World Tennis Magazine

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The Best Grand Slam Matches of All Time

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Throughout the long history of tennis, there have been some incredible matches that have made massive cultural impacts. Seeing the most talented tennis players in the world competing head-to-head for the opportunity to win fame, fortune, and cement their legacy is something everyone loves. This is why nearly all of the best sports betting sites Canada have tennis betting options. In no tournaments are the stakes higher than the Grand Slam tournaments. 

The Grand Slam tournaments are the four biggest tennis events of every year. They include the French Open, Wimbledon, US Open, and the Australian Open. Each of these tournaments has been held for more than 100 years and are exciting and historical events that have seen some incredible results throughout their history. Let’s look at some of the best, most exciting, and most all-around impactful tennis matches that have been played at the Grand Slam tournament.

2001 Wimbledon Final

The 2001 Wimbledon Final wasn’t just a great game; it was the final fitting chapter to an all-time Cinderella tournament run. Goran Ivanisevic had been an incredible player in the 1990s, but by 2001, he was rated 125th in the world. He entered the Wimbledon tournament as a wild card and marched to the final, where he faced off against Patrick Rafter, who had been a Wimbledon finalist the previous year. The battle between Ivanisevic and Rafter lasted more than three hours. Ultimately, Ivanisevic won 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 9-7 to become the first wild card entrant to ever win the Wimbledon.

2013 French Open Semi-Final

There have been several defining tennis players of the current generation, and two of them faced off in a legendary matchup in 2013 when Rafael Nadal squared off against Novak Djokovic. Nadal has been absolutely dominant on clay courts throughout his career, and the French Open is a clay tournament. He has won that tournament more than anyone has won any other Grand Slam tournament. But Djokovic is not an easy out, and the two fought an intense match that showcased each player’s talents. Nadal ended victorious 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 9-7.

1995 US Open Final

The 1995 US Open Final featured two of the greatest female tennis players to ever compete. Monica Seles came into tennis absolutely dominant, earning 8 Grand Slam victories before she was 20. Stefi Graff has a significant claim to being the best female tennis player ever, and these two stars collided in an intense showdown in the US Open Final. Each player took their blows and bounced back, with some dominant sets by both. Ultimately, the match ended in victory for Graff, who won 7-6, 0-6, 6-3.

2012 Australian Open Final

Djokovic and Nadal are old foes that have both been premier players for well over a decade now. They have played many excellent matches, but the one that may be the best is the 2012 Australian Open Final. This absolute battle went for five hours and fifty-three minutes, making it a test of each player’s endurance to the extreme. When the dust settled after the longest-ever Grand Slam final, Novak Djokovic stood tall. He claimed victory 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5.

2009 Wimbledon Final

Roger Federer is considered by many tennis fans to be the greatest player ever. There is something about his smooth dominance that makes him stand out. In this battle against legendary American Andy Roddick, both players were at their best. Roddick only lost his service once in the final set but still managed to lose. It was truly a heartbreaking defeat in a marathon of a match that Federer took home. Federer ended up winning this Wimbledon final 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14. It was a heartbreaking defeat for Roddick but a legendary win for Federer.

2008 Wimbledon Final

This match came at a time when both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were at the peak of their powers. The two had combined to win 14 of the 16 previous Grand Slam tournaments, and Federer was looking to earn his sixth-straight Wimbledon title. However, Nadal was no pushover, even as the underdog. This game was a see-saw, back-and-forth battle that featured what many believe to be the two best tennis players ever. The match would end in heartbreak for Federer as Nadal stood strong, defending 12 of the 13 break points he faced. Nadal ended up winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (6-8), 9-7.

1990 Wimbledon Final

This is widely considered to be the greatest tennis matchup of all time. It featured Bjorn Bjorg, an even-tempered Swedish superstar, against his archrival, John McEnroe, a hot-headed American legend famed for his offbeat antics. After McEnroe dominated Bjorg in the first set, the calm Swede rallied back. The two would trade blows for just under four hours in an unmatched battle of endurance, skill, and will. While McEnroe put up an incredible fight, including a fourth set which he won in an 18-16 tiebreaker, it was Bjorg who emerged victorious. The final score was 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (16-18), 8-6. 

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon

The Most Popular Men’s Players In The 1970s, 1980s and 1990s

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Tennis is a great game that has been played and celebrated for hundreds of years. Over the centuries there have been greats that rose and fell in the history books, but people have always been left wondering, who were the most popular to play the game? Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are perhaps the two most popular men’s players ever. But what about from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s? Well we have decided to roll up our sleeves and get down to brass tax so that we could assemble some of the most popular names to ever play the game in this time period, and finally figure out once and for all which generation played it better.

