Thursday, September 11, 2008

Bob Larson's
TENNIS CELEBS

© Copyright 2008.  No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis

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IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE...

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

NEWS

Federer Feels He Has a New Lease on Tennis Life

Roger Federer heads into the autumn a new player after salvaging his season with a fifth straight US Open title. And the Swiss can now focus on his long-range goal of leveling with Pete Sampras on the all-time best of 14 majors trophies.
That historic day could come at the earliest next January 25 should he come up victorious in a fourth Australian Open final And that kind of scenario is exactly what the excited Swiss has in mind: "I'm for sure not going to stop at 13," said Federer after slamming Scot Andy Murray at Flushing Meadows. "That would be terrible." Federer said that coming up trumps in Gotham again gives him a new lease of life in the game after losing French Open and Wimbledon finals to new world No. 1 Rafael Nadal. "I would have been disappointed, losing and having three finals and one semis at Slams. You feel like you've missed an entire year, being so close but yet so far. "Semis and finals don't help me a whole lot anymore in my career. It's all about the wins, and that's why this is huge. This is massive, really."
Federer added: "I'm very, very happy about this Grand Slam obviously. It's a different type of flavor, this one, to me, no doubt."
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Serena Williams Retakes Her Number One Ranking
By Charlie Bricker
Staff Writer

Serena Williams is back at No. 1 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings, for the first time in six years, but the more important question is who will be there at the end of the season. Being No. 1 in September is a bit like the Chicago Cubs being in first place in July. It might surprise many because she has won nine Grand Slam titles and is considered by many the most gifted player in the history of women’s tennis, but Serena Williams has been No. 1 at the end of the year only once, in 2002. Her efforts to finish No. 1 when the tour concludes in November have been hurt by injury and her own light schedule, which limits the number of points she can acquire.  However, she is scheduled to play Tokyo, Stuttgart and Moscow in the coming weeks and, while that could keep her at the top, she's going to be pressed hard by No. 2 Jelena Jankovic. While Serena has 411 points to defend between now and the end of the season, Jankovic has only 295. Thus, while Serena as of this week leads Jankovic by 126 points, when you deduct the points they have to defend, the edge narrows to 10 -- 3,680 to 3,670.
Current ranking points with points to defend:
Williams 4,091 minus 411 for 3,680
Jankovic 3,965 minus 295 for 3,670
Ana Ivanovic 3,532 minus 651 for 2,881
Elena Dementieva 3,430 minus 576 for 2,854
Dinara Safina 3,357 minus 305 for 3,052.
The test now for these top five players is to accumulate points in coming tournaments.
The No. 1 players at the end of the year in this decade have been Martina Hingis in 2000, Lindsay Davenport in 2001, 2004 and 2005, and Justine Henin in 2003, 2006 and 2007. Once again, the Williams sisters are being very selective about where they play. Serena has played only 15 tournaments in the last 52 weeks, Venus Williams just 13. The only player in the top 20 who has played fewer tournaments than Serena is No. 6 Maria Sharapova (13), but she has been injured.
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Hantuchova Hopes Her Health Problems Are in the Past

Daniela Hantuchova has struggled to return from a stress fracture in her right heel that forced her to sit out the entire European clay court season. She was away for 10 weeks, and when she came back she managed to win just three of nine matches stretching from Wimbledon to the US Open.  "Missing the clays courts wasn’t so tough, but Wimbledon I was concerned about," said Hantuchova, who began the season by reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open. "I just couldn’t imagine myself skipping Wimbledon. The disappointing thing is that at the beginning of the season I felt I was right there. I was playing the tennis I always wanted to play, so that was tough." She became a tourist, visiting Tuscany while making sure she went through her rehab program exactly as the doctor ordered, and that was fun. At first. "It was just having the freedom," she said. "You wake up and don’t have to think about having to go to the court to practice. All I had to worry about was the rehab. But I just missed it so much. I enjoyed being a normal person for a while, but then I had the feeling so badly that I wanted to be on the court again.
"Maybe I started back too early. At first I enjoyed having free time and for the first time in my life I could spend time with my friends and family and do things I wanted to do. But it was so tough to be away." The Slovak is hoping for better things this week in Bali, where she is top seed and finished as runner-up last year to Lindsay Davenport. It might not be easy, as she struggled to beat 121st-ranked Olga Savchuk in her second round match. The Ukrainian was overwhelmed in the first set but served for the second at 5-4, but went on to lose the next three games and the match 6-1, 7-5.
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Australia’s Molik to Retire From the Tour

