Drawing: Lindsay Davenport

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

lindsay davenport

American tennis ace Lindsay Davenport was the World Number 1 on eight occasions for a total of 98 weeks. In a career that spanned 17 years from 1993-2010 she won 55 singles and 38 doubles titles. Her singles victories have her tied with Virginia Wade as the seventh best in the open era. Lindsay’s Grand Slam singles success came in a tight three-year span, winning the US Open in 1998, Wimbledon the following year and then the Australian Open in 2000. Her doubles success was similar, the French Open in 1996, the US in 1997 and then Wimbledon in 1999. While not winning the Australian title, she was a finalist on six occasions. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics she won the singles Gold Medal.

Lindsay was known as a powerful baseliner. She built her game on a crushing forehand and superb court placement. Her two-handle backhand was also a handy weapon.

I caught up with the genial American at this year’s Wimbledon, where she was working on commentary for the BBC and signed my sketch outside the media centre after completing a stint on centre court.

Drawing: Alize Cornet at Wimbledon

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

alize cornet

At Wimbledon in 2014 I watched 25th seed Alizé Cornet come from a set down to beat five-time Champion and World No 1 Serena Williams, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a dramatic, rain-interrupted, third round encounter on Court One that had everything, including thunder and lightening. It was her best result at SW19 and no fluke. In fact that year the twenty-six year old Frenchwoman managed three victories over the 21 time Grand Slam winner. She was beaten in the next match by Eugenie Bouchard, but got her revenge over the Canadian earlier this year to win the Hobart International, her fifth WTA title. In 2009 she was ranked as high as No 11, but is currently at 61.

I did this sketch of Alizé or ‘Allleeezzzzzee!’ as her supporting French fans call out, after her wonderful Wimbledon win and managed to catch up with her at The Championships on Thursday after she and her doubles partner Xena Knoll won their opening match. Earlier that day she had defeated Sarah Errani to advance to the third round, so it would be fair to say she was in a buoyant mood and happily signed the drawing.

Drawing: John Newcombe

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

John Newcombe

I’m not sure when I drew this caricature of Australian tennis legend John Newcombe. I think it was sometime in the 1990s when he was an Australian Open commentator at Melbourne Park. Somehow I managed to get it to him. I don’t do many caricatures for signing these days. It was my modus operandi back then and surprisingly got most of them signed. I didn’t resort to vicious renderings, preferring a softer approach with a comical likeness in order to get the work ‘graphed. I liked to use a fine line 0.05 black felt pen and board cross-hatch style with big heads, small bodies and extended necks… where appropriate.

For the record John won seven Grand Slam singles titles including three Wimbledons and secured an all-time record 17 doubles victories. He was World Number 1 in both singles and doubles. Rod Laver is the only other player to have won the US Open and Wimbledon as an amateur and a professional.

As a bit of trivia, given that the US Presidential elections are upon us, it was revealed during the 2000 campaign that John was George W Bush’s drinking companion in September 1976 when the future President was charged with driving under the influence.

Drawing: Bjorn Borg

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Bjorn Borg

With the French Open at Roland Garros just completed and Wimbledon later this month it’s an appropriate time to pay homage to one of the true icons of tennis, Sweden’s Bjorn Borg, considered by many to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game. The first male player to win eleven Grand Slam titles, Bjorn held the number one spot for a total of 109 weeks between 1974–81, winning six French titles and five consecutive Wimbledon crowns.

His distinctive playing style with powerful ground strokes on both forehand and his highly unorthodox double handed backhand and his unique appearance was one of the reasons for the sports rise in popularity in the 1970’s. Because of his calm demeanour on court he was nick-named ‘Ice- Borg’.

Winning the French and Wimbledon titles in the same year is considered the toughest to achieve and almost impossible in the modern era. Only Bjorn, Rod Laver, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer have achieved the ‘Channel Slam’ but the cool Swede is the only player to have done it three times.

He also holds the record for the winning the most consecutive sets – 41– at The French Open and in 1978 and 1980 won the title without dropping a set, an achievement he repeated when winning his first Wimbledon in 1976.

He is one of the reasons why I started following tennis and I just missed meeting him at last year’s Wimbledon. I was waiting in the ticket line and he was waiting for his car on the other side By the time I got in and made my way to the Members entrance he had gone, so I sent my sketch to him at his company in Stockholm and it was returned with interest, as they say in tennis circles,msigned and dedicated. Very cool. I just found out it’s Bjorn’s 60th birthday today… even cooler!

Drawing: Stan Smith

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Stan Smith

Former World Number One American tennis player Stan Smith was a special guest at last years World Tour Finals at London’s 02 because Group A was named after him in honour of his victory in the inaugural 1970 year-end Grand Prix in Tokyo.

Stan won two Grand Slams, The US Open in 1971 and Wimbledon the following year. He also formed a formidable doubles combination with Bob Lutz, winning five Grand Slam titles.

While I was waiting at the players’ entrance at the O2, I saw Stan arrive. I literally had less than three minutes to sketch this drawing of him, based on an enlarged image on the wall in the fan zone. By the time he reached me I managed to get this much done, which he signed for me before he went in to watch the day’s proceedings.

