Thursday, November 6, 2008
BUSINESS NEWS
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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Time for Roddick to Hire a Coach
By Charles Bricker
Andy Roddick is probably going to select a new coach, the sixth of his professional career, some time after the Masters Cup and in plenty of time to begin mapping an off-season training program, and two names that keep popping up are Paul Annacone and Justin Gimelstob.
Annacone would come as no surprise because of his savvy, experience and long association with Pete Sampras. Gimelstob, however, might surprise many.
He may be seen by many as too young (32 in January) and something of a loose cannon. But this is not the Gimelstob you knew in his playing days. Notwithstanding his ill-advised rant against Anna Kournikova prior to the WTT season, he's smart enough and respected enough to have been elected to the ATP's Player Council and a lot of people got insight into his coaching abilities from listening to his wisdom on Tennis Channel broadcasts.
Gimelstob has one other key element working in his favor. He's a close friend of Roddick. They've hung out. They've double-dated when Roddick was courting fiancé Brooklyn Decker. And only recently Roddick has mused about how lonely the tour has become in his eighth pro year.
Roddick's previous pro coaches:
Tarik Benhabiles: Not a great sense of humor, but a man with a driven sense of discipline. The perfect early-Roddick coach.
Dean Goldfine: Connected with Roddick in Davis Cup ties. Quiet wisdom.
Brad Gilbert: Antic, loud, Mr. Personality. Has his own web site. Maybe a little too "cool" after having 15 to 20 meals a week with him for a year and a half.
John Roddick: Who knows you better than your brother? But being coached by a relative is always tough. Where do family ties end and coaching begin?
Jimmy Connors: The most experienced of Roddick's coaches and he infused Roddick with a give-me-victory-or-give-me-death mentality.
Annacone has two years left on a contract as a part-time coach for the Lawn Tennis Association of Britain, but insiders say he can bust the deal if he has a chance to link up with Roddick. Maybe the money won't be as good (he's getting a small fortune from the LTA), but it will give him a chance to re-connect with U.S. tennis. He's no rah-rah coach. He's quiet, cerebral and effective.
If Gimelstob doesn't wind up with Roddick, it's easy to see him coaching elsewhere. There are players who require not just a coach with experience and knowledge, but someone with whom they feel comfortable. This is a one-on-one sport, and Gimelstob is never boring.
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Worldwide Tennis Economy Boosted by Recreation Programs
By Liza Horan
While many admit there's a correlation between the success of a country's pro players to spur tennis participation there, those on the front lines put more stock in organized efforts to get racquets in hands and bodies on courts.
"People think it's pro tennis that gets people playing, but just because they're watching tennis, doesn't mean they're picking up a racquet," says Michele Krause, who heads Cardio Tennis [CardioTennis.com]. "Grassroots efforts make the difference."
The tennis business is driven by the number of players and frequency of play. For several years the U.S. and the Netherlands, among others, have struggled with ways to stem the "leaky bucket" syndrome of people leaving the game.
"A report by a large chain of British tennis and fitness centers showed that it cost over 10 times more to attract and induct a new member as it did to retain one," the ITF's James Newman [ITFTennis.com] explains. "Therefore the benefits to clubs and commercial centers should be greater if retention is successful."
If people aren't playing, they're not buying services like instruction or goods like gear and apparel. But two programs—the TIA's Cardio Tennis and the ITF's Play & Stay--are systematically increasing participation and boosting the worldwide tennis economy.
Cardio Tennis, an on-court aerobic workout that involves drills and movements yet doesn't require technical skill, was launched by the TIA in fall 2005 to showcase the health benefits of tennis and attract the fitness set to the game. The ITF launched Play & Stay as a starter program that offers quick results for enjoyment and engagement on the court. Partner programs for children under age 10 includes the USTA's QuickStart Tennis and "mini tennis" in several European countries.
"A business can ill afford to not have QuickStart Tennis," says Ajay Pant, national tennis director for Midtown Clubs in the U.S. "Simple math: More bodies on court equates to more revenue dollars. In addition, kids will continue to play and retention will go up. Due to the fun and success factor, kids will also sign up for multiple play-based classes."
Both Cardio Tennis and Play & Stay are spreading like wildfire, and they are impacting the bottom line for facilities and equipment sales.
Within 15 months of the Cardio Tennis launch in fall 2005, 74 percent of facilities running the program reported a financial benefit from it. The average increase in revenue was 13 percent, according to the TIA.
Equipment sales are up thanks to Play & Stay, which uses slower balls so new players can "serve, rally and score" quickly, says Newman: "The number of ITF approved slower balls available has grown rapidly over the last year. As with the U.S., the rise in global sales of these balls will be significant--there are nations buying in large quantities that simply were not importing the balls before."
Ball sales are a gateway product to higher-priced goods like racquets, shoes and apparel. Realizing that instruction can pave the way, national governing bodies are rapidly adopting both Cardio Tennis and Play & Stay.
