Ht: 6-5 Wt: 185

Age: 21

Birthplace: Montenegro

Residence: Ontario, Canada

First Tennis Memory: “A lot of time with the ball machine. I think that’s how I started out, mostly. That’s where I started to get my level up. And my dad (Dusan) was there picking up the balls and I’d be just standing and hitting tennis balls non-stop .”

Tennis Inspirations: “Pete Sampras, by far the biggest one. Spent many hours watching his matches. Not just once – twice, three, four times. And sort of he was the inspiration who taught me to work so hard on the serve.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Met: “Tommy Haas, I think. I probably embarrassed myself [smiles]. I think I had a photo with him and Nick Bollettieri, and I saying, ‘Tommy, we’ve met before, we’ve met before. Will you please sign my picture?’ I remember that. Probably not Tommy [smiles].”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning San Jose and then defending it. First title and then able to back it up is amazing.”

Most Painful Moment: “The pain you feel when you make that slip and when you realise how long you’re going to be out for during Wimbledon.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “There’s a lot of things that happen but I can’t point out one thing. But being in the locker room with…there’s some really special characters on the Tour. And guys that make this Tour and being on it for so many, it’s fun. (Which players come to mind on that?) Djokovic is a funny guy, got a great personality. There’s many guys like him that sort of bring up the energy in the locker room [smiles].”

Strangest Match: “One time I think I was playing a Challenger against a guy in the top 200. The guy was obviously better than me but I was sort of sticking with him and I had 40-love serving. And a guy off the court fainted on the side. Paramedics had to come. Took almost 15 minutes. We stopped. And I don’t think I won a game after that. I think it was 4-all and I lost 6-4 6-0. (Where?) Granby. I got a wildcard into main draw.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Coach and Almagro.”

Favourite Players To Watch: “I’ll watch probably the finals of most tournaments. Probably Djokovic. I enjoy watching Federer, Nadal, Soderling, probably all the guys in the top 10.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Most embarrassing…I don’t know…Lost 0 and 0 in juniors. It was a long time ago. Maybe under 12’s. Somewhere in Europe I think.”

Favourite Ice Cream Flavour: “Strawberry.”

Favourite Meal: “Steak before match.”

Favourite Sports Outside Tennis: “Basketball.”

Current Car: “My parents’ Honda Civic.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. People that are genuine. People that are caring. And people that just go and take care of the common courtesies. When you walk by them in the locker room and I’ll say Hi and all these kinds of things. Because you see them so many times a day. You don’t just want to be walking cold shoulder by a lot of people. I think this is one of the most important things on the Tour.”

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 167

DOB: November 27, 1978 In: Karvina Czech Republic

First Tennis Memory: “My father, tennis coach in Karvina.”

Inspirations: “My tennis inspiration – I’m taking all my inspiration from somewhere else because I see a lot of great athletes playing well in a higher number of ages. And this is what is inspiring me to do the same in my sport.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Met: “Hmm, good question…Thomas Muster. He was playing an exhibition against Slava Dosedel in Czech Republic, in a town where I lived for a few years. And I think I was 12 or 13, I just had to warm him up for the exhibition. And I was badly nervous [smiles].”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I think, singles-wise, my first title, definitely, in Rotterdam (2006). And winning doubles with Leander in Australian Open. Winning Grand Slam is always a memory which stay with me forever.”

Most Painful Moment: “When I got in 2006 to top ten. I had a great year, I felt on top of my game. And I woke up in the morning and I didn’t feel my right hand. I had a dislocated disk in the neck and couldn’t play tennis for six months.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Grand Slam – Australian Open. Super Nine – Indian Wells. The other – Dubai, Basel.”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “Because I grew up playing tennis, I love the competition. I love the one to one – it’s like in a boxing arena. The one to one – there is no draw. You win or lose. I like that gamble. That’s the only gamble I do in my life – playing tennis. I don’t do gambling in casinos and stuff. I have a passion for tennis. And it’s the thing I know best in my life, so far.”

Which Match Did You Feel Your Very Best: “I think that was the finals of Rotterdam when I won my first title. There I played really good.”

