Kim: 'I'd prefer a Grand Slam to number 1'

For 2010 Kim aims to take part in a few top tournaments only. The brand new Sportswoman of the Year will still be spending a lot of time with her family, Kim told at a press conference. Kim kicks off her season in Brisbane on 3 January.

Take a look at the video on Sport.be TV

During her last press conference on Belgian soil before leaving for Australia Kim announced her schedule for the coming season. She currently has a rather limited 2010 schedule with only 14 official tournaments (so far). With her schedule Kim clearly chooses for a combined professional and family life. "We carefully looked at how we could combine the important tournaments of the year with sufficient quality time for ourselves," Kim said. In a few days Kim heads for Australia. After a week of getting accustomed to the time difference she kicks off her season on 3 January in Brisbane. 14 days later Kim has her first Grand Slam with the Australian Open. SPRING AND SUMMER IN AMERICAAfter the Australian 'summer' (January in Europe) and a brief stay in Belgium an American spring follows with the tournaments of Indian Wells and Miami. Kim will participate in the Billie Jean King Cup, a kind of an exhibition tournament in Madison Square, quite the location where she won the Masters for the first time.In the European spring Kim will take on the Stuttgart and Madrid tournaments, preparing for the French Open. After Wimbledon she will travel back to America for a brief summer break and the run-up to the US Open.

Kim: 'I'd prefer a Grand Slam to number one'

Answering the question whether she would prefer to become the world's number one again or win another Grand Slam, Kim opted for the second possibility. "I have always had a special relationship with the Australian Open. I'd love to win that wonderful trophy and take the toy kangaroo home as well", Kim said. "I have a slight preference for Wimbledon, which is also the tournament my dad cherished most."OLYMPIC GAMES IN 2012? Kim also added she aims to continue until 2012. "Currently I can't look ahead too much, but if it would be possible I'd love to take part in the London Olympics. The main factor here is my family though."Earlier this month Kim signed a sponsor agreement with Telenet, also until 2012. From now on she will be representing Telenet as its sportive ambassador and used as one of the main faces of the company in advertising campaigns, customer events and corporate events for Telenet employees.

Telenet-CEO Duco Sickinghe: 'Kim answers perfectly to the family values Telenet adheres to.

'"Im happy Kim has become ambassador for Telenet"

Duco Sickinghe, Telenet's CEO, confirms. "Kim answers perfectly to the family values Telenet adheres to. Like Kim Telenet is dynamic and we aim to improve ourselves all the time in an enthusiastic and fair manner." At the same time Telenet announced that the Australian Open will be broadcast in High Definition for the first time and this via Eurosport HD.

From: www.kimclijsters.be

Near Misses Of The Decade

Take a look back at the Top 5 most dramatic near misses of the past decade.

1. Guillermo Coria Misses 2 Match Points in the 2004 Roland Garros Final
Guillermo Coria came into an all-Argentine final against Gaston Gaudio at 2004 Roland Garros as favourite to win his first Grand Slam title. The 22 year old had won 37 of his past 38 matches on clay and had dropped just one set (against Tim Henman in the semi-finals) en route to the final. With Gaudio crippled by nerves, Coria looked on course for a crushing victory as he raced to a 6-0, 6-3 lead. Gaudio fought back to force a fifth set, but was still forced to save two match points before sealing victory 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6 to become the first Argentine to win Roland Garros since Guillermo Vilas in 1977. It was a heart-wrenching loss for Coria and his first defeat in 19 matches against Argentine opponents.

2. Andy Roddick Loses to Roger Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon Final
Andy Roddick came the closest yet to capturing the coveted Wimbledon crown in 2009 when he pushed Roger Federer to 16-14 in the longest fifth set in a final in Grand Slam history. The American had been thwarted by Federer in the 2004-05 Wimbledon finals, but looked set to lay his demons to rest with a devastating serving display for which Federer had no answer until the final game of the four-hour, 16-minute match.
Attempting to overturn his 2-18 record against Federer, Roddick was on the verge of taking a two-set lead against the Swiss when he muffed a backhand volley at 6-2 in the tie-break. Federer won the last six points of the tie-break to level the match. Undeterred, Roddick maintained his impenetrable serving to keep Federer at bay and was within touching point of victory as he held two break points at 8-8 in the final set. But that was to be his last chance for victory as Federer held on and finally made his break through in the 30th game of the fifth set, after 37 straight service holds from Roddick, to break the American’s heart and claim his record-breaking 15th Grand Slam crown. The final score: 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14.

3. Mathieu, France 2 Points From 2002 Davis Cup Title
Playing in his first Davis Cup tie, Paul-Henri Mathieu was on the brink of becoming a national hero in France when he led Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in the decisive fifth rubber of the 2002 Davis Cup final. Playing in front of a raucous partisan crowd at the Palais Omnisports Paris Bercy, Mathieu had powered to a commanding two-set lead and looked set to bring home France’s 10th Davis Cup title.
Youzhny refused to yield, though, and exposed Mathieu’s vulnerabilities with changes of pace to claw his way back into the match. Mathieu led by a service break in the fourth set, and was two points from victory when leading 5-4 with deuce on Youzhny’s serve, but his fellow 20 year old – a late replacement for Yevgeny Kafelnikov - held his nerve and hit back to clinch a dramatic victory in four hours and 27 minutes. Youzhny, who was playing just his second live rubber, became the first player in the 102-year history of the competition to rally from a two-set deficit in a fifth and decisive match in a Davis Cup final. Final score: 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

4. Michael Russell’s 4th Rd. loss to Gustavo Kuerten at Roland Garros, 2001
Tennis, like life, is full of ‘what ifs?’. And one can only wonder if Michael Russell’s career would have taken a different trajectory had Gustavo Kuerten’s forehand landed long – instead of catching the baseline – when the young American held match point in the fourth round of Roland Garros in 2001.

Having become the first player in history to qualify at four consecutive Grand Slam events, then-23-year-old Russell took out former champion Sergi Bruguera in the second round and looked like dismissing defending champion Kuerten in straight sets when he held a match point at 5-3 in the third set. But Kuerten’s shot caught the baseline and the Brazilian went on to take the set in a tie-break and finish strongly to close out a 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-3, 6-1 win.
Kuerten, who was the reigning ATP World Tour Champion, would go on to win his third Roland Garros crown and cement his place in tennis history. Russell jumped to No. 88 after Roland Garros but soon fell out of the Top 100 and it was not until February 2007 that he topped his career-high ranking, eventually rising as high as No. 60.

5. Pat Rafter’s Consecutive Wimbledon Finals Defeats, 2000 & 2001
Pat Rafter arguably boasted the best net game of his generation, yet he never won Wimbledon even when it was still the domain of serve/volleyers. But the Australian came awfully close two times at the start of the decade. In the 2000 final, after holding out Andre Agassi in five pulsating sets in the semi-finals, he led Pete Sampras by a set and 4-1 on Rafter’s serve in the second-set tie-break. But Sampras stormed back to win 6-7(10), 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2 in near darkness at 8.57 p.m. and claim his seventh and final Wimbledon crown - and a then-record 13th Grand Slam title.

The following year Rafter also took out Agassi in another five-set semi-final thriller for a place in the final against Goran Ivanisevic. Unlike Sampras’ unbeaten record in Wimbledon finals, Ivanisevic was 0-3 in Wimbledon deciders and needed a wildcard to play in the 2001 tournament. In a rain-delayed final played on Monday, Rafter led two sets to one and in the fifth set was within two points of victory when the Croatian served at 6-7, 15-30 before Ivanisevic rallied to win 9-7 in the fifth set, which at the time was the longest fifth set in Wimbledon finals history. The match was Rafter’s last at The All England Club.

