I've been a bit distracted. Back to tennis tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Tennis Talk
by Savannah
I'm sure you've all seen the Men's Draw for the Australian Open so I guess you can laugh along with me at this article found on the Oz Open's official site.
Federer Faces Rocky Road
It's always nice to start your day with a smile.
As for the Women's Draw Jelena Jankovic's section is one step above playing the under 12's at a Junior Tournament. I guess the ITF can't have it's Player of the Year face real competition right off the bat. Meanwhile Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Elena Dementieva are all in the bottom half of the draw. True Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic are in the top half of the draw but they're both in the bottom section of that part of the draw. Just sayin' people.
Idle Chit Chat
Jarkko Nieminen defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(3) to reach the men's final in Sydney. He will face David Nalbandian in the final.
The ITF announced this morning that Filippo Volandri has been suspended for three months beginning January 15 for a doping offence. A lucky loser will take his place in the Australian Open men's draw.
American Sam Querrey will face Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the Heineken Open in Auckland.
The Winners Circle
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic won the women's event at Hobart. She defeated Iveta Benesova 7-5, 6-1.
She did it again. Elena Dementieva totally demoralized Dinara Safina 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to claim the women's trophy at Sydney. Two weeks, two trophies for Ms Dementieva. Guess that earned her that placement in the bottom half of the draw.
End Notes
Thanks to ESPN360 I was able to watch both draws as they took place last evening in Melbourne. James Blake and Amelie Mauresmo were the designated pro's and they did what pro's do in these situations, stand by, smile and offer comments when asked to.
The highlight of the event was when a Tennis Australia official asked Amelie to comment on Jelena being number one. I'm paraphrasing here but Amelie said that Jelena is consistent and that she guesses there's something to say about consistency. I almost bust a gut laughing.
As regular readers know I'm always going on about "fixed" draws. If you watched last evening (depending on your time zone) everything looked random and on the up and up with no chance whatsoever of any hanky-panky from tournament directors or over reaching agents. I still say that if you look at the draws you can't say that something isn't right.
Tennisheads have to look past the dog and pony show's put on by the majors when it comes to the draws and think about what the computer was asked to do by the powers that be.
In this day and time everyone is familiar with the phrase "garbage in, garbage out" when it comes to setting up computer programs. Does a major agency have a stake in making sure Player A makes history at a Slam or a major? Does said agency wine and dine any and everyone who can influence how things turn out for Player A? More than likely no? Does the tennis establishment want a certain thing to happen and something else not to?
In other words it's important not only to follow the sport but to have a rudimentary knowledge of the politics of the sport, especially a sport like tennis.
So what is the computer told? What assumptions are made when it's programmed to create a draw? Who tells the programmers what they're to do?
Let's be clear here I'm not accusing anyone of malfeasance. I'm just an average person with no first hand knowledge of what's going on in the back rooms but I consider myself fairly intelligent and when I see the same kind of "soft" draws doled out to the same players over and over I have to wonder just what the hell is going on.
I don't care who they trot out on stage at these things to plug in the seeds for public consumption. I do care that TPTB think everyone is asleep at the wheel. We're not.
I'm sure you've all seen the Men's Draw for the Australian Open so I guess you can laugh along with me at this article found on the Oz Open's official site.
Federer Faces Rocky Road
It's always nice to start your day with a smile.
As for the Women's Draw Jelena Jankovic's section is one step above playing the under 12's at a Junior Tournament. I guess the ITF can't have it's Player of the Year face real competition right off the bat. Meanwhile Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Elena Dementieva are all in the bottom half of the draw. True Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic are in the top half of the draw but they're both in the bottom section of that part of the draw. Just sayin' people.
Idle Chit Chat
Jarkko Nieminen defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(3) to reach the men's final in Sydney. He will face David Nalbandian in the final.
The ITF announced this morning that Filippo Volandri has been suspended for three months beginning January 15 for a doping offence. A lucky loser will take his place in the Australian Open men's draw.
American Sam Querrey will face Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the Heineken Open in Auckland.
The Winners Circle
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic won the women's event at Hobart. She defeated Iveta Benesova 7-5, 6-1.
She did it again. Elena Dementieva totally demoralized Dinara Safina 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to claim the women's trophy at Sydney. Two weeks, two trophies for Ms Dementieva. Guess that earned her that placement in the bottom half of the draw.
End Notes
Thanks to ESPN360 I was able to watch both draws as they took place last evening in Melbourne. James Blake and Amelie Mauresmo were the designated pro's and they did what pro's do in these situations, stand by, smile and offer comments when asked to.
