We Know Vania King Can Sing. Now We Know Mark Knowles Can’t.
Vania King is always volunteering to do things for people. She eagerly gives autographs, sings the national anthem at the US Open and Dodgers games and hangs draw picks with an enthusiasm not witnessed by many. So it was that I watched her play the straight with Mark Knowles as the foil at CitiOpen’s Pro-Am two weeks ago. MC Wayne Bryan got Mark Knowles and Vania King to engage in a DC Idol contest.
Knowlzee is Bahamian. Even if you add two points to his score for the non-citizen handicap, that leaves him with a 3.
He can play some mean drums, though.
Count me as a new fan of Vania King’s youtube channel. She’s apparently taking requests now, and I thought she nailed “Beauty and the Beast” to the point that Walt Disney and Angela Lansbury would be proud. For the next remake of the classic, Vania should be a shoo-in for Belle and Knowles might end up making a fine Beast.
Was CitiOpen a Case Study on ATP/WTA Inequality, or Was it a Case of Apples and Oranges?
Despite an Olympics-depleted player field, the first installment of the CitiOpen joint event was a success. From a week of casual observations, attendance appeared to be slightly down this year, but there were new amenities in store for the faithful. With men’s and women’s tennis being simultaneously played and the introduction of CitiOpen radio, provided by Live Sports Radio, it added up to give fans a US Open-like experience without the slog up the New Jersey turnpike.
There were also the amazing volunteers and ball kids, the dangerously witty MC Wayne Bryan, DC sports legend Charlie Brotman as Stadium Announcer, and the immensely helpful cast of the Sage Communications firm who took care of every need of the press corps. In many ‘retrospects’, it was the best DC pro tennis event in the dozen years I’ve been in attendance.
There’s just one puzzling question left in my head, though. Did they do right by the WTA?
If you’re offended by the inequality of men’s and women’s tennis, you might have been horrified at CitiOpen. The women got to play on Stadium Court for only two of the thirty-three WTA matches of the tournament. 94% of the time, you found the ATP featured on Stadium. I know the WTA event is smaller than the long-standing ATP 500 event, but with a weakened player field, I’d have put Sloane Stephens and #1 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Stadium every night. The DC crowds love Sloane, and it’s settled practice that a #1 seed should almost always be on Stadium. The #1 seed only got to see the bright lights of the marquee court for the final. If Pavs had practiced or played on Stadium prior to the final, the result may have been different.
I also know that television contracts require that the highest-rated matches be featured, but those ESPN and Tennis Channel crews didn’t even arrive until Thursday. That gave organizers a half a week to balance the schedule and put the WTA under Stadium lights during the early part of the tournament. They did bite on Sloane Stephens once in the quarters, putting her on with #309th ranked Eugenie Bouchard, who happens to be represented by Lagardere, the tournament’s organizers. That was the first and last time any woman would be on Center Court until the Saturday night final.
Perhaps the most galling example of the inconsistent treatment was Secret Tennis Day. The event’s organizers failed to mention to anyone that the women’s qualifying began on Friday, July 27. The website, the bus advertisements and every single piece of promotional material claimed the CitiOpen ran from July 28-August 5. I was alerted to Secret Tennis Day by a post on WTAToday.com. Mike Barber found the Order of Play on the WTA’s website early Friday morning and sent out a twitter alert. I rushed to Rock Creek Park to find only friends and families of the players enjoying a match like Alicia Tornado Black’s WTA debut.
In some ways, the differential treatment worked to the advantage of the fans and to the advantage of this blog. WTA fans got to see major league matches on intimate outer courts. The attitude of the player representatives also mattered. While the ATP is so lock and key on their players and treats an interview request with twenty questions of their own, the WTA player rep graciously made players available on short notice and treated bloggers like reporters rather than rogues. For ATP, you’re supposed to request an interview before play begins for the day. Even if your interviewee is playing at 10 p.m., you’re still required to submit that form by 4:00 p.m. All the WTA requires is that you submit an interview request before the match is over, so the player doesn’t unwittingly run out for dinner after a win.