Spain clear Davis Cup favorites despite Nadal doubts (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE5B11RF20091202

By Kevin Fylan
LONDON (Reuters) - Spain playing Davis Cup tennis on clay in front of a home crowd is about as close to a sure thing as sport provides, and just because Rafael Nadal suddenly looks vulnerable the Czech Republic are not about to forget it.
Spain go into this weekend's final as defending champions and with every reason to relish the prospect of a return to Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi, the indoor arena that played host to their first Davis Cup final win in 2000.
Nadal has been struggling of late, failing to win so much as a set in the ATP finals last week, but he and the rest of the Spanish team are such consummate performers on clay that to underestimate them would be unwise to say the least.
"We are outsiders in Barcelona," Czech number one Radek Stepanek told newspaper Mlada Fronta Dnes.
"To take into consideration Nadal's failure in London? That doesn't work. The moment he steps on to the Barcelona clay, he will be a totally different player."
Nadal, four times French Open champion, heads a formidable line-up that also includes world number nine Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer (ranked 18th) and Feliciano Lopez (47).
Captain Albert Costa was part of the team that overcame Australia in a memorable tussle at the Palau in 2000, when huge crowds screamed themselves hoarse in support of their team.
IRRESISTIBLE FORCE
It was clear watching Nadal in London that he has not yet recovered the magic formula of strength, skill and utter self-belief that made him such an irresistible force before tendonitis struck this season, keeping him out of Wimbledon and wrecking his chances of ending the year as world number one.
His uncle and coach Toni Nadal sparked further concerns when he said the world number two's morale had slipped but the player himself is having none of that.
"My uncle has his opinion (but) my morale is fine, absolutely normal," Nadal told reporters in Spain this week. "I'm delighted to be here going into this final with the intention of winning it."
Along with Stepanek, the world number 12, the Czechs will pin their hopes on 20th-ranked Tomas Berdych, with Jan Hajek and Lukas Dlouhy also in the squad but unlikely to get on court.
As always in Davis Cup, the final will be decided on a best-of-five basis, with two singles rubbers on Friday followed by doubles on Saturday and the reverse singles on Sunday. Thursday's draw will decide the order of the individual matches.
If Spain win they will become the first team to successfully defend the Davis Cup since Sweden in 1998.

Round Robin Groups Announced For Barclays ATP World Tour Finals

Murray, Bryan twins attend draw ceremony at London Eye

Four-time titlist Federer to face Murray, Del Potro, Verdasco in Group A

Defending champion Djokovic to meet Nadal, Davydenko, Soderling in Group B

London, England — British favourite Andy Murray and two-time former titlists Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan attended the draw ceremony for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the world’s biggest ever indoor tennis tournament, at the London Eye on Wednesday.

ATP World Tour No. 1 Roger Federer and Murray feature in Group A at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, while No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic will headline Group B.

Buy Last Remaining Tickets

"It's going to be great,” commented Murray. “Obviously I'm looking forward to it. It's a new tournament for London. To get a chance to play against Federer, maybe Nadal here, the crowd is going to be great with over 250,000 tickets sold so I'm really looking forward to it. It's a great group of players, probably the strongest we've had in quite a few years."

The full line-up for Group A sees US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina and Spaniard Fernando Verdasco join Federer and Murray, while 2008 runner-up Nikolay Davydenko of Russia and Swede Robin Soderling complete Group B with Nadal and Djokovic.

Group A
Roger Federer (SUI)
Andy Murray (GBR)
Juan Martin del Potro (ARG)
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)

Group B
Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
Robin Soderling (SWE)

The strong line-up in Group A will treat fans at The O2 to some compelling match-ups. Four-time former winner Federer and Murray will meet at the prestigious season climax for the second time.

"Whoever you draw is going to be tough,” said Murray, who reached the semi-finals in Shanghai last year. “Obviously I look forward to playing Roger. I've played Juan a few times on the tour recently and also had a close match recently with Verdasco indoors in Valencia. It's a tough group but if I play well I think I have a good chance of qualifying."

Federer, who captured four titles from five straight finals between 2003-2007, will also have the chance to avenge his US Open final defeat to Del Potro. Djokovic, this season’s ATP World Tour match wins leader, faces stiff competition if he is to defend his title from Davydenko, in a repeat of the 2008 final, and Nadal, who the Serbian beat in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris last week. In another intriguing clash, Nadal will meet debutant Soderling for the first time since the Swede handed Nadal his first-ever defeat at Roland Garros in May.

Federer and Nadal are in a battle to be crowned 2009 ATP World Tour Champion. Nadal currently trails Federer by 945 points in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings, but with 1,500 points available for an undefeated champion at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals there is all to play for.

The world’s top two doubles pairings Daniel Nestor-Nenad Zimonjic and the Bryan twins lead Groups A and B respectively.

Group A
Daniel Nestor - Nenad Zimonjic
Mahesh Bhupathi - Mark Knowles
Frantisek Cermak - Michal Mertinak
Mariusz Fyrstenberg - Marcin Matkowski

Group B
Bob Bryan - Mike Bryan
Lukas Dlouhy - Leander Paes
Lukasz Kubot - Oliver Marach
Max Mirnyi - Andy Ram

Nestor and Zimonjic and the Bryans are once again locked in a battle to be crowned ATP World Tour Champions. The Wimbledon champions Nestor and Zimonjic have a healthy lead of 830 points going into the season finale, but there are 1,500 points on offer for any undefeated champion.

"It was a spectacular place to do the draw with such an amazing view of London up there,” said Bob Bryan. “We're really excited to be playing in the tournament at such a great venue. We went to see Beyonce on Monday night at The O2 and the place rocked. Every match from the first to the last is going to be really tough and we're looking forward to the challenge."

More than 250,000 tickets have been sold and only a limited number of tickets remain. The O2 is set to be a fantastic host for the eight-day singles and doubles tournament. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster or by calling 0844 847 2495 within the UK. Overseas customers should call +44 161 372 0025. For more information please visit www.BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com.

Verdasco, Davydenko close in on London as Tsonga lurks

PARIS (AFP) – Russia's Nikolay Davydenko and Spain's Fernando Verdasco tightened their grips on the remaining places at the ATP World Tour Finals in London by reaching the third round of the Paris Masters on Tuesday.

Sixth seed Davydenko cruised past Germany's Benjamin Becker 6-2, 6-1 at the Bercy arena but seventh seed Verdasco was made to dig deep against Italian Andreas Seppi before eventually prevailing 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-4.

French defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga remained in the hunt for a place at the November 22-29 event in the English capital, however, with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Spain's Albert Montanes.

Tsonga, who booked his place in last year's Tour finals by winning here, romped to the first set in just under 22 minutes.

He encountered stiffer resistance in the second before grabbing the decisive break in the 11th match when Montanes double-faulted and went on to seal a 62-minute victory with a forehand winner.

"I have to win the tournament to qualify, as long as Verdasco doesn't make the final," said Tsonga, the eighth seed.

"If I get to the final and Verdasco is there, I'll try to win it anyway!" added Tsonga, who next plays compatriot Gilles Simon after he prevailed in three sets over Croatian Ivan Ljubicic.

Tsonga is one of three players, alongside Robin Soderling and Fernando Gonzalez, who still have a chance of pipping Davydenko and Verdasco in the race to London but all three need to at least reach the Paris final to do so.

Six of the world's top players have already secured their places and Davydenko and Verdasco, who currently occupy the last two qualifying spots, are the hot favourites to join them.

"I need to win all the matches I can to qualify for myself and not wait to see how other players do," said Verdasco.

"It was my big challenge for this year and this week is the last week. After this, everything will be decided. So I'm giving my best in the last week to try to do it."

Verdasco's victory means that Czech Radek Stepanek and Croatia's Marin Cilic can no longer qualify for the season finale, but Cilic will have the chance to exact swift revenge on Verdasco if he comes through his second-round match against Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot.

Davydenko, meanwhile, will next face either ninth seed Soderling of Sweden or Croatia's Ivo Karlovic.

"It's a good feeling," said Davydenko. "With everyone here, (Roger) Federer and (Novak) Djokovic, it's a very tough draw and it's not so easy for Tsonga or Soderling or Verdasco to reach the final and win the tournament."

Chile's Gonzalez begins his campaign against big-serving American John Isner on Wednesday, when top seeds Federer, Rafael Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray will all be in action.

World number one Federer faces Frenchman Julien Benneteau, a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victor over Germany's Philipp Petzschner, while Nadal will take on his Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro, who defeated Swiss Marco Chiudinelli 6-2, 6-4.

French qualifier David Guez, the world number 179, will meet countryman Gael Monfils after shocking world number 21 Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4 in their first-round encounter.

Federer and Nadal form part of a star-studded draw in the 2.75 million-euro final Masters tournament of the year, with injured American Andy Roddick the only absentee from the world top 15.

