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Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters retire after The US Open — Mondays With Bob Greene

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STARS

US Open (First Week)

Martin Klizan beat fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 1-6 6-1 6-3

Marion Bartoli beat fifth-seeded Petra Kvitova 1-6 6-2 6-0

Irina-Camelia Begu beat eighth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-2

Laura Robson beat ninth-seeded Li Na 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-2

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez beat 10th-seeded Juan Monaco 3-6 1-6 6-4 7-6 (6) 7-6 (3)

SAYING

Andy Roddick announced his retirement on Thursday.

“I just feel like it’s time. I don’t know that I’m healthy enough or committed enough to go another year. I’ve always wanted to, in a perfect world, finish at this event. I have a lot of family and friends here. I’ve thought all year that I would know when I got to this tournament. When I was playing my first round, I knew.” – Andy Roddick, announcing his retirement from tennis after this year’s US Open.

“I think the first hour after the match there was still disappointment and a little bit of frustration. You know, still kind of had that routine of going through the match and trying to figure out how to do it better next time. But obviously now, after talking and kind of thinking about the retirement in singles, I’m happy. … It’s been an incredible journey, and a lot of dreams for me have come true because of tennis.” – Kim Clijsters, after falling to Laura Robson in the final singles match of her career

“Kim always displayed grace and character on and off the court. So it’s appropriate that Arthur Ashe Stadium brought out her best, because she embodies so many of Arthur’s qualities. We will miss this great champion, and we wish Kim and her family all the best.” – Jon Vegosen, USTA president, on the retirement of three-time US Open women’s singles champion Kim Clijsters.

“I’m thankful for everything he’s done for the game, especially here for tennis in America. It’s not been easy after Agassi and Sampras, Courier, Chang, Connors, McEnroe, you name it. … It’s been hard for him as well at times. I thought he always did the best he could; that’s all you can ask from a guy.” – Roger Federer, commenting on Andy Roddick’s retirement

“It’s part of the game in sport. I always joke because people say sport is good for you. But, you know, we are always hurting. You know, it’s hard on the heart, too.” – Ana Ivanovic, when asked if she had learned to play through injury and with pain.

“The guy’s a freak. He’s so good. It’s really incredible. I could spend another hour talking about the things I’m impressed with by him.” – James Blake, talking about Roger Federer.

“You certainly don’t get confused in the locker room. You hear your name and you know it’s about you.” – Samantha Stosur, commenting on being called “Sam.”

“I’ve decided that tennis is what I love and that’s what I really want to do. So I give 100 percent all the time, practice, matches.” – Sloane Stephens, after upsetting 22nd-seeded Francesca Schiavone.

“I’m definitely better than last fall. Last fall I didn’t play any tournaments and I was at home watching on TV. So there’s a big difference between watching on TV and being in a tournament. For me it’s very rewarding, it’s very exciting.” – Venus Williams, comparing her health this year to last.

“She was crushing her serves. I don’t think anyone’s returning those, so I’m not going to beat myself up too much.” – Bethanie Mattek-Sands, after a 124-mph serve by Venus Williams jammed Mattek-Sand’s left index finger so hard she needed attention from a trainer.

“It’s a humbling experience, for sure. It’s certainly nice to feel appreciated at the end of all of it. … It’s a good feeling. Kind of an outpouring of support from inside the tennis world and outside the tennis world in the last 24 hours is certainly not something that I expected to the lengths it’s come from.” – Andy Roddick, on the commentary about his retirement.

“I was feeling like I was melting out there.” – Agnieszka Radwanska, after beating Jelena Jankovic in steamy hot weather.

“I’d be an idiot not to use the crowd right now. It’s a huge advantage.” – Andy Roddick.

SAYS ENOUGH’S ENOUGH

Andy Roddick picked his 30th birthday to announce he will be retiring following this year’s US Open. “I’ll make this short and sweet,” Roddick said to begin his press conference Thursday “I’ve decided that this is going to be my last tournament.” The 2003 US Open champion, his only Grand Slam tournament title, Roddick became the youngest American to finish the season at number one in the ATP rankings. He reached four other major finals – three times at Wimbledon, in 2004, ’05 and ’09, and at the 2006 US Open. He lost to Roger Federer each time. The 2009 Wimbledon final was decided in a 16-14 fifth set, Roddick not dropping serve until the final game, holding 37 straight service games. Since turning pro in 2000, Roddick has won 610 matches and 32 titles – the second and third, respectively, among active players on the ATP World Tour. He became the 19th player in the Open Era to reach the 600 match wins plateau this past June en route to the grass-court title at Eastbourne, England. “I’ve been very lucky and very fortunate,” Roddick said. “I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities. I wouldn’t trade away a day of it. I’ve loved every minute.”

