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roland garros

Novak Djokovic’s win streak is nothing to this birthday girl

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So you think Novak Djokovic’s 40-match win streak is impressive? Well, this birthday girl – born today, May 24, in 1899, once won 182 straight matches from 1921 to 1926. Suzanne Lenglen, the woman whose name graces the second-biggest stadium on the grounds at Roland Garros was born 112 years ago Tuesday. Here’s how Hall of Fame tennis journalist Bud Collins describes her in his famous volume THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS ($35.95, New Chapter Press, available for sale here: http://amzn.to/kLrGQn)

Suzanne Lenglen

France (1899–1938)

Hall of Fame—1978

In the days of ground-length tennis dresses, Suzanne Rachel Flore Lenglen played at Wimbledon with her dress cut just above the calf. She wept openly during matches, pouted and sipped brandy between sets. Some called her shocking and indecent, but she was merely ahead of her time, and she brought France the greatest global sports renown it had ever known.

Suzanne Lenglen and Bill Tilden

Right-hander Lenglen was No. 1 in 1925-26, the first years of world rankings. She won Wimbledon every year but one from 1919 through 1925, the exception being 1924, when illness led to her withdrawal after the fourth round. Her 1919 title match, at the age of 20, with 40-year-old Dorothea Douglass Chambers is one of the hallmarks of tennis history.

Chambers, the seven-time champion, was swathed in stays, petticoats, high-necked shirtwaist, and a long skirt that swept the court. The young Lenglen was in her revealing dress that shocked the British at the sight of calves and forearms. After the second set, Lenglen took some comfort from her brandy and won, 10-8, 4-6, 9-7, in a dramatic confrontation, rescuing two match points. After her victory, Lenglen became easily the greatest drawing card tennis had known, and she was one of those who made it a major box-office attraction. Along with a magnetic personality, grace and style, she was the best woman player the world had seen.

She had first attained prominence as a wonderchild at 15, winning a 1914 tournament called the World Hard Court [clay] Championships in Paris over Germaine Golding, 6-2, 6-1. However, World War I broke out shortly after that, and she had to wait five years to get to Wimbledon, which re-opened in 1919 ready for La Belle Suzanne’s takeover of the world stage.

She was golden at the 1920 Olympics, taking the singles over Brit Dorothy Holman, 6-3, 6-0, and the mixed with Max Decugis over Brits Kitty McKane (Godfree) and Max Woosnam, 6-4, 6-2. But she didn’t play the 1924 Games in Paris.

Lenglen, born May 24, 1899 in Paris, played an all-court game such as few had excelled at. She moved with rare grace, unencumbered by the tight layers of garments others wore. She had extraordinary accuracy with her classical, rhythmic groundstrokes. For hours daily, her father, Charles Lenglen, had her direct the ball at a handkerchief he moved from spot to spot. Her control was so unfailing that she thought it shameful to hit the ball into the net or beyond the lines. In addition, she had so keen a sense of anticipation that she invariably was in the right position to meet her opponent’s shot.

Her 1926 match against Helen Wills in a tournament at Cannes, France, caused a sensation, and world-wide attention and coverage. Tickets brought unheard-of wealth to scalpers, and the roofs and windows of apartments and hotels overlooking the court were crowded with fans. Lenglen was on the verge of collapse during the tense match, but was saved by smelling salts and brandy and defeated the 20-year-old Wills, 6-3, 8-6. Lenglen’s career was not free of setbacks, however. In the 1921 U.S. Championships, having lost the first set badly to Molla Mallory, Lenglen walked weeping and coughing to the umpire and said she could not continue, defaulting the match. She made up for it the next year at Wimbledon by defeating Mallory, 6-2, 6-0, in the final and did not lose another match for the remainder of her amateur career.

At Wimbledon in 1926, Lenglen had a terrifying ordeal. She kept Queen Mary waiting in the Royal Box for her appearance when, owing to a misunderstanding or a failure of communications, Lenglen did not have the correct information about the time she was to be on court. The ghastly error was too much. She fainted and Wimbledon saw her no more as a competitor. She withdrew from the tournament, and that year turned professional, going on tour of the U.S. with a troupe of newly-declared pros under the management of American promoter C.C. Pyle, winning all 38 matches against ex-U.S. champ, 35-year-old Mary K. Browne. It marked the beginning of professional tennis as a playing career.

Suzanne’s career numbers were staggering. According to the research of Wimbledon librarian Alan Little, in his biography, Suzanne Lenglen: Tennis Idol of the Twenties, she won 250 championships: 83 singles (7 without the loss of a game), 74 doubles, 93 mixed. Losing one singles match in eight years—that to Mallory at the U.S. of 1921—she was unbeaten in 1919 and 1920, 1922-23-24-25-26. Sandwiching the Mallory defeat were winning streaks of 116 matches before, and 182 after to the close of her amateur days. At Wimbledon, her greatest showplace, she won 90 of 92 matches—32-0 singles, 31-1 doubles, 27-1 mixed. She never married, despite many romances, the most serious with Baldwin Baldwin, an American millionaire who accompanied her on the professional tour.

At the age of 39, Lenglen died of pernicious anemia, July 4, 1938, in Paris. She was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1978. There was speculation that her health had been undermined by her long hours of practice as a young girl. But she had brought the glamour of the stage and the ballet to the court, and queues formed at tennis clubs where before there had been indifference. She had emancipated the female player from layers of starched clothing and set the short-hair style as well. She had brought tennis into a new era.

MAJOR TITLES (21)

French singles, 1925, 1926; Wimbledon singles, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925; French doubles, 1925, 1926; Wimbledon doubles, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925; French mixed, 1925, 1926; Wimbledon mixed, 1920, 1922, 1925.

SINGLES RECORD IN THE MAJORS

French (10-0), Wimbledon (32-0), US, (0-1).

Wozniacki takes Brussels, Petkovic wins Strasbourg and Almagro victory in Nice – Mondays with Bob Greene

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STARS

 

Germany beat Argentina 2-1 to win the Power Horse World Team Cup in Düsseldorf, Germany

 

Caroline Wozniacki beat Peng Shuai 2-6 6-3 6-3 to win the Brussels Open by GDF Suez in Brussels, Belgium

 

Nicolas Almagro beat Victor Hanescu 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-3 to win the Open de Nice Cote d’Azur in Nice, France

 

Andrea Petkovic beat Marion Bartoli 6-4 1-0 retired to win the Internationaux de Strasbourg in Strasbourg, France

 

Mark Philippoussis beat Carlos Moya 7-5 6-7 (3) 10-4 (match tiebreak) to win the Seguros Bolivar Tennis Champions in Bogotá, Colombia

 

Bahamas and Venezuela were promoted to Americas Zone Group I for Fed Cup 2012 in competition held at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Andrea Petkovic

 

SAYING

 

“I’ve never been the overwhelming favourite going into the French Open because of Rafa’s great record here over the years. Last year here I was the defending champion.  The year before, and the years before that I was trying to win Paris for the first time.  I’ve always had that big cloud hanging over, and the ‘Am I ever going to win the French Open question.’ But that’s been answered.  This year, maybe (people) expect more from Rafa and Novak, and that could be a good thing for me and more pressure for them.” – Roger Federer, on having rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic being the favourites to win Roland Garros.

