I am planning to go watch some of the Winnetka Challenger this week.  If anyone at this board wants me to deliver any messages to Vince I can try.   Since I know he is a favorite for some I definitely will cheer for him. 

Yesterday I got to warmup Michael Rubin who tried to qualie into the Winnetka Challenger.  Rubin's coach asked me to house him the last two years.  We played next to Pless, Stoppini, Isner and Evans.  Those guys hit BIG!  Donald Young is also in the draw and I used to play his dad sometimes.

 Winnetka is the SOLE professional event in the Chicago area- a single $50,000 tennis event for a city that is attempting to host the 2016 Olympics is a little short of expectations.

That's amazing, firstly, that Winnetka is the sole pro tennis event in Chicago. I remember way back when the McEnroe brothers played against each other in the finals of the defunct Chicago event.

Lendl, you must be a pretty darn good player to warm up a Challenger-level player. And lastly, I talked to Vince the other day and he was doing a tennis clinic at a camp run by the Harvard coach in Boston and he was getting ready to play Newport, so I don't think he's playing Winnetka, but I could be wrong. 

If you see him, tell him I said to hit the bh wide more and not always deep.

Lendlfan:

   You must be one hell of a player to be able to hit with him. Now we know you are honoring the Lendl name and tradition (and probably pounding forehands - and leaving a trail of sawdust on your grip and ont he court int he process). tell Vince there are still many people on the board following his career. I would be interested to know the toughest server he's faced and best returner he's faced and how he assesses the long-term potential of Andy Murray, Djoker, Tsonga and Del Potro - how does he see each of their careers playing out? Also, he has said in the past Sampras is the toughest guy he's played - does he still feel that way. Lastly, can you ask him: will there be a Break Point sequel and if they ever do a Break Point film what actor does Vince want to play Vince, who does he want to play co-author Redhead and of course Skelly would have to play Skelly.

I SAW the Mac Vs Mac tourney too.  Big Mac was playing Mal Wash. in the semi, threw his raccqet and had a total tantrum.  Mal W. aced him on the very next point and from way up in the rafters I yelled, "Throw your racquet again!"  Missed the singles final but I think the Macs won the doubles that year.  Chicago also used to host a woman's tournament for a few years at the same site, the UIC pavilion.  Big Mac brought his senior tour to downtown Chicago a few years back and in fact I recall talking to a few people at a TennisWeek booth during that tourney.  Big Mac was his usual self having to make apology for hitting a ball kid with a ball he hit in frustration.  Never been a big mac fan.

Rubin is a really considerate dude and he played first singles at Mich. for four years so I have to take care of him.  He is the total journeyman and has a fantastic return but does not have the canon serve.  He beat Michael McClune and Mathias Bachinger this year but got tuned by Sweeting.  We actually hit at the site twice after I gave him a full workout, mostly feeding.  The night before the qualies start the players have to check in at 7-9 pm.  They ATP posts the matches the night before play online at 1030 pm.

Challenger Qualifying is wild.  There are only three linesmen and the chair calls the baselines.  Obviously no Hawkeye.  The players seem fairly cool about having the set up as it is -- as Rubin told me at least he won't get totally rooked on a call on a big point.

When I warmed up Rubin he pointed out Pless and Stoppini and Evans for me.  Isner was easily recognizable.  My 9 yo daughter felt comfortable enough to come out and sit between courts and take photos of ME! during the warmup.  She wanted me to see how I hit off my back foot.  I forgot my sawdust and would never toss five feet high, but I was wearing adidas footwear.

I will print the RP interview for VS Guts!

Tell Vince the Tennis Week message board is proud of his big win at Wimbledon and we are still behind him 150% and that he should definitely think about doing some tennis writing and TV commentating for The Tennis Channel when he retires in 2012.

LF how was Mr. Young as a player, what level would you say, 4.5? Also how was the mom when she played? What are her credentials to be an ATP level coach, did she play in college? Who is coaching DY now? I'd be curious to know what DY's mental outlook looks like now. Does he seem mentally burnt out? Hope not but he's pretty down now.

LF it would be awesome if you could post up your photos! "She wanted me to see how I hit off my back foot." Sounds like your 9-yr old daughter is coaching you :)

 

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I will definitely update Vince about The Board interest in his continued success.

Vince is definitely slated to play today on the Order of Play and is seeded second.  I can't get there today- work till 4.  So Vince needs to win today!!!  and hopefully I will run into him on the off day on the practice courts when he will feel like chit chat.

My daughter and I will go tomorrow for certain and try to get a good interview with Spadea, Mr Young, and Donald, and photos.

Donald's dad was actually a Donald Junior.  I played Don's dad only once, he beat me in doubles, but I WON the singles in my first 35s tournament.  I know I can take dad today because he has gained some weight.  Dad had a heavy forehand and lousy slice backhand.  Dad was definitely a Very talented athlete.  Dad was notorious for missing line calls and forgetting the story.  Glad I never had to deal with that in singles.  I have never met mom but I did see her in the movie about the boys 18s Nationals called Unstrung.  The movie which had Don beating Querry in the final was set at my alma mater, Kalamazoo College.  I have seen Many matches there.

 I definitely would like to see Donald Jr play and do well too.  I saw the Donalds one time when DY was maybe 5.  Dad was tossing him balls in Hyde Park and my thought was, "Yeah sure..... keep dreaming Donald."  It seemed like one day later when a colleague updated me that DY JR had won the Easter Bowl 18s at age 15, which was very hard for me to believe. 

