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USTA Addresses USPTA Takeover Rumors

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WorldTennisMagazine.com has obtained a letter sent from USTA President Jon Vegosen and USTA Executive Director Gordon Smith to the National Board of Directors of the USPTA regarding erroneous rumors that the USTA was looking to take over the country’s largest tennis-teaching organization. The letter can be seen here (USTA Response to USPTA April 2012) or below.

Dear USPTA Board of Directors:

The United States Tennis Association believes it is important that it weigh in on the many unsubstantiated rumors being circulated through the mail and on the internet about the USTA and the USTA’s intentions relative to the USPTA. While any organization can have internal disputes, the USPTA’s seem to have taken on a life of its own and, unfortunately, is being played out in public. It is particularly disconcerting that the USTA has been dragged into this fray. Over the past year, a great deal of misinformation and false accusations have been spread via, among other channels, anonymous letters, e-mails and websites/social media. During this time, the USTA chose to take the high road by not responding.  Given, however, the recent escalation of these rumors, we can no longer remain silent and feel it is imperative that we set the record straight. Therefore, for the record:

  • The USTA has no intention of “taking over the USPTA” or any other tennis teaching organization. The USTA has not had any discussions with Tom Daglis or anyone else at the USPTA relative to this subject. If the USTA wanted to get into the business of certification and offering memberships to teaching professionals, it could do so without “taking over” any organization. The USTA has always believed that working cooperatively with independent teaching organizations to carry out its mission is preferable to starting its own tennis teaching organization.
  • Would the USTA like to see better coaching education in this country? Yes. The USTA is particularly interested in ensuring that both high performance players and 10 and under players have the best coaching available at all levels. That is why the USTA is working with both the USPTA and the PTR to improve coaching education in these areas. The USTA has been very up front regarding its goals and objectives and has worked with both organizations with total transparency.
  • The USTA appreciates the significant number of USPTA Board and Executive Committee members who work collaboratively with the USTA and the tennis industry. Unfortunately, there remains a faction within USPTA that views many of the USTA’s grow the game efforts as direct threats to the USPTA.  This faction and some of their allies have been very aggressive in promulgating a negative misinformation campaign. For more than a decade, these individuals, in lieu of any real facts, have been quick to cast the USTA as “big brother” whenever it is convenient in order to advance their point of view. It is disappointing that instead of honest dialogue they believe these harmful, worn out conspiracy theories will carry the day.

Finally, the USTA urges the USPTA Board, as well as the USPTA Executive Committee, to take a very hard look at what has transpired over the past year. The airing of USPTA internal disputes via anonymous letters, e-mails and websites that have misrepresented the facts and spread patently false rumors has been a huge distraction and has significantly damaged the USPTA’s reputation. This approach speaks volumes about those who choose to handle their disputes in this manner.  The USTA hopes that the USPTA Board and Executive Committee will take the steps required to put the USPTA’s house in order soon.  It is important to TENNIS and the USTA for the USPTA to be a significant contributor in our collective efforts to grow the game.

Sincerely,

Jon Vegosen, Chairman of the Board and President
Gordon Smith, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer

 

Lagardere Books Net Loss Related To Sports Marketing Division: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

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Lagardere hit by major write-down losses related to sports marketing division

Andy Roddick in action in Indian Wells, California (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Paris-based Lagardere reported a net loss of $707 million (EU) compared to net income of $163 million (EU) in 2011 largely because of a major write-down loss related to its sports marketing division, Lagardere Unlimited. The loss in the sports division reported losses of $895 million (EU), of which $550 million (EU) was from Lagardere Unlimited and a $310 million (EU) charge on its 20 percent stake in Canal Plus, the French pay-TV group. The group has blamed the steady decline in the economy and poor prospects of Lagardere Unlimited for the charge. The sports unit has been in several costly litigations with the Board of Control for Cricket in India in connection with cricket rights. Further, the media group has also suffered from the non-renewal of a handful of contracts, including the French Football Federation. “If one puts to one side the ‘accident’ of sport, the group overall did well in 2011,” said Arnaud Lagardere, the company’s Chief Executive.

USTA awards $900,000 in grants to grow youth tennis

According to a press release, the United States Tennis Association just announced that 18 communities across the country will receive a $50,000 grant as part of its efforts to get more kids playing tennis. The contribution will be distributed over a three-year period to build new and adapt current tennis courts to accommodate 10 and Under Tennis, as well as support new programs. 10 and Under Tennis provides the opportunity to achieve immediate success by playing tennis on smaller courts, using smaller and lighter racquets and slower-moving and lower-bouncing balls. In total, the USTA will disperse $900,000 in grants to support its youth initiative and fund tennis programs. Community officials will work with the USTA to ensure that local organizers have the proper techniques and skills to implement this new method of teaching tennis to kids. The USTA and its USTA Sections will be working with partners, such as schools, public parks, youth organizations, tennis facilities, and pros to incorporate tennis into physical education classes, after-school programs and other youth programs to drive participation. Communities earning the grants in 2012 include Atlanta (East and West), Birmingham, Ala., Bayamon/San Juan, Puerto Rico, Honolulu, Hawaii, Jacksonville, Fla., Jackson, Miss., Lee County, Fla., Metro Phoenix East Valley, Ariz., Mobile, Ala., Northern Albany, N.Y., Northern Colorado, Pensacola, Fla., Richmond, Va., San Francisco, Calif., Salt Lake City, Seattle and Springfield, Mass. “We are excited to be working with the local tennis leaders in these communities to help introduce the game to more kids,” said Kurt Kamperman, USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis. “We believe tennis is the sport of opportunity that provides a lasting effect on the lives of children.”

Vince Spadea’s “Play Like A Pro” 6-DVD Tennis Instructional Series now available for Pre-Order

Former Top 20 ATP World Tour star Vince Spadea has created an exceptional 6-DVD Tennis Instructional Series called “Play Like A Pro” which is now available for pre-order for just $129.95. Spadea, who earned victories over tennis stars including Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Marat Safin, Patrick Rafter and James Blake in a career that started in 1993, shares his remarkable insight and experience with you in the 6-DVD collection. In the series, Spadea shares his vast knowledge as a player and coach to personally teach you all the proper techniques, mechanics and strategies for improving your consistency and shot making skills. Spending most of the year in Los Angeles personally teaching high profile clients including sports figures and celebrities including rock singer Gavin Rossdale, Spadea also spends time in his hometown of Boca Raton, where he can frequently be seen on the courts at Mar-A-Lago, one of Donald Trump’s properties in Palm Beach, Fla. To learn more about Spadea’s “Play Like A Pro” DVD series or to order, please visit www.vincespadeadvds.com.

Turnberry Isle Miami Resort offers a two-day Grand Slam event featuring tennis legend Fred Stolle

For just $250 per person, tennis fans in Miami for next week’s Sony Ericsson Open can play tennis and mingle with 18-time Grand Slam champion Fred Stolle at The Turnberry Isle Miami Resort from March 23-25. The fun-filled weekend will include a pro-am round robin and meet & greet at 5 p.m. on Friday followed by a wine and cheese reception. Then on Saturday, tennis enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enjoy a two-hour group clinic followed by an organized match-play event that begins at 9 a.m. A tennis drill and open play session on Sunday will round out this once-in-a-lifetime experience. By submitting the $250 fee to participate, you will have the opportunity be included in all the tennis activities with Stolle, enjoy unlimited court time throughout the weekend, a wine and cheese reception and save 30 percent at the Tennis Pro Shop. Spaces are limited for this event and reservations are required in advance by calling (305) 933-6925 or by emailing Elisabeth Cusack at ecusack@turnberryislemiami.com.

adidas launches micoach Tennis

Last week, adidas launched micoach Tennis, bringing together the digital and physical world in ways never imaginable in an iOS app. Visualize your speed stats collected by the miCoach SPEED_CELL, a device that sits inside a cavity of the adipower barricade 7.0 tennis shoes or clips onto your laces to measure your speed, rallies and distance from every direction covered during your tennis matches or training sessions. World famous tennis star Andrea Petkovic of Germany will take you through a sports experience unlike any other. Experience the training system professional tennis players use to stay at the top of their game. Share and compare your tennis stats with your friends or the entire world via Facebook, Twitter or email, and get in-game rewards for your real-life workouts. Send them to micoach.com where they will be compared with stats from tennis players from all over the world. miCoach SPEED_CELL is for smartphone, tablet, PC or MAC available for $70 at adidas Sport Performance stores or shopadidas.com.

Kuerten to be inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 14 in Newport

Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten, a former world No. 1 and three-time French Open singles champion, has been elected to receive the highest honor in tennis, induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., on Saturday, July 14. Recognized as one of Brazil’s most famous and successful athletes in history, Kuerten’s induction was announced last week in a special ceremony in São Paulo at the offices of Banco do Brasil, a long-time sponsor of the former tennis champion. “During my career in tennis I was fortunate to have many victories, but the Hall of Fame induction is a special one,” said Kuerten. “I was inspired by lots of great tennis players, like Maria Esther Bueno and Thomas Koch, two of the biggest Brazilian tennis players, and I have also always greatly admired Hall of Famers including Borg, McEnroe, Sampras, and Agassi. To be honored in the same category as those great players is amazing. Probably one of my greatest accomplishments was being able to get Brazilians excited about tennis, and to elevate attention for Brazil as a tennis nation. I’m so happy to be able to celebrate this honor here in Brazil with the people who supported my career, and I look forward to the induction celebration in the United States in July.” Kuerten compiled a 358-195 record while competing on the ATP World Tour, including winning 20 singles and eight doubles titles. Earning more than $14.8 million in tournament prize money throughout his career, Kuerten played his last professional match in 2008 at Roland Garros where he lost to Paul-Henri Mathieu in front of 15,000 fans. During the match, Kuerten wore the same blue and yellow outfit he wore in 1997 when he captured his first Roland Garros title. The 35-year-old has been elected in the Recent Player Category. Additional members of the Class of 2012, who were previously announced, include Spanish tennis great Manuel Orantes, in the Master Player Category; tennis administrator and promoter Mike Davies in the Contributor Category; and Randy Snow, who has been elected posthumously in the Recent Player Category for his accomplishments as a wheelchair tennis player. The remainder of the Class of 2012 will be announced in the month ahead. “King of the clay courts, Guga was one of the most popular players of his era, and he achieved tremendous success during a time when some of the greatest players in history were active, including Hall of Famers Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and Michael Chang,” said Christopher Clouser, Chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Enshrinee Nominating Committee of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, I extend sincere congratulations to Guga on this well-deserved honor. We look forward to celebrating with him and all of the Class of 2012 inductees in July.”

