2013/05/26

Kuznetsova Quietly Breezes Through Australian Open Draw

Cicma nd Kuznetsova Tennis Panroama News BNPBK

By Jaclyn Stacey

 

(January 17, 2013) Svetlana Kuznetsova needed only 52 minutes to dispose of twenty-sixth seed Hsieh Su-Wei and progress through to a third round meeting with Spaniard Carla Suarez-Navarro on Saturday.

 

The two time Grand Slam champion missed much of the second half of the 2012 season due to a knee injury and fell outside of the top 50 for the first time in 11 years, ending her season ranked number 72.

 

Kuznetsova spoke of her renewed passion for the game in Sydney last week where she qualified for the main draw and produced an upset win over Caroline Wozniacki before losing in the quarterfinals to Angelique Kerber. She has managed to remain committed to the game while the majority of her Russian contemporaries have retired, including 2004 Roland Garros champion Anastasia Myskina, Beijing gold medallist Elena Dementieva and former world number one Dinara Safina.

 

Kuznetsova raced to a 4-0 lead in the first set and allowed her opponent only two games before closing it out the set in 23 minutes. Hsieh broke Kuznetsova in the first game of the second set and it would prove to be the only game she would win, her opponent winning the next six games and the match 6-2 6-1.

 

Kuznetsova was pleased with her performance after the match saying “It was good. I thought it was not going to be an easy match because she’s a tough opponent, she’s unpredictable. So I was trying to stay focussed and do what I could.”

 

The heat was not an issue for Kuznetsova, and said playing in the Sydney heat wave last week was handy preparation. “It was 52 minutes so I’m happy to be out there before an hour. But it was alright, I had a good practice last week as well.”

 

On her third round match up against Suarez-Navarro she says “It’s going to be a tough match. Carla is never easy, she’s a very stable opponent but I did practice with her back in Spain so more or less I know how to play.”

 

Jaclyn Stacey is a Melbourne based freelance journalist covering the Australian Open tournament as media for Tennis Panorama News.  Follow her Australian Open updates on @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal twitter @JackattackAU.

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Wozniacki, Kirilenko and Robson “Reflecting” on Their Form Ahead of Australian Open – on a Mirrored Court

By Melinda Samson

(January 13, 2013) MELBOURNE, Australia – On Sunday adidas launched the first “adidas by Stella McCartney” barricade collection of tennis apparelto be worn by tennis players Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Kirilenko and Laura Robson.

The players featured their new outfits on a court of a different kind. Instead of the grass, clay or the hardcourt surfaces they are used to playing on, the collection was unveiled in the world’s first mirror court. The court offered a living kaleidoscope of moving reflections, and allowed the new collection to be showcased from the front, back and sides, all at the same time.

 

Inspired by the ready to wear collection, the range plays on Stella McCartney’s use of feminine lines that flatter and enhance the female form on court.

 

The tennis players will wear the range during 2013 Grand Slams, showcasing its leading design qualities, standout aesthetic and performance functionality.

 

“I always play better when I feel good, that is very important to me,” says Caroline Wozniaki.

 

“The new adidas by Stella McCartney barricade range makes me feel secure and comfortable on court. The bright color blocking and advanced technology presented in each item I’m wearing gives me the confidence to focus solely on my own performance on court,” said Wozniacki.

 

To see the new range on court at the Australian Open, watch first round matches between Caroline Wozniaki and Sabine Lisicki, Maria Kirilenko against Vania King and Laura Robson versus Melanie Oudin.

 

Melinda Samson lives in Melbourne and runs the site Grand Slam Gal. Follow her on twitter @Grandslamgal.

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Azarenka is Ready for Melbourne, Looking Forward to Madison Square Garden

Victoria Azarenka serving china Open

( January 10, 2013) MELBOURNE/NEW YORK -  Prior to her participation in the Australian Open draw in Melbourne on Friday morning, No. 1 Victoria Azarenka took time out for an international conference call to promote taking part in the BNP Paribas Showdown on March 4, 2013 in Madison Square Garden where she’ll take on Serena Williams.

