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SportsBooks Give Novak Djokovic 80 Percent Chance To Win Wimbledon

July 8, 2022 by TennisGrandstand Leave a Comment

Novak Djokovic hasn’t won a major singles title in a year. Sportsbooks believe that’s going to come to an end on Sunday when he faces Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon men’s singles final.

Djokovic is given -400 odds, or an implied 80% chance to win his seventh Wimbledon title, which would give him a 21 major singles title and. Meanwhile, Kyrgios, playing in his first major singles final, is given +335 odds, or an implied 23% chance to win his first grand slam title even though he’s had extra rest. 

Bettors completely disagree with sportsbooks on this one. Since Djokovic’s victory, he’s only seen 33.6% of bets to win Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Kyrgios has seen 66.4% of bets.  

“Sportsbooks and bettors are at odds over this one,” said OddsChecker spokesman Kyle Newman.

Will it be Djokovic or will it be Kyrgios? It’s clear that bettors believe that the books are undervaluing the extra rest that Kyrgios has gotten. It’s also worth noting that Kyrgios is 2-0 against Djokovic in his career. However, Djokovic has won the third most Wimbledon titles of all time, just one behind Sampras and two behind Federer. He’s won the last three Wimbledon Men’s tournaments.” 

For more information on OddsChecker, go to https://www.oddschecker.com/us/tennis/wimbledon-mens

 

Novak Djokovic

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story Tagged With: Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon

Nick Kyrgios Walkover Wimbledon Win Over Rafa Nadal Not The Most Famous Ever

July 8, 2022 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from his Wimbledon semifinal with Nick Kyrgios with a stomach tear shocked the tennis world. However, it is not the most famous “Wimbledon Walkover” in the history of The Championships.

In one of the most unusual episodes ever in tennis history came in the 1931 Wimbledon final when American Sidney Wood won the men’s singles title by forfeit. Wood, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 97, tells the story in his book “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was…And Other Tennis Tales From A By-Gone Era” (for sale and download here https://www.amazon.com/dp/0942257847/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_MJT771VHG5P7VNGMVCW1) of how he won the Wimbledon title over Frank Shields, his school buddy, doubles partner, roommate and Davis Cup teammate (and model and actress Brooke Shield’s grandfather) when Shields was ordered by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) to withdraw from the final to rest his injured knee in preparation for a U.S. Davis Cup match following Wimbledon. He then discusses his “private understanding playoff” that saw his match with Shields at the Queen’s Club tournament final in London three years later be played for the Wimbledon trophy.

Writes Bud Collins in “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” book of Wood, “he became the second-youngest champion of Centre Court, and without stepping onto the hallowed sod. Frank Shields, with an injured ankle, withdrew, the only time Wimbledon has had a defaulted final.”

“Frank wanted to play, and so did I,” Wood said to Collins years later . “It was insulting to the fans and the tournament. I didn’t want to win that way. But the U.S. Davis Cup committee ordered Frank to withdraw so he’d be ready for Davis Cup the next weekend against Britain, which we lost. It shows you the control the USTA had over us amateurs.”

Wood got to the final with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, decision over Britain’s Fred Perry, the future champion, and, at 19, became the youngest Wimbledon champ until 17-year-old Boris Becker in 1985.

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” by Sebastian Torok, “Althea Gibson: I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” by Althea Gibson, “The Pros: The Forgotten Era of Tennis” by Peter Underwood, “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All-Time” and “Pete Sampras: Greatness Revisited” by Steve Flink,  “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “The Secrets of Spanish Tennis” by Chris Lewit, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins,  “Titanic: The Tennis Story” by Lindsay Gibbs, “Macci Magic: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others” by Rick Macci with Jim Martz, “Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion: The Full Extraordinary Story” by Mark Hodgkinson, “Cattle To Courts: A History of Tennis In Texas” by Ken McAllister, “Sport of a Lifetime: Enduring Personal Stories From Tennis” by Judy Aydelott, “Trojan Tennis: A History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” by S. Mark Young, “Absolute Tennis: The Best And Next Way To Play The Game” by Marty Smith, “How To Permanently Erase Negative Self Talk So You Can Be Extraordinary” by Emily Filloramo, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, “Your Playbook For Beating Depression: Essential Strategies For Managing and Living with Depression” by Cliff Richey and Mary Garrison, “The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All-Time” by Sandra Harwitt, “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” by Rene Stauffer, “The Days of Roger Federer” and “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker, “Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” by Jan Kodes with Peter Kolar, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by Tony Serksnis, “Court Confidential: Inside The World Of Tennis” by Neil Harman, “A Backhanded Gift” by Marshall Jon Fisher, “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli (www.Boycott1980.com), “Internet Dating 101: It’s Complicated, But It Doesn’t Have To Be” by Laura Schreffler, “How To Sell Your Screenplay” by Carl Sautter, “Bone Appetit: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog” by Suzan Anson, “The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle” by Stewart Wolpin among others.

