Daily Tennis News: September 30th

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Daily Tennis News: September 29th

by mltennis 29. September 2008 08:56

Monday, September 29, 2008

BUSINESS NEWS

Davydenko Considering Suing the ATP

The current complex legal situation for the ATP may become a tad more convoluted if Nikolay Davydenko puts into action a plan to sue the sanctioning body in the wake of his recent lukewarm clearance in just-ended match-fix probe. The Russian's lawyer told Bloomberg that the world No. 6 would appreciate the courtesy of an apology from the ATP, which hung him out to dry for more than a year before quietly ending the controversial probe earlier in the month. The attorney said Davydenko was considering his options in going to court to recover his legal fees from the ATP. When the probe failed to gain traction, an ATP statement said merely that it was being wound down due to lack of evidence - hardly a convincing exoneration of Davydenko. In addition, Davydenko is said to be concerned after potentially losing new sponsorship contracts during the period when he was under suspicion for a match he lost in Sopot, Poland, in August, 2007. The ATP is currently seeking a new boss with Etienne de Villiers set to step down after less than three years in control at the end of the year.
***
Rusedski Might Return for Davis Cup Tie

Britain's Davis Cup team could get the offer of a surprise addition for next spring's Davis Cup match-up with the Ukraine. Greg Rusedski, once ranked the world's fourth best player but now 35 years of age and 17 months into retirement, is considering picking up his competitive racket again for the tie. Rusedski, who has Ukrainian antecedence and was the star of the show when Britain scored a win in Odessa two years ago, was upset as the apparent disharmony in the squad at the recent defeat by Austria on Wimbledon's No.1 Court and once again frustrated as second singles player Alex Bogdanovic lacked the mental strength to back up Andy Murray's sterling performance. The left-handed Montreal-born player, who currently amongst other duties with the Lawn Tennis Association is Britain's Junior Davis Cup captain, has been practicing hard in preparation of an expected appearance at the BlackRock Masters senior event at London's Royal Albert Hall in December.
Rusedski's former Davis Cup captain and long-time confidante David Lloyd (elder brother of Britain's current captain John) admitted: "I talk to Greg all the time, I know how passionate he remains about the Davis Cup and what is happening to the British team and that he would do whatever he could to help." Currently standing ninth on the list of all time British players with 43 rubbers played over a span of 13 years in 20 ties with a win/loss record of 30/13, Rusedski would have a strong case for inclusion as the younger Lloyd now admits he was wrong to chose two specialist doubles players in Jamie Murray and Ross Hutchins. With Jamie Baker struggling to return to full fitness after a life threatening blood disorder and Bogdanovic smarting from the apparent inability to win a live rubber in seven attempts, Britain's only other singles options appear to be the untried Josh Goodall (ranking 201) or Chris Eaton (#315) who lost a qualifying match for this week's ATP event in Metz 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 7-6(8) to Ukrainian no.1 Sergiy Stakhovskiy. David Lloyd continued: "I haven't run this idea past my brother yet but who is to say that Greg being in the squad wouldn't be a great lift for everyone? He has kept himself in great shape, I'd give him a crack against any of those being considered for places. Let's be honest, what happened against Austria was very disappointing. We can't afford to lose this tie, otherwise we'll be going back to where we were in the competition when I took over as captain in '95.That would be a disaster." Meanwhile Britain is considering Edinburgh as a venue for the tie to be played next March. An indoor venue is clearly obvious, AEGON (the LTA's new backers is based in the Scottish city) and it is the closest major venue to the Murray's hometown of Dunblane. "It all points to Edinburgh being a good idea but we remember a tie at Glasgow a couple of years ago that was not exactly a financial success," said an LTA insider.
***
Henin and Coach Rodriguez are in the Academy Business to Stay
By Charles Bricker

Yes, said Carlos Rodriguez, there have been phone calls from top women players or their agents, asking if he would be interested in coaching on tour again after his 12-year association with Justine Henin ended in April with Henin’s astonishing retirement at age 25. But, he smiled, he’s not interested.
“It was very difficult to make them understand that another career has started now,” said the Argentine coach. “It would be very difficult to find another such a champion, as well as a human being like Justine. That’s why it’s right for me to start an adventure here – for me and my family.” The adventure is Sixth Sense Tennis Academy, a joint venture between him and Henin at the Mission Inn Resort in little Howey-in-the-Hills, Fl., about 30 miles northwest of Orlando. They have eight students, two hardcourts, six Har-Tru courts and a deal to expand.
Henin picked Florida because she’s grown to love the state after her training sessions at Saddlebrook, near Tampa, and because she won the Orange Bowl juniors in Miami. She was a dominant figure on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour until she abruptly retired, leaving the women’s game in a quandary. There was no longer one player you could depend on to reach deep into the second week of every major. Ana Ivanovic. . .Jelena Jankovic. . .Serena Williams. . .Dinara Safina. . .they’ve all tried to seize No. 1 by the throat but have been unable to take control in the way Henin did for years. “I think it’s one of the weakest points of women’s tennis today,” Rodriguez said of the top-10. “It’s not the determination. It’s the regularity of the performance. “Ivanovic. She is the girl. I don’t know that she was able to assume the No. 1 role so soon after winning the French Open. Her entourage is good and maybe she can do something in two or three years. But at the moment, she’s still a little bit weak. “I’ve been gone from the tour only four or five months, but I don’t feel the extra dimension there,” he said. “When I saw Venus Williams at 14, you knew she would be something special. Serena, same thing. You know it when you see it. Today, I don’t see the weapons inside and outside the court to do something big, and by ‘inside the court’ I mean the emotion and heart. That makes a champion.” When he was introduced to 14-year-old Henin, she was a wisp of a junior. “Too small. Too skinny. Not so well educated about tennis. But I had that same feeling from when I saw Venus and Serena. Something special. Something you can develop.” And now the two of them will try to impart what they’ve developed to young players at their academy. “I think American tennis has given us a lot of good things. Now, it’s time to give back. Our philosophy is a big difference from the big academies. It will be more personal, more one-to-one.” Rodriguez and Henin have a Sixth Sense academy in Belgium, so they’ll be back and forth. But Rodriguez says it’s important for him to spend 10 or 11 weeks “at a minimum” in Florida. “I have to demonstrate we’re not just putting our names on this. I will come back in November and December.”
Rodriguez has built a solid association with reporters with his candor, praising Henin at the right times and not afraid to be critical, either, and he showed his hasn’t lost his frankness. Argentina or Spain in the Davis Cup final? He was asked. He smiled. “My heart says Argentina, but reality says Spain.”
***
Roddick Shares Beijing Prize Money With Earthquake Victims

Andy Roddick chose to donate $25,000 of his prize money from winning a 26th title of his career at the Chinese Open in Beijing to those still suffering from May's earthquake in the Sichuan Province that caused 41 deaths, 589 injuries, the destruction of collapse of more than 10,000 homes, and damage to 190,000 more.
"I would really like to contribute a part of my money to those families affected, to those who lost everything they had, suffered painful injuries or lost loved ones in the earthquake," said Roddick, who defeated Dudi Sela of Israel, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3. "It is my great honor to be in Beijing to work with Chinese Tennis Association to assist those kids who are in need. It is an athlete's privilege and responsibility to give back." Roddick, who decided not to contest the Olympic Games in the Chinese capital, made sacrifices to play the Beijing event. Despite the disappointment of losing the Davis Cup semi-final to Spain the previous weekend, he made the long flight to Asia and immediately told the tournament organizers there was no need for the four bodyguards he had been assigned. He also missed out on one of the American tennis year's major social occasions. Roddick's former room-mate and current Davis Cup team-mate Mardy Fish got married over the weekend but apologies had to be sent.
***
Fish Got Married Saturday
Mardy Fish was married Saturday with best friend Andy Roddick plodding away with tennis duties in Asia. But Fish, who was rushed onto last week's Davis Cup team and helped the US earn the doubles point, can't begrudge that "slight."
His friendship with Roddick goes much deeper, back at least as far living as a teenaged boarder with the Roddick family in Florida during his early days of trying to break into the game. "Andy's not the best man," Fish said, knowing that his old mate has other concerns during these weeks. "I've got a few friends over the years who have been best friends at times, "James Blake is my best friend on the Tour. We used to live together in Tampa, Andy and I are more like brothers than anything else. We'll fight over pretty much everything. "James and I are almost the opposite. We get along extremely well." Fish married a television game-show model who trained as a lawyer with the couple set to base themselves in LA for her showbusiness career. "Happiness off the court translates to clear mindedness. We did the seating chart for the wedding, just something that I'm not used to doing. We just enjoy each other's company a ton and she's a huge help, as well."
***
Roddick Thinks US Tennis Has Good Future

As one of a pair of players hanging on in the Top 10 - the same as Spain and Switzerland - Andy Roddick still feels life is good for US tennis. The former No. 1 has begun well in Beijing during a two-week autumn run in Asia as he makes his first appearance at a regular season ATP event since losing the Bangkok final in 2004 to Roger Federer. And the transplanted Texan is tired of hearing his nation's tennis ragged repeatedly. "The biggest thing as far as negative connotations surrounding US tennis is the players we have had before. "If you compare us with other countries we're very, very strong," he said of a nation with three players in the Top 25 (Mardy Fish) in addition to himself and Blake, currently on a sabbatical in hopes of refreshing his motivation. The top American is still fighting for a place in the season-ending, eight-man Masters Cup, with this week in China and next in Tokyo crucial in the effort to try and hold off Swiss Stan Wawrinka on ninth.
Roddick is particularly keen on Davis Cup debutant Sam Querrey to pick up the future for the US. And he's predicting a resurgence. "I think it's going in as good a direction as it has for the past four or five years."
***
British Teen-Ager Gaining Attention—Even From Some Players

Laura Robson may be revving up the optimism in British women's tennis but the interest in the 14 year-old Wimbledon junior champion is proving rather baffling to some of her more experienced opponents. Robson reached the semi-finals of the $75,000 event in Shrewsbury last weekend and on the way beat Tzipi Obziler, 21 years the British girl's senior at the age of 35. And the Israeli, who figured on the WTA Tour rankings five years before her opponent was even born, was baffled by the attention. "What is all this interest in her?" asked Obziler after her 6-3,6-3 quarter final defeat. "She is still young, I didn't realize she is only 14 years old, but she can certainly improve. She's solid and knows what to do on the court but I don't think her serve is that big and she needs to work on a few things. But the most dangerous thing is all the attention she is getting."
***
Djokovic Loses in Finals But Stays on to Relax

Novak Djokovic is bucking the usual trend of tournament winners and finalists rushing the airport to get out of town the moment play is completed at the end of the week. The Serb instead will actually take some down time with a brief holiday on a Thai resort island. The world No. 3 player's 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final of the Thailand Open didn't help Djokovic much in his goal to try and overtake Roger Federer on second on the ATP list. But after helping Serbia to a Davis Cup victory a week ago in Slovakia then getting down to Asia and overcoming jet-lag to reach the title match in Bangkok, Djokovic is not worried. The 21-year-old knows he deserves a break. "I'm going to have a small rest on a beautiful island (Koh Samui). There is no need to rush off. I want to be rested and refreshed for the European indoor season." Djokovic won Vienna last year, reached the Madrid semi-finals and then did not win a match until the end. Any improvement this autumn will help his standing as he tries to lift his No. 3 ranking.
***
The Bryan Brothers Hold All-Star Tennis Smash

They came to watch and celebrate Mike and Bob Bryan, but Andre Agassi stole the show Saturday as the Bryan twins honored their hero at the first Bryan Brothers’ All-Star Tennis Smash event held at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Agassi made his first tennis playing appearance of the year, mixing it up as Mike Bryan’s partner against Robby Ginepri and James Blake in an eight-game pro set won by Bryan and Agassi. “It looks like Mike’s found a new doubles partner to finish the year out with,” said the 30-year-old twins’ father, Wayne, who sat in the umpire’s chair and provided running commentary during the on-court activities.
Bob Bryan could only watch from the sidelines as he is currently rehabbing from tendinitis and a slight tear in his left shoulder. He’s expected to return to practice in three weeks. Following the first doubles match, Justin Gimelstob and Paul Goldstein joined in to face Mike and Agassi. But at 2-2, Gimelstob injured his back so the fans were treated to some singles action from Agassi and Goldstein, a former Stanford teammate of the Bryans. The Bryans, the No. 1 doubles team in the world and recent U.S. Open champions, commented on several occasions during the day that Agassi was their inspiration for wanting to establish a foundation like his. The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation has raised more than $100 million dollars for the Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas and other charities. Lindsay Davenport, Mike Bryan, actors Jon Lovitz and Kaley Cuoco then joined in for the final set of doubles to conclude the play for the day. Later in the evening, a gala dinner was held where more money was raised for the Bryans’ charity of choice, City Impact, which promotes the educational, physical and emotional well-being of at-risk families in the Ventura County area.
“I wanted to thank Gimel(stob) for making me feel so young out here,” said Agassi after his match with Goldstein. “I just miss all the people who are involved in this great game so much. It’s just great to be here.” After the matches, Wayne Bryan asked Agassi if he’d be interested in some day running for an elected position, maybe governor of Nevada? “No, I don’t think so. I enjoy solving problems, not being part of the problem,” he said. Earlier in the day, Davenport wouldn’t say one way or the other if she had decided to return to the women’s tour full-time in 2009, “I haven’t made up my mind. I’m just enjoying spending time at home. I’m fortunate because I don’t have a boss or anyone to answer to. I don’t feel any pressure to make a decision any time soon but we’ll see.” The day before their big day at Sherwood, the twins were honored by the City of Oxnard, which declared Sept. 26 Bryan Brothers' Day. ““I don't know if anybody is going to know about it besides the people here today,” Mike told the Ventura County Star. “It's not Sept. 26th skip school and worship the Bryans day. But it's still nice to be honored.”
Said Bob: “It's always good when you can have a day named after you. We have gotten a couple of keys to some cities that don't work. But this is better because it is for a cause that is dear to our heart.”
***
USTA Launched Tennis on Campus Web Site

