Rafael Nadal is coached by his Uncle Toni, to whom he is reported to be quite close. Novak Djokovic's father attends a great number of his son's tournaments, and has behaved in such a way that Djokovic has had to clean up after him. But it was Andy Murray, whose mother (a coach and a significant figure in British tennis) attends his matches, who was criticized today by Boris Becker. Becker accused Murray of being too close to his mother. He also criticized Murray for being with "pretty much the same girlfriend for the last three or four years" (Murray's girlfriend broke up with him, he was with another woman for a time, and then he got back together with his original girlfriend), which Becker considers "immature" for a 23-year-old. Recently (and I was waiting for it), John McEnroe made fun of Denis Istomin, who is coached by his mother. McEnroe made a "joke" about the relationship, but it wasn't funny--and he would never have made it if Istomin were coached by his father. Sexism affects more than just the WTA.
Aaress Lawless, who has published On the Baseline for five years, has sold the site to Justin Pohn. On the Baseline is a mainstay of women's tennis news and features. Women Who Serve wishes Aaress the very best in her future endeavors, and also--welcome Justin!
Heather Watson won the $50k ITF tournament in Toronto last week.
Here's a doubles team I can get really get behind: Martina Navratilova and Elisabeth Shue played together on Sunday in the Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tournament in Delray Beach, Florida. Anna Kournikova was there, too.
Rebecca Marino is close to earning direct entry into the Australian Open main draw. (Thanks to On the Baseline for this news.)
It is really idiotic that men cannot have women coaches without ridicule. Women can have fathers coach them, sometimes fathers that were never officially involved in the sport, but Andy Murray can't have his mother who is/has been a coach in Scotland.
ReplyDeleteStupid. I heard the Istomin remark also when he was playing Nadal. I was glad Istomin gave Nadal a difficult time after the remark about him and his mother.
The other thing was the remark made by Becker about Murray and his girlfriend. I'd like to hear Becker call Federer immature for meeting Mirka when he was just turning 19 and staying with her for 10 years and counting. Commentators who go off task when calling a match or just commenting are more and more bugging me.
Someone please google: "Gloria Connors" and ignore Boris -- being out of the spotlight is painful for him.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly manages to get himself back into it often enough, doesn't he? Usually for the wrong reasons.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane! I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteAs far as McEnroe goes, it should be noted that when a similar discussion was being kicked around during the U.S. Open that he did point to Gloria Connors as an example that might disprove all of his opinions about similar situations. Of course, he does have a notoriously short memory sometimes. :)
ReplyDeleteAs great and fun a player as he was on the court, Becker has always been an odd and controversial bird off it, especially since his career ended. He's my all-time favorite male player, but, sometimes, I guess it's best to limit one's memories of a player to a period of time when everything was "fresh and new," you know. :)
I think that McEnroe "thinks" he believes certain things, but his behavior gives him away. So true of so many people...
ReplyDeleteIt will not truly have success, I feel like this.
ReplyDelete