The List

John McEnroe – It is probably not a surprise to many tennis fans that Johnny Mac would make this best athletes list. Known for having a short temper and a great backhand, Johnny made his impression on many in the tennis world for his almost comical outbursts. But people usually stop laughing when they see how clean and crisp his game is. Johnny just likes to wear his passion for the game on his sleeves. Johnny has won 16 Grand Slam titles, 19 Gran Prix Super Series, and 3 Wimbledon titles. He is certainly no slouch.

Ivan Lendl – Known as a trend-setter in the game that unlocked the secrets of a good diet. Many tennis players followed Lendl’s lead in both what they eat like, and what they play like. For a decade Lendl was the person to beat in tennis, as we won 11 Grand Slam titles in a ten year period. This Czech player spent 270 weeks as the number one ranking tennis player while many other greats were playing the game. This makes Lendl an easy choice for one of the best athletes to ever play the game.

Arthur Ashe – Not only an excellent tennis player, Ashe is known for being a kind of dignitary in the game, as he played with the kind of composure, class, and courtesy that made him an ideal role model for the league. He made big strides in civil rights as an African American player, and has won plenty of titles too.

Andre Agassi – Your search for one of the best tennis players ever is almost always going to land on Andre Agassi. Considered by many to be one of the best strikers to ever play the game, many recognized the talent in this athlete well before he even became a professional. At only 22 years old, Agassi won Wimbledon, and the world did not fail to take notice. Known for being a smart player that is highly mobile, Agassi is easily one of the greats.

Bjorn Borg – Though his name sounds like the supervillain of a comic series, Borg is best known as a tennis prodigy. At only 15 he was playing in the Davis Cup. He had only just turned 18 when he won his first French Open. At only 26 Borg retired after being defeated by John Mcenroe, but he still has one of the best records in Tennis.

Need more? Check out other tennis greats here.

 

Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi

Federer Ends Season In Style – Mondays With Bob Greene

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STARS

Roger Federer beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 6-7 (6) 6-3 to win the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, Great Britain

Daniel Brands beat Matthias Bachinger 7-6 (2) 7-6 (5) to win the IPP Open in Helsinki, Finland

Tamarine Tanasugarn beat Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-2 7-5 to win the 2011 Dunlop World Challenge Tennis Tournament in Toyota, Japan

Roger Federer captures record sixth ATP World Tour Finals

SAYING

“I couldn’t be more happy and I couldn’t be more exhausted because Jo sucked all the last energy out of me today. – Roger Federer, after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win his sixth season-ending ATP World Tour Finals title.

“He’s the best player indoors for the moment. He’s maybe the best player ever, because he’s really quick. He’s playing well. That’s it.” – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, reflecting on Roger Federer.

“Now it’s finally sort of reality that I’ve been able to win six World Tour Finals. It’s an amazing feeling. I know it’s one of my greatest accomplishments.” – Roger Federer.

“Maybe I didn’t have really time to relax, but (that) is not the excuse here. He played better than me.” – David Ferrer, following his semifinal loss to Roger Federer.

“I’m shocked every time that I’ve reached so many finals or won against so many players or whatever record it is. It strikes me and makes me obviously very happy and very proud that I’ve been able to do it for so many years at the highest of levels.” – Roger Federer, who continued to better or equal marks in the record book.

“Six weeks ago if you would have asked me if we would have won this, I would have been surprised. But the way we’ve been playing in the fall, I wouldn’t say surprised.” – Daniel Nestor, who teamed with Max Mirnyi to win the ATP World Tour Finals doubles title.

“We feel great to have been able to win the tournament. We’re very excited to have done it without losing a match. We felt that we built confidence throughout the week because we escaped a few very close matches early on in the tournament. Today, towards the end of the match, I felt we both played pretty good.” – Max Mirnyi.

“I mean, all the credit to my opponent, he played a great match. But, you know, I just wasn’t there. It was the worst match I’ve played this season so far definitely. So many unforced errors. I’m not playing well.  That’s a fact.” – Novak Djokovic, after losing to David Ferrer at the ATP World Tour Finals.

“I didn’t play really bad, but he didn’t have one mistake during all the match or two mistakes during all the match. I tried my best, but it seems that wasn’t enough tonight.” – Rafael Nadal, after losing to Roger Federer in the round-robin portion of the ATP World Tour Finals.

“It might seem like a long time but the Australian Open is only six or seven weeks away. I could mess up my preparation for that. The off-season is so important to me and has been for the last few years, to get myself in shape. I would probably do myself more damage playing than not.” – Andy Murray, after pulling out of the ATP World Tour Finals, citing an injury, after losing his first round-robin match.

