WORLD RECORD TENNIS LESSON? — Will it be a Guinness World Record? On the Florida Panhandle in Destin, a local teaching pro gathered 806 kids in an attempt to set a world record for the largest tennis lesson on the day before Halloween. “All the effort that went into this project was worth it when we saw those kids jumping for joy,” said teaching pro Pat Markey, who had help from fellow parks and rec. workers and area teaching pros such as former world Top 10er Andrea Jaeger. The children from Destin Elementary received a t-shirt to commemorate the occasion. The USTA Florida Section Foundation provided tennis equipment, which will subsequently be used at local schools. Approval as the new world record event is pending from the Guinness peeps.
It’s never too early for Djoko Claus
ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS SET — The draw has been made for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals, pitting the Top 8 players in the world against each other at the O2 Arena in London. Play begins Sunday, with Group A featuring Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic, and Group B containing Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori, Andy Murray and Milos Raonic. The Top 2 finishers from each group will advance to the semifinals following round robin play. All the Slam champs ended up in Group A, while Federer in Group B is hoping to wrestle the year-end No. 1 ranking away from Djokovic. The current world No. 1 Djokovic has won the last two year-end championships.
THE WOZ AND SERENA SHOW — Is it just a matter of time until someone follows Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki around to film a ready-made reality show? Serena was at the finish line of the New York City Marathon to give the Woz a hug after she finished the race — at a clip good enough to automatically qualify to run the Boston Marathon. This after Wozniacki in the nights leading up to the race almost stayed up all night at a Halloween party and attended a Rangers hockey game at Madison Square Garden while carbo-loading on popcorn. This after she had trained for only half the distance she eventually ran in NYC. The Dane with the run raised more than $80K for charity. “I think I need to lie down,” she told ESPN afterwards. “I think I need a milk shake. Vanilla.”
Djokovic, Federer Race for No. 1
Novak Djokovic holds the upper hand, but the race for the year-end No. 1 ranking is still up for grabs between the Serb and Roger Federer beginning Sunday in London.
While the ATP number crunchers have not released any official scenarios, apparently a number exist. Speculation is that if Djokovic goes undefeated in round robin play at the ATP World Tour Finals he secures the year-end No. 1 ranking. Likewise if the Serb loses a round robin match but then advances to the final, he locks up No. 1.
But if the Serb loses a round robin match and advances to the semis, but loses in the semis, Federer could steal the year-end No. 1 ranking by winning the title then winning both his singles matches in the Davis Cup final (as players are awarded ranking points for Davis Cup).
Confused?
Even more scenarios exist if Djokovic wins only one round robin match. The easiest way to keep track? Tune in to the ATP World Tour Finals to see who comes out on top in the ATP finale to the 2014 season.
They Said It
“It was a great moment for Wozniacki, and a great one for tennis. Some folks will undoubtedly have their doubts, and question whether she can win a major title in the years to come. Just remember, this is a player who loves to prove people wrong.”
— Tennis writer Peter Bodo on Caroline Wozniacki running the NYC Marathon
Marin Cilic and a koala. Right to left.
“Me and Goran [Ivanisevic] did not shave since the beginning of the tournament, and after the quarters it became a little bit itchy so I said I might shave, and he goes ‘You’re near the end of the tournament you can survive another three days, you might just leave that for after the tournament.'”
— Marin Cilic on the superstitions of himself and his coach while winning the US Open this year, speaking to Reuters
“I don’t think my luck could get any worse. I just can’t wait for 2014 to be over.”
— U.S. tennis player Melanie Oudin, who will undergo heart and eye surgery, speaking to the Associated Press
Tennis on TV This Weekend
(broadcast times subject to change)
Saturday
7-11am — Fed Cup Final GER vs. CZE (live), Tennis Channel
Sunday
7-11am — ATP World Tour Finals (live), Tennis Channel
1-5:30pm — ATP World Tour Finals (live), Tennis Channel