The USTA announced the launch of a new web site designed to serve as a resource for the more than 450 college and universities and nearly 30,000 players who participate in a Tennis On Campus program at their school. The official web site of the Tennis On Campus program, www.tennisoncampus.com will provide an array of resources, materials and information to help support the rapidly expanding non-varsity side of college tennis. The Tennis On Campus program, launched in 2000, features co-ed teams participating in intramural and intercollegiate (club) play using the World TeamTennis format on campuses nationwide. Tennis On Campus also provides college students with opportunities for leadership development, social networking and rivaled competition. Perfect for athletes who have not made the jump from high school to college varsity, Tennis On Campus offers match play, regional and national championship competition while helping students maintain active and healthy lifestyles through their college years.
***
Trade Show Company Retains Andy Roddick for Advertising Purposes

Champion Exposition Services (“Champion”), a leading provider of comprehensive event solutions and exposition services, revealed a new branding and advertising campaign titled, ‘It’s more than a show, it’s a performance.’ Champion’s rebranding effort will include a new national advertising campaign, which will initially feature international tennis superstar, Andy Roddick. The opening ad will be the first in a series, which highlights individual performers who are recognized as “champions” in their fields, reinforcing the philosophy that Champion is more than just a name, it’s a purpose – to be the very best and to accept nothing less.
***
The Murray Father Says Both Boys Could Have Been Great Golfers

Andy Murray's father says that the world No. 4 may have had the game to play pro golf before turning his attention to tennis. Willie Murray, divorced for years from Murray mum Judy, made the revelation to Scottish press, saying young Andy and elder brother Jamie both showed promise on the links.
The proud father called Andy "a natural" who finished runner-up in a junior event at home in Scotland. "I'm very proud of what the boys have achieved in tennis," added the elder Murray. "If Jamie wasn't a tennis player, he would probably be a golfer. I taught him everything I knew. I took him out on the golf course in Dunblane as often as possible, and he was a natural. He loved all sorts of sports, though." And as for Andy: "He used to come golfing too, and he was also very good, but he got bored with it quite easily. There wasn't enough action in it for him. He preferred football, and tennis." Golf runs in the Murray family, with their uncle for years a pro at a public course near Dallas. Even with his concentration totally on tennis, Andy's handicap on the course is rated at 17.

***

We Hear—
--that change is afoot at Tennis Australia with several changes forecast for its board of management. Several retirements were predicted when nominations closed Friday. One departee is Perth delegate Andrea Mitchell, who was recently elected into the West Australian state parliament. Veteran Geoff Pollard was expected to continue for a final two-year term. In total, up to four vacancies could have been created by retirements and career changes.
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
Bangalore
Metz
Tokyo
WOMEN
Stuttgart
Tashkent
Tokyo
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Moscow
Vienna
WOMEN
Moscow
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
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Results
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Bob Larson's Tennis Celebs: September 25th Issue

by mltennis 26. September 2008 04:05

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Bob Larson's
TENNIS CELEBS

IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE...

News
Tennis Shorts
WTA Scheduled To Play
Covers
Sightings
Appearing Soon
Money Mountain
He Said... She Said
Happy Birthday

NEWS

Tsonga aka Young Ali Tries Thai Boxing

There are what are termed “Player Activities” at pretty much every tournament, things that the players get involved in off-court - whether it be Roger Federer playing tennis on a barge in Hamburg harbor or Maria Sharapova facing Lindsay Davenport on a ski-slope in Dubai. In Bangkok this week some of the activities have a distinctly Thai flavor. When Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached the final of the Australian Open in January much was made of his visual likeness to a young Mohammad Ali. So it was natural that, on his first visit to Bangkok to play in the Thailand Open, the second-seeded Frenchman should climb into the boxing ring with Thai 1996 Olympic gold medal winner Somrak Kamsing. Tsonga looked the part, especially when the ladies looking on demanded that he remove his shirt, and the pair together with a sparring partner traded a few “rallies” following a few moments of coaching for each “tactic.”

***

Canas Robbed When Leaving His Parents’ Home

The Davis Cup celebrations were marred for Argentine Guillermo Canas as the doubles player in last weekend's World Group defeat of Russia was robbed outside his parent's home in the capital. Reports say that the No. 56 was accosted in the early hours by a pair of armed attackers who apparently did not realize they had run into one of the country's tennis heroes. The men could have taken a clue by the tennis racket he was carrying - which they stole - as well as documents, credit cards, cash and a chain. To add insult to loss, they fled in the player's own car. Canas played doubles at the weekend in the tie which thrust Argentina into the final against Spain to be held later this year.
***

Lucy Garvin to Become Next President of the USTA

The USTA Nominating Committee has announced the nomination of Lucy S. Garvin as USTA Chairman of the Board and President to serve a two-year term beginning January 1, 2009. Garvin, who has served on the USTA Board of Directors for eight years and is currently completing a two-year term as First Vice President, is a staunch volunteer who has dedicated more than 30 years to growing the sport of tennis at every level around the country. She will become the third female Chairman of the Board and President in USTA history. In addition to her USTA Board responsibilities, Garvin, will continue to serve as a member of the Compensation and International Committees, and represent the USTA on the Grand Slam Committee and the ITF Junior Competitions Committee. She will also remain on the Board of USTA Serves – Foundation for Academics, Character, Excellence, as well as the National Public Parks Tennis Association. Garvin was recently elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame Board of Directors. A former President of the USTA Southern Section, Garvin was inducted into the USTA Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in January 2005. In 1996, the South Carolina Tennis Association established the Lucy Garvin Volunteer of the Year Award in her honor, and she was inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998. After attaining her degree in Nursing, she made a major career change in 1975, when she began working within the tennis industry at a facility in Greenville, S.C., and then established a consulting business for the management and marketing of tennis facilities throughout the South. A Certified Referee for the past 31 years, Garvin also serves as the referee for the Southern Junior Designated Tournament as well as the Girls’ 12 National Open. She played sanctioned tournaments from 1976 to 1990 and won a number of doubles titles at the local, state and sectional levels.
Lucy and her husband, Bob, also an avid tennis player, have two children, both of whom were ranked junior and collegiate players. The Garvins reside in Greenville, South Carolina, where they are all members of the USTA Southern Section.

***

Here’s Marko Djokovic

He’s 17 and ranked 1734 in the world, but he has a famous brother so Marko Djokovic received a wild card into the Thailand Open to compete in his first singles match on the ATP Tour. It didn’t last long, as he was bounced 6-2 6-0 in just 42 minutes by Jarkko Nieminen. "It was a very very very big experience for me," said Marko. "The first match, playing like this was very tough, to play against Jarkko Nieminen. He played very good. It was a very tough match. All the crowd coming, the ball boys, the referee (umpire), everything. I haven’t had so much experience of that. Being here as a 17-year old, being at this tournament playing the ATP in front of that crowd, it’s a big experience and I’m very happy to play. "Before the match Novak was coaching me and he told me just to relax. I was a little bit nervous of course, it’s normal, but I tried to be more focused on the tennis and not think about anything else." It isn’t easy for him, because if Novak is good they expect the same from him. Not many siblings can match the achievements of their elders. Katerina and Magdalena Maleeva managed it, and Serena Williams. But it’s not easy living with the expectations. "It’s not a negative, but there’s a lot of pressure because everybody’s expecting you to be like him. They come to watch you. They don’t know how big player you are but they watch because you are Novak’s brother. "I played some matches that were really bad in junior tennis, one match good, one match bad, because I’m trying to think like Novak because I watch him all my life. We had the same coach, Niki Pilic, and I think sometimes to play like him. Anyway, I’m trying to be my (own) player. They call me Marko, Novak’s brother, all the time, so I’d like to be Marko."
There is a positive. Only the top players are conveyed to the stadium in a car. Most take the mini-van. Marko? "We get the car because we’re brothers. But I don’t care if it’s the car or the bus."

***

What Will Federer do for a Coach Now?

With the news that Jose Higueras is the USTA's new Director of Coaching for Elite Player Development, the lucrative post of cajoling Roger Federer into his finest form is again vacant. And once more the overriding favorite for the job is Darren Cahill, the Australian who guided Lleyton Hewitt to the top and then breathed new life into the later years of Andre Agassi's career. Higueras, employed as a clay court guru up to the French Open, was recalled to Federer's camp for the US Open and clearly did an excellent job with the former world no.1 winning his first major in 2008 in impressive fashion. However Las Vegas based Cahill, currently a television analyst with ESPN, has been a long-term coaching target of Federer ever since he split with Peter Lundgren at the end of 2003. The Adelaide-born Aussie was a close friend of the late Peter Carter, Federer's coach during his formative years who was tragically killed in a South African road accident.

***

Britain’s Young Robson Continues to Win and Attract Attention

Not quite three months have passed since Laura Robson stoked the British tennis public's optimism by winning the Wimbledon junior title and now the 14 year-old is making her first inroads towards establishing a reputation on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. The Australian-born 14 year-old made her first professional appearance at a $US 10,000 event in Limoges last week and brought her talents back home to England's Midlands and the $US 75,000 event at Shrewsbury's Welti Tennis Centre where she scored a 7-6 2-6 6-3 victory over an opponent more than twice her age, Britain's eighth ranked player Sarah Borwell. Robson, who is being fiercely protected by her management company Octagon and is not being allowed to do any interviews, is already guaranteed a check worth $1,000 (£531.84). However her omnipresent agent Abigail Tordoff did allow her to comment: "I was fortunate enough to receive a wild card into my first senior event in the UK. I had a tough match against Sarah and probably didn't play as well as I would have hoped in some parts of the match. But I'm pleased that I won and I look forward to the rest of the week."
Things will get a far more testing today when Robson faces the 128^th ranked 17 year-old Urszula Radwanska who has already won a main-tour doubles title with her elder sister Agnieszka and was Robson's predecessor at Junior Wimbledon champion in 2007.
Borwell, currently ranked 325^th in the world, said: "I had watched Laura's matches at Wimbledon, and she is amazingly talented, and I thought I was going to be able to hit her off the court a bit. But I couldn't do that. That quite shocked me. She reminded me of Ivanovic. "She was seeing the ball so early, and taking the ball so early, and being so aggressive. She plays like Ivanovic, and also looks a bit like her too. I was more impressed with Laura here than I was after watching her win Wimbledon," Borwell said. "After Wimbledon, I thought she would struggle against more powerful players, but her awareness on court was like that of a top player. I usually get a lot of free points on my serve, but that wasn't the case against Laura, as she returned so well."
***

Santoro Eyeing Retirement

As Frenchman Fabrice Santoro winds down his game, the reigning court magician looks also set to up stakes from Switzerland back to Paris. After six years in the low-tax neighboring nation - with a French tennis colony flourishing mainly in Geneva and the Francophile west of the confederation - it will be tough to leave. But family ties are calling the 35-year-old, with his family now back in Paris. His daughter attends school in the French capital and that is enough to draw him back. "It's better to be close to her," said the winner of the Newport grass title last July. Santoro will cut his ATP schedule severely in 2009 as he prepares for the inevitable goodbye after nearly two decades on court as a professional. "I will play some events, but it's getting tougher and tougher to play.
"Playing the matches is not tough, it's the training, the travelling, I want to spend time with my daughter. And when I finally do leave tennis, I will have to choose an activity that keeps me at home, hopefully in tennis."
***

Bob and Mike Bryan to Host First Charity Event

Bob and Mike Bryan are hosting the first ever event for their new charity, The Bryan Brothers Foundation, on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at the Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Calif. The all-day event will feature tennis stars and celebrities, including Andre Agassi, Gavin Rossdale, Lindsay Davenport, James Blake, Sam Querrey, John Isner, Thomas Blake, Justin Gimelstob, Corina Morariu, Jon Lovitz, Amaury Nolasco, Brandi Carlile and Mardy Fish. The event is Agassi’s first scheduled public playing tennis appearance this year. Included in the event is a celebrity pro-am in the afternoon and a gala dinner in the evening. Not surprisingly, both events are sold out; the only available seats left are spectator seats for the afternoon pro exhibition. The All-Star Tennis Smash will benefit local and national charities including City Impact, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping kids in Ventura County.
***

San Diego Hosts Another Huge Success

As it had been for the past 18 years, the MatchPoint Ball, the annual fundraiser for Youth Tennis San Diego, this year’s “Raise the Roof,” held this past Saturday evening, was a resounding success. The dinner and auction took place at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego to the delight of more than 200 people attendees including Ruth Jorgensen, the wife of the late USTA President Gordon; the dynamic husband-wife team of Steve and Lee Booth; and former Davis Cup Captain Tom Gullikson were on hand. Kerry Blum, Rick Evans, Linn Walker and Kathy Willette also played a big part in making the affair a spectacular. Gullikson, because of his 29-year friendship with Angel Lopez, a member of the MatchPoint Ball Committee and a Youth Tennis San Diego Foundation Board member, was the featured speaker. “I¹m honored and very humbled to be here tonight to raise money for a very good cause,” he said. “I want to thank Angel for inviting me to attend. Tim (his twin brother) and I grew up in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. We played at the public parks and had After School Programs, which is such a big part of what Youth Tennis San Diego is about, been around at the time, we would have loved being a part of such a program.” Gullikson fondly reminisced about his brother who coached Pete Sampras, before being diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer and dying in 1996. “In 1976, Tim defeated a top 50 player named Karl Meiler. (You have to remember this was before Boris Becker and he was good.) A couple weeks later, I played him. Now, I¹m left handed and Tim was right handed. So after the match, (which I won), Meiler said, “Who is this Gullikson guy? I lose to him right handed and then I lose to him left handed. Next time, I guess he will beat me two-handed.” As one would expect those on hand were captivated by the classy and personable Gullikson. Scott Rogers, who is on the MatchPoint Ball Committee, recalled, ³When Youth Tennis San Diego started, we had a budget of $100, 000 and worked with 400 youngsters annually. Now, we deal with over 10,000 youngsters a year, and have a budget of $1.7 million.”

