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USTA Serves Offering $395K In College Scholarships To 58 High School Students: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

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By Justin Cohen @JustinCohen44

USTA Serves grants 58 high school students with $395k in scholarships

USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), announced that it will grant 58 high school students a variety of college scholarships totaling $395,000. An objective of USTA Serves is to encourage children to pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens. Each year, USTA Serves awards scholarships to deserving youth who have participated in USTA and other organized youth tennis programs, have demonstrated high academic achievement and require financial assistance for college matriculation. “For many years, USTA Serves has proudly awarded students throughout the country for their outstanding achievements on and off the tennis court,” said Dan Faber, USTA Serves Executive Director. “I am excited that we can play a role toward their continuous excellence in academics, as well as their drive to succeed within this great sport. We look to them as the next great leaders, scholars and champions, and for that, USTA Serves congratulates them on their future endeavors.” The following scholarships will be awarded: Marian Wood Baird Scholarship Award ($15,000), Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship (Students each receive $10,000 award), Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award (Students each receive $10,000 award), Rosalind Walter Scholarship Award (Students each receive $10,000 award), Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship (Students each receive $2,500 award), USTA Serves College Education Scholarship (Students each receive $8,000 award) and USTA Serves College Textbook Scholarship (Students each receive $1,000).

Lanson renewed as official champagne for Wimbledon

Lanson Champagne announced late last week that they will be the official champagne for Wimbledon for another five years. This year sees the 25-year anniversary of the partnership, and to Lanson has launched a series of Wimbledon-themed neoprene jackets to celebrate, along with an exclusive champagne cocktail, Lanson Fraise, created for visitors to this year’s event. Paul Beavis, MD of Lanson International UK said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be continuing our longstanding – and very happy – relationship with the team at the All England Lawn Tennis Club and everyone involved with Wimbledon. “This is undoubtedly the world’s finest tennis event. It is very exciting to be able to continue to be a part of the Wimbledon story and we have ambitious plans to build on its success in the years to come,” added Beavis. Mick Desmond, Commercial Director at The AELTC said: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with Lanson for another five years. We have shared a strong and close working relationship for 25 years.”

The Tennis Show in New York City will not be held in 2013; will return in 2014

The Tennis Show, which debuted in New York City last year just before the US Open, and tied into the 2012 USTA Tennis Teacher’s Conference (TTC), will not be held in 2013. However, the Tennis Show will return to New York in 2014. The TTC, also on hiatus for 2013, will resume in 2014 with expanded plans to provide the best possible learning experience for tennis teachers and coaches. The Tennis Show, coordinated by the Tennis Industry Association and supported by the U.S. Tennis Association and the tennis industry,  was timed to offer the hundreds of Teachers Conference attendees, along with all segments of the industry, a look at upcoming products and services from dozens of tennis companies, organizations and manufacturers. For tennis teachers, coaches and the industry in general, plans are in the works for the industry-supported 2014 Tennis Show to be even bigger and broader event. In addition to the return of the Tennis Show, the TIA Tennis Forum and Tennis Industry Hall of Fame will also return to New York in 2014.

Nadal’s first round loss at Wimbledon sets tournament Twitter record

According to Wimbledon, more people tweeted on Monday about Rafael Nadal’s first round loss to Belgian Steve Darcis – 7,000 tweets per minute – than last year’s men’s final.

Sirius XM to broadcast all of Wimbledon

In developing news from SW19 at Wimbledon, Sirius XM just announced that they will offer up to 13 hours of live Wimbledon coverage daily from 4 a.m. EST through the end of each day’s last match. Matches scheduled to be broadcast on the radio will be from Centre Court as well as several of the side courts. The broadcasts will offer subscribers live coverage through the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Singles Finals on Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7. Listeners can tune in on Sirius Channel 158 and XM Channel 202 and on Channel 963 on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

Former WTA player Jamea Jackson named USTA National Coach

The United States Tennis Association recently announced that former WTA Tour player Jamea Jackson has been hired as a USTA National Coach for Women’s Tennis. Jackson will be based out of the USTA’s Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla. and will start on Monday, July 1. The 26-year-old reached a career-high WTA Ranking of No. 45 before retiring due to injuries just before turning 23. She most recently spent the last four years as the women’s assistant tennis coach at Oklahoma State University, and was a USTA Collegiate Team coach.

Bollettieri, Braden, Wilkinson to be inducted into USPTA Hall of Fame on September 27 in Orlando

Nick Bollettieri, Vic Braden and Steve Wilkinson will be inducted into the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Hall of Fame on September 27 during the USPTA’s national awards luncheon at the World Conference at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Fla. The three legendary coaches will join only 13 others who have already been inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame. “I cannot think of three other tennis-teaching giants who deserve this recognition more than Nick, Vic and Steve,” said USPTA CEO John Embree. “In their own individual ways they have contributed mightily to our mission of elevating the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches across the country and around the world. This will be a special occasion for all.”

USTA Maryland hosting ‘Aces and Bases Night’ at Bowie Baysox baseball game on July 14

USTA Maryland is hosting an “Aces and Bases Night” at the Bowie Baysox vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball game in Bowie, Md., on Sunday, July 14 with the first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. EST. Tickets that usually run from $15-$17 will cost just $10 for USTA Members. Please call Chris Rogers at (301) 464-4813 if you are interested in purchasing tickets. The pre-game tennis fun festivities start at 4 p.m. including a mini-tennis court that adults and children can rally on. Tennis fans planning to attend the game can enter a raffle with a chance to win a driveway tennis kit. Also, the first 500 10 and under kids in attendance will receive free prizes.