2012 Qualifying with Alison Riske
On the other hand, there were more spectators in attendance viewing the WTA qualifying matches on Saturday than were in attendance for the women’s quarterfinals of this event in College Park, Maryland last year. Our shocking exclusive photos above and below drive that point home. It’s clear that the WTA needs this ‘joint’ event to sustain a women’s event in the region. I just wish they wouldn’t be so obvious about the imbalance of this relationship. The least that they can do is make the ladies feel wanted.
2011 CitiOpen Quarterfinals: Falconi would prefer if you Talk to the Hand
It’s a fact that the ATP is a bigger draw. Fans have been coming to Rock Creek Park to see the men play for decades. CitiOpen didn’t even increase their tickets prices this year, so it could be argued that the WTA was a free gift with purchase.
Nevertheless, I am hopeful and somewhat confident that when the player fields are restored for next year’s CitiOpen, organizers will have more marquee WTA stars to feature and be able to confidently schedule a few more matches on Stadium. Or they’ll be hearing from Gloria Allred.
Agree/Disagree? I’d like some feedback.
–S. Fogleman
The Very Best of the 2012 @CitiOpen
King and Coach
The 2012 CitiOpen felt like a mini-US Open. With men’s and women’s matches in simultaneous play, there were more players and coaches running around the grounds of Rock Creek Park this year and it made the tournament feel more important than ever. That’s saying a lot when you’ve got to compete with the Olympics for the tennis world’s attention.
#1: Wayne Bryan
Wayne Bryan is a funny guy. He says things we can’t to players and fans. He told the crowd at the Pro-Am that “Jonathan Marray just won Wimbledon and $250,000.00. The money’s all gone now. He spent it all…on beer”.
Wayne Bryan
At the Corona ‘Night at the Net’ event, he brought up a random fan and told everyone that it was Enrique Iglesias and asked him to sing. Moments later, he brought two men up to the mic (who happened to be reporters) and told the crowd that they were half of the original Four Tops. And asked them to sing. Zing! No offense, and here’s a bucket of Corona swag to lessen the sting. Slightly risque stuff in a politically correct world, but all in good fun. He is every tennis fan’s wild uncle. You laugh a lot and you cringe a little.
Pleasure to join Doug Adler and DC ESPN 980′s Marc Stern
#2: The Biggest Little Station in Washington: Live Sports Radio
I loved the little radios I get at the US Open every year. In fact, I keep an American Express card on hand that I only use once a year at the Open to get my hands on one. They’re a great way to get in-depth coverage of the match you’re watching, and more importantly to find out about a match next door that’s about to go to a third set tiebreak. LiveSportsRadio.com stepped up this year to offer ’CitiOpen Radio’. Former ATP pro and current Tennis Channel contributor Doug Adler impressively anchored the exhaustive coverage, with Marc Stern from ESPN 980 co-anchoring in the booth. WTOP and Washington Capitals correspondent Ben Raybe covered the grounds for the broadcast. I hope that this is a permanent fixture in Rock Creek Park and I’m grateful that the guys let me go on the air during the women’s finals to talk tennis.
#3 Charlie Brotman: DC Legend in the Booth
There’s a reason they call it the Charlie Brotman Press Box. He is a Living Legend. The man was calling Washington Senators baseball games when my dad was a kid in the ’50s(!) and he still ably navigates up and down the five stories of stairs five times a day to provide the crowd with stadium announcements. He’s an unbelievable encyclopedia of all things sports-related in the Nation’s Capital. In the video above, he even talks about his pro football minority ownership interest in the Washington Federals of the long-defunct USFL.
#4 Carole Dell
In addition to serving as the hostess of the event and spending probably 100 hours on site at tournament events, Carole Dell spent a hot Saturday dedicating herself to the animals for PetConnect Rescue, which places rescued animals with loving owners. As the wife of the founder of the event, she has access to an impressive suite on Stadium Court. Yet here she was, in the heat, trying to send some sweet dogs to good homes. Some people give money. Some people give time. When they do both, that’s dedication. She chatted my family up and even invited us to pop up to the Lagardere suite anytime. Who says Washington’s no longer a small town? OK, I admit that I do. Sometimes my position is poked full of holes when I meet good people like Carole Dell and Charlie Brotman.
