A Tennis Christmas ‘05 Wish List

Dear Santa Claus,

Please remember to check my list before you stop at my house this year. I've tried to be good (okay, I've tried not to cause too much trouble) so that you will find it easier to bring me everything on my wish list. As usual, Santa, here it is:

1. A WTA Tour Tier I tournament for Buenos Aires. I promised Gisela Dulko I would put it number one on my list. If you can make it happen, I hope that Gisela will spend the day with me showing me the sights and we can eat at all the fine restaurants around the city (my treat, Gisela!).

2. An original painting from MadelineArt.com. You might know this very talented artist as Madeline Hauptman, founder, owner, and designer of Power Angle tennis racquets and the designer of the original MadRaq. Proving once again that tennis players and the tennis industry are like a large onion (lots of interesting layers to peel), Madeline also has a very, very artistic side. I love the way she paints — she has a very bright and relaxing style. My favorite is number two, "Three Boats on Cape Cod." Even if you are not buying for me, buy a print for a friend or family member. You won't be disappointed.

3. More e-mail from WTA Tour Players. Some of the players have been very generous, but I would like to be able to introduce the fans to more of the great players on the tour. A phone call now and then to follow-up (or, dare I say, just to say hello) wouldn't be too bad, either.

4. Any e-mail from the ATP Tour Players. The opportunity to interview and write a column and have a tour player's perspective would be great. You know, Andy Roddick, you never replied to my Dear Andy letter earlier this year...

5. A nice pair of orthotics to go in a nice new pair of tennis sneakers. I wear through a pair of shoes quicker than ice cream melts. My knees and joints are starting to ache, and its time for me to go see Richie the podiatrist (and a great tennis player himself) to mold my feet and realign my lower half.

6. A major semi, a major final, and a major victory for Martina Hingis. Actually, just a really solid comeback year for Martina, with no injuries. Martina has been away too long, and the game will benefit with her back. Hopefully, an added gift will come from Martina, and she will let me interview her one-on-one during Wimbledon or the U.S. Open (especially after she wins them.)

7. More James Blake. His resurgence at the U.S. Open and his quarterfinal appearance was just not enough. Blake is good enough to stay in the top five and I believe even be number one. I enjoy watching him play as he is one of the few who understands how to craft a point. So Santa, please give James even a better year this year, and maybe even one of the majors.

8. A true resolution to the ATP doubles dilemma. Doubles is not boring, but none of the tournaments really understand how to bring the fans in to watch. (Maybe not playing doubles finals concurrent with singles finals would help.) Blaming the problem on the doubles specialists is just wrong. Doubles specialists have always been around the game, and have been pretty dominant during the open era. Some doubles teams, like Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan or the Woddies ((Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde) were just a lot of fun to watch. For tournament directors to push the doubles into a lower status is just wrong.

My solution is to drastically reduce the amount of money available for the singles portions of tournaments (yeah, like that will ever happen). Then the higher-ranked players will have to play doubles to make enough money to survive. That is one of the biggest reasons the greats all played doubles. Yes, they liked to play dubs, but they needed the money, too.

9. A new tennis racquet under the tree for every tennis player in the world. Whether it's a Vantage, Power Angle, Volkl, or whatever your favorite frame, here's to hoping Santa, or maybe your secret Santa, comes through with something to smack the ball around with for another year. If by some chance tennis is not your game, then I hope Santa brings you a squash, racquetball, badminton, or even Speedminton racquet or play set. I'll ask Santa to talk to Mother Nature and make sure that the weather in 2006 is great so you can use them a lot, as well.

10. Finally, but not least, I wish that in 2006 everything is a little brighter, life is a little better, everyone grows a little smarter, everyone finds more love, more happiness and more success then in all the years previous, that we all find a way to see the glass as half full, that every sunrise brings new hope, and every sunset brings warm feelings and contentment.

Merry Christmas, happy Channukkah, happy New Year, and season's greetings to everyone.

Tom