The highlight of the event was when a Tennis Australia official asked Amelie to comment on Jelena being number one. I'm paraphrasing here but Amelie said that Jelena is consistent and that she guesses there's something to say about consistency. I almost bust a gut laughing.
As regular readers know I'm always going on about "fixed" draws. If you watched last evening (depending on your time zone) everything looked random and on the up and up with no chance whatsoever of any hanky-panky from tournament directors or over reaching agents. I still say that if you look at the draws you can't say that something isn't right.
Tennisheads have to look past the dog and pony show's put on by the majors when it comes to the draws and think about what the computer was asked to do by the powers that be.
In this day and time everyone is familiar with the phrase "garbage in, garbage out" when it comes to setting up computer programs. Does a major agency have a stake in making sure Player A makes history at a Slam or a major? Does said agency wine and dine any and everyone who can influence how things turn out for Player A? More than likely no? Does the tennis establishment want a certain thing to happen and something else not to?
In other words it's important not only to follow the sport but to have a rudimentary knowledge of the politics of the sport, especially a sport like tennis.
So what is the computer told? What assumptions are made when it's programmed to create a draw? Who tells the programmers what they're to do?
Let's be clear here I'm not accusing anyone of malfeasance. I'm just an average person with no first hand knowledge of what's going on in the back rooms but I consider myself fairly intelligent and when I see the same kind of "soft" draws doled out to the same players over and over I have to wonder just what the hell is going on.
I don't care who they trot out on stage at these things to plug in the seeds for public consumption. I do care that TPTB think everyone is asleep at the wheel. We're not.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Australian Open Women's Draw
JANKOVIC, Jelena SRB [1] v MEUSBURGER, Yvonne AUT
FLIPKENS, Kirsten BEL v DE LOS RIOS, Rossana PAR
DECHY, Nathalie FRA v QUALIFIER, (Q)
QUALIFIER, (Q) v SUGIYAMA, Ai JPN [26]
BAMMER, Sybille AUT [24] v SAFAROVA, Lucie CZE
CETKOVSKA, Petra CZE v ERAKOVIC, Marina NZL
QUALIFIER, (Q) v PIRONKOVA, Tsvetana BUL
SOUTH, Melanie GBR v BARTOLI, Marion FRA [16]
PETROVA, Nadia RUS [10] v SHVEDOVA, Yaroslava KAZ
MIRZA, Sania IND v DOMACHOWSKA, Marta POL
KNAPP, Karin ITA v WEJNERT, Monika AUS (W)
VOSKOBOEVA, Galina KAZ v SZAVAY, Agnes HUN [23]
KIRILENKO, Maria RUS [27] v ERRANI, Sara ITA
NICULESCU, Monica ROU v QUALIFIER, (Q)
CAMERIN, Maria Elena ITA v GALLOVITS, Edina ROU
RYBARIKOVA, Magdalena SVK v ZVONAREVA, Vera RUS [7]
SAFINA, Dinara RUS [3] v KUDRYAVTSEVA, Alla RUS
MAKAROVA, Ekaterina RUS v REZAI, Aravane FRA
QUALIFIER, (Q) v MAYR, Patricia AUT
QUALIFIER, (Q) v KANEPI, Kaia EST [25]
HANTUCHOVA, Daniela SVK [19] v DELLACQUA, Casey AUS
CRAYBAS, Jill USA v JOHANSSON, Mathilde FRA
PETKOVIC, Andrea GER v QUALIFIER, (Q)
KORYTTSEVA, Mariya UKR v CORNET, Alize FRA [15]
WOZNIACKI, Caroline DEN [11] v PEER, Shahar ISR
RUANO PASCUAL, Virginia ESP v DUQUE MARINO, Mariana COL
DOKIC, Jelena AUS (W) v PASZEK, Tamira AUT
