World Tennis Magazine

Unique Tennis Perspectives

India

Players From World’s Two Most Populous Nations, Playing Side-By-Side, Showcase U.S. Open Qualifying Round Fan Diversity

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

When rising star players from the world’s two most populous nations are playing U.S. Open qualifying round finals on an adjacent courts it’s certain to create a vibrant atmosphere.

That’s exactly what it was like when Jerry Shang of China and Ankita Raina of India were playing side-by-side on Courts 14 and 13 Friday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

With Queens, New York being the most ethnically diverse county in the United States, it’s not a surprise that these popular players from China and India would certainly draw a crowd, especially during U.S. Open qualifying tournament, the centerpiece of the U.S. Tennis Association’s free “Fan Week” offering.

Raina, playing on Court No. 13, faced Sweden’s Mirjam Bjorklund for the right to reach the main draw of the U.S. Open. It was especially important and historic for Raina, who was looking to join Sania Mirza as only the second woman representing India to reach the singles main draw at the U.S. Open. One couldn’t help but notice that most of the crowd were fans of Indian descent, looking to see if Raina would create some history for India in tennis. Over 140,000 people from India now call Queens home, with the hub of Indian culture on the borough mainly centered around Jackson Heights. However those that came out to watch Raina would end up crying in their curry as Bjorklund won a tougher-than-the-score-looked 6-2, 6-2 decision. While the Indian fans in attendance were no doubt disappointed, Bjorklund’s new finance, former Wimbledon semifinalist Denis Shapovalov, was no doubt thrilled.

Shang, a rising star from China, was playing on Court 14 in his qualifying final against Otto Virtanen of Finland. While Raina’s court was ringed with fans, it was standing-room-only with people standing four deep for Shang. Queens, after all, is home of the one of the fastest growing Chinatowns in the United States. In Jon Wertheim’s U.S. Open tips column in his Sports Illustrated website tennis mail column mentioned that fans should take a jaunt to downtown Flushing just one subway stop down the line from the Mets-Willets Point stop to experience the best Chinese food in New York City. These immigrants from China comprise of over 240,000 in Queens and the ones who came out to support Shang got very excited when the 18-year-old won a second-set tiebreaker to force a decisive third set. “The Man Called Otto,” however, was quick to run to a 5-0 lead and held on to win 7-5, 6-7(2), 6-1.

The tennis wasn’t the highest of quality, even if just compared to other qualifying matches even though both were final-round matches with main draw slots on the line. But, it was part spectacle based on the ethnic make-up of those mostly surrounding the court, showcasing what makes this part of the world so exciting and diverse.

Jerry Shang (far court, far side in orange) and Atkina Raina (near court, far side in purple) at the US Open Qualifying Tournament

When The Shy Tennis Teaching Pro You Were Reluctant To Hire Qualifies For The U.S. Open

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

 

Teaching pros in tennis have a lot on the line with hiring their staff of assistant pros for seasonal or permanent positions at clubs around the world. Their hires are a reflection on them and they must be able to produce and entertain for the club and its membership.

Imagine that you are Jack Waite, the Director of Racquet Sports at the Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, and you are not sure about hiring a seemingly shy and quiet 18-year-old from India as one of your first hires in a new high-profile position.

Fast-forward eight years and this hire not only becomes a vastly popular and hard-working assistant, but goes on to qualify to play singles in the main draw of the U.S. Open!

Speaking after his former assistant pro Saketh Myneni of India won his final-round qualifying match at the U.S. Open to make his Grand Slam tournament debut, Waite spoke about the doubts he had about hiring the Indian tennis player who was a freshman at the University of Alabama. It was while Waite was at a Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) coaching certification workshop in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to certify the Crimson Tide team when he first met “Saki.”

“I was doing a PTR workshop to certify their team and he went through it,” said Waite. “He didn’t really impress me. He was kind of quiet. The coach, Billy Pate, called me afterwards, and he said, ‘Hey, Saki is looking for a summer job.’ It was my first year at the club and I knew we had to do a great job. I said, ‘How’s his personality, because he seems kind of quiet?’ Billy said, ‘Don’t worry. He’s the most out-going and congenial guy.’”

Waite said he trusted what Pate told him and it turned into one of the best decisions he had made in his position with the club. Saki instantly showed the true colors of his vibrant, engaging and gentlemanly personality, becoming an instant hit among the members, while working long and intense hours.

