Smart to Choosing Tennis Shoes

Trends In Tennis Shoes

2012-01-20T00:17:00.000-08:00

Gone are the days when tennis shoes were designed for the sole purpose of meeting the requirements of those who played the sport. The lightweight nature and comfortable design of tennis shoes have made them the casual sports footwear of choice. Today, trends in tennis shoes are not just about comfort and performance, but also looks, as a younger audience seeks to broaden their style. From the white color and simplistic designs a decade ago, tennis shoes are now available in a variety of colors and bold designs to cater to the fashion-conscious.

Tennis shoe manufacturers incorporate cutting edge technology into today's shoes and this technology is always evolving just as shoe designs and fashions keep changing. Trends in tennis shoes will keep you updated on the latest so that you're always looking and feeling good, whether you're a tennis player or just someone in the market for a pair of stylish, comfortable tennis shoes.

Trends in tennis shoes are all about that perfect blend of style and performance. The Nike Air Zoom Vapor VI Tour tennis shoe worn by Roger Federer, the greatest tennis player of this generation, is available in three striking color combinations ' Black/Red, White/Gold, and White/Silver. Endorsements don't come any better than that! This tennis shoe incorporates Flywire technology and LunarLite cushioning to give you an ultra-lightweight shoe that offers unparalleled comfort and support. The Vapor VI Tour is the ultimate high performance tennis shoe, but it's also versatile off the court as casual wear thanks to its comfortable fit and attractive design.

From one world class tennis pro to another, the Adidas CC Genius Novak, as the name suggests, is a high performance tennis shoe developed with inputs from tennis pro Novak Djokovic. Sporting an aggressive urban design and available in a range of vibrant colors, the CC Genius Novak provides performance with style. Climacool technology ensures maximum ventilation and cooling for the entire foot, while adiPRENE provides better grip, performance and cushioning. If you demand high durability from your tennis shoe, the adiWEAR 6 non-marking rubber outsole has you covered. Dominate your opponents on the court, and turn heads with the Adidas CC Genius Novak tennis shoe.

If you like versatility in your tennis shoes, you'll find few better fits than the K-Swiss Defier-miSOUL Tech. This tennis shoe features an interchangeable modular sole system designed to provide customization options to help optimize performance. The rubber outsole offers long-lasting durability, while on the inside a DualWrap mould provides your toes with the best protection possible. Cut out vents on either side don't just lend the Defier-miSOUL Tech an edgy look, but also greatly improves breathability to keep you going for longer. A flexible leather mesh construction further combines with a herringbone tread pattern to deliver maximum traction and performance over any court surface.

The right gear is a must to keep pace with the high-intensity world of tennis. And as technology evolves, so do the latest trends in tennis shoes, helping you push the limits of the human body and take performance and comfort to the next level.

How to Choose the Right Tennis Shoe

By: Guy Starbuck

Tennis is a game which requires your complete concentration. A small deviance from your focus can throw the game completely out of gear. Ignorable distractions like a pinched toe or even an aching heel or ill-fitting shoes become the decisive factor in you making through the game. Such issues are completely avoidable if you just take a bit of time off and study what type of shoes is best for playing a good and comfortable game of tennis.

They say when you give peanuts, you get monkeys. When it is a question of buying tennis shoes, it is no different. There are a lot of average shoe manufacturers in the country who offer reasonably good tennis shoes at discounted price, but serious players usually would buy peace of mind by going for shoes made by some of the top sports shoe manufacturers. These top-end brands are not only comfortable and easy on the foot, but lasts long too. So you get full value for money spent. In case you are thinking of buying tennis shoes online, ensure that you get the very bet piece available or else, you might have to replace them after a few months and end up paying more money than was necessary in the first place!

If you are under the impression that styles and colors of tennis shoes have remained the same over the last 50 years, think again. Look around and you will find changing styles hitting the shoe stand nearly every day. For children there are bright colors; for women there are pink and white with purple shine and for boys and men, there is no end to colors and style. Tennis shoes are today made sleek, trim and stylish. Color combinations are made up of blue, green, black and many more. What you are going to buy would of course depend on your personal preference as well as your budget.

Tennis shoes are now being made with both choices and preferences of men and women. Every season, well-researched and improved designs, styles and colors are coming in to the market which enhances both style and ease of use.

In case you need specially-designed custom-made pair of tennis shoes that can also be done. There are plenty of shoe designers and artists who can help you make a unique pair which is meant just for you.

Comfort in wearing a pair is the main criteria for selecting a pair of tennis shoes. The shoe should neither be too loose or too tight and the design should be such that your feel has scope of free movement. Snug fit, is what you should be looking for when you select a particular design.

The truth of the matter however is that the style, color or design of your tennis shoes are not going to affect your game in the court, no matter what you choose, the ordinary pair of canvas tennis shoes or one of those designer labels which look glamorous. Though the sports gear never changes any game but it is also true that the right kind of tools can make you comfortable on court, which in turn makes you play hard and helps you remain on court for a longer period of time.

