2013/05/22

Mallory Burdette Signs with Dunlop

Mallory Burdette1

(March 14, 2013) GREENVILLE, SC, – Dunlop  has announced the signing of rising American and former NCAA champion Mallory Burdette to a multi-year agreement. Burdette selected the new Biomimetic M3.0 tennis racquet, which she used to qualify and then reach the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. She defeated Top 30 player Tamira Paszek in the second round prior to falling to world No. 15 Maria Kirilenko in a three-set match that lasted nearly 3 hours.

“I’ve been lucky enough to know Mallory since her junior days in Georgia,” said Hunter Hines, Dunlop Racquet Sports Director of Marketing and Product Development. “Since leaving Stanford after her Junior year, she’s already had a couple memorable runs at high profile tournaments, including last year’s US Open where she reached the third round. We look forward to big things from Mallory.”

Burdette plans on playing a full Tour schedule this year, her next stop is in Key Biscayne for the Sony Open.

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Flipkens Talks About Relationship with Clijsters

Flipkens photo by Cristiano Andujar/Foto Arena

Kirsten Flipkens photo by Cristiano Andujar/Foto Arena

By Barbara Galiza

(February 26, 2013) Florianópolis – This week, at 27, Kirsten Flipkens reached the highest ranking of her career – 31st – and became Belgium’s No. 1 tennis player for the first time. Her happiness, however, was short-lived. Complaining of a right leg injury, Flipkens fell in three sets in WTA Florianópolis’ first round. After the loss, she talked about her relationship with countrywoman Kim Clijsters and her sudden rise in the WTA rankings.

“Last year I was ranked 262 and now I’m 31, it’s a great step. I don’t know what changed, I was just trying to focus on my game”, said Flipkens. “I’ve had lots of injuries in the past couple of years and now everything was falling into pieces. I quit with the (Belgian Tennis) Federation and I now have the right people around me. That made a difference.”

In Florianópolis, the Belgian lost to Olga Puchkova, from Russia, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Since her next tournament is Indian Wells, Flipkens stated her main concern was getting fit for the mandatory mixed event.

“In the second set, I slowly felt the power in my right leg going away and I didn’t know what was going on. Last week in Memphis and in Fed Cup, I had the same struggle. Because of my back’s rotation, I feel weakness on my leg”, Flipkens explained.

“It’s sad because I’m confident and I’m in my highest ranking ever this week. It was a shame”, she said. “Right now my focus is getting my body 200% fit for Indian Wells. Maybe I will have to take a scan of my lower back because I’ve had problems with it before. I want to know what’s going on because I can’t continue to play like this.”

Last year, Flipkens was briefly helped by former No. 1 and longtime friend Kim Clijsters. The Belgians, that have known each other since kids, paired up for doubles in the U.S. Open, before Clijsters retired from professional tennis.

“There are too many people thinking Kim is my coach. Right now I’m practicing in her academy, in Belgium, but she’s not coaching me”, said Flipkens. “It’s not like she’s giving me tactical advice, she’s just supporting me. I’ve known her since I was 12, she is a good friend of mine, like an older sister. Now, for example, she’s pregnant, so her family life is a priority. Maybe if it’s the right time and the right place, she’ll come (coach) with me, but her family is in the first place now and it’s logic.”

Barbara Galiza is a journalist from Rio de Janeiro and is covering the WTA tennis tournament in  Florianópolis, Brazil as media in  for Tennis Panorama. She likes tennis and writing. Sometimes she blogs, most of the time she tweets. – @fiercetennis. Follow her updates on @TennisNewsTPN.

 

 

WTA BRASIL TENNIS CUP
Florianopolis, Brazil
February 24-March 2, 2013
$235,000/International
Hard/Outdoors

Results – Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Singles – Second Round
Jana Cepelova (SVK) d. (8) Annika Beck (GER) 76(6) 64

Singles – First Round
(1) Venus Williams (USA) d. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) 63 63
Olga Puchkova (RUS) d. (3) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 26 64 64
(5) Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) 63 60
(7) Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. Anne Keothavong (GBR) 63 64
Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) d. (Q) Kristina Barrois (GER) 62 62
Tatjana Malek (GER) d. Teliana Pereira (BRA) 64 62
Timea Babos (HUN) d. Valeria Savinykh (RUS) 76(5) 67(3) 62
(WC) Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) d (Q) Chieh-Yu Hsu (USA) 61 62