Azarenka who pulled out of the Brisbane International last week due to a big toe injury says she ready to go in Melbourne: “I’m feeling really good. If you’re asking about my foot, it’s feeling much better … the last couple of days. The scary part is in the past as it happened in Brisbane. I’m really glad … I can practice full time right now.”

This will be the sixth annual BNP Paribas Showdown as part of Tennis Night in America on World Tennis Day. In the opening match, Victoria Azarenka will take on Serena Williams followed by Rafael Nadal’s return to action in the US after an injury layoff as he plays Juan Martin del Potro.

For Azarenka this will be her first time playing in “the world’s most famous arena. ” I’m very excited and once I heard about this opportunity I said yes right away, Said Azarenka. “It’s something really magical to be a part of this event and play at such an amazing facility.”

Coming into the Australian Open as the defending champion and into the 2013 season in general, is she under the pressure of expectation?

“My approach to this year is the same as every year,” said Azarenka.  “I try to do my best; you set up priorities and goals for the tournaments. I don’t really want to defend anything I’m here to try and win another title. That’s how I look at it…and at the end of the year try and get to the championships because that is the point we all know that you we are being pretty consistent throughout the whole year. My main focus and attention will be on the Grand Slams.”

“The season has started already and the Grand Slam season starts here right now. I think women’s tennis is great, competitive atmosphere right now… There are a lot of girls who can show some great tennis. For me personally, I’m very excited to be a part of this competition. As for who I have my eyes on, I’m not sure. I’ll have my eyes on the ball (laughs) and on me. The top ten and the rest of the players are the ones to watch for. I’ll be looking forward to whoever I play.

The most I’m looking forward to is having a great match and I hope the crowd enjoys it and I can’t wait to be a part of this match, Azarenka said about he future BNP Paribas Showdown match versus Serena Williams. “I visited Madison Square Garden during the US Open and it was under construction and I was absolutely amazed. As a kid you watch all those events coming up – concerts and the games and you dream about it. I have it locked in my mind and for me to actually be there will be an honor.”

The BNP Paribas Showdown is part of Tennis Night in America and the inaugural World Tennis Day.  More information about World Tennis Day events and the BNP Paribas Showdown matches in New York and Hong Kong can be found online at www.WorldTennisDay.com. The Hong Kong event will feature John McEnroe against Ivan Lendl and Caroline Wozniacki against Li Na.

Karen Pestaina for Tennis Panorama News

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Kourtin’ Karen’s Tennis News Week in Review

 

(January 7, 2013) NEW YORK, NY –  Kourtin’ Karen’s brief review of the previous week in the world of tennis, on and off-court.

0-15

British Player Hutchins Has Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

15-15
Murray Dedicates win to Hutchins

 

15- 30

Walking wounded?

Maria Sharapova withdrew from Brisbane nursing a right collarbone injury

John Isner withdrew from Hopman Cup with a knee injury.

Andrea Petkovic underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her right knee the result of an injury in her first Hopman Cup match.

 

30-30

Gangnam Style

40-30

Swear I don’t swear

Andy Murray commented that he did not promise not to swear:

 

“I was doing an interview over the phone. I got asked about swearing on the court. I said ‘obviously I don’t mean to do it. I don’t want to do it. Sometimes you get frustrated and you do and obviously I will try to stop.’

“I didn’t make any promises or guarantees that I was going to.

“Then it came out that I’ve said this year I will stop swearing. What I also said was that a lot of players swear on the court and a lot of people say a lot worse things than me – in other languages. It doesn’t get picked up the same.

“So where I would obviously love to stop doing it, I try not to. But I can’t guarantee it.”

40-40

I’m relly boring now

 

Advantage

iPhone

Serena and Venus Williams in an iPhone commercial
Ad -out

Beware of Pedicures

No.  1 Victoria Azarenka blamed “a bad pedicure experience” forced her to pull out before her semifinal match in Brisbane against Serena Williams. Thirty minutes before the match Azarenka said she had undergone a small procedure to correct an ingrown toenail of her right big toe.

