Wednesday, November 5, 2008
BUSINESS NEWS - Special Tour Championships Edition
Editor's Note: We have begun our Monday, Thursday publication schedule for November and December. This week and next, we will be publishing some Special Tour Championships Editions that will cover the players and events surrounding the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha and the ATP Masters Cup in Shanghai. Our Classifieds and College News will continue to stay on the Monday Thursday schedule.
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Kuznetsova Brushes Aside Any Political Thoughts in Doha
Some people are trying to make a big deal of the fact that a major women’s sporting event such as the Sony Ericsson Championships is being held in the Middle East, an area of the world where women are often perceived as being second-class citizens and, worse, open to abuse. But mention women’s rights to Svetlana Kuznetsova, and she brushes aside any great significance to it.
"Oh, I'm not going to get that deep there. You know, women's rights, it's hard to say for me. But I've been talking to people, and I think it's improved here. I respect every region (religion) they have. And as they think here, it's their opinion. For me, I respect them. I come here to play one week, perform. If they do this tournament, it means they welcome women to play here and they want to see us to play because they put so much money into it. So I'm just happy to be here and happy the tournament is like this."
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It’s a Challenge: Play Indoors All Season and For the Championships Go Outside
It doesn’t really make much sense. The players have just competed indoors since the US Open, and then they come to Doha to play the Sony Ericsson Championships outdoors. It was windy too, which didn’t help. Ana Ivanovic was among the players who took time to adjust to the conditions.
"It is a little bit strange," she said. "But you know, there was a week in between which was enough to go somewhere outdoors and practice and adjust. But just the way it was this year, and for us as women, I think it's important to also promote tennis here. It's a great event as well. Next year with the calendar changing we're going to have an outdoor season most of the time, and then we're going to play again a championship outdoor, which I think is even better."
So which does she prefer, indoors or out?
"Well, it's very hard to say. I played really good the last couple of weeks indoor and I enjoyed. I found my rhythm and the way, you know, I have to play indoors and being aggressive with lot of confidence. But most of the season we play outdoor anyway, so I enjoy also playing outdoors."
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Nadal Facing Accelerated Rehab Time
Rafael Nadal faced a week-long fight to fitness after doctors diagnosed with tendinitis in his right knee. Medical men say the world No. 1 will need nearly a week of physiotherapy treatment and rest. A further evaluation will be made on Monday as the masters Cup which Nadal is now missing enters its second day.
Nadal dreams of pacing Spain over Argentina in the November 21-23 Davis Cup final in Mar del Plata.
Nadal wore himself down during a long season on the way to eight titles including a first-ever Wimbledon win over Roger Federer.
Both Nadal and Federer pulled out of the Paris Masters last week injured at the quarterfinal stage.
Spanish Davis Cup team doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro said in a statement that Nadal will be able to resume training perhaps has early as next week if he no longer feels pain,
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Jankovic is Really Officially Number One in the World---Her Trophy Says So
Jelena Jankovic was presented with a trophy after her first match victory at the Sony Ericsson Championships, commemorating her position as the year-end number one.
Being JJ and very aware of her status, she of course queried why her name had not been engraved on it! So what is it like, being on top of the world?
"It's a nice thing," she said. "For me being on the No. 1 position is really a dream come true, and it is something that I always wanted. Now achieving that and finishing the year as the No. 1 player in the world is really an amazing feeling. For me it doesn't feel any pressure at all whatsoever. I just feel more motivation and determination, and it even inspires me to keep going forward and keep getting better and better each time.
"Every time I go on the court I feel like I'm the No. 1 player in the world, and I go with that confidence. I do feel different. Because I believe that I deserve to be the No. 1 player in the world. really worked so hard all the year. I broke a lot of sweat, a lot of tears and blood everywhere. It's not easy. All of the girls have done the same. We all fight very hard, and it has been a long year.
"I just believe in my game and in myself. I just keep going, and I would like to keep winning as long as it is possible. As many matches as possible, and finish the year in a good way, in the best possible way, hopefully. I'm quite proud of myself and quite happy for that. So I can go on vacation with a huge smile on my face."
People say that getting there is easier than staying there, and Jelena is ready for the battle.
"All of the players who play against me, they want to beat you. They want to be better than you. They want to steal that spot from you, and everybody's going after you. So it's a bigger challenge for you. But I'm willing to take that as a challenge, and I'm really looking forward to all of those matches. A lot of tough ones, and I just want to go after it. I don't really think too much about pressure or whatever. I just want to enjoy it."
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The Real Reason Why Ivanovic Wanted to Qualify for Doha
What inspired Ana Ivanovic to become such a good player that she could qualify for the Sony Ericsson Championships? Not the money, not the ranking points. Not even the prestige it would give her.