Birol Vural, a member of the Turkish Tennis Federation's Coaches Education group, reports that the country is training coaches in both programs to increase participation. About 130 coaches have been trained to run Cardio Tennis this year.
Turkey is one of more than 60 nations to implement Play & Stay. Another 50 countries have started educating coaches and promoting the program. The ITF's Development Department is holding the Tennis Play & Stay Seminar 2008 in London from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1. Krause is set to promote Cardio Tennis there, as well.
In the U.K., more than 250 coaches have been trained to run Cardio Tennis at schools, clubs and community facilities. A little star power never hurts, either: Tim Henman's help launching Cardio Tennis at the Esporta Clubs chain sparked sign-ups. Now approximately 300 people per week are participating, according to Sam Richardson, the LTA's coach support manager.
The Portuguese Tennis Federation trained coaches--including Nuno Marques, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 86—and launched Play & Stay in June. "I am really very motivated with this program," Marques said in a report by the federation. "(We) believe in it. We are going to try and infuse a new dimension to it and, using the media to a great length, (make) it reach everyone."
The pick-up of Cardio Tennis in Japan has been most enthusiastic, according to Miyuki Saito of Cardio Tennis Japan (cardiotennis-japan.com). The classes there tend to run bigger and can take place in classrooms rather than on court. In one year, 24 sites have adopted the program.
"Beginning in April of 2008 the HOS Kosaka Fitness/Tennis Club introduced their Cardio Tennis program to its fitness members," Saito says of one club that runs the class four days per week. "To date the Cardio Tennis program has received an extremely positive response from its participating members. With an average of 20 participants per class and most attendees (90%) registering for future classes on the same day, HOS Kosaka Fitness/Tennis Club is very excited about future participation."
With the stuttering worldwide economy, betting on "futures" of this kind seems like a sure thing.
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Borg Mourns the Death of Lennart Bergelin
Bjorn Borg was in mourning after hearing the man who acted as his mentor on the path to tennis legendary status had passed away. Lennart Bergelin, Sweden's first major winner and coach as his young protégé won 11 major singles titles at Wimbledon and the French Open, has died at the age 83 following a short illness.
Borg was in Shanghai working with HSBC Sporting Exchange with four graduates from the bank's Road to Wimbledon tournament when the news was broken to him. He had last seen Bergelin 11 days ago in Stockholm.
"It's very sad," said Borg. "This has been a very distressing year for me in some ways because I lost my father (Rune) in March and now the man who almost became my other father has gone as well.
"I saw Lennart one last time and we talked about how I was doing and what my schedule was going to be. He seemed very interested as always and knowing he has passed on is very difficult for me."
Long before unearthing Borg's talent, Bergelin was considered one of Sweden's best players, repeatedly figuring on International lists of the world's best players between 1946 and 1955. He also played in 90 Davis Cup events and reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon four times.
Between 1946 and 1951, he won four international tournaments and in 1948 became the first Swede to win the Paris Grand Slam doubles competition, partnered with Jaroslav Drobny. He finished his career with 20 national championships - 9 single and 11 doubles and was given the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal, awarded for the most significant Swedish sports achievement of the year, in 1950 at the height of his playing career.
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Gael Monfils Signs with Prince
Gael Monfils, 22, signed an endorsement contract with Prince in Paris last week. This took place after he had been testing on the tour, a new Prince model that will be officially revealed in the new 2009 line.
His results last month were very much to his liking; he beat two top 15 players and reached his first ATP final in more than a year. He also jumped 14 spots in the rankings list. He is now no. 14 in the world.
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Venus Williams is Excited about President-Elect Obama
Although as a Jehovah’s Witness Venus Williams does not involve herself in politics, she could not disguise her appreciation at the outcome of the voting in the American election and the fact that an African American will enter the White House as President for the first time.
"Yeah, obviously America is a wonderful place. I love my country, and I love living there. I love my passport," she said after beating Elena Dementieva in Doha.
"But also it is a country that since almost since its beginning, since it was supposed to be a place where people were escaping intolerance, it became a country that was really intolerant of different minorities and skin colors.
"So it's interesting, because my parents, my dad grew up in Louisiana, a place where he was called Boy and shown no respect. Where he couldn't say anything. You know, his mother was a poor sharecropper. You know, so I'm very close to what things were like in the past.
"So I think it's amazing that America has the opportunity to have someone who is a minority or mixed race or whatever you want to call it. Hopefully, it will just give more people opportunities and more people will work hard and say, yeah, I can be my best, too, no matter what my background is."
That has not been an incentive for her, however, as she rose from living in a deprived area of Los Angeles to earn over US$20 million and luxury that most people can only dream of.
"I think just my competitive spirit drives me forward more than anything," she said. "Of course, I'm proud of who I am and my heritage. Most people are, I think, so that's just normal."
