Can Kvitova handle the spotlight? A new marketing idea, more mail

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Can you educate me a little about Petra Kvitova? I've seen her enough to know why she's good, but I'm a little fuzzy on what sends her off the rails. People have been high on her even before her Wimbledon win, but it never really seemed like she had the results to warrant it. After her disappearing act between Wimby and the Tour Finals, it still seems like her consistency is suspect, at least enough to question why everyone and their brother is anointing her as the next big thing.
-- John, Philadelphia

• I think you pretty much nailed it. On talent alone, she could have her own lane on the WTA highway for many years to come. It's a question of whether she's mentally prepared to handle success and all the attendant pressures.

One of you likened Kvitova to Steffi Graf, a pleasant, introverted European from a small town, who didn't have celebrity ambitions, didn't crave (or even like) publicity, didn't have interest in doing much more than winning tennis matches. Now more than ever, that's not realistic. When you're winning and ranked No. 1 (as Kvitova may well be in a matter of days) you have, ex officio, a level of power, authority and responsibility.

If I'm day-trading, I'm loading up on Kvitova stock right now. After her summer swoon, she now has a better sense of what she needs to do to sustain success. She is gradually getting more comfortable with her public profile. Her game is not only unsurpassed but also still improving. And with Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters far closer to the omega of their career than the alpha, almost by default Kvitova is the leading candidate to take the wheel.

I see Dinara Safina's name in your "So long, farewell" list, but her website says, "Hey everybody. I just want to inform you that I AM NOT retiring at this time. I will continue to use therapy to try to treat my back injury and hope to return to competition eventually." Is it that you don't think she'll make it back?
-- Jim, Columbia, S.C.

• Thanks, a few of you mentioned that. Let's be clear, Safina is not officially retired. (Though her own brother is among those saying she likely has played her last match.)

For all sorts of reasons, I'd love little more than for Safina to return. She was so conspicuously vulnerable -- so withering in her self-assessment, so brutally honest, so unwilling/unable to suppress emotion and thoughts -- that she left herself exposed. She "let us in," as they say. There was something almost voyeuristic about watching her matches and following the drama that often ensued. Safina is, unfortunately, probably best known a) for being Marat's sister, b) for failing to win a major despite achieving the top ranking and c) her viral appearance on Russia's answer to Wipeout.

But let's not forget: She was (and still can be?) a top-tier tennis player. She reached three major finals, won various other events and deployed a game that relied on pace, yes, but also relentless depth.

Should tournaments take a leaf out of the UFC's book and award bonus money for best match of the tourney/day, or a combativity award like they have at the Tour de France? I wouldn't award a submission-of-the-night bonus, since Daniel Koellerer's been banned and Stefan Koubek's retired.
-- Ro'ee, Israel

• I can't tell if you're being serious but I love that idea. For each UFC fight card, fighters are paid a wage (often appallingly low) to show up and then it usually doubles if they win their fight. But they are also eligible for significant bonuses (like, $75,000 significant) for fight of the night, submission of the night, etc.

The financial structure of a tennis event is obviously different, but why not borrow this idea and award a modest cash prize for the best match, best performance and even best shot at events? The cash need not be a lot, $500 or so. But if, say, Memphis or Sydney offered a "shot of the day bonus," you can bet thousands of us would click on the tournament website to see the winner. (And if would create easy good morale with the players.) If the first few rounds offered a "match of the day" prize, you can bet fans would be interested in that, too. Put that on our tab.

As long as we're talking tennis marketing, here's another idea. (If there are any venture capitalists or angels in the studio audience, please see me after the show). There are dozens, if not hundreds, of tennis exhibitions held annually. Andy Roddick and the Bryans recently played in Oklahoma City. Pete Sampras is playing Todd Martin in Indianapolis the week before the Super Bowl. Juan Martin del Potro and Fernando Gonzalez just played a match in Chile. Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki barnstormed Belgium last month.

Countless fans would be interested in these unsanctioned matches. They would pay for live streaming. They would pay for merchandise, a T-shirt from the Roger Federer-Novak Djokovic match in Dubai, for instance. They might even build a small vacation around the event. Problem is, unless you're in the relevant market, it's damn near impossible to find out about these exos.

So the idea is simple: You build an aggregator site -- tennisexos.com or whatever -- publicizing these events worldwide and offering a playing schedule. Sell tickets and merchandise through the site and get a cut of the revenue. Presto. Now, who wants to give me start-up money in exchange for equity?

