Latest Cup bodes well for future

If this year's Family Circle Cup was an indication of what to expect in the future, next year's tournament should be a great one.

Readers continue to point out that the reason this year's Cup wasn't as successful at the gate as any of the last four was a carryover attitude from the 2007 withdrawal of so many top players. Even having 11 of the top 15 players in the world this year didn't seem to alter all of the resentment.

"Perhaps the quality of the 2008 field will improve next year's attendance. This year's was certainly dampened by last year's player exodus, which prompted a WTA rebate to FCC, with no subsequent gesture extended to ticket buyers by FCC," one reader e-mailed.

Roger's new coach

It was nice to see Roger Federer break out of his slump and win a tournament, even if Nikolay Davydenko came to his rescue by retiring in the final. Approaching his 27th birthday, Federer appears to be taking desperate steps in hopes of completing a career Grand Slam.

Hiring a clay-court specialist, Jose Higueras, for a coach is a questionable move for a player with such a classic game as Federer's. I doubt if the Swiss great ever will be a grinder. I can't picture him as that type of player.

Is Federer sacrificing everything he has built up the last five years just in the hope of winning the French Open? In this particular year when the rest of the tour has gained considerably on Federer as his health and conditioning have been affected by mononucleosis, it might not be wise to concentrate so heavily on the French Open.

Winning the three Grand Slam titles he needs to surpass Pete Sampras' total of 14 may be a tough task already. But it would appear the likely places to win them would be at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Maybe in hiring a Spanish coach, Federer is hoping to gain the type of insight into Rafael Nadal's game other Spanish players seem to have.

Nadal doubles

Nadal appears to be determined to improve his net game. He is teaming with fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo in this week's Monte Carlo Masters. They upset the No. 3-seeded team of Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in the second round Tuesday.

Nadal fell to Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells and Davydenko in Miami, but in the two tournaments he demonstrated his determination by beating James Blake twice and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga once. This was a major achievement for Nadal on hard courts.

Already an excellent volleyer, Nadal might gain the confidence playing doubles he needs to incorporate more net play into his singles game. Therefore, the doubles experience could pay dividends for Nadal at Wimbledon.

Affinity for doubles

There is a definite affinity for doubles among tennis fans. Thanks to league tennis, doubles is the thing more tennis players have in common than almost anything else — other than the usual balls, rackets, etc. One internet reader e-mailed, "Why do you say nothing about the doubles final? Some of us care more about that match than Serena's."

It appears that veteran Ai Sugiyama has found a good partner in the talented Katarina Srebotnik, twice a Family Circle Cup singles quarterfinalist and now a doubles champion here with Sugiyama. Srebotnik is an impressive player who has the potential to climb into the top 15 in singles from her current 30th spot. Of course, the 32-year-old Sugiyama is the consummate competitor, even though she appears to be nearing the end of her career.

USTA session Saturday

USTA national trainer of the year Mike Carter will be at Charleston Tennis Center Saturday from 1-4 p.m. to conduct a training session for the Quickstart format for beginner players. Quickstart uses smaller courts, smaller rackets and special balls. Registration is required for Saturday's session. Contact program director Joyce Arrington (442-4871) or go to www.lowcountryjuniortennis.org. Registration for Kids Team Tennis, which also will use the Quickstart format, is still available for beginner level players 5-10 years old. Kids Team Tennis will run Friday through June 7.

Reach James Beck at jdbeck@postandcourier.com.