By Justin Cohen
Todd Martin Acquires TGA Premier Youth Tennis Franchise
In an effort to grow youth tennis, former ATP World Tour professional Todd Martin has acquired a TGA Premier Youth Tennis franchise. TGA, one of the nation’s most successful youth sports companies, and Todd Martin Tennis, will develop school-based tennis programs for youngsters in the Jacksonville, Fla., area. TGA Premier Youth Tennis is a new initiative to grow the sport of tennis in partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The organizations have developed the infrastructure and specialized curriculum to bring the sport to the masses in schools nationwide. It is the only national after-school tennis program in the country. “TGA really appealed to me because in order for tennis to be a viable competitor in U.S. sports, it needs to be in the schools with other sports,” Martin explains. “The comprehensive curriculum, developed with the USTA, is also very exciting and proven to be effective.”
Federer Named New Moët & Chandon Brand Ambassador
Moët & Chandon introduced Roger Federer as the House’s new brand ambassador. Roger Federer, with his shining aura of big bold wins and elegant moves, is the absolute perfect match for Moët & Chandon, symbol of success and style. Like Moët & Chandon, the worldwide sports and lifestyle icon Roger Federer radiates boldness, elegance and generosity, from the tennis court to the red carpet to giving back to the world community. Moët & Chandon, the world’s most-loved champagne, and Roger Federer share the values of doing what they do with excellence. In his new role as brand ambassador, Federer will take centre stage in the House’s upcoming advertising campaign, certain to generate lots of buzz when it is revealed in March 2013.“It’s more than just an honor to be Moët & Chandon’s brand ambassador, it’s an invitation to be part of a very glamorous tradition,” enthused Roger Federer. “Moët & Chandon has always been the champagne of international trendsetters and I’m proud to be part of a brand that is as dedicated to the pursuit of excellence as I have been throughout my career.” “Roger Federer personifies the achievement, great generosity and tremendous style values that have been key to our House throughout its long history,” declared Stéphane Baschiera, President and CEO of Moët & Chandon. “As a champagne of victory and an enthusiastic supporter of major tennis tournaments around the world, we are extremely proud to welcome Roger Federer with Moët & Chandon’s hallmark hospitality.” To celebrate a partnership between two living legends, no one but a third living legend could immortalize the event. Renowned photographer Patrick Demarchelier shot a series of pictures of Roger Federer for Moët & Chandon. Chosen for his signature style, Demarchelier captures Federer’s masculine, larger-than-life athletic grace in visuals that pop with all the elegance, boldness and generosity that have made Moët & Chandon famous.
Tracy Austin Returns to Tennis Channel Academy for a Fifth Season
Hall of Famer and television’s favorite tennis coach, Tracy Austin, is serving up a fifth season of Tennis Channel Academy, as she returns to host the popular program that gives viewers an opportunity to sharpen up their game with an exclusive tennis lesson from the world’s best instructors each week. The half-hour series kicked off on December 2 with lessons from Nick Saviano. Peter Lundgren, who has coached some of the greatest players of all time, including Roger Federer, will be featured in the next episode. Subsequent editions will premiere on Sundays throughout December and a complete schedule can be found on www.tennischannel.com/schedule. “I’m looking forward to our new season and am thrilled to head back to the courts again this year with another lineup of Tennis Channel Academy,” said Austin, who has hosted the show for the last four years. “We have an impressive roster of pros this year and I can’t wait for our viewers to utilize the top-level instruction that’s regularly put into use by the players on the men’s and women’s professional tours with this series.”
WTA Chairman and CEO Allaster named as Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada
Stacey Allaster, the WTA Tour Chairman and CEO, was listed among the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. Allaster has secured a record number of new global sponsors during her tenure at the WTA, including a landmark deal with digital sports specialist Perform, which is expected to double the exposure for women’s professional tennis worldwide.
