- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Wednesday, March 22, 2023
- Miami Open Recap Tuesday, March 21st
- Taylor Fritz: American Men’s Major Breakthrough May Be Coming Soon
- Ricky’s preview and picks for the Miami Open: Sinner stands in Alcaraz’s way
- Miami Open draw: Medvedev in bottom half opposite Alcaraz
- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, March 21, 2023
- Alcaraz returns to world No. 1 after beating Medvedev for Indian Wells title
- BNP Paribas Open Men’s Semifinal Photo Gallery By Rob Stone
- Ricky’s pick for the Indian Wells final: Alcaraz vs. Medvedev
- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Sunday, March 19, 2023
- BNP Paribas Open Women’s Semifinal Photo Gallery By Rob Stone
- BNP Paribas Open Draws and Schedule for Saturday, March 18, 2023
- Ricky’s pick for the Indian Wells semifinal between Alcaraz and Sinner
- BNP Paribas Open Men’s Quarterfinal Photo Gallery By Rob Stone
- Pegula, Gauff, Collins, Keys, McNally to Play for U.S. BJK Cup Team
Tennis 10sBalls Looks At The HOPMAN Cup • Tennis Consultant Lloyd Emanuel Shares His Views
- Updated: January 9, 2019

Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic of Switzerland hold up the Hopman Cup after winning the mixed doubles match between Switzerland and Germany on day 8 of the Hopman Cup tennis tournament at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, 05 January 2019. EPA-EFE/TONY MCDONOUGH
I’ve really enjoyed the Hopman Cup the last 2 years (thanks in large part to Fed’s participation, which induced me to watch it). The finals both years were thrilling, and all the players compete with 100% intensity, even though there are no points involved. I am in favor of experimenting with all alternative scoring formats, as long as they are fair. Thus, my only objection to the mixed, fast 4, no-ad scoring is the antiquated and flawed Van Alen 9-point sudden death tiebreaker, which potentially allows for a player or team to win without a (mini)break of serve. And with the randomness of a racquet spin for serve, one team will hold the final serve at 4-all. Although the Swiss & Germans did trade mini-breaks yesterday in the championship-deciding final set tiebreaker, Federer did hold the final serve, which he converted. High drama, for sure, but unfair to the Germans. Funny, the commentators (former players), were completely perplexed at the Germans’ decision to receive first when they won the toss. To me it was obvious—they would hold the final serve in the event of a 9th point in a first set tiebreaker.
The tennis world is a mess with all the competing factions—World Cup of Tennis which is the ITF’s sell-out of Davis Cup, the ATP Cup which is the ATP’s answer & will kill the Hopman Cup, and the Laver Cup, the awesome Federer-backed special event, which the World Cup is trying to bury. Wondering how all this will play out.
Also very much enjoying (thank you Lovey) Julie Heldman’s brutally frank memoir “Driven”. Boy, did the powers in the game in the 50’s & 60’s (USLTA, ITF), try to constrain tennis players, especially women, from making a living. I recommend the book for any tennis junkie (especially of a certain age), New Yorker, tennis parent.