Federer initiates major project to build schools in Malawi
Former world No. 1 and 16-time Grand Slam singles champion Roger Federer, who has long been acknowledged for his charitable ways, has launched a $3.3 million project through his foundation that hopes to arrange for 54,000 children to attend school in Malawi over the next 10 years. Through the Roger Federer Foundation, 80 community-based child care centers for three-to-five-year-olds will be built in the impoverished nation, which will include classrooms, supplies, play areas and a nutritious meal to every child in attendance. “As the father of two little girls, I observe every day how incredibly fast children learn if their environment is a stimulating one,” Federer said in a statement. “It is a great privilege for me and my foundation to help give children in Malawi the chance to reach their full potential.” Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with half of its 13 million people living below the poverty line. “In a country where nearly half of all children under five are chronically malnourished and over three million children under eight are out of school, the initiative could not have come soon enough,” said Martha Khonje, Country Director of Action Aid.
ATP World Tour prize money to surpass $90 million by 2014
The ATP announced last week that prize money for players on the ATP World Tour will exceed $90 million by 2014. The ATP’s annual year-end Barclays World Tour Finals, which has been held at London’s O2 Arena since 2009, will see a 30 percent increase in prize money, with the amount given to the eight participants set to ascend over $6.5 million over the next three years. The tournament prize money in the prestigious nine Masters 1000 events, which take place in cities such as Cincinnati, Miami, Paris and Shanghai, will receive a 9 percent raise. A bonus pool to the Top 12 players in the world will rise from 33 percent, from $6 million to $8 million by 2014. There will be no prize money increases at the four Grand Slam tournaments. “We are privileged to be experiencing a golden era in men’s professional tennis,” said Adam Helfant, ATP Executive Chairman and President. “It is fitting that the commitment and excellence of the players is recognized and rewarded in this way. We are very pleased to have reached this agreement that reflects the fact that business across the ATP World Tour is stronger than ever.”
USTA now offering FREE membership for children 10 and under
The United States Tennis Association announced that they are offering a free USTA Junior Membership to all children under the age of ten. The new membership promotion, which was rolled out to the public over the July 4 holiday weekend, is open to all first-time junior members until December 31, 2011. The idea of this promotion is to allow more kids to try USTA programming including USTA Junior Tournaments and USTA Junior Team Tennis. Furthermore, participating junior members will receive a variety of benefits, including Bounce, a special quarterly publication geared toward young players and their parents, preferred ticket access to pro tennis tournaments throughout the United States, and discounts on merchandise and apparel. To join the United States Tennis Association and receive free membership, new junior members can sign up by one of the following ways using source code: NEWGAME. Call USTA Membership Services at (800) 990-8782 or visit www.TRYUSTA.com/KIDS to sign up today.
USTA Serves to award 78 high school scholarship grants totaling over $400,000
USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the United States Tennis Association, announced on Monday that they will be awarding 78 high school scholarship grants totaling over $400,000. One objective of USTA Serves is to encourage children to pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming dependable citizens. Annually, USTA Serves awards scholarships to worthy youth who have participated in USTA and other organized youth tennis programs, have demonstrated high academic achievement, and require financial assistance for college matriculation. “USTA Serves is proud to help these deserving students across the country begin their college careers,” said Mary Carillo, President, USTA Serves. “Each year we are inspired by the students’ ability to balance outstanding academic achievements with community service and an involvement in tennis. It is our hope and firm belief that these young men and women will continue to positively impact the sport of tennis and the world at large throughout their lives.”
Grants awarded for inaugural “ATP ACES For Charity”
The ATP World Tour recently announced the 12 inaugural recipients of its ATP ACES For Charity grant program. Grants of $10,000 will be awarded by the ATP on an annual basis to charitable causes nominated by the ATP World Tour players and tournaments. The ATP ACES For Charity program, which launched earlier this year, is a global initiative aimed at giving back to communities where ATP World Tour events are played, as well as recognizing and supporting tournament and player charitable initiatives. Players who will receive grants for their foundations include Bob and Mike Bryan, Ivan Ljubicic, Rafael Nadal, David Nalbandian, Tommy Robredo, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi. Tournaments who will receive the special grants include the China Open, BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest, Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo and the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C.