2010-01-27T16:05:00.000-08:00

Tennis Shoes by Size
3.5	4.0	4.5	5.0	5.5
6.0	6.5	7.0	7.5	8.0
8.5	9.0	9.5	10.0	10.5
11.0	11.5	12.0	12.5	13.0
13.5	14.0	15.0	16.0

Best Value Tennis Shoes

Ankle Support Tennis Shoes

Durability Guaranteed Tennis Shoes

Light Weight Tennis Shoes

Maximum Durability Tennis Shoes

Clay Court Suited Tennis Shoes

Tennis Shoes for Narrow Feet

Tennis Shoes for Wide Feet

Tennis Shoe Accessories

Tennis Shoes by Size
5.0	5.5	6.0	6.5	7.0
7.5	8.0	8.5	9.0	9.5
10.0	10.5	11.0	11.5	12.0

Best Value Tennis Shoes

Durability Guaranteed Tennis Shoes

Light Weight Tennis Shoes

Mid-cut Tennis Shoes

Clay Court Suited Tennis Shoes

Tennis Shoe Accessories

Featured Men's Shoes
Head Extreme Black/Grey Men's Shoes 39.95	Nike Air Max Breathe Cage II Wh/Grey Men Shoe 85.00

Featured Women's Shoes
Prince T8 White/Silver Women's Shoes 69.00	Prince T9 White/Silver/Blue Women's Shoes 49.99
Prince T10 White/Black Women's Shoes 49.95

Brand Name Tennis Shoes Guide

2010-01-22T17:35:00.000-08:00

Tennis shoes demand a special kind of material and technology that make them tough. Playing tennis can wear out shoes quickly and easily. A good shoe needs to have great traction control, support and extra support in trouble areas, zoned for tennis players. There are lots of shoes available for tennis players, but a few Brand name tennis companies that promise to deliver quality to the shoes they sell and believe in.

When you`re shopping for a good tennis shoe, you might look into what brands are available. There are certain shoe companies that exclusively make them. That means that all of their effort and focus is on the shoe and the tennis court. Chances are if you buy a tennis shoe from a company that just makes them, that you might get a better shoe. A great tennis shoe will help you play tennis and should last longer no matter how you play tennis.

Babolat is a French tennis shoe company. They offer a six month warranty on the shoes which is an amazing deal in itself. Some tennis celebrities endorse their shoes and use them at their tennis matches. They consist of new technology, a foot felt to support the four points on a foot. They offer improved court propulsion, and Babolat uses exact pro technology that enables it to be an outstanding shoe. They are durable, and breathable with the mesh lining that is used. They also use OCS outsole made by Michelin for better traction on the courts.

DIADORA is another popular tennis shoe. They are responsive shoes that consist of toe overlays. They are light weight and contain air mesh technology to improve on heat and flexibility. They have removable insoles and an enhanced shock feature. They also contain Dura technology 5000, which is a special anti-abrasion rubber compound for extra foot control.

Ektelon is a tennis shoe company that makes shoes for men, women and kids. They have been re-engineered and contain precision tube-technology for optimum comfort and breathable materials. They are light weight, making it easier to run around and play tennis. They offer TPU heel cradle support and TPU arch bridges for extra support where it is needed.

HEAD is a tennis shoe Company that specializes in adding new technology. Their shoes are light weight and contain top quality materials known to benefit tennis players on the court. They contain the most advanced micro fibers and synthetics. Mesh windows are bound by TPU to reduce the weight and give the most breath-ability possible. They have special molding that helps to give them the most durability. Their shoes are also guaranteed for six months. These shoes are heavy duty and will stand up to even the most aggressive player.

Tennis shoe companies continue to battle over which one is going to do better. The truth is, that the competition will be never ending, tennis players will continue to have their favorites and stick with the ones they feel comfortable. With all of these companies holding such a strong fan base, they can just continue to do what they do. As they plug away at developing the newest and best technology to benefit the tennis shoe and the tennis player. When you find a shoe that you love, you might stick with the same company as you need to replace your shoes over time.

Top Brands Of Tennis Shoes

2010-01-12T00:26:00.000-08:00

Written by Roberto Sedycias

Sunday, 01 March 2009

With the growing popularity of tennis, many sports equipment manufacturers have entered into the shoes market with innovative styles of tennis shoes. Tennis is a highly strenuous sport. Hence a good pair of tennis shoes is a must for quality performance from the player. Good branded tennis shoes are made with reinforced heel and toe pads as these areas are most prone to wear and tear during games.

A game of tennis can be played on hard court and clay court. Tennis shoes are also available as per different ground surfaces. For instance, tennis shoes meant for hard court surfaces ought to be durable and extra protective where as for soft court surfaces tennis shoes are designed to provide maximum comfort to the players.

Buying branded tennis shoes provide good return in the long run both in terms of performance and durability. Today market is flooded with many brands of tennis shoes. Before buying, it is suggested to do a thorough market analysis of different brands of tennis shoes so as to know the high and low points of the brands. A brief discussion on some of the top branded tennis shoes as discussed as follows to help you choose your tennis shoes.

Nike:

Nike, one of the most popular names in tennis shoe market, has dominated the market since the 80`s. Popular sports stars from different fields like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Lebron James endorse for this brand of shoes. The superstar studded endorsement has catapulted the status of Nike brand of shoes.