KEOTHAVONG, Anne GBR v CHAKVETADZE, Anna RUS [17]
KLEYBANOVA, Alisa RUS [29] v ARVIDSSON, Sofia SWE
COHEN-ALORO, Stephanie FRA v ZAHLAVOVA STRYCOVA, Barbora CZE
WICKMAYER, Yanina BEL v QUALIFIER, (Q)
GOERGES, Julia GER v IVANOVIC, Ana SRB [5]
WILLIAMS, Venus USA [6] v KERBER, Angelique GER
SUAREZ NAVARRO, Carla ESP v VINCI, Roberta ITA
QUALIFIER, (Q) v AMANMURADOVA, Akgul UZB
MARTINEZ SANCHEZ, Maria Jose ESP v TANASUGARN, Tamarine THA [32]
MEDINA GARRIGUES, Anabel ESP [21] v HOLLAND, Isabella AUS (W)
VESNINA, Elena RUS v COIN, Julie FRA
MOORE, Jessica AUS (W) v MCHALE, Christina USA (W)
SANTANGELO, Mara ITA v PENNETTA, Flavia ITA [12]
SCHNYDER, Patty SUI [14] v MLADENOVIC, Kristina FRA (W)
GAJDOSOVA, Jarmila AUS v RAZZANO, Virginie FRA
HSIEH, Su-Wei TPE v CHAN, Yung-Jan TPE
QUALIFIER, (Q) v CIBULKOVA, Dominika SVK [18]
WOZNIAK, Aleksandra CAN [30] v LISICKI, Sabine GER
STOSUR, Samantha AUS v ZAKOPALOVA, Klara CZE
DUSHEVINA, Vera RUS v BENESOVA, Iveta CZE
BARROIS, Kristina GER v DEMENTIEVA, Elena RUS [4]
KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana RUS [8] v RODIONOVA, Anastasia AUS
MALEK, Tatjana GER v MORITA, Ayumi JPN
VAIDISOVA, Nicole CZE v BREMOND, Severine FRA
ROGOWSKA, Olivia AUS (W) v BONDARENKO, Alona UKR [31]
ZHENG, Jie CHN [22] v PIN, Camille FRA
CIRSTEA, Sorana ROU v CZINK, Melinda HUN
BYCHKOVA, Ekaterina RUS v DOMINGUEZ LINO, Lourdes ESP
BONDARENKO, Kateryna UKR v RADWANSKA, Agnieszka POL [9]
AZARENKA, Victoria BLR [13] v KVITOVA, Petra CZE
GARBIN, Tathiana ITA v PAVLYUCHENKOVA, Anastasia RUS
QUALIFIER, (Q) v GROENEFELD, Anna-Lena GER
GOVORTSOVA, Olga BLR v MAURESMO, Amelie FRA [20]
SCHIAVONE, Francesca ITA [28] v PENG, Shuai CHN
LLAGOSTERA VIVES, Nuria ESP v QUALIFIER, (Q)
YAKIMOVA, Anastasiya BLR v DULKO, Gisela ARG
YUAN, Meng CHN (W) v WILLIAMS, Serena USA [2]
Australian Open Men's Draw
FLIPKENS, Kirsten BEL v DE LOS RIOS, Rossana PAR
DECHY, Nathalie FRA v QUALIFIER, (Q)
QUALIFIER, (Q) v SUGIYAMA, Ai JPN [26]
BAMMER, Sybille AUT [24] v SAFAROVA, Lucie CZE
CETKOVSKA, Petra CZE v ERAKOVIC, Marina NZL
QUALIFIER, (Q) v PIRONKOVA, Tsvetana BUL
SOUTH, Melanie GBR v BARTOLI, Marion FRA [16]
PETROVA, Nadia RUS [10] v SHVEDOVA, Yaroslava KAZ
MIRZA, Sania IND v DOMACHOWSKA, Marta POL
KNAPP, Karin ITA v WEJNERT, Monika AUS (W)
VOSKOBOEVA, Galina KAZ v SZAVAY, Agnes HUN [23]
KIRILENKO, Maria RUS [27] v ERRANI, Sara ITA
NICULESCU, Monica ROU v QUALIFIER, (Q)
CAMERIN, Maria Elena ITA v GALLOVITS, Edina ROU
RYBARIKOVA, Magdalena SVK v ZVONAREVA, Vera RUS [7]
SAFINA, Dinara RUS [3] v KUDRYAVTSEVA, Alla RUS
MAKAROVA, Ekaterina RUS v REZAI, Aravane FRA
QUALIFIER, (Q) v MAYR, Patricia AUT
QUALIFIER, (Q) v KANEPI, Kaia EST [25]
HANTUCHOVA, Daniela SVK [19] v DELLACQUA, Casey AUS
CRAYBAS, Jill USA v JOHANSSON, Mathilde FRA
PETKOVIC, Andrea GER v QUALIFIER, (Q)
KORYTTSEVA, Mariya UKR v CORNET, Alize FRA [15]
WOZNIACKI, Caroline DEN [11] v PEER, Shahar ISR
RUANO PASCUAL, Virginia ESP v DUQUE MARINO, Mariana COL
DOKIC, Jelena AUS (W) v PASZEK, Tamira AUT
KEOTHAVONG, Anne GBR v CHAKVETADZE, Anna RUS [17]
KLEYBANOVA, Alisa RUS [29] v ARVIDSSON, Sofia SWE
COHEN-ALORO, Stephanie FRA v ZAHLAVOVA STRYCOVA, Barbora CZE
WICKMAYER, Yanina BEL v QUALIFIER, (Q)
GOERGES, Julia GER v IVANOVIC, Ana SRB [5]
Bottom Half
WILLIAMS, Venus USA [6] v KERBER, Angelique GER