2012 CitiOpen ATP Champion: Dolgo Does DC
Dolgo Does DC
It took CitiOpen two-seed Alexandr Dolgopolov three sets and a lengthy rain delay, but he earned a tough victory over the tenacious Tommy Haas 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 yesterday in Washington. “The Dolgo” or as I call him, Mr. Slap Chop, won his first career ATP World Tour 500 event and he did it by beating one of the hottest players on the ATP tour right now. While he dropped the first set in a tiebreak, a set that was interrupted by a rain delay, he fought hard to break and take the second set. He then took a frustrated Haas to the cleaners in the third and waltzed his way to the title.
In order to get to the final, Dolgo beat Flavio Cipolla, Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, James Blake in a slugfest, and Sam Querrey in close one. Dolgo hasn’t had the finest year, but this victory makes it a whole lot better for him and he will have plenty of momentum going into the hardcourt season.
Haas, who lost his second straight ATP final, beat Michael Russell, Leonardo Mayer, Tobias Kamke and top seed Mardy Fish to reach the final.
–S. Kirby
2012 CitiOpen: Treat Huey is Champion in Washington
Today was a monumental day for local tennis and University of Virginia fans as former Cavaliers Treat Huey and Dom Inglot won the CitiOpen doubles final in Rock Creek Park. Huey was drafted by the Washington Kastles during the last week of the WTT season and was put in a particularly tough spot. He was there to help the Kastles win their final matches and remain undefeated for a second straight season after Leander Paes, Anastasia Rodionova and Venus Williams left for the Olympics. He helped get that unlikely job done, and then a week later, wins his hometown pro tournament. Huey grew up just a few nautical miles down the Potomac from the annual DC ATP event. Here he is on his exciting few weeks in DC tennis, his childhood memories of the tournament and his no-shave rule.
After getting called up by the Washington Kastles to help improbably defend a second perfect regular season and then winning your hometown tournament, is there anyone in Washington who’s had a better month than Treat Huey?
It’s been an unbelievable experience. It’s been a lot of fun coming to play with the Kastles here in D.C. It was a lot of fun. I want to thank Mark (Kastles Owner Mark Ein) for picking me and playing with Bobby. I know Bobby pretty well. And it’s a great experience to come in here and play the tournament. I grew up in Washington and I’ve been coming to this tournament since I was a little kid. Dom and I had a tough week, but it’s always a lot more fun when you win.
Any particular players or matches you liked as a kid?
I liked Blake and Agassi and Tommy Haas a bunch. Seeing Tommy Haas do really well this week has been a lot of fun. As a kid, I don’t know what year it was, but Blake played Agassi one year and was absolutely on fire. It was pretty bad. I don’t remember what the score was, but I remember Blake was hitting winner after winner everywhere on the court. Absolutely packed house. Winners everywhere. That was one of my highlights. I still remember it today.
What’s with the facial hair. Is it a good luck charm?
Dom and I started a week ago. We shaved. Once a tournament starts, we’ll never shave until the tournament is over. That’s something we’ve always done, and I think that’s something we’ll always be doing.
–S. Fogleman
2012 @CitiOpen Interview: @IrinaFalconi with Coach Jeff Wilson
2012 CitiOpen Interview: Irina Falconi and Coach Jeff Wilson
Steve Fogleman, TennisEastCoast.com
Jeff Wilson is an accomplished coach who has done a lot for former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket and Tennis East Coast favorite Irina Falconi. Less than a week ago, he took veteran South African player Chanelle Scheepers under his wing as well.
The most striking part of the interview is how much Irina has changed over the last year. Though she may sound ebulliently youthful on her WTA blog, The Eyes of Irina, she has grown so much since last summer at the Inaugural CitiOpen at College Park. The eyes of the world were on her at the US Open and she’s become an all-around veteran at managing media. Here’s Jeff and Irina on focus, training and Scheepers.
It seems like you learn so much in the first two sets with your new doubles partner that by the time you get to the superbreaker, it’s already over.
My partner and I definitely come out aggressive and know what our intention is. We know our game plan in the third set. We like to play under pressure a little bit, when it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty.
What about that crazy scoreline against Melanie Oudin where you two got bageled in the first set, then went on to win 10-1 in the breaker?
Honestly, I think they came out firing and we weren’t full gear and ready to go just yet. Once we got Jeff out there, he told us the game plan. It was just a matter of executing.
Have you learned a thing or two from your veteran partner Scheepers?
Very much so. Not only on the court but off the court, what she does with her food, fitness and stretching, she’s taught me all that.
