BOUNCES (Subscribe at benrothenberg.com). Host @NCR_Tennis podcast. benrothenberg1@gmail.com //
Washington, DC
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I wrote about what's been keeping me up at night this week in London:
The stark lack of air conditioning in this country, despite hot summers being an annual event here.
On the #Wimbledon tennis players desperately seeking rare air.
Read at Bounces:
benrothenberg.com/p/wimbledo…
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With Serena Williams now retired, the active WTA player with the most Grand Slam titles is now…
…Venus Williams
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Another Sinner-Alcaraz final is booked, this time at the #USOpen.
Their era has been well underway for a while now.
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Asked Nadal about #AusOpen with or without Djokovic, and he had a very forceful response.
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Interesting end to Ben Shelton’s press conference.
Unprompted, he took a moment to tear into the quality of local broadcasting and specifically on-court interviewing at #AusOpen.
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Gorgeous photos of Serena Williams’ wedding to Alexis Ohanian in Vogue. Those jeweled Nikes for dancing are awesome. vogue.com/article/serena-wil…
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Roger Federer gracious as Rafael Nadal passes him in the Grand Slam count for the first time in their careers.
#AusOpen
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Serena Williams' win in Auckland makes it FOUR decades of being a champion.
Serena's wins by decade:
90s:🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
00s:🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
10s:🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
20s:🏆
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Here are Rafael Nadal’s full answers on the Novak Djokovic situation, which Nadal clearly thinks Djokovic created for himself.
Nadal has consistently backed the science of vaccines during the pandemic, so this is a pretty consistent line of answering for him.
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Just as Zverev is about to speak at the trophy ceremony, a woman repeatedly shouts:
“Australia Believes Olya and Brenda! Australia Believes Olya and Brenda!”
Broke through the silence.
#AusOpen
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Whatever happens as this unfolds here, this is completely Novak Djokovic’s fault for not getting the vaccine in the first place, which he had *months* to do.
Best case scenario for everyone would have been a vaxxed Novak playing the #AusOpen with no drama. He chose against that.
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October 31, 1994: Venus Williams, 14, wins a match on the WTA Tour, in Oakland.
January 2, 2023: Venus Williams, 42, wins a match on the WTA Tour, in Auckland.
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The Muse
The three most reliably crowd-supported players in men’s tennis:
1) Federer
2) Nadal
3) Whoever is playing Djokovic
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NEW:
Novak Djokovic’s positive PCR test which he submitted to Melbourne court states that sample was taken and positive result returned on December 16, 7 hours apart.
This means all those pictures of Djokovic maskless with kids on the 17th came AFTER his positive Covid result.
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There’s more:
On December 17th, the day *after* Djokovic’s purported positive PCR test on December 16th, Djokovic attended an award ceremony for children at the Novak Tennis Center.
Many posts from the kids there posing for pictures with him that day, again masklessly indoors.
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Guy in front of me in Ashe is actually eating the infamous $100 chicken-nuggets-with-caviar, which I thought was more of a parody than an actual menu item which people bought.
We could almost certainly be taxing the rich more.
#USOpen
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BREAKING: WTA announces decision to suspend its tournaments in China due to the ongoing Peng Shuai situation.
From Steve Simon:
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BREAKING:
Alex Hawke, the Australian Minister for Immigration, has cancelled Novak Djokovic's Australian visa "on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so."
This is effectively a re-deportation order for the unvaccinated nine-time #AusOpen champion.
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Paranoid or not, fragile or not, immature or not, this version of Djokovic is so, so much more authentic and enjoyable than the heart-throwing nonsense of a decade ago.
Glad he’s speaking his truth these last few years.
#Wimbledon
Oscar Pearson
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Novak Djokovic’s last seven grand slam results:
Disqualified
🥈
🏆
🏆
🏆
🥈
Deported
Easily the wildest timeline in tennis history.