2012 World TeamTennis schedule released

The 2012 World TeamTennis Pro League schedule kicks off on Monday, July 9, with the defending champion Washington Kastles hoping to continue their 16-match winning streak that started last summer, as they face off against the Orange County Breakers in Irvine, Calif. WTT officials just last week released the 59-match schedule for the three-week regular season of the WTT Pro League presented by GEICO, which runs July 9-28 and concludes with the WTT Finals Weekend from September 14-16 in Charleston, S.C. One of the most highly anticipated matches this summer will see former world No. 1 and five-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Hingis lead the New York Sportimes into a match against seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams and the Kastles on Monday, July 23 SECFU Arena at the University of Albany in Albany, N.Y. The two former top-ranked WTA stars faced each other 21 times while on tour, with Hingis holding an 11-10 edge. Hingis is expected to play at least 10 of the Sportimes’ 14 matches, including five at the Sportimes’ regular home venue Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island in New York, N.Y., and matches in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Albany. Venus will also play in Washington, D.C. on July 24, two days after sister Serena’s only WTT match of the season on July 22, also in the nation’s capital. Lindsay Davenport, a former world No. 1 and winner of 55 career singles titles including three Grand Slams, will be playing most of her 2012 schedule close to her home base in Southern California with the Orange County Breakers in Irvine, Calif. Davenport missed the entire 2011 season due to pregnancy. The former American star will play all seven Breakers’ home matches at Bren Events Center on the campus of UC Irvine, and will travel to play matches in Sacramento, Springfield and Boston. World No. 8 Mardy Fish will play home matches for the Sacramento Capitals on July 12 and 13. Former four-time University of Georgia All-American John Isner will return to the Boston Lobsters this summer for two matches, July 23 at home against the Philadelphia Freedoms, and July 24 in Albany against the Hingis-led Sportimes. Australian Mark Philippoussis, who was the top overall pick in last month’s Marquee Player Draft, will be in action on July 25 in Philadelphia then leads his Freedoms out west against Sacramento on July 27 and Orange County on July 28. For a full schedule and list of marquee player dates, visit www.WTT.com.

Ljubicic to retire next month at Monte Carlo Rolex Masters

Former world No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia announced his plans to retire at the conclusion of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters in April. The 33-year-old has had a very successful professional career, winning over 400 career singles matches, including 10 ATP World Tour singles titles. He also won the Davis Cup for Croatia in 2005, as well as a bronze medal in doubles with Mario Ancic at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Throughout his career that started in 1998, Ljubicic earned victories over noteworthy players including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Gael Monfils, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Gustavo Kuerten, Marat Safin and Carlos Moya. “It’s never an easy decision for any professional athlete to retire,” said Ljubicic. “I look forward to the next stage of my life. Tennis has given me so much and I want to continue to stay involved and contribute in some ways.”

Petrova confirms U.S. citizenship application

Russia’s Nadia Petrova, who currently owns a home in Miami, confirms that she has applied for U.S. citizenship. The 29-year-old WTA Tour veteran says she feels very comfortable living in America, specifically South Florida. “I like the lifestyle. I like the weather. It’s just a perfect place for tennis,” said Petrova. “Everything’s so easy. You just come, you need to go to the pharmacy, drug store, it’s 24 hours open. Everything is here just for the people, you know. I just feel very comfortable here, relaxed atmosphere, and I don’t have to stress. I don’t have that crazy traffic like it is in Russia. I don’t have those cold winters.”

Sock faces the possibility of three months off ATP World tour

American teenager and world No. 334 Jack Sock, who won the 2011 US Open Mixed Doubles title with Melanie Oudin, may have a tear in his groin, and could miss up to several months on tour. Following his first round loss at the BNP Paribas Open, Sock received an MRI that happened to reveal a tear, but his personal physician wants him to have another one done this week on the east coast, so he is clear on how to proceed with the possible injury.

Building The Tennis Team

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U.S. Fed Cup Team

The tennis world is smack in the middle of “team season” as the women assembled national teams for Fed Cup last weekend and the men gather for Davis Cup this week.

In the amateur world of tennis, recreational players are in the process of assembling teams and planning for the upcoming United States Tennis Association (USTA) League Tennis season.

The most important element for any tennis team is assembling the right group of people to comprise of the team itself – whether you are U.S. Davis Cup captain Jim Courier, U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez or the captain of your local USTA League Tennis team. In the newly-released book “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by 25-year USTA League Tennis veteran Tony Serksnis, ($14.99, New Chapter Press, available here:http://www.amazon.com/dp/0942257839/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=tennisgrancom-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0942257839&adid=1627AS7N937SDB5K6P5Z&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennisgrandstand.com%2F) an outline is presented to recreational tennis players on how to build a team. The exclusive book excerpt is found below in the chapter called “BUILDING THE TEAM)

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This is might be the most important chapter of this book. Many people get into a sport for the following reasons: Exercise, Camaraderie, Competition, Fun period.

FULFILLMENT TO EXPENSE RATIO

Tennis more than fulfills all of the above reasons to participate in a sport, plus it is very reasonably priced. Tennis certainly has one of the highest fulfillment-to expense ratio as compared to golf and other endeavors such as bowling, soccer, or flag football. Certain other sports, such as adventure racing, also enjoy very high fulfillment to the participant while not costing very much (except for travel).

Tennis expenses are minimal if played on public courts. Public courts are very available in all parts of the country as cities and schools find them fairly easy to maintain and a good use of public property. Some public tennis courts are very well used. A “queue system” is used to get on a court and usage is usually limited to one hour. Other public courts charge minimal fees to reserve a court or provide lighting.

Other than getting a court, tennis expenses minimally are:

• Tennis Racquet – This can vary from between $100 to $300 and may be good for 10 years. Stringing (string & labor) can be about $50 per season.

• Tennis Balls – A $2 can certainly lasts a few sets (one tennis outing).

• Tennis Shoes – These can run between $50 to $100 and last about a season

Tennis expenses go up as one’s “seriousness” or “competitiveness” increases to include:

• League or Tournament Fees – Joining the USTA is $40 per year.

– Joining a USTA team is about $20 per season

– Playing in a NTRP Tournament is about $35

• Lessons – Can vary all over the map from lessons given privately ($80/hour) to taking lessons as part of a group for a much reduced price.

• Hitting against a ball-machine can be on the order of $15/hour.

Generally, there are no incredible expenses for tennis clothing. The standard “uniform” is a tee-shirt and shorts and possibly a hat or sun visor. As with any endeavor, there are fashion statements to be made with tennis clothing for all sorts of prices.

Also, there is another large factor in the fulfillment to-expense ratio and that is the rather low time-expense that tennis has (relative to other competitive endeavors). If one looks at the “door-to-door” time of a match (match plus shower time), it typically takes one-and-one-half hours, with two hours being a more relaxed pace. No one leaves an hour of tennis without thoroughly being “exercised.” Calorie burning is on the same order as for jogging (at about 5 mph).

OK, we have talked about the exercise and expense aspects of the sport of tennis, now let’s return to the team-building aspects. This is where the camaraderie, competition and fun come into play. 

WHERE TO GET PLAYERS

Building a competitive USTA team involves some of the aspects of building a team in any professional sport. Let’s take a NFL franchise, for example. These teams are built by:

• Drafting players onto your team, and

• Getting players to leave other teams (to join your team), which can be construed as “free-agency” players or “hired guns.”

• A “minor league” development program that develops players that are a “feeder” system to the main team.

Some clubs or facilities field teams at various levels. It’s very possible that a 3.5 team at a club provides a natural developer of 4.0 caliber players that go on to join the 4.0 team.

• Trades – obviously, this is not a methodology for developing a USTA team.

A major difference (from an NFL franchise) is that there is basically no money involved in winning any matches (even at the Nationals). Therefore, what are the factors that will make players join this tennis team? For one thing, there is something that every captain should put-forth and that is the “Team’s Charter.” Teams are formed for various reasons which can be:

1. To win at all costs – every lineup consists of best available players

2. To have fun and meet people while playing tennis (winning is nice, but not essential). Some of these teams can state that all team members will play in an equal number of matches.

3. Some blend of the above two reasons. Captains may keep winning at the forefront of their lineup creation, but certainly look at appropriate matches to place engaged “second tier” talent from the roster.

4. Starting out as No. 1 (above), but drifting towards No. 2 (above) if playoffs aren’t imminent.

Teams normally are formed out of some sort of affiliation. It can be:

1. A tennis team is formed from club members that are affiliated from a municipal tennis club. This usually means that a team member must join that club, to be a member of that team.

2. A tennis team is formed within a private athletic club. This is similar to No. 1 (above) except that the dues are much higher. Thus, attracting team members is limited to those that can afford the (higher) club dues.

3. A tennis team can form out of players that “gravitate” or normally play out of a community park that has tennis courts. This team can, of course, go outside of “the neighborhood” to recruit. This would also include a team formed out of members in an apartment complex that has tennis courts.

4. A tennis team can form out of players that bond due to ethnicity. This is a slight variation on No. 3 (above), again without any restrictions on adding players.

5. A tennis team can form with the sole intention of creating a winning team. This can generate a “hired gun” makeup of a team with members coming from a large radius within a region. No affiliation is required at all for this team – it is assembled with players with proven records or proven ability.

Let’s return to the idea of “Building the Team.”

DECIDING ON TEAM CAPTAIN

The team starts with the decision of determining the captain (and, hopefully co-captain). The captain of a USTA team can be determined in a couple of major ways:

• A group of affiliated players put forth a candidate – this is a captain who is chosen by his peers, and the position can rotate amongst that group, or

• A person is the driving force behind the team, and assumes control.

The co-captain position can have a range of “influence” to the captain, all the way from having little to say (or, even not required), to being an equal partner to the captain. Some teams have evolved into having a captain for over-riding considerations, but are actually a “core of elders” that are polled by the captain for important decisions such as lineup determination.

The personality attributes of a captain, of course, have a large range. They are usually well-organized and good multi-taskers. If they have been nominated by their peers, they certainly express to others an ability to get things done. If the captain’s position is more one of “assuming the position,” then that type of captain has a strong personality where the team may be run more like a dictatorship than a democracy. Teams can, of course, be in existence before determining the captain, as this may be a team that has a nucleus of players that have played together for a number of years. This is a team that usually elevates one of the core members of the team to the captain’s position. So, this is a team that already has a solid foundation and is looking to a captain for leadership. 

Building a team does little good if the core players that you presently have become dissatisfied and end-up leaving the team. Players can leave the team for a number of reasons outside of your control:

• Moving from the area

• Getting large constraints on their time, such as family or work

• They join a new facility that has more to offer them

So, what are the things that are within a captain’s control that can keep players on this team? I believe the number one item to keep players interested in staying on this team is by creating a “sense of family” within the team. Here are some examples on this:

• Communication (different forms) really helps. Publishing practice schedules, match results and any “newsletters” keeps everyone connected. A team meeting at both the beginning of the year and at the end of the year fosters a sense of belonging to that particular organization.

• Even on teams that have a “win at all costs” charter, I think that the captain should not go over the top on this. If a singles player or doubles team comes up with a match loss, there should never be any degradation. The captain must instill a sense that the loss is fine if the players were as well-prepared as they could have been and there are things to be learned from the loss. At the end of the day, they may have just played a better person or team.

• Humor helps. Keep the tone of practices as light as possible.

• The captain of the team needs to study very carefully how often he himself is in the lineup. It would definitely be a source of resentment if the captain played an overly amount of matches unless his record warranted his inclusion in the match. I would caution that the captain should “error” on the side of not putting himself in the lineup on borderline cases. What might help with this situation would be to have the captain keep polling a small group of the team’s core players to get feedback on the lineup. Sometimes, it’s obvious to the “team core” that, indeed, the captain should be in the lineup.

• It should be clear to the team that even though it may be “win at all costs,” that the captain is indeed trying to get all (involved) players into matches. I believe it really helps the team’s camaraderie to get a player into the lineup that may be not quite as good as the top players. I believe that all members of the team are sensitive to the fact that hard work should be rewarded with a chance to make the lineup. If one keeps on limiting the lineup to a select few, the “second tier” of players will see that they have no chance to prove themselves. This may be very unfortunate in the long term as many of these players are on the way up in their tennis skills and are just, perhaps, a season away from being quite a top player.

