Thursday, August 28, 2008
Bob Larson's
TENNIS CELEBS
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He Said... She Said
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NEWS
Hall of Fame Announces Nominees for 2009
International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum today announced the names of the five ballot nominees for possible Hall of Fame induction in July 2009. Monica Seles heads the 2009 ballot nominations, with Andres Gimeno, Donald L. Dell, Dr. Robert “Whirlwind” Johnson and Eiichi Kawatei joining her on the ballot. The Class of 2009 Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, July 11 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
Recent Player Nominees (1) Eligibility criteria for the Recent Player category: Active as competitors in the sport within the last 20 years prior to consideration; not a significant factor on the ATP or WTA tour within five years prior to induction; a distinguished record of competitive achievement at the highest international level, with consideration given to integrity, sportsmanship and character.
Monica Seles, now 34, held the World No. 1 ranking for 178 weeks (non-consecutive) and captured nine major singles titles - four Australian (1991-1993, 1996), three at Roland Garros (1990-1992) and two US Opens (1991-1992). Her win-loss record at the majors was 43-4 at the Australian, 54-8 at Roland Garros, 30-9 at Wimbledon and 53-10 at the US Open. In a career spanning 15 years, she captured 53 singles titles and six doubles titles. She won three consecutive year-end WTA Championships (1990-1992) and finished as the world’s No. 1 ranked player in both 1991 and 1992.
Master Player Nominees (1) Eligibility criteria for the Master Player category: Competitors in the sport who have been retired for at least 20 years prior to consideration; a distinguished record of competitive achievement at the highest international level, with consideration given to integrity, sportsmanship and character.
Spain’s Master Player Andres Gimeno won the French Open in 1972 at the age of 34 years, 10 months, the oldest champion to grace the red clay at Roland Garros. In addition, he reached the final at the 1969 Australian Open; the semifinals at the 1968 French Open and at Wimbledon in 1970; and the quarterfinals at the 1958 Australian Championships, and the 1960 and 1969 French Championships. Gimeno captured seven singles titles and four doubles titles (in the Open era) and reached a career high ranking of No. 9 in the world. As a member of Spain’s Davis Cup team 1958-60, 1972 and 1973, he posted a playing record of 23-10.
Contributor Nominees (3) Eligibility criteria for the Contributor category: Exceptional contributions that have furthered the growth, reputation and character of the sport, in categories such as administration, media, coaching and officiating. Contributor candidates do not need to be retired from their activities related to the sport to be considered.
Donald L. Dell has spent his life in the forefront of the sport of tennis. As a player, he was a U.S. Davis Cup team member from 1961-64. As a non-playing captain of the 1968 and 1969 U.S. Davis Cup teams, he became the youngest U.S. captain and the first in 20 years to regain and successfully defend the Cup in consecutive years. He reached his highest U.S. singles ranking of No. 4 in 1961, and made it to No. 1 in doubles in 1962-63.
During the Open era, Dell’s business career took off as he dived into the sports marketing and management arena and became the first person to represent and manage the careers of tennis players, beginning with Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith. Players faced an uncertain future as tennis became a professional sport, and Dell persevered to develop future player opportunities, recognizing an athlete’s need for sound career management and the development of effective sports marketing programs. He is credited with having developed some of the most significant and long-lasting partnerships between sponsors and sports properties, and he has negotiated over a billion dollars in sponsorships and endorsements. In 1970, Dell’s own private law practice evolved into Professional Services Inc., (ProServ) which quickly assumed a leadership role in a new sports marketing industry and was the first-ever management company to represent tennis players. As Founder and Chairman, in 1999 ProServ was acquired by SFX as an integral part of its organization. Today, residing under the corporate umbrella of BEST – Blue Entertainment Sports Television - Dell currently oversees and advises many of the group’s global television properties, including the French Open, the US Open, the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, of which he is also a tournament founder, in addition to 20 ATP tennis telecasts. In 1972, along with tennis icon Jack Kramer, Dell founded the Association for Tennis Professionals (ATP) as a players’ union and served as its first General Counsel for eight years.
