By Justin Cohen
ATP Top Players Help Raise Over £400K for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity
The world’s top men’s singles players and doubles teams, including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Bob and Mike Bryan, gathered on Saturday evening at the official Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Gala, at The Royal Courts of Justice in London. The event, supported by Moët & Chandon, raised more than £400,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. The Gala officially launched the 2012 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals – the year-end climax to the men’s professional tennis season, to be played November 5-12 at The O2 – and raised vital funds for the new respiratory ward at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The glamorous event was hosted by Kirsty Gallacher and Dan Lobb, with guests enjoying an exclusive performance from Brit and MOBO award winner Lemar and a DJ set from Emma B. The world’s best players personally supported the night by joining Moët & Chandon’s philanthropic ‘Toast for a Cause’ initiative, raising a mini Moët as they walked the red carpet. Moët & Chandon in turn made a donation for each participating player directly to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Players helped raise an additional £22,500 on the night by offering three lucky guests the chance to join them on stage for a once-in-a-lifetime group photo. An exclusive auction was held on the night, with lots including a rare gold-leaf Methuselah of Moët & Chandon signed by the world’s top tennis players. Other highly prized auction items included: VIP tickets to the 2013 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2, a unique Hamilton & Inches pendant inspired by Disney•Pixar’s Brave and a NISSAN VIP experience at the Dubai 24 Hour Race.
2012 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon take place in London
On Tuesday during the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Novak Djokovic received the ATP World Tour year-end No. 1 trophy and Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award on court at the O2 in London during the annual ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon. Roger Federer was awarded the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the eighth time in his career and second in a row. German Tommy Haas won the Comeback Player of the Year, while 23-year-old Martin Klizan earned the Newcomer of the Year. Australian Marinko Matosevic won the Most Improved Player of the Year.
“The Face Off” tennis exhibition in Toronto to be shown on ESPN3 on November 16
“The Face Off” doubleheader tennis exhibition featuring a rematch of the 2012 Wimbledon Ladies Final between Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska followed by a big serving match-up between Andy Roddick and Milos Raonic will be shown live on ESPN3 on Friday, November 16 at 8 p.m. The match will be played at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. This past Sunday, ESPN3 presented live coverage of Serena’s match against sister Venus in Johannesburg, South Africa.
ATP promotes Alison Lee to Head of International Group Region
The ATP, governing body of the men’s professional tennis circuit, announces today the promotion of Alison Lee to Executive Vice President, International Group. Lee, 40, will be based in Sydney, Australia, in the ATP’s International Group headquarters which oversees the ATP’s business affairs in Australia, Asia, Middle East, Russia and Africa. Lee, brings almost 15 years of experience with the ATP to her new role. Prior to joining the ATP, she worked as a journalist in Hong Kong (NBC Asia) and Sydney (Channel 7). Lee began working with the ATP in the International Group’s Communications Department in 1998, before focusing on event management for the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup tournaments in Sydney (2001) and Shanghai (2002, 2005-2008). She becomes a member of the ATP management committee and will also continue her roles as a part of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and ATP Commercial teams. “I am delighted to accept this position and new challenge. Even though the International Group is diverse, all our tournaments have a common desire to continue their growth and be among the best in the world,” said Lee. “That attitude combined with the increasing number of players coming from the region, make for exciting prospects. I look forward to using my experience to help drive that growth for the ATP and its members.”
Boston Lobsters relocate to Manchester Athletic Club for 2013 World TeamTennis season
The Boston Lobsters of the World TeamTennis Pro League announced they will be playing their home matches at the Manchester Athletic Club (MAC) starting with the 2013 season. The Joan Norton Tennis will be the name of the hosting facility. The show court will be incorporated into the MAC’s existing SkyJax Park outdoor facility, which currently includes several ten-and-under QuickStart courts, a basketball court, and athletic fields. The new home for Boston’s professional tennis team is located at 8 Atwater Avenue in Manchester, Mass. Team officials say the convenient location, less than one mile from Route 128, will provide the team with a venue that is very desirable for the team, its guests and sponsors. Most recently, the Lobsters played their home matches at the Ferncroft Country Club. “Manchester Athletic Club is very excited to partner with the Boston Lobsters,” said Manchester Athletic Club owner John Donovan. “The Lobsters organization is uniquely positioned to provide an exceptional professional tennis showcase for this community. We’re looking forward to a long relationship.”
Wozniacki splits with Coach Thomas Johansson
Former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki has confirmed that she has split with part-time coach Thomas Johansson. Her father, Piotr, will remain her coach, and she will also seek advice from coaches in the adidas Player Development program. “I’m working with dad as I always did and I’m going to continue,” she said after her win over Roberta Vinci in Sofia. “I worked with Thomas for a while, but I haven’t seen him since U.S. Open since he very busy with the tournament in Stockholm (where he is the tournament director), and he’s been doing so many other things and he really hasn’t had time the time in the last few months. I’ve worked with my dad and it’s worked well and because he has quite a few commitments next year as well and with his family, that’s why I decided for both of us just to work with my dad.” Piotr Wozniacki told Ekstra Bladet that they are in search of a new full-time fitness trainer as well as a physiotherapist.
