Thursday, October 2, 2008
Bob Larson's
TENNIS CELEBS
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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
Sharapova Admits to Having a Boyfriend
Maria Sharapova may have finally admitted to a boyfriend after a perhaps inadvertent statement during an auction, with the Russian tennis diva saying "my boyfriend" would outbid another man. Media now report that the three-time Grand Slam winner who is rehabbing a shoulder injury, is seeing Charlie Ebersol, the son of an NBC sports executive. Sharapova, meanwhile, has opted not to play until 2009 after several months of strength training and physical therapy in Arizona on the right shoulder which has caused her grief since 2007. "I've been progressing really well but its taking a lot longer than I had selfishly planned," she told her website, "Therefore my team and I decided to 'shut it down' for the season." Sharapova admitted that working at the Phoenix facility with American sport athletes was an eye-opening experience. "Most of the athletes here have similar shoulder problems so we can all relate to each other even though most of them are 6'4 heavyweight muscular pitchers or quarterbacks. "I guess they're pretty darn good but since I never finished that Football For Dummies book, and the only football games I ever watch is when I mistakenly turn on a sports channel, I am so clueless to who they are and what exactly they do," she confessed. The 21-year-old had been playing with a small tear in her rotator cuff tendon in April and finally started to put it right in August, missing the Olympics and US Open.
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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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Serena Williams to Build School in Senegal
Serena Williams is to make a return visit to Africa in November as part of her plan to build a school in Senegal for disadvantaged kids. "I recently got involved in lots of charities," she said in Stuttgart, where she is top seed at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. "One is I’m working on building a school in Africa. I’m going there in November again, to Senegal, to look at the land and see exactly where I want to build it. I was so moved by all the kids. There is so much poverty and they’re so poor, and just a little bit can go so long there. Seeing that I feel, obviously I’m from Africa, those are my roots, I just feel a certain tie there. "I don’t know how many the school will fit, but hopefully it’ll be able to fit lots, both boys and girls. The best thing about the school is the government will be helping me with it. The president of Senegal was getting involved as well, so it’ll be exciting." Serena would also welcome the opportunity to play a tournament on the continent, although that possibility appears remote. "I would love to have a tournament in Africa. That’ll be great. I think we can have a lot of fans there and it would be a good opportunity to get tennis in such a big continent. It’s like untouched territory, so I think that’ll be really exciting. I just fell in love with that country (Senegal)."
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It’s Oktoberfest in Stuttgart
Every tournament on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour features a players’ party, and although it sounds great that every week the players can abandon their usual tennis outfits and dress up and be treated to five-star food and perhaps a relaxing glass of wine or two, when it happens every week, boredom can set in. You might hear cries of “Oh, not another glass of champagne.” So some tournaments offer something a little different. In Pattaya, guests include a couple of Thai elephants who love to pick the girls up with their trunks. In Bali, many of the players take part in the annual fashion show and strut their stuff on the catwalk. And at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart the players have the opportunity to step across the street from the hotel to enjoy the Volksfest. Second biggest in the world only to the famous Oktoberfest in Munich, the fairground includes rides, ferris wheels and other fairground attractions, as well as restaurants and enormous beer halls that hold many hundreds of people. Among those enjoying the occasion this year were Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Jelena Jankovic, Vera Zvonareva, Dominika Cibulkova and Agnes Szavay.
