Here is the actual two-page layout…

http://papeldigital.info/lt/?2011120401#107

Sebastian Carrizo: When your interest in Marcelo Ríos was born? Why?

Scoop Malinowski: “1995 U.S. Open first-round match vs. Thomas Enqvist. Though he lost in the fifth set tiebreaker, Rios played tennis like a wizard and looked an inner city gang member at the same time. It was a fascinating spectacle.”

Sebastian Carrizo: What feature of his playing highlights Ríos?

Scoop Malinowski: “He’s a magician, a maverick and an artist when at his best.”

Sebastian Carrizo: What part of Ríos’ life draws your attention? Some special event, a phrase, a conflict?

Scoop Malinowski: “How he entered the world of tennis and conquered it with his own way. His style and character brought something new and different to tennis. He refused to conform to tennis and forced tennis to conform to him. Also maybe I see a part of myself in Rios.”

Sebastian Carrizo: Who are the most prominent interviewees in your book?

Scoop Malinowski: “Many. Roger Federer. Rafael Nadal. Brad Gilbert. Marat Safin. Peter Lundgren. Mats Wilander. Luke Jensen. Michael Joyce. Nick Bollettieri. Michael Chang. Jan Michael Gambill. But some of the most revealing anecdotes came from the most unexpected sources. However, I’m disappointed to say that this past U.S. Open I had the chance to ask Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and John McEnroe about Rios as they were near my person however I passed on the opportunity.”

Sebastian Carrizo: What trait of Rios is repeated among the testimonies?

Scoop Malinowski: “Misunderstood. Genius. Talented. Contradictory. Strong character. Crazy!”

Sebastian Carrizo: What did Roger Federer say about Ríos?

Scoop Malinowski: “I spoke with Roger Federer a few times briefly. The first time I ever talked to him was in 1999 and for his favorite players to watch, he mentioned Rios, remarking that he had a different style game. Then more recently he said how he is an admirer of Rios.”

Sebastian Carrizo: Who were the most critical with Ríos? What did he/she say?

Scoop Malinowski: “Ilie Nastase called Rios the ‘worst prick’ he ever met. Somebody later told me that Nastase had once approached Rios in the locker room at the French Open and asked for an autograph by him for a niece or nephew. Apparently Rios rejected Nastase’s request which upset the Romanian legend.”

Sebastian Carrizo: When will be the book available in Chile? When will it be translated into Spanish?

Scoop Malinowski: “The English version is available now at amazon.com. I hope to translate it to Spanish and make it available next year.”

Sebastian Carrizo: Have you had any contact with Rios since the publication of the book? What did he say?

Scoop Malinowski: “I have not had any contact with Rios since 1999 when we did a short interview which appeared in the American publication Tennis Magazine.

Sebastian Carrizo: Which is the place of Ríos in tennis history?

Scoop Malinowski: “He was the best player in the world. The critics can say he underachieved or he never won a Grand Slam but they can’t deny that Rios was the ATP #1 player for six weeks in 1998.”

Sebastian Carrizo: Who where the most difficult-to-reach interviewee?

Scoop Malinowski: “Larry Stefanki. I tried to get him to talk numerous times, approaching him in person at 2010 US Open, on phone, email, and then again one last time in Key Biscayne this year, in person again. But he refused to talk about Rios. I sensed he still has some bitterness for Rios.”

Sebastian Carrizo: What did Guillermo Vilas told you about Marcelo Ríos? There is some like a battle between Rios and Vilas, because Rios told one time that he was more succesful than the Argentinean because he reach #1 and Vilas didn’t.

Scoop Malinowski: “I spoke with Vilas at the US Open. He has much respect for Rios’ career and strong personality type. I still remember his exact words about people trying to converse with Rios, “You don’t give candy to a lion.”

Sebastian Carrizo: What did Nick Bolletieri told about Marcelo? Marcelo’s daughter, Constanza, is now training at Bolletieri’s camp. She have also played some youth tournaments defending both Costa Rica and Chile.

Scoop Malinowski: “Nick was a great interview as I’m sure you know. Nick shared many memorable anecdotes, one example was the time in Germany when Rios beat Agassi in the final of the Grand Slam Cup in Munich and won the million dollar prize. Nick said Rios, who could be frugal sometimes, tried to not pay him his coaching fee, because Rios reasoned that the Grand Slam Cup was not part of the regular ATP Tour. LOL. But ultimately Rios did pay Nick. The first time I was at the IMG Academy two years ago Constanza was there practicing and I took a few photos of her. She was very smooth and fluid and also a lefty. Nick said about her, “She’s excellent. No, no…she’s BETTER THAN EXCELLENT!” Nick clearly has high respect for young Constanza’s skills on the court.”

Sebastian Carrizo: What other anecdote/story do you remember about Marcelo and who told you?

Scoop Malinowski: “Mike Nakajima, an executive with Nike, was and still is a good friend of Rios. Mike told me about the night Marcelo became #1 in Miami, the whole group, Marcelo and friends went out for dinner at a steakhouse in Miami. Here’s the excerpt:

“1998 when he became #1 in Key Biscayne. I’m going out to have dinner with a group of people, with Marcelo, to a steakhouse in Miami. I was sitting with Chris Chandler, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback – I believe Larry Stefanki’s sister is Chris Chandler’s wife. We’re on one end, playing 80’s one hit wonder songs. In the middle of the table was Rios with his group. One guy was there at the restaurant, draped with a Chilean flag. Every ten minutes the guy would stand up and would chant that, Chile-Chile-Chile! Okay, we know you’re from Chile. In the middle of the dinner, Rios gets up to go to use the bathroom. And the guy gets up and follows him. Then Rios comes back to our table. And says to Chris, You gotta help. I punched this guy. He cold-cocked him. We go into the bathroom and the guy is out cold. Chris Chandler said, You don’t need my help [smiles].”

DOB: October 16, 1992 In: Annandale, Virginia

Early Tennis Memory: “That would be hitting at my local courts with my mom. I’d go out maybe three times a week; I’d just enjoy hitting the ball. I remember I’d be out there an hour-and-a-half and enjoying whacking the ball around.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Probably Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Just really enjoy watching them compete and how they handle themselves on the court. I think they’re great role models and sportsmen to represent the sport of tennis.”

Nicknames: “Usually Mitch, The Machine, Robo Frank — those are the three.”

Favorite Movies: “Probably Batman: The Dark Knight and Old School.”

Last Book Read: “Right now I’m reading Rafa. I actually like it a lot. Really interesting. I’d recommend it for anyone to read.”

Current Car: “I don’t have a car. My sister and I share a Camry.”

