by Liz Kobak
@LizTennis
Djokovic Appoints Grand Slam Champion Coach
There is lots going on with Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic as of late.
The 26-year-old was named 2013 ITF World Champion for the third consecutive year shortly after announcing that former German tennis sensation Boris Becker is joining team Djokovic’s coaching team in 2014.
Six-time Grand Slam singles champion Becker is slated to travel with Djokovic’s other coaches with the World No. 2 (ordered chronologically) to the Australian Open, Dubai, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Cincinnati, the US Open, Shanghai, Paris and London.
“I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Boris,” Djokovic said. “He is a true legend, someone who has great tennis knowledge and his experience will help me win new trophies from the Grand Slams and other tournaments.
Becker is equally excited to help Djokovic achieve his on-court tennis goals.
“I am proud Novak invited me to become his Head Coach. I will do my best to help him reach his goals, and I am sure we can achieve great things together,” Becker said.
Entertainment Company, PE Firm Buy IMG
Entertainment company William Morris Endeavor and PE firm Silver Lake Partners purchased for $2.3 Billion sports marketing company IMG Worldwide.
IMG – which the late Ted Forstmann previously bought for $750 Million in 2004 – represents an array of celebrities. Musicians Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake, and athletes Peyton Manning and Joe Mauer are just some household names whom IMG manages. Also managed are tennis players Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer. Contrary to popular belief, the company has historically received more revenue from college football than any other sport.
Spokesmen for each company involved in this deal have declined commenting to any media queries or have not been reachable.
Indian Wells Renews Tennis Channel Deal
Indian Wells’ BNP Paribas Open tennis event renewed its Tennis Channel broadcast agreement.
Under the new deal, Tennis Channel features 97 live and 145 encore coverage hours from both ATP and WTA 2014 events, which occur March 3-16, 2014.
“In recent years Tennis Channel has steadily expanded our BNP Paribas Open coverage, both in terms of overall match hours and live conversation from our news desk on the tournament grounds,” said the channel’s tennis industry relations Senior Vice President David Egdes, the “Indian Wells is truly one of the jewels of the tennis season and the tournament has taken a leading role in on-site innovation for players, fans and media. We’re thrilled to maintain our partnership with this extraordinary event.”
Indian Wells attracted nearly 400,000 tennis fans to its grounds last year. Attendance numbers come March are expected to be similar.
BBC Names Murray Sports Personality of the Year
Great Britan’s No. 1 tennis player Andy Murray was honored on Sunday night as he was named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in the annual awards show’s 60th edition.
Upon his US Open and Olympic successes in 2012, Murray became the first British male in 77 years to win Wimbledon’s July singles title, beating Novak Djokovic in the final in straight sets. The 26-year-old was also runner-up at the Australian Open and won the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Miami, where Murray often trains.
“I’d like to thank all the public who voted, for giving me so much support over the last couple of years,” Murray said. “I know sometimes I’m not the easiest person to support, but I’ve had a lot of pressure on me for a long time. I’m glad I managed to do it.”
Murray was not the only ATP World Tour star who received national recognition last weekend. On the back of a career-best season, Wawrinka finished second in the Credit Suisse Sports Awards, behind cross country skier Dario Cologna.
Famed Tennis Coach Macci’s Book Releases
“MACCI MAGIC: Extracting Greatness From Yourself and Others,” the new inspirational book by renowned tennis coach Rick Macci, is now available for sale and download, New Chapter Press announced on Wednesday.
“MACCI MAGIC,” available where books are sold, including here on Amazon.com: http://m1e.net/c?151076253-g1prM8Ed5ZR9g%4063364085-EwF77wnba2.Gs is the entertaining and inspirational manual and memoir that helps pave the way to great achievement not only in tennis, but in business and in life. Macci, known as the coach of tennis phenoms, including five world No. 1 players – Venus and Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova – shares his secrets to success both on and off the tennis court through anecdotes and more than 100 of his famous “Macci-ism” sayings that exemplify his teaching philosophy and illustrate the core role and power of positive thinking in the molding of a champion.
The book was written with Jim Martz, the former Miami Herald tennis writer, author and current Florida Tennis magazine publisher. Former world No. 1 and U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick contributed the foreword to the book while another teen phenom student of Macci’s, Tommy Ho, wrote a preface to the book.
WTA Welcomes 2015 Wimbledon Warm-up Event
The AP reported that the WTA is adding an extra grass-court tournament in Nottingham, England, to its calendar from 2015 to give players more time to gear up for Wimbledon.
The ATP and WTA tours had previously announced that the break between the French Open and Wimbledon will be increased to three weeks rather than two starting in 2015.
Nottingham joins Hertogenbosch, Birmingham and Eastbourne in the list of warm-up tournaments for Wimbledon.
Liz Kobak won the 2013 USTA National Women’s Open Singles Grass Court Championship. She is a 2010 Columbia University graduate and Northwestern University journalism master’s recipient. She is a former WTA ranked pro and #1 ranked United States junior tennis player who rates her 6-4, 6-1 win on Italian clay over Sara Errani as her best victory.
