–(Note: This was originally posted in August 2018. Australian wildfires in January 2020 are showing urgent need for schedule change to suit climate change.) Imagine playing Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros in the… Continue reading
Bianca Andreescu’s victory at the US Open is also a triumph of her hard work and patience to recover from a shoulder injury when she won Indian Wells. But tennis fans and… Continue reading
—- Roger Federer has now won Halle ten times. It has become his private practice event leading up to Wimbledon, where he was on 8 times. Roger has also won Dubai 8 times,… Continue reading
The Laver Cup feels like a wedding, bringing together extended families for the first time around the ceremonial union of a happy couple. There are… Continue reading
Fans have many reasons to love Roger Federer. Here are some of the more under-rated aspects of his game. 1–Feel. Hands. Federer’s rare ability to flick back balls deep allows him to hug… Continue reading
Here’s how Rafa Nadal trounced Stan Wawrinka to win “La Decima” — his record 10th French Open. –From start to finish, Rafa Nadal forced Wawrinka to defend on wings, giving him few chances… Continue reading
The King of clay has his mojo back. Rafa Nadal’s playing again with confidence and passion. While Roger Federer skips the clay season, and Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray remain in various phases… Continue reading
The Caja Magica in Madrid is renowned for its magic light on sunny days, especially on courts 2 and 3. The players also create a magic of their own. (images copyright Christopher Johnson)
Roger Federer is often compared with a ballerina. He’s graceful. He floats. His matches are a Master Class. Imagine playing him. You’d call him the Swiss Assassin, not the Swiss Maestro. … Continue reading
With Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer out with injuries, and Novak Djokovic slumping, Andy Murray owns the world right now, not only Milos Raonic. But he definitely has owned Raonic this year,… Continue reading
Before turning 21, Juan Martin del Potro beat Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer to win the 2009 US Open. If healthy, he might have expanded the Big Four into the Big Five,… Continue reading
by Christopher Johnson — After his epic win over Roger Federer in the Wimbledon semi-finals, many are asking the question which I asked earlier this year: is Milos Raonic the second coming of… Continue reading
(images copyright Christopher Johnson all rights reserved)
(all images copyright Christopher Johnson, all rights reserved)
Milos Raonic’s serves put Alex Dolgopolov and Jo Tsonga on their heels swatting at the ball in Madrid. But Novak Djokovic somehow managed to step in… Continue reading
Novak Djokovic won clay courts events in Monte Carlo and Rome last year, but has never won the French Open where Rafa Nadal — and Stan Wawrinka last year — have stood… Continue reading
By Christopher Johnson — Novak Djokovic seemingly has all the tools for a future career in entertainment. He’s funny, witty, animated, flexible and malleable. He has the balance and body control of a… Continue reading
— by Christopher Johnson — I can’t understand why some folks don’t love or cherish Serena Williams. She’s truly inspiring. She transcends age, gender and race. She’s the greatest tennis player of all… Continue reading
(images copyright Christopher Johnson Globalite Media all rights reserved)
(images copyright Christopher Johnson Globalite Media all rights reserved)
(images copyright Christopher Johnson Globalite Media all rights reserved)
In the Persian Gulf area to photograph the Dubai Duty Free tennis tournament, I somehow got invited to the players party outside the hotel adjacent to the stadium. Guests and organizers were flocking… Continue reading
Milos Raonic has become cool to photograph. He looks fantastic in the golden sun and powdery red clay of the Mutua Madrid Open. His serve is powerful but also sublime. His technique seems… Continue reading
all images copyright Christopher Johnson Globalite Media all rights reserved
A big serve, when it’s on, can dominate a match. But more than anything else, tennis is about the things Roger Federer did better than Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon semi-finals. It’s about… Continue reading
Reaching the Wimbledon final, Genie Bouchard at age 20 has already forged a brand of aggressive power tennis that is distinctly Canadian. She plays with a play-off hockey mentality. You can see her… Continue reading
Rod Laver asked the Australian media to go easy on Nick Gyrgios and let him grow. The same can be said about Milos Raonic. Raonic is already the greatest male singles player ever… Continue reading
In the decisive fourth set of the Wimbledon round of 16, Kei NIshikori got all returns back. He pinned Milos Raonic into the corner. But Raonic rifled a forehand winner down the line,… Continue reading
When Milos Raonic came to the Rakuten Japan Open in 2010, few tennis fans knew about him. With his “big game” of booming serves and forehands, he surprised Rafael Nadal in an early… Continue reading
—text and photos copyright Christopher Johnson Globalite Media — Juan Martin del Potro is sort of like the Elvis of tennis. He’s really cool, on the court and in the press room. He’s… Continue reading
—- Kei Nishikori comments after losing Rakuten Japan Open quarterfinal to Nicolas Almagro: “In the end, my back was so bad I felt I like I couldn’t hit anymore.” “My back was in… Continue reading
Kei Nishikori is a joy to watch. He soars through the air like a Japanese manga hero. But he also wears his emotions in his pained expressions of struggle. A photo gallery… Continue reading
For three hours, Canada’s fast-rising Genie Bouchard, 19, played like a future champion. The only problem was that she was playing against an all-time great champion, Venus Williams, who has 44 singles titles,… Continue reading
Why equality is good for all
Tennis has a special place in male-female relations. More than other sports, men and women play side-by-side, inspiring fans and kids across genders. My elementary school buddies and I didn’t only emulate… Continue reading →