“I enjoyed still playing at this time of the year when no one else is. We get our own locker rooms back there, our names on our towels. For me, that doesn’t happen every year. A lot of guys have made this (tournament) a lot of times, but I haven’t, and I can appreciate it a lot more. … I know there’s a chance I won’t ever come back to this event, so I wanted to take it all in.” – Mardy Fish, who lost all three of his round-robin matches.

“You have hurt Spaniards, athletes and me. I think it is not fair to discredit the triumphs of Spanish athletes by treating them all as cheaters. The truth is that I am still stunned.” – Emilio Sanchez, responding to Yannick Noah’s assertion that Spanish tennis players take performance drugs.

“I am against all forms of doping, but I’m hypersensitive when it comes to injustice. There are too many cheats winning these days inSpainand elsewhere. At which point is an athlete considered to have doped? When he takes a product that makes him run faster, makes him stronger, helps him recover more quickly? Or when he tests positive? The answer to the question is not the same, depending on the country.” – Yannick Noah.

“I cannot pretend to be a tennis expert of (Slobodan) Zivojinovic’s caliber but I am a big tennis fan and my love for the game has been undiminished since I saw him play against (formerWimbledonchampion) Pat Cash in the Davis Cup inSplit1987.” – Vuk Jeremic, who replaced Zivojinovic as president of the Serbian Tennis Association.

SUPER SWISS

Roger Federer ended the 2011 season in style, capturing his sixth year-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and his third straight tournament. His 6-3 6-7 (6) 6-3 victory over Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made the 30-year-old Swiss master the oldest player to capture the season-ending championship. By going undefeated and winning all five matches he played, Federer earned USD $1,630,000 and moved past Andy Murray into third place in the ATP rankings. “It feels very special indeed,” said Federer, who ends the year on a 17-match winning streak.  Before heading to London, the right-hander won two other indoor tournaments, the Swiss Indoors Basel and the BNPParibas Masters in Paris. Federer beat Tsonga three times in his last six matches – in the Parisfinal and in a round-robin match in the season finale.

SETTING RECORDS

Roger Federer continues to rewrite the record book. He becomes the first player to win six season-ending tournament titles, also capturing the crown in 2003-04, 2006-07 and 2010. The victory tied Ivan Lendl’s wins at the tournament. Lendl compiled a 39-10 mark, winning five times, while Federer is now 39-7. Pete Sampras also won five season finales. Federer became the fifth player to reach 100 finals in the Open Era, joining Jimmy Connors (163), Lendl (146), John McEnroe (108) and Guillermo Vilas (104). And with his 807th career match win in the final, Federer broke a tie for sixth place with Stefan Edberg. Connors leads with 1,242 match wins, followed by Lendl (1,071), Vilas (923), McEnroe (875) and Andre Agassi (870). It was Federer’s 70th ATP Tour-level trophy. “This definitely is an amazing finish again to the season,” Federer said. “I’ve never finished so strong.”

SUCCESSFUL DUO

Winning the ATP World Tour Finals doubles is old hat for both Max Mirnyi of Belarusand Canada’s Daniel Nestor. Winning it together was a new experience. Playing together for the first time in the season-ending tournament, the two beat Poland’s Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 7-5 6-3 in the final. Nestor has won the ATP World Tour doubles title four times, with Mark Knowles of the Bahamasin 2007 and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbiain 2008 and 2010. Mirnyi won the year-ending event in 2006 when he teamed with Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman. It was Nestor’s 75th career doubles title.

STOPPED BY INJURY

A knee injury has forced Ivan Lendl to withdraw from the AEGON Masters Tennis event, a seniors event which will be held this week at Royal Albert Hall in London. Lendl had been scheduled to make his debut at the tournament. “I was looking forward to playing in Londonand seeing many friends who I have not seen in quite some time,” Lendl said. “However, I am equally looking forward getting my knee fixed so that I can resume playing and working at my Academy. Hopefully I can come to Londonnext year and play in this prestigious event.” Now in its 15th year, the tournament will feature John McEnroe, Goran Ivanisevic, Tim Henman, Pat Cash, Mark Philippoussis, Henri Leconte, Fabrice Santoro, Thomas Enqvist and Younes El Aynaoui. Others who will play doubles include Mansour Bahrami, Peter McNamara, Jeremy Bates, Mikael Pernfors and Andrew Castle. The AEGON Masters Tennis is the final event of the year on the ATP Champions Tour. Replacing Lendl in the field will be 1996Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek.