STOPPING RUN

Laura Robson’s run through past Grand Slam tournament champions ended with last year’s US Open winner. Samantha Stosur ousted her young British opponent 6-4 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, USA. At 18 the youngest player in the top 100 in the WTA rankings, Robson had become the first British woman since Jo Durie in 1991 to reach the fourth round of the US Open. She defeated three-time US Open winner Kim Clijsters in the second round, then eliminated 2011 French Open champion Li Na to gain her fourth-round berth. Stosur, however, finally overcame Robson, who still put up a game fight. In fact, Stosur didn’t close out the victory until the ninth match point over three games.

SIBLING STRENGTH

It could be just a coincidence that America’s top doubles teams are siblings. Don’t look at the rankings, just the results. Leading the men are twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, who have won more titles together than any other team. Sisters Venus and Serena Williams, who needed a wild card to get into the event, are a strong favorite to add the US Open title to the trophies they’ve collected this summer at Wimbledon and the London Olympics. Then there are the Harrisons. Brothers Ryan and Christian Harrison have been the big surprise in the men’s doubles, advancing to the quarterfinals as wild cards. The two eliminated the 14th-seeded British team of Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins 6-3 6-4. They began the two-week event by upsetting the fourth-seeded Polish team of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski then defeated the Israeli duo of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram. Christian, at 18 two years younger than his brother Ryan, had never played a main draw match at the tour level before in either singles or doubles. The brothers had played just one professional match together entering the Open, having reached the quarterfinals at last year’s Sarasota Challenger.

SHOVED ASIDE

America’s top women’s doubles team, according to the rankings, is Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond. The defending US Open champions, they were seeded number one at this year’s tournament. That was before Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan and Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain upset the top seeds 6-4 2-6 6-4.

STAYING HOME

Kim Clijsters has retired again – this time for good. Her retirement came in spurts as she played three events in her announced final tournament, the US Open, which she has won three times. In 2001 Clijsters became the first Belgian to reach a Grand Slam tournament final when she played in the French Open title match. Nearly two years after winning the US Open in 2005, Clijsters retired, got married and had a daughter. She returned to the game in 2009 and became the first unranked woman in the Open Era to win the US Open in just her third tournament back. That also made her the first mother since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbledon in 1980 to win a major title. The following year, 2010, the Belgian won the US Open for the third time. Clijsters’ singles career ended in a second-round loss to Britain’s Laura Robson. She then lost her first-round doubles match where she teamed with compatriot Kirsten Flipkens. Her retirement began when she and American Bob Bryan were defeated by Bruno Soares of Brazil and Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in the mixed doubles. “It was an honor to be part of this lifestyle and this sport,” Clijsters said. “I started when I was four and had so many dreams come true. But life goes on.”

Clijsters posted a career US Open record of 38 victories against just six losses. She won 22 consecutive matches during her title runs in 2005, 2009 and 2010, the second longest win streak among women in the tournament’s history, trailing only Chris Evert.

SEVEN MAJORS, SEVEN WINNERS

If history is any judge, a new Grand Slam tournament women’s singles winner will be crowned when this year’s US Open is over. That’s because the last seven major tournaments have yielded seven different winners, one shy of the Open Era record. As of Sunday night, seven women who have never won a major were still in the running, led by Angelique Kerber and Agnieszka Radwanska. Beginning with the 2011 Australian Open, the women’s singles champions have been, in order, Kim Clijsters, Li Na, Petra Kvitova, Samantha Stosur, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams. Sharapova and Williams were among the winners when eight different women captured the majors from the French Open in 2004 to the Australian Open in 2006. They were, in order: Anastasia Myskina, Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Serena Williams, Justine Henin, Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters and Amélie Mauresmo. Beginning with the 1977 Australian Open, eight different players won, including, in order: Kerry Ann Reid, Mima Jausovec, Virginia Wade, Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Virginia Ruzici and Martina Navratilova.

Three different men have won the first three Grand Slam tournaments this year: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Nadal is not playing the US Open because of injuries. If someone besides Azarenka, Sharapova, Serena Williams, Djokovic and Federer win this year’s US Open, it would be the third time in the Open Era wherein both the men and women had four different Grand Slam tournament winners in the same year. The other occurrences were in 1990 and 1998.