 

Deuce

Walking with “Sunshine”

Caro-Rory-Tower8-640x426

Caroline Wozniacki and boyfriend golfer Rory McIlroy took to Sydney’s Skywalk

 

Advantage Time?

The ATP is cracking down on the time taken by players between points this year. Players including Andy Murray  say they agree with the concept but 25 seconds between points is not enough.

 

Deuce

On the market, back off the market?

Recently, ESPN’s Darren Rovell “confirmed” that 25 year-old Maria Sharapova is indeed dating 21-year-old Bulgarian player Grigor Dimitrov dubbed “Baby Fed” for his similar playing style to Roger Federer. At the end of last year tennis journalist Colette Lewis reported this on her twitter account. Sharapova had  split up with her fiancé to basketball player Sasha Vujacic back in the spring.

 

Advantage

Australain Open Wildcards

Men Women
Wu Di (CHN) Asia Pacific Wildcard Play-off Yuxuan Zhang (CHN) Asia Pacific WildcardPlay-off
Benjamin Mitchell AO Play-off winner Bojana Bobusic AO Play-off winner
Rhyne Williams US Open Reciprocal Madison Keyes US Open Reciprocal
Josselin Ouanna French Open Reciprocal Caroline Garcia French Open Reciprocal
Luke Saville Discretionary Olivia Rogowska Discretionary

 

Deuce

Court Coverage

During a a match versus Dustin Brown in Doha, top seed David Ferrer made a hole in the court. Play had to be stopped to fix the court.

 

Advantage

Tennis Queen becomes bowling queen

Billie Jean King now the celebrity owner o of the New York City WTT KingPins, joining Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and former NFL stars Jerome Bettis and Terrell Owens as celebrity owners in the Professional Bowlers Association’s inaugural PBA League.

 

Game, Set, Match and Champions

Serena Williams captures her 47th WTA title by defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-1 to win the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia.

Andy Murray defeated Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(0), 6-4 to win the Brisbane International for his 25th ATP World Tour title.

Richard Gasquet rallied from a set and a break down to beat Nikolay Davydenko 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 to win the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha.

Li Na beat Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 to win the inaugural Shenzhen Longgang Gemdale Open in Shenzhen, China.

Janko Tipsarevic over surprise finalist Roberto Bautista-Agut 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 to win the Aircel Chennai Open in Chennai, India, his 4th career title.

Agnieszka Radwanska over Yanina Wickmayer 6-4, 6-4 to win the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand

Spain upsets Serbia 2-1 to win the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia.

 

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Wozniacki Sails, Kvitova Upset in Sydney

Caroline Wozniacki China Open

(January 6, 2013) Former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki wasted no time in a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Urszula Radwanska to advance to the second round of the Apia International Sydney.

 

World No.8 Petra Kvitova was not so lucky continuing her recent woes with another early defeat, to the tough world No.15 Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 6-1. The diminutive Slovak handed Kvitova her second straight loss and will face Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the second round after Makarova beat American Varvara Lepchenko 6-4, 4-6 ,6-1 in a tough three-set battle.

 

Russian world No.14 Maria Kirilenko ended the hopes of Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska 7-5, 6-2 in an impressive display by the Aussie in hot conditions on Ken Rosewall Arena.

 

Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has made it through a tough qualifying draw and will meet world No.18 Julia Goerges in a hard-hitting first-round encounter.

