On The Road: Miami Open

For those who like action and a good photography challenge, this is the place to be! No matter what court you're on, typically there's a good seat close to the action (especially on the smaller courts). This is American John Isner who currently is ranked #26 in the world. Big John has the distinction of winning the longest match ever played in Wimbledon history -- 11 hours and 5 minutes -- in 2010.  Whew! When Isner is on the court, it's pretty much guaranteed the match will go the distance!  He pulled off a victory here against Brazilian Thomas Belucci with a second set tie break (of course).  

And, this is American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.  Although this was a singles match, the way she was prowling at net you could tell she's an incredible doubles player.  I'm not a big doubles fan, but it turns out, she's the #1 female doubles player in the world. How about that! With her black compression socks and shorts, Matter-Sands is known for her unique style on the court.  What I didn't know is that when she walks off the court, she trades her game face in for an infectious smile and fun, outgoing demeanor.  More on that tomorrow!

On The Road: Miami Open

Those who've followed SDP for awhile know that every March I head down to Miami to watch a  professional tennis tournament on Key Biscayne.  This was the 11th straight year I made the trip -- so much fun!  The tournament has gone through some name changes over the past few years and now it's called the Miami Open.  Whatever it's been called, every year, I've seen lots of great tennis and experienced close encounters with top tennis players.  One thing I've never seen is this:  an iguana clinging to a practice court fence!  (Yes, it's real!) Look at the length of that tail!  Lots of us were keeping a watchful eye on this unexpected spectator.  Even Roger Federer posted on social media about encountering it! Iguanas are not indigenous to the South Florida area, but they've become increasingly prevalent over the years.  Now, somewhat surprisingly, they've made their way to the tennis park on Key Biscayne.  Welcome to Miami!

Wawrinka vs Kuznetsov

Swiss player Stan Wawrinka is ranked #4 on the world tour and is known on the circuit as "The Stanimal".  I love that nickname!  He has a nice one-handed backhanded, which he was getting ready to unleash when I snapped this shot. Unfortunately, though, it wasn't his day on the grandstand court at the Miami Open.

It was especially hot (even by Miami standards), and The Stanimal looked overheated and tired. He quickly found himself down a set and a break to #51 Andrey Kuznetsov…and looking for answers (and perhaps shade) in his towel.

Kuznetsov pulled off the upset in straight sets -- possibly the biggest victory of his career. And, he pleasantly basked in the limelight taking his time to autograph every tennis ball and hat put in front of him following the match.

And, even though perspiration was dripping down his face, Kuznetsov was happy to pose for selfies. Very polite, nice young man.  I hope his success on the courts continues!

Milos Raonic

For the 10th straight year, I made the journey down to Key Biscayne in Miami for the men's and women's professional tennis tournament. We caught parts of 13 matches in two days. Whew! We kicked things off watching this guy -- Milos Raonic.  A Canadian, he's currently ranked #12 in the ATP standings.  He's tall for a tennis player (6'5") and a bit quirky, which makes it interesting to watch him in person.  He's the one who now wears a compression arm sleeve as a security blanket and, amazingly, his hair always stays in position.  Milos also has a tendency to stick his tongue out when he's concentrating.  (Gosh…I hope he doesn't inadvertently bite down on it when he's chasing a ball.) 

One my favorite things about this tournament is the proximity to the players. I snapped this shot of Milos just minutes after he defeated American Denis Kudla on Court #1. The crowd of fans was tight, and security personnel were moving people aside.  But, I made myself big and stood my ground when I saw Milos was coming right toward me. He was nice and paused just long enough for a couple of selfies with fans and signed a few autographs. 

Over the past several years, the tournament has struggled with an identity crisis, undergoing several name changes, and is now known as the Miami Open.  Now, a big controversy is swirling and word is...this may have been the last year for the tournament on Key Biscayne. It will be sad if that ends up being the case.  One way or the other, it's been a good run!  More pics to come.  

John Isner

One of the very cool things about the Miami Open is that you never know who you'll see wandering the grounds.  (More on that in a moment.)  I was hoofing up the outside stairwell at the stadium court when I happened to glance down where players are transported to and from the tournament.  I spotted a very tall guy with a tennis bag and knew instantly it was American tennis player John Isner.   Big John, as he's called, (he's 6'10") was spotted immediately by this young fan.  Looking at this photo, I can imagine his little voice:   'Hey, mister!  Can I have your autograph?'  Well…well.  What would Big John do with seemingly no one around watching?   After finishing a hot, tiring match earlier that day, would he give the kid the big blowoff so he could jump in his ride and rest?  Or, would he pause for an autograph?  Big John has a reputation for being a nice guy, so I was curious to see what he would do.