Latest technology has been adopted in the Nike brand of shoes. Nike tennis shoes now are designed in such a way so as to bring in air to the soles. This latest feature makes the tennis shoe very comfortable. In fact this feature has brought Nike as a forefront innovator in the tennis shoe market. One of its most popular shoes `Air Jordan` is a signature shoe by Michael Jordan. With the latest technology used for shoes designs and prominent sports persons endorsing its products, a basic Nike shoe doesn`t come with a price lower than $300.

Reebok:

Reebok brand always gives emphasis to serious gamers. It`s a common sight to watch NBA players wearing Reebok brands during NBA games. Several young tennis stars also endorse for this brand of tennis shoes. Over the years Reebok has introduced many advanced technologies such as the DMX technology and Supportive CMEVA midsole to provide ultimate cushioning comfort to the players and enable easy movement in and around the court. One popular brand of tennis shoes for women has also been designed by famous Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson. Price wise, Reebok brand of tennis shoes are not too overtly costly unlike some other brands.

Adidas:

One of the earliest brands of tennis shoes, Adidas has always been a favorite among many top professional players in different period for its durability, performance, excellent traction, cushioning and comfort features. Ever since its inception in 1931, there has been addition of many innovative features to gain extreme comfort and performance. For instance, materials such as synthetic, mesh and canvas are used for adidas tennis shoes to make it lighter in weight and increase the comfort as well as durability.

To provide excellent traction, the brand uses high density non-marking rubber outsoles called as 'Adi Wear'. Another innovative Adi prene technology is used in this brand of tennis shoes to provide good cushioning comfort while playing on hard courts. To ensure moisture-free comfort to the wearer's foot, 'Climacool' technology is used in Adidas tennis shoes. Surprisingly with so many advanced technologies incorporated in their footwear, Adidas brand of tennis shoes aren`t too expensive. Top-of-the-line Adidas tennis shoes for men starts with a price of $100.00.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com

In women's tennis, the '00s were Serena Decade

2010-01-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

By STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer
Thursday, December 10, 2009 12:07 PM CST

MIAMI (AP) — Serena Williams considered skipping the 2000 Australian Open to attend design classes, then decided to play. She showed up for her first match of the year wearing red shoes, which made it easier to see her eight foot faults. She committed 55 unforced errors before outlasting a wild-card opponent ranked 261st in three sets.

Quietly, the Serena Decade had begun.

There were plenty of distractions, bold fashion statements, swing-from-the-heels groundstrokes and close calls to come. Through it all, Williams kept on the way she started — winning.

The decade will end with Williams No. 1 in the rankings and high on the list of tennis’ greatest champions. She has won 11 major titles, the most of any active woman, and inspired the term “Serena Slam” when she swept four majors in a row in 2002-03.

With unprecedented power and underrated agility, she has transformed the way the women’s game is played. Her flair for theatrics and compelling back story brought new fans to the sport, which helped the WTA Tour achieve new levels of popularity. The U.S. Open final became a prime-time attraction, and Williams became a magazine cover celebrity.

She also might be The Associated Press’ Athlete of the Decade.

“Serena has redefined women in sports,” says Arlen Kantarian, former U.S. Tennis Association CEO for professional tennis. “This is an athlete who has that very, very unique combination of grit and glamour, power and grace, like no other athlete I’ve come across in the last decade — or two, for that matter.”

Williams began and ends the ’00s at the top of her sport. She was a precocious 18-year-old and the reigning champion of the U.S. Open — her first major title — when she took the court in those red shoes in Melbourne in January 2000. This year she won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the year-end tour championships.

Her earnings in 2009 totaled $6.5 million, which shattered the tour record. Prize money has more than doubled since Williams joined the tour in 1998, and her career earnings of $28.5 million are a record for a female athlete.

“When you think about what she has done for tennis, it’s kind of the same thing as when you think about Michael Jordan in basketball,” Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown says.

In the same way Jordan inspired kids to pick up a basketball, Williams’ impact on tennis participation may be evident for years. Young fans love her high-wire rallies and fearless strokes. They love her knack for coming from behind and saving her best for the clutch.

And they love the way Serena and her older sister Venus broke down barriers.

“I don’t know how many women of color have picked up rackets because of Serena, but more African-American girls are playing tennis at the highest level of juniors than I can ever remember,” says Patrick McEnroe, who supervises player development for the USTA. “Clearly you’re seeing a lot more interest in tennis from that community.”

To become the best player in women’s tennis, Williams had to become the best in her family. She and Venus learned the game as inner-city grade-schoolers on the crumbling courts of Compton, Calif., where their father declared they would become champions.

Venus was first to No. 1, became dominant at Wimbledon and has won seven major titles. Then Serena overtook her sister as their awkward but compelling rivalry played out on stages around the world. Serena has won six of their eight sibling showdowns in Grand Slam finals, most recently at Wimbledon this year.

What does Venus think about Serena as a candidate for Athlete of the Decade?

“She has won so many championships with hard work and perseverance,” Venus says. “I think she’s at the top of the list, although that may be a biased opinion.”

Serena says she’s shocked even to be considered.

“I’ve never been so presumptuous to think of myself as the best athlete or anything like that,” she says. “I’d vote for me. But I’ll probably be the only one.”

Not so. Serena has support even from athletes in other sports.

