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Vero Beach, Florida Stadium Court Debut Not Unlike Arthur Ashe Stadium Debut For Randy Walker

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

 

Every Tuesday night, the beautiful Boulevard tennis club in Vero Beach, Florida hosts an advanced men’s night where some of the best tennis players in this tennis-loving beachside paradise are invited to play in a social but competitive two-hour round robin outing.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2019 during this twilight session, I finally had my first chance to play on the Stadium Court at The Boulevard, the main court for the annual Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, the long-time a U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit and ITF World Tennis Tour event that is regarded as the best of this level tennis tournament in the world. Despite being a home-owner in Vero since 1998 and for the last five years running the previously mentioned pro tennis tournament along with Mardy Fish’s father Tom, I had yet to hit a tennis ball in this main stadium court at The Boulevard. This court is the most well-regarded in town, having featured most recently such players as Denis Shapovalov (as seen here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH9vtD127e0), Kyle Edmund and Miomir Kecmanovic playing on it during the USTA Pro Circuit event.

However, circumstances that happened to me on this night quickly reminded me of the first time I played on another Stadium Court, a slightly larger one in New York City, that being Arthur Ashe Stadium, the home of the U.S. Open.

I just turned 50 years old in May (during the actual staging of the 2019 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships) and, on this breezy night realized I may have just had my first “senior” moment.  As I stepped out of my car at the club to get ready to play the men’s advanced night, I grabbed my tennis bag out of the back seat of my car only to quickly realize that there were no tennis racquets in the bag!! Where were they? Were they stolen? I remembered that the last time I used my racquets was two days earlier during a casual Sunday morning hit with my friend Linda Maginness at my mother’s club, The Moorings on the other side of town. I vaguely remember taking all of my racquets out of the bag in the middle of one of our deep talks about Southeastern Conference football. (She is an Alabama grad and I’m a University of Georgia grad). I realized that I left the racquets on the court at The Moorings!!! I quickly called their tennis pro shop and they said that my racquets were safely there and I could pick them up the next morning. My panic somewhat subsided.

Meanwhile, for the advanced men’s night, which featured some former Division I college players, as well as, on occasion, 1986 French Open runner-up and Vero Beach resident Mikael Pernfors, I didn’t have a racquet to use. I ran into my new poolside tennis condo around the corner  from the courts (which is available for rental here: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/37823857?s=5&shared_item_type=1&virality_entry_point=1&sharer_id=149337030)  and rummaged around my tennis chest and found two Wilson graphite Pro-Staff racquets that were popular in the late 1980s and 1990s. It was the racquet that Stefan Edberg famously used when won the 1991 and 1992 U.S. Open titles. I could either play with those racquets or a wooden Dunlop Maxfli Fort or Jack Kramer Autograph. Obviously, I had no choice there.

With my ancient Wilson Pro Staff, that was only 90 square inches and loosely strung with dull-feeling “Pro-Blend” string that may have been in the racquet for at least 10 years, I was assigned to play for the first time on the Boulevard’s Stadium Court. I started to hit balls in the warm-up and felt no zing that I normally feel with my Wilson Burn FST racquet that I love and have used since I was first sent it as a trial racquet from Wilson a few years ago. (WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGlKtPEJIs)

I had a hard time putting the ball in the court in the warm up and worry and panic immediately engulfed me that I was going to embarrass myself on the court this very evening. It was a feeling and circumstance that was very similar to the first time I had the amazing privilege of playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium in 1999, the third year the stadium was in use after debuting in 1997. On that day, I was invited into a doubles game on the cavernous and wind-engulfed open air stadium that seats 23,000 fans (only 22,700 more than the steel bleachers at the Stadium at The Boulevard) during a pre-U.S. Open social game. However, this social game was with the top brass at the USTA. I was paired with USTA President Judy Levering in a game against Rick Ferman, the Executive Director of the USTA and Pierce O’Neil, the Chief Marketing Officer of the USTA just days before the start of the U.S. Open. There was a little bit of pressure there, playing with, arguably, the three biggest honchos at the USTA as mid-level member of USTA’s Marketing and Communications Division. As a former walk-on member of Georgia’s 1988 and 1989 SEC Championship teams (with an 0-7 career record), I could play some good tennis and I had risen to the occasion playing against USTA top brass in the past, practicing once with Hall of Famer Pam Shriver when she was a USTA Board member and in her last year competing on the WTA Tour, and in perhaps an all-time set of tennis, beating Ferman 6-0 the first time he invited me for a morning singles game shortly after he assumed the head job at the USTA. That was an all-time “zone” set for me but shaky in the job security department.

After a 15 minute warm-up session alongside Levering against Ferman and O’Neil, I hit my last practice serve and… boink. A string in my racquet broke! And I only had one racquet with me!

“Just use my other racquet,” said Ferman, who handed me a one of his extras out of his bag and we immediately started the match. I did not have a chance to hit one practice ball with a completely different racquet, with a different string tension and a different grip size. And I was playing with all of my bosses, on Arthur Ashe Stadium!! Not surprisingly, it was the worst and most embarrassing set of tennis I think I have ever played. I barely could hit a ball in the court. It was probably the most pathetic performance in the history of tennis on Arthur Ashe Stadium and it completely ruined what should have been one of the great experiences of my life.

Fast forward 20 years to the much smaller confines of The Boulevard Stadium Court and I had very similar feelings of anxiety with this strange racquet that I was wielding for the first time in years! But at least I got to warm up with it and Andrew Harper, my partner and real estate guru in Vero Beach, held his own in our doubles match that featured former Vanderbilt University singles player Cliff Norris as one of our opponents. As the night wore on, I gradually got better and more used to the ancient racquet frame. After playing, and losing, the first two matches on the Stadium Court at The Boulevard, I played my third and final doubles set on Court No. 2. My feel was coming back a bit and I actually played quite well in the final games of the night, ripping some great returns and hitting some Edberg-like volleys and half volleys to save three match points in the tiebreaker in a losing 8-6 effort to end the night.

“You played three times as well tonight as you did earlier this summer when we played,” was the nice compliment said by one of my opponents Marcus Kramer, a former standout at Virginia Tech, who had beaten Vince Spadea and 1991 NCAA singles finalist from Georgia Patricio Arnold in his career.

