Friday Tennis Blog: Del Potro Gets Gaby; Tennis-linked ‘Roids Doc Jailed

Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Gustavo Kuerten (photo: ATP World Tour)

RAFA’S RIO RAMPAGE — Coming off a challenging return from injury and illness that hampered his Australian Open effort, Rafael Nadal is back on his favorite red clay, rampaging through the draw and thrilling tennis-hungry Brazilian fans at the Rio Open. A heavy rain did not stop Rafa, along with Spanish countryman David Ferrer and Brazilian former world No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten from marching in the Rio Carnaval parade on the Marques de Sapucai. “It was the first time we had the chance to enjoy the Rio Carnaval and it has been an unforgettable experience,” Nadal said. “There was unbelievable positive energy [from] everyone. Everyone was singing and dancing.” Nadal is the defending champ at the combined ATP/WTA tour event that is only in its second year. “They are turning into Brazilians,” said Kuerten of Nadal and Ferrer. “It’s something very different from everything they had seen before.”

Wayne Odesnik

(BASEBALL’S) A-ROD, ODESNIK-LINKED ‘ROIDS DOC JAILED — Sports doping took a needed hit this week when “Dr.” Anthony Bosch, who sold illegal steroids to individuals from pro tennis players to Major League Baseball players down to high school athletes, received a four-year prison sentence. Weston, Fla., tennis pro Wayne Odesnik was on Bosch’s list of athletes served, reportedly paying $500 per month to the fake doctor’s clinic, according to the Miami New Times which originally broke the story. Troubled Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez was also on the list, publicly denying involvement, then after receiving a grant of immunity from the DEA, admitting he spent $12,000 a month on doping and receiving a suspension from MLB. Odesnik, who previously in 2010 had pleaded guilty to importing human growth hormone into Australia and was banned for two years by the ITF, never admitted to guilt in the Boesch/Biogenesis case. “I have never bought any drugs from Mr. Bosch,” Odesnik said in a statement to the New Times. “I have never purchased HGH, nor any other illegal/banned substances from any person, including Mr. Bosch.” Odesnik is currently in his 10th year on tour, and is the 19th-ranked American at No. 237 on the ATP World Tour Rankings.

DEL POTRO GETS GABY ON COURT — Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina was forced to withdrawal from the ATP event in Delray Beach, Fla., this week due to a wrist injury, but he did get a workout in during his continuing wrist rehab, hitting with former WTA star and fellow Argentina Gabriela Sabatini. “What a way to finish a great week: the best practice with my friend, the one and only, Gaby,” he posted on social media last Saturday. Practicing at the site of the Miami Open in Key Biscayne, there is no word on whether the former US Open champ will attempt to play at Indian Wells or Miami. Sabatini meanwhile is sharpening-up her game for ESPN’s March 10 broadcast of World Tennis Day in New York from Madison Square Garden where she will face off in an exhibition against Monica Seles.

Americans Johnson, Young Vie for ATP Delray Semis

Two American players, No. 7 seed Steve Johnson and unseeded Donald Young, remain in contention for semifinal spots today at the Delray Beach Open presented by the Venetian Las Vegas, in Delray Beach, Fla.

Young joined Johnson in the quarterfinals yesterday when he handled Colombia’s Alejandro Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2 in second-round play. American Tim Smyczek fell in the second round to No. 3 seed Alexander Dolgopolov.

Young on Friday will face the No. 3-seeded Dolgopolov, and Johnson will meet No. 4 seed Ivo Karlovic.

Coming off a semifinal effort in Memphis, Young looks to keep his roll going.

“I beat some quality players there, three in a row, which is something I haven’t done often in my career,” Young said. “I got a lot of confidence from that and I came back in a couple situations, a couple tight sets, so that was good.”

The top-seeded Bryan brothers are also in action Friday, facing the Australian-New Zealand pairing of John-Patrick Smith and Michael Venus.

They Said It

American CoCo Vandeweghe

“Who am I not fond of? Take your pick. I’m a girl, after all, I can dislike other girls.”
— American CoCo Vandeweghe on her friends and non-friends lists of WTA players, speaking to ESPN

“If I’m being completely honest with you, getting to my career high — looking back — I didn’t even enjoy it as much as I should have because whenever I got to the Top 50 in the world it was more of a relief than an excitement because everyone’s sitting there looking at you going, ‘All right, Top 30.’ You start to realize you can’t please people at all times. If I was five in the world right now and I’d been five in the world for two years, people would be going, ‘Why haven’t you won a Grand Slam?’ You gotta be secure with yourself.”
— Ryan Harrison on the pressures of being the “next great American player”

“I’m disappointed, but I’m just not good enough to not play well against this group of guys. It’s all between the ears right now. It’s not for lack of effort.”
— John Isner after losing early at the ATP Delray Beach event

Tennis on TV This Weekend
(times subject to change)

Friday
7:30am—4:30pm — Dubai, Rio, Delray, Marseille coverage (live), Tennis Channel
4:30-8pm — ATP Rio QFs (live), Tennis Channel
8-10pm — ATP Delray Beach QFs (live), Tennis Channel

Saturday
9:30am-6pm — Dubai, Rio, Delray, Marseille coverage (live), Tennis Channel
6-10pm — ATP Delray Beach SFs (live), Tennis Channel

Sunday
12-6pm — Dubai, Rio, Delray, Marseille finals coverage (live), Tennis Channel