“I hope she wins,” Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett says. “She has revolutionized women’s tennis. ... She’s definitely a diva, in her own way. But she does it in a very, very classy, quaint way. I’m all for her.”

Other supporters include Kim Clijsters, who upset Williams en route to this year’s U.S. Open title.

“Absolutely I think Serena deserves the consideration,” Clijsters says. “Serena’s very compelling to watch. She’s an amazing athlete and one of the best competitors the sport has ever seen in the professional era.”

In the final game of her Open loss to Clijsters in September, Williams threw a tantrum that drew condemnation and a major fine — but also stirred fond memories of John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, whose stormy personalities were big attractions.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin appreciates Williams’ appeal even though they’ve feuded in the past.

“She’s had a huge impact over the world because she is really charismatic,” Henin says. “Strong personalities — that’s what we need. And that’s what she has. I think it’s good for the game, and we need more of that.”

Williams has often left tennis fans wanting more, wavering in her devotion to the game and skipping tournaments for weeks at a stretch. “It’s hard to call her an underachiever, but in my mind she could have been better,” Martina Navratilova says.

Williams has sometimes acknowledged a preference to focus on her clothing line, acting, shopping or talking on the phone. While that attitude can annoy serious tennis fans, many love her multifaceted personality.

It takes more than winning Wimbledon to become identifiable by only a single name, like Pele, Magic or Elvis. Serena has done that.

“From Johannesburg to Sydney to Paris to Los Angeles to New York to London to Japan,” Kantarian says, “the impact she has made on sport has been extraordinary.”

AP Sports Writers Jimmy Golen in Boston, Antonio Gonzalez in Orlando, Fla., and Mattias Karen in London contributed to this report.

In women's tennis, the '00s were Serena Decade

2009-12-19T19:26:00.000-08:00

By STEVEN WINE

AP Sports Writer

Thursday, December 10, 2009 12:07 PM CST

MIAMI (AP) — Serena Williams considered skipping the 2000 Australian Open to attend design classes, then decided to play. She showed up for her first match of the year wearing red shoes, which made it easier to see her eight foot faults. She committed 55 unforced errors before outlasting a wild-card opponent ranked 261st in three sets.

Quietly, the Serena Decade had begun.

There were plenty of distractions, bold fashion statements, swing-from-the-heels groundstrokes and close calls to come. Through it all, Williams kept on the way she started — winning.

The decade will end with Williams No. 1 in the rankings and high on the list of tennis’ greatest champions. She has won 11 major titles, the most of any active woman, and inspired the term “Serena Slam” when she swept four majors in a row in 2002-03.

With unprecedented power and underrated agility, she has transformed the way the women’s game is played. Her flair for theatrics and compelling back story brought new fans to the sport, which helped the WTA Tour achieve new levels of popularity. The U.S. Open final became a prime-time attraction, and Williams became a magazine cover celebrity.

She also might be The Associated Press’ Athlete of the Decade.

“Serena has redefined women in sports,” says Arlen Kantarian, former U.S. Tennis Association CEO for professional tennis. “This is an athlete who has that very, very unique combination of grit and glamour, power and grace, like no other athlete I’ve come across in the last decade — or two, for that matter.”

Williams began and ends the ’00s at the top of her sport. She was a precocious 18-year-old and the reigning champion of the U.S. Open — her first major title — when she took the court in those red shoes in Melbourne in January 2000. This year she won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the year-end tour championships.

Her earnings in 2009 totaled $6.5 million, which shattered the tour record. Prize money has more than doubled since Williams joined the tour in 1998, and her career earnings of $28.5 million are a record for a female athlete.

“When you think about what she has done for tennis, it’s kind of the same thing as when you think about Michael Jordan in basketball,” Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown says.

In the same way Jordan inspired kids to pick up a basketball, Williams’ impact on tennis participation may be evident for years. Young fans love her high-wire rallies and fearless strokes. They love her knack for coming from behind and saving her best for the clutch.

And they love the way Serena and her older sister Venus broke down barriers.

“I don’t know how many women of color have picked up rackets because of Serena, but more African-American girls are playing tennis at the highest level of juniors than I can ever remember,” says Patrick McEnroe, who supervises player development for the USTA. “Clearly you’re seeing a lot more interest in tennis from that community.”

To become the best player in women’s tennis, Williams had to become the best in her family. She and Venus learned the game as inner-city grade-schoolers on the crumbling courts of Compton, Calif., where their father declared they would become champions.

Venus was first to No. 1, became dominant at Wimbledon and has won seven major titles. Then Serena overtook her sister as their awkward but compelling rivalry played out on stages around the world. Serena has won six of their eight sibling showdowns in Grand Slam finals, most recently at Wimbledon this year.

What does Venus think about Serena as a candidate for Athlete of the Decade?

“She has won so many championships with hard work and perseverance,” Venus says. “I think she’s at the top of the list, although that may be a biased opinion.”

Serena says she’s shocked even to be considered.

“I’ve never been so presumptuous to think of myself as the best athlete or anything like that,” she says. “I’d vote for me. But I’ll probably be the only one.”

Not so. Serena has support even from athletes in other sports.

