I submit question, Jon Wertheim answers - it's like magic!

I wrote a post recently about the Serbia Open, which is partially owned by the Djokovic clan, and wondered aloud what, if any, conflicts of interest may be involved.

Well, my thoughts were heard and answered! Actually, I sent in the question to Jon Wertheim's mailbag over at Sports Illustrated since I figured he (and possibly their crack research team) could shed some light on the situation and it's featured in this week's edition. Check it out:

The Djokovic clan and some private investors recently bought the Amersfoort tourney and are transforming it into the newly-named Serbia Open, which debuts as an ATP 250 event this May. It's mentioned on his website he will be taking part in the tourney. A few readers (and me) were wondering if there's any precedent for this situation, e.g. an active baller buys into a tourney and then enters the draw? And wouldn't this setup be a conflict of interest for the tourney officials?
-- Rich, Brooklyn, N.Y.

• It's a huge conflict of interest, of course. (How would you like to be working as a line judge when Djokovic plays!) While I can't recall anything quite as flagrant as an active player's family owning a sanctioned tournament, conflict of interest is the coin of the realm in tennis. How different is this from a management group owning a tournament and also having players in the field under contact? (Gee, think IMG clients might get preferable treatment and first dibs at wild cards at IMG-owned events?) How different is this from broadcasters commentating on matches on which they have a financial stake in the outcome? How different is this from handing out appearance fees -- an inherent acknowledgment that some players are worth more to the tournament than others?

Taking a more charitable view here: tennis is obviously hot in Serbia right now and it only makes sense to penetrate that market. In addition to seizing the initiative and ponying up the cash, the Djokovic family can deliver the top draw but put him through his promotional paces. ("But I already went to a sponsor party yesterday!" "Shut up and press the flesh, son.") It's not an ideal situation, but you could argue the greater good is being served here.

True indeed Jon - tons of different hands diving into all kinds of cookie jars in this sport and probably many others too. And, yes, those Djokos will no doubt be put through the horse + pony PR show.

Smile for your cash boys!

(image via serbiaopen.com)

Quote of the Day: Wertheim on WTA Championships

Either the stands were empty or a lot of people came dressed as empty seats.

- Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim on the sparse crowds in Doha for the WTA Championships

So funny. Yes, this move was all about the bottom line but, truth is, the bottom fell out guys.

However, I have this truly novel, off the wall, I-can't-believe-it's-not-butter kind of idea: if you really want to make money off this year-end tennis thing, get smart and create a combined event leveraging the star power of both tours to sell the event. Then you can stick it wherever you want it.

Crazy, right? I know!

(image via Getty)

Wertheim worried about "graying" ballkid takeover, fans become frenzied

It seems SI's Jon L. Wertheim's has created a stir with tennis fans after witnessing a growing trend over the US Open fortnight. In his "50 parting shots" Wertheim mentions:

Something to watch for: the graying of the "ballkids." I swear, for many matches, the average age of the officials was less those of the "kids" squatting at the net. Insert Kramer reference here.

A clearly concerned reader responded in his September 17th mailbag saying,

Re: the graying of the ball kids. I, too, am deeply disturbed by this phenomenon, and can only think of one possible explanation. Perhaps ballboy is a tenured position, and the same people have been ballboying year after year since the beginning of the open era.

Yes, ballkidding is a tenured position like being a long-standing professor at, say, Harvard. So Wertheim answers,

I'm not sure this is cause to be "deeply disturbed," but I think it's a shame nonetheless. I'm sure it's fun for the adults, but being a ballboy seems to me such an effective way to draw kids to the sport. They get to see top-shelf tennis up close and personal. They interact a bit with players. They see just how much talent (and mental strength) is required to be a pro. They get free gear. I think it's no coincidence that so many pros -- including Federer -- were once ballkids.

Good point Wertheim! "Shame" is exactly the word I was grasping for here. But the drama continued in this week's Mailbag when another reader had this take:

About the Kramer-like ball boys, when a Rafa match (for example) goes on and on until past 2 a.m., you can't use kids because it's against U.S. child labor laws. So at least for night sessions, it makes no sense to use kids. So the ball men are necessary!

Wertheim's response?

Those darn child labor laws! That's so F.D.R. We're talking about giving Radek Stepanek a towel, not working the graveyard shift at the bakery. Have we really gotten so soft as a society. ...No, you're right. I presume that's the reason many of the ballkids need their food cut into bite-size pieces and had to curtail their shuffleboarding in order to work the matches.

Hysterical. Seriously, I could care less whether the "ballkid" is a teenager on summer vacation, a 31-year old marketing manager, or my grandpa. That's why they have "tryouts" - if you can run fast and throw far, you're in fair and square, even with grey hair.

(image via Getty)

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: Jelena, Boris, A-Rod, Venus vs. Serena...Sania makes amends, Becks makes us cry and more

- End of the road? What are Venus & Serena Williams' chances at next month's Australian Open? Franklin L. Johnson for tennisweek.com says, "Is this the last major hurrah for the Williams sisters? These extraordinary athletes have been around so long many of us take them for granted. But, nothing lasts forever, including the legendary careers of Venus and Serena." But before calling it a day on their careers, let's take a trip back to the early Williams' days courtesy of Women's Tennis Blog.

