Next up is one of our newest Tennis Warehouse Playtesters, Karly. She previously played for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s club team and currently works as a Customer Service Representative who answers product question emails as well as women’s apparel fit descriptions. She playtests both racquets and shoes. Check out her interview below.
Click to View Video of Karly
Racquet of Choice: Wilson nTour Two nCode String of Choice:Wilson NXT 17 Shoe of Choice:Nike Mirabella III Apparel of Choice: I love wearing tank tops. Growing up playing in the California sun, I’ve always preferred sleeveless shirts to soak up as many rays as I can (and also to avoid farmer’s tan on my shoulders).
When/Why did you start playing tennis?
I’ve been playing tennis since I was 5 years old, though intermittently. I grew up attending summer and after-school tennis camps and was lucky enough to have several coaches who played on the professional tour. When I was 12 I decided to focus on other sports, though eventually picked tennis back up again in high school and played for the varsity team. Later in college I played for Cal Poly’s Club Tennis Team. I’ve always loved the individual aspect and competitiveness of the sport.
Who inspires you to play tennis?
I don’t think I can pinpoint just one person in particular; many of my peers inspire me to play the great sport. From my co-workers, who are so knowledgeable about tennis and make me want to play every day I work there, to my family who have always been big fans. Also watching players at the professional level never fails to make me want to go hit the courts after seeing a match.
What is your favorite shot to hit and why?
The inside-out forehand. No question about it. I’ve always had more confidence in my forehand than my backhand. I love running around the ball to try to hit the sharp angles.
What racquets have you used (not tested) during your tennis career?
The list fairly is short, but the racquets that I’ve played with are the Wilson Hyper Hammer H5 and the Wilson nTour Two nCode. I started playing with the Wilson nTour Two nCode and still prefer to play with it today.
If you could compare your game style to a pros (past or present), who would it be and why?
I would probably say Lindsay Davenport because of her full, loopy forehand groundstroke. Though sometimes I wish it was because of her height! My short legs and arms are somewhat of a disadvantage at times.
What has been your favorite match you have ever watched (live or on TV)?
One memorable match that comes to mind is the Australian Open 2009 Semifinal with Verdasco and Nadal. The match started late at night and I remember being unsure if I’d be able to stay up that late to watch it live. But as the five-set match went on, it became so exciting that it was hard to fall asleep even after it was over.
What has been your most memorable tennis match (win or lose)?
When I was playing on the Cal Poly Tennis Club Team, my doubles partner and I beat USC’s club team. Our team had a pretty big rivalry with their club team and managed to squeak out a win against them. I remember the entire match match was so close and every point being nerve-racking.
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened while you were playing tennis?
One night at a summer tennis camp I was playing with a friend and during the middle of a baseline rally she just stopped hitting the ball. I asked her why she stopped playing and she pointed toward the service line and said, “You hit a bat.” It took a minute for me to register what she said, but sure enough lying in the middle of the court was a bat. And as if I didn’t already feel bad enough for hitting it, on the court next to us was a group of younger kids who heard what happened and ran over to see the bat. Once they saw it, they then started started yelling, “You killed it! You killed it!” Thankfully it was only stunned and flew away after a few minutes. Afterward the kids at the camp started calling me ‘Bat Woman.’
Have you had any injuries? For how long? How did you deal with them?
Last spring I sprained my wrist while hitting a forehand groundstroke. I’m still not really sure how it happened or how I hit the ball so that it injured my wrist, but I had to take four months off before I was able to play without any pain. The DFX Gyro Ball really helped to strengthen my wrist.
What is your favorite part of being a TW playtester?
The motivation it gives me to become a better player. I’m surrounded by extremely talented tennis players and am so grateful to have the opportunity to try different products.
Who is your favorite TW playtester to hit/play with?
I love hitting with anyone who would like to hit with me! I’ll take all the practice I can get.
What has been your favorite review and why?
I’ve only just started doing reviews, however, so far I think my favorite has been the Barricade 7.0 shoes. When I was in high school, I played with the Barricade 4′s and I think it’s neat to be able to see the changes that have been made to the shoe over the different generations.
Do you have any nicknames from the TW playtest squad?