David Nalbadian to Retire by 30

Quoted from the David Nalbadian Website:

30/10/2009
Two more Years enjoying David’s Game
“King” David has set a date: he says he thinks of withdrawing from competition after his 30th birthday. There are still two more years to go since he will be 28 next January 1st. His idea is to go on playing a couple of years more and try to achieve his greatest dream: the Davis Cup. "In this stage, I will see how I am year after year. And it depends a lot on how my hip is, if I feel well and competitive", he said. The player from Córdoba said: “If I start feeling limitations, I will have to reconsider the situation”: Nalbandian, who was operated on the hip some time ago, will make his comeback to the ATP circuit next January, in the Auckland ATP.

Tsonga Boosts Finals Campaign With Tokyo Win

ATP World Tour No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga strongly boosted his campaign to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November by clinching his third ATP World Tour title of the season Sunday in Tokyo. The second seed cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the final of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships.
With victory at the ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tennis tournament, Tsonga received 500 South African Airways 2009 ATP Ranking points and $300,000. The Frenchman is pushing for one of the three remaining singles berths at the season climax, to be held at the O2 in London, 22-29 November. He clinched his place last year in dramatic style, defeating David Nalbandian in a winner-take-all final at the BNP Paribas Masters.
"I am so happy to win another title and this puts me closer to (qualifying for the Barclays ATp World Tour Finals in) London," said Tsonga. "I have so much confidence now going into Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 and the indoor events. It's a great time of the year for me."
The No. 1 Frenchman is the sixth player this year to win three or more ATP World Tour titles, having also triumphed at the SA Tennis Open (d. Chardy) in Johannesburg and the Open 13 (d. Llodra) in Marseille in February.
Since finishing runner-up to Novak Djokovic in his first tour-level final at the 2008 Australian Open, Tsonga has won five ATP World Tour titles from five finals, beginning with victory at the PTT Thailand Open (d. Djokovic) last year.

PTT THAILAND OPEN 2009 : PARADORN RETURNS TO TENNIS AFTER TWO YEARS

Former ninth-ranked Paradorn Srichaphan announced his nearly three-year comeback from injury on Saturday, saying he’ll play doubles at the Thailand Open next week.
The 30-year-old Thai hasn’t played on the ATP Tour since March 2007 because of a wrist injury. He’ll team up with his countryman Danai Udomchoke as a wild-card entry in the tournament, which starts Monday.

“I wanted to come back by using the Thailand Open as my tournament. I’m not fit enough for the singles,” Paradorn said.

Paradorn originally planned a return to the tour last year. He had operations on the wrist in Los Angeles in 2007 and Bangkok this year.

Married to former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova, Paradorn spent his free time motorcycling, appearing on Thai sports TV shows and opening an Italian restaurant.
Paradorn has won five career titles, the last one in Nottingham in 2004.

Kimiko date Krumm wins Hansol Korea Open title

After a terrific week playing amazing tennis, Kimiko Date Krumm won the Hansol Korea Open title by upseting Anabel Medina Garriguez 6-3 6-3.
Anabel Medina Garrigues on Sunday afternoon.
Date Krumm started the week with a 63 64 first round win against Lee Ye-Ra. The she beat Alisa Kleybanova 46 76(4) 63 in the second round followed by a 76(3) 46 64 victory against top seed Daniela Hantuchova in the quarterfinals and 36 62 64 against the defending champion, Maria Kirilenko, in the semifinals.
Date Krumm needed to withstand the mental pressure of playing one of the best grinders out there in the final and she did just that, converting the only break point of the opening set and holding onto that momentum in the second set for a 63 63 victory over Medina Garriguez and the trophy.Kimiko who will be 39 years old this week made her comeback to tennis last April, Date Krumm had enjoyed success on the ITF Women’s Circuit but hadn’t broken through again at the Tour level, going 0-8 in main draws losing to none other than Medina Garrigues in the first round, 61 46 64.

Henin Announces Comeback

On May 14, 2008, just weeks before she would have gone for a fourth straight French Open title, Justine Henin dropped a bombshell on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour: she was done. For the first time, a reigning world No.1 retired from the sport. On Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 16 months and one week later - the Belgian announced her comeback.
"I've been able to recharge my batteries, emotionally as well," Henin said on Tuesday. "Subconsciously, [Kim Clijsters winning the US Open] might have had an impact, but it certainly was not the most important reason.
"The fire within burns again. I want to come back in January."
"Justine Henin is one of the great champions in the history of women's tennis, and we, along with millions of her fans around the globe, are thrilled with her announcement today," said Tour CEO Stacey Allaster. "Justine was that rare athlete who decided to step away from the game at the height of her powers, and no doubt she will be a force to be reckoned with from the get go. Her career was marked by so many amazing moments, and a new chapter begins today."
Despite her small frame Henin was one of the most dangerous players ever in the women's game. During the first phase of her Tour career she compiled quite the list of milestones - the following are just a few of them:- Won 41 singles titles and two doubles titles on the Tour.- Won seven Grand Slam titles: one Australian Open (2004), four French Opens (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007) and two US Opens (2003, 2007).- Won two season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships (2006, 2007), one Olympic gold (2004) and leading Belgium to its first Fed Cup title (2001).- Finished three seasons ranked No.1 in the world (2003, 2006, 2007).- Spent 117 non-consecutive weeks at No.1, sixth all-time (after Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles).- Became first female athlete to pass $5 million in single season prize money (2007 - $5,429,586).

Jack Kramer - Rest In Peace

Jack Kramer, the first executive director of the ATP and one of the game’s finest players, passed away Saturday night in Los Angeles at 88 years of age. He had been diagnosed with soft tissue cancer in July.

"Jack Kramer was truly one of the greats of the game and was instrumental in the growth and development of the sport in so many ways, both on and off the court,” said ATP Executive Chairman and President Adam Helfant. “He was like a father figure to so many in tennis and his wisdom, enthusiasm and advice will be sadly missed. On behalf of everybody at the ATP I would like to pass on our sincere condolences to his family."
Kramer was a vocal advocate for a more unified tour, and joined with other leading professionals in 1972 to create the Association of Tennis Professionals. As the newly elected Executive Director, one of the initial acts Kramer undertook was the establishment of a computer ranking system – today’s South African Airways ATP Rankings – that provided fair analysis of a player's performance as well as an objective means to determine entries into tournaments.
During his playing career, Kramer was the world’s No. 1 player for a number of years in the 1940s. He won three Grand Slam titles – at the US Championships in 1946-47 and Wimbledon in 1947 – and captured six Grand Slam doubles titles. He also was a member of the U.S. Davis Cup squad that defeated Australia in the 1946-47 finals.
After retiring due to injuries in 1954, Kramer continued his involvement in tennis as a promoter. In addition to devising a Grand Prix – a series of tournaments leading to a Masters Championship featuring the eight best players, held for two decades – he and his family have owned and operated the ATP tournament in his hometown of Los Angeles since the late 1970s. The LA Tennis Open, once called the Jack Kramer Open, is currently run by his son Bob Kramer.
Kramer, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1968, saw his last tennis match at the LA Tennis Open this past summer, when Pete Sampras and Marat Safin faced off in the Millennium Challenge – a rematch of the 2000 US Open final. Bob Kramer told the Los Angeles Times, “Dad thought Pete was one of the greatest players ever, probably because he played a lot like he did [in a serve-and-volley style]."
Kramer passed away at his home surrounded by his five sons – Bob, David, John, Michael and Ron – and eight grandchildren. His wife, Gloria, died last year.

John Albert Kramer (August 1, 1921 - September 12, 2009) was an American tennis player of the 1940s. A World Number 1 player for a number of years, he is a possible candidate for the title of the greatest tennis player of all time. He was also, for many years, the leading promoter of the professional tennis tours and a relentless advocate for the establishment of open tennis between amateur and professional players. When the Association of Tennis Professionals was founded in 1972, he was the first executive director and in that role was the leader of an ATP boycott of Wimbledon in 1973. Tall and slim, he was the first world-class player to play a consistent serve-and-volley game, in which he came to the net behind all of his serves, including the second serve. He was particularly known for his powerful serve and forehand, as well as his ability to play "percentage tennis", in which he maximized his efforts on certain points and certain games during the course of a match.

