Welcome to Tennis Canada’s first month-to-month mailbag of 2025. This month, esteemed tennis journalist and Canadian Tennis Corridor of Famer Tom Tebbutt solutions questions submitted by you, the followers.
Play the commissioner of tennis for sooner or later. What’s one rule change you’ll implement?
All of us have pet peeves about tennis. This isn’t precisely a rule, however for a few years my predominant pet peeve was that two weeks was not sufficient time between Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. For a number of of these years, that notably utilized to Rafael Nadal, who was in so many French Open finals. I felt he, and customarily all of the gamers, wanted one week to get better and get accustomed to grass, one week to play a grass-court prep match, and one week to type of fine-tune within the relaxed environment many gamers want the week earlier than a Grand Slam match.
Imagine it or not, once I first went to Wimbledon in 1975, there was just one week between Wimbledon and Roland-Garros. That was modified a couple of years later after which a 3rd week was added in 2015, which lastly made sense.
I assume now what I’d change is bouncing the ball earlier than gamers serve. I see no motive why they shouldn’t be restricted to 5 bounces. I keep in mind a scenario a few years in the past once I was enjoying and late within the match, my opponent abruptly began bouncing much more earlier than serving. I assumed, and nonetheless do, that it’s unfair to returners as a result of they are often distracted, questioning precisely when their opponent is lastly going to serve. If a participant needs to have ‘a assume’ about serving techniques – do it earlier than beginning to bounce the ball. In different phrases, not whereas the receiver is poised and questioning when the server will ultimately cease bouncing and begin the ball toss.
If Canada have been to realize extra tournaments on the ATP and WTA predominant excursions, what cities would you prefer to see host tournaments?
I’ve been round for some time and have listened to complaints for years in regards to the too-long and too-crowded yearly schedule. I at all times use the phrase ‘intractable’ to explain it.
Learn additionally: 2025 wheelchair tennis groups introduced as a part of Nationwide Excessive Efficiency and Nationwide Growth Packages
Event sanctions are fastened and it’s very exhausting to vary them. It was unhappy to see the Quebec Metropolis WTA match go. However, contemplating measurement and markets, Vancouver can be the apparent selection. Calgary and Edmonton may be prospects, in addition to Halifax. Nevertheless it’s unlikely there can be a spot obtainable on the already over-crowded calendar.
Which of the brand new faces that we’ve seen make noise these days impresses you essentially the most?
Jannik Sinner is a extremely good participant however Carlos Alcaraz is the man that I take pleasure in watching. After Roger Federer retired many people questioned if one other participant together with his form of selection would ever come alongside. Then – increase – Alcaraz fell from the sky. It was similar to Federer did within the early 2000s when extra one-dimensional gamers like Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt appeared like they have been taking up as all-court champion Pete Sampras was winding down.
I additionally like Holger Rune. He’s exasperating and will be tough, however he has an athleticism that’s enjoyable to look at.
Among the many girls right this moment there are a couple of. Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini are a deal with to look at as is Karolina Muchova, though she’s been round a bit longer. The identical with Jelena Ostapenko. She’s a ridiculous drama queen however the explosiveness of her pictures is nice leisure. Sadly, they don’t at all times land in.
Who’s an upcoming under-the-radar Canadian participant that folks ought to learn about?
I’m not likely superb at this as a result of I’ve largely targeting the professional excursions. I at all times thought Gabriel Diallo was spectacular and would break by means of before he now has. In the meanwhile, Liam Draxl looks as if a reasonably decided younger man on the rise.
However Filip Peliwo gained the Wimbledon and US Open juniors in 2012 – the 12 months Genie Bouchard gained junior Wimbledon – and completed No. 1 within the ITF year-end rankings. However you by no means know the way issues will play out. Genie made a Wimbledon closing and reached to No. 5 on the planet. Filip is about to show 31 and at present ranks No. 586 with a career-high of No. 161 in 2018. Now representing Poland, he is an effective man, good and a tough employee. However the actuality is that not everybody makes it to the highest ranks – and in his case it isn’t for lack of attempting.
Learn additionally: Diallo, Stakusic Spotlight Canadian Tennis Milestones in 2024
Among the many girls – Marina Stakusic has a giant recreation and might make a variety of gamers uncomfortable. She’s simply 20 and has a excessive ceiling however her hard-hitting tennis entails extra threat and she is going to most likely take slightly extra time to mature.