“The Wimbledon Final That Never Was…” book

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story Tagged With: FrankShields, Nick Kyrgios, Rafael Nadal, Sidney Wood, Wimbledon

Not Only Is Nick Kyrgios Favored To Beat Rafael Nadal At Wimbledon, But Favored To Beat Him Straight Sets

July 7, 2022 by TennisGrandstand Leave a Comment

Despite Rafael Nadal winning a dramatic five-set win over Taylor Fritz in the Wimbledon quarterfinals despite a stomach injury, sportsbooks don’t believe that Nadal will be able to do the same against Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals.  

Kyrgios is given -139 odds, or an implied 58.2% chance to reach his first major final, per odds via OddsChecker here https://www.oddschecker.com/us/tennis/wimbledon-mens Meanwhile, Nadal is given +130 odds, or an implied 43.5% chance to win the match. In fact, sportsbooks are so sure that Kyrgios is going to win, that they have Kyrgios in straight sets as the most likely outcome at +350, or an implied 22.2% chance to be the outcome. Sportsbooks give just +600 odds or an implied 14.3% chance that the match gets to a 5th set, and +650 odds or an implied 13.3% chance that Nadal wins in five. 

Bettors aren’t as convinced. Since Nadal’s victory over Fritz, bettors are split 50-50 between Kyrgios and Nadal. They’re nowhere near as certain of Kyrgios’ victory as sportsbooks seem to be. 

“Nick Kyrgios is playing the best tennis of his life, but Rafael Nadal is still one of the greatest tennis players ever,” said OddsChecker spokesman Kyle Newman. “Even with an injury, Nadal managed to gut out a huge victory over a red-hot Taylor Fritz who hadn’t dropped a set at Wimbledon and had dropped just two in his last 8 matches. This will also be the fourth time that these two have faced off at a major, Nadal is 2-1 and Kyrgios hasn’t won beaten Nadal at a major since 2014. So, despite his injury, it’s still hard to see Nadal going down against Kyrgios, especially in straight sets.” 

NICK KYRGIOS V. RAFAEL NADAL 

Player Odds Implied chance 
Nick Kyrgios -139 58.2% 
Rafael Nadal +130 43.5% 

Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story

Dick Savitt, The 1951 Wimbledon Champion, Is The Greatest Jewish Tennis Player of All Time

July 1, 2022 by TennisGrandstand Leave a Comment

The following is the chapter on Richard “Dick” Savitt, the 1951 Wimbledon champion, from the book “The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All Time” by Sandy Harwitt. Savitt is regarded as the greatest Jewish male tennis player of all time. He was also featured in this June 23, 2022 article in the New York Times here: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/nyregion/savitt-wimbledon-tennis.html Harwitt’s book can be bought or downloaded here:

It’s likely that not everyone at the Morgan Stanley offices in Manhattan is aware their distinguished 86-year-old colleague Richard “Dick” Savitt had a previous career that brought him fame, if not fortune.

Indeed, when Savitt, a self-taught tennis player, was in his 20s, he was a world-class tennis champion. How famous was he? Let’s put it this way — following his capturing of the 1951 Australian men’s singles title, he achieved the greatest goal in tennis by reigning victorious at Wimbledon that same year. At home, Time magazine feted Savitt as they would any superstar by honoring him with the cover of the magazine. It was Savitt’s first time gracing the grass courts at the All England Club and he remains the last man to capture the coveted Wimbledon trophy on his first attempt.

Savitt’s success at those two majors also wrote a new page of Jewish history — he became the first person of the Jewish faith to score a singles trophy at any major. Since Savitt, only one other player who considers themselves purely Jewish has won a singles title at one of the four major — American Brian Teacher, who followed in Savitt’s footsteps in winning the 1980 Australian Open title. There are, however, two other former No. 1 players in possession of multiple titles at the majors who can trace their family lineage to include a Jewish heritage: Boris Becker, whose mother is from a Jewish background, and Pete Sampras, whose paternal grandmother was Jewish. But speaking of full Jewish credit for a man winninga singles title at a major, it’s all about Savitt and Teacher.

Life for Savitt began in Bayonne, New Jersey, and through his high school years he lived life as a native of the Garden State, moving on to Maplewood in the first year of his life, and eventually to South Orange when he was 13. A lover of all sports, tennis wasn’t even initially on the radar for Savitt, who pursued basketball and baseball with a passion. Once in South Orange, Savitt incorporated a bit of self-taught tennis into his sports routine and that’s when someone took notice of the kid on court at the public park. That someone was a member of the family who owned the drugstore in town, who also happened to be a member of the Berkeley Tennis Club in Orange, New Jersey. Savitt accepted an invitation from the gentleman to visit Berkeley and was quickly taken with the place. Berkeley was a great breeding ground for junior players and ex-collegiate stars, and the club president, Russell Kingman, happened to also be the current president of the United States Lawn Tennis Association.

“So between all the players and ex-college players and the juniors that were around (Berkeley) it was a whole other world for me — I’d never seen or been involved in a tennis situation like that,” Savitt remembers. “In June, they held the New Jersey State Championships, and because Kingman was involved, Jack Kramer, Ted Schroeder, Pancho Segura, Bobby Riggs, all the great players of that time came to the New Jersey State and I got hooked. I was a ball boy and that’s how I got into tennis.”