“The Most Awesome, Best-Looking Playtester Ever” or “The Chosen One,” just to name a few. Kidding! No, I’m fairly new to the playtesting team and I don’t have any nicknames yet. Though I wouldn’t be opposed to any of the ones listed previously.
______________
Please check back next week when we feature another playtester in another installment of “Meet the Playtesters.”
Fine. OK. Since we’re being honest, I will admit that when it comes to stretching I have not always been the most disciplined. Old habits die hard, and you could in fact say, that as a youth, I hated stretching. My flexibility has always been varied. I can touch my toes easily, but my hips are like steel rods. So stretching always consisted of a quick quad stretch, calves, achilles. Maybe sit on the ground and stretch my butt or hamstrings but in terms of quality or quantity? It was neither. Stretching is like flossing. I know it’s good for me. I know it’s going to help me be healthier. Growing up, my parents used to yell at me for not doing it. You could even offer me incentives for doing it, and I still wouldn’t want to. It was just one of those things. It took ages, it was uncomfortable and because I was playing so much tennis and was always tight, it took a lot of effort for very little payback. I even unwittingly signed up for a yoga class in my freshman year of college and spent the entire time either in serious amounts of pain because I couldn’t cross my legs like a normal person, or asleep on my yoga mat. The solution? The Athlete Stretch Strap.
Athlete Stretch Strap
With age comes wisdom, a general tolerance for things I previously hated and the realization that my back pain (I have a chronic lumbar injury) is greatly reduced with stretching. This is where the Athlete Stretch Strap comes in. I think a lot of people are discouraged because if it’s hard to touch your toes, then where do you even start without being in a lot of pain? Yeah, we all want to do everything we can to be better athletes or tennis players, but the level of discipline needed to consistently stretch is pretty high. The Stretch Strap simplifies everything. It really works as an extension of your arms, with convenient loop holes that cater to the measurements of any athlete.
The Athlete Stretch Strap is great for both before and after practice, as an injury prevention tool or recovery aid. What I like most about it is that it can be an aid for really getting into your stretches and pushing yourself or as a way to gently stretch areas that are otherwise really hard and painful to reach. It’s particularly good for stretching legs while lying on the ground, but it’s also good for arms and back while standing up too. It has loop holes along its whole length so it’s adjustable to whatever stretch or level of difficulty you’re looking for.
Examples of just one of the ways to use the Athlete Stretch Strap
As with most of my favorite products, these come in different colors: blue and the ever-so-feminine pink. The Athlete Stretch Strap is definitely one of those products that, with a little bit of commitment to a greater cause (your flexibility), makes a mundane and annoying task really that much easier. The joy of it is that it’s not limited to a certain type of person. Use one as a way to help with your regular stretch routine or as a way to increase general flexibility for greater well-being. It’s hard not to sound like a commercial going on about the benefits of this product so let’s put it this way: Stretching makes you feel great, can reduce pain or (hopefully) prevent injury. So do it. Want to make stretching easier? Use the Athlete Stretch Strap.
If you’ve been a slacker like me, find stretching never gets you anywhere or, I’ll just say it because I’ve been there, are just plain ol’ lazy, then heed my advice: take it from the stiffest, previously-most-stretch-lazy Kiwi in the US. The Athlete Stretch Strap is worth it. And the sense of achievement you feel when you can do basic movement without hurting? Worth it, mate.
Shorts! They’re back in vogue. They’re so back that Victoria Azarenka is wearing them on court for her matches at the Australian Open.
Nike Tie-Break Knit Short
If you can’t tell, I’m excited. It’s about time, I say, for a resurgence in shorts. My long favorites, the Nike Power Knit Shorts, are still around, but now we of the tennis shorts fan club have more options. From Nike, I’ve picked up the Tie-Break Knit Short in Spark Pink. The short is a good length, the built-in short has enough stretch to hold the tennis ball in place without constricting my legs, and has the optional fold-down waistband. Rolled down, the waistband it says Love Tennis with a Swoosh. I like these so much, I think I’ll add to the collection with a pair in black and Mega Blue.
adidas Women's Sequential Short
adidas has a new short offering that shouldn’t be missed by us shorts fans. The Sequential Short is another two-in-one short. This one differs with a drawcord at the waist and a more traditional woven outer short. Like the Nike short, the inner short hits the mark, offering ball storage and comfort. I love the black and white for the option of mixing and matching, but I hope adidas sees the need to roll these out in more colors later this year.