Doubles – First Round
Barrois/Malek (GER/GER) d. (2) Martic/Mladenovic (CRO/FRA) 63 75
Alves/Lucic-Baroni (BRA/CRO) d. Czink/Niculescu (HUN/ROU) 75 64
(WC) Forte/Haddad Maia (BRA/BRA) d. Auroux/Irigoyen (ARG/ARG) 62 75

Order Of Play – Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Centre Court (from 11.00hrs)
1. Timea Babos vs. Chanelle Scheepers
2. Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Melinda Czink (NB 12.30hrs)
3. Beatriz García Vidagany vs. Magdalena Rybarikova
4. Alves/Lucic-Baroni vs. Keothavong/Savinykh
5. Venus Williams vs. Garbiñe Muguruza (NB 20.00hrs)

Court 1 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Medina Garrigues/Shvedova vs. Molinero/Pérez
2. Kristina Mladenovic vs. Tatjana Malek
3. Babos/Date-Krumm vs. Peer/Scheepers (after suitable rest)
4. Forte/Haddad Maia vs. Barrois/Malek (after suitable rest)

Court 2 (from 12.00hrs)
1. Olga Puchkova vs. Caroline Garcia
2. Monica Niculescu vs. Tereza Mrdeza

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WTA Bogota – Tuesday Results, Wednesday Schedule

COPA CLARO COLSANITAS
Bogotá, Colombia
February 18-24, 2013
$235,000/International
Red Clay/Outdoors

Results – Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Singles – First Round
(3) Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) d. (WC) Catalina Castaño (COL) 36 62 61
(4) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. (Q) Sharon Fichman (CAN) 46 64 64
(5) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Alexandra Panova (RUS) 46 63 63
María-Teresa Torró-Flor (ESP) d. (6) Arantxa Rus (NED) 64 63
(Q) Tereza Mrdeza (CRO) d. (7) Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 76(5) 64
(8) Timea Babos (HUN) d. (Q) Beatriz García Vidagany (ESP) 64 16 76(4) (saved 2mp)
Alexandra Cadantu (ROU) d. Maria Joao Koehler (POR) 60 63
Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino (ESP) d. (WC) Yulia Lizarazo (COL) 62 16 63
Karin Knapp (ITA) d. Eva Birnerova (CZE) 61 61
(Q) Teliana Pereira (BRA) d. Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) 63 63

Doubles – First Round
(2) Babos/Minella (HUN/LUX) d. Kania/Pekhova (POL/BLR) 61 63
Bogdan/Cadantu (ROU/ROU) d. (3) Bratchikova/Kalashnikova (RUS/GEO) 60 63
(WC) Jankovic/Krunic (SRB/SRB) d. (4) Cohen/Malek (USA/GER) 75 67(3) 108 (Match TB)
Cornet/Parmentier (FRA/FRA) d. (WC) Pérez García/Pérez García (COL/COL) 61 75
Auroux/Irigoyen (ARG/ARG) d. Arruabarrena-Vecino/Domínguez Lino (ESP/ESP) 63 26 105 (Match TB)
Ferrer Suárez/Parra Santonja (ESP/ESP) d. Castaño/Duque-Mariño (COL/COL) 64 06 106 (Match TB)

Order Of Play – Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Center Court (from 10.30hrs)
1. Estrella Cabeza Candela vs. Mariana Duque-Mariño
2. Jelena Jankovic vs. Julia Cohen (NB 12.30hrs)
3. Paula Ormaechea vs. Francesca Schiavone
4. Bogdan/Cadantu vs. Cornet/Parmentier (NB 14.00hrs)

Court 1 (from 10.30hrs)
1. María-Teresa Torró-Flor vs. Mathilde Johansson
2. Teliana Pereira vs. Alizé Cornet

Court 2 (from 10.30hrs)
1. Timea Babos vs. Mandy Minella
2. Birnerova/Panova vs. Beltrame/Thorpe

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Mastering the Backhand Volley

Mastering the Backhand Volley

By David Lewis, Director of Instruction at Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy

Backhand slice contact point

If we look back at the past Wimbledon Champions in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, most of these players had a phenomenal backhand slice and backhand volley. These players included Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, and Stefan Edberg, to name a few. Grass courts at Wimbledon were quicker, allowing the slice to be even more effective especially for those looking to take control of the net.

Many great Australian players had incredibly strong forearms developed from playing hours against a wall which taught them to have quick hands and compact swings. The backhand volley is an abbreviated backhand slice with the same fundamentals but does not include a full backswing or follow through.