SERBIA’S TENNIS BOSS

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic is the new president ofSerbia’s Tennis Association (TSS). Jeremic takes over for Slobodan Zivojinovic, who was pushed out of the job with the help of the family of top-ranked Novak Djokovic. In his first action asTSSpresident, Jeremic named Novak’s uncle, Goran Djokovic, as one of theTSSvice presidents. He takes the position formerly held by former Davis Cup coach Radmilo Armenulic, who also stepped down. Srdjan Djokovic, Novak’s father, had argued that Zivojinovic, who had reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1986, had been inTSSpresident for too long on past merits and had done nothing to boost his son’s career when he was a child and very little to ensure long-term success of Serbia’s players. Zivojinovic won a third four-year term by a landslide in January, but popular support for him kept dwindling. Zivojinovic is a member of the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) Davis Cup committee. “It was a difficult decision to make at a time when tennis became a shining example ofSerbia’s talent and the country grew into one of the game’s superpowers,” Zivojinovic said. While he was president,Serbiaproduced three players who became number one in the world: Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic.

SISTERS CLASH

With both seeing action for the first time since the US Open, Venus Williams defeated her younger sister Serena 6-4 7-6 (5) in an exhibition match inMedellin,Colombia. Venus hadn’t played since she pulled out of the US Open following her first-round victory because of an immune system disease. Serena’s last match was the US Open final, when she lost to Australian Samantha Stosur. The sisters will team up inMilan,Italy, on December 3 to play Italians Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta in another exhibition. In head-to-head competition, Serena leads Venus 13-10, but exhibitions don’t count.

SHIFTS DAVIS CUP SITE

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has asked the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to reconsider its decision to move the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group II tie againstLebanonout ofPakistanbecause of security concerns.Pakistanwas due to playLebanoninLahorein February, but the ITF announced earlier in the week that the tie had been moved toLebanon. “We’re very disappointed at the ITF’s decision,” said Mumtaz Yousuf, the PTF secretary. “We’ve filed an appeal with them to reconsider their decision as there’s still time for the event.” Yousuf saidLebanonwas ready to play the tie inPakistanbefore the ITF expressed its reservations over security conditions. “We’re disappointed because we were making proper arrangements and we had also kept the ITF informed about our plans,” Yousuf said. “The ITF should’ve come toPakistanto review the arrangements themselves before taking a decision.”Pakistanhas not held a home Davis Cup since theSri Lankacricket team was attacked in March 2009. The ITF moved home Davis Cup ties againstHong Kong, thePhilippines,OmanandNew Zealandbecause of the security situation. But the ITF moved these ties after the opposing teams refused to travel toPakistan. The PTF had also filed compensation claims with the ITF after losing the right to host their Davis Cup ties. In recent months several international teams have competed inPakistan. The country’s top tennis player, Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, lamented that it would be difficult forPakistanto qualify for the main round of the Davis Cup if they always had to play away from home.

SWITCHING PARTNERS

At the end of each year players who specialize in doubles participate in a game of changing partners. This year is no different. Leander Paes and compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi, who were semifinalists in the ATP World Tour Finals, are splitting again. The 38-year-old Paes will start the year partnering Janko Tipsarevic ofSerbia, then will play ATP Tour events with Radek Stepanek of theCzech Republic. Bhupathi will team with Rohan Bopanna on the Tour. Bopanna, who played with Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi the last two seasons, said, “Hesh and I are looking to play a full schedule this year, something in the region of 24 weeks, the four Grand Slams and the Olympics.” Qureshi will pair with Jean-Julien Rojer for the Australian Open. Qureshi and Bopanna – the Indo-Pak Express – played in the ATP World Tour Finals inLondonwhere they lost all three of their round-robin matches.

SENIOR BATTLE

Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn won the oldest final in WTA history when she beat Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-2 7-5 to capture the Dunlop World Challenge Tennis Tournament inToyota,Japan. Tanasugarn is 34 and her Japanese opponent is 41. By beating Date-Krumm, Tanasugarn raised her ranking closer to the top 100, guaranteeing her a berth in the Australian Open main draw in January. The Thai increased her head-to-head advantage over Date-Krumm to 3-1. Date-Krumm’s only win came at inToyotatwo years ago. While Date-Krumm started her pro career in 1989 and Tanasugarn five years later, the two Asian stars didn’t play each other until 2008. They have met every year since. Date-Krumm returned to the WTA tour in 2008 after a 12-year retirement. She was ranked inside the top 50 earlier this year, but has since dropped to around 100. The two had set the record for oldest combined finalists when they met for the title inOsaka,Japan, last year. Tanasugarn shrugged off this year’s encounter. “There’s nothing special about that as we are getting older,” she said, “and if we meet again, it will be rewritten. I hope to play for two more years, but I have no idea about Date.”

STAN TO DEFEND

Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka will begin 2012 by defending his title at the $450,000 ATP Chennai Open inIndia. Wawrinka, who beatBelgium’s Xavier Malisse for the title this year, will be making his fourth successive appearance in the only ATP event in the southernIndianCityof Chennai. Organizers said Janko Tipsarevic ofSerbia, Nicolas Almagro ofSpain, Marin Cilic ofCroatiaandCanada’s Milos Raonic are also expected to be in the field for the hard court tournament, which begins January 2.

