Djokovic ties record with 20th major singles crown

Novak Djokovic can earn the first men's Golden Slam ever
by winning the Olympics and U.S. Open. The title at Flush-
ing Meadows would give him the first men's Grand Slam
since Rod Laver in 1969. 2015 photo by Paul Bauman

   It appears to be only a matter of time until Novak Djokovic goes down as the greatest player ever.

   Maybe as little as two months.

   Djokovic tied Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles today, defeating Matteo Berrettini 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 at Wimbledon. 

   Federer will turn 40 on Aug. 8, and Nadal, 35, is showing signs of his age. Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Djokovic can earn the first men's calendar-year Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969 by winning the U.S. Open, Aug. 30-Sept. 12 in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. 

   "I can definitely envision that happening," Djokovic said with a laugh in an on-court interview. "I will definitely give it a shot. I am in great form, and I am playing well at the Grand Slams. So let's keep it going."

   Furthermore, a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics in two weeks could give Djokovic the first men's Golden Slam in history (the Olympics dropped tennis between 1924 and 1988).

   Djokovic won sixth Wimbledon singles crown, third among men in the Open Era (since 1968) behind Roger Federer (eight) and Pete Sampras (seven), and third in a row. He has won five of the last seven.

   "It was more than a battle," Djokovic said after improving to 3-0 against Berrettini. "Winning Wimbledon was always the biggest dream of mine as a child. I know how special this is, and I don't want to take it for granted.

   "I was a 7-year-old boy in Serbia, constructing a Wimbledon trophy with improvised materials in my room, and now I am standing here with six titles. It's incredible."

   The top-ranked Djokovic overcame 16 aces by the 6-foot-5 (1.96-meter) Berrettini to extend his winning streak to 18 matches and end Berrettini's at 11. 

   "For me, it's not the end; it's the beginning," said Berrettini, the first Italian player — man or woman — to reach the Wimbledon final.

   Djokovic led 5-2 (one service break) in the first set as the seventh-seeded Berrettini inevitably suffered the jitters in his first Grand Slam final. But Berrettini, who played with his left thigh taped after taking a nasty fall in Friday's semifinals, rallied for 5-5, saved a set point by chasing down a sharply angled drop shot and won the set with an ace down the middle.

   "There was a lot of tension," Djokovic admitted. "Then I started swinging through the ball."

   In the second set, Djokovic led 4-0 and served for it at 5-2, but Berrettini broke and overcame a 0-40 deficit by winning five consecutive points to hold for 4-5. This time, Djokovic held at love to even the match.   

   Djokovic broke for 2-1 in the third set on a Berrettini backhand error, saved two break points to hold for 4-2 and served out the set.

   Djokovic recovered from 0-30 to hold for 3-3 in the fourth set. Berrettini then double-faulted on break point. Djokovic held for 5-3 and broke serve for the match, converting his third championship point when Berrettini netted a slice backhand. 

   Mixed doubles final — No. 7 seeds Neal Skupski of Great Britain and Desirae Krawczyk, a native of Palm Desert, Calif., beat unseeded Joe Salisbury and Harriet Dart of Great Britain 6-2, 7-6 (1).

   Krawczyk and Salisbury won the French Open mixed doubles title last month.

   Skupski played for the Sacramento-area California Dream of World TeamTennis in 2015, the team's only season of existence. Krawczyk, Salisbury and Dart starred in Northern California Challenger doubles in 2017.

World TeamTennis to play full season at W.V. resort

Sofia Kenin, ranked fourth, headlines the World Team-
Tennis rosters this season. 2018 photo by Paul Bauman 

   World TeamTennis will play its entire season at The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.V., the league announced today.
   The regular season is scheduled for July 12-30, and the four-team playoffs are set for Aug. 1-2. Play on the men's and women's pro tours has been suspended until at least Aug. 3.
   CBS will broadcast a WTT regular-season match on July 19 and the WTT Final on Aug. 2. CBS Sports Network will carry 13 regular-season matches and the Aug. 1 semifinals.
   WTT will play at least three matches per day at The Greenbrier's 2,500-seat outdoor stadium, and an indoor court will be installed as a backup. In accordance with state health guidelines, WTT will allow up to 500 fans to attend the outdoor matches.
   The nine-team league consists of the two-time defending champion Springfield (Mo.) Lasers, Las Vegas Rollers, Orange County Breakers, San Diego Aviators, New York Empire, Orlando Storm, Philadelphia Freedoms, Washington Kastles and expansion Chicago Smash.
   This season's players include:
   –Sofia Kenin (Philadelphia), the world No. 4 and reigning Australian Open champion.
   –Sloane Stephens (Chicago), the 2017 U.S. Open champion and 2018 French Open runner-up.
   –Grigor Dimitrov (Orange County), a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist.
   –Bob and Mike Bryan (Las Vegas), who have won a record 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles.
   –Sam Querrey (Las Vegas), a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2017.
   –Tennys Sandgren (Orlando), a two-time Australian Open quarterfinalist.
   –Neal Skupski (New York), last year's WTT Male MVP.
   Kenin won Northern California Challengers in three consecutive years – Sacramento at 17 in 2016, Stockton and Berkeley.
   Stephens grew up in Fresno, the Bryan twins starred at Stanford in 1997 and 1998, and Querrey was born in San Francisco.
   The Bryans, Sandgren and Skupski played for the Sacramento area-based California Dream in 2015, the team's only year of existence.

