Tennis LOVEBirds. Part 1: The Legends

The Maiden Sweethearts

In the early 70s, Jimmy Connors and America's sweetheart Chris Evert became the ultimate tennis couple. When the 19 years old Chris fell madly in love with one of the greatest tennis players, the world stood still to witness their romance. Their story captivated audiences, as the duo generated a commotion wherever they went. Their popularity reached such unbelievable heights that when they've arrived for the 1974 Wimbledon, they were treated like Royal Highnesses. They didn't disappoint and, after an unforgettable fortnight, the couple took home the singles titles. It was a time of utmost joy and happiness, of personal and professional fulfillment, a time when the two lovebirds had the entire world at their feet. For Evert the success was even sweeter, as it marked her first triumph at the grass-court Slam. In a later interview, when looking back at that period, Chris said that she is happy she got to share her success with Jimmy. He was the first man she loved and, probably, the one that left the deepest cut in her heart.
Although they parted ways later that year, calling off their wedding plans, they will always be remembered as the first high profile couple that sparkled on the tour. In a time when tennis rarely made it in the news, they provided the needed  flame to ignite media's interest in the game. Their story paved the way for many couples who found love on the tennis courts.

My Dream Team

What were the chances of having my favourite players fell in love? Moreover, of them having such a beautiful, lengthy relationship? The answer is none. When I first heard the rumors, I was pleasantly surprised. Nevertheless, it all seemed a bit surreal. I had problems envisioning that Agassi, the wild wonderboy from Vegas, has finally found his soulmate in serene, shy and discrete German, Steffi Graf. It all happened after a tremendous 1999 French Open, when both defied the odds and took home the singles titles. Steffi beat Martina Hingis in one of the most dramatic matches ever, while Agassi wrote tennis history by joining the exclusive group of players who won all four Slams, the first one to do so in the Open Era.

As later revealed in his autobiography, ‘Open’, Andre had a crush on Graf since the early 90s. Nevertheless, life had other plans. After a series of high profile relationships comprising Barbra Streisand or wife, Brooke Shields, after going to sleep in Heaven and waking up in Hell, Andre was ready to get his life back on track. He made a welcome return to top form in Paris, thrilling the crowd with his I-wear-my-heart-on-my-sleeve performances. Nonetheless, he was determined to do the same off court and steal the love of the woman who remained stuck in his soul for all these years. This time around, Steffi didn't say no anymore and the two have starred in the perfect love story ever since. They got married two years later, on 22 October 2001, and they have two kids: son Jaden Gil (born four days after their wedding) and daughter Jaz Elle (born on 3 October 2003).
It rarely happens to have two superstars of this level, experiencing such a happy life together. Graf is probably the best female tennis players ever to grace the courts, while her husband's achievements should by no means be underrated. After the trials and tribulations of a fruitful professional life, they seem to have found the peace and stability they were striving for. As a consequence, they felt it is time to give something back and to repay the generosity they have been treated with. The duo has been actively involved in philanthropy work on behalf of the 'Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation'.

This is the perfect examples of a fairytale coming true. It marks the existence of two beautiful people who eventually ended up creating a beautiful life for themselves. They clearly top the list of my dream tennis couples, as only a Roger Federer - Martina Hingis match could dethrone them.

Restless Youth ♥

Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt were the ‘Teen Sweethearts’ of the New Millennium. As they were both fighting to make it big on the tour, romance inflicted. During the 2000 Australian Open, the two found love off court, making the delight of the tennis community worldwide. The duo became instant darlings, their story being extremely popular with both media and fans. With the press covering their every move, the cute couple managed to mesmerize audiences wherever they went. The Belgian's popularity in Australia reached incredible heights, the 'Aussie' Kim being practically adopted by her fiancée’s country. The partnership showed its strength also on court, Hewitt-Clijsters reaching the mixed doubles final at Wimbledon later that year.

What started as a fling proved rock solid and, after a three years relationship, Lleyton got down on his knee and proposed. It was the best Christmas present for Clijsters who accepted without hesitation. Living a fulfilling life off courts, proved beneficial for their careers too. In the time they’ve been together, the Australian made it to number 1 in the world and captured two Grand Slam titles, while Clijsters, an established presence in the top 10, was struggling to take the ultimate step and win a maiden Slam, having failed short in several occasions.