Roxy Pace Yourself 2-in-1 Short
Similar to the Nike Tie Break Short is the Roxy Pace Yourself 2-in-1 Short. The inseam measures longer than the Nike Tie Break Short, but it fits shorter and tighter on me. Though I find it true to size, I think I would get a sizer larger than I usually would because I prefer it to be slightly longer, and with the elastic waistband and drawcord I can adjust the waist.
With all these options, it looks like I can finally start to retire some of my older shorts. I think I’m going to stock up, too, just in case the powers that be decide to take us into another tennis short drought!
We are back in action, and our next featured Tennis Warehouse Playtester is Carol. She is one of our newest additions and a high level female playtester. She currently playtests both racquets and shoes. Check out her interview below.
I have played tennis my entire life. At 2 weeks old, I was on the court watching my parents play. I played other sports during my youth, but really got into tennis when I went to Wimbledon at the age of 10. I got to see one of the best matches of all time, Patrick Rafter vs. Sergi Bruggera. It was a 5-hour marathon match, and I couldn’t leave my seat. I knew then that I wanted to be a tennis player.
Who inspires you to play tennis?
The match I watched at Wimbledon got me hooked, but my parents are my true inspiration. Tennis is a family sport for us, so we really enjoyed spending time together on the court. Both my parents played professionally, so they really acted as role models and inspirations to me. I still hit with my father as much as possible and much to my hatred to admit, he can still beat me on occasion.
What is your favorite shot to hit and why?
I have two favorite shots: my forehand down the line and my forehand return of serve. It’s even better when I combine the two.
What racquets have you used (not tested) during your tennis career?
My first racquet was the Wilson ProStaff 6.1 and newer versions. In college I played with the ProKennex SX. I went back to the Wilson BLX Six.One after college and still play with it today.
If you could compare your game style to a pro’s (past or present), who would it be and why?
What has been your favorite match you have ever watched (live or on TV)?
I got to see Andre Agassi’s last professional match at the US Open live. Even though he lost, it was very memorable to me. The crowd applauded him for 30 minutes after the match, which brought him to tears.
Do you have pre-match meals you like to eat before a tournament?
I’m a carbs person. I usually eat a big breakfast 2-3 hours before a match. During a match, I love having a Snickers bar handy.
What has been your most memorable tennis match (win or lose)?
My most memorable tennis match was my sophomore year against USC. My Grandpa flew down to watch this match, so it was really a family affair. He hates USC, being an Oregon Duck himself. I beat a Top 30 player in straight sets during this dual match, and I have never seen my Grandpa so proud.
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened while you were playing tennis?
The funniest thing that has ever happened while playing was getting hit by a ball that was going out during my match point. I didn’t find it funny at the time, but now I can snicker at it.
Have you had any injuries? For how long? How did you deal with them?
Growing up I had no real injuries. I did have an arm injury during my senior year of college that benched me halfway through season. That was really rough on me. I was out for 6 months with surgery.
What is your favorite part of being a TW playtester?
I love getting to try out all the new tennis equipment. Tennis has evolved so much during my life, and the technology is hard to keep up with.
Who is your favorite TW playtester to hit/play with?
I love hitting with all playtesters. We all have such different styles of play, it’s hard to single out just one, but I do enjoy my weekly hits with Jason Huang.
Who is the TW playtester that gives you the most trouble?
Probably Brittany. We know each other’s games so well due to playing together in college.
What has been your favorite review and why?
I really enjoyed the New Balance 851 shoe review. I had been playing with really heavy shoes prior to this, so it was really a breath of fresh air to play in a shoe that was so light and comfortable.
Do you have any nicknames from the TW playtest squad?
I have been called a few different nicknames: Care and C-Roll.
________________________
Please check back next week when we feature another playtester in another installment of “Meet the Playtesters.”