**********

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TENNIS SHORTS

Sharapova to be the Face of Cole Haan Sporting for 2009

Cole Haan, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc., announced Maria Sharapova as the face of Cole Haan Sporting, a new collection for Spring 2009. The Collection introduces new technologies like Flywire which build on the successful Nike Air franchise by recasting them into fashion-forward designs. It includes men's and women's footwear and accessories, and features Sharapova. This lifestyle fashion collection will encompass day to evening silhouettes in both the footwear and accessories categories. For Spring 2009, the Cole Haan Sporting line is inspired by nautical, court, track, and golf. Signature men's styles include the brand's iconic boat shoe and lace-ups in bold color palettes paired with classic neutrals. The accessory collection encompasses a range of silhouettes from a tennis racquet bag to a versatile duffle. Weaving style with innovation, the accessories will be created from recycled plastic bottles and will be trimmed in vegetable chrome-free leather. Cole Haan Sporting will be sold at Cole Haan boutiques worldwide, luxury department stores and on colehaan.com. Price points range from $115 to $550.

***

Serena Williams to Publish her Memoirs

Multi-tasking US Open champion Serena Williams expects to stretch her off-court talents even wider afield with the expected publication of her memoirs in 2009. The American has been the subject of a bidding war in recent weeks. Her price no doubt raised by another title at Flushing Meadows this month. Terms of the deal were not revealed, with sources telling American media that negotiations were in the $1.3 million range.
The book - sure to be ghost-written - is to be published by little-known Grand Central Publishing. "Serena Williams is one of the world's most remarkable athletes," said a statement from the delighted company. "We've watched her rise to No.1 despite physical and emotional setbacks, and her hard work and determination have inspired legions of fans young and old. Serena will give her memoir a strong motivational slant."
Williams, 26, lifted her ninth Grand Slam title with her New York win over Jelena Jankovic, coming in the wake of her Beijing Olympic doubles gold alongside elder sister Venus. The Williams pair have never limited their interests to tennis, dabbling in design, fashion and television acting appearances as well.
***

ATP Offering a 2009 Hunk of the Month Calendar

Many years ago the WTA used to produce a calendar showcasing the glamorous side of some of their players. Eventually it was dropped, perhaps because of economics, political correctness, or because there are now plenty of pictures even in non-tennis publications showing players dressed to kill. Now the ATP has picked up the idea. Naturally, ruggedness rather than glamour is the theme. Each page has a Hunk of the Month, if you like. Featured players for 2009 include Tommy Robredo, Tommy Haas, Fernando Gonzalez and Marcos Baghdatis. And Tomas Berdych and Paradorn Srichaphan, who were on hand on Tuesday to sign copies for fans attending the Thailand Open.
The calendar is available for purchase on the ATP website.

**********

WTA SCHEDULED TO PLAY

Upcoming schedules as of September 22, 2008
1. Serena Williams - Stuttgart, Moscow
2. Jelena Jankovic - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
3. Dinara Safina - Stuttgart, Moscow
4. Ana Ivanovic - Zurich, Linz
5. Elena Dementieva - Stuttgart, Moscow, Luxembourg
6. Maria Sharapova - Zurich, Linz
7. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Stuttgart, Moscow
8. Venus Williams - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
9. Vera Zvonareva - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich, Linz, Quebec City
10. Agnieszka Radwanska - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich, Linz
11. Patty Schnyder - Stuttgart, Zurich, Linz
12. Anna Chakvetadze - Moscow, Zurich, Linz
13. Daniela Hantuchova - Stuttgart, Moscow, Luxembourg
14. Marion Bartoli - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich, Linz
15. Flavia Pennetta - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich, Linz
16. Victoria Azarenka - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich, Linz, Quebec City
17. Caroline Wozniacki - Tokyo [JO], Moscow, Zurich, Luxembourg
18. Nadia Petrova - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich, Linz
19. Alize Cornet - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich, Linz
19. Agnes Szavay - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
20. Dominika Cibulkova - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich, Linz, Quebec City

*********

COVERS

**********

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

Send your player sightings to: cort@tennisnews.com

**********

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.

**********

MONEY MOUNTAIN

2008 Prize Money Earnings

MEN (September 22)

1 Nadal, Rafael

$6,583,074

2 Federer, Roger

4,561,341

3 Djokovic, Novak

3,831,382

4 Murray, Andy

2,334,965

5 Davydenko, Nikolay

1,521,606

6 Ferrer, David

1,095,268

7 Roddick, Andy

1,047,237

8 Wawrinka, Stanislas

918,781

9 Del Potro, Juan Martin

889,333

10 Blake, James
850,081

WOMEN (September 22)

Williams, Serena

3,641,548

Ivanovic, Ana

2,580,045

Jankovic, Jelena

2,364,245

Safina, Dinara

2,342,820

Williams, Venus

2,272,130

Sharapova, Maria

1,937,879

Dementieva, Elena

1,513,479

Kuznetsova, Svetlana

1,266,484

Radwanska, Agnieszka

960,839

Zvonareva, Vera

850,855

**********

HE SAID... SHE SAID...

"It was a very very very big experience for me. The first match, playing like this was very tough, to play against Jarkko Nieminen. He played very good. It was a very tough match. All the crowd coming, the ball boys, the referee (umpire), everything. I haven’t had so much experience of that. Being here as a 17-year old, being at this tournament playing the ATP in front of that crowd, it’s a big experience and I’m very happy to play" - Marko Djokovic, the 17-year brother of Novak Djokovic on playing in the Thailand Open.

**********

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

September

Serena Williams
26
1981

Kimiko Date
28
1970

Martina Hingis
30
1980

October

Darren Cahill
2
1965

Thomas Muster
2
1967

Jana Novotna
2
1968

Marion Bartoli
2
1984

Neale Fraser
3
1933

Torben Ulrich
4
1928

Owen Davidson
4
1943

**********

Bob Larson - Publisher
Cort Larson - Editor
Bob Larson's Tennis Celebs is published weekly.
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Junior subscription rate $27
Bob Larson Tennis
P.O. Box 24256
Edina, MN 55424 USA
001 952 920 8947 (voice) or 001 952 920 8940 (fax)
E-mail address bob@tennisnews.com
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Bob Larson's Daily Tennis News: September 25th

by mltennis 25. September 2008 10:46

Thursday, September 25, 2008

BUSINESS NEWS

Britain’s Young Robson Continues to Win and Attract Attention

Not quite three months have passed since Laura Robson stoked the British tennis public's optimism by winning the Wimbledon junior title and now the 14 year-old is making her first inroads towards establishing a reputation on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. The Australian-born 14 year-old made her first professional appearance at a $US 10,000 event in Limoges last week and brought her talents back home to England's Midlands and the $US 75,000 event at Shrewsbury's Welti Tennis Centre where she scored a 7-6 2-6 6-3 victory over an opponent more than twice her age, Britain's eighth ranked player Sarah Borwell. Robson, who is being fiercely protected by her management company Octagon and is not being allowed to do any interviews, is already guaranteed a check worth $1,000 (£531.84). However her omnipresent agent Abigail Tordoff did allow her to comment: "I was fortunate enough to receive a wild card into my first senior event in the UK. I had a tough match against Sarah and probably didn't play as well as I would have hoped in some parts of the match. But I'm pleased that I won and I look forward to the rest of the week." Things will get a far more testing today when Robson faces the 128^th ranked 17 year-old Urszula Radwanska who has already won a main-tour doubles title with her elder sister Agnieszka and was Robson's predecessor at Junior Wimbledon champion in 2007. Borwell, currently ranked 325^th in the world, said: "I had watched Laura's matches at Wimbledon, and she is amazingly talented, and I thought I was going to be able to hit her off the court a bit. But I couldn't do that. That quite shocked me. She reminded me of Ivanovic. "She was seeing the ball so early, and taking the ball so early, and being so aggressive. She plays like Ivanovic, and also looks a bit like her too. I was more impressed with Laura here than I was after watching her win Wimbledon," Borwell said. "After Wimbledon, I thought she would struggle against more powerful players, but her awareness on court was like that of a top player. I usually get a lot of free points on my serve, but that wasn't the case against Laura, as she returned so well."
***
Tsonga aka Young Ali Tries Thai Boxing

***
ATP Offering a 2009 Hunk of the Month Calendar

Many years ago the WTA used to produce a calendar showcasing the glamorous side of some of their players. Eventually it was dropped, perhaps because of economics, political correctness, or because there are now plenty of pictures even in non-tennis publications showing players dressed to kill. Now the ATP has picked up the idea. Naturally, ruggedness rather than glamour is the theme. Each page has a Hunk of the Month, if you like. Featured players for 2009 include Tommy Robredo, Tommy Haas, Fernando Gonzalez and Marcos Baghdatis. And Tomas Berdych and Paradorn Srichaphan, who were on hand on Tuesday to sign copies for fans attending the Thailand Open. The calendar is available for purchase on the ATP website.

***
Santoro Eyeing Retirement

As Frenchman Fabrice Santoro winds down his game, the reigning court magician looks also set to up stakes from Switzerland back to Paris. After six years in the low-tax neighboring nation - with a French tennis colony flourishing mainly in Geneva and the Francophile west of the confederation - it will be tough to leave.
But family ties are calling the 35-year-old, with his family now back in Paris. His daughter attends school in the French capital and that is enough to draw him back. "It's better to be close to her," said the winner of the Newport grass title last July.
Santoro will cut his ATP schedule severely in 2009 as he prepares for the inevitable goodbye after nearly two decades on court as a professional. "I will play some events, but it's getting tougher and tougher to play. "Playing the matches is not tough, it's the training, the traveling, I want to spend time with my daughter. And when I finally do leave tennis, I will have to choose an activity that keeps me at home, hopefully in tennis."
***
Becker to Make Senior Debut in Dallas

Boris Becker will make his debut on the Outback Champions Series tennis circuit October 22-26 on the campus of SMU in Dallas, Texas. This will be Becker’s first tournament in the United States since he played in the Lipton Championships in Key Biscayne, Fla., in 1999. Becker will play Jim Courier, Wayne Ferreira and Mikael Pernfors in group A of the round robin portion of the event. Mark Philippoussis, Todd Martin, Aaron Krickstein and Jimmy Arias will play in group B.

***
Italian Tennis Writer Becomes Staff Writer for Daily Tennis News

Daily Tennis News Publisher Bob Larson welcomes a new staff writer, all around writer, Ubaldo Scanagatta, who has always been involved with tennis. His father was the president of the 112 year-old club Circolo Tennis Firenze (Florence, Tuscany). Former Italian College Champion, with a tennis scholarship in the US (Oral Roberts University, Tulsa Oklahoma), for many years Florence ATP Tournament Director and European Tennis Press Chairman. He is one of the founders of ITWA, the International Tennis Writers Association. TV and radio broadcaster, he is also the special tennis correspondent for La Nazione of Florence, Il Giorno of Milan, Il Resto del Carlino of Bologna. TV and radio broadcaster for more than 1,000 live broadcasts, he has covered for these publications, among other events, 110 Grand Slam Tournaments, 4 Olympic Games, 3 America's Cups and a number of world swimming events. Editor of several tennis books and magazines on his well-known website www.ubitennis.com , the only multilingual tennis blog in the world with three homepages, Italian, French and English, Scanagatta has also a blog www.ubaldoscanagatta.com and claims he stays daily in touch with a few thousand fans.
***
Philippoussis is a Last Minute Pull-Out from Charlotte

There's been more injury bad news for Mark Philippoussis, with the former two-time Grand Slam champion a step closer to official retirement after pulling from a senior event this weekend in North Carolina. The soon-to-be 32-year-old was a late scratch from Jim Courier's event, citing slow recovery from his fifth knee operation in January. The hard-luck Aussie was joined as an absentee by former French Open finalist Mikail Pernfors, limping with an Achilles problem. Philippoussis, who survived a serious surfing accident over the summer, hopes to somehow get back on court in seniors next month in Dallas - no sure thing as far as his fitness goes. "I'm disappointed that I am not quite ready to compete in Charlotte," he said.
"My doctor tells me I will be ready to go next month and I can't wait to step on the court there." He last played - and hurt his knee - during an ill-fated attempt at an Australian Open wild card last December in Melbourne.
***
San Diego Hosts Another Huge Success

As it had been for the past 18 years, The Match Point Ball, the annual fundraiser for Youth Tennis San Diego, this year’s “Raise the Roof,” held this past Saturday evening, was a resounding success.The dinner and auction took place at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego to the delight of more than 200 people attendees including Ruth Jorgensen, the wife of the late USTA President Gordon; the dynamic husband-wife team of Steve and Lee Booth; and former Davis Cup Captain Tom Gullikson were on hand. Kerry Blum, Rick Evans, Linn Walker and Kathy Willette also played a big part in making the affair a spectacular. Gullikson, because of his 29-year friendship with Angel Lopez, a member of The Match Point Ball Committee and a Youth Tennis San Diego Foundation Board member, was the featured speaker. “I'm honored and very humbled to be here tonight to raise money for a very good cause,” he said. “I want to thank Angel for inviting me to attend. Tim (his twin brother) and I grew up in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. We played at the public parks and had After School Programs, which is such a big part of what Youth Tennis San Diego is about, been around at the time, we would have loved being a part of such a program.” Gullikson fondly reminisced about his brother who coached Pete Sampras, before being diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer and dying in 1996. “In 1976, Tim defeated a top 50 player named Karl Meiler. (You have to remember this was before Boris Becker and he was good.) A couple weeks later, I played him. Now, I'm left handed and Tim was right handed. So after the match, (which I won), Meiler said, “Who is this Gullikson guy? I lose to him right handed and then I lose to him left handed. Next time, I guess he will beat me two-handed.” As one would expect those on hand were captivated by the classy and personable Gullikson. Scott Rogers, who is on The Match Point Ball Committee, recalled, ³When Youth Tennis San Diego started, we had a budget of $100, 000 and worked with 400 youngsters annually. Now, we deal with over 10,000 youngsters a year, and have a budget of $1.7 million.”

