Some mid-tournament observations from the Sony Ericsson Open ...
| Ad-In |
 |
Venus Williams
If you're going to lose, falling to Maria Sharapova 7-5 in the third set is about as encouraging a defeat as you'll get. (And props to Sharapova for prevailing.)
|
 |
Michelle Larcher de Brito
Becomes seventh-youngest player ever to win a WTA match with her defeat of Meghann Shaughnessy in Key Biscayne.
|
 |
ATP
Some experiments work, others don't. Good for the execs for doing the right thing and dumping round robin before further embarrassment. A rare victory for common sense in tennis.
|
 |
Tennis Educational Merit Award winners
The 2006 recipients as announced by the International Tennis Hall of Fame are Barbara Fackel of Rock Island, Ill., David Porter of Laie, Hawaii, and Marc Safran of San Francisco.
|
 |
Samuel Hardy Award winners
Steven and Marjorie Champlin of Wayzata, Minn., were recognized as USTA volunteers who have contributed long and outstanding service to the sport of tennis.
|
| Deuce |
 |
Justine Henin
Hardly playing her best tennis, par for her in Miami. But, as usual, she finds a way to survive, including three-set thriller against Virginie Razzano.
|
 |
Robert Kendrick
American enters as a lucky loser when Lleyton Hewitt withdraws. He wins a match and then gets tuned by Andy Murray.
|
 |
Tennis Channel
Thanks for the coverage. But to paraphrase Sheriff Bart in Blazing Saddles, "Where are the women at?"
|
| Ad-Out |
 |
James Blake
Still another perplexing early-round loss for Blake. Wasn't this guy No. 4 in the world a few weeks ago? Brutal sport, tennis.
|
 |
Martina Hingis
Falls in three sets to Agnieszka Radwanska. There are losses and there bad losses. This is the latter.
|
 |
Tommy Haas
Perhaps still recovering from Indian Wells, Germanator loses first match to lucky loser Alejandro Falla.
|
 |
Amelie Mauresmo
Out for a month due to an appendectomy. (Is it possible she'll play only one event in the U.S. all year?)
|
 |
Chris Guccione
Squanders two match points in loss to Florent Serra. Big Aussie has been having a rough go of it since early-season success.
|
 |
Marat Safin
Another early loss for former No. 1. Boy, is this guy a shard of his former self.
|
| | |
 |
|
|
