THE WONDER OF VENUS WILLIAMS – An American Original
Just imagine what she’s been through. As a wide-eyed girl in the inner city, she was the daughter of a man who assured us that his child would be the best tennis player in the world. That’s not such an...
View ArticleEMBRACING THE WIMBLEDON GLOW – NOTES FROM TENNIS HEAVEN
THIS MUST BE HEAVEN: The most beautiful player in the world glides with balletic ease across the lawn of the most beautiful court in the world at London’s most beautiful time of day, when the setting...
View ArticleGARBINE’S ‘MUGU-RUTHLESS’
WIMBLEDON – Bill Simons She’s indrawn and exudes a grace. She’s beautiful, mature, dignified, dedicated to the sport she loves and is celebrated around the world. She knows far more than she reveals....
View ArticleA MAN NAMED ROGER
WIMBLEDON – Bill Simons Opera has La Scala. Classical music alights at Carnegie Hall. Golf boasts Augusta. As great as any of these, tennis has The All-England Lawn Tennis Club. And there is nothing in...
View ArticleTHE GHOSTS OF WIMBLEDON
WIMBLEDON WHISPERS The roar is muted The ladies have left Gents have vanished Centre Court – abused and battered – at last rests A single sprinkler says, “relax, and drink” And, from my press seat,...
View ArticleSHE’S BACK – No One Does Statuesque Like Maria
Bill Simons PALO ALTO— The pale peach dress is impeccable – so feminine. The pale peach sneakers are a perfect match – flawless, of course. The neon orange cap is a lovely accent. And there she is....
View ArticleBANK OF THE WEST CLASSIC – Coco Rings Bellis’ Bell
Bill Simons STANFORD— She’s not big. She’s not powerful. Her parents aren’t Olympic heroes. But her growing fan base has big hopes for CiCi Bellis. They hope the 18-year-old will – in the tradition of...
View ArticleKEYS TRIUMPHS AMIDST WORRIES ABOUT TOURNEY’S FUTURE
Bill Simons STANFORD— There was a feeling of melancholy. For all the bright moments of happiness that teen CiCi Bellis had given fans throughout the week; for all the hype of Maria Sharapova’s return;...
View Article‘WHERE’S THE KINDNESS?’– Reflections on Renaming Margaret Court Arena
Bill Simons It was a sparkling night like no other. Twenty years ago, in 1997, the US Open gave us the most magical opening in tennis history – the debut of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Over 23,000 gathered....
View ArticleUS OPEN – The Grit and Glory of Roger Federer, Street Fighting Man
Outside Ashe Stadium the August night was raw and rainy – as if it were fall. Inside Ashe Stadium over 23,000 fans figured there was no way the king would fall. After all, this year Federer has been in...
View ArticleEXCUSE ME, MR. FOGNINI, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN UGLY SQUIRREL
Bill Simons When the volatile Italian character Fabio Fognini, according to Google Translate, called a Swedish woman umpire “an ugly squirrel,” many were horrified. We were thrilled. After all, we have...
View ArticleTHE 12 GREATEST LETTERS IN TENNIS HISTORY
Serena Williams’ proud and poignant letter to her mother brought to mind our 2014 feature, “The 12 Greatest Letters in Tennis History.” Here it is: In our Twitter world of 140 characters or less,...
View ArticleTHE BATTLE OF THE SEXES – HOLLYWOOD FINALLY GIVES US A GOOD TENNIS MOVIE
OF BILLIE, BOBBY AND THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES Bill Simons It was 1973. Hair was long and tempers were short. Turmoil prevailed. Trust was shaken. Watergate was shattering our world. Vietnam had just...
View ArticleMoments and Meaning: Reflections on Roger’s Brainchild – The Asymmetrical...
We couldn’t imagine it. John McEnroe would never have lept into the arms of Jimmy Connors. You never saw Andre Agassi leaping onto Pete Sampras. But can you believe – there in Prague was Rafa joyously...
View ArticleEIGHT IS ENOUGH: A Guide to the WTA Championships
The WTA Championships are an old tradition in our sport, but there’s now a brand new way to see it. WTA TV is now the cutting-edge way to see the event, which showcases eight women from eight different...
View ArticleAGASSI’S SCHOOL – A Special Place, A Special Man, A Special Vision
Andre Agassi founded an inner-city school in Vegas and now has created 79 schools across the country. LAS VEGAS – Far from the fancy steakhouses and big-stakes craps tables, far from the snazzy shows...
View ArticleME TOO – TENNIS AND ABUSE
It’s Time To Make Tennis Safer By Michael Mewshaw The US is experiencing one of its periodic surges of outrage about sexual harassment and sexual assault, especially of underage victims or of females...
View ArticleTHE SEGOO SAGA: 1921–2017
PANCHO SEGURA – BOY OF DREAMS, MAN OF CHARMS He would stare at the boat. The banana boat of his dreams that slipped beyond the horizon every month. The “Great Line” ship the kid hoped one day would...
View ArticleSADNESS – BANK OF THE WEST CLASSIC TO LEAVE STANFORD
THE END OF AN ERA? They were everywhere. LA, San Jose and San Diego. Sports fans couldn’t miss them – Indian Wells, Carson and Stanford. They gave us the best in the game, shining stars we knew by...
View ArticleTHE SUBLIME BEAUTY OF SPORTS – Tsonga and Woz Not Out In Oz
Bill Simons MELBOURNE – Tennis, especially in the early rounds of tourneys, can be dull and dreary. Lopsided matches hardly excite. Then out of nowhere – boom, pow, ‘Woz’ – drama and sporting...
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