Monday, September 29, 2008

BUSINESS NEWS

Davydenko Considering Suing the ATP

The current complex legal situation for the ATP may become a tad more convoluted if Nikolay Davydenko puts into action a plan to sue the sanctioning body in the wake of his recent lukewarm clearance in just-ended match-fix probe. The Russian's lawyer told Bloomberg that the world No. 6 would appreciate the courtesy of an apology from the ATP, which hung him out to dry for more than a year before quietly ending the controversial probe earlier in the month. The attorney said Davydenko was considering his options in going to court to recover his legal fees from the ATP. When the probe failed to gain traction, an ATP statement said merely that it was being wound down due to lack of evidence - hardly a convincing exoneration of Davydenko. In addition, Davydenko is said to be concerned after potentially losing new sponsorship contracts during the period when he was under suspicion for a match he lost in Sopot, Poland, in August, 2007. The ATP is currently seeking a new boss with Etienne de Villiers set to step down after less than three years in control at the end of the year.
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Rusedski Might Return for Davis Cup Tie

Britain's Davis Cup team could get the offer of a surprise addition for next spring's Davis Cup match-up with the Ukraine. Greg Rusedski, once ranked the world's fourth best player but now 35 years of age and 17 months into retirement, is considering picking up his competitive racket again for the tie. Rusedski, who has Ukrainian antecedence and was the star of the show when Britain scored a win in Odessa two years ago, was upset as the apparent disharmony in the squad at the recent defeat by Austria on Wimbledon's No.1 Court and once again frustrated as second singles player Alex Bogdanovic lacked the mental strength to back up Andy Murray's sterling performance. The left-handed Montreal-born player, who currently amongst other duties with the Lawn Tennis Association is Britain's Junior Davis Cup captain, has been practicing hard in preparation of an expected appearance at the BlackRock Masters senior event at London's Royal Albert Hall in December.
Rusedski's former Davis Cup captain and long-time confidante David Lloyd (elder brother of Britain's current captain John) admitted: "I talk to Greg all the time, I know how passionate he remains about the Davis Cup and what is happening to the British team and that he would do whatever he could to help." Currently standing ninth on the list of all time British players with 43 rubbers played over a span of 13 years in 20 ties with a win/loss record of 30/13, Rusedski would have a strong case for inclusion as the younger Lloyd now admits he was wrong to chose two specialist doubles players in Jamie Murray and Ross Hutchins.  With Jamie Baker struggling to return to full fitness after a life threatening blood disorder and Bogdanovic smarting from the apparent inability to win a live rubber in seven attempts, Britain's only other singles options appear to be the untried Josh Goodall (ranking 201) or Chris Eaton (#315) who lost a qualifying match for this week's ATP event in Metz 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 7-6(8) to Ukrainian no.1 Sergiy Stakhovskiy. David Lloyd continued: "I haven't run this idea past my brother yet but who is to say that Greg being in the squad wouldn't be a great lift for everyone? He has kept himself in great shape, I'd give him a crack against any of those being considered for places. Let's be honest, what happened against Austria was very disappointing. We can't afford to lose this tie, otherwise we'll be going back to where we were in the competition when I took over as captain in '95.That would be a disaster."  Meanwhile Britain is considering Edinburgh as a venue for the tie to be played next March. An indoor venue is clearly obvious, AEGON (the LTA's new backers is based in the Scottish city) and it is the closest major venue to the Murray's hometown of Dunblane. "It all points to Edinburgh being a good idea but we remember a tie at Glasgow a couple of years ago that was not exactly a financial success," said an LTA insider.
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Henin and Coach Rodriguez are in the Academy Business to Stay
By Charles Bricker