Things didn’t last though and, in 2004, the couple split. The news shocked the world, as everyone was assuming a long lasting happy life for them. The reasons were not revealed, but it’s clear that something ceased to function and the pair cancelled their wedding which was due in February 2005.

After parting ways, they both found happiness with other partners, Lleyton with actress Rebecca Cartwright and Kim with basketball player Bryan Lynch. While Hewitt’s career never reached the same magnitude, Clijsters' bloomed. She came back to the tour in 2009, a year after giving birth to daughter Jada, and has been more successful than ever. Moreover, as she admitted while receiving the Australian Open trophy earlier this year, it was only now that she got to leave up to her ‘Aussie’ Kim status.

photos (top-down / left-right):  ?, SI, PA, GETTY IMAGES (x2), Annie Lieb, GETTY IMAGES, Longines, DPA, AP, ? (x2), AP (x2), ?

Simon, the Atypical Frenchman

At a stage when most French players fail to convert, Gilles Simon is one who keeps his cool and takes his chances. He showed another glimpse of his strength today, when he collected his ninth ATP title, dispatching the Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in the Hamburg final.
Simon's ability to not choke under pressure and to deliver at the most crucial times helped him make it as high as number 6 in the world after reaching the quarterfinals at the 2009 Australian Open. Nevertheless, his path to glory suffered a big blow later that year, when a knee injury sidelined him for several months. Upon his comeback, he wasn't quite the same player and it took some time before he reached top form again. A string of uncharacteristically poor results saw his rankings go down as low as number 52 in November 2010. Things got back on track though, when he captured the trophy in Metz. Cheered by a partisan crowd, he signaled his return to the winning circle after a lengthy absence. Ever since, he took small steps towards reclaiming his status among the elite of the men's tennis. Little by little he made it back and is now knocking on the door of a top 10 return, as he will the 11th on the list due to be released on Monday.
This week was a struggle for Gilles. After the quick dismissal of Ukrainian Stakhovsky, four three setter followed. The victory over top seeded Monfils proved extremely important as it generated the confidence he needed. In the semifinals we defied the odds and defeated Russian Mikail Youznhy just for the second time in nine career meetings. Having battled so hard for his place in the grand finale, the Frenchman was determined to make the most out of it. He fought off numerous break points to win a high class first set, 6-4. A bit of a stumbling at the end cost him the second act, 4-6. In the decider, an early break proved crucial for Simon, who ensured a 6-4,4-6,6-4 victory. It all payed off in the end for the tenacious French player who won the second title of 2011 (he succeeded in Sydney in January). It also marked a revenge over Almagro, who is one of two players to deny Simon an ATP crown (i.e. in Valencia in 2006). Moreover, he became the first Frenchman to triumph at the German Open since Henri Leconte's beat Miroslav Mecir 25 years ago.
Unlike his more talented compatriots, i.e. the likes of Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Simon collects title after title. Although he is yet to match their Grand Slam achievements, his tally recommends his as the most successful active French player. Although he lacks their power and aggressiveness, his consistency can prove a more sustainable quality.

photo:  AFP

Foxy Soderling's Homecoming

What a week this has been for the tenacious Robin Soderling, as he cruised to his second title on home soil in Bastad! The Sweden has been in control throughout the tournament, losing only 14 games in four encounters. After the dismissal of Argentinean Diego Junquera, 6-0,6-1, and of Italian Potito Starace, 6-3,6-4, Robin unleashed his ultimate best distroying last year's beaten Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych 6-1,6-0 in the semis. He followed up this win in impressive fashion, putting an end to David Ferrer's glory claims after a one-sided 6-2,6-2 victory in the final act. The win marked the second Bastad crown for Soderling, who first won it in 2009. He fell at the last hurdle last year to Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, so after recapturing his throne, the Swede felt even more enthusiastic. "It has been a great week for me," said Soderling. "I am really satisfied with the way I played, from the first point to the last point in this tournament. I played really good tennis and played my best tennis at the most important moments. It has been a dream week."
Whipping forehands and impressive serving have been the key for Robin, who proved once more that on a given day he be unreachable. Even though his Grand Slam results have been rather disappointing, the highlight being a quarterfinal at Roland Garros, the rest of the year has been quite solid. After a strong start, with titles at Brisbane, Rotterdam and Marseille, he experience a sort of mid-season crisis, but by conquering the fourth title, the Swede appears to be back on track. "I feel really good. Now finally, my body feels good. I struggled a little bit with some injuries the past couple of months. My confidence is really good. I am going to work hard now and hopefully I can do well in the [United] States."
After such a convincing display, he has reassured his status as one of the best players on the ATP tour. To me, he is better or at least equal to Djokovic or Murray. He has a more aggressive game, comprising a reliable serve and some penetrating groundstrokes. Nevertheless, he struggles mentally. Although he suffered a big turnaround since his scintillating triumph over Nadal at the 2009 French Open, he still needs to go that extra mile and win a maiden Grand Slam. I think Novak can serve as a very good example, the Serb becoming a totally different player almost overnight.