Dr. Robert Johnson (1899-1971) is considered by many as the man most responsible for launching the careers of world tennis greats Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, the nation's first African-American tennis champions. During a time of racial separation, Johnson, through quiet diplomacy, was able to open the doors of competition to young African-Americans barred from mainstream competition. He persevered despite the racial barriers of that time and helped pave the way for minorities to gain acceptance and entrance into tournaments. For more than 20 years, he opened his Richmond, Virginia home to tennis development and training for African-American juniors, providing them with food, equipment, financial support and guidance throughout their development. In addition, many of Johnson's juniors earned college scholarships.
Eiichi Kawatei has been nominated for his contributions to tennis as a leader in the development and promotion of the sport in Asia. For more than 25 years, he has supported national associations (44 in 2003), players, officials, coaches and many official international events (juniors through the pros). He is the former Tournament Director for the Japan Open and Asian Open (both 1977-1986) and founder of the International Club of Japan (1978). In working with the International Tennis Federation (ITF), he has served as a member of the Committee of Management (1981-1997), a member of the ITF Board of Directors (1997-2003) and Vice President (1991-1999). He also served as ITF Representative on Satellite and Challenger Joint Committee (1993-2001), member of the Olympic Committee (1981-2001), and Chairman of the Junior Competitions Committee (1995-2003).
Kawatei was President of the Asian Tennis Federation 1989-2003, and Secretary General from 1978-1989. With the Japanese Tennis Association, he served as Executive Board Member (1977-1993) and since 1993 has been Vice President.
A panel of International Tennis Media will vote on the Recent Player nominees. A 75% favorable vote is required for induction. The International Masters Panel, which consists of Hall of Fame inductees and individuals who are highly knowledgeable of the sport and its history, vote on the Master Player and Contributor nominees. To be inducted as a Master Player or a Contributor, an affirmative vote of 75% is required.
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Sharapova in Heavy Rehab
Maria Sharapova has all but written off this season, currently undergoing three to four hours of shoulder rehabilitation per day in order avoid surgery on a rotator cuff weakened by two small tears. "I can get over it without surgery, but it's a long process, the former US Open winner said in a visit to the USA Network commentary booth at the US Open. The reigning Australian Open champion has returned to Scottsdale, Arizona, where she expects to remain for another couple of months after already spending several weeks already in intensive rehab. "I had a great start to the year, I was playing some of the best tennis of my career," said the three-time major winner. "But I went from a high to a low. I had inflammation last year but this is worse," said the 21-year-old. "I can't play for a long period of time. But I've come back form this kind of injury before (2007) and I'm sure I can do it again."
Sharapova said the problem she first felt in March got worse last month in a match in Canada. "I knew it was more than just inflammation. Doctors then found two minor tears. If this had been properly diagnosed it would have been treatment months ago and maybe I wouldn't have missed the Olympics and the US Open."
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Dementieva is Still High from Olympic Gold Medal
Elena Dementieva is still trying to come down from the high of her Olympic title. And Russia's golden girl who led compatriots Dinara Safina and Vera Zvonareva to a tennis medal sweep in Beijing can't stop admiring her prize. "I held onto the gold medal for three days just to make sure it is not a dream, that it was real," confessed Dementieva after advancing in her opening match at the US Open.
"It's really very hard not to think about the Olympic Games, it's difficult to refocus and just to get ready for the Open. All of my thoughts are there in Beijing."
Dementieva, twice a losing major finalist at the 2004 French Open and US Open, said that Olympic gold is the best prize ever for a Russian. "Everyone knows the Olympic Games, there is nothing bigger or more important than the Olympic Games for a sportsperson." She said that calming down is becoming a full-time job a week after her triumph in Beijing. "Yesterday I was trying to go to sleep, but couldn't go because I was watching the closing ceremony. "My mind is still there. The Olympics were the biggest goal of the year for me. All my preparation from the beginning of the year was playing singles."
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The “New” Nadal Look Will Have to Wait
New world no.1 Rafael Nadal decided the beginning of the US Open was not the right time to adopt a new, more mature and sartorially elegant attire that does not require his habitual and frankly unbecoming pull at the seat of his pants in the build up to delivering a serve . Nike, who had delighted in Nadal winning the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic Games in his trademark Capri pants and sleeveless t-shirts that showed off the most impressive biceps in tennis, had designed a completely new wardrobe to celebrate the Spaniard overtaking their other key male client Roger Federer at the top of the world rankings. Shirts with sleeves and shorts that ended several inches above the knees were laid on for New York but after three days of practice, Nadal maintained that the time was not right for change. Nike had even travelled to the player's home in Majorca to discuss the outfit. Nike had put the new lightweight shirt through "numerous discussions and wear-testings" to ensure that it wouldn't hinder his performance. Meanwhile the shorts were designed to "move with him -- from baseline to net -- without chafing or bunching up." The company insisted the new attire "balances Rafa's casual off-court personality with the technical precision and passion he brings to the game."
