Monday, November 30, 2009

VARIETY

Tennis Tip of the Day:

Today’s playing tip comes from Oscar Wegner. To learn more about Wegner, go to www.tennisteacher.com.

This week's tip on timing is very simple, but powerful.

Fact number one: players of all levels have good days and bad days.

Fact number two: most players, including professionals, are not certain on how to fix a bad day and make it a good one. They don't know the underlying cause, and they may blame a bad performance, from player to player, on many different things.

Fact number three: on bad days, 99% of the time it is your timing that is throwing the rest off.

People either tend to rush or they do too much too early. That is, 99.9% of the time the player is not tracking the ball long enough before hitting it.

Fact number four: it is easy to fix a bad day. You just have to correct the mother of all errors, the one underlying cause: bad timing. After that, everything starts feeling better and you can trust your strokes as much as on a good day.

Therefore, when you are in trouble, check your timing and apply the solution: track the ball longer and longer, waiting as much as possible, tracking it with your eyes, your racquet, your hand. You may be running to reach the ball, but your hand is stalking it, still in front. Forget about having to be perfectly positioned, forget about racquet preparation, forget about thinking at all. Just track the ball as if you were going to catch it with your hand or to stop it with the racquet, then give it your usual whack!

You may lose some power in the process, but you'll be confident that the ball is going in the court.

Then you can go for power again, increasing the amplitude of your swing. If your timing is still good, you'll feel wonderful: your power strokes are going in and in.

Most players, including pros, may think this is too easy a solution, and don't believe in miracles. I'd like to insist: if there are some possible miracles in your tennis, this is one of them.

***

Tennis Hint of the Day

Bruce Gullikson provides today’s tennis hint:

Use your non-dominant hand as a counter weight on a one-handed backhand or one-handed backhand volley. Typically, however far your dominant hand releases forward your non-dominant hand should go that same distance backward to help with balance and control.
***

Book Review

Tennis Variety contributor Karen k Pestaina reviews the recently released  book  "On The Line" by Serena Williams with Daniel Paisner

Many times when athletes write memoirs with assistance by noted authors, their "voice" gets "lost in translation" to paper. No worries for Serena Williams, whose book "On The Line" (Grand Central Publishing 2009) written with Daniel Paisner speaks to readers with her own true voice. In "On the Line" Serena Williams "cherry-picks" stories from her life and career to share with readers.

The most heart-felt portions of the work are her personal stories involving her family life while growing up, her sister’s death, her bouts with depression, issues with body image, fashion and her trips to Africa.

The book gives a clear sense about how her role as the youngest sibling has been the key to her competitive personality, especially growing up in a tough neighborhood and living in the shadow of her sister Venus. Serena Williams, a Jehovah’s Witness, also reveals her feelings about her religious faith and the role it plays in her life.

Not to be missed is the chapter "The Fiery Darts of Indian Wells," where she discusses the 2001 incident in detail and explains why she will never play there again.

In the chapter titled "So-and-So Slam," (Serena’s name for the "Serena Slam" where she captured four major titles in succession from the 2002 French Open through the 2003 Australian Open) credits her superb play over that period of time to channeling her anger into her game as a result at being dumped by her first love.

Williams includes her actual 2008 U.S. Open journal and closing thoughts on her life as a "work in progress." In fairness, with so many stories to tell in her short life, it must have been difficult to pick and choose what to write about. I would have liked to have read more about her thoughts on her first major win when she captured the 1999 U.S. Open title, becoming the first member of her family to win a "slam," considering her sister Venus was the more highly touted "star" of the family at that point in time.

There were also some informational "gaps" in terms of some of the family stories which could have been filled easily by asking her father Richard Williams for some clarification.

For those who purchase the book, it includes several family photographs, in addition to some of her "tennis fashion moment shots" including the Puma catsuit, the Nike jean tennis skirt and her signature large "Serena" hoop earrings.

I’ll count this book as part one of many future parts of a very intricate life both on and off court.

***

ATP World Finals—Final Thoughts

* Nikolay Davydenko became the first Russian in tournament history (since 1970) to capture the year-end title. Besides Davydenko’s runner-up effort last year, Yevgeny Kafelnikov was a finalist in 1997 (lost to Pete Sampras).

* The 21-year-old finalist Juan Martin del Potro was trying to become the third Argentine to win the year-end championships, after David Nalbandian in 2005 and Guillermo Vilas in 1974.

* Davydenko and del Potro met for the fourth time, with the Russian now holding a 3-1 lead

* Their last meeting before Sunday came last year in Shanghai with Davydenko prevailing 6-3, 6-2 in round-robin play.

* Davydenko is now 5-0 in finals this season (19-5 in career).

Source: ATP

***

Quote of the Day

"He's very fast. You know, he runs to everywhere. He plays like PlayStation. It is very difficult to make winners against him.”

Juan Martin del Potro, who fell in the final to Nikolay Davydenko, 6-3, 6-4, in the season-ending ATP World Finals.  
***

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Monday, November 30, 2009

WORLD NEWS

HEAD Extends ATP Sponsorship for Three Years
HEAD NV has announced the extension of their partnership with the ATP until the end of 2012. The agreement between HEAD and the ATP was made during the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London when executives convened to discuss the successful partnership that began in 1994, the longest agreement of any current partner of the ATP.
Under the agreement, HEAD/Penn will continue to be the official tennis racquet, tennis ball, and tennis bag of the ATP and will be the official ball of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London until 2012.
***
London Event was a Success But Not Perfect
As the curtain came down for the first time on the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in a five year stay at London’s O2 Arena, the general impression was the tournament was a success although in need of some distinct fine tuning.
Nine of the 15 sessions of the eight day long event were played in front of capacity 17,500 crowds but a large proportion of these could not stay to the end of the night singles matches because poor scheduling saw play extending close to midnight.
Concerns about the practicalities of the public actually getting home because the last trains are considerably earlier on London’s Underground than subway systems in other comparable cities such as New York, Paris or Madrid were overlooked.
On night two several thousand spectators were left marooned outside the adjacent North Greenwich tube station and tournament director Brad Drewett admits there must be some fine tuning.
"There's always a review process and we'll look at ways to make it bigger and better next year," he said. "That will include the schedule and the timing. If we can bring it forward, we will."
There are other issues; most notably the ludicrous situation after Juan Martin del Potro beat Roger Federer in his concluding round robin match and nobody would officially state whether he or Andy Murray had moved through to the semi-finals.
The blame seemed to be firmly attached to the ATP World Tour’s Executive Vice President of Rules and Competition Gayle David Bradshaw or Tournament Supervisor Thomas Karlberg but neither would make an official announcement for more than 20 minutes.
"We're going to review our procedures and in the future we will aim to make a better job," Drewett said. "We agree it wasn't ideal. Can we shorten the procedures? Yes."
Drewett admitted that it was a difficult situation for both the players and the crowd at the O2 Arena, and that it was an unprecedented situation. Del Potro eventually move through when it was revealed the more successful player was based on a mathematical equation involving games won and lost. But Drewett added: "The first thing is to get it right.
"When you come down to 0.5%, human nature is that you want to check it a few more times, it was clearly very, very close. It's the first time it's happened, ever, I think, certainly in the last 20 years." There are certain procedures that need to be followed.
Drewett, also tournament director through the Tennis Masters Cup’s four year stay in Shanghai, continued: "The supervisor has to sign off on it but he also needs to be on court. Once the match finished he had to come back here to verify the calculation."
***
Indianapolis ATP Stop is Moving to Atlanta
The long standing Indianapolis Tennis Championships appear to have died a silent death with Atlanta, Georgia taking over the date on the ATP World Tour calendar from 2010 onwards.
Sources within the United States Tennis Association have confirmed that their Southern Section in Georgia is buying the late July date after the Indianapolis tournament has suffered three years of hardship with dwindling attendances and a loss of television revenue after losing the sponsorship of RCA and the decision of NBC not to screen the event.
In the halcyon days when top flight American stars such as Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi contested the event and former ATP Tour chief executive Mark Miles kept a close watch on his home town event week-long attendance figures topped 90,000 spectators. In recent years, attendance fell well below 70,000.
Recent news that Indianapolis Tennis Center was scheduled for demolition didn’t exactly spread optimism and Eli Lilly and Co. Inc., which tripled its sponsorship commitment since RCA pulled out, said they wouldn’t be able to commit to the local tennis tournament financially until the first quarter of 2010.
In recent weeks Atlanta-based marketing firm, The Forward Agency, has been soliciting sponsor for a July-staged men’s event. An online announcement from the firm’s owner, Jason Pritchett, appeared for a few weeks and advertised sponsorship opportunities for an ATP tournament to be held at the Atlanta Athletic Club that will be televised on ESPN2 and Tennis Channel.
The Indianapolis event can trace its history back to the Western Open, staged at Woodstock Country Club in 1920. Later it evolved into the U.S. Open Clay Court Championships, featuring both men and women before becoming the male-only U.S. Men’s Hardcourt Championships and RCA Championships.
Jim Whipkey, president of the Central Indiana Tennis Association, said “This tournament for years was a unique drawing card for the entire state, and its absence will put a sizable hole in the sports calendar. You simply can’t replace the type of attention this tournament brought this region with another sporting event. If it’s true, this is a very sad day.”
***
Williams Punishment Announcement Expected This Week
The ongoing mystery of what punishment awaits Serena Williams following her verbal onslaught at the line judge during the US Open semi-final against Kim Clijsters is likely to solved early this week.
This weekend saw the Grand Slam Committee go into their end of year meeting during the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at London’s 02 and final ratification of the female world no.1 is likely to be given.
Bob Larson’s Daily Tennis News understands the delay of the announcement is based upon requests from both Sony Ericsson WTA Tour chief executive Stacey Allaster and her ATP World Tour counterpart Adam Helfant. Neither wanted any announcement to mar the respective end of year tour championships in Doha and London.
It is also believed there was much astonishment at the comments made by International Tennis Federation president Francesco Ricci Bitti to Italian journalists during the Fed Cup final in Reggio Calabria.
Ricci Bitti said at the time a hefty fine for Williams would make more sense.
''I don't think [an Australian Open ban] would make much sense, because it would penalize the people handing out the punishment,'' maintained the long-time ITF chief. ''For the grand slam committee to exclude her from a grand slam doesn't seem likely.
''A significant financial penalty makes more sense. But it has to be significant enough for the fans [to appreciate] it.''
***
Querrey to Replace the Injured Fish in Atlanta Event
Sam Querrey has been recruited to replace the injured Mardy Fish in this week end’s tennis exhibition in Atlanta. This summer Querrey became the most talked about American man after winning the US Open Series and becoming the second highest ranked American at only twenty two years of age.
During his run to the US Open Series title, he defeated top ranked players such as Tommy Haas, Nikolay Davydenko and Andy Roddick.
Querrey will take on the third ranked American John Isner before Isner and Querrey team up to take on World # 1 the Bryan Brothers! Prior to the men's matches, fans will be treated to Marietta's own Melanie Oudin vs. Georgia Tech's Top ranked Irina Falconi.
***
Field of USTA Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs in Atlanta is Announced
All 16 players have been announced for the USTA Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs to be held in Atlanta this week end.
Male Players include Ryan Harrison(17), Alex Kuznetsov(22), Jesse Levine(22), Michael McClune(20), Wayne Odesnik(24), Jack Sock(17), Ryan Sweeting (22) and Donald Young(20).
Women players include Lauren Albanese (20), Madison Brengle(19), Julia Cohen(20) Ester Goldfeld(16), Christina McHale(17), Asia Muhammad(18), Allison Riske(19) and CoCo Vandeweghe(17).
These players were selected by Patrick McEnroe and the USTA Player Development. These are the players that the USTA currently feels have the brightest future for American Tennis. Winners of this event receive an automatic entry into the 2010 Australian Open main draw
***
Davenport Joins Shriver’s Tennis Exhibition Lineup
Former world No. 1 and Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsay Davenport will join the world’s No. 1 doubles team, Bob and Mike Bryan, and US Open giant killers Melanie Oudin and John Isner, for the BCF Tennis Challenge presented by The Baltimore Sun Media Group at the 1st Mariner on Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00 PM.   
Davenport, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, (US Open, Wimbledon, and Australian Open) and four-time Grand-Slam doubles champion was four times the WTA Tour year-end No. 1.  She has the distinction of being one of six players to reach the No. 1 world ranking in both singles and doubles.  Davenport also finished in the Top 20 in singles for 13 consecutive years.
The “Let it Rip” Reception and Auction, featuring the Bryan Bros. Band playing music from their new “Let it Rip” CD, will kick off Shriver’s 24^th annual charity fundraiser on Tuesday, December 8 at the Tremont Grand Hotel.
The BCF Tennis Challenge presented by The Baltimore Sun Media Group is the longest running annual charity event in the world. Since 1986, more than $4 million has been raised and distributed to area charities through Shriver’s partnership with the Baltimore Community Foundation.
The BCF Tennis Challenge will include World TeamTennis format and scoring, featuring members of the Orioles and Ravens mixing it up with the tennis pros in a pro-celebrity doubles match.
***
Djokovic Calls 2009 a Good Year
He didn’t successfully defend his Masters title, he didn’t finish a season in winning style, he failed to end a year as #2, but none of this will foil Novak Djokovic’s feeling of success at the last moments of 2009.
“There is no reason for me to feel sorry about anything,” said Djokovic after beating Nadal in London in vain. This was just a few hours after he was eliminated from O2 Arena in round robin because of Davydenko’s win over Soderling. “I have to be satisfied with a season in which I won five tournaments and played another five finals. It might have been better, but the difference between Federer, Nadal and me was in their better results on majors.”
Even though he was eliminated because of one set, he doesn’t detest Masters rules.
“I think it's good for the players who are participating in this tournament because you have three matches guaranteed. The round robin system is something that we tried to put into the regular tournaments, but it didn't work out in the end. But I think in Masters Cup, in World Tour Finals, it's actually good. In my situation maybe not now, because my destiny doesn't depend from myself, and didn't today. You know, but that's the way it is.”
Novak played ATP 2009 record of 97 matches.
“Well, this season was particularly special for all of us because it brought more commitment tournaments. From my side, I have played very solid on most of the events I played. I've played quarterfinals or more. It's not that maybe I've played too many tournaments. I had, next to the 18 tournaments that are counting as a ranking tournaments, a couple more aside. One of them was my hometown tournament which I couldn't miss. You know, I think in this moment there's too many obligations, too many commitments. But there's things that we have to change, but we can't change for next year. So I guess that we will have to try. From my side I will have to try to do everything I can to put priorities on events that I have to perform my best tennis in. Those are Grand Slams and 1000 events.”
Djokovic has already decided to shorten his ATP Calendar for next year. He erased Brisbane and Sydney and will start his year at Kooyong exhibition in Melbourne.  Then follow: Australian Open, Rotterdam, Dubai, Belgrade (Davis Cup against USA), Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Belgrade, Madrid and Roland Garros. The tournaments for second part of year will be published later.
***
Davydenko is Finally Somebody
You could call him Mr. Anonymous, but this week Nikolay Davydenko is $1.5 million richer after winning the ATP World Tour Finals. To do it, he beat all three champions of the majors in 2009, Rafael Nadal (Australian Open), Roger Federer (Roland Garros and Wimbledon) and Juan Martin del Potro (US Open). Now, hopefully, he will gain some recognition, even in his own country!
"I hope that I will become famous in Russia," he said after his victory at the O2 Arena in London. "For me it's really important. It was always disappointing when I played against Marat (Safin) and it was 80 percent support for him. I hope now Marat is finished everybody supports me."
Maybe he has only himself to blame for his low profile. While Safin often raised hell with umpires, tournament organizers and the ATP itself, was often seen in the company of a bevy of blondes and even showed up for one event with a black eye after being involved in a fist fight, Davydenko enjoys a quiet day fishing. But famous or not, he is ready to spend his prize money. First comes a vacation, and then house hunting before the next season gets underway.
"I will spend a lot of money in Maldives (next week)," he said. "But I'll still keep money because I want to buy an apartment still. I didn't buy an apartment in Moscow, it's so expensive."
With over $13 million now in career prize money, he shouldn’t find it too difficult to find a place to lay his head.
***
A Healthy Dokic is Ready for 2010
Jelena Dokic in January reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in spectacular fashion to re-establish herself after a lengthy period in the tennis wilderness. But then - nothing. She failed to build on her success in Melbourne, with a long period of mediocre results. Just two wins in main draw matches on the WTA Tour in a long period that stretched from Melbourne through the US Open hinted that her form in Australia had been just a blip on the radar.
But there was more to it than that. She withdrew from several tournaments with a lower back injury, and she was also diagnosed with sports fatigue syndrome which later translated to mononucleosis. Finally, in September, she was able to begin rebuilding - again - and the 26-year old has done so in - again - impressive fashion. She played five ITF events, and after a second round loss in the first two she won two titles and reached the final of another. The result has been that she has climbed back up to 57 in the world, her highest ranking in more than five years.
Now she will begin her buildup for the 2010 Australian Open first by playing at the Brisbane International in the first week of January, and then the Hobart International the week after.
***
Basuki is Ready to Have a Major Comeback
While much attention this year has been focused on the successful comeback of Kimiko Date Krumm, who won the Korea Open in Seoul a day before her 39th birthday, another previously retired Asian veteran has also been playing again with considerable success, albeit in doubles.
Yayuk Basuki, who herself turns 39 on November 30, has won six ITF doubles titles since her return in March 2008, mostly in partnership with fellow Indonesian Romana Tedjakasuma. This year she has built a 25-7 win/loss record, and last week in Tokyo she teamed up with Date Krumm in what must surely be one of the ‘oldest’ combinations in the history of the game with a combined age of 77! The second-seeded pair reached the semifinals before falling to Tamarine Tanasugarn (herself a veteran at 32) and youngster Marina Erakovic, aged 21.
After retiring from the Tour in 2004, Basuki worked as a coach, tennis commentator for TV and print media, and consultant to Indonesia's sports minister. She also served as a mentor to rising Indonesian star Angelique Widjaja under a Tour scheme.
***
Ricky's Notes
By Ricky Dimon