Freedoms now accepting applicants for Hamlin Family Foundation Billie Jean King Character Award

The Philadelphia Freedoms are currently accepting applications from youth athletes for the Billie Jean King Character Award. This award provides scholarships to ten selected youths, ages 10-18, who are seeking to become a competitive athlete in any sport, to participate in tournaments or on their school team, and who have displayed outstanding character. The top male and female scholarship recipients will receive a $1,000 scholarship and the second place male and female recipients will each receive a $500 scholarship. The awards will be presented to the recipients by WTT co-founder and Philadelphia Freedoms owner Billie Jean King at a Freedoms home match in July at Villanova University. The objective of the Hamlin Family Foundation-Character Initiative and CITRS is to honor the actions of those who have displayed good character, integrity and fortitude in their lives, and prepare recipients to become mentors and character ambassadors. CITRS is the cornerstone of the Hamlin Family Foundation’s philosophy for character education. Applications are due by Friday, June 28 by 6 p.m. EST and must be submitted along with two (2) letters of recommendation, a short essay regarding the applicant’s demonstration of character, and a CITRS Character Mini-Assessment. For the award application, visit http://www.philadelphiafreedoms.com/teams/freedoms/pictures/2013_BJK_Award_OnlineApp.pdf

Philadelphia Freedoms offering special ticket deals for upcoming matches in July

The Philadelphia Freedoms announced that if you buy a full price box seat for the July 10 match against Andy Roddick and the Springfield Lasers, you will receive a FREE ticket to the Freedoms match on July 17 featuring Top 20 player Sloane Stephens. Other attractions during the July 10 match include an appearance by tennis legend Billie Jean King, debut of the new Freedoms mascot and free junior Wilson tennis racquets for all children in attendance. The Freedoms also announced another special ticket price night set for the July 23 home match against the Boston Freedoms. Tickets for that match are on sale for just $25 for adults and $15 for kids. To order your tickets, please call (866) WTT-TIXS.

TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY now available as an audio book

TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY, the historical novel that narrates the incredible story of two tennis players, Dick Williams and Karl Behr, and how they survived the sinking of the Titanic disaster in 1912 only to play each other in the quarterfinals of the modern-day U.S. Open tennis championships — with the winner going on to stage a major upset victory in the final — is now available for sale as an audio book. Written by Lindsay Gibbs and narrated by Julie Eickhoff, TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY tells a narrative tale of Williams and Behr and their incredible stories of survival from the Titanic disaster. The two tennis standouts amazingly survived the sinking and met each other on the rescue ship Carpathia. Two years later, the two became U.S. Davis Cup teammates and again faced each other in the quarterfinals in the biggest tennis tournament in the country, the U.S. Nationals — the modern-day U.S. Open. The winner went on to become the unexpected singles champion of the tournament, winning their first major singles championship with a final-round upset over the world’s best player Maurice McLoughlin – the Roger Federer of this era in tennis. The audio version is available on Amazon.com for $17.46 and also on Audible.com and iTunes.

Federer Beats Djokovic To Reach Eighth Wimbledon Final…As Told Via Twitter!

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By Randy Walker

 

Roger Federer is looking to continue to re-write the tennis history books.

The Swiss advanced into the Wimbledon final for the eighth time – and his first since 2009 – defeating world No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 under a closed roof on Centre Court.

He is now one match away from carving his name deeper into tennis history.

If he wins Sunday’s final, he will join Pete Sampras and Willie Renshaw from the 1880s as the only men to win seven Wimbledon titles. He and Renshaw will share the distinction of being the only men to play in eight Wimbledon men’s singles finals. With a Wimbledon title, Federer will also overtake Djokovic in the No. 1 ranking and equal and eventually break Sampras’ record of 286 weeks as the top-ranked player. A title on Sunday will also be his 17th major singles title, extending his record when he won his 15th major singles title at Wimbledon in 2009, moving past Sampras, who won 14 major singles titles.

”There’s obviously a lot on the line for me in terms of winning here, the all-time Grand Slam record, world No. 1,” Federer said to the BBC following his win over Djokovic.. ”I’m also going into that match with some pressure, but I’m excited about it. That’s what I play for.”

Here’s how the match unfolded on Twitter, via my Twitter handle/profile @TennisPublisher that lays out how the match unfolded via the powerful social network, with New York times associated with each tweet.