***

We Hear—
--that Jack Kramer had surgery Tuesday afternoon (90 minutes worth) to remove the remnants of a hematoma. He should be out of the hospital (Cedars-Sinai) by the end of the week.
--that Todd Martin and wife Amy are expecting a third child. They have two -- Jack and Cash.
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
Bangkok
Beijing
WOMEN
Beijing
Seoul
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Bangalore
Metz
Tokyo
WOMEN
Stuttgart
Tashkent
Tokyo
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Wednesday’s Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

28.35

+.23

6.70

0.00

2.10

0.00

17.40

-1.38

59.27

-1.46

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $118.82
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
***
Results
For complete ATP and WTA results, please see our web site at www.tennisnews.com

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Bob Larson's Daily Tennis News: September 24th

by mltennis 24. September 2008 08:30

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

BUSINESS NEWS

USA vs. Switzerland in Davis Cup Play—That’s Good and That’s Bad
By Charles Bricker

It’s not the first-round Davis Cup opponent the players would have picked, but it could hardly be better for fans or the USTA, which got busy Tuesday seeking venue bids for a tie against Switzerland, and probably Roger Federer, when the two countries meet March 6-8. The U.S. has 60 days from the draw, which was made Tuesday, to select the location and name the surface for a tie that is expected to be a blockbuster. If the site is in Florida, it could be outdoors. It would almost have to be indoors anywhere else and it’s assumed the USTA will be looking for a stadium or arena with larger than usual capacity for a first-round Cup match because of the prospect of Federer playing. Federer has already verbally committed to playing the opening round for his country, if he’s physically able to go. Moving the first round forward by a month will make it easier for all top players to accommodate Davis Cup. The first round has for years been held shortly after the Australian Open, when some players are physically or emotionally drained.
It’s expected the Swiss will send Federer, currently No. 2, and No. 9 Stanislas Wawrinka against No. 8 Andy Roddick and No. 10 James Blake. It would be something of a nostalgia tie for the U.S. The two countries haven’t played each other since 2001, when 18-year-old Roddick made his Cup debut with a dead-rubber win in a 3-2 loss in Basel. It was also the first tie for Patrick McEnroe as captain of the squad. He couldn’t get Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi and went with Todd Martin and Jan-Michael Gambill in singles and Gambill and Justin Gimelstob in doubles. Federer, who had come into that tie with only a 3-4 record in Cup singles, won three points by defeating Martin and Gambill in singles and teaming with Lorenzo Manta to win the doubles. He’s won 13 majors singles titles since.
Federer is 25-6 overall in Cup singles play and 10-1 on hard courts. He holds a career 15-2 edge over Roddick and 8-1 advantage over Blake, but both Americans defeated Federer in their most recent matches, this year. Federer has won his last 11 Cup singles matches, last losing in 2003 to Lleyton Hewitt of Australia. Wawrinka is 2-0 vs. Blake with a win over Blake at Rome this year. He is 1-0 against Roddick, though that was the match in which Roddick retired after three games at Rome this year with a shoulder injury.
***
Change in Davis Cup Dates Attracts Murray

Britain has benefited from the common sense shown by the International Tennis Federation in allowing the dates for next year's Davis Cup Euro African Zone Group One fixtures to be changed and can now confidently expect Andy Murray to be part of the team. When Britain's name came out of the hat with a home tie against the Ukraine, it was originally scheduled to be played in May which would put it right in the midst of the European clay court season right between the between the Masters Series tournaments in Rome and Madrid. World no.4 Murray has long made it clear that the thing most likely to affect his participation in the Davis Cup is swift changes in surface and there is more chance of Britain's conceding home advantage for this tie that decide to play it on outdoor clay. However sense prevailed and the tie is now scheduled for March 6 thru 8, which in the 2009 calendar has been designated as a Davis Cup week primarily for World Group first round fixtures to be played. So now the prospect of playing on a fast hard court (albeit indoor) is much more conducive to Murray who will have just played in Dubai and would next be heading across the Atlantic to contest the year's initial Masters Series events in Indian Wells and Miami. Last night Gavin Fletcher, the LTA's events and tournament director, was telephoning a list of potential venues to check on availability for the March date.
***
Italy Defeated Latvia in Davis Cup Amid Political Infighting
By Ubaldo Scanagatta

Italy played Davis Cup last weekend and won vs. Latvia 3-2, with Ernests Gulbis winning both his two singles (vs. Fognini 76 61 61 and vs. Andreas Seppi coming back from two sets down and then 1-3 in the fifth to win 6-3). It was a play-off match in order to survive in the Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 for the year 2009.
There was not much time to celebrate; the next day the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, Angelo Binaghi, announced that Simone Bolelli, ATP no.45, and Italian no.2 behind Andreas Seppi, will not be asked to play again in Davis Cup for the national team, at least while he is federation president. Which means, since he was reelected with 94% of the votes (nobody tried to compete with him two weekends ago in the national federal elections) that Bolelli is out of the Davis Cup team for the next four years. In addition to that Bolelli will not be allowed, despite his two-year contract, to play in The National Tennis League for the next five years. Plus he will not receive any more any sort of wildcards by the Italian tournaments run by the Italian Tennis Federation (FIT). This action was taken because he declined to be part of the Davis Cup team, preferring to play tournaments in Bangkok and Tokyo, in order to improve his ATP ranking: "My goal is to be in the top 32 before the end of the year in order to be seeded at the next Australian Open" he told this reporter. “They didn't really need me to beat Latvia."
Bolelli and his coach Claudio Pistolesi (former coach of Davide Sanguinetti and the Japanese Takao Suzuki among others) had asked Italian Captain Corrado Barazzutti, just before the US Open, while in New Haven, to not be named in the Italian Davis Cup team that was to play Latvia. "We want to send the message to all our players, the Davis Cup and the Italian Tennis Federation is not a bus where you get in, then you get off, then you 'd like to get back in whenever you like...added President Binaghi. If I am the driver of the bus, and I am a volunteer driver, I have the right to open or to close the bus when I think it is the moment. We are ready to play Davis Cup with our under 12s if it will be necessary. We have our principles and we are going to stick to them, at least while I am in charge".
***
Argentina’s Davis Cup Dilemma; What Surface to Play Spain?

Argentina’s Davis Cup Captain Alberto Mancini is left with one of the biggest dilemmas of his career in deciding the surface on which to stage the upcoming final against Spain. Normally Argentina stages every home tie on clay and can boast a ten-year winning run at home in Buenos Aires but the prospect of facing world no.1 Rafael Nadal, now bidding to add Davis Cup glory to his wins in the French Open, Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, puts a different complexion on the surface issue. Hard courts, on which Argentina's new singles second string Juan Martin del Potro won titles in Los Angeles and Washington this summer, will be an option. So too is carpet and Mancini will be heartened by the memory of David Nalbandian's two emphatic indoor victories over Nadal at the tail end of last year, winning 6-1,6-2 in the quarter final of the Madrid Masters Series event and then 6-4,6-0 in the final of the Paris Masters Series. Nalbandian has also lost to Spain's David Ferrer every time they have played on clay but registered wins against the world no.5 on both indoor and outdoor hard court.
***
British TV Interest in Golf and Tennis About Even

Relative media coverage last weekend between's Ryder Cup and the Davis Cup might have been a one sided affair in the United States but the chasm between golf and tennis is not so vast on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean.
In Britain Sky Sport is the nation's largest cable and satellite channel and much to the derision of the BBC, owns the rights to exclusively screen both the Ryder Cup and tennis' US Open. On Sunday night the coverage of the Ryder Cup singles matches and the US's eventual victory was watched by an average of 821,000 people between 4.30pm and midnight British Summer Time with the figures peaking at 1.18 million around 9.15pm when it looked as though the Europeans might be staging something of a fight back. However this figure could not match the 1.36 million who stayed up far later in the evening to watch Andy Murray lose the US Open final at Flushing Meadows to Roger Federer two weeks earlier.
***
ATP Holding Promotion in Bangkok This Week

Tennis fans attending the Thailand Open in Bangkok this week have an opportunity to win a trip to the Masters Cup in Shanghai. Fans can take a photo on court and upload it to the ATP web site. The photos will not be judged by an anonymous panel at the ATP, but by fellow fans who can vote for their favorite on-line. The prize, for two people, includes airfare and accommodation, and tickets for the tennis on Monday November 10th and Tuesday November 11th. The competition is part of the ATP Feel It campaign, designed to showcase the raw excitement and power the game generates. With that in mind, the competition photos will need to capture the power, passion and intensity of competition - not an easy task when sitting in the stands.
***
Canas Robbed When Leaving His Parents’ Home

The Davis Cup celebrations were marred for Argentine Guillermo Canas as the doubles player in last weekend's World Group defeat of Russia was robbed outside his parent's home in the capital. Reports say that the No. 56 was accosted in the early hours by a pair of armed attackers who apparently did not realize they had run into one of the country's tennis heroes. The men could have taken a clue by the tennis racket he was carrying - which they stole - as well as documents, credit cards, cash and a chain. To add insult to loss, they fled in the player's own car.
Canas played doubles at the weekend in the tie which thrust Argentina into the final against Spain to be held later this year.
***
An Oddity on the ATP Tour: A Pakistani Player

A Pakistani tennis player is as rare as a rain-free Wimbledon - or US Open! But there he is on the ATP Tour - Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi. Playing only his fourth top level event of the season after qualifying for the Thailand Open, he lost in straight sets on Tuesday to sixth seed Robin Soderling. In Pakistan, practically every kid picks up a cricket bat rather than a tennis racquet. But although admitting that he enjoys playing cricket and he was also a swimmer before taking up tennis, Qureshi is trying to raise the profile of the sport in his country. "Obviously I’m doing my level best to promote this sport in Pakistan and make it popular, and for the past three or four years everybody recognizes me there, that there’s a tennis player from Pakistan on the tour. I’m trying to play as many Grand Slam and ATP events as I can so the people can have some recognition of this sport in Pakistan." But it isn’t easy, with attention and money channeled elsewhere. "It’s still very difficult because we don’t have any infrastructure or good facilities for practice, or coaches. But everybody was telling me I was talented and have tennis in my blood and I was able to pick it up really fast. The step that really changed my life was to get into the ITF team when I was 17 years old. That took care of all my expenses for two years, I got to world number seven in juniors and Asian number one.
"Then I had to decide whether to go to the States to college or to become a professional tennis player. My parents supported me and told me I was different and had some talent so try to use the opportunity and be different, and I think it turned out to be a good decision." Qureshi also plays a valuable role in breaking down political and religious barriers. A Muslim, at one time he played with Israeli Amir Hadad. And for many years he has partnered India’s Rohan Bopanna. He’s known Bopanna since they were juniors, and he says it’s good to have someone to mix with on the tour from his part of the world. "Luckily there are a few Indians on the tour now and we share a lot of things in common - the culture, also the language as well, so it makes it a little bit easier. I get so much recognition in India, more there than at home. Rohan is a very good friend of mine, and it’s good to have someone from the same continent that you can go out with in the evening."
***
Bangkok Attracts Many Davis Cuppers

Davis Cup travel is affecting the schedule for this week’s Thailand Open, with a fifth of the field flying in from overseas to resume the ATP campaign. Heading that list is top seed Novak Djokovic, who had an extra day of travel with a Sunday day-off in Serbia's 4-1 sweep of Slovakia in European World Group playoffs. Also arriving in the Thai capital was teammate Viktor Troicki, the 65th-ranked finalist at Washington last August who helped Serbia claim the weekend doubles point. Austrian Jurgen Melzer, the eighth seed who begins his Bangkok campaign against American Donald Young, led his nation past the Britain of Andy Murray 3-2.
Australian Robert Smeets, who only received the passport of his adopted nation a week ago, backed up the Aussie side which went down to Chile in the playoffs in South America. Due to the Davis Cup demands, both of this week's Asian events in Bangkok and Beijing have limited the singles field to 28 players, with Andy Roddick and David Ferrer heading the field in China after facing off in Davis Cup at the weekend in Madrid.
***
Jankovic Striving for Top Spot on WTA Tour

US Open finalist Jelena Jankovic says she has nothing to prove as she chips away in Asia at the top spot held by Serena Williams on the WTA. The Serb's quest has taken her to China this week, with rival and compatriot Ana Ivanovic also in the hunt in the capital. "I don't have to prove to anybody or any media about my ability, except to myself, " said Jankovic, whose run in Tokyo a week ago was ended in the quarterfinals. "I'm only 23 years old, still young. "And I've been in a Grand Slam final. I'll try my best to finish my job, to play tennis," said Jankovic, the 2007 Beijing finalist. Jankovic, Ivanovic and on-fire Russian Dinara Safina are all in the mix to strip the top ranking from Williams, whose autumn schedule is traditionally sparse. The American has not played since the US Open and is not due to return until Stuttgart next week. Since Justine Henin made he surprise exit from the game in the spring, the top spot has rotated between (injured) Maria Sharapova, Ivanovic, Jankovic and Williams.
***
Here’s Marko Djokovic

He’s 17 and ranked 1734 in the world, but he has a famous brother so Marko Djokovic received a wild card into the Thailand Open to compete in his first singles match on the ATP Tour. It didn’t last long, as he was bounced 6-2 6-0 in just 42 minutes by Jarkko Nieminen. "It was a very very very big experience for me," said Marko. "The first match, playing like this was very tough, to play against Jarkko Nieminen. He played very good. It was a very tough match. All the crowd coming, the ball boys, the referee (umpire), everything. I haven’t had so much experience of that. Being here as a 17-year old, being at this tournament playing the ATP in front of that crowd, it’s a big experience and I’m very happy to play. "Before the match Novak was coaching me and he told me just to relax. I was a little bit nervous of course, it’s normal, but I tried to be more focused on the tennis and not think about anything else." It isn’t easy for him, because if Novak is good they expect the same from him. Not many siblings can match the achievements of their elders. Katerina and Magdalena Maleeva managed it, and Serena Williams. But it’s not easy living with the expectations. "It’s not a negative, but there’s a lot of pressure because everybody’s expecting you to be like him. They come to watch you. They don’t know how big player you are but they watch because you are Novak’s brother. "I played some matches that were really bad in junior tennis, one match good, one match bad, because I’m trying to think like Novak because I watch him all my life. We had the same coach, Niki Pilic, and I think sometimes to play like him. Anyway, I’m trying to be my (own) player. They call me Marko, Novak’s brother, all the time, so I’d like to be Marko." There is a positive. Only the top players are conveyed to the stadium in a car. Most take the mini-van. Marko? "We get the car because we’re brothers. But I don’t care if it’s the car or the bus."