- And she acts, too: Serbian Shank Award recipient Jelena Jankovic will co-star with "Hairspray" star Brittany Snow in a new, original Reebok Entertainment-produced TV show titled "Framed" that will debut Friday night on the IFC channel.

- Self-promoter: Bellezza at All About Becker found the former Wimbledon champ pimping his own clothing line. We suppose someone has to wear it.

- Get all the dirt and details on the ASB Classic and Heineken Open with R.C. French and tennis blog Yellowballin' (we're loving that name).

- Indian sensation Sania Mirza was busted for shooting an ad in the premises of a mosque in her hometown Hyderabad and then later apologized saying, "I would like to apologise to all my brothers and sisters and respected elders who are anguished by my unwittingly entering a portion of the land belonging to Mecca Masjid." The assistant police commissioner accepted the apology saying, "The girl has sent an e-mail saying sorry and her mother also went to the mosque and has given a letter." The 'girl'? How dismissive of them.

- Wishful thinking: Sports Central released the Annual Tennis Holiday Wish List. Their biggest instance of wishful thinking? "4. A grand slam sweep for Maria Sharapova. She proved to be a true professional this year, and the world can use a few more of those. Maybe the holiday season will provide her with enough magic to win all four big ones in the same year, as well." We don't think so (see comments - we even told them so!)

- The end of the tennis year wouldn't be complete without Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim and his Baggie Awards.

- Some kinda threesome: It's all love, love, love for Chris Evert, Greg Norman, and some guy at NBC Sports.

- Speaking of love...Though his love life seems to be in order, Gasquet & Racquet fears for Andy Roddick's professional one and offers some analysis on the former US Open champ.

OFF TOPIC ALERT: David Beckham for Emporio Armani Underwear - holy crap.

(images via AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, Towleroad.com)

+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Roger, Dmitry, Marat, the fighting Hewitts...2008 Olympics news, David Beckham undresses and more

(image via smwarnke4)

- 2008 Olympics update: The surface for the '08 Olympics has been chosen - DecoTurf - which is the same surface used at the US Open. We know one player who is probably very happy about this decision: US Open champion Roger Federer who, surprisingly enough, has yet to sport the gold medal.

- Go vintage Borg in this reissued Matchday Jacket by Fila

- Meet DJ Dmi: Apparently Dmitry Tursonov can spin more than a tennis ball. The eccentric Russian is also a DJ and has posted his own mixes on his website. Check them out here!

- Should the tennis schedule revolve around having a "season" similar to baseball, football, or...football (soccer for our US readers)? ESPN.com ponders this question.

- Ain't no mountain high enough: Marat Safin is putting his tennis aside for another challenge. The 2-time Grand Slam winner is part of a Russian expedition team scheduled to climb Cho Oyu, the 8,201-meter (26,906 ft) mountain on the Nepal-Tibet border.

- We'll be sad to see you go, Guga, if you decide to hang up the rackets...

- The Hewitts are fighting: Never a dull moment in the Hewitt household, is there? The famous Aussie couple are being accused by Channel 7 program, Today Tonight, about failing to fulfill their commitment to building an orphanage in Cambodia.

- Are you suffering from having excess balls? Here are 17 innovate things you can do with the balls you've used and abused.

- Jon Wertheim is certainly making a name for himself. Not only does he cover tennis in-depth, the Sports Illustrated writer is interviewed here about his book on pool entitled "Running the Table".

- Mind over matter: Peter Bodo delves into the mind of Roger Federer to explore his uncanny ability to focus so intensely in the moment...very interesting.

- OFF TOPIC ALERT: Becks releases 2008 calendar, undresses for you

New girl in town: Tennis ingenue Agnes Szavay makes run to Pilot Pen final

We've been admiring a new girl in town - 18-year old Agnes Szavay. We love her game - solid serve, hard groundies, variety, excellent movement - and, of course, her flirty skirt moment. The former junior French Open champ has been making serious noise at this week's US Open warm-up, the Pilot Pen, by reaching the final as a qualifier and taking down World No. 10 Daniela Hantuchova earlier in the week.


And it seems we're not the only one's taking notice: SI's Jon Wertheim has picked the Hungarian to reach no less than the SEMIFINALS at the Open, with a potential matchup against fashion-loving Russian Maria "Shriek"apova.

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: Venus & Serena, US Open seed report, Andy's troubles...Tim says farewell, being a ballboy (or girl) and more

(image courtesy of fotoizm)

- Farewell: Britain's Tim Henman is retiring after Davis Cup in September.

- The Sisters Sledge, Venus and Serena Williams,will be opening the night sessions at the US Open, with both sisters playing Monday evening after the tribute to Althea Gibson on the 50th anniversary of her win in New York.

- Reality check: Some in the media are criticizing the US Open Series commercials for suggesting the players in the spots are playing the tournaments and coming to a town near you. Geez, if we believed that then we'd believe cavemen really were living in LA and starring in their own TV show. Get a grip.

