Looking Back: Taylor Dent's Magic Moment

Taylor Dent has announced his retirement at the age of 29. Luckily for us the impression he left on Grandstand in '09 will last forever.

Most of you already know that Taylor Dent, who is known, among other things, as being a part of the first father son duo to own Open Era ATP titles, announced his retirement yesterday.

The news comes as a bit of surprise to the many fans who just recently welcomed Dent back from a two-and-a-half year layoff that featured three back surgeries (including seven months in a full body cast) and many doubts that he would ever step on a tennis court again.

In his brief return to the tour, Dent not only played the signature brand of smashmouth tennis that had made him a force to be reckoned with ever since he had turned pro -- he also connected with his fans in a way that very few players ever do.

While the former No. 21-ranked player in the world and Olympic semi finalist never attained his previous highs on paper after returning to the tour in '09, he did climb over 800 spots in the rankings to reenter the top-100.

During his inspiring comeback, Dent managed 24 tour level wins, one of which will be forever remembered by those who witnessed it.

It was pure magic, and there are scores of fans who'll enthusiastically agree that watching Dent defeat Ivan Navarro on Grandstand at the 2009 U.S. Open was the best moment they've ever had watching tennis.

On that night, not only did Dent display the ferocious brand of serve and volley tennis that was his calling card over the course of his 12 year career, he also brought forth a torrent of emotional gratitude the likes of which we rarely see from a player.

Speaking from a fan's perspective, Dent's joyous post-match celebration and impromptu microphone-yank from the umpires chair will forever go down as one of the most captivating acts of fan appreciation ever seen on a tennis court.

In order to see the true beauty of his behavior -- and consequently glimpse into the soul of Dent the man and Dent the player -- you have to empathize with the plight of the fan first.

How many times have fans wondered if the players really care about them or consider them an integral part of the tennis experience? Sure, there are always the obligatory "without you guys this wouldn't have been possible" comments that players throw out there in their post match interviews before they whack three balls into the upper deck and call it a night.

But what Dent did transcended the previously established meaning of fan appreciation. He obliterated it and set the new bar ineffably high.

When the 6'2" 195 lb. Dent grabbed the microphone and thanked the fans who had gone crazy on Grandstand he was basically telling each and every one of them that they matter more than they could ever imagine. It was a moving display of player-crowd synergy that may never be matched again.

If you watch the video, you'd think that Dent won the tournament and had just given the each member of the crowd an equal portion of his prize money. Or you'd think that he just scored the winning goal for U.S.A. Hockey to defeat the Russians in 1980.

In reality he had only won a 2nd round match, but the circumstances of his victory -- the long road back, and his ability to comprehend the meaning of it all as it was happening -- made this an affair to remember.

For his comeback, and for his rare ability to connect emotionally with the fans, Taylor Dent will be sorely missed on the tour. But the memories, thankfully those will always be there.

Fed Cup: What did we learn?

Italy showed why it's the boss of Fed Cup. But what did we learn about the U.S.?

The outcome wasn't surprising, but some of the details of the Fed Cup Final between the United States and Italy were definitely unexpected. Yes, Italy tightened its stranglehold on the trophy for a second consecutive year, and really, you'd have to be a little bit crazy if you didn't see that one coming. The Italian squad, with two former top-ten players in Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta, simply had too much experience and too much talent for the younger and far less proven American squad.

But, between the lines, there were some pretty interesting story lines -- especially for the Americans.

Coco? Two months ago, many thought this tie was going to be a heavyweight battle between one or two of the Williams sisters and the Italians. Now, in the events aftermath, we realize that it was really a training ground for some of America's youngest and brightest stars. So, how did they do?

Coco Vandeweghe, the tall and powerful youngster from Rancho Sante Fe, California, was given the nod by U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez, replacing a slumping Melanie Oudin against Francesca Schiavone in the first round. Vandeweghe had scored big wins this summer and fall against Vera Zvonareva and Aravane Rezai, but to expect her to be able to do anything to derail the determined Schiavone in a match as big as this was asking a bit too much.

Predictably, Vandeweghe lost both matches without grabbing a set.