***

We Hear—
--that the long-anticipated Serena Williams' memoir probably won’t be ready until US Open in 2009.
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
Bangkok
Beijing
WOMEN
Beijing
Seoul
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Bangalore
Metz
Tokyo
WOMEN
Stuttgart
Tashkent
Tokyo
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Tuesday’s Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

28.12

-.08

6.70

-.72

2.10

0.00

18.78

+.16

60.83

-2.32

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $116.53
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
***
Results
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Bob Larson's Daily Tennis News: September 22nd Issue

by mltennis 23. September 2008 07:57

Monday, September 22, 2008

BUSINESS NEWS

ITF Announces Seeds for 2009 Davis Cup

Argentina and Spain head the seeds for the draw for the World Group of the 2009 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, which takes place in Madrid on Tuesday 23 September at 12:30 local time (10:30 GMT).
Seeds for 2009 World Group Draw:
1. Argentina
2. Spain
3. Russia
4. USA
5. Croatia
6. Sweden
7. Germany
8. France
According to the Davis Cup Regulations, the two finalist nations are seeded No. 1 and No. 2 in the World Group for the following year, and will be drawn in opposite halves. Seeds 3-8 are in accordance with the latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking. The seeded nations will be drawn against Austria, Chile, Czech Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia and Switzerland. Seeds for the Zonal Group I and Group II competitions are also based on the latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking. The Group I seeds are as follows:
Seeds for 2009 Europe/Africa Zone Group I:
1. Slovak Republic
2. Belgium
3. Great Britain
4. Belarus
Other nations: Italy, Macedonia FYR, Poland, South Africa, Ukraine
Seeds for 2009 Asia/Oceania Zone Group I:
1. Australia
2. Korea, Rep.
3. India
4. Japan
Other nations: China P.R., Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Uzbekistan
Seeds for 2009 Americas Zone Group I:
1. Brazil
2. Peru
Other nations: Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay
All the draws will take place at BNP Paribas’s Madrid offices and can be heard live on Davis Cup Radio on the official Davis Cup website: www.daviscup.com.
***
Roddick Was Disappointed and Disappointing in Madrid

Andy Roddick was bemoaning his lost opportunities after a brutal weekend at the hands of Spain, with the defending champion US going out of the Davis Cup semi-final 4-1 in Madrid. No. 8 Roddick, formerly a No. 1 powerhouse, lost both of his singles rubbers, ending a nine-rubber win streak in the worldwide team competition. Roddick was downed by both David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal in front of 21,000 in Madrid's Plaza de Toros Las Ventas arena. "I don't think you could draw up a tougher situation than Nadal on clay away with this crowd," said Roddick. "That's probably the toughest match that you can think of. Even playing Roger on grass, at least you can serve and the points are a little bit quicker," said the two-time Wimbledon finalist. Roddick, whose love of clay is minimal, was put off his game by the six hours of overnight rain which soaked the venue, leaving the court heavy and favored the game of top-ranked Nadal. "I got to the court and it was raining and it was getting heavier. And then I see them carting out the wheelbarrows and putting more clay on the court. When it was time to start, I said 'oh no.'"
The disappointed Roddick called his straight-sets loss "high-risk, high-reward. "He's rough on this surface." The US went into the tie hampered by absences with James Blake opting out due to poor results, and injured doubles ace Bob Bryan, replaced by Mardy Fish who earned the only US point in doubles alongside Mike Bryan.
***

What Will Federer do for a Coach Now?

Mindful that the Lawn Tennis Association has just signed a $55 million (£30 million) sponsorship deal with AEGON and in all probability is likely to benefit from another All England Club handout in the region of $45 million (£25 million), Andy Murray questioned just why it was necessary to charge children $35 (£20) a ticket to watch the climax of Britain's Davis Cup defeat against Austria. By the time Alex Bogdanovic lost the deciding rubber to Alexander Peya on Wimbledon's No.1 Court, Murray's seat on the British bench was vacant – midway through the rubber he decided the sanctuary of the locker room was a better option. But there were also large sections of seating in the 11,000 stadium unoccupied and crying out for the vociferous support only optimistic youngsters could provide. "There's no doubt £20 is a lot of money to most people and maybe they should think about giving a lot of tickets away to children," said Murray after the 3-2 defeat to Austria meant Britain will be relegated to the Euro-African Zone Group One next year. "We want more kids in Britain to take up the sport, surely the best way of getting them interested is to allow them to come to see us guys play." Murray was overlooked for Saturday's doubles as a precautionary measure as Captain John Lloyd revealed he had been suffering from a slight abductor strain which could have hampered his chances on the reverse singles rubbers. As it transpired the world no.4 beat both Peya and Jurgen Melzer in impressive fashion but his brother Jamie and Ross Hutchins – son of the LTA's Head of Men's Tennis – were comprehensively outplayed by Julian Knowle and Melzer. Lloyd, British captain for five ties but now under close scrutiny for his team selection said: "Andy was up for it. If we lose this tie, I will take the heat, Andy was certainly able to play but he left it up to me. I talked to the medical guys and then came to my decision. "I have to look at the big picture. We have to win three matches and I thought this was the way that offered us our best chance." However Lloyd is not the only one whose decisions are being debated. The Lawn Tennis Association is being questioned for not marketing this tie better. There was no advertising of the tie around London area and when it was clear the final day was crucial and thousands of tickets had not been sold, they requested that the BBC did not announce the fact spectators could pay at the gates.
Curiously Bruce Philipps, the LTA's commercial chief who also takes the title Head of Communications, was notable by his absence at the All England Club throughout the duration of the tie.
***
Adidas Introduces its 2009 Tennis Racket Line

The new line of Adidas rackets, to be offered worldwide will be available in the US on February 1, will be made of three groups named after an Adidas model tennis shoe; Barricade, Response and Feather. Four Barricade models have been created; The Barricade Tour is designed for the “Tournament Player.” It is the heaviest at 330g and the stiffest of the new rackets. The Barricade Tour Light is 30g lighter, suiting good juniors, but it offers the same control with every swing. Both the Barricade Tour and Tour light come with an 18/20 string pattern. The third racket in this group is the Barricade itself; a lighter and less stiff version of the Tour racket with a 16/19 string pattern. There is a Barricade Junior model. All rackets in the Barricade family feature the Adidas POWER STRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY (PST). Three structures at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock act like the claws on the Barricade shoe to improve torsional stability. The Response racket has the perfect combination of power and control for most club players. The higher frame height gives greater power while the stiffness and string pattern bring control. The Feather is the lightest of the Adidas Tennis Racket groups, just like the Feather shoe. However the Feather actually has the thickest frame offering a little extra power for the recreational or older club player. The Barricade range of rackets will retail for $185.00, and the Feather racket for $165.00, while the Response comes in at $145.00 “Building on our footwear and apparel success Adidas tennis feels the market is right for the return to racket production,” says Simon Cartwright, Vice President of Global Tennis. Adidas rackets will be sold through Adidas own retail as well as tennis specialist stores worldwide.
***
Serena Williams to Publish her Memoirs

Multi-tasking US Open champion Serena Williams expects to stretch her off-court talents even wider afield with the expected publication of her memoirs in 2009.
The American has been the subject of a bidding war in recent weeks. Her price no doubt raised by another title at Flushing Meadows this month. Terms of the deal were not revealed, with sources telling American media that negotiations were in the $1.3 million range. The book - sure to be ghost-written - is to be published by little-known Grand Central Publishing. "Serena Williams is one of the world's most remarkable athletes," said a statement from the delighted company.
"We've watched her rise to No.1 despite physical and emotional setbacks, and her hard work and determination have inspired legions of fans young and old. Serena will give her memoir a strong motivational slant." Williams, 26, lifted her ninth Grand Slam title with her New York win over Jelena Jankovic, coming in the wake of her Beijing Olympic doubles gold alongside elder sister Venus. The Williams pair have never limited their interests to tennis, dabbling in design, fashion and television acting appearances as well.
***
Sharapova to be the Face of Cole Haan Sporting for 2009

Cole Haan, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc., announced Maria Sharapova as the face of Cole Haan Sporting, a new collection for Spring 2009. The Collection introduces new technologies like Flywire which build on the successful Nike Air franchise by recasting them into fashion-forward designs. It includes men's and women's footwear and accessories, and features Sharapova. This lifestyle fashion collection will encompass day to evening silhouettes in both the footwear and accessories categories. For Spring 2009, the Cole Haan Sporting line is inspired by nautical, court, track, and golf. Signature men's styles include the brand's iconic boat shoe and lace-ups in bold color palettes paired with classic neutrals.
The accessory collection encompasses a range of silhouettes from a tennis racquet bag to a versatile duffle. Weaving style with innovation, the accessories will be created from recycled plastic bottles and will be trimmed in vegetable chrome-free leather. Cole Haan Sporting will be sold at Cole Haan boutiques worldwide, luxury department stores and on Cole Haan.com. Price points range from $115 to $550.

***

We Hear—
--that James Blake has confirmed his place at the Venetian Macao Tennis Showdown, November 20, 2008. Blake takes his place alongside US Open Champion Roger Federer, and tennis legends Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
Bangkok
Beijing
WOMEN
Beijing
Seoul
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Bangalore
Metz
Tokyo
WOMEN
Stuttgart
Tashkent
Tokyo
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Friday’s Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

27.70

+.60

7.42

0.00

2.10

0.00

20.28

+.11

63.70

-.44

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $121.20
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
***
Results
For complete ATP and WTA results, please see our web site at www.tennisnews.com

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Daily Tennis News: September 16th

by mltennis 22. September 2008 05:01

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

BUSINESS NEWS

LTA Signs Historic Sponsorship Deal with Financial Company AEGON

Britain may have awoke to new anxieties about the current financial situation after going to bed with news of the biggest shake-up on Wall Street in decades but the Lawn Tennis Association stunned even the most optimistic of tennis analysts by announcing their new£30 million ($53 million) mega-deal sponsorship deal with the life insurance and pension group AEGON.After months of skepticism that the LTA would struggle to find a 'lead partner' to supply long term backing for British tennis and present some form of financial independence from support of Wimbledon, chief executive Roger Draper proudly unveiled the five year deal.
Not unsurprisingly, given the rise of Andy Murray to a place as the world's fourth best male tennis player after reaching the US Open final, the backers have Scottish roots. AEGON's UK headquarters are not in London but Edinburgh and were formerly known on the British financial market as Scottish Equitable.
Other companies sounded out for the deal were international bankers Barclays, the fruit juice manufacturers Tropicana and Betfair before on-line gambling concerns became decidedly unsavoury in tennis circles.As the Lead Partner, AEGON will be involved in all aspects of the sport including the parks and schools programs, supporting key junior elite athletes, as well as holding the naming rights to the British international grass court events that provide the build up to Wimbledon including the AEGON Championships held at London's The Queen's Club (formerly known as both the Stella and more recently the Artois Championships), the AEGON International at Eastbourne's Devonshire Park , and the AEGON Classic at Egbaston's Priory Club in Birmingham. AEGON will be involved in all aspects of the development of the sport making it a true partnership that will help promote and build the sport of tennis across Britain. AEGON UK Chief Executive Otto Thoresen said: "British Tennis is at a breakthrough stage in its development and it is a very exciting time to be involved in the sport. AEGON is delighted to become the Lead Partner of British Tennis and our investment over the next five years will enable the sport to grow from grassroots level, encouraging more young people to take up the sport, through to elite performance level, where we can support our leading athletes as they seek to make an impression on the world stage."
"We see a number of similarities between British Tennis and AEGON as we look to take our UK business on to a new phase of growth. It's a strong partnership and we're looking forward to being a part of it."The deal will be particularly welcomed by Draper who stressed as one of his aims when succeeding John Crowther as CEO more than two years ago that he wanted to secure the LTA's financial future without relying on the support of the All England Club – last year's Wimbledon surplus payment to the LTA for the furtherance of British tennis amount to £25.1 million ($35 million) and this year's figures are expected soon.Draper said: "We are delighted that AEGON has joined us as the Lead Partner of British Tennis in what is a very exciting time for the sport. We are looking forward to developing a close working partnership with them over the coming years. We share a joint desire to grow the sport at all levels from our major international events and supporting elite young players to improving facilities and access across the country and AEGON will play a vital role in this."AEGON UK Marketing Director Steve Clode said: "As the Lead Partner of British Tennis, AEGON has an exceptional opportunity to develop our brand in the UK market. People of all ages enjoy tennis, and it's one of the country's most exciting and fast growing sports. We're delighted to have secured the sponsorship - it's a significant step forward in our brand strategy."
The architect of the deal has been LTA Director of Communications and Commercial Affairs, Bruce Philipps. He said: "Our strategy has always been to partner with one lead company to make sure we are bringing the sport together rather than 'selling off' individual parts. AEGON's investment in our sport will ensure we have more resources to invest in British Tennis. We are confident this new model will help accelerate our progress in all areas."
***
ATP Might Look for Next Chief Close to Home
By Charles Bricker

