The New Tennisphile:

         LAURA AND MARCO IN CAVI DI LAVAGNA, ITALY, JUNE 2010.

Book news is below. Local tennis news is under "Services."

              WE WERE IN ITALY WHEN FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE WON THE FRENCH OPEN!                     

       Emotions ran high in Italy as Francesca Schiavone, 29, unexpectedly defeated the Australian Samantha Stosur at the 2010 French Open.

        Laura, Marco, and Dante Valtorta watched on RAI television in Milan as the drama unfolded. Schiavone accepted the trophy with grace and humor, congratulating her opponent. She told the Italian journalists that she would celebrate with about 50 friends and purchase a pair of jeans.     

        This has been a good year for Italian tennis. Flavia Pennetta is now number 9 in the world, and Schiavone, a native of Milan, is number 5,

       The Italian media should support these players. We had a tough time finding any of the French Open matches on the Italian channels. Tennis courts are difficult to find in Italy, and tennis programs for children  are almost non-existent. The mania for soccer consumes every aspect of the sports world in Italy, and it shuts out half the population. Italians should realize that tennis is a sport for everyone -- men, women, children, and families.

                                                  September 13, 2009

         Now that the Serb, Novak Djokovic, is no longer honking at every call that goes his way, and his parents are invisible (especially that barking mother), I like him again. Anyone who plays against the Swiss Bot, Roger Federer, is my hero. How about some more impressions of Maria Sharapova, Novak?

      Jesus Christ. Norm Chryst is the worst chair umpire on television. First he mispronounced Juan Martin Del Potro’s name, calling him “Del Porto” and turning him into a musketeer. I think that was in Cincinnati . Then, at the Open, he gave Djokovic a really bad call, overruling the linesman and calling a serve out. It was 5-5, deuce, in the first set of the men’s semifinal. Novak challenged the call and he was correct. At that point, Chryst should have given Novak the ace, because the Swiss Bot missed the return. The holier-than-thou umpire said “first service,” instead. Novak got mad. I would have, too. It was a lot of wasted energy.

       Federer won in three sets, 7-6, 7-5, 7-5. A “tweener” passing shot between the legs gave him 3 match points in the final game.

           Now that Federer has twin girls, we wonder where they were manufactured. South Africa ? The Czech Republic ? Is Myrka Vavrinec Federer the evil puppet master?

     Good luck to Juan Martin Del Potro in the final. We will be rooting for him at the Valtorta household.

                                   TENNIS FASHION

      At this 2009 US Open, the Georgia girl, Melanie Oudin, won the Laura Award for best shoes. Pink and yellow. They said “believe.” She also got the award for best fan: her twin sister, Katherine. Melanie was defeated by the Dane, Caroline Wozniacki (of 2009 Family Circle Cup fame, when “Icki” defeated “Acki” in the quarterfinals), after beating Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova, and Nadia Petrova.

      The French player, Gael Monfils, had the best hairdo. A stylish fro with tiny antennae. He was defeated in the fourth Round by Rafael Nadal, who looked a little peaked. A puny Majorcan.

          Novak might have hired Todd Martin to be his “advisor” because they look alike. They both have light-bulb-shaped heads and spiked hair.

          Maria Sharapova definitely wore the best dress of the tournament, a geometric black, white and grey number she said was inspired by the architect Frank Gehry.

           ***************February 24 2009**************

My third book was released by Knowles Publishing on February 1, 2009. See www.knowlespublishing.com. Here is my press release:

"Laura Valtorta is pleased to announce that Knowles Publishing will be offering her new book, Social Security Disability Practice in January 2009. This is a complete guide for the lawyer who wants to begin a disability practice, and a reference work for the lawyer who already works in the Social Security area. Also helpful for the family court practitioner who deals with child support, and the worker's compensation attorney who wants to know about the interaction with Social Security benefits. Available in hard copy with a CD rom."

Contact Knowles Publishing at www.knowlespublishing.com. See more about Laura Valtorta at valtortalaw.com"

Books by Laura P. Valtorta

Family Meal

Start your own Law Practice

Social Security Disability Practice, (Knowles Publishing)

www.knowlespublishing.com

 Dante and Marco on the boat to Bermuda, June 2008