Tennis and All That

No Grand Slam would be one without some controversy. We’ve scarcely started the US Open and already a player has received a code violation. We were all shocked to see a…….sports bra! Not a lingerie bra but a black, non-see-through full sports bra. Alize Cornet, simply slipped off her top to turn it the right way round but the male umpire jumped on her and gave her a code violation. What did you want her to do? She’s a top athlete she doesn’t want photos beamed around the world with her top on the wrong way round. Journalists would have a field day! If she demurely leaves the court like a heroine in a Jane Austen novel she receives a time violation. Alize can’t win. Besides, one of the big topics often commented on is the bathroom breaks. Apparently, these are unnecessary and merely strategic rather than because the players are looking after their health by doing the right thing and drinking to stay hydrated otherwise they can become seriously ill. This is especially true when there a...

I was shocked and outraged to read today 1 that the powers that be at the French Open (Roland Garros) wish to impose a dress code. Why? Simply because, it would seem, that Serena’s catsuit, which was a compression outfit known to be effective against blood clots, was going too far. That sounds as if Serena was deliberately being difficult, rebellious, and somehow lacking respect for her sport rather like a teenager flouting school rules. Dress code? Schools have dress codes. Tennis players are adult, elite athletes who often wear their sponsors' latest fashion designs. Some, including Serena and Venus, are fashion designers in their own right so certainly know how to dress well and for the occasion. Many players combine running a business alongside their tennis careers. For instance, Sharapova encourages and mentors women into business and being entrepreneurs. These players are often multi-millionaires with a great deal of power who can do much to improve the lives of women. In ...

Halep won Montreal, Rogers Cup so congratulations to her. She has certainly settled into the coveted number 1 spot with a strong lead over the number 2 player, Wozniacki.   Both players have won a Grand Slam but what of those who haven’t? All tennis players want to be number 1 in the world which is why it surprises me that they don’t enjoy the same privileges as those who win Grand Slams. Maybe one day this will change because it is a fantastic achievement and should be celebrated accordingly! Last week presented us with an agonizing example of how easily players can become injured and how this impacts on their ranking/career. Buzarnescu, after many years of struggling with injuries, finally made it to a well-deserved number 20 in the world. She was on the up. The week before she won her first title! All that changed last week during her match with Svitolina. Running impressively for a backhand, her ankle went and she was left screaming in agony. Not something spectators wish ...

Montreal, Roger’s Cup is in full swing and it started me thinking. Just as mothers should be able to return to their world ranking pre-pregnancy, should it not also be the case that those returning from injury or illness be given the same courtesy? This week sees both Azarenka (95) and Kuznetsova (87) return to the top 100 and Safarova up one place (58). Serena was unable to play in Montreal due to issues related to giving birth last September. This is understandable. I think Serena has had a great come-back. Most players would be delighted with reaching the 4 th round at Roland Garros and being a finalist at Wimbledon! Kvitova certainly would! She is frustrated that Grand Slams are not going well for her. Maybe I shouldn’t bother playing them, she mused in a post-match interview. Hopefully, she will continue to play them and win but it shows how tough they can be for a player. This is despite Kvitova having had an excellent winning season. Again, as a result of sustaining seriou...