If, after a match, you have the players who finished an early match sticking around and cheering for the teams still on the court, you have indeed created a team that is all pulling for each other. If these players stay and extend a handshake to the players now walking off the court (win or lose), this stays with those players for a long time.

I’m not sure how the above situation occurs, but I do know that it takes an investment of time and true caring from the captain. 

SETTING UP PRACTICES

Practices for teams have a variety of purposes and can vary in purpose as the season progress. It’s fairly obvious that a team practice both improves skills while providing a chance for the players to bond as teammates. It is probably a good idea to set up a regular (once-a- week) practice on a day suitable to the majority of the team. A poll of the team members before the beginning of the season is best. If your home matches are on Wednesday evenings, possibly a team practice on Monday or Tuesday evening may be good. Another possibility for the regular practice time is the weekend, perhaps early Saturday morning. Another factor on choosing a practice time is court availability. If courts cannot be reserved, it might be difficult to get a “public court” at a particular time (and, maybe the practice has closer to eight players, requiring two courts). I’ve seen teams handle this very well with a spreadsheet of some type that players log into and mark whether they are coming to practice (and, at  what time) or not. That way the players can see if there is interest enough for a group of four, or a group of eight.

Obviously, picking practice courts where there is a larger probability of getting a court (or two) is paramount to establishing a regular practice. As the season progresses, “special” practices can be, of course, established. For example, an upcoming match against another top team might warrant the set up of a practice with emphasis on playing players that will be (likely) in the lineup against that other team.

Teams have to be careful to use the practice on what matters most to the team. It’s possible that the team practice is used as a convenient time for teammates to play a “challenge match” against other teammates. This is fine, except that it doesn’t allow other teammates, who perhaps just want to work on their strokes, or possibly try out a different doubles partner, the opportunity to do so.

So, possible “types” of practices are:

1. Where there will be drills meant to sharpen particular skills – often this type of practice needs a “leader” to take the participants thru something like

overheads or volleys period.

2. Where it’s specifically known that players will mix it up with several partners for the dual purpose of trying out chemistry between different partners and to get players to know a bit about each other (establish camaraderie).

3. Where one or two challenge matches will be played that have already been established between the participants before the practice time.

4. Where players just meet and play some matches with the same partner (over the course of the practice), but this happens more or less in a more random way then No. 3 above.

It’s clear that the captain and co-captain have to establish with the team exactly what type of practice is going to be held. Also, it’s clear that some leader needs to take control during the practice to keep the players on track. So, even if the captain or co-captain is not at the practice, another player should take on a leadership role to quickly poll those present on what type of practice will be held.

Another main purpose of practice is for the captain to gather actual data on how well the players stack-up against each other, or what best chemistries are being formed for doubles. It’s very possible that a “random” pairing of two people during a practice leads to that pair being tried in a match lineup and possibly even establishing one of the best doubles pairings on the team. Again, this may happen with two players who don’t have necessarily the highest individual skill levels.

Team practices tend to be mostly doubles. However, if six players show up and you can get two courts, a singles match can occur. Even with that set of circumstances, it’s common to have the two singles players rotate back to play in with the other four players. Singles players on the team seem to find their own times and places to practice and challenge completely independent of team  practices. I think this is because singles players need an established time to play out three sets and it is generally easier to get just one other person for singles (than three  others for doubles).

As the season matures, and if the team gets close to making the playoffs, it’s clear that the practice takes on a more serious tone. There would be more pairings of established doubles players. There might even be the possibility of hiring a tennis teacher to run some drills for the team – I’ve seen this happen and it could be of great value. Obviously, there would be expenses and logistics to work out.

Thomas Hogstedt to be Maria Sharapova’s Only Coach – This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

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CBS to continue broadcasting US Open through 2014

The US Open will be staying put on CBS through 2014 under a new agreement in principle with the United States Tennis Association for a slight increase in rights payments. Currently, the USTA gets paid between $20 million and $25 million after each tournament. The current contract expires after the 2011 tournament is completed. CBS has aired the US Open since 1968. “We have a really good lineup of events that are spread throughout the calendar and the US Open fits perfectly into our schedule,” said Sean McManus, the President of CBS News and Sports. “Most of it takes place before the NFL season starts and after our golf season ends.” The US Open is also carried on cable by ESPN and Tennis Channel in deals through 2014. CBS’s ratings for the US Open have been on a long downward trend. Last year, the tournament’s overall rating fell a bit to a 1.5. The men’s final was delayed a day by rain and its rating fell 22 percent, while the women’s prime-time final was the lowest-rated on CBS since it moved to the evening.

Courier to play exclusively with Donnay racquets

U.S. Davis Cup Captain and Tennis Hall of Famer Jim Courier will exclusively play and represent Donnay and its new ultra-thin-beamed X-Series Red 99. “I am proud to become a Donnay brand ambassador,” said Courier, a former world No. 1. “After basically playing with the same model for the last 25 years I realized I was missing out on the technological advancements in racquets in recent years and it was time for me to join the 21st Century. With a larger head size, bigger sweetspot and more power, the Donnay X-Series Red 99 gives me what I need without taking away from the one area I won’t sacrifice — control.” Courier will use the Donnay X-Series 99 during all his matches in 2011 including in Champions Series events.

Maria Sharapova

Sony Ericsson launches Xperia Hot Shots entertainment show for WTA players

On January 13, Sony Ericsson announced the launch of a new-format entertainment show to be streamed online and on mobile headsets called Xperia Hot Shots. The series, airing from March, will follow the lives of six globetrotting, aspiring stars of the WTA as they strive to build their profile both on and off the court and gain a support deal with WTA sponsor and leading entertainment brand, Sony Ericsson. Xperia Hot Shots will give fans an inside look at the WTA players’ life off-court at all types of events as their journey towards superstar status begins. “At Sony Ericsson we love tennis, and with Xperia Hot Shots we’re bringing entertainment in to this world, making it even more appealing to youth audiences globally,” said Stephan Croix, VP, Head of Global Marketing Partnerships at Sony Ericsson. “We’re taking cues from reality TV and are combining it with edgy and exciting entertainment to create a pioneering new genre of online TV show that innovates in the world of sport.”

ATP Sunrise Challenger cancelled due to funding problems

According to the Sun-Sentinel, the ATP Sunrise Challenger in South Florida, which attracts many top players who lose early in Indian Wells, will not happen in 2011 before the Sony Ericsson Open because sponsorships were not enough to cover the $125,000 given out as tournament prize money. The problem to find funding to build seating for the courts was also a factor.

ATP tennis returning to Singapore next week

Organized by events promoter Sports Management Group (SMG), Singapore Tennis Association (STA) and supported by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), ATP World Tour tennis will be returning to Singapore next week as the Singapore ATP Challenger 2011 will take place at the Kallang Tennis Centre from January 23-30. ATP tennis hasn’t been played in Singapore since the ATP Heineken Open 250 event was played at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 1996-2000 and the Honda-Kah Singapore Men’s Open, an ATP Challenger tournament was played from 1989-2001. Men’s singles and doubles will be featured at the Singapore ATP Challenger 2011 and will have players ranked between 90-250 competing for the title. Somdev Devvarman, Jan Hajek and Go Soeda are among the players already entered in the singles main draw. “Despite Singapore not having hosted a professional tennis event of this nature in ten years, I am glad that we are able to, with the immense support of the Singapore Sports Council, pool together a strong and competent team to stage this event,” said Uthrapathy Shunmugam, Tournament Director. “My team and I will endeavor to deliver a quality event not just for the enjoyment of the public but a great experience for the players and officials as well.”

Roddick, Verdasco, Monfils, Isner and Fish headline Memphis field in February

The Regions Morgan Keegan Championships announced their player field for the 2011 singles event, which will take place from February 14-20 at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn. Two-time champion Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils, John Isner, Mardy Fish, Radek Stepanek, Juan Martin del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake and Tommy Haas will all compete for the title. Defending champion Sam Querrey will also be in the singles field. For tickets calls (901) 765-4401 or visit the official tournament website at: www.memphistennis.com.

World Team Tennis set for July 4 start this summer

On January 13, World Team Tennis officials announced that the 36th season of the World Team Tennis Pro League presented by GEICO will begin on Monday, July 4, 2011 with 73 matches to be played between July 4-24. The regular season will take place from July 4-21 in ten different United States cities, with the World Team Tennis Conference Championships scheduled for July 22. The World Team Tennis Finals presented by GEICO will take place on July 24. The finals site will be determined at a later date. On February 15, teams will be allowed to put together their 2011 lineups with the World Team Tennis Marquee Player Draft. Teams draft in reverse order from how they finished in the 2010 season. The Kansas City Explorers, champions from 2010, will select 10th in the draft. The final team rosters will be completed on March 15 when the 2011 World Team Tennis Roster Player Draft is conducted.

Hogstedt to be Sharapova’s only coach

It was announced before the start of the Australian Open that Maria Sharapova’s long-time coach, Michael Joyce, will no longer be working with her. Thomas Hogstedt, who was hired in the offseason, will work one-on-one with the former world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam singles champion. Fox Sports reported that Joyce flew back to the United States after Sharapova lost in the tune-up tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. “After a really long period of time, I think a few things become a routine,” said Sharapova. “I think from both of our perspectives it was really a good move to bring in a new voice, a fresh perspective into the team. Obviously it’s different not having him at a tournament after so many years. But it’s part of an athlete’s career…It’s been going really well with Thomas.” Sharapova won her opening round match in Melbourne over Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand in straight sets.

Kuznetsova working with Cuadrado in 2011

Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, a former world No. 2 and two-time Grand Slam singles champion, announced that she began working with new coach Carlos Cuadrado in the offseason. Kuznetsova most recently worked with Amelie Mauresmo’s former coach Loic Courteau for a short period in 2010.

Dokic dumps coach just days before Australian Open

Former world No. 4 Jelena Dokic split with her coach Glenn Schaap just days before the start of the 2011 Australian Open in Melbourne. “We split a couple days ago, right before the Australian Open,” said Dokic. “Nothing special. No hard feelings, you know. There are certain people that suit you for your game and for your personality. I feel like, you know, he didn’t suit the type of tennis that I wanted to play…Maybe he’s good for somebody else, but I didn’t feel that click, basically. That’s it, you know, nothing else.” Dokic, who won her opening round match at the Australian Open, will be coached for the remainder of the tournament by Tennis Australia’s Louise Pleming.

Tsonga hires Mauresmo’s former physiotherapist

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced the hiring of Michael Franco, a physiotherapist who previously worked with former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam singles champion Amelie Mauresmo. Franco will travel with Tsonga to help reduce the number of injuries the Frenchman has been recently suffering while on tour.

Davis turns pro at Australian Open

Lauren Davis, the 17-year-old American who won the Junior Orange Bowl and the Eddie Herr International Junior Championships in 2010, turned pro on Tuesday evening at the Australian Open in Melbourne when she faced world No. 6 Samantha Stosur. Stosur easily dispatched Davis 6-1, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena. Davis, who is the No. 4 ranked girls junior player in the world and also ranked No. 443 in the WTA Rankings, currently trains at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Fla. Davis, who is from Cleveland, is coached by Evert Tennis Academy Executive Director, John Evert, and Director of Coaching, Federico Ricci. Davis is being represented by CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency, the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency.