SWITCH IN PLANS

Great Britain’s top-ranked woman player figures she can change her mind about retiring. Elena Baltacha said that if she is winning matches, she would be “silly” to retire after the 2012 Olympics, which will be held inLondon. In August, Baltacha suggested that the London Games would be her final competition. “Obviously I said that after the Olympics I’m going to retire,” the 28-year-old said. “But it depends what’s going to happen. If I still love playing and I feel I can improve and get better, I’d be pretty silly to retire at that point.”

SANIA TELLS ALL

Sania Mirza says she will tell the real story in her soon-to-be-published autobiography. “The book is about a side of me that very few people know,” India’s top female player said. “For the first time the autobiography will tell my point of view about all the controversies, because whenever I’ve tried to talk about it to journalists, they always end up writing their own point of view.” She said the book will talk about playing tennis professionally. “I dwell on my journey in tennis and that could be useful to aspiring tennis players and their families in the future.” Mirza, who is married to Pakistani cricket star Shoaib Malik, recently celebrated her 25th birthday.

SAYS NO TO TAXES

When foreign sports and entertainment figures work in theUnited Kingdom, they must pay a tax. Bloomberg News reported that the tax amounted to USD $105 million in 2009-2010. Two-timeWimbledonchampion Rafael Nadal said last month that he won’t play theWimbledonwarm-up tournament at Queen’s Club next year and instead will play a grass-court event the same week inHalle,Germany. The Spaniard had said he would “lose money” if he played Queen’s, where he has competed in five of the past six years. Roger Draper, chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), said his group has been lobbying the British government for a tax exemption to be included in the next budget statement in March. Athletes who compete at the 2012 London Olympics have been granted an exemption. “The government (is) taking it seriously and we are very hopeful, but there are no guarantees,” Draper said. The tax law was implemented afterBritain’s tax authority won a landmark case against Andre Agassi in 2006. The American was ordered to pay tax on a portion of the money paid to him by Nike and Head because he endorsed their products atWimbledonand other events inBritain.

SHARED PERFORMANCE

Helsinki:

Martin Emmrich and Andreas Siljestrom beat James Cerretani and Michal Mertinak 6-4 6-4

London:

Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor beat Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 7-5 6-3

Toyota:

Makoto Ninomiya and Riko Sawayanagi beat Caroline Garcia and Michaella Krajicek, walkover

SURFING

Seville:

www.daviscup.com

Dubai:

www.dubaitennis.com

London:

www.aegonmasterstennis.com

Ankara:

www.atk.org.tr

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

WOMEN

$75,000 14th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, hard

DAVIS CUP

Final

(December 2-4)

Spain vs. Argentina at Seville, Spain, clay

SENIORS

AEGON Masters Tennis, London, Great Britain, indoor

WEEK OF DECEMBER 19

WOMEN

$50,000 Ankara Cup,Ankara,Turkey, hard

USTA invests $1.3 million in youth tennis program: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

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USTA to invest $1.3 million in 10 and Under Tennis, 26 communities to receive $50,000 in grants

On Monday, the United States Tennis Association announced it will be investing $1.3 million towards their 10 and Under Tennis program in 26 communities throughout the country as part of its ongoing efforts to encourage young people to get active and start playing tennis. 10 and Under Tennis provides the youngest players with the ability to achieve immediate success by playing tennis on smaller courts, using smaller and lighter racquets and slower-moving and lower-bouncing balls. The goal the USTA has put into place for the next five years is to bring 10 and Under Tennis to children in more than 100 local markets. Each of the 26 communities will receive $50,000 in grant money from the USTA, which will be used to build new courts and adapt current tennis courts to accommodate 10 and Under Tennis. The $50,000 will be provided over a three-year period for communities to add new programs. Among the 26 cities selected to receive grants include Amarillo, Texas, Boise, Idaho, Bridgeport, Conn., Charlottesville, Va., Indianapolis, Lexington, Louisville, Milwaukee, New Orleans, San Diego, Shreveport, La., St. Paul, Minn., Stockton, Calif., Trenton, N.J., Wellington, Fla., and Yonkers, N.Y. In addition to the USTA’s $50,000 grant, the markets will receive an additional $50,000 grant from their respective USTA sections. A total of $2.6 million will be invested in the communities to ensure future generations will continue to play tennis for a lifetime. “10 and Under Tennis will allow thousands of youngsters to have more success and more fun in learning and playing the game,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “With this approach, tennis has become the newest ‘pick-up’ sport, and we expect to see participation numbers increase dramatically in the very near future.”