“I hope she wins,” Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett says. “She has revolutionized women’s tennis. ... She’s definitely a diva, in her own way. But she does it in a very, very classy, quaint way. I’m all for her.”

Other supporters include Kim Clijsters, who upset Williams en route to this year’s U.S. Open title.

“Absolutely I think Serena deserves the consideration,” Clijsters says. “Serena’s very compelling to watch. She’s an amazing athlete and one of the best competitors the sport has ever seen in the professional era.”

In the final game of her Open loss to Clijsters in September, Williams threw a tantrum that drew condemnation and a major fine — but also stirred fond memories of John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, whose stormy personalities were big attractions.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin appreciates Williams’ appeal even though they’ve feuded in the past.

“She’s had a huge impact over the world because she is really charismatic,” Henin says. “Strong personalities — that’s what we need. And that’s what she has. I think it’s good for the game, and we need more of that.”

Williams has often left tennis fans wanting more, wavering in her devotion to the game and skipping tournaments for weeks at a stretch. “It’s hard to call her an underachiever, but in my mind she could have been better,” Martina Navratilova says.

Williams has sometimes acknowledged a preference to focus on her clothing line, acting, shopping or talking on the phone. While that attitude can annoy serious tennis fans, many love her multifaceted personality.

It takes more than winning Wimbledon to become identifiable by only a single name, like Pele, Magic or Elvis. Serena has done that.

“From Johannesburg to Sydney to Paris to Los Angeles to New York to London to Japan,” Kantarian says, “the impact she has made on sport has been extraordinary.”

AP Sports Writers Jimmy Golen in Boston, Antonio Gonzalez in Orlando, Fla., and Mattias Karen in London contributed to this report.

Andre Agassi: Telling the truth about love, tennis, drugs

2009-11-19T23:34:00.000-08:00

November 17, 2009 | 4:57 pm
It was a tennis kind of day.
Andre Agassi came to town to promote his painfully honest autobiography called "Open," in which he details his tortured relationship with his demanding father, his dalliance with the recreational drug crystal meth, his finding the love of his life, Steffi Graf, when he didn't think such love was possible, and his evolution as an introspective adult who prefers no shouting in the house -- by him or his eight-year-old son Jaden and six-year-old daughter Jaz -- and who hopes that his revelation of the drug episode might prove educational and not reputation-tarnishing.

Agassi said that had he failed a drug test in the sport today -- as, he reveals in the book, he did in 1997 -- there would have been no escaping punishment. "It couldn't happen today," Agassi said Tuesday. "And that's a good thing." The explanation Agassi gave ATP officials back in 1997 was that he accidentally ingested the drug because it was in a beverage provided by an assistant.

However, Agassi said, he wishes there were more nuances in doping penalties.

"What I did only hurt me," Agassi said. "It clearly wasn't performance-enhancing. If a guy fails a drug test for crystal meth, we should be trying to get him help."

Before a Beverly Hills meeting with Agassi there had been a Hollywood lunch with 22-year-old Sam Querrey, who displayed the scar on his right arm, the result of a very wrong choice -- to sit on a glass table in a locker room in Bangkok while putting on his shoes. The table shattered and Querrey's arm got sliced. Badly. Querrey showed cellphone photos of the gaping wound. He also wondered what pushed Agassi to reveal his crystal meth use. "Not sure I'd do that," Querrey said.

Another revelation in Agassi's book surprised Querrey even more. Agassi once sported a mullet haircut. Except it wasn't real. It was a hairpiece, used to hide a rapidly receding hairline. "A fake mullet," Querrey said. "Wow."

Querrey said he's back to practicing at full strength and plans to be ready for the start of the 2010 season. Agassi said he's feeling a certain peace after saying his piece in his book. Read more later at latimes.com/sports.

-- Diane Pucin

Become a fan of the Times' Sports Facebook page and get sports news delivered to your Facebook page.

Photo: Andre Agassi. Credit: Carlo Allegri, Reuters.

• Take another victory lap, Novak Djokovic. After a slumplet that lasted a good 18 months or so, the Serb has resumed playing top-shelf tennis and cha