Andrea Jaeger auctioning off Colorado-based “Miracle Ranch”
Former world No. 2 Andrea Jaeger, a former finalist at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the early 1980s, told the USA Today that due to the recession she has to auction off her Colorado-based “Miracle Ranch” for $1 million less than its original price. The former tennis star turned Anglican Dominican nun has the 45,000-square-foot ranch listed for $1 million, with 100 percent of the proceeds set to benefit her Little Stars Foundation. Her foundation funds programs for children stricken by disease, poverty and disaster. “I told our supporters that I was willing to do whatever it takes to keep (the foundation) going, even if it meant getting my racquet out and trying to get a wild card at Wimbledon,” said Jaeger. “But I think that time has passed. With the sale of the ranch, we will be able to continue helping kids for many years to come. When people realize what this property is worth and that they’ll be getting way more than the value of the property — knowing what extraordinary things we can do with that money — how could they not love this place?”
Lepchenko signs endorsement deal with AceBuilder
World No. 101 and soon-to-be American Varvara Lepchenko has reached an agreement with AceBuilder, LLC, to endorse the ground-breaking, original AceBuilder tennis target. The Allentown, Pa., resident, who upset No. 18 seed Flavia Pennetta at the French Open in May, was seen at Wimbledon wearing an AceBuilder logo on her clothing. AceBuilder is a cutting edge teaching tool designed to increase service accuracy through its distinctive design, which causes the ball to zigzag off the AceBuilder target in an enjoyable, entertaining manner so you know you’ve hit the target. Lepchenko, who suffered a bruised knee in her opening round match at Wimbledon, hopes to return to competitive tennis in time to play in the inaugural 2011 Citi Open in College Park, Md, which begins on July 25.
Esurance partnering with top-ranked Bryan Brothers
Esurance, the direct-to-consumer personal car insurance company, announced that they will partner with world No. 1 doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan for the remainder of the summer. Esurance and the Bryan Brothers have teamed up to “Evolve Your Game” with a Play With a Pro Sweepstakes, where a lucky winner could receive a one-hour lesson at the posh Malibu Racquet Club with the Bryan Brothers, as well as a three-night stay for two at the Westin Long Beach and an iPad2 fully-loaded with video lessons from the Bryan Brothers. To register the sweepstakes, go to www.esurance.com/tennis. While in Austin, Texas last week for the United States’ Davis Cup tie against Spain on the campus of the University of Texas, the Bryan Brothers joined USTA executives on the courts of the SmashZone Mobile Tour, an Esurance-sponsored program that supports USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis initiative. Local children from Austin also joined in on the fun to get personal tips from the winningest doubles team in the history of tennis.
Wuhan, China to host historic “Li Na and Friends” tennis event in her honor in December
IMG and the city of Wuhan, China announced that from December 17-18, 2011 French Open champion Li Na will headline a special two-day tennis exhibition event in her hometown called “Li Na and Friends”, alongside rising WTA Tour star Sabine Lisicki, 14-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No. 1 Pete Sampras and 1998 French Open champion Carlos Moya. The two-day event will feature two matches per day. On December 17, Sampras will take on Moya, followed by Li and Sampras facing Lisicki and Moya in a mixed doubles match. The men will play two sets, with a ten point tiebreaker if needed. After a short break, the one set mixed doubles match will take place. On December 18, Li will look to get revenge against Lisicki from her 2011 Wimbledon loss, in a two set match, also with a ten point tiebreaker to determine the match if needed. Following the ladies singles match, a reverse mixed doubles match will take place, with Li and Moya joining forces to play Lisicki and Sampras. Fans can expect a fun atmosphere with a DJ, event emcee and opportunities to win autographed tennis balls. The event will be broadcast on CCTV5, China’s pre-eminent sports broadcaster.
