atp challenger

Matteo Arnaldi, Built By Italy’s Numerous ATP Challengers, Helps Italy Win The Davis Cup

November 26, 2023 by Admin

Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

While Jannik Sinner will undoubtedly be seen as the ultimate hero of Italy’s Davis Cup title in 2023, you must certainly look at the contribution of the Italian No. 2 player Matteo Arnaldi and how the Italian Tennis Federation’s commitment to hosting developmental Challenger-level events helped create this great national triumph.

Sinner is a natural talent, a once in a generational type prodigy, who was touted for the top 10 since his early teenage years. However, Arnaldi’s development into the player who would critically put Italy up 1-0 in the Davis Cup Final after his tight three-set win over Alexei Popyrin of Australia was more of a slow-burn, aided by competitive opportunities within his nation’s own border. One of the strategies of the Italian Tennis Federation is to create as many competitive tournament opportunities as possible within their country to not promote the sport, but to make it as easy as possible for Italian players to compete, improve their game, earn prize money and earn ranking points to help their nation to international tennis glory. The extensive opportunities accorded to Arnaldi, starting at age 18, helped mold him into an experienced top 50 player who, alongside Sinner, would give Italy a 2-0 win over Australia to win the Davis Cup Final for only the second time ever.

Arnaldi is 22 years old (the same age as Sinner) and is ranked No. 44. He began his pro career in 2019 and earned his ATP singles point at the $25,000 Futures event in the Italian city of Vercelli and would play seven events in his native country as he got his feet wet in pro competition.

Since the 2020 season was a bit of a wash due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted most of the tennis season. In 2021, Arnaldi was able to play 10 events in Italy which guided him to a ranking of No. 364 at age 20 as he started the 2022 season at the $45,000 Challenger in Forli, Italy. It would be the first of 18 – YES EIGHTEEN – Challengers that Arnaldi would play in Italy during the year where he began his transition from the Challenger Tour to the ATP Tour.

Arnaldi played nine challengers in Italy before he played, as a wild card entry, in the Rome Masters in May, where he lost in the first round to former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic. The very next week, there was another Italian competitive opportunity at the Francavilla Al Mare Challenger just a two-hour drive from Rome. It was here where Arnaldi won his first-ever Challenger crown, which moved him to No. 238 in the world and allowing him to be able to qualify for the qualifying rounds at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open later in the year. This was the foot hold Arnaldi needed to start to get some traction to play at the Grand Slam and ATP level. He played his 18th and final ATP Challenger in his native Italy to end the year at the Bergamo Challenger and ended the year ranked No. 134, which helped him also qualify for the “NextGen” Finals, which was played, appropriately enough, in Milan, Italy! In 2023, Arnaldi, buoyed by his experiences and point-gathering opportunities, became a full-time ATP Tour level player, as he ranking climbed into the top 50, highlighted by a fourth-round run to the U.S. Open in August.

It is interesting to note that in 2023, Italy hosted 23 ATP Challengers in all. By comparison, the United States, which has 33 times the geographic size as Italy and has 280 million more people, hosted one fewer ATP Challenger with 22.

Federer Captures Paris Masters – Mondays with Bob Greene

November 14, 2011 by Bob Greene

STARS

Roger Federer beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1 7-6 (3) to win theBNPParibas Paris Masters in Paris,France

Rajeev Ram beat Jan Hernych 7-5 3-6 7-6 (6) to win the Sparkasse ATP Challenger Val Gardena Südtirol in Ortisei,Italy

Malek Jaziri beat Mischa Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-3 to win the Geneva ATP Challenger in Geneva,Switzerland

Sessil Karatantcheva beat Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-1 7-5 to win the Goldwater Women’s Tennis Classic in Phoenix,Arizona,USA

Carlos Berlocq beat Gastao Elias 6-1 7-6 (3) to win the Copa Topper in Buenos Aires,Argentina

