By Justin Cohen
This Week In Tennis Business provides business headlines throughout the tennis industry and runs every Wednesday.
- According to the Detroit News, former French Open doubles champion Murphy Jensen owed more than $1 million in taxes before filing for bankruptcy. Jensen was delinquent in paying more than $1 million in federal and state taxes in Georgia and California before filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection last December. From 1995-1998, he owed $156,007 in Georgia, while owing $121,464 in California starting in 2000. He also didn’t pay $759,294 in federal income taxes from 1999-2007. He is currently the coach of the Washington Kastles of World Team Tennis.
- Gilbert Ysern, the General Director of the French Tennis Federation, mentioned in a news conference over the weekend that relocating the French Open from Roland Garros to another site is being considered because it needs more space to remain competitive with the three other Grand Slams. The current options are a possible site near Disneyland Paris and near the Versailles Castle. The French Open has been at Roland Garros since 1928 and the contract there is good until 2015. “I think by the time I finish my career, the tournament will still be at Roland Garros,” said Roger Federer. “I don’t know if the French Open will one day move to Disney, I doubt it. There is more space outside the city, I understand, but come on …”
- The MPS Group Championships in Ponte Vedra Beach will be eliminated from the WTA Tour calendar effective immediately. The tournament, which was played for more than 20 years in Amelia Island before moving to Ponte Vedra Beach, was eliminated after the WTA proposed holding the tournament in February or during the US summer hardcourt season instead of its current April date, but had the idea shut down by tournament officials.
- Victoria Azarenka was fined $4,000 by the French Open for skipping her post-match press conference following her straight sets opening round loss to Gisela Dulko.
- A new international tennis foundation has lined up former Grand Slam champions including Juan Carlos Ferrero and Albert Costa, as well as coaches, lawyers and marketing experts to help develop the next generation of players. The nonprofit Global Tennis Legacy Foundation was launched on the eve of the French Open with plans to operate in at least 10 countries by next year, including the United States, Japan and several European nations. The ultimate goal with the foundation is to provide advice to young players in areas such as contracts, finances, medical care and training.
- A remarkable 100,000 tickets were sold in 12 hours by organizers for the 2010 ATP World Tour Finals at the 02 Arena in London. In 2009, most of the 15 sessions were sold out and 265,000 fans attended, which is an indoor tennis tournament record.
- Tickets for the 2010 Bank of the West Classic featuring Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva are now on sale. Tickets for the tournament, which will be held from July 26-August 1 at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto, can be purchased by calling the box office at 866-982-8497 or by visiting the official tournament website at www.BankoftheWestClassic.com. Opening round tickets start as low as $26, while full week packages start as $575 and include tickets to all 13 sessions, a pass to the Plaza Club and invite to the players party.
- Effective immediately, the Tennis Channel will offer a portion of its advertising inventory towards Google TV Ads. Tennis Channel will now be able to develop business through Google TV Ads’ widespread client base by being a part of the system’s unique auction like set up. Google’s system makes the advertising large inventory of more than 98 networks available to media buyers who are able to build national television campaigns and track highly targeted ads right from their computers. “Google TV Ads is an additional tool for us to use in support of the increased demand we’re seeing for Tennis Channel airtime,” said Gary Herman, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales for Tennis Channel. “Given the strong response we’ve received in conjunction with our first US Open coverage (in 2009) and our consistent weekly ratings, we’re excited to work with Google to maximize the value of our brand right now.”
- Oakley, Inc. released comments on Tuesday from company ambassador Samantha Stosur, who is currently ranked No. 7 in the WTA Tour rankings. “I’ve worn Oakley sunglasses since I was fourteen years old,” said Stosur. “I probably begged my mom and dad to go out and buy me a pair, and I remember they were yellow M Frames®. I treated them very, very well.” Stosur went on to talk about her long relationship with the company. “Oakley has been very supportive of my career since I started. Whether I win or lose, they are behind me. It’s been a really good fit and it’s just been so enjoyable to have that backing and know that no matter what, it’s going to be there.” During the current French Open, Stosur will wear her current favorite Oakley sunglasses which are Enduring® and Commit® SQ.
- Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession by Venus Williams will be released on June 29. The book can be pre-ordered through Amazon.com for $17.15.
- Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, who currently resides in Boca Raton, announced that he will retire from the ATP World Tour at the end of the 2010 season. “It’s not really my decision,” said Grosjean, speaking to reporters at the Rueil-Malmaison exhibition. “It’s my body that has made me take it.” Grosjean will play his final French Open this week in the doubles tournament with Richard Gasquet.
- Dinara Safina has parted ways with coach Zeljko Krajan according to Russia’s Sport Express. Safina began working with Gaston Etlis during the French Open, but lost in the opening round to 39-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm.
- Jelena Dokic is no longer being coached by Borna Bikic, whom coached her for several years. According to Serbian press, Dokic is still dating Borna’s brother Tin Bikic.
- Juan Martin del Potro has announced that he will not be able to defend his US Open title this summer after undergoing wrist surgery earlier this month. Del Potro, who has not played a competitive match since the Australian Open in January, hopes to return to the ATP World Tour in time to compete in the Paris Masters in November.
- Victoria Azarenka recently announced on her Twitter account that she has launched her new website at http://vikaazarenkatennis.com/.
- 2009 US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium has launched her new website at http://www.yaninawickmayer.com/.
- Last week, American Wayne Odesnik was banned for two years after pleading guilty to importing human growth hormone in Australia before the Australian Open. Despite denying using HGH and never testing positive for the banned substance, the International Tennis Federation suspended Odesnik because he possessed a banned substance “without a therapeutic use exemption.” Odesnik, who turned pro in 2004 and made the third round at Roland Garros in 2008, will have his ban backdated to start December 29, 2009 and expiring on 28, 2011. All his results from the 2010 season will not count.
- Former French Open finalist Guillermo Coria recently told Argentine newspaper Ole that a comeback to the ATP World Tour has crossed his mind many times. “I’m not 28 and yes, it’s true I’ve asked myself that question, I’ve had a good time and now, when I see tournament on television, I’m nostalgic,” said Coria. “I’m not training really but I’m on the court everyday because I’m training my little brother and some Argentine hopefuls.”
- Cliff Richey, a former top-ranked American player and a semifinalist at the 1970 French Open, will speak about his new book Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match at the Lubbock Country Club in Lubbock, Texas this Friday at noon. Fans can attend the speech and receive a copy of the book and lunch for $20. The talk is being held in conjunction with the club’s annual Memorial Day tennis tournament. Fans can RSVP to the Lubbock Country Club Tennis at 806.762.3430 or info@lubbockcc.org.
- Tim Henman, who announced that he will play at the AEGON Masters Tennis tournament at Royal Albert Hall in London, welcomed the opportunity for a rematch against Goran Ivanisevic. Ivanisevic won their epic rain-delayed 2001 Wimbledon semifinal match before going on to defeat Patrick Rafter in the finals to win his only Grand Slam singles title. When asked who he thinks will win Wimbledon this year, Henman said, “I really think Wimbledon could be Murray’s.
- During a recent conference call for Tennis Channel, tennis legend Martina Navratilova announced that she is “cancer free” after undergoing surgery six weeks ago. “I’m doing well,” said Navratilova. “I just started radiation last week.”
- The Nominating Committee of the USTA Eastern Section is accepting resumes for the following Board and Nominating Committee member positions; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Three “Member-At-Large” positions, Four Nominating Committee members. Please email your resume to Sue Wold at suzr1@juno.com or mail it to: USTA Eastern, Attn: Nominating Committee, 4 West Red Oak Lane, Suite 300, White Plains, NY 10604, Deadline: Resumes should be received by Monday, July 12, 2010.