#AusOpen
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Mouratoglou admitted to ESPN that he coached.
Thus, the warning was correct by Ramos.
Then, racket abuse warning was indisputable.
Williams felt entitled to having coaching warning retracted, which never happens. So she ranted abusively, and got a third warning.
All fair.
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(Periodic and important reminder that Djokovic could have avoided all this rigamarole by simply getting vaccinated like 97%+ of his tennis player peers have.)
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I've always thought there should be more transparency about the substances players take, particularly during matches, but I've also rarely thought anything was likely amiss. But golly, the body language in this video is bizarre. What does the Djokovic team think needs hiding?
Can anyone who knows tennis explain what is going on here, and why it’s being done this way? It looks amazingly dodgy.
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Let's not lose sight of how wildly anti-science Djokovic has publicly been for years.
Here he was last year preaching about how you can change water with emotion.
Naive, but maybe these real consequences today can be a reality check for his nonsense?
Ben Rothenberg
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Ooh, #USOpen just showed Trump on screen again during this set break and there was loud, clear booing this time.
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A question lingering: if Djokovic was claiming a coronavirus positive in last six months as reason for an exemption, when did he get it?
According to BBC, his lawyers say that Djokovic tested positive very recently, less than a month ago, on December 16.
bbc.com/news/world-australia…
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I applaud this ballgirl *heartily*.
#USOpen
@PutintsevaYulia being a grownup today when losing to @JasminePaolini at @usopen.
@TheTennisLetter
@andyroddick
@BenRothenberg
@josemorgado
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And yes, the immense irony of the FFT President not taking questions from the media in the wake of this Osaka withdrawal is not lost on anyone. #RG21
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(Periodic and important reminder that Djokovic could have avoided all this rigamarole by simply getting vaccinated like 97%+ of his tennis player peers have.)
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Venus Williams revealed her strategy for dealing with the media...which would certainly work for her:
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If you don’t know Frances Tiafoe’s tennis origin story, you should.
From sleeping in a spare room at the Maryland tennis center where his father was a maintenance man, all the way to the #USOpen quarterfinals.
By @lizclarketweet in 2014:
washingtonpost.com/sf/sports…
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Djokovic already in press.
"He was just able to take his tennis to another level in those particular moments in the beginning of all sets, except the fourth...I had my chances...he showed why he's a great champion, staying mentally tough...he deserved it."
#RolandGarros
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Not everything went Roger Federer’s way in his life and career, but gosh darn does he make you feel like it did. Grateful to the end.
Laver Cup
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December 16 was a busy day for Djokovic:
In addition to purportedly getting a PCR test for Covid that came back positive, Djokovic also was part of a maskless, indoor panel discussion and attended a maskless, indoor ceremony for a stamp being made in his honor on that day.
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Carlos Alcaraz is so good. Like, so good. Crazy good. Break the scales good.
I’ve been covering the tour full time for 10+ years now and in that time there hasn’t been a young male player remotely *close* to generating Alcaraz level of organic excitement and awe.
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#1 Novak Djokovic loses to qualifier Jiri Vesely in the Dubai quarterfinals.
That means Daniil Medvedev will ascend to the #1 ranking on Monday, becoming first player outside the Big 4 (Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Murray) to occupy ATP’s top spot since way back in 2004 (Roddick).
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As he confirmed in his #USOpen speech, Medvedev's celebration was "L2 + Left," a.k.a. the code for the FIFA brick fall goal celebration.
US Open Tennis
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Honestly a bit surprised to see ESPN didn’t yank Nick Kyrgios off air mid-#USOpen final, seeing his most recent disparaging tweet about a WTA player circulating.
Given his history of demeaning women, women’s tennis, and WTA players, it was already a dubious choice to have him.
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On an unfortunate incident at #CincyTennis yesterday:
During the first set of the women's qualifying match between Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova, one of the players complained to the WTA chair umpire, Morgane Lara, about a woman sitting in the stands...