Not only did Big John sign an autograph, he posed for pictures.  Brilliant!  Makes me like him that much more.  Ranked in the top 20, Isner has been a rising star for awhile and I'm anxiously awaiting his big breakthrough.

This was the first tournament in awhile that I didn't encounter any players when I was actually roaming the grounds.  In previous years, I've spotted Rafa, Ana Ivanovic -- and somehow, Venus snuck within feet behind me one time and I realized it after it was too late.  But, my all-time favorite encounter was one of my very first.

I spotted this guy (when no one was around) and I couldn't believe it!  Roger Federer heading to a practice court.  It was 2006, he was ranked #1 in the world (amazingly, he's currently #2) and I just had a point and shoot.  And, boy, did I point and shoot!  What a fun, unexpected encounter!  This was before Roger won the French Open (to complete his personal slam), before he was married, and before he was the father of not one but two sets of twins.  And, I thought he had accomplished a lot at the time I took this photo!  That concludes our visit to the Miami Open this year.  Back to Sarasota soon!

Tommy Robredo

One of the great aspects of the Miami Open is the close proximity between spectators and players.  This was a match between Alexandr Dolgopolov (who we met yesterday) and Spanish player Tommy Robredo on Court #1.  This is an intimate court, and, as you can see, fans are pretty darn close to the action.

Tommy Robredo has been on the professional tennis circuit for 17 years (believe it or not) and currently is ranked #20 on the tour.  He's one of those guys who seems to play consistently (when he's healthy) but that big breakthrough has been elusive. Nine years ago, he peaked in the top 10.  Robredo ended up losing this match in three sets to Dolgo. Bad for Robredo but good for Dolgo, who, as I mentioned yesterday, is trying to claw his way back to being considered a rising star. 

Alexandr Dolgopolov

Alexandr Dolgopolov is one of those players that I try to see whenever I'm at a tournament.  (Check out my encounter with him last year here.)  His serve is a bit unorthodox, but he makes it work, and the combo is fun to watch.  Unfortunately, he lacks consistency. One set he'll play incredible…the next, it's as though he's mentally checked out.  As a spectator, it makes for some interesting viewing.  I first started watching Dolgo in 2011 when the SDP Junior Editor noticed him and predicted he was a rising star.  Sure enough, by 2013, he broke into the top 15 on the ATP tour.  I'm not sure whether he's had some injuries, but his ranking has dropped into the 70s. He's still young and has lots of tennis to play -- and possibly have that big breakthrough, which I would be really excited to see.

David Ferrer

This photo really epitomizes Spanish player David Ferrer.  Currently ranked #7 on the ATP tour, he plays hard and is intense.  Always.  It's a great combination for a tennis fan!  Tennis commentator Brad Gilbert refers to Ferrer as "Little Beast", since he's just 5'9" and prowls the court with the ferocity of…well…a beast.  This was the first time I saw Ferrer play in person and he was lots of fun to watch. Incredible player.  Believe it or not, he's 33 years old -- which, more or less, is considered geriatric in the tennis world.  But, he's maintaining the intensity and sharpness..and keeping pace with the young guns.  Go Little Beast!

Eugenie Bouchard

I was really looking forward to seeing Canadian tennis player Eugenie Bouchard at the Miami Open. Currently ranked #7 on the WTA tour, she's experienced an amazing past couple of years, reaching the semi finals in two grand slams and the finals at Wimbledon last summer. The tennis world has high hopes for her. But, since losing Wimbledon, she's been on a downward spiral.  Apparently, that's somewhat common for a young tennis player (Genie just turned 21) who suddenly is thrust into the limelight where expectations for success are heightened -- and the tennis world is watching their every move.  The top players adapt.

Yesterday, I mentioned that if a player is going to have a meltdown it will happen in Miami.  Right from the start of the match, Genie was off her game…and on an emotional roller coaster. While there were occasional glimpses of her incredible athleticism, those were quickly replaced with fits of despair (and even what appeared to be tears) until, at last, she completely lost it and smashed her racquet.  Not once…but three times.  What was especially unfortunate was that she was still in the match.  

It seems Genie is in a mental fight with herself. In this photo, she's taking the walk of shame, carrying her mangled racquet off the court after losing in straight sets to an opponent ranked around #100.   I sure hope she's able to pull it together, turn it around, and start winning again.

Mikhail Youzhny

Mikhail Youzhny is a Russian tennis player who currently is ranked #58 on the ATP. Here he's returning a serve from Kei Nishikori (see yesterday's post) on the grandstand court during the Miami Open.  A few years ago, Youzhny was ranked as high as #8 and he's always interesting to watch.

