This article appeared in LanguedocLiving.com
by Katrina Allen
There were two big questions at the start of the tournament this year. Could Novak Djokovic regain his form and test Rafael Nadal, the “King of Clay”? And could Serena Williams possibly come back after having had her first child in September and having played only a handful of matches since then?
But the tournament turned out to be far more exciting than that, with some nail-biting matches.
Camden Riviere was here to defend his title! Fahey was very much the underdog, mostly due to the considerable age difference. You can train as much as you like but giving away nearly 20 years is a pretty tall order. Read More
photo : wikimedia commons
For the first day’s report go to Day One
What an extraordinary day’s play! Rob looked finished at the end of day one where he managed to win the first set and then appeared to run out of steam.
Today, he came out looking fresh and squeezed the first set in a tight 6-5. He then managed to take the second with a real nail-biting 6-4 which made them level at three sets all.
We get beyond our 50’s and start to collect injuries: bad backs, tennis elbow, dodgy knees, and then the eyes start to go. That bit has only hit me in the last few years and it’s depressing. Read More
and a mere club game in Bordeaux! Jacques Pouyot finishes with a winning gallery…
This article appeared in Tennis Threads, the only printed British tennis magazine.
Billie-Jean King’s name is everywhere at the moment after the film release of ‘Battle of the Sexes’.
Billie-Jean was my idol. As a junior, I modelled my whole game on hers. In fact, I still think of her when I serve. Hers was a loose and languid action.
She attacked, she screamed when she missed a volley, slamming her racket on the net cord followed by a roar of frustration. The British public were shocked at the aggression but she didn’t seem to care.
I had a couple of coaching sessions with her when I was about 13.
She told my parents “she has a nice game”. I nearly fainted.
Our paths crossed a number of times after that. Every time she saw me she’d say ‘how are ya doing? how’s ya game?’ in her American drawl. I began to think I had a double. Surely she didn’t really recognise me. But it was great kudos – my schoolmates would say ‘does she know you?’ ‘Oh yes, we go back a long way, Billie Jean and I’.
This post appeared in Stuff.co.nz and The Dominion Post
Novak Djokovic’s call for more money is right one if it goes to lower-ranked players
KATRINA ALLEN
Last updated 09:27, January 20 2018
GETTY IMAGES
OPINION: So, Novak Djokovic called a meeting of players to discuss, well we’re not really sure what exactly … there have been rumours of boycotts, breakaway unions and demands for more prize money.
“We know that homosexuality is a lust of the flesh … they too know this, this is why they want marriage, because it’s self-satisfying…my belief is marriage the bible way.”
“Transgender children are the work of the devil.”
“Tennis is full of lesbians.”
These are just a few quotes from Margaret Court, senior pastor and former Australian world No1 tennis player, in response to the country’s vote in November, on same-sex marriage.
VINCE CALIGIURI/GETTY IMAGES
Former tennis great Margaret Court whose comments on homosexuality have prompted calls for a name change for Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena.
You Cannot Be Serious
Has there ever been a good film about tennis?
John McEnroe thinks not.
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The trouble with films about tennis is that most actors just can’t play the game.
“Players” and “Wimbledon” were both murdered by hopeless attempts to look like proper players. McEnroe had a walk-on part in “Players” and regretted it, saying that tennis films were always terrible. Read More
My friend Scott Barclay’s article on that disgraceful opening ceremony. The organisers have apologised but what were they thinking?
So, Dmitrov (a.k.a Baby Fed) finally won a major title at 02 last night.
What took him so long? Girls, apparently. Lots of them. His performances off the court clearly affected his performances on it. The most high profile one was, of course, Sharapova. When asked what attracted him to her he said, “well, she’s tall and she’s blonde. What else would you want?” Err, brains, or humour maybe?? My opinion of him plummeted. Read More
Usually, I’m really sad when Wimbledon finishes but this year I was particularly sad, and not for the usual reasons. Read More
This article first appeared on Campden Hill LTC Website, May 2017.
Halle (The Gerry Weber Open) Tournament, Katrina Allen
Have you been lucky enough to see the sublime Roger Federer play live? This time last year, I hadn’t, and was pretty desperate to do so before he retired.
And then I came across William Skidelsky’s book ‘Federer and Me, a Story of an Obsession’. It’s a brilliant read, both funny and informative but, best of all, in his chapter about the German tournament in Halle, he revealed how I might realise my dream. For this is where Federer plays his Wimbledon warm-up and where he has a lifetime contract (so there’s no chance of seeing him at the rival tournament at Queen’s). And, unlike Queen’s, there’s a sliding roof so play is guaranteed in the main stadium where they naturally schedule all his matches. Read More
This article first appeared in Languedoc Living, June 2017
So, the clay court season has finished, culminating, as always, in Roland Garros, the French Open. I’m 
always rather sad when the French finishes. Gruelling rallies on the dusty clay, in the heat, over the best of five sets are exciting to watch. Wimbledon seems almost dainty in comparison. Read More
This article first appeared in Languedoc Living in June 2016
by Katrina Allen
“Get yourself to Halle” urges William Skidelsky in his excellent book “Federer and Me”.