SUAREZ NAVARRO, Carla ESP v VINCI, Roberta ITA
QUALIFIER, (Q) v AMANMURADOVA, Akgul UZB
MARTINEZ SANCHEZ, Maria Jose ESP v TANASUGARN, Tamarine THA [32]
MEDINA GARRIGUES, Anabel ESP [21] v HOLLAND, Isabella AUS (W)
VESNINA, Elena RUS v COIN, Julie FRA
MOORE, Jessica AUS (W) v MCHALE, Christina USA (W)
SANTANGELO, Mara ITA v PENNETTA, Flavia ITA [12]
SCHNYDER, Patty SUI [14] v MLADENOVIC, Kristina FRA (W)
GAJDOSOVA, Jarmila AUS v RAZZANO, Virginie FRA
HSIEH, Su-Wei TPE v CHAN, Yung-Jan TPE
QUALIFIER, (Q) v CIBULKOVA, Dominika SVK [18]
WOZNIAK, Aleksandra CAN [30] v LISICKI, Sabine GER
STOSUR, Samantha AUS v ZAKOPALOVA, Klara CZE
DUSHEVINA, Vera RUS v BENESOVA, Iveta CZE
BARROIS, Kristina GER v DEMENTIEVA, Elena RUS [4]
KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana RUS [8] v RODIONOVA, Anastasia AUS
MALEK, Tatjana GER v MORITA, Ayumi JPN
VAIDISOVA, Nicole CZE v BREMOND, Severine FRA
ROGOWSKA, Olivia AUS (W) v BONDARENKO, Alona UKR [31]
ZHENG, Jie CHN [22] v PIN, Camille FRA
CIRSTEA, Sorana ROU v CZINK, Melinda HUN
BYCHKOVA, Ekaterina RUS v DOMINGUEZ LINO, Lourdes ESP
BONDARENKO, Kateryna UKR v RADWANSKA, Agnieszka POL [9]
AZARENKA, Victoria BLR [13] v KVITOVA, Petra CZE
GARBIN, Tathiana ITA v PAVLYUCHENKOVA, Anastasia RUS
QUALIFIER, (Q) v GROENEFELD, Anna-Lena GER
GOVORTSOVA, Olga BLR v MAURESMO, Amelie FRA [20]
SCHIAVONE, Francesca ITA [28] v PENG, Shuai CHN
LLAGOSTERA VIVES, Nuria ESP v QUALIFIER, (Q)
YAKIMOVA, Anastasiya BLR v DULKO, Gisela ARG
YUAN, Meng CHN (W) v WILLIAMS, Serena USA [2]
Australian Open Men's Draw
Tennis Tallk
by Savannah
Oh Serena. You played a grueling three set match against one of the women knocking on the door of superstardom which saw you come back from three match points and after Elena Dementieva easily takes you out you say fatigue had nothing to do with it?
Come on lady. It's a furnace down there right now. Only someone with super human strength could play a match like you did against
Caroline Wozniacki and come back to win the next day. We know you don't like to lose and that you blame yourself when you fall short of your high expectations. You should know by now though that your blaming yourself publicly comes across as not giving your opponents their due. It makes it easy for nonfans to take potshots at you and fans have to go on the offensive defending your statements.
Kick yourself all you want away from the cameras. I'm not saying you should wear sackcloth and ashes but Elena has played very well so far this year and yes, she has looked like a champion. Look on the bright side. She's played a hell of a lot of tennis coming into Melbourne. Unless she's got superhuman strength she's going to stumble at best into week two. And this is coming from someone who picks her to be in the final four at Melbourne.
So take your few days of non tournament play as a gift from the tennis gods. Nurse your anger at losing. Bring it to Melbourne. See you in the semis.
The Australian Whine
Every year about this time some official from Tennis Australia starts in about the threat from Asia in relation to the Australian Open. Last year the concern was about China swallowing the Open whole and taking it to Shanghai. This year it's about the run up tournaments and the threat from the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Doha) to these events.
