ATP Winston-Salem Open hires Oakes as new Tournament Director
Bill Oakes, who previously served as the Tournament Director for last year’s ATP World Tour Atlanta Tennis Championships, has accepted the same position at the ATP Winston-Salem Open at Wake Forest University. In his position as tournament director, Oakes will coordinate all tournament operations and will also assist with construction oversight for the new tennis facility being built on the campus of Wake Forest University to house the tournament. “Bill’s extensive experience with the USTA and the ATP, plus his leadership of the Atlanta tournament, make him an ideal tournament director for the Winston-Salem Open. We are extremely excited about his leadership.” said Don Flow, Chairman of Winston-Salem Professional Tennis, the 501c organization that owns the tournament. The Winston-Salem Open at Wake Forest University will take place from August 21-27 with qualifying to be played from August 19-20. The tournament will be the final men’s event of the Olympus US Open Series.
Eurosport to continue covering Australian Open after inking five-year deal with Tennis Australia
After striking a new deal with Tennis Australia, Eurosport will continue to carry the Australian Open for five more years. Beginning in 2012, the first Grand Slam of the year will be shown in 56 countries and 121 million homes across Europe. The deal will extend the pan-European broadcaster’s support of the tournament to more than two decades. “This new agreement ensures that viewers in Europe will continue enjoying live extensive coverage of the Australian Open for many years to come,” said Steve Wood, CEO of Tennis Australia.
Li Na signs endorsement deal with Canadian-based SpiderTech
Li Na, the 2011 Australian Open women’s singles finalist, announced last Friday that she has signed an endorsement deal with SpiderTech, the world leading-developer of pre-cut and ready-to-apply kinesiology taping applications. The company aims to release a consumer version of its medical kinesiology tape later this year. This product introduction is aimed at providing consumer and recreational athletes with the natural pain release tape application professionals already use. “We are thrilled about the opportunity to partner with Li Na,” said Ray Arebesman, SpiderTech Founder. “Her commitment to our brand further cements SpiderTech as the leader in kinesiology tapes. She wholly represents our vision to bridge Eastern and Western healing and preventive philosophies.”
USTA provides $45,000 in grants to 21 wheelchair tennis programs
The USTA announced on Monday that they would be awarding $45,000 in USTA Grassroots Wheelchair Program Grants to 21 wheelchair tennis programs throughout the United States for the third consecutive year. Grants were awarded to local organizations that promote and develop the growth of wheelchair tennis and use the sport of tennis to build stronger, healthier communities. Grant amounts were based on each program’s existing budget and the future programmatic needs of the organization. Recipients can use the award to meet the USTA’s grant initiatives including coaching, court time, equipment, recruitment and events. Some of the organizations that were awarded grants included, Adaptive Athletics Association of Mountain Center, Calif., Ala Moana Wheelchair Tennis Club of Honolulu, Hawaii, Far West Wheelchair Athletic Association of San Jose, Calif., Idaho Wheelchair Tennis Association of Boise, Idaho, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation of Philadelphia, Penn., Wheelchair Sports, Inc. of Wichita, Kan., and RHI Foundation, Inc. of Indianapolis, Ind.
Novo Nordisk adding four more scholarships; World Team Tennis now accepting applications
Novo Nordisk is currently adding four more scholarships to World Team Tennis’ Novo Nordisk Donnelly Awards program, which supports youth tennis players with diabetes. The 2011 program will grant $25,000 in scholarships, including two one-time $5,000 national scholarships and six one-time $2,500 regional scholarships, an increase from two regional scholarships in 2010. The scholarships are awarded to male and female athletes ages 12-21, who have diabetes and play tennis competitively in tournaments or on their school team. Now through April 15, 2011, World Team Tennis is accepting applications for the 2011 Novo Nordisk Donnelly Awards. Along with your application, you must submit two letters of recommendations and a short essay explaining the significance of diabetes in your life. The awards are to be used for education, tennis development and/or medical care. The recipients of the $5,000 national scholarships will receive their awards at a World Team Tennis Pro League match in July 2011 from WTT co-founder Billie Jean King. The scholarship program was established by King, through WTT Charities, in 1998 to encourage children with diabetes to lead an active life and compete in tennis. The Novo Nordisk Donnelly Awards are named after two long-time World Team Tennis executives and tennis champions, Diane Donnelly Stone and Tracey Donnelly Maltby, who are sisters. Stone was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion at Northwestern University, and Maltby earned All-Big Ten honors at the University of Iowa. Both women have lived successfully with diabetes since childhood. To download the application visit: www.WTT.com/DonnellyAwards. For more information contact Diane Donnelly Stone at: dstone@wtt.com or (212) 586-3444 xt. 20.
