2013/05/24

Tennis News Net Notes for December 23, 2011

Danielle Rossingh  of  Bloomberg News reports that Sony Ericsson will not renew their sponsorship of the WTA tour when their contract expires at end of next year.

“After seven years partnering with the WTA, we have decided not to renew the partnership,” said Sony Ericsson spokeswoman Graciela Pineda said in an interview with Bloomberg. “We feel that after seven years our brand has evolved and our business as well.”

“They have been a great partner and we will miss them,” the WTA Tour said in a statement emailed to Bloomberg News. “We look forward to the next phase of growth with our existing and future partners.”

 

Maria Sharapova has pulled out of Brisbane with an ankle injury. She expects to be ready to play theAustralian Open.  “I do expect to be ready for the year’s first Grand Slam and I am really looking forward to competing on court,” said Sharapova.

 

 

Swedish player Lucas Renard has been suspended for six months and fined $5000 dollars for breaching an article of the anti-corruption program that says: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event,” the unit said in a statement to media.

Renard ranked 882nd in the world admitted to the offense. Four of six months of ban will be suspended.

 

 

Evonne Goolagong Cawley has been honored with the women’s singles trophy at the Brisbane International being named after her.

Goolagong Cawley said: “I have won a few trophies in my time but I have never had a major event name their trophy after me.”

The Brisbane International tournament begins January 1st .

 

 

French players Jeremy Chardy and Aravane Rezai have been awarded wildcards into the Australian Open under a reciprocal agreement between the two tennis federations.

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Tennis News Net Notes for December 7, 2011

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic ended the 2011 season with a record $12.6 million in prize money. His year moves him into fourth place on the career prize money list withjust ahead of Andre Agassi $32.9 million.

 

The previous record for prize money won in a year was shared by both Roger Federer (2007) and Rafael Nadal at $10.1 million.

 

The Swiss Tennis Federation announced on Wednesday that Roger Federer has committed to play the first round of Davis Cup against the United States. The tie will take place in Fribourg, Switzerland February 10-12, 2012 at the Firbourg Forum on an indoor clay court.

 

 

Former No. 1 Marat Safin was elected into the Russian Federal Parliament, the Duma. As a member of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, has beenvoted into the Duma’s lower house as a representative for the Nyzhny Novgorod region.

“I’m in completely new shoes,“ Safin told the ATP Champions tour. “This is a completely new life, a new way of thinking, new way of doing things that’s nothing to do with tennis or sports at all. But the two things definitely have one thing in common and that is that you need to have a character. You have to be strong and you have to know where you’re going, what you want to do, and you have to be able to make sacrifices.”

 

The Davis Cup’s twitter account announced that Belgium’s Xavier Malisse has retired from Davis Cup competition. The 31-year-old said that it’s time for young players to take over.

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Tennis News Net Notes for December 6, 2011

 

In the News:

ESPN Deportes reports that Tito Vasquez, the Argentine Davis Cup Captain will not be back as his contract will not be renewed by Argentina’s tennis federation.

 

A report on affaritaliani.libero.it says that the mother of Flavia Penetta has been sentenced to a year in jail for involuntary manslaughter for the death of a worker on the family’s farm due to a fuel explosion. Italian press say that Concetta Pennetta will appeal the verdict.

Andy Roddick will co-host a weekend show for FOX Sports Radio with syndicated morning radio host Bobby Bones. The Saturday afternoon program will feature a mix of sports, pop culture and entertainment, in addition to interviews. The broadcast will originate fromfrom Austin, Texas. The show is slated to begin on January 7, 2012 and will air from 1 – 4 p.m. ET/10 a.m. – 1 p.m. PT across the network in markets including Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Phoenix.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the FOX Sports Radio lineup,“ said Roddick. Hosting a radio program is something I’ve always wanted to do, and to have this opportunity with my close friend Bobby is truly amazing. We can’t wait to get started!”

Emilio Sanchez  was honored with Davis Cup Award of Excellence during this past weekend’s  Davis Cup final in Seveille, Spain.

“Emilio Sanchez was a great contributor to the Davis Cup for nearly two decades, as a player, captain, and dedicated supporter of the event,” said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. “In recognition of his achievements and in appreciation for his contributions to the sport and to Davis Cup, we are proud to present him with the Davis Cup Award of Excellence.”

