STARS
BNP Paribas Open
(First Week)
Donald Young beat fifth-seeded Andy Murray 7-6 (4) 6-3
Ivo Karlovic beat sixth-seeded David Ferrer 7-6 (3) 6-3
Peng Shuai beat seventh-seeded Li Na 4-6 6-3 6-3
OTHER
Mark Philippoussis beat Tim Henman 6-3, 7-6 (3) to win the BNP Paribas Zurich Open in Zurich, Switzerland
SAYING
“It’s by far the biggest win of my career.” – Donald Young, after beating Andy Murray at the BNP Paribas Open.
“Early on in tournaments when you’re not hitting the ball well, running a lot of balls down and making your opponent play, you can sometimes get the job done. But I didn’t move particularly well and he hit a lot of winners. He gained in confidence I guess from hitting more winners.” – Andy Murray, following his loss to Donald Young.
“I’ve seen enough of that serve for one lifetime.” – Pete Sampras, talking about the left-handed serve of Goran Ivanisevic.
“Nobody forgets how to play.” – Dinara Safina, a former world number one who is beginning to win matches again after struggling with injuries last year.
“I love this Tour. Hopefully I can play a lot more ATP Champions Tour events because I’m having so much fun. My love for tennis came back because of these events.” Mark Philippoussis, who has won the last two senior tournaments.
“Confidence is crucial. It’s a very important thing to have, in this individual sport. If you’re on the run, you don’t want to mess up. You don’t want to stumble. You just want to keep on going and hold the momentum. This is what I’m trying to do.” – Novak Djokovic,
“It was tough to get a gauge on how I was playing because James was playing so aggressively. He came out from the first game and I realized his strategy was … he didn’t want to let me get into a rhythm. I felt like he was coming out of his shoes.” – Andy Roddick, after beating fellow American James Blake at Indian Wells.
“The last couple of weeks I’m starting to feel more confident with my game. I was struggling with my foot (work), with my movement. I wasn’t moving well. I had no confidence in my game. My movement was not there. I was making a lot of unforced errors. I had a hard time on the court. I was basically a shadow of myself.” – Jelena Jankovic.
SHOCKER
Donald Young has struggled since turning pro. Don’t tell that to Andy Murray, however. The 21-year-old American shocked the fifth-ranked Murray 7-6 (4) 6-3 in the BNP Paribas Open, the first time Young, who had to qualify for the hard court tournament, has beaten a top 10 players. A former junior champion who has struggled on the ATP tour, Young is ranked 143rd in the world and had a 1-3 match record going into the Indian Wells, California, USA, event. “It’s by far the biggest win of my career,” Young admitted. Since reaching the final of the Australian Open in January, Murray has lost seven consecutive sets – three to Novak Djokovic in the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, two to Marcos Baghdatis in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in early February, and two to Young. “I started the match well and then when it got close to the end of the first set I just didn’t do anything particularly well,” Murray said. “I didn’t do anything to really lift myself. He started playing better. I didn’t find my way back into the match.”
“SCARIEST MOMENT”
Calling her recent blood clot drama “the scariest moment in my life,” Serena Williams said she is still planning on returning to tennis this summer. Being interviewed on the Today show, Williams said her recent medical problems have made her appreciate her tennis even more. “I had swelling in my leg, which is a tell-tale sign of embolism, and I could not breathe,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m walking but I cannot breathe. That forced me to the emergency room.’” After winning Wimbledon last July, her 13th Grand Slam tournament singles title. Williams was in Germany when she stepped on broken glass and cut her foot. Since then she has had two operations on her foot and, for the most part, has been on crutches and wearing a walking boot. She said she is still being treated from clots in her lungs with blood thinners. “Luckily enough I was able to catch it (the clot) soon enough that my career won’t be affected,” she said. “I have so much to look forward to.”
STRUGGLES OVER?
Dinara Safina could finally be over her injury-induced slump. The former world number one easily won her opening round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, USA, never losing her serve in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Arantxa Parra Santonja. Safina was the world’s top-ranked player for half of 2009. This was before injuries caused her game to collapse. This year, she began by losing first-round matches in her first two tournaments. Safina then became the first former world number one to lose a Grand Slam tournament match without winning a game as Kim Clijsters pounded out a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing. But Safina recently teamed with Galina Voskoboeva to win the doubles at the BMW Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur and has followed it up by playing strongly in singles. “I’m getting more and more positive,” Safina said. “I’m working day by day and trying to get better, and with the hard work I believe I will get better. Nobody forgets how to play.”