Nice, France will now host the ATP event that had been held in Kitzbuhel, Austria since 1945. The tournament will take place the week before the French Open on the clay courts of the Nice Lawn Tennis Club. The switch gives Nice its first ATP event since 1995 and it also means that France will host six tournaments--the French Open plus five ATP tournaments--in 2010. . . The ATP event in Indianapolis, which annually kicks off the U.S. Open Series, will move to Atlanta starting in 2010. The tournament has been without a title sponsor dating back to the end of RCA's association in 2006. It will now make its home at the Atlanta Athletic Club. . . Robin Soderling will kick off his 2010 campaign at the Chennai Open beginning January 4. Soderling is slated to be the top seed ahead of defending champion Marin Cilic. . . Andy Murray wants umpires to crack down on the oft-abused rule that says servers can take up to 25 seconds between points. "For me, if it's 25 seconds that you get between the points and if you're over a couple of times, there has to be a warning," Murray said after his win over Fernando Verdasco at the World Tour Finals. . . Novak Djokovic, who played an incredible 97 matches in 2009, was understandably worn out after his season ended in London. "It's just fatigue of the whole year," Djokovic said at the World Tour Finals. Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, missed a considerable amount of time and played 78 matches. "I've had enough breaks this year; too many, in my opinion. So I'm ready to start practicing and to start playing in 2010."
Spanish Davis Cup team doctor Angel Ruiz Cotorro confirmed on Sunday that the leg injury Verdasco suffered in London is only a minor problem. "It seems that the injury is not serious. Do not be alarmed. He suffered a spasm in the groin muscle of the right leg and will be monitored over the next few days.". . . Roger Federer is picking Spain, regardless of the team’s health situation, to beat the visiting Czechs. "For some reason I still favor the Spaniards to win, even if they don’t have Nadal and Verdasco,” Federer said in London. "They’ve got quite a few others in their arsenal of players.". . . David Ferrer arrived in Barcelona over the weekend to begin his Davis Cup training. . . "Preparation has gone as well as can be expected," explained Czech Republic captain Jaroslav Navratil. "We've been working hard and, most importantly, the players have no injury or health worries." Radek Stepanek has been training in Florida, but he will join the team in Barcelona this week prior to Friday's singles rubbers. . . Verdasco, Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez, Tommy Robredo, and 21-year-old Spaniard Guillermo Olaso will participate in the Bilbao Tennis Masters exhibition event in Bilbao, Spain from December 11-13.
World Tour Finals champion Nikolay Davydenko will be vacationing this week in the Maldives. In addition to spending some of his $1.5 million in earnings there, the 28-year-old Russian said he will look into buying an apartment in Moscow. . . Paul-Henri Mathieu will be coached by Olivier Malcor in 2010. Malcor, a 34-year-old Frenchman, reached a career-high ranking of No. 161 in April of 2000. . . Kei Nishikori, who has been sidelined with an elbow injury since March and underwent surgery in August, is doubtful for the upcoming Australian Open. "I can't make a schedule for the tour until my elbow is completely healed," said the 19-year-old Japanese sensation, who resumed training in October. "I still need one or two months to be back to 100 percent. I want to take part (in the Australian Open), but probably I can't.". . . Andy Roddick, who missed the World Tour Finals with a knee injury, is still on target for a return at next season's Brisbane International. "It's coming along well," Roddick assured last Tuesday. "We're probably a little bit ahead of where we thought we would be. I've been able to run in a straight line and hopefully next week I'll be able to get back on the courts and practice." Roddick plans to arrive in Australia prior to the New Year, earlier than he does under normal circumstances. . . Murray and former girlfriend Kim Sears, who had been together for four years, have split up. "Andy and Kim have mutually agreed to separate," said a spokesman for 19 Entertainment, Murray's management company. "They remain friends and ask for privacy at this time.". . . JamesBlakeTennis.com has announced a holiday giveaway open to anyone who signs up at the website. The tennis package prize features a Dunlop Aerogel racket, 52 cans of Dunlop tennis balls, a J-Block t-shirt, and an autographed copy of "Breaking Back," Blake's autobiography. . .
Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki were featured at an exhibition event in Barbados on Saturday night. In the one set they played against each other, Williams prevailed 6-4. Barbados' highest-ranked player, Haydn Lewis, fell to Jeff Tarango 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 in an exhibition match. . . Jelena Dokic will play in the Hobart International starting January 8 as she prepares to make another run at the Australian Open. Dokic reached the quarterfinals of this season's first Grand Slam event. . . Martina Hingis is expected to make a return to World Team Tennis in 2010. Hingis, who has ruled out a comeback the WTA Tour, was suspended for all of 2008 and 2009 due to a positive cocaine tennis. . . Former ATP world No. 1 Tomas Muster beat Sybille Bammer 6-3, 6-2 in a "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition showdown on Saturday. Muster needed one hour and 21 minutes to get past his fellow Austrian at the Salzburg Arena.

***

We Hear---
--that Phil Anderton, the ATP World Tour's Chief Marketing Officer, has tendered his resignation and intends to move to a new post as chief executive of a soccer club in Abu Dhabi. 
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup Finals
WOMEN
Off Season
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Off Season
WOMEN
Off Season
***
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***
Results
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Bob Larson's Daily Tennis News is published 
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

VARIETY

Tennis Tip of the Day:

Today’s tip is provided by Daniel Linley, a teaching professional at the Golden Gateway Tennis & Swim Club in San Francisco.