The designated whiner this year is Colin Stubs described as an "experienced tournament promoter". He is the tournament director for Kooyong. He has the following to say about the new exho at Abu Dhabi.
Source
Seriously I understand his concern. Kooyong has been "THE" warmup exhibition for a long time now and to see it's importance diminished has to be alarming to everyone associated with Tennis Australia. The thing is I've read reports that the ATP is looking for Abu Dhabi to take the place of Mercedes Benz in sponsoring the tour. Would it not then follow that the ATP would encourage the big boys to play in the Middle East? Have you spoken to your peers in Germany? As the folks in Berlin what happens when the folks in the Middle East lose interest in a tournament.
I think that the warm up events have been well populated by top ATP players so far. The field at Kooyong isn't bad given when it takes place. Roger Federer is there isn't he? Oh I forgot that he wants to move the Australian Open to February, something Tennis Australia does not want to do. It would change the face of the Slam with all the young people back in school and all. And I understand the weather is more brutal in February than in January in Australia. Meanwhile it's kind of cool in the Middle East in January from what I saw.
It remains to be seen what happens going forward with the Australian Open.
Australian Open News
I mentioned here yesterday that there were reports in French media that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's back problem had flared up. He withdrew from Sydney yesterday and now
The BBC is reporting that he may be doubtful for the Australian Open. Tsonga is quoted as saying the following:
Fernando Verdasco played Roger tough in their Kooyong face off winning a set and forcing a third set. Roger said long matches don't bother him at this stage in his career. The score was 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5). You decide. Next up for Roger at Kooyong is his friend Stan Wawrinka.
David Nalbandian took out Lleyton Hewitt 7-6(3), 7-5. Glad to see Carnival is over David.
Well, well, well, look who's working with who in Australia. Guess someone dragged someone out of the Twilight Zone.
Oh Serena. You played a grueling three set match against one of the women knocking on the door of superstardom which saw you come back from three match points and after Elena Dementieva easily takes you out you say fatigue had nothing to do with it?
Come on lady. It's a furnace down there right now. Only someone with super human strength could play a match like you did against
Caroline Wozniacki and come back to win the next day. We know you don't like to lose and that you blame yourself when you fall short of your high expectations. You should know by now though that your blaming yourself publicly comes across as not giving your opponents their due. It makes it easy for nonfans to take potshots at you and fans have to go on the offensive defending your statements.
Kick yourself all you want away from the cameras. I'm not saying you should wear sackcloth and ashes but Elena has played very well so far this year and yes, she has looked like a champion. Look on the bright side. She's played a hell of a lot of tennis coming into Melbourne. Unless she's got superhuman strength she's going to stumble at best into week two. And this is coming from someone who picks her to be in the final four at Melbourne.
So take your few days of non tournament play as a gift from the tennis gods. Nurse your anger at losing. Bring it to Melbourne. See you in the semis.
The Australian Whine
Every year about this time some official from Tennis Australia starts in about the threat from Asia in relation to the Australian Open. Last year the concern was about China swallowing the Open whole and taking it to Shanghai. This year it's about the run up tournaments and the threat from the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Doha) to these events.
The designated whiner this year is Colin Stubs described as an "experienced tournament promoter". He is the tournament director for Kooyong. He has the following to say about the new exho at Abu Dhabi.
Stubs...said Australian lead-up tournaments to the Open may be under threat.
"The jury is out as to whether they will ultimately do so. It might just be a honeymoon period," Stubs told The Australian newspaper.
"We don't know, but at the moment, on the face of it, it looks like we do have an issue to address there.
"It is not only this tournament. Brisbane is in the same boat, as is Sydney and Auckland (in New Zealand)."
Stubs's warning follows increasing interest across Asia in hosting a grand slam event.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said recently that the Australian Open would not be lost to Asia.
But the tennis series in Abu Dhabi and Doha have already had an impact on the quality of local fields leading into this year's Open.
"I think the dynamics of the early part of the year have changed a little bit," Stubs said.
"It looks to me as though there is a fair bit of money changing hands in Abu Dhabi and as a result of that, you've got to play Doha.
"Now I suppose they (players) have to reassess what they want to do in this particular week. That is one of the issues."
Source
Seriously I understand his concern. Kooyong has been "THE" warmup exhibition for a long time now and to see it's importance diminished has to be alarming to everyone associated with Tennis Australia. The thing is I've read reports that the ATP is looking for Abu Dhabi to take the place of Mercedes Benz in sponsoring the tour. Would it not then follow that the ATP would encourage the big boys to play in the Middle East? Have you spoken to your peers in Germany? As the folks in Berlin what happens when the folks in the Middle East lose interest in a tournament.
