Tennis Today: A statue for Althea Gibson, billboards for Serena Williams and advice for Andy Murray

Shahida Jacobs
February 28, 2018

In Tennis Today, tennis legend Althea Gibson to be honoured, Serena Williams gets four billboards and Roger Federer has advice for Andy Murray.

What’s on the site
Tennis do serve up a lot of eccentric players and here is Tennis365’s Top 10 mavericks.

Then there is the love-in between football legend Gianluigi Buffon and Roger Federer.

Staying with Federer, the Swiss Maestro was the big winner at the 2018 Laureus Awards with two gongs while Serena Williams also won.

It’s not good news if you are a Rafael Nadal fan.

If you are looking for something to do during your lunch break, then do test your knowledge on the Davis Cup.

Results round-up:
ATP Dubai Open
ATP Mexican Open
WTA Mexican Open

What’s in the news
The United States Tennis Association will honour tennis legend Althea Gibson with a statue at the home of the US Open, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Gibson was the first African American woman to win a Grand Slam title.

Then there is Federer who has advised Andy Murray “just to be very patient” as he continues his rehabilitation following hip surgery. The Sun has the ‘exclusive’.

The proposed changes to the Davis Cup continue to make headlines and it has not gone down well in Belgium with tennis chief Gijs Kooken telling Reuters “we are risking killing the soul of the Davis Cup”.

More Davis Cup greats have expressed their “dismay” to The Australian about the possible shake-up of the tournament.

Earlier this week we read about John McEnroe’s luxury mansion being up for rent and now it is Andy Murray’s turn to hit the headlines over his property.

All good though as “Sir Andy Murray’s five-star Cromlix Hotel strikes gold” after receiving “Scottish tourism industry’s highest accolade”.

Life after Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could be tricky. The Telegraph’s Tennis Podcast discusses what the sport could look like once the three legends call it a day.

What’s on social media
How do you celebrate your wife’s return to work after maternity leave? Well, you put up four huge billboards declaring her the Greatest Mother Of All Time.

Alexis Ohanian is certainly in the running for the husband and father of the year award.

These just went up on alongside I-10 into Palm Springs. @olympiaohanian & I wanted to welcome her back to tennis. Designed them myself, with some help from Jr. #GMOAT

A post shared by Alexis Ohanian Sr.?? (@alexisohanian) on Feb 27, 2018 at 7:23am PST

When Rafael Nadal met SpongeBob. This was before his injury woes struck again.

F is for Friends who do stuff together…#AMT2018 @RafaelNadal @Spongebob pic.twitter.com/uIc1v3v7SL

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2018

Jelena Ostapenko tries out a new sport.

First ever boxing session today, had so much fun and enjoyed it a lot ??????
I’m huge fan of Mairis and good luck in next fight Champ! @BriedisMairis pic.twitter.com/bXt11iW93C

— Jelena Ostapenko (@JelenaOstapenk8) February 26, 2018

What’s on TV
ATP Dubai Championships
Second seed Lucas Pouille and third seed Roberto Bautista Agut will both take to the court in second-round action.

10:00-13:30
LIVE – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Arena

15:00-18:30
LIVE – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Arena

ATP Mexican Open
Juan Martin del Potro, Kevin Anderson and David Ferrer are some of the big names that will feature.

00:00-5:30
LIVE – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Action

WTA Mexican Open
US Open champion Sloane Stephens and Dario Gavrilova are back in action.

0:00-06:00
LIVE – BT Sport 2