Hey Tennis Friends!
It has been a week of terrific weather, and terrific tennis!
Sorry I couldn’t show any video of me emceeing the LA Women’s Tennis Championships main draw event. I was actually working during that time.
The final scores for the matches I mentioned are:
Carsten Ball d. Leonardo Mayer 7-5, 7-6(3)
Carsten is the first qualifier to reach the final at the LA Tennis Open in the Open Era.
He had some difficulty in the last couple of challenger tournaments, but of his success this week, he said, “I’ve pulled it togther mentally. A little confidence and self belief goes a long way.”
I asked him why he chose to commute home to Newport Beach (50 miles away, and much more time in traffic) every day this week. His response was, “To be traveling thirty weeks a year, and to spend a night at home is really good.”
Sam Querrey d. Tommy Haas 6-3, 7-5
Quote from Tommy, “That’s what happens when you don’t focus like you should when you play the big points.”
Sam has reached three ATP finals in a row. I asked him if he was afraid of Carsten, since he seems to be on a hot streak, and Sam said that he’s happy for him, because they are buddies.
He’s played Carsten ten times in the juniors, but hasn’t played against him since he beat him in the 2005 Easter Bowl junior tournament.
When asked who’s taller, Sam smiled and said, “I think I’ve got him by an inch.”
I’ll see you next time, with more tennis, . . . outside the lines!
– Marcus Tennis