Tennis Gondomar hereby presente is Homage to one of the ALL TIME GREATS!

Clijsters, Williams ready to battle in semifinals

Serena Williams brings her trademark intensity to the women’s semifinals, and opponent Kim Clijsters needs no reminding.
“I’ve seen her play here, and she has that face where she’s like, ‘Okay, I’m here to do business,’’’ Clijsters said.
Williams knows exactly what the Belgian is talking about.
“I see it after in photos,” Williams said. “I’m pretty horrified sometimes. I think, ‘Oh, my God, who is that?’’’
Despite Clijsters’ stellar play since coming out retirement, Williams goes in as the favorite. She’s also expected to clinch a third Grand Slam title this season and 12th overall.
The Williams-Clijsters showdown highlights Friday’s action, weather permitting, with teens Caroline Wozniacki and Yanina Wickmayer facing off in the other semifinal. Wozniacki, Denmark’s darling, and Wickmayer, Clijsters’ fellow Belgian, had never before appeared in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, much less a semifinal.
Williams leads Clijsters 7-1 in their head-to-heads and hasn’t dropped a set through five matches, avoiding the blips that sometimes accompany her early round Grand Slam encounters.
Williams heads the tournament in aces and points won behind her first serve. Ominously for Clijsters, Williams has only been broken in two matches, in the first and third rounds. She stepped up her game as the competition got better, overpowering Slovak Daniela Hantuchova and cruising past surging Italian Flavia Pennetta.
And here’s a stat – Williams’ last defeat in a Grand Slam semifinal came six years ago on the clay at the French Open, her least productive surface.
“It doesn’t mean that you don’t get a chance when you get to play her,” Clijsters, officially a wild card because she has no ranking yet, said. “That’s something I’ve always felt in the past, too. Every player always has a moment in a match where, whether it’s one or two games, they just kind of lose that aggressiveness a little bit or lose focus. It’s up to the other player to kind of feel that and step it up at that time.”
Clijsters, who captured her lone major at the US Open four years ago, has had a few bumps on her road to the semis, beginning in the first round against unpredictable Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli. Then in the fourth round, Clijsters fell 6-0 to Serena’s older sister, Venus, in the second set, recovering in the third.
Clijsters, like Williams, enters the clash with a 12-match winning streak in New York. A feel good story thanks to being one of the few moms on tour – and one of the most popular players around – Clijsters had the crowd on her side against Williams.
Her forehand is still big, and the movement still impressive. Williams, too, is coming off a marathon 2 ½ hour doubles semifinal Thursday.
“Seems like she’s even faster than what she was before,” Williams said after eliminating Pennetta. “I was thinking that maybe I should have a baby, and then I’ll come back faster. That was my observation, so I’m thinking about it.”
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2009-09-10/200909101252619630437.html

Kim Clijsters : The Comeback Continues

NEW YORK, NY, USA - Kim Clijsters took one giant step closer to becoming just the third player ever to have a child then win a Grand Slam singles title, upsetting Venus Williams in a see-saw three-setter Sunday to move into the quarterfinals of the US Open. Serena Williams fared far better in her match.
Clijsters, playing her third event back after coming out of retirement in August and a wildcard into her first Grand Slam back, blanked Williams in the first set, 6-0, then received her own 0-6 blanking in the second set before edging the No.3-seeded American in a far tighter decider, 6-4. The match looked headed to go later into the third as Williams held a pair of break points in the final game.
"I felt like we were never playing our best tennis at the same time until the third set," Clijsters said. "I hadn't played one of the Williamses or Sharapova for a while, but I still had a good feeling I could have a chance against these girls. I feel like there's still a lot of improvement, but I feel I'm at a point where if I play well and stay consistent, I can make it tough for the other girls."
Clijsters is trying to become the third mother ever to win a Grand Slam singles title, after Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong.
Williams is now 0-6 in her career after losing the first set at love.
Next up for Clijsters will be No.18 seed Li Na, who eased past No.26 seed Francesca Schiavone, 62 63. Li is the first Chinese player ever to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open. Schiavone had upset Victoria Azarenka.

Anders Jarryd

Anders Per Järryd (born 13 July 1961 in Lidköping, Västra Götaland) is a former professional tennis player from Sweden. During his career he won eight Grand Slam doubles titles (three French Open, two Wimbledon, two US Open, one Australian Open), reached the World No. 1 doubles ranking, and achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 5.

Country
Sweden
Residence
Båstad, Sweden
Date of birth
13 July 1961 (1961-07-13) (age 48)
Place of birth
Lidköping, Sweden
Height
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight
70 kg (150 lb; 11 st)
Turned pro
1980
Retired
1996
Plays
Right-handed; two-handed backhand
Career prize money
US$5,378,067
Singles
Career record
396–361
Career titles
8
Highest ranking
No. 5 (22 July 1985)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open
QF (1987, 1988)
French Open
4R (1984, 1985)
Wimbledon
SF (1985)
US Open
QF (1985)
Doubles
Career record
590–236
Career titles
59
Highest ranking
1 (12 August 1985)

Nalbandian Back On Practice Court Next Week

After undergoing hip surgery just three months ago on 13 May, former World No. 3 David Nalbandian hopes to return to the practice court in 10 days time and resume competitive tennis once more at the Australian Open in January.

The Argentine, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2002 (l. to Hewitt), said his main goals when he returns are to win a Grand Slam and the Davis Cup. The Cordoba native was part of the Argentine Davis Cup team that finished runner-up in 2008 (l. to Spain) and 2006 (l. to Russia).
“The aim is to once more return to the Top 10, maintain my position and try to win a Grand Slam,” affirmed Nalbandian. “And obviously, Davis Cup is one of my dreams as well.”
The 27 year old, whose last appearance was a first-round loss at the Estoril Open, confirmed that the rehabilitation after the surgery went better than expected and that he is motivated to start training physically for his comeback. He will hit for 20 minutes a day and increase his time on the court gradually.

“It was very difficult to make the decision to have the surgery,” admitted Nalbandian. “I tried to push it as much as possible but I was suffering when I played and I could not continue like that. There was no other option.”

Life away from the court has been very quiet for Nalbandian, who has spent the time at home in Unquillo, a province of Cordoba, with his friends. On his return, he will look to follow in the footsteps of former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, who underwent hip surgery last August and has made a successful comeback – winning his 27th tour-level title in Houston (d. Odesnik) and reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals (l. to Roddick).

Fila - One of the Legendary tennis brands...

Fila is South Korea's largest sportswear manufacturing company, founded in 1911 in Italy. Fila is one of the best known South Korean brands and is among the most popular sportwear brands in the world, headed by chairman and CEO Yoon-Soo Yoon. It now has offices in 11 countries worldwide.

Fila was created in Biella, Piedmont, by the Fila brothers in 1911. It originally started by making clothing for the people of the Italian Alps, now manufacturing sportswear for men, women, children and athletes.
The company's primary product was originally underwear, before moving into sportswear in the 1970s, initially with the endorsement of tennis player Björn Borg.

The original Italian ownership Holding di Partecipazioni sold the company to US hedge fund Cerberus Capital Management in 2003, after the company over-committed itself to expensive athletic endorsements, at a time when margins were under pressure. Cerberus owned Fila through holding company Sports Brands International, which owned and operated all Fila businesses around the world with the exception of Fila Korea, which was a separate company operating the brand under licence.
In January 2007, the global Fila brand and all its international subsidiaries were acquired by Fila Korea from SBI for $400 million, which made it the largest South Korean sportswear company. Fila Korea currently holds all of the rights to the worldwide use of footwear and apparel brands of the parent firm.