“We called him ‘24-7 Saki’ because he worked from seven in the morning until eight or nine at night,” Waite said. “Everybody wanted to take lessons with him. He was always on. Just always treated everybody great. Everybody loved him. Such a nice guy. Such a genuine guy. He left a real mark.”

Said Saki of his time at Burning Tree following his post-match interview as seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvV0h-dFBew “It was one of the best experiences I have had. I got to learn a lot about myself in general, not about just tennis, but overall in life. I have complete encouragement from the club. Burning Tree has done an outstanding job for me over the last four or five years. They are good family.”

After four years at the University of Alabama – and four summers at Burning Tree – Saki decided to turn professional, which is a financially daunting decision with the large expenses for travel and coaching needed to sustain a living of entry-level professional tennis. The members of Burning Tree showed their appreciation for Saki and held a end-of-the-summer going-away party that also served as a fundraiser to kick-start his pro tennis career.

“We raised some money for him to get started on the tour and we’ve been following him ever since,” said Waite.

Once atop 50–ranked ATP World Tour doubles player in the 1990s, Waite said he was not sure he saw that his one-time assistant teaching pro had it in him to make it on the pro tour, let alone make it into the field of a Grand Slam tournament.

“I was out of it for a little while by that time, so everything’s changed a lot, so I relied a little bit more on my friends who did it, who also knew him and obviously knew he was good,” said Waite. “I know there’s so many factors and variables, how much you’re willing to go through the wall, but I had a lot of people who told me he’s got top-200 talent if he can stay healthy.  Obviously, he’s exceeded that. I knew there was a chance, but there’s so many hurdles to go over, you never really know for sure until someone can do it.”

What might be even more incredible is the fact that Saki didn’t start to play tennis until he was 12 years old. His natural talent towards tennis brought him to play Division I college tennis within about six years.

“He’s an unbelievable story,” said Waite. “He caught somebody’s eye, I’m not even sure how Billy Pate caught his eye, but he caught somebody’s eye at Alabama. He just kept progressing. He’s got such an interesting game. He’s more of an artist out there. You look at him and think he’s just going to hit hard and bang the ball around, but he has a lot of speeds. He changes pace. He’s a bit of a throw-back the way he does that. Then all of a sudden, he can boom, hit a ‘Saki-bomb.’”

Saki first earned an ATP World Tour ranking in the fall of 2011 and slowly moved into the top 300 in 2013. He earned a spot on India’s Davis Cup team in 2014 and a year later, first cracked the top 200. He had yet to make it on the Grand Slam tournament level and nearly broke through at the 2016 Australian Open, but lost a heartbreaking match in the final-round of qualifying, losing to Mirza Basic of Bosnia 3-6, 6-4, 8-6. His ranking upon breaking through to reach the main draw of the 2016 U.S. Open stood at No. 143, five spots off his career-high of No. 138.

Watch Saki thank his supporters from Burning Tree after qualifying for the 2016 US Open here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzE1icVX8Nk

Randy Walker is the author of the book, ebook, audio book and mobile app “This Day In Tennis History” (www.TennisHistoryApp.com) and can be reached at Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com

 

Saketh "Saki" Myneni
Saketh “Saki” Myneni

Former Greenwich Tennis Teaching Pro “Saki” Myneni of India Qualifies For 2016 US Open Main Draw

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by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

 

Four years ago, Saketh “Saki” Myneni was teaching tennis at the Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Now, he will be playing in the singles main draw of the 2016 U.S. Open.

Myneni defeated Pedja Krstin of Serbia in the final round of qualifying Friday at the U.S. Open to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career. He will become the first man from India to play in the singles main draw of the U.S. Open since Somdev Devvarman in 2013.

“I feel proud and amazing,” said Myneni courtside after the match, as seen in this full post-match interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvV0h-dFBew

Myneni was a standout player from 2008 to 2011 from the University of Alabama, noted as one of the best college football programs in the United States, led by head coach Nick Saban. During summers after playing for the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Myneni was a tennis instructor at the Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, the wealthy suburban town located about 45 minutes from Manhattan, where tennis Hall of Famers Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander once lived.

Myneni was cheered on by many of his former students from Burning Tree on Friday, many wearing “Saki Squad” labeled orange shirts, as well as the man who hired him at the club, Jack Waite, the director of racquet sports for the club and a former ATP pro himself.

Myneni, 28, is ranked No. 143 in the ATP World Tour rankings and has been a member of India’s Davis Cup team since 2014.