Mike Bryan plays, loses without his twin brother

   It was supposed to be the Battle of the Brothers.

   Bob and Mike Bryan, two-time French Open champions and ex-Stanford stars (1997-98), would have played Ken and Neal Skupski of Great Britain today in the first round in Paris.

   But Bob Bryan was forced to withdraw because of a hip injury after landing awkwardly on his right foot while serving in the first set of the Madrid final this month. Then, for the first time in 1,408 career matches, one of the twins retired.

   Consequently, Mike Bryan played with another partner for the first time in 76 career Grand Slam tournaments. Seeded 16th, Bryan and his longtime friend Sam Querrey, both from the Los Angeles area, lost to the Skupskis 7-5, 6-4 at Roland Garros.

   "It just feels like you're missing half of yourself," Mike Bryan lamented to reporters.

   Bob gave Mike permission to play without him.

   "He felt a little guilty that I was kind of waiting for him, so he said, 'Go out there and play with Sam or whoever you get, and then I'll meet you in Europe.' " Mike said.

   Bob hopes to return for the grass-court season after the French Open. If he can't return at all, Mike might not keep playing, The New York Times reported.
   Mike Bryan has had his own troubles. He got divorced last year, undoubtedly contributing to the brothers' prolonged slump. The last of their record 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles came in the 2014 U.S. Open.

   But Mike has a new girlfriend, 30-year-old model Nadia Murgasova of Slovakia, and the twins, who turned 40 last month, were rebounding when Bob got hurt. They reached the final of the year's first four Masters 1000 events, winning in Miami and Monte Carlo. 

   Querrey, a 30-year-old San Francisco native, is scheduled to get married in 11 days. He would have postponed the wedding if he and Mike Bryan had made the doubles final.

   "Outside of him, I probably would have said no to everyone," Querrey said.
   Ironically, Neal Skupski and the Bryans were teammates on the Sacramento-based California Dream of World TeamTennis in 2015, the franchise's only year of existence. Skupski played full-time and the Bryans part-time.
   The Bryans' father, Wayne, coached the Sacramento Capitals of WTT from 2002 through their final year in 2013, winning the Coach of the Year award from 2004 through 2006.
   Neal Skupski, 28, is seven years younger than Ken. Both starred at LSU, with Ken reaching the 2005 NCAA doubles final with Mark Growcott. They lost to Stanford's KC Corkery and Sam Warburg, a Sacramento native and member of the Capitals' 2007 WTT championship team. 

Bublik, 20, predicted to reach top 10 – seriously

Alexander Bublik, left, overpowered Liam Broady, right, 6-2, 6-3 today to win
the $100,000 Nordic Naturals Challenger in Aptos, Calif. Photo by Paul Bauman

