STARS
Novak Djokovic beat Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 5-7 6-3 to win the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
David Ferrer won the Abierto Mexicano Telcel men’s singles in Acapulco, Mexico, beating Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3 3-6 6-1
Ernests Gulbis beat Ivo Karlovic 6-2 6-3 to win the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in Delray Beach, Florida, USA
Venus Williams beat Polona Hercog 2-6 6-2 6-3 to win the Abierto Mexicano Telcel women’s singles at Acapulco, Mexico
Alisa Kleybanova beat Elena Dementieva 6-3 6-2 to win the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Pat Rafter beat John McEnroe 7-6 (4) 7-6 (1) to win the Delray Beach International ATP Champions Tournament at Delray Beach, Florida, USA
SAYINGS
“I don’t want to stop here. Hopefully next year I can win this one three times.” – Venus Williams, after successfully defending her women’s singles title at Acapulco, Mexico.
“I’ve been waiting so long for this moment, training hard and playing in many tournaments. Everything came together in the final.” – Alisa Kleybanova, after winning her first career WTA title.
“I’m the young guy on the tour and I’m supposed to beat John because he’s 51. But this guy serves so brilliantly. I can’t read his serve at all and he covers the net so well, he is unreal. The best 51-year-old tennis player in the world by far.” – Pat Rafter, after edging John McEnroe 7-6 (4) 7-6 (1) in the final of a seniors tournament at Delray Beach, Florida, USA
“It was a fun match to play and it felt like an old-school match. It was just awesome. I think we showed the young bucks how it’s done a little bit and how to have a little bit of variety in your game. It was a lot of fun. If the score was just reversed it would have been a little bit better.” – John McEnroe, after losing to Pat Rafter.
“Every player wants to be number one in the world and it is no different with me. This is my goal and I need to work harder and be more aggressive on the court and start believing more in myself.” – Li Na, the first Chinese player to be ranked in the top 10. She lost her first-round Malaysia Open match.
“When we got nominated, I sent her a text, `Did you get the letter?’ and she said, `What letter?’ I wrote back, `We got nominated for the Hall of Fame.’ And she wrote, `What’s that?’ So I wrote, `Natasha, it’s the International Hall of Fame and we’re going down in history for our achievement in tennis.’ And she just wrote back, `Cool.’ That’s Natasha.” – Gigi Fernandez, who is being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame with her doubles partner Natasha Zvereva.
“Last night, I ate two big heads of white garlic because Novak (Djokovic) told me I’m going to feel better. Actually I did.’ – Janko Tipsarevic, who fought off a fever before upsetting Andy Murray in a second-round match in Dubai.
“Maybe I was just a step slow to get to the ball to make something happen. These guys are hitting the ball so big these days you have to be there every single point.” – Tommy Haas, after being upset by Teimuraz Gabashvili in the first round at Delray Beach.
“Today she was just much better. If she continues playing like this, she can break into the top 20 soon.” – Zheng Jie, discussing the future of her opponent after losing to Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“This year is going to be his breakthrough. Everything that he hit was in. He was very cool, calm. Nothing could impress him.” – Ivo Karlovic, describing Ernests Gulbis.
“It will be an interesting change to be one of the young guys on the tour again.” – Marat Safin, who turned 30 in January and will make his debut on the senior circuit this month when he competes at the Rio Champions Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
STILL COUNTING
Venus Williams leads all active players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in career titles, and she is still adding to the total. By beating first-time finalist Polona Hercog and winning the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico, Williams has now won 43 career titles, increasing her lead to two over her closest rival, Justine Henin. Williams is tied with Martina Hingis at number 10 on the all-time list. This was her ninth career title on clay, second among active players to Henin, who has won 12 clay court titles. “It’s not enough,” Williams said about the titles. “Hopefully I’ll win more and more this year. I love winning titles, I love seeing that number go up. It feels good. There is no limit. Who wants to have a limit on titles? Not me.”