He lost in qualifying in all three previous majors this year, including by a painful 3-6, 6-4, 8-6 margin  to Bosnia’s Mirza Basic in the final round of a qualifying at the Australian Open.

Randy Walker is the author of the book, ebook, audio book and mobile app “This Day In Tennis History” (www.TennisHistoryApp.com) and can be reached at Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com

 

Saketh "Saki" Myneni and the "Saki Squad" from Burning Tree CC in Greenwich
Saketh “Saki” Myneni and the “Saki Squad” from Burning Tree CC in Greenwich

The Virality of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in India and the IPTL

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

 

Maybe it is just because it is Roger Federer.

Or Roger Federer playing Novak Djokovic.

Or Roger Federer playing Novak Djokovic in the new curiosity in tennis, the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL).

Or Roger Federer playing Novak Djokovic in the IPTL in tennis-mad India.

It was a perfect formula for a memorable day of tennis Monday on the final day of the India leg of the IPTL in New Delhi. The energized, loud and excited full-house crowd were treated to an amazing display of tennis from Federer along with world No. 1 Djokovic that prompted respected tennis TV man Robbie Koenig to say of the environment, “It was an atmosphere I don’t think I have ever experienced in all of my commentary years.”

While tweeting and doing social media promotion and commentary for my client Integrated Sports Media, the exclusive pay-per-view TV and on-line rights holder for the IPTL in the United States, I was amazed at the social popularity at what was going on in my Ipad screen in front of me. During Federer’s mixed doubles appearance with India’s Sania Mirza, his doubles match with Gael Monfils and his Wimbledon final rematch singles encounter with Djokovic, I garnered a social media tally of 502 retweets, my tweets being favorited 659 times, 28 separate mentions of my tweeted content and a gain of 83 new followers. This was all achieved in about 90 minutes of time. This is about 20 or 30 times the amount of on-line virality that I usually get when tweeting and creating and documenting content for social media for the major events in tennis, like Wimbledon or the US Open. This, to me, is a huge indication of how the strength and potential of the IPTL and the popularity of tennis in India and in Asia.

The popularity of Federer and Djokovic in India was covered in Carl Bialik’s story on the FiveThirtyEight.com website here: http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/federer-djokovic-set-to-play-for-first-time-in-a-tennis-hotbed-india/

The highlight of the day’s play was Federer and Djokovic competing in the final singles match of the team match – Federer representing the Micromax Indian Aces against Djokovic playing for his United Arab Emirates Royals team. The two played a high-intensity set, Federer winning in a tie-breaker – or a “shoot-out” – 6-5, highlighted by this amazing shot from Federer – perhaps one of the greatest of his career – as documented on my Vine social media account: https://vine.co/v/OrHKe3TAlTt

Craig Willis, the voice of the Australian Open, in the post-match on-court interview of both Federer and Djokovic, said of the single-set match, “That was a match worthy of a Grand Slam final.”

Earlier, Federer paired with Gael Monfils in doubles – talk about an entertaining combination – and while Gael’s slam dunk overhead winner, followed by a leaping celebratory bump with Federer was a highlight of the match – as seen here on my Vine: https://vine.co/v/OrX2OvBz15Jit was Federer’s stinging backhand return of serve on the decisive point that gave he and Monfils the win in men’s doubles over Zimonjic and Djokovic. Monfils celebrated in a unique way as seen here: https://vine.co/v/OrXE9QB9IAF and Federer got a high-five from Ana Ivanovic as seen here: https://vine.co/v/OrXVatEzYpV

In the end, it was Djokovic’s UAE Royals who emerged as the 29-22 victors over Federer and his Aces.

IPTL play resumes Dec. 11, 12 and 13 in Dubai for the event’s finale. US viewers can click here: http://news.gfl.tv/2014/11/international-premier-tennis-league-to-air-live-on-pay-per-view-in-united-states-via-integrated-sports-media/ to order the on-line or cable pay-per-view packages:

For people looking for holiday gift ideas for Federer fans, consider the Rene Stauffer authored book “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” at www.RogerFedererBook.com or the new book “The Days of Roger Federer” that I can also personally vouch for since it was written by me! It is available here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559378/ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_zbKHub0GZ3NGA

The International Premier Tennis League (www.iptlworld.com) is the first international city-based professional tennis league played across four countries. Created to for fill the increasing demand for top-level tennis in Asia, the IPTL features teams based in India, Singapore, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates featuring current champions, tennis legends and up-coming talent in a unique format of team matches to determine a team champion. Seventeen-time-major tournament champion Federer, 18-time major winner and current world No. 1 Serena Williams, current world No. 1 and seven-time major champion Djokovic and five-time major champion and former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova headline the players competing in the inaugural season of the IPTL. The league also features past champions such as 14-time major champion Pete Sampras and career Golden Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi and other top current players including 2013 Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, and former world No. 1s Ana Ivanovic and Lleyton Hewitt among others. In all, the league will feature 21 Grand Slam tournament champions and 14 current or former world No. 1 players competing in 24 team matches through December 13.

