South African Tennis Open in Johannesburg fighting to remain on ATP World Tour schedule
The recently completed South African Tennis Open, which was won last weekend by hometown hero Kevin Anderson, is currently fighting an uphill battle as the tournaments hopes to remain on the ATP World Tour schedule next year or in subsequent years. With the Olympics happening next year in London, the ATP World Tour had to make some changes to the 2012 tournament schedule and the South African Tennis Open was ultimately removed from its spot on the calendar. “We’ve got about eight months to persuade the ATP to find an alternative date,” said Ian Smith, Tournament Director. “They are sympathetic. But a great deal of bartering and bargaining will have to take place in the process…hopefully we can come to an arrangement to keep the tournament alive.”
Babolat signs five-year deal to supply official ball at French Open
On Thursday, Babolat announced that they had signed a five-year deal to supply the official ball at the French Open, as well as provide stringing services for all players in the tournament and offer tennis fans a complete line of Babolat-Roland Garros products. The Babolat-Roland Garros line will be available starting in May at stores and the Roland Garros boutique. “Part of our history is written on the clay courts of Roland-Garros through our team of players who have often distinguished themselves in this tournament. In the past, we have also provided stringing service here,” said Eric Babolat, President and CEO of Babolat. “Now, a new chapter in French tennis history is opening. All the players in the tournament, without exception, will play with a ball developed by Babolat and will benefit from our stringing service. For tennis fans, we will offer our first collection of Babolat and Roland-Garros products. This collaboration perfectly illustrates the positioning of Babolat: an expert brand offering tennis equipment for all types of players.”
Safina hires former ATP player Sanguinetti as new coach
Former World No. 1 Dinara Safina has hired Italian Davide Sanguinetti as her new coach after splitting with former coach Gaston Etlis following her 6-0, 6-0 loss to Kim Clijsters in the first round at the Australian Open last month. Sanguinetti is a former ATP World Tour Top 50 player with wins over Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. Sanguinetti, who reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 1998, previously coached Vince Spadea and Go Soeda.
Djokovic agrees to play ATP AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club in London in June
Fresh off his title in Melbourne at the 2011 Australian Open, world No. 3 Novak Djokovic has committed to playing the grass-court AEGON Championships which takes place at The Queen’s Club in London from June 6-12. Djokovic, who won the doubles title at the AEGON Championships in 2010 with Israel’s Jonathan Erlich, joins world No. 1 Rafael Nadal who has already agreed to participate in the warm-up event for Wimbledon. “The AEGON Championships is one of the nicest tournaments around,” said Djokovic. “The Queen’s Club has got great grass courts, it’s a great atmosphere with always a packed house of spectators, and you just feel good there. Rafa and I had an incredible match in the Queen’s final in 2008 and it was the closest I ever got to a grass court title. Wimbledon is the most important tournament (of the year) for me, and I really want to do well both at Queen’s and at Wimbledon this year.”
Zvonareva commits to Russian Fed Cup tie vs. Italy in April
Russian Fed Cup Captain Shamil Tarpishchev announced that WTA world No. 3 Vera Zvonareva has committed to play Russia’s semifinal Fed Cup match against Italy in Russia. Tarpishchev also said that Svetlana Kuznetsova might be available to play, which would allow her to get a rematch against Francesca Schiavone, who beat her in a Grand Slam record four hours and 44 minutes at the Australian Open in Melbourne last month.
Wilander joins Junior Tennis Champions Center as Senior Advisor
Former world No. 1 Mats Wilander has joined the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md., as a Staff Advisor. Wilander joins renowned tennis author and instructor Vic Braden and strength and conditioning legend Pat Etcheberry as JTCC Senior Advisors. As Senior Advisor, Wilander provides additional guidance and mentoring to JTCC’s staff and youth that emphasizes mental toughness and commitment to high performance training on a quarterly basis. He also provides top JTCC youth with intense tournament preparation, training sessions and coaching at major tournaments, like the Easter Bowl. Top JTCC players, Denis Kudla and Frank Mitchell, will train at Wilander’s private residence in Sun Valley.
Blake no longer traveling to tournaments with full-time coach
At this week’s ATP SAP Open in San Jose, 31-year-old James Blake announced that he will no longer be traveling on tour with a full-time coach. Blake, who achieved a career-best ranking of No. 4 in 2006, had been traveling with Kelly Jones last year and Brian Barker for many years before that. Blake’s physio, Rory Cordial, will continue to travel full-time with the American. “I really don’t need someone to put me through the same drills that I already know and to tell me things that I’ve already seen and heard,” said Blake. “I may have Kelly, Brian or my brother (Thomas) come around here and there because someone on the outside can always pick up things that you can’t, but I knew that by this age I would know the game well enough to coach myself.” Blake, who is currently ranked No. 170 in the world, beat fellow American Jesse Levine in the first round in San Jose to earn his first tour-level victory since October 2010.
