Kelli DeMario

• ATP cheers and jeers in 2008 Part I

  2008-12-19 11:26:15
  Living life as a tennis fan feels a lot like riding a roller coaster blindfolded. One moment you rejoice, celebrating a favorite player's victory; in the next, your stomach threatens to jump through your throat as he goes down to crushing defeat.
  
  A wild and wacky 2008 contained more twists and turns than a well-crafted mystery novel, complete with a surprise ending. The year started in scandalous fashion in January, gathering momentum with each passing month.
  
  

  January: Tainted tales from the tape

  
  Russian Nikolay Davydenko began the new year with an ominous cloud of suspicion and investigation hanging over his head, despite repeated vehement denials of lending a hand in tennis' continuing betting scandal.
  
  Questions concering his participation in match-fixing first came to light in August 2007, after an online betting promotion reported a bizarre pattern of wagering during a match between Davydenko and Argentina's Martín Vassallo Argüello.
  
  
  

  February: Men's field on fire

  
  
  
  Who could recall another time in history when men's tennis was quite as exciting as the start of 2008? As a long time supporter of the greatest sport on planet earth, I surely cannot remember a similar situation.
  
  No fewer than three players found themselves embroiled within a heated competition for the top spot, and deservedly so. These talented professionals turned in spectacular results over a 52-week period. Incidentally, the lowest ranked of the three at the time, Novak Djokovic, had amassed sufficient points to have held the #1 spot in many years past!
  
  Tennis fans cheered, watching three distinct personalities emerge: Federer, the immeasurably talented artist, Nadal, the mental and physical uber warrior, and Djokovic, the cocky and confident upstart.
  
  Throw a handful of young, hungry guns into the mix. Eager to make a name for themselves, such a dream scenario prompted the most jaded tennis fans to stand up and take notice.
  
  
  

  March: Johnny Mac incensed over players ditching Davis Cup

  
  John McEnroe demanded organizers revise the Davis Cup format. Calling the situation "a complete joke" the legendary hothead railed at the ease with which high-profile talent continuously withdrew.
  
  Both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer went missing in action, bowing out of their homeland's ties, while Great Britain traveled to Argentina one Murray brother short, the younger Andy having withdrawn due to injury.
  
  The outspoken American barked to the BBC about the need for schedule and players' attitude revision:
  
  "Players simply look at it like they can get away with it now. They're not going to be criticized that much for doing it. They go play events where they get obscene amounts of money and claim that the Davis Cup doesn't fit into their schedule. You look at the top players and you're lucky if half of them play now."
  
  Never at a loss for words, is he?
  
  
  

  April: Nadal nails it

  
  James Blake had beaten Rafael Nadal with relative ease until they met for the fourth time in Indian Wells. A short time later, Nadal shared the secret of his recent success at the Sony Ericsson in Miami, after defeating Blake twice in as many tries:
  
  "I think just before I was running a lot, two meters behind the line. I think right now I playing a little bit more aggressive. I can lose, but I think it's the only way for try to win."
  
  As the year progressed, it was clear to everyone just how much Nadal's game had improved. No longer known as simply a clay court specialist, dismissing the American on a hard court would foreshadow the brillance of Nadal's record in 2008.
  
  
  

  May: Everything old is Younes again!

  
  The 36-year-old veteran from Morocco turned back the hands of time, offering up a sweetheart performance in Munich, battling all the way to the quarterfinal round. Along the journey, El Aynaoui dispatched rising star, Juan Martín del Potro, before falling to Fernando Gonzalez in three closely contested sets.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

   

  Special May mention: Farewell to a friend

  
  The tennis world bid a tearful goodbye to Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten after 12 years of international competition. The fan favorite played his final match at Roland Garros, the tournament that had crowned him three times a gentlemen's champion.
  
  
  
  
  

   

  June: Open mouth, insert foot

  
  In one of the most despicable tirades ever uttered, ATP tour never-was and resident loudmouth, Justin Gimelstob, shared his stupidity with tennis fans all over the world:
  
  "(Anna Kournikova is) a bitch. We're gonna kick her a--hole. Hate's a very strong word. I just despise her to the maximum level, right below hate.
  
  I think she falls into the Marcelo Rios scumbag category. And this whole bluff about her retiring because of her back? She had the yips on her serve, she can't get her serve on the court.
  
  I have no attraction to her, because she's such a douche. I really have no interest in her. I wouldn't mind having my younger brother, who's kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits of that."
  
  Truly a shameful display, although an apology followed on the World Team Tennis website. Too little, too late, if you ask me.
  
  Part II coming soon...

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