Each IPTL match will consist of five sets played by different players that will include men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and former champions singles. Each game won counts as one point for the team points total and the team that wins the most games overall across the five sets wins the match. The IPTL matches will feature live entertainment, a running shot clock and many more features to ‘Break the Code’ of the traditional etiquette of tennis to attract a new audience to the sport across the world. The team with the most accumulated points during the season are declared league champions and are awarded the IPTL Challenge Trophy in Dubai on December 13.

Dates and US times for action from Dubai, UAE are as follows:

 

December 11th

Aces v Slammers (7:00 am ET/4:00 am PT)

Royals v Mavericks (10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT)

 

December 12th

Mavericks v Slammers (7:00 am ET/4:00 am PT)

Royals v Aces (10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT)

 

December 13th

Mavericks v Aces (7:00 am ET/4:00 am PT)

Royals v Slammers (10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT)

 

Roger Federer
Roger Federer

The International Premier Tennis League: All You Need to Know

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A newcomer of the tennis scene is finally get underway- the International Premier Tennis League. Fans of tennis will love the new tournament, a shorter, less drawn out event that is set to prove a boon for those that love watching a little tennis on TV. There are loads of excellent names on the bill, though for tennis fans the specifics of the IPTL may be somewhat unknown. Here’s all you need to know about the new firebrand on the tennis scene.

It’s somewhat of a surprise that the IPTL is even occurring at all. Set right bang in the middle of the tennis off-season; already very short thanks to the multitude of other competitions running throughout the year; many stars, advocates of a longer off-season, would be seen as hypocrites if they were to compete. Luckily though, organisers have managed to get a number of the big names in the game (likely thanks to a rather large golden hello) including Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray and Serena Williams.

The star-driven league features four teams- the Indian Aces (Federer, Monfils, Ivanovic, Mirza, Sampras, Santoro and Bopanna), the Manila Mavericks (Murray, Tsonga, Sharapova, Flipkens, Moya, Nestor and Huey), the Singapore Slammers (Soares, Williams, Hantuchova, Agassi, Kyrgios, Hewitt, Berdych and Rafter) and the UAE Royals (Djokovic, Zimonjic, Ivanisevic, Bouchard, Wozniacki, Jaziri and Cilic). As one might have guessed, the matches will take place in the four countries of which the teams are named after, these taking place in the following locations- the Indira Ghandi Indoor Stadium, Mall of Asia Arena, Singapore Indoor Stadium and Hamdan Sports Complex. Players will compete in the different countries, between their different teams, throughout the League.

With so many massive names, those who love tennis will likely be finding it hard to pick their favourites. Fans should try out bettingsports if they need help! On that site, the ‘where to bet’ section is a godsend, comparing odds from a huge variety of providers and thus really helping you ensure your picks are the best ones!

There’s plenty of categories of matches being held throughout the league; men’s and women’s single and doubles, plus past champions’ singles will be held. In each game five sets will occur and breaks between points will be constricted to a mere twenty seconds, thus meaning each match will be a nail-biting watch for excited fans!

After this weekend’s action in Manila, play continues December 2-4 (Singapore), December 6-8 (India) and December 11-13 (UAE) and the champion will win $1,000,000 in prize money!

US tennis viewers can go to www.GFL.TV to order matches on pay-per-view and online.

 

Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova
Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova

IPTL Tennis To Air Live on Pay-Per-View In United States Via Integrated Sports Media

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The International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), the inaugural international city-based professional tennis league featuring legendary players such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova, will be available for live viewing via TV and on-line pay-per-view in the United States by Integrated Sports Media beginning November 28th through the conclusion of the season on December 13. All 24 matches of the highly anticipated inaugural season will be available on both cable and satellite pay-per-view – live and for replay – via iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH and Vubiquity and online at www.GFL.TV starting at $9.95 per match and $69.95 for packages.