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Jankovic to Reclaim Number 1 Ranking
When the latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings are published on Monday, October 6, 2008, Serbian Jelena Jankovic will regain the World No.1 ranking, continuing the unprecedented see-saw battle for the top-spot in women’s tennis for 2008. The 23-year old, who previously held the No.1 ranking for one week (August 11, 2008), replaces Serena Williams at the top of the rankings. Williams held the No.1 ranking after clinching the US Open title in September and has held the top spot for the past four weeks. Jankovic has won more matches than any other player on Tour this year, compiling a 55-16 record in her first 18 tournaments of 2008. She has already secured a spot in the singles competition at the season-ending championships – Doha 2008 and currently holds the top spot in the Race to the Championships. Over the course of 2008, Jankovic has won Rome and just last week, captured Beijing. She also reached the finals of the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open in Miami and the 2008 US Open, her first career major final. In addition, she has advanced to the semifinals at two of this year’s majors, falling to eventual champion Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open and eventual champion Ana Ivanovic at Roland Garros. The Serbian star also reached the 2008 semifinals of Dubai, Indian Wells and Los Angeles. Jankovic began defining herself as a potential No.1 approximately two years ago, when she labored past a string of ten consecutive opening round losses early in the 2006 season and suffered a ranking drop to No.38 in the middle of the year. She successfully turned the season around and vaulted to No.12 by year end. Since then, the Serbian has been a consistent figure in the Top 10, securely staying inside the top elite since February 26, 2007. Her season-ending ranking has improved from No. 194 (in 2002), to No. 85 (in 2003), to No. 28 (in 2004), to No. 22 (in 2005), to No. 12 (2006) and to No. 3 (in 2007).
Since Justine Henin retired on May 14, 2008 and immediately took her name off the rankings, four players have held the No.1 ranking: Ana Ivanovic (12 weeks), Jankovic (two weeks as of October 6), Maria Sharapova (three weeks) and Serena Williams (four weeks).
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Zvonareva Recovering from Mononucleosis
She reached the top 10 in 2004, but two years later Vera Zvonareva was down and almost out. Her ranking had plummeted to 78 when she went into the pre-Wimbledon tournament at Birmingham and began her slow climb back up by winning the title. Now, she’s back in the top 10 and a contender for the Sony Ericsson Championships.
At one stage she was in utter despair, crying with frustration even during practice, so what caused her collapse and recovery? It transpires that she was a victim of mononucleosis. "It happened over 2005, 2006," she said after dismissing Daniela Hantuchova in straight sets to reach the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. "I was playing with it for a long time and didn’t know I had it until I got all my tests done, and then I had to be very careful. I couldn’t train hard, and it took me a year and a half to feel normal, and to feel good probably took me two years. It was a difficult time for me, and then last year I had to miss six months with an injury." That injury to her left wrist took her out from April until she returned at the US Open. But she believes those two setbacks have made her stronger. She has also learned to control her emotions far better than before. "I’m more experienced and more mature now so I know how to manage myself on the court. Everyone gets emotional. It’s sport, it’s a game, you’ve got to be emotional and put yourself out there. You have to kick yourself in the butt a little bit and get the adrenalin going. Sometimes it helps but sometimes it’s a little bit too much. You want it too much and sometimes it doesn’t go your way, but I think I’m doing pretty good now. I think I’ve matured a lot over the years."
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Nadal Signs Deal With Perfume Company
Rafael Nadal doesn't just play in a manly attractive fashion, he will also smell nice as well. The world no.1 has signed a deal with Inter Parfums to be global ambassador for its Lanvin line of fragrances. Aside from trying to maintain his top ranking at the beginning of next year, the man from Mallorca will help develop a new fragrance called Lanvin L'Homme Sport with a projected summer launch. A range of products will be aimed at a younger market than is usual for the Lanvin brand. Inter Parfums is planning to launch the brand throughout Europe and the United States. Nadal will join a number of other tennis stars, including Andre Agassi, Gabriela Sabatini, Venus and Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, as a fragrance spokesperson. Paris-based Inter Parfums creates and manufactures several brands of fragrances and cosmetics under license, including Burberry, Paul Smith, Christian Lacroix and Van Cleef & Arpels
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This is One for the Books
Agnieszka Radwanska had more on her mind in Stuttgart than her second round loss to Victoria Azarenka. She is also out of Moscow next week, something that could end her chances of qualifying for the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.
The problem isn’t an injury. Instead, she was refused a visa by the Russian authorities because there was simply nowhere left in her passport to place it! A recent visit to Asia meant that more pages than she expected were used up, and the world number 10 now has to return home to Warsaw to get a new passport. Her next tournament will be in Zurich on October 13.