APIA INTERNATIONAL SYDNEY
Sydney, Australia
January 6-11, 2013
Hard/Outdoors

Results – Sunday, January 6, 2013
WTA Singles – First Round
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. (5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) 61 61
(7) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 61 62
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. (WC) Olivia Rogowska (AUS) 75 62
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d. Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 64 46 61

WTA Doubles – First Round
(1) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. Grandin/Uhlirova (RSA/CZE) 62 61
Jurak/Marosi (CRO/HUN) d. (WC) Myers/Sanders (AUS/AUS) 26 64 104 (Match TB)

WTA Singles Qualifying – Final Round
Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) d. (2) Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 76(5) 76(4)
Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) d. (4) Anna Tatishvili (GEO) 63 60
Ayumi Morita (JPN) d. (8) Marina Erakovic (NZL) 63 60
(11) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Jana Cepelova (SVK) 57 60 62
Karolina Pliskova (CZE) d. Estrella Cabeza Candela (ESP) 76(3) 62
Madison Keys (USA) d. Misaki Doi (JPN) 63 64

Order Of Play – Monday, January 7, 2013
Ken Rosewall Arena (from 11.00hrs)
1. Roberta Vinci vs. Nadia Petrova
2. Li Na vs. Christina McHale
3. ATP: Granollers vs. Ebden
4. Zheng Jie vs. Samantha Stosur (NB 17.00hrs)

Grandstand (from 11.00hrs)
1. ATP: Istomin vs. Duckworth
2. Karolina Pliskova vs. Sara Errani
3. Casey Dellacqua vs. Kimiko Date-Krumm
4. ATP: Benneteau vs. Andújar

Court 4 (from 12.00hrs)
1. Lucie Safarova vs. Madison Keys
2. Kirilenko/Raymond vs. Erakovic/Makarova
3. Cibulkova/Safarova vs. Huber/Mirza (after suitable rest)

Court 5 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Kops-Jones/Spears vs. Hlavackova/Hradecka
2. Ayumi Morita vs. Daniela Hantuchova
3. ATP: Duckworth/Guccione vs. Chardy/Kubot (after suitable rest)
4. Goerges/Hantuchova vs. Petrova/Srebotnik (after suitable rest)

Court 6 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Tamira Paszek vs. Jelena Jankovic
2. Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Julia Goerges
3. ATP: Mayer vs. Sousa
4. Chan/Rosolska vs. Panova/Voskoboeva

Court 8 (from 12.00hrs)
1. Galina Voskoboeva vs. Yanina Wickmayer

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Kourtin’ Karen’s Tennis Week in Review

(January 2, 2013) NEW YORK, NY – After a hiatus longer than Rafael Nadal’s current one from the tour, Kourtin’ Karen is back with her weekly scoreboards. A brief review of the previous week in the world of tennis news, on and off-court.

 

xu0a8cwx8cpdrNadalfotoglifTennisPanorama

0-15

Rafael Nadal withdraws from Australian Open

Eleven- time major champion and current world No. 4 Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to a continuing stomach virus.

The ailment caused Nadal to withdraw from this week’s World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Rafael Nadal has been off the tour with a knee injury since his second round loss at Wimbledon in June.

Andrea Perkovic  may join Nadal  on the Australian Open sidelines as the German suffered a meniscus tear of her right knee during her Hopman Cup match.

 

Maria Sharapova pulled out of Brisbane with a right collarbone injury.

 

Murray at Olympics

15-15

“Sir” Murray

Andy Murray has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Murray said in a statement on his website:

“It is with incredible pride that I have been named in the New Year’s Honours List to receive an OBE from Her Majesty the Queen for services to sport.

‘This has been an amazing year for British sport and I am proud to have been able to play my part.

“I reached my first Wimbledon final, competed and won gold at the London 2012 Olympics with Team GB at Wimbledon, and then won my first grand slam title at the US Open.

“Being recognised in such a way at the end of such a great season is the finishing touch on 2012. Thank you all for your support, I hope everyone has a very happy New Year…..and here’s to 2013!”

 

15-30

Ring-gate

In Brisbane Caroline Wozniacki was spotted with a large ring on her on her left ring finger.  Her boyfriend, golfer Rory McIlroy had to deny there was an engagement and his management company issued the following statement:

“On behalf of Rory McIlroy, I would like to confirm that he has NOT become engaged to Caroline Wozniacki as was originally reported in Australian press. Rory is in Australia to support Caroline before he heads in January to Abu Dhabi.”