USTA

Agassi and Graf teaming up with USTA to promote 10 and Under Tennis

Tennis Hall of Famers Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf are teaming up with the USTA to encourage children getting healthy, becoming active and participating in the sport of tennis through the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis initiative. Throughout the Olympus US Open Series, a 30-second commercial titled Story Time, which features Agassi and Graf, will promote 10 and Under Tennis and how easy it is for children to participate in the program using smaller courts, shorter and lighter racquets, slower-bouncing balls and simplified scoring – all designed to make tennis more fun for first time players. The new campaign looks to increase youth participation in the sport and generate awareness among parents who want to see their children have fun playing tennis and learning at the same time. “As a mother and life-long tennis player, I fully understand the importance of ensuring that kids properly learn the game of tennis at their own pace while also having fun doing it. Anytime kids can get a true feel for the game, it is best,” said Graf. “10 and Under Tennis gives children the opportunity to experience authentic court movement, swing patterns and game strategy. It is real tennis and a step in the right direction to getting more young kids involved in the game that I love,” said Agassi. The commercial spot was created by the Richmond-based agency, Martin Agency. The Martin Agency has created several of USTA’s past campaigns, including the US Open: It Must Be Love campaign.

Dick Enberg and Campbell Soup Company to be honored at Legends Ball in New York City

During the Legends Ball on Friday, September 9 at the Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg and the Campbell Soup Company will be honored for commitment to tennis in front of hundreds of industry leaders and tennis enthusiasts from around the globe. Enberg, a 13-time Emmy award winner, will be presented the Eugene L. Scott Award, which honors an individual who embodies Scott’s commitment to communicating honestly and critically about the game, and who has had a significant impact on the tennis world. Scott founded Tennis Week magazine and wrote the most widely read and well-respected column about the sport, “Vantage Point” until his death in 2005.  Previous recipients of the award have been: John McEnroe (2006); Andre Agassi (2007); Billie Jean King (2008); Arthur Ashe and his wife Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe (2009); and Martina Navratilova (2010).In his 50-year career, Enberg has announced sports ranging from all four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, to NCAA basketball tournament games, NBA, NFL, MLB and PGA Tour events. Formerly the voice of four Summer Olympics, Enberg was named Tennis Play-by-Play Man of the Year by Tennis Magazine in 1989. He will be retiring from Grand Slam tennis tournaments after this year’s US Open in September to focus on announcing San Diego Padres baseball games, where he is the play-by-play announcer. Campbell Soup Company will be presented with the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Award, which is given in honor of the man who served as president and chairman of the Hall of Fame from 1982-1988, and was responsible for elevating the organization to worldwide status. The award recognizes an exceptional company that shares Cullman’s enthusiasm for tennis and has also made a significant contribution to society at large- both philanthropically and through outstanding generosity of spirit. Previous recipients of the award have been: BNP Paribas (2006); Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc. (2007); Sony Ericsson (2008); Tennis Channel (2009); and Mercedes-Benz (2010). “The International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Legends Ball is an opportunity to pay tribute to the outstanding contributors to the sport of tennis who have played an instrumental role in its growth, and both Dick Enberg and Campbell Soup Company are at the very top of that list. We are pleased to be able to say thank you at this very special event, and invite the tennis community to join us in doing so,” said Christopher E. Clouser, Chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.

Tennis Ventures partners with Stanford Tennis Coaching Legends for upcoming Australian Open trip

Tennis Ventures, the Phoenix-based tour operator of the international Grand Slam tennis tournaments has partnered with Dick and Anne Gould, the legendary Stanford University tennis coaches to be the hosts and touring pros on Tennis Ventures’ Australian Open Quarterfinals program. With 18 National Collegiate Team Championships to their names, the Gould’s have coached former Australian Open singles champions Roscoe Tanner and Barbara Jordan and doubles champions Jared Palmer, Scott Davis, Bob and Mike Bryan, and Kathy Jordan. “We are excited to travel back to the Australian Open where we have many great memories,” said Dick Gould. “We also look forward to sharing our passion for tennis on the court with those who are joining us on this fantastic program.” Tennis Ventures CEO, Chadwick Byrd, announced, “We are extremely proud of being able to work with such high caliber and top class individuals as the Goulds. Their experience and passion for tennis and international travel make them a perfect fit with our unique programs to the international slams.” Byrd went on to say that the adult players on the program will have the opportunity to play nearly every day of the 10-day program and will have instruction from the Goulds and other international tennis pros on all four surfaces of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments. “No other tennis program offers the same combination of tournament viewing, player participation, all-inclusive activities and first class amenities.” For more information on Tennis Ventures, visit www.tennisventures.net.

