what happen-ed in 2012 happen-ed
what happen-ed in 2014 happen-ed
what happen-ed in 2017 happen-ed
what happen-ed in 2019 happen-ed
AND NOW WE ARE HERE
Australia TV going nuclear.
"Add a bronze to our tally for Ash Barty and John Peers. Why? Because Novak Djokovic doesn't feel like playing the mixed doubles after losing in the bronze singles"
The worst case scenario is not that tennis players have to play a tournament with poor preparation.
The worst case scenario is that a deadly virus rips through a community who gave up everything to contain it.
If your priorities are different, take a good hard look at yourself.
Samantha Jane Stosur is champion of the Australian Open with her best friend and total boss Zhang Shuai who was gonna quit tennis until Sam talked her out of it.
MY HEART IS TOO FULL.
Kaia Kanepi will be flying over my hometown of Brisbane sometime between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM. I will stay up all night, track her flight and will salute towards the night sky when she overflies my city. It's the least I can do for my Champion.
Oh gosh. Jess McDonald tearing up, her voice is breaking, explaining that she'll be barracking for the Matildas from here on in. She says it's due to her gratitude for getting her second chance playing in Australia after injuring her knee and having a child.
There is so much in here (LISTEN TO DR WILLIAMS!) but this little note made me smile, "Serena and Novak call their babies doubles partners since they were born a day apart."
Over the years we've praised the work ethic of players like Andy Murray, Carla Suarez Navarro, David Ferrer, Li Na. But no-one, in the entire history of the sport from the invention of lawn tennis in 1873 through to today, has worked harder than that one little asterisk.
The only thing I can think to add to all this is how Ash brings us together, as a whole country. I've never met anyone who has less than complete admiration and affection for her and the way she represents the very best of all of us. Humble, kind, hard working, down to earth.
2014 Brisbane International. She came through qualifying to the first round of the main draw. The compere announced the players
"From Slovakia! Daniela Hantuchova!"
"And from down the road! Ashleigh! Barty!"
And that's how I've thought of her ever since. Ash from down the road.
My main lesson from this whole Serena Roland Garros interview room imbroglio is that Venus Williams is right and smart to skip press conferences and pay the damn fine. A Queen.
I want to talk about Casey Dellacqua a little bit - what she means to me and where she sits in Australian tennis. I think the first impression of Casey, for anyone who's had the pleasure of watching her is one of joy. Sunny to the point of radiance, she lit up the court.
Obsessed with Martha giving her retirement piece to Vanity Fair and Vogue, rather than the tennis media. She wasn't kidding about not going out with that ugly carpet.
Maria Sharapova is leaving tennis. In an exclusive essay for Vanity Fair and Vogue, the tennis legend reflects on her career, looks to her future, and asks: How do you leave behind the only life youโve ever known?
Novak makes public vaccine hesitant/pro choice statements which undermine public health policies and programs, and then his most passionate fans think it's good and appropriate to heckle the idea of vaccination.
Tennis kiddos being shocked by Andy going off is so funny. He has always been super spicy, and the sweary chuntering is his trademark. The angst is the appeal.
I hope that whatever treatment Novak receives for corona is successful and that it also cures the brain worms that made him think that 'pure intentions' are of greater relevance than medical and public health advice.
I don't think anyone is suggesting that Gimelstob is not popular amongst the ATP cohort. What we're saying is that he's a disgraceful, repulsive person who shouldn't hold any kind of office at any level.
This is ridiculous. Carla has always played with outstanding sporting spirit, treating her opponents and the tournaments with respect and fighting her heart out.
Carla Suรกrez Navarro of Spain fined $40,000 at
#USOpen
two days after retiring from her first-round match with a lower-back injury.
Official says she "did not perform to the required professional standards."
by
@howardfendrich
I try to avoid the "if Serena did that" because we all know, but if Serena touched an umpire while arguing with them she'd be defaulted I am immovable on this.
Male Australian cricketers went in with the women and negotiated together - refused to sign their contracts until the women achieved fair conditions. They voluntarily gave up money to go to the female players.
That's how you get there. Solidarity.
I hope we can leave Rybakina out of any "Russian players" chat. She left the federation 4 years ago at the age of 19 and made the decision to become a Kazakhstani citizen long before the invasion of Ukraine. Leave her alone.
The players have no idea just how far the Victorian government stuck their necks out for them to hold the tournament at all. There was a huge amount of anxiety about letting the players into the state and a fair amount of resentment at the special exemptions granted.
I watched Ash Barty, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams all lose in front of my eyes in the last couple of days. I don't know if I have the energy left for the Lion.
I don't love Millman because he's Australian, I'm just lucky to see a lot of him because he's Australian. He is a warm, kind, polite and intelligent man and anyone who has seen him in person would say the same.
This is great interview from Fed. He's absolutely wrecked physically and emotionally.
"I was getting ready to explain myself in the press. The demons, they're always there, they're lurking."
Being kept in a room without your phone for hours is normal procedure for anyone experiencing visa issues most anywhere in the world
It's a wonderful time for us all to think about the ethics of borders, and the inequity of visa processes.
Imagine if instead of Australia it was China or Russia.
Imagine, if you will (try hard) if the
#1
tennis player in the world was American/British/Australian & was being kept in a room without his phone for hours about a visa mixup.
How would you react, then?
#WeStandWithNovak
These photos together have real romcom vibes. Driven career woman is stuck with rough diamond, tempers flare and sparks fly as they discover the real meaning of Christmas/home/family/life.
Agree with Reem that Grigor disclosing so publicly was a strong move and a good message. I found the part where he apologised for putting people at risk quite sad and I really hope he hasn't passed it on, and that he recovers well.
They asked Ash about that celebration - she says she didn't realise she was doing it, it just came out.
Watching the vision, she says "yeah that's not me."
Does Novak know that being an organiser involves actually organising?
The time to make requests was when the conditions were put forward.
Private houses. FFS. The absolute audacity of this clown trying to dictate Victorian state policy from his suite in Adelaide is revolting.
Might not be known internationally that this week is NAIDOC Week. A celebration by, for, and of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders. And proud Ngarigo woman Ashleigh Barty is giving people even more to celebrate.