The backhand volley is a simple stroke yet it can be challenging to teach younger players. A lack of strength makes it difficult for juniors to control the racquet when attempting to hit a backhand volley. As a result, they can develop poor habits especially if their racquets are too heavy. Many players at this age prefer to have an eastern grip, allowing them short-term success. As they get older, this grip has limitations and they should be urged to move to the continental grip.

With less time to react at the net as opposed to the baseline, the backhand volley needs to be compact and struck out in front of the body with a very firm wrist (see photo “Backhand Slice – contact point”). Tony Roche, a former Australian player, always emphasized ‘knifing’ the backhand volley. Roche had one of the best backhand volleys in the game and, with a huge forearm and strong wrist, he could ‘knife’ backhand volleys at a fast pace that would land near the shoe laces of his opponents.


About David Lewis

David Lewis, a native of Auckland, New Zealand, is the Director of Instruction at Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy on Hilton Head Island, S.C., a full-time tennis program for grades 5-12. For the past 20 years, he has coached top juniors and professionals from around the world including Marina Erakovic, ranked as high as No.49 on the WTA world rankings.

The Ivan Lendl IJTA exemplifies Ivan Lendl and Lewis’ desire to give back to tennis and develop future champions through a new-era curriculum and holistic training approach. The Academy focuses on classic fundamentals, leading-edge biomechanics, strength training / fitness and mental preparation. Lendl and Lewis subscribe to a hands-on approach with students instilling dedication, focus, hard work, motivation and overall preparation.

For more information: www.LendlTennis.com, 888.983.6647 (888-9-TENNIS) or 843.686.1529.

 

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SAP Open Preliminary Schedule and Ticket Giveaway

Courtesy of SAP Sponsorships, we are giving away two tickets to attend the Friday, February 17, 2012 day session of the SAP Open.

The first two people to answer the following question correctly by emailing the answer to Contest@GVTNews.com, will each win a ticket to the Friday, February 17, 2012 Day session.

Question: The SAP Open is the second-oldest tournament in the United States. What year was the tournament first held.

Follow @SAPSponsors on Twitter and SAP Sponsorships on Facebook.

2012 SAP Open Confirmed Players: Andy Roddick, John McEnroe, Gael Monfils, Milos Raonic, Sam Querrey, Lleyton Hewitt, Donald Young, Xavier Malisse, Jack Sock, Tommy Haas and many more….

Schedule of Play:
Monday, February 13 – 7:00pm
John McEnroe (USA) / Milos Raonic (CAN) vs. Gael Monfils (FRA) / Jack Sock (USA)  – Featured Doubles Exhibition Match
followed by
A Featured Main Draw Match

 

Tuesday, February 14 – 7:00pm

Sam Querrey (USA) – 1st Round Singles
followed by
Tommy Haas (GER) – 1st Round Singles

 

Wednesday, February 15 – 7:00pm

Andy Roddick (USA) – 2nd Round Singles
followed by
Milos Raonic (CAN) – 2nd Round Singles

 

Thursday, February 16 – 7:00pm

Gael Monfils (FRA) – 2nd Round Singles
followed by
Featured Main Draw Match

 

An Evening with Tennis Legend Stan Smith

Join us on Saturday, February 18 at 5:30pm for an exciting evening – dinner, followed by “Tales of The Tour,” “Davis Cup Highlights” and “The Story Behind The Stan Smith Adidas Shoes” from keynote speaker and Two-Time Grand Slam champion STAN SMITH.

More information

 

Ultimate Experience Doubles Pro-Am

Come play alongside the “Big Shots”. Join Sam Querrey, Xavier Malisse, Jack Sock and many other ATP World Tour players in an exciting round robin doubles format. You will play 6 rounds, and will be on court with 12 different ATP players! Sunday, February 12 at 11:30am.

More information

 

Winemakers Dinner featuring La Crema Wines

Enjoy fine hand-crafted, artisan wines from La Crema paired with a special 4 course meal. La Crema’s winemaker – Emily Grant-Douglas – and ARAMARK Executive Chef Craig Coe will host this exclusive dinner. Sign up now, as space is very limited.

More information

Follow @SAPSponsors on Twitter and SAP Sponsorships on Facebook.

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All England Club Unveils New Digital Broadcast Service – Live@Wimbledon

The All England Club, Wimbledon has announced plans for a new, expanded and enhanced live radio and video broadcast service, Live@Wimbledon.