- The NY Sun profiles Roddick's year so far, and gives us this stat: "Roddick has had one of the worst years of his career as a returner [...] This year, he has won only 17% of his return games, 5% less than last year. In the four return categories tracked by the men's tour — return games won, points won off first serves, points won off second serves, and break points won — Roddick ranks among the worst in the game. He doesn't break the top 50 in a single category and is ranked 60 or below in three of them." Coached by one of the greatest returners in the history of tennis, what gives?

- SI's Jon Wertheim services his men's and women's seed reports for the US Open...no surprise on the men's draw, but check out his semifinal bracket for the women...interesting.

- Playing with balls: A inside look at the ball(person) tryouts, and images of those who made the cut in action

- Daily Racquet wonders: Was the AGK Ball Lounge Chair from the Agassi Graf Collection inspired by Unisphere at the USTA National Tennis Center?

- New York magazine, our latest obsession, gives their tips for enjoying the US Open experience. Our personal fave: "Family drama! Juniors matches are also held during the Open, and they can be riveting. It’s especially fun to pick out the parents and watch the match through their facial expressions and gesticulations."

+ TUESDAY NETCORDS: Nicole, Patrick, Roger vs. Nadal...Wilson goes green, TENNIS magazine gets caught and more

Arthur Ashe Stadium, USTA National Tennis Center

- Go green: Wilson Racquet Sports is following the green trend has launched a new Green Initiative that will work to develop and implement environmentally responsible products and manufacturing procedures across the racquet brand’s major product categories.

- Eye candy: A clip of a bunch of shirtless male tennis players for your viewing pleasure...

- SI's Jon Wertheim profiles the rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and compares them to the days of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova saying, "Classic rivals Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova became fast friends. Once, before they met in a Grand Slam final, one of them had her period, and together they scoured the locker room for a tampon. While Federer and Nadal aren't quite at that point yet (and not simply because neither menstruates), unmistakable warmth passes between them." That's T.M.I - too much info, Mr. Wertheim.

- Everything you ever wanted to know (and a few things you probably didn't care to know - favorite breakfast cereal?) about Nicole Vaidisova

- The USTA and JP Morgan Chase bank have signed a 5-year worldwide promotional partnership agreement to be the premiere sponsor of the US Open which includes naming rights to the electronic line calling challenge system and "Chase Review" branded replays on television broadcasts and on in-stadium video boards.

- Patrick McEnroe gives New York magazine his "Nine Rules for Watching the US Open". Our personal fave: 3. Watch the players from behind. That's never a problem for us...

- Checkmate: Chess bloggers wonder aloud: Did chess help Roger Federer?

- Tennis heads staying at The Ritz-Carlton in Cancun can now visit The Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center, a premier sporting facility offering world-class tennis programs all year round. Services range from private lessons and morning clinics, to group tournaments and corporate socials. Custom-designed classes using Drysdale-style and technical instruction take place at the three outdoor hard courts overlooking the Nichupte Lagoon and the Caribbean Sea.

- Busted: Is TENNIS magazine guilty of comment boosting on their blog (posting fake comments to boost readership numbers)? Tsk, tsk...

+ WEDNESDAY NETCORDS: A-Rod, Roger & Rafael sing...Monte Carlo saved, Tennis Planet hearts Lindsay Lohan and more

- Cheaters sometimes win: SI's Jon Wertheim provides his top-5 list of ways tennis players toe the line between gamesmanship and all out cheating. My personal favorite: "4. The fake "gimme": Jimmy Connors patented this move. At a non-critical juncture in the match, you concede a point to your opponent on a questionable line call, giving the impression you're an honest sportsman. Then at a crucial juncture, you hit a ball close to the line that's called unfavorably and then you appeal to him to return the favor." Ew, that's sneaky...

- How they got the 2 biggest male tennis stars to do this we'll never know. Want to see Roger Federer singing "Simply the Best"? Click here. Want to see Rafael Nadal sing "La Bamba"? Click here. Simply hysterical...

- Monte Carlo will keep its status as a Masters Series tournament after the organizers filed an antitrust lawsuit against the ATP in April over its plans to demote the event as part of a reshuffling of the calendar from 2009.

- Tennis Planet is a calling a split between Jimmy Connors and Andy Roddick "inevitable" due to the current state of Roddick's game. I'm not so sure they know what they're talking about over there. TP also thinks the women of the WTA Tour should act more like a certain freefalling partygirl of the moment. Get a grip.

+ Netcords

- Serena 'Sister Sledge' Williams seems to have moved past her disappointment of losing to Justine Henin (and badly I might add) and had a little Miami Beach fun. Who needs a Grand Slam title anyway when you're packin' it like Serena?

- Apparently, being a retired tennis pro who has sex in broom closets matters NOT to Ralph Lauren. Word has it Boris Becker will be the clothing giant's ambassador at Wimbledon this year. So much for class on grass...

- Au revoir! to the French Open says Jon Wertheim.