Monday, November 17, 2008

BUSINESS NEWS

Editor's Note: We have begun our Monday, Thursday publication schedule for November and December.
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Showy Tennis Exhibition Set for Tuesday

After suffering continued back problems and a temporary upset stomach throughout the Tennis Masters Cup, Roger Federer could have been excused for pulling out of tomorrow's Showdown of Champions alongside John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and James Blake.
But sensing his obligations and making the most of three days rest since losing to Andy Murray on Friday, the US Open champion and former world no.1 will be at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur., the Malaysian capital.
"There is no miracle cure but the short break means I will be back to my best for the event," said Federer who played an exhibition as part of an Asian tour against Pete Sampras last year.
"I'm looking forward to my trip to Kuala Lumpur as I enjoyed my time here last year. Obviously, it is going to be different this time as then the focus was on Pete and myself. This time, there are two legends, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg in the picture, as well as James Blake. I have never played against McEnroe before and I am certainly looking forward to it."
KL organizers said that Federer will meet with fans for half an hour while Blake will conduct a coaching clinic involving a group of young players.
Federer, who won the Olympic gold in the men's doubles, said: "I used to play doubles when I was younger but the focus has been on singles and the Grand Slams events."
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Wilson is Industry Leader with #1 Racket Brand and #1 Hot New Racket

According to industry figures Wilson leads the industry in unit share and dollar share. Sports Marketing Survey’s third quarter 2008 results, just released show Wilson holds the #1 ranking for “Hot New Racket” for 2008 with the [K] Blade 98.
Wilson has five of the top 10 sellers in the market.
The data are based on the Third Quarter 2008 Sports Marketing Surveys/TIA audit of retail sales at tennis specialty stores. According to the SMS Report third quarter sell-thru results, Wilson has 5 of the top 10 “Best Selling” rackets (in YTD dollars): [K] Blade 98, [K] Six.One 95, [K] Six.One Tour 90, [K] Six.One Team 95, and [K] Blade Tour.
Wilson holds 4 of the top 5 “Hot New Rackets” with the #1 “Hot New Racket” spot held by the [K] Blade 98. Sports Marketing Survey measures “Hot New Rackets” as the top selling rackets that were release within a rolling 12 month period. [K] Blade 98 is the #1 “Hot New Racket and the [K] Blade Tour, [K] Pro Open and [K] Tour are also in the Top 5.
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It Looks Djokovic Family will Get an ATP Tournament in May for Belgrade

It's looking like all systems go for the new Belgrade tournament to be run by the family of Novak Djokovic. After the ATP board gave its tentative blessing during meetings this week in Shanghai, Serbian tennis authorities are set to follow suit.
The event on clay will be the first for the nation which currently dominates on both the ATP and WTA, with Djokovic third in the world and compatriot Jelena Jankovic the women's No. 1. French Open champion Ana Ivanovic is also in the elite mix for the nation.
Reports say the ATP is working to slot the tournament into the calendar and determine prize money, but that final approval is a formality before the end of the year. Serbian media report the tournament will be played in May for a modest prize packet of $326,000.
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Murray Ready to Launch into 2009 Prep Work

Rest and recuperation doesn't appear top of Andy Murray's priorities even though the world no.4 seemed physically spent as he lost out to Nikolay Davydenko in the semi-finals of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.
Murray had less than 24 hours to recover from his three hour plus epic with Roger Federer while eventual runner-up Davydenko was enjoying the luxury of two days respite between his concluding round-robin group match – a scheduling issue that the organizers of the Barclays ATP World Tour Championships which succeed the Masters Cup at London's 02 Arena next year are certain to bear in mind.
But Murray and his back-up team will make only the briefest stop back in Britain before heading for Florida to prepare for next year. The team will again base themselves in the Miami area where Murray has bought an apartment but a playing date has already been penciled in for Saturday, December 13.
The 21 year-old Scot will face Mardy Fish in charity exhibition match at The Boulevard Village and Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Florida. The funds will benefit the Mardy Fish foundation, set up in 2006, and will be part of Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest is a two-day event consisting of a unique combination of tennis, music, golf and a dinner party, at venues around Vero Beach. 
Fish is a lifelong friend of country artist Jake Owen and the two-day event will be a unique combination of tennis, music, golf and a dinner party. It will support numerous good causes around the Vero Beach area in support of low income families and after- school programs for students.
Murray will not have much time to join in the off-court festivities. His coach Miles Maclagan, physical conditioner Matt Little, strength and endurance coach Jez Green and physiotherapist Andy Ireland are all planning a month of intensive work before the player begins 2009 on January 1 in the exclusive company of hopefully Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Davydenko, Andy Roddick and James Blake at the Capitala World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.
Maclagan reported the work will be 'torture' and said: "The big focus is going to be physical, because this is the guy's chance to fill up the tanks in terms of strength and endurance. Game-wise, I look on it a bit differently. You are working on stuff throughout the year.
"I don't think there are any problem areas. Obviously every good player would like to make more first serves and do a bit more on the return, but I don't see any problem areas in his game. It's just a question of taking everything to maybe half a level or a level better.
"He's found his game style. I think he's pretty clear on that. It was partly me learning how he should play - and him. There were a few matches early on when he didn't come off feeling that great, but ever since Hamburg he's really built a lot of momentum. After every single match, whether he's won or lost, he's come off the court and we've said: 'We're going forward.'"
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Simon Hopes to Stay in Top 10