 

“It’s always a strange feeling when somebody retires. We’re all rushing for the points and titles through the year, but you feel happy and sad at the same moment. I felt so sad for Marion, but also I was playing well and I wanted to finish this match normally.” – Andrea Petkovic, who won Strasbourg when Marion Bartoli retired from the match with a left thigh injury.

 

“The time for recovery (before Roland Garros) is really short, because I am playing on Monday. I’d say it’s time to pray for a miracle. But I guess having a dad as a doctor is very helpful. He is the most important person for me to talk to and find out if I can play. Hopefully I can get through my first match on Monday, just fight through it, and then I can hope for another day of recovery. Hopefully I’ll be alright to continue after that.” – Marion Bartoli, who retired from the Strasbourg final with a left thigh injury.

 

“I feel in good shape. I don’t feel tired at all. I am full of confidence.” – Carolina Wozniacki, who needed medical treatment on her left thigh in the third set before winning the Brussels Open.

 

“I had a great 2009 and winning tournaments became almost a habit, but when I won Fès this year I realized I hadn’t won one for more than a year. I’m enjoying the feeling of winning more because it’s not something I expected, but something I really wanted.” – Andrea Hlavackova, who teamed with Galina Voskoboeva to win the doubles in Brussels.

 

“Playing together for the first time we didn’t expect to win the title. We’re really happy. We were very relaxed and got the maximum reward.” – Galina Voskoboeva, after teaming with Andrea Hlavackova to capture the doubles title in Brussels.

 

“There are a lot of things going on in the world to get mad at and a few points in tennis isn’t one of them.” – Heather Watson, saying she has thrown her last racquet on a tennis court in anger.

 

“The balls are very, very fast, so it’s really difficult to control.  Maybe it’s going to favor the servers and the big hitters. But it still is clay and it still is best-of-five.  You have to rely on your physical ability, as well.” – Novak Djokovic, talking about the Babolat balls that will be used in the French Open.

 

“I have been doing everything that I can, so I cannot ask myself more. I am trying and I am doing very well, but one player is doing better than me. The champion in my opinion is not only be able to win every week; it is when they are able to wait at the right moments and I am waiting at every week, trying to find solutions, and we will see what is going on next time.” – Rafael Nadal, talking about Novak Djokovic.

 

“I love playing tennis and never wanted to stop playing, so this is the perfect opportunity for me.  Even though this isn’t the main ATP Tour, it’s something I’m really looking forward to because the standard of tennis is still really good and I know it’s going to be good fun.” – Carlos Moya, making his ATP Champions Tour debut in Bogotá, Colombia.

 

“I lost my singles match, but I came out strongly for the doubles and it’s great to have a happy ending.” – Philipp Kohschreiber, who teamed with Philipp Petzschner to win the decisive doubles match and lead Germany to victory in the World Team Championships.

 

“The truth is that when I saw the draw, it wasn’t very good for me, but I knew that with a little luck I’d win.” – Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, after upsetting 19th-seeded Marin Cilic on the first day of the French Open. Ramirez Hidalgo next will play fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes.

 

SPLITSVILLE

 

It didn’t take long for favorites to tumble out of the year’s second Grand Slam tournament. Three seeded players were eliminated on the opening day at Roland Garros. Varvara Lepchenko, who is ranked 85th in the world, upset 18th-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-3 2-6 6-3. A native of Uzbekistan, Lepchenko now lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and represents the United States. Because her next opponent is Bethanie Mattek-Sands, the winner will be the first woman from the United States other than either Serena or Venus Williams to reach the third round at Roland Garros since 2006.

 

Ruben Ramirez Hildago, a 33-year-old Spaniard who had lost in the first round in 13 of his 14 previous Grand Slam tournament appearances, knocked off 19th-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia 7-6 (5) 6-4 6-4. Cilic made 67 unforced errors in the match.

 

Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez overcame 19th-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 7-6 (4) 6-1. It was Peer’s third first-round exit in her last four tournaments.

 

STAYING HOME

 

The Power Horse World Team Cup title played in Düsseldorf, Germany, is staying home. After losing his singles match, Philipp Kohschreiber teamed with Philipp Petzschner to win the doubles and lead Germany to a record fifth World Team Cup title, defeating Argentina 2-1. The two Philipps stopped Juan Ignacio Chela and Maximo Gonzalez 6-3 7-6 (5) in the decisive doubles battle. Florian Mayer gave Germany the lead by defeating Juan Monaco 7-6 (4) 6-0, before Chela pulled Argentina even with a 6-4 7-6 (4) win over Kohschreiber, setting the stage for the doubles. Argentina was playing in the final for the seventh time. All three of its losses in finals have come against Germany.

 

SHOWING HER METTLE

 

Caroline Wozniacki had never won a red clay tournament title until the inaugural Brussels Open. And it comes just in time for the only Grand Slam tournament played on red clay, the French Open. The top-ranked Wozniacki overcame a thigh injury and China’s Peng Shuai to capture the crown, 2-6 6-3 6-3, her fourth title of the year, the most on the WTA Tour. Wozniacki had medical treatment on her left thigh in the third set and played the remainder of the match with tape on her leg. But she said it wouldn’t affect her play at Roland Garros in Paris. “It is fine. There are no big problems. It was a small pain. I just didn’t want it to get bigger,” she said. Peng was more aggressive throughout the match, going for the lines and winners. Wozniacki mostly waited for her opponent to make errors, which she did. It was the fourth WTA Tour final for the 25-year-old Peng – her first Premier-level final. She has yet to win a title. Going into Roland Garros, Wozniacki and Peng lead the WTA Tour with match wins in 2011. Wozniacki’s record is now 38-7, while Peng is 34-12.

 

SAYS NOVAK MORE IMPRESSIVE

 

John McEnroe still holds the record – as of now – for the longest match winning streak to begin the season. In 1984, the American won his first 42 matches. But McEnroe believes the 37-match winning streak that Novak Djokovic has put together this year is much more impressive. “Given that there’s more competition, more athleticism and deeper fields now, I’d say his record is even more impressive than mine,” McEnroe said. “Especially given that in 1984 the major in Australia was played at the end of the year, whereas he had to win it (as part of his streak). I was coming into my first Grand Slam of the year at the French, where the streak was broken (in the final against Ivan Lendl). So things are different. Also, he came into the year at number three, an d to be able to dominate (higher-ranked players) the way he has, well, to put it mildly, it’s been quite amazing to see what he’s done and how much more confidently he’s playing.” McEnroe said he is pulling for Djokovic to break his record. “I’m quite excited that he might break my record at the French Open,” McEnroe said. “Records are made to be broken. It’s the definition of mixed emotions. I think I’ve pretty much lost every record that I had but, at the same time, I know that this has been a shot in the arm for our sport.”