Alicia Molik, the popular Australian who rose to no.8 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour world rankings three and a half years ago, won an Olympic bonze medal and owns two Grand Slam doubles titles, has announced her retirement from competitive tennis after a lengthy battle against illness and injury. The Melbourne based 27 year-old played her last match at the Olympic Games but has spent much of 2008 struggling with leg and arm problems. Between October 2005 and May 2006 she was forced to take more than a half a year away from the women's tour after suffering the inner-ear virus, vestibular neuronitis. Her current singles ranking has dropped to 143 after ending 2007 at 57 and she made the decision to end an 11 year stay on the women's tour philosophically. "It's not a sad day, it's an exciting time for me and I think I'm still young enough to focus my energies on something that I feel is again challenging," said Molik who has already gained a taste of media work and is expected to go into television commentary.  "Sad is when I'm in my hotel room and I've lost first round and I've been beaten badly. Sad is when I switch my phone off for two days and I don't want contact with anyone at the US Open or maybe I've lost at Wimbledon.  "As a player traveling the world, it can be very lonely. For three or four years, I've been very good at keeping a brave face. It's been an uphill battle, it really has, as much physically as it has been mentally and emotionally."
Molik won five singles titles in her career; the first coming in 2003 at Hobart before other successes followed in Stockholm, Zurich and Luxembourg before finally in Sydney. However her finest accomplishments came on the doubles court where she won the 2005 Australian Open title with Svetlana Kuznetsova and the 2007 French Open with Mara Santangelo. Looking back on her career and giving reasons for her decision Molik said: "It's tiring and it's very draining but I guess it's a number of things culminating. I've spent a lot of time thinking. I did have a huge setback three years ago, with my middle ear problem.  It took a while to get back, and since then I've just struggled with a few more things that I never imagined would come along the way." Molik also reached three Grand Slam mixed doubles finals, played in three Olympic Games (winning the bronze medal at Athens four years ago) and represented Australia in Fed Cup for eight years. She leaves the tour with a career prize fund of $2,930,844.
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Jankovic Loves the JumboTron TV Screen

US Open finalist Jelena Jankovic just couldn't get enough of screen time during her matches becoming addicted to looking at herself on the giant stadium display.
Instead of burying her head in a towel or picking at her racket strings during changeovers, the 23-year-old instead watched replays of herself on the JumboTron. "You cannot help it to look up, I think they should turn it off," she suggested light-heartedly. "I cannot focus, because I keep looking at it.  I don't know why. "You watch straight, and then your eyes just go up, because you know there's something going up on top. but whatever, it's just fun."
Jankovic, a pony-tailed born actress on court with a range of expression which can range from rapture to despair to unrestrained joy - all interchangeable in the space of any few minutes - said she could just not stop herself sneaking a peek.
Her reaction was the opposite of Andy Murray, who had asked in vain during his quarter-final for the image to be shut down in a stadium filled with up to 23,000 fans.
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Player Party is Highlight of the Bali Tournament

One of the highlights of the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic is the player welcome party. And the highlight of that is the fashion show involving many of the players. Among those parading on the catwalk in clothes by local designer Rico Ananta were Daniela Hantuchova, Nadia Petrova, Na Li, Shuai Peng, Flavia Pennetta, Jill Craybas and Aiko Nakamura.  Alla Kudryavtseva, who criticized the fashion sense of Maria Sharapova after beating her fellow Russian at Wimbledon, was also in the show. Vania King, who sang on Arthur Ashe Stadium on the opening night of the 2007 US Open, performed “As Long As you’re Mine” from the Broadway musical “Wicked”.

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Bali Players Move Turtles to the Sea

The Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic involves the players in many off-court activities, and this year it has included the release of newly-hatched Olive Ridley turtles into the sea. Several players, including top seeds Daniela Hantuchova and Patty Schnyder, were on hand at the Westin Resort to set the little creatures loose and stay there to guide the confused ones who tried to swim back to shore.

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Bali Players Sharpen Their Skills in the Kitchen

Several players took part in a cookery class on Wednesday at the Grand Hyatt, Bali, site of the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic. On the menu were granola bars, and among those testing their skills in the banqueting kitchens were Flavia Pennetta, Aiko Nakamura, Anastasia Rodionova, Yaroslava Shvedova, Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Natalie Grandin. The results of their labor were later distributed to hotel guests.

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Bali Players Take a Break From Hitting Tennis Balls

Players at the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic were presented with the chance to try a host of off-court activities on Tuesday, ranging from pottery, a facial makeover, nail painting, stringing pearls and painting plates. Vania King, Melinda Czink and Jill Craybas were among those who painted plates which were later placed in a kiln for baking, and Craybas also tried her hand at making a clay pot. The pearls, some of which were worth $6000 each, attracted a lot of attention, and several players, including Tamira Paszek and Yaroslava Shvedova, enjoyed the intricate job of threading a row.

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Bali Players Participate in Religious Ceremony

Whatever your interest in religion, a Bali temple ceremony is something to experience. This year, seven players competing in the Bali Classic attended  the temple on the grounds of the Grand Hyatt Resort, taking part in the formal ceremony that lasted around fifteen minutes and included praying and the sprinkling of water.  Each player was made up for the occasion, dressing in sarongs and white tops. The players, many of whom took photos of each other to remember the experience, were Patty Schnyder, Francesca Schiavone, Vania King, Alla Kudryavtseva, Shikha Oberoi, Marta Domachowska and Vasilisa Bardina.

