenomenal Cuban dinner. On Monday, we left LA and headed to the Indian Wells Tennis Center.


The weather for our drive was amazing. Things were sunny and warm in the valley, but snow-capped mountains lined the horizon.

SoCal springtime as seen from I-5

Snow-capped mountain peaks
 (with a little bug smear on the windshield).

Indian Wells is an oasis in the middle of the desert near Palm Springs. The setting is gorgeous for tennis, or anything else for that matter.

Practice courts

Stadium 1 and the mountains beyond

The world's best tennis players participate in the tourney at Indian Wells (excepting a Williams sister or two), and we saw loads of tennis stars on both practice courts and in match play. Some highlights for us:

• Big guns - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and relative newbie Milos Raonic
• Gifted up-and-comers - Sloane Stephens, Ernests Gulbis,  and Jerzy Janowicz 
• Talented Frenchies - Marion Bartoli, Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon, and Benoit Paire

American men's tennis is in a bit of a slump right now. Depending on the performance of Sam Querrey this week, it's possible that no American man will be ranked in the top 20 for the first time in 40 years. If there's a bright spot on the horizon though, it may well be twenty-year old midwesterner Jack Sock.

Jack Sock practicing his backhand.

As one of the bigger tennis events in the United States, Indian Wells attracts a celebrity crowd. Who knew Gladys Knight was a big tennis fan? (Yes, she did do a couple of verses of Midnight Train to Georgia.)

Gladys Knight taking questions during lunch
in the tennis center food court.

One last photo - Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez was there. He sends his love.

Spanish tennis player Feliciano Lopez.

BONUS: The organizers of the BNP Paribas Open put on a phenomenal event for both tennis fans and players. Here's a fun video clip they put together of the top five ranked men being quizzed on how well they know each other.

Turn of Phrase - Federer Receives Death Threat

"On October 6, I plan to assassinate Federer for the purpose of tennis extermination." 

- From a threatening message posted on baidu.com under the name Blue Cat Polytheistic Religion Founder 07. 

The message, which was published on a popular Chinese website, was accompanied by an image showing a decapitated Roger Federer on his knees on a tennis court, with a masked executioner holding an axe next to him.

Federer and his family recently arrived in China in advance of the Shanghai Masters tennis event. In light of the threat, tournament organizers have stepped up security around Federer, as well as other players. 

Why anyone would want to assassinate Roger Federer, a gracious and well-liked international tennis star who is essentially a-political and non-controversial, is beyond me. I have to assume there is some heavy-duty lunacy afoot in China.

The Best and Worst Moments of Andy Roddick

Andy Roddick
Photo: Frank Franklin / AP

For the better part of the last decade, Andy Roddick has been the face of American men's tennis. Last week on his 30th birthday, the former world #1 announced that the 2012 U.S. Open would be his last tournament.

Roddick's tennis resume is bursting with accomplishments, including winning one of the sport's major events, the 2003 U.S. Open, as well as 31 other titles.

Additionally, the Nebraska native spent a remarkable nine consecutive years ranked among the top 10 players in the world.

Throughout his career, Roddick's sardonic persona, both on and off the tennis court, consistently propelled him into the midst of controversy, his forthright manner endearing him to some fans and alienating him from others.

With his loss to Juan Martin DelPotro earlier this week in New York, Roddick's career has officially come to a close. ESPN and the Tennis Channel have paid adequate tribute to Roddick; below are the words and images that best capture how I will remember him.

Angry, annoying, cocksure, whiny.
When sufficiently "provoked," Roddick took on line judges and chair umpires with ferocity.

Even tournament referees and directors could not escape the wrath of Andy.

Sarcastic, entertaining, hilarious, quick.
Andy was not always kind to the media either. He expected reporters to be as prepared and dedicated to their craft as he was to his, and if the media fell short of his expectations - he might just walk out.

He never suffered fools gladly, though he often did so with wit and humor. This trait, along with his willingness to be self-deprecating from time to time, made for some of the game's most entertaining press conferences and interviews.