Strangest Match: “Definitely they happen in the Davis Cup, that’s where all the strange things happen. As I remember it was 2007 in Prague when we played against Switzerland when they had on the team Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. And I played the final match against Wawrinka at two-all and I was two sets to love up. And suddenly on one of my serves, my knee didn’t hold up. I didn’t know what happened and I had to finish that match really injured. And I don’t know how, I don’t know where it came from, but I was able to close out the match in the third set. And the atmosphere and everything that comes with it was just amazing feeling which I will never forget.”

Three Athletes From Other Sports You Like To Watch: “Jaromir Jagr in hockey. Peter Cech in soccer, he’s goalkeeper for Chelsea. And Tiger Woods in golf.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “I think Gael Monfils is very funny. I used to watch Yannick Noah in the times before, he was a little funny. Mostly the past generation, they were bringing to the game something special, something where the crowd laughed. They brought up some energy with the umpires. It was more of a show which I like.”

Current Car: “BMW.”

Last Book Read: “Pavel Nedved, soccer player of Czech Republic.”

“I grew up playing tennis and just loving it. I used to get a kick out of watching Wimbledon. I think that Wimbledon is a big deal for most British kids. I never thought that I’d end up one day watching a friend of mine play in the final on Centre Court, but that’s exactly what happened. I first met Roger through a mutual friend in New York about six or seven years ago and we’ve since become good friends. Roger is super cool and he has so much respect for everyone. I think that people connect with that quality in him.”

“I like to watch players with flair. Roger, obviously, but almost everyone in the top 100 is pretty good. There are no duds. The athleticism of the top guys is phenomenal. You get the feeling that they could excel in any sport. There’s a real intense artistry in tennis though, and there’s so much passion and commitment. I enjoy the game and appreciate it for what it is.”

“Of the younger players, I like to watch Ernests Gulbis. Gulbis is a particularly striking player – a crusher. And I think Gael Monfils has lots of potential. I like Andy Murray too. He reminds me a little of John McEnroe. He’s got such great hands and he just sweeps up everything with his returns. He’s an incredibly gifted tennis player and I like his attitude too. Also, the fact that I’m half Scottish makes me especially happy when he does well.”

“I love taking part in pro-am tournaments such as Chrissie Evert’s event in Boca Raton. Those events are a great thrill, not only because we get to play in front of large crowds of people but also I get to play in more competitive matches. I’ve played against a lot of good players in those tournaments – Jim Courier, Tommy Haas, Lindsay Davenport, Corina Morariu, Justin Gimelstob, Luke and Murphy Jensen. The downside is the collective groan you hear when you screw up – that’s a tough sound for me. It’s worse than being out of tune [laughs].”

“I play as much as I can when I’m not in the studio or touring. I often find myself playing against professionals, people like Wade McGuire, Mark Philippoussis, Vince Spadea and Sam Querrey. Sam’s a friend, he’s great, he comes to my house and plays. It’s not like I’m going to be able to beat these guys, so my goal is to hit properly and keep up with them the best I can. I’m competitive with myself, so I try to do things right. I don’t hit and giggle, I have fun by being intense.”

“The biggest appeal of tennis for me is that it’s one on one. Almost gladiatorial. Doubles is great too, but you can’t beat the feeling that everything is down to you.”

“The strength of my game is that I’m pretty athletic. So stamina is the key for me. I do a lot of off court training. Pilates is amazing. I do all the stuff like strength work, lunges. I used to think that playing was just enough, but I’ve changed my mind on that.”

.”Gulbis is a striking player – a crusher”

Ht: 5-5

DOB: November 17, 1988 In: California

First Memory Of Tennis: “Oooh. Probably getting really angry after missing a shot (age 6).

Tennis Inspirations: “All the small players that have done well, Justine Henin.”

Last Book Read: “Outliers.”

Favorite Movie: “Shawshank Redemption.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Definitely listen to music. And focusing on getting my feet going, and a good start.”

First Job: “Tennis.”

First Car: “An old Mercedes (black).”

Current Car: “A black Lexus.”

Favorite Meal: “Lobster.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate chip cookie dough.”

Greatest Career Moment (so far): “Winning NCAAs with the team at Stanford.”