Greatest Sports Moment (so far): “That’s a tough one… probably getting to compete at all four of the majors in juniors. Getting the chance to see what it’s like to experience the highest level of the sport, not only as a junior but from a professional standpoint.”

Most Painful Moment: “I went to the [2010] Australian Open for juniors and lost in the third round 8-6 in the third set, to the guy who ended up winning (Tiago Fernandes of Brazil). To have that 26-hour flight back to think about the match, that was obviously a tough one to drop.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I would say probably Denis Kudla is one, I mean, he’s a really tough competitor. Second I would say…maybe Jack Sock. I think he competes well. I’ve seen him come back from a lot of tough matches.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Definitely football, to watch and play.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I remember being in Mexico [at the 2008 Yucatan World Cup] and I was playing well, I made a good run to the quarterfinal. I played the No. 1 seed in my first-ever night match. And I really got beat easily by this guy in front of like a thousand people. It was quick. It was on TV. It was pretty embarrassing for me. (Who was the opponent?) Guillaume Rufin. He’s 170 [in the world] now. So maybe he was a good player.”

Best You Ever Felt On Court: “I was playing Evan King in the finals in Carson (2009), and we were both playing well. I felt I could not miss a ball. I felt amazing, really enjoyed that match. That’s the one that sticks out in my mind the most.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Federer, Nadal. I like watching Murray, I think he constructs the game very well. He plays different than everyone else. He really slows the match down. I probably have a little of that in me, so I really enjoy watching him play. (Women’s player?) It probably was Justine Henin. I felt she played a real all-court game, constantly out there fighting for points. I felt she worked really hard to get her success.”

Strangest Match: “I was in Brazil [at the 2009 Banana Bowl]. My first-ever match on red clay. I was down 6-1 5-1 and 40-15 against this Austrian dirtballer [Tristan-Samuel Weissborn]. I came back and found a way to win. That was the strangest match, just to have everything turn like that. (How did you turn it around?) He was crushing me in the stadium. He had two match points. On the first he tried to hit a winner that missed. Then he tried to kind of toy with me and I ended up passing him. I thought, Okay, there’s no way I’m losing, he’s not even locked in here. I ended up playing really solid. Just got like really locked-in mentally and physically, willing to be out there as long as it took.”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “I really enjoy the sport itself. It has kind of a mystique to it. I just always enjoy hitting the ball, how the players move and compete. There’s a lot of stuff going on with the players. Yet they’re so focused and tunnel-visioned in on the match.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “In general, I like to see toughness… The willingness to learn. I like people who are willing to experience what’s around them, to see what’s out there. People who try to care and help each other. That’s what we’re here for.”

Scoop Malinowski created the Biofile interview in 1992. He is the author of “Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew” which is now available at Amazon.com.

Novak Djokovic: “The feeling of winning a match or winning a tournament. The feeling of winning a tennis match is irreplaceable.”

Roger Federer: “I guess, you know, it’s myself to blame if I win or lose, which I kind of like. And that it’s one on one, or if you like, in doubles two on two. But there’s a distance, so there’s always a lot of fair play. There’s no ugly plays in that way. Good sport to watch on TV. Good sport to watch live. It’s athletic and has a bit of everything. I think it’s really nice.”

Justin Gimelstob: “I think tennis is the greatest sport in the world. Because, first of all, it’s based on merit on the court. It’s a combination of physical, mental, technical and tactical skills. It’s one on one. It’s international. And it’s just a great feeling hitting that ball cleanly and purely.”

Xavier Malisse: “It’s a nice game to come out here and play. It’s a different sport, it’s one on one, it’s physical, it’s mental. It’s just a great feeling to be out there on the court and just grind it out.”

Bethanie Mattek-Sands: “It’s something I like because I’m good at it. I don’t like to do things that I’m not good at. Like, I would be the person, I would literally go practice before I do something. Just like kinda be good at it – I’m not a big, First time if I suck, oh well. Like, I hate to be bad at stuff. So the fact that I’m good at it. And it’s something – there’s always a next tournament. The individuality of it is great. I played team sports when I was younger. I did okay [laughs]. Got a little mad at my teammates if they weren’t up to standards. So I think tennis suited me well. But I like playing in crowded stadiums. I think that’s the coolest part. To see the crowd get into it. Everybody having a good time. Playing a great match. Me and my opponent playing high level tennis. And it’s just a great match. I think that’s the best feeling you can get. It’s just competition.”

Jelena Jankovic: “I love playing tennis. I love competing. Being in front of crowds and winning matches. And I love the fact when you work hard and then you go and sometimes when you win tournaments, you lift the trophy, the hard work has paid off. And many things as well. I get to travel the world, I get to meet different people, see different cultures. So all of this, it’s kind of, you get all of this when you are a professional tennis player.”

Samantha Stosur: “I just always have. I think it’s a great life and I’m able to do something that I love to do. So whether it’s competing out on the court or seeing different places around the world or meeting new people, I think whoever can do this is very fortunate.”

Rafael Nadal: “I love the competition. Yeah. I love the support in general, all the sports. Tennis is my sport. So I like the tennis and especially I love the competition.”

Jiim Courier: “I get to chase a yellow ball around the court. It’s a game. I’ve always loved playing games as a kid. Anything with a ball, I was very happy to be doing. And tennis turned out to be my calling. And the best part of it is it’s a sport that I can now play at 40 years of age and play for fun and competitively. And also, if I live long enough, to sort of be 75 and 80 and still be able to go out and play with my friends, and have fun doing it. So I think the opportunity to be able to play something that you loved for your entire life is something that I love about tennis the most.”

Aravane Rezai: “I think my destiny was to play tennis before I was born. Because my brother before me was playing tennis and my dad decided to bring me on the court. Why I love tennis is because I love to compete and that’s why I like tennis.”

Vijay Armritraj: “Tennis is something that I enjoyed immensely. I had great passion for it. It was a form of entertainment that I could never substitute. It gave me more in my life that I could have possibly imagined. Whatever education I could have possibly had. And if I had to change anything over my career, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Thomas Johansson: “It’s an individual sport if you win. You have yourself to give credit and if you lose, you have yourself to blame. But I love the fact, between two players, it’s almost like boxing, you’re alone out there. But it’s still a nice sport and a fair game, that’s why I like it.”

Adrian Mannarino: “I think it’s a really interesting sport. We move a lot on the court, we need to have good tactic, technique. I think that maybe the main reason that I love the sport is because I’m good at it [laughs]. I like to win. I’m a good competitor. Yep. Maybe that. The love of the win [smiles].”