Although he attended his first year of high school in South Orange, the Savitt family would soon move out of state.

“My parents moved to El Paso, Texas,” Savitt said. “My mother had a bad skin condition and needed the warmer weather. My senior year in high school I was second all-team in basketball.”

Asked whether the adjustment to Texas was tough for a Jewish kid from New Jersey, no less a teen who grew up a stone’s throw away from New York City, Savitt quickly dispelled the suggestion. Savitt and

El Paso went together as well as a horse and carriage: “Texas is great for high school sports — all sports — football, high school basketball. The weather was great and I could play tennis all year round and I would’ve never been able to play that much in New Jersey, obviously on account of the weather.”

While at El Paso High School, Dick would play forward on the basketball team and was named to the Texas Second Team All-State basketball team. In tennis, he became the Texas State junior tennis champ. He was then ranked No. 4 in the nation in the under-18s. Graduating high school in 1945, he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Memphis, Tennessee. World War II was coming to a close so during the winter of 1945-46 that he served in the Navy, he played on one of the top-ranked armed forces basketball teams. “A few months after I joined the Navy, the war ended,” Savitt said. “I was still in the Navy for a year and a half but didn’t go into battle. But if they hadn’t dropped the bomb (on Hiroshima) I probably would’ve.”

From the Navy in Memphis, Dick moved on in 1946 to college at Cornell, a school located “high above Cayuga’s waters” in Ithaca, New York, as his alma mater’s official song praises their upstate locale. A knee injury put an end to Savitt’s collegiate basketball career, but he continued playing tennis, and won the Eastern Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament held in Syracuse, New York from 1947 through 1950.

Graduating from Cornell in 1950, Dick dedicated himself to tennis. That year, he won a number of tournaments, was considered the No. 6 ranked player in the country, and would reach the U.S. National semifinals at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills. It was not, however, the first time he would play at the then grandest tennis stadium in the United States — he first gave it a go in 1947. In the first round that year, Savitt played against the renowned Bill Talbert, a 1944 and ’46 U.S. National finalist. Savitt clearly remembers that first time playing at Forest Hills: “The place was packed to see Billy Talbert. The match was very quick and I think by the time I lost, even my parents had left the stadium. I guess I got off the court pretty quick because by the time Billy got to the clubhouse I was showered and dressed to leave. You’ve never seen anyone get dressed so fast. Playing in front of 14,000 was difficult.”

It was in 1951 that Savitt utilized his tough-as-nails game — he overpowered opponents with potent groundstrokes  and wicked serves — to indelibly link his name to the greats of the game. He would head down to Australia in January where he became the first non-Australian to win the Down Under major since American Don Budge in 1938.

“You need luck in life,” Savitt said. “I had a friend who was No. 1 in Chile and I was invited to play in South America. I was in Chile and I got a wire while there from the USLTA asking if I wanted to go to Australia. It was meant to be Art Larsen and Herbie Flam, but Flam couldn’t go because he was taking some courses at UCLA. So they asked me and I canceled the rest of the trip to South America and flew back and went to Australia with Larsen.

“I was playing full-time in Australia I really improved,” Savitt added. “I was getting a lot of practice since there were so many courts. I beat ( John) Bromwich, Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor three days in a row so that was huge, especially beating Frank Sedgman in the semifinals since he was the best player in the world. It was a great win for me.”

If Australia counts as a great win, Wimbledon remains the ultimate triumph in the sport. And Savitt was only months away from realizing that dream. At Wimbledon, he defeated Herb Flam, his Davis Cup teammate — and a fellow Jewish player — in the semifinals.

And again, he would be staring across the net from McGregor in the final of a major — and like the last time in Australia, Dick was victorious, although this time in straight sets instead of four. The New York Times would declare Savitt the best amateur in the world — until the late ’60s tennis was predominantly an amateur affair and the few barnstorming pros were not invited to play at the four majors or other prestigious events.

“It’s probably the tournament to win — the major to win,” said Savitt. “If you have to win just one, then Wimbledon is the one to win. It’s got all the atmosphere. The other three majors are great tournaments, but I guess Wimbledon will always have a little bit of an edge.”

Wimbledon in 1951 was the high of all highs for Savitt, but things were about to change.

He was considered the odds-on favorite at Forest Hills, but a leg infection would eventually take its toll and he lost to Vic Seixas in the semifinals.

In the year that would be his best, the Davis Cup would prove to deliver Savitt’s biggest disappointment, and not because he was responsible for an American defeat. Dick was chosen to play during the early Davis Cup ties in 1951, compiling a 3-0 singles record in playing against Canada and Japan — those would turn out to be Dick’s only career Davis Cup appearances. That’s because when it came to the semifinals against Sweden and then the final against Australia, Dick didn’t receive the nod. This seemed surprising since Savitt was universally considered the best player in the world at the time. Frank Shields — the grandfather to actress Brooke Shields — was the U.S. Davis Cup captain, and Jack Kramer was the coach — and they elected to play the semi-retired Ted Schroeder instead of Savitt. Schroeder was a close friend and former doubles partner of Kramer’s, and as they often say, it’s who you know. Schroeder would lose his matches, and the Australians would win the 1951 Davis Cup title. To this day, it’s easy to tell that not being named to the

1951 U.S. Davis Cup final team still smarts as if it was yesterday with Savitt: “Oh, you had to bring that up, didn’t you?” Savitt asked, even though he knew it was going to be a topic of conversation. “I assumed I was going to play against the Australian team, but then came the announcement. The answer is, ‘Yes, that was a low blow.’”