Roger Federer
Roger Federer

 

6:46 am Djokovic, Federer’s matches with Nadal featured in “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” by Steve Flink http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094… ‪#Wimbledon

7:03 am “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” the book by Rene Stauffer, who has cover Roger since he was 15 years old http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …

7:03 am Hannah Storm on ESPN calls Jo-Wilfried Tsonga “the forgotten man”‪#Wimbledon

7:04 am “This is goosebump city. This era of tennis has been off the charts.” Patrick McEnroe on ESPN on today’s Wimbledon semifinals

7:06 am “Never underestimate the greatness of Roger Federer.” Patrick McEnroe on ESPN www.RogerFedererBook.com

7:08 am “He (Roger Federer) needs a little extra to win this match today.” Patrick McEnroe on Federer-Djokovic ‪#Wimbledon

7:16 am Last Brit to reach the Wimby men’s final was Bunny Austin in 1938. He got crushed by Don Budge 61 60 63. “Never played better” said Budge

7:31 am “Novak Djokovic has the best return of serve I have ever seen,” says Brad Gilbert. High praise from a guy who coached Agassi, played Connors

7:40 am The Novak Djokovic return of serve rated No. 3 all time by Steve Flink “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&ref_=sr_1_1&keywords=The%20Greatest%20Tennis%20Matches%20of%20all%20time&qid=1341574733&sr=8-1

7:45 am “A cameraman actually bumped him,” Hannah Storm says on ESPN, just after showing scene of Andy Murray arriving at AELTC

7:48 am ESPN’s PMcEnroe says indoor conditions on Centre Court will favor Murray, he is used to those conditions, atmosphere, crowd will be into it.

7:49 am RT ‏@alex_willis Because of the drizzle, Murray and Tsonga are warming up indoors. #Wimbledon

8:02 am I believe that was Prince Andrew they showed in Royal Box as Federer and Djokovic took the court….

8:01 am “This is Federer’s house…this is his greatest oppt.” – @darren_cahill‪#Wimbledon ‪#ESPN10s

8:02 am Federer wins the coin toss, elects to serve

8:10 am RT @crosscourt1 Royal Box: Prince Andrew, Laver, Sedgman, Patty, Santana, Taylor, Woodforde, Forget, Ivanisevic,David Frost, Kylie Minogue

8:14 am 1st Wimbledon/grass meeting btwn Djokovic, Federer “That’s sort of the unknown” says ESPNs Fowler. “That’s the X-factor,” says Pat McEnroe

8:16 am McEnroe saying on ESPN that court seems slippery, perhaps because of humidity, would favor Federer since Nole relies on his movement.

8:20 am “Good news for Federer fans is that he is moving well early here. He’s going to have to,” John McEnroe on ESPN

8:22 am RT @PaulFMcNamee Novak slipped again…not used to being in green areas behind baseline!

8:24 am 50 YEARS AGO TODAY Rod Laver wins #Wimbledon in 53-minute, 62 62 61 win  over Marty Mulligan, captures third leg of his first Grand Slam

8:25 am Rod Laver’s memoir available here: “The Education of a Tennis Player” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 … via @amazon

8:26 am “On This Day in Tennis History: A Day-by-Day Anthology” by Randy Walker http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …

8:27 am Federer breaks serve for 4-2 as Djokovic seems to have trouble with his footing.

8:27 am RT @NeilHarmanTimes Djoko compounds the slip by netting a relatively routine backhand. The Fed takes a 4-2 lead. So needs to win this set

8:29 am “It’s feeling a bit like an old school grass court match” quick points, easy service games says Patrick McEnroe on ESPN. Federer leads 5-2

8:31 am “This has been bang bang tennis so far,” say Patrick McEnroe. Djokovic serves with new balls, down 2-5.

8: 32 am Patrick McEnroe hinting on ESPN that more royalty may attend the tennis later today. The Queen perhaps? Federer now serves for set at 5-3.

8:34 am “23 minutes, 3 set points. Just what the doctor ordered for Federer,” says John McEnroe. Federer hits forehand winner, wins first set 6-3.

8:37 am “I think he needs to change the tempo of how this match is being played,” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe says of Novak Djokovic.

8:38 am Patrick McEnroe suggests that Djokovic take something off his first serve and get into some rallies and change the rhythm of match.

8:40 am RT @Wimbledon Tense atmosphere on Centre just broken with one of the crowd declaring their undying love for Roger #Wimbledon

8:44 am Djokovic breaks Federer for 2-0 in second set, after long baseline exchange. Novak stretches his lead to 3-0 after holding serve.

8:45 am RT @Dougrobson Djokovic really stepped it up those last two games, more urgency, purpose in in play. Leads 3-0. #wimbledon

8:47 am Glad that @Federer_Swiss likes my tweets! You should also follow @DaveESPNPR as well

8:49 am “He’s got it going now with the return,” says JMcEnroe of Nole “Strength vs. Strength” says ESPN’s Fowler, Federer serve vs. Djokovic return

8:50 am RT ‏@rolandgarros Fed leads 14-12 in their head-to-heads. 5-5 in Grand Slams. The player winning the 1st set won 22 times out of 26

8:50 am RT @Ringham7 Big momentum swing with Djoko’s ace giving him 4-1 in second set. One set down

8:51 am RT @Mike_Dickson_DM Murray currently warming up indoors across the road, Tsonga on next court. Drier weather expected after 3pm. Important.