Jonas Bjorkman: “I don’t play much now. I stopped, more or less, competitively. It’s been two years now. I just started to hit on my own and practice. I mean, I play sponsor tennis. But that’s about it, more or less. I haven’t had time to play any for my own interest. And I didn’t really have any intent to play as well. Once I was finished, it was such a nice feeling not to practice, not to go to the gym, to run. I loved it because it was something that I started very young. And it’s all about winning. I think the passion of being out there and trying to win matches. The atmosphere around the court, for me, obviously, it’s you have to go in and do your job and try to win on court 18. But your goal was always to try to be on the show courts. And play in front of the big crowds. That was the passion and the love for the game – to go out there and try to perform in front of the big crowds. It was so much fun to be out there and try to win those matches. For me it was mostly try to find the way to win the matches. I mean, sometimes you go out and play with one game. If that didn’t work, you have to find a way to win and that could be plan B or plan C. If that worked, it was great. If it didn’t, at least you tried your hardest and tried to find ways to win. So, for sure, the excitement on the big court was something you felt was great.”

Bud Collins: “As a kid, I loved hearing the balls hit the racquet. The tennis courts by my home – that would be my wake-up call. And then finally I got to play. It was just a nice feeling to be out there running, to be hitting the ball. To be getting better. And being able to play almost anywhere I went.”

Mats Wilander: “It changes every day. (Many reasons?) No, it’s only one reason every time. They’re different every time. Sometimes it’s competing. Sometimes it’s hitting balls. Sometimes it’s the nervousness that it brings. Very rarely is it all three at the same time. Except when you are 22-years-old and you’re on the cusp of breaking through and being one of the best players in the world. And all three are at the same time.”

Guillermo Canas: “I think it’s a great sport. I love to play tennis. It’s my passion. I don’t play anymore and I still love this sport. I think it’s great. It’s incredible. You take the position. You’re alone. You’re there competing with someone else. It’s a great sport, I love it.”

Francesca Schiavone: “It was thinking, that space is just mine. I can decide, I can do everything that I want. Because when I play, I feel comfortable. I can enjoy and inspire myself on the court.”

Kim Clijsters: “I love the variety of tennis. I think that’s something I’ve always enjoyed. It’s never the same. That’s something I sayt to my coach and trainer – always have variety. What I’ve learned over the years – I need to have it mixed up. And I like the challenge of a lot of different players. And always trying to improve and physically trying to become better and stronger. In a world where people always try to compare everybody to everybody, but I feell like I’ve always been really good at not doing that. And just focusing on myself. And not comparing to anybody else. And do try to be the best Kim out there. And not worry about other things.”

Peng Shuai: “Well, when I was young I didn’t love it. Now I think I love it more than before. I think it brings me a lot of happiness but also a lot of tough times and sad. They are kind of together. I feel in the court, to play the match, a lot of time you are thinking how to play the opponent. I just love this game. Even if I lose, I really want to enjoy this short tennis career..

Murphy Jensen: “Why do I love playing tennis? It’s what I’ve always done. That’s one reason. I’ve been playing since I was basically spoonfed tennis. But I like it because it’s given me a life beyond my wildest dreams. It’s kind of a loaded question. Because I could answer it 20 different ways. And then, on the court, physically, it’s wonderful. I stay in shape. It’s an art and a tap dance. Play with the ball. It’s really a beautiful sport. And it’s the only thing I have found where I must – if I can – stay in the moment. You have to be in the moment. Coaches can say you have to think three shots ahead. Baloney. Because if you don’t get the serve in the box, there’s no next shot. Just bouncing the ball that moment, just every shudder of time or whatever, that moment is everything. I love that about tennis. I’m doing deep on you. That’s what I’ve been into lately. I woke up the other day, I was hitting balls and playing the match. And I had to be in that moment. I didn’t really know that till I stepped away from the game for a while Started playing a lot again. And it was blowing my mind. This is really cool. A war could be going on. But on that tennis court, I feel safe and protected. That’s a pretty cool place to be.”

Luke Jensen: “To be honest, whether it’s a park, whether it’s a final of a slam or anything, I just like winning. I like going out there and someone’s gonna win, someone’s gonna lose. It doesn’t matter what you’re ranked, doesn’t matter what your age is, spin the racquet and it starts up, zero-zero. And someone’s gonna serve and someone’s gonna return. At the end of the entire contest, if you’ve put in the entire effort and you’ve put in the right tactics and you executed it, you’ve got a shot to win. And, to me, it’s about putting it on the line. And no one can pull you off the court, there’s no politics, it’s raw, it’s out there, it’s real. And it’s the best thing of all time. Once you leave that arena, it’s political, it’s who’s popular, it’s who you know. It’s not so clear. And this game is extremely clear. You’re winning or you’re losing.”

Ht: 5-7 3/4 Wt: 143

DOB: March 30, 1984 In: Brisbane, Australia

Nicknames: Sammy, Samoid.

Tennis Inspirations: “Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I like trying to surf – I’m not very good but I enjoy it. I like just hanging out with friends.”

Favorite Movie: “Oh god, probably Love Actually.”

Musical Tastes: “Just kind of rock, pop, Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty, all that sort of thing.”

First Job: “Tennis player [laughs].”

First Car: “A Nissan 180SX (red).”

Early Tennis Memory: “Probably just playing down at the park with my brother. And playing the Saturday afternoon fixtures down in Adelaide. It’s like afternoon competition, just teams against each other around the region.”

Favorite Meal: “Probably pasta. (Put anything on it?) Probably varies. Lots of different things [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “A bit nervous. Just getting ready, pumped up, trying to stay calm and not get too nervous.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “A few years ago in New Haven a ball came over the net and then went back over to the other side and hit our opponent before we could hit it. So that was a bit strange, it never happened to me before. That was a bit funny at the time [smiles]. (Who did it hit?) Nicole Pratt.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning the U.S. Open. And probably winning mixed doubles at the Australian Open (with Scott Draper in 2005).”

Most Painful Moment: “Losing in the final at the French Open.”

Favorite Tournament: “Australian Open.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Don’t know, can’t remember.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Oh god, probably just the Aussies.”

Funniest Player Encountered: “Francesca Schiavone is pretty funny. She’s a bit of a clown out there.”

Toughest Competitors: “Probably one of the Williams girls. Or Lindsay Davenport.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Roger Federer and Andre Agassi.”

Favorite Vacation: “Anywhere with a beach.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honest, funny and easy going.”

Roger is focused as always and doesn’t talk so much during the hitting but Fish is more vocal. He says, “Sorry Roj,” twice after misses. And “Nice shot Roj” after a sweet stroke.