   APTOS, Calif. — The term "wacky" generally is not associated with professional tennis players.
   "Serious," sure. "Dedicated," yes. "Resilient," check.
   But wacky? Not when only 100 men and 100 women on a planet of 7.5 billion people can make a comfortable living in the sport.
   Then there's Alexander Bublik.
   The 20-year-old Russia native confessed at Wimbledon this year that watching Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal can bore him.
   "It's interesting to see the highlights, how they're finishing (points), but when they're rallying for, like, 45 shots, you're sitting there thinking, Can I quit tennis please?"
   Playing Futures tournaments last year, the right-hander sometimes amused himself by hitting only trick shots or drop shots or, with a big lead, playing left-handed.
   At Indian Wells in March, Bublik interviewed Roger Federer and Andy Murray, among others, as part of a promotion for the inaugural Next Gen Finals, featuring the world's top 21-and-under men, in Milan in November.
   Some highlights:
   Bublik to Federer: "How can your hair be so perfect every time?"
   Federer: "It's not so perfect. It's a battle every day. Grow it out a little bit, and you'll see."
   Bublik to Murray: "What kind of advice can you give me to be as good as you are?"
   Murray: "A lot of training ... "
   Bublik: "Is that useful, training?"
   Having graduated to Challengers and some ATP and Grand Slam tournaments this year, Bublik is becoming more serious. It showed today as he overpowered qualifier Liam Broady of Great Britain 6-2, 6-3 in 62 minutes to win the $100,000 Nordic Naturals Challenger at the Seascape Sports Club.
   The Challenger, the oldest on the men's circuit in the United States, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. Past competitors include International Tennis Hall of Famers Patrick Rafter and Michael Chang and future Hall of Famers Murray, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan.
   The unseeded Bublik had lost in the quarterfinals and second round of U.S. Challengers in the previous two weeks.
   "I just decided, OK, let's try to be serious," a bubbly Bublik, who switched his allegiance to Kazakhstan because it offered financial support, said after celebrating his title with a dip in the pool. "I need to find a balance between my jokes and serious tennis, so this week I was quite calm. I didn't mess around that much, so that's why I won the tournament."
   Broady predicts stardom for Bublik, who stands 6-foot-4 (1.93 meters) and weighs only 165 pounds (75.0 kilograms).
   "I think he has the potential to go all the way," the affable Broady, a 23-year-old left-hander, said after facing Bublik for the first time. "There's a reason he's ranked (125) already. He's very (flashy), and I'm sure he'll refine his talents as he gets older and gets more experience. He's going to be a scary prospect.
   " ... You see the way he's built. He's still not fully grown into his frame yet. He's got six, eight years before he reaches his peak. I don't see why he can't be top 10."
   Bublik improved to No. 104 in the world with the title, putting him on the verge of direct entry into the U.S. Open, and pocketed $14,400 for his second Challenger singles title.
   Bublik, who lost to world No. 1 and defending champion Murray 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round at Wimbledon early last month as a lucky loser, is happy with his progress.
   "I feel great," he crowed. "It's my first year on tour. Last year I was playing Futures and I started, like, 900 (in the world), so it's been great. I had a rough clay-court season this year, but I'm getting back my rhythm after Wimbledon. The (match) I played with Andy gave me a lot of confidence. I improved a lot after that."
   There were glimpses of the old Bublik during the week in Aptos.
   While Dennis Novikov of Milpitas in the San Francisco Bay Area took a medical timeout in Friday's quarterfinals, Bublik entertained himself and the crowd by repeatedly bouncing a ball on the edge of his racket and off both feet.
   In the final, Bublik frequently hit drop shots and then became whimsical in the last game. Hitting his second serve as hard as his first, he double-faulted three consecutive times to give Broady a break point.
   "I just said, 'OK, everything or nothing,' " Bublik admitted.

   Bublik got back to deuce with a service winner, earned his third match point with a backhand volley winner and closed out the match with an ace down the middle.
   Bublik, who finished with six aces, still likes to have fun on the court.
   "That's my way of playing," he said. "It's a game. Of course, it's a great sport and you need to work hard, but you need to enjoy every moment of it. Tennis careers are not that (long)."
   Off the court, Bublik enjoys rap music. He has two Eminem quotes tattooed on his arms: "You won't break me; you just make me stronger than I was," and "Always be a leader and not a follower."

   Bublik already has beaten two top-20 players, No. 13 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain and No. 16 Lucas Pouille of France, and it's easy see why. Power.

   Bublik crushed his serve and groundstrokes against Broady. After the 6-foot (1.83-meter) Broady held for 2-2 in the first set, Bublik reeled off the next seven games to lead 3-0 in the second set. 

   Broady took the next two games, breaking serve for the only time in the match, but Bublik broke right back with a perfect lob. In the next-to-last game, Bublik unleashed a cross-court forehand passing shot so hard that Broady could only flail helplessly at it.

    "Sasha played really good today," said Broady, who had lost in the first round in Aptos in each of the past two years. "He's obviously got a fantastic serve, which in finals and big moments really helps. I don't think I served as well today as I have during the week. I was a little bit nervous, but that doesn't usually stop me from playing well. It was more Sasha's fault today that I didn't play very well. I'll learn from it and come back stronger."
   Broady played his seventh match in nine days.
   "I said to my coach in the quarterfinals I started to feel little bit fatigued," he conceded. "By then, it was my fifth match, so it was like I was making the finals of a tournament. Then the semifinals ... I was a little bit sluggish (today), just one or two percent.
   "I'd have loved to come out here and been fresh as a daisy, but I think in the finals, no one is ever going to be completely fresh. I gave it the best I could with the situation, and he was too good on the day anyway."

   Broady became the third British singles finalist, and second to emerge from qualifying, in Aptos in the past two years. Dan Evans beat qualifier Cameron Norrie, who was born in South Africa to British parents and grew up in New Zealand, last year. Also, Scotland's Murray won the Aptos title in 2005 at age 18.
   Evans, 27, faces a suspension of up to four years after testing positive for cocaine in April.
   Broady, who fell to 0-2 in Challenger finals, jumped from No. 336 to No. 256 and collected $8,480. He's fighting his way back after climbing to a career-high No. 158 two years ago at age 21.
   "I was saying this to a friend the other day: I didn't really know why I got to (158)," mused Broady, whose older sister, 6-foot-2 (1.89-meter) Naomi, is ranked No. 127 after reaching a career-high No. 76 last year in March. "I was quite young, just playing tennis and playing well. I was on a wave of confidence, and before I knew it, the results stopped coming a little bit, and I didn't really know how to get them back.
   "I split from my coach (David Sammel) and didn't have one for about nine months. I just did what any young guy would do. I enjoyed myself and went out with my friends. I played tennis to the best of my ability, but I had no direction.
   "As I'm sure anyone can relate in any walk of life, it's very difficult to do things when you have no direction, but I called my coach at the end of November last year and said, 'Look, I want to sort things out. I'm hungry; I want to play tennis again.' I hope we're going to start seeing dividends for the last eight months of hard work."  