Nicolas Lapentti retires from ATP World Tour

Nicolas Lapentti has officially announced his retirement from the ATP World Tour at the age of 34 after struggling with a knee injury for the past two years. “I’ve worked with great doctors but could not get a full recovery,” said Lapentti. “It’s an important decision so I didn’t want to rush, I wanted to be 100% sure.” Lapentti, who won turned pro in 1995 and won five singles and three doubles titles throughout his career, had already delayed his retirement when Ecuador reached the Davis Cup World Group. The former world No. 6 won more than $6.3 million in tournament prize money, while winning 321 singles matches and losing 299. Lapentti, who reached the semifinals at the Australian Open in 1999 and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2002, earned wins during his career over Rafael Nadal, Gustavo Kuerten, Carlos Moya, Marcelo Rios, Michael Chang, Lleyton Hewitt, Fernando Verdasco, Thomas Muster, Alex Corretja, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tim Henman.

Gunterman holding workshops and tennis clinics in Ghana

Kelly Gunterman, Director of Tennis at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, author of the book “Tennis Made Easy” and Founder of “Tennis without Borders” foundation is currently in Ghana holding workshops for coaches and tennis clinics at the Accra Sports Stadium Tennis Courts. Gunterman and the Ghanaian coaches are organizing practice sessions with young players and speaking about opportunities for college tennis scholarships. Having worked with some of the top names in the teaching world, Gunterman started his own tennis school in 1991. He fulfilled a long-held dream in August of 2009 when he founded “Tennis without Borders” to help children in developing countries with tennis instruction and equipment.

Winston-Salem to host new ATP event: This Week in Tennis Business

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By Justin Cohen

ATP event in New Haven moving to Winston-Salem

The United States Tennis Association and the ATP World Tour announced on Monday the sale of the ATP World Tour event previously located in New Haven, Conn., to Winston-Salem Professional Tennis. Starting the week before the US Open in 2011, a 48-draw tournament will take place on the campus of Wake Forest University in a soon-to-be constructed tennis facility. The newly-designed state-of-the-art tennis facility will be constructed to host both professional and collegiate tennis events. The facility will be located between the current indoor tennis training center and BB&T Field, home of the Wake Forest Demon Deacon football team. Plans call for the construction of 10-12 Deco-Turf II courts, and will include center court seating with a minimum of 3,500 and two additional show courts which will hold at least 1,500 each. “We are thrilled about the ATP’s new home at Wake Forest University, and thank Don Flow and Winston-Salem Professional Tennis for bringing men’s professional tennis back to North Carolina,” said Adam Helfant, ATP Executive Chairman and President. “Globally, the game is enjoying one of the most exciting periods in its history, and it’s terrific that the tour will visit Winston-Salem as part of its U.S. summer swing.” The event, with a total purse of $625,000, will take place from August 21-27, with qualifying set for August 19 and August 20. The tournament remains the final men’s event of the Olympus US Open Series, and will receive national television exposure via Tennis Channel and ESPN2. The 2011 singles final is expected to be carried by CBS Sports on Saturday, August 27. “We are thrilled this prestigious event is coming to Winston-Salem, a community that has embraced tennis events over the past several years,” said Don Flow, President of The Flow Companies and head of Winston-Salem Professional Tennis. “The entire community will embrace this event and the process has already begun with our corporate community stepping up, and with Wake Forest University being a major supporter of the event.”

Ana Ivanovic

Nadal is the new face of Armani underwear and jeans

Looking to rebound from their profits falling 28 percent last year, Armani has named Rafael Nadal as their new face of the Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans. Sweden’s Bjorn Borg and Australian Patrick Rafter are the only other previous ATP players to have been the face of underwear brands. The current World No. 1 is said to have earned $21 million over the past year from tournament prize money and sponsorship deals. Nadal already has sponsorship deals with an insurance company, a car company, Nike and Babolat.

Jon Muir named Person of the Year by Racquet Sports Industry magazine

Jon Muir, the worldwide General Manager of Wilson Racquet Sports and President of the Tennis Industry Association, has been named the 2010 Person of the Year by Racquet Sports Industry magazine in the upcoming January 2011 issue. The magazine said it was Muir’s dedication to the tennis business and his “vision and talent in helping this sport to grow and in bringing all industry groups together” that has made him Racquet Sports Industry’s 2010 Person of the Year.

Ivanovic hires Antonio van Grichen on trial basis

Former World No. 1 and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic has hired Antonio van Grichen as her new coach on a trial basis through at least the Australian hard court season. The Serbian, who is currently ranked No. 17, had been working with Steffi Graf’s former coach Heinz Gunthardt. Gunthardt no longer wanted to travel full-time on the tour, so the pair decided to part ways. Ivanovic will start her 2011 season off by participating in the Hopman Cup.

Tomic hires new fitness trainer

According to the Herald Sun, Australian Bernard Tomic has hired Mario Tudor as his fitness trainer. Tudor is the former trainer for Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, as well as Mirjana Lucic and Karolina Sprem. Tomic’s previous fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura, quit in July.

Forget to be French Davis Cup Captain for two more years

Guy Forget, 45, will continue to be the French Davis Cup Captain for at least two more years, according to a French Tennis Federation press release. Forget has been the captain since 1999, which includes guiding the team to four finals, one of which was a title in 2001.

Dusseldorf no longer hosting ATP World Team Cup

The German city of Dusseldorf is pulling out of hosting the ATP World Team Cup after more than 30 years because it can’t find a new sponsor for the annual event which takes places each May. Tournament organizers said that they haven’t been able to find a new title sponsor after the withdrawal of recent title sponsor, ARAG insurance group.

Etlingh and Haarhuis to return in Rotterdam in February

After winning 39 doubles titles as a pair, Jacco Etlingh and Paul Haarhuis will return to play together in the ABN Amro tournament in Rotterdam in February to help raise money for the Richard Krajicek Foundation.

Canadian Valerie Tetreault retires at age 22

At the young age of 22, Canadian Valerie Tetreault has officially announced her retirement from the WTA Tour after just under five years on tour. Tetreault, who plans to pursue a degree in communications, reached a career high ranking of No. 112 in February 2010. “I’ve spent the last month thinking about my future” said Tetreault. “It’s a difficult decision to make—undoubtedly the biggest one of my life. My passion for my sport remains the same, but I want to take on new challenges while maintaining a more stable life.” Tetreault won three ITF singles titles throughout her career, while earning $158,841 in tournament prize money.

Molik granted wild card into Hobart in 2011

Former World No. 8 and former champion Alicia Molik has been awarded a wild card into the WTA Moorilla Hobart International in Australia, which will take place from January 7-15, 2011 at the Domain Tennis Centre. “I’m gearing up for a big summer and the Moorilla Hobart International will give me the perfect preparation for the Australian Open,” said Molik.

Meet Nick Bollettieri on New Year’s Eve

Nick Bollettieri will conduct a tennis clinic and talk at the Miromar Lakes Tennis Club in Estero, Fla. on Friday, December 31 from 11 am to 1 pm. Those interested in attending can RSVP to Mary Meisenbach at MMeisenbach@miromar.com.

Jim Courier’s Davis Cup Highlight

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Jim Courier was named the new U.S. Davis Cup captain by the United States Tennis Association on October 27. At age 40, Courier is the 40th man to serve as captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, 11 years after ending an illustrious Davis Cup career that saw him help the United States to Davis Cup titles in 1992 and 1995. He played Davis Cup for the U.S. for seven years (1991-1992, 1994-1995, 1997-1999), posting a 17-10 record (16-10 in singles, 1-0 in doubles).

The two-time French and Australian Open champion and Hall of Famer was part of the famous “Dream Team” of himself, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and John McEnroe that beat Switzerland 3-1 in the 1992 Davis Cup Final in Ft. Worth, Texas. It was 18 years ago today, December 6, where Courier clinched victory for the USA in this famous final, as outlined below in the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com) by Randy Walker.

1992 – Jim Courier, the No. 1 player in the world, clinches the 30th Davis Cup title for the United States defeating Jakob Hlasek 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to give the United States a 3-1 victory over Switzerland in the Davis Cup Final in Ft. Worth, Texas. Says Courier following the title-clinching win, “There is certainly nothing like winning for a team. It’s not something we get to do too often as tennis players. Hopefully we’ll win this thing for the next eight or nine years.” Adds U.S. DavisCup Captain Tom Gorman of his team’s performance, “They felt very proud to be in the final and they were going to make sure they did themselves proud. They had their entire country behind them.” Following his victory Courier is carried off the court by his teammates John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and team support staff. All four players then take victory laps around the court waving the American flag.

In Pro Tennis, Money Trumps Perceived Racial Bias

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By Blair Henley

There’s no denying that Venus and Serena Williams are the faces of American women’s tennis.

When a freak foot injury forced Serena to pull out of this year’s U.S. Open, the tournament’s directors and sponsors immediately started calculating the financial impact. The absence of either one of the sisters means less fan interest and therefore less dough for everyone involved, so when the girls’ outspoken father, Richard, claimed in a recent New York Times interview that the United States Tennis Association (USTA) doesn’t “want another Venus or Serena showing up,” the needle on my nonsense meter almost spun into orbit.

Serena Williams

When the Williams sisters burst onto the scene in the late 90’s with their beaded hair and brash attitudes, they shattered the concept of tennis as a country club sport for wealthy white people. Many assumed more African American tennis players would follow in their footsteps, but that hasn’t been the case. Richard Williams says that’s because “the system” is blocking them; preventing the rise of a new African American star.

There was certainly no obvious blockage when it came to the advancement of his own daughters. When the Williams family moved from Compton, California to South Florida in the early 90’s, coaches and their tennis academies were tripping over themselves to offer their services for free, hoping to reap the financial rewards once the girls realized their potential. When they started playing professional tournaments, they relied on wildcards given to them by the USTA (i.e. “the system”) for entry because they played few, if any, qualifiers before turning pro.

Their achievements have generated more interest for the women’s tour, more fan attendance at tournaments and more viewers for televised matches. So given the number of people who have profited from the Williams’ success, who benefits from a conspiratorial effort to keep other African-American players from reaching their potential?

It’s not the USTA, that’s for sure. Unlike the U.S. Golf Association, which acts as a governing body and little else, the USTA has poured millions of dollars into building its own player development program that houses, trains, and provides financial assistance to young American talent. They would nurture purple martian munchkins if it meant their dollars were successfully producing champions (which in turn would mean more dollars for everyone). Williams may say the organization has gone out of its way to quash any possibility of a larger black presence in the game, but the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming.

The USTA has bent over backward to bring the game of tennis to a larger audience. According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association, the number of children ages 6-17 playing tennis jumped to 9.5 million from 6.8 million between 2006 and 2009. Much of that growth is thanks to the USTA’s philanthropic entity called USTA Serves, which has donated over $10 million to programs that introduce tennis into the lives of underprivileged children, most in the inner city. In addition, the USTA has developed a Multicultural Participation Committee and hosts annual training camps “to ensure that no player is left behind due to cultural dissimilarities.” Everyone in the tennis industry profits from greater participation.