The ring which was a Christmas gift was…just a gift.

”It’s not an engagement ring,” Wozniacki said.  ”Those rumors once again I’ll have to shut down and say we’re not engaged … not yet anyway.”

 

OvechkinKirilenko

30-30

Love is in the air

Washington Capitals hockey player, two-time NHL MVP and boyfriend of Maria Kirilenko, Alex Ovechkin announced the couple’s engagement via his twitter account.

Hew tweeted ”We are engaged !!!!!!! )))))))))”

 

30-40

Beware the barricades

 

 

Novak Djokovic has a scare at Hopman Cup on Monday. A crowd barrier collapsed while he was signing autographs for fans following his singles win over Andreas Seppi.  The barrier hit the Serb’s legs but he said he was fine.

 

Deuce

Hello, Goodbye IMG

Novak Djokovic signed with IMG while Rafael Nadal is leaving IMG to begin his own management company.

Also on the business front:

ATP Unveils New Global Promotional Campaign As 2013 ATP World Tour Gets Underway

USA TODAY’s Jon Swartz reports Nadal has a new iPhone app called Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy . Look for it one iTunes.

Emirates Named Official Airline of the ATP World Tour and Rankings Sponsor

 

Ad – Out of Davis Cup

Juan Martin Del Potro is skipping Davis cup at least in February for Argentina

Spain’s David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro told Sport360 that they may not play the February tie against Canada.

 

Deuce

No donkey cheese

Novak Djokovic has not cornered the market on donkey cheese as had been reported by British newspapers.

“I did not expect this story was going to get so much attention, and everywhere in the world, too. It is not completely true that we have bought the whole supply of donkey cheese, even though it was the first time in my life I heard that donkey cheese existed.”

 

Advantage

Working in a coal mine

Retired Pros Marcelo Rios and Guillermo Coria will play an exhibition match inside El Teniente, the world’s largest copper mine.

Djokovic1228abudhabi

Speaking of exhibitions, Djokovic captured the World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi this past weekend.

 

Game, Set, Match – Welcome to the 2013 tennis year!

Tournaments and events this week in Auckland, Brisbane, Chennai, Doha, Perth and Shenzhen.

(Karen Pestaina is the woman behind Tennis Panorama News. She freelances for various media outlets in and out of tennis and has worked for many a broadcast news entity. She witnessed her first live tennis match as a young child at Forest Hills when Guillermo Vilas upset Jimmy Connors to win the 1977 US Open. This branded her as a Vilas fan for life. Follow her on twitter @TennisNewsTPN )

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Third Season of “World of Tennis” to Debut on Tennis Channel December 5

(November 29, 2012) NEW YORK, N.Y. – StarGames and MSG Sports have announced that the third season of “World of Tennis Presented by BNP Paribas” will debut next week. The first of seven episodes of the bi-weekly series will premiere on Tennis Channel at 7:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 5.

The 30-minute show will feature “Holding Court,” a profile segment hosted by Justin Gimelstob that this year will include interviews with tennis legends Jimmy Connors and Boris Becker as well as Olympic gold medal skier and tennis fan Lindsay Vonn. In the first two years of the show, Gimelstob’s guests included Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick and “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson.

The hot topics of tennis will also be covered on each episode during a round table discussion with Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Jon Wertheim and the editorial staff at Tennis.com.

Tennis Channel will debut a new episode of the magazine show every other Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST, until February 27. Each show will then re-air on Tennis Channel.

“We’re happy to have the new season of World of Tennis back on Tennis Channel again,” said David Scott, vice president, programming, Tennis Channel. “Since its inception the series has allowed our viewers to get an insider’s look at some of the most exciting players and pressing issues in the sport today.”

The season finale on February 27 will be a preview of World Tennis Day, which includes BNP Paribas Showdown events in New York City and Hong Kong on March 4. The sixth annual event in New York at Madison Square Garden is part of Tennis Night in America (TNIA) and will feature Victoria Azarenka, Serena Williams, Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal. TNIA is an annual celebration of the sport in the United States which encourages 10-and-under tennis.