Most Painful Moment: “Losing the final of NCAAs with Stanford (vs. Florida).”

Funniest Player Encountered: “Irini Falconi is pretty funny.”

Toughest Competitor Encountered: “Hmmm…I don’t know, that’s tough…Never played Serena but I’d say Serena. She looks scary [smiles].”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Basketball.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Probably whiffing a ball in front of a crowd. That’s pretty common [smiles].”

Funny Match Memory: “I like to laugh a lot on the court. Maybe after a bad shot that I hit. I remember a skateboard dropping down on the side of the court, from one of the fans, a kid who was playing with it. Dropped down the stairs. Made a huge thud.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Obviously, Fed, Nadal. I like watching Stosur play. And Serena.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Definitely caring. Genuine. Funny. Intellectual – good conversation.”

www.tennis-prose.com

Scoop’s tennis book “Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew” will be published later this month and available at www.Amazon.com

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 176

DOB: May 22, 1987 In: Belgrade, Serbia

Tennis Heroes: “Well, Pete Sampras, he was always my idol. I always liked his game even if I don’t have the same game as he does. I liked his attitude and the way he played. The way he act on the court I like a lot. He was concentrated a lot during all the matches. And he was playing the best tennis on the very important points, during the very important matches. That’s what I liked about Pete Sampras. That’s why he was always my idol. He finished his tennis career – I’m really sorry that I didn’t have a chance to meet him and to play with him. But I hope in the next two years I will have a chance to meet him. And since he finished the tennis, I like a lot Federer’s game and Safin. Safin actually played, not same, but similar game to mine – very aggressive and using all the opportunities. I had the chance to play against Safin in Australian Open and it was a great moment and a great experience, my first appearance on the big center court.”

Tennis Inspirations: “A win. The feeling of winning a match or winning a tournament. The feeling of winning a tennis match is irreplacable.”

Favorite Movies: “Yeah, I’m a movie watcher. I like all kinds of movies, action and thrillers, drama and horror. The favorite one – maybe Pulp Fiction is one of the best.”

Musical Tastes: “I’m a music fan also like everybody. For me, it is also important the company you have. When you are going out, company that’s around you, then you don’t really pay attention to music so much. I like R&B, house music, I don’t like actually Serbian music, our music, so I’m not a big fan of this. So I’m listening to American, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, house. I like all kinds. Also classical sometimes when I need to relax.”

Favorite Meal: “As a tennis player I have to eat a lot because I expend a lot of energy. Mostly during the day I’m eating pasta. So this is one of my favorite meals. But I also like a lot of chicken with mashed potatoes, and some salad. That’s like my favorite [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Well, I like a lot of chocolate. I have to admit that. I like sweets a lot. So I like chocolate ice cream.”

First Tennis Memory: “Yeah sure, I remember I started when I was four. My father owns a restaurant in one mountain in our country. And when I was four they were making three tennis courts in front of my restaurant. And I was helping them to make these courts. And I was interested a lot because no one in my family ever played tennis. My father was a professional skier. My mother was also skiing. And he also played soccer and wallyball, a lot of different sports, but not tennis. So I was the first to start playing tennis when I was four. The first coach, Jelena Gencic, she teach me how to play tennis and how to act on the court. She teach me a lot. This was very important to have a good coach in the period when I was seven years old to eleven. And I was really lucky to have her.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Well, I try not to think too much because I want to be focused for the match. Before the match I do the usual warmup, stretching. I need 30-45 minutes to prepare all my racquets and everything. I’m thinking…mostly I’m speaking with my coach about what tactics we should prepare for this player. Think tactics, strategy, how I should act on the court, what should I use more. These kinds of things. I try not to think too much. I just go out on the court and do my best. I have more motivation to play and to win more Grand Slams – now more than ever, that I know that I can actually, you know, perform equally well on any surface, that I have equal chances on any Grand Slam that I play. So this is something that gives me a lot of desire.”