I think that the warm up events have been well populated by top ATP players so far. The field at Kooyong isn't bad given when it takes place. Roger Federer is there isn't he? Oh I forgot that he wants to move the Australian Open to February, something Tennis Australia does not want to do. It would change the face of the Slam with all the young people back in school and all. And I understand the weather is more brutal in February than in January in Australia. Meanwhile it's kind of cool in the Middle East in January from what I saw.
It remains to be seen what happens going forward with the Australian Open.
Australian Open News
I mentioned here yesterday that there were reports in French media that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's back problem had flared up. He withdrew from Sydney yesterday and now
The BBC is reporting that he may be doubtful for the Australian Open. Tsonga is quoted as saying the following:
"I saw my physio a lot yesterday," he added. "I saw the physio from the ATP. I saw the doctor and they told me it's difficult to play like that.
"I just have to wait and come back on the court when I feel better.
"I can't do anything for the next two days. I will stay maybe in my bed and hope I will be better."
Fernando Verdasco played Roger tough in their Kooyong face off winning a set and forcing a third set. Roger said long matches don't bother him at this stage in his career. The score was 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5). You decide. Next up for Roger at Kooyong is his friend Stan Wawrinka.
David Nalbandian took out Lleyton Hewitt 7-6(3), 7-5. Glad to see Carnival is over David.
Well, well, well, look who's working with who in Australia. Guess someone dragged someone out of the Twilight Zone.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Heard Around
by Savannah
Wonder what's going on at Nicky B's?
Management shake-up hits Bollettieri academy
By Anthony Cormier
Published: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 11:39 a.m.
Lynn Berenbaum first posted this story. Colette Lewis brought it to my attention on her blog. Guess it's film at 11.
Berlin Bites the Dust
The rumors have proven to be true. Craig reports that the Berlin Open is no more. They say the global financial crisis has nothing to do with it.
News from the frontlines
Tennis.com. posts the following statement from Roger Federer on new ATP chief Adam Helfant.
We can all rest easy now can't we?
Svetlana Kuznetsova has pulled out of Sydney with an abdominal strain. She says that she is going to rest the next four days and see how things are. I have two words for you Sveta. Venus Williams.
Every seed at Hobart is out. I wonder if it has anything to do with the Australian Open starting on January 19th? No? Of course not.
Richard Gasquet beat
Gilles Simon at Sydney four and four. Let's see how his part of the draw shapes up at Melbourne.
Another Frenchman, Paul-Henri Mathieu went down in flames to a revived Novak Djokovic 1 and 2. Guess that new racquet isn't so bad after all huh Novak?
Ti-Ali, aka Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rolled over Simone Bolelli. French media is reporting Tsonga's chronic back problem is flaring up. Not good news at all.
Stan Wawrinka beat
Marcos Baghdatis at Kooyong. Marcos says he feels great, that his tennis is fine. Wonder if he's still using soccer as his sole training preparation for matches? The score was 2 and 2.
Dispatch From the Twlight zone
UK Eurosport reports the following.
She's obviously having too much hot sauce with her meals.
Think it's not hot in Australia?
The heat and Dinara Safina brought Alize Cornet to tears.
Fernando Verdasco refused to discuss his personal life with reporters. Where was the mob when Andre Agassi was courting Steffi Graf? Seems they had a lot of privacy for some time. Just sayin'.
Mark Philippoussis went down to defeat at the hands of Taylor Dent at the Adelaide exhibition 6-2, 6-3. Gael Monfils lost to the returning Joachim Johansson.
I'll leave you with these pictures.
Michael Llodra gives us La Vie En Rose.
Ivan Ljubicic and his wife Aida show us what la vie is all about.
Wonder what's going on at Nicky B's?
Management shake-up hits Bollettieri academy
By Anthony Cormier
Published: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 11:39 a.m.
BRADENTON - There has been a major shakeup at the top of IMG Academies, the world class sports training facility where four executives were fired or encouraged to resign in the last few weeks.
The deepest impact has come at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy, leaving some of the facility’s founders out of work.
Since December, tennis academy director Gabriel Jaramillo, vice presidents Ted Meekma and Greg Breunich and chief financial officer Jeff McNeil were asked to leave.
Each man was given severance pay, according to Jaramillo‘s attorney, and signed nondisclosure and no-compete contracts that prohibit them from coaching tennis or speaking publicly about the changes.