8:54 am Luke Donald, the No 1 golfer in the world who curiously has never won a major title, in the Royal Box. #Wimbledon

9:02 am “How did Mansour Bahrami and Henri Leconte get invited to the Royal Box and not you?” Patrick McEnroe asks brother John on ESPN

9:03 am  John McEnroe then answers Chris Fowler and says he has never sat in the Royal Box

9:04 am RT ‏@darren_cahill Conditions are significantly quicker with the roof closed. Federer & Djokovic 6/3 3/6 in 54 minutes. Turbo tennis #ESPN10s

9:08 am 50 yrs ago today, Laver needs 53 minutes to beat Mulligan in Wimbledon final with no TV sitdown changeovers. 54 min for 2 sets w/ Fed, Nole

9:10 RT @bgtennisnation I picked Djoker in 4 to start the match was not feeling to confy after 1st set though about my pick

9:14 am “Right there he could taste the break,” says John McEnroe as Federer goes for winner, but misses forehand wide on break point at 0-1

9:16 am “That’s a good hold.” says John McEnroe as Novak holds for 1-1, saying he expects pace of play to slow down as magnitude of match grows.

9:17 am RT ‏@Ringham7 @TennisPublisher Laver only needed 59 mins to beat Roche in 1968 final. Remember seeing it on clock

9:19 am RT @JeffSalzenstein Wimbledon: Federer vs Djokovic in marquee semi-final http://awe.sm/k0JSV #Tennis #Sports #News

9:23 am Heard recently that the founder of New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com ) actually once fired Anna Wintour from a job

9:24 am New Chapter Press is the publisher of the Roger Federer book “Quest for Perfection” available at www.RogerFedererBook.com

9:25 am RT @ValerieDavid Easy hold for Rog, up 3-2. Djokovic does not look completely settled, so he needs to keep pushing. #federer #Wimbledon #djokovic

9:29 am Point of the match. Fed misses another forehand wide on break point after ridiculous baseline rally, that included a squash shot from Fed.

9:30 am 23-stroke rally says Chris Fowler on ESPN of the break point that Djokovic just escaped from. Remember that, he says.

9:33 am “Backhand to backhand duel…gives Federer another break point,” says Fowler on ESPN

9:34 am Federer misses backhand on break point. “Game on” Patrick McEnroe says what both Federer-Djokovic are sensing.

9:36 am “Djokovic escapes.The best game of the match so far,” – Fowler “That was a fantastic game. Wow. This is what we came to see.” says JMcEnroe

9:38 RT @Tennisfan24 Federer holds comfortably, up 4-3! Getting to the tighter stages of the set now. Allez Roger!!

9:43 am New York Sportimes World Team Tennis action starts Tuesday, July 10 at Randall’s Island www.NYSportimes.com for tickets. Come see me there!

9:44 am “How big is this point” says PMcEnroe. 4-4, 30-30. Federer loses it. Break point for Nole

9:46 am Federer saves break point as Nole misses chipped forward return. Anticipated backhand return. Two service winners, Fed holds for 5-4.

9:47 RT @cwsesno Stat check: Federer has lost just seven points on serve in 3rd set.

9:51 am Nole saves set point with forehand up-the-line winner. Fed then hits overhead winner to seize third set 6-4, leads two sets to one.

9:53 am RT @rennaestubbs wow Fed up 2 sets to 1. Awesome set point! no mistakes from Fed on his over head! @DjokerNole might regret the one he missed.#lookinggood

9:54 am RT ‏@christophclarey Great to see overheads decide a set on grass: Djokovic missed his in retreat. Federer made his. Old school over new #Wimbledon

9:55 am Roger Federer has No. 4 rated overhead of all time by Steve Flink in “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …

9:56 am RT @Barry_FlatmanST Only 1 hr 44 mins played. So Djoko has plenty of gas left in tank if its a matter of endurance. Remember Fed lost from 2 sets up last year

9:58 am Nole-Fed contrasts. Steve Flink rates Federer forehand, serve among best ever and Djokovic backhand, serve return among best ever

9:59 am Djokovic with bad backhand cross court error and Federer has 0-40 edge up 1-0 in fourth

10:00 am “That’s a terrible game from Djokovic…four errors,” says Fowler on ESPN. Federer breaks for 2-0 in the fourth set

10:02 am Nole-Fed contrasts. Steve Flink rates Federer forehand, serve among best ever and Djokovic backhand, serve return among best ever

10:03 am Federer holds for 3-0 in 4th set. Close to getting more ink in this book “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257707?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257707&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&keywords=The%20Bud%20Collins%20history%20of%20tennis&qid=1341583367&sr=1-1 #Wimbledon

10:05 am July 6, 2003: Roger Federer wins a major tournament for the first time, defeating Mark Philippoussis 76(5) 62 76(3) www.TennisHistoryBook.com

10:07 am RT @bgtennisnation Djoker in a world of trouble and Fedfan in such a great rythem ,also the court does look quicker indoors @ESPN10s

10:07 am RT @BenRothenberg Good stat from Patrick McEnroe: the men’s Wimbledon champion has ended the year at No. 1 each of the last eight years. #Wimbledon

10:08 am RT ‏@Wimbledon If Federer wins 17th Slam title Sunday he’ll regain No. 1 ranking. He’s only 1 week off leveling Sampras’ 286 week all-time record. #FedDjo

10:09 am Federer has won 73 percent of his second serve points, says Patrick McEnroe on ESPN, says it is most amazing stat of match

10:10 am RT @darren_cahill Never seen Federer hit his backhand this confidently. Needs to make the most of this dip in intensity from Novak. Roger 22/30 2nd serve key

10:11 am RT @NovakFanClub RT @Wimbledon: Federer cruising. Holds to love to lead Djokovic 6-3 3-6 6-4 4-1. #FedDjo #Wimbledon

10:12 am “He doesn’t seem like he has the energy he normally does,” says John McEnroe of Djokovic.

