2012 Australian Open to offer record Grand Slam prize money; $2.18 million to singles champions
Tournament officials for the Australian Open announced on Tuesday that the 2012 event will offer the highest prize money in the history of Grand Slam tennis with the men’s and women’s champions each taking home a record topping check worth $2.18 million (US). The total prize money payout for the two week event will be $26 million (AU). Several new additions to the 2012 tournament include: Hawk-Eye on Margaret Court Arena, major sponsor ANZ has extended its sponsorship deal with the Australian Open for another year and new sponsor Dove has signed on, improved player facilities, with a new players lounge, gym and entertainment options including a shark aquarium and live music performances, and redeveloped site with improvements to corporate and general dining areas.
Worcester announced as site for U.S. vs. Belarus Fed Cup tie in February 2012
The USTA announced on Tuesday that the DCU Arena in Worcester, Mass., has been chosen as the site for the 2012 World Group II Fed Cup first round tie between the United States and Belarus, which will be played February 4-5, 2012. The tie marks the first meeting between both nations and just the third time a Fed Cup match has been played in Massachusetts. The winner will advance to the World Group Playoff and play for a shot to compete for the 2013 Fed Cup title. The loser of the tie will continue to compete in the World Group II and will either maintain its status in that grouping for the following year or drop to zonal competition. Former world No. 1 and 13-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams has already announced that she will play Fed Cup in 2012, something she must do to become eligible to compete in the London Olympics next summer. Venus Williams, who has struggled of late with injuries, must attempt to play Fed Cup in 2012, if she wants to remain eligible for the Olympics. World No. 4 Victoria Azarenka is expected to compete for Belarus. The tie in February will be the first home Fed Cup match for the Americans since the United States fell to Italy in the finals of the competition in 2010. “The DCU Center will be a great venue for this very important match and Serena’s return to the U.S. Fed Cup Team. Belarus will be a tough opponent and we will need our fans to come out in numbers and be loud to give us the home court advantage,” said Mary Joe Fernandez, U.S. Fed Cup Team Captain. “One of the last Fed Cup matches I played was in Boston, so I know firsthand that this area has and will embrace the competition.” For the latest ticket information, fans can call the U.S. Fed Cup hotline at (888) 334-8782 or visit www.usta.com/fedcup.
Federer’s personal brand valued at $26 million by Forbes
In a recently released list by Forbes that documents the world’s most valuable sports brands, Roger Federer’s personal brand has been valued at $26 million, second among all athletes. Regarding Federer’s personal brand, Forbes writes: “Federer holds the most impressive endorsement portfolio in all of sports with 10 major deals, including a Nike sponsorship that is the most lucrative in all of tennis. He is also the only one of Gillette’s original 3 “Champions” to have his deal renewed this year as the brand dropped Tiger Woods and Thierry Henry.” Forbes still rates Woods as the most valuable athlete brand. Earlier this year, Federer was ranked No. 25 in its annual list of the world’s 100 most powerful celebrities. Of the 100 ranked, the 16-time Grand Slam champion from Switzerland was No. 1 in the sub category ‘press rank,’ a reflection of the amount of media coverage a celebrity receives. Lady Gaga, Oprah and Justin Bieber trailed Federer in the ‘press rank,’ category. Federer is currently ranked No. 3 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings and has won more than $64.1 million in tournament prize money throughout his career.
Tennis Channel extends French Open rights agreement through 2022
Tennis Channel and the French Tennis Federation (FFT) have agreed to a multi-year extension, keeping the network as the primary non-broadcast home of the world’s greatest clay-court tournament for years to come. On Tuesday, October 4, FFT General Manager and French Open Tournament Director Gilbert Ysern, Media and Sponsorship Director Michel Grach, and Tennis Channel Chairman and CEO Ken Solomon announced the extension, which will run through 2022. The new agreement continues the previously exclusive United States non-broadcast media rights to all French Open matches. In addition to television, this includes streaming, digital, mobile, video on demand, and “TV EVERYWHERE,” as well as to FFT’s extensive media archives. “It is wonderful to extend our relationship with Tennis Channel on a long-term basis,” said Ysern. “Our partnership has led to an innovative and exciting way for Americans to celebrate and enjoy Roland Garros, with far more live coverage than ever and groundbreaking prime-time and late-night telecasts.”
All England Club unveils new digital broadcast service – “Live @ Wimbledon”
On Tuesday, the All England Club announced the plans for a new, expanded and enhanced live radio and video broadcast service called “Live @ Wimbledon.” The service, which will be free on www.Wimbledon.com, FM Frequency, and mobile applications, will build on the existing web, mobile and Radio Wimbledon platforms, providing live shot-by-shot commentary and live video from around the 19 Wimbledon courts, as well as giving the fan a feel for life around the grounds. “Live @ Wimbledon is all about giving Wimbledon fans more coverage, better coverage and all of it live. Consolidation of our digital properties into one strong product under the Wimbledon brand allows us to provide a content-rich live experience which will include video streaming, in addition to the already highly popular Radio Wimbledon. We think this fresh approach will appeal to our existing fans, while helping us grow our global audience as we introduce the drama of The Championships to new fans,” said Mick Desmond, Commercial Director of The All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Federer, Nadal to play December exhibitions in Latin America
ESPN Deportes is reporting that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will participate in exhibitions in Latin America this December, despite earlier complaints about the length of the playing calendar. Nadal will square off against countrymen David Ferrer in Mexico City on December 5, just days after the Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentina. Fue Buena is reporting that Federer is planning to play in a series of exhibitions in South America following the completion of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. There are already agreements in place for matches in Brazil and Columbia. Argentina and Chile are also options. Federer will reportedly earn $2 million per exhibition, while Nadal will earn $1 million.