The International Premier Tennis League (www.iptlworld.com) is the first international city-based professional tennis league played across four countries. Created to for fill the increasing demand for top-level tennis in Asia, the IPTL features teams based in India, Singapore, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates featuring current champions, tennis legends and up-coming talent in a unique format of team matches to determine a team champion. Seventeen-time-major tournament champion Federer, 18-time major winner and current world No. 1 Serena Williams, current world No. 1 and seven-time major champion Djokovic and five-time major champion and former world No. 1 Sharapova headline the players competing in the inaugural season of the IPTL. The league also features past champions such as 14-time major champion Pete Sampras and career Golden Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi and other top current players including 2013 Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, 2014 Wimbledon finalist Genie Bouchard, 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, and former world No. 1s Ana Ivanovic and Lleyton Hewitt among others. In all, the league will feature 21 Grand Slam tournament champions and 14 current or former world No. 1 players competing in 24 team matches from November 28th through December 13.

“There has been a lot of anticipation and curiosity about the inaugural season of the IPTL and we are thrilled to provide it for American audiences to view via pay-per-view on TV along with access online,” said ISM President Doug Jacobs. “The IPTL is going to showcase a very unique and never seen before brand of professional tennis, with players like Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic and many other legendary tennis champions all competing on co-ed teams representing Asia in fast-growing emerging tennis markets. These are events that no tennis fan is going to want to miss.”

Team rosters are as follows:

 

Manila Mavericks – Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray, Joe Wilfried Tsonga, Kristen Flipkens, Daniel Nestor, Carlos Moya, Treat Huey

Singapore Slammers – Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Thomas Berdych, Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Krygios, Daniela Hantuchova, Patrick Rafter, Bruno Soares

Micromax Indian Aces – Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Gael Monfils, Ana Ivanovic, Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna, Fabrice Santoro

UAE Royals – Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Goran Ivanisevic, Genie Bouchard, Malek Jaziri, Nenad Zimonjic

 

Each IPTL match will consist of five sets played by different players that will include men’s singles,  women’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and former champions singles. Each game won counts as one point for the team points total and the team that wins the most games overall across the five sets wins the match. The IPTL matches will feature live entertainment, a running shot clock and many more features to ’Break the Code’ of the traditional etiquette of tennis to attract a new audience to the sport across the world. The team with the most accumulated points during the season are declared league champions and are awarded the IPTL Challenge Trophy in Dubai on December 13.

The IPTL season begins November 28 in Manila, Philippines. The November 28-30 matches will be played in Manila, Philippines. The December 2-4 matches will be played in Singapore. The December 6-8 matches will be played in New Delhi, India and the December 11-13 matches will be played in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The full schedule of matches are as follows:

 

Dates and times from Manila, Philippines

November 28th

Aces vs. Slammers (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Mavericks vs. Royals (6:30 am ET/3:00 am PT)

 

November 29th

Royals v Slammers (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Mavericks vs. Aces (6:30 am ET/3:00 am PT)

 

November 30th

Royals vs. Aces (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Mavericks vs. Slammers (6:30 am ET/3:00 am PT)

 

 

Dates and times from Singapore

December 2nd

Aces v Royals (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Slammers v Mavericks (6:30 am ET/3:30 am PT)

 

December 3rd

Mavericks v Royals (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Slammers v Aces (6:30 am ET/3:30 am PT)

 

December 4th

Mavericks v Aces (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Slammers v Royals (6:30 am ET/3:30 am PT)

 

Dates and times from India

December 6th

Royals v Slammers (5:30 am ET/2:30 am PT)

Aces v. Mavericks (9:00 am ET/6:00 am PT)

 

December 7th

Aces v Slammers (5:30 am ET/2:30 am PT)

Mavericks v. Royals (9:00 am ET/6:00 am PT)

 

December 8th

Mavericks v. Slammers (5:30 am ET/2:30 am PT)

Aces v. Royals (9:00 am ET/6:00 am PT)

 

Dates and times from UAE

December 11th

Aces v Slammers (7:00 am ET/4:00 am PT)

Royals v Mavericks (10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT)

 

December 12th

Mavericks v Slammers (7:00 am ET/4:00 am PT)

Royals v Aces (10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT)

December 13th

Mavericks v Aces (7:00 am ET/4:00 am PT)

Royals v Slammers (10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT)

 

About Integrated Sports Media:

Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson and Roy Nelson, in addition to World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Gennady Golovkin, Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Paulie Malignaggi, Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports Media has distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid, Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com or follow on Twitter @IntegratedPPV.

 

IPTL
IPTL