Sharapova, Serena, Wozniacki make Top 10 list among most searched athletes on Bing
Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki all made Bing’s Top 10 list for the most searched athletes in 2011. Sharapova came in at No. 2, while Williams was No. 3 and Wozniacki was No. 5. Other professional athletes on the list included Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and Brett Favre.
Sue Hunt named USTA Chief Marketing Officer
On Monday, USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Gordon Smith announced that Sue Hunt had been named as the USTA’s new Chief Marketing Officer. Hunt, who joined the USTA in 2006 as the Senior Director of Marketing, and was promoted to Managing Director of Marketing in 2009, will report directly to Kurt Kamperman, the USTA’s Chief Executive of Community Tennis. Prior to joining the USTA, Hunt held marketing and sales positions at various sports organizations throughout the Greater New York City area. She worked at Proctor & Gamble, Unilever and Kraft before taking on the role as the Director, Integrated Communications with L’Oreal USA in 2000. In 2004, Hunt moved to Colangelo Synergy Marketing, where she served as Group Vice President, managing the Kraft and Unilever brands for the agency before joining the USTA in November 2006. Hunt currently serves on the Board of Directors for Bridgeport Tennis and Education, a Community Tennis Association. Hunt graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Her husband, Scott Slobin, is a teaching pro at a club in Fairfield, Conn., where the couple lives with their three children.
Boris Becker presents Barclays Ball Kid of the Year award to Lynsey Cover
During last week’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 in London, three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker presented 16-year-old Nottingham resident Lynsey Cover with the prestigious Barclays Ball Kid of the Year award. The award is given to the Barclays Ball Kid who demonstrates an exceptionally high level of performance both on and off the court throughout the tournament. Cover was one of 30 kids that took part in the nationwide search for the 2011 Barclays Ball Kid of the Year. “Lynsey is an excellent representative of the Barclays Ball Kids program. She has demonstrated exceptional talent and leadership both on and off the court,” said Mark Magrath, Barclays Ball Kids Head Coach. Children wanting to participate in this opportunity next year should sign up immediately at www.barclaysballkids.com.
Indo-Pak Express end partnership
India’s Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, better known as the Indo-Pak Express, have decided to end their doubles partnership effective immediately. Bopanna will team with fellow countrymen Mahesh Bhupathi in 2012, while Qureshi will partner with Dutchman Jean-Julien Rojer. “Who I want to play with is my decision…I did have a successful year with Aisam (Qureshi) but now I am starting a new year with Mahesh, and it’s as simple as that,” said Bopanna. Many insiders believe the spilt is a result of the upcoming London Olympics next summer, where India has a good chance of winning a medal in doubles. Leander Paes, who played the recent season with Bhupathi, is expected to team next year with Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.
Serbian Foreign Minister named Tennis Association President
Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic was just elected as Serbia’s Tennis Association President, taking over for long-serving tennis President Slobodan Zivojinovic. “Our goal is to create a system in which Serbia’s current success will not be just a flash in the pan we will reminisce about in a few decades, but rather a well-oiled mechanism which will keep producing top-level players,” said Jeremic. “I cannot pretend to be a tennis expert of Zivojinovic’s caliber but I am a big tennis fan.” Jeremic named Novak Djokovic’s uncle, Goran, the Serbia Open chairman, as a vice-president.
Luxury Italian Tours to offer Italian Open Tennis Package
Luxury Italian Tours, the boutique luxury tour company, announced that it will offer a special travel tour of Rome in conjunction with the 2012 Italian Open tennis championships. The tour will be offered from May 13-20 and will include tickets to the historic tennis championships where Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova will be defending their titles as well as special VIP and private cultural and culinary activities. Packages include seven nights at luxury hotel in the historic center of Rome with the Spanish Steps, Pantheon and Piazza Navona just steps away, tickets for four sessions at the Internazionali BNL D’Italia at the Foro Italico, including the men’s and women’s quarterfinals and semifinals, and private and professionally guided tours of Ancient Rome and The Vatican including the Sistine Chapel. The packages also include a day excursion to Ostia Antica (Rome’s Pompeii), a half-day visit market visit, a cooking class and lunch, dinners at a private penthouse apartment overlooking Rome and in Trastevere, one of Rome’s oldest neighborhoods, and round-trip airport transfers and to and from the Foro Italico. “Luxury Italian Tours is excited to bring our distinct slice of la dolce vita to our guests during the Italian Open next May,” said Kimberly Minarovich, President and Founder of Luxury Italian Tours. “We are thrilled to offer unique culinary and cultural activities that have been celebrated by our guests for years and now combine it with day and evening matches at the Foro Italico to give tennis fans a full and enriching experience of Rome.” For more information, pricing and for a detailed itinerary, email info@luxuryitaliantours.com. All guests will also receive gifts courtesy of New Chapter Press, the leading publisher of tennis books.
Djokovic named “Ace of the Year” by GQ Magazine
World No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was named “Ace of the Year” by GQ Magazine in their December issue. In the recent issue, GQ Magazine recognized the best and biggest names in sports, music, film, television and theater.