Sharapova exposes Davenport at Aussie, but so what?

Lindsay Davenport was 19-1 in her comeback before running into a 6-1, 6-3 Maria Sharapova buzz saw on Wednesday. AP

MAILBAG Jon Wertheim will answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag every Wednesday. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

We're three days into the Blue Court Open. Here's a quick mailbag before I board the Big Bird. Stay tuned for midterm grades over the weekend and then I'll try and do daily baguettes once I'm on the ground in Melbourne ....

While I respect any athlete who comes back and competes after childbirth, I've just watched Lindsay Davenport against Maria Sharapova and can't help feeling Davenport is now out of her league. Yes she beat (a tired) Jelena Jankovic late last year, but seeing her trundle about the court was just painful to watch. Movement was never her forte to begin with but now it seems she's two steps slower than everyone else. Evonne Goolagong might have won a Grand Slam in the 1980s when women's tennis wasn't so physical, but in today's game where both power and athleticism are required, I think poor Lindsay is now a fish out of water. Agree?
-- Greg Lennie, Glasgow, Scotland

You might be right. After the smashing success since her return last fall, Davenport suddenly looked like a thirtysomething mom Wednesday against Sharapova. I say who cares? She's motivated, she's seemingly happy, she's a nice storyline to follow. If her movement, her serve, her sleep deprivation ... whatever ... prevent her from hitting Slam pay dirt, so be it. She can (re)retire knowing she tried to answer any lingering questions. Beats sitting home and reading The Hungry Caterpillar for the 500th time.

The entry regarding tennis fans and non-tennis fans who don't know when to keep quiet and other etiquettes involving tennis reminds me of problems with concert-goers -- veteran music-lovers know that one should not applaud between movements but this practice also creates elitism. Your solution?
-- M. Ng, Vancouver

This happens a lot on Kids' Day. On Tuesday afternoons -- slow sessions -- at many tour events. Thousands of urchins roam the grounds. They seem to have fun and it's a good way to expose them to the sport. But the etiquette is sometimes lacking. I remember Xavier Malisse once playing a match in Cincinnati and a group of kids, a few rows back of the court, yelling, "Do your thing, X-Man!" every time he took a back swing. He was amused at first but it became a distraction.

Seems to me one of tennis' biggest obstacles is an unshakable reputation for elitism. (Don't believe me? Check out how the sport is depicted in movies.) So a few new fans in Chennai applaud double faults? A few kids in Cincinnati yell out to players during points? Seems to me a small price to play for bringing them into the tent.

Good lord, John Isner and Ivo Karlovic playing doubles together. Note to opponents: Don't try to lob!
-- Josh, Denver

But are you all like me? For reasons unclear, the taller the opponent the more likely I am to lob.

Regarding the issue of dads illegally coaching their daughters, I still think that we're the pointing fingers at the wrong people here. Let's not forget that it is the coaches who do the coaching, and yet we continue to put blame on the recipients of this coaching. I still argue that sometimes, the recipients of illegal coaching are "unwilling accomplices" to this crime. They don't want to get coached, but they don't dare confront their own dad, because ... it's their dad. Come on, we have to stop blaming the victims here!
-- Shaun Shahani, Los Angeles

"Dad, your coaching demeans us both. Please stop or I'll have to ask you to watch the match from the beer tent." I think your premise is right in some, if not many, cases. The players would just as soon do without the coaching. But if you're old enough to be a pro player, you ought to be old enough to stand up to Pops when he flouts the rules.

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