photo:  Scanpix

Tennis Moods Style: Anna Kournikova

She may not have won a tournament in her life, but Russian superstar Anna Kournikova managed to revolutionize the world of tennis. She reached fame at an early age when she advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals in 1997. This led to being perceived a tennis prodigy by many. She couldn’t take the ultimate step though, finding it hard to cope with all the pressure that was put on her fragile shoulders. She was always a top contestant, fighting on equal terms with the world’s best, but somehow she wasn’t able to put together a winning performance. And when she retired in her early twenties, her dream of glory was forever gone. Considering her talent and immense potential, the elusive maiden title remains one of biggest paradoxes in tennis. Nevertheless, Anna will always be remembered as the game's first media darling. The way she mesmerized the audience and the press remains unrivalled to this date.

Being an extremely beautiful blonde babe, Anna was always one to show off her sexuality. She teamed up with Adidas to design the most spectacularly revealing outfits which to perfectly emphasize her sexy curves. In terms of fashion, the Russian was a regular 'as hottest as possible' type. With a wardrobe that ranged from hot pants, to sexy dresses and top, Kournikova was one to provoke and to tease the imagination of her plenitude of fans. The lines were simple, the colour palette not too heavy (usually mono or bichrome) and overall, her style was fresh, joyful and young. Adding to this her incredibly sexy figure, the perfect combination was ensured.

The world's most adored teen

 

Anna mania started almost instantaneously, ever since the Russian first set foot on a tennis court. She was like a magnet, stealing the limelight like no other. Her fashion beginnings consisted of sexy dresses, which very well served their purpose, the Russian babe soon becoming the world’s sexiest sport figure. Although she wore angelic outfits (mainly white), her sexuality transpired. She didn’t dare too much, but she always made sure to stand out from the rest of the Adidas gang.

My favourite amid these batch is the blue-white striped dressed she wore when reaching the most important final of her career in 1998 at Key Biscayne.

Full-bloomed babe

 

Having established herself as a worldwide sex symbol, Kournikova found it easy to live up to the expectations. She started using hot pants (either tied or loose), introduced electric colours in her repertoire and played a bit with the cuts and lines of her pieces. Having matured and bursting out with confidence, she left the angelic phase behind and opted for a sexier, edgier on court appearance. I really liked the sunny intense yellow top she wore in Australia in 2001 and the irregular shaped apparels she showcased during the second half of the 2002 season.

Sexy ever after

 

 

 

After her sudden retirement in 2003, Anna Kournikova continued to play tennis occasionally, making some well-acclaimed appearances at several exhibition tournaments. After a fruitful collaboration, she parted ways with Adidas in the spring of 2007 and became a K-Swiss ambassador. Although sexiness is not their trademark quality, the new sponsor did a decent job in perpetuating her legacy. Considering her latest outfits, it looks like her fans have nothing to worry about. Although she lost some weight, the sexy Anna will continue to haunt the imagination of many with her on court display.

photos (top-down / left-right): SI, ? (x3), Allsport, AP, ? (x3), Reuters, ?, GETTY IMAGES, ? (x3), Reuters, ? (x3), GETTY IMAGES, ? (x3), GETTY IMAGES, AP, GETTY IMAGES, ?, GETTY IMAGES, ? (x3), GETTY IMAGES, AFR, GETTY IMAGES (x2)

Novak Is on Top of the World

What a year this was been for Novak Djokovic! What started off as a bit of a surprise with his win at the Australian Open has grown and is now threatening to transform into a walk in the park for the Serb. At this stage, no one can argue that he has been the dominant figure in men's tennis this season. Except for his loss to Federer at the French Open, Novak has been undefeated, winning everything. Nevertheless, his crown was missing an important jewel: the ultimate tennis achievement, i.e. a Wimbledon title. He made sure to add it to his resume after an easy win over defending champion, Rafael Nadal in Sunday's showdown.