 

SITE NOW KNOWN

 

Instead of playing in the year’s second Grand Slam tournament in Paris, France, Julie Cohen is seeking dollars and a title this week in Bangkok, Thailand. The American signed up for six events this week while hoping she would play in a seventh. Taking part in the qualifying event for the French Open, Cohen won her first-round match, beating Anais Laurendon of France 6-2 6-2 before losing to fellow American Sloane Stephenson 6-0 6-3. No problem. Cohen, who is ranked 169th in the world, is the top seed in a USD $25,000 tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, this week after withdrawing from other events in Changwon, South Korea; Grado, Italy; Itaparica, Brazil; Niigata, Japan, and Carson, California, USA.

 

SECURED SPORT

 

Novak Djokovic didn’t even wait for the French Open to clinch a spot in the season-ending 2011 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The Serbian right-hander did just that with his win over Rafael Nadal in the final of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia a week ago. The world’s top eight players qualify for the season finale, which will be played November 20-27 in London. Djokovic qualifies for the Finals for the fifth successive year. He won the title in 2008 when it was held in Shanghai, China. Last year, he lost to eventual champion Roger Federer in the semifinals. Djokovic has not lost a match since going into the French Open. He became only the second player to qualify for the season-ending event before Roland Garros since 1990. In 2009, Rafael Nadal also qualified before Roland Garros.

 

SAYS NO MAS

 

Lleyton Hewitt pulled out of the French Open at the last moment. The Australian, who has won two Grand Slam tournaments in his career, withdrew from Roland Garros just hours before he was to play his first-round match against Albert Montanes of Spain. The 30-year-old won the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002. He was ranked number one in the world for a total of 80 weeks. Hewitt has not played on the ATP Tour since March after undergoing foot surgery. “Lucky loser” Marc Gicquel of France replaced Hewitt and immediately lost to Montanes 6-4 6-4 6-2.

 

Russia’s Alisa Kleybanova cited illness when she withdrew from the French Open. Kleybanova had been seeded 23rd in the women’s draw. Her place in the field was taken by another Russian, Anastasia Pivovarova, a “lucky loser” who lost in qualifying. Last year, Kleybanova reached the third round at Roland Garros, beating 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic in the second round.

 

SPEAKS UP

 

Soggy grounds at the University Vermont forced the annual commencement ceremony indoors. So appropriate. The dais was at one end of the university’s indoor tennis courts and the commencement speaker was Billie Jean King, who also was the recipient of an honorary doctorate degree. King said she had “an epiphany” at age 12 that she would dedicate her life to “equal rights and opportunities for boys and girls and men and women.” Her breaking barriers for women athletes was among the reasons she was honored by UVM. In her speech, she recalled going to college in Los Angeles when she had to hold down two jobs to get through school while two male players – Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe – received full scholarships at the University of Southern California and UCLA, respectively. After concluding her remarks, the 67-year-old King grabbed a racquet and hit tennis balls into the crowd.

 

STEPPING UP

 

The Brisbane International will become a Premier level tournament on the WTA tour next year, strengthening the start of the women’s tennis season. The upgraded Australian tournament will have increased prize money of USD $655,000 in 2012 and USD $1,000,000 beginning in 2013. The Brisbane International along with the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand; the Medibank International in Sydney, Australia, and the Moorilla Hobart International in Hobart, Tasmania, will give the WTA a strong lead-in to the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open. Last year, WTA attendance was up five percent at Premier events and four percent at international events, while a record 19 players earned more than USD $1,000,000 for the year.

 

SIGNED UP

 

David Nalbandian has been awarded a wild card into the main draw of the AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club, a grass court warm-up event for Wimbledon. A Wimbledon finalist in 2002, Nalbandian has been sidelined by injuries over much of the past 12 months. “It has been a frustrating time, but my recovery is going well and I expect to be in good shape for the tournament,” the Argentine said. “I enjoy playing on grass, and reaching the Wimbledon final in 2002 was a special moment in my career.” The Queen’s Club is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

 

SENIOR STOMPER

 

Mark Philippoussis is finding the senior circuit is just his speed. The Australian won his third straight ATP Champions Tour event by beating former world number one Carlos Moya 7-5 6-7 (3) 10-4 (match tiebreak). Philippoussis collected the Seguros Bolivar Tennis Champions in Bogotá, Colombia, to go along with his other two senior tour titles in 2011, in Delray Beach, Florida, USA, and Zurich, Switzerland. Moya, making his senior tour debut, was the favorite of the capacity crowd of 4,000. But in the deciding set Champions Tiebreak, Philippoussis raced to a 5-3 lead, then won four of the next five points for a 9-4 advantage and five match points. The hard-serving Aussie only needed one, closing out the match with a cross-court forehand return winner.

 

SPORTS CELEBRITY

 

Roger Federer may have slipped off the top perch, but he still is the leading tennis celebrity in the sports world. Federer is 25th on Forbes’ annual “Celebrity 100” compilation of the most powerful people or groups in the entertainment business. Golfer Tiger Woods is ranked sixth on the list, the highest of any of the 19 athletes who are named. Miami Heat star LeBron James is 10th and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant is at No. 14. Other tennis players on the list are Maria Sharapova (number 80), Serena Williams (84) and Venus Williams (86). Combined, Forbes said the 19 athletes on the list this year earned a combined USD $647 million. Lady Gaga tops Forbes’ overall rankings, followed by Oprah Winfrey, Justin Bieber, U2 and Elton John.

 

SAYS HE’S RETURNING

 

After a three-year absence, John McEnroe is returning to the AEGON Masters Tennis tournament being played November 30-December 4 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The 52-year-old McEnroe says he is fitter now than he was eight years ago when he won his fourth and most recent title in London. “I’m really excited to be back playing at the AEGON Masters Tennis in London this year,” said the left-hander, who won the title in each of the first three years of the event – in 1997, 1998 and 1999. “The London tournament has always been one of my favorite events of the year; the crowds are really fantastic, the atmosphere is great and the Royal Albert Hall is one of the most spectacular arenas I’ve ever played in.” At the end of last year McEnroe defeated Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander and Guy Forget to win the title in Paris.

 

STARRING

 

Two players from Zimbabwe have been selected by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for its 2011 national awards for Junior and Community Colleges. Mbonisi Ndimande was named ITA Player of the Year and Admire Mushonga was named ITA Rookie Player of the Year. Both play at Seminole State in Oklahoma. The ITA Player of the Year for women went to Sun Wen of Tyler (Texas) Junior College, a native of China. Katerina Mozolyuk of Santa Monica (California) College was named female ITA Rookie Player of the Year.

