Thursday, October 29, 2009

Who's your hero?



When erstwhile Tennis Channel reporter Tracy Austin asked Serena Williams who she looks up to, she hesitated, then named Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer and songwriter of Green Day. Serena had just revealed that Green Day are her favorite musical artists.

The little Q&A session, which the Tennis Channel aired during changeovers, was kind of lame. Some of the other questions included: Do you prefer cats or dogs? Would you rather shop for shoes or purses? (Serena chose the former. Venus, in her parallel Q&A, couldn't choose.) Vee also chided her kid sister for selecting Armstrong as her hero. When Austin asked who Venus thought Serena should have named, she responded with Jesus Christ. Frankly, I found it refreshing S. didn't go the predictable Jehovah route.

Another question: What would you be doing if you weren't playing tennis? Vee: A music producer. Serena: An actress, probably a struggling one.

Austin also asked each woman how they want to be remembered after they wrap up their tennis careers. Venus wants to be remembered as fun, nice, a good person. And Serena said for her at the end of the figurative day, it won't be about her collection of Grand Slam titles but the good she's able to do building schools in Africa and helping those less fortunate than her with her tennis winnings. Pretty cool.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Tennis player or otherworldly being?


Gilles Simon has a great game. No doubt about it. He and Djokovic had a great match in the quarterfinals in Shanghai last week. Every time I see the Frenchman (especially since he's sprouted the mangy growth some might call a beard), I think he looks like a werewolf or vampire. I know the sun's rays are damaging, but the guy is in dire need of a tan. He looks freakishly pale and unhealthy.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Rafa update


Andy Roddick and Juan Martin Del Potro both made first-round exits in the China Open. Rafael Nadal, however, got through in a tough match against Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis (are there any other tennis players on the tour from Cypress?) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. This tournament in Beijing will determine which players will book a berth in the year-end championships.