CBS to continue broadcasting US Open through 2014
The US Open will be staying put on CBS through 2014 under a new agreement in principle with the United States Tennis Association for a slight increase in rights payments. Currently, the USTA gets paid between $20 million and $25 million after each tournament. The current contract expires after the 2011 tournament is completed. CBS has aired the US Open since 1968. “We have a really good lineup of events that are spread throughout the calendar and the US Open fits perfectly into our schedule,” said Sean McManus, the President of CBS News and Sports. “Most of it takes place before the NFL season starts and after our golf season ends.” The US Open is also carried on cable by ESPN and Tennis Channel in deals through 2014. CBS’s ratings for the US Open have been on a long downward trend. Last year, the tournament’s overall rating fell a bit to a 1.5. The men’s final was delayed a day by rain and its rating fell 22 percent, while the women’s prime-time final was the lowest-rated on CBS since it moved to the evening.
Courier to play exclusively with Donnay racquets
U.S. Davis Cup Captain and Tennis Hall of Famer Jim Courier will exclusively play and represent Donnay and its new ultra-thin-beamed X-Series Red 99. “I am proud to become a Donnay brand ambassador,” said Courier, a former world No. 1. “After basically playing with the same model for the last 25 years I realized I was missing out on the technological advancements in racquets in recent years and it was time for me to join the 21st Century. With a larger head size, bigger sweetspot and more power, the Donnay X-Series Red 99 gives me what I need without taking away from the one area I won’t sacrifice — control.” Courier will use the Donnay X-Series 99 during all his matches in 2011 including in Champions Series events.
Sony Ericsson launches Xperia Hot Shots entertainment show for WTA players
On January 13, Sony Ericsson announced the launch of a new-format entertainment show to be streamed online and on mobile headsets called Xperia Hot Shots. The series, airing from March, will follow the lives of six globetrotting, aspiring stars of the WTA as they strive to build their profile both on and off the court and gain a support deal with WTA sponsor and leading entertainment brand, Sony Ericsson. Xperia Hot Shots will give fans an inside look at the WTA players’ life off-court at all types of events as their journey towards superstar status begins. “At Sony Ericsson we love tennis, and with Xperia Hot Shots we’re bringing entertainment in to this world, making it even more appealing to youth audiences globally,” said Stephan Croix, VP, Head of Global Marketing Partnerships at Sony Ericsson. “We’re taking cues from reality TV and are combining it with edgy and exciting entertainment to create a pioneering new genre of online TV show that innovates in the world of sport.”
ATP Sunrise Challenger cancelled due to funding problems
According to the Sun-Sentinel, the ATP Sunrise Challenger in South Florida, which attracts many top players who lose early in Indian Wells, will not happen in 2011 before the Sony Ericsson Open because sponsorships were not enough to cover the $125,000 given out as tournament prize money. The problem to find funding to build seating for the courts was also a factor.
ATP tennis returning to Singapore next week
Organized by events promoter Sports Management Group (SMG), Singapore Tennis Association (STA) and supported by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), ATP World Tour tennis will be returning to Singapore next week as the Singapore ATP Challenger 2011 will take place at the Kallang Tennis Centre from January 23-30. ATP tennis hasn’t been played in Singapore since the ATP Heineken Open 250 event was played at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 1996-2000 and the Honda-Kah Singapore Men’s Open, an ATP Challenger tournament was played from 1989-2001. Men’s singles and doubles will be featured at the Singapore ATP Challenger 2011 and will have players ranked between 90-250 competing for the title. Somdev Devvarman, Jan Hajek and Go Soeda are among the players already entered in the singles main draw. “Despite Singapore not having hosted a professional tennis event of this nature in ten years, I am glad that we are able to, with the immense support of the Singapore Sports Council, pool together a strong and competent team to stage this event,” said Uthrapathy Shunmugam, Tournament Director. “My team and I will endeavor to deliver a quality event not just for the enjoyment of the public but a great experience for the players and officials as well.”
Roddick, Verdasco, Monfils, Isner and Fish headline Memphis field in February
The Regions Morgan Keegan Championships announced their player field for the 2011 singles event, which will take place from February 14-20 at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn. Two-time champion Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils, John Isner, Mardy Fish, Radek Stepanek, Juan Martin del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake and Tommy Haas will all compete for the title. Defending champion Sam Querrey will also be in the singles field. For tickets calls (901) 765-4401 or visit the official tournament website at: www.memphistennis.com.