So, the night ended on a somewhat positive night, just as my career on Arthur Ashe Stadium actually did years later. I had a few more chances to hit on Ashe to make up for my disaster in doubles from 1999. The last time I had a chance to hit on the court was before the 2003 U.S. Open, when the USTA wanted to get some play on the court after it had just been resurfaced. I remember remarking at the time after a fun and much more positive hitting session that the court was playing incredibly slow.

“The way these courts are playing, it’s going to be a Juan Carlos Ferrero versus David Nalbandian U.S. Open final” I remember remarking, referencing the reigning French Open champion Ferrero at the time and fellow leading slow-court/clay court standout Nalbandian from Argentina. And I was almost right as Ferrero got to the final, where he lost to Andy Roddick, who saved match point against Nalbandian in the semifinals.

 

Randy Walker with his Wilson Graphite Pro Staff at The Boulevard
Randy Walker with his Wilson Graphite Pro Staff at The Boulevard

Roger Federer, Wilson Unveil New Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph Tennis Racket

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Roger Federer and Wilson Sporting Goods have unveiled the new Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph racket. The racket is the result of an 18-month collaborative, co-creation process between Roger Federer and Wilson Labs, the innovation hub at Wilson. Together with Roger Federer, Wilson sought to radically change the current design standards in performance tennis rackets.

“Nearly two years ago, we set out to change the design DNA of our performance tennis rackets and elevate design to an equal level of appreciation as technology,” said Hans-Martin Reh, General Manager of Wilson Racquet Sports. “In that process, we deconstructed today’s racket and reimagined every element from the inside out. With Roger’s help and insight, we removed unnecessary components and meticulously created a new look and feel for tennis rackets not seen before in the industry.”

“To be involved with any design process with a brand is exciting, however, with Wilson, it is extra special because I’ve played with a Wilson racket my whole life,” said Roger Federer. “I remember going to the shops as a kid and pointing to the Wilson rackets, hoping my dad would buy it for me. And now, I’ve been able to help design my racket to look and feel like me. This racket is truly special and I hope it inspires every player who holds it in his or her hands.”

The new 2017 Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph racket has been designed with sleek, modern elements to communicate Roger Federer’s elegant playing style and boldness on the court. The racket’s look is grounded in two, high quality paints, Black Velvet and Tuxedo Black. The matte Black Velvet paint provides a smooth, soft, light-absorbing finish that has been engineered to create a “feel”, or tactile experience, for attacking players like Roger Federer. These types of finishes and paint have not been previously used in the tennis industry.

The outside throat of the racket features the Pro Staff logo as individual sliver chrome letters that are laser etched into the racket, which required the Company to develop a new manufacturing process to support this textural element. Small pops of red include a Wilson-branded butt cap.

The inside of the racket’s throat carries Roger Federer’s signature and an image of his face for added personalization. These features are accompanied by the language “Designed with Roger in Switzerland.  Engineered in Chicago.” And a special feature of the new racket design is a simple, elegant-looking chrome grommet medallion that seamlessly connects the grommet strip to the racket frame.

The new Wilson Pro Staff line includes the RF 97 Autograph and four other models designed for a variety of attacking players. Importantly, Roger Federer requested Wilson produce two lighter weight versions of the racket – the Pro Staff 97 LS and Pro Staff 97 ULS – in his signature black on black design specifically for young tennis players.

“As someone who deeply cares about the future of this sport, we created this new Pro Staff franchise so it would appeal to everyone,” added Federer. “These two lighter weight models are designed to be very playable for young kids. This is the group of athletes I will watch and cheer on many years from now, and I want them to feel like this racket is every bit theirs as it is for the adult player.”

Hallmark technology features of the new 2017 Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph are similar to Roger Federer’s previous racket, including a wider racket beam providing a significant boost in power and larger headsize than on previous generations of the racket, which produce a larger sweet spot. The racket uses braided graphite to maintain the pure, consistent feel that players have come to know and love in the Pro Staff line.

The 2017 Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph racket will be available for pre-sale via tennis specialty retailers (in-store and online) and on www.wilson.com on August 18. The racket will be available for purchase starting on August 27, exclusively at the Wilson US Open tennis store on the US Open grounds. The racket will be available for purchase in-store and online worldwide on September 1. The MRP for the new Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph is $249.00 (US).

Wilson intends to introduce additional products which have been co-designed with Roger Federer and that compliment his new Pro Staff racket. Those products will be introduced over the next six – 18 months.

 

Roger Federer
Roger Federer

Wilson BURN FST Racket Provides Added Punch

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by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

 

It only took me hitting two or three balls to immediately notice the extra power and spin when hitting with the new Wilson BURN FST (Fast Speed Technology) tennis racket.

Hitting on a pristine clay court at The Moorings Yacht & Country Club in Vero Beach, Florida, the extra power was also noticed by my opponent.

“Whoa!” he shouted after a few short rallies, knowing that I was trying out the new racket. “It is coming at me so much faster! So much harder!”

My first reaction was that was a light racket and easy to create more racket-head speed. I could create a lot of pop on the ball without a lot of effort. Wilson writes that the BURN is “built for baseliners looking for the fastest racket possible” and features the following;

  • FST Octagon frame geometry allows air to flow around the frame and cuts through the air at any angle of attack for fast racket head speed.
  • Patent-pending X2 Ergo Handle provides for an optimal, personalized feel on two-handed backhands. Nearly 80 percent of modern tennis players play a two-handed backhand, and for competitive juniors that number climbs to nearly 90 percent, yet modern rackets haven’t evolved to accommodate this change. Wilson Labs developed a player-directed handle insert system that allows every player to customize an ergonomic handle shape to optimize their grip. The X2 Ergo Handle provides the ideal form for the top hand to dominate the modern two-handed backhand. This gives players more power, versatility, leverage, and feel.
  • High Performance Carbon Fiber offers increased frame stiffness for aggressive, explosive power.
  • Racket throat features a textured feel on key touch points to allow for extreme grip changes.
  • Sleek, stealth-like graphics with racing stripes highlight the unique geometry of the frame.

