I did an interview Tuesday promoting Steve Bellamy's Shotgun 21 tournament, beginning on Aug. 3 at the Palisades Tennis Center in Brentwood, Calif. An AP wire writer called me to ask why I was supporting such an event. Steve Bellamy is a visionary. He started the Tennis Channel and now is working on the Ski Channel. I believe in his concepts.
I remember when I lived in Bradenton, Fla., working out of IMG Academies and Nick Bollettieri -- another visionary -- used to stage King of the Hill hits on Friday afternoon. He mixed the girls with the guys in a round-robin format. Tommy Haas, Xavier Malisse, Max Mirnyi, Paul-Henri Mathieu all played. I got to the semis a couple of times. There were a lot of laughs, a few bets -- and Nick knew how to loosen up a tough practice week. I learned you could play on the ground against the guys -- or at least have a chance.
That's what Steve is doing. He is mixing up the pros -- girls and guys in a draw -- underhand serves only.
A slight injury is enough to keep me off the tennis court for the next week. I strained my left hip flexor during Stanford in the second round at 3-3 in the first set. I tried a tape job with the trainer but it didn't work. I stayed out there and lost the match. I had to retire with the same injury in Los Angeles on Saturday. I probably shouldn't have tried to play but I've worked hard to get into a ranking position to play in qualifiers at WTA events -- and build points for main draws. It's tough not to try. The tournaments have slowed down the courts, and there is a lot of sand on the surface. This makes for sticky movement, and when you are going for a ball, the wrong kind of torque can pull or strain a muscle. I'm receiving treatment and hoping for a recovery in time for Montreal on Saturday.
I thought it was amusing when Andy Murray complained in his new autobiography that being around former coach Brad Gilbert was like Groundhog Day -- every day was the same. That's what life is like for a tennis player. You eat, practice, exercise and sleep -- it's always the same. Tennis is about how you balance the relationships around you. God gave us relationships because he wants us to be happy. This might be a stretch from Brad Gilbert and Groundhog Day, but I, for one, believe in relationships, friendships, a significant other and, when I'm playing, maintaining the same plane with everyone around me. I think there is comfort in Groundhog Day when you have a big match coming up. Romance, girlfriends, boyfriends, breakups and makeups disrupt Groundhog Day and can make a tennis player's life stormy, to say the least.
Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors could tell you a story or two about romance during their tennis careers and how it affected matches -- more it seems for a young Chrissie, who was head over heels in love with Jimmy. Maybe it's being female and wanting the knight in shining armor concept in your life, but it seems like girls fall harder. You are always wondering what the guy is thinking. Last Sunday, actor Seth Rogan had a take on what guys think about in a Funny Faces photo essay in the New York Times Magazine:
"The root of all men's desire is to have sex," Rogan said. "When you brush your teeth, it's to have sex. When you eat, it's, well, 'I gotta have energy to have sex.' When you get dressed, you think, 'Oh, maybe if I wear these jeans I'll be more likely to have sex.'"
My best friend Kristen, the girl who hung out at the Surf Lodge in Montauk, N.Y., on July 4, tells me that sex in the city is still reminiscent of Carrie Bradshaw and the girl/boy angst that goes along with dating in a big city -- all wrapped up in the nightlife at the hottest clubs and restaurants. At what point in a new relationship is there an equal footing? Or does someone need to take the lead?
Tennis players have to negotiate relationships globally -- in a long-distance manner and usually, at least on the men's side, it ends up in marriage and kids. Grand Slam nurseries are filled up. On the women's side, you just notice girls retire and don't come back or they learn to have fun while on tour. I still remember my doubles match a few years ago at the U.S. Open on an outside court and my partner was Jennifer Capriati -- a girl whose style and flair has never been matched. I didn't see her until she came to the court -- late for our first round. Jennifer plopped down next to me in a chair and looked almost wistful.
"This might be a tough one," she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"I was out with Leo last night."
"Leo?" I asked.
"Yeah," she said. "Leonardo DiCaprio."
Leonardo DiCaprio! Not only does his name roll off your tongue, but every girl in the world still wanted to be blowing in the wind on Leo's ship. I had new respect and admiration for my fellow American. We lost the match, but with a smile. One thing I've learned out here is that relationships complete you. And Groundhog Day has its place.
Alexandra Stevenson