 

The service which will be available free on www.wimbledon.com, FM frequency, and mobile applications, Live@Wimbledon will build on the existing web, mobile  and Radio Wimbledon platforms, providing live ball-by-ball commentary and live video from around the 19 Championships’ courts, as well as bringing to life every aspect of The Championships throughout the grounds.

 

Live@Wimbledon will also continue to provide uninterrupted commentary from all matches on Centre and No.1 Court in two separate streams, available on FM frequency, www.wimbledon.com, and mobile applications.

 

Mick Desmond, Commercial Director of The All England Lawn Tennis Club, said:  “Live@Wimbledon is all about giving Wimbledon fans more coverage, better coverage and all of it live.  Consolidation of our digital properties into one strong product under the Wimbledon brand allows us to provide a content- rich live experience which will include video streaming, in addition to the already highly popular Radio Wimbledon.  We think this fresh approach will appeal to our existing fans, while helping us grow our global audience as we introduce the drama of The Championships to new fans.”

 

Live@Wimbledon will be produced by IMG.

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ATP World Tour – Halle and London June 8 Results, June 9 Orders of Play

AEGON Championships
London, Great Britain

ATP World Tour 250
6-12 June, 2011     Surface: Grass

RESULTS – WEDNESDAY, 8 JUNE, 2011

Singles – Second Round
[1] R Nadal (ESP) d [Q] M Ebden (AUS) 64 64
[2] A Murray (GBR) d X Malisse (BEL) 63 57 63
[8] M Cilic (CRO) d [Q] A Clement (FRA) 64 64
[9] [WC] D Nalbandian (ARG) d [Q] I Bozoljac (SRB) 64 64
[11] T Bellucci (BRA) d M Ilhan (TUR) 62 67(3) 76(5)
[12] J del Potro (ARG) d I Kunitsyn (RUS) 64 64
[14] J Tipsarevic (SRB) d M Russell (USA) 76(3) 76(5)
[15] K Anderson (RSA) d D Young (USA) 62 64
R Stepanek (CZE) d [16] I Ljubicic (CRO) 06 75 64

Doubles – First Round
K Anderson (RSA) / J Knowle (AUT) d * F Verdasco (ESP) / S Wawrinka (SUI) 61 75
* F Verdasco (ESP) / S Wawrinka (SUI) replaced [WC] N Mahut (FRA) / J Tsonga (FRA) – Mahut (knee)
ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, 9 JUNE, 2011

CENTRE start 12:30 pm
[15] K Anderson (RSA) vs [3] A Roddick (USA)
[14] J Tipsarevic (SRB) vs [2] A Murray (GBR)
[1] R Nadal (ESP) vs R Stepanek (CZE)
[WC] J Ward (GBR) vs [13] S Querrey (USA)
[7] R Lindstedt (SWE) / H Tecau (ROU) vs M Lopez (ESP) / R Nadal (ESP)

COURT 1 start 12:30 pm
[7] F Verdasco (ESP) vs [9] [WC] D Nalbandian (ARG)
[10] M Llodra (FRA) vs [5] J Tsonga (FRA)
Not Before 3:00 PM
[12] J del Potro (ARG) vs A Mannarino (FRA) or [6] G Simon (FRA)
[8] M Cilic (CRO) vs [11] T Bellucci (BRA)
J del Potro (ARG) / R Stepanek (CZE) vs [8] M Melo (BRA) / B Soares (BRA)

COURT 2 start 12:30 pm
[6] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) vs F Polasek (SVK) / I Zelenay (SVK)
Not Before 1:00 PM
A Mannarino (FRA) vs [6] G Simon (FRA) 67(4) 64 – To Finish
X Malisse (BEL) / K Skupski (GBR) vs [5] O Marach (AUT) / M Matkowski (POL)

COURT 9 start 12:30 pm
[WC] C Fleming (GBR) / R Hutchins (GBR) vs [3] M Bhupathi (IND) / L Paes (IND)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs A Fisher (AUS) / S Huss (AUS)
S Lipsky (USA) / R Ram (USA) vs [2] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN)
[4] M Llodra (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) vs K Anderson (RSA) / J Knowle (AUT) – After suitable rest

Gerry Weber Open
Halle, Germany

ATP World Tour 250
6-12 June, 2011     Surface: Grass

 

 