United Way named charity of choice for Atlanta Tennis Championships in 2011-2012

During the Atlanta Tennis Championships last week, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta teamed up with the tournament to become its official charity for this year’s event as well as in 2012. As the official charity, a portion of ticket sales and corporate sponsorship fees will be donated to the United Way and its youth initiatives. Through its “Summer of Love” program last week, $500 was donated each time a player won a love set (6-0). “United Way couldn’t be more excited about this partnership with the Atlanta Tennis Championships,” says Milton J. Little, Jr., President of United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. “We are grateful that the ATC has chosen to use this event as a vehicle to benefit United Way’s mission and work.”

Tennis Show to take place on August 27 in New York City at 2011 USTA Tennis Teachers Conference

The Tennis Show is slated to take place on August 27 at 2 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt New York at Lexington and 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan during the 2011 USTA Tennis Teachers Conference. The Tennis Show will feature exhibitors, a cocktail reception, prizes, a DJ and more. The Tennis Show will include the 5th Annual Tennis Industry Association (TIA) Tennis Forum and the 4th Annual Tennis Industry Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Those events will be followed immediately by the Opening Session of the 41st Annual USTA Tennis Teachers Conference. All events for this one-day celebration of tennis will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt. For more information on The Tennis Show, visit www.TennisShow.com. Visit www.USTA.com/ttc for additional information regarding the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference.

Professional Tennis Registry to host Professional Development Weekend in Hilton Head

Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) will hold its Professional Development Weekend at its world headquarters and Van der Meer Shipyard Racquet Club on Hilton Head Island, S.C., from October 6-9. Among the speakers are Iñaki Balzola, Dr. Louie Cap, Doug Cash, Colleen Cosgrove and Judy Vogt, Craig Jones, Kurt Kamperman, Anne Pankhurst, Tito Perez, Dr. Bryce Young and Tim ‘Dr. Dirt’ Wilkison. On court and classroom topics include How to Make Money with QuickStart, Great Games & Drills for Your Not so Great Juniors, How to Play Better Doubles without Hitting a Ball, Coaching Philosophy, 30 Unique Error Detections & Corrections, How to Run Junior Camps, Social Media for Tennis Pros, Hard & Clay Court Maintenance and more. The event is open to everyone for $295 before August 1, $349 after August 1. For information about Professional Development Weekend, accommodations, or to register, visit Events at www.ptrtennis.org or call PTR at (800) 421-6289.

Reigning US Open Junior champion and USTA 18-and-Under national champion turns pro

Jack Sock, defending US Open Junior champion and USTA 18-and-Under national champion, announced he will forego college tennis to pursue a career as a professional tennis player on the ATP World Tour. The 18-year-old Kansas City native signed a sponsorship deal with adidas and left for Las Vegas on Monday for one week to train at the highly-competitive adidas Pro Training Camp. Sock will be represented by CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency, the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency, whose client base includes Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and tennis legends Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf. Sock has played three USTA Challenger tournaments since winning his fourth consecutive Kansas high school singles title in May.

Melzer, Troicki, Tipsarevic commit to Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysian Open Tournament Director Nick Freyer announced that world No. 18 Jurgen Melzer of Austria will join Serbians Viktor Troicki and Janko Tipsarevic, both Top 25 players, as recent ATP World Tour players to commit to the event, which will be played in Kuala Lumpur from September 24-October 2 at Putra Stadium. “Fans of the tournament have been asking for fresh stars to get to know for the third edition of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, and we continue to work hard in being able to deliver on this, but at the same time accommodating many old friends, who wanted to return for a second or third year,” said Nick Freyer, Tournament Director. “I am really delighted that Melzer, Troicki and Tipsarevic will be making their debuts in Malaysia. With their strong rankings and with one being a Wimbledon Doubles Champion and the other two Davis Cup heroes for Serbia, we are excited to be able to welcome them, and look forward to introducing them to Malaysian fans.” Recent Wimbledon quarterfinalist Bernard Tomic of Australia previously committed to the tournament.

Radwanska sisters taking break from using father as coach

Poland’s Fed Cup captain, Tomasz Wiktorowski, will coach both Agnieszka and Urszula Radwanska this week at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. Agnieszka said she isn’t sure if her father, who has coached both sisters since they began playing tennis, will join them in the United States at all during the summer hardcourt season. “Sometimes it’s good to have a break, especially from someone you’ve been working with for 17 years already and sometimes it’s just too much,” Agnieszka Radwanska told TENNIS.com.

Darren Cahill: From Respected Coach to Elite Broadcaster

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By Charles Bricker

Mike Agassi had gone to his son after his epic five-set 2006 US Open win over Marcos Baghdatis that left him a bent-over cripple and pleaded to him to retire from the game right there. When he was unable to convince his son to call it a career and withdraw from his final tournament, he worked on Andre’s coach, Darren “Killer” Cahill. That, of course, wouldn’t work, either.

