Ten inexplicable events of the year:
Mohamed El Jennati was an unmitigated disaster in Indian Wells. The Moroccan was responsible for several cases of epic buffoonery throughout the fortnight, none more outrageous than his performance in the Istomin-Stepanek match. Stepanek hit a shot that was clearly out, after which Istomin hit the ball back in play but stopped the rally to challenge. Stepanek proceeded to hit his next shot out, as well. El Jennati, meanwhile, did not see Istomin challenge and then did not let Istomin challenge once he found out that a challenge had been called, saying it was too late. The umpire then gave the point to Stepanek for no explicable reason, as the Czech had hit not one but two shots out!
Monfils played five matches at Roland Garros (that means he reached the quarterfinals, for those counting). Three were relatively straightforward, but two won’t soon be forgotten. The Frenchman outlasted Fabio Fognini 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 in the third round before ultimately going down 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 1-6, 6-0 to Andy Murray two rounds later. Each match probably requires its own novel, so the scorelines can just speak for themselves for now.
Murray-Monfils highlights:
Congratulations
At the French Open, Nicolas Mahut lost his first-round match to Mikhail Kukushkin . His press conference began with an American reporter saying, “Congratulations.” A stupefied Mahut promptly decreed that he would begin taking questions in French.
Vampires
A few weeks later at Wimbledon, Ernests Gulbis was part of an even more ridiculous press conference after beating Jurgen Zopp 7-6(7), 7-5, 7-6(10) in the first round. Gulbis was asked about umpires and instead went on ramble about vampires. What makes it even more outrageous, of course, is that his diatribe would have made no sense even if he had been asked about vampires.
Fognini apparently insults James Keothavong and the chair umpire’s sister:
The incident:
Grigor Dimitrov vs. Kevin Anderson
Ready for a date in the Rogers Cup quarterfinals, Dimitrov and Anderson had most recently faced each other in Acapulco–where the Bulgarian won in a third-set tiebreaker. This one went the distance, as well…but it shouldn’t have. Anderson served for the match in the third set and had sitting forehands on two match points, only to squander both chances. The 6’8” South African had similar opportunities after leading 5-4 in the ‘breaker, but once again could not convert. Dimitrov eventually prevailed 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(6) in maybe the wildest result of 2014.
Anderson’s press conference after the loss:
Roger Federer vs. Stan Wawrinka
Rarely is the story of a match in which one player blows four match points–including three on his own serve–what happened outside the lines. But that was the case in the World Tour Finals all-Swiss semi between Federer and Wawrinka. Although Wawrinka squandered four match points and eventually went down in a third-set tiebreaker, his heartbreaking loss was overshadowed by Federer’s wife–Mirka Vavrinec–allegedly calling Wawrinka a crybaby. The two Davis Cup teammates reportedly had a heated exchange in the locker room to discuss the matter. It is likely that nobody other than Stan, Roger, and Mirka will ever really know what happened….
The alleged incident:
John Isner hires Justin Gimelstob
One: he’s a Tennis Channel commentator. Two: he’s on the ATP Board of Directors. Three: he’s Justin Gimelstob. How Gimelstob has time to be John Isner’s coach is unclear. How he will be a good coach is even less clear. The only thing that’s certain is this player-coach relationship is going to be one of the most interesting storylines of 2015.
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