Thursday, October 1, 2009
BUSINESS NEWS
Murray is Planning his 2009 Playing Schedule Very Carefully
As expected Andy Murray’s problems with inflamed tendons in his left wrist have forced the world no.3 to pull out of next week’s Rakuten Japan Tennis Championships in Tokyo and the Scot’s participation in the upcoming Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 the following week remains uncertain.
Although MRI scans have shown 22 year-old Murray is suffering no long-term damage to his non-racket arm, he is determined not to endanger his chances of contesting either the calendar ending ATP World Tour Championships at London’s 02 Arena or next January’s Australian Open where he is determined to mount a concerted campaign to win his first major title.
Since playing three rubbers in as many days for the British Davis Cup team in their Euro African Zone Group One playoff with Poland nearly two weeks ago, Murray has been making regular visits to the London Harley Street specialist that guided the recovery to the far more serious wrist injury that kept him out of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2007.
Using his official website (AndyMurray.com) to announce the news of him not playing Tokyo, a statement from his management company 19 Entertainment read: “Unfortunately Andy Murray has had to withdraw from the Tokyo event. Andy is disappointed not to be competing in Japan but on the basis of medical advice, he has decided to give his left wrist further time to recover.
“His injury is improving on a daily basis and Andy is very close to resuming full training. The wrist will be assessed again this weekend.”
Murray has previously made his long term aims clear and does not want this nagging injury to effect them in any way. He was quoted recently as saying: “"There's a big tournament in London at the end of the year and I want to make sure I'm fit for that.”
After the Davis Cup tie he also said: “"The pain's bearable but I need to decide what to do next. It's such a short turnaround at the end of the year, and the preparations for Australia have to be very good because of the conditions so I need to decide when I can fit in a long break.
"Whether that's 14 days or longer, you just have to be careful with wrists and not keep playing when there's something wrong because the problem doesn't go away."
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Sharapova to Play in South American Tour Next Month
Most years there are many who view Maria Sharapova’s off-season playing excursions as unnecessary and merely money making exercises. But the former no.1 and three times major champion is now making up for lost playing time after being forced to miss almost nine months with shoulder issues and sees a South American tour as the perfect way to maintain her competitive rehabilitation while her rivals are resting and regrouping.
So Sharapova and Gisela Dulko, the Argentine who knocked her out of this year’s Wimbledon and rates as another of tennis’ glamour queens, will play a three city South American tour between November 29 and December 4.
Conservative estimates say that Sharapova could earn roughly $1million from the tour which begins on November 29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil before switching to Santiago Chile on December 2 and then on to Dulko’s home town of Buenos Aires December 4.
"Maria is very excited about playing this Tour," said Max Eisenbud, IMG Senior Vice President, who manages Sharapova. "She is aware of her large fan base in the region and she’s looking forward to meeting her supporters and seeing and experiencing these amazing countries for the first time."
Sharapova went on a similar three city tour of Japan four years ago and reportedly wants to an off-season trip an annual event, primarily targeting cities and countries where she hasn’t played.
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Santoro is Facing the End of His Playing Career
Fabrice Santoro has just a few more tournaments to play until he brings down the curtain on a remarkable 21 year career at Bercy in Paris - the same location that will also mark the end of Marat Safin’s career. But while Safin has long made no secret of the fact that he is counting the days until he can go off and do other things with the result that his commitment during his final season has often been questioned, Santoro insists he has remained focused. On court anyway.
"I have four tournaments to go and I want to do well," he said in Bangkok. "My desire is still just as strong on the court, but it's off the court where it's not the same. I don't train as much as I used to. I'd rather spend time with friends or at home than go to the gym. But I still go out to try and win every match. On the court there is no difference at all in my attitude."
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Agassi Hosted Successful Fundraiser in Las Vegas
No tennis player has done more than Andre Agassi to raise money for good causes, with his college preparatory academy so far assisting around 600 underprivileged children gain a better life through education. Last weekend a fundraising concert that featured comedian Dane Cook, singer Brian McKnight and rock band Daughtry drew in not only a fantastic $8 million, but a gift of $7.5 million.
The gift came from the Nevada-based Engelstad Family Foundation, which announced that it is donating that sum over the next five years to set up an organization named Sponsor Our Students Campaign at Agassi Prep.