(1/12)🧵
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More news breaking at Bounces about Donald Trump's visit to the US Open men's final.
The US Open sent an email to broadcasters, obtained by Bounces, ordering them to censor any reactions or protests from the crowd to Trump's appearance.
Read more here:
benrothenberg.com/p/us-open-…
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In some ways this is a fitting moment in Djokovic's 2020, which has dominated by a debate over whether one should be responsible for the negative outcomes of carelessness and reckless behavior despite having only "good intentions."
#USOpen
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18-y.o. Emma Raducanu completes the most improbable, extraordinary major run ever, beating 19-y.o. Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 to win the #USOpen.
Ranked 150th, Raducanu is first ever to win a major title as a qualifier.
She won *all 20 sets* she played, never needing a tiebreak.
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I just feel awful, foremost, for the Williams family, who put so much into making this movie the best it could be, and didn’t do anything to deserve how this night imploded.
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A positive test on December 16 would have come too late for the Tennis Australia exemption process deadline as described to players.
According to Tennis Australia documents, the deadline for applying for an exemption had been nearly a week earlier, “no later than” December 10.
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I have never seen such casual, committed scammery in tennis like this before.
Tennis Blockade
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Also what an unreal feat by Darren Cahill, winning Slams coaching men (Hewitt, Agassi), then a woman (Halep), then a man again (Sinner).
Players from four distinct generations, cultures, and playing styles.
His versatility as a coach is unprecedented.
#AusOpen
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Rafael Nadal is off to an undefeated 15-0 start in 2022, all on hard courts, picking up a title in Acapulco to add to his two titles in Australia.
This is not how it was supposed to go for 35-year-old Nadal at this stage of his career, to say the least, but it's been amazing.
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Gael Monfils:
“Somehow I'm not losing the faith. I need one time…I won't win 20, but one time, just one time I need. I'm working for this. I still believe I can do it. It's hard…it's been 20 years that I'm not doing the good thing, but who knows? This year it might click.”
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Sunrise
Rafael Nadal completes the most epic comeback win of his career—in so many ways—coming from two sets down to beat #2 Medvedev for #AusOpen title.
2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
The men’s record 21st Grand Slam title is Nadal’s.
Improbable, but, as Rafa proved, not impossible.
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I have never seen a flood of WTA player reactions like this, especially to something that happened in R1 of a 250.
Goes to show how beloved Zhang Shuai is, most of all. The locker room will rally behind her with mighty force. They messed with the wrong one.
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Naomi Osaka:
“By the end of this year I would love to be top 10. By next year I would love to be the No. 1.
“Oh, that's a big statement.
“Close to…top 5. Erase that. Top 5.
“You know what? I'm going to set that goal. Top 1, yeah, No. 1.”
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Players at #Wimbledon usually wave down at the masses, but Ons Jabeur came down from the balcony to greet her adoring public. 🇹🇳
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Djokovic suddenly running out of fucks to give about the Centre Court crowd is a joy to behold, and very overdue. #Wimbledon
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BREAKING:
Djokovic's application to have his visa cancellation overturned is to be "dismissed with costs."
Djokovic loses. He now has no Australian visa, and will be deported.
The nine-time #AusOpen champion will have to leave Australia in short order.
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As promised, “Where Is Peng Shuai?” shirts are being distributed at the south entrance of #AusOpen for this women’s final.
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A very interesting Jannik Sinner press conference, discussing how he’s become too comfortable and predictable, and how he’s ready to evolve into a more complex player to beat Alcaraz, even if it means taking more losses to the field along the way.
#USOpen
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Novak Djokovic beating Nadal in the #RolandGarros semifinals last year was one of the greatest wins of his career.
Rafael Nadal beating Djokovic in the #RolandGarros quarterfinals tonight was one of the greatest wins of his career.
6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4).
4h12m
1:15 am.
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Folks, it gets fishier.