Williams said later in his interview that he and his daughters were “picked on from the start,” and though he didn’t clarify who was doing the picking, he went on to say that it was all a ploy “to discourage little black girls and black boys so they won’t take over tennis like they did football and basketball and baseball.”

Given the billions in revenue made during an NBA or NFL season, it doesn’t seem like a high percentage of African American athletes is a terrible thing. As for baseball, well, Richard might need to check his stats. But even if blacks did dominate America’s pastime, it’s doubtful we’d be seeing empty stadiums as a result. Look at Michael Jordan or pre-scandal Tiger or pre-Miami Lebron – fans of every race embraced them. The same would happen if the U.S. were to produce a new African American tennis star.

There’s no doubt that the first black tennis players like Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe fought a long and difficult battle to break through the old color barrier, and it would be naïve to think that racial discrimination has been eradicated completely in the country club culture. But in the world of professional tennis, fans and those who profit from the game would certainly welcome any player who would represent their country well.

Richard Williams and those who agree with him seem to be overlooking the fact that financial success in America trumps just about every type of bias imaginable. Even if the USTA did fear a minority infiltration of the game, it would not for an instant supersede the desire to cash in on the fame of their new stars. If African American tennis hopefuls let their rackets do the talking (i.e. win some matches), the red carpet at next year’s U.S. Open would be rolled out in a New York minute.

Strong TV Ratings for US Open Series: This Week In Tennis Business

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By Bob Stockton

  • According to the United States Tennis Association, television coverage of the 2010 Olympus US Open Series on ESPN2 has reached more people through four weeks than ever before. The singles final at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open between Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova was the second-most-watched Olympus US Open Series match in ESPN2’s history. Through four weeks, Olympus US Open Series broadcasts on ESPN2 have reached 33.2 million people, up almost two million from the previous high, set last year. The women’s final between Clijsters and Sharapova averaged 622,000 households and 902,000 people, second only to the 2005 Rogers Masters men’s final between Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal, which averaged 653,000 households and 930,000 people. “The Olympus US Open Series continues to broaden TV viewership of tennis throughout the summer,” said J. Wayne Richmond, General Manager, Olympus US Open Series, USTA.  “Tennis fans want to see the best in tennis and have tuned-in in record numbers for the Series’ signature back-to-back Finals coverage on ESPN2.” Now in its seventh season, the Olympus US Open Series has established itself as a true regular season of hard court tennis, linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. Fans can follow the action throughout the summer through national television coverage, culminating each week with back-to-back men’s and women’s finals every Sunday afternoon. Players battle for $40 million, including a chance for bonus prize money at the US Open. In 2008, Olympus became the first title sponsor of the Series. The Olympus US Open Series is also supported by sponsors American Express, Evian, Grand Marnier and SPDR State Street Global Advisors.

    The Lindner Family Tennis Center during the finals match between Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters
  • American Sam Querrey and his family have won a bid to run the Darling Tennis Center complex in Las Vegas, the former site of the Tennis Channel Open ATP World Tour event and the site of Querrey’s first career ATP World Tour singles title in 2008. The facility, located in Summerlin, Nevada, is the home to youth and adult leagues, tournaments, clinics and individual play. “It’s an awesome place,” Querrey told the Las Vegas Review-Journal “I think there’s so much potential here, and I learned to play tennis as a kid (in Las Vegas), so I wanted to help.” City Councilman Stavros Anthony told the Review Journal that the city will save $200,000 annually by having the Querrey’s run the facility.
  • Former world No. 1 golfer Annika Sorenstam and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, wife of the late Arthur Ashe, will present Martina Navratilova with the Eugene L. Scott Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the 30th annual Legends Ball on Friday, September 10, 2010 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Polly Scott will also participate in the presentation of the award, which is given in honor of her late husband, Eugene, founder of Tennis Week magazine. The Eugene L. Scott Award, presented annually since 2006, honors an individual who embodies Scott’s commitment to communicating honestly and critically about the game, and who has had a significant impact on the tennis world. Scott founded Tennis Week magazine and wrote the most widely read and well-respected column about the sport, “Vantage Point” until his death in March 2006. Previous recipients of the award have been: John McEnroe (2006); Andre Agassi (2007); Billie Jean King (2008); and Arthur Ashe and his wife Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe (2009). “In addition to the fact that they are personal friends of Martina, we felt that Annika’s legendary athletic career combined with Jeanne’s extensive work for social change, perfectly embody what Martina has meant to tennis and society for the past three decades,” said Christopher E. Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. “We know their presence will make this an even more special moment for Martina and everyone attending the 2010 Legends Ball, and we appreciate their enthusiasm and support.” The Legends Ball, held annually since 1980, brings the tennis world together to celebrate the history of the game and to honor some of the sport’s great contributors; all while raising money for the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.  This special night of celebration will honor a host of tennis luminaries including the Class of 2010, which features the extraordinary doubles teams of Gigi Fernandez & Natasha Zvereva, Todd Woodbridge & Mark Woodforde, mixed doubles champion Owen Davidson, Derek Hardwick, an influential tennis administrator and Brad Parks, the first ever wheelchair tennis inductee, who is also one of the pioneering founders of the wheelchair game. A legendary line-up of tennis greats will also be in attendance, including more than a dozen Hall of Famers and tennis dignitaries. In addition to presenting the Eugene L. Scott Award, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum will also present the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Award to Mercedes-Benz.For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or to learn more about the event, call 212-843-1740 or e-mail legendsball@hgnyc.com. The mission of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, based in Newport, R.I., is to preserve the history of tennis, inspire and encourage junior tennis development, enshrine tennis heroes and heroines and provide a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide.
  • According to the IEG Sponsorship Report, companies will spend $600 million sponsoring amateur and professional tennis tournaments in 2010. The figure represents a 3.2 per cent increase on 2009 and includes global, national and local deals. William Chipps, senior editor of IEG Sponsorship Report, said tennis has largely replaced the drop in spending by financial services and automobile companies during the global financial crisis, with new categories such as beer and spirits. New major tennis deals for 2010 include Mexican beer brand Corona Extra’s sponsorship of the ATP World Tour, worth $70 million over five-and-a-half-years. A major Asia-Pacific partnership between the WTA Tour and Chinese apparel brand Peak Sport Products was also signed this year. In the USA, significant deals have been struck between vehicle insurer Esurance and the US Open and with Moet Hennessy’s Grand Marnier and the US Tennis Association’s US Open Series.
  • After more than 40 years of providing memorable experiences for local, national and international visitors, The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort ceased operations on August 15, 2010. A years-long dispute between the Condominium Unit Owners and the operating company of the resort remains unresolved and, as a result, much needed renovations to the property have not yet been performed. The resort was developed by Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber in the late 1060’s and has been managed by his daughter Katherine “Katie” Klauber Moulton for the past 25 years.  Under their leadership they hosted more than a million guests and the resort became world-renowned for extraordinary service, its spectacular location and the warm hospitality of the Klauber family and their employees.  Because the property has fallen into such disrepair the legacy of fine service, exceptional facilities, manicured property and gardens, and the making of special memories that have become expected from a visit to The Colony and that the Klaubers worked so hard to create, cannot possibly continue with the condition the resort is in.
  • American Express announced their brand new web site NextContenders.com, where tennis enthusiasts can follow rising tennis stars John Isner, Sam Querrey, Caroline Wozniacki and Melanie Oudin as they train for the US Open with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage giving a glimpse into their personal lives.The also are enhancing fans experience with the official iPhone application of the US Open and will continue to distribute the American Express Radios Live, allowing fans to listen to play-by-play commentary and match updates on CBS, ESPN2 and the Tennis Channel while they watch the action live from the courts.
  • The Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio will be expanded by 5.4 acres to include six new courts, and a new ticket office and entry plaza, according to officials of Tennis for Charity and the United States Tennis Association. The Tennis Center is the host of the annual Western & Southern Masters and Women’s Open, the largest professional summer tennis tournament in the nation outside of the US Open. The grounds are located approximately 20 miles north of Cincinnati. Among the improvements in this phase, planned to be completed by the first day of next year’s combined event, which kicks off August 13, 2011:- Six new courts
    – One court with a seating capacity of 4,000 that will serve as a third television court for the 2011 combined event
    – One court with a capacity of 2,500
    – Four additional courts
    – A 2,750-square-foot enclosed ticket office
    – A 10,000-square-foot entry plaza with a 30-foot by 60-foot canopy and 9 gates

    The new footprint of the Tennis Center will span 19.0 acres, up from 13.6 acres in 2010. The expansion will stretch to the North and East of the current grounds.

    “With the tournament planning to host the men and women simultaneously in 2011, this expansion is necessary to accommodate the increase in tennis and attendance expected at the combined event,” said Ken Berry, president of Tennis for Charity. Tennis for Charity owns the land and leases the facility to the tournament. The expansion plans will be designed by Browning, Day, Mullins & Dierdorf in Indianapolis, and the construction will be completed by Vector Construction of Northern Kentucky. Both organizations have been involved with the Lindner Family Tennis Center for more than 20 years. “The goal of the Master Plan is to create a festive urban tennis garden that generates excitement and action throughout the grounds,” said executive vice president, Greg Jacoby. This year’s tournament marked the opening of the newly constructed player and media facility built into the West side of the 11,400 capacity Center Court. Also today it was announced, the 52,000-square-foot structure will officially be named the “Paul Flory Player Center,” in honor of the tournament chairman, Paul Flory. Flory joined the event in 1975 as tournament director and guided the event from a small tournament held at Coney Island to one of the largest in the world.

    The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Levy Restaurants, the official restaurateurs of the US Open, will offer many new culinary offerings at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the 2010 US Open, which runs from August 30-September 12. Most notably new this year is the South Plaza Master Chef Cafe, featuring signature items created exclusively for the US Open by some of the most esteemed chefs in the country. Spiaggia Chef Tony Mantuano, who created the Wine Bar Food experience at the US Open and is fresh off an appearance on Top Chef Masters, worked with US Open Executive Chef Michael Lockard to invite several Top Chef Masters co-stars to participate. Chefs include Mantuano, Susan Feniger, Carmen Gonzalez, Rick Moonen and Jonathan Waxman. Additionally, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto has been tapped to serve his signature sushi in ACES, the Player’s Lounge and the 90 luxury suites. Attendees will also see more healthy and organic options, including a new all-organic concession stand. The Patio Cafe and the Heineken Light Lounge have also expanded, and the new Overlook cabanas will serve as popular between-match destinations. “The US Open is one of the premier sports and entertainment attractions on the planet, both in the on-court product and in the experience offered to patrons throughout the grounds,” said Danny Zausner, Managing Director, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. “The US Open features culinary offerings that have transcended sports, and with the additions in 2010, including an extraordinary lineup of acclaimed chefs, this year’s US Open will provide both tennis fans and casual visitors alike an experience unparalleled by any other sporting event in the world.”