Masters Cincy - $10 Million Stadium Upgrade Announced

MASON, OH - August 13, 2009 - The USTA and Cincinnati's Tennis for Charity announced today the two organizations will finance a $10 million dollar upgrade to the Lindner Family Tennis Center, site of Cincinnati's Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and Women's Open - the biggest summer tennis tournament in the US outside of the US Open.The project calls for the construction of a 52,000 square-feet West Building at the Lindner Family Tennis Center to add space for players, media and fans. The building will be approximately twice as high as the current structure, rising 85 feet above ground level and 97 feet above the court level. Construction will begin in less than two weeks, immediately following the 2009 event, and the new building will be ready in time for the 2010 event (to be held August 7-22). This project marks the first major undertaking since the USTA became the majority partner in the Cincinnati event last year. “We share a common vision with Paul Flory and his entire team to ensure that this great event will continue to grow and remain one of the best tournaments for both the fans and players,” said Lucy Garvin, President and Chairman of the Board, USTA.“Tennis for Charity has been working for decades to make this event and its facility the best it can be for fans, players, sponsors and media, and this construction is a giant step forward in that regard,” said TFC President Ken Berry.Major elements of the new West Building upgrade include:Player Amenities > A 21,000 square-foot court-level (below grade) player area with two locker rooms (each accommodating more than 100 players), private training rooms, locker rooms for male and female coaches, and a 2,200 square-foot fitness area among other amenities> An 8,000-square foot space on the ground floor which includes a 5,500 square-foot indoor player lounge and offices for the ATP World Tour and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour> An 11,000 square-foot second floor for player dining, a warming kitchen and storage> A 4,800 square-foot outdoor player lounge on the roof of the second floorMedia Upgrades> A 6,300 square foot third floor for interview rooms, featuring a main interview room and three additional interview rooms> A 4,800 square foot Media Center on the fourth floor with more than 100 stations for writers and photographersSpectator Accommodations> Six new luxury suites overlooking Center Court > 750 new covered loge-level seats > The addition of 140 seats in the northwest corner of Center Court“We've been enhancing this facility on a continual basis for 30 years, but this is by far the biggest improvement we've ever made and certainly the most dramatic,” said tournament chairman Paul Flory.The building was designed by Browning, Day, Mullins & Dierdorf in Indianapolis, and the construction will be completed by Vector Construction of Northern Kentucky. Both organizations have been involved with the Lindner Family Tennis Center for more than 20 years.

Western & Southern Financial Group Masters - Cincinnati

A Proud Tradition In Cincinnati The Cincinnati tournament has come a long way from its humble roots, first played at the Avondale Athletic Club more than a century ago, to the grand-scale ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center today. The seven Western & Southern Financial Group Masters champions preceding Andy Murray all held the No. 1 ranking during their careers.

Murray Looks For Title Defence World No. 3 Andy Murray won his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title last year in Cincinnati, with victory over Novak Djokovic, and has since added to his tally with victories at Madrid and Miami. The Scot will look for a strong result to add further impetus in his bid to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Nadal To Complete The Set? - The Spaniard has reached the final at every ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event except in Cincinnati, where his best result was a semi-final finish last year (l. to Djokovic).

Federer Gunning For Hat-Trick - The World No. 1 is looking for a third title in Cincinnati after triumphing in 2007 (d. Blake) and ’05 (d. Roddick). The Swiss suffered a third-round exit to Ivo Karlovic last year.

Home Hope Looking for Repeat Success - American Andy Roddick has a 25-6 record in Cincinnati after capturing the title in 2003 (d. Fish) and 2006 (d. Ferrero) and finishing runner-up in 2005 (l. to Federer).

Singles Players
#
Player
W-L
Best Finish
1
Roger Federer (SUI)
14-6
W-'07,05
2
Rafael Nadal (ESP)
6-5
S-'08
3
Andy Murray (GBR)
9-3
W-'08
4
Novak Djokovic (SRB)
5-4
F-'08
5
Andy Roddick (USA)
25-6
W-'06,03
6
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)
2-1
R16-'07
7
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
0-0

8
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
6-5
S-'07
9
Gilles Simon (FRA)
3-3
R32-'08,06,05
10
Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)
12-7
S-'06,02
11
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
3-5
R16-'08
12
Robin Soderling (SWE)
7-4
R16-'08,06,04
13
Gael Monfils (FRA)
4-3
R16-'05
14
Marin Cilic (CRO)
0-1
R64-'08
15
Tommy Robredo (ESP)
12-7
S-'06,04
16
Radek Stepanek (CZE)
1-4
R32-'07

Murray wins Montreal Masters

Briton Andy Murray overcame sweltering heat and to beat Argentine Juan Martin Del Porto 6-7 7-6 6-1 in the Montreal Masters final on Monday.
A day after replacing Rafael Nadal as world number two, Murray delivered a gritty performance to wear down the towering Argentine in two hours, 42 minutes under a broiling sun.
It was Murray's fifth win of the season and he become the first Britain in 128 years to lift the Canadian title.
The victory completed a perfect start to the North American hardcourt season for the 22-year-old Scotsman, who was returning to action for the first time since his semi-final loss to Andy Roddick at Wimbledon.
Del Potro, coming off victory in Washington last week and riding a 10-match winning steak, took a tight opening set in a tiebreak 7-4.
But Murray, who spent two weeks in Florida training for the severe conditions he faced in Montreal, did not buckle under Del Potro's thundering groundstrokes, getting back on level terms after clinching the second set with a 7-3 tiebreak.
The sixth-seeded Argentine had nothing left to give in the third set as Murray moved in for the kill on his wilting opponent, recording two early breaks to go 4-0 up before finishing the match with an emphatic ace.

Jelena Jankovic downs Dinara Safina to win WTA Cincinnati Open

Jelena Jankovic has defeated world No.1 Dinara Safina 6-4 6-2 to win the WTA Cincinnati Open.The No.5 seeded Serb needed an hour and 25 minutes to get past Russia's Safina, who was playing in her eighth final in 14 tournaments this year. Jankovic started the year ranked No.1 in the world, but has seen her ranking drop with a series of lacklustre results. However, she captured her second title of the year, to go with her victory in the claycourt tournament in Marbella in April.

Agence France-Presse

Rusedski Vs Edberg - Black Rock Vale do Lobo

Greg Rusedski will meet Stefan Edberg in a dream final at the Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions CGD after both players came through the round-robin stages undefeated in the Algarve, Portugal.

Rusedski trounced an out-of-sorts Marcelo Rios 6-2, 6-4 as he looks to win his first ATP Champions Tour title, while Edberg overcame Fernando Meligeni 6-3, 6-2.

With the vast majority of the packed crowds in Portugal being British holiday-makers, a final between a British player and a two-time Wimbledon champion is ideal for organisers. Even better was the news that Edberg showed no ill-effects from the thigh strain he sustained the previous day.

Rusedski completed a miserable week for Rios, who has now lost his last six ATP Champions Tour matches. However, the Chilean’s exchange with the on-court post-match interviewer was worth the admission-price on its own. Interviewer: “Is there anything that you can take away from this week here in Portugal?”. Rios: “No.”

It means that Edberg and Rusedski will face each other in a competitive match for only the third time. Their only ATP World Tour encounter came at Wimbledon in 1993. Rusedski lost his serve once in a 7-6(9), 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(5) defeat in the first round. He gained some measure of revenge at The Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall in December last year, beating Edberg 7-6(7) 5-7,10-6 (Champions’ Tie Break).

Despite their lack of meetings over the years, the pair know each other well. Edberg lived in London for many years and they regularly practiced with each other. Rusedski is a big fan of the Swede.

“It’s always nice to see Stefan,” said Rusedski, who will become a father for the second time in October.

“I practiced with him for many years but he’s been living in Sweden the last few years so we haven’t had the chance. He’s a gentleman and a great player and I’m looking forward to playing him in the final.”

The third place play-off will see Meligeni take on Marc-Kevin Goellner, whose opponent Nuno Marques retired injured at 4-6, 4-1.

To be eligible to compete on the ATP Champions Tour, players must be either a former World Number One, a former Grand Slam champion or finalist, or a singles player on a Davis Cup-winning team. Each even can also invite two wild cards of its choice.

Author:

David Law, ATP Champions Tour

Kim Clijsters claims Svetlana Kuznetsova scalp as comeback gathers pace

Clijsters, playing her first tournament in two years, defeated the sixth-seeded Russian 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 and will play either top seeded Russian Dinara Safina or China's Peng Shuai.

"Physically I've been training harder than ever," the Belgian said. "I didn't doubt myself (in the third set).

"I have to say I feel really good. I don't feel tired or drained or anything. Just a few little aches and pains from getting back into playing matches."

Kuznetsova wasn't the only upset victim on Thursday, as Italian Flavia Pennetta ousted third-seeded Venus Williams 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.