World Team Tennis set for July 4 start this summer
On January 13, World Team Tennis officials announced that the 36th season of the World Team Tennis Pro League presented by GEICO will begin on Monday, July 4, 2011 with 73 matches to be played between July 4-24. The regular season will take place from July 4-21 in ten different United States cities, with the World Team Tennis Conference Championships scheduled for July 22. The World Team Tennis Finals presented by GEICO will take place on July 24. The finals site will be determined at a later date. On February 15, teams will be allowed to put together their 2011 lineups with the World Team Tennis Marquee Player Draft. Teams draft in reverse order from how they finished in the 2010 season. The Kansas City Explorers, champions from 2010, will select 10th in the draft. The final team rosters will be completed on March 15 when the 2011 World Team Tennis Roster Player Draft is conducted.
Hogstedt to be Sharapova’s only coach
It was announced before the start of the Australian Open that Maria Sharapova’s long-time coach, Michael Joyce, will no longer be working with her. Thomas Hogstedt, who was hired in the offseason, will work one-on-one with the former world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam singles champion. Fox Sports reported that Joyce flew back to the United States after Sharapova lost in the tune-up tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. “After a really long period of time, I think a few things become a routine,” said Sharapova. “I think from both of our perspectives it was really a good move to bring in a new voice, a fresh perspective into the team. Obviously it’s different not having him at a tournament after so many years. But it’s part of an athlete’s career…It’s been going really well with Thomas.” Sharapova won her opening round match in Melbourne over Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand in straight sets.
Kuznetsova working with Cuadrado in 2011
Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, a former world No. 2 and two-time Grand Slam singles champion, announced that she began working with new coach Carlos Cuadrado in the offseason. Kuznetsova most recently worked with Amelie Mauresmo’s former coach Loic Courteau for a short period in 2010.
Dokic dumps coach just days before Australian Open
Former world No. 4 Jelena Dokic split with her coach Glenn Schaap just days before the start of the 2011 Australian Open in Melbourne. “We split a couple days ago, right before the Australian Open,” said Dokic. “Nothing special. No hard feelings, you know. There are certain people that suit you for your game and for your personality. I feel like, you know, he didn’t suit the type of tennis that I wanted to play…Maybe he’s good for somebody else, but I didn’t feel that click, basically. That’s it, you know, nothing else.” Dokic, who won her opening round match at the Australian Open, will be coached for the remainder of the tournament by Tennis Australia’s Louise Pleming.
Tsonga hires Mauresmo’s former physiotherapist
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced the hiring of Michael Franco, a physiotherapist who previously worked with former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam singles champion Amelie Mauresmo. Franco will travel with Tsonga to help reduce the number of injuries the Frenchman has been recently suffering while on tour.
Davis turns pro at Australian Open
Lauren Davis, the 17-year-old American who won the Junior Orange Bowl and the Eddie Herr International Junior Championships in 2010, turned pro on Tuesday evening at the Australian Open in Melbourne when she faced world No. 6 Samantha Stosur. Stosur easily dispatched Davis 6-1, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena. Davis, who is the No. 4 ranked girls junior player in the world and also ranked No. 443 in the WTA Rankings, currently trains at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Fla. Davis, who is from Cleveland, is coached by Evert Tennis Academy Executive Director, John Evert, and Director of Coaching, Federico Ricci. Davis is being represented by CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency, the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency.
Nicolas Lapentti retires from ATP World Tour
Nicolas Lapentti has officially announced his retirement from the ATP World Tour at the age of 34 after struggling with a knee injury for the past two years. “I’ve worked with great doctors but could not get a full recovery,” said Lapentti. “It’s an important decision so I didn’t want to rush, I wanted to be 100% sure.” Lapentti, who won turned pro in 1995 and won five singles and three doubles titles throughout his career, had already delayed his retirement when Ecuador reached the Davis Cup World Group. The former world No. 6 won more than $6.3 million in tournament prize money, while winning 321 singles matches and losing 299. Lapentti, who reached the semifinals at the Australian Open in 1999 and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2002, earned wins during his career over Rafael Nadal, Gustavo Kuerten, Carlos Moya, Marcelo Rios, Michael Chang, Lleyton Hewitt, Fernando Verdasco, Thomas Muster, Alex Corretja, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tim Henman.
Gunterman holding workshops and tennis clinics in Ghana
Kelly Gunterman, Director of Tennis at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, author of the book “Tennis Made Easy” and Founder of “Tennis without Borders” foundation is currently in Ghana holding workshops for coaches and tennis clinics at the Accra Sports Stadium Tennis Courts. Gunterman and the Ghanaian coaches are organizing practice sessions with young players and speaking about opportunities for college tennis scholarships. Having worked with some of the top names in the teaching world, Gunterman started his own tennis school in 1991. He fulfilled a long-held dream in August of 2009 when he founded “Tennis without Borders” to help children in developing countries with tennis instruction and equipment.