"Frankly, Nadal is on a roll," said Kilee Hughes, a spokesman for Beaverton, Oregon.-based Nike. "We listen to the voice of the athlete." Nadal is still committed to switching to the new gear, perhaps at one of the smaller tournaments after the U.S. Open and in a prepared statement delivered before his opening round win he said: ""I am excited about evolving my on-court apparel with Nike to a polo and shorter-length short. For the U.S. Open, however, we collectively decided I would continue wearing the apparel I've been competing in all year. It's a decision we made based on the limited time I've had to practice in the new apparel between the Olympics and the U.S. Open."
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Safin Says He Is a Lover, Not a Fighter
Marat Safin says he's a lover, not a fighter - and all he wants is for that philosophy to rub off on his volatile tennis. The big Russian has already survived one US Open crisis, winning his opening match despite what he considered an absurd foot-fault call which cost him the fourth set against Vince Spadea. At his "advanced" age of 28, the 2000 Flushing Meadows champion is all about the quiet life: "I want to enjoy my tennis. I don't want to fight anybody. I don't want to be facing any problems on the court. I just want to enjoy." The multi-millionaire said the pure pleasure at a job well-done has become his main motivator. "It's not like I'm playing because I'm starving to death and I need to do something to earn money. I want to enjoy - it's so simple. "I just want to have a nice match, win or lose, and whatever happens to go home. I don't want to face the foot faults and all these things. So I don't have to put myself together, let's try to calm down, let's play some tennis."
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Gilbert is Free From British LTA
Brad Gilbert, finally free from the verbal restraints demanded by his lucrative contract with Britain's Lawn Tennis Association, has spoken for the first time since his acrimonious split from Andy Murray. Gilbert was employed by the LTA at a reputed annual salary of $1.5 million to coach the young Scot until Murray called a halt to the relationship ten months ago. Throughout their year and a half partnership the pair regularly seemed at odds with one another and Murray repeatedly shouted his displeasure from the baseline in Gilbert's direction.
"Andy is very argumentative if he feels strongly about something," said Gilbert. "A lot of people in his team gave into him. I didn't so we would argue." A 26 year age-difference and the fact Murray was the first non-American male Gilbert has ever worked with (after high profile jobs coaching former world no.1'sAndre Agassi and Andy Roddick) accentuated the pair's differences. Gilbert likes to be with his player 24/7 and, paraphrasing the title of his second book, he has their back. Murray prefers a little more independence. The coach continued "He doesn't live an outlandish life and he has got to be the only Scottish guy ever who doesn't drink. His idea of a great time is studying his opponent's play on DVDs. And then he plays video games seven hours a day. "So if he is not playing video games or playing tennis, he is with his girlfriend. He lives a quiet relaxed life, focused on being a tennis player. But he is obsessed with video games. I don't play video games."
Gilbert repeatedly used anecdotes of his time with primarily Agassi, and to a lesser extent Roddick, to make his point with Murray. "I knew Agassi years before I coached him," he said. "We were contemporaries. We were mates before we started. The day I started with Andy I didn't know him. Despite the split, Gilbert is insistent Murray has a glittering future ahead of him so long as he sees the need for repeated hard work. The British no.1 and US Open sixth seed is now working with fellow Scotsman Miles Maclagan as his coach with the likes of Alex Corretja and former Canada Davis Cup captain Louis Cayer as occasional advisors. "People expect me to be bitter but I'm not," said Gilbert. "I got sacked. I got a call from the LTA to say he wanted to go in another direction. Look around and you'll see how many coaches get fired. We still speak. He is now doing a lot of things I was asking him to do, like being much more aggressive and stop hitting so many damn drop shots. If he plays more like that then great things are going to happen to him because he has great talent." However Gilbert remains perplexed about the interest focused on the size of his pay checks from the LTA. I have never heard so much talked about what a person was paid," he says, immediately on the defensive when the subject of the size of his LTA contract is broached. Gilbert has always refused to confirm reports that the LTA was paying him £750,000-a-year and he is not about to open up now that the lucrative deal has finished. "People in England obsess about money. I am part of a society here in California where we don't talk about how much money we earn. It wasn't about the money with me, it was about the results."