Yes, said Carlos Rodriguez, there have been phone calls from top women players or their agents, asking if he would be interested in coaching on tour again after his 12-year association with Justine Henin ended in April with Henin’s astonishing retirement at age 25. But, he smiled, he’s not interested.
“It was very difficult to make them understand that another career has started now,” said the Argentine coach. “It would be very difficult to find another such a champion, as well as a human being like Justine. That’s why it’s right for me to start an adventure here – for me and my family.” The adventure is Sixth Sense Tennis Academy, a joint venture between him and Henin at the Mission Inn Resort in little Howey-in-the-Hills, Fl., about 30 miles northwest of Orlando. They have eight students, two hardcourts, six Har-Tru courts and a deal to expand.
Henin picked Florida because she’s grown to love the state after her training sessions at Saddlebrook, near Tampa, and because she won the Orange Bowl juniors in Miami. She was a dominant figure on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour until she abruptly retired, leaving the women’s game in a quandary. There was no longer one player you could depend on to reach deep into the second week of every major. Ana Ivanovic. . .Jelena Jankovic. . .Serena Williams. . .Dinara Safina. . .they’ve all tried to seize No. 1 by the throat but have been unable to take control in the way Henin did for years. “I think it’s one of the weakest points of women’s tennis today,” Rodriguez said of the top-10. “It’s not the determination. It’s the regularity of the performance. “Ivanovic. She is the girl. I don’t know that she was able to assume the No. 1 role so soon after winning the French Open. Her entourage is good and maybe she can do something in two or three years. But at the moment, she’s still a little bit weak. “I’ve been gone from the tour only four or five months, but I don’t feel the extra dimension there,” he said. “When I saw Venus Williams at 14, you knew she would be something special. Serena, same thing. You know it when you see it. Today, I don’t see the weapons inside and outside the court to do something big, and by ‘inside the court’ I mean the emotion and heart. That makes a champion.” When he was introduced to 14-year-old Henin, she was a wisp of a junior. “Too small. Too skinny. Not so well educated about tennis. But I had that same feeling from when I saw Venus and Serena. Something special. Something you can develop.” And now the two of them will try to impart what they’ve developed to young players at their academy. “I think American tennis has given us a lot of good things. Now, it’s time to give back. Our philosophy is a big difference from the big academies. It will be more personal, more one-to-one.” Rodriguez and Henin have a Sixth Sense academy in Belgium, so they’ll be back and forth. But Rodriguez says it’s important for him to spend 10 or 11 weeks “at a minimum” in Florida. “I have to demonstrate we’re not just putting our names on this. I will come back in November and December.”
Rodriguez has built a solid association with reporters with his candor, praising Henin at the right times and not afraid to be critical, either, and he showed his hasn’t lost his frankness. Argentina or Spain in the Davis Cup final? He was asked. He smiled. “My heart says Argentina, but reality says Spain.”
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Roddick Shares Beijing Prize Money With Earthquake Victims

Andy Roddick chose to donate $25,000 of his prize money from winning a 26th title of his career at the Chinese Open in Beijing to those still suffering from May's earthquake in the Sichuan Province that caused 41 deaths, 589 injuries, the destruction of collapse of more than 10,000 homes, and damage to 190,000 more.
"I would really like to contribute a part of my money to those families affected, to those who lost everything they had, suffered painful injuries or lost loved ones in the earthquake," said Roddick, who defeated Dudi Sela of Israel, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3. "It is my great honor to be in Beijing to work with Chinese Tennis Association to assist those kids who are in need. It is an athlete's privilege and responsibility to give back."  Roddick, who decided not to contest the Olympic Games in the Chinese capital, made sacrifices to play the Beijing event. Despite the disappointment of losing the Davis Cup semi-final to Spain the previous weekend, he made the long flight to Asia and immediately told the tournament organizers there was no need for the four bodyguards he had been assigned.  He also missed out on one of the American tennis year's major social occasions. Roddick's former room-mate and current Davis Cup team-mate Mardy Fish got married over the weekend but apologies had to be sent.
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Fish Got Married Saturday
Mardy Fish was married Saturday with best friend Andy Roddick plodding away with tennis duties in Asia. But Fish, who was rushed onto last week's Davis Cup team and helped the US earn the doubles point, can't begrudge that "slight."
His friendship with Roddick goes much deeper, back at least as far living as a teenaged boarder with the Roddick family in Florida during his early days of trying to break into the game. "Andy's not the best man," Fish said, knowing that his old mate has other concerns during these weeks. "I've got a few friends over the years who have been best friends at times, "James Blake is my best friend on the Tour. We used to live together in Tampa, Andy and I are more like brothers than anything else. We'll fight over pretty much everything. "James and I are almost the opposite. We get along extremely well." Fish married a television game-show model who trained as a lawyer with the couple set to base themselves in LA for her showbusiness career. "Happiness off the court translates to clear mindedness. We did the seating chart for the wedding, just something that I'm not used to doing. We just enjoy each other's company a ton and she's a huge help, as well."
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Roddick Thinks US Tennis Has Good Future

