Amir Weintraub with Shahar Peer at the Israeli Championships last December

This week’s reading list features four installments from probably the finest tennis column I’ve ever read. Read on.

1. Israeli pro Amir Weintraub, currently at a career high rank of 262, has been writing a column about life in the lower leagues of the tour. It is absolutely essential reading.

In four short posts he perfectly captures the highs and lows, pressure, despair and downright absurdities of life as a touring pro in a way that I have never seen before.

The blogs have been translated from Hewbrew by Mens Tennis Forums poster Or Levy. I really can’t recommend them enough and can only hope that someday, somebody gives Mr Weintraub a book deal.

The Amir Weintraub column | Part 1 | |Part 2| |Part 3| |Part 4|

2. A superb court-side review of the last meeting between Jack Sock and Denis Kudla, two of the great hopes of American tennis, this time on the Futures circuit. Courtesy of the good people at the always excellent Challenger Tennis.

Challenger Tennis: Sock v Kudla IV

3. Juan Martin Del Potro talks about his injury and the comeback trail. As usual with the ATP’s videos, it’s presented in an overbearing and pretty cringey manner but it’s an interesting interview regardless.

ATP Uncovered: Juan Martin Del Potro

4. This article features a sample of some Chinese media reports in the wake of Na Li’s Australian Open problems with some over-bearing fans. They range from heart-felt support to utter disgust and offer some tiny insight into Chinese notions of nationality and patriotism.

NDTV.com: Na Li faces fans’ fury over her remarks in Aus Open final

5. Shamil Tarpishev, now President of the Russian Tennis Fedaration talks about some of the political and financial problems in Russian tennis. He also confirms that the Russian Fedaration has approached Aleksandr Dolgopolov with view to getting him to switch allegiance from the Ukraine. At least that’s what i think it says. Google translate is never easy.

Gazeta.ru: Tamil Tarpishev on Dolgopolov Russian citizenship rumours and more

6. A wrap of the American players’ performances in Melbourne including some pretty harsh words from Patrick McEnroe.

USTA.com: McEnroe says players have work cut out for them

7. Steve Tignor criticises some of Nadal’s lenghty pre-match routines. It’s written in a tame and rather gutless manner but he covers some interesting ground nonetheless.

NBC Sports: Nadal’s Slowpoke Act is Getting Old