What are your ideas about being talked about in Pete Sampras’ autobiography?
I’ve by no means thought of it. I assume it took place as a result of I had the news that Pete had Thalassemia Minor, which took place after he vomited on court docket and appeared fully out-of-it throughout a 1996 US Open quarter-final in opposition to Alex Corretja. He gained the match and went on to win the US Open for a fourth time.
Right here’s how I described it in a 1996 Globe and Mail article – “it has been realized that Sampras has an inherited situation that’s nearly actually thalassemia minor, a congenital type of anemia widespread amongst folks from the Mediterranean. Sampras’ mom, Georgia, was born in Greece, and his father, Sam, is of Greek ancestry.”
Pete was No. 1 on the time and it was huge information. The news type of fell in my lap after which I related the dots – with assist from a few medical doctors. Thalassemia Minor (Thalassemia Main – the unhealthy genes from each dad and mom – is far more severe) did considerably restrict his potential to coach. However the situation doesn’t have an effect on his life expectancy. He was 25 on the time and I assumed for positive it might be a problem in some unspecified time in the future throughout the remainder of his profession. Nevertheless it actually wasn’t. There might have been a couple of different incidents (the 1997 French Open semifinal on a sizzling day in opposition to Yevgeny Kafelnikov) – however nothing once more ever got here near being as horrible as that 1996 US Open match.
Have you ever ever been star-struck by a participant you bought to talk to? If that’s the case, who?
At my first Canadian Open in Toronto in 1974, I discovered myself sitting on a patio round a desk with a couple of different folks and Jimmy Connors, who had simply gained Wimbledon. I couldn’t fairly determine how I received there.
I additionally as soon as did an interview with Arthur Ashe throughout a automobile experience when he did a promotional look in Toronto. And in 2003 in Montreal, Journal de Montreal journalist Mario Brisebois and I interviewed just-crowned Wimbledon champion Roger Federer informally down on the court docket after considered one of his pre-tournament observe periods.
Learn additionally: Dabrowski Opens Up About her Breast Most cancers Journey
I assume I used to be a bit star-struck a few years earlier once I interviewed tennis greats like Fred Perry, Alice Marble, Pancho Gonzales, Rod Laver, and extra not too long ago Yannick Noah and Mats Wilander – each nice guys. The nicest participant ever was, simply, Kim Clijsters.
What’s the coolest interplay you’ve had with somebody within the tennis world?
One 12 months throughout Wimbledon, most likely 1980, I had an interview scheduled with Arthur Ashe and by some means discovered myself using in a London taxi with him, and American legend Jack Kramer, on the way in which to his resort – The Westbury.
Additionally, I labored at a WCT (World Championship Tennis) occasion in Montreal in 1979 and took then four-time Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg of Sweden to a Canadiens hockey recreation on the Discussion board. After he completed a match, we travelled by Metro from the Maurice Richard Area within the east finish of town. There weren’t many individuals round us on the subway and nobody acknowledged Bjorn till we received contained in the Discussion board.
Heading into week two, who WERE your picks (males’s and ladies’s singles) to win the Australian Open?
Folks assume since you cowl a sport, you’re some type of an skilled with inside information about what’s going to occur. I’m normally no higher at predicting than the common tennis fan.
Learn additionally: Canadians crash out of Australian Open singles draw
I keep in mind proper earlier than the 2019 US Open girls’s closing, I used to be interviewed by Radio-Canada. They requested me who I assumed would win between Serena Williams and Bianca Andreescu. I had no clue. However within the seconds I had to consider it, I made a decision selecting Bianca can be a better option as a result of she’s a fellow Canadian, and I’m on Canadian tv. I suppose I ended up trying like a wise man nevertheless it was only a calculated private choice – not one based mostly on any deep analytical evaluation of who truly was going to win.
If I needed to choose firstly of the week – I’d have picked Swiatek and Alcaraz.
Tickets for the Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Spherical tie between Canada and Hungary are actually on sale. Be a part of us February 1 and a couple of at IGA Stadium in Montreal, because the Canadian crew begins their quest for the 2025 Davis Cup Closing 8. To entry tickets at early-bird pricing, click on right here.