Williams had 38 unforced errors, including untimely forehands long in the first-set tiebreaker and a forehand over the baseline on match point.

"I wasn't able to get control of my ball today," Williams said. "After a while, it was obvious to see she was just keeping the ball in play and waiting for me to self-destruct."

Pennetta, fresh from a victory on Sunday in the tournament in Los Angeles, raised her arms in triumph as Williams' last forehand sailed long.

"I'm shaking," said the Italian, adding that such emotion was "very unusual" for her.

"Coming from Los Angeles, I didn't have many days to rest. I was playing like that yesterday, not my best tennis. I was tired. When everything comes together, the emotions go up."

Pennetta will play Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova, who advanced with a 7-6, 0-6, 7-6 victory over seventh-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia.

A few hours later, Venus's younger sister Serena played on the same court and played even worse. She had 44 unforced errors during a 7-5, 6-4 loss to Austria's Sybille Bammer, who reached the quarterfinals of a tournament for only the third time this year.

Eighth-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki also advanced as Hungary's Melinda Czink retired injured while trailing 3-0 in the opening set.

Meligeni: 'Edberg Could Beat Top 50 Players'

Fernando Meligeni will meet Stefan Edberg on Thursday for the right to meet Greg Rusedski in the final of the Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions CGD, and he is under no illusions about how difficult the task will be. The Brazilian saw off Henri Leconte 6-2, 7-5 and afterwards told ATPChampionsTour.com that he believes the 43-year-old Edberg could still beat players currently ranked inside the World’s Top 50. Rusedski earned his final place by beating Nuno Marques 7-6(9), 6-3. “I think, for sure, Stefan could beat a Top 50 player,” said Meligeni.
“He is in incredible shape and he ‘flies’ in the court. It looks too easy for him. When you attack him he slices the ball and keeps it safe. If you don’t, he hits the backhand and closes the net. He is unbelievable. It’s a pleasure to watch him. The key is to make good returns against him, otherwise it is too easy for him. If I can make returns against him I can enjoy the match, otherwise it is going to be tough.”

Leconte, who won a set against Edberg yesterday, believes that Meligeni has a chance. “I think he has the game to hurt Stefan,” said Leconte. “If he plays like he did today against me, he has a chance. Fernando can make the rallies last longer than I can and that will give him a better opportunity.”
As usual, Leconte entertained the crowds even when he wasn’t playing well in the first set. Halfway through his match with Meligeni, he took off his socks and shoes and dived into a nearby swimming pool to cool off in the searing temperatures.
Meligeni, who boasts more than 8,000 ‘followers’ on his Twitter page - http://www.twitter.com/meligeni, is currently in a fantastic mood after being informed that Andy Murray’s mother, Judy, loves watching his left-handed game. “It is a pleasure for me to hear this!” he said.
Later in the day, Rusedski needed to be at his best to save a set point against Marques in a first set Tie-Break. With the two left-handers throwing themselves into serves, ground-strokes and volleys, the quality was high throughout and Marques earned his set point at 9-8 in the Tie-Break with a flashing single-handed backhand. Rusedski hung in to break back, and ultimately won the Tie-Break 11-9, before sealing victory 6-3 in the second set. Stefan Edberg kept his 100% career-record against Thomas Muster in-tact with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2 win over the former World No.1.
Elsewhere, Marcelo Rios’ dismal form continued as he lost his fifth consecutive match on the ATP Champions Tour. The Chilean, who won the first six tournaments he contested when he joined the Tour in 2006, went down 6-2, 7-6 to Marc-Kevin Goellner. Rios lost all of his matches in Sao Paulo in May, he has lost two matches here in Algarve and will hope to arrest the decline against Rusedski in a dead rubber on Thursday.
To be eligible to compete on the ATP Champions Tour, players must be either a former World Number One, a former Grand Slam champion or finalist, or a singles player on a Davis Cup-winning team. Each even can also invite two wild cards of its choice.
To view the day's results and the rest of the week’s order of play in Algarve, click on Results. For the most up-to-the-minute scores, gossip and chat from behind the scenes, follow us on Twitter. Take an inside look at the ATP Champions Tour event in Algarve with our new Photo Gallery.
After Algarve, the ATP Champions Tour will move on to Paris, France for the Trophee Jean Luc Lagardere, 24-27 September.

Vale do Lobo Grand Champions, Rios Routed by Nuno Marques

Marcelo Rios' unbeaten streak in Portugal came to an abrupt and humbling end.
Until tonight, Rios had owned the Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions CGD in the Algarve, Portugal. The Chilean had won the title in both of his previous appearances (2006 and 2008), winning all eight of the matches he had contested. Against wild card and home favorite Nuno Marques, that run ended emphatically as he went down 6-1, 6-2 in just 55 minutes.
A day of upsets continued when Sao Paulo finalist Fernando Meligeni defeated former World No.1 Thomas Muster 6-4, 4-6, 10-3 (Champions’ Tie Break).
Watching the left-handed Marques serve and volley his way to victory against Rios made one wonder how the Portuguese player had not broken into the Top 50 during his career. He regularly rendered Rios defenseless by pushing the Chilean off-balance, and then finishing points at the net.
For Rios, sporting a severe, spiky hair-do and a sleeveless shirt to show off the work he had been doing in the gym, nothing went right. The timing and angles for which he is famous were conspicuous by their absence, and his vanquisher wondered whether the Chilean was injured.
"It was a great win of course at a tournament that means so much to me but Marcelo wasn’t at his best," said Marques "He was having trouble moving and reaching difficult balls. I don’t think the result would have been like this if he had been at his best."
Rios would not have argued with that assessment, but he also refused to make any excuses. "I wasn’t injured. I just didn’t play well," he said.
For Marques, to play in the event is a dream-come-true.
"The event is in my country and it’s one of the very few opportunities to play these top guys. Some of them were my idols when I was younger — guys like Stefan Edberg. It’s a big honor to play this tournament," he said.

Elsewhere, Meligeni was in fine form to see off Muster, while Greg Rusedski made an impressive debut at the Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions CGD with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Marc-Kevin Goellner.
A cracking final match of the day saw Stefan Edberg, looking more 23 than 43, overcome Henri Leconte 6-2, 6-7(5), 10-3 (Champions’ Tie Break). Edberg still weighs the same as when he retired 13 years ago, and Leconte has recently lost nine kilos in weight. It showed.
All players in each group will play each other over a round-robin format, and after all round-robin matches are complete, the top player in each group will meet in the final. The runners-up in each group will play off for the third place position. Matches are played over the best of three sets with a Champions’ Tie Break (first to 10 points with a clear advantage of two) deciding the winner of matches that are tied at one-set-all.

After Algarve, the ATP Champions Tour will move on to Paris, France for the Trophee Jean Luc Lagardere, September 24-27.

Kim Clijsters beats Bartoli in comeback match

A tough first-round opponent who just won a big tournament, beating Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic along the way, awaited 26-year-old Kim Clijsters as she made her return to pro tennis Monday night.

And Clisters dismissed Marion Bartoli of France, a Wimbledon finalist two years ago, 6-4, 6-3 as though it was nothing at all.
It took an hour and 22 minutes. The statistics weren't too pretty. But Clijsters had 10 break points against her serve, and she saved eight of them. So much for needing to be "match tough" in the important moments.
No doubt Clijsters was running on sheer adrenaline in this first one back.
Her next match will be against another veteran Patty Schyder, a familiar face against whom she is 5-2, and always took routine care of on fast surfaces. She can't ask for much more.
And it looks like she's got a bitchin' tan, too.

Montreal Crisis Center, Day 2 (BY Peter Bodo)

Pete Bodo is away until 12th August. In the meantime please continue your tennis-related discussions here, saving any off-topic conversations until the day's matches are over.