US Open National Playoffs to return in 2011; Mixed Doubles competition now offered
The USTA announced that the US Open National Playoffs will return in 2011 with the addition of the mixed doubles competition. The US Open National Playoffs mixed doubles champions will receive a main draw wild card into the 2011 US Open. The US Open National Playoffs men’s and women’s singles champions again earn a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament, held the week prior to the US Open. The US Open National Playoffs will again operate as a series of sectional qualifying tournaments, held in 16 USTA Sections throughout the country. The 16 men’s, women’s and mixed doubles champions from each sectional qualifying tournament will advance to the US Open National Playoffs. All three tournaments will be held in conjunction with the New Haven Open at Yale, an Olympus US Open Series event. The US Open National Playoffs — Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles Championship will be held August 18-21. The US Open National Playoffs — Mixed Doubles Championship will be held August 24-27. “The US Open National Playoffs is about providing players of all abilities the opportunity to connect with the US Open like they never could,” said Jon Vegosen, USTA Chairman of the Board and President. “By adding mixed doubles, we expect even more people to dream big this year and enter one of the sectional qualifying tournaments. These tournaments are sanctioned by our dedicated USTA Sections, who make sure the players have a great experience.” Registration for each of the 16 sectional qualifying tournaments begins on March 15 at usta.com/tennislink. The entry fee for each of the sectional qualifying tournaments is $125 for singles and $150 for each mixed doubles team ($75 per player). All players competing must have a current USTA membership valid through August 29, 2011. Players, who can be of all playing ability, may only compete in one sectional qualifying event per calendar year. In 2010, 1,232 (859 men and 373 women) participated in the first annual US Open National Playoffs.
ATP World Tour and WTA Tour donate more than $50,000 for Queensland flood relief efforts
The ATP World Tour and WTA Tour helped raise more than $50,000 to donate to the Queensland flood relief efforts during the recently completed Australian summer hardcourt season. Both the ATP World Tour and WTA Tour donated $10 for each ace hit by their respective players in singles and doubles matches during the Brisbane International, Medibank International Sydney and the Australian Open. The donation of $51,070 is in addition to individual contributions such as Australian Samantha Stosur who donated $100 for each ace she served up in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, while American Bethanie Mattek-Sands donated five percent of her prize money from Hobart and the Australian Open. Brisbane finalist Andy Roddick donated over $10,000, which was $200 for each ace he served while playing in the Brisbane International. ATP World Tour and WTA Tour players also donated their valuable time to participate in the sport’s biggest fundraiser on the eve of the Australian Open, the Rally for Relief at Melbourne Park, which raised more than $1.5 million for flood relief. ATP players who took part included Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Lleyton Hewitt and Roddick. WTA stars who participated included Caroline Wozniacki, Kim Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka, Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic and Stosur.
Dunlop gives tennis fans opportunity to design racquet
Dunlop announced the first-ever Facebook application that allows tennis players the opportunity to design their own Biomimetic tennis racquet. The application allows you to pick your own color, place logos, and add text to the racquet frame. Once the design is completed, all racquets will be saved and judged by Dunlop. The winning designer will have their racquet made exclusively to their specifications. Dates and contest rules are located on the Dunlop Facebook page. The Dunlop Facebook page is listed as “Dunlop Sport” and is located online at: www.facebook.com/dunlopsport. “Being able to customize your own tennis racquet is a dream come true for many tennis fans. Now we’re combining that ability with the most popular social networking site there is, Facebook,” said Steve Hall, Marketing Director of Dunlop Sports Group Americas.
Malaysia and New Zealand pull out of Fed Cup
Without enough players to fill their rosters, both Malaysia and New Zealand had to pull out of their upcoming Fed Cup Asia-Oceania zonal group ties. According to Malaysia’s Tennis Federation Executive Secretary, they couldn’t find a second player as one player is currently studying in the United States and another player is on her own. New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic opted to play a challenger this week to try to gain more ranking points, while Sacha Jones is currently injured. “We didn’t think it was viable,” said Steve Wood, New Zealand Federation Chief.
Nadal out for 10 days due to injury sustained at Australian Open
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal will be sidelined for 10 days due to a muscle tear in his right leg that he sustained during his quarterfinal loss to David Ferrer at the Australian Open in Melbourne last week. Nadal, who is currently recovering in Mallorca, is expected to make a full recovery. Nadal will be available to compete in Spain’s Davis Cup tie against Belgium in March and is also expected to play in the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami.
Henin retires from WTA Tour due to elbow injury
Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Justine Henin announced her retirement from the WTA Tour for the second time, saying her elbow injury will not allow her to compete any longer. Henin originally retired from the WTA Tour in May 2008 but returned in the beginning of 2010 where she reached the finals of the Australian Open before losing to Serena Williams. During her loss last year to Kim Clijsters at Wimbledon, Henin reinjured her elbow which ultimately ended her 2010 season. Her last career match was a third round loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2011 Australian Open. Henin, won 48 singles titles throughout her career, including seven Grand Slam singles titles. The Belgium was ranked No. 1 in the world for a total of 117 weeks, which ranks seventh all-time. Henin, who had a 32-match winning streak that spanned from 2007 to 2008, won over $20 million in tournament prize money throughout her career. Henin, who turned pro in 1999, helped Belgium to the Fed Cup title in 2001 and won the singles Gold Medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. In a statement on her website, Henin said, “I spent the last days undergoing various medical tests and they have confirmed that my elbow has been damaged by my adventure in Australia. My elbow is too fragile and hurt…Having followed the advice of doctors it is now clear and I accept that here my career ends. I’m sorry…I had hoped for a different return and dreamed of a different ending. I will need time to process all this, but I remain convinced that even with little progress, my level with my return did not meet my expectations, despite everything I’ve learned a lot over the past 15 months. Finally and most importantly, thanks everyone. Thanks for standing by my side during all these years. I will never forget your support and your loyalty