It’s rather windy today. Fish comments to himself, I think, ” This wind is bad.”

They take breaks every ten minutes or so and sit down together on the chairs to the right of the umpire stand. Their coaches and entourage guys – Severin Luthi, Paul Annacone, David Nainkin, and a few others I don’t recognize, stand around them respectfully as they chat. All I can think of is, wow, these guys are just as in awe of Fish and Federer as us onlookers. To be among the top 10 players in the world at the sport of tennis…these guys are simply marvels sitting on their blue and white wooden canvas thrones.

It’s very windy today on the court and at one break time, Federer mentions a match where it was really windy and he tells a story about it but I can’t quite hear all the details. Then Fish shares a tennis/wind-related memory.

They change sides, Fish comments, “Now I’m on the good side.”

Annacone instructs what he wants to be done and the Fish team complies easily. They play a game to 15, where the returner of the feed has to hit an attack shot and go to the net. They alternate who feeds who first. Fish jumps out to a 5-2 lead but Fed soon levels it at 5. Roger hits a vintage forehand winner down the line and adds a “Come on!” for an explanation point. He doesn’t really smile when he says it, he’s serious. It’s as if the great one’s competitive juices flow, even in simple practice drills like this. It’s light-hearted but critical at the same time. Hitting shots like that are still thrilling, even for a champion like Federer.

Fish then connects on a forehand crosscourt winner passing shot by Roger with no more than two inches of net clearance. Roger smiles and says,” Whaaat??!”

Then Roger hits a perfect winning volley and states, “That’s a South African” but I’m not sure why. Fish clearly likes the brilliance of the shot and quickly adds, “Rafter.”

Fish is really enjoying this session of hitting with the Great Federer, the reverence and respect is so apparent to the eye and ear, and the tone of voice he speaks to Roger with. It’s almost like he’s hosting Roger at his home and he goes out of his way to entertain Mr. Federer.

Fish ends up winning the game to 15.

After the last shot before the next rest, Federer holds the ball and pretends to shoot it as a basketball as he tosses it to the net. Fish notices this and states simply, “Kobe.”

Then as they sit, Fish begins to discuss basketball. “Sharapova’s guy Sasha Vujucic, is a really nice guy,” says Fish, then launching into a story about some hooper from Stanford who played pro in Europe and Fed listens, quite himself enjoying the company of Fish. I can’t hear all of what Fish talks about. Then Fish changes the topic and begins to talk about K-Swiss, their offices in California – I believe he said Thousand Oaks. Fish explains to Roger how K-Swiss has “two players in the top ten now, me and Monfils.” But I can hear he pronounces Monfils as “Mon-fills.”

Fish seems very pleased with K-Swiss as he describes how open-minded the company is to suggestions and innovations. He says you can give K-Swiss any shorts you like and ask them to make them similar. You can also give them a material you like and they will use the same fabric. You tell them you play better in them and they listen. It was very interesting to hear Fish sing the praises of his attire company to Roger Federer who as we all know wears Nike.

The last conversation I heard was about some kind of feed ball tournaments they hold, I believe in California. Nainkin explained it but I couldn’t quite hear the details, from my seat by the right baseline side. Fish added, “Gavin (Rossdale) plays, Gavin plays.”

Nainkin adds with a smile, “Guys miss feeds sometimes.”

Fish adds again, “Spadea won it. Ten grand to win.”

Nainkin mentions Philip King.

But I look up at the clock in Ashe and it’s 1:59. I have to get up go and meet the friend-girl. It was an awesome, unforgettable experience to watch two great players and class champions like Mardy Fish and Roger Federer having fun during their practice session at the 2011 U.S. Open…

Scoop Malinowski’s book about “Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew” will be available at amazon.com in September.

Tennis Inspirations: “A lot of guys. I try to take something from every player – Agassi, Sampras, Rafter.”

Hobbies/Interests: “I have lots of hobbies. I like life so, maybe my best hobby is fishing. I like music, being with my friends.”

Favorite Movies: “Lord of the Rings.”

Favorite TV Shows: “I don’t watch TV too much, so.”

Musical Tastes: “Everything.”

Last Book Read: “DaVinci Code.”

First Tennis Memory: “Final, Davis Cup, between Sweden and France. I watched it on TV. I remember the last match, it was (Nicklas) Kulti against (Arnaud) Boetsch and it was unbelievable. Both players finished with cramps. It was unbelievable.”

Favorite Meal: “Meal from Congo – it’s like chicken with peanut butter.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Pre-Match Feeling/Mindset: “To think of my game. Visualize my game and how it’s gotta be.”

Favorite Non-Tennis Sport To Watch: “Basketball.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning the Paris title in Bercy. Also my victory in juniors at U.S. Open.”

Most Painful Moment: “My injury five years ago – my back. And I was out for two years.”

Favorite Tournaments: “U.S. Open. Because I won juniors. I like New York. People enjoy to watch us, so it’s good in New York.”

Favorite Players To Watch Today: “Maybe Nadal.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils, Marcos Baghdatis.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “For me, because he’s my friend, it’s Gael Monfils. I’ve known him since we are kids. (What is it about him?) There is a lot of expression to his face [smiles]. So, for me, it’s funny. But maybe for someone else it’s not funny.”

Toughest Competitor: “Federer.”

Funny Memory: “Against Ancic in Bercy three years ago. Because I serve a big serve and he put his racquet out and the racquet broke at the middle of the racquet. So, for me, it was funny because I serve a big serve and he was like this – with a broke racquet. I think he broke the racquet before he play with it. When he hit the ball it go BOOM!”

Last Vacation: “Was in France, La Baule.”

Best You Ever Felt on Court: “Winning Paris (indoors in ’08). Australian Open final last year. Three years ago against Feliciano Lopez. Everything I did on the court it was easy.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Generous.”

Henri Leconte: “I like to watch Federer, of course. Because he can do whatever he wants.”

Akiko Morigami: “I think he’s like the God of tennis.”

Wladimir Klitschko: “Roger Federer, he’s the champion. Tennis is a great sport. And if you meet, personally, those big guys like Roger Federer, you’re just so inspired, and following and looking at it. And it’s amazing that he just keeps on winning and keeps winning, which is not common in sport. I met him personally two years ago in Germany at an awards gala. He’s very handsome and very, very down to earth guy. And I think as a person, he’s not complicated. And just a real nice person. And he told me he’s a Klitschko fan, he watched my fights of me and my brother. He said he definitely wants to come to the fights.”