Carlos Moya beat Mariano Zabaleta 6-3 6-4 to win the Royal Guard Champions in Santiago,Chile

Federer-Paris-Masters — Roger Federer wins Paris

WHEELCHAIR

NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters

Mechelen, Belgium

Men:

Stephane Houdet beat Maikel Scheffers 6-4 7-6 (2)

Women:

Esther Vergeer beat Aniek van Koot 6-1 6-2

Quad:

Noam Gershony beat Andrew Lapthorne 0-6 6-3 7-5

SAYING

“I have had some really tough losses this year, but I kept believing the year wasn’t over. I’m not playing to prove anything to anybody. I play for myself, I play forSwitzerland(and) just to enjoy myself.” – Roger Federer, after winning the Paris Masters.

“I knew I needed to play a great match if wanted to win today and I was not able to. I just wish I could have competed more.” – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who lost to Roger Federer in the Paris Masters final.

“I knew going in today that this could be something special, something I could remember. So it’s just another win, but it’s a special one nevertheless, because 800 is definitely a big number.” – Roger Federer, who, by beating Juan Monaco 6-3 7-5 in a quarterfinal match, became the seventh man to win 800 matches in his career.

“Am I concerned with getting it back to where I can play? Not really. But to play at the level that I want to play at? I’m concerned with that, for sure.” – Mardy Fish, who retired from his Paris Masters match with a pulled hamstring injury.

“I already have three kids, so I have a big family and soon it will be very big. It’s very exciting and once they’re here it will be a lot of fun. I always wanted a big family.” – Marcelo Rios, announcing his wife is expecting triplets.

“After winning 14 NEC Masters titles I really feel like this is my tournament as I’ve won it so many times in the Netherlands, so I’ve very happy to win the first one here in Belgium.” – Esther Vergeer, after winning her 434^th consecutive match and her 15^th straight NEC Masters women’s singles.

“It’s so much fun being single. At some point I’ll be mature, but it just hasn’t happened yet. I’m shocked at myself by my inability to settle down and to commit to anything besides tennis and work.” – Venus Williams, saying she’s had no time for anything outside tennis and her business interest.

SET FOR LONDON

The field for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals was completed when Tomas Berdych of theCzechRepublic, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and American Mardy Fish qualified. The elite eight-man singles field also includes Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and David Ferrer. Fish is making his debut in the Finals, having enjoyed his strongest season. Berdych made his Finals debut last year, going 1-2 in round-robin play. Tsonga will be making his second career appearance in the season-ending event, having also qualified in 2008.

Eight doubles teams will also battle at the Finals, led by American twins Bob and Mike Bryan, who have clinched the year-ending number one ranking. Other teams qualifying were: Nenad Zimonjic and Michael Llodra, Daniel Nestor and Max Mirnyi, Philipp Petzschner and Jurgen Melzer, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau, Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, and Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski.

SWISS MASTER

Roger Federer continued to carve his name into the record books as he won the BNPParibas Paris Masters for the first time. The tournament title was the 69^th of his career and he became just the second player – Andre Agassi is the other – to win both the French Open at Roland Garros and the Paris Masters at Paris-Bercy. He had never before even reach the final of the indoor event. “I’m amazed by how well I played,” Federer said. “I’m really ecstatic to have played so well this week from the first ball to the end. I had many attempts to win Paris-Bercy and for some reasons I had not been able to win it earlier, so it’s a special victory.” Federer did it with a dominating 6-1 7-6 (3) performance over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Swiss master gave Tsonga limited opportunities after saving two break points in his opening service game. His 18^th Masters title puts him one ahead of Agassi and one behind all-time leader Rafael Nadal.

Federer’s quarterfinal victory over Juan Monaco was the 800^th of his career. Only six other players in the Open Era have won 800 or more matches, topped by Jimmy Connors with 1,242. By winning the title, Federer raised his career total to 802, just four behind Stefan Edberg. The others include Ivan Lendl (1,071), Guillermo Vilas (923), John McEnroe (875) and Agassi (870).

