2013/05/26

Djokovic, Sampras, Fish and the Bryan Brothers Among Those to Particpate in LA Tennis Challenge

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(March 4, 2013) LOS ANGELES – The inaugural LA Tennis Challenge took place on Monday night on the campus of UCLA at the recently renovated Pauley Pavilion. Participating in the event to raise money for charity were world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Former No. 1 and member of the tennis Hall of Fame Pete Sampras, Bob and Mike Bryan, James Blake, Tommy Haas and former player Justin Gimelstob.

Los Angeles’ ATP World Tour event, the Farmers Classic, their license was sold to Colombian investors who took it to their home country. Former UCLA Bruin Gimelstob wants to keep pro tennis alive in Los Angeles and organized the event.

Singles and doubles exhibition matches took place including Djokovic pairing with his idol Sampras.

Celebrities in attendance included actress Jodie Foster, actor Bruce Willis and actor/comedian and tennis fan Rainn Wilson.

Proceeds from the event are to benefit the Justin Gimelstob Children’s Fund, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the Novak Djokovic Foundation, Call to Cure and the Southern California Tennis Association’s community tennis initiatives.

 

All photos by Maria Noble

 

 

 

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USTA Selects Delray Beach as Site for Fed Cup World Group Playoff Versus Sweden

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., February 26, 2013 – The USTA announced today that the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Fla., has been selected as the site for the 2013 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Playoff between the United States and Sweden, April 20-21.

 

“Delray Beach has a strong history of hosting Fed Cup competition, so we know that the fans will come out to cheer on the U.S. team to victory,” said U.S. Fed Cup Team Captain Mary Joe Fernandez.  “The team fought hard on the road in the first round in Italy, so we are excited to play at home this time and take on Sweden. There is nothing like playing Fed Cup in front of a patriotic crowd.”

 

The event is being organized, staged and promoted by the USTA. Ticket information will be available at a later date.  Fans can call the U.S. Fed Cup hotline at (888) 334-8782 or visit www.usta.com/fedcup to receive the latest ticket information.  Local sponsors include the City of Delray Beach, Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

 

“Our city is proud to host Fed Cup,” said Thomas Carney, Delray Beach Mayor. “We are known for our hospitality and top-rated sports facilities. This event is a win for Fed Cup and a win for Delray Beach. Our community is excited to show the world what a great place this is.”

 

The winner of this match will advance to the 2014 World Group and have a chance to compete for the Fed Cup title next year.  The loser will be relegated to World Group II in 2014. The U.S. fell to Italy, 3-2, in the 2013 World Group first round in Rimini, Italy, February 9-10, despite two singles victories by world No. 25 Varvara Lepchenko over world No. 8 Sara Errani and world No. 16 Roberta Vinci in Lepchenko’s Fed Cup debut.

 

The World Group Playoff will mark the fifth matchup between the U.S. and Sweden in Fed Cup competition with the U.S. leading the series, 3-1. The two nations last faced each other in the second round of 1988 World Group competition, where the Swedes won, 2-1. The U.S. won the other three match-ups in 1966, 1975, and 1983.

 

This will be the fourth Fed Cup tie played in Florida and the third played at the Delray Beach Tennis Center, making it the only venue to host a U.S. Fed Cup tie on three occasions. The U.S. squad has never lost a match in its three previous trips to Florida, posting 5-0 sweeps over Austria in the 1995 World Group quarterfinal in Aventura, and against Belgium in the 2005 World Group quarterfinal and the 2007 World Group quarterfinal, both in Delray Beach.

 

The United States last played at home in Fed Cup competition during the 2012 World Group II First Round in Worcester, Mass., where the U.S. swept Belarus, 5-0. The U.S. is 36-4 all-time in Fed Cup ties played at home.

 

The best-of-five match series begins on Saturday, April 20, with two singles matches and is followed by two reverse singles matches and the doubles match on Sunday, April 21.  This Fed Cup tie will follow the USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 12s National Spring Championships being held April 8-13 in Delray Beach. Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage of the World Group Playoff.

 

The site selection is subject to final approval by the International Tennis Federation.

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Audi, Esurance and K-Swiss Sign On As Major Sponsors For Los Angeles Tennis Challenge on March 4

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Audi, Esurance and K-Swiss have each singed on as major sponsors for the inaugural Los Angeles Tennis Challenge featuring World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Mardy Fish, Pete Sampras and Bob and Mike Bryan to be played March 4 at newly renovated Pauley Pavilion.

 

“The LA Tennis Challenge is proud to partner with one of the world’s leading carmakers in the premium and supercar segment,” Gimelstob said. “We look forward to building and growing the LA Tennis Challenge into one of the best sporting and social events in Los Angeles.”

 

Added Fish: “Having Audi, Esurance and K-Swiss as sponsors is a major step in achieving our goals.”

 

Three exhibition pro-set matches will take place beginning at 7 p.m. Djokovic will take on Los Angeles resident Mardy Fish in singles followed by a doubles match pitting Djokovic and his childhood idol Sampras against Southern California natives Bob and Mike Bryan. An opening singles match between two marquee players will be announced shortly.

 

Both Djokovic and the Bryan Brothers are coming off huge wins last month in Melbourne Park solidifying each as No. 1 in the world in singles and doubles. Djokovic won his fourth Australian Open singles title while the Bryans captured their all-time best 13th doubles Grand Slam.

 

“They’re going to be tough,” Mike said of facing the team of Djokovic and Sampras in a first to eight –game pro-set. “Winning a Grand Slam is great, but we have to win in our hometown of L.A. We have to prove to our friends and family that we’re the best.”

