brick wall Archives - World Tennis Magazine

Mark Philippoussis continued his winning ways on the Champions Series Wednesday, defeating Aaron Krickstein 6-3, 6-2 in the opening night of round-robin play at the $150,000 Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex. Jim Courier also won his opening round-robin match Wednesday night, defeating Jeff Tarango 6-7 (5), 6-3, 10-4 (Champions Tie-Breaker).

Philippoussis enters the 2010 Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series circuit after reaching the final of the years opening event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and winning the title in Boston in May.

Against Krickstein, Philippoussis played patiently from the baseline and carefully chose his opportunities to attack and approach the net. Krickstein lead 3-1 in the first round, but Philippoussis was able to win five games in a row to take the first set, sealing the set with a booming ace out wide on set point. In the second set, the Australian broke Kricksteins serve in the opening game and again in the fifth game to take a 4-1 lead. After Krickstein gained one service break back the next game, Philippoussis then won the final two games of the match, sealing the second set with another ace.

PHILIPPOUSSIS-STAPLES — Mark Philippoussis

Aaron is a brick wall and he makes you earn every point, said Philippoussis, who registered eight aces in the match. Luckily, I just got into a groove.

Said Krickstein, The momentum in tennis can swing unbelievably. He picked up his game at three-all in the first set. It was kind of a snowball.

Philippoussis first joined the Champions Series circuit in 2007 after recovering from right knee surgery early in the year that curtailed his comeback on to the ATP World Tour. He was unable to play competitive tennis in 2008, due to continued knee problems, but returned to the Champions Series in 2009. He reached his first career Champions Series singles final earlier this year in Rio de Janeiro, losing in an upset to Brazilian hometown favorite Fernando Meligeni. The Australian, however, won his first career Champions Series title in Boston in May, defeating John McEnroe in the final. His best ATP World Tour-level results came in finishing as the runner-up at the U.S. Open in 1998, losing to Patrick Rafter, and losing to Roger Federer in the 2003 Wimbledon final.

During his multi-year rehabilitation, he underwent six knee surgeries – three on the right knee and three on the left but this year, he is finally beginning to feel at full strength. This is about going out there and having fun and building strength on my body and my knee, said Philippoussis earlier this year. This is about getting matches and getting on the court and doing what I love doing.

In the late match, Tarango gave a scare into the Hall of Famer Courier, winning the first-set in a tie-breaker, but falling 10-4 in the Champions Tie-Breaker, a first-to-10-point tie-breaker played in lieu of a third set. Courier hit three aces in the Champions Tie-Breaker and controlled play from the baseline with a variety of deep top-spin forehands and controlling low backhand slices.

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships is the third event on the 2010 Champions Series circuit, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. Thursdays play is highlighted by Michael Chang taking on Jimmy Arias at 7 pm followed by John McEnroe against Wayne Ferreira.

The schedule of play for the tournament is as follows:

Thursday, October 21

Starting at 7 pm
Michael Chang vs. Jimmy Arias
Followed by
John McEnroe vs. Wayne Ferreira

Friday, October 22

Starting at 2 pm
Mark Philippoussis vs. Jimmy Arias
Followed by
Michael Chang vs. Aaron Krickstein
Starting at 7 pm
Jim Courier vs. Wayne Ferreira
Followed by
John McEnroe vs. Jeff Tarango

Saturday, October 23

Starting at Noon
Jimmy Arias vs. Aaron Krickstein
Followed by
Anna Kournikova/Jeff Tarango vs. Ashley Harkleroad/Wayne Ferreira
Followed by
Michael Chang vs. Mark Philippoussis
Starting at 7 pm
John McEnroe vs. Jim Courier
Followed by
Anna Kournikova/Jimmy Arias vs. Ashley Harkleroad/Aaron Krickstein
Followed by
Wayne Ferreira vs. Jeff Tarango

Sunday, October 24

Starting at Noon
Third Place Match
Followed by
Championship Match

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships is a third-year event on the Champions Series tennis circuit, the New York-based global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, 14469 W. Paradise Lane and also online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

To be eligible to compete on the Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each event features $150,000 in prize money with the tournament champion earning $60,000 and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1. Courier finished the 2009 season as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series, followed by Pete Sampras and Todd Martin.

Former U.S. and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis defeated John McEnroe to win the Staples Champions Cup in Boston in May and take over the No. 1 Champions Series ranking. Former

French Open semifinalist Fernando Meligeni of Brazil was the surprise winner of the opening event on the 2010 Champions Series, winning the title in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil by defeating Philippoussis in the final.

By Blair Henley

Maria Sharapova ran into a brick wall named Caroline Wozniacki on Monday afternoon and couldn’t find a way to break down the top-seeded Dane’s seemingly endless supply of deep, solid groundstrokes. Wozniacki calmly handled Sharapova’s power, delivering a decisive 6-3, 6-4 win.

The first sign of trouble for Sharapova came when she double faulted three consecutive times to go down 1-3 in the first set. She double faulted again on game point at 3-3 in the second set, giving Wozniacki the break she needed. By the end of the match, Sharapova had a total of 33 unforced errors, while Wozniacki committed just 10.

As expected, Sharapova used her considerable firepower to whip out almost 30 winners, but Wozniacki’s consistency and fitness proved to be the biggest weapons on Arthur Ashe today.

During her on-court interview after the match, Wozniacki thanked the crowd and her father, who is also her coach, for their support. And when asked how she will prepare for her next match against Dominika Cibulkova, she flashed a smile and said, “I’ll think about that a couple of hours before the match.”

Unlike the bottom half of the women’s draw where the top seeds prevailed, there were multiple upsets in the top half including Cibulkova’s 7-5, 7-6 win over No. 11 seed and 2004 champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova. Cibulkova, ranked 45th, didn’t need much to take out the seasoned Russian – Kuznetsova had 10 double faults and 42 unforced errors.

“I think she plays good, but my level is higher, and I have to win these matches,” Kuznetsova said. “I played against myself, not her.”

Cibulkova, the lowest ranked player to advance to the quarterfinals, has never been past the third round at the U.S. Open.

Kaia Kanepi of Estonia will be another new face in the quarters at Flushing Meadows. After losing her first set 6-0 to No. 15 seed Yanina Wickmayer, Kanepi clawed her way back, finishing the match 7-6, 6-1 in the final two sets. She will play next play Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva who defeated unseeded Andrea Petkovic.