I actually found the racket to be better for my serve, being able to generate a lot more pace without much effort. As my opponent and I started to play a set, I found myself winning my first 10 points on serve, only losing my first point when I realized I had not yet lost a point on serve and thought about it too much. I also felt a lot more pop on my overheads and on my one-handed top-spin backhand.

Here is a video of my initial reactions immediately after trying out the racket here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGlKtPEJIs

The BURN FST collection includes the BURN FST 95, 99 and 99S.  The BURN FST 99S includes the Company’s patented Spin Effect™ technology for increased spin. This technology allows players to produce significantly more spin without changing their swing. The BURN FST will be available at tennis specialty retailers. The racquet retails for $249.00 (USD).

Wilson BURN FST tennis racket
Wilson BURN FST tennis racket

PowerShares Series Tennis Signs NetJets As Private Aviation Partner – This Week In Tennis Business with Kevin Craig

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by Kevin Craig

@KCraig_Tennis

 

PowerShares Series Tennis Signs NetJets as Private Aviation Partner

NetJets, the worldwide leader in private aviation, announced on Monday, February 8th, that the company had signed on to be the official private aviation partner of the PowerShares Series for the 2016 season. As part of the deal, according to the press release, NetJets will receive increased advertising throughout the series, branded features during broadcasts, and hospitality for select events. Jon Venison, president of InsideOut Sports and Entertainment, the operator of the PowerShares Series, stated that the series is “thrilled and honored to be associated with such a prestigious company.” The series begins on April 8th in Chicago, the first of five events in April, before three more events in July and August, culminating with two events in each November and December. This deal comes just weeks after NetJets signed Maria Sharapova to be an ambassador of the company.

John McEnroe to Host College Combine

According to a press release from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, the academy has announced that it will be hosting the inaugural John McEnroe Tennis Academy College Recruiting Combine at SPORTIME Randall’s Island in New York City on June 18th and 19th. The academy will invite various rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school to showcase their talents to college coaches from around the nation, with Wake Forest, Penn State, Columbia, Princeton, Tulane, and others already committed to attend the event. John McEnroe stated in the press release that the combine “is a natural progression for” the academy as it has a long history of helping talent tennis players find “college programs where they are most likely to flourish academically and athletically.” Players from around the country can apply to participate in the combine at www.sportimeny.com/JMTAcombine, with the deadline being March 31st. Each application will be analyzed based on certain criteria and those accepted will be notified by the middle of April. Not only will the players be able to show off their skills, but they will also have their overall athletic ability and mental toughness assessed, while a half hour of their match play will be recorded to create a comprehensive recruiting profile. Tony Bresky, the head coach of Wake Forest’s men’s tennis team, stated in the press release that “college coaches…want to be sure that they are recruiting players that are both physically and mentally tough…This combine will be a great way for coaches to interact with a very select group of players and to get a first-hand sense of their tennis skills, as well as their mental and physical capacities.

Duran Duran Moves Concert from Crandon Park

As part of the ongoing feud between the Miami Open and the Miami-Dade County government, hit band Duran Duran has been forced to move their concert from the site of the Miami Open, according to the Miami New Times. The original plan was for the band to play their concert before the night session in the main stadium on Friday, April 1st. The concert will still go on as planned, the only change being the site of the event. The concert to be held at Crandon Park met resistance from the Miami-Dade County government, citing the event was a violation of the rule of Crandon Park, as the concert was a separate event from the tennis tournament. Local officials were not pleased by the fact that tickets for the concert were being sold separately from the tickets for the tennis tournament, which caused the government to take action, according to the article from Ryan Pfeffer which was released on Monday, February 8th. The Miami Open released a statement on their website about the change of plans for the concert, stating that those that had “already purchased tickets for the concert will receive a full refund of the entire purchase amount.” Ticketmaster held a special presale for the concert for those who had previously bought tickets and were forced to be refunded, ensuring they would still have the opportunity to attend the concert.

Wilson Appoints New Sales Director for Racquet Sports

Wilson announced on February 4th that Iain Pound has been promoted to National Sales Director for Wilson Racquet Sports. Pound’s new position will have him overseeing the sales efforts of the brand for tennis throughout the United States. Pound has previously worked as a regional manager for Wilson, working in the Southeastern United States. Bill Kirchner, Vice President of Sales for Wilson, is “excited to have Iain in this role for Wilson.” Kirchner went on to state that Iain “has been very successful…in building strong partnerships with specialty dealers. His skills in leading and developing sales teams will be of great value to the Wilson brand,” according to the press release. Pound does not only have experience in the business side of tennis, but also has experience on the court as well. He played Division 1 tennis, and has experience being a USPTA certified professional, club director, and college coach. In the press release, Pound exclaimed his enthusiasm for the new role, claiming that “it’s an honor to represent the No. 1 brand in tennis.”

Memphis Open Attempts to Regain Popularity

2016 is the 40th anniversary of a professional tennis event being played at the Racquet Club of Memphis, but the tournament has seen better years. According to The Commercial Appeal, the tournament is under its third ownership group in as many years after Sharks Sports & Entertainment and the USTA have made way for New York-based GF Sports to run the show in 2016. Many factors have contributed to the decreasing success of the event, including falling from an ATP 500 level event to an ATP 250 level event, attendance taking a hit, a lack of big names playing in the tournament, and no title sponsor being present. Jerry Solomon, president of GF sports, claims that “Memphis tennis fans are passionate about the event,” and hopes to rebuild the level of excitement in the city that there once was when the likes of Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, and Pete Sampras were playing in the event. Things have begun to look up for Solomon and his staff as ticket sales have increased in 2016, with multiple sections being sold out for multiple days. One of the biggest moves for the tournament was creating the Courtsiders Club, “a group of 20 influential business and community leaders,” according to The Commercial Appeal. The group is composed of Memphis citizens who are interested in the sport and keeping the event there, which could possibly lead to the tournament finding a title sponsor, its first since 2012, which would potentially generate $750,000, according to Phil Stukenborg’s article. Tournament director Erin Mazurek hopes to create enough buzz during the tournament that talks will heat up afterwards and contribute to the overall goal of finding a title sponsor and returning the Memphis Open to its once great days of prospering financially and within the community.