 

Cade Sherman of Jones County Junior College (men) and Gabriela Rodriguez of Pima Community College (women) were awarded the ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship. Sherman was named salutatorian of his senior class and received a Presidential Scholarship from the school. For the past four years Sherman has been an active volunteer in helping mentally and physically handicapped individuals compete in the Annual Special Olympics event held on the campus of JCJC. He will be enrolling at Mississippi State University in August where he will study civil engineering.

 

Rodriguez is a native of Mexico, where she participated three times in the Junior Olympics. At Pima Community College, she has a triple major – political science, communications and business – while playing number one singles. She is 27th in the nation in the Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings. She also serves as vice president of the International Student’s Club and is an active member of the University’s Student Government.

 

SINGERS ON CALL

 

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) will hold its annual open casting call on Tuesday, June 21, at the Apollo Theater in New York City to select children to perform at Arthur Ashe Stadium during night sessions of this year’s US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The auditions are free of charge and will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time.  Children 12 years of age and younger as of September 11, 2011, will be asked to sing “America the Beautiful” a cappella in front of a panel of celebrity judges from the music and entertainment industries.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

 

Brussels: Andrea Hlavackova and Galina Voskoboeva beat Klaudia Jans and Alicja Rosolska 3-6 6-0 10-5 (match tiebreak)

 

Nice: Eric Butorac and Jean-Julien Rojer beat Santiago Gonzalez and David Marrero 6-3 6-4

 

Strasbourg: Akgul Amanmuradova and Chuang Chia-Jung beat Natalie Grandin and Vladimira Uhlirova 6-4 5-7 10-2 (match tiebreak)

 

SURFING

 

Paris: www.fft.fr/rolandgarros/

Sao Paulo: www.grandchampionsbrasil.com.br

Prostejov: www.czech-open.com/

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

 

(All money in USD)

 

MEN and WOMEN

 

Roland Garros, Paris, France, clay (first week)

 

SENIORS

 

Grand Champions Brazil, Sao Paulo, Brazil, clay

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

 

MEN

 

Roland Garros, Paris, France, clay (second week)

$152,000 Czech Open, Prostejov, Czech Republic, clay

 

WOMEN

 

Roland Garros, Paris, France, clay (second week)

 

Bud Collins reviews the history of Roland Garros

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The French Championships – or Roland Garros – is underway in Paris as the world’s top tennis players battle on the red clay to win one of the world’s most prestigious and historical tennis titles. Bud Collins, the world’s most famous tennis historian and journalist, profiles Roland Garros in his newly-updated book THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS excerpted below. THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS ($35.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com) also features all of the Roland Garros singles results from the quarterfinals, all doubles championship matches and tournament records – and the same for the other three major championships. Summaries of every year in tennis from 1919 to the present as well as player biographies, info on Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the Olympic Games – and so much more – are found in this 800-plus page volume that is a must for every tennis fan.

Roland Garros

Crimson clay has made the French Championship distinctive, the lone major contested on the footing beloved by dirt-kicking Europeans and Latin Americans. For 46 years (1928–74), Stade Roland Garros in Paris was an earthen oasis amid grass in the Australian, Wimbledon and U.S. Championships. Wimbledon retains its lawns, the Aussies and Yanks have paved their hard, unforgiving rectangles, but clay stays the French way.

Although dating back to 1891 (men) and 1897 (women), the French Championships welcomed only citizens and permanent residents. Not until 1925 was that restriction lifted, the rest of the world invited in, and the French would become the fourth of the major international championships, making a Grand Slam possible. Even so, the concept didn’t seem feasible until 1933 when an Aussie, Jack Crawford, having carried his homeland, became the first alien male to subdue Paris (8-6, 6-1, 6-3 over homeboy Henri Cochet). He went on to win Wimbledon but his bid for a Slam was jammed by Fred Perry in the U.S. final. Don Budge showed up in 1938 and was the first American guy to conquer the clay (6-3, 6-2, 6-4 over Czech Roderich Menzel), and was halfway to his pocketing of the initial Slam.

The most successful players in the French-only days were Cecilia Masson with six titles (1897–1900, 02-03) and Max Decugis with eight titles (1903-04, 07-09, 12-14). But leading foreigners did come to town for an international tournament entitled Championnats du Monde sur Terre Battue—terre battue the French term for clay—that ran in 1912- 13-14, 21, 23 in Paris (1922 in Brussels). After that, the label World Championships on Clay was dropped, but not before a small, dark-haired girl of 15 won it in 1914, and again in 1921 at 23. She was the unbeatable Suzanne Lenglen, who put France on the tennis map.

The 1924 Olympic Games in Paris gave the French another taste of internationalism, and the mood was “very insistent,” in the words of one writer, for the establishment of a French Championships (Championnats Internationaux de France) embracing players from wherever, joining the uppermost category. Thus France was in the exclusive four-member club, with four all-timers facing off for the introductory titles – Musketeers Rene (The Crocodile) Lacoste and Jean (Bounding Basque) Borotra, Lacoste winning, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4; La Lenglen beating the only nonnative, Brit Kitty McKane, 6-1, 6-2. First outlanders to enter the winners circle were Americans Vinnie Richards and Howard Kinsey in 1926 in men’s doubles, beating the other half of the illustrious Four Musketeers, Henri (Ball Boy of Lyon) Cochet and Jacques (Toto) Brugnon, 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. First among visitors to seize a singles title was Kea Bouman of the Netherlands, 6-2, 6-4, over South African Irene Bowder Peacock in 1927.

In 1925 and 1927, the tournament was played at Stade Francais in St. Cloud, and in 1926, it was held at the Racing Club of Paris, neither venue holding more than 5,000. But the Musketeers’ lifting the Davis Cup from the U.S. in 1927 made a larger venue necessary for the 1928 Cup defense, as well as the Championships. Rising near the Bois de Boulogne was Stade Roland Garros, named for a heroic French aviator who died in World War I, and a Court Central seating 10,000. On the crushed brick surface, seldom adored by Americans, the French crushed Bill Tilden and the U.S., 4-1. World War II shut down the tournament as it did Wimbledon and the Australian and brought about a sad, grisly chapter in Roland Garros history. When the war began, the French government used it as a detention center for so-called dissidents and “other undesirables,” a number of them Jews who were at risk to be sent to the death camps when the Nazi invaders occupied Paris. One of the better known inmates, author Arthur Koestler (“Darkness at Noon”), wrote that, “We called ourselves cave dwellers, sleeping on wet straw beneath the stands which leaked.” Fortunately, he survived. In 1941, the Germans released the grounds to the French Federation, and the Championships resumed, obviously limited to locals and not included in official records. They resumed in 1946, with, appropriately, a native victor, unseeded Marcel Bernard over favored Czech Jaroslav Drobny, 3-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3, an all-lefty finale. That French success didn’t recur for 37 years, until 1983 when Yannick Noah dethroned Swede Mats Wilander, 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), to be handed the Coupe Mousquetaires. Female victory rates the Coupe Lenglen, won in the post-Lenglen time by citizens Simone Mathieu in 1938-1939 and Francoise Durr in 1967. After another long wait, 33 years, the Franco-American Mary Pierce cheered a Parisian crowd by beating Spaniard Conchina Martinez, 6-2, 7-5, in 2000.