Drawing: Ilie Nastase

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Ilie Nastase

I had always wanted to meet Romanian tennis legend Ilie Nastase and naturally collect his autograph. An opportunity presented itself at this year’s ATP World Tour Finals in London’s 02 Arena last month. Nicknamed ‘Nasty’, he was anything but, in fact he was one of the nicest sportsmen I have met. Ilie was a special guest of the ATP at this year’s event and as a four-time winner they had named a singles pool after him.

One of the most naturally gifted players in the history of the sport and known as a ‘tennis magician’ because of his ‘racket sorcery’, he was also renowned for his ability to entertain. “l had a reputation for misbehaving on court, but I did it with humour and a smile.” he said. Ilie was one of the dominate players of the 1970’s rising to Number 1 in 1973.

He is one of only five players to have won more than 100 ATP professional titles including the French and US singles crowns and reached the Wimbledon final twice, losing to Stan Smith in a tight five-setter in 1972 (a match he considers his finest) and Bjorn Borg in 1976.

My two-pronged mission was to continue the arduous task of getting my World #1’s book graphed and if possible a sketch. I drew this one quickly and was going to do another with a bit more effort but ran out of time. Besides it had a ‘free energy’ about the lines which seemed appropriate given the subject. As a veteran of this annual year-ending event I knew the right spot to position myself and when he arrived on the final Saturday with his daughters he took the time to complete my mission… with humour and a smile.

Drawing: Roger Federer, The Fed

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Federer

Last but by no means least on my series from this week’s ATP World Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena is the arguably the greatest player of all time, the one and only Roger Federer.

Although losing to Novak Djokovic in last night’s final, he did beat the World #1 three times this year, including a comprehensive victory in pool play at this year’s event. At 34 he shows no signs of slowing up ,in fact quite the opposite and will start the 2016 season in third spot, hoping to add to his record 17 Grand Slam titles.

Former World #1 Jimmy Connors summed up Roger’s status,”In an era of specialists, you either have a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist or a hard court specialist… or you’re Roger Federer.”

That’s enough about the great man, what about his weapon? He plays with a Wilson Prostaff RF97 Autograph, 97 square inch racquet with a 21.5 mm beam, weighing 360g with a 331 swing weight and 16 x 9 string pattern, strung with over grip. When I caught up with him at the O2 before last nights final, the uber-cool and relaxed, designer-stubbled Swiss superstar, the only part of the racquet specs he had with him was his autograph which he signed on this sketch for me.

Drawing: Stan’s Second Slam

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Stan Wawrinka

Stan Wawrinka beat local hero Andy Murray to set up a semi final rematch with compatriot Roger Federer at this year’s season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London. Both Swiss players played a close and tense semi last year and the same is expected today. Stan, who has officially changed his name from ‘Stanislas’ to the abbreviated form and currently ranked #4 in the world won his second Grand Slam title this year beating Novak Djokovic at the French Open, denying the World #1 a complete set of Slams in a calendar year.

I drew this sketch of him holding the French Open trophy, which is called La Coupe des Mousquetaires, that’s The Musketeers’ Trophy in Anglais. The original only appears once a year when the winner of the Men’s SIngles is announced. The victor does not get to keep it, but the Federation Francaise de Tennis presents them with a very nice, slightly smaller replica made from a sheet of silver, taking over 100 hours to make.

Stan also wore a distinctive pair of chequered shorts during the tournament which became a fashion statement and the topic of conversation when the play became less interesting. The ‘lucky’ shorts also benefited charity when auctioned off afterwards. I included them in my drawing which Stan signed and dedicated this week for me.

Drawing: Novak Djokovic Grand Slam montage

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Novak Djokovic Wimbledon

Despite his loss to Roger Federer in pool play this week at the ATP World Tour Finals, it has been another monumental year for Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic as he heads into his 174th week as the world’s #1 ranked player. He remains on track to win his fourth consecutive title, reaching this weekend’s semis at London’s O2 arena. As he did in 2011, Novak won three of this year’s Grand Slams, losing only to Stan Wawrinka at the French Open. He also won all bar one of the Masters 1000 titles, losing to Roger in Cincinnati and achieved a ranking points record.
I drew this montage of Novak holding the Wimbledon, Australian and US Open trophies. He’s always been very complimentary about my previous artwork so hopefully that would continue when I caught up with him at the O2 last Sunday. He was not only complimentary but also considerate, finding a space on the sketch to sign, adding a smiley face in a smaller sig in order not to “ruin the excellent drawing”.

Drawing: Rafa Nadal, The King of Clay

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Rafa Nadal

The ‘King of Clay’ Rafa Nadal produced his best performance of the year to beat Andy Murray yesterday at the ATP World Tour Finals in London and secure a semi-final spot.

After an indifferent season, returning from injury the Spanish supremo is looking like returning to the form that has won him 14 Grand Slam titles to date. Currently ranked #5 in the world, he is considered the greatest clay court player of all time because of his dominance on the surface.

Always taking time for his fans, Rafa has signed a few sketches for me. This drawing celebrates his unprecedented nine French Open victories, which I managed to get signed on Sunday at the O2. I was particularly pleased because it is his ‘full’ signature which includes the ‘r nadal’ underneath and a nice dedication.