Report card: Grading the pros on March play
Roddick's consistency puts him at the top of the class
Al Bello / Getty ImagesIn the six tournaments he has played in 2010, Andy Roddick has a 26-4 record with two titles and two runner-up finishes.
By Tom Perrotta
updated 10:42 a.m. ET April 9, 2010
March went out like a lion on the ATP Tour, at least as far as Andy Roddick is concerned. My monthly marks:
Head of the Class
Andy Roddick is playing the kind of tennis that ought to win over his biggest doubters. Roddick reached the final in Indian Wells, won in Miami, and was generous enough to show up to a charity event the night before the Miami final. Since last year's Wimbledon, Roddick has been among the most consistent players on the tour. He deserves that second major, and if continues to play like this, he just might get it.
Honors Students
Gamblers: Some people worry that tennis has a gambling problem. But gambling has a good side, too, and you can bet (sorry) that the folks at charity giant Oxfam are among Roger Federer’s biggest fans.
Rafael Nadal is playing near his peak again, but he seems to have forgotten how to put away a close match. Venus Williams deserves honors for her fine 15-match winning streak, which was snapped (quickly) by Kim Clijsters in the Miami final. It was a great turnaround by Kim after poor performances at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells. And how could I forget Ivan Ljubicic, winner of Indian Wells? There, I didn't.
Tennis again proved adept at responding to a tragedy when Fernando Gonzalez pulled together a hit for Chile’s earthquake victims. Let’s hope for a disaster-free April.
Expelled
Now that Tennis Channel appears on Cablevision in New York City, I can watch a lot more tennis on television. Early rounds of Indian Wells and Miami? No problem. Fed Cup? You got it. Top-shelf semifinal between Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, two former No. 1s who retired young and are blazing a brilliant comeback trail? Sorry, that's asking too much. I'm not ignorant of tennis' place on the sports hierarchy, or of the realities of ratings and contracts. That said, when you have two networks—one major, the other exclusively devoted to tennis—signed on to cover an event, and 8.3 million people in New York City, not to mention many more in Philadelphia and numerous other major cities, can't watch Clijsters-Henin—CLIJSTERS-HENIN!—live, there's a serious, serious problem. If people at the WTA or ATP tours tell you they're pleased with the television contracts for Indian Wells and Miami, they're lying to you. There has to be a better way. Here’s hoping they find it before next year.
Most Improved
Since his shocking upset of Rafael Nadal at last year’s French Open, Robin Soderling has more than proven that he belongs in the Top 10. Does he have another clay-court run in him?
I don’t see Samantha Stosur winning a major title, but I love watching her play. If Justine Henin could serve like Stosur, she’d be near invincible.
Most Popular
Chinese sporting goods company Li Ning’s investment in tennis paid of handsomely this month as Jelena Jankovic and Ivan Ljubicic, both sponsored by the company, won titles in Indian Wells.
| Career highlightsTake a look back at key moments in Roger Federer's tennis career. NBCSports.com |
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Forgot To Do His Homework
Roger Federer doesn't need to learn anything new. He just needs some time to hone his unmatched skills. And when is that guy going to win the French Open already? I'm tired of writing that story year after year ...
Stand in the Corner
The ever charming and charitable Andre Agassi has built up a lot of goodwill over the years, so much so that many (including yours truly) had no trouble overlooking his drug use and the lies he told to cover it up while he was still on the tour. I'm having a more difficult time with his petty bashing—at a charity event, no less—of Pete Sampras' allegedly poor tipping habits. It was a low blow from Agassi; Sampras (and the folks in the stands) deserved better.
Most Dependable?
Sania Mirza is getting married. For real this time! Wait, maybe not. Her betrothed might already be married.
Doctor’s Note
Another year, another injury for Maria Sharapova, who has a bone bruise on her right elbow. Is Maria officially “injury prone” at this point, or on a long unlucky streak? Here’s hoping for the latter.
Department of Overused Phrases
Fans usually dislike sports announcers—in fact, it’s near impossible to be loved as an announcer. Announcing is not easy to do, and I have sympathy for those who try (especially the ones who really do try). So without naming names (and the list would be long), I offer some (unsolicited) advice to tennis announcers in search of admiration: Stop saying, “he (or she) played within himself (or herself).” How does one play outside of oneself? I guess “playing within oneself” is when, as the saying goes, a player is “in the zone” (I could do without this phrase, too), or “out of his/her mind” (doesn’t bother me as much), or “unconscious” (would love to see someone try this). Can anyone be anything other than within one’s self? Do we need Descartes to in the commentary booth? Here’s the biggest problem with “within oneself”: You can say this about anyone who wins a match; it’s no better than saying, “He won.” I’d rather hear announcers proclaim, “He didn’t take unnecessary risks,” or “She played smart today,” or “He’s been playing like a fool for his last five matches, but today he didn’t.” These are at worst equally dull, and would say (marginally) more. But I’m getting ahead of myself, or out of myself, or into someone else. Where was I?
Oh, right ...
Department of Anagrams
Congrats to Andres Reyes Carrillo, who solved last month’s puzzle: “Speaking of Robin Soderling, what would you say is the difference between his hair and Roger Federer’s? It has blonder origins.”
Here’s this month’s puzzle: If Samantha Stosur went sky high to hit an overhead, what would you call it? An __________. Send your answers to me via email. The first person to submit the correct answer wins a Head Agassi Series junior racquet (ages 8-10).
Tom Perrotta is a senior editor at TENNIS. Follow him on Twitter.
For more news from TENNIS.com, click here.
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