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TENNIS SHORTS

Muhammad Could be the Next American Star

As the United States looks for female talent to eventually succeed the Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenport, it appears Asia Muhammad is one of the most likely candidates. And the tall 17 year-old who was awarded a wild card into this year's US Open main draw could not have a more illustrious advisory team.
Muhammad , whose parents Ron and Faye were both notable college basketball players with Southern Cal and Long Beach State respectively, lives in Henderson, Nevada and was a member of the Andre Agassi Boys and Girls Club.
When she showed an aptitude for tennis at the age of nine, Agassi recognized her potential.  Former world no.1 and five times Flushing Meadows champion Steffi Graf serves as a practice partner back home in Las Vegas while Andre Agassi's long time physical guru Gil Reyes is also masterminding the youngster's training regime. 
"Andre and Steffi, they are the reason I am playing tennis," said Muhammad who lost out in the third round of the Girls singles event to fellow American Melanie Oudin. So she already is privileged in a way other teenagers can only dream about as she now sets about establishing a world ranking on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. But she also has a very special racket after Las Vegas jeweler Michael Minden had the initial A encrusted on both sides of the shaft.
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Danish Star Rings Ceremonial Bell at New York Stock Market

Danish tennis star, Caroline Wozniacki, 18,rang the NASDAQ opening bell Thursday September 4th  at Times Square, New York. Wozniacki in two and a half year's time jumped from 1397 to 18 in world tennis rankings. She is the only Danish woman currently in the Top 400 on the WTA Tour, and more importantly the Top 20. She stands in a small class of WTA rising stars considered tennis 'teen queens.'

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Nadal is Honored by Spanish Government

There are many who think Rafael Nadal has played like tennis royalty this season. Now the Spaniard has the award to prove it after being awarded Spain's Prince of Asturias prize for sport. Nadal, top seed at the US Open, was praised by the jury for "commitment to the most noble sports values both in and outside of the court" as well as work with the underprivileged through his charitable foundation.
The top seed has won eight titles in 2008 including Paris, Wimbledon and the Olympic gold medal. The award carries a prize of 50,000 Euros ($73,000) plus a commissioned Joan Miro sculpture. Last year, former German Formula one driver Michael Schumacher received the honor.

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WTA SCHEDULED TO PLAY

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

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COVERS

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A Reminder to Our Readers

We wish to remind our readers that our all-day tennis newswire is available to all tennis fans.
Just go to www.tennisnews.com anytime throughout the day for the latest tennis news. We surf the internet all day and post links to stories in newspapers and electronic media around the world. “We surf the net so you don’t have to."

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SIGHTINGS

Send your player sightings to: cort@tennisnews.com

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APPEARING SOON

Sept. 27, 2008  Bob and Mike Bryan host the Bryan Brothers' All Star Tennis Smash at Sherwood Country Club in Westlake Village, CA. Also appearing are; Andre Agassi, Sam Querrey, James, Blake, John Isner, Mardy Fish and Lindsay Davenport. More information at www.bryanbrosfoundation.org.

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MONEY MOUNTAIN

Top Prize Money Winners at US Open

Men

(as of Sept. 8, 2008)

1 Nadal, Rafael

$6,605,574

2 Federer, Roger

4,431,341

3 Djokovic, Novak

3,853,882

4 Murray, Andy

2,271,482

5 Davydenko, Nikolay

1,527,231

6 Ferrer, David

1,099,268

7 Roddick, Andy

1,058,487

8 Wawrinka, Stanislas

924,406

9 Del Potro, Juan Martin

900,583

10 Blake, James
854,081

Women

(as of Sept. 8, 2008)

1

Williams, Serena

$3,641,548

2

Ivanovic, Ana

2,563,675

3

Jankovic, Jelena

2,333,760

4

Williams, Venus

2,272,130

5

Safina, Dinara

2,145,920

6

Sharapova, Maria

1,937,879

7

Dementieva, Elena

1,482,994

8

Kuznetsova, Svetlana

1,160,684

9

Radwanska, Agnieszka

925,779

10

Zvonareva, Vera

822,855

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HE SAID... SHE SAID...

"I would have been disappointed, losing and having three finals and one semis at Slams. You feel like you've missed an entire year, being so close but yet so far. Semis and finals don't help me a whole lot anymore in my career. It's all about the wins, and that's why this is huge. This is massive, really." - Roger Federer talking about how special his US Open championship win was this year.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

September

Goran Ivanisevic
13
1971

Wayne Ferreira
15
1971

Butch Buchholz Jr
16
1940

Rosemary Casals
16
1948

Harold Solomon
17
1952

Tomas Berdych
17
1985

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Bob Larson - Publisher
Cort Larson - Editor
Bob Larson's Tennis Celebs is published weekly. 
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