2009-11-15T22:07:00.000-08:00

Jon Wertheim

• Take another victory lap, Novak Djokovic. After a slumplet that lasted a good 18 months or so, the Serb has resumed playing top-shelf tennis and challenging the Federer/Nadal-ocracy. A week after beating Federer in Basel, Djokovic won the Paris Indoor Masters Series event, performing vivisection on Nadal in the semis and then outlasting Gael Monfils in the final. (That's the equivalent of two straight Sunday road wins.) For a player whose fitness has been called into question in the past, Djokovic is to be commended for sustaining a high level of play 94 (!) matches into the season. If he has enough petrol in the tank to defend his Masters Cup title next week, it will be still more impressive.
• The Agassi Book Tour rolls on. Two weeks ago, Andre Agassi was a married father enjoying a life of repose. Suddenly he's back in the media/publicity maw, shuttling from interview to interview, answering the same questions again and again ("What made you want to write this book?"), and defending himself from criticism that's been unexpectedly fierce. In short, it's 1991 all over again. By this point, he's well within his rights to wonder what exactly it is, the public wants. We ask for honesty and authenticity from our public figures. "Down to earth," is among the highest compliments a star can receive. We hate spin and clichés and expressions of superiority. Yet when Agassi shares the intimate details and is relentlessly candid, he takes a public beating. Tough crowd.
• Sa-finis? An "unretirement" notwithstanding -- a necessary disclaimer these days -- Marat Safin played his final match last week. Before doing so, he engendered some controversy when he suggested Agassi return prize money he won in 1997, hereafter known as the Year of the Meth. In a rich bit of irony, Safin chastised Agassi for his mistreatment of the ATP, the same organization the Russian has spent the better of his career impugning. A monstrously talented player and irrepressible personality, Safin will be missed. His two Grand Slam titles ensures Hall of Fame enshrinement. And still: one is left thinking about the unfulfilled potential, what his career might have been has he been a bit more focused.
Best of three marginalia:
• Taylor Dent is back -- no pun intended -- in the top 100 after winning the Knoxville Challenger. Take a bow. Or a similar gesture that might not be as taxing on your spine.
• Thanks to Colette Lewis for informing us that Sekou Bangoura Jr. is headed to the University of Florida.
• Yanina Wickmayer began her damage control campaign for her suspension. Here's a transcript of her defense.

Agassi learned to appreciate what tennis provided

2009-11-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

By Douglas Robson, Special for USA TODAY

Andre Agassi, who won eight career Grand Slam titles and is recognized as one of the greatest players of his generation, hated tennis for much of his life. That is one of the startling revelations in Agassi's new autobiograpy, Open, which arrives in bookstores Monday.

Agassi spoke with USA TODAY's Douglas Robson about his relationship with the game that made him rich and famous.

If you secretly hated tennis, why did you continue to play?

It's a great question. It felt at an early age as the core of my life, and I felt like that reason changed throughout my life. As a youngster it was fear of my father; then it was a desire to escape the (Nick Bollettieri) academy and school. Then it became just straight fear — what else would I do with my life? Then all of a sudden it was identified to me, and then I didn't know.

ONE-ON-ONE: Agassi opens up on his life, book

ON DRUGS: Agassi fell into deep depression

REACTION: 'The game held him ransom'

But the hate for tennis started to change when I took ownership and chose tennis, which didn't happen till 1997, which didn't happen till I fell to 141 in the world, which didn't happen till that moment when I either had to walk away or choose it, and I didn't walk away, and I chose it. Once I chose my life, once I took ownership of my life, the scale started to get balanced with what it was giving me.

Tennis gave me the school; tennis then gave me my wife; tennis then gave me the time to raise my children and to live with them, and then it wasn't lost on me. … It no longer only came with a price.

How did you start to see that? I know in the book, it's really Brad Gilbert, as you describe it, who lays down the gauntlet at Stuttgart in 1997 and says, "Andre, we can't go on this way; it's going to be one thing or the other." I don't know if it was an epiphany or if it happened over the course of months or years that you made that transition.

I think it evolved over years. It was an accumulation, but then it was a commitment overnight. But the actual choice to fight this fight, and knowing that only I could make that choice, and only I was making that choice, that was an epiphany, that was a moment where I declared, "I am going to do this; millions of people in the world do something that they hate, but they found a way to attach reason and meaning to it, new meaning to old tasks."

You talked about why you played, and maybe fear of your father and getting away from Bollettieri Academy. But your story's not unique. Tennis is littered with talented kids with overbearing parents, who hate the sport, they're forced to play, or quit, or rebel. But you had phenomenal success. Why do you think that is?

I think it's because of the people that I had around me. I believe in many respects this book is a love letter to the important teachers in my life. I don't think any of us can go it alone.

How much of your legacy was in your mind when you wrote this book?

It wasn't about legacy for me; it was about tomorrow. It was about who this could help. And I know we're not on the subject now, but you'll figure out this is still an answer that needs to be said. Since I lied about that drug test in 1997, every day I've lived with a second chance that most people don't get, and every day has been an atonement for that. This book is an atonement for that. This is an attempt to say, "This is my story. I know how I've been perceived, more or less, and I know this flies in the face about what people thought about me, but it is the true me." And as a result, if the price that's paid is my legacy, if the price that's paid is a few judgments, I think that's a price that's easy to pay.

So you're not losing any sleep.

No, not over that.

It seemed to me that your best efforts seemed to be fueled by anger or revenge or perceived slights. Is it fair to say that? It was the "summer of revenge," there was (Jimmy) Connors, it was (Boris) Becker. Is that a fair reading?

No. Anger usually inhibited me. It usually hurt me, sort of across the platform of my career. The "summer of revenge" (1995) was slightly different. It was the first time I tried to really engage an awareness of my anger and not repress it, not repress how I felt about certain things, and highlighting Boris was a function of shining a light on some of my wounds that I felt along the way.

Meaning there are a lot of reasons why I resented tennis throughout that stage of my life. And this was one of them — that you could be so harshly judged by people, by media, by your peers. And that summer, I engaged that emotion, no doubt. But typically, fear was my motivator. And it was a high-wire act. … Not to mention I responded to fear sometimes by the best of me coming out, and I responded other times by not believing in myself, by self-inflicting, by being scared to win, scared not to lose. So fear was a big engine in my tennis. … I needed a reason, I needed inspirations, and it came from sources in my life. It came from people, including the fans. The fans brought out a lot of good in me at times, and they also brought out the worst. Like a friend who's going to not let you be less than you should be — there are times you'd like to be around that person, and there are times that you resent, you just want to run from that person. That's what I did with the fans, but it was always people.

