Tennis
Agassi and McEnroe Bring Back Rivalry; Stump for WTT
By TERRY LYONS (Special to DigitalSportsDesk)
NEW YORK, MAY 15, 2012 -- Tennis greats John McEnroe and Andre Agassi took to their global communications pulpit to blast the tennis establishment during a full-scale stump for the virtues of World Team Tennis during a media conference conducted by team tennis organizers on Monday. Agassi will join McEnroe this summer in their attempt to raise funds for McEnroe's now-annual "give-back" to the New York city tennis programs that transformed him from an unknown Douglaston, Queens teenager to one of the greatest athletes and winners the sports world has ever seen.
The two tennis Hall of Famers, along with women's tennis great Martina Hingis, will compete as part of a World Team Tennis match between the New York Sportimes and Boston Lobsters in a July 19 event with proceeds to be donated to the "Johnny Mac" Tennis Project (JMTP). The charity program provides scholarships, coaching, transportation and other financial assistance to qualified young tennis players in the greater New York area. The special, one-time performance by Agassi will take place at Sportime Stadium on Randall's Island in New York City.
"Back in the '70s, when World Team Tennis started and Billie Jean King spearheaded the league, the matches were played in places like Madison Square Garden," noted McEnroe, a tennis participant at every level of the game from exhibitions, to team tennis to Davis Cup to the Grand Slam tour. "The top players in the world were all playing, and I remember that they didn't let Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg play in the French Open one year because they were playing team tennis.
"Now, the powers that be in tennis have made little effort to give this, perhaps, what it deserves. It would be beneficial to all to give this a real chance, and I don't think it's being given that chance. Billy Jean has been battling for it for years and she's trying to get a place in the schedule for it for years. It's a fun (event) to play and it gives tennis something for kids to look at it in a slightly different way than being out there by yourself. Certainly, there's a lot more work to be done," added McEnroe of his noteworthy belief on the importance of team tennis in the sport's hierarchy.
"I've always loved team tennis and I've always thought there's a huge place for it in our sport," said Agassi during a conference call with a global contingent of tennis and sports writers. "I've always loved the format but John can speak more of its history."
Last year, McEnroe faced tennis legend Bjorn Borg in the first JMTP benefit in front of a sold-out Sportimes Stadium crowd. Johnny Mac Tennis Project recipients train at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy which is now its second year at Sportime Randall’s Island.
“This year’s Johnny Mac Tennis Project Night will highlight three of the most popular and exciting players ever to play the sport,” said Sportime Clubs and NY Sportimes CEO Claude Okin. “Andre Agassi has become a notable humanitarian and ambassador for tennis as a life changing opportunity. We are thrilled that he will be part of this great night and join our efforts to improve the lives of young people and young players here in New York City. Hopefully one will become the next John McEnroe in the not too distant future."
Since its launch in 2010, the John McEnroe Tennis Academy has outgrown its original home on NYC’s Randall’s Island to expand to create two new annexes of the academy, scheduled to open on Long Island and in Westchester County this fall. The Academy’s expansion will give young people who live in nearby suburbs a chance to train while they attend their own schools, much like McEnroe and his siblings did in Queens.
“We need to continue to find good athletes and expose them to tennis, and that’s what this program has done,” said McEnroe. “The tri-state area has thousands of kids, some of whom will excel in tennis if we give them the chance. That’s what we are doing, giving them a chance to have well-rounded lives as they play the great game of tennis.”
Part of the opportunity born through the McEnroe program will come in the form of scholarships to be partially funded from the July 19th event, Ticket prices for the event are a steep $250, $150 and $60 but tax deductions are to be considered. Tickets for the Benefit night on July 19 and for all NY Sportimes home matches can be purchased by calling 1-888-WTT-NYC1 or by visiting www.nysportimes.com online.
Djokovic defeats Nadal in Longest Men's Final in Grand-Slam History
By TERRY LYONS
JANUARY 29, 2012 -- Nearly six hours after they took to the tennis court at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia with a hop in their step and the anticipation only felt before one of four tennis matches every year, Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Rafael Nadal of Spain stood behind Laver and the other tennis officials at the trophy presentation to award Djokovic his winner's cup and Nadal his consolation award. At first, the two champions of tennis stood at a respectful attention as the ceremony unfolded. Laver was introduced, the sponsors were thanked, the chair official was justly recognized and the collective remarks, although fitting, brief and classy, began to run as long as the tie-break which thrust the match to its fifth set.
Djokovic strained and bent his knees, his body drained from one of the greatest performances in tennis history, maybe in sports history. His limbs were cramping, his body drained and his face flushed with fatigue and the release of emotion. He had just won his third Australian Open by the score of 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5. It took him 5 hours and fifty-three minutes to defeat Nadal in a classic men's final, the lengthiest final in modern-day tennis history, surpassing the 1988 US Open final between runner-up Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl which crowned Lendl after 4:54.
Keep in mind, Djokovic won. His opponent had lost.
Nadal stood, then wavered, then smartly backed off his designated standing place to lean back and almost sit on the tennis net, still strung as tightly as the hamstrings of a weekend warrior at the local tennis club. Nadal looked woozy, flushed, nearly feinting, his body obviously dehydrated. While a worldwide television audience and a sold-out crowd at Laver all felt his pain, the ceremony went on and on until one of the Australian tennis dignitaries glanced over his shoulder and respectfully asked the Spaniard is he was all right. Nadal nodded and smiled but the tennis official, God Bless his soul, took it upon himself and signaled for two chairs and two bottles of water.
The organizers reacted as swiftly as each of the players had been running to return a 125-mph serve or forehand just minutes ago. The chairs were delivered and the water handed to Djokovic who tapped Nadal on the arm with the ice cold bottle. Nadal smiled and slowly, gladly, gracefully accepted the bottle and quickly brought its contents to his parched lips. The two champions sat down and the crowd erupted in applause, showing their appreciation and approval. The had just witnessed history and, if they were smart, they had a ticket stub in their pocket to the greatest tennis match in history.
Djokovic had the winner's cup and winner's check for $2.2 million (US). He earned the right to play Nadal by defeating Britain's Andy Murray in a classic five-set semifinal just 48 hours beforehand. After that match, Djokovic spoke eloquently about the match and even "joked," the pun intended, that he would "do his push-ups" to train for the final. His coach and his trainers, nutritionists or strength and conditioning gurus should be inducted to the Tennis Hall of Fame. Either that or they should share their secrets with the sporting world. If they can't, it's possible that the 24-year old, five-time Grand Slam champion is, indeed, SuperMan.