Still, the very promising kid with the athletic pedigree was able to take the proverbial measuring stick to her game -- even though she was beaten and beaten soundly, she can now go back to practice with a higher understanding of the big match dynamic.

Was MJ hoping that her decision would be the spark that set a new career aflame for Vandeweghe? Sure, that was the idea, right? But on the other hand, the fact that the kid endured two shellackings at the hand of superior Italian players can only help her in her development. That which does not kill us can also make us stronger.

Oudin: Perhaps the plan all along was for MJ to snub Melanie in a desperate ploy to finally wake Melanie out of her year-long slumber? Even if it wasn't, it worked.

Melanie scored her first top-ten victory of the year against the indomitable Francesca Schiavone, and she did it by playing inspired tennis and taking it to the Italian. It would be a drastic injustice to not give Melanie the full credit for snatching this win from her higher ranked adversary. She came, she saw, and she conquered, and she deserves credit for the win, and for rising above the obvious disappointment of being left off the day 1 lineup.

Let's not forget that Oudin finished the Fed Cup 2010 campaign at 4-1 this year. Now that she knows that she can be cast off just as quickly as she can be embraced, maybe Melanie will start to take a little more ownership of her career from this point forward.

Venus and Serena: Regardless of the issues with the sisters' health, I can't help feeling just how much of a ship without an anchor the U.S. Fed Cup team is without them. Wouldn't it be nice if the Williams Sisters took a greater interest in mentoring some of America's younger players? They've got such a wealth of knowledge -- so much talent, so much experience -- and it pains me to think that they aren't sharing it with a core of young players who would benefit so much from being taken under their wings.

I just don't get it. I don't know who to blame, or even if there IS ANYONE TO BLAME, but I do know that a tremendous resource (two of the greatest women to ever play the game) is being completely under utilised.

Where do we go from here? The weekend was disappointing for the U.S, but in the scheme of things, the fact that the women have reached two consecutive finals says a lot about the spirit of the younger players on the team. The contributions of Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands were a godsend. Youngsters Christina Mchale and Coco Vandeweghe have stepped in when asked and left their hearts on the court.

From that standpoint, there's not much more you can ask for. Even thought the U.S. has gone a full decade without a title at Fed Cup, the fact remains that the young Americans have built something special over the last two years.

Here's two hoping that they can keep it up.

Viva Italia! Ah, now to the real story of the weekend -- the Italians. They're tremendous and they deserve every ounce of credit that they get. And they are not just about Schiavone and Pennetta (did you know that Roberta Vinci has never lost a Fed Cup doubles tie in 15 tries?).

In winning their third title since 2006 they have once again proven that good team tennis is about more than great players -- it's about camaraderie, inspiration, and emotion. The Italians have cornered the market in these three Fed Cup intangibles, and because of this, one of only four nations to have played in every single Fed Cup since the inaugural in 1963 is standing tall again.

Searching for Stability

After parting ways with Heinz Gunthardt, the search for a long-term solution continues for Ana.

Ana Ivanovic has been riding a roller coaster in 2010, and just when it looked as if the ride was finally going to be over, it has begun again.

Her decision to part ways with Heinz Gunthardt after less than a year has introduced a few clouds of doubt into the otherwise sunny skies that have been shining on the Ivanovic camp of late.

After sinking to a five-year low in the rankings in June of this year (as low as 65!), Ana showed great resiliency in the face of adversity this summer, and, with the help of her team of Gunthardt and fitness trainer Marija Lojanica, recaptured the winning formula that made her such a lethal opponent in 2008 when she stormed Roland Garros and ascended to the WTA's No. 1 ranking. Things improved so much that Ana had climbed all the way back into the top-30 in October, and now, as she prepares to play the semis against Kimiko Date Krumm in Bali tomorrow, she's knocking on the door of the top-20 again.

Now this.

As amicable as the split with Gunthardt seems to have been, the fact that Ana is now coachless again means that she is at another major crossroads in her career. This summer Ana spoke a lot about how much she enjoyed having stability in her team. She mentioned that the coaching carousel had been weighing on her mind in the past, and that she was thrilled that she was training and playing in a world where she knew what to expect from her team. The emotional availability and stability seemed to enable her game to blossom, and it was hard not to deny that Ana also gained confidence from having a legend of coaching in her corner.

