Thursday, November 21, 2013

Sweeping the court

Everyone likes a class yearbook, and there's no yearbook quite like the one published by the Backspin Academy. It's all there in photos, videos, student election results, lecture series, classes--everything. The Radwanska Abbey "lost footage" has been restored, too, so if you missed the tour the first time, be sure to check it out. Do your homework.

Maria Sharapova has hired Sven Groenefeld as her coach. I didn't see that one coming.

Sloane Stepehens has entered a trial coaching agreement with Paul Annacone, who--until recently--coached Roger Federer.

Laura Robson has hired Jesse Witten as her traveling coach and hitting partner, and Nick Saviano as a coaching consultant. The word is that she wanted to hire Mark Woodforde as her coach, but that the two could not come to a financial agreement.

Elena Baltacha has retired from professional tennis. The veteran Brit (born in Scotland) player was a lot longer on talent than she was on luck. At age 19, Baltacha was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, but didn't let a compromised immune system stop her from playing. She and her coach, Nino Severino, currently run the Baltacha Academy of Tennis. The 30-year-old Baltacha, who has suffered numerous injuries, said, in announcing her retirement, that all those injuries have finally taken their toll. Bally will be missed, for sure.

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