Tennis Tuesday - Idiosyncracies

For those of you tennis fans, I am sure you have been watching great tennis matches the past week and upcoming week.  Idiosyncrasies - big word and good spelling practice.  I will now try to recall all the players different before and after habits.  You are probably wondering why I am covering this topic today?  It is timely Tuesday and it's the Australian Open 2011.  I would love to hear your comment or any of the other players habit or a particular move that makes them special and remembered by their fans.  Maybe the next time you get a chance to watch the next major - French Open - you will try to look for it or maybe find something new.

YOUZHNY - when I first saw him won one of his matches, he would twirl his racquet first and then he would place his racquet on his head with his left hand and salute with his right hand. His racquet replaces a hat.  He would do this salute to all sides of the tennis courts.


NADAL - the number ONE tennis player.  Since I have been watching tennis for a really long time, it has only been lately where I really pay attention to all the little pre game habits, in between serves, and acknowledgement of the results of the match. For RAFA, it's his before serve habits, it's a little weird but it's the same every time. First he pulls with his right hand his shorts (unkink the wedgie), then he sweeps his hair behind his right ear, then left ear and last but not least, touches his nose.  He use to fix his socks by pulling it up and then shushing it down - I haven't seen this lately.

DJOKOVIC - currently ranked number 3.  If you have been watching tennis, you will remember this player. He bounces the ball before serving at least 10 to 20 times or maybe more.  I remember one time counting up to 27.  He has since lessen the bounce to about 8 to 15.  He is very good at imitating other players habits, specially Maria Sharapova.

BAGHDATIS -the player with a pony tail and a great smile. The first time I saw him bounce the ball in between in legs prior to serving.  He does this at least a couple of times.  An then this week, I was watching ISHNER, remember the player who broke the record for playing the marathon for at least 3 days. He won against Masud where he took the game 70 to 68 on the fifth set.  Well, he also bounce the ball twice between his legs on the first serve and once on the second serve.


PETKOVIC -a german player with a very bubbly personality.  After winning a match, she does a little dance called "Petko dance".  She is different but funny and full of life with lots of sparks.


SHARAPOVA - great tennis player with very classy tennis outfits.  Prior to her serve, she sweeps her hair behind her right and left ear.  Then she bounce the ball twice but very precise.  After each point, she would walk away from the base line, face the wall, it's like clearing her mind for the next point.  She has this little tiny skip in her walk when she would return to the base line coming from the net. 

Do you have a favorite tennis player who has one of this special habit or process?  Do you have one of your own when you play any type of sports?  Maybe one day I will create my own.