SURGERY YET AGAIN
For the third straight year, Argentina’s David Nalbandian has undergone a surgeon’s knife. Following operations on a hernia in his left groin and a torn lower leg muscle, the 29-year-old said he will be sidelined for eight weeks. Nalbandian suffered the hernia and also pulled the leg muscle during his four-set victory over Romania’s Adrian Ungur in a Davis Cup World Group first-round tie. He was visibly hampered by the injuries throughout the clash in Buenos Aires, pausing for long periods inbetween points. But he fought through the pain to help Argentina through to a quarterfinal meeting against Kazakhstan. Nalbandian was forced to retire from his second-round match at the Australian Open in January, citing fatigue. He came back from hip surgery in 2009 and overcame a back operation last year.
SUPPORTIVE PARENT
Kim Clijsters says that once she retires she wants to adopt a child. The Belgian star retired from the sport, got married and gave birth to her daughter. She returned to the tennis wars in 2009 following a two-year break and has since been one of the most dominant players on the tour, winning the last two US Opens – to go along with the one she won before she retired – and the Australian Open two months ago. Clijsters is currently ranked number two in the world but could supplant Caroline Wozniacki in the top spot in the rankings by the time play in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, USA, is completed. “I have always said that my goal in life is to adopt, so that is something that I want to start working on when I am done playing,” she said. Clijsters is accompanied on tour by her husband, former professional basketball player Brian Lynch, and their daughter Jada. She has said she wants to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London and has hinted that she may retire after that.
SWISS TIMING
Roger Federer will play Davis Cup for Switzerland again after a nearly two-year hiatus. The last time Federer played in the international team competition was September 2009. However, he announced his intention to play in July – just five days after the Wimbledon final – shortly after top-ranked Rafael Nadal said he would play in Spain’s Davis Cup quarterfinal against the United States. Switzerland will play host to Portugal in a Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 second-round tie. A win would put Switzerland in position to have a chance to return to the World Group after being relegated last year. “I’ve decided I’m going to play the Davis Cup tie in July at home against Portugal,” Federer wrote on his official website. “I’m really looking forward to helping Switzerland begin the process of getting back into the World Group.” Of course, by playing Davis Cup, Federer would then qualify to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
SOUTH AFRICAN CUPPERS
Captain John-Laffnie de Jager can relax now that all of South Africa’s top tennis players have declared themselves available for the Europe/Africa Group 1 tie against the Netherlands in July. It is the first time in four years that De Jager has enjoyed what might be considered a luxury. Until now, Kevin Anderson, the country’s No. 1 singles player, and Wesley Moodie, South Africa’s top doubles player, have not committed to playing Davis Cup at the same time. Anderson, ranked 40th in the world, has not played Davis Cup for more than two years in a period in which South Africa have failed at the last hurdle to qualify for the Davis Cup’s elite World Group after an absence of 11 years. “I think all the players now realize how vitally important it is for South African tennis to return to the World Group,” said De Jager, “and that all our resources will be needed if we are to stand what will, in any case, be a testing challenge.” Of course, by playing Davis Cup the South African players qualify to play in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
SCUD ATTACK
The senior tour is just what Mark Philippoussis was looking for. The Australian continued his rampage through the ATP Champions Tour by winning his second successive title in 2011, defeating Britain’s Tim Henman 6-3 7-6 (3) to lift the BNP Paribas Zurich Open winners’ trophy. Philippoussis, who won the title in Delray Beach, Florida, USA, two weeks ago, was in control from the start against his old rival Henman, withstanding a late fight back to win the match on a second set tie-break. “Tim was a little slow in starting and I took advantage of that, but as the match went on he warmed up a little and started serving bigger and we had some good points. It was a really good match,” Philippoussis said. “I love this tour. Hopefully I can play a lot more ATP Champions Tour events because I’m having so much fun. My love for tennis came back because of these events. I love the way they’re set up, they’re so relaxed. We hang out together, we get on the court and have some fun, but we’re still competitive. This has been a great week.”
SCOTLAND-BOUND?
Andy Murray is ready to play Davis Cup for Great Britain again, and he wants to do it on Scottish soil. A native of Scotland, Murray is planning on leading the team against Luxembourg in July as Great Britain attempts to move up from Europe/Africa Group Two. Murray believes playing in Scotland, and particularly at Stirling University, would create a good crowd for the tie. The last two home ties were held in Eastbourne and Bolton, where the crowds were sparse and the interest level was minimal. The fact that Stirling is also 10 minutes away from Murray’s hometown and is where he, his brother Jamie and Colin Fleming used to practice is an added bonus. “To me it’s not about playing it in Scotland, in England or any of that stuff,” Murray said. “It’s about what the best venue is, and I don’t think it makes sense to put it in a venue where the tickets aren’t in high demand and they aren’t selling out within minutes.”