    Culinary highlights for the 2010 US Open include:

    – South Plaza Master Chef Cafe

    – South Plaza Master Chef Cafe: Unprecedented for a sporting event, the new South Plaza Master Chef Cafe will be accessible to all guests and will feature dishes created exclusively for the US Open by a roster of celebrity chefs. Additionally, on Sunday, September 5, all chefs will be on-site to conduct cooking demonstrations and compete in the Master Chef Championship Charity Competition for their own US Open prize: a $5,000 donation to their charity of choice for the chef that sells the most of their signature item. Participating chefs include:

    – Susan Feniger: Chef and owner of Border Grill restaurants in Santa Monica and Las Vegas and the Border Grill Truck (along with business partner Chef Mary Sue Milliken), Feniger recently launched her first solo venture, Susan Feniger’s STREET in Hollywood. A veteran of Food Network’s Too Hot Tamales, Feniger also co-authored five cookbooks with Milliken, including Mesa Mexicana and Cooking with Too Hot Tamales. For the US Open, she will serve carne asada tacos made with grilled jalapeno lime steak, caramelized onion, grilled corn relish, chipotle salsa and guacamole, and Yucatan pork tacos made with braised achiote pork, orange jicama slaw, guacamole and pickled onion, both served on soft corn tortillas with red rice and black beans.

    – Carmen Gonzalez: Puerto Rican native Gonzalez is the former chef/owner of the nationally-acclaimed, Miami-based, Carmen the Restaurant, which was named “one of the best restaurants in America” by Esquire Magazine. Gonzalez will be serving a lobster roll with key lime mayonnaise, a pulled pork sandwich with mango slaw on a brioche roll, barbeque pork quesadillas topped with avocado relish, a lobster and avocado terrine, and Carmen’s signature flan with caramel sauce.

    – Tony Mantuano: Mantuano is known worldwide for his four-star Italian restaurant Spiaggia, located in Chicago. He also won the 2005 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Midwest. In addition to his offerings at the Wine Bar Food stand (see below), at the South Plaza Master Chef Cafe Mantuano will serve a spinach salad with crispy shallots and crumbled ricotta salata, and an antipasti platter featuring Niman Ranch dry cured salami, Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese and marinated Cerignola olives.

    – Rick Moonen: The author of Fish Without a Doubt and chef/owner of RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Moonen is an advocate for sustainable seafood practices and is critically acclaimed for his work at Oceana, Molyvos, the Water Club and RM. For the US Open, Moonen visited the Levy Restaurants Innovations Kitchen in Chicago and worked with Levy and Tony Mantuano to develop the Moon`N Doggie, an all-natural shrimp hot dog debuting at this year’s US Open. Each shrimp dog is served on a fresh toasted bun and comes with Asian slaw, mint pesto and toga chips. Customers can also customize their Moon ‘N Doggies with a variety of specialty toppings including honey ginger goo, chipotle dude or horseradish hell.

    – Jonathan Waxman – A revered chef, restaurateur and author, Jonathan has helmed venerable kitchens from coast to coast – from Chez Panisse in Berkeley and Michael’s in Los Angeles to New York’s famous Jams in Washington Park. The author of A Great American Cook, Waxman is currently the chef/owner of Barbuto in Manhattan’s West Village. At the Open, he will dish up his signature roast chicken panino with basil aioli and greens and mozzarella, an heirloom tomato caprese panino with pesto, and a grilled sliced hanger steak panino with pepperonata, along with caponata and ratatouille contorni.

    – Wine Bar Food: Chef Mantuano and wine expert Cathy Mantuano will once again offer their wine bar atmosphere adjacent to the South Plaza Master Chef Cafe and on the Club Level of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The menu, based on recipes from their Wine Bar Food cookbook, will bring back popular items such as flaming ouzo shrimp and the mozzarella plate, expertly paired with Mediterranean wines.

    Food Village & Concessions:

    – New: Stonyfield Farm will have an all-organic stand, serving organic food and beverages such as balsamic blue salad made with organic greens, naturally-raised chicken, crumbled blue cheese, raisins, walnuts and flatbread croutons and the chilled gazpacho. The Southern BBQ stand is also new, offering Texas beef brisket, pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and more. The Fulton’s Seafood stand, known for the US Open signature lobster roll, has also added a fried shrimp ‘po-boy’ served on a baguette with coleslaw. All hamburgers in the Food Village are also now made with a LaFrieda burger blend made exclusively for the US Open.

    – Niman Ranch: Levy Restaurants is the exclusive purveyor of Niman Ranch products in sports and entertainment venues nationwide, and their premium sausages and meats will be served throughout the US Open grounds. Niman Ranch is supplied by a network of more than 650 independent family farmers who raise livestock traditionally, humanely and sustainably, and their meats are 100 percent natural and gluten-free.

    Restaurants:

    – ACES (Club Level): Known for VIP sightings at the US Open, ACES now has even more star power – in the kitchen. ACES welcomes Chef Masaharu Morimoto to helm the sushi served at this seafood restaurant, where he will prepare sashimi, daily sushi specials including a signature US Open roll, and the chef’s choice Morimoto ultimate combo. The menu also features a new lobster salad made with local corn, shell beans, farm eggs, asparagus and orange-tarragon vinaigrette.

    – Champions Bar & Grill (Club Level): This exclusive steakhouse offers premium cuts of meat and seafood including the new Surf and Turf, grilled filet mignon and butter poached lobster served with a garlic and herb tomato gratin. The Champions Seafood Tasting – an assortment of clams, oysters, shrimp and lobster served with traditional accompaniments – is also a top-seller.

    – Mojito Restaurant and Bar (Arthur Ashe Stadium ground floor): This Latin restaurant is a popular between- and post-match destination accessible to all ticketholders. New this year is the squash blossom quesadilla with zucchini flowers, pepper jack cheese and avocado relish.

    – Patio Cafe (outside the US Open Club): A charming outdoor cafe, this year the Patio Cafe opens a new bar with an extensive wine list and small plates menu to match. On the main menu is the new California BLT made with crisp Niman Ranch bacon, bibb lettuce, sliced tomato and avocado on rustic sourdough bread.

    Additional Highlights:

    – Overlook as presented by Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas: A new space this year, the Overlook cabanas are on the terrace of the practice courts atop food village. The menu features an impressive drink list along with ceviche, spring rolls and crispy scallion Moo-Shu wraps made with chicken, pulled pork or tofu.

    – Heineken Light Lounge: First introduced last year, this tennis oasis has expanded to include outdoor seating and will now offer food including the Belgian waffle bites dipped in Nutella hazelnut sauce and the Belgian waffle club sandwich made with maple-glazed turkey, hickory smoked bacon, lettuce and tomato served between two Belgian waffles. This lounge also features a DJ, sofas with fire pit tables and plasma TV stations loaded with Wii Tennis.

    – Player’s Lounge: The athletes are given many options to fuel their game, and new this year they will also have an Iron Chef making sure the US Open remains the players’ favorite food destination on tour. Iron Chef Morimoto will now manage the sushi station, offering players made-to-order rolls and sashimi. Additionally, the pasta bar has doubled in size and the popular juice and smoothie bar has been expanded.

    – Honey Deuce: The signature drink of the US Open is a refreshing blend of GREY GOOSE® Vodka, a touch of raspberry-flavored liqueur, lemonade and honeydew melon “tennis” balls, served in a US Open souvenir glass with a list of past US Open men’s and women’s winners. One of the most popular items on the grounds, more than 50,000 of the signature drinks were sold at the 2009 US Open.

    – Going Green: The USTA and Levy Restaurants have continued to expand their green initiatives. New this year, composting will be expanded throughout the grounds including the two main kitchens, as well as all restaurants and front of house operations. Other initiatives include a cooking oil recycling program that converts oil into clean-burning, renewable biodiesel fuel, and utilizing serviceware (cups, napkins, plates, etc.) made from environmentally-friendly, recyclable, biodegradable or compostable materials. The recycling program has also expanded and Levy Restaurants will be sourcing more than 30 percent of all produce from local farms.

    – City Harvest Donation: The USTA and Levy Restaurants will once again team up to donate unused food to City Harvest, the world’s first food rescue organization, which delivers rescued food to soup kitchens and food pantries across the five boroughs. Last year, four truckloads totaling more than 21,000 pounds of food were donated, and City Harvest has collected more than 250,000 pounds of food from the US Open since 1998.

US Open Ceremony Anniversaries Abound

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August 25 is an historic day for the United States Tennis Association and the U.S. Open as it was on this date in 1997 that the new Arthur Ashe Stadium was christened in a moving on-court ceremony, as documented in the book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY by Randy Walker ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com). August 25 also marked the day that Pete Sampras officially ended his miraculous career in another memorable on-court ceremony, while August 26 marks the date when the 2002 U.S. Open kicked off paying homage in an opening ceremony to the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City by raising the American flag that flew over the World Trade Center over Arthur Ashe Stadium. Events from August 25 and August 26 are documented below in this exclusive book excerpt.

1997 – The United States Tennis Association dedicates Arthur Ashe Stadium with a dramatic on-court ceremony featuring Ashe’s widow Jeanne Moutassamy Ashe, Whitney Houston and 38 former champions. Tamarine Tanasugarn wins the first-ever match on Arthur Ashe Stadium defeating Chanda Rubin 6-4, 6-0. Future world No. 1 and two-time U.S. Open champion Venus Williams makes her U.S. Open debut, also on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court, and defeats Larisa Neiland of Latvia in the first round 5-7, 6-0, 6-1.

2003 – In an emotional on-court ceremony at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the opening night of the U.S. Open, five-time U.S. Open champion Pete Sampras officially announces his retirement from professional tennis. Just 12 months earlier, Sampras, seeded No. 17, brushing off the critics that say he is washed up and dramatically wins the U.S. Open – ending a tournament title slump of nearly 26 months – beating arch rival Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the final. Sampras appears on the court with his wife Bridgette and his 9-month-old son Christian, whom he carries in his arms as he takes one final victory lap around the center court at the U.S. Open.  “I’m going to miss playing here,” Sampras tells the crowd. “I really loved playing in New York, loved playing in front of you guys. But I know in my heart, it’s time to say goodbye.”

Pete Sampras

1927 – Althea Gibson, the woman who broke the color barrier at the U.S. Championships in 1950 and became one of the world’s most talented and accomplished players, is born in Spring, S.C. Gibson is the first black player to win a major title at the French Championships in 1956 and also becomes the first black player to win at Wimbledon (1957-1958) and at the U.S. Championships (1957-1958).

1950 – Play begins at the 50th anniversary edition of the Davis Cup Challenge Round as the United States and Australia open up play at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y. Australia takes a 2-0 on the Davis Cup holders as Frank Sedgman defeats Tom Brown 6-0, 8-6, 9-7 and Ken McGregor defeats Ted Schroeder 13-11, 6-3, 6-4. Australia goes on to claim its first Davis Cup title since 1939 the next day as Sedgman and John Bromwich defeat Gardnar Mulloy and Schroeder 4-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 giving Australia an insurmountable 3-0 lead. Brown prevents an Australian shutout on the third day of play as he comes back from two-sets-to-love deficit to defeat Ken McGregor 9-11, 8-10, 11-9, 6-1, 6-4 in the fifth and final match. Brown, a finalist at Forest Hills in 1946 and at Wimbledon in 1947, continues to play competitive tennis well into his 70s. In 1994, he undergoes shoulder replacement surgery where his arm was disconnected from his body and surgically re-attachment with an artificial shoulder.

2007 – James Blake wins his 10th career ATP singles title, defeating good friend Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-4. in the final of the Pilot Pen Championships in New Haven, Conn., just down the road from Blake’s childhood home of Fairfield, Conn.