Richard Evans: “Hall of Famer Frew McMillan on BBC Radio and John Parsons in the London Daily Telegraph were two shrewd observers who stuck obstinately to the belief that Federer would ultimately come through, and both tipped him for the title before Wimbledon began. And when he won, Federer was not the only one in tears. McMillan was too. For those of us who have a deep love for this beautiful game, seeing it so beautifully played strikes an emotional chord.”

John McEnroe: “Federer plays tennis the way I dreamed of playing. He could be the most talented player I’ve ever seen, someone who comes along only every 10 or 20 years. If you want to be a tennis player, then mold yourself on Roger Federer. I won three Wimbledon titles and I wish I could play like him.”

Roger: “I remember always loving to play against the cupboards, against the doors at home. With any kind of ball…soft ball, tennis ball. My mom always got upset at me, because, Bang, bang, bang!, all day long [smiles].”

Tracy Austin: “I’ve never enjoyed watching someone playing tennis as much as Federer. I’m just in awe. Pete Sampras was wonderful but he relied so much on his serve, whereas Roger has it all, he’s just so graceful, elegant and fluid – a symphony in tennis whites.”

Martina Navratilova: “I’ve been asked who I would pay to watch to play tennis, and Roger would be one of the few.”

Fabrice Santoro: “I like Roger Federer to beat the record of 14 in Grand Slams. To beat this record, to win three more. So I’m always very happy when he goes through a Grand Slam. He’s a very good guy on the court, he’s fun to watch, and he’s a great guy off the court.”

Roger: “I used to carry on like an idiot, I was getting kicked out of practice sessions non-stop when I was 16. Then after winning junior Wimbledon (in ’98) people were coming up to me and telling me I was going to be the next great player. But at first I wasn’t mentally strong enough and I found myself getting frustrated when things didn’t go my way.”

Rene Stauffer, author of “The Roger Federer Story: Quest For Perfection”: “When I first saw Roger Federer play tennis when he was a 15-year-old, I didn’t think that I would even write his name in my newspaper, let alone a book about him.”

Marcelo Rios: “When I was retiring from the ATP circuit (2003) he was only playing serve and volley. He didn’t play that well from the baseline back then. Now he just won his fifth Wimbledon from the baseline and that shows that he is a really complete player. I think Federer is the best player and he is going to be the best player ever and hopefully he will.”

Bjorn Borg: “Federer is a complete tennis player. He is an artist on the court and to beat him at Wimbledon in the best of five sets is almost an impossible task. I think and hope that Roger will equal my record this year – it could not happen to a better person. He has achieved so many great things in tennis and if he stays clear of injuries, stays motivated and continues at the same pace as he is doing, he will definitely be the greatest player of all time.”

Roger: “I remember this moment when I was playing Safin in Rome one time, and they were showing highlights after the match and sort of trying to say who was better in throwing racquets. And then I really started to realize this is not why I’m playing tennis, to be in a competition of who’s throwing the racquet more nicely [smiles].”

Tiger Woods: “Yeah, Roger came out and watched the back nine. We had dinner last night on the boat. He’s obviously playing this week (at Key Biscayne). But it’s great to have him out here. I think he’s a wonderful supporter of golf, and I think it’s pretty neat when you have probably the most dominant athlete on the planet out there in your gallery…Tennis is (more difficult to win at than golf) in the sense that if you’re physically dominant, you can dominate somebody. In our sport, you can’t physically dictate what somebody else is going to do. You can’t all of a sudden hit a drive out there past him and say, okay, I win the hole. That doesn’t happen. So a person who actually is more physically gifted and physically dominant can actually just overpower somebody, and that just does not happen in our sport. So it’s a little bit more difficult in that sense, golf-wise. But what he’s done, you know, over the last three years, no one’s ever done…He plays (golf), yeah. He played for a number of years and then got a rib injury for a while and he thought it was caused by golf, so he quit playing golf for a little bit and that’s when his tennis took off. But he’s playing a little bit more now, starting to get into it again and absolutely loves it. His mom is a hell of a player, she shoots in the 70′s all the time, so it’s in the family.”

Roger: “It’s totally different now from the beginning. In the beginning you’re trying to feel your way into the Tour, trying to look for friends, trying to understand the way it runs. You know, trying to get to know the center courts, the fans, how does the whole thing work. By the time you find out, you’re in the early twenties and then the pressure builds up on you. Through the media, they want you to have results and everything, so you’re more thinking about these things. Whereas now, I really concentrate on how I need to get ready for a tournament. I know exactly what to expect. So it’s a whole lot easier now than it used to be.”

Stefan Edberg: “I think he can go another couple of years dominating the game with what he’s got. There’s really only one or two things that can stop him – obviously an injury, or something personal to happen. But if that doesn’t happen, he’s going to continue to dominate. In a way, it’s quite nice to see because he plays such beautiful tennis. It’s really beautiful to watch. I quite like the way Federer plays the game.”

Pete Sampras: “It’s nice to watch him, he’s a smooth player, pleasant to watch, easy on the eyes. It seems like he wants it, kind of like I did. One of the misconceptions was that I wasn’t competitive, I wasn’t ‘mean.’ But I just showed it in a different way. And I think he has some of that in him too. Roger’s got that mentality, that even keel. He doesn’t get too high or too low. That helps when you want to be the best player in the world, no doubt.”

Boris Becker: “I am convinced he will win many more Wimbledons, U.S. Opens and other Grand Slam titles. In a way, he has old fashioned technique. He does not just play heavy top spin, he’s very versatile. He can serve and volley, he can stay back, he can slice, he can play drop shots. He plays like they used to, like Ilie Nastase. He plays all the shots of tennis and that’s something we don’t really see anymore. He’s amazing, he’s just incredible. And if he stays healthy and motivated, he is the kind of guy that can overtake the greatest. I also like how Federer is very popular with other players and with the media. He is a very sociable guy.”

Rod Laver: “Roger’s got too many shots, too much talent in one body. It’s hardly fair that one person can do all this — his backhands, his forehands, volleys, serving, his court position…the way he moves around the court, you feel like he’s barely touching the ground, and that’s the sign of a great champion. And his anticipation, I guess, is the one thing that we all admire.”

Rene Stauffer: “This is a guy who buys drinks for photographers and thanks reporters who show up to his press conferences. Roger lives that saying: ‘It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice.”

Roger: “It’s not so much the pressure of being #1, it’s more the time, you have less time. Everybody wants to talk with you, ask you questions, there’s always something going on, something to do. Once I’m on the court, that’s not so much the pressure. That’s the easy part. It’s what I love to do.”