For me, there are a few simple things that really make playing tennis that little bit sweeter — like the sun going behind a cloud on your serve or a net chord in your favor when you’re 15-40 down. Well, here at Tennis Warehouse we think that some of our products really sweeten tennis, to make playing that much more enjoyable (outside the realm of some of larger gear like racquets, bags and shoes). Today I want to share one of my top 10 favorite “little extras”: the Gamma Supreme Overgrip.
Gamma Supreme Overgrip - Black
I have to say that there is nothing quite like picking up my racquet and feeling tackiness in my palm. Nothing quite like the texture of a grip to make me feel like going out to hit a hundred backhands. I don’t want to have to hold my racquet, I want to be able to place it in my hand and be able to grind some forehands without it slipping or spinning in my grasp. The Supreme Overgrip allows this to happen.
Gamma has truly produced a high quality product. From the first moment I started using these (about four years ago) I haven’t ever wanted to change. I should mention that I am a fan of the tack, which works in correlation with the fact that my hands never sweat. If you’ve had the pleasure of getting a handshake or a high five from me, even in the most pressure-filled or humidity-ridden situations, you will know that I do not have perspiring palms — but here is where the Gamma Supreme excels. Putting my personal preferences aside, the best thing about these overgrips is that, although I personally do not sweat, these grips are really absorbent while still being tacky. If you’re a player who is looking for an overgrip that won’t lose its tack if you do sweat, this is also the overgrip for you. The feel won’t disappear as you play, so with age and (dare I suggest it) dirt, these overgrips will continue to provide you with the grip you need.
I can happily say that the Gamma Supreme Overgrip is perfect for all types of players. I understand the need for Tournagrip (sweaty palms unite), but it’s not for me. The Wilson Pro is also a nice option but has less tack. Gamma Supreme delivers the perfect amount of sweetness with just enough tack for a decent period of time. It allows me to play with my racquet and hit any type of shot without having to worry about holding on.
Gamma Supreme has a high traction polymer coating for that extra grip and tacky feel that I love. It is middle of the range for thickness, so isn’t too thin or too spongy, and caters to every racquet handle length. Durability-wise, this overgrip is more than satisfactory as well, as it lasts way longer than other grips I have used. It comes in a three-grip pack for for $3.95 so it’s also a good price for the quality you’re getting.
In an aesthetic sense, I am also pleased. Gamma offers traditional colors (blue, black and white), but also a grey for the neutral friendly. My favorite would have to be the orange because it looked good with my racquet and gave me a bit of brightness, which I liked. There is also a light pink. This color, like the white grip, can get a bit dirty, although I think that this is really a good indication that it should be changed soon anyway.
Supreme Gamma Overgrip - Orange
Let’s just say if you go out to the courts in SLO this summer, look out for a flash of bright orange that is my Gamma overgrip. I can tell you now the only thing that’ll be slipping on the court while I’m ripping backhands will be my opponents as they run all over the court.
Coming from college and out into the real world marks a transition for me as a tennis player. It also marks a transition from playing with products that I HAVE to use due to sponsorship, regardless of personal preference. Now, working at Tennis Warehouse, the possibilities are endless. But despite this, I have developed some serious attachment to certain products, one of which being the Nike Zoom Breathe 2K11.
It is in my nature to be hesitant about new shoes of any model or brand, due to often having bad experiences such as blisters and bleeding from the collar lining of some older model tennis shoes I’ve used in the past, including the Nike Breathe Free II. I also usually always hate my first practice in a new pair of kicks because the stiffness is uncomfortable and it takes a couple hours to really break them in. This is always particularly annoying because I often wear through the outsole so fast that I feel by the time I have myself a pair of comfortable shoes, I need to replace them again.
Hence, you can understand my reluctance at first wearing my latest new pair of shoes, the Nike 2K11, but they pleasantly surprised me. It was actually a nice experience because I had forgotten I even had on a new pair of shoes until I thought back and realized I’d been wearing these for a week. I had put them on, had a grumble to myself about how I don’t like to break in new shoes, and simply forgotten about them. I like to rate shoes on how much I notice them – the less they occupy my thoughts the better, as that means they are doing their job: helping me move to the best of my ability while supporting my feet and ankles. And I didn’t think twice about the 2K11s.