August 26

1933 – Helen Wills Moody’s 45-match winning streak at the U.S. Championships ends in controversial circumstances as she quits her match with rival Helen Jacobs while trailing 0-3 in the final set of the women’s singles final at the West Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills. Trailing 0-3 in the final set, Moody walks to the chair umpire and informs him that she can no longer continue due to pain in her back. Jacobs pleads with Moody to continue, but the seven-time U.S. champion retreats to the dressing room, giving Jacobs the 8-6, 3-6, 3-0, ret. victory in front of  a shocked crowd of 8,000 fans. Moody’s loss is the first of any kind, in any circumstance since 1926. Moody issues a statement that reads, “In the third set of my singles match, I felt as though I was going to faint because of pain in my back and hip and complete numbness of my right leg. The match was long and by defaulting I do not wish to detract from the excellence of Miss Jacobs’s play. I felt that I have spoiled the finish of the national championship, and wish that I had followed the advice of my doctor and returned to California. I still feel that I did right in withdrawing because I felt that I was on the verge of a collapse on the court.” The loss marks the first loss for Moody in the championship since the 1922 U.S. women’s final.

1951 – Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor clinch the first Grand Slam in doubles, defeating fellow Aussies Mervyn Rose and Don Candy 10-8, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in the doubles final of the U.S. Championships, played at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y.

1986 – John McEnroe suffers his first – and only – first round loss at the U.S. Open, when fellow Long Island native Paul Annacone fires 23 aces and dismisses the four-time champion 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 on the opening day of the tournament. McEnroe, the four-time U.S. Open champion, plays only his third event after returning from a six-month sabbatical from the game that featured him being married to actress Tatum O’Neal and the birth of his first child. Says McEnroe of his lack of vigor in his first-round exit, “I have to look at myself in the mirror and ask whether I have the enthusiasm. There’s not much sense in pretending it’s there.” Says Annacone of the victory, “I kind of felt awkward beating him. He’s a great champion. He’s entertained so many millions of people and done so much for the game. I want to see him come back, but I feel he has got to get some more matches under his belt.” While McEnroe is beginning the downward path of his career, Andre Agassi, a standard bearer for the next generation of American tennis, makes his U.S. Open debut as a 16-year-old. The future two-time U.S. Open champion also loses in the opening round, falling to Jeremy Bates of Great Britain, 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

1991 – No. 8 seed Andre Agassi commits 61 unforced errors in his 7-5, 7-6, 6-2 first round loss to Aaron Krickstein at the US Open. Says Krickstein simply of Agassi and the upset-win,” He had a lot more to do with what happened than I did.” Says Agassi, who lost in the finals of the U.S. Open to Pete Sampras the previous year, “I don’t know what is harder, to lose in the first round or to lose in the finals.”

2002 – The United States Tennis Association pays tribute to the City of New York nearly one year after the Sept. 11 World Trade Center tragedy with a moving on-court “Opening Night” ceremony at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The World Trade Center flag that flew over the Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan is unfurled on-court, then raised over the stadium. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Tony Bennett, actor Judd Hirsch, Queen Latifah, John McEnroe and Billie Jean King join New York City police and fire fighters during the ceremonies.

1949 – Twenty-one-year-old Richard “Pancho” Gonzales makes his Davis Cup debut defeating Frank Sedgman 8-6, 6-4, 9-7 to help the United States to a 2-0 lead over Australia after the first day of the Davis Cup Challenge Round at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y. Born of Mexican parents in Los Angeles, Gonzalez wins the singles title at the U.S. National Championships at Forest Hills the year before in 1948 and goes on to defend his title in 1949. Following his triumph at Forest Hills in 1949, Gonzales, short of money, turns professional thus not being eligible to play Davis Cup again until the advent of Open tennis in 1968.

1974 – Bjorn Borg, who earlier in the year wins the Italian and French Championships, wins the U.S. Pro Championships in Boston, defeating Tom Okker in the final, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-1. Borg rallies from being down 2-5 in the first set to easily capture his first title in the United States. In the semifinals, Borg comes back from a 1-5 deficit in the fifth set to beat Jan Kodes 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) in the semifinals.

1991– After mysteriously skipping Wimbledon earlier in the summer, Monica Seles is unveiled as the spokesperson for the blue-jean manufacturer “No Excuses” in a press conference in New York. Seles, who absence from Wimbledon was the only blip on a season that saw her win the other three major tournaments she entered, used the excuse of shin splits for her Wimbledon withdrawal after weeks of speculation and secrecy regarding the reasoning for her no show.

2006 – Nikolay Davydenko of Russia defeats Agustin Calleri of Argentina 6-4, 6-3 in the final of the Pilot Pen Championships in New Haven, Conn., to win his eighth career ATP singles title. Davydenko wins the crown in New Haven – his first title in North America – without losing a set.

USTA PRODUCING PLAYERS, JUST NOT WORLD TOP 10 PLAYERS

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By Blair Henley

The United States Tennis Association is an easy target.

Any conversation about the conspicuous lack of American tennis talent usually leads to an Arthur Ashe Stadium full of fingers pointing squarely in their direction. But after looking into what the organization has accomplished recently, it becomes a little harder to blame them for what many perceive to be a lingering talent drought.

Tennis’ governing body seems to have the key tools necessary to create the next attention-grabbing American star: money (lots of it), talent (in leadership, coaches) and motivation (from the Board of Directors and sponsors).

The US Open attracted a record 721,059 fans in 2009, cementing its status as the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world. The tournament provides the bulk of the USTA’s yearly windfall with eye-popping revenues totaling around $210 million. The remainder comes from the yearly dues of its 700,000 plus members.

The organization has used that seemingly recession-proof cash flow to develop and launch programs designed to expose tennis to a broader audience. Their wildly successful QuickStart program for young beginners and their “no-cut” program, which encourages schools to expand their rosters in exchange for discounted equipment and a training guide, have both been extremely effective.

As a result, the number of children age 6-17 playing tennis jumped to 9.5 million from 6.8 million between 2006 and 2009. For all ages, tennis participation has grown 43% since 2000, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association.

With numbers like those, it’s no wonder the USTA is now racing past its country club counterparts at the U.S. Golf Association in terms of junior participation (the number of golfers age 6-17 dropped 24% between 2005 and 2008, according to a National Golf Foundation participation report). An article published recently in the Wall Street Journal laid out those statistics and applauded the USTA for its adaptability.

In addition to expanding the potential talent pool, the USTA has made some recent personnel changes. Instead of replacing Arlen Kantarian, the former chief executive of professional tennis who resigned at the end of 2008, the USTA elected to disperse his responsibilities among existing staff and save much of the $9 million he reportedly got paid during his last year with the organization. Also in 2008, the USTA hired well-respected U.S. Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe as head of USTA Elite Player Development.

According to the USTA, the move “is part of a new strategic direction for the development of future American champions…this initiative will provide a greater focus on top American junior players and young pros in an effort to achieve championship status.”

In the past few years, they have also financed construction of a brand new training center at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, FL. They are now training and housing top U.S. talent full time.

It’s doubtful we would see such sweeping adjustments if the USTA hadn’t itself acknowledged that there were problems in the first place. So now that they’ve done their part, it seems we should start seeing results in the form of more highly ranked Americans on the pro tour, right?

Truth is there’s no instruction manual for nurturing kids with prodigious talent (although currently Spain and Russia seem to know something we don’t). In fact, the USTA can’t take sole responsibility for producing even one Grand Slam champion. It’s the maniacal tennis parents who seem to be best at that – Mike Agassi, Richard Williams, Stefano Capriati, Peter Graf, Jim Pierce, Gloria Connors and the list goes on.

Instead of shipping kids off to a tennis academy where each child is one of many, tennis parents can beat balls at their offspring for 8 hours a day, taking breathers only to belittle them (all without getting slapped with a lawsuit)!

Of course, that game plan also produces innumerable “waste products.” For every champion, there are countless ex-junior players sitting on their shrink’s couch rehashing the trauma of their youth. But, for better or worse, parents can insulate and micromanage their kids’ careers in a way that the USTA could never duplicate, no matter how good the coaches or facilities.

USTA Player Development is also suffering as a result of the recent explosion in squash, lacrosse and other team sports options available to youngsters. Unless there are parents present to tell their child, “You will give up having a normal life for the one in a million shot that you will be a tennis champion,” it’s hard to imagine many kids taking that road voluntarily. Unfortunately, many American parents have come to prefer the cooperation and diffused accountability of team sports over the perceived angst and anxiety of one-on-one competition.

During her run at last year’s US Open, Melanie Oudin provided a perfect example of what a self -motivated competitor looks like. Her will to win was unmistakable and inspiring – and rare. The talent may be out there, but in the American culture of comfort and excess it’s becoming harder and harder to find that talent coupled with drive and discipline. That makes the rise of a new young star (and his/her parents) less and less probable.

So while we’re praying that a crazed tennis parent is out on a public court as we speak feeding balls to their protesting four-year-old, let’s give the USTA a break. History says they probably won’t be producing a new big-time champion any time soon, but they have managed to bring thousands of new players to a lifetime sport despite a poor economy. Maybe that’s what it’s all about, anyway. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the current American crew of Williams/Williams/Roddick/Isner/Querrey while we have them.

New Website for Record-Breaking Bryan Brothers: This Week in Tennis Business

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By Bob Stockton

* Mike and Bob Bryan, who just won their record-breaking 62nd ATP World Tour doubles title last week in Los Angeles, have launched their new website www.bryanbros.com. Visit www.bryanbros.com for up-to-the-minute tweets from the Bryans, view videos, and learn about the Bryan Bros. Foundation activities.

* The United States Tennis Association announced that tickets for the 2010 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final between the United States and Italy, will go on sale on Friday, August 20, at 10 a.m. PST.  The matches will be played at the San Diego Sports Arena, November 6-7. This will mark the first time the Fed Cup Final has been played in the United States since 2000, when the U.S. won their record 17th Fed Cup title. The match-up between the U.S. and Italy will mark the second consecutive Fed Cup Final between the two nations. The U.S. lost to Italy on a slow red clay court in Reggio Calabria, Italy last year, 4-0. The 2010 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final will begin with two singles matches on Saturday, November 6.  Sunday’s schedule features two singles matches followed by one doubles match on Sunday, November 7. The San Diego Sports Arena will be hosting Fed Cup for the first time. The venue also was the site for the 1989 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal between the United States and France, and will become the eighth U.S. venue to host both a Davis Cup and Fed Cup tie. Ticket prices range from $80 to $350 and are sold as two-day packages. Tickets can be purchased: at www.ticketmaster.com or www.USTA.com; by calling Ticketmaster at 888-334-USTA (8782). The two-day, best-of-five match final is being organized, staged and promoted by the USTA. For more information about the U.S. Fed Cup team, visit www.usta.com/fedcup. Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage of the U.S. vs. Italy Fed Cup Final.