Hi everyone. Today's tennis in Montreal begins shortly. I'm looking forward to the first match - Lleyton Hewitt up against Juan Carlos Ferrero; both former world number ones have been in good form lately. They haven't played each other much in recent years; the last time was in 2007, also in Montreal, on which occasion Hewitt won in straight sets. Simultaneously on the second show court, Nikolay Davydenko and Paul-Henri Mathieu will be reprising their recent final in Hamburg, followed by Feliciano Lopez and Fernado Verdasco, on opposite sides of the net for a change.
All of the top four are in action; Andy Murray takes on Jeremy Chardy second on Court Central, followed by Novak Djokovic and the Canadian player Peter Polansky. Roger Federer and another Canadian, Frederic Niemeyer, headline the evening session. After his first opponent is decided (between Viktor Troicki and David Ferrer), Rafael Nadal will also be appearing, in his second doubles match of the week.
Matches we won't even see (on Court 9) include encounters between Philipp Kolschreiber and Tomas Berdych, and Tommy Haas and Ivo Karlovic. With all this, and also wins yesterday by Gael Monfils (over Marat Safin - what's new? But at least it was a three-setter!) and Kim Clijsters (at the WTA event in Cincy, over Marion Bartoli) - and even the instantly-recognisable somewhat-missed voice of Mohamed Lahyani back in the chair - it feels as though the tour is back in full swing at last.
As for today's picture - well, how many more excuses will we have to feature Marat here?As usual, enjoy today's tennis.

Rosangel Valenti For Peter Bodo

Guy Forget

Guy Forget (French pronunciation: [gi fɔʁʒe]; born 4 January 1965 in Casablanca, Morocco) is a former French professional tennis player. During his career, he helped France win the Davis Cup in both 1991 and 1996. Since retiring as a player, he has served as France's Davis Cup team captain.

Country
France
Residence
Boca Raton, Florida
Date of birth
4 January 1965 (1965-01-04) (age 44)
Place of birth
Casablanca, Morocco
Height
1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight
80 kg (180 lb; 13 st)
Turned pro
1982
Retired
1997
Plays
Left-handed; one-handed backhand
Career prize money
US$5,669,934
Singles
Career record
380–291
Career titles
11
Highest ranking
4 (on 25 March 1991)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open
QF (1991, 1993)
French Open
4R (1986, 1991)
Wimbledon
QF (1991, 1992, 1994)
US Open
4R (1992, 1996)
Doubles
Career record
387–182
Career titles
28
Highest ranking
3 (on 18 August 1986)

Richard Krajicek

Richard Peter Stanislav Krajicek (born 6 December 1971) is a Dutch former professional tennis player. In 1996 he won the men's singles title at Wimbledon, the only Dutch player to have done so; in the quarterfinals of that tournament he defeated Pete Sampras, in Sampras's only singles defeat at Wimbledon between 1993 and 2000. Since 2004 he has been the tournament director of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. He is also the author of various sports books.

Country Netherlands
Residence Muiderberg, Netherlands
Date of birth 6 December 1971 (1971-12-06) (age 37)
Place of birth Rotterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 89 kg (200 lb; 14.0 st)
Turned pro 1989
Retired 2003
Plays Right-handed; one-handed backhand
Career prize money $10,077,425
Singles Career record 411–219
Career titles 17
Highest ranking #4 (29 March 1999)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open SF (1992)
French Open SF (1993)
Wimbledon W (1996)
US Open QF (1997, 1999, 2000)
Doubles Career record 77–60
Career titles 3
Highest ranking #45 (26 July 1993)

Boris Becker

Boris Franz Becker (born 22 November 1967, in Leimen, West Germany) is a former World No 1 professional tennis player from Germany. He is a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and the youngest-ever winner of the men's singles title at Wimbledon at the age of 17. Since he retired from the professional tour, media work and his personal life have kept him in the headlines.

Country
West Germany (1983–1990)
Germany (from 1990)
Residence
Schwyz, Switzerland
Date of birth
22 November 1967 (1967-11-22) (age 41)
Place of birth
Leimen, West Germany
Height
1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight
85 kg (190 lb; 13.4 st)
Turned pro
1984
Retired
30 June 1999
Plays
Right-handed; one-handed backhand
Career prize money
US $25,080,956
4th All-time leader in earnings
Singles
Career record:
713–214 (76.91%)
Career titles:
49
Highest ranking:
No. 1 (28 January 1991)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open
W (1991, 1996)
French Open
SF (1987, 1989, 1991)
Wimbledon
W (1985, 1986, 1989)
US Open
W (1989)
Major tournaments
Tour Finals
W (1988, 1992, 1995)
Olympic Games
3R (1992)
Doubles
Career record:
254–136
Career titles:
15
Highest ranking:
6 (22 September 1986)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open
QF (1985)
Major doubles tournaments
Olympic Games
W (1992)

Hana Mandlíková

Hana Mandlíková (born 19 February 1962, in Prague is a former professional tennis player from the Czech Republic. During her career, she won four Grand Slam singles titles – two at the Australian Open, one at the French Open, and one at the US Open. She was the runner-up at four Grand Slam singles events and won one Grand Slam women's doubles title, the US Open in 1989 with Martina Navratilova. Beginning with the 1980 US Open and extending through Wimbledon in 1981, Mandlíková played in four consecutive Grand Slam singles finals.
Struggling with injuries and a lack of confidence, Mandlíková retired at the relatively early age of 28.

Hana Mandlíková
Country : Czechoslovakia Australia
Residence : Prague, Czech Republic & Sanctuary Cove, Australia
Date of birth : 19 February 1962 (1962-02-19) (age 47)
Place of birth : Prague
Height : 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight : 59.8 kg (132 lb; 9.42 st)
Turned pro : 1978
Retired : 1990
Plays : Right-handed
Career prize money : US$ 3,340,959
Singles Career record: : 567–195
Career titles: 26
Highest ranking: No. 3 (30 April 1984)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open : W (1980, 1987)
French Open : W (1981)
Wimbledon : F (1981, 1986)
US Open : W (1985)

Reebok

Reebok International Limited is a producer of athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories and is currently a subsidiary of German sportswear giant Adidas. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle. The company, founded in England in 1895, was originally called J.W. FOSTER & SONS but was renamed Reebok in 1958. The company's founders, Joe and Jeff Foster, found the name in a dictionary won in a race by Joe Foster as a boy; the dictionary was a South African edition, hence the spelling.

some of the known tennis players endorsed by Reebok trough times:

Michael Chang

Miloslav Mecir
Nicolas Almagro

Jelena Jankovic

Andy Roddick (former)

Miloslav Mecir

Miloslav Mečíř (born 19 May 1964) is a former professional tennis player from Slovakia. He is best remembered for having won the men's singles gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics for the former Czechoslovakia and for having played in two Grand Slam singles finals.

Mečíř was a finesse player whose career straddled the transition from wooden and metal racquets towards modern graphite composites. He was noted for his touch shots as well as the ability to disguise his shots, particularly his two-handed backhand. His court coverage and graceful footwork earned him the nickname "The Big Cat". The French called him "Le Prestidigitateur" (The Conjuror).
Many top players used to cite Mečíř as the one player they most enjoyed watching because of his beautifully simple style and touch. Interestingly, he was known as the "Swede Basher" for the success that he had against Swedish players, especially Mats Wilander.

Nickname(s) Big Cat, Gattone
Country Czechoslovakia
Residence Prague, Czech Republic
Date of birth 19 May 1964
Place of birth Bojnice, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 81 kg (180 lb; 12.8 st)
Turned pro 1982
Retired 1990
Plays Right-handed; two-handed backhand
Career prize money $2,632,538
Singles Career record: 262 - 122
Career titles: 11
Highest ranking: No. 4 (February 22, 1988)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open F (1989)
French Open SF (1987 )
Wimbledon SF (1988)
US Open F (1986)
Major tournaments
Olympic Games Gold medal (1988)

Tournagrip

TOURNA-GRIP® the Original Light Blue Grip® is the choice of Professionals.
Used by the legendary Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and Jim Courier as well as current pro's like James Blake, The Bryan Brothers, John Isner, Sam Querry, Mardy Fish, Vince Spadea, Venus Williams, & Maria Sharapova, just to name a few.
These players demand not only top performance but consistent, exacting quality. This is why more touring pro's use Tourna-Grip® than any other overgrip, just look for the light blue grip on their rackets.
The secret is that Tourna-Grip® actually performs better with moisture when all other overgrips on the market get slippery with moisture. When the match is tight, and every point counts, the last thing you need to worry about is your grip slipping.
Tourna-Grip® is made from only the finest, highest quality materials available in the world. We blend layer upon layer using a proprietary, precision based manufacturing process. We then wrap each individual grip with a special liner to keep it in perfect condition.