Committed, passionate, honest, real.
Despite sometimes playing the role of villain, Andy's sincerity and earnestness often made him relatable and irresistibly likable. Who didn't feel for Andy after his heartbreaking loss to Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final (16-14 in the fifth set)?

During his final moments this week in Arthur Ashe stadium, Andy showed the world what the game of tennis has meant to him with grace and humility.

Say what you will about Andy Roddick (he doesn't care what you think anyway), but his departure leaves a hole in American men's tennis that none of the current crop of younger tennis players, talented though they may be, is ready to fill.

Novak Djokovic Responds to Boy's Marriage Proposal During U.S. Open Practice

Novak warming-up in Cincy.
Photo: Jeff McKown

How do you become a fan favorite? Enjoy what you do and show it.

During a practice session this week at the U.S. Open, a boy shouted a marriage proposal to Novak Djokovic, the No. 2 ranked tennis player in the world.

Novak's response was charming and fun. The smart aleck kid doesn't get Djokovic's hand in marriage, but he does get an awesome surprise.

You can watch the young fan's encounter with Novak in the clip below.

(The proposal and Novak's response occur in the first 2 minutes and 30 seconds. The rest of the clip, while fun for tennis types, is Djokovic's serving practice.)

Here's a fun mini clip (14 seconds) Djokovic shared on Twitter this week. In the video, the star Serbian athlete shows off his serving accuracy with the help of a very brave member of his training/coaching team.

US Open - Predictions, Draws and TV Coverage

U.S. Open tennis kicks off on Monday August 27, and some of the biggest names in the sport will be in action on the first day of America's largest tournament.

Play begins at 11am (Eastern) with last year's women's champion Sam Stosur taking on Petra Martic of Croatia in Arthur Ashe stadium. 

Subsequent first day matches on the main show court feature Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray, this year's French Open champion Maria Sharapova, and multiple U.S. Open winners Kim Clijsters and Roger Federer.

You can find the exact order of play here, and the complete draws for both men's and women's singles here.

As usual, unraveling the mysteries of U.S. television coverage is more challenging than understanding a David Lynch movie. In a nutshell, it goes like this for the first five days (thru Friday):

• ESPN 2 coverage runs twice daily: 1-7pm (Eastern) and 7-11pm (Eastern) and features the top-billed matches in Ashe stadium. 
• Tennis Channel coverage runs daily from 11am-7pm (Eastern) and includes matches played on secondary courts (other than Ashe).

CBS jumps in with coverage this weekend, including Labor Day Monday, and then again when things heat up near the end of the two-week tournament for the quarters, semis, and finals. If that's too much to keep sorted, and it probably is, here's a link to the complete television schedule.

The 2012 Open is sure to offer some intriguing storylines and maybe a few surprises.

Practice Makes Perfect at the Western & Southern Open

Professional tennis players work to perfect their game every day. Here are some candid photos from the practice courts at Cincy's Western & Southern Open.

Even the world's best tennis players need practice and a coach.

Gold medal Belarusian doubles player Max Myrni.

Japan's Kei Nishikori practicing his backhand.

Spain's David Ferrer and France's Richard Gasquet,
warming up to play doubles (though not on the same team).

Canadian Milos Raonic - wondering what
else his coach wants from him.

Venus Williams - "Didn't we just practice that?"

Roger Federer reminding us - always hydrate. 

Professionals work hard on even the most fundamental shots - like the forehand.

Aussie Bernard Tomic shows step 1: prepare for the shot.

Croatian Marin Cilic has step 2: stay focused on the ball.

Sam Stosur and step 3: keep your wrist loose.

Step 4 from Novak Djokovic: follow thru.

Step 5 - Show your swagger
 like Italy's Fabio Fognini.

There are a few different ways to hit a backhand. France's Richard Gasquet knows them all.

The pros practice everything because they never know what's coming at 'em.

Poland's Aggie Radwanska can handle any shot....

...even on the run.

Argentina's Juan Monaco's prepares a half-volley.

Bulgarian up-and-comer Grigor Dimitrov stays low.

Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic skies for an overhead.

Whatever you do....never let 'em see you sweat.

Serena showing her frustration near the end of her QF match.

Roger Federer...always cool.