First major to say “bienvenue” to the pros and “Opens,” the French offered a $25,000 pot in 1968. Ken Rosewall won $3,000 in an all-Aussie final over Rod Laver, 6-3, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, but runner-up for the other title, left-handed Brit Ann Jones, got the first prize women’s check of $1,000, even though she lost to Texan Nancy Richey, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. Nancy, fearful of giving up her amateur status in that uncertain new year of prize money, is alone in the majors as a title-winning amateur woman in the post-’68 era.

Cash earnings have has gone up considerably since: $1.4 million apiece to 2007 singles champs, Belgian Justine Henin and Spaniard Rafael Nadal, out of a $20.33 million kitty. The French was the second-to-last of the major championships to offer equal prize money to both men and women—offering equal prize money for both tournament champions in 2006 and awarding equal prize money across the board beginning in 2007.

The French has wandered on the calendar, but the dates have stood firmly (last week in May-first week in June) for decades. As interest has increased from 1960s doldrums, attendance and profits have gone up considerably, the scene improved. Court Central was enlarged, now holding 15,171 (named for Hall of Famer Philippe Chatrier, the driving force for modernization as French Tennis Federation president). A second stadium, the Court Suzanne Lenglen, holding 10,018, was added in 1995. A fan favorite, Court 1 (the intimate “bull ring”) accommodates 3,790.

In 2007, play began on the first of three Sundays, making the French, a daytime event, a 15-day show, the longest of the majors. A one-day attendance record, 35,750 on the grounds, was set on the first Saturday, 2007. The French tried night tennis in 1969, but wisely discarded the floodlights after that. Darkness doesn’t intrude until about 9:30 PM. The French Championships were the last major to accept the tie-breaker, 1973, but never for the ultimate sets, fifth for men, third for women.

Roddick commits to 2011 Legg Mason Tennis Classic in nation’s capital: This week in tennis business with Justin Cohen

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Roddick commits to 2011 Legg Mason Tennis Classic

World No. 12 Andy Roddick will be returning to the Legg Mason Tennis Classic presented by GEICO for the 10th time in his professional career after committing to the event on Monday, looking to win his fourth career singles title in the nation’s capital. The ATP World Tour 500 event will take place in Washington, D.C. at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center at Rock Creek Park from July 30-August 7. “The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is very excited to announce that Andy Roddick, one of the most sought-after players by tournaments around the world, has committed to play,” said Jeff Newman, Tournament Director and Senior Vice President with Lagardère Unlimited. “Andy typically plays only 13 ATP World Tour Tournaments per year out of the 62 held in 32 countries worldwide.  Similar to Andre Agassi during his career, we feel fortunate that Andy continues to choose to play in Washington each year.” Roddick has won singles titles at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in 2001, 2005 and 2007, while owning a career singles record of 30-6 in Washington.

Andy Roddick

Smyczek signs with Dunlop

Milwaukee native Tim Smyczek, who trains at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa and is ranked No. 177, has signed with Dunlop. The 23-year-old will play with the Biomimetic 300 Tour racquet while trying to continue his climb up the ATP rankings. Smyczek will make his second appearance in a Grand Slam singles main draw later this month at Roland Garros after winning the USTA French Open Wild Card Playoffs in Boca Raton, Fla. “My game has really taken off this year, and switching to the Biomimetic 300 Tour has played a key role,” said Smyczek. “Whenever I step onto the court, no matter what the surface or conditions, I’m confident with this racket. I’m looking forward to continuing my partnership with Dunlop.” Smyczek, who turned pro in 2006, reached the quarterfinals in San Jose and the second round at Indian Wells earlier this year. “Tim is a great signing for Dunlop,” said Kai Nitche, Vice President and General Manager of Dunlop Racket Sports. “He possesses the key characteristics we look for in our Tour Team members; he works extremely hard both on and off-court, he’s dedicated, and he pulls through in clutch situations. It’s been a pleasure to work with him thus far, and we wish him well as he continues his climb up the ATP World Tour rankings.”

Gasquet to endorse Tourna Grip

Unique Sports announced that world No. 18 Richard Gasquet of France will endorse Tourna Grip in a multi-year deal. Gasquet, who has used Tourna Grip his entire career, joins the Bryan Brothers, Sam Querrey, David Ferrer, Victoria Azarenka, Vera Zvonareva and Juan Carlos Ferrero as some of the top players who endorse Tourna Grip.

TicketCity becomes local sponsor of Davis Cup tie between United States and Spain in Austin

On Monday, the USTA announced that TicketCity, a leader in secondary ticketing, has become a local sponsor of the 2011 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal between the United States and Spain at the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin from July 8-10. The Austin-based company is the official secondary ticket provider of the Davis Cup quarterfinal between the United States and Spain. TicketCity plans to engage with tennis fans attending or watching the event through a variety of marketing and promotional elements implemented in the arena as well as during the broadcast of the matches throughout the weekend on Tennis Channel. “We’re excited to see Davis Cup competition come to our hometown and proud to be a part of it through this sponsorship with the USTA,” says Amy Carpenter, Vice President of Marketing at TicketCity. “We look forward to connecting with tennis fans in Austin and across the country through this partnership and increasing awareness of the breadth of events we offer, as well as our passionate commitment to customer service in the ticketing industry.”

Tennis Warehouse Europe to process all online orders for 2011 French Open

Tennis Warehouse Europe, the European division of Tennis Warehouse, has announced the new partnership with the French Open starting in 2011. The company has agreed to process all online orders for Roland Garros. The French Tennis Federation recognizes Tennis Warehouse Europe as the fulfillment provider of this prestigious tennis tournament. All Roland Garros items sold through the official French Open website will be filled by Tennis Warehouse Europe and starting this week the complete line of official Roland Garros products will be offered through the Tennis Warehouse Europe website. “We are very excited that the French Tennis Federation selected Tennis Warehouse Europe to handle the fulfillment of the exclusive Roland-Garros products for Spring 2011,” said Rick Kerpsack, Managing Director of Tennis Warehouse Europe.