Marc Rosset

Marc Rosset (born 7 November 1970, in Geneva, Switzerland) is a former professional tennis player from Switzerland who is best remembered for winning the men's singles Gold Medal at the 1992 Olympic Games.
Rosset first came to prominence as a junior tennis player who was ranked No. 4 in the world junior rankings in 1988.
Rosset turned professional in 1988 and won his first tour singles title in 1989 Geneva as a wildcard defeating Guillermo Pérez Roldán. His first doubles title was also won in Geneva in 1991 (partnering Sergi Bruguera).
1992 was the pinnacle of Rosset's career. Representing Switzerland at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, he defeated several big-name players on route to qualifying for the men's singles final, including Jim Courier, Goran Ivanišević, Wayne Ferreira and Emilio Sánchez. In the final, he faced Spain's Jordi Arrese and won an exciting five-set match 7–6, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6, 8–6 to claim the Gold Medal. Rosset also won the 1992 French Open men's doubles title (partnering Jakob Hlasek). And Rosset was a member of the Swiss team which reached the final of the 1992 Davis Cup. Switzerland lost in the final to the United States despite Rosset winning a five-set singles rubber against Jim Courier (who was ranked the World No. 1 at the time).
Rosset's most memorable Davis Cup match came in defeat in a singles rubber against Arnaud Clément of France in 2001, which he lost 15–13 in the fifth set after 5 hours and 46 minutes. During the later years of his playing career, Rosset also served as the Swiss Davis Cup team captain.
Rosset also enjoyed success playing in other international team competitions for Switzerland. In 1996, he was a member of the teams which won the World Team Cup and finished runners-up in the Hopman Cup.
At 2.01 metres (6 ft 7 in) Rosset was one of the game's tallest players throughout his career. He held a reputatation for being one of the most powerful servers in tennis. He was one of the game's fastest servers and most prolific servers of aces for most of his career.
Rosset had a lucky escape in 1998, when he changed his flight plans after a first-round defeat at the US Open. The flight he had originally planned to take, Swissair Flight 111, crashed in the Atlantic Ocean killing all on board.
Rosset's career-high ATP singles ranking was World No. 9, and his career-high doubles ranking was World No. 8. He won a total of 15 top-level singles titles and 8 doubles titles. He won at least one singles title on all surfaces – clay, grass, carpet and hardcourt. His career prize-money totalled US$6,812,693. He announced his retirement as a player in October 2005.

Country
Switzerland
Residence
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Date of birth
7 November 1970 (1970-11-07) (age 38)
Place of birth
Geneva, Switzerland
Height
6'7" (200 cm)
Weight
194 lb (88 kg
Turned pro
1988
Retired
3 September 2006
Plays
Right
Career prize money
$6,812,693
Singles
Career record:
433–351
Career titles:
15
Highest ranking:
No. 9 (11 September 1995)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open
QF (1999)
French Open
SF (1996)
Wimbledon
4th (1992)
US Open
4th (1995)
Major tournaments
Olympic Games
Gold medal (1992)

Luxilon

Luxilon Industries NV is the manufacturer of a wide range of unique strings for racquet sports such as tennis, squash and badminton. Nobody else manufactures this kind of string and nobody equals our quality.
From 2002 and then 5 years onwards, Luxilon tennis strings were selected to be the official string of the ATP ® (Association of Tennis Professionals). Luxilon is now the number 1 string on tour. As from 2004, Luxilon Big Banger tennis strings was and still is the official string of the WTA (Women's Tennis Association).
Entirely in accordance with the level of our other products Luxilon tennis strings meet the highest standards as proven by numerous lab tests and on court. Our range of strings are used by more than 60% of the ATP Top 100 players and approximately 45% of the WTA Top 100 players.

Asics Gel Encourage (A.K.A: Asics Gel Enqvist)

The Asics Gel Encourage is a well cushioned, performance oriented shoe. The Gel Cushioning System is found in both the forefoot and heel area, providing maximum shock absorption for the foot. A soft upper and tongue gives the player a comfortable fit right out of the box. Great on the hard courts, but with a wider herringbone pattern, also a good option for the clay. We found the wide opening beneficial for players wearing an ankle brace, sleeve, or wrap.
Fit: Length fit is true to size. Width fits a bit snug with a glove like feel. Arch support is medium. No break-in required.
Upper: Synthetic leather and polyester-based mesh with Rhyno Skin at the toe are for improved durability. Memory foam lined heel collar (P.H.F) molds to the heel, creating a more personalized fit.
Midsole: Asics Gel Cushioning System in the heel and forefoot as well as SpEVA, pad and protect your feet from constant impact and punishment.
Outsole: Uses AHAR (ASICS High Abrasion Resistant Rubber), for increased outsole durability. A modified herringbone pattern makes this shoe a good choice for multiple surfaces.
Weight: 15.5 ounces (size 10.5)
Color: White / Grey

This Shoes is Best Known for it's previous incarnation as the Asics Gel Enqvist Plus used by Thomas Enqvist

Guillermo Coria

Guillermo Sebastián Coria (born January 13, 1982 in Rufino, Santa Fe Province), nicknamed El Mago (The Magician in Spanish), is a retired professional tennis player from Argentina. He was named after tennis champion and fellow countryman Guillermo Vilas. Coria currently uses the Head MicroGel Radical Pro. His racquet is strung with Luxilon Big Banger Original 16 String at a relatively low tension (50-52 pounds). His clothing sponsor is adidas. El Mago attended preschool with David Nalbandian in Argentina. He is a well known River Plate fan.


Nickname(s): El Mago
Country: Argentina
Residence : Venado Tuerto, Argentina
Date of birth_ 13 January 1982 (1982-01-13) (age 27)
Place of birth: Rufino, Santa Fe, Argentina
Height : 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight : 71 kg (160 lb; 11.2 st)
Turned pro : 2000
Retired : 2009
Plays: Right-handed; two-handed backhand
Career prize money : $5,817,486
Singles
Career record : 216–106
Career titles : 9
Highest ranking : No. 3 (May 3, 2004)Grand Slam results
Australian Open: 4R (2003, 2005)
French Open : F (2004)
Wimbledon : 4R (2005)
US Open : QF (2003, 2005)

DoublesCareer record:9-22
Career titles:0
Highest ranking:No. 183 (March 1, 2004)
Australian Open : 1R (2003)
Wimbledon : 1R (2004)

Yonex

Yonex Co., Ltd. (ヨネックス株式会社 ,Yonekkusu Kabushiki-gaisha?) (TYO: 7906) is a Japanese manufacturer of sporting equipment for badminton, golf and tennis, producing racquets, clubs, shoes, shuttlecocks, and other equipment for those sports.
The company was founded in 1946 by Minoru Yoneyama as a producer of wooden floats for fishing nets. The company was later forced out of this market because of the invention of plastic floats. This led to a commitment by Yoneyama to never again be left behind by technological advancements. In 1957, Yoneyama began to make badminton racquets for other brands. By 1961, the first Yoneyama branded racquet was introduced, and within another two years an export company was created for the worldwide distribution. After the company began to make aluminum badminton racquets in 1969, it found that the same technology could be applied to the tennis racquet which the company introduced in 1971. The company began to experiment with graphite shafts for both types of racquets and found that these would also be useful for golf clubs. Finding a growing market, the Yonex Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary) was established in Torrance, California in July 1983. In 1992 Yonex introduced the widebody racquet the "Isometric 500", a racquet that was much less "tear drop" shaped than previous racquets. The more "square" head of the racquet gave it a much larger striking surface, which provides a larger "sweet spot" to hit the shuttle. It led other manufacturers to follow suit in "square-head" or isometric designs. The parent company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1994.

[edit] Yonex in professional tennis
The list of current players includes:
Male Players:
Lleyton Hewitt
David Nalbandian
Mischa Zverev
Mario Ančić
Paradorn Srichaphan
Juan Mónaco
Joachim Johansson
Female Players:
Kimiko Date
Elena Dementieva
Martina Hingis
Su-Wei Hsieh
Ana Ivanović
Zheng Jie
Maria Kirilenko
Anna Kournikova
Michaëlla Krajicek
Monica Seles
Aleksandra Wozniak
Nicole Vaidišová
Yan Zi