Wednesday, August 26, 2009

BUSINESS NEWS

Federer and Safina Are Named US Open Top Seeds

The USTA announced that Roger Federer and Dinara Safina will be the top seeds at the 2009 US Open in men’s and women’s singles.  The 2009 US Open will be played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., August 31 – September 13.
For 2009, the US Open followed the ATP World Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings to determine the men’s and women’s singles seeds.  This is the eighth consecutive year that the US Open has seeded 32 players in both singles events.
The singles draws for the 2009 US Open will be announced live on the US Open Draw Show on ESPNews, Thursday, August 27 at 12 PM ET. 

Men
Roger Federer, Switzerland
Andy Murray, Great Britain
Rafael Nadal, Spain
Novak Djokovic, Serbia
Andy Roddick, United States
Juan Martin Del Potro, Argentina
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France
Nikolay Davydenko, Russia
Gilles Simon, France
Fernando Verdasco, Spain
Fernando Gonzalez, Chile
Robin Soderling, Sweden
Gael Monfils, France
Tommy Robredo, Spain
Radek Stepanek, Czech Republic
Marin Cilic, Croatia
Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic
David Ferrer, Spain
Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland
Tommy Haas, Germany
James Blake, United States
Sam Querrey, United States
Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany
Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spain
Mardy Fish, United States
Paul-Henri Mathieu, France
Ivo Karlovic, Croatia
Victor Hanescu, Romania
Igor Andreev, Russia
Viktor Troicki, Serbia
Lleyton Hewitt, Australia
Nicolas Almagro, Spain
Women
Dinara Safina, Russia
Serena Williams, United States
Venus Williams, United States
Elena Dementieva, Russia
Jelena Jankovic, Serbia
Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia
Vera Zvonareva, Russia
Victoria Azarenka, Belarus
Caroline Wozniacki, Denmark
Flavia Pennetta, Italy
Ana Ivanovic, Serbia
Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland
Nadia Petrova, Russia
Marion Bartoli, France
Samantha Stosur, Australia
Virginie Razzano, France
Amelie Mauresmo, France
Na Li, China
Patty Schnyder, Switzerland
Anabel Medina Garrigues, Spain
Jie Zheng, China
Daniela Hantuchova, Slovak Republic
Sabine Lisicki, Germany
Sorana Cirstea, Romania
Kaia Kanepi, Estonia
Francesca Schiavone, Italy
Alisa Kleybanova, Russia
Sybille Bammer, Austria
Maria Sharapova, Russia
Alona Bondarenko, Ukraine
Elena Vesnina, Russia
Agnes Szavay, Hungary

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German Tennis is Going Through Difficult Times

German tennis is going through difficult times, such a view was recently expressed by some leading German sport analysts. According to experts, since the end of career of such famous players as Steffi Graf, Anke Huber, Michael Shtih and Boris Becker Germany did not have any strong players that can take the place of retired leaders.
The current leaders of the German tennis - Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer have inconsistent results and are not able to achieve something serious.
In turn, German media have placed the blame for a bad performance of their tennis players at the National Tennis Federation which amid the crisis decided to reduce funding for the national tennis teams and did not pay enough attention to young talented players.
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ITF Fines Croatia for Davis Cup Venue Decision

Croatia paid a high price for being stubborn in choosing Davis Cup semifinal venue against the ITF recommendation. The fine for the decision to play against Czechs in small Porec in front of only 4.500 people is $24,000.
What bugs Croatian the most is the fact that they got so many compliments when hosting US team in quarterfinals less then two months ago.
“I don’t understand the ITF. They gave us an award for previous matches at the same venue and then they punish us,” Radomir Cacic said the puzzled president of the Croatian Federation. “Even though we are a tennis force by results, we are a small country.”
Croatian problem was in small interest of bigger cities for this tie. Only Split wanted to host Czechs, but their offer was not so good as Porec.
There is a strong possibility that Croatia host Spain in Davis Cup final in November and if that happens, city and venue will have to be chosen with utmost wisdom. Porec is already out of the running. With the fine, ITF ordered that that city mustn’t be chosen for semifinal or final ever again.
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USTA to Hold Australian Open Wild Card Competition in Georgia

The USTA announced it is holding its 2010 Australian Open wild card playoffs during the 2009 Infinite Energy Atlanta Challenge held at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Ga., December 4-7.
The event will feature an exhibition match on December 4, with the wild card playoffs commencing the next day. Through a reciprocal agreement with Tennis Australia, the two national tennis federations exchange wild cards for the 2010 Australian Open and 2009 US Open.
The exhibition match will feature Bob and Mike Bryan, Mardy Fish and John Isner. Those four will also participate in exhibitions in Pelham, Ala., and Chattanooga, Tenn., on Dec. 2-3 in an effort to promote the event across the South.
Competitors for the wild card playoffs will be named following the 2009 US Open.