The rumor mill churned with many theories why Savitt was passed over for Schroeder. The assumption by many, especially Jewish tennis fans, was that Savitt being denied a place on the final squad was the doing of anti-Semitism, even though both Savitt and Flam took part in earlier rounds that year. Although many still are of the opinion that anti-Semitism sparked this Davis Cup incident, Savitt has

never subscribed to that theory. He said, however, he never received a reason for why he was not selected. “There was no

connection to anti-Semitism, I don’t think,” Savitt emphasized.

“All the Jewish people weren’t happy to know that, but I really don’t think that was it.” Savitt leaves it to “just that it was a bad time for me.” And if anyone thinks that Savitt is just glossing over anti-Semitic overtones to this controversy, think again. He is a very open, direct and honest individual and if he thought for one minute that his being Jewish had anything to do with the Davis Cup snub, he’d say it loud and clear.

As it would turn out, Dick’s day of playing tennis fulltime were coming to a close. He would only play for one more season — the acclaim of being a tennis champion came without any ability to earn a living, which today’s superstars enjoy. So in October 1952, Savitt announced his retirement with immediate plans of going out and getting a real job. “Tennis in those days was different,” Savitt said, noting his tennis never delivered an honest paycheck. “I didn’t retire because of the Davis Cup. I retired because I only had two choices: to play as an amateur and receive money under the table as an appearance fee or teach tennis at a country club. I didn’t want to do that. So I left to go into business.”

Savitt initially went into the oil business in Texas and Louisiana, but after nine years would switch gears and go into securities on Wall Street: “Yeah, I’ve been here since 1961 until now,” said Savitt, from his office. “These days I don’t go in too early and I don’t stay too late.”

As he was in tennis, Savitt would be a success in the business world, too — and that included financial gain as well. But he didn’t totally abandon playing tennis. He would continue to play at a competitive level, occasionally joining the draw of top tournaments in the Tri-State area. And even today, he still takes to the court for fun and exercise. “I get dressed three or four times a week, but what I play is not really tennis anymore,” Savitt admitted. Although he went to Cornell University, it was another Ivy League school — Columbia University in Manhattan — where he has frequently played and helped with their team since 1972,

which resulted in Columbia naming their tennis facility after him. One of his favorite trophies earned in his later years came when he teamed with his son, Robert, to win the 1981 USTA National Father-Son Indoor Championship.

Another tennis highlight of his life came in 1961 when he was changing the course of his career from oil to the stock market. Savitt made his first trip to Israel that year to play in the Maccabiah Games, winning the singles and doubles titles. It would be the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the Jewish homeland: “I’m very Israeli oriented,” said Savitt, who made about 30 trips to Israel starting in the early 1970s, often going twice a year. Although he no longer travels on such long-haul voyages, he remains heavily dedicated to the Israel Tennis Centers efforts: “We now have 14 tennis centers and have had some great results as far as tournament players, Davis Cup players, Fed Cup players, and juniors,” he said, proudly. “The major interest of the Israel Tennis Centers today is to keep all kinds of kids, not just Jewish kids, off the street. And we’ve succeeded in making Israel a tennis nation.”

Savitt, who was elected to the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, said he never experienced any anti-Semitism when playing tennis, although he was well aware that places like the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills didn’t accept Jewish members: “I did play at clubs where I couldn’t join, but I never thought about joining any of them and so I never had any problems.” These days, of course, Savitt would be more than welcome to join the West Side Tennis Club, which now has members of all shapes, sizes, religions and races. Savitt was enshrined into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1976.

THE GREATEST JEWISH TENNIS PLAYERS OF ALL TIME BOOK

“The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players Of All Time” is a guide to the best and most influential Jewish tennis players in the history of the sport and includes features and biographies of the greatest players, stories of both break-out success and anti-Semitism. Beginning with the Italian Baron Umberto de Morpurgo in the 1920s, the book features stories such as the best German player who was prevented from playing by the Nazis, the player who competed on both the men’s and women’s tour, the only fully Jewish player to rank No. 1 in the world, and the player who was denied entry into a country to play a Women’s Tennis Association tournament—in the 21st century. This history also discusses the ways in which Jewish individuals have been instrumental behind the scenes, playing key roles in the growth of tennis into one of the world’s most popular sports. Among the 37 players featured are Dick Savitt, Brian Teacher, Ilana Kloss, Aaron Krickstein, Brad Gilbert, Julie Heldman, Amos Mansdorf, Anna Smashnova, Justin Gimelstob, Angela Buxton and Brian Gottfried. The book retails for $19.95 and is available where books are sold, including here on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/193755936X/ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_vl8rub1RK7P00

“Tennis does have its ‘Game, Set and Matzo’ element and I am thrilled to present them in ‘The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All Time,’” said Harwitt. “Each player’s personal saga will touch all tennis fans, Jewish or not, because their stories are instrumental to the history of the game. The experience writing this book was an exciting and rewarding adventure in discovering many fascinating stories.”