SICK CALL

Continuing the annual trend, there were be several players hurting going into the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic pulled out of theBNPParibas Paris Masters with a nagging shoulder injury. “Sadly I have to inform you that I have withdrawn from the tournament. I have pushed myself to the limit by playing, and after the match yesterday my shoulder got worse,” Djokovic wrote on his website. “For this reason I have to put my health first and withdraw even though my urges as a professional player are making me want to play until the last drop of energy.” Djokovic recently returned to the tour after a six-week injury layoff. His shoulder began to bother him again when he lost in the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors, only his four defeat of the year. Second-ranked Rafael Nadal had been scheduled to play the Paris Masters, but pulled out before the tournament because of injuries. And Mardy Fish retired with an injury during his third-round match inParis. “I’ll certainly play inLondon. There’s no doubt about that. Even if it’s torn, I’m still going to try to play,” the American said.

SEEING THE END

After helping theCzech Republicwin the Fed Cup, Kveta Peschke said she would no longer play in the international team event. In making the announcement, the 36-year-old Peschke said she will retire from all tennis at the end of 2012. Currently ranked number two in the world in doubles, Peschke teamed with Lucie Hradecka to win the decisive tie as theCzechRepublicedgedRussia3-2 in Fed Cup play. She also won theWimbledonwomen’s doubles in July with Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik.

SUPER MOM

Just because Alicia Molik has retired and is waiting her first child doesn’t mean the Australian is not active on the tennis court. Once ranked eighth in the world, the 30-year-old Molik played in the new Australian National Tennis League competition. Showing a seven-month baby bump, Molik played with caution, limiting her court coverage and exertion. She lost to 17-year-old Caitlin Cridland in two shortened sets, 4-1 4-2. Molik left the WTA tour after a second-round loss in the Australian Open in January. But she still loves to play. “I’ve been hitting pretty much every week since I’ve been pregnant, a couple of times a week and I coach most afternoons,” Molik said. “It feels normal actually, a bit slower and you can’t move around as easily. I guess I’m not as agile on court and I’m cautious not to be.” Molik, who married Tim Sullivan in February, said she probably will not return to the WTA tour as a mother. “I asked them to protect my ranking in case I ever had that desire, just because I could, not because I necessarily wanted to return at the time,” she said. “The door’s always open, but I’ve played for 12 years and it’s quite a rigorous life on tour for nine months a year and I don’t think it would rally serve as stable environment for a newborn traveling around week-to-week and being in a different city week-to-week.”

STRAIGHT TO THE BANK

By showing up inParisand playing, Novak Djokovic pocketed USD $1.6 million. The world’s top-ranked player beat Croatian Ivan Dodig 6-4 6-3, but by showing up he earned the bonus. An ATP rule designed to entice top players to take part in the main events states that, as the number one-ranked player, Djokovic is entitled to a USD $2 million bonus if he plays in all eight Masters tournaments. The bonus drops to USD $1.6 million if he misses one – and to nothing if he misses two. Djokovic skipped the Shanghai Masters because of injury. The Serb dismissed talk that he played inParisonly because of the money. “It was really somehow funny for me to see how people are coming up with that story,” he said. “I even heard that I would get on the court and play a game just to get this money. This is ridiculous.” Djokovic said his shoulder was bothering him when withdrew from his quarterfinal match, giving Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a walkover into the semifinals.

SEEKING WILD CARD

Robby Ginepri and Melanie Oudin are among the seven players – four women and three men – who have been invited to participate in the Kia Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs next month. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Tennis Australia have a reciprocal agreement in which men’s and women’s singles main draw wild cards into the 2011 US Open and the 2012 Australian Open are exchanged. Besides Oudin, other competing for the women’s wild card will be Jamie Hampton, Alison Riske and Coco Vandeweghe. Joining Ginepri in the battle for the men’s wild card will be Denis Kudla and Jack Sock. The complete field for the eight-man and eight-woman playoff will be announced as players are confirmed.

