What's in a name?  That which we call a Rosewall by any other name would swing as sweetly.

What's in a nickname?  Wordplay fun if they are Bermanisms.  Sports broadcaster Chris Berman became known for the nicknames he gave athletes.  A Bermanism takes the form of adding words to the name, resulting in amusing wordplay as in Hubie Babbling Brooks and Tony Gwynn and Bear It.

Tennis, with a multitude of interesting names, is ripe for such fun. I have stuck mostly with current players but tossed in some recent retirees and old-timers.  Puns abound, and pronunciations may need skewing and syllables ignoring.  Let the (name) games begin.

'Radek One Small Stepanek for Mankind, Roberta Veni Vidi Vinci, Svetlana What's Your Ex Kuznetsova, Jelena Give It a Jankovic'


Daniel Empty Nestor ,  Emily Hoi Pol Loit   David Reckless Nalbandian,  Tommy Put On Your Robredo.

Music Category:   Cara Black is Black, Michaella Big Girls Don't Krajicek, Li Sha Na Na, Virginia Wade in the Water, Darlene Easy to be Hard,  Doris Don't Go Breakin' My Hart,  Billie Jean by the King of Pop.

Famous People:  Christine President Truman, Shenay (or Fred)  Commadore Perry,  Nicole Jacks Pratt, Vasilisa Avon Bardina, Rennae Stubbs Toe, Leander Loser Paes,  Elena Premature Dementieva, Richard Blown Gasquet.

Weaponry:  Andy Battering Ramm, Gisela Sword Dulko, Alicia Gun Molik, Tathiana Army Garbin, Lisa Death Raymond, Camille Firing Pin, Ranier I Didn't Schuettler.

Literature: Jack Kramer vs Kramer,  Michael Llodra the Rings, Brian How Green was my Vahaly, Wayne A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court,  Shahar Jury of One's Peer, Clarissa Potted Fernandez, Tommy He Haas.

Famous Quotes: Radek One Small Stepanek for Mankind,  Vania Long Live the King, Roberta Veni Vidi Vinci, Svetlana What's Your Ex Kuznetsova,  Jelena Give It a Jankovic, Mikhail Don't Hurt Youzhny.

Familiar Sayings:  Andy Spare the Roddick , Bethany Go to the Mattek, Olivier Kick up a Rochus, Gustavo Bring Down the Kuerten, Melinda Everything but the Kitchen Czink, Sebastian and One to Grosjean, Pauline All Betz Are Off, Dmitry What Tursunov, Patty Off the Schnyder, Marta Geodesic Domachowska, Max Troubled Space Station Mirnyi,  Alona Municipal Bondarenko.

Tennis-themed:  Lleyton Thirty-Love Hewitt,  Anna Overhead Smashnova, Meilan 6-0, 6 Tu,  Wayne Arthurs Court.

Extra Silly: Yuliana Have You Fedak , Roger Yes I Federer, Justine Put the Henin the Coop, Anastasia Second Runner-up is Myskina, Paola Gulf of Suarez,  Maria Elena French Camerin,  Nadia Teacher's Petrova.

 For Boxing Fans: Amy Down Goes Frasier, Kristina Brandi Snifter, Emma Penny Laine

Create your own Bermanisms in tennis or try a different sport.  But be forewarned.  Bermanizing can be addictive.  I had to seek professional help when I wrote:  Lindsay Keep Your Clay-covered Shoes Off the Davenport.