There is a relationship between the upper and lower body in every tennis stroke. When you incorporate your legs you can use your upper body more efficiently. Your legs generate power and stability and are as important to hitting a solid volley as they are to thumping a huge inside out forehand. More importantly, the volley isn’t about power as much as it is about early contact, which gives you control and consistency.

The more you use your legs on the volley the easier the shot will be. If you find yourself missing a lot of easy sitter volleys, pay attention to your lower body weight transfer. Focus on the crossover step to get your body to the ball, after the split step, of course. Keep the racquet stable with a slight shoulder turn.

Maintain a shortened swing (or punch) path as clean as possible and keep the shot simple. Use your legs for timing and consistency and your upper body for control and those volleys will make you a threat at net.

***

Wednesday’s Travel Tip

"A Pirate You Can Rely On!"

By Carl J. Gavine

In this age of rapid and constant change it can be comforting and gratifying to find that special something that will never let you down. I am referring to the tennis program at the Buccaneer Hotel on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the revolving door world of hospitality, where it almost isn't worth the effort of remembering the hotel staff members names, because they almost certainly will not be there when you return, there is one Tennis Director who stands out above all others. PTR Pro Don deWilde has run the Buccaneer tennis program for a staggering 30 years.

Not surprisingly, in such beautiful surroundings, Don remains as enthusiastic about his job as he did the day he started, three decades ago. The facility boasts eight laykold hard courts of which two are lit, a fully stocked pro shop with stringing service, and a ball machine. But, according to deWilde, "what makes the program really special is the wonderful blend of hotel guests and local members who play together on a daily basis and take part in the regular weekly events such as clinics and round robins."

They must be doing a great job because at least half the guests return year after year and are always delighted to be able to play again with the friends they made on previous visits.

Over the years deWilde has taught his fair share of celebrities including veteran NFL quarterbacks Warren Moon and Jim Kelly. The NBA's Julius Erving and M.A.S.H. star Alan Alda have also put the courts to good use, but the guest who stands out in deWilde's mind was the late Senator Edward Kennedy who stayed several times and always followed up his lessons with a hand written thank you note!

In fact the list of famous names to have registered at the Buccaneer Hotel is almost endless but includes tennis greats Arthur Ashe and Donald Dell, President Jimmy Carter, heavyweight boxing champion Floyd Patterson, actors Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall, television legend Johnny Carson and the "King of Pop", Michael Jackson.

The hotel was opened in 1947 by the Armstrong family who, amazingly, still own and manage the property to this day. Besides the luxury beach view rooms you will also find a par 70 Bob Joyce designed golf course, operated by golf pro Tim Johnston who has also spent well over 30 years at the Buccaneer Hotel. A full Spa service and beach and water sports are also available. It almost goes without saying that the climate here is perfect for tennis twelve months of the year.

Tennis lessons are a very reasonable $70 per hour and court fees are $18 per day ($22 at night). For more information about the Buccaneer Hotel and tennis program you can contact Don deWilde directly at (340) 773-3036 or by e-mail at ddewild@attglobal.net.  You can also see the hotel for yourself by visiting www.thebuccaneer.com.

So, Don deWilde is a name you can ink in to your address book because you will more than likely return, year after year, and the coach will be waiting for you.

***

Tennis Hint of the Day

Bruce Gullikson provides today’s tennis hint:

Avoid stepping too early on the backhand. Many players’ especially one-handers, step too early and then have no balance or force behind their stroke. Also many players take one huge stride when a couple smaller ones when close to the ball are usually better.
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Young Americans On The Rise

American Denis Kudla made the second-biggest leap in the ATP world rankings last week going from 1,711 to 1,078, a jump of 633 spots. Florida University’s newest recruit Sekou Bangoura Jr. raised his ranking 434 points from 1,711 to 1,277. Wimbledon Junior singles runner-up Jordan Cox went from 1,231 to 995, breaking into the Top 1,000 by moving up 236 spots.
***

Quote of the Day

“I thought the crowds were great. The lighting is unique. We don’t really see the crowd and the focus is very much on us. It’s a bit unusual. It’s not Wimbledon like, but still special obviously.”

Six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, impressed with the 02 Arena and the lighting at the ATP World Finals, which leaves the crowd in virtual darkness as the players duel on a vivid blue court.
***

Bob Larson, Publisher
Cort Larson, Editor
Steve Pratt, Editor - Variety
Bob Larson's Daily Tennis News,
Delivery via e-mail to all countries
Subscription rates are; $97USD a year, 
$57USD for Six months, $37USD for Three months.
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E-mail address
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Visit our website at
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(c)  Copyright 2009. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

WORLD NEWS

Davis Cup Team Nominations for World Group Final Announced

Team nominations for the 2009 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Final between Spain and Czech Republic, to be played in Barcelona on 4-6 December, have been announced.
Live scoring for the final will be available on DavisCup.com throughout the weekend, along with live audio commentary, game-by-game text commentary, in addition to match reports, interviews, blogs, photos and scorecards.
WORLD GROUP FINAL
SPAIN v CZECH REPUBLIC
Venue: Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona (clay - indoors)
Spain
Rafael Nadal
Fernando Verdasco
David Ferrer
Feliciano Lopez
Captain: Albert Costa
Czech Republic
Radek Stepanek
Tomas Berdych
Jan Hajek
Lukas Dlouhy
Captain: Jaroslav Navratil
***

Roddick Extends Endorsement Contract with Lacoste

While fellow top tenners Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are casting off one set of expensive tennis clothes to wear those of another manufacturer for an extremely lucrative contract, Andy Roddick is remaining true to his favored crocodile.
The American world no.6, currently sitting out the Barclays ATP Tour World Finals in London because of a knee injury, has renewed his contract to wear Lacoste for another four years, until the end of 2013.
Roddick, now managed by the French-owned Lagardere Unlimited, is fully committed to the Lacoste brand and in the New Year there are plans for him to market his own brand of male fragrance under the crocodile trademark as well as a move in the mobile/cell phone market.
Roddick, contracted to Reebok when he won the US Open and attained the world no.1 ranking in 2003 said of Lacoste: "It's been a pleasure to be associated with such a great brand the last five years.
Roddick, accompanied by his agent Ken Meyerson, added: "I really do appreciate the support that I get from what I call the Lacoste family.  I'm honored and happy to be in their plans moving forward.  I'm just really excited that we were able to work everything out."
The Austin, Texas-based player was insistent on traveling to London even though his injury, sustained in Shanghai, prevented him from taking his place in the tournament.
Roddick reported his recovery was ahead of schedule and his doctors had given him the all clear to return to the practice court next week. "The injury is coming along well," he said. 
"We're probably a little bit ahead of where we thought we would be. I've been able to run in a straight line, and hopefully next week I'll be able to get back out on the courts and practice.
"It is a different dynamic for me to be here and to be talking but not playing. It was a lot easier to deal with for me not being at this tournament when I was home.  But to be able to come here and see the energy that's around it and what a great event is being put on, I definitely am envious towards those guys out there."
The British love nothing better than a gallant loser, and Roddick fits the bill perfectly after his fantastic battle with Roger Federer in a Wimbledon final that ended 16-14 in the fifth. So when a camera picked him out watching the action and showed him on the big screen he received an enthusiastic ovation. That went a little way to compensating him for not being able to play.
"As a result of especially this year's Wimbledon, I was really looking forward to getting back here and playing again in a little bit of a different atmosphere," he said. "For the fans to show they wished I was playing as well, was humbling, and it was very nice to hear."
Roddick now plans to make his playing comeback at the year opening ATP World Tour event in Brisbane.
***
ITF Program Producing Significant Results

The Peruvian 12 & under girls’ team, captained by Jorge Panta, captured the South American team title last week with a victory in the final over Argentina. The win had a special significance because two of the three girls on the team, Maricielo Torres and Camila Vargas, graduated through Peru’s Junior Tennis Initiative, part of a global program administered and part-funded by the ITF.
The ITF’s Junior Tennis Initiative provides both equipment and national coordinator funding for around 60 developing tennis nations worldwide. The scheme aims to provide opportunities for school children to play tennis and develop their interest and skills. Those children who show a strong interest and ability are selected for the Performance Tennis Initiative, which provides more court time and a focus on creating elite players.
***
Soderling is Enjoying His Success

Robin Soderling wasn’t supposed to play in London at all. As a ninth ranked player in world, he was meant to be an alternate, to enjoy big clashes of his peers from stands and hope that someone’s health problems might give way to his debut at the ATP Tour World Finals.
That happened, but much earlier when it was announced Andy Roddick couldn’t recover in time, Soderling got his chance and ruined Rafael Nadal year again, after that famous win on Paris clay this spring. He smiles when someone suggests that he is the personal nemesis of the four-time Roland Garros winner.
“No, I have nothing against Rafa. We played a lot of times and we always had good matches. I always enjoy playing against him.” He admits that he feels special when on the same court with Nadal. “Yes, but not because it's Rafa. Only because it's a great player, you know. It feels better to beat world No. 2 than world No. 200. So I always enjoy beating good players than lower ranked player.”
Even though he was not sure that he would play in the ATP World Tour Finals, he didn’t relax when the regular season ended. “I never really thought of vacation because I know I was first alternate. So I was going to go here anyway. I tried to prepare as if I was going to play. So after Paris, you know, they told me Roddick had to pull out, so I knew it pretty early, so it was good.”
Even though, Soderling was better in the “O2” match, Nadal missed several opportunities to get out of the hole.
“I wasn't maybe surprised. But, again, you know, if you look at the top guys, they play well in the important points. He made two, I wouldn't say unforced errors, but he missed two makeable points. So I thought maybe I had to play a little bit better and go for it. But I'm happy. Every win is a win.”
***
Wawrinka to Replace Verdasco at Abu Dhabi

Stanislas Wawrinka, a gold medal winner at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with Roger Federer, will replace Fernando Verdasco, the world number 8, who has announced his withdrawal from the Capitala World Tennis Championship.
Wawrinka, who for the first time beat his friend and countryman Federer earlier this year at the Monte Carlo masters, now has a golden opportunity to take on the world number 1 again, this time at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex. 
***
USTA Announces Field to Compete for Australian Open Wildcard