Early ATP Memories: “I have a few moments that I like. At Wimbledon when I reached the third round in 2005 was really great. In second round I saved five match points from 0-2, I came to 3-2 to win. This was a great moment. And this was really important match for me. Because when I won the match I got to top 100. So this was really nice feeling. And also the fact that I played the first time on the grass. So that’s really nice, I like Wimbledon a lot.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Well, since I started the professional tennis I had great moments, I don’t have exactly the one moment. Winning Wimbledon was my dream. Becoming #1. Winning the Australian Open in 2008 and this year and winning the Davis Cup for Serbia was a very nice moment.”

Most Painful Moment “Well, I cannot say that I really had a painful tennis moment that I wanted to quit tennis or something like that. I hope that I will not have. Probably being injured or not feeling 100% healthy. But I never had any really like painful moments.”

Favorite Tournaments: “I like Australia and Wimbledon a lot. I like the grand slams. And I like to play Belgrade.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “I like to watch McEnroe playing. He was really funny on the court. And Safin, when he would throw the racquet when he was really nervous. And it was really fun watching Yannick Noah. I like watching the old matches when I was really a baby. And McEnroe was really funny.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Well, when I lost to one guy from Serbia actually. It was about seven or eight years ago when I was first in Europe. I lost to this guy and it was really embarrassing because everybody expected me to win easily, so.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “I’m really in good relationship with everybody. So I’m trying to keep it that way. I’m really good friends with Janko Tipsarevic and the players from my country.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “I don’t know. Everybody is funny. I don’t put out one. John McEnroe made me laugh.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Well, all the players are tough to play against, everybody is trying their best to win the match.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Just I like people who have a lot of sense of humor. And who are very honest. I like nice people, like really honest person, who can be good friends of yours. It’s really difficult because every where you go you meet a lot of people and it’s difficult to find your friend. Like real honest friends.”

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.”

DOB: April 1950 In: Swansea, Wales

First memory of tennis: Watching on television the 1956 Wimbledon final between Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall.

Last book read: “Our Kind of Traitor” by John Le Carre.

Tennis inspirations: My father, John Crooke – coach to the Welsh National Junior squad, Ken Rosewall.

Favorite movies: The King’s Speech, Chariots of Fire, The Italian Job (original version), Ben Hur.

First job: Lawyer.

Childhood dreams: To win Wimbledon.

Greatest career moment: Umpiring and subsequently commentating on the Men’s Singles final at Wimbledon.

Most painful career moment: When I played on the equivalent of the Futures Circuit in 1971, realizing very quickly that I was never going to make a living as a tennis player.

Funny career memory: Commentating on a British Davis Cup tie in Poland, I sat under an umbrella as rain was coming through the roof of the commentary box and was in danger of dripping onto the electrical equipment.

Embarrassing career memory: While commentating on the French Open for BBC Television, saying that there had been ‘an erotic start’ to a match when I meant to say erratic.

Favorite players to watch (present and past): Rosewall, Laver, Graf, Edberg, Leconte, Federer.

Favorite sport outside tennis: Golf.

People qualities most admired: Honesty, modesty and a sense of humor.

www.tennis-prose.com

The Mayweather ship is sinking fast. And there’s no hope really. It’s inevitable that Mayweather is going to hit the bottom and be humbled. “The humble shall be exalted and the exalted shall be humbled.”

Floyd’s in a no-win situation, really, outside of the money factor (and Floyd recently said it’s not about the money any more). Almost 34, his skills and confidence are fading fast, he is ignored or deplored by most of the sporting public, and he absolutely is going to get knocked out by Manny Pacquiao, the younger, faster, stronger, more beloved and humble man who is everything Floyd wishes he could be.

A friend of mine named Luther Chiles made a good point. “I was watching “24/7″ on HBO, as a boxing fan I must admit that the overwhelming popularity of Manny Pacquiao has to be great for boxing,” wrote Luther. “As much as I respect and admire my man Floyd Mayweather’s ability, he needs to steal a page or two from the positive feedback Manny gets from doing positive things consistently – those TV endorsements can carry you a long way and earn you some good money even when you can’t participate in combat anymore. Look at what George Foreman did when he came back with a new attitude and commitment. I don’t think George made anywhere near in ring earnings as much as he made in endorsements. It’s a no brainer!”