The BNP Paribas Showdown at AsiaWorld-Arena will mark the event’s first year in Hong Kong and will feature Li Na, Caroline Wozniacki, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe.

“There is a lot of tennis on television, but I think ‘World of Tennis’ separates itself as a unique look at the personalities and stories in the game,” said Jerry Solomon, executive producer and president of StarGames. “It is only possible to present this show with the help of our partners at MSG and BNP Paribas. Collectively, we want to present tennis to the widest possible audience, and this show is a chance to not only showcase tennis but also to give fans a real inside look at the stories and personalities that make the game so compelling.”

Long-time tennis producer Jennie Silverstein will produce “World of Tennis Presented by BNP Paribas” for StarGames and MSG Sports. BNP Paribas, a leader in banking and financial services and the world No. 1 tennis partner, will be presenting sponsor, with additional support being provided by Tennis Magazine, Wilson, Getty Images, USTA, Tennis Night in America and the BNP Paribas Showdown.

Video highlights and uncut versions of the interviews from “World of Tennis Presented by BNP Paribas” are found on www.stargamesinc.com.

More information on the BNP Paribas Showdown events in New York and Hong Kong can be found on www.worldtennisday.com.

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Tennis News Net Notes for November 26, 2012

(November 26, 2012) – A brief look at recent tennis news.

  • Both Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy had to deny engagement rumors on Monday.  Serena Williams’ hitting partner Sascha Bajin tweeted congratulations on the couple’s engagement which were not true.

See twitter conversation below:

Wow! Just heard that @CaroWozniacki got engaged… Congratulations. Show us the ring. When is the big day planned for?

 

Can’t believe you started rumors like that! @BigSascha .. Not engaged yet, but you’ll be the first to know if we do!;) hehe

 

  •  Robin Soderling tells ESPN’s Ravi Ubha that he hopes to return to the tour and that he hasn’t given up yet.

“I don’t want my career to be finished yet,” he said. “I feel I have at least five more years in me. But I still have a lot of things to be thankful for. The [mono] could have happened when I was 18 or 20. I was 27. Up to now, I’ve had a good career.”

 

  • According to Gossip Extra Jennifer Capriati says that she has not been stalking her ex-boyfriend, former Florida State golfer Ivan Brannan.

Brannan allegedly filed 10 police complaints against Capriati tin 2012

“He’s a real bad person, very dishonest,” Capriati said to Gossip Extra. “One day I’m his girlfriend, the next we’re engaged and then it’s like I never existed. It took him eight months of our relationship to admit to me he had a child. Imagine that… I was just trying to talk to him because he wasn’t returning my calls. There’s no way police should’ve been called. I can’t believe I even have to discuss this! People like me are always the targets of men like him.”

 

  • Nathalie Tauziat will be asked to resign from the French tennis federation’s management committee after she testified in favor of former coach Regis de Camaret who was sentenced to eight years in prison for raping young female players.

 

 

  •  Carsten Arriens was named  Germany’s Davis Cup captain after Patrik Kuehnen quit late last month.

 

  • LSU’s former women’s tennis coach for 20 years Tony Minnis, has filed a  racial discrimination lawsuit in regard to his recent firing reports  NOLA.com.

Minnis claims that white coaches’ annual  compensation was up to more than $30,000 than him. In addition,  he lists unjust evaluations, false letters of reprimand, unfound write-ups and race-based discrimination in the workplace in the lawsuit.

“I was accused of some really petty things,” Minnis said in a phone interview with NOLA.com Wednesday evening. In one instance, Minnis describes where he was accused of violating NCAA policy when he was used department funds to purchase meals for kids in the tennis program, which had previously not been a violation, Minnis said.

  • Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov announced on his website that he has left the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy and is now with Good to Great Tennis Academy in Sweden, which is run by former pros including Magnus Norman and Nicklas Kulti.