Isner, Almagro Commit to 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston
Two ATP World Tour players in the Top 15, Nicolas Almagro and John Isner, highlight the initial entries into the 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship, which will be held at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas, from April 8-14, 2013. Almagro has led the ATP in clay-court match wins three times in the last five seasons. All of his 18 career ATP finals appearances have been on clay, and his 12 clay titles are second among active players behind Rafael Nadal’s 36. Isner was the runner-up at River Oaks in 2012 and won a career-high 45 matches in 2012. Twice in the past three seasons Isner has hit more than 1,000 aces to lead the ATP.
Isner Splits with Coach Craig Boynton
World No. 14 John Isner has split from Coach Craig Boynton, who served as his coach since March 2009. Isner peaked at No. 9 in the rankings in 2012, but finished at No. 14 after early round losses at the final three Grand Slam events of the season. When Boynton became Isner’s coach, the former four-time All-American at the University of Georgia was ranked well outside the Top 100. The 6-foot-9 Isner finished the next year over 100 spots higher at No. 34. Isner has hired Michael Sell as his new coach starting in 2013. After serving as the personal coach of Monica Seles, Sell began to work with the United States Tennis Association in 2003, eventually rising to the level of lead national coach for men’s tennis. He has at various times worked more closely with Isner, Mardy Fish, and Donald Young. Boynton will remain based as head of pro tennis at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, where Isner and several other American players are based.
Collegiate Players Ready for 2012 Master’U BNP Paribas in France
The field for the 2012 Master’U BNP Paribas has been announced, with several ITA standouts participating in the five day international collegiate team competition from Dec. 5-9 in Aix-en-Provence, France. The seventh annual Master’U BNP Paribas features a unique format that combines men’s and women’s matches to determine a winner in a best-of-seven format. Two men’s and two women’s singles matches will be played along with one men’s and women’s doubles match in addition to a mixed doubles match. Eight nations, consisting of Belgium, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Russia and the United States, with college and university players from around the world, will be competing for the title. The USTA announced the United States’ field of players, highlighted by 2012 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships men’s singles champion Jarmere Jenkins of Virginia, and, 2012 ITA/Riviera Women’s All-American singles champion Lauren Embree of Florida. Joining Jenkins on the men’s side will be a pair of two time ITA All-Americans; Evan King of Michigan and Ray Sarmiento of USC. Representing the American women along with Embree will be two time ITA All-American Jacqueline Cako of Arizona State as well as ITA All-American and ITA National Player to Watch Zoë Scandalis of USC. Greg Patton of Boise State returns to coach the United States team and will be joined by Cal head women’s tennis coach Amanda Augustus.
Intercollegiate Tennis Association Announces Sixteen USTA Multicultural Grants Recipients
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association and United States Tennis Association are proud to announce the 16 recipients of the 2012 USTA Multicultural Grants. These $1,000 grants will assist these coaches in covering the cost of attendance at the ITA Coaches Convention, held at the Waldorf Astoria in Naples, Florida from December 15-18. While in Naples, the group of beneficiaries will participate in a series of clinics and events to assist them in their profession, including the Multicultural Coaching Education Symposium presented by USTA Player Development. This training session will provide college coaches with insight into the teaching and coaching philosophy of USTA National Coaches, while also serving as a forum for strategies to increase the number of multicultural tennis coaches and players. The 2012 USTA Multicultural Grant recipients include Terry Alexander (Morehouse College), Tayo Bailey (Butler University), Andre Ferreira (Brenau University), Rochelle Nikki Goldthreate (Florida A&M University), Tanyaradzwa Gombera (University of North Dakota), Sean Holcomb-Jones (Morgan State University), Curtis Lawson (North Carolina Central University), Chi Ly (Palm Beach Atlantic University), Jose D. Martinez (Warner University), Ximena Moore (Huntingdon College), Eduardo A. Rincon (University of Arkansas), Charlotte Scatliffe (University of the Pacific), Patrick Sullivan (University of Houston), Carl Lynn Summerlin, Sr. (Long Island University-Post), Autumn Williams (Clark Atlanta University), Jami Yonekura-Jones (San Diego City College). Among the honorees are African American, Hispanic American and Asian American coaches of teams competing in NCAA Division I, II and III, as well as NAIA and JUCO. First-year and veteran head coaches, in addition to one assistant coach, were selected as recipients.