Again, as I read the book, we hear a lot about who you dislike — (Jeff) Tarango, Becker, Connors, (Thomas) Muster, (Michael) Chang — not so much who you like, besides (Pat) Rafter. Who do you like? Or is it just tough to really have that kind of bond in high-stakes tennis?

I'd like to address the first part of what you said. I want to really make sure that we put this in a proper light. This book is written in present tense, and what I'm going through at those moments with those players are through an 18-year-old, through a confused, scared, angry 25-year-old. I do like Boris. I didn't get to talk about when we went out to Oktoberfest and drank beers together and laughed about some of this stuff. There's nothing hidden between any of us. When I walk in a room with Connors, just because his book is written doesn't change what has existed between me and Connors. So, you know, it feels long ago and juvenile in many ways.

What you're saying is that your relationship with these people has evolved, and because you don't like them in the book doesn't mean you're not friends with them now.

Yeah, and it doesn't mean that I am either.

But to contain anybody's life inside 400 pages is impossible. … You run through this whirl, and you hope that you've chosen the nuggets that allow somebody to understand your anxieties, your fears, your joys, what makes you tick. And so it's an attempt to shine a light on your own life, but your life intersects with these people for different reasons.

I spent seven minutes of my life talking to (Jimmy) ConnorsJimmy and five of those minutes came when I was 7 years old.

You criticize Chang for his religious praise after wins.

I did pray for one result in my life, and that was the 1990 French Open Final, that my hair stayed on. That was the result I was praying for. I felt like, "This is important enough to God, my hair stay on." (laughs)

You called Pete Sampras dull, you point out he's a bad tipper. Why do you include those details?

I'll tell you why. Because, first of all, there were huge distinctions between me and Pete, and they manifested themselves in two entirely different kinds of careers. I needed inspiration in my perspective, in my lens, and that lack of inspiration at times caused me great despair, and a great sense of meaningless.

And Pete didn't. Pete didn't seem to need inspiration. And as a result, he kicked my ass way more times than I beat him. As it relates to anything off the court, this is what I realized in this process: That I don't know Pete, despite all that we've lived. When there wasn't a net between us, there was a wall between us. I fought to find any interaction with him off the court that could somehow be true to the distinctions that exist between us. There's just nothing to pull from. … And that tipping thing really happened. He better not deny it either. (laughs)

You recently played an exhibition together. Can you find more of that common ground today, or is it sort of the same?

No, absolutely the same. He still confuses me. And I'm sure that I confuse him. When he asked me about my book, I told him about the thousands and thousands of hours that I've put into it, and he looked at me like, "What the hell is the matter with you?" At least that's how I perceived it. (laughs)

Pete said that you made him better. Did he make you better, and do you consider him your greatest rival, or do you not even look at your career in those terms?

He was my greatest rival because we played in most of the big matches. You can't deny the rivalry that existed. Did the rivalry always mean something special to me? No, but I was aware of the fact that it was special to others. … I think without Pete in my career, I think my career would've been better, but I think I can honestly say that I as a person would be less.

Why is that?

It taught me a lot. It shined a light on, if anything, on my confusions about myself. … Yeah. I don't identify with athletes who want to be nowhere else than that playing field. It's foreign to me, to the point where I've gone through many years of my life convinced they're just lying. This is positioning, this is poker, this is wanting somebody to believe this, this is positioning. And then I went through other times where I went, "No, they really believe it, and it really is the case." In both cases it perplexed me. So Pete, he confused me, and that confusion made me fight to understand myself in some respects better.

The 1995 U.S. Open loss to Pete you called an uber-loss. Why? Why was that one just so crushing to you, and sent you into a tailspin?

It was coming off a life of not being connected to what it is I do, not liking what it is I do, feeling the price of what it is I do more than I feel the rewards of what it is I do. And the Becker comments in Wimbledon about me personally left such a wound that — we can deal with hurt a lot of ways. We can repress it. Sometimes we can use it as fuel, as anger, and that's what I did.

I kind of chose for the first time in my life not to self-inflict, but to go inflict some pain on others as a result of how I felt. And I tore that summer up, 26-0, and went into that U.S. Open final after that Becker match so kind of physically and emotionally and mentally, and then there's Pete, and I lose to him, and it just heightened the sense of meaningless to me.

I didn't like how I felt the whole summer. I didn't like that. I rode with it, and I lived with it and I needed to be in it, but I didn't like it, it wasn't me. And when I lost to Pete, I would've given up many of those just to have gotten over that. You can win in tennis, and lose, you can go 6-1 and you're a loser. I never could reconcile how much more hurting lost than winning felt good.

You talk, during the time you were having problems with Brooke Shields, and that you purposely tanked the 1996 Australian Open semifinal to Chang to avoid another war with Becker. Can you explain that thinking?

I spent two and a half years reducing it pretty clearly in the book, but I'll give you a couple of sound bites on it. Tanking, it's more detestable than it sounds, because when you tank, it sounds like you just threw it away.