According to a source close to the ATP, two of the candidates to succeed CEO Etienne de Villiers are already in the tour’s front office – Mark Young and Brad Drewett.Young, who has been an ATP executive since the tour was formed in 1990, is ceo of The Americas, and Drewett, with the ATP since 1993, is ceo of the tour’s International Group.de Villiers, a tennis outsider with a sterling record as a chief executive with the Disney Corporation, made a lot of significant changes during his three-year tenure with the ATP, which will end on Dec. 31. But he was brought down by his lack of communication and closeness with key players on the tour and with the ATP’s advisory Player Council.Young and Drewett have long records of strong connection with players. Young has served a variety of functions for the tour. He was the tour’s general counsel for years and was the point man on development of the ATP’s anti-doping program.Drewett is a former top-40 player who has negotiated some of the ATP’s biggest sponsorship deals. He has been Masters Cup tournament director since 2001.They’re not the only two men being named as sources as possible successors. The name of former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee has been heard.According to the source, there also has been some “thinking out loud” about the possibility of merging the men’s and women’s tours with WTA CEO Larry Scott as the head of the combined tours, but the source doubted that discussion would get serious, even if it was a phased merger over a number of years with a separate ATP ceo in place until the final merger.
***
Becker Doesn’t Like the Grunting on Court

The fire-siren screech from Serena Williams in the heat of battle is off-putting in the extreme to Boris Becker. The all-round tennis commentator has said that he fins the decibel level on court at some WTA matches more than sufficient, adding that players need to tone it down."I'm amazed whenever I watch Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova," the three-time Wimbledon champion and current Swiss businessman told German media."I can't help thinking it's bad for their vocal chords. It can't be healthy and it can't go on," he added. And with Teutonic finality, Becker laid down his law: "Grunting serves no athletic purpose and should be banned."
Williams was most lately heard in full throat at the US Open where she defeated Jelena Jankovic for the title this month. Sharapova, whose screech has been measured at 100 decibels - about the same as a light aircraft according to some scientists - is presumably resting her vocal chords as well as her right shoulder until the start of 2009.Becker, always thought of as a ladies man, said that the grunting has a sexual overtone which he finds unattractive. "It's symptomatic of all that's gone wrong with tennis," said Becker, who added: "You hear them grunt more than you'd like.
***
Safin Drops Davis Cup to Concentrate on Getting ATP Points

Just five days before Russia face the task some might call Mission Impossible and try to end a ten year run of Argentine home dominance in the Davis Cup, Marat Safin has pulled out of the team for the semi-final in Buenos Aires citing 'personal commitments.'Marat Safin has put his ATP campaign first by pulling out against Argentina in order to be fresh for a flight to Bangkok and next week's Thailand Open."(Safin) needs to keep getting points before the end of the year and feels the trip from Buenos Aires to Bangkok would be very long and tiring," read a note on his website. The No. 39 added that "personal commitments" would make his participation impossible.Safin will leave the Davis Cup duties to others, with the visiting Russians to be led by "rehabilitated" Nikolay Davydenko - cleared of any wrongdoing in an ATP anti-corruption probe which netted no evidence in 13 months - Igor Andreev, Dmitry Tursunov and Igor Kunitsyn set to carry the load on clay. Russia won the competition in 2002 and 2006. Safin's decision saved him a flight from Moscow to Argentina, followed by a trans-Pacific to get to Bangkok for Monday's start.
***
USA’s Querrey is Ready for Davis Cup Debut with Spain

Eager substitute Sam Querrey is keen to make a good impression as he jumps into the breach with a Davis Cup debut this week against Spain on clay in Madrid.
The 20-year-old was picked by Captain Patrick McEnroe when regular James Blake begged off from the date citing fatigue and leaving Andy Roddick without a backup singles player.Querrey's Monte Carlo quarter-final last April suddenly rang some bells, with the youngster quickly added onto on the team.But Querrey won't be there to merely make up the numbers when the Americans clash with Rafael Nadal's squad on the clay court of a Spanish bullring. "It's not the easiest tie to start off your Davis Cup career with," he admitted. "I would have probably preferred a home tie on hard court. But to jump in against Spain in the semi-finals is a nice introduction to the Davis Cup, but it will be tough.'Querrey, who claimed his first career title this year in Las Vegas on hardcourt, said he feels confident in his challenge. "I feel very good and I think my game suits the clay court."
***
US Open Monday Rain Delay Finals Suffered Big TV Drop in Viewers

The remnants of Hurricane Hannah blew hot and cold for the US Open's television ratings. The storm that hit Flushing Meadows 10 minutes before its' forecast arrival on the afternoon of what supposed to be Super but turned out to be Saturated Saturday forced the Men's final to be put back to late Monday afternoon but ensured the Women's Final would get a prime time spot on Sunday night.
CBS definitely have cause to lament their decision to give Roger Federer's final lap of a fifth successive US Open against Britain's Andy Murray a 5pm start time on the extra day. The rather one-sided encounter drew a 1.9 national rating and a 4 share which meant a considerable 49 per cent down from last year's figures (when Federer beat Novak Djokovic in the customary Sunday spot right after the first NFL Sunday screening of the season) of 3.7 and 7.In contrast CBS might toast the fact the rains caused a 24 hour delay of the Women's final between Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic. It's a more attractive night, when more people tend to watch TV on Sunday nights rather than Saturday and Serena Williams's victory earned a 3.3 national rating and 6 share, up 57 per cent from the 2.1 and 4 when the now retired Justine Henin of Belgium beat Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2007.
***
Bryan Twins Will Move From California to Texas

Undeterred by the recent ravages of Hurricane Ike, U.S. Open doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan are planning to relocate their homes from California to Central Texas.The 30-year-old twins, who have now amassed six Grand Slam titles and are the world's top doubles team, last week toured 20 properties at Horseshoe Bay, a resort community south of Marble Falls on the shores of Lake Lyndon Baines Johnson. They said they hope to make a decision after they face Spain in the Davis Cup semi-final later this week in Madrid. "We love the lakes," said Bob Bryan. "It was quiet. It was beautiful." Mike added: "It's got everything you need to train."The brothers traveled around Central Texas making appearances for charity and play in the Tennis Classic of Austin at the World of Tennis. The exhibition match, which also included Austin resident Andy Roddick and Davis Cup teammate Sam Querrey, benefited the Children of Fallen Soldiers.
***
Murray Wins, But He Could be a Bad Example

After reaching the US Open final and moving to fourth place in the world rankings, many might think Andy Murray would be viewed as a hero in his native Scotland. However the 21 year-old from Dunblane has been accused by the leader of the main Scottish Head Teachers' Union of setting a bad example to children by swearing and losing his temper on court. Ken Cunningham, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, said Murray, who admits his language on court is hardly choirboy like, should show more respect for officials and curb his volatile behavior.
In his autobiography, Hitting Back, Murray said swearing is a way for him to let off steam, but admitted he was trying to control his outbursts. In May this year he was heard swearing during a match with Juan Martin del Potro, after the Argentine insulted his mother, and the following month was reprimanded for his language during Wimbledon. In 2006, the British Davis Cup team was fined £1,434 after Murray swore at an umpire during a doubles match and he let rip with another outburst at Wimbledon later that year. "If he continues like that, somebody needs to have a word with him," said Cunningham. "All that goes into making him great goes alongside the other bits and pieces, and there's another bit of his life that he needs to sort out. "He is a very successful role model in terms of success, but you have to put it in context. It's not just about being successful, it's about being successful and positive in terms of your contribution to society."
***
Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic Date Set

Chris Evert will be hosting the 19^th annual Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic, when the event is held November 1 and 2 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.Among the stars scheduled to join Chris Evert and compete in the two days of tennis action are tennis greats Jim Courier, Jana Novotna, Lindsay Davenport, Murphy Jensen and Vince Spadea. They will be joined by television stars Scott Foley (“The Unit”), Alan Thicke (“Growing Pains”), Maeve Quinlan (“South of Nowhere”), comedian and film star Jon Lovitz (“Saturday Night Live”), musician Gavin Rossdale and golfing legend Greg Norman. The tennis competition is scheduled for 11 a.m. on both Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. To date, the Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity has raised more than $16.8 million to fight drug abuse and assist neglected and abused children in Florida.

***

We Hear—
--that Bob Bryan did not go to Madrid for Davis Cup action as he stayed home rehabbing his injured left shoulder. Mardy Fish is in Madrid and is expected to be named as Mike Bryan’s partner in the doubles rubber on Saturday.
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup
WOMEN
Guangzhou
Tokyo
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Bangkok
Beijing
WOMEN
Beijing
Seoul
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Monday’s Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

26.50

-.07

7.00

+.10

2.10

0.00

18.24

-.57

60.50

-1.42

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $114.34
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
***
Results
For complete ATP and WTA results, please see our web site at www.tennisnews.com

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Daily Tennis News: September 19th

by mltennis 22. September 2008 04:57

Friday, September 19, 2008

BUSINESS NEWS

Wilson Expands Partnership with ITF

The ITF and Wilson Racquet Sports have extended their sponsorship agreement to include Wilson as the Official Ball of Davis Cup, Fed Cup and other ITF initiatives in a multi-year deal. Under this expanded agreement, Wilson is the Official Ball to Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the ITF’s junior team competitions at the under 14 and under 16 level. In addition, Wilson is the exclusive supplier of tennis rackets, shoes, clothing and accessories to the ITF Development Coaching Team.
***
AIG Japan Open Not Affected by US Takeover of AIG

The current stock market crisis that has seen the United States government's $85 billion takeover of the brand-leading insurance broker American International Group will not have a threatening affect on the future of this month's AIG Japan Open tennis tournament. Japanese organizers are adamant that the men's and women's event, running September 29 thru October 5 will go ahead with its' planned $969,000 prize fund even though the U.S. government received 80% of AIG's shares in a rescue deal struck earlier this week. The problem in the U.S. doesn't have any impact on the Tokyo event,'' said Japan Tennis Association spokesman Yu Saito. Sawako Ohwatari, a spokeswoman for AIG Japan, insisted the company is certainly not scaling down its plans for the event, ``Nothing is going to change," she said.
***
USA Facing Davis Cup Opponent Spain in Madrid Bullring

The smell of blood will surely be in the air as the defending champion US goes against the odds with a Davis Cup semi-final in Madrid played inside the city's famed Las Ventas bullring. While none will likely be spilled by players, the precedent is there: during an inspection tour, officials discovered wet bull blood on the ground, evidence of the more normal weekly use of the central venue.
Tickets for the tie, expected to attract up to 21,000 fans per session, are sold out in the tennis-mad nation which boasts the world No. 1 in Rafael Nadal. Boxes for six have been snapped up at the equivalent of $16,500 for the weekend, with regular tickets in the stands still a healthy $185. It's not the first time that Spanish tennis has crossed paths with bloodsport. A decade ago, the Mallorca Open was played in a bull ring on Nadal's home island.
***
Britain Expects Big Turnout for Davis Cup Tie at Wimbledon

Britain's Lawn Tennis Association is confidently expecting an 11,000 crowd for the opening two days of the Davis Cup encounter with Austria on Wimbledon's No.1 Court and British captain John Lloyd is equally optimistic Alex Bogdanovic will give his team a winning start despite never previously scoring a singles victory on the All England Club turf.The draw pitched Bogdanovic, currently ranked 162^nd in the world and unsuccessful in seven Wimbledon first round matches dating back to 2001, against the leading Austrian Jurgen Melzer. US Open finalist and world no.4 Andy Murray will follow against 164^th ranked Alexander Peya but the Austrians are obviously targeting Bogdanovic as the crucial match. "This is Davis Cup and very different from other play but obviously we have taken note of his record and intend to work on that fact," said Melzer who lost to Murray in five sets at Flushing Meadows.Lloyd admitted he has no other real options for the second singles spot as Jamie Baker is still recovering from a life threatening blood disorder but said; "Alex seems to be fine and I think he will come through fine. It will be important that the crowd really revs him up but he is an experienced player and should love the atmosphere."
Britain named Jamie Murray and Ross Hutchins for Saturday's doubles but captain Lloyd admitted he could change this line-up to introduce Andy Murray into the equation if his opening singles match is not too testing. And there are no signs of the reported animosity between the two Murray brothers. "Andy and Jamie have been fine together all week," he maintained.
***
Jamie Murray Looking for Doubles Partner Again

Jamie Murray's year-long partnership with the experienced doubles campaigner Max Mirnyi has come to an end after a disappointing year that saw the pair win just one title, lose in the first round of three of the four majors and their Stanford ATP doubles ranking drop from 16 to 30th place.The 22 year-old British Davis Cup player, last year's Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion and runner up at the recent US Open with Liezel Huber, is now on the look out for another top flight performer and seems to have two distinct options.Kevin Ullyett, the 35 year-old London-based Zimbabwean currently placed ninth Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking is on the look out for a new partner after the retirement of Jonas Bjorkman. He and Murray played one tournament together this year, reaching the final in Estoril.The other option for Murray is British Davis Cup team-mate Ross Hutchins who will nominally be his partner for this week-end's World Group qualifying match against Austria at Wimbledon. However Hutchins ranking currently stands at 74 meaning the all British partnership will struggle to get into some of the more prestigious events.
Nevertheless Murray says that could become a more regular arrangement next season. "I guess so," he said. "We might play some tournaments next year."
The highpoint of Murray's allegiance with Mirnyi was the tournament win at Delray Beach in February when they beat the Bryan twins in the final. The pairing also reached semi-finals at Indian Wells and Queen's Club but they lost in the first round at the Australian Open, the French Open and the US Open.The most recent defeat at Flushing Meadows against Slovakia's Michal Mertinak and Lovro Zovko of Croatia seemed to signal the end of the road and Murray, who made his mark on the doubles scene with American Eric Butorac before looking for a more high-profile partner, said: "It's a shame because we worked hard to try to make it work. It just didn't quite click."

