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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Riske Signs with Vanderbilt; Roddick & Doyle Interview; Frost's Champaign Illinois Report



Today is the last day of Signing Week for those making early decisions about their college choices, although the announcements will probably continue to trickle out of college sports information offices for the next week or two. Yesterday, Vanderbilt announced that blue chip Alison Riske will follow in her sister Sarah's footsteps and will play for the Commodores beginning next fall. I haven't seen Riske in many months, as she hasn't played junior events, instead concentrating on Pro Circuit competition, but there's no doubt she is, as coach Geoff Macdonald says, "a top-two or three player ever to sign with Vanderbilt."

There appears to be some confusion in the Vanderbilt athletic site story and this one in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about how she earned her way into the 2007 US Open women's qualifying. It wasn't for winning the Collegiate Clay Court, but rather for reaching the finals of the Girls USTA Nationals in Berkeley in 2007 that earned her a wild card, which she used to upset Sorana Cirstea of Romania in the first round.

Riske was also a recipient of the Bill Talbert Sportsmanship Award earlier this year.

Now that John Roddick is no longer coaching his younger brother Andy, he has more time to work with players in South Texas. In addition to his Academy, which is directed by Myron Grunberg, Roddick is involved in a new venture with Grant Doyle, the long-time coach of Sam Querrey. The Austin Tennis Blog published this interview with John and Grant yesterday.

Marcia Frost has recently moved to Champaign, Illinois and had a front row seat at the Challenger held there last week. She wrote an article about the 2003 Illinois team, catching up with many of them, whether they are still playing tennis or not, and it appears as the conclusion of today's Jon Wertheim Tennis Mailbag at SI.com. Marcia's longtime outlet, collegeandjuniortennis.com, is up for sale, and she will be posting there less regularly than previously.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

so im watching The Office last night and it goes to commercial, what happens next? I see former Illini player Mike Kosta doing standup on tbs. Looks like hes doing well.

Anonymous said...

That was an interesting interview with John Roddick and Grant Doyle but the very disappointing aspect of it is that it never asked or answered the obvious question: How does their new junior program at the Polo Club not compete with John Roddick's academy with Grundberg? Aren't they both in the same freaking city (Austin)?!

Anonymous said...

anyone see Krajinovic in the semis!? Talk about a predecessor to Djokovic

Anonymous said...

Dear 5.0...
Roddick's original academy that is run by Grunberg is in San Antonio and the new one is in Austin, just about an hour away. He's just spreading the opportunity I guess.