The men’s side of things is shaping up the way most thought it would. As expected the top four seeds are cruising along and everyone else seem to be playing catch up.

Lleyton Hewitt has had a great run so far. It’s nice to see but he has a daunting task when he plays Novak Djokovic. I’d love to see Rusty knock the Joker out of the tournament but I don’t think that is going to happen.

Richard Gasquet is another one whose had a great run. If he gets hot against David Ferrer he could pull of an upset. I don’t see that happening but hopefully Gasquet can use this tournament as a springboard to a great 2012.

Juan Martin Del Potro looks like the Del Potro of old. As luck would have it he plays Roger Federer who also looks like the Federer of old. It should be an interesting matchup.

I’m sticking with my prediction of a Jo-Wilifried Tsonga Rafael Nadal final. Those two are playing the best tennis of the tournament and I think that would make for a heck of a final.

Men’s tennis in the USA is on a horrible slide. Mardy Fish basically drowned and the rest of the boys didn’t fare much better. At least John Isner won a couple of matches.

The women’s side of things has been a crapshoot but the four top seeds are still in the hunt heading into week two. That’s good to see!

Kim Clijsters survived a scare this morning and quite frankly I’m still trying to figure out how she carved out a victory against Li Na. Next up for Kim is Caroline Wozniacki. That match should be interesting.

Serena Williams is still in the hunt. At least we Americans have a reason to stay up late to watch this tournament. Thank you Serena!

Maria Sharapova is also playing well. I’d like to see a Williams Sharapova quarterfinal. Do you think that’s too much to ask for?

Enjoy week two tennis fans!!

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So, here goes.

Flash,

I’ve been following you on the internet for quite some time and with all the different projects you have going on just how long will you continue teaching tennis and why do you still teach tennis?

Puzzled in Poland

Hi Puzzled,

Those are two questions I get asked all the time so I figured I would start with yours….

How long will I continue to teach tennis?

There are some folks who believe that I will be teaching tennis until the day I die and there are other people who believe that I will be teaching tennis until I die deal here on the beautiful Island of Corfu. Neither school of thought would be correct, unless of course I die on the court today (something I know would make a few people very happy) than both would be correct.

One never knows what the future has in store but suffice to say I don’t plan on teaching tennis forever and I don’t plan on dying on Corfu Island.

So how long will I continue teaching tennis?

Well, it’s really not a very good idea to put a timetable on these sorts of things but if I were to do so I would probably say that I will continue to teach tennis as long as I’m healthy enough and more importantly there are people willing to be taught by me. So far both seem to be the case.

As to the next question.

Why do you still teach tennis?

You mentioned the other projects that I have going on and maybe you are implying that tennis might possibly be getting in the way. If that is what you are implying then you might be correct but you are missing one very big thing here…..

Tennis enables me to financially support those other projects and until those projects are able to put food on my table and a roof over my head than I would have to be completely silly to leave tennis. That would be akin to leaving your wife of 42 years for some lady you picked up last night in the bar just because the sex was good.

But that really didn’t answer your question now did it?

I like seeing good things happen to good people and teaching tennis provides that opportunity for me. That’s the only other reason I’m still on the court (besides the roof over my head and food on the table thingy) and the only reason I will remain on the court teaching tennis.

I hope I answered your questions!

Flash

Fortunately I won’t be in a hurry when I do finally leave here.

Being able to pack in 30 minutes or less will give me more time to say good-bye to the people who have made a major impact on my life during my LONG time away from home.

These people made it easier for me to be so far away from home because their presence made me feel as if I were home.

Some of these people are visiting Corfu this week. Some of them were here during this previous summer. The rest live in Corfu.

Good times spent with good friends these last nine years. These are the memories I will cherish forever.

There were times over these last few years that weren’t exactly a bed of roses but my friends made me forget all about those thorny issues by helping me keep my eyes focused on what I needed to do and more importantly where I needed to go.

I’m been very lucky and I know it.

Some have been asking me what’s up with all the postings I’ve been making.

Some ask “Are you leaving?”

The answer to that question is simple. I’m reading “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac and I only read this book during certain periods of my life.

Hope that answers your question but if it doesn’t  than stay tuned……