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Hingis to Enter Dancing Competition

Martina Hingis is the latest tennis star to take to the dance floor. The former world no.1 and winner of five major singles titles who was banned from the sport for two years in 2008 after testing positive for cocaine use is one of 16 celebrities named to contest the upcoming season of Britain’s most popular television show, Strictly Come Dancing.
Hingis, now 29 years of age, follows in the waltzing footsteps of Alicia Molik who danced in the Australian edition of the show and Monica Seles who contested the American version, Dancing With The Stars.
She will be dancing against notable other sports people such as ex world super middleweight boxing champion Joe Calzaghe, who recently retired after winning WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF titles, England test cricketer Phil Tufnell, Olympic longer jumper Jade Johnson and Richard Dunwoody, one of Britain’s most successful jockeys who won the Grand National. Other competitors are various British actors, actresses and television celebrities.
Hingis maintains she is looking forward to the challenge of the show, filmed in London each weekend from early September thru to Christmas. “I love watching dancing. It is a very hard skill to learn," she said. "Some of the other players on the tennis circuit have done other versions in different countries.
“I should be good with the training as I am used to working very hard for many hours to perfect my sport," Hingis said. "Discipline is very important when training for tennis competitions and I think this will be the same when preparing for the Saturday dance. I am really excited by this prospect of wearing many colorful and pretty costumes. I really cannot wait to begin!
“The internet has been very useful to me as I’ve looked at all the different dances performed on lots of international versions of the show and that’s given me plenty to think about," Hingis said. "It has helped with my education of what is in store for me! Athletes do very well on the show — perhaps this is a good sign for me!"
"I want people to see a different side of me from the player running around the tennis court,” said the Swiss Miss. “I'm here to win and I'm very competitive. Everything I do, I want to be the best at it. I try to keep fit by doing different things, I have my horses and skiing definitely keeps you fit”
The player who won the Wimbledon women's singles title in 1997 in addition to four other major titles, had a reputation for being outspoken and criticizing her rivals. Clearly Hingis has not mellowed with age as she insisted: “Monica Seles competed in the US version and had a blast. She didn’t make it very far in the competition though. I hope to get further than she did!
"I've always said what I think. Don't you think tennis is boring today? People don't say anything anymore. I have changed. I'm not like I was when I was 18. I've calmed down and always have fun."
Hingis announced her retirement in November 2007, although she strenuously denied ever taking the drug and proclaimed her innocence.
"I want to put everything behind me now and this is a new challenge. I can't wait to learn some of the Latin dances and some of the faster ballroom ones, like the quickstep."
Strictly Come Dancing features celebrities with professional dance partners competing in ballroom and Latin dances, including jive, rumba, waltz, foxtrot and tango. Hingis has been paired with Matthew Cutler, who won the show in 2007 with British pop singer Alesha Dixon. Last year’s final was watched by an audience in excess of 13 million viewers.
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William Sisters Join Miami Dolphins as Limited Partners

The Miami Dolphins announced that Venus and Serena Williams, residents of Palm Beach Gardens, have joined the organization as limited partners of the franchise.
The action comes on the heels of several business announcements, including Marc Anthony and Emilio and Gloria Estefan joining the team as limited partners, the renaming of Dolphin Stadium to Land Shark Stadium through a partnership with Jimmy Buffett, the enlistment of Brazilian artist Britto to adorn the stadium with his iconic artwork, an innovative partnership with Kangaroo Media to provide hand held wireless units to premium seat holders, and an alliance with Ocean Drive Magazine to create a members-only club at the stadium.
New owner Steven Ross has made a marketing decision to bring more attention to the team by making game day more than merely attending a football game. One of the first moves he made was to bring in show business specialist Arlen Kantarian, formerly a high executive with the USTA. Kantarian brought in show business celebrities to night sessions of the US Open as well as music entertainment and glitz to the grounds of the Open.