10:13 am  John McEnroe says on ESPN he thinks Nole’s still thinking about missed return on break point at 4-4 in third set.

10:14 am “He has just been ruthless off that wing today,” says Patrick McEnroe of the Federer  forehand www.RogerFedererBook.com

10:17 am “Talking about the greatest individual shots of all time, the Serena serve. Federer forehand,” says JMcEnroe, echoing exact Flink ratings

10:18 am Djokovic digs out of 0-40 hole, holds serve for 2-4. Federer now serving with new balls.

10:19 am 16 years ago today, Todd Martin lost from 5-1 up in the fifth set vs. Mal Washington in Wimbledon semis, so you never know what can happen

10:21 am July 6, 2001: Two points from defeat, Patrick Rafter defeats Andre Agassi 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6 in the semifinals of #Wimbledon.

10:22 am   ‏RT @jon_wertheim Federer a game from the final. Andy Murray and Tsonga inserting mouthpieces as we speak…

10:26 am RT @christophclarey Roger Federer, ladies and gentlemen, is serving for a place in the#Wimbledon final & one of his biggest victories

10:30 am RT @TennisReporters Djokovic forced return forehand error & Fed upsets Djokovic 63 36 64 63 to reach 8th Wimby final. Impressive, comprehensive win

10:31 RT @WeAreTennis 8th! Majestic Roger ‪#Federer beats ‪#Djokovic 6/3 3/6 6/4 6/3 to reach his 8th ‪#Wimbledon final. ‪#Tennis

10:31 RT @SunSportNow Roger Federer beats No1 seed Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 to reach Wimbledon final. ‪#Wimbledon

10:31 RT @AdamBatesSport 106th career final, a record 24th Grand Slam final, a record 8th‪#Wimbledon final. Roger Federer: the best of the best.

10:31 RT @CrossCourt1 Roger Federer has become the first man in history to reach an 8th Wimbledon final. He defeated titleholder Novak Djokovic 63 36 64 63

10:34RT @FedererLive Roger is one match away from his 17th Grand Slam title, and he is 725 points away from the World #1 ranking.

10:36 am Read about Roger Federer’s Wimbledon finals now by downloading “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” on KINDLE now http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00 …

10:36 “I don’t know why anything that Roger Federer does surprises me,“ John McEnroe on ESPN ‪#Wimbledon

10:37 am “(Federer) wanted it more than Djokovic,” ESPN’s John McEnroe, sounding like Skip Bayless. Did Mark Cuban watch the match?

10:38 am “I have a tough task ahead of me. There’s a lot on the line for me. …That’s what I play for.” Federer to the BBC on the final

10:39 am “Obviously, I am estatic. I was playing some fantastic tennis today. The third set was obviously the key to the match,” Federer to the BBC

10:40 am “Of course it feels great..This is what you want to playing for… the Wimbledon trophy.” Roger Federer post-match to the BBC

10:49 am “From that point on, (Novak) was not the same player” ESPN’s Brad Gilbert of the missed chipped forehand return at 4-4, break point, 3rd set

 

 

2010 US Open One of the Most Successful Tournaments in History: This Week in Tennis Business

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By Justin Cohen

  • On Tuesday, the USTA announced that the 2010 US Open was one of the most successful tournaments in history, as Rafael Nadal became the seventh male player in history to capture the career Grand Slam after beating Novak Djokovic in four sets to win the singles title on Monday. Just a couple days earlier, Kim Clijsters extended her winning streak in New York to 21-matches after capturing her third US Open title by defeating Vera Zvonareva in straight sets. Clijsters, who has won the US Open crown the last three years she has competed, earned $2.2 million in total prize money, which is tied for the biggest purse in women’s sports history, the same total she earned in 2005 after winning her first title at the US Open. For the fourth consecutive year, attendance topped 700,000 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, with an overall total of 712, 976 watching the final grand slam tournament of the year. USOpen.org, the official website of the tournament, exceeded 12.4 million unique visitors, which is the second highest in history, while total visits to the website reached more than 40 million for just the second time in tournament history. Throughout the tournament, the official Facebook fan page grew by 33 percent and since the conclusion of the 2009 tournament, it has grown 312 percent. The US Open official Twitter page grew by 51 percent over the two week tournament and by 158 percent since the conclusion of the 2009 tournament.
  • Mary Joe Fernandez’s contract as U.S. Fed Cup Captain has been extended through the 2012 season. In her first two seasons as captain, Fernandez has lead the team to the Fed Cup finals in back-to-back years for the first time since the United States won the titles in consecutive years in 1999 and 2000. Last season, the Americans lost on the road on clay to Italy but can get revenge in November when they host the same Italian team in San Diego on an indoor hardcourt. “For the first time in ten years, the U.S. has reached the finals of the Fed Cup in two consecutive years,” said Lucy S. Garvin, the USTA President and Chairman of the Board. “We are incredibly proud of Mary Joe Fernandez and what she has accomplished as the captain of the Fed Cup. She has the respect and the admiration of her team as well as the USTA. And I am very pleased to announce that the USTA is extending Mary Joe’s contract for 2011 and 2012. We are delighted that she is staying on board with us.”