We've all tanked. I think maybe it's kind of like taking drugs. It feels great while you're doing it, and afterwards you feel (terrible).

That's well said. You like yourself less.

But at the time it feels good. It's relief. You disengage the ego.

You numb the pain.

But there's different ways to tank. … And so I was not, I was going to not show up on Sunday — that was my goal.

Do you regret that now?

I regret all of it. I regret all of it, yet — I would change everything, yet nothing. While I regret the fact that that had to be the case, it had to be the case. I don't know how else I could've lived my life.

You don't need to expand too much on this, but the French Open, you never liked clay, you had your best early results in majors there, then it became your sort of albatross before you finally shook it off by winning in 1999. Do you consider that the pinnacle of your career?

I do. That, and also New York at the end (2006). But winning there in Paris was the tops.

You call the number of Slams as sort of the marker for someone's greatest in tennis "bogus," and winning all four the "holy grail." How did you come to that? Someone could look at that and say that's a little self-serving.

Yeah, interesting, but I'm charged also with the duty of giving my perspective on it. If you look at it through historical lenses, through people who know the sport inside and out, people who play the sport, champions from the past, you'll see a history of generations that skipped many tournaments. Bjorn Borg didn't play Australia when it was on grass and he was dominating Wimbledon — he played it one time. … So I'm not degrading what an accomplishment it is to win more Slams. Every one you win is a great accomplishment. What I'm saying is it was never the benchmark. It didn't become the benchmark until the '90s.

Tennis Bag

2009-01-29T18:41:00.000-08:00

You will first need to check with yourself and ask yourself how much stuff I have and how much stuff do I need to bring with me when I go to play tennis. That is all up to you because only you knows what you will need to play the sport. You may just need a few balls and your racquet or you may need a whole net spray paint and balls and a huge water jug. You will never know what you may need when you are playing tennis. You may need an extra set of clothes to change into after your game. When you are playing tennis you will need to buy what you need and what you are actually going to use.

If you are a serious tennis player then you may already have a bag to carry all your tennis gear in but if you don't then you should go out to sports authority or something and look at golfing bags because they are of some use and will help you out a lot when you are playing the game of tennis. You won't have to carry all your stuff to the court because some times the courts are a walk from the car. So if you have extra racquets and balls and extra clothes and towels then you are going to need a golf bag and you will want to use it quite a bit so you can get it broke in.

If you can fit everything that you bring with you in a smaller bag then that is good for you and you are not going to have to carry as much as everyone else. All you need if you have a small bag is probably water, tennis balls and your racquet. That is all that you probably need if you are a person carrying a small bag for tennis.

Nadal moving closer to No. 1, Becker feels he's already there

2008-07-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Nadal moving closer to No. 1, Becker feels he's already there

TORONTO (AP) -- Rafael Nadal is OK with being ranked No. 2 in the world -- for now.

With Nadal beating Roger Federer in the French Open and Wimbledon finals, the Swiss star's grip on the top ranking is at its most vulnerable point since he became No. 1 more than four years ago.

If they continue to perform as well as the other in the Masters events this week in Toronto and next week in Cincinnati, then the ATP says Nadal could usurp Federer as No. 1 by mid-August, if not at the U.S. Open, where Federer is the four-time defending champion.

"I don't think nobody doesn't want to be No. 1," Nadal said on Monday at the Rogers Cup. "I want to be No. 1 for sure but right now I don't want to be No. 1.

"Right now, I want to play a very good tournament here in Toronto."

But even if the rankings don't say so many already believe Nadal is the world's best player, including Boris Becker, the 1986 Rogers Cup champion who was included in the tournament's Hall of Fame on Monday.

"Obviously in the world rankings there is still a No. 1 called Federer," Becker said. "But I think if you talk to anybody in the world of tennis who is considered for now the No. 1 player in the world, it's the winner of the French Open and Wimbledon.

"I think there's a change in the position at the moment.

"I think it's a case where Nadal has just improved to a level that nobody expected. Federer is playing as good as always.

"But you can only give credit to Nadal for really raising his game to another level and winning."

Becker believed tennis benefited from the rivalry like that of Federer and Nadal.

"Tennis needs players that bring out the best in each other," he said. "Tennis is in a good place right now having Federer and Nadal really at the very top of their careers.

"Whoever saw the Wimbledon final, I was just amazed at the quality of play from both players."

Nadal said he hasn't watched a repeat on television of the Wimbledon final, one of the greatest matches in tennis history.

"I only watch some points," he said. "But I don't watch the final."

And despite his success this season, Nadal doesn't believe he should be considered the man to beat in tennis.

"I don't think so," he said. "I am playing a good season but if I lost the final at Wimbledon, the season doesn't change too much.

"So I'm happy with how I'm playing. .. but I'm still with the same motivation for continuing to improve my tennis."

As usual, Nadal and Federer can meet this week only on Sunday.

"I would love to play against him," Nadal said. "If I do, I am going to play in the final.

"It would be a very good result for me to play in the final here, no?"

Both have an opening-round bye. Federer will face American Donald Young in his second-round match while Nadal will take on the winner of the match between American Jesse Levine and Canadien Peter Polansky.