Martina Hingis: “We never played together during our younger days however, I do remember that he was my ball boy at one of the Basel tournaments (laughs). That was funny. The only time we played together was at the Hopman Cup a few years ago. We won when we played together. He was a great partner. I get to see him play fairly often. Whenever I switch on the TV, you see Roger playing. I love to see him play.”

Sjeng Schalken: “I like him as a person and I like him as a sportsman.”

Lisa: “I work in the players lounge cafeteria (at U.S. Open), and we all agree many of the players are kind of spoiled, they get everything done for them, they get limo rides to the hotels, they get pampered here, massages before and after matches, they get their clothes washed, and many of them aren’t very nice to us, they don’t talk with us. Federer is nice though. He is one of the only ones I can say is nice. Yeah, I like Federer.”

Andy Roddick: “He’s so talented, some of the things he does out there, you wonder, Is this humanly possible? I’m sure every time he walks out on court, he feels like he’s going to win…I almost wish I could hate him but I can’t, he’s too nice.”

Greg Norman: “I’m a huge Roger fan. Obviously because of his grace and perfection of the game. Watching him hit a backhand is like standing there looking at the Mona Lisa all the time – it’s almost perfect. So, in sport, you always get these one-every-thousand-year athletes – we’ve seen it in golf with Nicklaus, and we’ve seen it in tennis with probably Roger Federer right now. And if you have the opportunity to see him live and what he can do – it’s totally different live than it is on TV, there’s no question about it. And seeing him more than once live…he’s just an incredible talent.”

Roger: “I just like to watch tennis. If I’m flipping through the channels and see a match – really no matter who is playing – I just like the game very much. One player I would really like to watch is Bjorn Borg because I never really had the chance to see him when he was at his best. And from what I’ve seen and heard, he is a very special player. And obviously a great champion.”

Serena Williams: “I wish I could play like Roger Federer. Roger is just, like, unbelievable…he’s just so perfect out there.”

Marat Safin: “He’s a magician.”

Gaston Gaudio: “He’s a genius.”

Tennis blogger: “Pure, rich, dripping and abundant talent. I have never seen that much of it ever, since boxer Muhammad Ali and soccer player Pele. Although I have seen videos of the latter two, witnessing it first hand from Federer is like an out-of-body experience. If you have not seen him in action in person, you are not just depriving yourself of tennis genius, but also of absolute beauty in its purest form. If you admire anything beautiful, you don’t need to know the mechanics of the form it is in, to appreciate it. Like, you don’t have to be a boxing fan, to enjoy the arsenal of shots and more importantly how effortlessly and elegantly they are executed, in the ring by Muhammad Ali. If you love beauty and grace, you cannot miss it irrespective of the form and character it manifests itself in. If you have not already done it, go out and buy the ticket to Federer’s next match. It doesn’t matter if you are a tennis fan or not. You are not going out to watch a tennis match, you are watching genius at work – a once in a lifetime kind of euphoria. It is not everyday that a genius is born. History is proof that the medium through which that genius is expressed is irrelevant. It is a spectacle to behold even for a layman.”

Danny Casesa (U.S. Open ballperson): “Federer was playing a match against Marcos Baghdatis and he turned around and said, ‘I’m so fucking off!!’ So I turn around to the line judge and I say, ‘I wish I was that fucking off.’ And I kinda guess I said it louder than I guess I should have. And then he ended up hearing me and turned around and said, Thank you. Anyway, the guy in the middle of a match, he didn’t need to turn around and say anything. Just the fact he acknowledged what I said and was still nice about it.”

Richard Pagliaro: “I remember a few years back interviewing him one-on-one at the United Nations about 20 minutes before he was going out to speak to the entire United Nations and he was so relaxed. I asked him to sign the Tennis Week cover from when he won Wimbledon, the ‘Federer Express’ cover and he looks at it and smiles and said ‘Yeah, I love this cover! This is my favorite one.’ I thought that was cool, plus the fact he actually does every press conference in three languages – English, Swiss-German and French, so he actually spends three times more than any other top player talking to the media.”

Roger, when asked, Is there a secret to your success?: “I guess not, no. Hard work and belief that I can win every match I play. I’ve come a long way. I never thought I’ll ever play so well and dominate tennis. I’m just really having a great time.”

Stefan Koubek, on his tennis inspirations: “The first one was Boris Becker. Then I switched to Michael Chang and Agassi. And, right now, there’s only one, he’s a good friend of mine, but he’s the best player in the world, which is Roger Federer. To watch him every time is something nice. Just to watch him play is amazing.”

Danai Udomchoke: “I want him to make the record (of 15 total Grand Slams). I want him to win the French Open also. He’s a good guy. He’s a very good guy. He’s very nice guy and he talk to everyone and he remember everyone. We are same age and then we play junior together. Once I play him, but in doubles, when we were like 16, 17. (Who won match?) He won [smiles].”

Anthony Causi, New York Post sports photographer: “Shooting Federer is not like shooting anybody else. He’s cold as ice. He doesn’t show any emotion. When you shoot a guy like Blake, they’re always blasting out or going wild during the match. Federer is cool and calm until the very end. He comes in as a surgeon, he does his job and he’s out. I think he’s one of the most intense guys to shoot. Because you really have to be good at what you do to shoot him, because he doesn’t give you much emotion or anything. Just pure excitement in his game. He’s a master of his game…Sampras was emotional. You saw it on his face if his game was off or if he wasn’t performing the way he was – you’d see that look on his face. Like most other guys who are playing the game today. Federer is just on his game all the time.”

Roger: “One good thing about me is that I forget matches, even bad matches, very quickly. I get sad about not having played well but I don’t really get upset. By the time I get back to the hotel, it’s completely forgotten and I’m fine.”

Ricardas Berankis, 2007 junior U.S. Open champ from Lithuania, who practiced with Federer in Dubai for two weeks this summer: “He gave me a lot of advices. But I think the main thing that I learned is to be a simple person. Cause he’s like the God of tennis right now. And he’s very simple, not arrogant at all, but he could be. And he’s not. And I think that’s the main thing that I learned from him.”

Donald Young ATP Tour rookie: “Federer came up to me actually, in the locker room, gave me a handshake and said ‘Hello, keep up the good work.’

Janko Tisparevic: “I was practicing with him the other day. I was really enjoying him kicking my ass. First four games, I tell you – I won one point. Was unbelievable. Like on PlayStation.”

Dominik Hrbaty, on the Funniest Players on ATP Tour: “I think Roger is a very funny guy. We used to play a lot of doubles together, all the tournaments together. We do a lot of crazy stuff together. That kind of sense of humor that you do with your friends, it never can hurt you or whatever. You always take it as a good joke. (Just at that moment, Federer walks by in the locker room and says with a smile ‘No interviews in here!’) You see [laughs]?! So he can never really make an offense that can hurt your feelings.”