***
Del Potro Hoping for Strong Showing in Davis Cup Debut

Juan Del Potro is hoping to stretch his summer of magic as the teenager switches to clay for a Davis Cup home debut in a semi-final against Russia in Buenos Aires.
The winner of four straight titles on North American hardcourts and a US Open quarter-final place will begin with a challenge by facing Nikolay Davydenko.
No. 6 Davydenko is vowing to keep his temper in check and will aim not to smash any rackets during the stressful away weekend. "I hope not to break any more rackets, I've only got a few left," he joked."I hope I can play better than I did in New York," said the first-round US Open loser.Argentina will have the home court advantage and a fit squad of David Nalbandian, Del Potro, Agustin Calleri and Guillermo Canas."Playing first or second is the same for me. I'm going to have the pressure of making my home debut, but nothing more than that," said Del Potro.
***
Sweitzer Named Pro of the Year

Tom Sweitzer of Hershey, Pennsylvania, was named Friday by the USPTA as 2008 USPTA Pro of the Year in La Quinta, California. Details will be available Monday.

***
We Hear—
--that Jonathan Vegosen, Chicago, Illinois, will be named shortly as USTA First Vice President of the next biennium and slated to be named the USTA President in 2010. Rumors circulating of Vegosen being a compromise candidate for the position have been vehemently denied by insiders. Vegosen was a viable candidate from the very beginning according to sources.

***

THIS WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup
WOMEN
Guangzhou
Tokyo
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Bangkok
Beijing
WOMEN
Beijing
Seoul
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Thursday’s Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

27.10

+.77

7.42

+.42

2.10

0.00

20.17

+.77

64.64

+5.08

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $121.43
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
***
Results
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Bob Larson's Tennis Celebs: September 18th Issue

by mltennis 22. September 2008 04:51

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Bob Larson's
TENNIS CELEBS

IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE...

News
Tennis Shorts
WTA Scheduled To Play
Covers
Sightings
Appearing Soon
Money Mountain
He Said... She Said
Happy Birthday

NEWS

Spain Trying to Psych US Davis Cup Team

Spain is playing mind games with the visiting US as both coach and top player minimize the chances for a home victory on clay at this week's Davis Cup semifinals. High altitude in Madrid on a court laid inside a bullring will equalize the tie, according to Spanish captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario. And Nadal himself, who won Paris Wimbledon and Olympic titles in the space of three months, told local media: "It's true that I've had three or four days to rest at home. " But I'm not 100 percent recovered. It has been a non-stop year and it's normal that you deflate a bit." No. 1 Nadal added that he is most looking forward to a break until he begins the final indoor run of the ATP season back in Madrid in mid-October. "After that, I hope to take a real break," said the 22-year-old. The defending champion US takes a team-full of substitutes into the tie, a repeat of the 2004 final in Seville where the hoists rolled the North American visitors. The US got a revenge win in the quarter-finals last year in North Carolina. Andy Roddick heads the squad but will be backed up in singles by debutant Sam Querrey, with Mardy Fish putting his late September wedding plans to one side as he comes on in place of injured doubles ace Bob Bryan. James Blake pulled out due to lack of results on clay and general lethargy on court. " We are the underdogs. Someone is going to have to pull off some big wins to get this one," said US captain Patrick McEnroe. "But we are here because we think we can win."

***

Sharapova’s Rehab is Coming Along Nicely
By Charles Bricker

If all goes well, and reports are that her rehabilitation is right on schedule, Maria Sharapova will re-emerge on the women's tennis trail the second week in January at an exhibition event in Hong Kong, then move directly on to defend her title at the Australian Open. Sharapova has been in Phoenix for the last month and will continue there with well-known fitness trainer Brett Fischer, who is working to strengthen the area around the torn rotator cuff in her right shoulder. No surgery is indicated and Sharapova's doctors are describing the tear as "very moderate." She hasn't been on court since she retired from a second-round match with Ai Sugiyama at the Canadian Open in early August. "She's just very relieved that the problem has finally been diagnosed," said her agent, Max Eisenbud. Doctors have traced the original rotator cuff tear back to a match against Tatiana Golovin in 2006, when she hit an ace up the T that resulted in the slightest of tears, and from there it slowly worsened until significantly more damage was done at Indian Wells this year in a match against Alona Bondarenko. Incredibly, the problem went undiagnosed for months. Sharapova continued trying to play, but she was unconsciously changing the location of her service toss in order to not feel any pain. "The first serve wasn't too bad because she throws the ball more out in front," said Eisenbud. "But on the second serve, she couldn't get her arm close to her head. Basically, they were saying they see the same thing with baseball pitchers who tear rotator cuffs. They unconsciously change their mechanics to avoid the pain. " At the French Open, Sharapova had 43 double faults in four matches, 17 in a first-round win over Evgenia Rodina. " Missing the U.S. Open and the Olympics was really tough for her," said Eisenbud. But she's resolved not to try to work through the pain. She's not coming back until the problem is corrected.
What is Ahead for the ATP?
***

British Davis Cup Captain Lloyd Hopes Murray Brothers’ Truce Holds This Week

Concerned Davis Cup Captain John Lloyd is hoping that an apparent truce between the feuding Murray brothers holds during this week's Davis Cup relegation tie at Wimbledon against Austria. US Open finalist Andy and elder brother Jamie have been at odds on and off during 2008, with their latest spat over the absence of Jamie from the US Open final in New York won by Roger Federer over Andy.
"It's my job to be aware of potential tensions," said British captain John Lloyd. "I'm delighted to have everyone fit and ready to go as a team. "From my own experience of playing Davis Cup with my brother, David, I know tensions can arise between brothers. Hopefully, I can make the atmosphere fun this coming week," he told London's Mail on Sunday. The rift had threatened the stability of a team which relies almost 100 percent on the brothers ahead of a minor cast of supporting characters. It first flared in February when Jamie complained that Andy should have played in a losing tie against Argentina. Observers at the Beijing Olympic say the siblings were steaming as they played doubles together at the Beijing Olympics. "I was very concerned about the apparent differences between them. I was surprised as anyone not to see Jamie sitting in the box (at the Open)., admitted Lloyd"
***
Donald Young to play Andy Roddick at Advanta WTT Smash Hits

Donald Young will battle Andy Roddick at Advanta World TeamTennis Smash Hits on Sunday, October 12 at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. Young is the latest addition to the lineup of the annual charity event hosted by Billie Jean King and Elton John. Other players participating in Smash Hits are Martina Navratilova and Anna Kournikova. The players will form two teams, with one team captained by John and the other by King. John, an avid tennis fan, opens up the afternoon in a celebrity doubles event. The 16^th annual event raises money for the fight against HIV and AIDS and will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund. Advanta WTT Smash Hits has raised more than $8.5 million since 1993.

***

Becker Doesn’t Like the Grunting on Court

The fire-siren screech from Serena Williams in the heat of battle is off-putting in the extreme to Boris Becker. The all-round tennis commentator has said that he fins the decibel level on court at some WTA matches more than sufficient, adding that players need to tone it down. "I'm amazed whenever I watch Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova," the three-time Wimbledon champion and current Swiss businessman told German media. "I can't help thinking it's bad for their vocal chords. It can't be healthy and it can't go on," he added. And with Teutonic finality, Becker laid down his law: "Grunting serves no athletic purpose and should be banned. " Williams was most lately heard in full throat at the US Open where she defeated Jelena Jankovic for the title this month. Sharapova, whose screech has been measured at 100 decibels - about the same as a light aircraft according to some scientists - is presumably resting her vocal chords as well as her right shoulder until the start of 2009. Becker, always thought of as a ladies man, said that the grunting has a sexual overtone which he finds unattractive. "It's symptomatic of all that's gone wrong with tennis," said Becker, who added: "You hear them grunt more than you'd like.
***

Bryan Twins Will Move From California to Texas

Undeterred by the recent ravages of Hurricane Ike, U.S. Open doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan are planning to relocate their homes from California to Central Texas. The 30-year-old twins, who have now amassed six Grand Slam titles and are the world's top doubles team, last week toured 20 properties at Horseshoe Bay, a resort community south of Marble Falls on the shores of Lake Lyndon Baines Johnson. They said they hope to make a decision after they face Spain in the Davis Cup semi-final later this week in Madrid. "We love the lakes," said Bob Bryan. "It was quiet. It was beautiful." Mike added: "It's got everything you need to train. " The brothers traveled around Central Texas making appearances for charity and play in the Tennis Classic of Austin at the World of Tennis. The exhibition match, which also included Austin resident Andy Roddick and Davis Cup teammate Sam Querrey, benefited the Children of Fallen Soldiers.
***

Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic Date Set

Chris Evert will be hosting the 19^th annual Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic, when the event is held November 1 and 2 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. Among the stars scheduled to join Chris Evert and compete in the two days of tennis action are tennis greats Jim Courier, Jana Novotna, Lindsay Davenport, Murphy Jensen and Vince Spadea. They will be joined by television stars Scott Foley (“The Unit”), Alan Thicke (“Growing Pains”), Maeve Quinlan (“South of Nowhere”), comedian and film star Jon Lovitz (“Saturday Night Live”), musician Gavin Rossdale and golfing legend Greg Norman. The tennis competition is scheduled for 11 a.m. on both Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. To date, the Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity has raised more than $16.8 million to fight drug abuse and assist neglected and abused children in Florida.

***

Australia’s Smeets Gets Passport Allowing Him to Play on Australian Davis Cup Team

Desperate Australian Davis Cup selectors got some relief from the government as Dutch-born No. 147 Robert Smeets was finally given the passport which will allow him to play Davis Cup this week for his adopted country. He arrived in Chile Sunday. With Lleyton Hewitt a fading force as he recovers from keyhole hip surgery and the rest of the Australian game in tatters, the once-powerful tennis nation will face a near-impossible task against Chile next week on clay in South America.
Smeets, 22, has lived almost half his life in Australia but until the last few days had somehow never secured his document, believed to be due to his inability as a traveling tennis professional to live the required number of months annually in Australia. He qualified into the US Open, losing in the first round to Mardy Fish.
Australian Captain John Fitzgerald is going in with few hopes against Chile, fielding a squad led by No. 80 Chris Guccione. Such is the plight of the Aussies that the remainder of the team is made up experienced Peter Luczak and near-unknown rookies Carsten Ball and Sam Groth, with Smeets now thrown into the mix.
Smeets has only one career ATP victory but played with wildcards at the French Open and in New York.
***
Four Banned Italian Players to Sue for Invasion of Privacy

The ATP's anti-corruption campaign appears to have hit another snag just a few days after Russian Nikolay Davydenko was cleared of any wrong-doing in what had been billed as a suspicious 2007 match. To add to the legal troubles of the beleaguered sanctioning body - set to lose its top official when Etienne de Villiers resigns at the end of the year - four Italian players who received bans and fines for online betting are taking their grievances to court. Ready to make a case against their punishments are Potito Starace, Daniele Bracciali, Federico Luzzi and Giorgio Galimberti, all banned from six weeks to more than six months in a flurry of punishments handed down over three months dating to last December.
"A Miami law studio will defend us for violation of privacy," Galimberti told Milan's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "The site on which we bet a few Euros didn't have the right to reveal that data because it was prior to the agreement made with the various sporting associations (over online betting by players). "None of the players were accused of betting on their own matches, merely making small regular wagers on other ATP contests. They will also sue the online site which turned over their wagering records to ATP investigators. The fifth Italian who received sanctions, Alessio di Mauro, who was slapped with a nine month ban from November, 2007, is not in on the American legal action.
***

Jose Higueras Named Director of Coaching for USTA Elite Player Development

The USTA announced that Jose Higueras has been named Director of Coaching for USTA Elite Player Development. Higueras will oversee all of the program’s men’s and women’s coaching efforts and will work at the USTA Training Centers in Boca Raton, Fla., and Carson, Calif. as well as Palm Springs, Calif., where Higueras lives. He will report to Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, Elite Player Development. He fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Eliot Teltscher who resigned in 2006. Higueras, 55, won 16 ATP singles titles and was ranked as high as No. 6 in the world during his 16 year professional career. Following his retirement, Higueras made the transition from professional player to professional coach. He helped Michael Chang win a French Open title at age 17, helped Jim Courier on his way to seven majors titles and has also worked with Pete Sampras, Carlos Moya, Todd Martin, Jennifer Capriati and most recently Robby Ginepri and Roger Federer. “Jose is one of the greatest minds in coaching today,” said McEnroe. “His understanding of the sport is unrivaled, and his familiarity with American tennis makes him an invaluable asset and important addition to our staff as we continue to develop the skills of the brightest young talents in tennis.” Hgueras will work with McEnroe to develop an overall strategic approach to best identify and develop future American champions.
***

Edberg to Join Senior Tour

Six-time major winner Stefan Edberg will make his debut on the BlackRock Tour of Champions on Thursday in Paris when he plays Thomas Muster. Eberg will be playing his first competitive match for 12 years at the Lagardère Paris Racing Club, and Muster is a man he will be looking forward to playing against. Between 1986 and 1996 the pair met 10 times, and Edberg won every one, including four victories on clay. The Swede will also have to find a way past home favorites Henri Leconte and Guy Forget in the group stage of the event. If he reaches the final he could set up a possible battle against fellow Swede and owner of seven major titles Mats Wilander, who will be making his first appearance of 2008 on the BlackRock Tour of Champions. Group B will also see Wilander take on two-time defending Champion Sergi Bruguera, former French Open finalist Mikael Pernfors and Frenchman Cedric Pioline. “I retired from the ATP circuit 12 years ago and had often been asked to play on the BlackRock Tour of Champions, but I had always said 'no' in the past,” said Edberg. “But this time I decided to say ‘yes’. Paris is a beautiful city and I am looking forward to seeing and playing against some of my old rivals."All the players in each group will play each other over the first three days, and the players finishing top of each group will meet each other in the final. Those finishing second in each group will contest the 3rd/4th place play-off. After Paris, the Tour will move on to Luxembourg September 25-28.
***

Dementieva Qualifies for Tour Championships

Elena Dementieva has joined Jelena Jankovic, Serena Williams, Dinara Safina and Ana Ivanovic in qualifying for the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, where the world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams from the 2008 season are to compete for the Championships title in Doha, Qatar, from November 4-9, 2008. Dementieva, a semifinalist at the 2008 US Open and the new Olympic gold medalist in singles, is currently ranked No.5 in the rankings with 2,855 points. With five players having secured their ticket to Doha, only three more spots remain up for grabs in the singles draw of the prestigious year-end event. Currently Maria Sharapova sits in sixth spot with 2,515 points, followed by Venus Williams with 2,106 points and Svetlana Kuznetsova with 2,022 points.