It was interesting to hear an honest Mayweather fan raise this issue. Luther’s comment made me remember hearing many boxer and tennis player say how important the positive support of the crowd was, that it was the reason they won a certain fight or match. So I replied to Luther:

“Interesting point Luther. Floyd should sign the Pacquiao deal, get knocked out like he knows it’s inevitable and just learn from it. Get touched by the greatness of Pac and learn from it. Like Foreman learned from getting knocked out by Ali. And ultimately became a better man from it. This is Floyd’s only hope, he needs to be humbled and humiliated. Experience rock bottom. His current ugly act will never endear him to the public.”

Luther responded. “Good comparison Scoop! That’s your journalistic creativity coming out, we will never agree on the outcome of this fight but after Ali vs Foreman, it was actually Philadelphia native Jimmy Young who sealed the deal for Foreman and sent him into retirement the first time around.”

Another excellent point from Luther. I re-watched Young vs. Foreman about a year ago for the first time since seeing it on ABC in 1977, and was enthralled seeing how the huge, vocal Puerto Rican stadium embraced Young in this fight, while totally rejecting Foreman who was acting like a bully jerk, fouling Young repeatedly. At first the crowd was neutral but after seeing Foreman act like a goon, they got behind Young booed and jeered Foreman relentlessly. And it actually seemed to break Foreman’s spirit as the fight proceeded. The entire Roberto Clemente Stadium helped the underdog Young who got off to a slow start and then energized and willed him to victory. It was an incredible fight to see the audience be such an important factor.

I strongly believe it was the rowdy Puerto Rican crowd support for Young and AGAINST George which was the key factor in this fight. In his heart, Foreman had to feel ashamed again (like in Zaire) for being so hated by the crowd and that was the last straw that broke him and his career. He left boxing and found religion and completely changed his life and later, public image.

Make no mistake about it: Crowd support can be so crucially important sometimes – and it can even make the difference between victory or defeat.

Mayweather knows when he faces Pacquiao he will get treated worse than what Foreman got in Zaire and Puerto Rico. He just can’t win. I remember Floyd even said last year, “It’s a no-win situation.” The only hope is to just accept his fate and let it happen. The public is never wrong. Floyd certainly deserves all the scorn he gets.

The only hope for Floyd is to accept it and learn from it and try to better himself and become a better man. After Floyd takes his beating from Pacquiao, the people will forgive him, just like they forgave Foreman and later embraced him. Humanity always forgives.

But Floyd Mayweather has to admit to himself, the way he has behaved for the last decade – the false drug accusations against Pacquiao, the materialism, the whoring himself for money, gambling, the bad examples he’s shown in public, the immaturity – this must be changed.

George Foreman learned a lot from Muhammad Ali and how to become a great person.

Likewise, Floyd Mayweather will learn a lot from Manny Pacquiao and how to finally become a great person instead of just a great boxer.

Scoop Malinowski is the author of “Heavyweight Armageddon: The Tyson-Lewis Championship Battle.” He has also created www.tennis-prose.com

(Mayweather artwork by John Paul Raloto.)

DOB: November 22, 1913 In: Washington DC

First Tennis Memory: “When my father (Robin) and two uncles built a clay tennis court in our backyard and they made me take care of it. I was 10. I didn’t like tennis much at first because I had to work at it. He made me play every Sunday morning. When he invited his cronies over and one was tired or one didn’t show up, I played. When I got to be 11 I got to be better than them, so I didn’t want to play with them any more.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Make the Davis Cup team, which I finally did. Win a national championship, which I finally won several. And travel and play at Wimbledon.”

Last Book Read: “Helter Skelter. Written Vincent Bugliosi. He was a tennis player, I got him a scholarship at the University of Miami.”

Favorite Movies: “Not really.”

First Job: “Paper boy for Miami Daily News, on my bike.”

First Car: “Oh, let me see. My father had the agency for the Franklin which of course are long and dead. He gave me one of his trade-ins for high school – a 1919 black aluminum Franklin. I used to pile the neighborhood in and kept it in high school and college.”

Favorite Meal: “I like breakfast most. Cereal and milk. (Which kind?) Any kind.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Greatest Career Moment: “Winning match point at Wimbledon doubles, when we won against Hoad and Fraser of Australia.”