Rafael Nadal: “Roger is the best, probably the best ever. It is Federer and the rest of us…He is a very nice person and a great competitor. I have a good relationship with him. I really admire what he does, how he plays, and how he behaves on and off the court. He is a role model for many people. I always had a bit of a language barrier with him because my English is not very good. But from time to time, and especially when there are important things to talk about, we sit and talk.”

Pete Sampras: “I think he has everything. It’s just a question of how much he’s willing to sacrifice to win majors. He’s got all the tools, no question, he has a complete game. For the next four or five years, his competition will be the record books. I really believe in my heart that he’s going to win way more than 14. I think the way he’s going and the fact that he doesn’t really have players really pushing him, he can win close to 17, 18 majors. He’s going to slide by me and hit Nicklaus (18 total major wins) soon. The way he’s dominating, it’s unbelievable.”

Andre Agassi: “He’s the best I’ve ever played against. Pete was great but there was a place to get to with Pete. There’s no such place like that with Roger. When a champion has two things they can count on out there as the best in the world – they’re a dominant champion. Roger has closer to five. Every part of his game is something you’ve got to deal with – his speed, his shot-making ability, forehand, return, sense of the court, and his ability to raise his game. The guy brings so much, you just marvel at it. You get the feeling when you’re looking at him you’re just watching history.”

Sir William Hamilton: “On earth there is nothing great but man; in man there is nothing great but mind.”

Pope John Paul II: “Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation to know that he cannot waste this talent – but must develop it.”

Scoop Malinowski is currently working on his next book “Marcelo Rios: The Mysterious Champion” which will be published in 2011.

(Federer oil painting by John Murawski)

You never know who you will run into at the U.S. Open. Golfing great Greg Norman was with his two sons in the men’s locker room moments after a Roger Federer win on Ashe Stadium. After chatting with the world #2 and taking some photos, the two-time British Open champ (1986 & ‘93) shared a few thoughts on his appreciation for tennis:

Greg Norman’s introduction to tennis? “Well, you’ve got Patrick Rafter, John Newcombe, Cashie, Ken Rosewall, I could go down the list. Rod Laver. All the great Australian players. Margaret Court. When you grow up in Australia and you look at all the other sports that have been played – and I follow cricket just as much as I follow tennis – this is the first time I’ve ever been to the U.S. Open. I was here for a meeting anyway, so I was fortunate enough to be able to come out and see it.”

The appeal of tennis? “It’s sport, simple as that. It’s sport. A lot of the athletes we know play golf. And so you have a connection in some way. Like James Blake loves to play golf. So when you see him, you know they watch you on TV. We watch them on TV. When you get to meet them and have a chat with them, you have some type of understanding with each other, even though you may not know each other until you actually meet them. At the end of the day, you respect them for their abilities just as much as they respect us for our abilities.”

How is your tennis game? “[Laughs]. I don’t play [smiles]. I don’t play.”

Who are your favorite players to watch? “It depends. I’m a huge Roger fan. I’m a huge Lleyton Hewitt fan. Because I just admire Lleyton’s determination and grit, he maximizes everything that he gets out there and puts his best foot forward every time, which is a rare talent indeed. And obviously Roger because of his grace and perfection of the game. Watching him hit a backhand is like standing there looking at the Mona Lisa all the time.”

Federer oil painting by John Murwaski

You and Lleyton play golf together. Is his tenacity and intensity on the golf course similar to the way it is on the court? “Yeah [smiles]. Yeah, I think we’re all that way. No matter what we do – if it’s another sport or whether it’s scuba diving or something like that, we want to be the best we can be at it. Because it’s in our blood. That’s our make-up. No matter what challenge we have, same as golf, into sport, into business, we’re taking that competitive spirit and edge to it. And you just want to be the best you can at it.”

Favorite tournament? “I’ve only been to three – Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open. They’re all majors so they’re pretty impressive in their own right.”

Your greatest tennis moment? “I remember watching Bjorn Borg play McEnroe I think that was in 1981. The tie break. I’ll never forget that one [smiles].”

Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal on a tennis court is always captivating theater, so competitive that after 21 meetings it’s still unclear who really is the superior all-around player. Though Nadal leads the head-to-head 14-7, Federer is far ahead in total grand slam victories (16-7). So just out of curiosity, what would happen if these two supreme gladiators put on the boxing gloves and battled it out for 12 rounds in the squared circle at Madison Square Garden for a prize of $10,000,000, in an ATP Heavyweight Championship fight promoted by Don King? We asked several tennis insiders for their opinion of such a match…

“In this corner, weighing in at 188 pounds, the reigning French Open champ, #1 in the world from Manacor, Mallorca, Spain…RAFAEL NADAL!. And weighing in at 187 pounds, the defending Wimbledon champion, #2 ranked challenger, from Basel, Switzerland, ROGER FEDERER!”

Bud Collins: “Well I think Nadal would be too big of a left hooker with those muscles. Yeah, I think it would be Nadal. (By TKO?) No, he’d knock him out.”

Tommy Robredo: “Federer. For the age. He’s five years older. When you have five more years than the other one you have a little more power, no?”

Olivier Rochus: “Nadal. He has more fighting spirit and I think physically he’s stronger than Federer.”

Jarkko Nieminen: “I don’t know. They’re both strong guys. It’s tough to say. Who has better techniques. And Nadal seems to have bigger muscles but Federer has great technique in tennis. So maybe he would have the same in boxing too. So then it’s over toughness.”

Fernando Vicente: “Nadal, no? Nadal. Too powerful.”

Justin Gimelstob: “I would say I think Nadal’s one of the strongest guys on the Tour. But boxing I think has a lot more to do with than just strength. But Nadal would be rough. I don’t think a lot of guys would want to have to deal with him.”

Mike Agassi: “Nadal is the physically stronger man. You can see the muscle.”

Vince Spadea: “Well I’d say Federer. Federer probably has more punching power and he can still move. He can stick and move.”

Ivan Ljubicic: “Oh, definitely Nadal. He’s stronger physically.”

Carlos Moya: “Boxing…oh I guess Rafael looks stronger than Feddy but…probably the one who has been fighting more would win. I know Rafael never fought in his life [smiles] but I don’t know about Federer, what he did when he was younger.”

Fabrice Santoro: “The easy selection would be to say Nadal. Because he has a lot of punch and a lot of energy. But Roger is a smart athlete, a smart guy, so he would have a chance too.”