Gilles Simon will be living a dream on the brief off-season after rising to French No. 1 and making the year-end field at the Masters Cup. The breakout player was returning from Shanghai with new status after reaching the semi-finals, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Simon almost cannot believe what he has achieved in a burst of form which he hopes to carry into 2009. "I didn't think I would be No. 7 at the end of the year," confessed the 23-year-old.
"I was in the top 30 in January, and I really wanted to be in the top 15.  But there is a big difference being 15 or 7 at the end of the year.  That's good for me."
Simon has overhauled more fancied compatriots including Richard Gasquet and has Shanghai participant Jo-Wilfried Tsonga trailing in his winning wake. "I think that people were waiting for other players, they didn't focus on my tennis. But I showed to everybody that I was a good player. This gives me confidence for next year.
"My goal is to stay in the top 10 and to play better in the Slams, because I lost every time in the third round this year."
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Bjorkman Officially Retires from the Tour But Eyes the Senior Circuit

Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman has ended his storied career at age 36 after claiming all four major doubles titles and 15 Masters titles among his 54 career doubles trophies.
The Monte Carlo-based father of two who retired after a loss at the Masters Cup, also cited his Davis Cup titles with Sweden in 1997 and 1998 as highlight moments of a standout career. "Winning the Davis Cup was something that was huge to be part of, I was very proud to be representing my country."
The Swede said that departing the game is bittersweet. "I still think it's great to end my career in the biggest event of the year, even if I would have liked to have gone further. I've been mentally prepared for this because I'm mentally very ready to retire. I've been very fortunate to be able to play for so long.
Bjorkman joked that he is now ready at his age to step onto the senior circuit. "I'm going to take advantage that I've been playing so long that I can go straight into seniors. That puts a lot of pressure on the guys."
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California Desert Teaching Pro Injured in Automobile Mishap

Tory Fretz, popular teaching pro in the Palm Springs, California area suffered a serious injury on Halloween night. Earlier in the day, she and Billie Jean King had hosted a tennis clinic for World TeamTennis youngsters at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. They were planning to see a show in the desert that evening. Fretz, having parked her car, was on her way to meet King. While in the crosswalk at the site, she was struck by a valet-driven vehicle.
It seems the car’s mirror hit her head, damaging her left eye. (It will be four to six weeks before doctors know if it can be saved.) The former Occidental College and pro standout also suffered a broken eye socket and nose, along with head trauma.
Known as the 'Pied Piper' because of her teaching skill with youngsters, her friends held a fundraiser at the Palm Desert Resort Country Club, on Sunday.
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Murray Compares Himself with Tour #1 and 2

Andy Murray made his breakthrough in 2008, but the Scot still knows where he stands as he faces the tennis wall of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
"I don't see a whole lot of weaknesses," the world No 4 said of the top pair in the game. "Federer is, I'm sure, going to want to try to get his No. 1 back, and I'm sure he's going to want to try and regain his Wimbledon trophy.
"Nadal, now that he's won Wimbledon, the French, I'm sure he's gonna give it his best effort to get ready for Australia and US Open are going to be huge for him.
"They're definitely going to be top five next year.  Probably 1 and 2 again. They're playing that well and that consistently all the time."
Meanwhile the British No. 1 has his own plans for improvement. "This year as a whole has been awesome, I would have signed up for this year.
"At the end of last year, if someone would have told me I was going to be fourth in the world, won the matches I had done, be to my first Grand Slam final, you know, beating Federer three times, I would have taken that."
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Even in Shanghai Defeat Federer Feels Proud About Overall Performance

Even in defeat, Roger Federer remains proud of how he almost overcame the odds against back pain before falling from the Masters Cup for the first time ever prior to the semifinal stage.
"I'm pretty happy I don't have a match tomorrow, to be honest,"
said the Swiss, who saved seven match points and took three on-court treatments on the back which has bothered him for a fortnight. "It wouldn't have been a whole lot of fun to go out there.
"I would have played Davydenko, that wouldn't have been a whole lot of fun.  Against him, you have to defend and run.
The Swiss admitted: "Of course I'm disappointed, I wish I could have played the matches I played here this week under better circumstances.
"But I almost made a miracle happen. I can't believe how close I got, to be honest.  So I'm actually very happy."
The three-hour struggle might have taken something from Murray for his match against Novak Djokovic. But Federer, the master planner, is already plotting post-holiday strategy.
"I mean, it was a good season, I was happy I could win the US Open for the fifth straight time," said the Swiss, whose 15 losses were his most since the 17 of 2003.
"I'm looking forward to next year, to go for six.  It was an incredible match at Wimbledon (against Rafael Nadal). To be part that was good, as well."

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We Hear—
--that Randy Master, the publisher of Tennis Week, is leaving to rejoin Tennis Channel in its New York Office as an advertising executive.
--that plans are in place to increase the seating capacity of Melbourne Park's Rod Laver Arena by 6,000 to a new capacity of 21,000 seats after the 2010 Australian Open…but this could involve the temporary removal of the revolutionary sliding roof that made the year's opening Grand Slam a trendsetter 20 years ago. 
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Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Friday’s Stock Prices

Stock

Last

Change

Adidas

15.33

-1.34

Amer Sports

4.05

0.00

Head

2.10

0.00

K-Swiss

12.44

-.26

Nike

46.53

-2.33

Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $80.45
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
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Results
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