Winnipeg to Host Combined Challenger Level Event

Tennis Canada has announced that a $75k ATP Challenger event will be taking place at the Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club in July, joining the already present $25k women’s challenger. Winnipeg has hosted a futures level event for the previous four years, but this upgrade now makes the “Winnipeg National Bank Challenger the second largest combined challenger event in Canada,” only behind the Granby Challenger. Gavin Ziv, the vice president of professional and national events for Tennis Canada, claims the organization is thrilled with this new turn of events, claiming their “mandate is to grow the sport of tennis across the country” and this event will hope to continue the increased exposure to the sport throughout Canada. The tournaments will take place in the middle of July and will host a variety of events to get a wider audience involved, including a Pro-Am and a Kid’s Day, according to Tennis Canada.

French Tennis Federation Beginning Process to Fire Director General

The French Tennis Federation has announced that it has begun the necessary proceedings to fire its director general, Gilbery Ysern. L’Equipe in France had initially reported that Ysern had already been fired, to which Ysern was quoted saying “I’m a bother but I have done nothing wrong.” Ysern and the federation’s president Jean Gachassin have been in disagreement since Gachassin fired Davis Cup captain Arnaud Clement, according to The Guardian. In the French Tennis Federation’s statement, it was announced that Jeremy Botton had been appointed as the temporary director general until the procedure concludes.

NetJets Private Aviation
NetJets Private Aviation

Kei Nishikori Signs Brand Ambassador Deal with TAG Heuer: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

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Kei Nishikori

Nishikori signs brand ambassador deal with TAG Heuer

World No. 18 and rising Japanese star Kei Nishikori has signed a brand ambassador deal with TAG Heuer, the prestigious Swiss watch brand established in 1860. The former Junior French Open Doubles champion announced his decision to become a part of the TAG Heuer family during a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday. Nishikori joins Maria Sharapova, Leonardo DiCaprio and Leonard Hamilton as ambassadors to the organization. Other current sponsors of Nishikori are Wilson, adidas (shoes only), CupNoodle, Weider, UniQlo, WOWOW and EA Sports. Nishikori began his 2012 season by reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals, the furthest round a Japanese male player has ever reached in a Grand Slam event since 1968.

World TeamTennis Marquee Player Draft includes six current or former world No. 1s from U.S.

During Tuesday’s World TeamTennis Marquee Player Draft, six current or former world No. 1s from the United States were selected including Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Bob and Mike Bryan, Lindsay Davenport and John McEnroe. Other household names selected in the draft included Mardy Fish, Martina Hingis, James Blake, Mark Philippoussis and John Isner. Following the birth of her third child in January, Davenport will return to the court and play for the Orange County Breakers. “I am excited to be back in Orange County and it will be great for my kids to get to see me play,” said Davenport. “I have always loved playing on a team so I am looking forward to getting back on the court.” The Washington Kastles will try to complete another undefeated championship season like last year with the help of both Williams’ sisters. The Philadelphia Freedoms selected American fan-favorite Blake and former world No. 8 Philippoussis. This summer marks Blake’s seventh WTT season and first with the Freedoms. The Boston Lobsters are bringing back one of the best players in the world in Isner, who just defeated 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in four sets in Davis Cup last weekend in Switzerland. McEnroe and Hingis will once again join forces as part of the New York Sportimes. The Sacramento Capitals will build their team around Fish. The WTT Pro League presented by GEICO, which was co-founded by Billie Jean King, is a professional sports league featuring three generations of tennis stars playing in a coed team format.  The 2012 WTT Pro League begins July 9 and runs through July 29. The top two teams from both the Western and Eastern Conference advance to the WTT Finals Weekend presented by GEICO from September 14-16, at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C.

Jim Curley steps down as US Open Tournament Director

After more than 10 years on the job, the USTA announced that Jim Curley is stepping down as the Chief Professional Tournaments Officer and US Open Tournament Director. Deputy Tournament Director David Brewer, a 14-year USTA employee, will take over as the new US Open Tournament Director and also oversee the USTA’s professional tennis operations. “It has been a privilege to lead the USTA’s efforts in professional tennis,” said Curley. “My decision to step down after more than 10 years was a difficult one, but I believe it is time for a change.” Brewer, currently the Managing Director, Professional Operations, joined the USTA in 1997. In addition to his US Open Tournament Director obligations, his responsibilities will include oversight of the US Open Series, all US Team events including Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the Olympics, USTA Pro Circuit competition and all aspects of the USTA’s professional tennis division. Brewer will report to Gordon Smith, USTA COO and Executive Director. “Jim is an exemplary professional who has helped to elevate the US Open during his decade-long stewardship of the event,” said Jon Vegosen, USTA Chairman of the Board and President. “We are disappointed in his decision to step down, but are confident that David will continue to build on Jim’s legacy of growth and innovation.”

USTA Player Development names five additional programs as USTA Certified Regional Training Centers

According to a press release, the United States Tennis Association announced that five junior development programs in four states have been named USTA Certified Regional Training Centers as part of its continuing effort to develop the next generation of world-class American players. The five programs will service the junior players in four USTA sections across the country. The five new USTA Certified Regional Training Centers include The Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego and the Northwest High Performance Tennis program in Seattle. These programs are the first Certified Regional Training Centers named in the USTA Southern California and USTA Pacific Northwest sections, respectively. The 4 Star Tennis Academy in Fairfax, Va., will join the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md. The Rochester Athletic Club in Rochester, Minn., and the Life Time Fitness Center in Lakeville, a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul will comprise a USTA Certified Regional Training Center network for the USTA Northern section. In addition to continuing their existing programs, the USTA Certified Regional Training Centers will host USTA Player Development camps for players, ages 8-12, in their respective regions.  These players will be selected in conjunction with the USTA national coaching staff and their respective USTA Section Coaching Commission.  The Centers will also help identify talent in players as young as 6 years old, run programs using the 10 and Under Tennis* and host 10 and Under Tennis tournaments for players 8 and under and 10 and under. “Now in its fourth year, the Certified Regional Training Center initiative continues to expand and flourish as we at USTA Player Development work collaboratively with more programs and coaches,” said Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, USTA Player Development.  “We are happy that we are continuing to see positive results from some of the young players who train at these USTA Certified Regional Training Centers, and these new programs will help us continue to expand our outreach as we continue to try and develop the next wave of world-class American players.”

