Mike and Bob Bryan have achieved the final in Australian Open doubles fighting back from 2-5** in the third set tie break against Robert Lindstedt / Horia Tecau and have unfortunately prolonged their stay in Australia. We genuinely sympathise with the American twins unable in this time to utilize their mansion, volleyball pitch and a fancy pool.

A couple of days ago Mike Bryan's declaration stormed through the net. It would be just one of the many claiming the season is too long and players have the right to be less injured and fatigued with travels, if not the mention of lack of ability to use their material goods back at home because they are forced to play tennis worldwide and get only three free weeks per year (by the way, just like majority of the office workers).

Journalists who look for a subject to write about once in a while usually pick Rafael Nadal and his traditional will to execute a two-years points system for the ranking. Also, that the season is too long for the top guys. Players rarely notice however the point of view depends on the point of seat. Robert Kubica didn't need another car rally accident to break his leg in his own bathroom and surely no player needs to be on court for 12 months a year to get injured. Philipp Petzschner fractured his leg while knocking on the umpire's chair and Peter Polansky fell off the balcony practising a sleepwalk.

Of course it helps to keep the good rank for a longer while, but in case of longer health adventures that's what protected rank is for, and in case of a shorter one you have several chances to fight back because of the season at... current length, yes. Juan Martin del Potro from Argentina lost nearly an entire season because of required rehabilitation. He quickly found enough shape to be challenging enough for the best players, but would he find a good place in the rank that quickly in two-years system?

Finally, you can have a bad shape, bad mood, play awful for no reason for half of the year. Then you thank heavens for the Asian swing instead of criticizing a season for being too long.

When an Irish journalist Stephen Kelly ridiculed Mike Bryan's laments on Twitter, he got verbally penalized by Alex Bogomolov (#34 ATP), "u just hatin'". By the very same Bogomolov who is accordingly to Patrick McEnroe in debt to American Tennis Federation and I wonder how he is going to pay this without Russian Federation's help.

This Twitter exchange took place when Sergiy Stakhovsky (#65 ATP) from Ukraine campaigned in Australia for a different dividing of money prize in the big tournaments and changing the policy on mandatory tournaments. "If I lose in the first round in Indian Wells and Miami, I still must stay for a whole month in America and the money earned is enough to pay the coach. Other expenses are on me." This kind of players of course need a very long season, challengers after main tour ends and a 13th month in the calendar to play French, German and Czech leagues, which are relatively well paid.

Vast majority of players applauded Stakhovsky and signed under his pleas. Apparently Bogomolov was one of them. Stephen Kelly however continued discussion with him on Twitter, "Imagine the life of a dude #120 in the world." "Are you the one ranked #120 in the world?" asked the Russian. "No, but Rogerio Dutra Silva is and I doubt he has much sympathy for Mike Bryan's mansion problems."

A few months ago TA presented Rogerio Dutra Silva's profile. We mentioned in Brazil he was nicknamed "Mendigo" - peasant. It's because of his constant struggle with getting funds for clothing and travels.

Polish squatters in London have invented a new way of living. They somehow sneak into deserted beautiful residences (breaking into them would be a crime, but staying inside is not a criminal offense per se). Sometimes they can live inside for over a month unnoticed. British media asked one of the lords about his take on one of his houses being inhabited. "Oh, they've behaving fine. I'm not using that house anyway," replied the lord.

Nathii
photo: cbsnews

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