90833_NWSLTR:SCTA Senior MAR 8/25/08 12:46 PM Page 1 SCTAwww.scta.usta.com Southernnews California Tennis Association SEPTEMBER 2008 Sectionally Sensational Mark Winters ith all the acclaim given to each had won twice), Mike teamed Rafael Nadal and Ana with Srebotnik while Bob was in W Ivanovic in Paris, and later, tandem with Samantha Stosur, and Nadal andVenus Williams in London, they won 7-5, 6-4. Originally, the the story of both majors from a match was scheduled for Centre Southern California perspective was Court, but the Nadal-Roger the mixed doubles. Specifically, Bob Federer final took so long (rain Bryan’s double Grand Slam. delays), that the Bryan-Bryan con - At Roland Garros, he partnered test was moved to Court 1, finish - with Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, ing just as the sun was departing. who trains in Scottsdale. Entering at With the victory, Bob earned his the last minute, the duo defeated fifth Grand Slam mixed champi - Katarina Srebotnik/Nenad Zimonjic onship (with five different part - 6-2, 7-6 for the title. ners). He trails only Mahesh “I called the referee,” Bob Bob Bryan and Victoria Azarenka Photos: cameraworkusa Bhupathi who has six. Together, the explained. “We weren’t even signed brothers own mixed play, since up. I was at the practice court and rushed at the end of the breakers all week. I knew Mike won Roland Garros in 2003 and the over – made it with two minutes to go or she was good, but I didn’t know she was US Open in 2002, both with Lisa we wouldn’t even be in this tournament.” this good. I thank my agent, John Tobias, for Raymond. The brothers have a doubles convincing me to play with her.” Grand Slam, and now Bob is only a win at Asked if his the Australian Open brother, who is short of scoring a mixed two minutes older Slam. and right-handed, The Wimbledon show - was watching the ing made by Raquel Kops- match, Bob said Jones and Abigail Spears grinning, “No, Mike expanded to the doubles just looks at success theme. After the prize money qualifying, they defeated because we split it Timea Bacsinszky/Alizé down the mid dle. Cornet 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. The For the left-handed member of the So he’s happy I victory set the stage for a world’s No. 1 doubles team (four of the made him some dramatic upset in which past five years), the champion’s trophy will money this week. the Cal and UCLA tandem sit on the shelf along with a US Open I’m sure I’ll get a call surprised Ai Sugiyama/ triple scored with Martina Navratilova in – he calls me the Srebotnik, No. 2 seeds, 2- 2006, Vera Zvonareva in 2004, and ATM machine.” 6, 6-3, 11-9 in the second Srebotnik in 2003. At Wimbledon, round. (Interestingly, “Victoria’s pretty clutch,” said Bob. in the fifth mix-off Sugiyama/Srebotnik were “She threaded the needle on some of their career, but also upset by Ashley ridiculous shots. She was coming up big first in a final (and Vania King (continued on next page) 90833_NWSLTR:SCTA Senior MAR 8/25/08 12:46 PM Page 2 www.scta.usta.com (continued from previous page) • Harkleroad/Galina Voskoboeva in Paris in “Sliding and getting a feel for the footing the same round.) “I saw them playing against a Japanese is definitely different. Movement is tough. team in the qualifying,” said Sugiyama, who was participating in a record setting 57 th Balance is the big thing.” (Klahn) consecutive Grand Slam tournament. “We were expecting that it’s going to be a tough one. • “We have a lot of chances to get 6-4. Cara Black/Liezel Huber, (who up ence of being a National Boys’ 18 Grass through. But, unfortunately we couldn’t until they lost in the semifinals had an Court quarterfinalist in 2006 and winning get one. We were not aggressive enough. 18 match grass court win streak), sent the event the next year. As a Poway High They were serving good, volleying good, them packing 6-1, 6-3. School student, he was a rarity playing for then coming to the net as they could and On the junior front, Bradley Klahn the school team. “They really helped me a it was really tough for us to do something played both Roland Garros and lot letting me travel,” he said. “I felt I had better.” Wimbledon. The Stanford bound player to give something back.” But, Nathalie Dechy/Casey Dellacqua talked about competing on terre ended the Kops-Jones/Spears run 6-3, battue following his 6-2, 6-2 loss to 7-6 in the third round. Jaan-Frederik Brunken of