Tennis player aided by notebook at Pan Am Games
Share This Story
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP)
Puerto Rican tennis player Monica Puig found a way to get some words of advice from her coach without even speaking to him.
Puig, who beat Adriana Perez of Venezuela 6-0, 7-5 Tuesday in the second round of the Pan American Games tennis tournament, pulled a notebook out of her bag and read from it during changeovers.
''We write everything down the night before, then during the matches I go over the information,'' the 264th-ranked Puig said. ''It helps keep me focused on my game plan.''
During nearly every changeover, Puig grabbed her towel, took a sip of water and then pulled the diary-like notebook out of her tennis bag. Big paper clips allowed her to go easily to the page she wanted.
For Tuesday's match, the notebook had a small court designed on one page, with arrows pointing to where she needed to serve and play her shots. It also had small paragraphs with tactical and motivational notes.
''It's usually small pointers to keep me focused,'' said the 18-year-old Puig, ranked seventh at the Pan Am Games. ''They help me settle down and stay in the moment.''
Coach Alain De Vos, who has been training Puig for the last four years, said it's the only way he can help her during matches. They study each opponent ahead of time and write down the game plan the night before. They usually go over it again in the morning and during the final practice.
''This keeps her from losing control, from getting distracted,'' De Vos said. ''It keeps her from drifting off and thinking about other things.''
Puig said there is no ''Plan B'' in her notebook, nothing that would give her different options when things go wrong.
''If something is not going well I have to figure out a way to change the game myself,'' she said, noting that she has been using the notebook since she started being coached by De Vos.
Puig, however, said the notes didn't really help when she was down 5-2 in the second set against the 377th-ranked Perez on Tuesday. But the coaching she received then was simple: ''I kept looking at my coach and I saw that he wasn't frustrated or upset,'' she said. ''So I just kept my calm and things eventually started working my way again.''
Tennis officials said Puig is not doing anything illegal by reading from her notebook.
''Players are not allowed to use any electronic device or receive notes from someone else during the matches,'' event supervisor Javier Sansierra said. ''It is not a problem if she is reading from something that she brought in before the match.''
Tennis at the Pan Am Games is being played by 46 men and 34 women. Horacio Zeballos of Argentina is the top-seeded player in the men's tournament and Christina McHale of the United States is the top-seeded player on the women's side.
---
Follow Tales Azzoni at http://twitter.com/tazzoni
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Bonds faces future, can't forget past
Barry Bonds is publicly referring to himself as a convicted felon these days, and he'... -
Report: Duncan won't leave Spurs
Two-time league MVP Tim Duncan said he has little interest in testing out the free-ag... -
Rodman sentenced on 4 counts
Flamboyant former NBA star Dennis Rodman was sentenced in family court Tuesday to 104... -
Serena falls in first-round stunner
No. 5 Serena Williams falls apart, ousted in first round. -
Mickelson in group out to buy Padres
Phil Mickelson has joined a group of investors who want to buy his hometown Major Lea...
Tennis Videos
London 2012: Tennis
Posted: May 09, 2012
FOXSports.com gets you ready for London 2012 with a preview of Tennis.
FOXSports.com gets you ready for London 2012 with a preview of Tennis.
Find out what a gold medal is worth
Posted: Apr 17, 2012
FOX Sports Olympic analyst Evan Morgenstein asks what a gold medal's really wort...
FOX Sports Olympic analyst Evan Morgenstein asks what a gold medal's really wort...
Federer feeling good about game
Posted: Mar 22, 2012
Roger Federer talks about the current state of his game and more.
Roger Federer talks about the current state of his game and more.
Tennis Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adidas Detroit Pistons Royal Blue Primary Logo T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Pistons/browse/featuredproduct/172443/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172443_xl.jpg&w=100 | 17.95 | adidas Detroit Pistons Royal Blue Primary Logo T-shirt |
| adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/173566/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173566_xl.jpg&w=100 | 17.95 | adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt |
| adidas Phoenix Suns Orange Primary Logo T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Phoenix_Suns/browse/featuredproduct/188087/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_188000/FF_188087_xl.jpg&w=100 | 17.95 | adidas Phoenix Suns Orange Primary Logo T-shirt |
| adidas Houston Rockets Red Prime Logo T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Houston_Rockets/browse/featuredproduct/188088/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_188000/FF_188088_xl.jpg&w=100 | 17.95 | adidas Houston Rockets Red Prime Logo T-shirt |
| adidas Phoenix Suns #13 Steve Nash Orange Net Player T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Phoenix_Suns/browse/featuredproduct/190075/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_190000/FF_190075_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | adidas Phoenix Suns #13 Steve Nash Orange Net Player T-shirt |
| adidas Los Angeles Lakers #24 Kobe Bryant Purple Net Player T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/194199/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_194000/DS_194199_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | adidas Los Angeles Lakers #24 Kobe Bryant Purple Net Player T-shirt |
| adidas Chicago Bulls #1 Derrick Rose Red Net Player T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Bulls/browse/featuredproduct/204457/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_204000/FF_204457_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | adidas Chicago Bulls #1 Derrick Rose Red Net Player T-shirt |
| adidas Orlando Magic #12 Dwight Howard Black Net Player T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Orlando_Magic/browse/featuredproduct/223440/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_223000/DS_223440_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | adidas Orlando Magic #12 Dwight Howard Black Net Player T-shirt |
| adidas Indiana Pacers #33 Danny Granger Navy Blue Player T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Indiana_Pacers/browse/featuredproduct/243908/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_243000/FF_243908_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | adidas Indiana Pacers #33 Danny Granger Navy Blue Player T-shirt |
| Sport Authentics by adidas Cleveland Cavaliers Gold Retro Logo T-shirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Cleveland_Cavaliers/browse/featuredproduct/244087/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_244000/FF_244087_xl.jpg&w=100 | 25.95 | Sport Authentics by adidas Cleveland Cavaliers Gold Retro Logo T-shirt |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.