RESULTS – WEDNESDAY, 8 JUNE, 2011

Singles – Second Round
[2] T Berdych (CZE) d [Q] J Hernych (CZE) 63 76(7)
[5] V Troicki (SRB) d I Andreev (RUS) 63 61
[8] M Raonic (CAN) d T Kamke (GER) 76(2) 63
P Petzschner (GER) d D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 62 64

Singles – First Round
L Hewitt (AUS) d *[LL] L Mayer (ARG) 62 63
*[LL] L Mayer (ARG) replaced [1] R Federer (SUI)

Doubles – Quarter-finals
[1] R Bopanna (IND) / A Qureshi (PAK) d D Brown (GER) / G Monfils (FRA) 46 76(5) 10-4
[WC] L Hewitt (AUS) / P Luczak (AUS) d [2] E Butorac (USA) / J Rojer (AHO) 36 75 13-11

ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, 9 JUNE, 2011

CENTER COURT start 12:00 noon
[3] G Monfils (FRA) vs I Dodig (CRO)
P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [7] A Dolgopolov (UKR)
Y Lu (TPE) vs [6] F Mayer (GER)
L Hewitt (AUS) vs A Seppi (ITA)

COURT 1 start 1:30 pm
R Haase (NED) / M Raonic (CAN) vs [WC] D Meffert (GER) / M Zverev (GER)
Not Before 4:30 PM
C Kas (GER) / P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs J Nieminen (FIN) / V Troicki (SRB) – After Suitable Rest

 

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Open GDF Suez Paris – Results and Schedule

OPEN GDF SUEZ
Paris, France
February 7-13, 2011
$618,000/Premier
Hard/Indoors

Results – Thursday, February 10, 2011
Singles – Second Round
(3) Kaia Kanepi (EST) d. Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 63 64
(4) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 64 67(6) 76(9) (saved 1mp)
(Q) Jelena Dokic (AUS) d. (5) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 64 76(4)
(6) Andrea Petkovic (GER) d. (Q) Kristina Kucova (SVK) 64 62
(7/WC) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 61 63
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d. (LL) Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro (FRA) 75 63

Doubles – Quarterfinals
(3) Mattek-Sands/Shaughnessy (USA/USA) d. Kondratieva/Lefèvre (RUS/FRA) 63 60
Cohen-Aloro/Sfar (FRA/TUN) d. Camerin/Kustova (ITA/BLR) 46 16 107 (Match TB)
(WC) Cornet/Razzano (FRA/FRA) d. Chakhnashvili/Laine (GEO/FIN) 57 61 107 (Match TB)

Order Of Play – Friday, February 11, 2011
Central (from 12.00hrs)
1. Yanina Wickmayer vs. Petra Kvitova
2. Andrea Petkovic vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (NB 15.00hrs)
3. Cornet/Razzano vs. Dushevina/Makarova
4. Kim Clijsters vs. Jelena Dokic (NB 19.30hrs)
5. Kaia Kanepi vs. Dominika Cibulkova

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Mary Carillo on the WTA Ranking System Tops the 2010 Greatest Hits Countdown



Happy New Year!

As Casey Kasem would say – topping the 2010 year end countdown is Mary Carillo. We caught her on the red carpet of the Women’s Sports Foundation Awards back in October to talk about the WTA rankings system. Not only was this the most popular post in terms of hits, but it was also the most popular podcast onthe site edging out the Nike NYC Lights on, Lights Out News Conference.

Mary Carillo Discusses WTA No. 1 Ranking on the Podcast

We end our countdown with a bit of news – with the growth of the site, Global Village Tennis News will become Tennis Panorama News as of January 1, 2011.

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One on One with James Blake on the Podcast at No. 2 on the Countdown

gvtnfila by you.
Photo from FILA’s Thomas Reynolds Collection launch August 2009 in NYC

Back on July 11 James Blake led the Boston Lobsters  to a victory over the New York Sportimes at Randalls Island in New York Ciry. After the World TeamTennis match Blake spoke to us about playing against his “hometown” team, his injury and his schedule.

One on One with James Blake After World TeamTennis match- Discusses his Injury, Schedule and Wimbledon on the GVTN Podcast

We’re celebrating 2010 with a countdown of the site’s “Greatest Hits.” In addition we mark the end of our third year as an outlet with news of our own: the site is currently undergoing a re-design and a re-launch – Global Village Tennis News is now Tennis Panorama.The rankings were determined by the number of hits between December 10, 2009 through December 10, 2010. The countdown will continue through New Year’s Day.

Global Village Tennis News is Now Tennis Panorama News

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