 

Watch this quick Bryan twins interview by Tennis Channel broadcaster and event host Justin Gimelstob by clicking on the image and the CTRL key. Or copy and paste this link:

 

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=404381902983533&notif_t=video_processed

 

Players will be playing for charity with proceeds from the event benefiting the Justin Gimelstob Children’s Fund, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the Novak Djokovic Foundation, Call to Cure and the Southern California Tennis Association’s community tennis initiatives.

 

“We hope to make the LA Tennis Challenge an annual event, which brings together the community, celebrities and tennis fans to raise money for some very worthy charities and foundations,” Fish said. “It will also grow and promote the sport in Southern California. We hope to establish the LA Tennis Challenge as one of the most important social and sporting events of the year.”

 

The LA Tennis Challenge will be broadcast by Tennis Channel in the United States.

 

To learn more about the LA Tennis Challenge go to www.LATennisChallenge.com. Like the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LATennisChallenge and follow on Twitter at @LA10sChallenge. For more information you can email: info@latennischallenge.com.

 

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Flawless Federer into 35th Consecutive Australian Open Quarterfinal

2013 Australian Open - Day 8

By Jaclyn Stacey

(January 21, 2013) MELBOURNE PARK, Australia – Roger Federer won through to his 35th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal after dismissing young Canadian Milos Raonic in straight sets 6-4 7-6(4) 6-2 in 1 hour and 53 minutes on Monday night at the Australian Open.

 

The match was classic flawless Federer in truckloads, Raonic not even able to pierce the maestro with his big serve as Federer managed to get an impressive 60% of returns back into play and made only 12 unforced errors. Federer did not face one single break point on his serve for the duration of the match.

 

Federer won the first set 6-4 by breaking Raonic in the tenth game.

 

The Canadian maintained serve throughout the second set and forced a tie-break which Federer won by gaining an advantage with some stunning points and closing it out on set point with a remarkable forehand winner 7-6(4).

 

In the third set Federer steamrolled to victory, dropping just two games and continuing his mission for a fifth Australian Open title.

 

“I felt good out there. I was moving well, had good anticipation and reaction today, which was key obviously on the return. Like I said, in the third set I started to feel extremely good on the return.”

 

“I played well. I think I played tactically well tonight and was able to keep the points short on my own service games, used the 1-2 punch. That was obviously also a good thing tonight.”

 

Federer could regain the top spot in the rankings if he wins the trophy here this year and Djokovic loses before the semifinals.

 

“Most of the times you play good, you know. When you play very good, that’s rare. So just have to try to have as many good days or great days as you can, and that’s why I push hard in practice and keep myself in shape.”

 

“Tonight was a very solid night, so I’m very happy. If I can maintain such a level of play, obviously I’m happy I give myself a chance of going deep in this tournament, which is obviously the goal.”

 

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s new coaching arrangement with Australian Roger Rasheed is looking to be doing good things for the Frenchman’s game and determination. On Monday Tsonga defeated countryman Richard Gasquet 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-2 for a place in the quarterfinals against Federer.

 

“Yeah, of course, because he’s with me.  He’s giving me an extra motivation.  I mean, it’s great because he’s always positive.  He want maybe more than me to win.  He’s incredible.”

 

“So, you know, I try to be at his level and have exactly the same motivation because I think he can move some mountains, you know, because he’s very motivated.”

 

The Australian Open is the scene of Tsonga’s most successful run at a Grand Slam when he was runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2008.

 

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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Federer Strolls Past Paire To Gain Second Round of Australian Open

 

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(January 15, 2013) No. 2 Roger Federer started his 2013 year and Australian Open campaign with an easy a 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 demolition of France’s Benoit Paire  to walk into the second round of the first major tournament of the year.

Federer broke Paire in the opening game of the match and again at 4-2 to serve and seal the set at 6-2 in 25 minutes over the 46th ranked player.

The Swiss broke early in the second set and early and often in the third set to capture the match in 83 minutes.

At times Paire seemed listless as though he wanted to leave the court as soon as possible.

Federer ended the match with forehand passing shot winner.

“I started with the early break, and then saved a few break points, and then had the lead ever since,” Federer said.

“So obviously when you’re in the lead, you feel better, you feel less pressure, you try a few things to see if those works and then you have options up your sleeve.

“I’m obviously very happy with this first‑round match, so total control.  He can be a tricky opponent, you know, but I guess his playing style doesn’t disturb me that much overall.

“I’m happy I was able to play a clean match out there today.”

Federer played aggressively winning 25 of 31 point at the net.

Federer will play the winner of the match between qualifier Dudi Sela of Israel or Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko.

“But I played Sela maybe once or twice before,” Federer said, “so I know him a little bit.  Obviously Nikolay, I know him, you know, a whole lot more.  He’s my age.  He played, I don’t know, maybe 15 times.  I played him at a time when he wasn’t also in his best streak and in his best years, really, and he was in the top 4 or top 5 for a long time.

“I played him in the semis of the Grand Slams and at the World Tour Finals when he beat me.  Then he got me again in Doha, and I played him here the following week where it was a very difficult draw for me to have and I found a way.  You always have to expect that out of Davydenko to face if I were to play him, and not the one who’s not been playing so well.

“It was two years ago I think he really struggled with his serve, but seems like he’s coming back around.  I had a very close match with him in Rotterdam last year.  Should have won in two; ended up being 4‑All, Love‑40 in the third.

“I was very close of losing.  Next thing you know, nobody talks about it.  I went on to win the tournament and nobody talks about Nikolay.

“So it’s nice to see him playing well again.  And if I do play well against him, you’re aware that he is a top player who can do a lot of damage.  I better be well prepared and play well.”

 

Karen Pestaina for Tennis Panorama News

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