Neal Skupski, left, and Jonathan Erlich won the doubles title in their first
tournament together. Photo by Paul Bauman

   Broady's countryman, Neal Skupski, teamed with Jonathan Erlich of Israel to win the doubles title in their first tournament together. Seeded third, they edged fourth-seeded Alex Bolt and Jordan Thompson of Australia 6-3, 2-6 [10-8].
   On the last point, Bolt and Thompson had a sitter in the middle of the court at the service line but let the ball go between them for a winner.
   Both Erlich, 40, and Skupski, 27, said they had never had a match end that way.
   "We don't mind," Skupski cracked. "We're happy with the result."
   Erlich and Skupski, who split $6,200, saved five match points combined in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
   Erlich also paired with countryman Andy Ram to win the Aptos Challenger in 2013 and the Australian Open in 2008.
   Here are the complete Nordic Naturals Challenger singles and doubles draws.    

Rankings mover of the week: Neal Skupski (up)

Neal Skupski, playing for the California Dream of World
TeamTennis in July, returned to the top 100 in the world
in doubles. Photo by Paul Bauman

   Neal Skupski, who starred for the Sacramento-based California Dream during their inaugural World TeamTennis season in July, returned to the top 100 in doubles this week.

   The 25-year-old Englishman rose nine places to No. 98 by reaching the final of the $117,517 Brest (France) Challenger with his older brother, Ken. The Skupskis  lost to Dutchmen Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middelkoop 3-6, 6-4 [10-6].

   It was the second straight week that Neal Skupski lost to Koolhof and Middelkoop 10-6 in a match tiebreaker in a French Challenger. Skupski and Fabrice Martin of France fell 6-4, 3-6 [10-6] in the Rennes semifinals.

   Skupski climbed to a career-high No. 69 in March 2014. The former LSU All-American and Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain led WTT in mixed doubles for the Dream, which lost to the Austin Aces in the Western Conference final.
   Skupski, a last-minute substitute this season, was named the WTT Male Rookie of the Year. Medina Garrigues was honored as the Co-Female MVP with Anastasia Rodionova of the Washington Kastles, who won their fifth straight league title and sixth in seven years.

WORLD RANKINGS

   Players with Northern California ties ranked in the top 1,000 in the world (change from last week in parentheses):

Men

   Collin Altamirano, 19-year-old Sacramentan -- No. 813 in singles (-1), 962 in doubles (-15).

   Bob Bryan, 36-year-old former Stanford star, part-time member of Sacramento-based California Dream in World TeamTennis in 2015 -- Career-high No. 1 in doubles (no change), unranked in singles.

   Mike Bryan, 37-year-old former Stanford star, part-time member of Dream in 2015 -- Career-high No. 1 in doubles (no change), unranked in singles.

   Bradley Klahn, 25-year-old former Stanford star -- No. 315 in singles (+2), No. 453 in doubles (-6).

   Scott Lipsky, 34-year-old former Stanford star -- No. 44 in doubles (+1).

   Mackenzie McDonald, 20-year-old Piedmont resident -- No. 460 in singles (-1), No. 541 in doubles (-6).

   Dennis Novikov, 21-year-old Milpitas resident in San Francisco Bay Area -- Career-high No. 142 in singles (+2), No. 181 in doubles (-13).

   Sam Querrey, 28-year-old San Francisco native -- No. 50 in singles (+1), No. 37 in doubles (no change).

   Tennys Sandgren, 24-year-old member of Dream -- No. 240 in singles (-2), No. 217 in doubles (+4).

   Matt Seeberger, 31-year-old San Francisco native and former UC Santa Cruz star -- No. 171 in doubles (+1).
   Neal Skupski, 25-year-old member of California Dream -- No. 98 in doubles (+9).

Women

   Kristie Ahn, 23-year-old former Stanford star -- Career-high No. 223 in singles (+1), No. 628 in doubles (+2).
   CiCi Bellis, 16-year-old resident of Atherton in San Francisco Bay Area -- No. 247 in singles (-38).
   Alexandra Facey, 22-year-old product of Cameron Park in Sacramento area -- No. 614 in doubles (-4).
   Kat Facey, 22-year-old product of Cameron Park in Sacramento area -- No. 614 in doubles (-4).
   Jarmila Gajdosova, 28-year-old member of California Dream (2015) -- No. 102 in singles (no change), No. 138 in doubles (+1).
   Anabel Medina Garrigues, 33-year-old member of California Dream (2015) -- No. 32 (+1) in doubles.
   Nicole Gibbs, 22-year-old former Stanford star -- No. 130 in singles (-1), No. 247 in doubles (-1).
   Michaela Gordon, 16-year-old resident of Saratoga in San Francisco Bay Area -- No. 730 in singles (-36).
   Raquel Kops-Jones, 32-year-old San Jose resident and former Cal star -- No. 16 in doubles (-2).
   Maegan Manasse, 20-year-old Cal junior -- No. 510 in doubles (+1), No. 749 in singles (-3).
   Maria Sanchez, 25-year-old Modesto product -- No. 83 in doubles (+2), No. 178 in singles (+2).
   Carol Zhao, 20-year-old Stanford junior -- No. 201 in doubles (+1), No. 399 in singles (+51).

