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Juan Martin del Potro - Source: Photosport -
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Possibly the dumbest question ever
After his classy semi-final display in demolishing third seed Robin Soderling on Thursday, Juan Martin Del Potro was no doubt in a good mood as he prepared to face a packed press conference.
Our tvnz.co.nz reporter entered the room wearing a shirt that pays tribute to the 1986 World Cup final, one of the best-ever days in Argentinean sport when a Diego Maradona inspired Argentina beat a strong West German team in a classic final.
"Nice shirt" smiled Del Potro "Great game".
I was chuffed, and dived right in there, trying to establish some rapport with the world number nine in the hope of some better answers later.
"Yeah, it was - did you watch it"
"Aaaaaaah no, I didn't" said the tennis superstar who wasn't even born until 1988, two years after Diego Maradona and his team worked their magic.
For the second time in little over a week, cue much laughter and derision sweeping across the room and one very red face.
Adios Mr Congeniality - well not quite
Spanish fourth seed Nicolas Almargo may be a successful player on the ATP circuit but the 23-year-old did not exactly endear himself to everybody around the ASB tennis centre.
He completely lost it on court in his quarter-final loss on Thursday, throwing racquets, swearing at the umpire and getting a censure for ball abuse.
Later on the same day he had to play doubles and ONE Sport's Toni Street got quite a surprise when he refused to be part of the customary pre-match interview for the TV coverage.
"No, No, I don't speak. Last time I speak English before a match I lose."
Has he been attending the NZRU School of post-match excuses?
Chain Reaction
The Sovereign Speed Serve has been a welcome addition to the Heineken Open this week, allowing spectators to see just how quick these huge aces are travelling.
The fastest serves so far this week have been well over 200km/h or 56m per second.
On a court that measures 23.77m, that means the receiver has somewhere around one third of a second to respond to the serve.
Essentially that means that he has to read the service action before the server has made contact with the ball.
Cool change
Back in 1968, Australian legend Rod Laver was the top money earner on the ATP tour, scooping $US70,359 in the entire year when he won Wimbledon and was runner-up at the French Open.
Fast forward to 2009 and the winner of the Heineken Open on Saturday will collect a cool US$78,000 for winning a single tournament.
And the runner-up cheque is a nice US$42,000.