    Rafael Nadal
  • Patrick McEnroe resigned as U.S. Davis Cup Captain after 10 seasons during a news conference at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, site of the US Open. McEnroe said that he was stepping down because he needed to focus his attention on his current position as General Manager of the Player Development Program at the USTA. McEnroe, who has a 16-9 record as Captain, will retain his captaincy through the upcoming tie between the U.S. and Colombia in Bogota from September 17-19. “It’s mixed emotions for me because of what Davis Cup has meant to me for 10 years, to the players that have supported it,” said McEnroe. “But I feel now is a good time for a transition. I can focus on my professional energies, player development and will obviously still be involved with the team, who plays, and supporting guys that are part of the team.”
  • FedEx Corporation, the world’s largest air-cargo carrier, has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the ATP World Tour, becoming a platinum sponsor. FedEx will sponsor 17 tournaments throughout 12 countries. The Memphis, Tenn., based company will get marketing rights and become the official carrier of the ATP World Tour.
  • Martina Hingis, who is possibly considering coming out of retirement to play doubles only on the WTA Tour, has signed a new multi-year deal with Yonex racquets.
  • The USTA announced that Wilson Racquet Sports has extended its support of the USTA and will continue as the official ball of the US Open in a new long-term deal. Throughout the world’s largest annual sporting event, more than 90,000 Wilson tennis balls are used. Under the terms of the new agreement, Wilson will provide a wide range of support for the USTA’s professional tennis and player development programs. “Wilson has been a tremendous partner of the USTA for more than thirty years, and this new agreement exemplifies their continued commitment to tennis,” said Lucy S. Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA.  “Throughout our long partnership, the purchase of Wilson US Open products has directly funded—through its licensing royalties—the USTA’s mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis.”
  • The city of Charleston, S.C., was named the winner of the USTA’s “Best Tennis Town” for the year 2010 and was awarded with a check of $100,000 to be used towards community tennis programming or facility enhancements. After an online voting period from July 16 to July 26, Charleston beat out Atlanta, Ga., and Richmond, Va., to earn the title in the USTA’s second nationwide search for the best tennis community. Atlanta finished as first runner-up and won a $50,000 check from the USTA, while Richmond finished as second runner-up and earned a $25,000 check.
  • On September 7, new rules had been passed for 10-and-under tournaments in USTA sanctioned events and will take effect on January 1, 2012. The new rules will require that 10-and-under tournaments be played using slower-moving and lower-balls, on smaller courts and players must play with shorter, lighter racquets. “We’re very excited about what this change means to the future of tennis in the United States,” said Lucy S. Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA, and Chairman of the US Open. “Competition is an important element of learning and growing the game, and now all children 10 and under will have the proper platform with which to compete.” The specifications for the revised rule says that all tournaments for those aged 9-10 be played on 60-foot courts using orange low compression tennis balls and regulation nets (3 feet at the center) or, for those more experienced and more skilled players, on 78-foot courts with green lower-compression balls. Tournaments for those 8 and under are to be played on 36-foot courts using red foam balls and nets at a height of 2 feet, 9 inches. “Competition is at the very heart of our sport,” said Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, USTA Player Development. “And learning how to play tennis the right way, with the right strokes and the proper technique, is beneficial for kids both now and into the future, whether they pursue the game recreationally or at the very highest levels.”
  • Seven tennis facilities throughout the United States were honored during the 29th annual USTA Facility Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country. Libbey Park Tennis Complex in Ojai, Calif., and Palm Coast Tennis Center in Palm Coast, Fla., was the winners for the small public tennis centers (2-10 courts). Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education in Philadelphia was the winner in the large public tennis center (11 courts or more). Lakes Tennis Academy in Frisco, Texas and Courtside Club (USTA Featured Facility) in Los Gatos, Calif., was the winners for the private facilities. Gable Tennis Complex in Culver, Ind., and Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, Calif., were the winners for the Educational Institutions. “These facilities have gone above and beyond to create a superior tennis experience for their patrons and community at large,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive of Community Tennis of the USTA.  “We are proud to honor each of their achievements and applaud their devotion to the sport.” Each facility was honored on September 5 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City at the USTA semiannual meeting during the meeting of the Technical Committee.
  • Paul Annacone, who was recently hired as Roger Federer’s full-time coach, has resigned from his position as head of men’s tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association effective immediately.
  • Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been re-elected as the President and Vice President of the ATP Player Council after a vote at the ATP players’ meeting at the US Open. The player council is made up of the following: Federer (President), Nadal (Vice President), Yves Allegro, Eric Butorac, Ashley Fisher, Fernando Gonzalez, Peter Luczak, Jarkko Nieminen, Sam Querrey, Nenad Zimonjic, Claudio Pistolesi (Coach), and Ignacio Hirigoyen (Alumni).
  • Serena Williams, who has not played since winning Wimbledon due to injury, told the Associated Press on Monday that she is back practicing again. The World No. 1 and 13-time Grand Slam singles champion, who missed the recent US Open in New York, hopes to return before the end of the season in time to play the Fed Cup final against Italy in November. “Hopefully sooner rather than later,” said Williams. “I really can’t wait to get back more than ever.”
  • Australian legend Ken Rosewall was honored at the US Open in the Court of Champions at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday when a plaque was unveiled paying tribute to his accomplishments to his US Open achievements. Rosewall won the US Championships in 1956 as an amateur and the US Open 14 years later in 1970 as a professional.
  • Aleskandra Wozniak will be sidelined for the rest of the season with an ongoing wrist injury. Wozniak lost in the opening round at the US Open to qualifier Sally Peers.