Harold Solomon, who is also profiled in the book, contributed the foreword to the book. “You don’t need to be Jewish to appreciate the story of any of these Jewish tennis players,” wrote Solomon. “You just have to be someone who has a curious side and likes to learn about people and how they ended up being who they are and doing what they did.”

Gottfried, the 1977 French Open singles finalist, said of Harwitt, “Who better to write a story about the lives of Jewish tennis players than someone who has ‘been there and done that.’ Sandy has been a fixture on the ATP and WTA Tour for many decades as a very knowledgeable and respected tennis journalist. My family and I have enjoyed getting to know her over the years and being included in her book has been an honor and a privilege.”

Peter Bodo of Tennis.com said, “Sandy Harwitt is a deeply experienced and well-traveled writer, which brings to this book a special stamp of authority. It isn’t just a good book about Jewish tennis players – it’s a good tennis book, period.”

U.S. Davis Cup captain and former world No. 1 Jim Courier said, “Sandy has lived and breathed the sport for years. Her detail and insight into these players personal and professional lives is both remarkable and inspiring.”

Tennis writer and historian Joel Drucker said, “Dozens of Jewish men and women have made a distinctive mark on tennis. Longstanding tennis writer Sandra Harwitt has dug deep to bring these compelling stories to life – fascinating backstories and remarkable journeys both inside and outside the lines.”

Television commentator and former player Mary Carillo said, “Sandy Harwitt is the ideal writer to bring you the lives of the people in this book. She is a true tennis “lifer” and her love and knowledge of the game has produced one remarkable story after another, about tennis players you knew, or wish you knew.”

Harwitt, a freelance sportswriter who specializes in tennis, has covered more than 70 Grand Slam tournaments for media outlets such as the Associated Press, ESPN.com, ESPNW.com, the Miami Herald, the New York Times, and Tennis magazine. She is a member of the International Tennis Writers’ Association and the Association for Women in Sports Media. She lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All-Time” by Steve Flink, “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “Macci Magic: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others” by Rick Macci with Jim Martz,  Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” by Sebastian Torok, “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” by Althea Gibson, “The Days of Roger Federer” by Randy Walker, “Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion: The Full Extraordinary Story” by Mark Hodgkinson, “The Secrets of Spanish Tennis” by Chris Lewit, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins, “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was” by Sidney Wood, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, “Titanic: The Tennis Story” by Lindsay Gibbs, “Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” by Jan Kodes with Peter Kolar, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker, “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by Tony Serksnis, “Court Confidential: Inside The World Of Tennis” by Neil Harman, “A Backhanded Gift” by Marshall Jon Fisher, “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli (www.Boycott1980.com), “Internet Dating 101: It’s Complicated, But It Doesn’t Have To Be” by Laura Schreffler, “How To Sell Your Screenplay” by Carl Sautter, “Bone Appetit: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog” by Suzan Anson, “The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle” by Stewart Wolpin among others.

Dick Savitt is featured in the book “The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All Time”

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story Tagged With: Cornell, Dick Savitt, forest hills, Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All Time, Sandy Harwitt, Wimbledon

U.S. Open Makes History With Expanded Wheelchair Tournament

June 23, 2022 by TennisGrandstand Leave a Comment

The USTA announced that the US Open Wheelchair Championships presented by Deloitte will again expand in size, with expanded fields in the men’s and women’s divisions and the introduction of the inaugural US Open Junior Wheelchair Championship. This is the second consecutive year that the US Open is expanding the wheelchair field, and this increase in field size for the men’s and women’s divisions is the single-largest draw expansion in Grand Slam wheelchair history. In advance of the 2021 US Open, the quad draw was doubled in size, increasing from four to eight competitors. 

The two key elements of this latest expansion of the US Open Wheelchair Championships are doubling the size the of the women’s and men’s singles and doubles draws from eight singles players and four doubles teams to new draw sizes of 16 women, 16 men, eight women’s doubles teams and eight men’s doubles teams; and the introduction of US Open Junior Wheelchair Championships with draw sizes of eight girls and eight boys.

The men’s and women’s events see an increase of 16 players. The larger draw sizes will provide opportunities for professional wheelchair tennis players to compete on the Grand Slam stage and earn valuable ranking points and prize money.

The goal of creating the US Open Junior Wheelchair Championships is so that other young athletes with disabilities can continue to aspire to the highest levels of competition. These Championships will showcase the world’s top junior wheelchair tennis players on the US Open platform.

The USTA recently became the first national governing body in the world to fully integrate professional wheelchair competition operations within its able-bodied Pro Tennis Operations equivalent.  It is the next step in furthering the USTA’s commitment to the inclusive growth of the sport.