Most Painful Moment: “The match point at Wimbledon.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “With Art Larsen. He had so many superstitions, we harassed him all the time, Talbert and I.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “We were playing Australia in the Davis Cup and the captain of the Davis Cup team was wondering who to play in singles. He finally picked me. On the way to the draw, he changed his mind, and I didn’t know it. I was told I was going to play. Everybody was congratulating me. Then at the draw I found out the captain changed his mind. (Who was the captain?) Billy Talbert, my doubles partner.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Roger Federer. Little Mo, on the womens side. Just like the way she played. (What about her playing style did you like?) She wasn’t a big serve and volleyer, she was an all around player. I played mixed doubles with her, that helped. Alice Marble too. She was a great gal. (Any women from today?) Not many from today. Like Pancho Segura says, They don’t play tennis any more, they play ping pong. Which means, very steady all the time.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Well, Billy Talbert and Tony Trabert. I was just talking with him on the phone yesterday. And of course Art Larsen.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Art Larsen, by far. Also Earl Cochell. He was a hot red head. He was always mouthing off. We would egg him on. He would dig a hole and we’d laugh. He acted up at nationals at Forest Hills against me and got suspended for life. I tried to intervene and if he would apologize they would let him back. But he wouldn’t. He said he didn’t want to give them the satisfaction. Then he disappeared from the tennis scene. The word is he married a rich girl and traveled around the world. Who knows.”

Strangest Match: “Semifinals of Australian national championship. There were foot fault judges on both baselines. On the one side, I was foot-faulted nine times. On the other side I wasn’t foot-faulted once. I queried the judge, What the hell am I doing? So here I’m foot-faulted nine times. I say it cost me the match. I lost 7-5 in the fifth. In the last set, I’m serving, it was deuce at five all. I served a first serve – it was a fault. I served a second serve – it was a double fault. Then serving to the ad court, I served the first one – it was a fault. I very timidly served the second serve – they called it a fault. I’m fit to be tied. He was leading then 6-5 or 5-4. We changed course and walked by each other. He said, Gar, I’m very sorry, but that wasn’t a fault. I said, What can I do about it? In those days we spoke to each other, today they fight for everything. Then, the funny part is, a couple of distractors in the stands, were yelling at me the whole match. I threw my racquet in the air and said, If you had any guts, come down here. And they did! After the scramble with the police, I told them I’ll meet you after the match. After I lost the match I ran out hunting for them. Of course I never found them. After that I complained about the difficult officiating and said I could do a better job. I said, Well, let me do it. I insisted on calling the finals. Some of the reporters around said to let me call the final. It was on the record. So I officiated the final. So after the final I said, That’s the way a match should be called – impeccable.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Football. I played a little bit in high school and college. Frankly speaking – not to brag, but I am – I was a great passer. But in those days, it wasn’t a passing game then. The football was fat back then, with more air. In those days I could punt a ball 60 yards without a problem. It just sailed away.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Of course, Wimbledon, you can’t beat that. Nothing else compares to it. Secondly, I would say Australia. And I’d be criticized for not saying U.S. Open.”

At Your Best: “I think it would be against Ken Rosewall in semifinals of nationals at Forest Hills. He had me 4-2 in the fifth and I pulled it out. According to Allison Danzig, do you remember him? (Yes, the renowned tennis writer.) He wrote up all the tournaments in the east. The semifinals of Southampton, a big tournament in the east, I beat Gonzalez in the semifinal and Billy in the final. Danzig wrote an article about the match. The way he wrote that I played was a bit the way I felt. I just felt I couldn’t do anything wrong.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “I was scared to death. I was saying to myself, Why didn’t I practice more? This guy is so good, what do I do? My knees were weak. The night before I’d sleep for 16 hours if I could. Keep thinking, I’m not getting enough rest. Then I’d walk on the court, I’d say, This guy is great, how could I beat him. Then the match would start and I’d hit three or four points and I got a lot of points. Then I’d get a lot of confidence: This guy isn’t so good, I can beat him. No matter who it was. Even against Budge at Forest Hills, I won the first set. Then he killed me.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. I can’t stand the people running for office and then getting into office and not keeping their promises. And not being greedy. Everybody is so greedy. We gotta win, we gotta win. A basketball teams wins by a point and their heroes, if they lose by a point, the sportswriters ask what’s wrong with them?

