Do not adjust your screens

Posted by Bess: Mixed Doubles is back! Yes, we took a very long hiatus at arguably a very inopportune time. But that was so last year. This year we are in it to win it!

And, having just finished Rafa's book (watch for a future post on that) we are now modeling our hunger-for-victory after that of a true champion. Look out, tennis blogging world!

Dave and I have big plans for Mixed Doubles in 2012, but before we truly kick things off, there are a few housekeeping items to take care of.

1. The big time: Way back in September we were honored to have CNN/SI writer Jon Wertheim link to one of our posts about the U.S. Open men's final. Being a bit of a Jon-o-phile, this was HUGE for me (and, I believe, for Dave as well), and it caused our page views to skyrocket. And one might have assumed it would have garnered us a few new readers.
   
   But instead of letting our elation fuel future posts, capitalizing on our fame (ha!) and fortune (ha ha!), we clammed up. In fact, we did not post again until... right now. It's hard to explain why. Fear of success, maybe? ;-)
   
   So, Jon (if you ever read our blog again), please don't take it personally. And thanks for the highlight of our blogging year.
   
   And to any of you who may have discovered our blog through Jon's column, and who may wander back here wondering if we will ever post again... welcome back! We look forward to sharing the 2012 tennis season with you.
   
   
2. The winner: If you think Sam Stosur and Novak Djokovic were the big winners of the 2011 U.S. Open, well, you only have part of the story. You've clearly all been on the edges of your seats wondering whether it was Dave or I who won our 2011 U.S. Open bracket challenge.
   
   Wonder no more: I took the coveted title, winning bragging rights and a lunch on Dave. Let me report that lunch was delicious; well worth the hours I poured into my bracket strategizing. Or maybe it was half an hour. Regardless, congratulations to... me!
   
   Note, though, that the Aussie Open is just around the corner. Can Dave pull out a win in Melbourne? Stay tuned.
   
   
3. The designer: Ever since we started this blog in mid-2011, we've been meaning to publicly thank our logo/masthead designer, the fabulous Trenton Burd. Trenton's design work helped give this blog some street cred before we ever even typed a word. Thanks, T-Burd.
   

And now, in an effort to keep these posts a bit shorter in 2012, I'll conclude. But be on the lookout soon for these upcoming posts:

• Our 2012 predictions

• Dave's post tying tennis to the Iowa caucuses (first in the nation kind of post, I'm assuming)
  
  
• A recap of my day at the ATP World Tour Finals in London last November (Rafa v. Roger! Fish v. Tsonga!)
  

• A review of Rafa's book

• A new recurring feature that we need *your* help with!

• And, of course, coverage of the Aussie Open
  

Happy New Year, tennis lovers. It's nice to be back.