The USTA has announced the finalized list of players invited to compete at its Australian Open wildcard playoffs held during the 2009 Infinite Energy Atlanta Challenge at the Racquet Club of the South, a USTA Certified Regional Training Center in Atlanta, Dec. 4-7, 2009. The event will feature exhibition matches on Dec. 4, with the wildcard playoffs commencing the next day.
Eight men and eight women will compete in the wildcard playoffs. The USTA secured the opportunity through a reciprocal agreement with Tennis Australia where the two national tennis federations exchanged wildcards for the 2010 Australian Open and 2009 US Open. The players invited to compete in the Australian Open wildcard playoffs include:
MEN:
Ryan Harrison (17, Bradenton, Fla.) - Won first match on ATP World Tour at the age of 15 at the 2008 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships; Earned career-high ATP ranking (No. 362) last week
Alex Kuznetsov (22, Tampa, Fla.) - 2004 French Open boys' runner-up (l. to Monfils) won first USTA Pro Circuit Challenger at Winnetka, Ill., in July; currently ranked No. 200 on the ATP World Tour
Jesse Levine (22, Boca Raton, Fla.) - Former Univ. of Florida All-American reached third round of Wimbledon as a qualifier in 2009 (d. Safin in first round); Cracked Top 100 in 2008 and is currently No. 118
Michael McClune (20, Irvine, Calif.) - 2007 USTA Boys' 18s National Champion has five career USTA Pro Circuit titles; Currently ranked No. 331 and earned a career-high ranking of No. 290 last month
Wayne Odesnik (24, Weston, Fla.) - Earned career-high ranking of No. 77 after reaching first ATP World Tour final in Houston in April; Currently ranked No. 105
Jack Sock (17, Lincoln, Neb.) - Top-ranked player in USTA Boys' 18s won first career USTA Pro Circuit title in Amelia Island, Fla., last week; Debuted in the ATP World Tour Rankings last month
Ryan Sweeting (22, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) - 2005 US Open boys' singles champion won his second career USTA Pro Circuit title at the Challenger in Dallas in February; Currently ranked No. 158 and earned a career-high ranking of No. 140 last month
Donald Young (20, Atlanta) - Youngest ITF World Junior Champion at the age of 16 after winning 2005 Australian Open boys' singles title; also a two-time USTA Boys' 18s National Champion (2005-06); Earned career-high ranking of No. 73 in April 2008; Currently ranked No. 197
WOMEN:
Lauren Albanese (20, Coral Springs, Fla.) - 2006 USTA Girls' 18s National Champion reached two USTA Pro Circuit finals this year; Currently ranked No. 172 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
Madison Brengle (19, Dover, Del.) -- 2007 girls' singles finalist at the Australian Open and Wimbledon member of 2008 U.S. Fed Cup team; won playoffs to earn wild cards into the 2007 and 2008 Australian Opens and the 2008 French Open; Currently ranked No. 164 and earned a career-high ranking of No. 158 earlier this month
Julia Cohen (20, Miami) - 2009 All-American at the University of Miami reached semifinals at USTA Pro Circuit event in Carson, Calif., in May; Earned a career-high ranking of No. 248 last week before dropping one spot
Ester Goldfeld (16, Brooklyn, N.Y.) - Reached first career USTA Pro Circuit final at Brownsville, Texas, in June; Earned a career-high ranking of No. 585 last week before dropping two spots
Christina McHale (17, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.) - 2009 USTA Girls' 18s singles and doubles National Champion won the Australian Open wild card playoff last year; Currently ranked No. 231 and earned a career-high ranking of No. 204 last month
Asia Muhammad (18, Henderson, Nev.) - Introduced to tennis at the Andre Agassi Boys' and Girls' Club in Las Vegas; Reached the final of the USTA Pro Circuit $50,000 event in Las Vegas in 2008; Currently ranked No. 379 and earned a career-high ranking of No. 348 in October
Allison Riske (19, McMurray, Pa.) - Runner-up at the 2007 USTA Girls' 18s National Championships won her first professional title at the USTA Pro Circuit event in Troy, Ala., in October; Earned a career-high ranking of No. 220 last week before dropping a spot
CoCo Vandeweghe (will turn 18 during playoffs, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) - Niece of NBA star Kiki Vandeweghe became first American to win US Open girls' singles title since 1995 in 2008; Currently ranked No. 325 and earned a career-high ranking of No. 320 in October
John Isner and Christina McHale earned wild card berths into the 2009 Australian Open men's and women's singles main draw events last December at the USTA's wildcard playoffs, which were held at the USTA Training Center Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla.
In addition to the wildcard playoffs, the Infinite Energy Atlanta Challenge will also feature an exhibition on Friday, Dec. 4, featuring 7-time Grand Slam doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan, Mardy Fish, John Isner and Melanie Oudin.
***
OBITUARY

Max Robertson
BBC radio broadcaster Max Robertson, who was known as the second voice to the legendary Dan Maskell at Wimbledon, has died at the age of 94. He reported every Wimbledon from 1946 until 1986, and covered the last time that a British player won the title, as Virginia Wade beat Betty Stove in 1977. (Incredibly, in view of Britain’s lack of success since, it was almost an all-British final that year, but Stove defeated Sue Barker in the semis).
Born in East Bengal, then part of the Dominion of Pakistan, he moved to England when he was five but began his broadcasting career with ABC in Australia. As well as covering sport on radio he became a highly respected television broadcaster, working on the BBC’s flagship program, Panorama. He was the author of several books and, in a further Wimbledon connection, his wife Elizabeth created a popular children’s television program called Wombles of Wimbledon.
Randy Snow
Randy Snow, the first Paralympian to be inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame, died Nov. 19, due to unknown causes at the age of 50 while volunteering at an El Salvador tennis clinic for the International Tennis Federation.
Snow represented the U.S. in Paralympic events for multiple years. In 1984, he competed and won a silver medal in the 1,500 meter, gold medals in singles and doubles tennis in 1992 and took bronze with the wheelchair basketball team in 1996.
He was ranked number one in the world for tennis during the high point of his career and became a 10-time U.S. Open Wheelchair Championship singles and 6-time doubles winner.
A Funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Performing Arts Center, 400 Poetry Road, Terrell, Texas 75160
***
Daily Tennis News is Seeking an Editor for Junior Tennis News

Daily Tennis News is expanding its tennis coverage by introducing international junior tennis news coverage. It would like to retain an editor who will help with the coverage. Anyone interested in assisting Daily Tennis News is encouraged to contact Bob Larson, Publisher of Daily Tennis News at bob@tennisnews.com
***

We Hear---
--that Andre Agassi’s book, Open, will be #1 on the New York Times Best Selling List this Sunday, the first week it is eligible to be ranked.
***
Editor’s Note
In celebration of Thanksgiving this Thursday, Daily Tennis News will not be published Thursday or Friday so our staff can enjoy the holiday.
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
London
WOMEN
Off Season
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup Finals
WOMEN
Off Season
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Tuesday Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

Adidas

27.28

+.14

Amer Sports

4.60

0.00

Head

0.95

0.00

K-Swiss

8.84

-.14

Nike

64.52

+.03

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $106.19
* 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

Bob Larson - Publisher
Cort Larson - Editor
Bob Larson's Daily Tennis is published 
Monday through Friday except Holidays           
Delivery via e-mail to all countries
Subscription rates are; $97USD a year, 
$57USD for Six months, $37USD for Three months.
Bob Larson Tennis
P.O. Box 24256
Edina, MN  55424 USA
952-920-8947 (voice)  or 952-920-8940 (fax)
E-mail address bob@tennisnews.com
Visit our website at: www.tennisnews.com

(c)  Copyright 2009. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

VARIETY

Tennis Tip of the Day:

How should I train with regard to muscle strengthening for tennis?

By Dr. Jack Groppel

There are tonic muscle fibers which use oxygen and there are phasic fibers which are anaerobic and do not use oxygen (It is probably also of importance to note that there are other fibers gradated between these two extremes). Both fiber types are found in basically all skeletal muscles, just in different proportions. The muscles of the body that react very rapidly are composed mainly of the phasic fibers (or fast twitch) with only a small amount of the slow twitch or tonic fibers. Conversely, the muscles that respond slowly, and usually with a prolonged contraction, are made up mainly of the tonic fibers. The large calf muscle (gastrocnemius) has a predominance of phasic fibers for jumping and pushing off, whereas the smaller calf muscle (soleus) has a higher amount of tonic fibers and is used more for prolonged lower leg activity.

The tonic fibers are usually smaller with a more extensive blood capillarization thus enabling them to use oxygen. They are used abundantly in slower and more continuous type of exercise. These slow-twitch fibers provide endurance over many minutes up to hours of exercise. The phasic fibers are much larger for greater strength of contraction and a less extensive blood supply. Since these fibers do not require oxygen for contraction, they are used more effectively in short explosive movements such as those used in interval training. These fast-twitch fibers can deliver extreme amounts of power for a few seconds to a minute or so. So, if you run long distances at a steady rate all the time, such as a five-mile jog at a continuously steady pace, you are recruiting the tonic fibers and you will actually train your body to call upon them on demand.

On the other hand, if you run in intervals, where you are using short bursts of power in windsprints, followed by intermittent recovery, you are employing the phasic fibers more effectively. Again, it is theorized that you can train your body to call upon the fibers you employ the most.

There has been a plethora of research examining this phenomenon. Studies have depicted that we may have a fixed number of the various fiber types but, through training the right way, we can enhance the firing of certain ones. It is important to note that you CANNOT change the relative proportions of fast twitch and slow twitch fibers regardless of how hard you try. We all have a fixed amount of the different fiber types but we also have different proportions. Marathoners, for example, have been observed to have a ratio of 82% slow twitch fibers to 18% fast twitch while sprinters have been seen to have 63% fast twitch and 37% slow twitch fibers.

The key point of training is to understand that improved fitness and specificity of training to the particular activity enhances muscle development and contraction, as well as blood flow. You want to train in such a way that you ENHANCE what you already have and facilitate the movements required by your activity’s demands. You would not want to train in a counterproductive way that goes against the requirements of your sport.

Dr. Jack L. Groppel is the co-founder of the Human Performance Institute and the vice president of the USPTA National Board of Directors. To learn more, visit www.corporateathlete.com.
***

Tennis Hint of the Day

Bruce Gullikson provides today’s tennis hint:

When slicing the backhand avoid getting the racket to high on the backswing. Generally it should never get higher than the shoulder on the slice as the swing should not be straight down but more subtle and forward. This will allow for a more driving slice.
***

Book Review

The following is a review by Michael E Saine on the newly released book “A Terrible Splendor” written by Marshall Jon Fisher and available currently on Amazon.com.

On the heels of the tennis world proclaiming Roger Federer to be the world’s greatest tennis player and the Federer-Rafael Nadal 2008 Wimbledon men’s singles final being the greatest tennis match ever, comes evidence to the contrary.

From the days of the 1930’s and 1940’s--when men wore sleek white dress pants while playing and when radio broadcasts not television announced the tennis action and the likes of America’s Bill Tilden, Don Budge, and Germany’s Baron Gottfried Von Cramm ruled the game--comes an incredibly well-researched account of another match labeled the world’s greatest and an era with three men as the focal point: Budge, Tilden, Von Cramm, all on the consideration list for all-time greatest. Besides the tennis, the historical details of the world, the end of World War I and the beginning of World War II, add an element of tremendous intensity, an element of life and death.

After reading “A Terrible Splendor,” one may indeed have the ammunition to refute today’s call for Federer and the Nadal-Federer Wimbledon match being the greatest of all time. The intrigue, the drama, the quality of tennis, and the history lesson make Marshall Jon Fisher’s “A Terrible Splendor” a must read if one wants to cast a vote for the best ever player and match.
***

The Five Minute Point

The following item was submitted by Chris Kretchmer, the head teaching professional at the Carmel Valley Athletic Club in Carmel, Calif.  If you have an interesting story or commentary on anything involving tennis you’d like to share, let us hear about it. Email steve@tennisnews.com.

Phil, 61, a retired silicon valley CEO came to me one day in a panic, “I bought an hour lesson with you. Without telling me, my wife signed me up for the Calcutta Tournament and I am paired with the club’s third-best player. I do not want to embarrass my partner, my wife or myself. You have to make me a champion. You have one hour. Now, let’s get started.”

Phil’s request was not only difficult under the most ideal circumstances but Phil had been coming to clinics with me for a two weeks and had steadfastly refused every attempt I had made in clinics to improve his strokes. Now he wanted to be an instant champion. (Sometimes being a tennis teacher does not pay nearly well enough to take this kind of abuse). My mind raced. I had to buy time and think. “Let’s warm up for a few minutes.” As we worked through volleys, through overheads, through mid court shots and on to groundstrokes my mind continued to churn. What could I do in an hour? What single bit of advice did I have that might make this stubborn 61-year-old Type A beginner a champion?

Fifteen minutes into a normal five-minute warm up and I was in more trouble than he was.

