By Justin Cohen
- Pete Sampras and James Blake have been added to the star-studded line up at the inaugural Caesars Tennis Classic at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The event hosted by Venus Williams will also feature Andy Roddick playing a best-of-three match against Marat Safin and Ivan Lendl facing Mats Wilander in a one-set match. Sampras will play Blake in the event, set for April 10.
- The ATP World Tour announced that Corona Extra has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract to become the major sponsor of men’s professional tennis. Financial terms of the deal were not released, although sources indicate the deal will be similar to the $13 million per year that Mercedes-Benz paid in the final three years of its deal with the ATP. The deal will become effective in March or April and will give Corona Extra net branding and other marketing rights as the top sponsor. ATP World Tour Executive Chairman and President Adam Helfant said in a recent interview that about two-thirds of the tour’s more than 60 tournaments would use Corona Extra’s logo on their nets by 2011. “We have admired the success of the sport in recent years and view the ATP World Tour as a terrific platform for us globally,” said Jose Pares, the Chief of Sales and Marketing for Grupo Modelo, the Mexican beer company that owns Corona. SportsBusiness Journal reports that the agreement will require the ATP World Tour to buy out any other beer sponsors of its tournaments, including Masters 1000 Miami’s deal with Heineken.
- Indian Wells will host a “Hit for Haiti” tennis exhibition doubles match featuring Roger Federer and Pete Sampras facing Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi on Friday, March 12. Organizers estimate that the event will raise $1 million through ticket sales and donations. New tournament owner and Oracle founder Larry Ellison will make a personal contribution.
- Former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic has hired Heinz Gunthardt as her new coach. Gunthardt is known for formerly coaching tennis legend, Steffi Graf.
- John Isner, James Blake and Robby Ginepri have committed to play in the Atlanta Tennis Championships, which will serve as the kick-off event for the 2010 Olympus US Open Series. Isner, who is currently ranked No. 21 and a recent finalist in Memphis, played collegiate tennis at the University of Georgia in nearby Athens.
- American teenager Ryan Harrison turned down a main draw wildcard in Delray Beach to play in the qualifying tournament. Harrison won three matches to qualify but lost his opening main draw match on Tuesday to Ernests Gulbis in straight sets.
- Stanislas Wawrinka has committed to play Switzerland’s Davis Cup tie against host Spain next week. Wawrinka was in doubt since he became a father last week.
- Seventeen-year-old Bernard Tomic has been named to the Australian Davis Cup team for their upcoming tie against Chinese Taipei. Tomic will become the youngest player ever named to the Australian team.
- Daniel Koellerer, currently ranked No. 74 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, has been named to the Austria Davis Cup squad for the first time in his career. In the past, Koellerer was rejected from the team despite his high ranking because of conflicts with other members of the squad. Jurgen Melzer, Martin Fischer and Julian Knowle will also represent Austria in their zonal tie against Slovakia.
- Juan Monaco will lead the Argentina squad into their Davis Cup tie against Sweden next week because of the absence of Juan Martin del Potro and David Nalbandian. The World No. 30 will be joined by Horacio Zeballos, Leonardo Mayer and Eduardo Schwank at the tie being played in Stockholm from March 5-7.
- Roger Federer pulled out of this week’s Dubai event because of a lung infection. “It’s the first time I’ve had it. The breathing was difficult. I’m still very tired and a bit slow with everything,” said Federer. “Indian Wells, I hope to be back. Right now, there’s no guarantee. I will do tests and see what the doctors say.”
- David Nalbandian will be out of competition for several weeks due to a three-millimeter tear in his abductor. Nalbandian sustained the injury last week in his first tournament back since undergoing hip surgery early last year.
- Last week, legendary guitarist Carlos Santana launched a partnership with the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, which asked fans at all his recent concerts in Las Vegas to donate $5 to Agassi’s education foundation.
- According to the Associated Press, Jelena Dokic’s dad, Damir, will be released from prison in May after Serbian court reduced his sentence to 12 months from 15 months.