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TENNIS SHORTS

Margets of Spain Honored in Madrid

The International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that Miguel Margets, Captain of the Spanish Fed Cup Team, is the recipient of the 2008 Fed Cup Award of Excellence. Presentation of the Fed Cup Award of Excellence was made on Sunday, September 14 in Madrid, during the Fed Cup World Group Final presented by BNP Paribas and contested between Spain and Russia.Margets was recognized for having captained Spanish Fed Cup teams since 1993 with a record of 36 and 12 with four championships. The Fed Cup Award of Excellence was inaugurated by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation in 2001. The Fed Cup Award of Excellence is presented to a person who represents the ideals and spirit of the Fed Cup competition and must be a member of a past or present Fed Cup team. Past recipients of the Fed Cup Award of Excellence are Spain’s Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Conchita Martinez in 2001; Great Britain’s Virginia Wade in 2002; Larisa Savchenko of Latvia in 2003; Olga Morozova of Russia in 2004; Françoise “Frankie” Durr of France in 2005; Sabine Appelmans of Belgium in 2006; and Lea Pericoli of Italy in 2007.
***
Clouser Named Chairman of Hall of Fame & Museum

Christopher E. Clouser has been named the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Clouser succeeds Hardwick Simmons, who served as Chairman for the past four years. Clouser, a member of the Hall’s Associate Board since 2001, joined the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors in 2004. In 2005, he was elected Chairman of the Hall of Fame’s Executive Committee. Clouser is currently Chairman of Griffin International Companies, whose principal offices are in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Shenzhen, China. Griffin International is a leading supplier, manufacturer, importer and marketer of a wide variety of consumer goods and electronic products.
In addition, Clouser is the former Chairman of ATP Properties and past Chairman of the ATP Foundation.

***

Vandeweghe Gets New Travel Coach
By Charlie Bricker

Former Lindsay Davenport coach Adam Peterson has been hired as traveling coach to 16-year-old Coco Vandeweghe, who won the U.S. Open juniors to become the No. 1 American teenaged prospect.Robert Van't Hof, who had been working in Southern California with Vandeweghe since April, will continue as a coaching consultant, but he's not interested in traveling. Van't Hof, the former ATP pro, had squired Davenport through her formative years in the 1990s and was instrumental in developing her game. He and Peterson are close friends and associates.It's apparently another excellent fit for Vandeweghe, who prefers thoughtful tutorials on court instead of hard-driven shouters. Her junior triumph at the Open doesn't net her any ranking points. She is at No. 511 this week. But her breakthrough and her physical presence (she's 6-foot tall) marked her as the American junior with the most upside.She'll play a series of Challengers in Mexico and the U.S., finishing up in San Diego in early December.

***

Van der Meer and Head Inducted into Hall of Fame

Dennis Van der Meer and Howard Head, the first two inductees into the “Tennis Industry Hall of Fame,” were honored in New York City during the US Open.
“We’ve set the bar very high with our inaugural inductees into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame,” said Dave Haggerty, president of the Tennis Industry Association (TIA), at the reception at the Grand Hyatt in New York on Aug. 24.Van der Meer, born in 1933 in what is now Namibia in southern Africa, founded the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), based in Hilton Head Island, S.C., in 1976 to certify tennis teaching professionals. Often lauded as “the greatest tennis teacher in the world,” having personally taught tens of thousands of recreational players and thousands of tennis teachers, Van der Meer’s influence in the game has touched millions of players. He also has coached world-class players on both the women’s and men’s professional tours.Howard Head, who was born in 1914 and died in 1991, first transformed the ski industry in the late 1940s when he designed a new type of ski that combined metal, plastic and plywood that was more durable, lighter and easier to turn. He founded the Head Ski Co., which later became Head Sports and diversified into tennis, producing a metal racquet in 1969. He then joined Prince Manufacturing, where he first helped to redesign and improve a tennis ball machine, then later designed and patented a racquet with a 20 percent larger head, which enlarged the sweetspot and made the game easier for millions of players. The Tennis Industry Hall of Fame recognizes those individuals who have made a significant impact to the sport, from the 1960s to the present. Nominations are made in four categories: inventors, founders, innovators and contributors.

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WTA SCHEDULED TO PLAY

Upcoming schedules as of September 15, 2008
1. Serena Williams - Stuttgart, Moscow
2. Jelena Jankovic - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
3. Ana Ivanovic - Beijing, Zurich
4. Elena Dementieva - Stuttgart, Moscow
5. Dinara Safina - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow
6. Maria Sharapova - Zurich
7. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow
8. Venus Williams - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
9. Vera Zvonareva - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
10. Agnieszka Radwanska - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
11. Patty Schnyder - Stuttgart, Zurich
12. Daniela Hantuchova - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow
13. Anna Chakvetadze - Beijing, Moscow, Zurich
14. Marion Bartoli - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
15. Victoria Azarenka - Seoul, Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
16. Flavia Pennetta - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
17. Caroline Wozniacki - Beijing, Tokyo [JO], Moscow, Zurich
18. Alize Cornet - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
19. Agnes Szavay - Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich
20. Nadia Petrova - Stuttgart, Moscow, Zurich

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COVERS

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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."

**********

SIGHTINGS

Send your player sightings to: cort@tennisnews.com

**********

APPEARING SOON

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MONEY MOUNTAIN

2008 Prize Money Earnings

MEN (September 15)

1 Nadal, Rafael

$6,583,074

2 Federer, Roger

4,561,341

3 Djokovic, Novak

3,831,382

4 Murray, Andy

2,334,965

5 Davydenko, Nikolay

1,521,606

6 Ferrer, David

1,095,268

7 Roddick, Andy

1,047,237

8 Wawrinka, Stanislas

918,781

9 Del Potro, Juan Martin

889,333

10 Blake, James
850,081

WOMEN (September 15)

Williams, Serena

$3,641,548

Ivanovic, Ana

2,563,675

Jankovic, Jelena

2,333,760

Williams, Venus

2,272,130

Safina, Dinara

2,145,920

Sharapova, Maria

1,937,879

Dementieva, Elena

1,482,994

Kuznetsova, Svetlana

1,160,684

Radwanska, Agnieszka

925,779

Zvonareva, Vera

822,855

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HE SAID... SHE SAID...

"I'm amazed whenever I watch Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. I can't help thinking it's bad for their vocal chords. It can't be healthy and it can't go on. Grunting serves no athletic purpose and should be banned." - Boris Becker talking about his take on grunting in tennis.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

September

Tomas Berdych
17
1985

Virginia Ruano Pascual
21
1973

Mark Woodforde
23
1965

Juan Martin del Potro
23
1988

Serena Williams
26
1981

Kimiko Date
28
1970

Martina Hingis
30
1980

**********

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Daily Tennis News: September 18th

by mltennis 18. September 2008 08:15

Thursday, September 18, 2008

BUSINESS NEWS

Australia to Have Training Base in Spain

Tennis Australia has bolstered its long-range training program with the addition of a Barcelona-based clay court facility to its Canberra and London training bases for elite Australian athletes. The federation announced it has hired former world top ten Spaniard Felix Mantilla as coach who will be based primarily at this new facility.
“For a couple of years now we have been ramping up our use of clay courts, clay court techniques and knowledge as major training tools for our developing players. It is fair to say that this announcement is another great step for our player development program,” Tennis Australia Director of Tennis Craig Tiley said.
“The expertise Felix will bring to our players will be world class. This is no part time hobby for him. He has given an unequivocal, unconditional full time commitment and will travel with several of our top younger players.” Since finishing his playing career Mantilla has already forged an impressive reputation among the international coaching fraternity for his work with some of the top Spanish juniors. The Spanish approach to tennis is one of the most respected in the sport yielding 21 current top 100 players in the world, including an amazing presence in the men with eight in the top 50, five of those in the top 20, two of those in the top five headed up by the incredible Rafael Nadal. The Spanish women have just finished runner up in the Fed Cup.
***
Davis Cup Competition Brings Out the Best Players

Roger Federer joins Rafael Nadal as the world’s top two players hope to lift their nations in Davis Cup ties this weekend. Federer, now second in the world behind the Spaniard, but bolstered by a US Open trophy, leads Switzerland into a relegation match with Belgium. Nadal heads the Spanish effort in the World Group semis in Madrid vs. the USA. With his 13th major title secured, Federer is keen to make more of a winning impression on the ATP autumn hardcourt events, looking ahead to a return to top form in 2009. But the Swiss confidence level remains sky-high. "I never really had any moment where I was like, ‘Things are just not working out for me,”’ Federer said after lifting a fifth straight US Open a week ago with a win over Andy Murray. "Actually, at the big tournaments, I did play very well,” said the French Open and Wimbledon finalist. A bout of glandular fever put Federer off his form for months. "The season was difficult and tough for me, but I have energy left at the end of the trip. I definitely came out here fresh." Federer is bearing down on his next challenge, aiming to level with Pete Sampras on the all-time record of 14 major singles titles, a goal which he could achieve at January's Australian Open
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Dementieva Qualifies for Tour Championships

Six-time major winner Stefan Edberg will make his debut on the BlackRock Tour of Champions on Thursday in Paris when he plays Thomas Muster. Edberg will be playing his first competitive match for 12 years at the Lagardère Paris Racing Club, and Muster is a man he will be looking forward to playing against. Between 1986 and 1996 the pair met 10 times, and Edberg won every one, including four victories on clay. The Swede will also have to find a way past home favorites Henri Leconte and Guy Forget in the group stage of the event. If he reaches the final he could set up a possible battle against fellow Swede and owner of seven major titles Mats Wilander, who will be making his first appearance of 2008 on the BlackRock Tour of Champions. Group B will also see Wilander take on two-time defending Champion Sergi Bruguera, former French Open finalist Mikael Pernfors and Frenchman Cedric Pioline. “I retired from the ATP circuit 12 years ago and had often been asked to play on the BlackRock Tour of Champions, but I had always said 'no' in the past,” said Edberg. “But this time I decided to say ‘yes’. Paris is a beautiful city and I am looking forward to seeing and playing against some of my old rivals." All the players in each group will play each other over the first three days, and the players finishing top of each group will meet each other in the final. Those finishing second in each group will contest the 3rd/4th place play-off. After Paris, the Tour will move on to Luxembourg September 25-28.
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Spain Trying to Psych US Davis Cup Team

Spain is playing mind games with the visiting US as both coach and top player minimize the chances for a home victory on clay at this week's Davis Cup semifinals. High altitude in Madrid on a court laid inside a bullring will equalize the tie, according to Spanish captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario. And Nadal himself, who won Paris Wimbledon and Olympic titles in the space of three months, told local media: "It's true that I've had three or four days to rest at home. "But I'm not 100 percent recovered. It has been a non-stop year and it's normal that you deflate a bit." No. 1 Nadal added that he is most looking forward to a break until he begins the final indoor run of the ATP season back in Madrid in mid-October. "After that, I hope to take a real break," said the 22-year-old. The defending champion US takes a team-full of substitutes into the tie, a repeat of the 2004 final in Seville where the hoists rolled the North American visitors. The US got a revenge win in the quarter-finals last year in North Carolina. Andy Roddick heads the squad but will be backed up in singles by debutant Sam Querrey, with Mardy Fish putting his late September wedding plans to one side as he comes on in place of injured doubles ace Bob Bryan. James Blake pulled out due to lack of results on clay and general lethargy on court. "We are the underdogs. Someone is going to have to pull off some big wins to get this one," said US captain Patrick McEnroe. "But we are here because we think we can win."

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We Hear—
--that seventeen-year-old tennis standout, Gastao Elias of Portugal now based at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., has signed a multi-year endorsement contract with adidas.
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THIS WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup
WOMEN
Guangzhou
Tokyo
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Bangkok
Beijing
WOMEN
Beijing
Seoul
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Wednesday’s Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

26.33

+.35

7.00

0.00

2.10

0.00

19.40

+.72