Thanks to the many of you who wrote in with tips for enjoying the Australian Open (redundant?) and Australia in general. Here are some more:

• Cam Bennett of Geelong, Australia: "(From a guy who lives an hour's drive away from RLA, so I go every year): Wear sunscreen even when you're sitting in the shade. The number of people who leave a day's tennis exhausted and with a horridly burnt face thanks to the glare coming off the court is incredible!"

• Brendan of Sydney: "As a U.S. expat living in Sydney for three years, I've had the great fortune to visit Melbourne multiple times, and love every waking moment.

"1) Coffee -- They love the coffee in Melbourne. As a novice coffee drinker, you can't go wrong with a flat white (espresso plus milk), but I recommend you take on a cappuccino or two.

"2) Day Tours -- Phillips Island to see the Blue Penguins, or the 12 Apostles/Great Ocean Road tour to see a great natural site along the Great Ocean Road and you'll probably see koalas and wombats. Or out to any number of vineyards found in Victoria.

"3) Laneways (or what we might call Alleys) -- During the day there's no better place to get stuck than the alleys filled with cafes and coffee shops.

"4) Queen Victoria Markets -- Cool stalls and lively atmosphere.

"5) Federation Square/Flinders Station Area -- So alive, and the square usually has something going on (arts, music, etc.).

"6) Walk along the Yarra River and pop in and out of restaurants, shops and the one casino in town.

"7) Skydeck 88 -- Highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere. Standing on clear glass that high up is a blast!

"8) Asian food -- Thai/Vietnamese/Malaysian, etc. It's everywhere and it's good!

"9) Hidden treasure -- The Melbourne Supper Club. 161 Spring St. Great little spot next to The European. Great view indoors of the Parliament House and a great roof deck."

Just yesterday I was watching Del Potro play Gonzalez in the final of an exo tournament (Nokia Summer Cup), and while I looked for footage of it for you, let me say this: DelPo may have a monster forehand, but Gonzo's is bigger.
-- Lucio, Rosario

• If you saw them head-to-head last week, you're in a better position to judge than I am. I still say we need to consider this difference: Gonzalez is Nuke LaLoosh, delivering with overwhelming force. Del Potro is bludgeoning the ball, but looks to be doing so at about 80 percent capacity.

Just to cap the recent question on "Grand Slams," it's actually easy. It's either a "Grand Slam" (winning all four tournaments in a calendar year) or a "Grand Slam event" (one of the four). Like the original questioner, I've often wondered why broadcasters can't get out that one extra word.
-- Garner, Jacksonville, Fla.

• Fair enough. I still say "the" Grand Slam" versus "a" Grand Slam" solves the problem.

What are the chances that Federer will be paired against Djokovic and Nadal against Murray in the 2012 Aussie Open semifinals?
-- Sasha, London

• What was the probability that the Knicks weren't going to get the top pick in the 1985 NBA Draft?

After reading your anti-Christian comments regarding Margaret Court, I am done reading your columns.
-- Kevin, North Brunswick, N.J.

• Don't let the escape key hit you on the way out.

I'm probably just a little crazy, but can you as a journalist (and seemingly good with the English language) tell me why when a tennis player retires in a match it is usually referred to as "forced to retire"? Forced? Really? Did someone come on court and physically stop them from playing? Retiring is a choice, not a compelled event. The player "decided" to retire. A recent article regarding Flavia Pennetta in Auckland said she was "forced to retire" as well as "forced" to take three medical timeouts. Who forced her to do that? Does using "forced" make it sound better? Sorry for the rant, it just really annoys me.
-- Daniel, Cleveland, Ohio

• Oh, Daniel. You must follow tennis in the Southern Hemisphere more closely. When players are injured, they are compelled to retire -- sometimes at the tip of a rifle. Those who try to resist compulsory retirement? Let's just say it's not pretty. (Your point is well-taken. Players choose to retire.)

Stick to writing only about tennis, please, and leave music factoids out of it. You say Ke$ha's Greatest Hits would be an oxymoron, but you prove only that you're a music moron, Jon. The girl, in her brand-new career, with one album and one basically EP, has released six songs, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF WHICH has been a hit. Write about what you know. Don't they still teach that in journalism school? Idiot, you.
-- Jordan Kyle, France

• On account of your intemperate letter, I wish you the following: May your otherwise cherubic 8-year-old daughter sit in the backseat of your car, enthusiastically singing: "Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack/ Cause when I leave for the night, I ain't coming back."