Tennis Tour Tidbits

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 26th June 2013

Tennis Tour Tidbits

epa03759193 Serena Williams of USA returns to Mandy Minella of Luxembourg during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 25 June 2013. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

American player Wayne Odesnik admits that ITF officials have contacted his lawyer to discuss his connection to the Tony Bosch Clinic in Miami, which is being investigated for allegedly supplying banned substances to various pro athletes. But he says that he has nothing to hide. “I don’t have any connection to it, “ he said. “I’ve been tested probably in the last three years on a regular basis. I know this year I’ve been tested every single month. I’ve had an out-of-competition test on a regular basis, blood and urine, from USADA. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m as clean as a whistle.” . . . Laura Robson on the pressure that British players face at Wimbledon. “Obviously Wimbledon is a massive tournament, so if you don’t do well, then it’s disappointing.” . . . James Blake says that training technology keeps getting better, which means that the level of tennis will too. “In tennis, as much as I’m probably going to be that guy when I’m 40 years old saying the good old days, we would have the game just keeps getting better, “ he said. “Roger Federer, in my mind, is the greatest of all time right now. But in 10 years, whoever is No. 1 in the world at that time is the best at that time. Guys are able to handle things more than they used to.” . . . Serena Williams said she’d be willing to play three out of five sets at the majors so the argument that the women should get paid less because they only play two of three sets is irrelevant. “I think one of the things about that argument, the reason I think it’s null, is because we have said we’re willing and ready,” she said. “ I think every female athlete is ready to play five sets. Actually, the tournaments have said, No, we like you guys playing three sets. I don’t think it’s a fair argument at all.” . . . Jesse Levine and Milos Raonic joined compatriots Eugenie Bouchard and Vasek Pospisil into the second round of Wimbledon which is the first time since 1998 that four Canadians reached the second round of a Grand Slam. . . . Andy Murray became the most successful British man in terms of Grand Slam match wins with 107, ahead of Fred Perry (106), Tim Henman (98) and Bunny Austin (87). . . Judy Murray and Toni Nadal are giving a half hour talk on coaching together in Wimbledon Village on Wednesday. . . Marion Bartoli apparently has stopped with her father Walter again. . .

Madison Keys says that one word that defines her is sarcastic. “ I’ll miss a serve really, really long. I’ll ask myself, questioning if it was in, if I could hit it any farther out. Just things like that. ”