“The USTA remains committed to providing more opportunities at the highest level of our sport,” said Stacey Allaster, US Open Tournament Director. “We are honored to be able to serve as a global leader, and to continue to follow in the US Open’s overall goals of inclusivity and equality when it comes to the US Open Wheelchair Championships. We hope that this is a catalyst for the continued growth of wheelchair tennis, the most effectively integrated and inclusive Paralympic sport in the world.”

“The expansion of the wheelchair tournament at the US Open and the addition of the inaugural US Open Junior Wheelchair Championship are inspirational enhancements to one of the greatest events in all of sports,” said Billie Jean King, the former US Open champion and tennis icon, who has long championed equality in all fields. “These new opportunities provide growth at multiple levels, allowing more players to compete in the US Open and providing more opportunities for fans to enjoy world class tennis.”

ITF President David Haggerty added: “The ITF is excited and supportive of the USTA’s leadership to grow professional wheelchair tennis, enhance the junior pathway, and be the first Grand Slam to have a fully integrated Junior Wheelchair Championships within our able-bodied US Open Junior Championships.”

Former players also reacted positively to the news. The first wheelchair player to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the co-founder of wheelchair tennis, Brad Parks, said:  “It is so hard to believe how far wheelchair tennis has come from when we first started playing in the mid-1970s. Never did I think the day would come when wheelchair tennis would have a full draw at the US Open playing alongside the world’s greatest professional players. In addition, having the world’s top junior wheelchair tennis players playing alongside the world’s best able-bodied junior tennis players is beyond incredible! The USTA has really stepped up to the challenge of being the world’s leader in developing the sport of wheelchair tennis. All I can say is thank you. ”

“It is amazing news on how the US Open is growing and making the effort to continue the development of wheelchair tennis,” said Esther Vergeer, 48-time Grand Slam champion and seven-time Paralympic gold medalist. “What is also amazing is to see the quality of play and level growing, so it suits to have this opportunity created. It is great that the US Open wants to take on this responsibility. What is also incredible is the amazing opportunity for the juniors to play in such an environment. That is the best inspiration and motivation to go and get the best out of yourself.”

“It’s so great that this is a reality,” said International Tennis Hall of Famer David Hall. “The US Open, since 1980, has been the historical heartbeat of the sport. America led the way in so many ways through the decades, as wheelchair tennis went through many changes worldwide, greater professionalism, more tournaments, camps and players coming into the sport. “This expansion of the US Open Wheelchair Championships is another leap forward in showcasing this great sport and maintaining that the game’s heartbeat is now stronger than ever.”

Rick Draney, who was instrumental in the development of the quad division in the United States was also excited about the historic announcement. “This is incredible news for wheelchair tennis,” Draney said. “Kudos to the USTA for their leadership and for furthering the vision of those who have advocated on behalf of wheelchair tennis since its inception. It will be exciting to see the immediate and long-term impacts this will have upon the entire spectrum of participation and competition in wheelchair tennis.”

# # #

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 655,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking nine summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network.  For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Wheelchair tennis

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story Tagged With: U.S. Open Wheelchair

How to Bet on Tennis and Be Successful?

June 17, 2022 by TennisGrandstand Leave a Comment

Betting on sports is a lucrative activity that many people undertake intending to make money. Tennis is one of the most popular sports that people bet on due to its popularity and the fact that it is relatively easy to predict the outcome of matches. However, like any other form of gambling, there is always a risk involved in betting on tennis. To be successful at betting on tennis, you need to have a good understanding of the sport and the factors that can affect the result of a match.

There are several different ways that you can bet on tennis, but making informed decisions is the key to success. Betting on tennis matches is not as simple as picking a winner and collecting your winnings; several factors need to be considered before placing a bet.

In this article, we will take a look at some of the things you need to keep in mind when betting on tennis matches to give yourself the best chance of making a profit.

How to Bet on Tennis: Wager Types

The first thing you need to understand is the different types of wagers that can be placed on a tennis match. The three most common types of bets are moneyline, handicap, and total games.

Moneyline

This is the simplest type of bet and involves simply picking who you think will win the match. The odds will reflect the probability of each player winning, with favorites being given shorter odds than underdogs.

For example, if Player A is given odds of 1.50 to win a match against Player B, this means that for every $1 you bet on Player A, you will win $0.50 if they are victorious. On the other hand, if Player B is given odds of 2.50 to win the same match, this means that you will win $2.50 for every $1 you bet on them.

Handicap

A handicap bet is similar to a moneyline bet, but the odds are adjusted to give both players an equal chance of winning. This is done by giving the weaker player a virtual head start, which is reflected in the odds.

For example, if Player A has a handicap of -1.5 and Player B has a handicap of +1.5, this means that Player A must win the match by two clear games for a bet on them to be successful. On the other hand, Player B only needs to avoid losing the match by more than two games for a bet on them to win.

Total Games

A total games bet is a wager on how many games will be played in a match. The bookmaker will set a line, and you can bet either over or under this number.

For example, if the total games line for a match is set at 21.5, you would need to bet on there being 22 or more games played for an over bet to be successful. Conversely, if you bet on there being 21 or fewer games played, your underbet would win.