“Ok now, Chris what do I do?”

I was ready to panic. Do I give him technical detail? Do I give him strategy and tell him to stand in the alley out of the way? Do I chastise him for not taking lessons seriously enough thereby getting me off the hook and placing the blame on him?

“Don’t miss!” I blurted out.

“What?”

“Keep the ball in play.”

“OK. Good. I can do that. That’s easy.”

Phil has proved to be an apt pupil and a very smart man. He took that one piece of advice and not only won the tournament but has crafted a legendary tennis career for himself at our club. Phil’s strokes are still a wreck but Phil has no trouble finding partners or opponents. Everyone wants to play with Phil. Few of them beat him.

When I see him now and ask him how he is doing, more often than not, his response is the same. Phil smiles knowingly and says, “I introduced them to the concept of The Five Minute Point.” 
***

Tennis Birthday’s This Week (Nov. 23-29)

Tim Wilkison, Nov. 23, 1959; Age 50; Wilkison’s best Grand Slam singles result came at the 1986 U.S. Open where he reached the quarterfinals. He lost to Swede Stefan Edberg in sets 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Wendy Turnbull, Nov. 26, 1952, Age 57; During her career the Australian won nine Grand Slam titles, four of them in women's doubles and five in mixed doubles. She also was a 3-time Grand Slam singles runner-up and won 10 singles titles and 54 doubles titles.
Carly Gullickson, Nov. 26, 1986; Age 23; Her career-high WTA singles ranking is No. 123, which she reached on July 20, 2009. The daughter of former major league baseball player Bill Gullickson, she won the 2009 U.S. Open mixed doubles event, partnering with Travis Parrott.
***

Number of the Day

17,400: Now the largest crowd ever to witness a tennis match in England, easily outnumbering the roughly 15,000 person Centre Court capacity at Wimbledon. The record was set at the O2 Arena in London's Docklands during the first day of the ATP World Finals on Sunday.
***

Quote of the Day

"It happens sometimes. I have a big nose."

Juan Martin del Potro, who suffered a bloody nose after three games during his first-day loss to Andy Murray on Sunday.
***

Bob Larson, Publisher
Cort Larson, Editor
Steve Pratt, Editor - Variety
Bob Larson's Daily Tennis News,
Delivery via e-mail to all countries
Subscription rates are; $97USD a year, 
$57USD for Six months, $37USD for Three months.
Bob Larson Tennis
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Edina, MN  55424 USA
952-920-8947 (voice)  or 952-920-8940 (fax)
E-mail address
bob@tennisnews.com
Visit our website at
www.tennisnews.com

(c)  Copyright 2009. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

WORLD NEWS

Paes is Still On His Game

Leander Paes is approaching his 20th anniversary as an active player on the ATP World Tour and the 36 year-old Indian doubles star shows no sign of contemplating retirement or life on the senior tours.
Paes is in London contesting the doubles at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals alongside Lukas Dlouhy. With ten Grand Slam titles to his name at Men’s doubles and Mixed doubles, he is one of the most consistent performers over the last few years and is making his tenth appearance at the calendar ending event with a fourth different partner.
His enthusiasm shows no sign of waning. I think we're so blessed to have such a great profession, being a tennis professional,” said Paes.  “For a little boy coming out of India, traveling around the world, earning money in dollars, getting to live my dream, getting to make friends all over the world, educating myself by the travel.”
***
USTA Enhances the Fed Cup Honor for Oudin

The USTA has doubled the prize for Melanie Oudin, who recently became the inaugural winner of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award. The US Open quarterfinalist received the award at the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final in Reggio Calabria, where she was presented with a special Links bracelet and a check for $5,000. The check, which has now been increased to $10,000 by the USTA, will be donated to Oudin’s chosen charity, Children’s at Egleston – a hospital in Atlanta where her younger sister received open heart surgery when she was four-years-old.
"I am very proud to announce that the USTA Board and I have elected to add an additional $5,000 to Melanie’s award, so that a grand total of $10,000 can now be donated to her selected charity, Children’s at Egleston," said Lucy Garvin, USTA President. "I want to congratulate Melanie for being the first annual Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award recipient. We thank the ITF for creating such a meaningful award."
The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award aims to recognize a player who has represented her country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the team during Fed Cup by BNP Paribas.
The 2009 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award was decided by an online public vote, which took place on FedCup.com and FedCup.com/es. Oudin was nominated for the award along with Alexa Glatch, Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone.
***
Djokovic is Confident but Wary in London

Novak Djokovic came to London as the hottest player on the Tour, but he is full of praise for his main rivals.
“We are talking about the two best players the world has ever seen in this sport“, said Djokovic before his first match at ATP World Tour Finals. “Roger Federer is collecting grand slam finals. Rafael Nadal won in Melbourne; he was unfortunate after, but he still might finish year as No1 and Davis Cup champion.”
He beat both in last two weeks. Federer was a victim in his hometown Basle and Nadal took only four games in Paris Bercy.
“No 1 is my eternal aim, but that prize is reserved for Federer and Nadal now only,“ explained Djokovic. “In this year I learned to take responsibility; in last couple of months I finally felt matured. But in tennis every thing changes every day. Tennis is mental sport, but with great importance of strength. Without it you can not achieve anything. Big work I did this year is paying off now. You have to play five sets, you have to play every day, you have to recuperate immediately and following week play in another time zone on different surface.”
Djokovic added that he was not surprised by Juan Martin Del Potro’s win in US Open in September. “I saw this shaping in New York.”
***
This is a Really Big Event

There are tennis charity events, and there are tennis charity events. Most offer the chance to see some top players up-close and personal in a relaxed environment, but surely none offer as many marquee names as the WTT Smash Hits event. Billie Jean King and music superstar Sir Elton John are teaming up for the 17th staging, to be held on December 8, 2009 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge.
Billie Jean King and Elton John will each captain a team and be will joined by - get this - Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, Anna Kournikova, Tommy Haas, Lindsay Davenport, Liezel Huber, Chanda Rubin and Devin Britton, who will form two teams and play the World TeamTennis format. John will also participate in a celebrity doubles match to open the event.
This year’s event, presented by the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation and hosted by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, will benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation and AIDS charities serving the Greater Baton Rouge area. Smash Hits has raised more than $9 million for EJAF and various local AIDS charities since 1993.
***
India is Laying the Groundwork for a Groundswell in Tennis Participation

India has a massive population but few tennis stars. To help correct that, the ITF recently launched its ‘Tennis. . . Play and Stay’ campaign there in a bid to attract more of its 1.1 billion population to tennis. The ITF teamed up with the All India Tennis Association to host Play Tennis coaches and tutors courses at the Maharashtra Tennis Association facility in Mumbai on 11-15 November.
The three-day Play Tennis coaches course is designed to train coaches, teachers and volunteers in how to work with starter players. The aim is to ensure that coaches can organize activities that allow starter players to enjoy the game from the first lesson, run appropriate competitions, and understand the different red, orange and green stages. Following the coaches course, seven of the top coaches in India remained for a two-day tutor training course to enable them to deliver the Play Tennis coaches course themselves in the future.
James Newman, ITF Play and Stay Coordinator, said: "The potential for the development of Play and Stay in India is massive. However two crucial aspects that must be fulfilled are the ongoing education of coaches and teachers working at this level, and good access to affordable slower red, orange and green balls. I am hopeful that this first step in education will be repeated with many more coaches courses nationwide, and that the clear demand for slower balls within such a huge market is fulfilled by the relevant manufacturers and distributors."
***
Men’s Tour Notes. . .

* The 2009 male tennis season still has a couple of weeks to run with the ongoing Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and the upcoming Davis Cup final between Spain and the Czech Republic in Barcelona but order of plays are already being announced for the next campaign.
* Technically it would be incorrect to term the opening day of the 2010 Capitala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi next year as it begins on December 31. But the second year of one of the world’s richest exhibition tournaments is boasting a stunning line-up even if reigning champion Andy Murray has decided to shun the event and instead pull on a brand new adidas ‘Great Britain’ shirt and contest the Hopman Cup in Perth.
* Nikolay Davydenko and Robin Soderling are currently playing at London’s 02 Arena but they will be in action on the first day of tennis at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex at Zayad Sports City.
*In London, Davydenko will take on French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the right to play Rafael Nadal while world number one Roger Federer will be ready and waiting for either Soderling or his fellow Swiss Stansilas Wawrinka who has been added to the field as a replacement for Fernando Verdasco.
***
World’s Top Juniors to Play at Orange Bowl

The Orange Bowl is generally considered the world’s championship tournament for juniors.
The USTA announced the acceptance lists for the 63rd Dunlop Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships, which begins Sunday, December 6, at the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Fla.  The qualifying draw will take place beginning Friday, December 4.  The Dunlop Orange Bowl features singles and doubles competition for boys and girls in 18-and-under and 16-and-under divisions.
“The Dunlop Orange Bowl provides our top junior players a chance to play world-class competition right here in the U.S. in one of the marquee junior tournaments in the world,” said tournament director Lew Brewer, who also serves as Director, Junior Competition, USTA Player Development.  “The tournament traditionally draws a number of the world’s top junior players and often determines the year-end No. 1 players in the ITF Junior Circuit, and this year we received a record number of entrants in all four draws.”
The Boys’ 18s field includes three of the top 10 players in the world, led by Daniel Berta of Sweden, currently the top-ranked player in the ITF World Junior Rankings and the winner of the boys’ singles title at Roland Garros.  Gianni Mina of France, who lost to Berta in the final at Roland Garros and reached the boys’ singles semifinals at the US Open, is also entered.
Denis Kudla of Arlington, Va., and Raymond Sarmiento of Fontana, Calif., will lead the American contingent.  Kudla captured the Boys’ 16s title at the 2008 Dunlop Orange Bowl, and is currently the highest-ranked American in the ITF World Junior Rankings at No. 22.  Sarmiento swept the singles and doubles titles at the International Grass Court Championships in June, and took third place at the 2009 USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships. 
The Girls’ 18s field features two of this year’s Grand Slam winners, led by Kristina Mladenovic of France, currently No. 1 in the ITF World Junior Rankings, and No. 3 Heather Watson of Great Britain.  Mladenovic won the girls’ singles title at the French Open, and was a finalist in girls’ singles at Wimbledon.  Watson won the girls’ singles title at the US Open, and is currently No. 3 in the ITF World Junior Rankings. 
The American contingent is led by world No. 29 Beatrice Capra of Ellicott City, Md., who won her first professional title in October at the USTA Pro Circuit $10,000 event in Williamsburg, Va.; world No. 42 Ester Goldfeld of Brooklyn, N.Y., who recently won an ITF Junior Circuit event in Lexington, S.C., and won the International Hard Court Championships in August; and 14-year-old Madison Keys of Boca Raton, Fla., who won her WTA Tour debut in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., in April, and reached the Girls’ 16s final at the 2008 Dunlop Orange Bowl.
The complete US entries list can be found in the College News section of this issue of Daily Tennis News.
***
Daily Tennis News is Seeking an Editor for Junior Tennis News

Daily Tennis News is expanding its tennis coverage by introducing international tennis news coverage. It would like to retain an editor who will help with the coverage. Anyone interested in assisting Daily Tennis News is encouraged to contact Bob Larson, Publisher of Daily Tennis News at bob@tennisnews.com
***

We Hear---
--that any further punishment for Serena Williams following her threatening behavior towards a line official in the semifinals of the US Open is expected to be decided later this week when the International Tennis Federation's Grand Slam committee meets in London.
--that following the swearing-in of Jarmila Groth as an Australian citizen this week, Russian-born Anastasia Rodionova is awaiting the date for her own citizenship test.
---that Flavia Pennetta has entered the ASB Bank Classic, to be staged in Auckland January 4th-9th.
***
Editor’s Note
In celebration of Thanksgiving this Thursday, Daily Tennis News will not be published Thursday or Friday so our staff can enjoy the holiday.
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
London
WOMEN
Off Season
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup Finals
WOMEN
Off Season
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Monday Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