Like the author, I am a complete Roger Federer nut. Why? Because he is the most beautiful, elegant and creative tennis player there has surely ever been. I get goose bumps just thinking about his game.
(photo: Katrina Allen)
Like a Muhammad Ali or a David Beckham, he transcends his sport, adored by people who don’t even like tennis.
Pancho Gonzales once said of Pete Sampras: “He moves on oil”. Nothing like Roger he didn’t, but then Pancho was no longer alive when Fed. really came into his own.
The Gerry Weber Open – Der Besondere Profi
THE SPECIAL PRO.
Real Tennis player, Katrina Allen, is at the GWO (The Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany) for the first time.
She was the World no. 1. She took part in the British, Australian, US and French Open tournaments in both singles and doubles and she won them all.
She isn’t a big name in tennis history but that’s because we aren’t talking about our game but a different form of tennis “the original game, invented in the 12th century by the French” explains Katrina Allen, who is working at GWO at a journalist. “It’s a complicated game with complicated rules”. But this is what inspired her. “The sport is very challenging. The court is massive, the balls hard and the wooden rackets heavy. “I loved all that” says the Londoner. Today Real Tennis is not particularly well-known and is played in only a few countries.
Katrina has come to Halle just to be at the GWO. “This tournament is like a festival. I have been at many major tennis tournaments, but none as impressive as this one. The atmosphere is great, very relaxed and informal. My main reason for coming was to see Roger Federer. He is just wonderful, an exceptional player.” Roger was the only top ten player she hadn’t seen so she has finally ticked him off her list.
by Katrina Allen.
This article first appeared in Languedoc Living in June 2016.
(photograph by Katrina Allen)
So, yet again, no French singles winner, male or female, at Roland Garros. The last man to do so was Yannick Noah, so cherished by the French, back in 1983. As for the women, the nervy and somewhat histrionic Mary Pierce won in 2000 but she was Canadian-born and raised in the States so I’m not sure that really counts. The French probably think it does as the previous winner was Francoise Durr back in 1967 and I expect they were a bit desperate. For a ‘French woman’ I’ve never heard such a deeply-entrenched American accent.
L’Equipe 20/06/2016 http://bit.ly/28InNlN
Translated by Katrina Allen
katrinaallen.co.uk
@katrinaallen21
The Queen’s Club Tournament: Andy Murray wins for the 5th time.
The Scot, Andy Murray, triumphed at Queen’s for the 5th time in his career by beating Milos Raonic on Sunday.
Murray has now overtaken several outstanding former champions: John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Boris Becker, Lleyton Hewitt and Roy Emerson, each one a four times winner. His previous triumphs were in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. This time he beat Milos Raonic (6-7, 6-4, 6-3 in 2h12) in the final. The match didn’t start well for the Scot (a recent finalist at Roland Garros). Everything rested on the serve in the first set and the Canadian’s was impenetrable (72% on his first serve) and Murray, although fairly strong himself in this department, lost it in the tie-break.
Lendl left before the prize-giving
Raonic was the more rested of the two players, having had quick wins in his previous two matches, whereas Murray struggled over three sets in his quarter final against Edmund and then against Cilic in the semis. Raonic forged on, going 3-0 up in the second set. And then his game started breaking down. A few moments of doubt, particularly on the volley, (3/10 in the second set), producing just two aces, and the world no. 9 lost his way. Murray, always solid on the serve, was rewarded each time in his six approaches to the net. As Murray started reading the ball better, the Canadian couldn’t come up with any solutions. Murray got back to 2-3 and then romped away with the match. He won 5 games in a row to go 5-3 up and pocketed the set at the first time of asking.
In a flawless display, Murray broke in the first game of the third set and closed it out on his third match point. This is the British man’s 37th career title. Since the beginning of this tournament, Ivan Lendl has been re-appointed as Murray’s coach while Lendl’s old rival John McEnroe was in the other player’s box, as Raonic’s new coach. For some strange reason, as Murray lifted the trophy, Lendl disappeared from sight. No matter. Andy Murray did what he had to and can go into Wimbledon in a week’s time with confidence.
From the viewing gallery (the “dedans”)
This article first appeared in Languedoc Living in July 2016
Davis Cup Tennis Quarter Final tie : France vs Great Britain, The Queen’s Club, London. 17-19 July 2015
By Katrina Allen
Best of 5 matches. Two singles, one doubles.
The Davis Cup tie was held at The Queen’s Club in London, venue for the AEGON tournament, the Wimbledon warm-up event, which is also known as “the suit and tie tournament” because that’s how members think one should dress to watch sport.
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