TENNIS.com - Backcourt Articles

Backcourt Buzz: Challenging Rafa; Maria & Machine

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:10:54 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond Ready, Set, Hold Want a shot at beating Rafael Nadal? Here’s your chance, only you won’t need your racquet. The International Olympic Committee is running a contest, “The Best of Us Challenge,” where Olympians take on a

Backcourt Buzz: Contests, Confessionals, Cakes

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:36:51 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond News, gossip and other items of interest from the world of tennis Glyn Kirk AFP Getty ImagesMurray and Roddick's online contests prove, once again, that you what you pay for. Enter to Win You have until

Backcourt Buzz: Monthly Murray; Awareness month

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:32:40 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond News, gossip and other items of interest from the world of tennis Eye Candy, or Something Like It Can you believe we’re just three months away from 2010? I always find this time of the year exciting.

Backcourt: Golf, Gabbing and Grocery Shopping

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:42:43 GMT

After the Open: Tracking a Trio of Starlets

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:14:27 GMT

By Sarah Alvanipour News, gossip and other items of interest from the world of tennis What’s been going on since the U.S. Open? In short, some ATP players participated in Davis Cup ties. Some won challengers (Congrats to Taylor Dent

U.S. Open: Before It Ends or Between the Rains

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:16:34 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond Getty ImagesLaver's trophies from his 1969 Grand Slam are on display at the International Tennis Hall of Fame's exhibit at Flushing Meadows. Normally, the goal when attending the U.S. Open is to catch as many matches

Backcourt at the Open: Interview with a Housewife

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:24:22 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond Earlier this week at the U.S. Open, TENNIS.com’s Backcourt sat down with Ramona and Mario Singer, the tennis loving couple from Bravo’s hit reality show “The Real Housewives of New York City.” For those of you who

Backcourt Fashion Report: James Blake’s New Line

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:03:22 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond Blake named his new clothing line after his late father, Thomas Reynolds. James Blake is paying tribute to his late father. This week at the U.S. Open, Blake debuted his new sports apparel line for Fila, called

Party of Two: TENNIS hits the soiree circuit

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:49:09 GMT

By David Rosenberg and Sarah Thurmond Making the party rounds. That’s what the pro players, celebrities, sponsors, PR flacks, Rachel Zoe wannabe stylistas, members of the media and New York scenesters do in the days leading up to the U.S.

Used Balls Please: Hayden Makes Tennis Furniture

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:48:09 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond In my last column for Backcourt, I mentioned Hugh Hayden, a furniture designer that makes living room sets using tennis balls. Here’s a more in depth look at the artist and his work. Savinien CaracosteaHayden's pieces are constructed

Backcourt Buzz: Tennis in the White House

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:11:37 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond News, gossip and other items of interest from the world of tennis Advantage Mr. President Let’s start this Backcourt off with the President of the United States. As you may have heard, he and the First Family

Backcourt Buzz: Failed relationships, false love

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:17:08 GMT

By Sarah ThurmondScud Was a Dud Ethan Miller Getty ImagesPhilippoussis and Salinas, in happier times. Amanda finally speaks What’s that? Amanda who? You know, Amanda Salinas, the woman who stole Mark Philippoussis’ heart on Age of Love, the reality

Backcourt Buzz: Bikinis, Babies and Beer Diplomacy

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:47:53 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond News, gossip and other items of interest from the world of tennis Ankling for an Injury In her new memoir, On the Line (due in bookstores September 1), Serena Williams reveals that her 2003 left knee injury—the one

Backcourt Buzz: That’s a Rap for Novak

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:10:24 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond News, gossip and other items of interest from the world of tennis Shaq’ing Up Shaquille O’Neal is starring in a new reality TV series called Shaq Vs., which begins August 18 on ABC. During each episode, the

Backcourt Buzz: Kournikova, Lisicki get physical

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:49:03 GMT

By Sarah Alvanipour Sandra Mu Getty ImagesVaidisova lost in the first round of this year's Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. Ins and Outs It wasn’t long ago that Nicole Vaidisova was another up and comer who generated buzz

Backcourt Buzz: Pretzeling and parenting

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:53:19 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond The latest off court happenings in the world of tennis O Captain My Captain Last month the great American humorist Garrison Keillor contributed a column to The New York Times about his trip to the U.K. While the focus

Backcourt Buzz: Tennis is all a-Twitter

Thu, 21 May 2009 20:31:26 GMT

By Sarah Alvanipour Tweeting Tennis Players These days, it seems that everyone and her grandmother is chronicling life’s every moment, no matter how banal, via the social networking site Twitter, and the tennis world is apparently just as taken with

Backcourt Buzz: Another Williams plays tennis

Wed, 20 May 2009 20:58:32 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond The latest off court happenings in the world of tennis Must See Cameo This Thursday, Billie Jean King will be guest starring on the season finale of ABC’s telenovela “Ugly Betty.” As usual, King will be playing

Backcourt Buzz: McEnroe gives courting advice

Wed, 13 May 2009 16:34:41 GMT

Backcourt Buzz: Is Ivanovic sexier than Sharapova?

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:54:30 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond The latest off court happenings in the world of tennis Maria Makes Over the New Lion Full disclosure from a celeb gossip junkie Typically on a Tuesday at 7 p.m., I’m catching up on the day’s entertainment

Backcourt Buzz: Roddick to become a married man

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:33:43 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond Andy’s Getting Hitched There’s big celebrity news to report (you know it’s big when the holy Hollywood gossip trinity of People, US and the New York Post’s “Page Six” are reporting it) Andy Roddick and his Sports Illustrated swimsuit model

Moving On: Verdasco, Wozniacki spotted together

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:40:52 GMT

By Sarah Alvanipour Backcourt Baby News Another first for Ashley Harkleroad, the first professional tennis player to pose for a nude pictorial in Playboy According to online reports, Harkleroad and her coach and fiancé Chuck Adams welcomed their first child,

Backcourt Buzz: MC Ivo, 1970s Guillermo and More

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:03:57 GMT

Mail ing It In? Where would Backcourt be without Serena Williams? The queen of verbal blunders and entertaining off court exploits never disappoints when it comes to our coverage of players’ beyond the baseline lives. Editors at London’s Daily Mail

Backcourt Buzz: Playing tennis on cars

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:32:04 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond Ron Silver RIP I’m a little late on this but Ron Silver, the acclaimed Tony Award winning actor, died on March 15 at the age of 62. I mention Silver’s passing here because he played the role

Backcourt Buzz: Serena, Spring Break, Simpsons

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:55:09 GMT

By Sarah Thurmond The latest off court happenings in the world of tennis Serena Excels At Other Racquet SportsWhile in New York for the Billie Jean King Cup last week, Serena Williams appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. A good moment