SWOLLEN BELLY

The Marcelo Rios household is getting ready to be much bigger. Returning to the ATP Champions Tour after undergoing back surgery, Rios announced he and his wife are expecting triplets. The former world number one already has three daughters. “That (having triplets) is one of the reasons that it has been more difficult to concentrate on tennis,” Rios said inSantiago,Chile, where he is playing in the Royal Guard Champions. “My wife is already 26 weeks pregnant and you have triplets at about 32 weeks, so she’s pretty big right now.” Returning to the senior tour after more than two years away, Rios lost his first match in his hometown to Greg Rusedski. “For sure it’s nice to feel the support from the crowd again,” said Rios. “It’s been a long time that I didn’t play at all and it’s always fun to play inChile. Flying and being away is tough with my family, so being here playing so close to my home is really nice.”

SHAMIL HONORED

Shamil Tarpischev, president of the Russian Tennis Federation, has been presented the 2012 Golden Achievement Award by the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum (ITHF&M). Tarpischev, who has served as president of the Russian Tennis Federation since 1991, has also bee coach and captain of the national team. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee. The Golden Achievement Award is given jointly by the Hall of Fame and International Tennis Federation (ITF). It is presented annually to an individual who has made important contributions internationally to tennis in the fields of administration, promotion or education, and who has devoted long and outstanding service to the sport. “As a result of Shamil’s leadership, the sport of tennis has grown immensely inRussia, and some of the world’s greatest champions have come from this nation,” ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti said in presenting the award. “From engaging young people in tennis to developing elite champions, to playing an active role in international competitions, including the Fed Cup, Davis Cup and the Olympic Games, to his contributions as a member of the IOC, Shamil’s dedication to the game and ability to enable positive developments in tennis has been immensely beneficial to the sport worldwide. He truly embodies the spirit of the Golden Achievement Award, and we are pleased to recognize his great contributions to the game with this honor.”

SPLITSVILLE

Brazil’s top player, Thomaz Bellucci, has ended his relationship with coach Larri Passos. Since hiring Passos about a year ago, Bellucci has won 25 matches and lost 25 without winning a title. Ranked 36^th in the world, Bellucci said in a statement that he was grateful for all that he learned from Passos but felt it was better to end the partnership. Passos was Gustavo Kuerten’s coach when Kuerten won three French Opens.

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov has split with his coach, Peter McNamara. The 19-year-old Dimitrov and McNamara were together for 18 months, a period that saw the Bulgarian rise to 52^nd in the world rankings. However the relationship between the two apparently soured in recent months as Dimitrov’s father, Dimitar, played a more visible advisory role in his son’s career. McNamara, who had previously coached fellow Australian Mark Philippoussis, said: “It was a great adventure going from Futures to Grand Slams with Grigor and it was an honor to coach him.” In 2008, Dimitrov won the junior boys title at bothWimbledon and the US Open.

SIDELINED

Embroiled in a disagreement with Novak Djokovic’s family, Slobodan Zivojinovic has resigned as president of the Serbian tennis federation. The decision will be formally announced at a federation meeting later this month. According to a report on Serbian state television, Zivojinovic will be replaced bySerbia’s Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic. AfterSerbiawon the Davis Cup last year, Djokovic’s father said Zivojinovic had done little to help the careers of his son or other Serbian players. Zivojinovic reportedly said he was resigning because of his obligations with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and its Davis Cup committee.