Nike has made sure to continue providing a lightweight and comfortable shoe (they’re an updated version of the Nike Max Breathe Free II), that cushions my foot while simultaneously providing the support I need. The width is medium, with no loose or tight places allowing unwanted movement, which could create painful blisters. Comfort inside the 2K11 was great, I have a high arch and although the arch support is low for me, my feet still felt really well supported. The insole is also easily removed so anyone looking to add that little extra with their own orthotic can do so with no problems.
I really like how easy it was to move. The shoes are light and low to the ground, making everything from straight out running, to side-stepping, to small adjustment steps really easy to do. I have a history of ankle problems and Nike’s 2K11s didn’t enhance my ankle pain like some shoes do. I never felt like I was going to sprain my ankle either, because although the shoe is really cushioned, I definitely felt like I was comfortably close to the ground. Although I initially felt a tiny bit of stiffness, I would say it was more something I noticed instead of it being a hindrance. I am thoroughly impressed with Nike and their success in creating a shoe that is match ready right out of the box.
Something to keep in mind is how to tighten the laces. Simply (and this was my lazy version) pulling the lace to tighten and tie, really only tightens the shoe around the ankle. I found that I was having some issues with aching feet and toe numbness, until I realized that I was basically cutting my own circulation off by not putting in the effort to tighten the lace up the length of the shoe. Trust me, it makes a difference.
Ahhhh … don’t you love spring? It’s January, you say? Technically it is still winter, but the big tennis apparel lines have just come out. Yay, it’s time to check out the latest fashions!
All our favorite pros are going to be donning dresses once again. Let’s take a quick look at some of them.
Caroline Wozniacki in adidas by Stella McCartney
I am so happy to see adidas by Stella McCartney pieces in a bright color. This reddish color on the spring Tennis Dress is gorgeous, and I find this dress silhouette much more universally flattering than last year’s ballerina-inspired skirt. This one has a sportier cut, but it remains ultra feminine with its use of a lacy mesh. This dress is not for the wallflower. The back has a semi-sheer mesh panel, so you might want to pick up the matching sports bra to go with it. There’s also a matching shortie. For those who like classic white tennis apparel or play at clubs with restrictions on color, there is an all white version of the dress, too.
Maria Sharapova in Nike
For the Australian Open, Maria will be keeping cool in a mostly white ensemble. Color pops come at the tank straps and the slits on the sides and back. I think the slashes give the dress a sporty, aggressive look and appear to me as if the dress has been sliced during combat so Maria will be ready — apparel-wise at least — for her on-court battles. Maria is sure to look fierce on court in this slim fitting dress.
Ana Ivanovic in adidas adizero
One of my favorite things about adidas dresses lately is that they’re three-piece sets. The spring adizero dress comes as a set with a matching bra and compression short. The dress is available in white and a light orange called Ultra Bright to start with more colors coming out later this year. The reddish hue you see on both dresses is called Core Energy and will be a color you’ll see throughout the year. The dress is also is easy to wear with its flowy silhouette.
Serena Williams in Nike
Serena will wear blue on the blue courts of the Australian Open if all goes according to plan. The Rally Statement Dress in Mega Blue is form fitting through the torso to show off your tennis figure. My favorite design feature of this dress is how the fitted torso opens up into a pleated skirt. I like how pleats add movement to skirts and dresses. They’re feminine but don’t take away from the overall sporty feel of the dress.
Siobhan and I am 2012′s newest addition to the Tennis Warehouse Team! I’m from New Zealand, and came to the US four years ago to play college tennis in the PAC10 at the University of Oregon (big shout out to all Duck fans!). I graduated this past December with a double major in journalism and communications, and since then was organizing my move to San Luis Obispo for my new job!
My parents introduced me to tennis at the age of five, and they haven’t been able to tear me away since. I was an addict – I played for my country when I was 11, reached a world junior ranking of 466 in ITF, and spent most of my childhood and teenage years either hitting balls or picking them up. I traveled frequently and spent time in lots of countries, either playing tournaments or training at academies (thanks to my mum – my biggest supporter, shipping me off and giving me incredible opportunities). Competing while studying at college in the US was always my end goal, so being recruited and playing for Oregon was a completely amazing experience.