Jeff, you’ve been coaching Chanelle Scheepers for how long now?
(checks watch) Since Sunday. Five days now.
What’s your summer itinerary, Irina?
I’m going to Montreal, hopefully take a week off, then Dallas and the US Open.
What changes have you made since I last saw you in Charleston, Coach?
Irina’s been on the road straight since mid-April. She was in Europe for 11 weeks with out a break, so we haven’t had much time to invest. We’re looking for some pockets in the schedule so we can rest her body. It will be a good opportunity to give her body a break. She’s extremely healthy because of the way she takes care of her body. The way she stretches, the way she prepares, the way she eats. We haven’t been able to invest in changes per se, other than the usual clay court to grass, and grass to hard court mentality. We’re looking forward to giving her a bit of a breather from having to wake up and doing all that.
Irina, All that blogging. How do you do it?
On my Ipad…
Your blogging has proved that you have a future in communications. Do you see yourself as a commentator some day?
For sure. I could definitely do that.
I’ve definitely experienced the heat. We”re staying at an absolutely great hotel. It’s difficult with the time being so late with the matches, but I’ve loved it so far.
How’d you like that rooftop bar at the old Hotel Washington downtown?
It was awesome.
Isn’t the summer heat just as bad in Washington as it is in Atlanta?
JW: Hotlanta is called Hotlanta for a reason.
2012 CitiOpen Interview: Chanelle Scheepers
2012 CitiOpen Interview: Chanelle Scheepers
Steve Fogleman, TennisEastCoast.com
Chanelle Scheepers tripled up this week with new coach Jeff Wilson and Irina Falconi. The South African veteran had just booked a spot into the WTA CitiOpen doubles final along with Falconi when she gave us some time at the players lounge on Thursday.
You have a new coach as of, Sunday? What made you go with Jeff Wilson?
I was looking for a while. What I really liked about him is that he’s really positive and we’ve known him for a very long time. For me, it’s really important to have someone who is positive, so that’s why I went with him.
You also have a new doubles partner in Irina Falconi.
We actually played at Wimbledon and we played really well. It just made sense that since we played well and we have the same coach, to try and play more tournaments together.
Didn’t you play in a doubles final with Abigail Spears?
I pretty much just played with whoever before. I was really focused on my singles before and played doubles if I could get in and at tournaments where I wanted to play. It’s nice to play with someone you can work together on some stuff.
Although you have singles titles, you’re still looking for a doubles title, aren’t you?
It will be nice to get that first doubles one, but we just go out there, try our best and enjoy. I really enjoy playing with Irina. I have a lot of fun.
You two seem to get to know your opponents in the first set, and by the time the super-breaker comes around, it’s almost as if you didn’t even need to play it!
It’s funny that all the matches went that way. We really build momentum through the match. From the beginning, we had a clear sense of what we wanted to do with our plans. As the match progressed, we started playing better and better.
Chanelle with Coach Wilson in background
2012 CitiOpen: Semifinalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
2012 CitiOpen: Semifinalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Steve Fogleman, TennisEastCoast.com
Top seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova easily advanced to the CitiOpen semifinals in Washington this week. It’s the first time in a while that things have been so easy for the 21-year-old Russian. In a post-match press conference on Thursday night after defeating Kai-Chen Chang, she didn’t hold back on her early season disappointments. She also made it clear that she’s back on form.
Can you tell me about beating Chang today in straight sets after a big comeback in the first set?
I had a slow start today, and it was really tough conditions, very humid. It wasn’t my best match today at all. Chang got a bit of confidence after winning those first few games. I kept on going and trying to find my energy. I’m happy to pull through.
Last year at this time, you were poised to crack the top 10. A year later, you seem to be on an upward trajectory again.
It was a really good year last year. It was a really bad start this year. I didn’t feel good at all and I lost a bit of confidence. I was struggling with my shoulder issue. I missed the Olympics. It made me stronger, so now I have a different mentality overall and I think I am more focused and playing better.
Sad Pavs has left the building. (This is actually her google bio photo. Google her if you don’t believe me.)
Are you ready to defend your success at the US Open after making the quarterfinals last year?