SHARED PERFORMANCE

Buenos Aires:

Carlos Berlocq and Eduardo Schwank beat Marcel Felder and Jaroslav Pospisil 6-7 (1) 6-4 10-7 (match tiebreak}

Geneva:

Igor Andreev and Evgeny Donskoy beat James Cerretani and Adil Shamasdin 7-6 (1) 7-6 (2)

Ortisei:

Dustin Brown and Lovro Zovko beat Philipp Petzschner and Alexander Waske 6-4 7-6 (4)

Paris:

Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi beat Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut 6-2 6-4

Phoenix:

Jamie Hamilton and Ajla Tomjanovic beat Maria Sanchez and Yasmin Schnack 3-6 6-3 10-6 (match tiebreak)

SURFING

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$220,000 ATP Challengers Tour Finals,Sao Paulo,Brazil, hard

$117,300 Slovak Open,Bratislava,Slovakia, hard

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$3,040,500 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals,London,Great Britain, hard

$145,000 IPP Open,Helsinki,Finland, hard

WOMEN

$75,000 2011 Dunlop World Challenge Tennis Tournament,Toyota,Japan, carpet

Sao Paulo selected as host city for 2011 ATP Challenger Tour Finals: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

May 18, 2011 by Justin Cohen

Sao Paulo to host ATP Challenger Tour Finals in November

On Monday, ATP official announced that the city of Sao Paulo was chosen to host the first edition of the ATP Challenger Tour Finals, which will feature the top players who played in Challenger tournaments throughout the 2011 season. The tournament will be played at the Ginásio do Ibirapuera from November 14-20. “The ATP is happy to launch this new event,” said Mark Young, ATP CEO, Americas. “The ATP Challenger Tour Finals is extremely important to the worldwide development of tennis.” This first edition in Sao Paulo will feature the seven best players of the season on the ATP Challenger Tour and one wild card invited by the host country. The tournament will offer $220,000 in tournament prize money, as well as South African Airways ATP Rankings points. The ATP Challenger Finals will precede the ATP World Tour Finals in London. “It is an important part of the tennis calendar, since the Challenger Tour events are the ones that feed the ATP Tour with stars,” said André Silva, ATP Chief Player Officer. “Without them, the top players would never have reached this status.”

Former Bengals Executive named Tournament Director at Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati

After three months of searching for a new Tournament Director through Mason, Ohio-based Ascension Sports Partners, the Western & Southern Open hired Vince Cicero to replace Bruce Flory, who was relieved of his duties by the United States Tennis Association in January. The 46-year-old Cicero, who is a Mason native, was previously the longtime Director of Corporate Sales and Marketing with the NFL Cincinnati Bengals. Cicero will begin his duties May 31, less than three months before the Western & Southern Open tournament begins at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, which will take place from August 13-21. “It’s a highly regarded international event in our community and a special asset for everyone who lives here, which is one of the reasons I’m excited about the opportunity,” said Cicero. Western & Southern Open CEO Elaine Bruening said Cicero will be “the face of the tournament.” Bruening also said that he will be heavily involved in communications with both the ATP and WTA Tours. He’ll also oversee marketing and corporate sponsorship sales and assist with broadcast and volunteer management. “I’m so glad the best person for the job was local,” said Bruening. “We’re just thrilled to have him.”

Farmers Insurance returning as title sponsor of 85thannual ATP event in Los Angeles

It was announced on Tuesday that Farmers Insurance will return for its second straight year as the title sponsor of the ATP World Tour tennis tournament in Los Angeles, an Olympus US Open Series 250 event. The 2011 Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, will again be played at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the campus of UCLA in Westwood. This year’s tournament will take place from July 25-31. “For us giving back is not just a corporate motto, it’s a way of life for all of us at Farmers,” said Chuck Browning, Vice President of Community Branding for Farmers Insurance. “To borrow a tennis term, combining charity and world class tennis brings ‘top spin’ to some worthy causes.” This will also be the second year for Mercedes-Benz to serve as presenting sponsor of the tournament. The 2011 tournament marks the 10th year that Mercedes-Benz has been a major sponsor of the event. Season tickets for the 2011 Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz are on sale now. For more information, please visit www.FarmersClassic.com/Tickets or call (310) 824-1010 ext. 251.