International Tennis Federation and Wilson renew deal for five-years

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) renewed its Davis Cup and Fed Cup sponsorship deal with Wilson Racquet Sports for five-years through 2017. Under the new arrangement, Wilson will remain as the official tennis ball of Davis Cup and Fed Cup, starting in 2013. Wilson will also maintain its investment in grassroots level tennis as the official ball of the ITF’s under 14 and under 16 level competitions. “Wilson remains an outstanding partner for the ITF, helping in our efforts to develop and promote the game. In particular the company has been a long and loyal sponsor of our premier team competitions, and we are delighted to have its continued support for many years to come,” said Francesco Ricci Bitti, ITF President. “The Davis Cup and Fed Cup are iconic tennis institutions, important to the heritage of the sport and to our brand,” said Jon Muir, General Manager for Wilson Racquet Sports. “These events help to drive the local participation efforts in many countries around the world, and our brand and business efforts have aligned to support this as well. We are pleased to continue this strong partnership and look forward to bringing the energy of the game to all generations of tennis fans.”

112th Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament to be promoted by top Sports PR/Marketing firm

Top sports public relations and marketing firm Brener Zwikel & Associates will play a major role in the largest amateur tennis tournament in the United States. The California-based firm, which also has an office in New York City, will be in charge of promoting the 112th Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament, April 25-29. The Ojai, a Southern California tennis tradition since 1896, is the oldest amateur tournament played at the same location in the United States. “We are very pleased to have the assistance and public relations expertise of Brener Zwikel & Associates working with The Ojai and our 112th-annual event this April,” said Ojai Valley Tennis Club President Vivian Perrett. “We look forward to working with BZA to gain heightened awareness about The Ojai throughout the tennis world via print, electronic and social interactive media, and promotions. With 27 different events and more than 1,500 players, we have a great deal of tennis to offer at more than 30 sites throughout Ventura County, including private Ojai courts.” New this year will be the Pac-12 Championships being played in a team format, which is different from the original 32-player individual draw. All matches in 2012 will take place in downtown Ojai at the Libbey Park courts. Also new at this year’s event will be the prize money boost. An all-time high of $20,000 will be awarded to the men’s and women’s Open divisions in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Additionally, The Ojai will have a major social media presence, having launched official Facebook and Twitter pages. Fans can follow the action from all 27 divisions by visiting the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theojaitennistournament or following @TheOjai on Twitter. A long list of legendary players have competed in The Ojai in the past including Bill Tilden, Tony Trabert, Bobby Riggs, Jack Kramer, Maureen Connolly, Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, Pancho Gonzales, Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors, Michael Chang,  Lindsay Davenport, Pete Sampras, Taylor Dent and the Bryan Brothers. A total of 85 players who have competed in the prestigious Ventura County tournament have gone on to win a Grand Slam tournament.

Murray returning to The Queen’s Club in June to defend title

World No. 4 and defending champion Andy Murray announced that he will return this summer to the AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club in search of a third title on the famed grass courts in London. This year’s tournament will be played from June 11-17. “I’m excited to be going back to The Queen’s Club,” said Murray. “It’s a great tournament and the grass courts are as good as anywhere in the world, so it’s the perfect preparation for Wimbledon. There’s always a great atmosphere and having won the trophy twice previously, I have nothing but good memories. They also have one of the biggest trophies on the tennis circuit, and most of the Wimbledon champions are on it, so you know it’s a big deal. I’d love to win it again this year.” The last British player to win three titles at The Queen’s Club was FG Lowe, who won his third and final singles title in 1925.

Isner, Fish, Bryan Brothers commit to US Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston

Tournament officials at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston announced that Americans John Isner, Mardy Fish and Bob and Mike Bryan will compete in the event to be held from April 9-15 at the River Oaks Country Club. Isner is currently ranked at a career high No. 14. The former University of Georgia four-time All-American reached the doubles final in Houston last year with fellow American Sam Querrey. Fish, who is currently ranked No. 8, won the singles title at River Oaks in 2006. The Bryan Brothers will return to Texas aiming for a fifth doubles crown.

Venus Williams enters Family Circle Cup

Former world No. 1 Venus Williams has entered the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, which will be played from March 31-April 8. The 31-year-old Williams was diagnosed last year with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease. The South Florida resident recently teamed with Liezel Huber in the United States Fed Cup dead-rubber doubles victory against Belarus.

New book “TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY” tells incredible story of survival and triumph

Karl Behr was one of the best tennis players in the United States – a member of the 1907 U.S. Davis Cup team and a Wimbledon doubles finalist that year. In 1912, he was madly in love with Helen Newsom. However, Newsom’s mother, Sally Beckwith, did not approve of their relationship and whisked her daughter away on a European adventure in an attempt to break up the couple. Behr concocted a European business trip to chase after the love of his life. Both had return trips to America on the famed and fated ship TITANIC. The love story of Behr and Newsom, as well as the incredible story of survival and triumph of another TITANIC survivor and future U.S. singles champion Dick Williams, are featured in the new book TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY by Lindsay Gibbs ($12.95, New Chapter Press, available for order on Amazon.com here: http://m1e.net/c?96018505-IQGyTFTob4NIw%407231931-7LMaJhRrgzL1I TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY, due out officially in six weeks, narrates the extraordinary stories of tennis players Behr and Williams, who survived the sinking of the famous ship 100 years ago this coming April 15 and met on the deck of the rescue ship Carpathia. Behr and Williams eventually became teammates on the U.S. Davis Cup team and faced each other in the quarterfinals of the 1914 U.S. Nationals in Newport, R.I. – the tournament that is now the US Open.

