Midway through Jannik Sinner’s 6-1, 6-2 demolition of three-time major finalist Casper Ruud in the semifinals of the 2024 ATP Finals, Tennis Channel’s astute Brett Haber noted that Sinner breaks serve 29% of the time and holds serve 91%. Then Brett succinctly summed up his opponents’ predicament: “When are you supposed to win a game against him?”
A 2018 essay titled “The Most Intriguing ‘What ifs?’ in Tennis History” in my new book, GAME CHANGERS: How the Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies Transformed Tennis, ends with this dire hypothetical.
As a member of the ITHF Official Voting Group, I received the International Tennis Hall of Fame ballot today. Unlike in some previous years, this time the decisions about the candidates were easy. I voted for Bob and Mike Bryan. Combining for a team record 16 major titles, the Californian twins formed the greatest men’s doubles team in history. I also voted for Maria Sharapova, who captured five Grand Slam singles titles, coming on all three surfaces—grass, hard, and clay.
Listening to the many basketball experts analyze young players before last night’s NBA draft is fascinating and instructive.
Let’s start with the women because Sept. 26 is Women’s Equality Day. Here are my top 5 picks along with dark horses who will make seeded players miserable and give fans suspenseful, unpredictable matches.
Over the decades, tennis writers and broadcasters have presented the strokes, skills, and traits the “perfect player” would possess.
