By Bob Stockton
* Tennis Channel debuts its “Perfect Match” sweepstakes this month by offering viewers a chance to meet 16 Grand Slam titlist and World No. 3 Roger Federer. The lucky winner will receive a three-day trip to Zurich, Switzerland, where they will meet Federer and receive a personalized tour of the historic Lindt chocolate plant. Five consolation prize winners will receive Federer-autographed Nike duffle bags filled with Lindt’s Lindor Truffles. Tennis Channel’s “Perfect Match” sweepstakes runs through November 1. To enter, visit www.tennischannel.com/perfectmatch.
* Tennis fans can find out first hand what it is like to play doubles with Stefan Edberg or be in the firing line of a Jim Courier forehand at The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships to be held November 5-7 in Grand Cayman, where, for the first time, an exclusive and intense pro-am tournament has been added to the event, providing some of these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Edberg, Courier, Marat Safin and Michael Chang will be joined in Grand Cayman by former top 10-ranked Americans Aaron Krickstein and Jimmy Arias for the six-player Champions Series event and the pro-am activities. In addition to the competing for a first-prize paycheck of $45,000 and Champions Series ranking points, the players will participate in the pro-am that will see the legends playing matches and enjoying meals and social time with participating amateurs over multiple days. Tennis fans interested in participating in the pro-am with the legends can find ticket, travel and tournament information by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com. “This is an ultimate, once-in-a-lifetime tennis fantasy opportunity to have the chance to play with and against some of the biggest legends in the game – and have quality social time in an amazingly beautiful luxury resort,” said Jon Venison, co-founding partner of InsideOut Sports & Entertainment, the owners and operators of the Champions Series tennis circuit. “In addition to playing and socializing with these greats of the game, fans will also have up-close and personal access as they compete for prize money and ranking points in the official Champions Series event held in Grand Cayman for the third year at The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman.”
* The Education of a Tennis Player, the updated and re-released memoir of Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, is now available on amazon.com’s Kindle here: http://www.amazon.com/Education-Tennis-Player-ebook/dp/B00440D9C8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1286971219&sr=8-1 Written with Hall of Fame journalist and historian Bud Collins, The Education of a Tennis Player is Laver’s first-hand account of his famous 1969 Grand Slam season, capped off by his win over fellow Australian Tony Roche in the final of the U.S. Open. Laver also writes about his childhood and early days in tennis, his 1962 Grand Slam and offers tips on how players of all levels can improve their game. He also shares some of the strategies that helped him to unparalleled success on the tennis court. Originally published in 1971, the book was updated by Laver and Collins with new content including his recovery from a near-fatal stroke in 1998 and helping Australia once again win the Davis Cup in 1973. The memoir features descriptions of Laver’s most suspenseful matches and memorable portraits of his biggest rivals Ken Rosewall, Lew Hoad, Tony Roche and Pancho Gonzalez. “I am delighted that “The Education of a Tennis Player” is back in circulation and available for a new generation of tennis fans,” said Laver earlier this year on the release of the hard copy of the book. “Winning the Grand Slam for a second time in 1969 seems just like yesterday and this book brings back a lot of memories of the great matches and exciting times. I hope people enjoy reading my story.” Laver captured 11 major singles titles during his career, including Wimbledon in 1961, 1962, 1968 and 1969. After joining Don Budge as the only man to win a Grand Slam by sweeping all four majors in 1962, Laver turned professional where he, along with fellow pros Hoad, Rosewall and Gonzalez, were banned from playing the “amateur-only” major tournaments. When the “Open Era” of tennis began in 1968, Laver netted another five major singles titles, including his Grand Slam sweep of all four in 1969. Laver won nearly 200 singles titles during his career and was inducted into the International Tennis of Fame in 1981.
* Gustavo Kuerten will play a charity match against Andre Agassi in Rio de Janeiro on December 11.
* Head has released a YouTube video displaying Andre Agassi’s precision with his Head racquet in response to the hugely popular and discussed Roger Federer “William Tell” video that created such a stir among fans and media this summer. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CggHDd-hmKU
* The Bolton Arena, near Manchester, will be the venue for Great Britain’s 2011 Davis Cup opener March 4-6 against Tunisia, the Lawn Tennis Association announced on Wednesday. “It’s a great choice of venue for us,” said Great Britain captain Leon Smith. “We’ve always had fantastic support in the north-west, and Bolton Arena will no doubt generate a passionate atmosphere, and provide the ideal stage for the match against Tunisia.” Great Britain will need to secure three wins next year to secure promotion back to Europe/Africa Group I.
* World No. 8 and defending champion Samantha Stosur has officially entered the 2011 Family Circle Cup. Stosur, the first player to commit to the tournament, returns to Daniel Island where she set the event’s mark for the fastest championship victory on record by defeating Vera Zvonareva 6-0, 6-3, in just 52 minutes. Marking the tournament’s 39th consecutive year, the Family Circle Cup, a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier event, will be held April 2-10, 2011 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in historic Charleston, South Carolina. “We are thrilled to welcome Sam Stosur back to Charleston to defend her championship in April,” commented Eleanor Adams, Tournament Manager, Family Circle Cup. “Since winning the Family Circle Cup, she has continued to post the best results of her singles career, and we’re so happy to have her return where that success began. I know our fans will enjoy watching her take another shot at this title.” Samantha Stosur, the 20th champion in the Family Circle Cup’s storied history, said, “I’ve always enjoyed competing in Charleston, and I really look forward to defending my title at this historic event. The city is beautiful and the fans are very knowledgeable, so it’s always exciting to play this tournament.” Family Circle Cup Ticket Packages will be on sale very soon, and ticket patrons who buy early will be able to secure the best possible seats. Fans can visitfamilycirclecup.com for ticket information and player commitment updates as the tournament approaches.
* Lonnie Nielson, part owner of the Sacramento Capitals World Team Tennis franchise, has been arraigned on charges that he embezzled more than $760,000 from nearly a dozen clients over an eight-month period last year, according to authorities cited by the Sacramento Bee newspaper. The Bee reports that Nielson was arraigned on 12 felony counts of grand theft, according to a news release from the office of District Attorney Jan Scully.
* According to the Las Vegas Sun, Andre Agassi, his wife Steffi Graf and his former coach Darren Cahill have filed a lawsuit against their co-owners of the Las Vegas night club Pure. The Sun is reporting that Courthouse News Service reported that the lawsuit claims the managers of Pure in Caesars Palace mismanaged finances and used the nightclub’s money to fund competing venues in Las Vegas, such as LAX at the Luxor, the recently closed Christian Audigier at Treasure Island and other several bars and restaurants. “None of these other properties approached the success of profitability of Pure,” the Sun quotes the lawsuit stating. “In fact … the overwhelming majority of these properties have experienced extended periods of unprofitability.” Andre’s lawsuit also claims he’s been charged for non-Pure related expenses and that they tripled in 2007 from previous years. The lawsuit says the allegedly improper allocations prompted the IRS to raid Pure in February 2008, “the result of significant improprieties involving … employees’ failure to report income.” The Sun quotes that the lawsuit says defendants then used Pure’s money to defend Pure’s principals to the tune of $1 million in legal fees. The plaintiffs say they have requested to examine the financial books, but the defendants have refused.