Dream arrives late, falls at Austin in WTT playoffs

Anabel Medina Garrigues, shown earlier this season,
of the California Dream was named the World Team-
Tennis Co-Female MVP. Photo by Darryl Henick

   The California Dream already faced a big challenge playing on the road against the team with the best record in World TeamTennis.
   Travel problems didn't help.
   After encountering flight delays and weather issues, California lost to the Austin Aces 25-14 tonight in the Western Conference Championship. The match began almost three hours late at 9:43 p.m. Central time and ended at 12:15 a.m.
   Austin, led by Teymuraz Gabashvili and Elina Svitolina, swept the five sets.
   Gabashvili received the WTT Male MVP award as a 30-year-old rookie at intermission. A native of Georgia in Asia who plays for Russia, he reached the fourth round of the French Open for the second time this year.
   Svitolina, from Ukraine, is ranked 20th in the world at only 20 years old. She advanced to the French Open quarterfinals this year.
   Two California players earned WTT awards. Anabel Medina Garrigues was named the Co-Female MVP with Anastasia Rodionova of the Washington Kastles, and Neal Skupski, a late substitute this season, was honored as the Male Rookie of the Year.
   The other two awards went to Austin's Alla Kudryavtseva (Female Rookie of the Year) and Rick Leach (Coach of the Year).
   The Dream, which had lost its two regular-season matches in Austin by one game and two games, ended its inaugural season at 9-6.
   Austin (13-2), in its second year in the league, will meet Washington (11-4) on Sunday in Washington, D.C., in the WTT Finals. The host Kastles demolished the Philadelphia Freedoms 25-9 in the Eastern Conference Championship.
   Washington seeks its fifth straight WTT title, which would break the now-defunct Sacramento Capitals' record (1997-2000), and sixth in seven years. A sixth overall title for the Kastles would tie the mark of the Capitals, who also won the crown in 2002 and 2007.  

AUSTIN ACES 25, CALIFORNIA DREAM 14

In Austin, Texas

   Mixed doubles -- Teymuraz Gabashvili and Alla Kudryavtseva (Aces) def. Neal Skupski and Anabel Medina Garrigues 5-2.
   Women's doubles -- Kudryavtseva and Elina Svitolina (Aces) def. Jarmila Gajdosova and Medina Garrigues 5-3.
   Men's doubles -- Gabashvili and Jarmere Jenkins (Aces) def. Tennys Sandgren and Skupski 5-4.
   Women's singles -- Svitolina (Aces) def. Gajdosova 5-1.
   Men's singles -- Gabashvili (Aces) def. Sandgren 5-4.

Skupski, Medina Garrigues form unlikely Dream team

Neal Skupski, a last-minute substitute this season, and Anabel Medina
Garrigues, a two-time major champion (2008-09), of the California Dream
led World TeamTennis in mixed doubles. Photo courtesy of Phil Kemp/
California Dream