SECOND WEEK

Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro reached the second week of the US Open for the first time since he won the year’s final Grand Slam tournament in 2009. Seeded seventh this year, del Potro advanced to the fourth round by defeating countryman Leonardo Mayer 6-3 7-5 7-6 (9). Three years ago, the Argentine beat Roger Federer in the final. In 2010, he was unable to defend his championship after undergoing surgery on his right wrist. Last year, del Potro was ousted in the third round. Del Potro beat Novak Djokovic in the London Olympics to capture the bronze medal.

SAYS WHO?

English football star Wayne Rooney made a blunder who he wrote the wrong name when he took to Twitter to sing the praises of Laura Robson after she beat China’s Li Na, the tournament’s ninth-seeded player. Unfortunately, he wrote, “Laura Robinson is playing brilliant good luck Laura.” He quickly composed a red-faced correction. Robson, however, forgave Rooney, saying celebrity interest can only be good for her and tennis. “He called me Robinson. I saw that when I was stretching,” the British left-hander said. “Can you blame that on predictive text? I’m not so sure. But it’s great that he watched, even though he got my name wrong. The more people watch the better. Maybe a few people a bit younger than me have seen his tweets and said, ‘I want to play a bit of tennis now.’”

SINGLE AGAIN

Maria Sharapova is available again. Following her third-round victory over American Mallory Burdette, Sharapova told a news conference that she is no longer engaged to professional basketball player Sasha Vujacic. Actually, the relationship has been over “since the end of spring,” she noted, and then added: “I was waiting for someone to actually ask me that question, but nobody did, directly. It was obviously a challenging decision, you know, from both of our ends.” Vujacic announced their engagement nearly two years ago. A first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, Vujacic was traded to the New Jersey Nets in the 2010-11 season, and then left the NBA to play in Turkey. “It was a really nice period of time for both of us, but, you know, our career schedules just made it extremely difficult to see each other with the traveling, and especially his career move to Turkey,” Sharapova said. “He wasn’t able to travel much. He wasn’t home one time during the 10 months that he was in Turkey, so that made it extremely difficult.”

SEEDED NUMBER ONE

By virtue of his number one ranking, Roger Federer was given the top seed in the men’s singles at the US Open for the first time since 2009. This is the sixth time Federer has been seeded number one at America’s premier tennis event, breaking the record he previously held with John McEnroe for the most by any man in the Open Era. Steffi Graf was seeded number one nine times, while Chris Evert is second with seven number one seeds.

SHARED PERFORMANCES

SURFING

New York: www.usopen.org

Genova: www.atpgenova.com

Tashkent: www.tashkentopen.uz/

Quebec City: www.challengebell.com/

Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com

ATP World Tour: www.atpworldtour.com/

WTA: www.wtatennis.com/

International Tennis Federation: www.itftennis.com

USTA: www.usta.com/

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
(All money in USD)

MEN

US Open, New York, New York, USA, hard (second week)
$106,332 AON Open Challenger, Genova, Italy, clay

WOMEN

US Open, New York, New York, USA, hard (second week)

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

WOMEN

$220,000 Tashkent Open, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, hard
$220,000 Bell Challenger, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, hard
$100,000 Ningbo International Challenger, Ningbo, China, hard

DAVIS CUP

World Group
Semifinals

Spain vs. United States at Gijon, Spain, clay
Argentina vs. Czech Republic at Buenos Aires, Argentina, clay

World Group II Playoffs
(Winners advance to World Group in 2013)

Kazakhstan vs. Uzbekistan at Astana, Kazakhstan, clay
Germany vs. Australia at Hamburg, Germany, clay
Japan vs. Israel at Tokyo, Japan, hard
Belgium vs. Sweden at Brussels, Belgium, clay
Canada vs. South Africa at Montreal, Quebec, Canada, hard
Brazil vs. Russia at Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil, clay
Italy vs. Chile at Napoleon, Italy, clay
Netherlands vs. Switzerland at Amsterdam, Netherlands, clay

World Group III Third Round
(Winners advance to Group II in 2013)

American Zone: Dominican Republic vs. Mexico at Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, clay

Asia/Oceania: Indonesia vs. Philippines at Jakarta, Indonesia, hard

Europe/Africa: Latvia vs. Ukraine at Liepaja, Latvia, hard

Potential Eighteen-Game NFL Season Could Impact US Open; French Open To Stay at Roland Garros: This Week in Tennis Business

