2006: Moments Worth Repeating...
- Marcos Baghdatis' "arrival" at the Australian Open
- Martina Hingis' return, reachin the quarters no less! With the spotlight on her, Hingis played as if she belonged... again.
- Maria Sharapova’s left-handed forehands when she was stretched wide… and she made them!
- Amelie Mauresmo winning her first Grand Slam title - she played well enough to win regardless of how the match ended.
- Amelie Mauresmo walking over and sitting next to Justine right after Henin-Hardenne retired - one of the classiest gestures ever, given the circumstances.
MARCH
- The Hawkeye electronic line-calling system debuted at the NASDAQ 100 in Key Biscayne... and there's no turnin back.
MAY
- The instant classic 5 set, 5 hour Italian Open final between Federer and Nadal which was won by Rafa after staving off match points.
- Nadal lost the first set of the French Open final 6-1 and despite the mounting external (aka Federer) and internal (Nadal was expected to win) pressure, Rafa came through to claim his second consecutive title at Roland Garros.
JUNE
- Andre Agassi wearing a bead necklace with the words "Daddy Rocks" made by his son, Jaden, as a Father’s Day gift
- Federer walking on to Centre Court wearing a (Nike!) cream, crested blazer over his tennis shorts!
- It is Wimbledon and so it was refreshing to see the new official clothing supplier, Ralph Lauren, deck out the umpires and linespeople in such retro stylish attire.
JULY
- Amelie Mauresmo's play in the third set of the Ladies Championship match against Henin-Hardenne... full stop!
- Nadal not only reaching the Wimbledon finals, but recovering from a 6-0 first set loss and coming within a few points of having a very real chance of dethroning Federer... seriously.
- Gabriela Sabatini being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Steffi Graf's words in introducing Gaby said it all...
- James Blake becoming the Number One ranked American - as they say, it couldn't have happened to a nicer, more deserving guy.
- The Bryan brothers have put doubles back on the map with their talented teamwork and charisma. With their Wimbledon title, they now have a career doubles Grand Slam.
- Jimmy Connors agreeing to coach Andy Roddick. Connors simply saying yes aka "he believes in me", seemed to raise Roddick’s confidence level 100 percent and his tennis improved as well!
SEPTEMBER
- Marcos Baghdatis cramping badly against Andre Agassi, but continuing to fight and not retire from their match
- Agassi’s parting words made a lasting impression... and the standing ovation he received from his peers when he returned to the locker-room after his final match spoke volumes…
- The (little) black dress, the "I Feel Pretty" Nike TV ads followed by her second Grand Slam... Maria Sharapova made her mark at the 2006 U.S. Open… on court and after the match when she dropped the trophy lid during the awards ceremony - charming and klutzy all in one!
OCTOBER
- Kids club - an innovation worth continuing.
NOVEMBER
- The Andy Roddick and Roger Federer match at the Masters Cup in Shanghai. Roddick may have lost... again... but Roddick had match points and started to play as if he believed he could win.
- Justine Henin-Hardenne or Amelie Mauresmo - who is Number One? Rivalries like this are great for tennis.
|| Comments (0)