CYNTHIA LUM: WHAT’S THE BIGGER STORY, THE QUEEN AT WIMBLEDON OR ISNER BEATING MAHUT?

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OH MY WORD!  Where do I start. Thursday was an insanely busy day at the All England Club. The Queen and the conclusion of the John Isner/Nicolas Mahut.  Which is the bigger story?

Let’s start with the Queen.  Never, have I seen so many people set a twitter over a visit from the Queen. I know this is a big deal as it’s her first visit in 33 years.  I think it’s obvious that she is probably not a huge tennis fan, but the royalty of Wimbledon tennis, including the top four seeds on both sides of the draw, with three-time Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick, filling  in for Andy Murray who could not participate because of his scheduled match.  Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova were also included in the group.

I chose not to try to photograph her in the crush of fans as she was escorted through the grounds.  It was a mad scene of subjects and photographers trying to get a glimpse of her and snap a photo.

I decided that I was much better off to wait and take photos from the photographer’s pit where I had a good view of the Royal Box.  Dressed in a turquoise coat, and elaborate, matching hat she did indeed look quite royal and seemed to enjoy watching Andy Murray defeat Jarkko Nieminen.

The tradition of the men bowing and women dropping into a curtsy to the royal box was dropped in 2003, however Murray and Nieminen, revived the tradition by bowing when the entered and departed.  It was reported that the Williams sisters also honored the queen with a curtsy when they met her in the players enclosure.

What do I think about all this?  Hmmm well, I don’t want to get into trouble here, but I’m not one to get overly caught up in the romanticism of the monarchy. I never dreamed of growing up and being swept away by a prince on a white horse, but it is rather quaint and I know the Brits love their traditions and all the pomp and circumstance.

Frankly I’m glad we’re done with it. The queen’s visit has been a huge topic of conversation the last couple of days. All the photographers were trying to plan, figure out, and jockey for the best place to get photos, stressing out about security guards surrounding her so there wouldn’t be a clear view and on and on until I had too put on my iPod and retreat into my private musical world. Truth is, I have a hard time getting too excited about this sort of thing.

What I am excited about is John Isner finally winning the longest match in tennis history!  OH MY WORD. When they got to 68-all I was convinced that I was right about the twilight zone. The match was really going to go on forever.

I decided to spend the first part of the match on Henman Hill watching the match on the giant screen with the real fans. The atmosphere there was fantastic!  At one point, the TV cameras trained on the fans. Everyone jumped up and down waving. The girl next to me shouted, “Look there’s my arm! My arm is on TV!”  Really fun. Those people are definitely having more fun than the ones who paid a fortune for a seat on show court 18.

I was thinking about that yesterday. There we were at an amazing incredible match, both players giving their all, and there was no atmosphere. Polite applause was all they were getting. Is Andy Murray the only thing these fans can get excited about?

So, in the end, the match took a total of 11 hours and five minutes and spanned three days without Wimbledon’s famous rain delays. They went for 167 straight games without a service break and finished with a score of 70-68.

I’ll close with this quote from Isner. Ask by a reporter about his statement that it was like a dream, he replied, “I think it really is better than a dream because you can’t even dream of something like this.”

– Cynthia

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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.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR BRITISH TENNIS?

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By Melina Harris

As Andy Murray trained under the honeyed, cerulean Californian skies in preparation for the first Masters 1000 event of the year in Indian Wells, his fellow Great British team mates arguably suffered the most humiliating defeat in Britain’s Davis Cup history; losing 3-2 to Lithuania in the Europe/Africa Zone Group II.

The British media has been literally firing outrage since Sunday’s loss at the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), which has had a considerable sum of money at its disposal for years, due to the substantial profits amassed through the Wimbledon Championships every year. For instance, Mark Hodgkinson of the Daily Telegraph spat venomously, ‘There are at least 29 million reasons why the LTA’s officials should have been burning with embarrassment in the Baltic last night. Britain’s governing body, received more than 29 million pounds ($44 million) from the surplus of last summer’s Wimbledon championships and has had that sort of money at their disposal for years, yet could not beat a Lithuanian team of teenagers with a budget of less than 100,000 pounds a year.”

John Lloyd, Great Britain’s team captain has come under attack after five consecutive losses under his leadership and the loss of Murray, adding more fuel to the speculative fire that Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman or even Murray’s coach Miles Maclaghan should take over the reins of our nation’s team. Lloyd told the BBC “We’ll see about my future, it’s too early yet. We’ll just have to see how it goes in the next few days. I said it was going to be a rebuilding process. I would have liked to start with this win but it hasn’t happened.”