Adidas

27.14

+.89

Amer Sports

4.60

0.00

Head

0.95

0.00

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8.98

+.24

Nike

64.49

+.57

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $106.16
* 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

Bob Larson - Publisher
Cort Larson - Editor
Bob Larson's Daily Tennis is published 
Monday through Friday except Holidays           
Delivery via e-mail to all countries
Subscription rates are; $97USD a year, 
$57USD for Six months, $37USD for Three months.
Bob Larson Tennis
P.O. Box 24256
Edina, MN  55424 USA
952-920-8947 (voice)  or 952-920-8940 (fax)
E-mail address bob@tennisnews.com
Visit our website at: www.tennisnews.com

(c)  Copyright 2009. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis

Monday, November 23, 2009

WORLD NEWS

As Year Ends, Tennis Appears to be Very Strong Financially

As the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals got off to a five star start with House Full’ signs adorning London’s 02 Arena, market analysts are insistent that despite the economic downturn, tennis is brimming with financial good health.
Up to date figures quoted in the Wall Street Journal show the sport of tennis is currently estimated to be worth more than $6.6 billion. With an estimated 80 million recreational players taking the courts on a regular basis, the annual global sales of tennis equipment is said to be worth $720 million.
Tennis is going through a purple patch and has been able to weather the storm very well, says Phil Anderton, chief marketing officer for the ATP World Tour who was enthused that his hard work over the last year has resulted in the London event being set to become the biggest indoor event in the history of the sport. It’ s got a good image, it’s got the right kind of demographic, it’s got a global tour and I see no reason why tennis can’t continue its growth.
Anderton is not alone in his enthusiasm. Fernando Soler, the head of tennis with IMG Global concurred: Tennis has learnt to sell itself a lot in recent years.
The product is better, so the audience is a much wider target, and companies are more interested in tennis because it’s not just appealing to the tennis fan but to a broader audience.
All the figures show tennis to be buoyant. The recent announcement of a $33 million partnership between Mercedes Benz and the US Open shows the marquee brands still want their name attached to the sport at its highest level. Both Wimbledon and the US Open both set attendance records this year, with crowds in excess of 500,000, and both the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and ATP World Tour have announced an increase in spectators.
***
Nadal Lacks a Champion’s Confidence

Rafael Nadal has a chance to finish this year as a No 1, but it looks like he is not interesting in regaining his tennis crown too much.
Winning here would be incredible, but to be first or second in the rankings isn’t that important, said the Spaniard before starting his campaign in ATP World Tour Finals in London. I always try to play the best possible way; other people worry more about my ranking then my self. I never now how much points I need to be No1, 2 or 3. Nadal is 945 point behind Federer and he knows how difficult will be to dethrone the Swiss in this tournament.
For me this is not a realistic option. This is a very difficult tournament, I am in a very difficult group with players better adapted on this surface then me, he reminded that he lost to Djokovic, Davydenko and Soderling in important matches this year. My aim is to play maximum n umber of games here and if I lose them all, to play the best possible way.
A champion’s confidence is what he lacks now.
Because of everything that happened to me this year, I lost some confidence, but sooner or later, I will get it back. From experience I know that when I feel good and have options to win, I always use them.
He believes that he is on way to regain his top form.
I feel better now, almost perfect. My knees are better now, I don’t feel pain and I feel very strong. In order to get better I need few weeks of playing more, but that is impossible this year. I hope that everything will start like always next year.
***
Agassi Continues to Receive Drug Criticism

Andre Agassi continues to reap criticism for the revelations he made in his autobiography, with Rafael Nadal continuing to voice his disappointment about Agassi’s escape from a drugs ban and now questioning that he hated tennis.
"He is saying he hates tennis. That is impossible," said the Spaniard. "One player plays for years and he becomes rich and he does not need to play for money and you hate that? (And) I hated what he said about doping and the crystal (meth). What he did is terrible for us, for the rest of the players, terrible for the sport, and it is easy to say now, but why wasn't he saying this in 1997?
Now he is free, he says what he is feeling. Right now, because somebody pays him a lot of money, he says these things. It is terrible for tennis. Tennis is a very clean sport. If he did (drugs) in the past, right now I say he should shut up and not say anything because he owes almost all he has to tennis."

***
Groth is Now an Australian Citizen

There has been confusion for a year or more about which country Jarmila Groth represents. Known last January as Jarmila Gajdosova, she was listed in the draw at Brisbane and Sydney as Slovak, but at the Australian Open as an Aussie. Now the confusion is over.
After being based in Melbourne for several years, in February she married Australian player Sam Groth and on Monday she became an official Australian, no ifs or buts or maybes, after attending a swearing-in ceremony in the nation capital, Canberra.
"It's a dream come true and I am incredibly excited and proud to become a citizen of this great nation, whose people have welcomed me so warmly and have made me feel at home since the very first time I came here," said the 22-year old, who obtained her residency permit way back in 2004.
She will now be available for selection for Australia’s Fed Cup te am, which competes next February in Adelaide against Spain in World Group II.

***
Borg at His Peak Would Love to Play Nadal at His Peak and Federer Too!

Who would Bjorn Borg, who now competes in the Champions League, most like to have played at his peak?
"I think it would be fun for me at my best to have played Rafael Nadal. Maybe on clay!" he said. "We play a pretty similar game so it would have been nice. I would have liked to have played Roger as well. Who would have won? I have no idea!"
With Andre Agassi having recently published his autobiography, along with countless other players, the absence of one from Borg is curious. He was arguably the first tennis superstar, with his long blonde locks making him the idol of many thousands of girls around the world in the late 70s. His success on court followed by an often difficult personal and business life that followed his sudden and unexpected retirement at the age of 26 would surely make interesting reading. But you still have to wait for the inside story.
"People have been talking to me about writing one for a long time now," he said, "but I’m going to wait. There’s no rush. There is still more for me to do first."
***
Ricky's Notes
By Ricky Dimon

After finishing as a finalist to Novak Djokovic at the Paris Masters, Gael Monfils flew to Guadeloupe to celebrate his father's birthday. Monfils is spending a week there as he begins his offseason. . . Julien Benneteau, who recently split from Thierry Champion, will now work with Loic Courteau, who previously coached Paul-Henri Mathieu. Benneteau lost to Mathieu in the final of an exhibition event in Caen last week. . . Michael Llodra has parted ways with Team Lagardere and will now be coached by Laurent Raymond, former coach of Fabrice Santoro. . . Frederic Niemeyer announced his retirement from professional tennis last Thursday. The 33-year-old Canadian will begin coaching compatriot Milos Raonic. . . Carlos Moya has recovered from hip surgery and has been practicing over the past few weeks with Jose Clavet, former coach of Fernan do Verdasco and Tommy Robredo. Moya will play in an exhibition event starting December 17 in Buenos Aires as he prepares for a return to tennis in 2010. . . Martin Vassallo Arguello, who admitted last week that has experimented with a number of non-illegal drugs, said of Andre Agassi, "I think that Agassi wants to sell a few books." Added the Argentine: "If someone breaks the rules, they must be punished, because in the long run these cover-ups end up deteriorating the sport.". . . Australian great John Newcombe says he can sympathize with Agassi. "The weaknesses revealed are not anti-tennis, they are human frailties, the story of living with that sort of pressure.... It was not performance enhancing. In fact, it was the opposite."
Rafael Nadal insists he is not worried about the No. 1 ranking in London. "London will be amazing, the stadium is very nice," Nadal said on Saturday. "The rest of the things? No. 1 or No. 3 doesn’t matter. My goal is to play my best tennis. If I win the tournament, it doesn’t matter to me if I am No. 10." Nadal has also maintained that Davis Cup is his top priority at the end of the season. . . Juan Carlos Ferrero was named the Spanish team's alternate on Thursday for the upcoming Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic. Ferrero won singles rubbers in Spain's quarterfinal and semifinal ties. . . Stanislas Wawrinka is excited about replacing Fernando Verdasco in the upcoming exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi. 'I'm really looking forward to playing in Abu Dhabi over the New Year, said the Swiss. 'I've heard some great reports about the tournament from the players who competed in the first event and with Roger and Rafa both returning it's a great indication of just how successful it was.". . . Brydan Klein played his first tournament last week since being suspended for months for using a racial slur against an opponent. Klein lost in the quarterfinals of Australia's Pro Tour Cliffs Esperance International to Robert Smeets. "It's given me a wakeup call and I've learnt a good lesson," Klein said. . . Todd Martin is accompanying Djokovic this week at the World Tour Finals, thus giving Djokovic both of his coaches (Martin and Marian Vajda) in London.
Federer on the possible length of his career: "It depends how fit you are, but I would like to play beyond that (2012 Olympics). I'm midway. It feels like the second part of my career right now. You can definitely play your greatest tennis until 32 or 33.". . . A more injury-prone Nadal sounded less certain about his career longevity: "People forget I started at 16. This is my fifth straight year in the top two. I'm not thinking about stopping yet, but most players start at 20 and if they finish at 29 nobody will say they've had a short career.". . . Sam Querrey, who returned to the practice courts earlier this month after cutting his arm in Bangkok, is looki ng forward to a return next season in Brisbane. "It kind of makes you appreciate some things a little more. This whole last week I’ve never once got upset or mad on the court. I’m just happy to be playing.". . . At least two of the World Tour Finals doubles teams are splitting up after this season: Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram, and Mark Knowles and Mahesh Bhupathi. Mirnyi and Bhupathi, who previously played with each other, are reuniting in 2010. Knowles will team up with Mardy Fish. "It was a real privilege to play with Mirnyi, one of the leading doubles players in recent years," Ram said. "He is a rare man and a real professional. I enjoyed every moment and I'll have to wait and see who I will be playing with next year."
Caroline Wozniacki, no longer able to play as many tournaments as she did in 2009 now that she is an established Top 10 player, will increase her doubles participation in 2010. Wozniacki is set to pair up with Anabel Medina Garrigues, whose former partner Virginia Ruano Pascual retired at the end of this season. . . Flavia Pennetta has been confirmed for next January's ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. Unless the tournament lures another top player into the field, the 12th-ranked Spaniard will be the No. 1 seed. . . Aravane Rezai will spend two weeks in Mauritius during the offseason before heading to Australia. Rezai will be coached by Patrick Mouratoglou for the 2010 season. . . Sabine Lisicki started her offseason training last Wednesday. "Training this morning was good," Lisicki posted on her Twitter page. "It’s great to be back working again.". . . Casey Dellacqua tested her injured shoulder at the Cliffs Esperance International last week, playing doubles with Alicia Molik. Dellacqua is still recovering from February shoulder surgery.

***

We Hear---
--that the 2009 Wimbledon Annual is almost sold out. The publishers have fewer than 50 copies unsold.
***
Editor’s Note
In celebration of Thanksgiving this Thursday, Daily Tennis News will not be published Thursday or Friday so our staff can enjoy the holiday.
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
London
WOMEN
Off Season
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup Finals
WOMEN
Off Season
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Friday Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

Adidas

26.25

-.28

Amer Sports

4.60

0.00

Head

0.95

0.00

K-Swiss

8,74

+.12

Nike

63.92

+.36

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $104.46
* 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

Bob Larson - Publisher
Cort Larson - Editor
Bob Larson's Daily Tennis is published 
Monday through Friday except Holidays           
Delivery via e-mail to all countries
Subscription rates are; $97USD a year, 
$57USD for Six months, $37USD for Three months.
Bob Larson Tennis
P.O. Box 24256
Edina, MN 55424 USA
952-920-8947 (voice)  or 952-920-8940 (fax)
E-mail address bob@tennisnews.com
Visit our website at: www.tennisnews.com

(c)  Copyright 2009. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis

Thursday, November 19, 2009

VARIETY

Tennis Tip of the Day:

In Wednesday’s Variety, Nick Bollettieri looked at playing on clay courts. Today, he offers his insight on hard courts. To learn more about Bollettieri, you can check out: www.nickbollettieri.com.