Novak Djokovic

How to Bet on Tennis: Match Factors

Now that you know the different types of bets that can be placed on tennis matches, it is time to look at some of the factors that can affect the outcome of a match and need to be considered before placing a bet.

The surface on which the match is being played

The type of surface can have a big impact on the outcome of a tennis match. Hard courts are generally seen as being more suited to players who rely on power, while clay courts tend to be slower and favor more consistent players.

The style of play of the two players

The playing styles of the two players can also have a big impact on the result of a match. Some players are better suited to certain surfaces than others, and this should be taken into account when making your bets.

The form of the two players

It is also important to consider the form of the two players heading into a match. If one player is in good form and the other is not, this could be a deciding factor in the outcome of the match.

The head-to-head record of the two players

When two players have played each other multiple times, it is important to look at their head-to-head record to see who has had the upper hand in previous meetings. This can give you an indication of who is likely to win if they meet again.

Injuries and retirements

It is also important to keep an eye on any injuries or retirements that may occur during a match. If a key player is forced to retire, this can have a big impact on the result.

How to Bet on Tennis: Making Informed Decisions

Now that you know the different types of bets that can be placed on tennis matches and the factors that can affect the outcome of a match, it is time to start making informed decisions about your bets.

Choose the Right Sportsbook

The first step is to choose the right sportsbook. There are many factors to consider when choosing a sportsbook, such as the markets they offer, the odds they provide, and the bonuses and promotions they have.

You should also make sure that the sportsbook you choose is reputable and has a good reputation in the industry. You can do this by reading reviews from other users or checking out their licensing information.

Keep an Eye Out for Bonuses and Promotions

When you have found a good sportsbook, the next step is to keep an eye out for any bonuses or promotions they offer. These can be a great way to boost your bankroll and give you more chances to win.

Some sportsbooks will offer bonuses for signing up, while others may offer special promotions for tennis matches. It is always worth checking out the terms and conditions of any bonus or promotion before you claim it, as there may be wagering requirements or other restrictions in place. For example, the FanDuel sportsbook promo code can give you a risk-free bet of up to $500 when you sign up.

Know Your Stuff

It is also important to make sure that you know your stuff when it comes to tennis betting. This means keeping up-to-date with the latest news and results from the world of tennis, as well as knowing the different types of bets that can be placed.

The more you know about tennis, the better your chances of making informed and successful bets.

Don’t Rush into Things

It is also important not to rush into things. If you are new to tennis betting, it is a good idea to start small and gradually increase your stakes as you become more confident.

Rushing in and placing large bets on matches that you know little about is a surefire way to lose money.

Be Patient

Finally, it is important to be patient when betting on tennis. Winning streaks will come and go, and there will be times when you lose money. The key is to stick with it and not get too down when things don’t go your way.

If you can follow these tips, you will be well on your way to becoming a successful tennis bettor.

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story Tagged With: betting, Tennis

Clijsters, Fernandez, Sock and Baghdatis To Compete In Latest Champions Series Tennis Mixed Team Event In St. Louis

June 6, 2022 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

LOS ANGELES – Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters and 2021 U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez will join four-time major doubles champ Jack Sock and 2006 Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis at the St. Louis Champions Classic, July 21 at Chaifetz Arena.

The event will be the second ever mixed team format event on the Champions Series tennis circuit featuring men’s and women’s legends competing throughout the year for prize money and the season-long points championship.

Clijsters and Sock will play as a team against Fernandez and Baghdatis, each playing a set of singles and then pairing for a deciding mixed doubles match.

The event will feature $75,000 in prize money with $50,000 going to the winning team and $25,000 to the runner-up. The winning team members will each be awarded 200 ranking points while the runner-up team members will be awarded 100 ranking points towards the season-long championship. Each player will also be awarded 100 ranking points for every singles match they participate in and an additional 100 ranking points for each victory.

“This is going to be a very special and exciting night of tennis, featuring two legend players competing against two current touring pros which will make for a fascinating dynamic,” said Jon Venison, Co-President of InsideOut Sports & Entertainment, the organization that founded and runs Champions Series Tennis.

Tickets are for sale starting Thursday, June 2 at www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com and www.ticketmaster.com.

Earlier this year, Genie Bouchard and Tommy Haas were victorious in the first-ever Champions Series mixed team event at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., defeating Sofia Kenin and Sam Querrey two matches to one. Champions Series Tennis will also stage events in 2022 in Dallas, The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Orlando and other sites to be announced. Full player fields and event dates will be announced in the near future.

For the St. Louis Champions Classic, the event will start with “Play with the Pros” fan experiences from 3 pm to 5 pm, followed by a “Player Party Experience” and a “Backstage Experience” starting at 5:30 pm. Sock and Baghdatis will kick off match play at 7 pm, followed by Clijsters and Fernandez and concluding with the mixed doubles match. Champions Series Tennis began in 2005 and over the last 16 years has featured some of the greatest names in men’s tennis, including Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, Michael Chang among others. Courier won the first Champions Series Tennis event held in 2005 in Houston at the Westside Tennis Club.

