By Leigh Sanders
* The lineup for this year’s AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club has been announced and it looks to be the strongest field in the history of the tournament.
If Andy Murray is to become the first British player since F.G. Lowe in 1914 to defend the crown then he will have to overcome seven of the world’s top 10 players including Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and 2009 US Open Champion Juan Martin del Potro.
The warm-up for Wimbledon is popular among fans and players alike and top British star Murray is looking forward to defending his title: “I know it won’t be easy because they are going to have a strong field this year at Queen’s,” he said. “It’s a great time of the year though and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Murray became the first Briton since Henry ‘Bunny’ Austin in 1938 to lift the trophy last year without dropping a set, overcoming James Blake in the final. He then went on to lose to Andy Roddick in the semifinals at Wimbledon and Roddick also spoke with affection for the tournament: “Over the years I’ve had a lot of success at The Queen’s Club and I still say it’s the best grass court in the world,” said the top American player.
British fans will be hoping that with a welcome return to form another Murray may progress once more at Wimbledon and finally banish the ghost of Fred Perry once and for all. What better way to prepare than with another victory at Queens Club?
* The announcement of Rafael Nadal’s participation at Queens comes just days after his uncle Toni told Reuters that his nephew will reduce his playing schedule in future after missing Barcelona recently. “The important thing for Rafa is not the ranking,” he said, “but to be in good shape for every tournament he takes part in, to know that he has the chance to win the tournaments he takes part in.”
* Montpellier, one of the fastest-growing cities in France over the past 25 years, will host an ATP World Tour 250 tennis tournament for the first time in late October of this year. The indoor hard court event, which has relocated from Lyon, will be played in a new multi-purpose venue called the ARENA, which has a total capacity of 14,000 and seating for 7,500 during the tournament. The stadium will be completed by September, ahead of the tournament, which will be staged 25 October to 31 October. Just 10 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast in the country’s south, Montpellier is the eighth-biggest city in France with a metropolitan population of more than 500,000. ATP CEO, Europe, Laurent Delanney, said: “The ATP World Tour showcases the world’s best players in the most beautiful cities and venues around the world. We are delighted that one of our tournaments now will be played in the magnificent ARENA stadium in Montpellier. We also would like to thank the city of Lyon for its role in hosting this important event on the indoor circuit since 1987.” Patrice Dominguez, former French No. 1 and National Technical Director at the French Tennis Federation, who has directed tournaments in Monte-Carlo, Toulouse and Metz, will be the Tournament Director in Montpellier.
* Tennis Channel and racquet producers Babolat have joined together for a multi-episode advertising campaign to begin this spring. It consists of a series of “One-Minute Clinics” giving instruction to fans on strokes and technique. Each features one of the Babolat-endorsed players (including Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Dinara Safina and others) and commentary and instruction will be given by Babolat-endorsed commentators and analysts including former Grand Slam mixed doubles winner Justin Gimelstob. Randy Master, vice president of advertising sales at Tennis Channel, said: “[we are] excited to work with Babolat this year to build a new series of instructional content that our viewers and web visitors will find very informative. Even if you’re not someone with a weekly tennis match on your schedule, as a fan of the sport you can’t help but be interested in the hows and whys of what makes someone successful at this game.”
* Former British tennis player Robert Dee, 23, has lost a libel case against The Daily Telegraph newspaper who once labeled him “the world’s worst” tennis pro, reports the BBC. He claimed the April 2008 article, titled “World’s worst tennis pro wins at last” could damage any future earnings as a coach. The comments about the player, who at the time had lost a world-record-equaling 54 matches in a row before the win, were deemed fair comment.
* Belgium’s Kim Clijsters ruptured a muscle in her left foot in last week’s Fed Cup win over Estonia which could keep her out for up to six weeks – including missing the French Open. Juan Martin del Potro and Fernado Gonzalez are also sweating on making the Slam after failing to get fit in time for Madrid.
* Serena Williams has become only the sixth player to hold the WTA world No. 1 slot for 100 weeks. She joins Steffi Graff (377 weeks), Martina Navratilova (322), Chris Evert (260), Martina Hingis (209), Monica Seles (178) and the returning Justine Henin (117). She has also been named in TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential list for 2010 in the heroes section with an endorsing entry provided by Billie Jean King.
* World No. 50 Igor Andreev’s first round 6-3, 6-2 win over Blaz Kavcic at the Serbian Open on Monday was the 200th singles win of his career.
* Australian Sam Stosur’s recent win in Charleston has seen her climb to No. 8 in the world, a career best. Compatriot Alicia Molik has broken back in to the Top 100 as she continues her comeback while American teen sensation Melanie Oudin finds herself a career best No. 31. Britain’s Laura Robson has broken in to the top 300 for the first time, ranked 269; another career best.
* Plans to make tennis a winter sport in New York’s Central Park have been scrapped after residents opposed the inflatable bubbles planned to encapsulate the clay courts, according to The New York Post. The Parks Department declined to say exactly why the plan was dropped but confirmed they are now looking at alternative suggestions.
* Michealla Krajicek has admitted that she has become romantically involved with 36-year-old fitness coach Allistair McCaw to the disgust of her family. In an interview with Dutch magazine Sportweek she said: “For a year, my relationship with Allistair is not just professional anymore. We’re seeing each other. I’m not ashamed about it, but it’s something private. My parents…don’t accept Allistair.”
* Cara Black and Liezel Huber have announced a “mutual break” as doubles partners as of this week. “It wasn’t an easy decision,” said an official statement from Huber. “We have had a great partnership and we are so appreciative of all the fan support. We both continue to strive to do what we love most and that is to compete on the tennis court.”
* Russian Maria Sharapova has scheduled herself to play at Madrid and Strasbourg in preparation for this year’s French Open. She has not played since Indian Wells in March. Sharapova has also signed herself up for this summer’s tournament on the hard courts of Montreal.
* Paul McNamee, who recently lost the election as head of Tennis Australia to Stephen Healy, has called for Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley to step down and focus on player development. He claims nobody can do both roles without conflicting loyalty.”If you’re tournament director, you’re influenced by what the host broadcaster’s needs are, and if you’re head of player development you’re heavily influenced by what your player wants in terms of the schedule,” McNamee told www.backpagelead.com.au.
*With the ATP Masters Tour in Rome last week stars Andreas Seppi, Leander Paes and Jeremy Chardy attended the Vatican on April 28th for the weekly address from Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Square.
*Ryan Sweeting and Christina McHale of the USA will compete in the French Open main draw for the first time after winning a USTA wildcard qualifying tournament in Boca Raton, Florida.