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Safina is Happy She Didn’t Quit Earlier This Year
Dinara Safina is up to three in the world and has a chance to be number one by the end of the year. Yet earlier in the season she was in such despair that she thought of quitting the game. "At the beginning of the year it was really terrible. I could already give up and say, ‘Okay, I’ve had enough of this. I’ll go and study or something’," she said in Stuttgart, where she is seeded third behind Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic. "Really, at the beginning of this year I was so deep in the hole I didn’t know how to get out of there. I was completely lost. I was not enjoying. It wasn’t that I stopped loving this game, but it was why do I have to suffer so much. I go on the court and nothing is going on, and it was really a disaster. "But I stayed patient and thought maybe I have to work harder and give myself time to get better. After this it started to pay off with my results. I think in the crucial moments I was suffering so much, so now in the tough moments I’m more positive and I’m like okay, I’ve been in worse moments so I’ll get out of here. It’s made me stronger."
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Nishikori Signs Endorsement Contract with Japanese Food Company
The global economic crisis might be causing mass anxiety around the corporate world but Kei Nishikori, the 84th ranked Japanese teenager who is widely tipped for super-stardom before too long, doesn't seem affected. The Nick Bollettieri Academy trained youngster, currently contesting the AIG Open staged in Tokyo's Ariake Coliseum and safely through to the second round after beating Robert Kendrick 7-6,6-7,6-2, has just signed another major endorsement deal, this one is with Nissan Food. Nishikori, already backed in a long-term lucrative agreement by the Sony Corporation and also endorses adidas clothing and Wilson rackets. He will wear a Nissan patch on his left arm reading: "CupNoodles." He said: "I have loved "Ramen" since I was a little boy. Even now that my life is based out of the United States I continue to spend a lot of time traveling around the world and often enjoy Nissin Noodles. "Instant noodles" is a food culture that Nissin Food has spread all over the world and always reminds me of Japan. Diet is a very important aspect of my life as a professional athlete and will be a key factor to my success as a tennis player."
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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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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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TENNIS SHORTS
Tennis Channel’s Pete Sampras Documentary to be Screened at Sports Film Festival
Tennis Channel’s documentary on tennis legend Pete Sampras will be highlighted during a special screening at the inaugural U.S. Sports Film Festival (USSFF) in Philadelphia this month, set for Oct. 23-26. The film, Signature Series: Pete Sampras, will be followed by an audience discussion with writer/director/producer Craig Shapiro and a panel of tennis luminaries. Signature Series: Pete Sampras was the second in an original line of documentary programs unveiled by the network in spring and summer 2008, each of which use a visually distinctive approach, original footage, access to family photo archives and high-end production values to tell the story of a notable moment or contributor in the tennis pantheon. Premiering July 8, 2008, the Sampras edition is a new-look retrospective that chronicles the phenomenal career of the man many consider to be the greatest player in history. Moving from his first days as a scrawny kid hitting balls against walls to his record 14 Grand Slam singles titles by the time of his retirement, the film covers his greatest triumphs and most heartbreaking losses, using interviews with rivals, coaches, friends, reporters and others.
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Venus Williams Not Planning to Play Althea Gibson in a Movie
Word has been going around that Venus Williams is to play the part of Althea Gibson in a movie about the pioneering African-American tennis icon. But that word hasn’t reached Venus, she claims. Talk about the project was in Variety magazine, but that isn’t on her must-read list. "I don’t read Variety," she said after beating Anna-Lena Groenefeld in the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. "I read tennis. No, unless someone contacts me and lets me know and pushes me into that Oscar position, until that time I guess I’m not playing the role. I think it could be fun, but I’m more of a behind-the-scenes girl. I like to organize. I’d be the producer, I wouldn’t be the actress."
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Hall of Fame Honors Mark Stenning
International Tennis Hall of Fame Chairman Christopher E. Clouser has announced that Mark L. Stenning is the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Chairman’s Award. The Chairman’s Award recognizes outstanding service by a Hall of Fame Board Member.