Me (L) playing with team mate Trudie (R) at Oregon
Despite some good playing time, my fabulous college career was plagued with injuries – double ankle surgery and back pain from a partially missing vertebrae were not part of the recipe for success, but who’s complaining?!? Four years at ‘Nike University’ in the Oregon rain (I learned to love the constant precipitation!) brought me to beautiful SLO, working my dream job!
My first visit to NYC, summer '11
Finding work was a stressful experience (I know I’m not alone in this endeavor), added to by the fact that my deportation date was looming if I didn’t find a job (or magically get married) after graduation. But I knew a couple things for certain: I loved tennis and I wasn’t ready to go home, and I was prepared to work as hard as possible to make those two things come together. I love New Zealand and will always be a kiwi (if you hear me talk you’ll note the accent), but the US has become very close to my heart and I feel privileged that Chris gave me the chance to be a part of the Tennis Warehouse Team.
Those who know me are aware I am not a ‘morning person’ yet I’ve never been so excited to wake up before 7am! My little apartment in downtown SLO is right by the bus stop so I’m on the bus at 7.40am with an uncharacteristically large grin on my face. Every day I have so many new things to learn – who would have thought 17 years surrounded by tennis was only brushing the surface, and I am excited to dive in head first. So far, two days here have been full of writing, editing and of’course playing tennis.
Expect to hear more from your new kiwi playtester soon,
For our final installment of playtester favorites of 2011, we gave the testers a wildcard, allowing them to choose anything that didn’t fit into our previous categories. If you haven’t been following along, some of our playtesters picked their favorite products of 2011 and explained why in the spirit of year-end Best Of lists. So just who are these playtesters? Chris, Spencer, Jason, Brittany and Tiffani — we’re all familiar faces on the playtest team, and our jobs put us in contact with all of the newest products that go up on our web site. So far we’ve covered racquets, shoes, strings, accessories and socks.
We let them think outside the box this time around. Here are their random picks:
Forget Bowl Games. Chris will be revisiting some tennis classics this New Year’s holiday.
Chris: “When released on DVD this year, this match went straight into my library. What a great match between the aggressive Gerulaitis style and the cool brilliance of Borg. Fantastic!”
Tiffani also yearns a bit for the days of yesteryear. She is from the days of cotton, and though she does wear performance polys these days, she’s still thinks there’s nothing quite like cotton.
Tiffani: “I grew up in the days when we wore cotton t-shirts with our skirts or shorts. I do wear polyester-based apparel a lot for tennis, but I appreciate the feel of cotton, too. This cotton has some performance aspects, too, so it dries faster and doesn’t cling as much as your standard cotton tee.”
With long hair, Brittany is always looking for ways to her hair off her face and to do it with style.
Brittany: “When I play tennis, I always have a hard time keeping my hair out of my face. I have gone through loads of different headbands of all sorts of textures and thicknesses. I absolutely love the Nike Sport Hairbands 6- pack! They are sporty and fun! And they come in a six pack of different patterns so you will never get bored of the same boring color. My sister loved them so much she ‘borrowed’ some from me and has yet to return them.”
If Jason isn’t playing tennis, he’s probably on the computer. After all, we’re an online company!
Jason: “It’s a mouse shaped like a tennis ball! Or is it a tennis ball shaped mouse? Either way, pretty cool if you use these things called ‘computers.’ ”
A lot of the testers seem to have similar tastes. When these tees came in, quite a few of them picked up a few to put in their closets. The look great and feel great, too.
Spencer says it best: “It’s soft, lightweight, breathable, doesn’t stick and doesn’t smell.”
If we had to sum up 2011 in one word, it’d have to be “Djokovic.” Agreed? After all, he did have a 42 match win streak and he overtook Rafael Nadal as world #1. But 2011 provided us tennis fanatics with so much more than just Novak.
A lot of things changed. Novak finally broke the strangle hold that Roger and Rafa had on the #1 ranking. Federer was ranked outside the top 3 for the first time since 2003. Li Na, Petra Kvitova and Sam Stosur all won their first Grand Slams. Or how about Novak finally beating Nadal in finals.
But some things stayed the same, namely, Andy Murray and Caroline Wozniacki remaining Slam-less. Rafa still dominated the clay court season and Serena had an incident at the US Open.
