You know you’ve hit the big time when you get to play your doubles match on a practice court behind the loo. That’s right, my friends, that building you see right there houses some of the public restrooms for the Cincy Masters. What’s really cool is that many of the tennis balls end up on the roof of that building, just like the birdie does when you play badminton in the backyard at home. Only difference is, none of the players’ dads have to get the ladder out to go up and fetch the ball.
While the quaint conditions might be a bit claustrophobic (though thankfully upwind) for the players, it does mean spectators get to be really close to the court. You may have to duck when a powerfully served or unfortunately shanked ball abruptly bounds towards your head, but being right up on the tennis can be quite exhilarating. Also, the few rows of bleachers are behind the baseline, so for those that enjoy that angle, the view is spectacular. As the pictures below will reveal.
This treat of a doubles match featured four talented singles players that drew an enthusiastic crowd. Swiss pro Stanislas Wawrinka teamed up with Finnish player Jarkko Nieminen, while the German Philipp Kohlschreiber paired with Russian Mikhail Youzhny. Fans got to see three one-handed backhands on court at one time, and lots of pretty and entertaining tennis.
Please do *CLICK* the pics if you want HUGE versions that show a lot more detail.
~ PHOTOS: c2012 Valerie David for TennisInsideOut.com. Stanislas Wawrinka, Jarkko Nieminen, Philipp Kohlschrieber, and Mikhail Youzhny at Western and Southern Open, Cincinnati Masters 2012.