Djokovic’s presented positive Covid test from December 16 (confirmation code 7371999-259039) comes with a QR code on it.
When you scan that QR code (and you can try yourself), it takes you to a website showing that test was *negative*, not positive.
🤷
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(Periodic and important reminder that Djokovic could have avoided all this rigamarole by simply getting vaccinated like 97%+ of his tennis player peers have.)
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There's a lag in the question transmission in #USOpen interview room, and it's...taken some adjusting to.
Here's Andy Murray, a King Among Men, insisting that the wonderful @avarwallace doesn't get cut off by the moderator.
He remains a very good player, and a better dude.
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Players to win their first four Slam finals in the Open era (since 1968):
Monica Seles
Roger Federer
Naomi Osaka
That’s the whole list.
#AusOpen
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Players who started their careers 4-0 in Slam finals:
Monica Seles
Roger Federer
Naomi Osaka
Iga Swiatek
Carlos Alcaraz
#Wimbledon
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Slovakia’s Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova wore Ukrainian colors for her lopsided win today over Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova. #RG23
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Daria Kasatkina, reposting from Navalny’s widow, remains the bravest voice in tennis right now.
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Tennis has not been consistent in how it has handled issues regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as we know, both in terms of policies and in symbolic displays of support.
But this incident, I believe, is a clear misstep.
(12/12)
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New:
After Novak Djokovic admitted to being knowingly coronavirus-positive during an in-person interview last month, here is a statement from the co-presidents of the International Tennis Writers Association to @CNN:
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Gael Monfils, at 35 years old, is the first ATP champion of the 2022 season with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Karen Khachanov in the ATP Adelaide final.
Tennis is so lucky to have this guy still in the mix.
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Morgan Riddle on Instagram this afternoon as her boyfriend Taylor Fritz beats Alexander Zverev.
#Wimbledon
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Bloomberg Originals
MODERATOR: Any more questions?
Q. What are you having for dinner?
NICK KYRGIOS: I don’t know, man…Fuckin’ Daniil’s serve, straight down my throat.
#AusOpen
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An #AusOpen tradition unlike any other:
Nadal getting a chair for the Kia speech after a 5+ hour final.
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Serena Williams was asked on CNN about Zverev attacking the umpire in Acapulco:
“There is absolutely a double standard. I would probably be in jail if I did that. Like, literally, no joke.”
(Still no word from ATP on their “review” of the incident.)
Christiane Amanpour
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Bro you have tweeted about me four times already this month and it's only July 6th. Let's work on getting you a job again. 🙏
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Tennis TV
Emma Raducanu earned 40 ranking points for her #USOpen qualies wins.
Thus, her 2,040 ranking points for winning the US Open as a qualifier is most ranking points a player has ever earned from a single tournament.
Even if Emma defends the title next year, she will lose points.
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“I lost respect for him.”
-Andy Murray in press on Stefanos Tsitsipas.
#USOpen
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Maybe take all that 2018 World Cup budget and pay the women who actually win soccer things?
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Obviously very awkward after banning Russians to have a Muscovite leave with the #Wimbledon title, but to my mind, this shows a great Russian failure.
Elena Rybakina left Russian tennis because they failed to support and recognize her talent.
Russia lost today. Kazakhstan won.
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The best thing John McEnroe has done in years.
On Eurosport, on Margaret Court:
Cycling on TNT Sports
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A tween prodigy who spent decades trying, 29-year-old Madison Keys breaks through for a long awaited major triumph, doing it with guts and gusto.
6-3, 2-6, 7-5 over two-time defending #AusOpen champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Gonna be a huuuugely popular winner in the locker room.
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Amazing how much damage can be done in 24 hours.
A seriously dumb chapter in media history that hopefully can end now, except for all the other apologies that are still owed by our world’s loudest morons and bigots.
I want to apologise to Khelif - Italian boxer Carini bbc.in/3YvHg0m
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