Mike and Bob Bryan
Mike and Bob Bryan

* Pete Sampras will make his long-awaited debut in China as part of a star-studded eight man field at the second annual Chengdu Open. Sampras will join old rivals Pat Rafter, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Michael Stich at the ATP Champions Tour event, which takes place October 21-24, 2010 at the Sichuan International Tennis Center in Chengdu, China. Famed for being the home of the giant panda, the city of Chengdu warmly welcomed the ATP Champions Tour for the first time in 2009. The event was a roaring success with players and fans alike, and with the legendary Sampras gracing the event in 2010, fans are set for another feast of top quality tennis. Sampras has been drawn into Group A for the round robin stages alongside the 1987 Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash as well as the French Davis Cup captain and recent Sao Paulo runner-up Guy Forget. The group is completed by ATP Champions Tour debutant Paradorn Srichaphan, whose stellar play over the past decade helped to ignite a tennis boom across South East Asia. Group B will be headed by Rafter, as well as the defending Chengdu Open Champion Thomas Enqvist, the 1991 Wimbledon Champion Michael Stich and former world No. 1 Kafelnikov. In all, the eight players of the 2010 Chengdu Open hold a staggering 150 ATP World Tour singles titles and 62 ATP World Tour doubles titles between them. Chengdu Open Tournament Director Nick Freyer is delighted to be welcoming 14-time Grand Slam Champion Sampras to China for the first time. “It is a tremendous honor to join forces with Pete Sampras,” he said. “To make history with Pete’s first ever visit to China, and to do it in the company of so many other ATP Champions, is a coup for Chengdu and very exciting for all of us at the tournament.”

* Ivan Lendl will end a period of 16 years out of tournament tennis by joining the ATP Champions Tour this coming October. The former world No.1 and winner of eight major tournament titles will make his long-awaited Champions Tour debut at the Jean Luc Lagardere Trophy (October 1-3) in Paris, the site of his three French Open victories. He will come face-to-face with the man he defeated to win his first Grand Slam title in the same city in 1984 – John McEnroe. Lendl’s addition to the circuit of former World No.1’s, Grand Slam champions and finalist, and Davis Cup winners means that every great tennis champion of the past three decades will have played on the ATP Champions Tour. Since retiring in 1994, Lendl has barely lifted a tennis racquet, preferring to spend his time on the golf course and with his wife and five children. At the age of 50, the Czech now feels it is time to return to the sport that made him a star, and will once again take to the Parisian clay courts, this time at the prestigious Paris Racing Club in the Bois de Boulogne. Lendl’s meeting with McEnroe will revive a rivalry with the man that he vanquished in the final at Roland Garros in 1984. It was to be the American’s best chance of lifting an elusive French Open title. The pair met 36 times during their playing careers, with the Czech leading the head-to-head 21-15. Faced with the opportunity to avenge that painful French Open final defeat, McEnroe said: “Oh boy, l’m looking forward to it. We had some great matches together but it’s been a long time and he hasn’t played for more than 15 years so I think we need to discuss a few things, both on and off the court! “I know he’s been working most of the last year to get back into the type of shape he needs to be in, because it doesn’t get any easier as you get older. But we’ll be giving it our all, that’s for sure.” Also set to appear at the 2010 Jean Luc Lagardere Trophy will be the charismatic Frenchman Yannick Noah, who will be making a much-anticipated return to the ATP Champions Tour after an absence of more than seven years. Noah, who has pursued a successful career as a recording artist during his time away from tennis, has chosen Paris for his comeback since it was the scene of his historic win at Roland Garros in 1983. The line-up in Paris will be further strengthened by the presence of yet another Roland Garros Champion and former world No. 1, Mats Wilander. The Swede, who captured a total of seven major singles titles during his illustrious career, currently sits in tenth position in the South African Airways Rankings, so will arrive in Paris hoping for a good run of form and some rankings points. The six-man field will be rounded off by two players to be announced in the coming weeks. Matches are played over the best of three sets, with a Champions’ Tie-break (first to 10 points with a clear advantage of two) to decide the winner. After all round-robin matches are complete, the top two players in each group will meet in Sunday’s final.

* Cliff Richey, former U.S. No. 1, Davis Cup hero and author of the book ACING DEPRESSION: A TENNIS CHAMPION’S TOUGHEST MATCH ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.CliffRicheyBook.com) will be speaking about overcoming obstacles in life and his fight with depression at 3 pm on Sunday, August 15 at the Westwood First Presbyterian Church, 3011 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio. Richey will also sign be selling and signing copies of his book, which has been met with rave reviews. Richey is also expected to appear on site at the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati on Monday, August 16 at the ACE AUTHENTIC booth on site at the event.

* The USTA announced that singing sensation David Archuleta, rising star Shontelle and tennis great Roger Federer have been added to an already star-studded line-up that includes chart-topping pop superstars Jonas Brothers, TV and recording sensation Demi Lovato, tennis world # 1 Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic for the 15th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess Saturday, August 28 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hosted by Adrienne Bailon and Quddus, the show will feature special celebrity guests including Nick Cannon. The popular full-day tennis and music festival for children and families – including interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis clinics – will also feature performances from Allstar Weekend and School Gyrls. More musical acts and tennis stars will be announced in coming weeks. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Presented by Hess will kick off the 2010 US Open, which runs from August 30 – September 12. From 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., kids and their families can experience an exciting schedule of free tennis games, live music and attractions taking place throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., the live tennis and music show will feature fun exhibition matches and skills competitions with Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Novak Djokovic, and other top players and celebrities with musical performances by the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and more. In celebration of the 15th anniversary of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato are the first artists to reprise their performances at the event, having appeared in 2007 and 2008 respectively, with the Jonas Brothers having made their debut here in 2005 on the Hess Get Pumped Up stage. Stadium show tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster (1-866-OPEN-TIX), usopen.org and at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office. American Express is the official card of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. General admission promenade tickets cost $10 and loge tickets are $20.  Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will be broadcast nationally by CBS on Sunday, August 29, from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m (EST). Kids 12-and-under with stadium show tickets will receive a free Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day hat from the USTA and Hess on a first-come, first-served basis.  In the event of inclement weather, ticket holders can log on to usopen.org for the most up to date information. “We have seen some of the biggest names in tennis and entertainment on the court during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess,” said Harlan Stone, Chief Marketing Officer, USTA. “Our 15th year will be no different, and this day of excitement and fun for kids and families, will again honor a great humanitarian and icon of our sport.” Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has featured many of music’s biggest acts including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, Backstreet Boys, Ne-Yo, Sean Kingston, Jesse McCartney, Bow Wow and Hanson.

* Tickets are on sale for the New York Junior Tennis League’s (NYJTL) 15th annual “Summer Gala with the Stars” to be held at the Central Park Boathouse in Manhattan on Wednesday August 11, 2010, from 6:30-11:00pm. All proceeds will benefit NYJTL programs and the Arthur Ashe Endowment for the Defeat of AIDS.”The Summer Gala with the Stars” includes cocktails and a buffet dinner, live music and dancing, silent auction, raffle, gondola rides, caricatures, tarot readings, magicians and more. The event is Co-Chaired by: Fay Ann Lee, Bruce Manson, and Lee Miller. In 2009, the Summer Gala raised $155,000. Honorary Committee Chairs include: John Andariese, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Mary Carillo, Jim Courier, Former Mayor David Dinkins, Lucy Garvin, Luke Jensen, Ilene Margolin, Patrick McEnroe, Melissa McEnroe, Dennis and Pat Van der Meers, Eizabeth Vargas, Virginia Wade. NYJTL offers comprehensive school and community tennis and education programs throughout New York’s five boroughs serving youth from ages 6-18. To reach its goals, NYJTL mobilizes the support of the community, corporate citizens, Foundations, organizations and individuals who are committed to achieving net gains for kids. NYJTL is the largest tennis and education-themed community organization in the United States serving more than 120,000 children in New York City’s five boroughs. Tickets which range from $175 to $500, are now on sale on the NYJTL website (www.nyjtl.org) or by telephone. For more information or to purchase tickets by phone, contact Pam Glick at (347) 417-8146.

* According to the Florida Times Union, Florida’s Amelia Island Plantation is fielding bids from investors as it hopes emerge from bankruptcy. In addition to Noble Investment Group’s $45.9 million bid for the property, two other hotel “top-flight hotel and hospitality investors” are interested in buying the property in an August 23 auction. The resort, the former site of WTA Tour’s Bausch and Lomb Championships, features four 18-hole golf courses, a holistic spa and 23 tennis courts. The economic downturn has hurt sales at the resort. According to court papers obtained by the Times Union, the resort said its annual revenue fell to an estimated $57 million last year from $75 million in 2007.

* Alta Bates Summit Foundation announced that Gigi Fernandez will participate in the 19th Annual Celebrity Tennis Classic with Martina Navratilova at 2 p.m., on Saturday, October 2, 2010, at the Berkeley Tennis Club in Berkeley, Calif. A “Casino Royale” Gala will also be held after the Celebrity Tennis Classic at the Claremont Resort and Spa in Berkeley. Attendees will experience the thrill and excitement of casino gaming, sip some fine wine and other libations, dine on a delicious variety of international cuisine, and can participate in an exciting live auction and casino gaming along with Martina Navratilova and Gigi Fernandez and other participants from the day’s tennis events. Proceeds will support the lifesaving work of Thunder Road Adolescent Treatment Center. For information about attending, sponsoring, donating to or playing in the Alta Bates Summit Foundation 19th Annual Celebrity Tennis Classic, please contact Dorine Tanaka (email: tanakad@sutterhealth.org) or Shirley Silverstein (email: silvers@sutterhealth.org) at the Alta Bates Summit Foundation, telephone number: 510-204-1667.  For more info about the event, Alta Bates Summit Foundation and Thunder Road, please visit: www.InvestmentInMiracles.org

WILL U.S. DAVIS CUP TEAM EXPERIENCE “ELEVATION” IN COLOMBIA?

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By Randy Walker

The United States Davis Cup team drew an away tie at Colombia in the 2010 Davis Cup Play-off Round draw held Tuesday in London. The United States will have to win this series, to be played September 17-19, to be eligible to win the Davis Cup in 2011 and stay in the elite 16-team Davis Cup World Group.

Expected to compete for the USA in this series are Sam Querrey and John Isner, who represented the U.S. admirably in its 3-2 loss to Serbia in the first round earlier this year on clay and in Serbia. Querrey and Isner recently played the clay-court final in Belgrade, marking the first time since the 1991 French Open final between Jim Courier and Andre Agassi that two American men have competed in a clay-court final in Europe. Colombia is expected to choose a clay court for this series with the Americans. Davis Cup stalwart Andy Roddick has indicated that he will not compete for the U.S. Davis Cup team in 2010 after skipping the first-round series against Serbia.

Colombia is led by Santiago Giraldo, currently ranked No. 59, who had a great run to the round of 16 of the Italian Championship last month, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-0, 6-3 en route. The Colombian No. 2 is Alejandro Falla, who is ranked No. 69.

The United States famously was defeated in the first round of the 1974 competition by Colombia – losing 4-1 in the Colombian capital of Bogota after competing in the last six Davis Cup finals, winning five times. The 1974 series against Colombia was played at an elevation of 8,626 feet – the highest elevation ever for a U.S. Davis Cup match. The United States Tennis Association and Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe can hope that the Colombians chose to play this 2010 match at such an elevation as the swifter conditions would greatly benefit the big serves of both Querrey and Isner. Sea-level city Barranquilla, that has hosted professional events in the past, and Cartagena could be better options for the Colombians.

The last time the two nations played was in 1979 as the U.S. blanked Colombia 5-0 in Cleveland in the first round. That series marked the debut of John McEnroe and Peter Fleming as a U.S. Davis Cup doubles team. The United States has not played in South America since a 1997 first round series at Brazil.

The United States has long-waged drug war in Colombia, but the country has seen a recent bounce in tourism as drug hostilities have waned.

For the full Davis Cup Play-off draw, go to www.DavisCup.com.