There seems to be something about Miami that draws out fits of rage in tennis players. (Perhaps the relentless scorching heat has something to do with it.  Just a thought...) Anyway, Youzhny is infamous for his Miami Meltdown in 2008 when he bashed his racquet against his forehead with such force that  blood trickled  down his face.  It happened on this very court.  I missed that display in person; however, it's memorialized on YouTube if you're interested you can watch it here.  I'm pleased to report that he played well during this match and kept his emotions in check.

Kei Nishikori

As part of my annual personal March Madness, once again I headed down to Miami for the big tennis tournament.  Although the event seems to be having a bit of an identity crisis (this year it was the Miami Open; last year it was the Sony Open; and the year before that, the Sony Ericsson), it was a lot of fun, as always. Out of the gates, we saw this guy, Kei Nishikori. Currently ranked #4 in the world, he's the most successful Asian tennis player in history.  He also was the runner up in the U.S. Open finals last year.  And, Kei just happens to train right here in the Sarasota area!  In this shot, he was playing Russian Mikhail Youzhny on the grandstand court, and as you can see…he was rather focused on the task at hand.

Rafael Nadal

Although world #1 Rafael Nadal holds 13 grand slam titles, he celebrates each victory as if it's his first. This was the scene on the stadium court last Saturday night after he mowed down Australian player and 2-time slam champ Lleyton Hewitt in less than one hour. (That match ended just before midnight -- and there still was one more match to be played that night. Tennis in Miami = late nights!) After defeating Canadian Milos Raonic last night, Rafa has advanced to the semi-finals as he pursues his first Sony Open title. On the college basketball front, my alma mater Michigan State University takes on the #1 seed Virginia late tonight. That will be going on at the same time as the tennis matches. March Madness is indeed underway.  Happy Friday!

Alexandr Dolgopolov

 

Currently ranked #23 on the ATP world tour, Ukranian tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov was swarmed by fans seeking autographs immediately following a relatively easy win over Jarkko Nieminen on court #1 at the Sony Open. Seeing the players up close and encountering them walking the tournament grounds is what makes this event especially fun for me. In this case, I was at the court where Dolgo had just won, so I made a beeline to the players' exit and -- voila -- there he was within minutes of winning his match.   (As you can see from his red face, he hadn't even had a chance to cool down yet.)  I was bumped around a bit by some overly zealous autograph seekers, but I held my ground…got my shots…and dashed off. Dolgo currently is on a winning streak, and I've been keeping my eye on him for the past several years, ever since the SDP Junior Editor prognosticated that he was an up and comer. He's into the quarterfinals today, so we shall see!

Maria Sharapova

I've seen 4-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova play in person a couple of times and countless times on television. With the exception of winning a slam, her reaction to winning this match on the stadium court at the Sony Open in Miami was the most excited I think I've ever seen her.  After nine match points against Lucie Safarova, Maria sealed the victory (an hour after her first match point) and appeared absolutely elated.  Post-match, it's now customary for the winner to autograph the TV camera lens, and I read later that Maria wrote "Why I play this game!"  You have to respect her sheer grit and determination on the court. Off the court, Maria has ties to -- Sarasota! Years ago, she left Russia to train at the Bolletieri Academy in neighboring Bradenton and apparently she still spends time in the Sarasota area.  People in the know tell me she's been spotted more than once in downtown Sarasota.  Thus, I always keep my eyes open and looking at about the 6'2" level when I'm wandering around downtown.  You never know who you might see!

Andy Murray

The SDP crew had a fantastic time at the Sony Open over the weekend in Miami.  They say timing is everything…and we had great timing during the tournament. I hadn't planned on attending the tournament Friday night, until a member of the SDP legal team called announcing that there was an extra (free) box seat available for the men's match which was moments away from starting.  Would I like it?  Um…heck, yeah!  I just happened to be driving by the entrance to the tournament when I got the call.  So, I zipped to my super top secret (free) unrestricted parking space, unloaded my bike, transferred my essential camera gear to a backpack and giddily biked like a woman possessed the one  mile or so to the tournament.  Andy Murray, a 2-time grand slam champion and currently ranked #6 on the ATP tour, was playing under the lights on the stadium court and I only missed the first few games.  In this shot, he's focused on walloping a forehand.  I find it quite challenging to shoot under artificial lights, so I was pleased some of my action shots turned out pretty well.  The Editor-in-Chief hasn't gone through all the tournament photos yet, but after last year's photo file debacle immediately following the tournament, there are rumblings more tennis pics might be posted this year.  

