I was just about to add, lest my curt comment suggest that’s the only thing I got out of your piece…
Your prefatory remarks about the lessons we expect—or at least hope—people have learned two decades after Facebook became a sensation reminded me of the Milan Kundera line I have pinned to my Twitter feed (yes, still Twitter—I’m too old to change): "Man desires a world where good and evil can be clearly distinguished, for he has an innate and irrepressible desire to judge before he understands."
as ana mitrić pointed out correctly in the comments: it was a spray the physiotherapist used on his cut finger, not a cream as i wrote in the piece. i wish i could edit it but unfortunately that‘s not possible (or maybe it is and i don‘t know how?). so here is the correction!
Wonderful assessment of a complicated situation. I listened to Andy Roddick review this case and it is consistent with yours. This is so helpful for an average fan like me. Now I can enjoy the tournament and dismiss the noise.
The depth of your posts is so impressive. Thank you 🙏
Great reportage on this issue, Andrea -- and I want to stress that word -- reportage. Not your take, because you really went to great lengths to provide just the facts.
The Sinner thing has been discussed to death, so I'm kind of beyond that. Instead, I'm fully into the US Open, and specifically, the Fan Week experience, because I was there on the grounds yesterday.
I missed the qualifying tournament last year, but before that, I think I made it probably four or five years in a row. And I must say, I'm saddened by what I saw. I feel like the players who are scrabbling, fighting, and doing everything in their power to enter the tournament have been diminished -- by having the last day be yesterday, Thursday, and not Friday like it has been for years and years. Instead, we now have three consecutive days of the big players practicing. Of course, it was nice seeing Novak and Sasha hitting yesterday at Ashe, and then Madison and Katie (Boulter), but why not also celebrate the up-and-coming players, too?
I understand the economics behind the move (bigger names, larger crowds), but most of these qualifiers who win here are largely lambs for slaughter -- for many, their victory here after three rounds IS the tournament. And they should be feted as such. Yes, they make good money for making it to the main draw, but come on, USTA, please do better. The tournament is, after all, about the game of tennis.
Thanks for another thoughtful piece. Just a small point of clarification on the issue of Sinner being represented by a lawyer who has previously represented ITIA. This is a distraction and a non issue. Sinner was represented by a team of UK solicitors and barristers. As to the relevant lawyer in question, he is a solicitor. All lawyers and certainly lawyers in the UK are governed by conduct rules a breach of which can result in disciplinary proceedings against them including disbarment. Those rules are taken seriously and enforced. A relevant rule is the duty to avoid a conflict of interest. That duty does not prevent a lawyer from acting for a former client. All law firms do conflict checks before representing a client. If the firm is already representing an opponent of a new client (e.g. they were representing ITIA on the same matter before Sinner became their client) they would not represent Sinner. If ITIA was a former client that would not be an issue. Lawyers routinely act for and against the same party especially when they are institutional clients like a regulatory body like ITIA without being in breach of their conflict rules.
amazing post - thank you. i was looking for a better insight (exactly like yours), couldn‘t find anything online and unfortunately have no lawyer friends. so, thank you so much for a clarification on a matter i couldn‘t find explained anywhere else!
I have been arguing the bias In journalism is profound and most notable in….gulp….politics. I have to read read read to find neutral journalists and like to make my own mind up-not parroting someone else. You NAILED this bias-smart lady writing here…new fav!
It’s more than just waiting a few days for me, given what we have sadly learned about the technology available to mask doping it’s impossible to tell a legit explanation from a cover up. One just has to go with the ruling. It’s sad in that I feel that before the sport became so physical there wasn’t any benefit in doping for tennis. I used to joke that until they came up with a drug for not choking all other drugs were irrelevant. Take a look at the last Alcatraz Sinner match. Can’t say that about the sport now.
Thanks for your explanation of the Sinner ordeal. He is so transparent and honest in his life. This doping issue will be a non-issue soon.
I’m envious that you are at the US Open. I will have to miss it this year but will watch many hours on TV! Have a fabulous time! 👍🏽🥳 Congratulations to all the qualifiers who are competing and to those who advance! 🙏🏼💪🏽
Wolfe laid the foundation for "New Journalism" a style of writing that combined journalistic accuracy with a novelist's literary style. At times he put 'self' into his observation, however it was exceedingly more accurate & vetted than the "opinionated" so called slap dash journalists of today!
Like a lot of “inventions,” social media can be used for good or evil or epic fails and cat pics. So glad you are on the good side and you take the time and effort (and coffees) to share what you know and think. I learn so much from your thoughtful, entertaining pieces, written by someone whose research is based in large part on the subjectivity of having actually been there and done that but with the objectivity of someone who can mindfully reflect on it all. Not sure what that is called but Dr. Hunter S. Thompson’s approach was referred to as “Gonzo.”
P.S. First rule of consuming journalism is to “question the source.” Second rule, “there is no absolute objectivity.” Third rule, “do the best with what you have at the time” (no wait… that’s what my tennis coach says🤗). Final rule, “pass the Scotch.” 🥃
Eva Lys made the qualifying, too 🎉 wuup wuup
Minor correction: the Clostebol was in spray, not cream, form.
you‘re so right! i will try to edit it. thank you for pointing it out 🙏🏻
I was just about to add, lest my curt comment suggest that’s the only thing I got out of your piece…
Your prefatory remarks about the lessons we expect—or at least hope—people have learned two decades after Facebook became a sensation reminded me of the Milan Kundera line I have pinned to my Twitter feed (yes, still Twitter—I’m too old to change): "Man desires a world where good and evil can be clearly distinguished, for he has an innate and irrepressible desire to judge before he understands."