Robby Ginepri: “I’ve never seen them without racquets in their hand against each other. I think Nadal would have a little bit more of an advantage, he’s more cut up than Federer. I don’t know. It’d be a fun match to see though.”

Tim Henman: “I think Nadal would win. (TKO?) I think so, yeah. Great question [smiles].”

Brad Gilbert: “Nadal. He’s a little bit stronger. Federer would have to keep his distance. He’d have to stick and move. I think Nadal would have to get in on the inside. He’d be more of a brawler. I don’t know. But I’d pay $50 to see it [smiles].”

Georg Bastl: “I think Nadal. He would have more punch.”

Greg Rusedski: “I think it’s pretty one-sided. I think Nadal would win the boxing match. Federer would be doing the running this time instead of vice versa [smiles].”

Tomas Berdych: “Boxing match…ah, Nadal. I think maybe he’s stronger and maybe for boxing it’s more important.”

Lleyton Hewitt: “I don’t know mate. Good question [smiles].”

Donald Young: “I don’t know. It’s hard to decide. Depends on the surface [smiles].”

Jonas Bjorkman: “They’re different. They can’t be in the same weight class. 10 or 15 kilos difference, so you can’t compare a boxing match like that. It’s like having Tyson and one of those light heavyweights. (But what if Federer moved up in weight and he challenged him in the ring?) Then he’d win. On class [smiles].”

Andy Murray: “Nadal. He’s just stronger and maybe physically just a bit better than him. But I think Dimitri Tursunov would beat Nadal [smiles]. (Tursunov is standing near us.)”

Michael Llodra: “Federer. He’s more crazy than Nadal. (Oh he is?) Yeah. I know him now since long time, in juniors. Now he’s a little bit cool. But I see he can be more crazy than Nadal. It’s not about only the muscle. He has a small muscle and he is more crazy than everybody. And you have to be crazy when you want to fight. (Can you share an example of the craziness of Federer?) No, no, no. I say he’s crazy. That’s all I say [smiles]!”

Let’s get ready to Rum-Bull!!!

You can read more tennis articles at Scoop’s new site www.tennis-prose.com

Artist LeRoy Neiman has traveled the globe to paint, sketch and draw. His creations have showcased nature, humanity or any subject that arrest his attention, including sport and tennis.

“Tennis is pure,” says the artist in his studio on a sunny summer day, less than a block from Central Park in New York City. “The players come out quietly. They warm up. They have the player introductions which is very dignified. And then they start to play. There is no big to-do before it starts. That’s a tradition and they’re holding to it. I like the fact that Sampras wore all white all the time. I like to see my fencers in white, my doctors in white and my tennis players in white [laughs]. In other sports, they’ve made it so you have other experiences at the event. I think it’s gone too far. Tennis is still pure. I don’t think tennis needs any improvement or showbiz.”

The St. Paul, Minnesota-born Neiman says he first was introduced to tennis after World War II and art school in Chicago. “My interest in tennis came after I came out of the Army. After I had the war behind me, I felt I could do anything I wanted, an, ‘I served my country kind of thing.’ I started to play and found out I wasn’t all that bad. Then, playing tennis became social. After (my association with) Playboy started, I played tennis with Playmates, the Bunnies and the girls at the office.”

One champion tennis player in particular was a special source of inspiration. “I didn’t paint or draw tennis until I saw one man play – Pancho Gonzalez. When I saw him, I wanted to draw. He was the best moving player I had ever seen, until Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Sampras and Federer distinguished themselves as being the very picture of a tennis player. I remember the excitement that McEnroe and Connors gave but I don’t remember their form as being all that aesthetic. Now Venus Williams is a new, aesthetically powerful athlete on the court. I drew Chrissie, Billie Jean and Martina. Venus is the first woman who I feel has that grace and beauty. Because in tennis you have to have grace and power. You might have good form and all the different swings but very few have the grace as they move about.”

Somewhat unexpectedly, the artist sees some violence in what has been called ‘the sport of grace.’ “Tennis is a blood sport. The violence is contained in that one area. But the spectators are comfortable. They have great respect for the game and the players. And the players deserve it. You don’t hear tennis players getting heckled like athletes in other sports sometimes are. But the nature of the game itself is very violent [laughs]! The idea is to just destroy. Rafael Nadal can’t punch his opponent but he certainly can give it to him [laughs]. A good forehand shot is the same as a clean punch. Players break bones and cut themselves sometimes because getting the ball means so much to them.”

Neiman’s last time attending a live professional match was at the U.S. Open where he watched Pete Sampras play Richard Krajicek in Ashe Stadium. “When Pete comes out for that first game, he bounces up and down like a fighter in his corner. He looks like a fighter when he’s at play. He’s got that warm-up bounce that Sugar Ray Robinson had. The pre-match ritual he goes through is like the referee’s instructions in the center of the ring. Pete makes certain evaluations at that time.”

Playing doubles with Ken Rosewall, Bud Collins, befriending Pancho Gonzalez, sketching courtside at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open…there have been many special moments in tennis for Neiman. But the greatest? “Drawing Pancho Gonzalez during his prime at Madison Square Garden in about 1960,” Neiman says. “Pancho Gonzalez was my man. He would come to the chair between games, take off his shoe, change his corn plasters. He did more on that chair than anybody ever did [laughs]. He was always grouchy. I was right there with him, on the court, drawing. And this camera man comes up. He had the lens about a yard from Pancho’s face. When Pancho got through wiping his face, he threw the towel over the camera and walked on the court [laughs]. That was a highlight. I became very good friends with Pancho when he was the tennis pro at Caesars Palace in his later years.”

And a worst tennis moment? “There’s no worst tennis moment. But I always felt bad when McEnroe would lose. Because he put on such a performance. McEnroe was such a great athlete. Now he’s a voice. I’d say Sinatra was very powerful, had a lot of distractions about his private life, his movie acting, all the things he did. But he was a musician first. And whatever way he behaved, McEnroe was an athlete first.”

One time in Miami, the sounds of the tennis court made by a former #1 player served as an unrequested wake-up call. “One morning at the Racquet Club in Miami – I had been out to the wee hours – I was awakened in the early hours because I kept hearing the crack of the ball and [imitates[ Uhhhhh. Down below my window were the courts and right down there [laughs] Uhhhhh! Jimmy Connors is down there. Uhhhhh [laughs]! So I got up and I go down there. Jimmy, I can’t sleep! You hitting the ball – I can’t sleep. And he says, Let’s go hit a few. So I did. I hit with Jimmy Connors. But he lost interest very soon.”