Ask John
Professional Tennis
What was it like to switch from college tennis to professional tennis?
Submitted by Rashmi Tejwaney, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
To be honest with you making the switch from college to the pros was fairly easy for me. The level of play and competition in college tennis is so great that it helped to prepare me for the pro tour. I owe alot to Manny Diaz and the University of Georgia for taking my game to the next level. Thanks Manny!!
just how good do you think a. murray is or can be
Submitted by eddie white, carrickfergus
Andy Murray is very good and his results back him up on that. He has consistently been ranked top 10 in the world the last couple of years. If he can stay healthy there is no reason he could not be ranked # 1 in the world. Staying healthy is a big key to success on the ATP Tour. Playing tournaments all year long with no off season can take a toll on your body. I am playing in the SAP Open this week in San Jose after taking close to a month off after the Australian Open because of a stress fracture in my left foot. My foot feels good and I am now ready for the upcoming season. Thanks for submitting your question Eddie!
Since turning pro you have played doubles with variety of other players, but at the SAP Open you played with Donald Young and had a good match against the Bryan Brothers. Do you plan to continue playing doubles in the future and do you foresee playing with Donald Young again? How do you feel his game compliments your own?
Submitted by Arlo Lyle, Tulsa, OK
I do continue playing doubles in the future and I would love the oppurtunity to play with Donald Young again. His returns are so solid that it helps to compliment my big serve game and I think that makes us a dangerous doubles team. Thanks for your question
Dear John, As UGA alum living in London, I am hoping to get to see you play in the near future in some of our lead up tournaments to Wimbledon. Do you have any plans to play in the Artois Championships at Queens Club, or at the Surbiton Trophy? I hope to see you play at Wimbledon as well and if you have to go through qualifying, my sister and I will be there cheering you on. Good luck and Go DAWGS!!! Kind Regards, Patty Dailey
Submitted by Patty Dailey, London, England
I will definitely be playing some of the lead up tournaments before Wimbledon. Me and my agent Sam Duvall are going to decide next week exactly what warm up tournaments I will be playing before Wimbledon. As for Wimbledon, I will get directly into the main draw because I am now ranked #84 in the world which is high enough of a ranking to get direct entry into all of the Grand Slams. Hope to see u there! Go Dawgs!
Hey John, I'm your fan and i wanna ask you when you will play doubles with Ivo Karlović again? Thank you and you are the best!!!
Submitted by Leon Modrić, Zagreb, Croatia
Thanks for being such a huge fan of mine! I am not scheduled any time soon to play doubles with Ivo Karlovic again. I would love to get another chance to play doubles with Ivo again, and hopefully this time we can have better results. I will probaly be playing doubles with Donald Young or Amer Delic in my upcoming tournaments. Thanks for submitting your question.
Hey John, I wanna ask you on what tournaments you will play doubles with Ivo Karlovic? And you are the best!!!!!
Submitted by Leon Percinlic, Zagreb, Croatia
Currently I am not scheduled to play doubles with Ivo anytime soon. But I would love to play with him again. I will be playing doubles with either Donald Young or Amer Delic in my upcoming tournaments. Thanks for your support!!
Hey man, I wanna ask you what is the next tournament after Houston where you will play?
Submitted by Mika Kallio, Helsinki, Finland
I just got done playing two clay court tournaments one in Bremuda and one in Austria. I lost in the 2nd round in both of those tournaments. I lost to Davydenko in 3 sets in Austria, I played well. I am still getting adjusted to the red clay.
Yo John! i want to ask you one question: I'm 13 year old and I wanna become serve and volley player, how I must practice to become serve and volley player like you?
Submitted by Leon, Vrbovec, Croatia
There are many ways to become a good serve and volley player. I would mainly work on your reflexes while you are up at the net. Have your coach feed you balls one after another while you are at the net and it will improve your reaction time. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Dear John, i've got 4 qouestion's for you: 1. What is stronger? your backhand or forehand? 2. How fast your serve go? 3. Dou you play like Taylor Dent- just serve and volley? 4. When will you go to Europe? And i hope that you will win at US open.
Submitted by Mike Fritz, Toronto, Canada
My forehand is stronger than my backhand, but my backhand has improved a whole lot over the last year. My backhand use to be my weakness but I am now very confident in it and I no longer view it as a weakness! My fastest serve on record was 148 mph, which I hit playing against Tommy Haas in San Jose earlier this year. No I don't just serve and volley, I like to mix things up alot. I am in France right now getting ready for the French Open, I play Chela in the 1st round. I hope I can one day win the US Open, Thanks for the support.
Where you will play after Bermuda?
Submitted by Jim Crown, Zagreb, Croatia
hi again,thank you for your answer,and good luck for your match against Chela in Roland Garros So this time i want to know what are your biggest goals this year and are you going to be in Olympic Games?
Submitted by Manal, Marseille
No problem, thanks for your support! My biggest goals for this year is to try to end the year ranked top #20 in the world and most importantly just have fun and enjoy the experience of my first full year on the ATP Tour. I am so fortunate and blessed to be able to travel all over the world doing what I love, which is playing tennis! I will not be going to the Olympic games this year, I have already committed to some tournaments such as the Legg Mason and others which take place at the same time of the Olympics. I definitely plan on playing in the Olympics before my tennis career is over. Try to watch my match tomorrow against Chela, I think it should be live either on the Tennis Channel or ESPN 2. Wish me Luck!! Take Care!