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Davenport Finds it Difficult to Leave Son at Home
Lindsay Davenport will let her heart decide for how much longer she continues in tennis. But the 32-year-old mother cannot help but be heavily influenced by her young child Jagger. Mother and son were apart for the first time ever as Davenport played doubles at the Beijing Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals with Liezel Huber. But it was admittedly a wrench to be away from her baby, born just under 15 months ago. "When I went to Beijing I left him for two weeks and it was heart breaking - not so much my husband, but my son," she said after making a winning start at her 17th US Open. Davenport has said for months that she will decide on her future in the game after her time in New York ends. "It's obviously not easy to be a family when you have two working parents and one traveling. We'll have to see how I feel, if there's any motivation, how it affects everybody that's involved with us, and take it from there." Davenport has sprung a surprise before, coming back to the courts last September three months after giving birth and winning four more titles through early 2008. But this time, her maternal instincts may trump her competitive ones. "Each time I play a Grand Slam I always think that it could be my last time playing here. "I've obviously learned that I have no idea what the future kind of holds and what will happen. I don't make decisions for the future anymore."
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Bob Larson at US Open
Bob Larson, publisher of Daily Tennis News, is continuing a long tradition of attending the US Open and sitting on a bench on the grounds and visiting with friends and business colleagues and hopefully making new contacts. Larson claims it is not uncommon for a tennis contact to slide onto the bench and begin by saying, “Now you didn’t get this from me, but …….” The bench is located at the southwest corner of Arthur Ashe Stadium opposite the Media Center entrance right next to a tall stainless steel clock. He claims his hours on the bench, frequently referred to by friends as “Bob’s office,’ are usually 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, sometimes starting earlier and frequently ending later. Larson invites all readers to come by the bench, say hi, and hopefully begin by saying, “Now you didn’t …..”
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TENNIS SHORTS
Roddick Says Federer is Definite Threat in US Open
Andy Roddick predicts it could take as little as one big push for Roger Federer to re-assert himself on the world tennis stages. And the payback to Rafael Nadal could begin at the US Open. Roddick, now coached by his Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe said that Federer is judged by super-human standards. "It's a tough situation when you've made 17 straight semi-finals in Slams or whatever it is now, and if you're not thinking about it, being asked about it every day, it's bound to go into your head a little bit. "But I think one big result and it's turned right around for him. I know that almost any player would take his "bad" year (two titles, Olympic doubles gold medal)." While Nadal's rise to No. 1 through Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Olympic titles cannot be ignored, Roddick says don't count Federer out. "I think he's got as good a title shot as anybody," said the eighth seed whose only major trophy came here five years ago. "It's tough to play perfect for five years in a row - he's only done it four years in a row (atop the ATP rankings). "He's created a bit of a monster for himself."
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Chakvetadze and Lansdorp Working Together
Robert Lansdorp told Daily Tennis News Sunday that he worked with Anna Chakvetadze before New Haven and that he would be in New York with her but he has an MRI scheduled for Monday on his hip. If he can get a clean bill on his hip he hopes to be in New York by Wednesday or Thursday.
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Dunlop Signs Two Players to Endorsement Contracts
Dunlop announced the signing of two players, Jesse Levine and Jamea Jackson, to multi-year contracts to endorse Dunlop racquets, balls and court luggage.
Levine, a 20 year old lefty who resides in Florida, is set to crack the world’s Top 100 next week as he enters the U.S. Open as a wildcard. Jamea Jackson, a 21 year old native Atlantan who currently resides in Florida, after reaching a career high of 45 in 2006, is now on the rebound following an injury-plagued 2007 campaign. She heads to the U.S. Open playing a Dunlop Aerogel 5Hundred racquet.
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Nike Bills Possible Nadal vs. Federer US Open Finals as Grapple in the Apple
Nike invited New York media to a photo opportunity involving Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer Thursday night in New York. Don King, the boxing impresario, acted as host. He referred to a possible US Open singles finals between the top two players on the tour as the Grapple in the Apple. Federer commented that Nadal and he had a good Beijing experience, “I allowed him to win the singles gold medal, and he allowed me to win the doubles gold medal.”
