Novak may look like anti-chaos most of the time on the court, but we all know what happens when his chips are down. Absolute, scenic chaos, from taking massive chances (40-15, two match points against, SW19 2019, we all remember) to picking fights with the entire stadium. He reminds me of Mark Ruffalo's Incredible Hulk: "That's my secret, Cap. I'm always angry." Novak is always chaos. It's just so controlled that we hardly ever see it.
I used to run a Twitter (when it was Twitter) commentary account for tennis called pokpokclap, because that is the sound of Wimbledon.
And meanwhile can we dream of reading in future about "post-match handshake encounters you have known and loved/hated" after the epic Maria Sakkari v Yulia Puntintseva encounter.
Thanks 🙏 I see you were also quoted by DW on the insanity of sports gamblers. I wrote about that over on my Substack following Katie Boulter talking to the BBC about it. Gambling + social media = most toxic substance known to humans
Director of Excitement? I am already smiling at that real or imagined title because it so fits you. You write. People smile. You speak. People smile. You analyze. People learn. You direct excitement. And people say thank you!
You are completely right about the WTA’s promotion of its players. They really seem decades behind in terms of how to engage audiences in the digital age. Compare to how well known and liked Bublik is relative to his ranking, because his personality and theatrics have been given a platform.
I know, right?! I even applied for the Content Producer position at the WTA, even though I didn't actually need the job, but because I wanted to help them develop that personalized approach to players. Naturally, I didn't even get a reply from that corporate void.
Just read what you said about WTA editing Wang Xinyu and I completely agree.
I don't know how familiar you are with pro wrestling (if not, John Isner can help) but what you said got me thinking of Stone Cold Steve Austin, one of the biggest stars ever in that field of entertainment. He had a similar problem, his best stuff in his interviews was edited out. Eventually, he went to his boss and asked for that to be stopped. His boss listened, and because the fans got to see all of his personality he went on to become a phenomenon and the biggest star in pro wrestling at the time.
"I was walking to the building in Massachusetts and business wasn't very good," Austin explained. "We were going live one week and the other show would go to post. So, they let me do color commentary and I was talking some trash. Later, I would watch the shows and they were editing a lot of the stuff I said ... I saw Vince in the parking lot -- we didn't have a relationship then -- he was just the boss, but I asked him about it."
McMahon said he was "popping the guys in the truck," or making them laugh at what Austin was saying during the matches.
"I thought, 'If you are making the guys in the truck laugh, you can make anybody laugh. These guys have seen everything. So, I told him on the spot, "You got guys 6-foot-6, 300 pounds. I'm 6-foot-2, 250, I got black trunks, black boots, a bald head and goatee. If you take my personality away from me, I can't compete. If you let me use my personality, I can compete with anyone!"
Love Wimby. It'elegant and graceful. So Federish. That man with the lowest center of gravity in the top ten at 6 ft even, as well as, lower body strength to spare, and, now, a serve that strikes fear even in the hearts of his opponents who love the lawn, WILL triumph. Vamos Carlitos.
although I cannot wait for grass season to end as well, I will say that I am excited for Wimby (and your newsletter on it). Some dark horses come out during grass season so we might see a switch up this year, and with fingers crossed, a wimby threepeat from carlos (lowkey worried abt him not resting enough with queens and all)
Thought you might like to know that the type of rom-com you describe is called enemies-to-lovers and sometimes a meet-hate (vs. a meet-cute) haha.
A question for you re: players who excel on grass and also grass season in general. Would you say that the grass season has the most potential to deliver "random" champions because the skill set is very specific, the season short, and the turnaround between clay so quick? This produces a ven diagram of sorts where players who may not excel on other surfaces can exploit the conditions and the mindsets of their opponents (I'm terrible on grass!) to take titles? It always feels like there are players just waiting in the wings for grass season and quick out of the gate, so to speak.
Imagine if table tennis players alternated tournaments between table surfaces of hard, clay, and grass. Imagine if volleyball players alternated tournaments between hard, clay, and grass. Imagine if the NBA alternated games between hard, clay, and grass. Yes, there is some schadenfreude pleasure in watching world class tennis players stumble, slip, and whiff on grass, but the random, odd, and unfair bounces and footing truly detract from the athleticism and spectacle of hard courts. Clay is no better, with wacky bounces, slippery footing, and glossy fabric lines on many courts. I take no pleasure in the trials and frustrations of players on any surface that isn't hard. Okay, I'll watch it on TV but I won't play on it or speak well of it.
It is expected that everybody in Germany (this week) speaks and understands the English language perfectly as almost all court announcements, umpire explanations, interviews etc are given in English without translation?
Even your title Director of Entertainment was announced in English and not German.
(I ask myself this question each and every week tennis is played abroad bar the US and Australia)
I am happily forgiving you, dear Director of Excitement. Just traveling back from Hamburg, where, as you might know, there are no mosquitos. Not even in luxury hotel rooms.
I found online your interview of Xinyu Wang, and as you suggested, she was funny and generally delightful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzAMdlvFWrI
And speaking of antidotes, Xinyu Wang could be an antidote to a certain compatriot of hers who doesn't have quite the same personality!
Just saw it! Fantastic interview! Omg why does the WTA need to edit it! 😡
Novak may look like anti-chaos most of the time on the court, but we all know what happens when his chips are down. Absolute, scenic chaos, from taking massive chances (40-15, two match points against, SW19 2019, we all remember) to picking fights with the entire stadium. He reminds me of Mark Ruffalo's Incredible Hulk: "That's my secret, Cap. I'm always angry." Novak is always chaos. It's just so controlled that we hardly ever see it.
