Monica's Surprise Early Bird Appearance...

...at the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic in LA today.  I didn't expect her to appear for the pro-am morning doubles matches, but she walked onto center court and started introducing herself around.  Wow!  As you can see from the photos, the stands were empty and it was fun to watch and listen to her catch up with Murphy Jensen during warm-ups. 

  She looks more muscular than in Berkeley (late September) and throughout both mini-matches this morning, she had trouble with her first serve.  Looks like she's tweaking it a bit...maybe for next March??? (-:  I'll post the photos and let you guys debate.  Still moving her feet a lot and returns were super crisp, even for Murphy Jensen's spin-filled serves.  Strokes look even crisper than in September and placement is still perfection.

Hope you enjoy the photos--please feel free to leave a comment for what you'd like me to focus on this afternoon, I'll be logging in a couple more times. Pairings haven't been announced.  If you're in LA, there are tickets left ($75) as well as for the gala tonight, so definitely come on down.  Both are for great causes including the Jensen-Schmidt Tennis Academy for Down Syndrome. 

Comments

[John O'Quinn]

Great blog Rhonda! Please give us all the details of the action later today. I'm SOOOOO siked about a possible return next year.

Btw, keep an eye on that first serve too. Is she spinning it in, or really going for it?

[heron5]

Boy, those photos sure make me long to see Monica back on the tour. Interesting to hear your observation about Monica looking a little more muscular. That will be needed if she's to mount a comeback. I am very much looking forward to your comments later, Rhonda. Thanks much for sharing this experience with us.

[Ludo]

Thank you for sharing your pictures, Monica looks great and she seems to be happy. I really hope her comeback

[Ian]

Monica, if she's moving faster than ever, could still bring her brilliance to a supposed comeback.

But she has to be moving faster than ever in her career. Her very slim figure should help that, but a lot of things need to "come together."

It could be very unique and wonderful...or embarrassing. I'd hate to see it be the latter, but I think it will be a lost cause. Monica should have been this thin from 96-2003. She lost seven prime years because of uneven fitness (and other issues, of course), beginning with her "return" in Madrid ('96) after the loss to Iva Majoli in Tokyo, February '96.

She was, quite simply, never the same...in terms of her footwork, weight, & courtspeed. Even Monica in Australia and Tokyo ('96) was noticeably speedy and ~much~ thinner, compared to her return in May '96--the "break" that really sent her on a 7-year "languish."

I hope she does it. If anyone can, she can.