Looking for drama between the lines...

I filed my newspaper column and posted some blog items then jammed over to UCLA yesterday to catch the late afternoon match at the Countrywide Classic between Americans Mardy Fish and Vince Spadea.

But I was more interested in a possible catfight between the two players than groundstrokes and volleys. A few months ago I read Vince's sometimes catty book ("Break Point: The Secret Diary of a Pro Tennis Player").chronicling a year on the pro tour. Mardy was chosen for the US Davis Cup team over Vince even though Spadea was ranked higher and had better recent results. Vince fought to gain a spot on the team - succeeded in being named an alternate - then details the tense days during the competition when he and Mardy played practice matches to see who would play. Vince won but still didn't get to play. Mardy played, and lost.

Okay, I'm not sure how interesting this story is but I've already typed it in so I'm gonna stay with it. So I got to UCLA to see who would win this time. Vince took the opening set 7-6 and lookedf to have the edge. But Mardy cuit down on the mistakes and played the important points better to take the next two sets 6-1, 6-0. Ouch! No drama after the match, just a polite handshake.

Damn!

I stayed for part of the sexy Russian Marat Safin's evening match but my allergies were all outa whack so I headed home before he completed his straight set victory. Marat is looking good and, I think, might win the whole doggone tournament.