   They weren't supposed to play together,

had never met on or off the court and got off to a rocky start.
   Just over two weeks later, Neal Skupski and Anabel Medina Garrigues finished the World TeamTennis regular season as the top mixed doubles team in the league and helped the California Dream reach the playoffs with a 9-5 record in its inaugural season.
   Both players earned WTT season awards. Medina Garrigues (pronounced Ga-REE-gus), who will turn 33 on Friday, was named last the co-Female MVP with Anastasia Rodionova of the Washington Kastles after being selected as last year's Female Rookie of the Year. Skupski, 25, was honored as the Male Rookie of the Year.
   California coach David Macpherson, a former Sacramento Capital in WTT who reached No. 11 in the world in doubles in 1992, said Skupski has been "sensational. He's been so clutch. He's stepped up night after night. Anabel the same thing. Most nights, I played I've played them fifth as a mixed doubles team because they've been so clutch. They've made a great team. Hopefully, they'll get to come back for years to come."
   Skupski was contacted only three days before the season began on July 12 after fellow doubles specialist Aisam Qureshi withdrew from the league because of a "technicality," Macpherson said without elaborating.
   "I didn't know any of the rules, so I had to learn them coming over on the plane," said Skupski of Liverpool, England, best known as the home of The Beatles. "Our first match was in San Diego; I had to fly straight there and meet up with the team. ... "
   Although Skupski lacks the credentials of Qureshi, who's 10 years older, he's no slouch, either.
   The 6-foot (1.84-meter) Skupski is ranked No. 119 in men's doubles, down from a career-high No. 69 early last year. He and his older brother, Ken, have reached one final on the ATP World Tour (the major leagues of men's tennis), in Moscow in 2013, and won seven titles on the Challenger circuit (equivalent to Triple A in baseball).
   Qureshi is No. 48 after climbing as high as No. 8 in 2011. He has won 11 ATP doubles titles and reached the 2010 U.S. Open doubles final with Rohan Bopanna of India.
   Playing for California attracted Skupski for several reasons. For one, Bob and Mike Bryan, who have won a record 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles, would join the team for three of the Dream's 14 regular-season matches. In addition, Macpherson has coached the 37-year-old Bryan twins for the past 10 years.    
   "I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to be around Dave and pick his brain and to be around Bob and Mike," said Skupski, a former three-time All-American at LSU. "They're the best doubles team of all time. Also, I heard California is an unbelievable state. I (had) been here a couple of times with LSU, but never for a long period of time like this."
   In addition, WTT gives Skupski the chance to play more.
   "Sometimes you don't play as many matches on the tour," noted Skupski, who also played men's doubles with Tennys Sandgren, a former Southeastern Conference rival at Tennessee who turned 24 on July 22. "You could get one a week if you lose (in the) first round. It's not ideal for confidence or for match play. But playing World TeamTennis, if you lose, there's another match probably the next night. You can get back on it and try and build your confidence."
   Skupski sat out while the Bryans played for the Dream but practiced with them every day.
   "It was a really good three intense days," Skupski said. "They train at a high level every day. There are no minutes that they don't perform. If it's an hour, it's a full, intense hour. That's what I need to work to because sometimes I can drop my level for five minutes in practice, which maybe is why I'm not at the level they are.
   "Also, they said my level is good enough to be in the top 50 in the world. That gives me a lot of confidence coming from the best team that's ever played doubles. I'll take that onboard, and hopefully that'll pay off."
   There has been one drawback to playing for the Dream for Skupski, though.
   "It's the stifling heat that's been a killer," he said. "It's definitely not like this in England. I'm used to about high 70s, low 80s in the summers, but not into the 100s.
   "That's been the biggest problem for me. It's a lot of fluids, a lot of eating the right foods because it can be tough out here playing in such heat."
   Skupski also initially felt heat playing with Medina Garrigues, who won French Open women's doubles titles in 2008 and 2009 and the Olympic silver medal in doubles at Beijing in 2008, all with fellow Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual.     
   "Anabel is a feisty character," Skupski observed. "She's a Grand Slam winner, she's experienced, and my level's gone up since I started playing with her. There's no time not to concentrate or to miss any balls. She's always on my case. The first couple of matches I played with her, she kind of shouted at me because I had missed a ball I shouldn't have. I remember that ever since, and we've grown, and it's gone really well.
   "The first couple of matches, she didn't even understand what I was saying to her because she doesn't speak that much English. She didn't understand the signals I was giving to her in doubles, like what 'poach' means. Sometimes we were all over the place at the start, but now we're on the same wavelength."
   Indeed, Garrigues and Skupski beat Martina Hingis and Leander Paes 5-3 in a 19-17 loss to Washington, which has won the last four WTT titles and five of the last six, on Monday in Washington, D.C. Hingis, a 34-year-old International Tennis Hall of Famer, and Paes, a 42-year-old future Hall of Famer, won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title one day before the WTT season started.
   Skupski said playing WTT "is probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. I've made a lot of friends here, and hopefully I can come back next year if they want me in the draft. Hopefully, I've put on a good show here."

Skupski, from England, and Medina Garrigues,
a Spaniard, overcame initial communication
problems. Photo by Darryl Henick