Serena also felt joy that Obama had succeeded, and it boosted her spirits when she went on court to face Dinara Safina.
"It's just really seeing him, Obama, with his wife and his kids and just seeing the African-American and just how they're going to be the first family is really - it really takes words away. I got choked up. I was just thinking about Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and all the pioneers that let me, and Althea Gibson, why I'm playing tennis today. All of these people - Arthur Ashe who led the way for us, it's amazing.
"Yeah, I did feel a little proud out there tonight. It's just a great time to be black right now in the United States. Everyone's proud. I did feel like my chest stuck out a little bit."
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Ivanovic Changes Her Preparations for the Australian Open
Last year Ana Ivanovic prepared for the Australian circuit by practicing at the LTA’s new facility in the UK. It appeared to be successful as she reached the semis in Sydney and then the final of the Australian Open. But this year she’s making a change.
"First I'm going to go back to Serbia and probably visit my grandparents. They have a house in the mountains, and just spend a quiet week there and just enjoy. I'm sure they will spoil me," she said. "Then we're planning to go to Australia earlier. I will spend some time in Belgrade with some friends and family, you know, just take it easy. Then start with fitness first. Then go to Australia, beginning of December.
"We're going to go to Noosa this year. I'm going to play Brisbane, which is the first tournament, and then we'll stay close to Brisbane. And after preparation, just drive down to Brisbane. My fitness coach is convincing me it's a good surf there (Noosa). He wants me to surf."
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Kournikova Has Thoughts of Returning to the Pro Tour
Despite off-court success and international celebrity status, the desire to somehow, someday play again lingers deep within Anna Kournikova.
The Russian who created the template a decade ago for today's band of camera-friendly Eastern European ball-bashers admits that she would love to be able to return to the doubles court.
Still just 26, Kournikova has had to content herself with a celebrity endorsement career after back problems forced her away from the WTA five years ago. She also keeps her hand in the sport with exhibitions and World TeamTennis in the summer.
"Occasionally, I get those kind of thoughts," Kournikova told local media as she played an exhibition in Dallas as a sideshow to a senior event. "Maybe one day I'll do it, but I don't know.
"I don't like to speculate because people start to ask me about it all the time, and they start waiting for some kind of announcement. Until I really know for sure, I don't like to say anything because people speculate too much."
Kournikova, while never winning a singles title, held four major doubles trophies: Australian Open women (1999 and 2002 with Martina Hingis), and mixed doubles titles at the US Open (2000, Max Mirnyi) and Wimbledon (1999, Jonas Bjorkman).
Kournikova doesn't have to look far to see her legacy with Eastern Europeans - including five Russians - dominating the WTA ranking Top 10.
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Ivanovic Explains Her Dizziness This Week
Ana Ivanovic, who celebrates her 21st birthday today with a day off in Doha, has explained why she has needed attention for dizziness during both her matches this week.
"I don't like to complain, but ever since I came here I wasn't feeling really well," she revealed. "I got a virus and I had pain in my throat. So from the first day I wasn't feeling so good, but obviously I didn't want to talk about it and maybe give advantage to other player knowing that.
But it was very hard for me to breathe, and I was struggling. I was feeling very dizzy and light headed so it was very tough. A couple days ago I started to feel bad in my stomach, too. I couldn't eat much for the last couple of days. You know, with the lack of energy, it was a little bit hard."
Assuming she feels okay, how was she planning to spend her birthday?
"I don't know. My sparring partner's friend here has jet ski, so he said, ‘I'll take you out. We'll have fun.’ But I don't know, you know, feeling so dizzy I don't want to fall off and get injured. But I think I will have dinner with my family. It's a very nice thing. Then when I go back home I will celebrate again with my grandparents and the rest of the family."
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Dementieva Wonders About Her Performance at Tour Championships
She’s played the end-of-season Championships since 2000, missing just one year (2007). She does so well to get there, but Elena Dementieva’s record in the event is dismal, with just three wins in her 18 matches so far.
"I just feel it's not my tournament. Playing for so many times and never make it to the semis. Just once when I played for the first time. I don't know what's wrong with me. I mean, maybe November is not my month."
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Zvonareva Reveals Why She “Hides” Under a Towel on Changeovers
Vera Zvonareva has made a great start in Doha, winning her opening two matches. But despite her success she still hides her head under her towel at every changeover. Why?
"I think it just helps me to concentrate on myself," she said. "You know, the court is big, music is loud, the crowd is around, so I sort of just relaxing because I have to go back out there and try to concentrate as hard as I can."
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We Hear—
--that two well-known tennis businesses are close to folding.
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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
Wednesday’s Stock Prices
Stock
Last
Change
Adidas
18.39
-1.36
Amer Sports
4.10
0.00
Head
2.10
0.00
K-Swiss
14.03
+.01
Nike
52.78
-3.44
Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $91.40
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
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Results
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