2011 Legg Mason Tennis Classic tickets go on sale

On Monday, ticket packages and single session tickets went on sale to the public for the 2011 Legg Mason Tennis Classic presented by GEICO, which will be held at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center at Rock Creek Park in Washington D.C. from July 30-August 7. Ticket packages for all ten sessions start at $200 ($20 per session) for Weeklong Reserved to $550 for Premium Box Seats.  Single session seats range from $10 to $75, depending on session and seat location. In addition to the tournament’s Weeklong Box Seat and Reserved Seat packages, other flexible ticket packages include Box Seat Mini-Breaks (box seat tickets for three sessions), Weekender Packages (reserved seat for the first weekend and all Quarterfinal, Semifinal and Final matches Friday through Sunday) and the Day Tripper (both sessions of Saturday semifinals at one low price). Group discounts, Special Event Packages and Courtside Suites are also available. Tickets are available to be purchased through the official tournament ticket hotline at (202) 721-9500.

WTA New Haven Open at Yale tickets on sale now for USTA members

Tickets are on sale now for USTA members for the 2011 WTA New Haven Open at Yale in New Haven, Conn., which will be played from August 18-27. Ticket can be ordered by calling the New Haven Open at Yale box office at 1-855-4-NHTENNIS or by visiting newhaventennis.com. Be sure to mention that you are a USTA Member and have your valid USTA Member ID available when calling. If you wish to purchase your tickets online, please use code “2011USTA” to receive the USTA Member discount. USTA Members receive $15 off multi-day Box Seat Packages, $30 off select Travel Packages, and 25% off Adult Middle Tier tickets for Sunday, August 21 through Wednesday August 24 (Sessions 1-7). USTA Members can enjoy members-only access to the USTA private hospitality area on Tuesday, August 23 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and can also receive 25% off Adult Middle Tier tickets (Sessions 4 and 5). Be sure to have your valid USTA Member ID card available for entry into the hospitality area. Valid ticket required to enter tournament grounds. General public tickets go on sale on Wednesday, June 1.

Tomic and Dellacqua get French Open main draw wild cards from Tennis Australia

Bernard Tomic and Casey Dellacqua were awarded French Open main draw wild cards by Tennis Australia on Monday, which are part of a reciprocal agreement between the French Tennis Federation and Tennis Australia. Since reaching the third-round at the Australian Open in Melbourne in January, Tomic has had mediocre results, but is currently ranked No. 176 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings. Dellacqua, a Perth native, returned to the WTA Tour at an Australian Challenger event in February after a year off due to injuries. In April, Dellacqua won a $25,000 Challenger tournament in Bundaberg, Australia.

Four WTA Tour players nominated for Fed Cup Heart Award

Andrea Petkovic, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Olga Savchuk and Polona Hercog were recently announced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) as possible winners for the upcoming Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award. In April, all four players played for their nation in Fed Cup. The players were selected by ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti, a mixture of former professional players and members of the international media. From May 3-24, a public vote will take place on FedCup.com and FedCup.com/es to decide the winner. The winner will receive a $3,000 check to be donated to a charity of her choice. The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award is a joint initiative between BNP Paribas and the ITF. It aims to recognize players who have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to their team. A total of six Heart Awards are being presented in 2011. Earlier in the year, Bojana Jovanovski, Bianca Botto, Ayumi Morita and Victoria Azarenka were recognized, and a player will also be honored at the Fed Cup Final in November. “The level of passion and excitement for Fed Cup by BNP Paribas has grown considerably during the last year, helped significantly by the outstanding commitment shown by the players,” said Ricci Bitti. “I would like to congratulate Andrea, Maria Jose, Olga and Polona for being shortlisted for a Heart Award. I would also like to encourage all fans to go online and vote, as it provides a fantastic opportunity to reward the skill, effort and character of the players.”

Will Rafael Nadal’s knees hold up through the clay season?

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There was some consternation when Rafa Nadal announced his busy clay-court schedule leading up to the French Open — four tournaments in five weeks before a week off and then Roland Garros.

I don’t know how many friends and associates of mine wondered out loud if those knees, which have given him so much trouble in his relatively short pro career, would hold up.

Rafael Nadal

But, in fact, he’s been fine because, what people often forget, is that it’s not so much about how many matches you play as how much time you spend on court.

When Nadal goes on court against Spanish amigo David Ferrer today to play the Barcelona final, he will have averaged just one hour and 18 minutes per match this past week, and that’s very little time for clay court tennis.

A week earlier, at Monte Carlo, he logged significantly more court time — an average of one hour and 52 minutes. But, remember, that was his first week of the clay season. His legs were fresh and he was in a good position, physically, to play longer matches. One of those, of course, was the three-set win over Andy Murray in the Monte Carlo semis that went over three hours.

And so he came to Barcelona, the closest thing he has to a home event (just a short flight from his island home on Majorca to the east coast city of Barcelona) and, thinking long-range, he needed to get on and off the court quickly. He has.

Who knows how long he’s going to have to labor with Ferrer, who is a great retriever. But, at this point, it almost doesn’t matter because Nadal is taking next week off before the 1000 tournaments at Madrid and Rome.

Despite the relative quick matches, could he still be worn down before the French, where he will be an enormous favorite? Sure, if he has arduous matches at Madrid and Rome. But on the basis of the form he’s shown this spring, I’d reckon he’s going to have some quickies in the early rounds before being extended.

Certainly four lead-ups before the French is not unusual. In fact, it’s easier today than it was in 1995, when the ATP was playing best-of-5 set finals at Monte Carlo and Rome. That was the year Thomas Muster won 23 straight on clay at Estoril, Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Rome, including a three-hour-plus five-setter with Boris Becker at the Monte Carlo final.

Everything is best-of-three sets now leading up to the French, but you still have a bit of a feeling that Nadal is rolling dice with his physical conditioning. He has learned to cut back on his schedule and reduce the intensity of his training sessions since his succession of leg problems.

And right now he looks fine. Very fine. And he’ll remain just fine as long as he keeps his matches short, regardless of how many lead-up tournaments he plays.

Djokovic still far away from Nadal, No. 1 ranking

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Rafael Nadal has an enormous 3,360 points to defend between today and the start of the French Open in late May, but even if he’s injured and can’t play until he gets to Paris, he’ll go into Roland Garros at No. 1.

That’s how big his 3,920-point cushion is with the new ATP rankings out today.

Novak Djokovic still far away from No.1 position

It shows Nadal No. 1 with 12,630 points, No. 2 Novak Djokovic at 8,710 (3,920 behind Nadal) and No. 3 Roger Federer at 8,280 (430 points behind Djokovic).

Now let’s deduct the points these three have to defend between now and the French for a more realistic look at the point standings. This will give you a chance to look at the top three and simply plug in the points they win at Key Biscayne and during the clay court season without having to recall how many points they’re defending from the same week last year.

Nadal: Defending 1,000 points at Madrid, Rome and Monte Carlo and 360 at Key Biscayne for a total of 3,360.