ABOUT INSIDEOUT SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT

InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a Los Angeles based producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Champions Series, a collection of tournaments featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, The World Series of Beach Volleyball and numerous corporate outings. Since inception, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment has raised over $5 million for charity. In 2014, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment merged with Horizon Media, the largest privately held media services agency in the world. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or InvescoSeries.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Kim Clijsters
Kim Clijsters

Filed Under: Archives, Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story Tagged With: Champions Series Tennis, jack sock, Kim Clijsters, Leylah Fernandez, Marcos Baghdatis

Rafael Nadal Is Now The Oldest Roland Garros Champ In Addition To Being Most Dominant

June 5, 2022 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

Seventeen years to the day when he won his first Roland Garros title and his first major title, Rafael Nadal won his 14th Roland Garros title and his 22nd major title.

He defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in a tension-less final that increased Nadal’s career record at Roland Garros to an incredible 112-3.

With a win, Nadal, two days past his 36th birthday, passes fellow Spaniard Andres Gimeno as the oldest Roland Garros men’s singles champion in history. Gimeno, at age 35 years and 10 months, set the record exactly 50 years and one day earlier in 1973 when he defeated Patrick Proisy of France in the 1972 final.

It was also on June 5, back in 2005, when Nadal won Roland Garros for the first time for his first major title, as documented in the “On This Day In Tennis History” book and excerpted here:

2005 – Nineteen-year-old Rafael Nadal of Spain fends off a charge from unseeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina to win his first major singles title at the French Open. Nadal wins the title and his 24th consecutive match with a 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1 7-5 decision over the No. 37-ranked Puerta to become the fourth youngest men’s singles champion at Roland Garros. Nadal joins 1982 champion Mats Wilander as the only player to win Roland Garros in his debut.

Nadal is now a perfect 14-0 with the Coupe des Mousquetaires on the line and has never lost two sets in a Roland Garros final, much less three. His 14 Roland Garros titles are the most won by any man at a single Grand Slam event in history, followed by Novak Djokovic’s nine at the Australian Open and Roger Federer’s eight at Wimbledon.

Nadal is now a perfect 14-0 with the Coupe des Mousquetaires on the line and has never lost two sets in a Roland Garros final, much less three. His 14 Roland Garros titles are the most won by any man at a single Grand Slam event in history, followed by Novak Djokovic’s nine at the Australian Open and Roger Federer’s eight at Wimbledon.

For the first time in his career, Nadal has swept the Australian Open and Roland Garros in the same year and equaled his lowest ranking as a Grand Slam champion. He was also No. 5 at 2005 Roland Garros and the 2022 Australian Open.

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story Tagged With: Andres Gimeno, Casper Ruud, Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros

Iga Swiatek Continues Dominance With Roland Garros Victory

June 4, 2022 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

Iga Swiatek won the French Open for a second time in two years defeating Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3 in the final to continue to stake her claim as a dominant world No. 1.

The win was her 35th straight match victory and won the title losing only one set en route. From the first ball of the match, Swiatek showcased her aggressive baseline play, dictated by her ferocious forehand, to try to establish her presence early against the 18-year-old Gauff, playing in her first major final. She jumped to a 4-0 lead before Gauff got on the board. Gauff did have glimmer of hope as she broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set, but was quickly overtaken by Swiatek, who after the hiccup, rolled to win six of the final seven games of the match.

Swiatek also won the Roland Garros title in 2020, when the event was staged in the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She won the title then as the No. 54-ranked player but in 2022, she won it as the world No. 1. Swiatek assumed the top-ranked by default in March with the sudden retirement of reigning U.S. and Australian Open champion Ash Barty.

With the win Swiatek sas now won her past six tournaments and is 42-3 this season. She lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open, the season’s first major championship, to American Danielle Collins.

Swiatek is the only player representing Poland to win a major singles title.

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News Tagged With: Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Roland Garros

Tennis Job Listing: Elite Three-Day Team Tennis Coaching Opportunity In Florida

June 3, 2022 by Randy Walker 2 Comments

We are seeking tennis coaches to coach in a special invitational team tennis event in Florida. The responsibilities would be for on-court coaching and general team organization, administration and recruitment for a two-day competition. Attributes that we are looking for in candidates are as follows:

– accomplished career as a competitive player (juniors, college or pro at any level) or accomplished career as a successful coach or college or pro players at any level.

– able to properly identify and recruit talented (about 8 UTR level and higher) girls/womens team members based on organization’s specific criteria

– be a successful leader and organizer, good public speaker, a good promoter on social media, comfortable speaking to media and for television interviews and podcasts

– Prefer someone Florida based or with Florida ties

COMPENSATION: To be discussed, based on qualifications

TIME COMMITMENT: The actual in-person responsibilities would be in South/Central Florida for three days with remote work leading into the event

This will be an opportunity with somewhat of a high profile and will provide a decent promotional platform for the selected individuals.

Please email resume with some thoughts you may have on the opportunity or yourself to TennisGrandstand@gmail.com with the words COACHING APPLICATION on the subject line.

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story

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