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By: Justin Cohen

  • Sources, including Indianapolis Colts Team President Bill Polian, have said that it is a done deal that the National Football League will switch from 16 regular season games to 18 games, starting the season the weekend before Labor Day weekend. If this were to go through, it would likely seriously impact the US Open tennis championships, which is televised in the United States by CBS, the network that owns the NFL rights to broadcast AFC Conference games. Opening night of the US Open and Labor Day Monday night at the US Open,  broadcast in the USA on ESPN2, would then go head-to-head against with Monday Night Football, broadcast on ESPN. Rather than only one day of the US Open going head-to-head against a full NFL Sunday (the final day of the tournament when the men’s final is played), both Sundays at the US Open will be impacted, which will impact television ratings in the United States.
  • Last week, the Head of the French Tennis Federation confirmed that the French Open will stay at its current location at Roland Garros rather than relocate to a Paris suburb as the tournament was hoping to expand the venue. The French Federation of Tennis has agreed to use the other tennis courts next to the Roland Garros stadium, which is expected to be enough for the Grand Slam tournament to stay at Roland Garros instead of moving to any other place. Despite all the talk of the French Open staying put at Roland Garros for now, the big decision on whether it will be staying in its present location will be made at a French Federation of Tennis meeting, which will be held in February 2011.
  • SportsBusinessJournal’s DanKaplan is reporting that the ATP World Tour approved a $100,000 payment to the New Haven tournament and in return can now schedule another event in its spot on the calendar, which is held the week before the US Open. Sources close to the situation said that tournament is “likely to move out” of New Haven. Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament Director Anne Worcester recently said that the tournament has extended the search for a new title sponsor with the initial “self-imposed deadline to announce a title sponsor just three days away.” Last month, Worcester said that nine companies were very interested in becoming the title sponsor of the event. “While we initially indicated that September 30 was our deadline for securing financial support to conduct a tournament in 2011 and beyond, that window has been extended into October.”
  • At least four full-time staffers were let go at Tennis Magazine over the past few days, according to the twitter feed of TennisWire.org. Photo Editor David Rosenberg posted on his twitter feed that he “Got canned.” According to TennisWire, the magazine will now be mainly out-sourced to 10TenMedia.com.
  • Jon Muir will remain on as President of the Tennis Industry Association for a second term, following recommendations from the TIA Board of Directors and its Executive Committee, to help see through platforms and projects under way that help support growth for tennis and industry businesses. “I’m happy to continue our collective, ongoing efforts supporting the three platforms we have been developing: increasing the number of frequent players, measuring and impacting more clearly the economic growth of the collective tennis industry, and developing our communication channels to distribute clear, consistent messaging about our industry and most importantly about tennis and the reasons to play,” said Muir. Muir, whose second term will continue through December 31, 2012, is currently the worldwide General Manager of Wilson Racquet Sports. The TIA is the not-for-profit trade association for tennis, made up of tennis businesses that cross all sectors of the industry, including manufacturers, court builders, teaching pros, facilities, retailers, professional tours, media and organizations, such as the U.S. Tennis Association. TIA also welcomed three new members to its Board of Directors including:

o        Gordon Boggis is the CEO of Prince Sports Inc., based in Bordentown, N.J. He has been an executive in the sports and fitness areas for many years, including senior management positions with Dunlop Slazenger Group.

o        Greg Mason is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for HEAD Penn Racquet Sports, based in Phoenix, Ariz. Mason has spent more than 25 years in the sporting goods industry in senior management roles, including with Reebok USA and Puma North America.

o        Meredith Poppler is the vice president of industry growth for IHRSA-International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, based in Boston. She has represented IHRSA since 1992 and holds a dual degree in marketing and finance from Syracuse University.