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WTA SCHEDULED TO PLAY
Upcoming schedules as of August 25, 2008
1. Ana Ivanovic - Tokyo [PP], Beijing
2. Jelena Jankovic - Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Stuttgart
3. Serena Williams - Tokyo [PP], Stuttgart
4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Stuttgart
5. Maria Sharapova -
6. Elena Dementieva - Tokyo [PP], Stuttgart
7. Dinara Safina - Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Stuttgart
8. Venus Williams - Tokyo [PP], Stuttgart
9. Anna Chakvetadze - Tokyo [PP], Beijing
10. Vera Zvonareva - Stuttgart
11. Agnieszka Radwanska - Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Stuttgart
12. Daniela Hantuchova - Bali, Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Stuttgart
13. Marion Bartoli - Tokyo [PP], Stuttgart
14. Victoria Azarenka - Seoul, Stuttgart
15. Patty Schnyder - Bali, Guangzhou
16. Agnes Szavay - Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Stuttgart
17. Alize Cornet - Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Stuttgart
18. Caroline Wozniacki - Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Tokyo [JO]
19. Flavia Pennetta - Bali, Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Stuttgart
20. Dominika Cibulkova - Tokyo [PP], Beijing, Stuttgart
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A Reminder to Our Readers
We wish to remind our readers that our all-day tennis newswire is available to all tennis fans. Just go to www.tennisnews.com anytime throughout the day for the latest tennis news. We surf the internet all day and post links to stories in newspapers and electronic media around the world. “We surf the net so you don’t have to."
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SIGHTINGS
Kelsey Grammer, Aretha Franklin, Chris Evert, Anna Wintour; Oscar De La Renta, Paula Abdul and Brooklyn Decker taking in US Open matches during the first week of the US Open.
Maria Sharapova, Boris Becker, Forest Whitaker; Billie Jean King, Martha Stewart, Anna Wintour, Ilie Nastase, and Michael Bloomberg at the 2008 US Open - 8th Annual USTA Serves' OPENing Gala on August 25, 2008
Send your player sightings to: cort@tennisnews.com
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APPEARING SOON
Sept. 27, 2008 Bob and Mike Bryan host the Bryan Brothers' All Star Tennis Smash at Sherwood Country Club in Westlake Village, CA. Also appearing are; Andre Agassi, Sam Querrey, James, Blake, John Isner, Mardy Fish and Lindsay Davenport. More information at www.bryanbrosfoundation.org.
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MONEY MOUNTAIN
2008 Prize Money Earnings
MEN (August 25)
1: Nadal, Rafael
$6,013,074
2: Djokovic, Novak
$3,511,382
3: Federer, Roger
$3,061,341
4: Davydenko, Nikolay
$1,441,606
5: Murray, Andy
$1,327,465
6: Ferrer, David
$1,049,268
7 Roddick, Andy
887,237
8 Wawrinka, Stanislas
$838,781
9 Blake, James
$804,081
10 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried
$797,506
WOMEN (August 25)
1: Ivanovic, Ana
$2,534,156
2: Williams, Serena
$2,165,612
3: Williams, Venus
$2,114,697
4: Sharapova, Maria
$1,937,879
5: Jankovic, Jelena
$1,595,792
6: Safina, Dinara
$1,581,054
7: Dementieva, Elena
$1,168,128
8: Kuznetsova, Svetlana
$1,115,422
9: Radwanska, Agnieszka
$842,142
10: Zvonareva, Vera
$785,956
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HE SAID... SHE SAID...
"I had a great start to the year, I was playing some of the best tennis of my career," said the three-time major winner. But I went from a high to a low. I had inflammation last year but this is worse. I can't play for a long period of time. But I've come back form this kind of injury before (2007) and I'm sure I can do it again." - Maria Sharapova commenting on her current injuries.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
August
Robert Lutz
29
1947
Andy Roddick
30
1982
September
Gael Monfils
1
1986
Jimmy Connors
2
1952
Mark Knowles
4
1971
Daniel Nestor
4
1972
Greg Rusedski
6
1973
Tim Henman
6
1974
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Bob Larson - Publisher
Cort Larson - Editor
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