 

Sanchez competed in Davis Cup for his nation 12 times between 1984 and 1996, compiling a 32-23 record. In 2005, he took on the role of captain, and in 2008, he led the Spanish team to the Davis Cup title, defeating Argentina. In addition to his Davis Cup involvement, Sanchez was part of the Spanish teams that won the Hopman Cup in 1990 and the World Team Cup in 1992. With Sergio Casal, he won the men’s doubles silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games.

 

 

British newspapers report that the mother of World No.4 Andy Murray, Judy Murray is being considered by the Lawn Tennis Association for Great Britain’s new Fed Cup captain.

 

Tournaments

 

Venus Williams is scheduled  to compete in 2012 BMW Malaysian Open

 

Caroline Wozniacki has committed to play the Sydney International event.

The Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis announced,  that 2011 Champion Andy Roddick has entered the tournament. The field will also include Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils, Marin Cilic, Sam Querrey, James Blake, John Isner, Lleyton Hewitt and Jack Sock.

 

The tournament also announced the order of play for evening sessions from Monday, February 20 – Wednesday, February 22:

 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 – 7 P.M.

John McEnroe Doubles Exhibition followed by Nadia Petrova (1st Round Singles)

 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 – 7 P.M.

Gael Monfils (1st Round Singles) followed by another Featured Men’s 1st Round Singles Match

 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 – 7 P.M.

Andy Roddick (1st Round Singles) followed by Milos Raonic (1st Round Singles)

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Net Notes for May 18, 2011

In the News:

Roger Federer from Forbes.com

Forbes Magazine’s list of the top 100 celebrities was revealed on Wednesday and five of the spots feature tennis. At #25 – Roger Federer, #46 – Rafael Nadal, #80 Maria Sharapova, #84 Serena Williams and #86 Venus Williams.

 

Mary Joe Fernandez -Photo courtesy of ESPN

ESPN held their French Open media conference call with Mary Joe Fernandez and Cliff Drysdale. “On The Call” with ESPN Tennis Analysts Mary Joe Fernandez and Cliff Drysdale

 

“On The Call” with Mary Carillo Carillo spoke with tennis media about the upcoming French Open and her new position at Tennis Channel.

 

The USTA will be holding their US Open casting call for children to audition to sing the national anthem on June 21  at New York City’s Apollo Theater

 

French newspaper L’Equipe reports that Novak Djokovic and Lleyton Hewitt have bowed out of Thursday’s Guinot-Mary Cohr exhibition in Paris. The exhibition will now pit Andy Murray against Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga plays Nicolas Mahut.

Upset of the day in Brussels -  Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) defeated (4) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 36 63 63.

 

WTA Strasbourg Results and Order of Play
ATP World Tour World Team Cup Results and Order of Play
WTA Brussels Open Results and Order of Play
ATP World Tour Open de Nice Côte d’Azur Results and Order of Play

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Net Notes for February 24, 2011

In the News:

  • In an interview with Belgian TV Justine Henin admitted that she lied in the now infamous “hand” incident in the 2003 semifinal of the French Open against Serena Williams where Henin raised her hand to signal she was not ready to receive Williams’ serve. Williams netted the serve and thought she would be allowed to replay the point but the umpire did not see that Henin had raised her hand and Henin did not admit that she did.

“I think she saw it and she was disturbed by that,” she said. “There is a lot of tension, actions are a bit by instinct. So it’s true that it is not the best memory. If I had been convinced that she had seen it, had been bothered by it, I might have reacted. But you react on instinct. At the same time what happened was magic. I don’t know if that changed the match. I hope I’m not saying that in bad faith.

“Maybe it was a way to give me respect, because you know that Williams have an attitude, sometimes difficult. They play with a lot of intimidation. know that the Williams had attitudes that were sometimes difficult. Today, it doesn’t scare me any more. When they walked on the court, the other one was already there at her side. It was a big moment in my career, in the history of Roland Garros, too.
That [weak] handshake, the start of a long story between us, but I think we kept mutual respect. Not one of the warmest moments in the history of tennis, but still remains a great memory.” (Translation from Tennis.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Spain’s Nicolas Almagro is on a 12 match winning streak on clay. He’s playing in Acapulco this week and is two matches away from winning his third consecutive ATP World Tour title.
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