SIX HUNDRED
American twins Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan are the first doubles team in the Open era to win 600 matches. They accomplished the feat when they won their semifinal in the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, downing fellow Americans Taylor Dent and Ryan Harrison 6-7 (6) 7-5 10-4 (match tiebreak). “It’s a special milestone for us,” Mike Bryan said. “To play this long together and still be doing it with 600 wins is quite an accomplishment. It’s good to do it in Delray, a place we like coming to and where American fans can support us.” The Bryans’ 601st match victory – over Philipp Marx and Igor Zelenay 6-3 7-6 (3) – gave them their 58th team title, snapping a tie with Peter Fleming and John McEnroe as well as Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan. The Bryans are now second only to the record 61 won by Australians Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.
STANDING TALL
Ernests Gulbis shared his first ATP title with a lot of people – all of his countrymen in his homeland of Latvia. “Everything that I do now is the first time for my country,” Gulbis said after winning the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in Delray Beach, Florida, USA. “I hope it’s positive. They see that a guy from Latvia also can make it and win.” Playing in the first final in his career, the 21-year-old Gulbis easily downed Ivo Karlovic 6-2 6-3 in one hour, 20 minutes. The big-serving Karlovic – at 6-foot-10 (2.08m) the tallest player in tennis – had nothing to celebrate on his 31st birthday.
SPECIAL DAY
Alisa Kleybanova’s first WTA title came against one of the best players in the world. The 21-year-old Kleybanova beat fellow Russian and top-seeded Elena Dementieva 6-3 6-2 to capture the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. Kleybanova used her big first serve and powerful ground strokes to down Dementieva, who won the women’s singles gold at the Beijing Olympics. Not only was it Kleybanova’s first tournament title, it was her first time in her career that she had reached a singles final.
SWEDE SENTENCED
A Swedish appeals court has overturned a lower court decision and convicted a man of rioting outside a Davis Cup match between Israel and Sweden. The man was sentenced to six months in prison. A lower court had acquitted the 23-year-old, saying he could not be positively identified in video footage of the riot in Malmo, Sweden, last March. The matches were played without spectators because Malmo officials said they could not guarantee security. About 10 people have now been convicted in connection with the violence that erupted during an anti-Israel demonstration outside the stadium.
STOPPED BY INFECTION
The New York Times reports that Gigi Fernandez and her doubles partner Natasha Zvereva are being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame this summer. Fernandez and Zvereva won 14 Grand Slam tournament doubles championships, second in the Open era only to Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver. Fernandez was ranked as high as 17th in the world in singles, while Zvereva was ranked as high as fifth in the world. In 1988, Zvereva lost the French Open final to Steffi Graf.
SHORT STAY
James Blake didn’t even work up a sweat as he needed only 40 seconds to defeat fellow American Taylor Dent in an opening-round match at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. Of course, the short stay was on the second day of their rain-delayed battle. The match was suspended by rain with Blake leading 6-1 3-6 5-3 40-40. When play resumed the next day, Blake reached match point with a backhand passing shot, then hit a service winner to close out the victory. “That was quick,” Blake said. “It was what I was hoping for.”
SEEKING STEFFI’S MAGIC
Ana Ivanovic has hired just the person she thinks might help her end her slump. The former number one-ranked player from Serbia has hired Heinz Gunthardt, who helped Steffi Graf win 12 Grand Slam singles titles. On her web site, Ivanovic said Gunthardt will accompany her to the BNP Paribas Showdown in New York City, a four-woman exhibition event where she has replaced the injured Serena Williams. The 2008 French Open champion, Ivanovic has fallen to number 23 in the world rankings.
SHIRTLESS FOR SHAKIRA
While he’s unable to play tennis, Rafael Nadal’s knee injury isn’t keeping him from shaking a leg with pop star Shakira on her new video. Nadal plays basically a shirtless version of himself, but the video focuses mainly on Shakira as she sings her new single, “Gypsy.”