Playing on Hard courts

By Nick Bottettieri

Typically speaking, hard courts are “faster” than clay courts. This means the ball will slide more and stay lower when it impacts the court, rather than biting into it and bouncing up such as it does on clay, and therefore reach the opponent more quickly. However, in today’s tennis environment, governing bodies are doing their best to slow this surface down in order to facilitate longer rallies and add to the enjoyment in playing as well as the entertainment value of watching top level tennis. They do this by adding sand to the mixture of actual court surface before it is applied to its concrete base. This gives the court more of a sandpaper texture which prevents the ball from sliding as much through the court and giving the player more time to strike.

But as I said before, typically speaking, hard courts are faster than clay. So this surface will help the big servers, such as Pete Sampras, and baseliners that like to play the ball hard and flat like Andre Agassi. What this means for most players is that the preparation must be quicker and simpler, taking the racket back early and having your feet in position to hit faster than you would on clay. You must also use your legs. Remember this ball will not bounce up quite as high, so you must utilize your legs in order to get under the ball.

The movement on a hard court is also monumentally different than clay. Unless your name is Kim Clijsters there will be no sliding into shots on this surface. From the baseline you will see a lot of shots that would come back on clay turn into forcing shots or outright winners on the hard court. Conversely, it is easier for net rushers to attack because they will be able to change directions more quickly and cover the net more effectively. So many passing shots that find their way by a net rusher on clay will come back when the surface is more conducive to rapid changes of direction.

Conventional wisdom tells us that serve and volleyers and big baseline bangers have the advantage over the grinders and heavy topspin clay-courters on a hard surface. However that trend is slowly changing as the organizers make the surfaces slower and slower. It is understandable with all the new racket technology and the strength training that players do these days that the game needs to adjust to these changes. After all nobody wants to watch two players hit only serves for five sets. But in the process we are seeing true serve and volleyers become a thing of the past. Where is the happy medium?

***

Tennis Hint of the Day

Bruce Gullikson provides today’s tennis hint:

Learn to angle off high balls at the net. Most players get too excited on a high volley or short overhead and focus on pasting the ball rather than placing it. High balls should be angled off the court rather than blasted deep as they will generally be returned regardless of the pace if you allow your opponent to touch them.

***

Book Review

Open – An Autobiography by Andre Agassi

Review by Cheryl Jones

Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part review of Andre Agassi’s new book: Open, available in bookstore now. The first part ran in Wednesday’s Variety.

Andre’s father, Mike Agassi was a driven man. His vision for the future was for his children. Andre became the focus of a quest for money, fame, and stability, not because Andre sought it out, but because his father swore to him, like a litany – he would be a great tennis player if he would follow instructions. The methods were nothing short of child abuse. Andre was a good son. He did what he was told, but the zigzag path his life took echoes the frustration and indecision of that confusing love/hate relationship with tennis and his father.

His use of crystal meth is chronicled as it happened, almost in passing, but it has been the catalyst for current criticism from players and the public in general. Using any drug is a crutch – even essential drugs. It’s easy to understand why someone would want to lessen pain with an analgesic or, use a sleeping aid to make it through the night. It isn’t easy to understand delving into a highly addictive substance on a lark. With Andre, it wasn’t a lark.  He was in pain. He was at a crossroads in his life and he saw no relief on the horizon.  In desperation, he tried the stuff and, surprise, surprise. He liked it. There was finally clarity of mood and satisfaction of purpose in his life for a while. (Addictive substances have a side effect that requires more and more to get to the place you went before.) 

Andre was soon on to the drug’s dirty little secret. In a short time, the edginess and the nature of Agassi’s business – tennis, brought it to an end. He regrouped, and assured his trusted friend, Gil Reyes, that he was finished with it and ready to move to the next stage in his life. After a bushel of hard work, Agassi triumphed. He resurrected himself and proved to himself that he could be the master of his own fate.

Agassi was on the circuit for over 19 years. Open gives us glimpses where a camera can’t go. His love for his wife, Stefanie Graf, and the respect that he has for Reyes is apparent in every recollection. Reyes has been his mentor, the father he wished he’d had; a stalwart and true friend. On the eve of his final professional match, at dinner with his wife and children, he has an epiphany, “I enjoy that sense we all seek, that knowledge we get only a few times in life, that the themes of our life are connected, the seeds of our ending were there in the beginning and vice-versa.”   

Open will be a best seller not because of its unsettling revelations, nor the rumored advance, but because nothing is hidden.  It is a monument to hard work and perseverance.  As we read the final section of the book, “The Beginning”, it is what we all want – a true tale of “happily ever after”.

***

Did You Know?

As if a prelude to his confession of acts of indulgences in years past, Andre Agassi was quoted in Inside Tennis in 2001 as saying: "I'm very extreme; when I am focused I am very focused, when I am distracted I am very distracted."                        

-- Andy Yanne Jr.

***

Quote of the Day

“It was a spectacular place to do the draw with such an amazing view of London up there. We're really excited to be playing in the tournament at such a great venue. We went to see Beyonce on Monday night at The O2 and the place rocked.”

--Bob Bryan, after attending the draw ceremony for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the world’s biggest ever indoor tennis tournament, at the London Eye on Wednesday. Bob and his twin brother Mike are two-time former winners at the event.

Bob Larson, Publisher
Cort Larson, Editor
Steve Pratt, Editor - Variety
Bob Larson's Daily Tennis News,
Delivery via e-mail to all countries
Subscription rates are; $97USD a year, 
$57USD for Six months, $37USD for Three months.
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bob@tennisnews.com
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www.tennisnews.com

(c)  Copyright 2009. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis

Thursday, November 19, 2009

WORLD NEWS

London Order of Play Announced

Sunday November 22
Posted times are Greenwich Mean Time, which is five hours ahead of EST in USA.
Afternoon Session
12.30 Doubles - D. Nestor/ N. Zimonjic v  M. Fystenberg/ M. Matkowski n/b 2.15pm Singles - A. Murray v J. M. Del Potro
Evening Session
7.00pm Doubles - M. Bhupathi/ M. Knowles v F Cermak / M Mertinak n/b 8.45pm Singles - R .Federer v F. Verdasco
Monday November 23
Afternoon Session
12.30pm Doubles - B Bryan/M Bryan v M Mirnyi/ A Ram n/b 2.15pm Singles - R Nadal v R Soderling
Evening Session
7.00pm Doubles - L Dlouhy / L Paes v L Kubot / O Marach n/b 8.45pm Singles - N Djokovic v N Davydenko
***
Queens Club Planning for Star-Studded Participants in 2010

Some things are apparently unattainable, like tempting Roger Federer to play the AEGON Championships at London’s Queens Club as his grass court preparation for Wimbledon. But the organisers of the event are hopeful of parading the other five members of the world top six in early June next year.
As British no.1 and this year’s winner, Andy Murray’s participation is almost a given. Rafael Nadal has seen it as his perfect means of transition from the clay of Roland Garros to grass although he was forced to withdraw this year because of his knee problems. Andy Roddick is a four times champion but the tournament has also signed up the services of Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro for 2010.
The Gerry Webber Open in Halle always presents opposition to the Queens Club event in competition for players. It is Federer’s favoured destination if he needs competition the week after the French Open and last year Djokovic also opted to play in Germany rather than London.
However the Serb, who faced Nadal in a memorable 2008 Queens final, is heading back. “Wimbledon has always been my sky-high goal,” he said. “It’s the most important tournament for me, the most prestigious one, and it is important to prepare properly.
“The picture in my head of Pete Sampras winning Wimbledon, that motivates me. I’ve played the semi-finals one year and the quarter-finals this year. I know that if you analyze all the different results I’ve had on the different surfaces, maybe I could do better in London at Wimbledon, but I still have a lot of time.”
Like so many of he fellow Argentines, Del Potro seems to struggle with the vagaries of playing on grass. This will be his second visit to the grass of Queen’s, after a second-round exit in 2007. He has lost at the same stage on each of his three appearances at Wimbledon.
***
Draw for London Held in Unique Location

Being the home-town player at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals has its plusses and minuses as Andy Murray found out. With November gales lashing London, Murray was obligated to clamber into a specially fitted pod cabin of the Thames-side Millennium Wheel (or London Eye) to participate in the draw for the event staged several hundred feet up in the air.
And Murray didn’t do himself too many favors as he was pitched into a group containing world no.1 Roger Federer, US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro and Spain’s Fernando Verdasco.
Murray reflected: “All the guys are tough, otherwise they wouldn’t be here. Rafa is always going to be difficult to beat because he’s such a competitor and Roger at his best, there’s no one tougher. Soderling is a great player, his record indoors is one of the best. He’s tough to beat, with a big serve. He’s a very good guy to have stepped in for Roddick, but that shows you what quality there is around.
“If Nadal plays well, he’s very good, but people who saw his matches in Paris say he was struggling a bit and he said he wasn’t that happy with the way he is playing, either. So in some ways it would have been nicer to be in his box if he wasn’t playing well, but by the time it starts I am sure he will have had enough practice, and these courts will suit him quite well.”
The 22 year-old Scot will be under intense scrutiny as the event begins its five year stay at London’s 02 Arena and hopes are high for a first ever British title victory in the event formerly known as the Tennis Masters Cup. But he does not think the pressurized spotlight on him will be as intense as it is around Wimbledon time.
“It'll be interesting to see.” said Murray.  “Wimbledon is obviously difficult in that sense.  I’ve heard there are over 200 journalists coming over.  There's obviously going to be a lot of attention but I think Wimbledon is still going to be bigger.”
“This [event] is going to be a lot different. It’s great that so many people are coming to watch [260,000 seats sold], I’m sure the crowds will be great but everyone knows when it’s Wimbledon time.
“The build-up with the Queen’s tournament makes it a lot longer and maybe in a couple of years’ time I won’t notice it so much, but you would have to say this is not quite the same. Having said that, I’m very focused on it and want to do well.”
***
Auction at Gala Dinner to be Held at The All England Lawn Tennis Club to Benefit Disadvantaged Youth to Allow International Bidding

The Tennis Ball, to be held November 21, 2009 in the Debenture Holders’ Lounge at Wimbledon’s All England Tennis Club is to benefit young disadvantage people to enjoy better lives through tennis. Not aiming to create champions, but simply hoping that children without the means will be able to enjoy what tennis can bring to them throughout their lives.
The event is to raise funds for a foundation known as Give it Your Max, honoring a young tennis player who died tragically in a car crash in 2004. More than 70,000 children have been introduced to the game as a result, up to now.
An auction will be held offering such things as items from Roger Federer plus opportunities to enjoy vacation homes in exotic places such as Antigua, St Lucia, Aspen, Cannes, Rio de Janiero, and Punta Del Este.
Also being offered for bids are a number of items including a round of golf with Tim Henman and Virginia Wade, tickets to ATP Monte Carlo tournament, an afternoon at Wimbledon for up to 20 people, a day for 12 at the AEGON Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall, a lesson with Coach Miles Maclagan at Wimbledon, a week of training at the Pilara Tennis Academy in Argentina and perhaps the most unique item is tea for two with Lord and Lady Hunt of Wirral on the terrace at Parliament followed by a tour of Parliament.
The website is www.thetennisball.net and the auction list is there making it convenient for outside bidders too. Anyone can bid for items in the auction catalogue if they are interested. Advance bids are already coming.
Anyone interested in making a bid may do so by email at tarastotesbury@hotmail.com before November 21st.
Alternatively, if anyone is interested in telephone bidding during the evening they could telephone Boyd Cuthbertson on 44 7771 504297 or Elena Adams on 44 7880 995057 and when the item of interest to them is coming up for auction they will be rung back and able to participate.
The live auction lot number 12 - the painting by Sacha Jafri with a Wimbledon theme and including handprints and autographs by Federer, Nadal, Murray, Djokovic, Haas and Roddick - may become a significant collector's item. Sacha Jafri's soccer themed painting, featuring a footprint and signature by David Beckham, was sold at a charity auction two weeks ago for US$500,000.
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The USTA Did it With a Couple Months to Spare