The Serb has stayed under the radar for the majority of the fortnight, quietly managing his way through the draw. Easy wins over Jeremy Chardy, Kevin Anderson, Marcos Baghdatis and Michael Llodra guaranteed his quarterfinal berth. It was a time when his experience proved crucial in getting the better of promising star, Australian Bernard Tomic, after a challenging four sets encounter. Benefiting from the unexpected loss of his Roland Garros conqueror, Djokovic found it easier to cope with the powerful Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. At the end of a match that lasted for four tight sets, Novak received the ticket to his first Wimbledon final. Moreover, the win marked a milestone in Djokovic's career, as starting on Monday, the 4th of July, the Serb will become the new world number 1, overtaking Nadal.

He might have surpassed the Spaniard at the top of the rankings, but the ultimate battle between them was carried on court, the two going head-to-head in the final act. Having beaten Rafa in four finals this season, Novak came out strong, confident and determined, winning the first two sets 6-4,6-1, after a clinical display. The defending champion witnessed a mid-match resurgence, storming through the third set 6-1. Djokovic was back at his best in the fourth, capitalizing on some error from his opponent to win the set 6-3.

At the end of the most wonderful three days of his life, the Serb was left to savour the victory. In a rather unusual manner, he took a bite of the Centre Court grass. I am sure it tasted better than anything he ever tried. "This is the best day of my life, this is the tournament I always dreamed of winning," said a mesmerised Djokovic who was scared he will wake up to find this was only a dream. He has nothing to worry about though, as the new rankings released on Monday will attest his reign. 

I must admit that I always doubted he would carry on winning for as long as he did so. Nor did I ever expect him to achieve such heights. Nonetheless, the Serb insisted in proving me wrong. Congrats to him on a really impressive success!

In a rather unusual fashion, Djokovic celebrated the success by taking a bite of grass from the Wimbledon Centre Court. I am sure it tasted better than anything he ever tried.

Djokovic a proving a tough nut to crack this year for Nadal. The Serb has beat the Spaniard in all their encounters in 2012 and he continued the trend at Wimbledon where he won an epic final to claim his first title at the event.

photos: GETTY IMAGES

Beware of the Czech!

Followed from the stands by her country's greats Jana Novotna and Martina Navratilova, Petra Kvitova delivered another clinical performance to capture her maiden Grand Slam trophy, easing past Russian Maria Sharapova 6-3,6-4 in the Wimbledon final. 

The Czech has been in ominous form after her surprise run to the semis here last year which ended in a straight sets defeats to then world number 1, Serena Williams. Especially this year, the young Petra has been tremendously successful, winning three titles (i.e. in Brisbane against Petkovic, Paris Indoor against Kim Clijsters and in Madrid against Azarenka). Moreover she got to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open where she lost to Vera Zvonareva and to the fourth round of the French Open where she lost a topsy-tuvy encounter to eventual champion Na Li.

Having lost a nail-biting final in Eastbourne to Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, Kvitova was one of the favourite at the start of the fortnight. Nevertheless, with the plenitude of big names in the draw, Petra's chance were still relatively low. However, she took full advance of a rather easy bottom half, advancing into the quarterfinals without dropping a set. She did stumble a bit under pressure against Pironkova losing a second set tie-break, but managed to come back strongly in the decider to ensure the win. The same scenario was repeated in the semis, where after a magnificent first set, she toughed it out to eventually put an end to Victoria Azarenka's challenge and win the match 6-1,3-6,6-2. 

In her first Grand Slam final, Kvitova proved rock solid, both mentally and physically, beating an in-form Maria Sharapova to become the first Czech to win a Slam since Novotna's success at the same event in 1998. Having achieved a feat that eludes many of the top ranked ladies, Petra showed she has what it takes to become the next big name in women's tennis. Relying on a cracking serve, huge hitting from both sides and an incredible mental strengthen, she can overshadow the likes of Caroline Wozniacki or Victoria Azarenka who have struggled to achieve Grand Slam success.

Kvitova showed nerves of steel, serving out her first Grand Slam trophy with an impressive 6-3,6-4 victory over former champion, Maria Sharapova.

photos (top-down):  GETTY IMAGES, Reuters