Tennis

Andy Roddick: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Andy Roddick Is Baffled

What he said:

"I’m baffled, I’m baffled. Why are we out here?"

Andy Roddick is none-too-pleased with having to take the court on a wet day in Queens, New York.

Roddick, in his interview later, clarified:

I was surprised the second time we got called out.  We walked back there and it was wet, so I couldn’t quite figure out why we were called out.  I even said it’s coming from under.  It’s not something you can dab a towel on and make it go away.  I watched the monitors, and they were dabbing towels on it the entire time. Then they called us back out, and we walked right over it and it was wet.  I could not believe what I was looking at.  I mean, puts us in a little bit of an uncomfortable position, too, because obviously, you know, we want to play and stuff.  But it’s still there, dude.

What he really meant:

“We should be chiming ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head’ instead.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I love wet balls.”

Andy Roddick: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Andy Roddick Negotiates At The US Open

What he said:

"I have been trying to tell people that talent normally wins in negotiations."

Andy Roddick believes it’s time players banded together to form a union. This would ensure that commercial interests do not override players’ welfare.

What he really meant:

“Tournaments aren’t money spinners when they lack star players.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Negotiations are as easy as serving aces.”

Ana Ivanovic: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

Ana Ivanovic Combusts

What she said:

“Well, I think Serbians actually have quite a combustible character.”

Ana Ivanovic feels that Serbians, as a whole, are quite passionate.

She added:

Maybe that’s good for tennis.  Maybe that’s something that drives us.  But sometimes we can have fired up emotions out there.

What she really meant:

“Serbians are like tinder. They just need a tiny spark to light up.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Burn, Baby, Burn.”

Serena Williams: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

Serena Williams Cuts the Crap and Does the Crip

What she said:

“I walk out there, do the Crip walk and try to intimidate them.”

Serena Williams jokes that she tries to be as formidable with her on-court behaviour as with her tennis. Williams was responding to Ana Ivanovic’s claim that she is intimidating to her opponents.

What she really meant:

“If Petkovic can dance, I can do the Crip walk. Which, do you think, is more scary?”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I’m cutting a rap album soon. It’s called ‘Gal Wars At Flushing Meadows’”

Andy Roddick: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I’m convinced being a tennis analyst is the easiest job in the world. Because whatever the person does, if it works, you just say, ‘That’s what’s good,’ and if it doesn’t work, you guys just go, ‘He should have done the other thing.’ I’m pretty convinced that I could be a tennis analyst when I’m done."

Andy Roddick, take a bow. The 2003 US Open champion launched into a tirade against tennis analysts, terming them arm-chair experts.

Roddick claimed:

“It just doesn’t take much thought. If I’m grinding, and I’m winning, you guys are like, ‘He’s reinvented himself,’ and if I’m playing like crap and pushing, it’s, you know, ‘He’s horrible and needs to hit the ball.’ Everybody’s an expert, but I’m better than most of them have been."

Nobody’s arguing with the former champion. Very few analysts have won Slams or as many tournaments as Roddick has.

Hats off for telling it like it is.

What he really meant:

“Sports analysis is easy. You’re right if the player’s wrong. You’re still right if the player’s not.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m done reading my copy of ‘How To Take Criticism With a Smile’. I’d love to lend it to you guys—now (that I’ve had my say).”

Rafael Nadal: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I doubt their intentions.”

Rafael Nadal has a healthy mistrust of dogs.

What he really meant:

“I look at dogs and wonder, ‘What are they thinking? To bite or not to bite? To bark or not to bark? To chase or not to chase?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“A dog is man’s best friend.”

Maria Sharapova:What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“I’m terrible at other sports. I don’t even try.”

Maria Sharapova confesses that she’s not gifted—she’s a specialist and a success in tennis alone.

What she really meant:

“I love to win and since I can’t excel at other sports, I don’t even try. That reminds me, that I haven’t been winning that much in tennis either.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“It doesn’t mean that I don’t watch other sports. Sasha catches mine, I catch his (basketball).”

Otto, the German Shepherd, analyses the US Open men’s draw

My dog, Otto the German Shepherd, is a tennis nut.

“You haven’t analysed the men’s draw for the US Open. Today’s the 27th and the tournament begins on the 29th.” pestered Otto.

“I know. I’ve just been a little wrapped up in other things.” I reply, tiredly.

“But you have to do the men’s draw. That’s like manna for tennis followers.” insists Otto.

“Oh, I’m sure, they are multiple draw analyses floating around the internet. The smart ones can visit USOpen.org and figure it out themselves.” I attempt to fob off my companion.

“But that’s not the point, is it? It’s good for you too. You can’t follow the US Open without delving into the draw. It’s like going into a dark night without a torch.” Otto is a member of the local debate club.

Continue reading →

Caroline Wozniacki : What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

"I’m not going to forget how to play tennis in a few days."

Women’s No.1 , Caroline Woznicaki, dismisses suggestions that her US Open performance will be affected by her split from her current coach and father, Piotr Wozniacki.

What she really meant:

“I cannot play worse—without one. Can I?”

What she definitely didn’t say:

“If Marion (Bartoli) and Andy (Murray) can yell at their parents and entourage, why can’t I fire my dad?”

Stacey Allaster: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

"Our DNA is different.”

WTA CEO, Stacey Allaster, says that women grunting on court can be put down to the difference between the sexes.

What she really meant:

“I’ve read ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’ like a million times.It’s my gospel.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Now, that explains why Serena Williams serves quicker than most men on the tour.”