“There was no way Andre was going to go out like that,” Cahill recalled Monday. “He was never going to give up and he wasn’t going to retire on court. But we also were resigned that it was inevitable.”

Darren Cahill

“It” was the four-set loss to Benjamin Becker, in the next (third) round, in a match that surely left puddles of tears in every row of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Agassi stroked for the final time as an ATP professional.

Was it excruciating for Cahill to sit in the players box and watch the final demise. Never, said Cahill. “It was one of the most satisfying experiences I’ve ever had. You’re sitting in the coach’s box and somehow you remove yourself and you’re more of a spectator.”

Two days earlier, on Sept. 1, as Agassi dragged his beaten body on court to defeat Baghdatis, Cahill knew this was the final tournament and probably the final win. “To watch what happened in that match, with 22,000 people at 1:30 in the morning. . .” He didn’t finish the sentence and didn’t have to. Everyone knew how much it had taken out of Andre. It was so bad Mike Agassi wanted him to retire right there.

When the drama was over, Agassi went home to Las Vegas to get well and Cahill also went back to Vegas, where he had transplanted from his native Australia, to work out his next gig. It would be with ESPN.

And in four years, he has risen, quite amazingly, to elite status among tennis analysts. No one working anywhere in tennis broadcasting has the combination of knowledge, experience both as a player and coach and — this is the key — literacy of Darren Cahill.

No screaming. No bad jokes. No godawful anecdotes about some player’s dog. No over-the-top promotion of U.S. players and, best of all, none of that amateurish psycho-babble about what the player on court is “really thinking.”

What you get from Cahill is expert, thoughtful and almost invariably brilliant analysis — all wrapped up in a disarming Aussie accent that manages to communicate without such tedious cliches as “bread and butter shot,” “crunch time,” and “pulled a rabbit out of the hat.”

Cahill, who turns 45 on Oct. 2, is taking this week off after calling the Rogers Cup in Toronto last week, but he’s already gearing up for the U.S. Open, where in 1988 he upset Boris Becker on the way to a semifinal loss to Mats Wilander. He’ll be ultra-stoked for this Slam.

A series of knee surgeries cut his playing career sadly short, but this is a man of multiple talents, who soon found that he had a lot of tennis knowledge to impart to a succession of players, including Lleyton Hewitt, Agassi and, for a time, Roger Federer.

When he began at ESPN at the 2007 Aussie Open, I thought, “He’s out of the booth the first big-time coaching job that comes along.” That hasn’t happened yet, but it’s not surprising that the itch hasn’t been adequately scratched.

“Sure, the TV is great and I thoroughly enjoy it. I’ve worked with a bunch of people from whom I’ve learned a great deal.” And if the right coaching job came along? “There’s a great feeling to being on the side of the court,” he said. “You can’t replace the excitement. The pull will always be there.”

In fact, at Toronto, he found himself vicariously focusing on Paul Annacone, who had recently signed a see-how-it-goes contract to coach Federer, perhaps trying to guess what Annacone was telling the former No. 1.

In a sense, Cahill isn’t divorced from coaching. He’s part of an Adidas team that works in Vegas with Fernando Verdasco, Daniela Hantuchova, Thiemo de Bakker and, last week, Fernando Gonzalez. Yet as close as he is to players, he hasn’t traded in his right to be critical in the booth — a balancing act too many jocks-turned-TV guys have a hard time handling.

“I wouldn’t say anything with the headphones on that I wouldn’t say to their faces. You have to be constructive, but it’s no good coming in there and throwing the gauntlet down,” he explained.

He liked what he saw last week from Rogers Cup winner Andy Murray. “I’ve been an Andy fan for a long time,” said Cahill. “He’s evolved as a person and the way he handled his emotions and not having a coach there is part of that growing-up process. He’s learning to deal with situations. I thought it was interesting that he said he wants his next coach to teach me to be more aggressive.”

I told Cahill that remark confounded me a bit. Haven’t all his coaches tried to tell him that? “We can all be a little stubborn,” said Cahill. “When you have a style that had a 6-2 edge on Federer, you wonder why everyone is telling you to change.”

Cahill on Novak Djokovic: “He’s the one at the top who can improve the most. He’s had good results, but he’s not played like a top-10 all year. The next two or three years are key for him, but I don’t know what medical issues he’s struggling with. When he is, his game sinks.”

On Federer: “I think he’s got a lot to look forward to. He can play various styles. But, as Andre said, the older you get the more you have to be looking after the body.”

His U.S. Open favorites: “I don’t see anyone winning outside of the top three — and by top three I mean Nadal, Murray and Federer. I put Djokovic in the next group.”

Charles Bricker can be reached at nflwriterr@aol.com