My daughter has a better eye with the camera than I so we will try to get some photos and then figure out how to get them to our board.  London has been filmed before and has a decent critical eye for tennis already at age 9.  She likes Davenport because she saw a TC interview and Davenport has a baby.  If you guys are nice I will send one or two pics of her too.  She is much cuter and more talented than I.  The camera is an OUTSTANDING teaching aid that is underused in tennis.  When I showed Her how laid back her wrist was on film she started believing and working on keeping her swing on plane.  Even single digital photos can help knowledgeable players.

LendlFan:

   Was Donald, Jr. (DY's dad) lefty too? I like watching DY when he's enthusiastic about playing and into it (sometimes seems a bit sullen and just not into it) but he's had a tough time this season. Vince has often said Wimbledon is his favorite tournament - would like to know who Vince picks to win it. Ask him if he is willing to take one of Redhead's yoga classes? Hope you get to see a lot of tennis there.

Greatinfo there LF thanks. Too bad Mr. Young has a weak slice backhand, I know so many local players here with the same flaw, they are good solid athletic players but for some reason they just can't hit the backhand with top. They just have that weak slice.

 Agreed on the camera, even still shots help. I saw photos of my serve and lifting the back foot up again after thought I stopped that years ago, and it helped to fix it, for the time being till it comes up again. Looking forward to read what you see in Winnetka.

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Vince Watch went without success sadly.  He lost first round and being the potato eater that I am I was busily employed.  I really wanted to see Vince play and solicit an interview for our board.  An outspoken veteran like Vince is a real star but Challenger life is dog eat dog brutality.  Only two of 8 seeds made it through the First round in Winnetka,  Donald Young and R.Ram.  My guess is that VS hustled back to the Northeast to do an Offense Defense camp or practice his art of pickup, pure conjecture.

I DID get out to see Ryler DeHeart take down John Isner during the night session and my summary follows:

Subject: He's a good kid!  ( a quote from DeHeart's childhood coach Steve Smith from Tampa who posted me to watch when Ryler played Rafa last summer at the Open)

Winnetka Update

DeHeart takes out John Isner routinely 4 n 6,  7-5 in the breaker

Key point:  Ryler played a great return up 3-0 in the breaker.  He moved in and hit a backhand early and hard and Isner couldn't handle the time pressure.

Isner was no sportsman whatever.  When RD served out the first set Isner complained he didn't get a baseline call on set point.
At that point my polite clapping turned vocal with, "That was a foot out! (and)  This isn't Athens," sarcastically.  Finally "That was a foot out!" again with surety.

In the second set Isner made a slow complaint when he had to serve down a set with break point on the line.  After a specious argument he went to the towel, went to two different ballkids then slowly did his ritual.  Nothing like making the returner wait 5 minutes.  Anyway he hit three unreturnable serves to hold and the locals cheered.  I am wondering why the USTA didn't import these homers to cheer for the "boring" Sampras.  

 A 0-4, in the second set TB Isner's wide serve was returned with a slight mishit crosscourt. Isner hustled after the short return but netted a forehand.What really pissed me off watching this match wasn't that after Isner bitched at the linesmen about 6 times, after he failed to make the shot at 0-4 in the second set TB he very sarcastically said to DeHeart, "Nice Shot."

Now DeHeart is a Good kid, and that was lame carping.  I had to turn vocal again this time, more quietly but clearly audible with, "Nice hustle."

DeHeart was up 6-0 in the TB and watched it fade to 6-4 but still serving for it they had the longest rally of the match.   DeHeart must have hit 10 godawful forehands and I was just about ready to leave when he wins the match with a DTL winner.   RD served well, played well and won the 4 break points against him, and executed a solid game plan perfectly.

It was obvious to me that Johnnie Isner had never heard, "NO COMPLAINTS, NO EXCUSES."  Ryler DeHeart, needs a travel clock, because he's going somewhere. 

 

I will keep the board updated and file another insider's report on the Young's as the week progresses.  I should right away clarify that Donald Senior's backhand wasn't really lousy it was just consistently slice and defensive in great contrast to a solid semi forehand.  He was rightie not lefty.  I would also like to say he had great wheels and a joie de vivre that was cool.

breaker was 7-4 sorry

Oh I wanted to say I Totally agree with the assessment that Dr K. moves more fluidly than Johnnie Isner.  Isner's game has a solid serve as the foundation but his movement was exploited.  DeHeart was hitting into open courts regularly and though his groundies are good he is no Fed.

Whoever picked DeHeart in the year's game should start moving up the rankings.  I avoided picking Ryler because I knew he was out having shoulder surg immediately following the US Open.  His serve looked close to 100% last night and he won another USTA tourney two weeks ago.

Great reporting. We never get to find out anything about the challengers except the scores on the ATP web site. They have exciting matches but aside from the spectators' memories, they are quickly lost to history.

Wasn't Deheart  Rafa's opponent in the first round at the US Open last year? If my memory is correct and you get to talk to him again, please ask him about playing against Rafa. 

Thanks LendlFan - looking forward to hearing your report on DY and if DY, sr. and mom are still traveling with him. Vince should considering hiring Redhead as a traveling coach/trainer. Redhead loves to work out and sometimes seems he believes in Vince more than V believes in himself. They should hook up or Vince should go back to Sanguinetti who really seems to know and impart the value of repetition in practice and can analyze the opposition so well. Could this be the farewell year for Vince? We shall see.