One Year Later

Believe it or not, it was one year that the computer at SDP World Headquarters crashed and we temporarily lost all our photo files. I had just downloaded 635 images from the Sony Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne when iPhoto locked up and that was it. It took months (and plenty of Tylenol) to resolve the issue.  But, we're back at last!  This morning was the first time I've really looked at my pics from last year's tournament.  It was quite exciting to see shots like this one of 2-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, as the SDP staff prepares for another fun filled photography session at the tourney.  Perhaps most importantly, the Editor-in-Chief is resting easy knowing all our files will be secure when downloaded.  Have a great weekend!

2012 Sony Ericsson Open

I made my annual trek down to Key Biscayne in Miami recently for the Sony Ericsson Open. There are so many things I like about this tennis tournament...

... like, the sheer anticipation as you make your way to the welcoming tournament entrance. Usually, at this time I'm chattering excitedly about the draw and strategizing on what matches to see.

Of course, being in South Florida it's hot. (Read: HOT!) It's always entertaining to see the creative methods people concoct to block the Miami sun after awhile.

Seeing a match with Swiss champion Roger Federer is always a must. I nearly swoon at the sight of his backhand (or maybe it's the Miami heat).

I love the passion of the players. This is Serbian Janko Tipsarevic on the grandstand court. He's one of my favorite players to photograph. He leaves it all on the court.

And, there are decisive moments when you know one point could end up determining the match. There were a few of those moments during this match with Ukranian player Alexandre Dolgopolov.

When strolling the tournament grounds or having a snack, I'm usually on high alert. The players come and go...and if I'm on my game I'm able to get a few shots. That's Nadia Petrova walking across the grounds. (Oddly enough, I also saw her at a restaurant later that night.)

And, I'm always on the look out for the unexpected...like this shot of Venus Williams leaving the stadium court with her father who carried her racquet bag (something which I've never seen before with any player). Venus, a grand slam champion several times over, was recently diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune condition which causes, amongst other things, fatigue. This was her first tournament playing since announcing her health issue. The match I saw, she rallied from being down match point to win a grueling 3 hour, 3 set match. What a fighter! Although smiling, she looked physically depleted as she left the court and it was touching to her dad there to help her. The men's and women's finals are this weekend. But, that's a wrap for me for this year's whirlwind Miami tennis tour. Can't wait to see what 2013 brings!

Theme Day: Animal

Sure, I could have posted a bird, a dog or an alligator...or some other critter for today's City Daily Photo theme day. But, I'm opting for a completely different take.  I give you the tennis animal:  Novak Djokovic, the #1 ranked player in the world.  With last Sunday's record breaking Australian Open win, prowling the court for nearly 6 hours of mind boggling endurance tennis, he was....well...an animal out there!  Unbelievably impressive.  I've been fortunate enough to see him play several times, including on Centre Court at Wimbledon, where I took this photo.  Lots of bloggers in the CDP community are participating in today's theme day.   Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Roger vs. Rafa (again)

The SDP Headquarters will be shutting down today for the men's final of the French Open. Roger Federer played one heck of a brilliant semi-final match Friday to advance to the finals and attempt to add one more title to his already record breaking 16 grand slam victories. In the process, he denied his opponent Novak Djokovic the world #1 ranking and stopped Djokovic's winning streak at 42. Go Roger! In Rog's way to grand slam title #17 is his arch rival....this man...

...Rafa Nadal. Rafa is attempting to tie Bjorn Borg's amazing record of winning six French Opens. Rafa just turned 25 and as long as his body holds out, is expected to play for at least a few more years. Roger, on the other hand, (I hate to actually write these words), is in the twilight of his career. He turns 30 this summer and has said he will play at least through the 2012 Olympics. Not only is he a top competitor, but a generous philanthropist and a kind spirit. You never hear a bad word about Roger. So, with all that...who knows if we'll see another Roger-Rafa grand slam final ever again? I have two words: GO ROGER! (As an aside, I took both these shots last year on center court during the Sony Ericsson Open on Key Biscayne.)

Novak Djokovic

SDP is back in operation!  And, we resume with a photo taken in South Florida.  I was in Miami recently for the Sony Ericsson Open, which I attend every year.  I was fortunate this year to see Novak Djokovic, the #3 ranked player in the world, twice on the stadium court.  (He ended up winning the tournament yesterday in an exciting 3-set match against world #1 Rafa Nadal.)  It was a whirlwind adventure as always, catching lots of matches including, of course, my favorite Roger Federer.  If you like tennis and/or sports photography, check out my Flickr page.  It's going to take awhile for me to post my pics, so check back!