Vidimo se, hopefully.
Terrific article! Thank you! And congratulations to Li Tu ❤️. Enjoy your time in NYC!
as ana mitrić pointed out correctly in the comments: it was a spray the physiotherapist used on his cut finger, not a cream as i wrote in the piece. i wish i could edit it but unfortunately that‘s not possible (or maybe it is and i don‘t know how?). so here is the correction!
Wonderful assessment of a complicated situation. I listened to Andy Roddick review this case and it is consistent with yours. This is so helpful for an average fan like me. Now I can enjoy the tournament and dismiss the noise.
The depth of your posts is so impressive. Thank you 🙏
Great reportage on this issue, Andrea -- and I want to stress that word -- reportage. Not your take, because you really went to great lengths to provide just the facts.
The Sinner thing has been discussed to death, so I'm kind of beyond that. Instead, I'm fully into the US Open, and specifically, the Fan Week experience, because I was there on the grounds yesterday.
I missed the qualifying tournament last year, but before that, I think I made it probably four or five years in a row. And I must say, I'm saddened by what I saw. I feel like the players who are scrabbling, fighting, and doing everything in their power to enter the tournament have been diminished -- by having the last day be yesterday, Thursday, and not Friday like it has been for years and years. Instead, we now have three consecutive days of the big players practicing. Of course, it was nice seeing Novak and Sasha hitting yesterday at Ashe, and then Madison and Katie (Boulter), but why not also celebrate the up-and-coming players, too?
I understand the economics behind the move (bigger names, larger crowds), but most of these qualifiers who win here are largely lambs for slaughter -- for many, their victory here after three rounds IS the tournament. And they should be feted as such. Yes, they make good money for making it to the main draw, but come on, USTA, please do better. The tournament is, after all, about the game of tennis.
Thanks for another thoughtful piece. Just a small point of clarification on the issue of Sinner being represented by a lawyer who has previously represented ITIA. This is a distraction and a non issue. Sinner was represented by a team of UK solicitors and barristers. As to the relevant lawyer in question, he is a solicitor. All lawyers and certainly lawyers in the UK are governed by conduct rules a breach of which can result in disciplinary proceedings against them including disbarment. Those rules are taken seriously and enforced. A relevant rule is the duty to avoid a conflict of interest. That duty does not prevent a lawyer from acting for a former client. All law firms do conflict checks before representing a client. If the firm is already representing an opponent of a new client (e.g. they were representing ITIA on the same matter before Sinner became their client) they would not represent Sinner. If ITIA was a former client that would not be an issue. Lawyers routinely act for and against the same party especially when they are institutional clients like a regulatory body like ITIA without being in breach of their conflict rules.
amazing post - thank you. i was looking for a better insight (exactly like yours), couldn‘t find anything online and unfortunately have no lawyer friends. so, thank you so much for a clarification on a matter i couldn‘t find explained anywhere else!
Sensible and kind report - thank you. And that photo of Li Tu ... what a joy!
I learn something every time I read your posts. That is the essence of journalism, new or old, I think! Thank you.
I have been arguing the bias In journalism is profound and most notable in….gulp….politics. I have to read read read to find neutral journalists and like to make my own mind up-not parroting someone else. You NAILED this bias-smart lady writing here…new fav!
It’s more than just waiting a few days for me, given what we have sadly learned about the technology available to mask doping it’s impossible to tell a legit explanation from a cover up. One just has to go with the ruling. It’s sad in that I feel that before the sport became so physical there wasn’t any benefit in doping for tennis. I used to joke that until they came up with a drug for not choking all other drugs were irrelevant. Take a look at the last Alcatraz Sinner match. Can’t say that about the sport now.
Thanks for your explanation of the Sinner ordeal. He is so transparent and honest in his life. This doping issue will be a non-issue soon.
I’m envious that you are at the US Open. I will have to miss it this year but will watch many hours on TV! Have a fabulous time! 👍🏽🥳 Congratulations to all the qualifiers who are competing and to those who advance! 🙏🏼💪🏽
Wolfe laid the foundation for "New Journalism" a style of writing that combined journalistic accuracy with a novelist's literary style. At times he put 'self' into his observation, however it was exceedingly more accurate & vetted than the "opinionated" so called slap dash journalists of today!
I was thinking we are all Sinners, at the end of the day.
Like a lot of “inventions,” social media can be used for good or evil or epic fails and cat pics. So glad you are on the good side and you take the time and effort (and coffees) to share what you know and think. I learn so much from your thoughtful, entertaining pieces, written by someone whose research is based in large part on the subjectivity of having actually been there and done that but with the objectivity of someone who can mindfully reflect on it all. Not sure what that is called but Dr. Hunter S. Thompson’s approach was referred to as “Gonzo.”
P.S. First rule of consuming journalism is to “question the source.” Second rule, “there is no absolute objectivity.” Third rule, “do the best with what you have at the time” (no wait… that’s what my tennis coach says🤗). Final rule, “pass the Scotch.” 🥃
Will be there tomorrow, hope to run into you!