The 2011 tennis season was quite a memorable one but enough with the recap, on with the show!
Best Supporting Player in a Loss (BSPL)
- Novak Djokovic @ French Open vs. Roger Federer. Someone had to stop Novak’s win streak, and that happened to be the man with 16 Grand Slam titles. The nearly 4 hour match ended with Federer’s 18th ace in the 4th set tie break.
- Roger Federer @ US Open vs. Novak Djokovic. Up 5-3 in the 5th set, and serving for the match, if we were allowed to bet on who would win this match at that point in time, how many of us would be broke right now? I know I would. I’d be writing this blog on a cardboard box. Federer had the match on his racquet, but Novak found a way to break, and win the next 3 games to take it 7-5 in the 5th. Winner: Roger Federer. He had match points and still lost! Match points!
No Big Deal Award
- Esther Vergeer. By anyone elses standards, this would be a career year, but for Esther, just another regular ole, ho hum year in which she remains undefeated and won 3 Major titles (Australian Open, French Open, US Open). If there was a Wimbledon major, she would’ve dominated that too. Her winning streak is now at 434 matches. Yea, no big deal.
The “Wow, These Guys Are Good!” Award (Best Point)
Tsonga vs. Djokovic @ Wimbledon
Djokovic. vs. Nadal @ US Open
Radwanska vs. Schiavone @ Miami
Djokovic vs. Nadal @ Miami
Djokovic vs. Nadal @ Madrid
Ferrer vs. Federer @ ATP Finals
Djokovic & Murray vs Stakhovsky & Youhzny @ BNP Paribas Open
Winner: Djokovic vs. Nadal @ Madrid
The Jaw Dropper (Best Shot)
Djokovic vs. Federer US Open
Blake vs. Galung @ US Open
Federer vs Gasquet @ Rome
Roddick vs. Raonic @ Memphis
Winner: Federer vs. Gasquet. Come on, I had to give this one to Fed. He needed to win something this year.
Player of the Year Petra Kvitova. Or as some people on the interwebs call her, “Del Petra”. She won a total of 6 titles in 2011, which includes a major win at Wimbledon. She also won the Fed Cup and the WTA Championships. She hits the bleep out of the ball, is fun to watch, and most importantly, wins. She won’t be world #2 much longer. Novak Djokovic. 2011 wasn’t just a great year for Novak, it was one of greatest years for anyone in tennis history. All he did was: win 42 matches in a row, win the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open, show that Rafa is in fact, human on clay, go 10-1 against Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, compile a 82-3 season, and win $12.6 million in prize money. Forget what happened toward the end of the year, lifting all those trophies and counting all those dolla dolla bills can wear out even the best of us. Winner:Novak Djokovic. And the rich get richer.
Now that we’ve reflected back, it’s time to look forward to the 2012 season. Here are some of our fearless predications for this upcoming year. Key word being “fearless.”
Tiffani:
“Andy Roddick will retire in 2012, Rafa and Roger will team up for doubles, Andrea Petkovic will win a Slam and Kim Clijsters will win Gold at the Olympics.”
Brittany:
“Victoria Azarenka and Jo Wilfred Tsonga are going to win a slam, Roger Feder is going to sweep the Olympics in single, in doubles with (Wawrinka) and mixed with (Hingis) and Serena and Venus Williams will win a doubles Slam.”
Jason:
“Andy Murray will fall out of the top 4 for the first time since 2008, Maria Kirilenko will make the top 10 for the first time in her career, Petra Kvitova will win 2 Grand Slams and take over the #1 seeding, and Nadal will win a title on clay. OK, so maybe not so fearless on that last prediction.”
Spencer:
“Jo Wilfried Tsonga will win his first GS Title, Kei Nishikori will crack the top 10 in rankings, Julia Goerges will crack the top 10 in rankings, and Dolgopolov will take out Nadal at the French.”
Chris:
“Grigor Dimitrov will break into the top 20, Jo Wilfried Tsonga will a Grand Slam (Australian Open or US Open).”
Do you agree with our predicitions? What are some of your own? We’d love to hear about them. Here’s to an amazing 2012!