IMG officials would not comment.
Lynn Berenbaum first posted this story. Colette Lewis brought it to my attention on her blog. Guess it's film at 11.
Berlin Bites the Dust
The rumors have proven to be true. Craig reports that the Berlin Open is no more. They say the global financial crisis has nothing to do with it.
News from the frontlines
Tennis.com. posts the following statement from Roger Federer on new ATP chief Adam Helfant.
"I had contact when he came to Dubai and saw me in December. I know him from Nike because he was working there, so I knew him before that as well. But Rafael, and I think Novak, had never met him, so he came to Monaco to see them which I thought was important, obviously, and it was important that the board also got to meet him and talk to him.
"His view is great. He has been in sports big time. He deals with Brazil and FC Barcelona and all the basketball players. I even had something going on with him at Nike when I was negotiating my Nike contract, so I saw what kind of a man he was. He is very honest, and I think that is a very good thing."
We can all rest easy now can't we?
Svetlana Kuznetsova has pulled out of Sydney with an abdominal strain. She says that she is going to rest the next four days and see how things are. I have two words for you Sveta. Venus Williams.
Every seed at Hobart is out. I wonder if it has anything to do with the Australian Open starting on January 19th? No? Of course not.
Richard Gasquet beat
Gilles Simon at Sydney four and four. Let's see how his part of the draw shapes up at Melbourne.
Another Frenchman, Paul-Henri Mathieu went down in flames to a revived Novak Djokovic 1 and 2. Guess that new racquet isn't so bad after all huh Novak?
Ti-Ali, aka Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rolled over Simone Bolelli. French media is reporting Tsonga's chronic back problem is flaring up. Not good news at all.
Stan Wawrinka beat
Marcos Baghdatis at Kooyong. Marcos says he feels great, that his tennis is fine. Wonder if he's still using soccer as his sole training preparation for matches? The score was 2 and 2.
Dispatch From the Twlight zone
UK Eurosport reports the following.
Ana Ivanovic has taken a page out of Roger Federer's training manual and will be going it alone at next week's Australian Open.
After collecting 13 Grand Slam titles, Federer has set the benchmark of how to succeed without having a full-time coach by his side and it is a strategy Ivanovic hopes will work for her at Melbourne Park.
"I already do know a lot about tennis and about other players (and) I think I'm very young and maybe a full-time coach could still be very helpful," the Serbian said as she looked ahead to the start of the Open on Monday.
"(But) at this moment, I think I can handle it the way it is."
She's obviously having too much hot sauce with her meals.
Think it's not hot in Australia?
The heat and Dinara Safina brought Alize Cornet to tears.
Fernando Verdasco refused to discuss his personal life with reporters. Where was the mob when Andre Agassi was courting Steffi Graf? Seems they had a lot of privacy for some time. Just sayin'.
Mark Philippoussis went down to defeat at the hands of Taylor Dent at the Adelaide exhibition 6-2, 6-3. Gael Monfils lost to the returning Joachim Johansson.
I'll leave you with these pictures.
Michael Llodra gives us La Vie En Rose.
Ivan Ljubicic and his wife Aida show us what la vie is all about.
She Was Not Having It
by Savannah
Don't even ask what the hell I was doing up at 6a Eastern time watching a grainy webcam broadcast on a live stream. All I know is that when I tuned into the Serena Williams vs Caroline Wozniacki match it was 5-5 in the third. Caroline had won the first set in a tiebreak. Serena won the second set 6-3. Caroline held her serve to go up 6-5 and it looked as if she'd serve out the match.
But Serena wasn't having it. Serena broke Caro to force the third set tie break and that was all she wrote. Serena won the tiebreak 7-3.
Elena Dementieva may be steamrolling the women she's playing right now but Serena is ready for Melbourne. Some will say Caroline choked but I don't think she did. She was beaten by a better player this morning and has no reason to hang her head. She played great from what I saw. Best WTA match I've seen in quite some time. If I don't remember to include this match in my best of 2009 please call me on it.
I cannot wait to see the draw for Melbourne. And thanks to the guy who put up the livestream so that other tennisheads like me could see the match.
I'm going to bed now. I'll add the pictures later today.
Don't even ask what the hell I was doing up at 6a Eastern time watching a grainy webcam broadcast on a live stream. All I know is that when I tuned into the Serena Williams vs Caroline Wozniacki match it was 5-5 in the third. Caroline had won the first set in a tiebreak. Serena won the second set 6-3. Caroline held her serve to go up 6-5 and it looked as if she'd serve out the match.