Career Accomplishments: Won U.S. Mens Doubles titles with partner Talbert in 1942, ’45, ’46, ’48; Won Wimbledon Doubles in 1957 at age 44 with partner Patty (received Cup from Queen Elizabeth II); Won over 127 national championships and 25 international titles in over 75 years of playing; Achieved #1 U.S. singles ranking in 1942; Wrote autobiography titled “Will To Win” in 1960 and updated it in 2009 with “As It Was”; Met President Clinton who was watching one of his senior matches in Virginia; Coached tennis at University of Miami (recruited future Hall of Famer Pancho Segura from Ecuador).

Ht: 5-10 Wt: 154

DOB: October 16, 1983 In: Augsburg, Germany

First Tennis Memory: “I think I just played – my family moved with me to South America, Caracas, Venezuela. I played every time normal with coach. Then my first tournament I was totally nervous and I lost 0 and 0 [smiles]. It wasn’t a great start and I said I don’t want to play any more tournaments, just practice. Right now, it’s a funny memory.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Nobody in particular. I think it was just the time tennis was going very well in Germany. My parents like to play a little bit. And I was very young. I got in it with my parents.”

Nicknames: “The most common in Germany is Kohli. Now I have a new one I like a little bit better, it’s Peppo.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activites: “Well, I really like to holiday, relax. In Germany I like to drive cars in the highway, we have no speed limit. Sometimes rent fast cars to enjoy a little bit the speed.”

Favorite Movies: “Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.”

Last Book Read: “I think it was a school book. I’m not reading a lot of books. I read magazine, the internet, but not book.”

Musical Tastes: “Michael Jackson has a lot of good music. I like to listen to everything.”

Current Car: “BMW (black).”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “I have two – I always eat hazelnuts and lemon.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I think when I beat Roddick in Melbourne in five sets. It was the first time in five sets I beat somebody. And also because night match. Everything. Yeah, it was a big thing for me.”

Most Painful Moment: “Maybe I have two. No, I have just one. Maybe when I lost to Fabrice Santoro in five sets in Melbourne (2009). Was a tough one with a lot of feeling but yeah he was able to take it.”

Favorite Tournaments: “I really like New York, it’s fantastic. I think Montreal was a great tournament. And Germany – I like very much Halle, Hamburg. They’re fantastic tournaments.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “I have a lot of fun with Stefan Koubek, guys from Austria. And Jarkko Nieminen. We have a lot of fun. Mikhail Youzhny. Overall they are from every country. Maybe one or two we make fun of [smiles].”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Myself [smiles].”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I think Fernando Verdasco is a tough one. He’s tough to play. Of course, the top five, as always everybody is tough to play. Tomas Berdych is a pretty good player, I lost a few times against him. And Robin Soderling.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “In the Grand Slam, I watch a lot of tennis over the days – six-seven hours when I’m at the hotel. And then if I’m not playing, I really don’t watch any tennis.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “For me, a funny moment – if I play doubles and hit somebody in the feet or the butt. It’s a big fun for me. (Hit partner?) No, not my partner. Opponent [smiles].”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Yeah, like I said, the first one when I lost 0 and 0.”

Best You Ever Felt On Court: “I think it’s not when you play your best tennis, it’s when you really fight. The best memories I have – maybe when I win in five sets or 7-6 in the third. This is something I think really special because you have so much emotion at the end. Lot of adrenaline in the body. If you’ve done it, then it’s everything is releasing. I think that’s a great feeling.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Ever Met: “Michael Stich. I was very young (age 15). I was doing a lot of tournaments in Germany. And he invited me to the Team Cup. He was Davis Cup coach at this time. He invited me because Tommy Haas was injured.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I just hope for they have to be honest. Funny. And I think that’s the most important.”

You can read more tennis news and interviews at Scoop’s tennis site www.tennis-prose.com