"You know, maybe when I started to play on the WTA Tour and I saw the Championship was held during my birthday I always thought it would be the best birthday present to get. Last year I had the honor to have it there and this year as well. So I'm very, very happy to be able to celebrate my birthday here. Yeah, it's a great feeling."
Ana will be 21 on Thursday.
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Kuznetsova Likes the Round-Robin Format at Doha
This is the only week of the year that the women play a round-robin format. And that is good news for Svetlana Kuznetsova, who lost her opening match at the Sony Ericsson Championships to Vera Zvonareva. She’s still alive in the competition, so is she confident she can still make the semi-finals?
"Well, definitely I am," she said. "But it's weird. This is what is very weird about this tournament. You lose and you still play tomorrow, and you still have two chances to win. You never get a chance to play tournaments like this, only once a year. It's very unusual for me.
But yeah, definitely, I'm positive. Maybe I play better tomorrow, who knows. I can play very good next matches. You never know. But it's also a good opportunity for me to play against the best players here and improve my tennis. Doesn't matter how it goes."
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Jankovic Recognizes the Importance of Good Health
Jelena Jankovic had lost all her matches against Ana Ivanovic, except one. But that was before she became healthy and world number one, and that makes a difference. Win number two came on the opening day of the Sony Ericsson Championships.
"Against some players you have a little bit more difficulties," said Jankovic. "It doesn't matter the ranking that she is or whoever it is. Just the style of play doesn't really suit yours, and you have some trouble. But I have improved so much since the last time we have played. I've been working very hard. I also haven't had injuries.
"When we (last) played, in the French Open, I had a problem with my arm which didn't allow me to really play my game. I was suffering and struggling, and it really was not easy for me. But since the Olympics I've had no health problems. I’ve been able to work on my game and results are coming. I've been winning a lot of matches and I'm a completely different player."
Ivanovic can recognize the change in her opponent’s game after her recent tournament victories.
"She has more confidence, that's for sure. Winning three tournaments in a row this fall, and she's playing some good tennis, yeah. She's always been very consistent. But just with some shots, you know, like coming to the net with the volleys and spin volleys, even in a difficult situations she goes for shots which normally tactically you wouldn't go for it, and she still makes them. That's some little signs that you can tell that someone has confidence going for these kind of shots."
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Ivanovic Has Learned How to Respond to Injuries
Ana Ivanovic has drawn a valuable lesson from the injury that forced her out of the Beijing Olympics. It was a shattering experience for her, and it was hard for her to accept the consolation that she still has plenty of chances to play the event in London in 2012 and beyond.
"Yeah, you know, I learned that injuries are part of the sport, and you have to accept them. I've been working so hard on my fitness, and I was really fortunate with my injuries that I (had) managed to prevent them, you know.
"Now after this injury, I realize how actually grateful you should be when you're healthy, even if you lose the match. It's not a big deal, you know. To have this at first place. Yeah it just was very frustrating at the time. I was feeling very down on myself. You know, why did I get injured? It was such a frustrating injury as well, because no one could actually pinpoint what was wrong.
"So I learned that in the future if I start having pains here and there a little bit, you should straightaway take steps to discover what it is, and prevent it and solve it straightaway. Rather than I kept playing with this for a few weeks, you know, even though I had so much pain. Then afterwards it took much, much longer to heal. So, yeah, that's something that for sure learned."
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Opponents Sense a New Confidence Coming From Jankovic
Ana Ivanovic is just one player who can detect a new level of confidence in reigning world number one Jelena Jankovic. Having beaten her fellow Serb in six of their seven career meetings, most recently in the 2008 French Open semi-finals, Ivanovic fell 6-3 6-4 in their round-robin match at the Sony Ericsson Championships on Tuesday.
"Well, she's always been very consistent," said Ivanovic. "But just with some shots, you know, like coming to the net with the volleys and spin volleys. Even in a difficult situation when she goes for shots which normally tactically you wouldn't go for, and she still makes them. That's some little signs that you can tell that someone has confidence going for these kind of shots. Yeah, she definitely has it."
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We Hear—
--that Hamburg has agreed to be a 500 series event in 2009, not a 1000 series (Masters Series) event.
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THIS WEEK
MEN
No events scheduled
WOMEN
Doha – Tour Championships
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NEXT WEEK
MEN
Shanghai – Tour Championships
WOMEN
No events scheduled
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Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Tuesday’s Stock Prices
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Adidas
19.75
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Amer Sports
4.10
0.00
Head
2.10
0.00
K-Swiss
14.02
-.50
Nike
56.22
+.38
Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $96.19
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
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