Borg replacing injured Connors, will face McEnroe at Randall’s Island in Manhattan on July 14
Former world No. 1 and 11-time Grand Slam singles champion Bjorn Borg will face longtime rival John McEnroe on Thursday, July 14 in a World TeamTennis (WTT) match at Randall’s Island in Manhattan, replacing Jimmy Connors, who can’t participate due to an injured knee. Borg will compete for the Philadelphia Freedom, while McEnroe will play for his hometown New York Sportimes. Tickets sales will benefit the Johnny Mac Project, which provide scholarships, coaching, transportation and other financial assistance to qualified tennis players in the New York City area. Borg will be competing in his first WTT match in 17 years, last playing in 1994 for the Atlanta Thunder. Borg also played for the Cleveland Nets in 1977 and the Los Angeles Strings in 1993. “We are elated that Bjorn answered John’s call to step in for Jimmy on what will be a fun and important night for tennis in New York,” said Claude Okin, Sportimes CEO. “The relationship that Bjorn and John haves very special. Theirs is truly one of the great rivalries in sports history, and seeing them both on court, in New York, next week will be a great treat for everyone there. And the funds we raise that night will be critical in helping us to assist talented young people in learning the great game of tennis in New York City.” Former WTA No. 1 Martina Hingis will also compete for the Sportimes on July 14.
Monfils splits from coach Roger Rasheed
After a three-year relationship that saw him become a Top 10 player, reach the semifinals at the US Open and the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, world No. 7 Gael Monfils of France has split from Australian-based coach Roger Rasheed. The pair had been working together since July 2008 and both apparently didn’t want to renew the contract. “We decided to stop our collaboration by mutual agreement,” Monfils told reporters after France’s victory over Germany in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. “We had reached the end of a great story. I owe him a lot, I learned a lot with him. It went very well. We talked, we had a good discussion. We’re still very good friends.”
Hewitt accepts wild card into main draw at Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati
On Monday in front of numerous local reporters at the Paul Flory Player Center on the grounds of the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, tournament officials announced that former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam singles champion Lleyton Hewitt has accepted a wild card into the main draw at the prestigious Western & Southern Open, which will be played from August 13-21. Hewitt was a finalist in Cincinnati in 2002, losing to Carlos Moya in a rain-delayed match.
Haas accepts wild card into Atlanta Tennis Championships
Former world No. 2 Tommy Haas has been given a free pass into the main draw of next week’s Atlanta Tennis Championships after accepting a wild card. The 33-year-old, who had been out of competitive tennis for 14 months due to hip surgery, made his return to the tour at the BMW Open in Munich in April, playing doubles with Radek Stepanek. “I am glad to be back playing the game I love,” said Haas. “I am excited to come to the Atlanta Tennis Championships, believe that I am returning to championship form, and am excited to play in front of the great fans in Atlanta.” Haas joins an already remarkable field which includes Top 10 ranked Mardy Fish, former University of Georgia All-American John Isner, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake, Kevin Anderson, Ryan Sweeting and Kei Nishikori. The Atlanta Tennis Championships will be played from July 18-24 at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Ga.
Tomic commits to ATP World Tour event in Kuala Lumpur
Wimbledon quarterfinalist Bernard Tomic, 18, recently phoned Malaysian Open Kuala Lumpur Tournament Director Nick Freyer to let him know that he will be participating in his event this fall. The tournament will take place at the Putra Stadium from September 24-October 2. “I am thrilled to have Bernard playing the Malaysian Open Kuala Lumpur once again and to be able to welcome him back as well as and his father and coach John. I know the tournament is touched that he enjoyed the Malaysian hospitality enough to make an early decision to come back and play here,” said Nick Freyer.
GAMMA hires new National Sales Manager
Gamma Sports (GAMMA) announced the hiring of Chris Nauman as National Sales Manager for the GAMMA tennis specialty sales channel in the United States. Nauman brings an extensive background in building sales forces and sales representative management to GAMMA. “Chris’ knowledge and approach to building sales teams will be a tremendous benefit to our customers,” said Matt Ferrari, President and CEO of GAMMA. “By coordinating the efforts of our inside and outside teams we will provide each customer with better sales support and service.”