As one of a pair of players hanging on in the Top 10 - the same as Spain and Switzerland - Andy Roddick still feels life is good for US tennis. The former No. 1 has begun well in Beijing during a two-week autumn run in Asia as he makes his first appearance at a regular season ATP event since losing the Bangkok final in 2004 to Roger Federer. And the transplanted Texan is tired of hearing his nation's tennis ragged repeatedly. "The biggest thing as far as negative connotations surrounding US tennis is the players we have had before. "If you compare us with other countries we're very, very strong," he said of a nation with three players in the Top 25 (Mardy Fish) in addition to himself and Blake, currently on a sabbatical in hopes of refreshing his motivation. The top American is still fighting for a place in the season-ending, eight-man Masters Cup, with this week in China and next in Tokyo crucial in the effort to try and hold off Swiss Stan Wawrinka on ninth.
Roddick is particularly keen on Davis Cup debutant Sam Querrey to pick up the future for the US. And he's predicting a resurgence. "I think it's going in as good a direction as it has for the past four or five years."
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British Teen-Ager Gaining Attention—Even From Some Players

Laura Robson may be revving up the optimism in British women's tennis but the interest in the 14 year-old Wimbledon junior champion is proving rather baffling to some of her more experienced opponents. Robson reached the semi-finals of the $75,000 event in Shrewsbury last weekend and on the way beat Tzipi Obziler, 21 years the British girl's senior at the age of 35. And the Israeli, who figured on the WTA Tour rankings five years before her opponent was even born, was baffled by the attention. "What is all this interest in her?" asked Obziler after her 6-3,6-3 quarter final defeat. "She is still young, I didn't realize she is only 14 years old, but she can certainly improve. She's solid and knows what to do on the court but I don't think her serve is that big and she needs to work on a few things. But the most dangerous thing is all the attention she is getting."
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Djokovic Loses in Finals But Stays on to Relax

Novak Djokovic is bucking the usual trend of tournament winners and finalists rushing the airport to get out of town the moment play is completed at the end of the week. The Serb instead  will actually take some down time with a brief holiday on a Thai resort island. The world No. 3 player's 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final of the Thailand Open didn't help Djokovic much in his goal to try and overtake Roger Federer on second on the ATP list. But after helping Serbia to a Davis Cup victory a week ago in Slovakia then getting down to Asia and overcoming jet-lag to reach the title match in Bangkok, Djokovic is not worried. The 21-year-old knows he deserves a break. "I'm going to have a small rest on a beautiful island (Koh Samui). There is no need to rush off. I want to be rested and refreshed for the European indoor season." Djokovic won Vienna last year, reached the Madrid semi-finals and then did not win a match until the end. Any improvement this autumn will help his standing as he tries to lift his No. 3 ranking.
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The Bryan Brothers Hold All-Star Tennis Smash

They came to watch and celebrate Mike and Bob Bryan, but Andre Agassi stole the show Saturday as the Bryan twins honored their hero at the first Bryan Brothers’ All-Star Tennis Smash event held at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Agassi made his first tennis playing appearance of the year, mixing it up as Mike Bryan’s partner against Robby Ginepri and James Blake in an eight-game pro set won by Bryan and Agassi. “It looks like Mike’s found a new doubles partner to finish the year out with,” said the 30-year-old twins’ father, Wayne, who sat in the umpire’s chair and provided running commentary during the on-court activities.
Bob Bryan could only watch from the sidelines as he is currently rehabbing from tendinitis and a slight tear in his left shoulder. He’s expected to return to practice in three weeks. Following the first doubles match, Justin Gimelstob and Paul Goldstein joined in to face Mike and Agassi. But at 2-2, Gimelstob injured his back so the fans were treated to some singles action from Agassi and Goldstein, a former Stanford teammate of the Bryans.  The Bryans, the No. 1 doubles team in the world and recent U.S. Open champions, commented on several occasions during the day that Agassi was their inspiration for wanting to establish a foundation like his. The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation has raised more than $100 million dollars for the Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas and other charities. Lindsay Davenport, Mike Bryan, actors Jon Lovitz and Kaley Cuoco then joined in for the final set of doubles to conclude the play for the day. Later in the evening, a gala dinner was held where more money was raised for the Bryans’ charity of choice, City Impact, which promotes the educational, physical and emotional well-being of at-risk families in the Ventura County area.
“I wanted to thank Gimel(stob) for making me feel so young out here,” said Agassi after his match with Goldstein. “I just miss all the people who are involved in this great game so much. It’s just great to be here.” After the matches, Wayne Bryan asked Agassi if he’d be interested in some day running for an elected position, maybe governor of Nevada? “No, I don’t think so. I enjoy solving problems, not being part of the problem,” he said.  Earlier in the day, Davenport wouldn’t say one way or the other if she had decided to return to the women’s tour full-time in 2009, “I haven’t made up my mind. I’m just enjoying spending time at home. I’m fortunate because I don’t have a boss or anyone to answer to. I don’t feel any pressure to make a decision any time soon but we’ll see.” The day before their big day at Sherwood, the twins were honored by the City of Oxnard, which declared Sept. 26 Bryan Brothers' Day. ““I don't know if anybody is going to know about it besides the people here today,” Mike told the Ventura County Star. “It's not Sept. 26th skip school and worship the Bryans day. But it's still nice to be honored.”
Said Bob: “It's always good when you can have a day named after you. We have gotten a couple of keys to some cities that don't work. But this is better because it is for a cause that is dear to our heart.”
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USTA Launched Tennis on Campus Web Site