Djokokic: Defending 360 at Monte Carlo, 180 at Rome, 45 at Belgrade and 10 at Key Biscayne for a total of 595.

Federer: Defending 600 at Madrid, 90 at Key Biscayne, 90 at Estoril and 10 at Rome for a total of 790.

Using those totals to adjust ranking points leave you with No. 1 Nadal at 9,270, No. 2 Djokovic at 8,115 (1,155 points behind Nadal) and No. 3 Federer at 7,490 (625 behind Djokovic).

This, of course, assumes that the three players will duplicate their schedules from 2010 through the French Open and that probably will be the case with Djokovic and Federer. But Nadal, at least at this point, is planning to Barcelona to his schedule, and since he didn’t play there last year, any points he picks up there is a bonus.

There’s not much point in plugging in No. 4 Robin Soderling. He’s too far behind No. 3 Federer to make much impact.

Not surprisingly, the biggest mover this week in the rankings was Juan Martin Del Potro, who gained 39 spots to No. 51. He’s rapidly getting back the ranking points he lost during his recent injury hiatus.

Ryan Sweeting, the American from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., cracked top 100 for the first time, at No. 91.

South African Tennis Open Fights to Stay on ATP World Tour Schedule: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

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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.”

Dinara Safina hires new coach

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.

His Hotness: Rafael Nadal

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By Cynthia Lum

I arrived in the Land Down Under, The Land of Wonder, better known here as Oz, Wednesday. Had a very nice flight on VAustralia, Nightclub atmosphere at LAX check in, very pleasant personnel, and no line. It made the process surprising pleasant.

I was not able to write yesterday. Actually, was not able to think yesterday. Totally whipped after the long journey but I’m good to go today.

I started the afternoon looking through a long lens at Rafael Nadal. The passion, the hair, the cherry red shirt. Gotta love the new shirt. Looks like it was painted on him with a blow  torch. Nike finally came up with something worthy of “His Hotness.”

And the shirt wasn’t the only thing hot about the Spaniard today. A sweating Sweeting went out only winning four games in the three set match. Rafa, looking to stretch his Grand Slam winning streak to four after winning Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010, cruised through this match marking his 23 consecutive Grand Slam win. The 2011 year could be the year for a calendar-year Grand Slam for Rafa…and the photos will be great!

Cynthia Lum is one of the world’s most celebrated sports photographers and has traveled the world covering all the major tennis events for 18 years. In addition to tennis she is currently shooting horse racing, golf, surfing, and beach volleyball.  Visit her on-line photo archive at www.cynthialum.com where her photos are for sale for professional and personal use. She is available for hire for corporate and editorial clients. She is based in Hermosa Beach, Calif.

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40 YEARS AGO AT LEGG MASON RICHEY BEATS ASHE

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It was 40 years ago at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. that Cliff Richey made a significant mark on his brilliant 1970 season when he defeated Arthur Ashe 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 in the best of five set final on clay at the event then known as the “Washington International Tennis Tournament.”

“Make no mistake” wrote Neil Amdur in the New York Times after the final, “Cliff Richey is America’s king on clay.”

Richey, who is the author of a new biography about his life with depression called “ACING DEPRESSION: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” won $7,000 for the title – his best pay-day as a pro to that date.

“He went through the tournament without losing a set,” write Amdur, “and it makes him a legitimate rival to Ashe, Stan Smith and Clark Graebner for one of the two singles berths on the United States team that will defend the Davis Cup August 29-31 in Cleveland.”

Richey went on to clinch a singles berth on the U.S. Davis Cup team that defeated West Germany to win the Davis Cup, earning MVP honors with his singles victories over Christian Kuhnke and Wilhelm Bungert.

Richey, who earlier in the year had reached the semifinals at the French Open at Roland Garros, also reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open at Forest Hills and earned the No. 1 U.S. ranking over Smith. The 1970 years also marked the first year of the Grand Prix points race (a pre-cursor to the ATP World Tour rankings), which Richey won, holding off the likes of Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.

In “ACING DEPRESSION: A Tennis Champions Toughest Match,” 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, ACING DEPRESSION ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com), 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’s depression is a constant theme, from his genetics and family history, to the tensions of his professional tennis career and family life, to his eventual diagnosis and steps to recover from his condition.

Jimmy Connors, the five-time U.S. Open champion and a friend of Richey’s penned the Foreword for ACING DEPRESSION. Writes Connors, “What made Cliff Richey what he was on the tennis court has certainly carried over into this book. His story has taken a subject, depression—which has affected him personally—and put it out there for everyone to see. Depression has been a subject that no one really talks about. Few people even admit to having such a condition. But Cliff is not afraid to be bold and reveal what he has gone through and what it takes to get a handle on this disease…Just as Cliff played tennis, he is studying how depression works; what its weaknesses are; and what strategies you can use against it. His hope is that people who read his story can learn—learn about the disease and learn that people who suffer can have a better quality of life. Things can get better. There is hope.”

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.

During his career, Richey was know for tantrums and boorish behavior simply, however, it served as a mask for his internal struggle with clinical depression. During his darkest days, Richey would place black trash bags over the windows of his house, stay in bed all day and cry. With the same determination that earned him the nick-name “The Bull,” Richey fought against his depression that was not diagnosed until just before his 50th birthday during a routine visit to the skin doctor. Since his happenstance diagnosis, Richey has steadily been taking anti-depressant drugs that have greatly improved his quality of life and moved him to become an advocate for mental health, speaking at numerous events and gatherings across the country.

“I have been given so many second chances in my life,” Richey says in the book. “The beautiful thing is that in recovery, almost everything in your life becomes a second chance. Hope is the foundation of our great country of America. Hope is such a driver of the normal human condition. The sum total of my awful disease was “loss of hope.” That’s the truly awesome thing about recovery: once you come back, your whole life after that feels like a second chance.”

TOUGH LOVE FOR ANA IVANOVIC

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By Blair Henley

It’s been just over two years since a smiling Ana Ivanovic charmed her way to victory at Roland Garros, but all memories of the brunette Serb hoisting any kind of trophy seem to be as distant as her No. 1 ranking.

Just ask Eugene Lapierre, tournament director at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, who denied the 22-year-old a wildcard into the main draw despite the fact that she won the tournament four years ago.

Instead, the wildcard will likely go to Canada’s No. 2 player, Stephanie Dubois, sending 63rd ranked Ivanovic into unfamiliar territory – the qualifying tournament.

Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic

On paper, Lapierre’s decision seems defensible, however unpopular. After all, the tournament’s 56-person draw puts Ivanovic on the bubble anyway, and it’s not uncommon to give wildcards to local talent.

But Ivanovic is a former champion. In fact, Lapierre admitted that  “she’s a player who has done a lot for our tournament — almost saved it one year.”

