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CLIJSTERS SIGNS WITH AA; NADAL ENDORSES COOKIES: THIS WEEK IN TENNIS BUSINESS

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By Justin Cohen

  • Kim Clijsters signed a new partnership deal with AA Drink, a sports energy drink. “The physical demands in tennis increase all the time” said Clijsters. “A perfect sports drink is essential: before, during and after training sessions and matches. Energy, endurance, recovery, that is where it is all about.”
  • Rafael Nadal has signed an endorsement deal with Quely, a cookie and bakery products company. Nadal became the new brand ambassador on January 1, 2010.
  • Yanina Wickmayer signed a three-year partnership deal with Belgian telecommunications company Telenet.
  • In late December in a Buenos Aires court, former French Open finalist Mariano Puerta declared for bankruptcy. After testing positive for a banned substance during his French Open run, Puerta was suspended for two years and had to pay back more than $800,000 in tournament prize money. Since returning to the ATP World Tour to play in challenger and futures events, Puerta has earned a current ranking of No. 312 and won only $20,000 in the 2009 season.
  • Roger Federer was named by Sports Illustrated as the “Athlete of the Decade.”  Serena Williams finished ninth on the list. Federer was also voted the “European Athlete of the Year” for the fifth time and the “Champion of Champions” by The Independent.
  • Former World No. 1 Justine Henin made a winning return during her highly anticipated Sony Ericsson WTA Tour comeback by defeating Top 20 player Nadia Petrova, 7-5, 7-5, in the first round in Brisbane. “It’s only the beginning,” said Henin. “I have been waiting for this moment for so long. I am so happy about what I did on the court.”
  • For a second year in a row, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event in Auckland was the subject of protests against Shahar Peer’s participation in the tournament. Ten people took part in the protest, down from 20 last year. Tournament officials increased security for this year’s event.
  • Former Top 15 player Younes El Aynaoui will retire from the ATP World Tour following his participation in this week’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha.
  • Australian Open wildcards have been announced with the men’s wildcards going to Ryan Harrison, Bernard Tomic, Jason Kubler, Carsten Ball and Nick Lindhal. Justine Henin, Alicia Molik, Olivia Rogowska, Casey Dellacqua and Coco Vandeghwe earned wildcards for the women’s event. The French reciprocal and Asian wildcard are still pending for both the men’s and women’s main draw event.
  • Roger Federer announced that he will not participate in Switzerland’s Davis Cup tie against Spain, which will be played on red clay. Federer mentioned that he is reluctant to play on the red clay before the Masters 1000 hard court events in Indian Wells and Miami.
  • Andy Murray announced that he will not play in Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Lithuania in March. “It’s important we get back up the groups in the Davis Cup over the next few years,” said Murray. “We have a talented young players who need Davis Cup experience to help with their career development. My focus in 2010 is on performing well in the Masters events and improving my record in the Grand Slams.”
  • Former French Open champion Yannick Noah was voted for the fifth straight year as France’s favorite celebrity by French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.
  • Vera Zvonareva will now be coached by Antonio Van Grichen following a successful month-long trial period in December. “These past weeks have gone well, she’s coming back from ankle surgery,” Van Grichen told Jornal do Tenis. “She’s highly motivated, I’m highly motivated.” Van Grichen previously coached Victoria Azarenka.
  • British tabloids report that Andy Murray purchased a $160,000 Ferrari during the off-season.
  • Novak Djokovic will be featured as Aleksandar in a 10-part Serbian mini-series about Yugoslav King Aleksandar Karadjordjevic. Djokovic’s younger brother Dordje will play Aleksandar as a younger man.
  • Roger Federer and Serena Williams were named International Tennis Federation Singles World Champions, while Bob and Mike Bryan and Serena and Venus Williams were named Doubles World Champions.
  • 2009 US Open champion Kim Clijsters was named “Belgian Sportswoman of the Year.”
  • Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2009 French Open champion, was voted in a nationwide poll as the “Russian Female Athlete of the Year.”
  • 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro was named “Argentine Sports Personality of the Year” by the Argentine press.
  • Nicolas Lapentti was named “Ecuador Sportsman of the Year” by Ecuador newspaper poll.
  • Aleksandra Wozniak was named the “Canadian Female Athlete of the Year” by the Canadian Press. Wozniak joins Carling Bassett and Helen Kelesi as the only tennis players to win the award.
  • Ana Ivanovic has hired fitness trainer Damian Prasad. Prasad formerly worked with the Australian Institute of Sport tennis program and pros Nicolas Kiefer and Nadia Petrova.
  • The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, R.I., announced that all children ages 16 and under will be offered complimentary admission throughout 2010.