I don’t think about defending points and I don’t try to focus on last year’s results. I have nothing to lose. Nothing can be worse than the beginning of this year. I’m happy that I’m coming back. I did let myself down after my results recently this year. I’m trying to play better than last year. Who knows, maybe I’ll do even better at this year’s US Open.
Are you satisfied with your performance at CitiOpen thus far?
I’m quite happy with my performance here, even compared to a few weeks before when I played on clay. Maybe I’m just more aggressive here. I treasure and I’m happy with every win. The game was always there. I’m motivated to do well here, and so far it’s going pretty good.
Any chance to enjoy the sights of D.C.?
Not too much. It’s really hot, so I want to spend as much time as possible inside a building. We’re staying close to the White House, so I kind of looked around. Unfortunately, I missed the tour of the White House yesterday because I was playing.
2012 CitiOpen Interview: Magdalena Rybarikova
2012 CitiOpen Interview: Magdalena Rybarikova
Steve Fogleman, TennisEastCoast.com
I knew little about Magdalena Rybarikova before the 2012 CitiOpen, but her play has been so consistently strong that it’s hard not to take notice of her. She agreed to speak with me after her quarterfinal victory over Jana Cepelova on Thursday evening. The 23-year old lives and trains at the Slovakian National Tennis Center in Bratislava. For the next month, she’ll be camped out in a players hotel somewhere in North America. First stop: Washington.
What’s worse: the heat or the humidity in Washington?
It’s amazing, because I came from Azerbaijan, in Baku, where it was the same. Very humid, very hot. When the sun is shining all the time, it ‘s tough to play.
Is it bitter-sweet to defeat a fellow Slovakian in Jana Cepelova today?
It’s always a tough match. Everybody’s expecting that I will win the match because I’m better ranked and older, but she’s an upcoming player. She’s my friend and she’s moving very well.
Do you think you’ve got a real chance to win another title here in DC on Saturday night?
I’m not thinking like that. I go match by match, step by step. We will see. Tomorrow will be another very tough match. I arrived here very late and had to play every day.
Who travels with you? Do you bring your family?
My coach (Mojmir Mihal). It costs too much to bring your family overseas. In Europe, yes. Maybe to New York in a few weeks, because I’ll be here for one month.
What do you think of the City of Washington?
I think it’s the best city in the States. I like it here. It’s very clean. I would like to see more.
Does the US hard court season suit your game?
I like to play in the States. I love the hard courts and it’s good for my game.
I read that you carry a lucky charm with you, a toy bear.
To be honest, now I have another one. I have a new one. I carry it in my bag. I have to always have it with me. A duck.
2012 CitiOpen Exclusive Interview: Melanie Oudin on US Open Mixed Doubles Co-Champion Jack Sock, Her Fans
2012 CitiOpen Exclusive Interview: Melanie Oudin on US Open Mixed Doubles Co-Champion Jack Sock, Her Fans
Steve Fogleman, TennisEastCoast.com
Despite losing to Aravane Rezai in three sets in first round singles and losing in doubles in a third set super break, Melanie Oudin was still in good spirits as she prepared to depart from the CitiOpen in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night. After I saw Jack Sock get strong support from the Atlanta crowd at the Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs last December, I wondered if she had anything to do with that.
What is it like to have made Jack Sock an Atlanta celebrity?
He loves the attention. He’s like the new kid on the block. Last year, he finished high school, went on to win Kalamazoo, then got a main draw wild card in the US Open, won a round and got to play Andy Roddick. I mean, he was on Cloud 9. I think he made a great first impression on the crowd, especially at the US Open. I think when you make a great first impression, you gain fans automatically. Especially if you play on Arthur Ashe. Also, he and I were playing together. I know there were a lot of people from Atlanta who went to the Open and saw us play in the mixed doubles. I think he definitely gained some of my fans, also.
How do you cope with all the attention you get at these US tournaments?
It’s really funny. I was just in Europe for a while. Some people know me, but it’s not like the States. It hasn’t been like this for a while. But being here in DC, I don’t know if they advertised me coming here a lot, but whenever I’m walking or even going to watch a match, everyone is coming over. “Oh, There’s Melanie! There’s Melanie! Can we get a picture? Can we get an autograph?”. I’m like “Sure, it’s no problem!”. It’s funny to me. I’ve started to do better again and it really means a lot that the fans I had in 2009 have really stuck with me the last couple of years and are still supporting me.