SKIPPING FED CUP
Maria Sharapova will not play when Russia takes on the United States in Fed Cup competition in April. The tie will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Sharapova said her schedule would not permit her to play for Russia. “My goal for this year is to be healthy. (Fed Cup) is pretty far down the line for me right now,” she said. “I’m taking it one match at a time. As far as goals and what I’m planning to play, that wasn’t on my schedule this year.”
SURFACE SWITCH?
Will the Buenos Aires Open remain a clay court tournament? Reigning champion Juan Carlos Ferrero wants the organizers to keep Argentina’s top men’s tennis tournament on a clay surface. However, tournament organizers are considering converting to hard courts in an attempt to attract more top players. Being a clay court event, the top entries come from countries such as Spain and Italy, along with Argentina’s South and Central American neighbors. Even then, not the very best players show up at Buenos Aires. Add to that the fact that Argentine players had little success this year and bad weather coupled to hold down the crowds. “I will do everything I can for (the Latin American tournaments) to remain as they are,” said Ferrero, a Spaniard who excels on clay courts, having won Roland Garros in 2003.
SPANISH WARRIORS
Even without Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco and Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spain will field a strong team for its first-round World Group Davis Cup tie this week against Switzerland, including David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Marcel Granollers and Nicolas Almagro. Nadal, Verdasco and Ferrero are missing the tie because of injuries. Switzerland will be without top-ranked Roger Federer. Almagro, who was a last-minute replacement for Ferrero, is ranked 27th in the world.
STEPPING UP
With Juan Martin del Potro, David Nalbandian and Juan Monaco all sidelined by injuries, Argentina has selected 19-year-old Federico Del Bonis to their Davis Cup team that will face Sweden this week. Argentine captain Modesto Vazquez said Del Bonis, who is ranked 211th in the world, will join Horacio Zeballo, Leonardo Mayer and Eduardo Schwank for the World Group first-round competition to be held in Stockholm, Sweden. Del Potro, the reigning US Open champion, is out with an injured right wrist. Nalbandian injured his right leg in his first tournament back following hip surgery and a nine-month layoff. And Monaco pulled a muscle during his semifinal against Juan Carlos Ferrero in Acapulco, Mexico.
SUPER SHOW
The latest players to be added to a tennis exhibition in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, are Pete Sampras and James Blake. Organizers said Sampras will play Blake on April 10 in the inaugural Caesars Tennis Classic. In other matches, Ivan Lendl will take on Mats Wilander in a one-set, no-ad scoring match, followed by Andy Roddick playing recently retired Marat Safin. The event will be hosted by Venus Williams.
SERBIAN JAIL
Jelena Dokic’s father has had his prison sentenced reduced by three months and could be out of prison by early May. Damir Dokic was sentenced to 15 months in jail after being convicted of threatening the Australian ambassador to Serbia. The court in Sremska Mitrovica reduced the sentence to 12 months. The 51-year-old Dokic was arrested after he reportedly said he would blow up the car belonging to Australian ambassador Clair Birgin because of stories in Australian newspapers in which Jelena Dokic accused him of beating her. When he was arrested, police found a large number of weapons in Damir Dokic’s home.
SET TO PLAY
Bernard Tomic will become Australia’s youngest Davis Cup player when he faces Taiwan in a regional group this week. The 17-year-old will be joined by Peter Luczak, Carsten Ball and doubles specialist Paul Hanley for the Asia/Oceania Group One tie to be played at Melbourne, Australia. John Alexander was also 17 when he played Davis Cup for Australia, but Tomic, the US Open junior champion, will be 42 days younger if he competes in the singles against Taiwan.
SIGNAGE
Doubles specialist Liezel Huber will endorse Volkl Tennis racquets, bags and accessories. A native of South Africa, Liezel became a United States citizen in 2007 and played Fed Cup for USA in 2008-9. She was on the American Olympic team at the 2008 Beijing Games. Since turning pro in 1992, Huber has won 39 career doubles titles, including 27 with doubles partner Cara Black. Liezel and Black are co-ranked number one in the world in doubles.