Australian doubles legend retires from WTA Tour
Following Australia’s Fed Cup loss to Italy last weekend, doubles specialist Rennae Stubbs has officially called it quits from the WTA Tour, ending a career that spanned two decades and included four Grand Slam women’s doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles. The 39-year-old from Sydney amassed an impressive 788-343 record in women’s doubles matches while winning 60 doubles titles throughout her career. Stubbs, who has a second home in Tampa, reached No. 1 in the world in doubles in 2000 and won more than $5 million in tournament prize money throughout her career. “I’ll miss the competitive spirit and feel when I am on the court but overall I’ll miss the people and the memories of my moments.”
Santangelo officially retires from WTA Tour due to foot injuries
Italian Mara Santangelo, who was once ranked as high as No. 27 in singles and No. 9 in doubles, has officially announced her retirement from the WTA Tour due to foot injuries that prevented her from playing since Wimbledon in 2009. “Unfortunately, for my whole career, my foot was hurting me. I was born with a deformity and from a young age doctors told me I wouldn’t be able to play tennis at a high level. The fact I succeeded and realized my dream is fantastic,” she said at her retirement announcement. “I tried to start playing tennis again after some operations, but since I was still feeling pain, I’ve decided to stop.” The 29-year-old won one singles title during her career in Bangalore in 2006 and was a finalist at the same event the following year. Santangelo, who made it past the third round in singles at all four Grand Slams, had her biggest career victories over Jelena Jankovic and Nadia Petrova. Santangelo, who won 286 career singles matches in her career, won the 2007 French Open doubles title with Australian Alicia Molik. Santangelo is currently managing Prince Le Restaurant, a new and trendy eatery located in Porto Cervo, on Sardegna Island in Italy. It opened last summer and is part of Piazza Principe, a commercial complex owned by the Santangelo’s and managed by Mara herself. For more information on the restaurant, visit its official website at www.piazzadelprincipeportocervo.com/eng/lerestaurant.asp.
Tomic announces upcoming playing schedule
Up-and-coming Australian tennis star Bernard Tomic, who reached the third round at the 2011 Australian Open, just released his upcoming playing schedule. The 18-year-old will play in the qualifying tournament at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships followed by the main draw at the Dallas Challenger, and the qualifiers at the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. Tomic is currently ranked No. 208 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings.
Book signing and public appearance on February 22 in Vero Beach for former U.S. No. 1 Cliff Richey
Former U.S. No. 1 Cliff Richey, who was the hero of the 1970 championship-winning U.S. Davis Cup team, will host a talk about tennis and, the most difficult opponent of his life, depression, at a special open-to-the-public appearance and book signing on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 4:30 pm at the Sea Oaks Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Fla. In his book ACING DEPRESSION: A Tennis Champions Toughest Match ($19.95, New Chapter Press,www.CliffRicheyBook.com) Richey calls depression among adult males as “the silent tragedy in our culture today” and details his life-long battle with the disease that afflicts approximately 121 million people around the world. Co-written with his oldest daughter Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, is a first-hand account of the life and tennis career of Richey, providing readers with his real-life drama – on and off the tennis court. Richey was known as the original “Bad Boy” of tennis before there was John McEnroe and Ilie Nastase. His 26-year career was highlighted by a 1970 season where he led the United States to the Davis Cup title, finished as the first-ever Grand Prix world points champion and won one of the most exciting matches in American tennis history that clinched the year-end No. 1 American ranking. He won both of his singles matches in the 5-0 U.S. victory over West Germany in the 1970 Davis Cup final, while he beat out rivals Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith to win the first-ever Grand Prix world points title the precursor to the modern day ATP rankings. At the 1970 Pacific Coast Championships at the Berkeley Tennis Club in Berkeley, Calif., he earned the No. 1 U.S. ranking when he beat Smith in a fifth-set tie-breaker, where both players had simultaneous match point in a sudden-death nine-point tie-breaker at 4-4. He also reached the semifinals of both the 1970 French and U.S. Opens, losing a famous match to Zeljko Franulovic of Yugoslavia in the French semifinals, despite holding match points and leading by two-sets-to-one and 5-1 in the fourth set.