BLOG: All in the family
Date published :
11 Jul 2010 - 17:45:47
OG: All in the familyBy Clive WhitePerhaps it’s just as well the Djokovic family are here in force in Split because there haven’t been too many Serbian fans in the crowd at the Spaladium Arena to support the team, as they posted an impassioned quarterfinal victory over Croatia. Mum, dad and uncle are here as ever, but so, too, are Novak’s two younger brothers. Youngest brother, Djordje, who turns 15 next Saturday, and 18-year-old Marko (pictured, with Novak), are also in tow. In fact, Marko is the Serbian team’s first reserve as well as a hitting partner. That means if there had been an injury, Marko would’ve been drafted into the team proper. That’s drawn some criticism from the media back in Belgrade, who believe that other players should have been given the opportunity to gain some valuable Davis Cup experience before the No. 1,300 ranked Marko Djokovic.Bogdan Obradovic, the Serbian captain, initially chose Ilia Bozoljac, the qualifier who sensationally took Roger Federer to four sets in the second round at Wimbledon last month. But realising there was little or no chance of him playing, Bozoljac opted instead to play at Newport, Rhode Island where he lost in the first round. If it wasn’t for the fact that Serbia already has a dedicated doubles team in Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic, the Djokovic brothers might have been given their chance in tandem. But it’s certain to happen sometime in the future. Kvass for coolingBy Richard van PoortvlietMoscow is in the middle of a heat wave!Temperatures have been over 30 degrees Celsius for the last month a sharp contrast to the last winter, when minus 20 and even minus 30 were the order of the day. So how do the locals cope with the intense heat Many go to their country houses outside the city, or go swimming in nearby rivers, but for those working at the Davis Cup tie, neither the former nor the latter is an option.That leaves cold drinks the order of the day in an effort to cool off and, in particular, Kvass. Kvass is a drink made from bread and is, in fact, slightly alcoholic, but one would probably need to drink around 20 litres of the stuff to get a little tipsy. Translation: it’s certainly no rival to Russia’s most famous export - Vodka. Nevertheless, Kvass is a very popular refreshing drink that dates back around 5,000 years in Russia, and around Eastern Europe, especially in the summer months. People’s reaction to Kvass is similar to marmite; you either love it, or hate it! This was pretty much the same amongst the Argentine press here in Moscow after a bottle appeared in the Media Centre. All were very inquisitive to try the drink, which looks like cola, but the reactions were mixed to say the least. The minority were in favour, saying this stuff is really good,” while the famous Argentine journalist Guillermo Salatino (pictured, in orange polo shirt), who certainly wasn’t a fan, commented, which evil person bought this drink!” Given the straw poll of half a dozen Argentine journalists, it’s probably unlikely Kvass will be taking Buenos Aires by storm anytime soon. But here in Russia, the locals are drinking the stuff, left right and centre to help keep cool in some of the hottest weather in years.Don your SpeedosBy Sandra HarwittWho knewThe city of Split, Croatia, the site of this weekend’s exciting Davis Cup quarterfinal tie between Croatia and Serbia, is famous for having its very own invented ball game. No, not tennis. Picigin! That’s right, Picigin! And in case you’re wondering it’s pronounced peetseegeen.” But Picigin is not without its tennis connection. The game is traditionally played with a peeled (take the fuzz off) tennis ball. Picigin is played with around five players in the shallow waters of famous Bacvice Beach, the most notable city-centre beach in Split. The concept is something like volleyball without the net. The objective is that while standing in shallow water, players slap the ball to each other and try to keep it in the air and out of the water. The player often ends up flopping into the surf in an effort to hit the ball, but they must keep the ball from landing in the water. For men, the traditional Picigin wardrobe is mudantine” a form-fitting Speedo-style bathing suit. This must not be very comforting for those participating in the annual New Year’s Day Picigin activities in a chilly Split. And in case you’re wondering, there is an annual Picigin World Championships that has taken place since 2005.Wonder if Split natives Goran Ivanisevic and Mario Ancic are Picigin fansIf interested in more information on Picigin, check out the games official website... Picigin.org (pictured). The website bills the popular Split pastime as the game for the 21st Century.”In the lap of LuxuryBy Nick ImisonIn the early stage of their professional career, tennis players often have to try and find cheap accommodation to minimise their expenses, sharing rooms with other players, staying in hostels or with local families offering to house players for free during the week. Quite the contrast with this week’s Davis Cup quarterfinal tie in Split, where the Serbian and Croatian teams have been able to enjoy two of the most spectacular residences the region has to offer.The Serbian team and their large entourage have been staying at the Meridien Lav hotel in Postrana, Dalmatia’s first five-star hotel located eight kilometres down the coast from Split. In addition to an 800-metre private beach, the hotel contains indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, four tennis courts and a total of eight restaurants and bars. To help celebrate their victory, the team could choose between trying their luck in the hotel casino or dancing until dawn in the hotel nightclub!The Croatian team opted for the more personal touch of the Vila Dalmajica, a private residence originally built as the summer dwelling of the former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito. The villa was built on Marjan Hill, a dormant volcano on the Split peninsula. Those attending the draw for this weekend’s tie cast an envious eye on the Croatians’ lodgings, which included an outdoor patio with steps leading down into the Adriatic Sea.BLOG EDITOR...Sandra HarwittSandra, an American sportswriter for longer than she's willing to admit, has travelled the world to cover tennis for major publications, such as ESPN.com, The Miami Herald, and Associated Press. Her biggest problem of late is managing to pack worldwide purchases into suitcases and still meet the airline weight restrictions.