I used to run a Twitter (when it was Twitter) commentary account for tennis called pokpokclap, because that is the sound of Wimbledon.
And meanwhile can we dream of reading in future about "post-match handshake encounters you have known and loved/hated" after the epic Maria Sakkari v Yulia Puntintseva encounter.
great idea about the handshakes!
Thanks 🙏 I see you were also quoted by DW on the insanity of sports gamblers. I wrote about that over on my Substack following Katie Boulter talking to the BBC about it. Gambling + social media = most toxic substance known to humans
https://x.com/kostekcanu/status/1937546972791255064?s=46
Director of Excitement? I am already smiling at that real or imagined title because it so fits you. You write. People smile. You speak. People smile. You analyze. People learn. You direct excitement. And people say thank you!
You are such fun and SHOULD be director of excitement at all tournaments!
You are completely right about the WTA’s promotion of its players. They really seem decades behind in terms of how to engage audiences in the digital age. Compare to how well known and liked Bublik is relative to his ranking, because his personality and theatrics have been given a platform.
I know, right?! I even applied for the Content Producer position at the WTA, even though I didn't actually need the job, but because I wanted to help them develop that personalized approach to players. Naturally, I didn't even get a reply from that corporate void.
Hello Andrea.
Just read what you said about WTA editing Wang Xinyu and I completely agree.
I don't know how familiar you are with pro wrestling (if not, John Isner can help) but what you said got me thinking of Stone Cold Steve Austin, one of the biggest stars ever in that field of entertainment. He had a similar problem, his best stuff in his interviews was edited out. Eventually, he went to his boss and asked for that to be stopped. His boss listened, and because the fans got to see all of his personality he went on to become a phenomenon and the biggest star in pro wrestling at the time.
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/stone-cold-steve-austin-life-pro-wrestling/story?id=35893036
"I was walking to the building in Massachusetts and business wasn't very good," Austin explained. "We were going live one week and the other show would go to post. So, they let me do color commentary and I was talking some trash. Later, I would watch the shows and they were editing a lot of the stuff I said ... I saw Vince in the parking lot -- we didn't have a relationship then -- he was just the boss, but I asked him about it."
McMahon said he was "popping the guys in the truck," or making them laugh at what Austin was saying during the matches.
"I thought, 'If you are making the guys in the truck laugh, you can make anybody laugh. These guys have seen everything. So, I told him on the spot, "You got guys 6-foot-6, 300 pounds. I'm 6-foot-2, 250, I got black trunks, black boots, a bald head and goatee. If you take my personality away from me, I can't compete. If you let me use my personality, I can compete with anyone!"
Austin recalled McMahon responding calmly, "OK, Steve."
"That's when he took the reins off and I pushed the envelope," Austin said. The rest is "Attitude Era" history."
Love Wimby. It'elegant and graceful. So Federish. That man with the lowest center of gravity in the top ten at 6 ft even, as well as, lower body strength to spare, and, now, a serve that strikes fear even in the hearts of his opponents who love the lawn, WILL triumph. Vamos Carlitos.
although I cannot wait for grass season to end as well, I will say that I am excited for Wimby (and your newsletter on it). Some dark horses come out during grass season so we might see a switch up this year, and with fingers crossed, a wimby threepeat from carlos (lowkey worried abt him not resting enough with queens and all)
Thought you might like to know that the type of rom-com you describe is called enemies-to-lovers and sometimes a meet-hate (vs. a meet-cute) haha.
A question for you re: players who excel on grass and also grass season in general. Would you say that the grass season has the most potential to deliver "random" champions because the skill set is very specific, the season short, and the turnaround between clay so quick? This produces a ven diagram of sorts where players who may not excel on other surfaces can exploit the conditions and the mindsets of their opponents (I'm terrible on grass!) to take titles? It always feels like there are players just waiting in the wings for grass season and quick out of the gate, so to speak.
Imagine if table tennis players alternated tournaments between table surfaces of hard, clay, and grass. Imagine if volleyball players alternated tournaments between hard, clay, and grass. Imagine if the NBA alternated games between hard, clay, and grass. Yes, there is some schadenfreude pleasure in watching world class tennis players stumble, slip, and whiff on grass, but the random, odd, and unfair bounces and footing truly detract from the athleticism and spectacle of hard courts. Clay is no better, with wacky bounces, slippery footing, and glossy fabric lines on many courts. I take no pleasure in the trials and frustrations of players on any surface that isn't hard. Okay, I'll watch it on TV but I won't play on it or speak well of it.
The Materialists dialogue made me happy but the casting not as much!
A question for you:
It is expected that everybody in Germany (this week) speaks and understands the English language perfectly as almost all court announcements, umpire explanations, interviews etc are given in English without translation?
Even your title Director of Entertainment was announced in English and not German.
(I ask myself this question each and every week tennis is played abroad bar the US and Australia)
There’s something about the transition from red clay to green grass on the eyes that takes time to
adjust but eventually becomes beautiful again.
Another wonderful read Andrea and excellent job with the interviews in Berlin!
I am happily forgiving you, dear Director of Excitement. Just traveling back from Hamburg, where, as you might know, there are no mosquitos. Not even in luxury hotel rooms.