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TENNIS CRITIC

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Beautiful Win for the Beast

Max Mirnyi's tennis career is taking on as gigantic proportions as the 6'5" Beast himself.
Back when he was 21, he won his first U.S. Open mixed doubles title with a new player on the scene (you might have heard of her, Serena Williams), then repeated that feat again today with Victoria Azarenka, a surprise quarterfinalist in the women's singles draw and fellow countrywoman from Belarus, today.
One of the few players on the tour to have earned six digits in doubles and singles so far this year, and more in doubles than singles to boot, Mirnyi has more than a few doubles Grand Slam titles under his belt, including the 2000 and 2002 U.S. Opens. And 2005 and 2006 Roland Garros doubles titles. Plus, the 1998 Wimbledon mixed doubles title (with a little help from his friend Serena). Yes, he's just one Grand Slam title away from a career Grand Slam. He just needs one Down Under to complete his set of silver. (What do you say, Serena? Are you willing to pitch in and help Max out one more time?!)
Not a bad tourney for Azarenka either, collecting her first Grand Slam win ever.
And what do the Belarussians think of their win? Who can say since not even the U.S. Open web site includes an interview with the victors. You have to simply guess from the single photo of the mixed doubles champ. Unless, I suppose, one goes a blogging and perhaps becomes fluent in Belarussian along the way.
But, then again, their smiles in the photo are pretty easy to translate. Even Max's smile is giant.

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