   Medina Garrigues played for the Texas Wild last season before the team relocated to the Sacramento area and became the California Dream.
   "I saw team tennis on TV when I was playing Indian Wells and Miami," said Medina Garrigues, who now specializes in doubles. "I was really interested in how the rules are, so I told my manager, 'Look, I'm almost at the end of my career. I'm not playing singles anymore, so my schedule is relaxed. It's not that pressure from singles, and in the time that team tennis is playing there (are) no big tournaments for doubles.'  So I said, 'OK, let's try.' "
   The 5-foot-6 (1.69-meter) Medina Garrigues is another in a long line of Spanish stars. She has reached career highs of No. 16 in singles (2009) and No. 3 in doubles (2008), won 11 singles and 25 career WTA doubles titles, and earned $5.74 million in prize money.
   "She's got a lot of things going for her," Macpherson explained. "She's got an incredible backhand, and I think her forehand is really going well now. She's so confident with her forehand as well as her backhand. She's got great instincts at the net. She's one of the premier net women -- reflex volleys and making poaches and interceptions.
   "And she's able to produce her best tennis at the most important times. That's an intangible that all great champions have. You don't win two French Opens without that."
   Jarka Gajdosova, Medina Garrigues' doubles partner on the Dream, lost to her in the third round of mixed doubles at Wimbledon.
   "I'd rather play with her than against her," Gajdosova confessed. " ... She reads the game well. She knows what shots to use and when. She lobs very well. She's not afraid at the net, so she doesn't mind crossing and hitting volleys."
    Spain's success, Medina Garrigues said, starts with tradition.
   "We have very good history. We always have very good players since 15 years ago from (Carlos) Moya, (Juan-Carlos) Ferrero, Carlos Costa, Albert Costa. All these players (were) top 10, so kids saw them on TV. They really like the sport.
   "Girls also (saw) Arantxa Sanchez and Conchita Martinez. They were top 10 and won Grand Slams. It's very (popular) in Spain, the tennis. It makes all the young people (want) to play," Medina Garrigues said.
   She added that "the conditions (in Spain are) very good. Is good weather. We can play outside all the year. We have very good coaches. They know how to teach the (winning) style of tennis. Also the Latin mentality is very (good). We are always positive and fighting until the end of the match."
   Medina Garrigues has been unable to recapture the magic she had with Ruano Pascual, who retired in 2010. The closest Medina Garrigues has come is reaching the women's doubles semis in the 2012 U.S. Open with Su-Wei Hsieh of Taiwan and the mixed doubles semis at Wimbledon this year with Robert Lindstedt of Sweden. 
   "I didn't really find the best (women's doubles) partner to try to be in the top rounds of the Grand Slams," said Medina Garrigues, who recently began playing with Arantxa Parra Santonja, another 32-year-old Spaniard. "I keep trying. I didn't win (another) Grand Slam, but I win 25 doubles titles, so I think it's a good record."
    Medina Garrigues plans to play at least through next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
    "After that, I will see if I continue to play or I just decide to stop," she said. "I have a new partner, and we won this year one tournament. We know each other, we are very good friends, and I feel very good with her."
   And with Skupski.

Mixed doubles pair lifts Dream to WTT win again

The California Dream's Neal Skupski and Anabel
Medina Garrigues confer during their mixed doubles
set on Tuesday night. Photo by Darryl Henick.

   CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. -- Anabel Medina Garrigues and Neal Skupski came through again for the California Dream.
   For the second consecutive home match, Medina Garrigues and Skupski lifted California to a victory by prevailing in the final set.
   They beat Germans Andre Begemann and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 5-2 in mixed doubles to give the Dream a critical 22-19 victory over the Springfield (Mo.) Lasers on Tuesday night in a World TeamTennis match at Dream Stadium at Sunrise Mall.
   California coach David Macpherson, a former Sacramento Capital, said Medina Garrigues and Skupski "seem to have great chemistry. They really justified my belief in them again tonight, stepping up when it mattered."
   Medina Garrigues, a 32-year-old Spaniard, and Skupski, 25, of Great Britain won 5-1 on Saturday night as California beat the Boston Lobsters 20-17.
   The coach of the home team chooses the order of sets and usually puts his strongest player or pairing last. 
   California moved into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference at 4-4 with six regular-season matches remaining. The Austin Aces lead the conference at 7-0.
   The San Diego Aviators trail the Dream by one-half match at 3-4, and Springfield is last at 2-6. San Diego will host California tonight.
   The top two teams in each conference advance to the playoffs, July 30-Aug. 2.

CALIFORNIA DREAM 22, SPRINGFIELD (MO.) LASERS 19

In Citrus Heights, Calif.

   Men's singles -- Michael Russell (Lasers) def. Tennys Sandgren 5-3.
   Women's singles -- Jarka Gajdosova (Dream) def. Sachia Vickery 5-3.
   Men's doubles -- Andre Begemann (Lasers) and Russell def. Sandgren and Neal Skupski 5-4.
   Women's doubles -- Gajdosova and Anabel Medina Garrigues (Dream) def. Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vickery 5-4.
   Mixed doubles -- Garrigues and Skupski (Dream) def. Begemann and Groenefeld 5-2.

Meet the California Dream of World TeamTennis

Bob, left, and Mike Bryan of the visiting Texas Wild watch the action
in a 2013 match against the Sacramento Capitals. The Bryans are
scheduled to play three matches for the new Sacramento-based
California Dream this season. Photo by Paul Bauman

   The California Dream will begin its inaugural season in World TeamTennis tonight in San Diego against the Aviators.
   California then will play its home opener against the Springfield (Mo.) Lasers on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Sunrise Mall in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights.
   The Dream moved from the Dallas area, where the team was known as the Texas Wild, to replace the Sacramento Capitals. They announced early last year that they were relocating to Las Vegas after 28 years because of the lack of a permanent tennis stadium.
   The team disbanded five weeks later, however, after owner Deepal Wannakuwatte was arrested on charges of defrauding investors of more than $100 million in his medical supply business. He is serving a 20-year prison term.
   The Dream is owned by Jeff Launius, who also controlled the team in Texas and previously Kansas City; Bob Kaliski, the president of the Harbor Point Tennis Club in Mill Valley (across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco); and Michael Malone, a Dallas-based investment banker.
   As the Capitals did, the Dream will play at a temporary stadium at Sunrise Mall.