 

 

  • The inaugural Miami Tennis Cup will take place November 30th through December 2nd, 2012 at Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Florida.

The event will feature appearances by US Open Champion and British Olympic Gold Medalist, Andy Murray, French Open Champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, 203 US Open Champion Andy Roddick, John Isner, Nicolás Almagro, and  Alejandro Falla.

The tournament will see all six players competing in a double-elimination tournament format within two round robin groups. Each match will be the best of three sets. The number one seed (Andy Murray) and number two seed (Andy Roddick) will receive an automatic bye in to the semi-final. The remaining four players will be drawn against each other for a place in the semi-final, with the initial matches starting on stadium court at 7:00pm on Friday, November 30th.

A look at Novak Djokovic’s new HEAD racquet ad.

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Li Na, Wozniacki Featured as Hong Kong Plays Host BNP Paribas Showdown on World Tennis Day

(November 21, 2012) HONG KONG – Li Na, Asia’s first Grand Slam champion, will take on two-time year-end world No. 1 and Grand Slam finalist Caroline Wozniacki while eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl will renew his rivalry with John McEnroe, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, during the BNP Paribas Showdown on March 4 at the AsiaWorld-Arena in Hong Kong.

The BNP Paribas Showdown will be produced by StarGames, Inc., in conjunction with the Hong Kong Tennis Association. It marks the first time the AsiaWorld-Arena has played host to such an international tennis event.

“Once more, BNP Paribas is proud to bring the best of tennis to Asia by supporting this outstanding sporting event, as it does with the same acclaimed tennis event in New York. We are excited to share our passion and enthusiasm for tennis with the fans in Hong Kong” said Paul Yang, Chief Executive Officer for BNP Paribas Hong Kong. “The BNP Paribas Showdown gives the bank a perfect opportunity to accelerate the growing awareness of our brand in Asia and it reaffirms our commitment and loyalty to this region and to this sport”.

The matches will take place the same night as an event with the same name is held at Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of the first annual “World Tennis Day.” Serena Williams will play Victoria Azarenka in the first match in New York, followed by Rafael Nadal against Juan Martin del Potro.

“With five successful years of the BNP Paribas Showdown in New York, the time is right to expand this to a global event with the World Tennis Day platform,” said Jerry Solomon, executive producer and president of StarGames. “The popularity of tennis in Asia made it natural for us to pursue an event in this region. Hong Kong is proving to be a fantastic partner, and BNP Paribas, as the world’s biggest sponsor of tennis, is the perfect title sponsor.

“I am excited to see this group of four players who will put on a great show. Lendl, McEnroe and Wozniacki have each played for us at the BNP Paribas Showdown in New York in front of crowds of over 17,000 at Madison Square Garden and we now welcome Li Na to the group for the first time. The AsiaWorld-Arena will be the place to be on March 4.”

Li finished 2012 ranked No. 7 on the WTA Tour. The 30-year-old from China owns six career titles, highlighted by her historic victory at the 2011 French Open. She reached the final at four WTA Premier events in 2012, winning the title in Cincinnati.

“For me it is always exciting to play in Asia,” said Li. “I hope to have the crowd support in this match. It will be a great night for tennis, and hopefully it gets more people playing the game.”

Wozniacki is second among active players for weeks ranked No. 1 with 67, including year-end finishes as No. 1 in 2010 and 2011. She finished 2012 ranked No. 10, her fourth straight Top 10 season. The 22-year-old from Denmark is fourth among active players with 20 career titles, including 2012 wins in Seoul and Moscow.

“It’s great to have the chance to play in Hong Kong again,” said Wozniacki. “It’s also exciting to be part of the first World Tennis Day. I hope it’s successful in getting more kids playing around the world.”

Li has a 3-2 head-to-head edge in their series, though Wozniacki won their only 2012 meeting, which came in Tokyo in October. In 2011, Wozniacki was a straight set winner over Li in the Hong Kong Tennis Classic. They will play a best-of-three set match at the BNP Paribas Showdown.