“Mark has done an outstanding job over the years for the Hall of Fame,” said Clouser. “Mark has been with the organization for 28 years, and he has played a key role in the success of the Hall of Fame in the Newport community, nationally and internationally. He is extremely deserving of this award.” Mark Stenning joined the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980 and currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the Hall of Fame’s $7 million operating budget, staff and events, including the annual Enshrinement Ceremony. He also holds the title of Tournament Director, running the annual Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships and represents the Hall of Fame’s interests on the ATP Tour.
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WTA SCHEDULED TO PLAY
Upcoming schedules as of September 29, 2008
1. Serena Williams - Moscow, Doha [SEC]
2. Jelena Jankovic - Moscow, Zurich, Doha [SEC]
3. Dinara Safina - Moscow, Doha [SEC]
4. Elena Dementieva - Moscow, Luxembourg, Doha [SEC]
5. Ana Ivanovic - Moscow, Zurich, Linz, Doha [SEC]
6. Maria Sharapova -
7. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Moscow
8. Venus Williams - Moscow, Zurich
9. Vera Zvonareva - Moscow, Zurich, Quebec City
10. Agnieszka Radwanska - Moscow, Zurich, Linz
11. Patty Schnyder - Zurich, Linz
12. Anna Chakvetadze - Moscow, Zurich, Linz
13. Daniela Hantuchova - Moscow, Luxembourg
14. Marion Bartoli - Moscow, Zurich, Linz
15. Flavia Pennetta - Moscow, Zurich, Linz
16. Caroline Wozniacki - Moscow, Zurich, Luxembourg
17. Victoria Azarenka - Moscow, Zurich, Linz
18. Nadia Petrova - Moscow, Zurich, Linz
19. Alize Cornet - Moscow, Zurich, Linz
20. Dominika Cibulkova - Moscow, Zurich, Linz
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COVERS
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A Reminder to Our Readers
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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
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MONEY MOUNTAIN
2008 Prize Money Earnings
MEN (September 29)
1 Nadal, Rafael
$6,583,074
2 Federer, Roger
4,561,341
3 Djokovic, Novak
3,883,382
4 Murray, Andy
2,334,965
5 Davydenko, Nikolay
1,521,606
6 Roddick, Andy
1,132,237
7 Ferrer, David
1,104,268
8 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried
942,506
9 Wawrinka, Stanislas
918,781
10 Del Potro, Juan Martin
889,333
WOMEN (September 29)
1
Williams, Serena
3,641,548
2
Ivanovic, Ana
2,594,645
3
Jankovic, Jelena
2,459,745
4
Safina, Dinara
2,342,820
5
Williams, Venus
2,272,130
6
Sharapova, Maria
1,937,879
7
Dementieva, Elena
1,513,479
8
Kuznetsova, Svetlana
1,317,484
9
Radwanska, Agnieszka
966,247
10
Zvonareva, Vera
878,155
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HE SAID... SHE SAID...
"I recently got involved in lots of charities. One is I’m working on building a school in Africa. I’m going there in November again, to Senegal, to look at the land and see exactly where I want to build it. I was so moved by all the kids. There is so much poverty and they’re so poor, and just a little bit can go so long there. Seeing that I feel, obviously I’m from Africa, those are my roots, I just feel a certain tie there. I don’t know how many the school will fit, but hopefully it’ll be able to fit lots, both boys and girls. The best thing about the school is the government will be helping me with it. The president of Senegal was getting involved as well, so it’ll be exciting." - Serena Williams, announcing her plans to build a school in Senegal.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
October
Darren Cahill
2
1965
Thomas Muster
2
1967
Jana Novotna
2
1968
Marion Bartoli
2
1984
Neale Fraser
3
1933
Torben Ulrich
4
1928
Owen Davidson
4
1943
Robby Ginepri
7
1982
Sam Querrey
7
1987
Fred Stolle
8
1938
Maria Bueno
11
1939
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Bob Larson - Publisher
Cort Larson - Editor
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