Back in 2004, USTA President Alan Schwartz declared “30 million players by 2010.” At the time, there were 21 million players in the US. Tennis at that time was lucky to maintain its popularity so not many people thought it was even remotely possible to reach that lofty number.
Schwartz convinced his presidential successor Franklin Johnson to let him have responsibility to work in the area of recreational and community tennis and set out to increase the popularity of tennis and attain that goal.
Schwartz and Kurt Kamperman, the USTA chief executive community tennis, together with the Tennis Industry Association, created and promoted programs involving adult and youth tennis so that interest in tennis grew.
The net result was a survey conducted for the USTA that Schwartz’s goal was realized.
More Americans are playing tennis, according to the USTA survey which shows that over 30 million people played the game in 2009. That is a 12 percent raise on 2008.
The biggest percentage of players are 12-17 years old at 20.5 percent, followed by 18-24 at 18.4 percent, and 6-11 years old at 16.25 percent. The figures relating to how many have taken up the game are even more impressive, with 7.1 million representing a rise of nearly 20 percent on last year.
"Over the past several years we've strived to make the game more accessible, particularly at parks and schools around the country," said Kamperman. "Combine this with the health benefits of tennis, and you get surging interest in the sport."
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Roddick and Blake To Play in New York Fundraiser

James Blake and Andy Roddick will join with US Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin and other guests on December 1st to raise money for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Blake established the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund in memory of his father, and it invests seed money in leading-edge science in order to speed up the most promising work and shorten the time it takes to turn laboratory discoveries into better treatments for patients. The tennis part of the evening, held at Pier 94 on 12th Avenue at 55th Street, will be followed by an after-party hosted by the players and featuring a performance by multiplatinum Grammy-winning recording artist Wyclef Jean.
The event is open to all, and a limited number of VIP ticket packages are available at $500. For details, visit http://mskcc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=giv_involved_thomas_blake
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Ivanovic Leaves The Golfing World and Returns to Tennis

After a month in golf circles, Ana Ivanovic is back where she belongs, on tennis courts.
“I've already started training again, to be ready for the new season. At the moment it's just fitness, but tennis will start next week, with my coach Sven”, she explained from Australia where she will remain until the finish of Grand Slam in Melbourne. “There's not much else to say at the moment. Always when I begin my off-season training the focus is on fitness, then I gradually move onto tennis, and by the end of the training block tennis is of course the main focus.”
Though she prefers to keep her relationship with Adam Scott, Australian golfer, as secret as possibly, she admitted that a month of following him on tournaments was a great time. “I had a good break. It was just what I needed! I'd like to thank everyone who sent me a birthday message last week. I had a very nice time: a quiet dinner with friends!”
Holiday time is finished, from now on there is a lot of work and competition. One of toughest events is at the beginning of February. Serbia plays Russia in first round of Fed Cup and if Serbia keeps winning, all rounds up to the final will be played in Belgrade. Ana agrees that Serbia has big opportunity to finish debutant year in World group of Fed Cup as a champion.
“It’s a very exciting thought and for sure we have a chance. Playing at home in Belgrade will help and I’m really looking forward to the Russia match in February. But it’s the most difficult draw for us and it can definitely go either way. It’s easy to get excited and say we can win, but it’s better to stay calm and just think about beating Russia. It could be one of the most exciting sporting events Belgrade has seen in a long time.”
Ivanovic discovered her ideal tennis player; how she would make unbeatable champion. “I would probably choose Karlovic’s serve, Del Potro’s forehand, Federer’s volleys, Djokovic’s backhand and Nadal’s movement and stamina. I would also choose Federer’s attitude and mental strength.”
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Also Noted
Actress Sharon Stone and Billie Jean King attended the 8th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 'An Enduring Vision' benefit at Cipriani, Wall Street on November 16, 2009 in New York City.
Guests listened to Andy Murray during the RBS Murray Experience at the Chiswick Riverside Esporta Club on November 16, 2009 in London, England.  
Pat Cash and children from Walnut Tree Walk school open a tennis wall at the Barclays Spaces for Sports site, ahead of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals coming to London this weekend, November 16, 2009 in Kennington.

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We Hear---
--that Andre Agassi drew 1000 fans at a book signing in Los Angeles yesterday.
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THIS WEEK
MEN
Off Week
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Results
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

VARIETY

Tennis Tip of the Day:

In 1978, Nick Bollettieri founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, the first full-time tennis boarding school to combine intense training on the court with a custom-designed academic curriculum. He has coached 10 players who have reached No. 1 in the world, including Andre Agassi, Boris Becker and Martina Hingis. To learn more about him you can check out: www.nickbollettieri.com.

Playing on Clay

By Nick Bollettieri

Characteristics of clay – The clay court surface is considered “slower” than the hard court surface. Because of the softness and gritty texture of the court, the ball will bite and bounce up more on a clay court than a hard court. This slows down the speed of the ball when it hits the court and gives players more time to set up for shots, thus the term “slower”.

However, a clay court’s speed can change throughout the course of a day or even a match, whereas the speed of a hard court will remain constant. When a clay surface is moist or damp, the court is softer and the ball will bite more into the court, slowing down considerably on impact. Clay courts can dry out throughout the course of a day or even a long match, making the court surface harder which will not slow the ball down as much on impact. This can be a big advantage or disadvantage for some players. For example, a serve and volley player or a player that hits a hard flat ball will enjoy playing more on a day when it is sunny, hot and dry making the court play faster. While baseline players with heavy spin will prefer to play on cloudy, humid days (or even a slight drizzle) to keep the court moist and slow.

The different movement on a clay court is also interesting. Because the court has a layer of loose clay (which you may call sand or dirt) on top, being able to slide and keep your balance will be a huge advantage. The Europeans and South Americans are masters of this movement, which is why they are so dangerous when playing on clay. The ability to change directions, recover and slide on clay has a major impact on your foundation when hitting, which is why mobility plays a major role in the success of clay court players.

Tactics and Strategy on clay – You must be more patient on clay because of the speed of the court. Pounding winners from behind the baseline is not the best idea. You must be more patient, however, this is easier said than done. Your body and mind must be ready to stand tall and be prepared for a long battle. The better shape you are in physically, the better chance of success you will have on clay because you will be able to withstand the long, grueling rallies.

You must add spin and height to offset the aggressive power and flat groundstrokes of hard court players. You cannot take as many one-shot winner chances because the risk will be greater than the return on the softer surface. If you are a net player, do not be afraid to come to the net on clay. You may want to be a little more selective about which balls you come in behind however, because clay courts will slow down that approach shot giving the opponent more time to set up to pass. So be patient and wait for the right time to come in.

Stay aggressive with your serve but more with placement and heavy spins to keep your opponent guessing and off balance on the return. Serving a higher first serve percentage will keep opponents from being offensive with the return.

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Tennis Hint of the Day

Bruce Gullikson provides today’s tennis hint:

Know your choices. If you win the spin or coin toss you have four choices. You can choose to serve, choose to return, choose the side or choose to have your opponent choose. Any of the choices could be the correct one depending on the conditions of the court, weather and your own playing style.

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Book Review

Open – An Autobiography by Andre Agassi

Review by Cheryl Jones

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part review of Andre Agassi’s new autobiography: Open, available in bookstores now.

It’s doubtful there exists a tennis fan that isn’t aware of Andre Agassi’s autobiography. It has spawned a cacophony of reactions, from far and wide. Agassi has a story to tell, and he does an admirable job. Open informs us right away that it’s immaterial that we have watched him grow to manhood and beyond in the blurry limelight of celebrity and professional athletics. After reading the outpouring of pain and angst that Agassi relates as his life, it is as if what we saw on court was an act . . . not premeditated, but a façade, nonetheless. It is apparent that the real Agassi was always there; just hidden behind much more than a hairweave and youthful bravado.

An autobiography is a recollection. Open is Andre’s memoir. Memories are always tangled. They aren’t linear. They’re intertwined – like seaweed and pieces of fishnet and bits of wood washed ashore. Sorting through it all is a task. Extracting anything from it requires disengaging seemingly superfluous parts to seek out the prize. In the book, Agassi tries to get to the bottom of everything he relates, and he isn’t always spot on with his recollections, but it doesn’t detract from the narrative of Open.  

The word “open” has multiple meanings. Tennis players know it best as a competition – i.e. the U.S. Open. In Agassi’s account, it can be defined, as “a state of being that is no longer hidden.” Open is engaging. It’s a story that draws the reader in. From the first chapter to the last, it tells a story with more than words. It’s not just a rehash of where this ball landed when they were here and the score was that. (There are plenty of recounted matches though, for those who thrive on data.) What makes the pages turn are recollections that delve into feelings that he says are hard for him to express. On the contrary, Open shows commendable openness.  

There are chapters; all numbered, but prior to Chapter 1, there is a section called, “The End”, and after the last, another called “The Beginning”. Agassi and his ghostwriter, J.R. Moehringer, have crafted a well-written and engaging account of a life that was played out in public – not just a tennis arena. After reading the first few pages, there is a flash that almost visibly sizzles – we don’t know the real Agassi at all. He tells us over and over, “I hate tennis.”  (Me thinks he doth protest too much.  He doesn’t hate tennis; he hates what it’s bound up with . . . his life; his family and his self-worth.)

“The End” is more than an introduction to Open. It gives the reader a chance to have new information about Agassi.  It’s a rambling launch to a narrative that is quite linear. There are important clues to glean from those pages. They explain Andre’s outlook on life. He talks of what he feels is a curse, “My memory isn’t like my tennis bag; I have no say over its contents. Everything goes in, and nothing ever seems to come out.” Knowing that, it’s easy to feel the torture of returning more than 2,500 balls every day so that he can have the experience of hitting a million in a year. On the surface, it may sound benign, but to a seven-year-old, who figured out he could surreptitiously shank balls over the fence and carve out a four and a half minute break, it was utter agony.

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Did You Know?

Roger Federer is poised to become only the second man ever (Ivan Lendl, 1989) to reclaim the year-end world No. 1 ranking providing Rafael Nadal (some 950 points behind) does not usurp the Swiss following the conclusion of this season's ATP World Tour Finals in London. There have been 15 different year-end world number ones since a computerized ranking system was adopted by the ATP in 1973,

-- Andy Yanne Jr.

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Quote of the Day

“This number (30 million) represents 10 percent of the people in the United States, so that’s huge. I hope that number continues to increase. I hope the after school programs with kids playing tennis becomes like football and baseball. Tennis participation definitely is heading in the right direction.”

--Sam Querrey, who took part in a Los Angeles media luncheon on Tuesday attended by USTA and Southern California Tennis Association officials, including past USTA President Franklin Johnson. The USTA and TIA announced that tennis participation in the United States topped 30 million players for the first time in more than two decades.

***

Bob Larson, Publisher
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