Lendl won 94 titles in his career and was the No. 1 ranked ATP player for 270 weeks. He reached the final at 19 Grand Slam tournaments in his career, winning a total of eight titles. He had 13 Top 10 seasons. At the ATP tournament in Hong Kong, Lendl won the title in 1980. He then won consecutive Marlboro Championship titles from 1990-92.

“I have always enjoyed playing in Hong Kong. It is a place with a lot of good memories including one of my first ever wins on the pro tour. I will look forward to playing John in the BNP Paribas Showdown which has been a great event in New York and I am sure will be just as popular in Hong Kong.”

McEnroe, who played in the 2011 Hong Kong Tennis Classic, spent 170 weeks ranked No. 1 while winning 77 career singles titles. He reached the final at 11 Grand Slam tournaments, winning seven titles. In his career, he had 10 seasons with Top 10 finishes.

“I’m happy be a part of an event like World Tennis Day that gets juniors playing our sport,” McEnroe said. “The Tennis 10s programmes with 10-and-under rules that are now in place make it easier than ever for kids to participate.”

Lendl and McEnroe played 36 times over 12 years on the ATP circuit, with Lendl holding a 21-15 advantage in the series. Both Lendl and McEnroe have been enshrined at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. They will play an eight-game pro-set at the BNP Paribas Showdown.

World Tennis Day is held in conjunction with the International Tennis Federation to promote Tennis10s, which tailors the game to its youngest players with smaller racquets, lighter balls and modified scoring. The cornerstones of World Tennis Day are grassroots opportunities for young players to participate in the sport at the local level. The day is highlighted by the BNP Paribas Showdown events in New York and Hong Kong.

“World Tennis Day and the BNP Paribas Showdown will bring more attention to Tennis Play and Stay and Tennis10s, two programmes with proven success in growing participation,” said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. “World Tennis Day will give the ITF and our member nations an opportunity to showcase their efforts to grow tennis, while fans can also enjoy some of the game’s brightest stars playing in events like the BNP Paribas Showdown.”

The BNP Paribas Showdown in Hong Kong will be broadcast internationally. Details of the telecasts will be announced at a later date.

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Wozniacki and Seppi Claim Moscow Titles

(October 20, 2012) Caroline Wozniacki won her 20th career title Sunday, while Andreas Seppi won his third in Moscow on Sunday.

No. 11 Wozniacki defeated Samantha Stosur 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 while Seppi  rallied past Thomaz Bellucci 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3  for the Kremlin Cup.

“I think both of us played very good tennis out there,” Wozniacki said after coming back from a break down in the final set.

“At the right times I managed to win the right points. I tried to stay aggressive and stay close to the line and just dictate. But she played well and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”

“Sam has been playing well and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and it could have gone either way at the end, but I think at the right times I played the right shots. There were a lot of key moments, but they just went my way.”

“Even though I lost, making a final is still a good achievement, “Stosur said.” It’s disappointing not to walk away with a title this year, having done so the last couple of years, but I made it to two finals and had a lot of other good opportunities, so it’s still a good year, and I’ll use it to motivate myself in 2013.”

Seppi came back to win down a set and a break against the hard-serving Bellucci, despite the Brazilian hitting 13 aces against the Italian.

“It was tough today to come back from a set and a break down, said Seppi. “He was serving very well at the beginning. I kept trying and that put some pressure on him. He could not close it out when he served for the match twice and that gave me confidence. I started to play more relaxed and more aggressive.”

Bellucci served for the match twice in the second set at 5-4 and 6-5 but failed to close the match.

“I just did not play at the same level as I was before when I served for the match,” Bellucci. “Maybe I got too nervous. It was still a good effort from me this week, my first indoor final. It was a good match and he played well.”

“It is very special to win this title as I remember Yevgeny (Kafelnikov) winning so many times here and he was my idol growing up, Said Seppi.”I saw him a few times this week but I was too shy to ask him anything. It has been a great season for me. Winning titles is so special. Now I have won on all surfaces and that means a lot.”

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