That seems like reason enough to let her give it a go. Not to mention the obvious benefits of having the presence of the still-popular Ivanovic guaranteed in the main draw. Dubois, ranked 125th, may be the hometown girl, but let’s be honest, it’s doubtful she’s a bigger draw than Ivanovic.

Right or wrong, the controversy at the Rogers Cup has highlighted the fact that Ivanovic will not be able to slide by on her marketability (read: looks and personality) forever.

If she’s really serious about resurrecting her game after an inexplicable two-year funk, she might want to consider pulling an Andre Agassi. In 1997, Agassi’s ranking sunk to No. 141, leading many to assume his career was finished. But with a new focus on his fitness, he decided to swallow his pride and work his way through the Challenger Circuit, also known as the minor leagues of tennis. Of course, we all know how that turned out.

Who knows if an Agassi-like resurgence is in the cards for Ivanovic, but one thing’s for sure – she’s got to change her approach (not just her coach, which she has done several times in the past two years). Some have speculated that she might benefit from a turn in the qualifying rounds, and while that may be true, there is also the potential that losing early could crush any sliver of confidence she has left.

So what about playing in some slightly smaller tournaments? Her ranking is still good enough for automatic entry into any second tier event, which could be a great place to start as she continues her quest to locate her once-dazzling form.  Losing in a main draw match, no matter what level, won’t be quite as psychologically debilitating as losing in the qualifying.

The Rogers Cup follows two, possibly three, tournaments where Ivanovic will play in the main draw thanks to wildcards. While it’s tough to completely understand Lapierre’s reasoning in Montreal, it may provide a much needed reality check for the almost-superstar. No one gets free passes for life.

After losing 6-3, 6-0 to Alisa Kleybanova in the second round at this year’s French Open, Ivanovic said, “I’m on the right path, and I’m doing lots of things right. I have a plan in place, and I have a really good team around me. I’m very happy with the improvements that have been made.”

Then she went on to lose in the first round at Wimbledon.

Her calm in the face of a career meltdown is admirable, but there comes a point when breaking a racket or launching an incoherent rant during a press conference might actually be cathartic. It must be exhausting to act like each successive loss is independent of a bigger problem.

Ana Ivanovic is an interesting case. Unlike Dinara Safina, another former No. 1 whose gradual self-destruction has been about as subtle as Venus’s “illusion” outfit at Roland Garros, Ivanovic’s slide has seemed oddly avoidable. She says all the right things, she’s been relatively healthy, she looks frustrated, but not panicked in her matches, and every tournament she plays seems like the tournament that will prompt “She’s Back!” headlines.

But so far, that hasn’t been the case. Maybe Ana will look back and thank Mr. Lapierre for giving her the kick in the buns she needed. We’ll soon find out.

THOMAS MUSTER ACCEPTS WILD CARD TO PRO EVENT

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By McCarton Ackerman

Former world No. 1 Thomas Muster has accepted singles and doubles wildcards into the main draws of the $125,000 challenger event in Braunschweig, Germany, taking place from June 28th-July 4th.

The 42-year-old Austrian, a winner at Roland Garros in 1995, will be playing his first professional match since officially retiring at the 1999 French Open.

Asked why he decided to take part in the tournament, he explained: “I just love to play. I love the competition. It’s not about garnering world ranking points for me.”

Since retiring, Muster has competed throughout Europe on the ATP Champions Tour and on the U.S.-based Champions Series tennis circuit. He said “wants to show my best tennis and see where it will all take me.”

Muster won over $12 million in prize money in his career and claimed 44 career singles titles.

SAM STOSUR PLAYS LIKE A MAN

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By Blair Henley

Francesca Schiavone may have rained on Samantha Stosur’s French Open parade, but the 26-year-old Australian’s run of upsets at Roland Garros this year cemented her status as a new “it-girl” on the women’s tour.

The media took advantage of any opportunity to get to know Stosur in Paris, asking her countless questions about everything from her mindset to her signature sunglasses.

But there’s one more question I would love to know the answer to:

How does it feel to be told you play like a man?

ESPN analyst and former touring pro Mary Carillo made the analogy during Stosur’s match against Justine Henin. After a slow start Stosur proceeded to dominate the four-time French Open champion, kicking in serves that bounced above head-level and running the Belgian relentlessly from side to side with superhuman amounts of spin.

Aussie great Pat Cash was quick to give his opinion after Stosur upset top-seeded Serena Williams in the next round.

“She’s got the perfect game for clay: big, powerful,” he said. “She plays like a man. Big serve and brings a lot of pressure.

On one hand this is the ultimate compliment.

Stosur’s approach to the game is the opposite of dramatic. Her racket bag is like her briefcase. The court is her office, and she’s just there to get the job done. There is no shrieking. There are no obnoxious celebrations. She acts like she’s been there before, even when she hasn’t. She is the antithesis of the many attention-seeking players on the women’s tour.

Add that to the fact that she has an unusually high-bouncing, penetrating kick serve as well as punishing groundstrokes with topspin to spare and it seems like Carillo and Cash have made a fair assessment.

But it just so happens Stosur also looks like she could leg press the weight of my car and beat Mike Tyson in an arm-wrestling contest.

In short, it seems unlikely that such an analogy would have been used if she had a physique more closely resembling ultra-feminine stars Maria Sharapova or Ana Ivanovic.

Even Serena Williams, who has more power behind her shots than just about anyone on the women’s tour is, for the most part, spared that crass comparison. Why is that?

The trouble comes when fans, commentators and even fellow players have difficulty separating the game-style and the person.

Just ask Amelie Mauresmo.

Lindsay Davenport apologized for comments she made after losing to a muscular Mauresmo in the semifinals of the 1999 Australian Open. Davenport said she felt “like she was playing a guy.”

Martina Hingis went even further that same year calling the broad-shouldered Frenchwoman “half a man.” The comment was quickly retracted.

After Stosur steamrolled (man-handled?) Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals at Roland Garros last week, the willowy Serb made similar comments.

“To be honest, she kind of has almost a game like a man,” Jankovic said. “That’s what it feels like. When I look at how the men play, she has a very good kick, which not many women have. It’s very heavy, the spin. And then she runs around the forehand. She’s been very impressive.”

And that is the definition of a backhanded compliment.

Unlike Cash and Carillo’s observations, Jankovic’s words seemed more like an attempt to make excuses at her opponent’s expense for an embarrassingly bad loss.

Interestingly, Davenport and Hingis were blasted in the press for their words over ten years ago, but Jankovic got off scot-free. The two situations differ in only one way. Mauresmo had acknowledged her same-sex preferences to the media prior to the remarks being made.

Sam Stosur has always handled the media with grace. There’s no doubt she would brush off these comments if asked about them directly – heck, she may even be flattered by them. But people should use caution before throwing the gender card around at will.

After all, you’d think twice before telling a guy he plays like a girl, right?