But Serena wasn't having it. Serena broke Caro to force the third set tie break and that was all she wrote. Serena won the tiebreak 7-3.
Elena Dementieva may be steamrolling the women she's playing right now but Serena is ready for Melbourne. Some will say Caroline choked but I don't think she did. She was beaten by a better player this morning and has no reason to hang her head. She played great from what I saw. Best WTA match I've seen in quite some time. If I don't remember to include this match in my best of 2009 please call me on it.
I cannot wait to see the draw for Melbourne. And thanks to the guy who put up the livestream so that other tennisheads like me could see the match.
I'm going to bed now. I'll add the pictures later today.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Heard Around
by Savannah
Some interesting USTA news.
Entire article HERE
There was a lot of talk that Venus Williams and Serena Williams were through with Fed Cup play but we'll have to wait and see who ends up on the team soon no?
Then there's this. It's normal after a major player like Arlen Kantarian steps down for the loyalists to leave but the number of people leaving is high enough for Sports Business Journal to take note.
Some interesting USTA news.
Garrison-USTA settlement talks break down.
By DANIEL KAPLAN
Staff writer
Published January 12, 2009 : Page 04
Zina Garrison, the first African-American woman in the professional tennis era to reach the finals of Wimbledon, plans as early as this week to sue the U.S. Tennis Association for racial discrimination after settlement talks broke down over her claims that she was wrongly dismissed as the captain of the American team for Fed Cup, the international women’s team competition.
Her lawyer, Debra Katz, a partner in Katz, Marshall & Banks, which specializes in employer discrimination matters, said Garrison has been in unsuccessful settlement talks with the USTA since last month. Later, in an e-mail correspondence, Katz wrote that a lawsuit would be filed this week. Garrison is seeking millions of dollars in back pay and damages, sources said.
The USTA manages the American Fed Cup team.
A USTA spokesman, Chris Widmaier, responded, “I will not comment specifically on threatened litigation. But I would like to point out that over the years, Ms. Garrison has been asked by the USTA to serve in any number of capacities, including as a USTA board member, a USTA committee member and as captain of the USA Fed Cup team. So what I will say in looking at that history is we would be puzzled by any allegation that Ms. Garrison has been discriminated against, and we would vigorously defend such an allegation.”
This would not be the USTA’s first brush with racial charges. The organization is currently being sued in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York by Marvin Dent, who alleges the group did not promote him to director of tennis at the National Tennis Center in favor of Whitney Kraft, who is white. Dent’s complaint alleges a pattern of racial discrimination at the group, a charge the USTA vigorously contests.
In addition, in 2006, the New York state attorney general and the USTA entered into a consent decree that directed the tennis group for two years to create a transparent process for applying for chair umpire positions. The USTA had been sued in 2005 by two black umpires, Cecil Hollins and Sande French, who alleged the USTA allowed racist comments directed toward African-American umpires
Entire article HERE
There was a lot of talk that Venus Williams and Serena Williams were through with Fed Cup play but we'll have to wait and see who ends up on the team soon no?
Then there's this. It's normal after a major player like Arlen Kantarian steps down for the loyalists to leave but the number of people leaving is high enough for Sports Business Journal to take note.
Sixth high-ranking executive plans to leave USTA
By DANIEL KAPLAN
Staff writer
Published January 12, 2009 : Page 04
Tandy O’Donoghue, managing director of business affairs at the U.S. Tennis Association, is leaving the organization, the sixth top executive to announce plans to depart since the end of the U.S. Open in September.
The highest-level departure was Arlen Kantarian, chief executive officer of pro tennis. Kantarian is credited with building the Open into a major cultural and financial spectacle. Many of the people leaving, including O’Donoghue, were his hires.
Alan Gold, who ran the U.S. Open Series, left for CAA Media Ventures. On the sponsorship side, Ronnie Tucker and Gary Jacobus have left. Chief diversity officer Karlyn Lothery also resigned.
In addition, Pierce O’Neil, chief business officer, is on a list of candidates who have either expressed interest in or been approached about filling the vacant chief marketing officer position at the U.S. Olympic Committee.
The USTA’s top executive is Gordon Smith, who took the executive director post in 2007 after a career in law. Sources said the organization does not appear in a hurry to replace the outgoing executives, even with a down economy and a new deal with ESPN to televise the Open starting this year.
O’Donoghue has been with the USTA for five years. Before that, she was chief legal counsel for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. She said her last day at the USTA will be Feb. 13, but she declined to cite reasons for her departure or to comment on whether she has any new position lined up.
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