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Kim Clijsters May Return to a Leading Position in WTA Tour

Kim Clijsters is able to return to her previous level in the WTA Tour, putting an end to the hegemony of Russian tennis players and make a threat to sisters Williams. Following her first performance after a long break in Cincinnati, most experts agree that Clijsters still has enormous potential, as well as the winner’s psychology.
Resuming her tennis career might be a perfect decision for Kim, because in June, the Belgian tennis player just turned 26 years. Her former coach Marc Dehauz believes that she will be competitive and can immediately goes very high, referring to the victory in the US Open and return to a high ranking on the WTA Tour.
Many were surprised when two and a half years ago, Kim decided to quit, referring to the loss of motivation, injuries and the desire to create a family.

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Jankovic is Enthusiastic About Her Chances at the US Open

Jelena Jankovic is approaching the US Open with renewed ambitions. Her win in Cincinnati woke up old flames.
“The most important thing about the last few weeks is that I'm back. My level of tennis has really lifted up. I'm moving well, hitting the ball well and I'm confident about my game. I needed these matches and these wins.’
The best world player for last year is getting ready for her last opportunity in this year to erase tag “#1 without Grand Slam title”. Twelve months ago she entered the US Open as the only tennis queen in history without major final. That tag was almost removed when Jankovic played for the title against Serena Williams.
She lost that match, but this year she wants to go one step more. “Now I can go into the US Open confident about my chances. I was a finalist last year and I just love playing there. The atmosphere, the crowd... Especially those night matches, they're just electric! No other tournament has that. It's unbelievable to be there and to perform. Hopefully it will be my stage. I'm happy to say the old Jelena is back!”
There is only one snag on that road.
“I took yesterday off and today I will as well. I need to rest up and recharge my batteries, and then I will train all week. I'm feeling a bit of a cold right now. My immune system is down a bit from not sleeping much in the last few weeks. Hopefully I can get over this quickly,” said Jankovic.
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As Always, Sharapova Will Look Glamorous on Court at the US Open

Maria Sharapova may not be one of the US Open’s top seeds this year, the Californian based Russian currently ranked only 30 as she battles to make up time after missing nine months after shoulder surgery, but the 2006 champion will still be the most glittering player at Flushing Meadows.
As ever 22 year-old Sharapova’s on-court attire has created more attention than most things on the female side of the draw and this year it has been announced she will be wearing Tiffany sterling silver and diamond earrings designed by Frank Gehry.
The former world no.1 and Wimbledon and Australian Open champion has worn Tiffany jewelry at all four majors. She praised the design, known as Stria, for its’ fine corrugated texture. I am thrilled to wear these elegant earrings at the US Open," enthused the multi millionaires who visited the 79 year-old designer California studio to learn about his inspiration for creating the pieces.
"The earrings have a distinctive shape that is like the fluid lines of Frank Gehry’s architecture. Gehry, long one of America’s most foremost jewelry architects said: “I wanted to design earrings for Maria that were interesting yet light enough to wear during play. It was a new idea inspired by corrugations, like a river or a waterfall."
Sharapova is heartened by last week’s performance in Toronto where she played six matches in a week and reached the final where she lost out to countrywoman Elena Dementieva. The effort was sufficient to boost Sharapova 19 places up the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings and into one of the US Open seeded spots.
“I feel like I'm progressing, she insisted. “I'm understanding what feels better, what I can do better. With every tournament I've played in the summer I felt like I was starting to play better and get a feel for the hard courts.”
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IN MEMORIUM

Jane Pratt, known to generations of St. Louis tennis players for directing local tournaments, died Saturday (Aug. 22, 2009) of cancer. She was 89.
She became involved in the Municipal Tennis Association in 1956, became its president in 1965 and never gave up the title. She was a summer fixture at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center for four decades, running local tournaments through 2006.

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We Hear---
--that the National Public Parks National Tennis Tournament will be held in St. Louis in 2010 and in Minneapolis in 2011.
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THIS WEEK
MEN
New Haven
WOMEN
New Haven
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NEXT WEEK
MEN
US Open
WOMEN
US Open
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