  • In the annual Babolat Sales Awards, Michael Lynne’s Tennis Shop in Minneapolis, Minn., was named the Babolat Retail Shop of the Year, while Rick Walsh was named the Top Sales Representative of the Year. Walsh covers the Missouri Valley territory. New for 2010, the “Tennis Runs in Our Blood” award is given to the individual or business that stands out in promoting, supporting and elevating the Babolat brand in an unparalleled and passionate way. That award was given to Tennis Warehouse, which is known for going the extra mile to promote Babolat products.
  • Russian-born Anna Kournikova has become a U.S. citizen according to her interview in Maxim magazine, where she is featured on the cover in this month’s issue. “I’ve always considered myself half-Russian and half-American. It never seemed to really matter if I had a passport or not,” said Kournikova. “But when I started working with the (United Services Organizations) and the troops overseas, it just seemed the logical next step.”
  • According to his official website, Robby Ginepri had surgery last week after breaking his arm in a bike riding accident. Ginepri will miss the rest of the 2010 season, but plans to return at the start of next season.
  • According to his official website, Fernando Gonzalez will sidelined for up to nine months after deciding to undergo hip and possible knee surgery in New York in early October.
  • Evgeny Korolev will have elbow surgery this week and is expected to miss four months, ending his 2010 season.
  • Mikel Sanchez, the surgeon who treated Rafael Nadal’s knees earlier in 2010, tells the media outlet, Medca, that even though Nadal’s injury is healed, the physical toll of training and playing could cause it to re-occur at some stage in his career. “The tendon is cured — wider, with a different physical appearance, but cured,” said Sanchez. “At the moment I’m not doing anything, but will probably have to return.” Nadal received injections of enriched blood plasma in his knees in May and July. After winning Monte Carlo, he missed Barcelona to undergo treatment. Since then, he has lost only three matches and won five tournaments, which includes the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. “He’s going to continue at the same rhythm and there is a risk that his tendons will degenerate again. That is why you cannot say this is a permanent treatment. Plus, it could occur in other tendons such as the Achilles.”
  • The USTA Nominating Committee announced the nomination of Jonathan Vegosen as USTA Chairman of the Board and President to serve a two-year term beginning January 1, 2011. Vegosen, who has served on the USTA Board of Directors for four years and is currently completing a two-year term as First Vice President, is a long-time volunteer who, for over 25 years, has raised funds for tennis causes. He has also devoted more than 16 years of volunteer service to the sport of tennis at the district, sectional, national and international levels. When elected, Vegosen will become the 50th Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA. In addition to his USTA Board responsibilities, Vegosen will continue to serve as a member of the Compensation and International Committees and continue representing the USTA on the Grand Slam Committee and the ITF Constitutional Committee. Vegosen will continue to serve as a board member for both USTA Serves, the charitable arm of the USTA and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Vegosen is a former collegiate tennis player at Northwestern, where he was the captain of his team. He was selected to the 1973 All-Big Ten Conference Team. Vegosen received his B.A. from Northwestern University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, graduating Cum laude. In addition to the Vegosen nomination, the following individuals have been nominated as the slate of new officers and directors of the USTA Board:o David A. Haggerty, of Pennington, N.J., and the USTA Middle States Section, is currently a Vice President on the USTA Board of Directors and has been nominated as First Vice President.

    o Katrina M. Adams, of White Plains, N.Y., and the USTA Eastern Section, is currently an Elite Athlete and a Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors and has been nominated as Vice President.

    o Carol J. Welder, of Austin, Texas, and the USTA Texas Section, is currently a Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors and has been nominated as Vice President.

    o Donald L. Tisdel, of Lake Oswego, Ore., and the USTA Pacific Northwest Section, is re-nominated for his third consecutive term as Secretary-Treasurer of the USTA Board of Directors.

    o Seth G. Abraham, of New York, N.Y., and the USTA Eastern Section, is nominated for his first term as Director at Large of the USTA Board of Directors.

    o Dale G. Caldwell, of New Brunswick, N.J., and the Eastern Section, is nominated for his first term as Director at Large of the USTA Board of Directors.

    o William J. Kellogg, of La Jolla, Calif., and the USTA Southern California Section, is nominated for his first term as Director at Large of the USTA Board of Directors.

    o John N. Korff, of Key Biscayne, Fla., and the USTA Florida Section, is nominated for his third term as Director at Large of the USTA Board of Directors.

    o Delaine B. Mast, of Lancaster, Pa., and the USTA Middle States Section, is nominated for her first term as Director at Large of the USTA Board of Directors.

    o Andrew A. Valdez, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and the USTA Intermountain Section, is nominated for his first term as Director at Large of the USTA Board of Directors.

    o Patrick J. Galbraith, of Bainbridge Island, Wash., and the USTA Pacific Northwest, is nominated for a third term as an Elite Athlete and a Director at Large of the USTA Board of Directors.

    o Chanda Rubin, of Lafayette, La., and the USTA Southern Section, is nominated for her first term as an Elite Athlete and a Director at Large of the USTA Board of Directors.

    o Jeffrey G. Tarango, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and the USTA Southern California Section, is nominated for his first term as an Elite Athlete and a Director at Large of the USTA Board of Directors.