SIGNING UP
The Family Circle Cup field keeps getting stronger. The latest to officially commit to playing the Charleston, SC, tournament is top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, who reached the final two years ago. “Caroline Wozniacki has set the world on fire in the past two years as she continues to make her mark on women’s tennis,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup tournament manager. “She is rapidly becoming a figure who transcends the game and we are thrilled to welcome her back to Charleston.” Others in the field for the 39th consecutive running of the tournament include Samantha Stosur, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova, Shahar Peer, Nadia Petrova, Daniela Hantuchova, Melanie Oudin and Sabine Lisicki. In her six years on the women’s tour, Wozniacki has won 13 singles titles and more than $8.5 million in prize money. She became the 20th woman to top the rankings when she overtook Serena Williams on October 11, 2010. As the first Dane, male or female, to hold the top ranking, Wozniacki finished 2010 as the world’s number one player. This year the 20-year-old has reached the semifinal of the Australian Open, won in Dubai and reached the final in Doha.
SERVING FOR FIVE
Andy Roddick is seeking to become the first player to win five titles at Queen’s Club in London. The American’s competition at the Wimbledon warm-up will include Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Roddick lifted the winners’ trophy at The Queen’s Club in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. He is one of only a handful of players to have won the title four times since the event was first played in 1890. John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Lleyton Hewitt, Roy Emerson, MJG Ritchie and AF Wilding, are the others. “Over the years I’ve had a lot of success at The Queen’s Club, it has real tradition and I love the whole month in London,” Roddick said. “Queen’s has the best grass courts in the world, they play perfectly and so the AEGON Championships is a great way to prepare for Wimbledon.” The 28-year-old Roddick is rediscovering his form after being affected by glandular fever during the grass-court season last year. Roddick has finished ranked inside the world’s top 10 every year since 2002. He won his sole Grand Slam title at the 2003 US Open, and hr has reached three Wimbledon finals.
SEEING IS BELIEVING
Both the ladies’ and gentlemen’s title matches at Wimbledon will be televised in 3D this summer, along with the men’s semifinals. The All England Lawn Tennis Club and Sony announced a multi-year partnership to bring Wimbledon to 3D-ready digital cinemas around the world. The live 3D production, in partnership with Wimbledon host broadcaster BBC, will also be offered to broadcasters. “We are delighted that our 3D partnership with Sony will not only guarantee we are at the cutting edge of live sporting television, but also deliver a compelling new viewing experience for our global audiences, especially among our younger supporters,” said Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Wimbledon this year runs June 20-July 3.
SONY EYE
Sony has been busy on a lot of fronts. The Japanese electronics giant has purchased Hawk-Eye, the United Kingdom company that makes ball-tracking technology for tennis and cricket. Hawk-Eye inventor Paul Hawkins said the takeover by Sony created “immense opportunities for the sports industry.” Sony purchased all intellectual property rights, Hawk-Eye’s current full time staff as well as its technology, software and engineering. Despite its high-profile brand name, Hawk-Eye is a relatively small company with profits of (USD) $1,892,500 (£1.1m) last year. Last autumn, it said it expected to make a profit of (USD) $2,916,730 (£1.8m) this year.
SPONSORS
A British newspaper has reported that BBC managers considered dropping Wimbledon and Formula One racing from its television lineup after the corporation’s license fee settlement was frozen last year. Wimbledon has been shown by the BBC since 1937, and the relationship between the All England Club and the broadcaster’s sports department is so close that the exact cost of the exclusive contract has never been revealed. Formula One, which has been broadcast by the BBC since 2008, has also been highlighted as a potential opportunity for savings. A BBC insider told The Guardian: “Wimbledon costs tens of millions, and is a very expensive contract. No one is saying definitely exit, but it is being looked at. Or perhaps, goes the thinking, this is a contract that could be shared with another broadcaster.”
SURFING
Indian Wells: www.bnpparibasopen.com/
Zurich: www.zurichopen.net/
Nassau: www.thebahamasopen.com
Bahamas Tennis Association: www.blta.net/
Miami: www.sonyericssonopen.com/
Kunming: www.ldzjhome.com
TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
(All money in USD)
MEN
$4,500,000 BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, California, USA, hard (second week)
$100,000 Le Gosier Guadeloupe Challenger, Guadeloupe, hard
WOMEN
$4,500,000 BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, California, USA, hard (second week)
$100,000 The Bahamas Women’s Open, Nassau, Bahamas, hard
TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK
MEN
$4,500,000 Sony Ericsson Open, Miami, Florida, USA, hard (first week)
WOMEN
$4,500,000 Sony Ericsson Open, Miami, Florida, USA, hard (first week)