The USTA announced the launch of a new web site designed to serve as a resource for the more than 450 college and universities and nearly 30,000 players who participate in a Tennis On Campus program at their school. The official web site of the Tennis On Campus program, www.tennisoncampus.com will provide an array of resources, materials and information to help support the rapidly expanding non-varsity side of college tennis. The Tennis On Campus program, launched in 2000, features co-ed teams participating in intramural and intercollegiate (club) play using the World TeamTennis format on campuses nationwide. Tennis On Campus also provides college students with opportunities for leadership development, social networking and rivaled competition.  Perfect for athletes who have not made the jump from high school to college varsity, Tennis On Campus offers match play, regional and national championship competition while helping students maintain active and healthy lifestyles through their college years.
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Trade Show Company Retains Andy Roddick for Advertising Purposes

Champion Exposition Services (“Champion”), a leading provider of comprehensive event solutions and exposition services, revealed a new branding and advertising campaign titled, ‘It’s more than a show, it’s a performance.’  Champion’s rebranding effort will include a new national advertising campaign, which will initially feature international tennis superstar, Andy Roddick. The opening ad will be the first in a series, which highlights individual performers who are recognized as “champions” in their fields, reinforcing the philosophy that Champion is more than just a name, it’s a purpose – to be the very best and to accept nothing less.
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The Murray Father Says Both Boys Could Have Been Great Golfers

Andy Murray's father says that the world No. 4 may have had the game to play pro golf before turning his attention to tennis. Willie Murray, divorced for years from Murray mum Judy, made the revelation to Scottish press, saying young Andy and elder brother Jamie both showed promise on the links.
The proud father called Andy "a natural" who finished runner-up in a junior event at home in Scotland. "I'm very proud of what the boys have achieved in tennis," added the elder Murray. "If Jamie wasn't a tennis player, he would probably be a golfer. I taught him everything I knew. I took him out on the golf course in Dunblane as often as possible, and he was a natural. He loved all sorts of sports, though." And as for Andy: "He  used to come golfing too, and he was also very good, but he got bored with it quite easily. There wasn't enough action in it for him. He preferred football, and tennis." Golf runs in the Murray family, with their uncle for years a pro at a public course near Dallas. Even with his concentration totally on tennis, Andy's handicap on the course is rated at 17.

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We Hear—
--that change is afoot at Tennis Australia with several changes forecast for its board of management. Several retirements were predicted when nominations closed Friday.  One departee is Perth delegate Andrea Mitchell, who was recently elected into the West Australian state parliament. Veteran Geoff Pollard was expected to continue for a final two-year term. In total, up to four vacancies could have been created by retirements and career changes.
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THIS WEEK
MEN
Bangalore
Metz
Tokyo
WOMEN
Stuttgart
Tashkent
Tokyo
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NEXT WEEK
MEN
Moscow
Vienna
WOMEN
Moscow
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Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Friday’s Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

Adidas

27.91

-1.69

Amer Sports

6.70

0.00

Head

2.10

0.00

K-Swiss

17.81

+.22

Nike

67.79

+2.78

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $122.31
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
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