Now that Gunthardt is gone, it's easy to wonder: Will Ana keep up her torrid pace, or is she in for another rough ride?

Confidence is key

One of the other primary buzzwords for Ana was confidence. She talked incessantly about the process of regaining her mojo, and of how she was feeling it more and more, even in matches that she lost. By the end of the summer there was little doubt that Ana was starting to believe in her game a lot more. There's no way to measure how much of a role Gunthardt played in Ana's game both tactically and philosophically, but it's certainly hard not to surmise that he had a very positive effect on Ana.

As Ana moves into yet another phase of her career in 2011, the big question will be: can she find a coach who provides her with the stability she longs for and the confidence she thrives on?

Things seem alright at the moment. Ana just obliterated Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Bali, and there are sure to be a long line of coaches eager to play a role in furthering Ivanovic's return to glory.

But will the right person for the job be in that line? And, will Ivanovic have the wherewithal to choose that person when he or she does emerge?

There's no doubt that Ivanovic has the tools to reach the top of the game again. She's young - turning 23 tomorrow (Nov. 6) - and she possesses a rare and electric power game that simply cannot be taught. In addition to all her natural abilities, she's also shown a maturity this season, a willingness to stare adversity in the face and to rise to the challenge. She could have easily let things get out of hand this summer, when the organizers of the Montreal event not only denied Ivanovic the wildcard that many thought she deserved as a former champion, but they also made some petty comments about her in the process.

To Ivanovic's credit, rather than let the episode drag her spirits down, she went on to have a fantastic summer, and hasn't looked back since.

For Ivanovic, there is a lot riding on this off-season. She needs to find that stability that she longs for, and that she can operate confidently in.

Roller coasters can be a lot of fun, but there comes a point where you just want to get your feet on some solid ground. The sooner this wild ride stops, the better off Ana will be.

Unconventional and Unbelievable

At 40, Kimiko Date Krumm is proving that less can be more than enough on the WTA Tour.

She's old enough to be your mother. She's tiny enough to be your kid sister. Her anachronistic forehand is more retro than Lenny Kravitz covering Bill Withers, and at the ripe age of 40 she's playing a game that is made for lithe and limitless teenagers -- not mature and aging technicians. But none of these incongruous facts seem to hinder the engine that drives this phenom to rewrite the WTA's record books practically every time she plays a match.

She's Kimiko Date Krumm, and if you underestimate her, you might find yourself wishing you hadn't. Oh, and you're probably gonna lose, too.

Spectators in attendance at the Pan Pacific Open in tokyo in September couldn't be blamed for doing a double take when they glanced out onto to the court to see the vivacious and somewhat giant Maria Sharapova towering over Date Krumm. Sharapova is ten inches taller than Date Krumm -- and 17 years her junior -- but Date Krumm, who turned 40 last month, is undergoing a Renaissance that makes seemingly telling numbers like these fade into the distance.

She's making a lot of top players fade into the distance of late as well.

You can cook the numbers any way you like, and measure the power of each individuals stroke as well, but when a tennis match is over and the diminutive 40-year-old is celebrating another shocking yet inspiring victory, it becomes clear that there is so much more to winning in the WTA than just bombing away from the baseline.

"It's incredible," said Sharapova after that aforementioned match in Tokyo. "It just shows you how she has stayed in great shape while away from the game. She is incredibly fit."

She's incredibly smart too, and incredibly accurate. Those who wish to degrade Date Krumm's resurgence as unimpressive because she is winning solely with her legs and her defense are not doing her or the level of play on the tour any justice. While Date Krumm plays a very reactive brand of tennis, she does so in a highly aggressive manner. Just ask the seven top-20 players and two top-10 players that she's defeated over the course of 2010. The 40-year-old doesn't simply camp out on her baseline and wait for her opponents to implode -- she uses a lethal combination of redirection and angles to put her opponents on the defensive, and once she's done that she's one heck of a finisher.