STARTING OVER
Kenya is returning to Davis Cup competition after a five-year absence. Kenya first fielded a team in the international team tennis competition in 1975 and reached the Euro/African Zone semifinals in 1992 when it was one match away from the World Group Playoffs. The Kenya Lawn Tennis Association plans on fielding a team at the Africa Group III tournament to be held in Morocco in May. Other countries competing in Morocco are Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
SPONSOR
The world’s leading Mexican beer brand, Corona Extra, has signed a five-year agreement to become the official world-wide beer sponsor of the ATP World Tour. Corona Extra has been a sponsor of ATP tournaments in Acapulco, Mexico, for 16 years and in Toronto, Canada, for four years.
SHARED PERFORMANCES
Acapulco (men): Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach beat Fabio Fognini and Potito Starace 6-0 6-0
Acapulco (women): Polona Hercog and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova beat Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 2-6 6-1 10-2 (match tiebreak)
Delray Beach: Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan beat Philipp Marx and Igor Zelenay 6-3 7-6 (3)
Dubai: Simon Aspelin and Paul Hanley beat Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes 6-2 6-3
Kuala Lumpur: Zheng Jie and Chan Yung-jan beat Anatasia Rodionova and Anna Rodionova 6-7 (4) 6-2 10-7 (match tiebreak)
SITES TO SURF
Monterrey: www.abiertodetenismonterrey.com/portal/
Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com
Indian Wells: www.bnpparibasopen.org/
Rio de Janeiro: http://championsseriestennis.com/rio2010/
Zurich: www.atpchampionstour.com/
TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
(All money in USD)
WTA
$220,000 Monterrey Open, Monterrey, Mexico, hard
DAVIS CUP
World Group
(First Round)
Spain vs. Switzerland at Logrono, Spain
France vs. Germany at Toulon, France
Russia vs. India at Moscow, Russia
Sweden vs. Argentina at Stockholm, Sweden
Croatia vs. Ecuador at Varazdin, Croatia
Serbia vs. United States at Belgrade, Serbia
Chile vs. Israel at Cuquimbo, Chile
Belgium vs. Czech Republic at Bree, Belgium
Americas Group I
(First Round)
Dominican Republic vs. Uruguay at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
(Second Round)
Colombia vs. Canada at Bogota, Colombia
Americas Group II
(First Round)
Peru vs. El Salvador at Lima, Peru; Bolivia vs. Venezuela at La Paz, Bolivia; Paraguay vs. Netherlands Antilles at Lambare, Paraguay; Mexico vs. Guatemala at Mexico City, Mexico
Asia-Oceania Group I
(First Round)
Australia vs. Chinese Taipei at Melbourne, Australia; Japan vs. Philippines at Osaka, Japan; China vs. Uzbekistan at Guangdong, China; Kazakhstan vs. Korea at Astana, Kazakhstan
Asia-Oceania Group II
(First Round)
Thailand vs. Pacific Oceania at Nonthaburi, Thailand; Malaysia vs. Indonesia at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Pakistan at Hong Kong China; Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand at Colombo, Sri Lanka
Europe-Africa Group I
(First Round)
Italy vs. Belarus at Taranto, Italy; Poland vs. Finland at Sopot, Poland; Ukraine vs. Latvia at Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine
(Second Round)
Austria vs. Slovak Republic at Gleichenberg, Austria
Europe-Africa Group II
Lithuania vs. Great Britain at Vilnius, Lithuania; Ireland vs. Turkey at Dublin, Ireland; Bulgaria vs. Monaco at Sofia, Bulgaria; Norway vs. Slovenia at Oslo, Norway; Portugal vs. Denmark at Maia, Portugal; Cyprus vs. Egypt at Limassol, Cyprus; Estonia vs. Hungary at Tallinn, Estonia; FYR Macedonia vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina at Veles, FYR Macedonia
TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK
ATP
$4,000,000 BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, California, USA, hard
WTA
$4,000,000 BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, California, USA, hard
SENIORS
Rio Champions Cup, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
BNP Paribas Zurich Open, Zurich, Switzerland, hard