Todd Martin replaces Jeff Tarango on the USTA Board of Directors effective immediately
The USTA announced on Monday that effective immediately Todd Martin of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., has been named a Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors. The former world No. 4 and 1999 US Open singles finalist will replace Jeff Tarango, who resigned from the Board following the 2011 US Open so that he could dedicate more time to his family and his career. Martin will serve on the 15-member board through 2012.
Monfils to work with former Top 10 star Henri Leconte for upcoming fall tournaments
World No. 9 Gael Monfils, who mutually cut ties with former coach Roger Rasheed earlier in the summer, has hired former Top 10 player Henri Leconte to be his coach during the upcoming tournaments in Valencia and at the Paris Masters 1000 in Bercy. Since retiring from playing on the tour, Leconte has done little coaching, instead focusing his career on television commentating. “Gael is someone that I love and who has enormous potential, a game and a lot of unusual charisma,” said Leconte. “This is a big challenge for me but makes me very happy.”
Oudin splits with longtime coach; hires USTA’s Tom Gullikson
Melanie Oudin, a former US Open singles quarterfinalist who has dropped to No. 146 in the world, has split from her longtime coach Brian DeVilliers and has hired the USTA’s Tom Gullikson. The relationship with Gullikson is said to be on a try-out basis to start. DeVilliers had worked with Oudin since juniors, but the Georgia native fell into a tremendous slump after reaching a career-best ranking of No. 31 in April 2010. Two weeks ago in Albuquerque, Oudin won her first non-retirement match since mid-June, before falling in the next round. Despite all her struggles on the singles circuit, Oudin did manage to team with recently turned pro Jack Sock to win the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship in New York.
USTA announces tennis players for 2011 Pan-Am teams
The USTA recently announced the three men and two women who will represent the United States at the upcoming 2011 Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, which will take place from October 17-22. Denis Kudla, Nicholas Monroe and Greg Ouellette will represent the men for the United States, while Top 100 WTA players Christina McHale and Irina Falconi will represent the women. Sloane Stephens was nominated to participate for the United States, but was forced to withdraw due to a recent injury. The players will compete in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles. USTA National Coaches Tom Gullikson and Dustin Taylor will coach the women’s and men’s teams, respectively.
USTA Player Development announces two new coaching hires
USTA Player Development recently announced that it had hired Stanford Boster as a USTA National Coach for Men’s Tennis and Jayadeva Devashetty as a USTA National Coach. Both coaches have already begun their responsibilities. Boster, a 42-year-old South African native, is based at the USTA Training Center-Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., and will report to USTA Player Development Head of Men’s Tennis, Jay Berger. Boster, joins the USTA after operating Boster Tennis Management since 1998, during which he coached and managed players such as Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish, Todd Widom and David Martin. He previously spent four years at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, first as a High Performance Coach and then as Academy Director. Devashetty is based at the USTA Training Center-East at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., and will report to both Berger and USTA Player Development Head of Women’s Tennis, Ola Malmqvist. Devashetty, a 36-year-old from India, joins the USTA from Hardscrabble Club in Brewster, N.Y., where he served as Director of Player Development since 2003. During his tenure there, he served as primary coach to four different USTA National Champions and four players who have reached the Top 100 in the ITF World Junior Rankings. He currently resides in Tarrytown, N.Y.
Fire destroys 73-year-old sports arena in Copenhagen that hosted International Tennis Tournaments
The K.B. Hallen Arena – a 73-year-old sports arena in Copenhagen, Denmark – was completely destroyed last week by fire when overheated light bulbs set fire to nearby cardboard boxes. The famous arena in the Danish capital was the nation’s main sports, concert and exhibition venue for decades. The arena hosted several international tennis tournaments over the years that attracted star players including Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and Boris Becker. “It is a disaster. It has been a gathering point for all of Copenhagen,” said Joergen Hansen, Arena Director.
USTA recognized by Health and Human Services Secretary at Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and several members of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition praised the USTA during their recent Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play (WWDOP) for its leadership and participation in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) challenge. The USTA, through its National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network and youth tennis programs, has gotten more than 226,000 children to participate in and complete the PALA challenge. To date, the USTA has had more kids complete the challenge than any other youth sports organization in the United States. The association’s New York NJTL chapter, New York Junior Tennis League, accounted for 75,000 of the participants in the challenge. “The President Active Lifestyle Award is about getting kids and parents to understand how easy it is to have some fun, but also to be fit. It is really aimed at ending childhood obesity in our generation,” says Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Our goal was to have a million PALA challenges met by this year, and we are really pleased to say we have almost 1.7 million, thanks to great partners and great organizations. It’s a great partnership to have the tennis association involved.” The PALA award recognizes kids who stay active for 60 minutes per day, five days a week for six out of eight weeks. PALA’s national goal is to get one million youngsters to take this challenge.
Sanchez Vicario, Lewis earn USPTA Master Professional status
Emilio Sanchez Vicario and Darryl Lewis were both recognized recently for achieving Master Professional status by the United States Professional Tennis Association, the highest professional rating within the tennis profession. The two were recognized during the USPTA’s annual awards breakfast at the USPTA World Conference on Tennis at the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla. They join an elite group as only about one percent of USPTA’s more than 15,000 members worldwide have achieved the Master Professional designation. Members must hold USPTA’s highest certification rating (Professional 1) for more than 10 years before becoming eligible for the Master Professional designation. Then, each must fulfill a broad spectrum of requirements, including making significant achievements in areas such as tennis teaching and coaching, business, education and volunteer work.