Dark Horse Darcis Rocks RMK:

(or I like Alliteration)

I admit to not knowing exactly WHO Steve Darcis was (is)--until this tournament. I feel like many people can say the same thing.

But after this week, we definitely know his name, blue eyes, and serving prowess.

When asked after the championship match if it’s the "chocolate" that’s bringing about the current onslaught of great players from his country, Darcis had to laugh and offer up other suggestions, “maybe the French Fries, or maybe the beer.”

Ha Ha. Good humor translates in any language.

The 23-year old Belgian beat Spadea, Becker, Bjorkman, and Soderling along his way to the second ATP tour title of his career. His first came last summer during the Dutch Open where he not only won his first ATP match, but went on to win the title as well.

With this title under his belt, he is projected to move up to number 45 in the world according to the ATP. This is his highest ranking thus far. I look forward to following him this year and seeing if this win catapults him like it has other former winners.

~~J

Dear Lindsay Davenport:

Congratulations on winning another tournament in Memphis (of course I have to mention it’s been way too long since we last saw you here). It was a pretty good atmosphere, don’t cha think? Could you hear us talking about you all week? (US being everyone in the place!)

“Who’s up next? Lindsay?”
“I’m staying for Lindsay!”
“Did you see Lindsay last night?”

It’s as if you were our very best friend and we could NOT get enough! Was there any doubt you could not handle the fresh-faced teenagers? (I know there was, I’m not crazy) Nevertheless, you showed them & it was truly amazing to watch.

Age trumps Beauty (although you are quite beautiful and graceful too).
Experience trumps Youth (although you had a youthful step out there too).

So when did 31 become “old”? I guess we could ask Jonas Bjorkman about being almost 36-years-old and beating the up and coming American player—Donald Young on Friday. Donald's age? 18. 18+18=36, right?

Bjorkman was fantastic on Friday afternoon and then YOU followed, Lindsay. Of course Jonas fell in the Semis, but that’s okay. He was wonderful this week anyway.

I decided to wait until you won your 55th career Singles title before writing about you (a letter). Or mentioning the whole "new mom" thing either.

You especially held all the Moms in the audience captive too. I spoke to one on Friday (age 38) with two young children of her own (2-years-old, 5-months). She was actually hoping to catch all of your semi-final match before having to rush and pick up her children. Mission Accomplished.

We also talked about "rooting" for the older players (Jonas, we were cheering for you) and about turning 30 (that's me). She told me that while 30 is a big deal, it's definitely better than 20 as far as being a woman is concerned. I've heard that somewhere before...

So THANK YOU Lindsey for swooping in, letting us see your handsome little man, and playing (& winning) wonderful tennis all week long.

~~J

What Will I Drop Next?

again, I dropped something between the bleachers at Morgan Keegan Stadium before the match!

Thank you kindly, Sir, for retrieving it (my purse) for me. I'll say it again--you're my HERO! And now it's almost funny. I am scared to death of dropping something else--and I have 4 more sessions left to attend. Should we start a pool? I'm betting on my shoes!

At least it didn't happen DURING the match! I have a feeling Andy Roddick would've called me out because he was extremely chatty tonight. I wonder if it's because Tommy Haas was eliminated right before his match?

Gilles Muller was very solid! I was impressed with his composure before a very Roddick-friendly crowd. I will definitely be looking for him around the circuit for years to come. You could say I have a soft spot for him--we share Birthdays!

Worth noting: Roddick and Muller combined to raise $3,500 for St. Jude with 35 Aces between them ($100 is being donated for every Ace during the tournament by a sponsor).

I am pretty sad I won't get to see Haas later in the week--after all he WAS my first Tennis match! (And his blog last year showed some personality).

~~J

Session One: RMK

Despite not having a ticket to the first Session today, I decided to go anyway. John Isner was playing his first Singles match in Memphis, I HAD to be there!

<---difficult to read, but it's his autograph, I swear!

Thanks to a kind stranger (and parking attendant) I ended up NOT even having to purchase a ticket!

Unfortunately it was also Isner's last Singles match in Memphis because he lost a 2-hour, 3-set match to Jurgen Melzer (currently ranked 61 in the world). Word is he has the Flu--he was sluggish.

Before the Isner match I got to see a wonderful Doubles match: Querrery/Spadea vs Ram/Reynolds. I always get confused when it comes to Doubles, because the court looks VERY small with four people on it. There is so much action--I don't know where to look!

Querrery/Spadea prevailed in the second set tiebreaker...I even lost something through the bleachers in the middle of the match and a nice volunteer retrieved it for me. Whew!

I didn't distract anyone though--my biggest fear is being called out in the middle of a match by the Chair Umpire.

back to John Isner (watch me turn into a 12-year old school girl before your eyes)...I've never approached a tennis player for an autograph. I felt a little silly standing next to little kids with tennis balls. BUT...I had to do it!

Get Better Soon!

~~J

Backlogged: RMK 2007

12 Things I've Learned This Week:

01) Tommy Haas really, REALLY likes Starbucks.

02) Andy Murray favors Pau Gasol. (Not a bad thing!)

03) Andy Roddick drinks LOTS o' water during matches. (I counted 8 bottles opened during the semis)

04) Otherwise healthy athletes can get the stomach bug too! No one is immune.