"I am blown away by the tremendous support we have gotten this year at the Grand Slam," Agassi. "From the incredible group of artists who gave their time and talents to the generosity of the Engelstad Family Foundation and all of our supporters, this is a shining moment for us. I am also proud to be introducing our new name, logo and Website, which will more effectively spread the word about our educational mission."
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WTA Tour’s Hero Program Coming to a Close
Five finalists in the 2009 Heroes Among Us Program have been announced by the WTA Tour. They were selected by a panel of judges based on their leadership and commitment to serving as role models and mentors to young women in their communities. The winner, based on fan votes, will receive a prize package for two to attend the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, including tickets to the final, roundtrip airline tickets, accommodation, transportation, behind-the-scenes access at the tournament and tickets to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Year-End Party.
The Heroes Among Us program follows in the footsteps of the Tour’s global partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to raise awareness of gender equality issues and create leadership opportunities for women. Venus Williams, along with fellow Tour players Vera Zvonareva, Tatiana Golovin and Zheng Jie and Tour founder Billie Jean King, serve as UNESCO Promoters of Gender Equality to help raise awareness about issues of importance to women worldwide, and to create leadership opportunities for women through the funding of programs in Cameroon, Liberia, Dominican Republic, China, Jordan and the United States.
The finalists, selected by an advisory panel including Venus Williams; Stacy Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and S. Gulser Corat, UNESCO Director of the Division for Gender Equality, are:
Tony Brock is the Director of the Safe Passage Tennis Program, a tennis program for underprivileged boys and girls, ages 8?18. Brock works tirelessly to help underprivileged children recognize their dreams by encouraging them on and off the court.
Ella Brown-Hughes, a single parent of five children, operates a shelter for homeless families in her community. Brown-Hughes provides training and education to the homeless by offering opportunities to receive a GED or on-the-job training. She also offers life education classes that teach skills such as how to manage money or how to dress for success.
Suniti Marathe has been a high school teacher in India for over 20 years and is dedicated to promoting literacy in her community. She operates a children’s library in her home to provide the underprivileged youth in her village with the opportunity to read and write.
Jill Massie-Braun, a recent survivor of breast cancer, is a cheerleading and gymnastics coach who has spent her life working with women and girls to help them realize their dreams and ambitions. In addition to her work in athletics, Massie-Braun is an advocate for children and families living with autism and has helped promote an understanding of autism by educating the local school system on the rights and needs of autistic kids.
Maureen Rankine, diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder called Myasthenia Gravis, has dedicated her life to helping others. Rankine started three non-profit tennis groups, Tennis Against Breast Cancer, the Montego Bay Tennis Program and the Association of Minority Tennis Pros, to encourage youth to strive for success both in tennis and in life.
Voting for the Heroes Among Us award recipient is taking place now through October 4. To cast a vote for the winner, fans can visit http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/heroesamongus.
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Ivanisevic Reminisces Over His Pro Career
Goran Ivanisevic, the only wild card Wimbledon champion (he was #125 at the time and could not make main draw), had to cut short his career, but he has never felt nostalgia for old times.
“I play on veteran circuit, I won a few, but that is uncomparable with professional tennis,” underlines the 38 year-old Ivanisevic. “I play 6-7 tournaments per year, enjoy companionship of old friends and that is enough. I had played 17 years in top flight and if someone would tell me now that I have to get up at seven o’clock every morning and to work seven or eight hours daily, I would answer that I would prefer to stand in front of firing squad.”
There have been a lot of ups and downs in Ivanisevic’s career. He chooses two highlights. “One is winning Wimbledon in 2001. I didn’t want to finish career without Grand Slam title. Another is opening ceremony of Barcelona Olympics in 1992. I carried Croatian flag only a year after Croatia became independent state. At the end I won two bronze medals.”
For biggest disappointment he chooses rankings. “I have never been #1. I think I deserved it”.
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We Hear---
--that Mark Philippoussis will make his tour debut in the ATP Champions Tour in London in December.
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THIS WEEK
MEN
Bangkok
WOMEN
Tokyo
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NEXT WEEK
MEN
Beijing
Tokyo
WOMEN
Beijing
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