2015 DREAM

   Bob Bryan, 37, Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., and Mike Bryan, 37, Wesley Chapel, Fla. -- Thirteenth season in WTT. ... Previously played for Idaho Sneakers (1999), Newport Beach Breakers (2004), Kansas City Explorers (2005-12), Texas Wild (2013) and San Diego Aviators (2014). ... Scheduled to play three of Dream's 14 regular-season matches. ... World's No. 1 team has won record 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. Bob has added seven mixed doubles crowns in Slams and Mike four. ... Mike ranks first in Open era (since 1968) with 108 career doubles titles and Bob second with 106. ... Won doubles gold medal in 2012 London Olympics and bronze in 2008 Beijing Games. ... Helped United States win last of its record 32 Davis Cup championships in 2007 in Portland, Ore. ... Played at Stanford for two years, leading Cardinal to NCAA team title in 1997 and 1998. Bob earned rare "Triple Crown" in 1998, also winning NCAA singles and doubles titles (with Mike). ... Father Wayne Bryan coached Capitals for their last 12 years in Sacramento and was named WTT Coach of the Year from 2004 through 2006.
   Jarmila (Jarka) Gajdosova, 28, Dallas -- Fourth season in WTT. ... Previously played three seasons with Kansas City. ... Named WTT Female Rookie of Year in 2007 and Finals MVP on 2010 league championship team. ... Career highs of No. 25 in singles (May 2011) and No. 51 in doubles (June 2007). ... Has won two titles in singles and one in doubles on WTA tour. ... Won 2013 Australian Open mixed doubles title with fellow Aussie Matthew Ebden. ... Slovakia native became Australian citizen in 2009.
   Anabel Medina Garrigues, 33 on July 31, Valencia, Spain -- Second season in WTT for doubles specialist. ... Named last year's WTT Female Rookie of Year for Texas. ... Career highs of No. 16 in singles (May 2009) and No. 3 in doubles (November 2008). ... Has won 11 singles and 25 doubles titles on WTA tour. ... Captured French Open women's doubles crowns in 2008 and 2009 with fellow Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual. ... Won Olympic silver medal in women's doubles with Ruano Pascual in 2008. ... Last name pronounced Ga-REE-gus.  
   Tennys Sandgren, 24 on July 22, Wesley Chapel, Fla. -- First year in WTT. ... Career highs of No. 183 in singles in December 2013 and No. 115 in doubles in 2014. ... Had hip surgery last year and missed more than six months. ... Won doubles title in 2012 Sacramento Challenger with former University of Tennessee teammate Rhyne Williams. ... Turned pro after starring at Tennessee for two years. ... Helped Volunteers reach NCAA team final in Athens, Ga., in 2010 and advanced to NCAA singles semifinals at Stanford in 2011. ... Not named after tennis. Has Swedish heritage, and Tennys was name of great-grandfather, who did not play tennis.  
   Neal Skupski, 25, Liverpool, England -- First year in WTT. ... Replaces fellow doubles specialist Aisam Qureshi, who withdrew from league, on roster. ... Reached Moscow doubles final on ATP World Tour in 2013 with older brother Ken. ... Career high of No. 69 in doubles in March 2014. ... Three-time All-American at LSU (2009, 2011-12).
   David Macpherson, 48, Sarasota, Fla. -- Named Coach of Year with San Diego last year, his first as WTT skipper. ... Played 14 seasons in WTT, including first three with Sacramento Capitals in early 1990s. ... Won 16 doubles titles on ATP World Tour and reached career-high No. 11 in 1992. ... Only 5-foot-9 (1.75 meters) and 140 pounds (64 kilograms). ... Has coached Bryan brothers on men's circuit since 2005. ... Native of Tasmania in Australia.

SCHEDULE

(Home matches at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights; all times PDT)

Sunday -- At San Diego, 6 p.m.
Monday -- Vs. Springfield, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday -- Vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday -- At Austin (Andy Roddick plays for Aces), 5 p.m.
Friday -- Vs. Austin, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 18 -- Vs. Boston, 7:30 p.m.    
Sunday, July 19 -- At Austin, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, July 21 -- Vs. Springfield, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 22 -- At San Diego, 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 23 -- Vs. San Diego (Bryan brothers play for Dream), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 25 -- At Boston (Bryan brothers play for Dream), 4 p.m.
Sunday, July 26 -- At Philadelphia (Bryan brothers play for Dream), 5 p.m.
Monday, July 27 -- At Washington (Martina Hingis plays for Kastles), 4 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29 -- Vs. San Diego, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 30 -- Western Conference Championship at top seed, Eastern Conference Championship at top seed.
Sunday, Aug. 2 -- WTT Finals, Western Conference champion at Eastern Conference champion, 8 a.m. (PDT).
   For more information: www.californiadreamtennis.com.