It's natural to look at Date Krumm's simplistic stroke production and assume she's going to get bombed off the court by all these women with big backswings and textbook follow throughs, but you'd be very wrong to do so. What Date Krumm's game lacks in aesthetics it more than makes up for in what many other top players seem to lack -- accuracy, consistency, and a certain maddening flatness that keeps her shots low to the ground and screaming through the court.

And the fact that she's done it all with that rudimentary backswing and her very abbreviated service motion should send a message to a lot of young players out there. Big powerful swings are great, but sometimes hitting harder doesn't necessarily equate with hitting smarter.

She was one set away from becoming the oldest women to ever win a WTA title in a week where she became the oldest women to ever defeat a top-ten player. She's the real deal. And as long as she keeps showing up to play, records will keep falling like dominoes.

Andy Murray: One Small Step from Immortality

Not many people envy Andy Murray at the moment, but that will change in a heartbeat if he wins a Grand Slam.

He can do it. He can't do it. He's got to do it next year. He'll never do it next year.

Everybody has their own personal opinion on whether or not Andy Murray will eventually become the first player from Great Britain to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936, but we can all agree on one thing: If he ever does it, he'll be set for life.

Think about it. Guys like Federer and Nadal spend their whole lives trying to collect Grand Slam hardware, but all Murray has to do is win one and he'll become an instant hero whose legend will more than likely never be tarnished.

The point that I'm trying to illustrate is that Andy Murray actually has a pretty good deal being a Brit. Really, he does. Most people feel sympathy for the strapping young British buck because he has had to deal with a ridiculous amount of media attention and scrutiny ever since it became obvious that he could be "the guy."

That's a fate I wouldn't wish on any young athlete, but the flip-side of the coin more than makes it worth while. Murray has been handed a very realistic challenge, and if he should succeed in fulfilling his promise (all we need is one Grand Slam, Andy) over the course of the next several years, he'll go down in tennis lore as the bona fide superman of British tennis.

Just one Slam, and the keys to the castle are yours, Mr. Murray. But if you should fall short, you'll forever be relegated to the back pages of those history books, in the index under "almost, but not quite."

There is no doubt that Murray's quest for glory has been somewhat hindered by fact that the media puts a target on his back each and every time he goes out to play a Slam. Professional tennis players thrive on challenges, and every time one of them faces Andy Murray in a Grand Slam, the media basically dares them to spoil the moment that a whole nation is loudly longing for. Guys like Stan Wawrinka are more than happy to go out and play inspired tennis to see if they can be the one to hit the target and make tennis' biggest headline for the day, and sometimes they do.

But can Andy Murray's string of failure in Grand Slams last forever, given the sheer and impressive amount of talent and moxie that the man possesses?

There is still the very undeniable fact that Murray has been to a Slam final in two of the last three years in spite of the madness that surrounds him (And a few Wimbledon semis to boot). And if you judge the 23-year-old by his words - press conferences in which he sounds genuinely patient and unperturbed by the expectations - he's getting better and better at ignoring the press and just doing what he does best on the court.

One point at a time, one game at a time, one match at a time, and one day, presto, we could all be watching Andy sipping tea with the Queen while paparazzi stumble over themselves to snap a picture below.

As difficult as it must be to concentrate on tennis with a media maelstrom tracking his every move, his every pending coaching decision and Playstation-induced breakup with his girlfriend, his every tweet and his every quip with the LTA, Andy Murray actually has an incredibly low bar to immortality in front of him.

He just needs ONE lousy Slam and he'll become a national hero for the rest of his life, even if he shows up at the next tournament fifty pounds overweight with a six-pack of Guinness by his chair where his bottle of energy water used to sit. Even if he dumps Kim Sears and tells the world that he's in love with his mom - none of it will matter.

Yes, it's that simple: For Murray, one Slam equals immortality. Meanwhile, geniuses like Federer and Nadal have to try and rack up as many Slams as possible in order for them to continue in this unwinnable quest for GOAT-ness. It's a never-ending treadmill that Murray will never have to deal with.

And perhaps, now that we are all expecting it a little less in 2011 than we were in 2010, things will fall into place for Murray, and he'll get it done.

He's given an awful lot of himself to this game, and it'd sure be nice if the gods of tennis gave a little something back to Andy, and to Great Britain for that matter. Just one Slam would be more than enough.