USA Completes 5-0 Davis Cup Stunner Over Switzerland — Mondays With Bob Greene

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STARS

Angelique Kerber beat Marion Bartoli 7-6 (3) 5-7 6-3 to win the Open GDF Suez in Paris, France

Daniela Hantuchova beat Maria Kirilenko 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-3 to win the PTT Pattaya Open in Pattaya City, Thailand

Jesse Levin beat Steve Darcis 6-4 6-4 to win the YP Challenger of Dallas in Dallas, Texas, USA

Olga Govortsova beat Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3 6-7 (6) 7-6 (5) to win the Dow Corning Tennis Classic in Midland, Michigan, USA

Alexandra Dulgheru beat Mandy Minella 6-3 1-6 6-3 to win the VI Copa Bionaire in Cali, Colombia

DAVIS CUP
(First Round)

World Group

Spain beat Kazakhstan 5-0 at Oviedo, Spain
Austria beat Russia 3-2 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria
France beat Canada 4-1 at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
United States beat Switzerland 5-0 at Fribourg, Switzerland
Czech Republic beat Italy 4-1 at Ostrava, Czech Republic
Serbia beat Sweden 4-1 at Nis, Serbia
Croatia beat Japan 3-2 at Hyogo, Japan
Argentina beat Germany 4-1 at Bamberg, Germany

Group I

Americas: Uruguay beat Peru 3-1 at Montevideo, Uruguay; Colombia beat Ecuador 4-1 at Salinas, Ecuador

Asia/Oceania: Uzbekistan beat New Zealand 3-2 at Tauranga, New Zealand; Korea vs. Korea beat Chinese Taipei 4-1 at Gimcheon, Korea; Australia beat China 5-0 at Geelong, Australia

Europe/Africa: Great Britain beat Slovak Republic 3-2 at Glasgow, Great Britain; Netherlands beat Finland 5-0 at s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands; Slovenia beat Denmark 5-0 at Velenje, Slovenia

Group II

Americas: Barbados beat Paraguay 3-2 at St. Michael, Barbados; Mexico beat El Salvador 5-0 at Distrito Federal, Mexico; Dominican Republic beat Bolivia 4-1 at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Venezuela beat Puerto Rico 5-0 at Caracas, Venezuela

Asia/Oceania: Philippines beat Pacific Oceania 5-0 at Camarines Sur, Philippines; Pakistan leads Lebanon 2-1 at Jounieh, Lebanon; Indonesia beat Hong Kong 3-2 at Hong Kong; Thailand beat Sri Lanka 3-2 at Colombo, Sri Lanka

Europe/Africa: Ukraine beat Monaco 5-0 at Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine; Cyprus beat Morocco 3-2 at Limassol, Cyprus; Hungary beat Ireland 3-2 at Szeged, Hungary; Latvia beat Egypt 3-2 at Cairo, Egypt; Belarus beat Moldova 4-1 at Minsk, Belarus; Bosnia/Herzegovina beat Turkey 3-1 at Ankara, Turkey; Estonia beat Luxembourg 5-0 at Tallinn, Estonia; Poland beat Madagascar 5-0 at Warsaw, Poland

SAYING

“It’s one of the greatest wins of my life. No, that’s wrong, it’s the greatest win of my life.” – John Isner, after beating Roger Federer in the first-day singles to give the United States a 2-0 lead over Switzerland in Davis Cup play.

“The mission was to go out there and not allow an artist a canvas to work with.” – Jim Courier, United States Davis Cup captain, about John Isner’s upset win over Roger Federer.

“You would like to be in the final in every tournament you play but let’s be realistic. The positive thing is I have the feeling I can play better than this.” – Maria Sharapova, after losing to Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the Paris Open quarterfinals.

“This win is unbelievable for me. I will enjoy it for sure over the next days. And I believe in myself more. I know I can play with the top players.” – Angelique Kerber, after winning the Paris Open.

“I gave everything I had and Angelique did the same. You have to know when to accept defeat, though. It’s what sport is all about. I didn’t fluff my lines when it came to the final and I was simply beaten by a better player.” – Marion Bartoli, after losing to Angelique Kerber in the final in Paris.

“It was the first time I defended a title in my career, but it’s better late than never.” – Daniela Hantuchova, who won at Pattaya City for the second straight year.

“These have been very hard months for me, during which I realized I don’t have the energy I need nor am I prepared to do all I have to do to be where I want to be.” – Fernando Gonzalez, announcing his impending retirement.

John Isner in Davis Cup action

STUNNER

It was only apropos that John Isner close out the United States’ stunning Davis Cup victory over Switzerland. It was, after all, Isner, who provided the big shocker when he beat Roger Federer in four sets in the opening singles. That gave the Americans a 2-0 lead, and they proceeded to clinch the first-round tie when Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish teamed up to stop Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka in the doubles. The Swiss duo had won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Fish had started the rout by beating Wawrinka to being the five-match competition. After the Americans clinched, Federer stepped aside and let Michael Lammer get a chance to play. The United States turned to 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and he got the victory. Then Isner stopped Martco Chuidinelli to complete the 5-0 win.

SWEET VICTORY

Angelique Kerber capped a tremendous week by capturing her first WTA title, besting Marion Bartoli to win the Open GDF Suez. Kerber is the first German to win the Paris tournament since Steffi Graf in 1995. After winning the first-set tiebreak, Kerber raced to a 5-2 lead in the second set, only to have Bartoli win five straight games and level the match. “I got a little bit nervous,” Kerber admitted about the second-set slipup. But she won the first four games in the final set and converted her fifth match point for her first WTA title. During the week, Kerber also defeated third-ranked Maria Sharapova, beating top-10 players for the first time in her career. “I knew I had nothing to lose,” Kerber said of the final. “She was the favorite today.

STOPPED BY INJURY

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is skipping the Qatar Ladies Open because of an unspecified injury. Tournament officials said they have no information on the injury. The tournament’s number one seed is Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, who is the WTA’s top-ranked player.

SERBS ADVANCE

Even without the world’s top-ranked player, Serbia grabbed a spot in the Davis Cup semifinals by besting Sweden 4-1. With Novak Djokovic resting up after winning the Australia Open for the third time, Serbia showed its depth when Janko Tipsarevic won both his singles matches and Viktor Troiki and Dusan Lajovic also won. Sweden’s only point came when Johan Brunstrom and Robert Lindstedt teamed up to win the doubles. “It’s never easy to play matches in which are the odds-on favorite, but the players deal with the pressure really well against Sweden,” said Serbian coach Bogdan Obradovic.

STAYING THE COURSE

Daniela Hantuchova has found a spot she loves. She won the PTT Pattaya Open for the second straight year for her fifth career title, the first time she has ever successfully defending a WTA title. But Hantuchova also had a rare lapse. She lost a set for the first time in 10 career matches in Pattaya City.