University of Georgia to Host 2014 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships
The Athens Banner-Herald reports that the University of Georgia will host the 2014 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships. The Dan Magill Tennis Complex has hosted the men’s tournament 24 times and the women’s event three times, in addition to three combined tournaments for a total of 30, most recently in both 2010 and 2012. The event has been combined since 2006. The Georgia men’s tennis team has won six NCAA titles — five of which came while playing in Athens. The women claimed the national title in 1994 and 2000. “We are extremely excited to have been selected again,” said Georgia men’s tennis coach Manuel Diaz. “It’s a credit to the many wonderful people in our athletic department who make the event so special, as well as all the volunteers in our community and the fans from around the country who make it the best collegiate event in our sport. Our athletic director (Greg McGarity) and everyone here at UGA are committed to continuing to host championships.” “This is fantastic news for the University of Georgia and the community of Athens. We’re very excited and honored to host the incredible NCAA Tennis Championships again,” said Jeff Wallace, Georgia women’s tennis coach. “It all started with Coach Dan Magill in the 1970s and his vision to make Georgia the ‘mecca of college tennis,’ which it became under his leadership. Some of the greatest moments in our program’s history have taken place at the complex that most deservedly bears his name. We’re looking forward to having the nation’s best players and teams come to Athens, and our staff and community always do a tremendous job of supporting the event.”
Player Fields set for 2012 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in New York
The USTA and Intercollegiate Tennis Association today announced the fields for the 2012 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Nov. 8-11 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s Indoor Building in Flushing, N.Y. The men’s field will feature two-time and reigning ITA All-American singles champion Alex Domijan and Jarmere Jenkins, the ITA’s No. 2-ranked singles player, both of Virginia, while Florida’s Lauren Embree, the 2012 ITA/Riviera Women’s All-American champion who competed in the first round of the 2009 French Open, and Georgia’s Lauren Herring, who played in the 2010 US Open doubles main draw, headline the women’s field. The USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships features a 32-player singles field and 20-team doubles field for men and women, including: men’s and women’s champions from each of the 12 Division I USTA/ITA Regional Championships, the men’s and women’s USTA/ITA National Small College Super Bowl champion, the eight quarterfinalists of the ITA Men’s All-American Championships, the four semifinalists from the ITA/Riviera Women’s All-American Championships and the consolation winners from both, as well as at-large and wild card selections made by the ITA and USTA. Additionally, Columbia University, which is serving as the host school for the third consecutive year, received a wild card entry into each draw. In total, 124 players from 45 schools will compete in New York in singles or doubles. Other players in the men’s field include: UCLA teammates Marcos Giron, the 2011 Easter Bowl 18s champion, and Dennis Mkrtchian, the 2009 USTA International Spring Championship 16s winner, 2009 US Open Junior quarterfinalist Ray Sarmiento of Southern California, as well as Virginia teammates Mac Styslinger, a 2011 USTA 18s National semifinalist, and Harrison Richmond, a former U.S. Junior Davis Cup team member. In addition to Embree and Herring, other participants in the women’s field include: Florida’s Danielle Collins, the 2012 USTA 18s National Clay Court champion, Stanford’s Krista Hardebeck, a 2012 Australian Open Junior semifinalist, and Southern California’s Sabrina Santamaria, the reigning USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships doubles champion. Fans are encouraged to follow the matches online and participate in daily live chat at www.USTA.com/Multimedia-Interactive/live_chat/.
Cliff Drysdale Tennis expands programs with In-Shape Health
Cliff Drysdale Tennis announced that it has expanded its tennis management relationship with In-Shape Health Clubs to include 5 additional facilities in the In-Shape Health Clubs Family. Beginning November 1, Cliff Drysdale will offer its tennis management services at Millennium by In-Shape: Vallejo, Millennium by In-Shape: Rancho Solano (Fairfield), Millennium by In-Shape: Browns Valley (Vacaville), Millennium by In-Shape: El Dorado, and Millennium by In-Shape: Merced. “We are very excited to continue to grow with the In-Shape Health Clubs Family,” said Scott McCulloch, the National Director of Tennis for Cliff Drysdale Tennis. “Our relationship with In-Shape has afforded us the opportunity to bring our brand of tennis and services statewide in California, and we look forward to continuing our mission of introducing tennis to more people of all ages and establishing more players in this great game of a lifetime!” In November 2009, In-Shape partnered with Cliff Drysdale Tennis, and will now offer their signature tennis programs at 11 of its premier health club facilities – the 5 listed above plus In-Shape Sport: Dover (Fairfield), In-Shape Sport: Laurel Glen (Bakersfield), In-Shape Sport: Visalia, In-Shape Sport: Marina (Stockton), In-Shape Sport: West Lane (Stockton), and In-Shape Sport: Tracy.