Kournikova’s mansion on the market for $9.4 million

Former tennis star Anna Kournikova’s Mediterranean waterfront mansion on Sunset Island in Miami is up for sale at a cool asking price of $9.4 million. The 6,630-sqaure-ft. home that was built in 2000 and is in a gated community has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms in addition to a heated pool and Jacuzzi surrounded by a coral rock deck, as well as a 2-story guest house and large dock.

Henman to be paid $330,000 to commentate at Wimbledon

According to the Daily Mail, former British tennis great Tim Henman will be paid a total of $330,000 to broadcast at Wimbledon this year, which is $23,000 per day during the two-week tournament.

Raonic commits to Atlanta Tennis Championships

Canadian Milos Raonic, the youngest player in the Top 30, has committed to the ATP Atlanta Tennis Championships at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, which will take place from July 18-24. The 20-year-old rising star came through qualifying to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open in Melbourne in January, and then followed it up by winning his first career singles title in San Jose before falling to American Andy Roddick the very next weekend in three close sets in the championship match at Memphis. “This will be my first time playing in Atlanta and I welcome the chance to play before the many enthusiastic tennis fans in Georgia,” said Raonic. Currently ranked No. 28, the Canadian joins Americans Mardy Fish, John Isner and Sam Querrey as players who have already signed up to compete in Atlanta this summer.

Del Potro announces on Twitter that he will play in French Open next week

Juan Martin del Potro announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he will travel to Paris to play in next week’s French Open in Paris even though he recently suffered an 8-millimeter tear in his rectus, which is close to his hip, while playing in Madrid. The 2009 US Open singles champion and French Open semifinalist has been undergoing treatment in Buenos Aires lately. “It took a lot of effort, but we are going. See you in Paris!” said Del Potro. The 22-year-old Argentine is currently ranked No. 27.

Roddick pulls out of tournament in Nice, questionable for French Open

Andy Roddick withdrew from his upcoming match against Romanian Victor Hanescu in Nice, France on Tuesday with a right shoulder injury and is listed as questionable for next week’s French Open. Tournament organizers in Nice said Roddick injured himself last week in the tournament in Rome. Roddick, who pulled out of the Masters 1000 Rome doubles championship match with partner Mardy Fish because of his right shoulder injury, said he doesn’t want to take any risks ahead of the second Grand Slam of the year. “It’s running a big risk, playing on an unhealthy shoulder with Roland Garros round the corner and Wimbledon shortly afterwards,” said Roddick. “I’m pulling out of Nice for now. Obviously the situation is not perfect for Roland Garros, but I still have a couple of days to hope for something to get better.” The 2003 US Open champion said he will not play at Roland Garros if he is not 100 percent fit.

Razzano to play in French Open despite fiancé’s recent death

Virginie Razzano announced that she will play in next week’s French Open despite her fiancé’s recent death. Stephane Vidal, who also served as Razzano’s coach until March, was diagnosed with a brain tumor nine years ago and died Monday at 32. But despite his illness, he encouraged the 28-year-old Razzano to compete at Roland Garros. “Four or five days ago, I asked him: ‘Do you want me to go and play at Roland Garros?”’ the Frenchwoman told Tuesday’s edition of L’Equipe newspaper. “He answered: ‘Yes, you need to play.’ Because his intention is that I keep on going in my life, that I play for him and that I continue to be strong and to fight.” Razzano, who was once ranked as high as No. 16 but is currently No. 93, met Vidal 11 years ago while she was training at her parents’ tennis club.