Notes and Photos From the Western & Southern Open (Women's Draw)

Venus Williams practicing her serve.

As with the men's draw, a busy summer tennis schedule and the Olympics have adversely impacted the women's draw at the 2012 Western & Southern Open.

Most notably, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, the two top ranked women in the world, are absent from Cincinnati. Additionally, No. 10 seed Ana Ivanovic was forced to pull out of the tournament with an injury to her right foot.

On the plus side, all the remaining players seeded in the top 10 have advanced to the round of 16, with the exception of France's Marion Bartoli who was defeated in her opening match by Johanna Larrson of Sweden.

Fresh from her Olympic gold medal victory in London, Serena Williams opened her campaign with a straight sets win and has to be considered the favorite at this point. Several other women could present challenges to Williams though, including older sister Venus and top-seeded Aggie Radwanska of Poland.

Incidentally, Aggie Radwanska's sister Ursula is also a professional women's tennis player - and interestingly, Ursula has also made the round of 16. Unfortunately for Ursula, her next opponent is Serena, so it is unlikely that she'll advance and it won't be possible for both sets of sisters to make the final eight.

One final name to note in the women's field is Sloane Stephens, a young American hopeful who has been climbing the rankings and whose first two showings in Cincinnati have been impressive.

Okay, on with the photos!

Serena looks intense even during her practice session.

Sam Stosur (Australia) - 2011 U.S. Open champ.

Venus Williams shows off the wingspan.

Lisa Raymond and Liezel Huber - 2011 U.S. Open Doubles champs.

Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) - practicing her volley.

Sloane Stephens (U.S.) charging hard up the rankings.

Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) - former world #1.

Caroline W's famous boyfriend and
world #1 golfer, Rory McIlroy.

Notes and Photos From the Western & Southern Open (Men's Draw)

Marin Cilic from Crotia

The addition of the Summer Olympics into the middle of an already overbooked and grueling tennis season has taken its toll on the men's draw at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Four of the top 16 players in the world (Nadal, Isner, Simon, and Tsonga) withdrew prior to the start of the tournament. World #3 Rafael Nadal continues to suffer from tendinitis in his knee, an ailment which he announced today will keep him out of the U.S. Open as well. Top American John Isner and Frenchman Gilles Simon also withdrew due to recent injuries. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 6th ranked player in the world, hurt himself off court last week, colliding with a fire hydrant in Toronto and getting several stitches in his knee as a result.

4th seeded David Ferrer of Spain

When you add to that list of wounded tennis warriors - the No. 4 seed David Ferrer appeared not exactly weary, but less like a hyperactive jack rabbit than usual in a straight sets loss, and the No. 7 seed Janko Tipsarevic was forced to retire from his second round match - you can only draw one conclusion: men's professional tennis is seriously banged up.

As we head into the round of 16 on Thursday, an abundance of talented tennis players are still in the hunt for the title in Cincinnati though, and there are still a few things, or a few players rather, who have proven themselves to be as dependable as death and taxes. Federer, Djokovic, and Murray are all through to the next round without dropping a single set in their opening matches.

But enough of all that, here is the first installment of photos from various men's matches and practice court sessions so far this week. I'll publish more pics of the top guys in the game, and of course photos of the best women players in the world, later in the week. Enjoy!

Serious-looking Tomas Berdych, world No. 7 (Czech Republic).

Richard Gasquet (France) showing off his contortion skills.

Stan Wawrinka (Swiss) streeeetttching.

Viktor Troicki (Serbia) advances to the round of 16.

Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) playing frisbee.

Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia) - my favorite doubles guy.

Bernard Tomic (Austalia) - bit blurry but an awesome shot.

Headed to a doubles match - Mikhail Youzhny (Russia),
Philip Kolschreiber - barely pictured (Germany),
Jarkko Nieminen (Finland), and Stan Wawrinka (Swiss).

Milos Raonic (Canada) - note the 132mph on the
serve speed. He hit 140 mph later in the match.

Andy Murray (Great Britain), Olympic Gold Medalist

Roger Federer (Swiss) - G.O.A.T
Greatest Of All Time