Germany, “Sliding and getting a feel for the footing is definitely different. Movement is tough. Balance is the big thing. Knowing the way I slide, I worry about doing a face plant. I just have to trust it, but it doesn’t come naturally.” Lee Merry, who has “been my only coach”, encouraged Klahn to “try and play a hard court game. The points are long and you have to try to be consistent - ly aggressive. You can Bradley Klahn stay back with a clay courter who never Another SoCal/NorCal pairing also misses and be lulled into their Coco Vandeweghe made headlines at Wimbledon. Angela game.” Haynes and Christiana Fusano, another Teaming with Ryan Harrison and At the All England Lawn Tennis Club, former Cal performer, were successful seeded No. 2, they dropped a 7-6, 6-2 Cesar Ramirez of Mexico, No. 3, defeat - lucky losers, (only one of the three teams decision to Mirza Basic of Bosnia- ed Klahn 7-6, 6-2 in the second round. in this category), defeating Edina Gallovits Herzegovina/Marin Draganja of Croatia In the doubles, Basic/Di Wu of China (a Romanian living in Atlanta)/Olga in the first round. downed Klahn/Harrison, again the No. 2 Govortsova 7-6, 6-2 before being sidelined At Roehampton, a lead-up tournament seeds, 6-1, 7-5 in the quarterfinals. An by Azarenka/Shahar Peer 7-6, 6-1. to Wimbledon, Klahn was a 6-3, 6-3 semi - exclamation point was added to his par - Vania King combined with Alla finalist to tournament winner Guillaume ticipation in The Championships when Kudryavtseva, Maria Sharapova’s second Rufin of France. He and Harrison were he was asked to pretend to be Nadal round conqueror, to down qualifiers also 4-6, 6-0, 10-7 doubles semifinalists to and hit with Roger Federer before the Andrea Hlavackova/Olga Savchuk 6-3, 6-3, Jared Easton/Andrew Thomas of Australia. men’s final. and Iveta Benesova/Janette Husarova 6-3 A left-hander, Klahn had the experi - Coco Vandeweghe, who received a 2 90833_NWSLTR:SCTA Senior MAR 8/25/08 12:46 PM Page 3 www.scta.usta.com • “Though it’s always sold out, it’s very relaxed. It’s not your typical stressful tournament situation. I like that myself and have had a great time there.” (Higueras) • wild card into the court player 6-2, 7-5. on the surface to 59). Wimbledon junior “This was my first time on grass and I “This was the second time I’ve been competition started wasn’t playing my best,” Vandeweghe said. there,” said Higueras, a Palms Springs res - working with Robert “I’m more comfortable on hard courts, ident. “The first time was with Jim Van’t Hof this spring. having grown up on them.” (Courier) in 1994. It is special to get to a Interestingly, Van’t When she was at the Sony Ericsson place that is out in the countryside and is Hof was Lindsay Open in March, Vandeweghe had an so beautiful. It’s old English and very Davenport’s long- opportunity to meet and play with comfortable. You stay right there time coach and Davenport. The afternoon warm-up (SportPark Hotel), and there are plenty Vandeweghe’s mother eventually led to her involvement with of practice courts (some are covered and Tauna, a swimming Van’t Hof. “We were supposed to hit on the Center Court has a closeable roof). and volleyball stand - the center court so I got there 45 min - Both times I’ve been there, I’ve been out in her youth, used utes early,” Vandeweghe said smiling. “She treated very well.” to baby-sit Lindsay at was really nice. Growing up, she was my He added, “Though it’s always sold favorite player – my idol.” out, it’s very relaxed. It’s not your typical (Speaking of Davenport, she was stressful tournament situation. I like that forced to withdraw because of an myself and have had a great time there.” injured right knee after defeating Kevin Kim matched his 2006 effort Renata Voracova 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in again qualifying at Wimbledon. Having the first round at The Champion- been a 2004 qualifier in Paris, he was ships. Anxious to play Olympic defeated by Robin Soderling 7-5, 0-6, 6-3, tennis she said, “The cartilage 6-4. Alexandra Stevenson, a 1999 semifi - looks good. All the structure nalist who has been working out at looks fine, the ligaments, the ten - MountainGate Country Club, lost in the dons. I had some inflammation second round of the women’s qualifying. and some fluid behind the Thanks to the Bryans and a collec - kneecap. It had nothing to do with tion of other Southern Californians, my previous surgery on my knee.