05) Venus Williams is back. She is!

06) Jamie Murray is everywhere. He's on the courts, he's watching courtside, and apparently he and I are in the SAME hallway at the SAME time on a regular basis.

07) There are no bad seats in Morgan Keegan Stadium. (I've sat almost everywhere except
courtside....PLEASE?)

08) The men AND ladies prefer the cap over the headband. (sorry Mardy Fish)

09) No matter how often a serve clocks in over 100 MPH, I am still going to be really, REALLY impressed.

10) Google this: "Andy Janet Memphis" and my blog comes up on the first page. I don't really know what that means, but it's cool!

11) Not only are Wozniacki and Gabashvili fun to say, they can play tennis too!

12) This whole thing starts over again in less than a year and I'm already counting down the days!

~~J

(originally "blogged" at The Memphis Edge)

Backlogged: RMK 2007

Last night I went to bed with visions of Roddick dancing in my head.

I felt as if I was trying to unravel a mystery that everyone else already knew the answer to. But, when early morning thunderstorms rolled through, I awoke with a thunderbolt. Literally. It had to be a relatively close strike. But that's how it hit me. WONDERBOY.

Yes, like the wooden baseball bat that was carved from the tree that was hit by lightning in front of Roy Hobbs house. (say that three times fast)

Andy is the ultimate WONDERBOY, the all-American hero we love! He's just cocky enough on the court, walking a fine line between arrogance and good-natured fun. He can hit the tennis ball fast enough to make every person in the crowd flinch. BAM! Or maybe that's just me?

He talked out loud, scared a ball boy with his display of anger but still managed to make the crowd laugh. We were supporting and rooting for him throughout the match last night.

"Come on, Andy!" says the girl behind me. She's probably 17.

"You can do it, Andy!" says the woman next to me. She's probably 65.

And then similar words came from my mouth as well, unexpectedly. There's no yelling in tennis. WRONG! I was clapping and vocalizing just like everybody else. Age? Somewhere between the other two.

He struggled a bit and his frustration showed. His racket took the brunt of his power and was crushed. But after the win, he autographed it and allowed it to be auctioned off for St. Jude.

Also, when asked to buy the first ticket for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway at $100 a pop, guess what? He offered to buy the first TEN tickets.

How can you NOT love the guy? Big serve. Big Heart.

Let's Go ANDY!

~~J

Backlogged: RMK 2007

Tennis Players gone WILD! No. Just kidding.

I admit that I like it when they get a wee bit feisty though!

Andy Roddick was definitely feisty last night. He was offering up verbal jabs with the chair umpire over first service calls. BAM! The ball slams and the line judge dodges out of the way. BAM! again!

I guess it's human nature to run away from a speeding bullet, but when it's your JOB to watch and see where the ball lands...what do you do? Andy says you need to go ahead and get hit.

What? I bet a small object traveling at 120+ MPH would hurt. Of course, that's what a line judge is paid to do. There is always a chance of being hit by a ball.

Hazard pay? Maybe.

& now Andy Murray is also having a running conversation with the chair umpire today.

Scandal? No. Of course not.

This is the game of gentlemen and ladies. I doubt there will be a rumble between the players that spills into the stands anytime soon. Fans might scramble for balls or towels thrown by players into the crowd. We can handle that!

~~J

Backlogged: RMK 2007

(originally posted at The Memphis Edge)

As I drove around town today (literally ALL around: Downtown, Midtown, East Memphis, Bartlett) I kept having to remind myself that it's February. There is a tennis tournament going on, it's pushing 70 degrees AND it's February.

Could it be because of all the hot tennis players we have in our midst?
Andy(s), Tommy, Mardy, & Venus: this means y'all!

After enjoying a wonderful evening of tennis last night (parking issues solved by my very own "chauffeur" experience in a Saturn) I can't wait to see what they have in store for us tonight. I won't be there in person (have I mentioned that already?), but I'll be glued to the television. Comcast, don't let me down.

A quick HELLO again to the person driving an "official car" down Poplar this afternoon. I waved. We're just THAT friendly here.

Predictions? I think/hope the Andy(s) (Roddick and Murray) will pull through.

~~J

Backlogged: RMK 2007

Someone once said, "Into each life some rain must fall." Look outside, I'm not kidding. It seems as if the sky is going to burst forth soon.

It might as well be ME crying, because Andy Roddick isn't going to be featured on Stadium court tonight. He will be there tomorrow, but I don't have tickets for tomorrow. What is a girl to do?

When I finally decided upon my ticket purchases I was sure that Andy would be my first "real live" tennis match. I was so intent on this that I took a week of vacation to be free to watch as much tennis as possible!

I have decided to forgive Andy, just this once, because every cloud has a sliver lining, and this cloud has TOMMY HAAS and VENUS WILLIAMS tonight!

Now I recall watching Tommy quite clearly during the U.S. Open this year. Unfortunately he lost that Quarterfinal match, but made his way into my heart. I didn't get to watch him win the RMK Championship last year (evil job!) so forgive me for missing that one, please.

Secret German Message to Tommy: Du bist Klasse!

I definitely watched last night as Venus made her comeback. WAY TO GO!

These two matches tonight have got me over the moon, despite the weather. (Now if only I can figure out the parking situation)

~~J