Significantly Rusedski’s ‘Twitter’ account read shortly after the loss, “Cannot believe we have lost to Lithuania in the Davis Cup. Unbelievable’ with a retweet of Mr Lloyd’s rather pathetic statement to the BBC: “it was a 50-50 sort of match before the start and they were the better team” directly underneath. Reading between the lines, was Greg attempting to highlight the pitiful negative thinking coming from Lloyd? Indeed, if our own captain believed we only had a 50-50 chance of winning the tie and expressed these sentiments even subconsciously to the team, then it’s hardly surprising they crippled under the pressure without Murray, who sent his best wishes via the site stating: “Good luck to the British boys today. Hitting this morning but got Wardy’s match up on laptop by the court” and tweeted during the deciding rubber, “Just found it on some weird channel on internet. 2 love in the fourth.” I wonder whether Murray feels just a ‘wee’ bit guilty for leaving the lads in the lurch however we must not forget that it was Roger Draper, the LTA’s chief executive who actually encouraged Murray not to compete.

So whose fault is it really? Is it fair to lump the responsibility for the “Death of British Tennis” on Andy Murray, who is single-handedly doing more for its image than the rest of the LTA put together? What is more beneficial to British tennis, a win in the Davis Cup or Murray eventually winning a major by focusing on the main tour events? If the Davis Cup were to be dumped in favor of the Tennis World Cup, then perhaps he could combine the two. Significantly, the International Tennis Federation has announced plans to pay participants in the 2010 Davis Cup considerably more than in the past in response to the threat of the World Cup. Could this inspire Murray to compete? Or do we need a more charismatic captain and patriotic chief executive to lure him back into the fold?

Draper has ordered an urgent internal review stating, “I share the deep disappointment and frustration at this result. Five defeats in a row is unacceptable. So I have asked the LTA player director, Steven Martens to review last week’s performance and result and report back to me and the LTA main board as soon as possible. That review needs to be swift and decisive as it is clear some real improvements need to be made.” Couldn’t Draper take a look himself? It’s hardly rocket science. Perhaps it is this kind of delegation of responsibilities that has led the LTA into this mess, for there has undoubtedly been a series of miscalculations with a colossal amount of money misspent.

As Leigh Sanders reported here on TennisGrandstand.com http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/6050 Mark Petchey, Sky Sports presenter and former coach of Andy Murray, revealed his belief that the money spent on just one national training centre in Roehampton in London has been a glaring fault under the leadership of Draper. He believed instead that “what we needed right then was 30 centres around the country to get a catchment area from every region, every county” and went on to say “if you’re playing in Scotland for example, trying to get to a tennis centre with decent courts etc. is impossible. This money needs to be invested around the country, it’s that simple.”

Clive Carrigan, head of the Professional Tennis Registry in the UK took a more sympathetic approach to the loss stating “As disappointing as the result is there is no other way these guys are going to get adjusted to this type of pressure. Ultimately, it was a pretty new team and they lost by the odd break over five matches. Just because we are playing a relatively small nation in tennis terms doesn’t mean their players can’t play. We need to stick with the young guys and build a team for the future.” However, it cannot go unnoticed that our lack of strength in depth in the men’s game is abysmal in view of the millions spent on building British tennis.

Regarding the LTA’s budget, I would have to agree with Petchey, as throughout my years involved as a county player within the LTA system as a junior, I have continually witnessed the way LTA funding has been concentrated on a few players in selected areas and often these players already have funding from wealthy parents anyway. I do not doubt that we have the sporting talent in Britain, but many are not picked up at a young age and without the financial backing of wealthy parents do not have a hope in hell of succeeding through the system in the UK. There needs to be a radical restructuring of the way money is spent in Britain. Public courts around the country are left in disrepair, empty and forlorn while clubs are elitist and expensive. Employ top coaches on public courts in poorer areas and perhaps we may find our strength in depth and the players with the desire and fight of the Lithuanians.

Great Britain’s task is now to avoid an unthinkable relegation to Europe/Africa Zone Group III, the lowest tier of the competition and will meet Turkey in a play off in July, but the question on everyone’s mind is who will have the guts to take over? Who has the courage to lead our Davis Cup team on an “Everest-esque” climb back up to where we belong?

According to Boris Becker, who recently served briefly as Germany’s Davis Cup manager more than ten years ago and now lives a stone’s throw from Wimbledon, there is only one man for the job, the one name that will forever be etched into the consciousness of every British tennis supporter or this generation: our beloved Tim Henman, who he described as ‘a big role model’ thus capable of taking on the role. He believes Tim could communicate better with the young team as “It’s very difficult to speak the language of the kids today. You have to be not too far away from them in years to have some sort of communication with them. I think Tim would have that, plus he was a great player”.

Perhaps this is Henman’s chance to make amends for putting us through sheer hell every June: a slice of divine justice? However, it is known that he intended to take a few years off from tennis before making any kind of return and believes the Captain’s role is a thankless task, thus could Greg be the man left for the job? But according to sources, Greg is not exactly Murray’s favorite and let’s be honest where would the team be without our main man? Furthermore, LTA player director, Steve Martens has said “We have made no direct contact at all (with Rusedski)” but did go on to describe him as a “fantastic coach”. What about Miles Maclaghan? I cannot honestly foresee him giving up his integral role as coach to Murray any time in the near future.  It’s certainly a fascinating choice for the LTA who cannot afford to make yet another mistake.

Melina Harris is a freelance sports writer, book editor, English tutor and PTR qualified tennis coach. For more information and contact details please visit and subscribe to her website and blog at http://www.thetenniswriter.wordpress.com and follow her twitter updates via http://www.twitter.com/thetenniswriter.   She is available for freelance writing, editing and one to one private teaching and coaching.