Gonzalez withdraws from French Open due to knee injury

Fernando Gonzalez, a former Top 5 player who is currently ranked No. 370, has withdrawn from next week’s French Open due to a knee injury. The Chilean tweeted on Monday: “Unfortunately today I withdrew myself from Roland Garros, it’s a shame, but I’m doing everything possible to comeback and feel better.” A 2009 French Open semifinalist, Gonzalez returned to the ATP World Tour last month after an eight months hiatus after having right hip surgery. The 30-year-old’s withdrawal opened up a main draw spot in Paris for Argentine Brian Dabul, who will make his second appearance at Roland Garros.

Young skips French Open qualifying tournament to prepare for grass court season

Tennis.com learned that the reason why controversial American Donald Young opted out of this week’s French Open qualifying tournament in Paris is because of a wrist injury he sustained while playing the recent Savannah Challenger. Young will stay in the United States during the French Open main draw and prepare for the grass court season. The 21-year-old American is currently ranked No. 95, giving him direct entry into the grass court events at Queen’s Club in London, Nottingham and Wimbledon.

Serbian Minister to be named new President of the Tennis Players Union of Serbia

According to reports by Blic, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic will soon be named the President of the Tennis Players Union of Serbia. Players currently in the union include Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic, Viktor Troicki, Nenad Zimonjic and Davis Cup Captain Bogdan Obradovic. The union will be run by Djokovic’s father, Srdjan. Earlier this month, it was with the backing of Jeremic that the players were presented with diplomatic passports during the ATP Serbian Open.

Tennis publisher Randy Walker to sign copies of his book in Newport on Friday

Tennis publisher Randy Walker, author of ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY and publisher of such titles as THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS and ROGER FEDERER: QUEST FOR PERFECTION, will sign copies of his book and will be available to sell/discuss all of his tennis titles, including the soon-to-be-launched book THE WIMBLEDON FINAL THAT NEVER WAS Friday from 4 to 5 pm at the International Tennis Hall of Fame Gift Shop in Newport, R.I.

“A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” on sale now

New Chapter Press recently announced the publication of the book “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” – a guidebook for competing in the U.S. Tennis Association League Tennis program or any team tennis competition. Written by Tony Serksnis of Mountain View, Calif., who has more than 25 years of competing and 15 years of captaining tennis teams in USTA League Tennis play, A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis, is an engaging tutorial that explains the ins and outs of being on a tennis team and provides a blueprint for managing and competing within the team structure. The book also provides strategies, concepts and tips on everything from pre-match preparations to maintaining team chemistry. This is not a book on the “how to” of tennis strokes or play, but rather a blueprint for a team to operate effectively towards their goals. The book is a paperback that retails for $14.99. Serksnis is a 25-year veteran of United States Tennis Association (USTA) League Tennis play and has participated on 53 different USTA League Tennis teams, playing in 343 total matches in 36 total leagues (Adult, Senior, Mixed) and has served as captain or co-captain of 15 league tennis teams. Serksnis began playing USTA League Tennis in 1985 as a 3.5-rated player and in 2009, at the age of 63, earned a 4.5 NTRP rating, making him one of the oldest players to ever be moved from a 4.0 to a 4.5 rating. A resident of Mountain View, Calif., he also serves as the President of the Mountain View Tennis Club. “I am very proud to share my 25 years of experiences as a player, captain and astute observer of the USTA League Tennis program in this book,” said Serksnis. “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis allows participants of any level of play to understand what USTA League Tennis is all about. Whether you are new to USTA League Tennis, a seasoned-veteran, or a participant in any other type of team tennis, the book will be an excellent tool for how to get the most out of personally helping the team to achieve its goals, growing your own game and maximize your individual experience.” USTA League Tennis, the country’s largest recreational tennis league, has more than 330,000 players nationwide competing in match play, meeting new people and enjoying the camaraderie of teammates in one of four national divisions (Adult, Senior, Super Senior and Mixed Doubles). Play is based on the NTRP rating system so players will play with and against players of similar ability age 18 and older. USTA League Tennis also offers players a chance to advance from local play to USTA League National Championship events.