SAYONARA

Once ranked as high as fifth in the world, Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez says he will retire from the ATP tour after playing at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Florida, USA, in March. The 31-year-old Gonzalez reached the Australian Open final in 2007, where he lost to Roger Federer, but has struggled with his fitness following hip surgery in 2010. He current is ranked 268th in the world. “These have been very hard months for me, during which I realized I don’t have the energy I need nor am I prepared to do all I have to do to be where I want to be,” Gonzalez said. “I’m retiring from professional tennis but I want to remain close to tennis … After mourning the end of my career there will be nothing better than to work in my foundation” developing the game in Chile.

STEPPING DOWN

Jim Curley’s reign as tournament director of the US Open has ended. Saying “it is time for a change,” Curley has left a post he has held since 2001. He will stay on as a consultant through this year’s US Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of the year which runs August 27 through September 9. Deputy tournament director David Brewer will take over as tournament director and will oversee the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) professional tennis operations.

SPONSOR

The International Tennis Federation has renewed its sponsorship agreement with Wilson Racquet Sports as an international partner of Davis Cup and Fed Cup. Wilson will remain the official ball of Davis Cup and Fed Cup competition for a further five years, starting in 2013 and running through 2017. “The Davis Cup and Fed Cup are iconic tennis institutions, important to the heritage of the sport and to our brand,” said Jon Muir, general manager for Wilson Racquet Sports. “These events help to drive the local participation efforts in many countries around the world, and our brand and business efforts have aligned to support this as well. We are pleased to continue this strong partnership and look forward to bringing the energy of the game to all generations of tennis fans.”

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Cali: Karin Knapp and Mandy Minella beat Alexandra Cadantu and Roluca Olaru 6-4 6-3

Dallas: Chris Eaton and Dominic Inglot beat Nicholas Monroe and Jack Sock 6-7 (6) 6-4 19-17 (match tiebreak)

Midland: Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka beat Vesna Dolonts and Stephanie Foretz Gacon 7-6 (4) 6-2

Paris: Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond beat Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Petra Martic 7-6 (3) 6-1

Pattaya: Sania Mirza and Anastasia Rodionova beat Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yung-Jan 3-6 6-1 10-8 match tiebreak)

SURFING

Rotterdam: www.abnamrowtt.nl/

San Jose: www.sapopentennis.com

São Paulo: www.brasilopen.com.br

Doha: www.qatartennis.org

Bogotá: www.copacolsanitas.com/

Marseille: www.open13.fr

Memphis: www.memphistennis.com

Buenos Aires: http://copaclaro.com

Dubai: www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com

Monterrey: www.abiertodetenismonterrey.com/

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$1,590,000 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, hard
$531,000 SAP Open, San Jose, California, USA, hard
$475,300 Brasil Open 2012, Sao Paulo, Brazil, clay

WOMEN

$2,168,400 Qatar Total Open, Doha, Qatar, hard
$220,000 XX Copa BBVA Colsanitas, Bogotá, Colombia, clay

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$1,155,000 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, Memphis, Tennessee, USA, hard
$676,226 Open 13, Marseille, France, hard
$484,100 Copa Claro, Buenos Aires, Argentina, clay

WOMEN

$2,000,000 Dubai Duty Free Championships, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, hard
$220,000 Memphis International, Memphis, Tennessee, USA, hard
$220,000 Whirlpool Monterrey Open, Monterrey, Mexico, hard

SENIORS

Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, Delray Beach, Florida, USA, hard

Jankovic Signs With Fila; Stosur Pairs Up With ASICS: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

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Jankovic signs endorsement agreement with Fila

Just this week, former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic signed a sponsorship deal with Fila, who has a long history in the tennis industry including being a sponsor of the Sony Ericsson Open, the BNP Paribas Open and the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport. Fila is also the footwear licensee of the Championships at Wimbledon. For the past three years, the Serbian was wearing Anta. “I have always been attracted to Fila’s fashion-forward designs and especially appreciate their commitment to infusing our sport with beauty and fashion,” said Jankovic. “Fila has such a rich tennis history and it is an honor to be wearing the same brand as the stars I admired as a child.” During the past six years in which Jankovic has been ranked in the Top 20, she has won 12 singles titles, one doubles title and is a former Wimbledon mixed doubles champion with Scot Jamie Murray. “We are thrilled to add former #1 ranked Jelena Jankovic to the Fila family,” said Gene Yoon, Chairman of Fila. “Her on-court and off-court style is consistent with the tennis champions that have worn the Fila brand since the 1970s. As we enter the 101st year of the Fila brand, our commitment to the sport that has been such an important part of our history will be strengthened by relationships with world-class athletes like Jelena.”
 

Stosur signs multi-year sponsorship deal with ASICS

Australian Samantha Stosur, the 2011 US Open singles champion, has signed up as an ASICS ambassador in a multi-year deal starting this month. Stosur, who previously wore Lacoste clothing and ASICS shoes for the past two years, will now wear ASICS apparel entirely from head to toe throughout the tennis season. “I am really excited to join the ASICS team. I’ve actually worn their shoes for a couple of years, so now to be fully kitted out is really exciting for me and I am really looking forward to getting the year started,” said Stosur.
 

Venus withdraws from Australian Open

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams recently announced on her website that she has withdrawn from next week’s Australian Open. “I regret to announce that I am withdrawing from the 2012 Australian Open. After several months of training and treatment, I am making steady progress to top competitive form. My diet and fitness regimen have allowed me to make great strides in terms of my health and I am very close to being ready to return to WTA competition. I have every intention to return to the circuit in February,” said Williams. The 31-year-old last played a competitive match at the 2011 US Open where she withdrew from her second round match against Sabine Lisciki. It was at that tournament that Williams announced she struggles from the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome.

Azarenka signs long-term partnership with Wilson

World No. 3 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus has signed a long-term partnership with Wilson Sporting Goods, a Chicago-based company. “I’m extremely excited to be changing to Wilson’s new Juice racket. The power and spin that I feel with this racket is insane and I look forward to seeing what I can do with it,” said Azarenka. Every time Azarenka hits the courts, she will be seen with a new Wilson Juice tennis racquet, a matching new blue Tour tennis bag and exclusive Wilson Emotisorb shock absorber. “She is a very powerful player, with a dynamic personality and we are very thrilled to have her join the Wilson family,” said Renaud Vallon, Global Tour Director for Wilson.
 

