Is Novak Djokovic Getting Training Tips from Lady Gaga?

Novak Djokovic recently revealed that he has been entering a futuristic egg-like chamber reminiscent of the one from Lady Gaga’s famous hatching from The Grammy Awards. Unlike Gaga’s, Nole’s egg is not just a prop and is supposed to simulate high altitude conditions to saturate the blood with oxygen and promote healing. It’s called a CVAC pod and while not banned currently by the ATP, you have to imagine there will be discussions of such now that Novak has revealed his use publicly. Other athletes have used devices like this before, but the drastic improvement in Novak’s results this year may make others question whether or not this training method is in the spirit of fair competition.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, “(CVAC) claims that spending up to 20 minutes in the pod three times a week can boost athletic performance by improving circulation, boosting oxygen-rich red-blood cells, removing lactic acid and possibly even stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis and stem-cell production.”

Djokovic also changed his diet to become gluten-free, and many have attributed his improvement in performance to this diet change. While many others have since gone gluten-free, you may want to invest in CVAC in case this starts a new trend – and a much more expensive trend than a loaf of gluten-free bread. Novak explained, “I think it really helps, not with muscle but more with recovery after an exhausting set. It’s like a spaceship. It’s very interesting technology.”

While the use of this CVAC pod cannot be the only reason for Novak’s unprecedented 57-2 record this year and new-found dominance over Rafael Nadal in particular, but it certainly makes me curious how much of a factor this contraption has really been. We certainly have not seen Nole gasping for air during matches like he had been in previous seasons.

In other Nole news, let’s take a look at what else he revealed about himself when he dressed up as one of today’s biggest female icons…and no, we are not talking about Lady Gaga again.

Francesca Schiavone is a Stud, Andrea Petkovic Dances Away

In the longest women’s match in Grand Slam history, Francesca Schiavone needed 4 hours and 44 minutes to beat 23rd-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova by a score of 6-4 1-6 16-14.  For the past 8 months, Schiavone has been proving that her French Open win at the age of 29 was no fluke. The victory over Kooz assured Schiavone that she will move up to #4 in the rankings. The veteran Italian will need to recover fast for her quarterfinal match against Caroline Wozniacki though, but that’s the same round Frankie dismantled Caroline in Roland Garros last year.

Take a look at match point and handshake collapsing hug at the net…

The good news for Sveta is that she is playing much better and her improved fitness will certainly pay off in big matches down the road.  The two-time Grand Slam champion kept things in proper perspective even after the tough loss by saying, “But for me, I’m coming back. How did you say, what doesn’t kill you make you stronger. I’m still alive and sitting here. I was moving good and serving better in the end. Definitely I cannot be very upset and bring myself down. I will stay strong and take positive things out of match because there is some definitely good things I’ve done today.”

Another Russian Grand Slam champion lost her 4th rounder, but Maria Sharapova put up far less resistance in her 62 63 loss to 30th seed Andrea Petkovic from Germany. Petkovic capitalized on the win by retirement over Venus by backing it up with a comprehensive win over Maria. The 23 year-old has shown incredible promise over the last couple of years but has struggled with nerves closing out matches. Although she fully admitted to getting nervous before winning on the third match point, she believes her choking days are behind her. Watch Petko celebrate her victory with her trademark dance…

Petkovic explained the genesis of the dance, “(I)t started off as a bet with my coach. He had an idea after I played a terrible summer season in the U.S. and I got Nadia Petrova in the first round of the US Open, which was a tough draw for me back then. So he said, If you win, you have to do something special because it’s a special match for us. I won 76 in the third, so, yeah, I got the inspiration of doing a dance, and ever since it’s there. I’m very superstitious, so since I’m doing the dance I’m playing much better. I try to keep it up: the playing better and the dance.”

Petkovic has been most famous for her dances and her Tweets, but that can all change in this wide-open Grand Slam. With Maria’s defeat, we already know that there will be a first-time Australian Open winner crowned. While Clijsters still has to be considered the heavy favorite, her sloppy play against Alize Cornet showed that this title is up for grabs. Who’s going to step up and take it?

Kubot Does Can-Can, DeBakker Does Can’t-Can’t

Lots of drama happened on Day 1 of the Australian Open.  Uncomfortable to watch drama.  Think Black Swan instead of The Fighter.

The day started out with Maria Sharapova hitting five consecutive nervy misses on serve.  She finished the game with 10 double faults overall and looked uneasy throughout, but a very out of shape Tammy Tanasugarn could not chase down Maria’s shots.  In fact, she often did not even try.  The 63 61 scoreline might suggest a dominant performance, but like P-Mac said “Maria left us with lots more questions than answers today.”

Sam Querrey had his own troubles as he lost to Lukasz Kubot, who made the 4th Round here last year.  The Polish player known more for doubles until recently looked like the more confident singles player as he won 57 62 36 61 86.  Kubot looked quite tired in the last set, but he played more aggressively than Sam to go up a break in the 13th game and then proceeded to serve out the match.  He also made sure to show us that he had more energy than we all thought by doing the Can-Can for his victory dance.  Querrey despite being a Top 20 player continues to disappoint in Grand Slams bowing out 10 out of 14 times in the 1st Round.  Miserable.

The match that may have been hardest to watch was Thiemo De Bakker choking away a 2 set and a break lead over Gael Monfils.  Gael looked a bit gimpy in the 2nd after losing the 1st in a tiebreak, but then it was De Bakker who must have injured his brain when he was trying to close out the match.  One missed sitter volley in particular caused groans from spectators at Hisense Arena and in front of TV sets around the world.

Thiemo made sure to explain on Twitter by saying, “Pulled my groin at 4-1 in the third! Sick of it”  I think Gael Monfils said it better after the match, “I know Thiemo a bit. I know sometime he snap in the head. So this is like a strong belief. We know like he can snap. It’s a weakness for him. So you play with that.  You know, before the match my coach Rog told me, ‘Sometimes Thiemo is not a big believer.’ When I saw that, you get it (snapping fingers).”

Like Monfils, Fish pulled off his first ever comeback down 2-Sets-to-Love against Romanian Victor Hanescu.  Many other 5-setters played today, but for now I must get some sleep.  Not sure De Bakker or Hanescu will be falling asleep so easily though.  Too soon?

Greta Arn: The Journeywoman Starting a Sweet New Journey

What a week for 31 year old veteran player Greta Arn!  She snags the biggest win of her 15 year career over Maria Sharapova by a score of 62 75 in the quarters.  To prove that this match was not a fluke, she then beats Julia Goerges (World #40) in the semis and defending champion Yanina Wickmayer (World #23) in the finals to capture the Auckland title.  She will also achieve her highest ranking about 20 spots higher than her previous high of #81 back in 2002.  This is not her first title however as she was the victor of Estoril back in 2007.

The win will give Greta new life in a career that she had to put on hold for financial reasons by not being able to play full-time for 3 years, but as she said a “little woice” inside her told to come back.  Keep in mind that finances are still a concern as Greta was all alone this week since her coach Gianluca Palombini told her that New Zealand and Australia were too far and expensive for him to travel.  Let’s see if that changes and we see Gianluca in Melbourne. 

This incredible week for Arn might not have even happened as her ranking of #88 did not earn her direct entry to the main draw until there were a handful of last-minute withdrawals.  She was planning on playing the qualifying rounds, but luck was on her side this week…in addition to all her hard work, big serving, and nice scrambling for a tall woman.  She also saved 5 match points against Sofia Arvidsson in the second round to win 46 75 75 before cruising in straight sets over each of her next three higher-ranked and younger opponents.

A new career is born, Greta Arn is now Arnie the Terminator…

I love her joy in each of these videos, but I think my favorite part is when she said she never played Julia Goerges and yet she has played her twice before.  But that was a different lifetime back in 2005 and 2007 when she was playing quallies of small ITF events.  How can a journeywoman be expected to remember all of her opponents anyway?  I also got a kick out of her description of her exchange with Maria after their match.

Good on you, Greta.  And hasta la vista, baby!

Note: This really is a continuation of the 2010 story of the many late-blooming and comeback players.  Take a look if you have not yet read about the amazing veteran stories of 2010.  http://tenniscrackwhore.com/2010/11/17/year-of-the-veteran-many-fared-well-some-said-farewell/