European Broadcasting Union wins Wimbledon extension through 2014

After winning a very spirited bid, the European Broadcasting Union has retained its status as the global distributor of The Championships Wimbledon through 2014. The contract has been awarded through IMG Media in its capacity as the official production partner. Eurovision will now provide a full range of services for the international broadcast community during the two weeks of the grass court Grand Slam event. This will include global delivery of the world feed in HD, plus a 10-court package for the European market, also shown in HD. “We are delighted to be renewing and extending our agreement with IMG and the AELTC (All England Lawn Tennis Club). The EBU has more than 60 years of experience in putting sports programming exactly where broadcasters and federations want it in a seamless, reliable and cost-effective way. This contract demonstrates how we continue to meet those needs in a constantly evolving technical world,” said Stefan Kuerten, Director of European Broadcasting Union Sports & Business. The 2012 Wimbledon Championships will take place from June 25-July 8.
 

Feliciano Lopez becomes sponsored exclusively by Wilson

On Tuesday, Wilson Sports Goods announced they have extended their long-term partnership with ATP World Tour star Feliciano Lopez to now include apparel and footwear. The relationship makes Lopez one of their highest ranked players who will be exclusively wearing Wilson gear from head to toe. The 30-year-old from Spain, who is currently ranked No. 19 in the world, has been playing with Wilson racquets since his days in the juniors. Starting at next week’s Australian Open, he will debut Wilson’s new 2012 spring apparel collection and new footwear, as well as Wilson’s new Juice racquet. “I’ve played with Wilson rackets throughout my professional career, and they consistently are innovating for us players and also making some cool looking frames,” said Lopez. “Now as a head to toe Wilson athlete, I am especially excited about the style and uniqueness of the apparel and footwear collections. I have total trust in the brand and the Wilson team. With the awesome apparel and footwear, I feel well equipped to enter the 2012 season.” “Feliciano is a greatly respected player on tour, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him now wearing our apparel and footwear,” said Claire Ortiz, Global Business Director for Wilson Apparel. “His strong work ethic and commitment to the game make him a great ambassador for Wilson. We’re committed to designing and developing apparel and footwear collections with the most cutting edge technology and fashion forward style. Our dedication to this sport parallel Feliciano’s relentless perseverance, and we look forward to furthering this new exclusive Wilson partnership on tour.”
 

USTA to honor Grassroots Tennis Champions with National Awards in New Orleans

On Tuesday, the United States Tennis Association announced ten award winners to be honored during the USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop (CTDW), which will be held from January 13-15 in New Orleans at the Sheraton Hotel. The honorees will be recognized in a variety of categories for their dedication to growing the game of tennis at the grassroots level. The award winners include: Tennis for Fun Program (Tampa), Cindy Harkins (Longwood, Fla.), Justin DePietropaolo (Chester Springs, Pa.), Houston Tennis Association, Rita Gladstone (Port Orange, Fla.), Jim Neal (Niskayuna High School, Niskayuna, N.Y.), Jim Solomon (Hall High School, West Hartford, Conn.), Fred Wells Tennis & Education (Minneapolis), Mary and Frances Youth Center/Lobs & Lessons (Richmond, Va.) and the Central Texas Tennis Association.
 

ATP ACES For Charity grant presented to Canterbury Tennis in Auckland

During the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand on Monday, the second of the 2012 ATP ACES For Charity grants was presented to Neil Prior, CEO, Canterbury Tennis. ATP Executive Chairman & President Brad Drewitt was present at the ceremony to award a $10,000 check to Prior. Canterbury Tennis, nominated by the Heineken Open aims to rebuild its tennis centre at Wilding Park after the devastating earthquake in February 2011 severely damaged all 33 of its outdoor courts. Of the 110 non-profit clubs affiliated to Canterbury Tennis, five suffered extensive damage with nearly all of their courts destroyed, and an additional nine suffered considerable damage. The organization is hoping to re-open its tennis centre by late 2012.
 

ATP ACES Charity grant presented to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Sydney

World No. 18 Richard Gasquet and ATP International Vice President Alison Lee presented the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with a $10,000 check as a part of the ATP ACES For Charity program on Monday at the Apia International Sydney in Australia. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, affiliated with the Apia International Sydney more than five years now, is the world’s largest charitable supporter of Type 1 diabetes research, investing over $100 million globally per year. Funds raised by JDRF’s participation in the tournament will be used for Australian medical research, and the partnership further encourages people with Type 1 diabetes to participate in activities that can improve their overall health. The No. 3 seeded Frenchman participated in a clinic with children suffering from juvenile diabetes prior to the presentation.
 

Milos Raonic commits to 2012 Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport

The Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I., have a lot to look forward to this summer after 2011 ATP World Tour Newcomer of the Year and 2012 Aircel Chennai Open champion Milos Raonic committed to the tournament on Monday. Ranked No. 25 in the world, the Canadian joins American John Isner as early commitments to this year’s player field. The tournament takes place on the historic grass courts at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum from July 9-15. “No doubt, Milos Raonic is one of the most exciting rising stars on the ATP World Tour. We are glad to see his season off to a great start, and we are quite pleased to be able to welcome him to Newport in July,” said Mark L. Stenning, Tournament Director. “With Milos Raonic and John Isner already committed to the field, fans can anticipate a great week of tennis, and we’re looking forward to announcing more top players as well.” Tournament tickets are on sale now on tennisfame.com or by calling 866-914-FAME (3263). In celebration of this exciting start to the season, an “Early Bird – Early Rounds” ticket offer is available from now through January 22. To save 10% on all tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday sessions, use promo code EARLY2012.
 

del Potro will not play Argentina’s first round Davis Cup tie against Germany

According to La Nacion, former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro announced that he will not play in Argentina’s first round Davis Cup tie against Germany on an indoor clay court. His coach, Franco Davin, said that the decision was made based on the demands of the calendar and that he does not want the big-serving Argentine to make the fast transition from the Australian hard courts to indoor clay courts then back to European indoor hard courts.