2010 Players Of The Year - Djokovic, Murray, Soderling

by ATP Staff
09.12.2010

ATPWorldTour.com reviews the best players of the year, beginning with the World No. 3 to No. 5.

Novak Djokovic

For the fourth straight year, Novak Djokovic finished as the world’s No. 3 player. But in contrast to the previous seasons, 2010 was crowned not by his individual achievements, but by the collective effort of the Davis Cup team.

Djokovic was the backbone of the Serbian squad, going 7-0 in singles rubbers to lead the nation past the United States, Croatia, the Czech Republic and France. In the final, he kept the country’s hopes afloat after it’d fallen behind 0-1 and 1-2, drawing Serbia level with France each time and giving countryman Viktor Troicki the chance to become the hero with victory in the Cup-clinching fifth rubber.

Showing their solidarity, the 2008 Australian Open champion and teammates followed through on their promise of shaving their heads if they won the Davis Cup, each taking turns to complete the ritual on centre court at Belgrade Arena. Djokovic stated afterwards, “This is by far, individually and for the team, the best achievement in our career by far… Definitely the best feeling that we have experienced on a tennis court, ever."

In 2010, Djokovic also managed to break – albeit temporarily – the stronghold of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the top two spots in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, holding down the No. 2 position for 26 weeks during the season and entering Roland Garros in a three-way battle for the No. 1 ranking.

At the US Open, Djokovic took part in one of the most memorable matches of the season when he saved two match points to defeat Federer in a five-set semi-final. Though he lost to Nadal in his third appearance in a Grand Slam final, Djokovic collected titles No. 17 and 18 during the season as he successfully defended his crowns at Dubai and Beijing.

But he finished the year with two question marks going into 2011. Can he finally push higher than No. 3 in the year-end rankings next season, and will he go a third year without adding to his first Grand Slam title won at the 2008 Australian Open?

Andy Murray

The weight of a nation’s expectations was never more evident than at this year’s Australian Open. Andy Murray had fueled Great Britain’s hopes of its first Grand Slam champion since 1934, getting his 2010 campaign off to a stellar start as he made his way into the championship match without losing a set. But in a repeat of the 2008 US Open final, the Scot came up short to Roger Federer and said during a tearful trophy presentation, “Sorry I couldn't do it for you tonight. I can cry like Roger, it's just a shame I can't play like him.”

But Murray showed that he could indeed play like Federer; his best results of the 2010 season would come against the Swiss, whom he would meet on the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 stages at Toronto and Shanghai. He defeated Federer in straight sets on both occasions to claim the titles, with his triumph at Toronto made sweeter by his victory over Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. Murray, who became the fifth different player to defeat Federer and Nadal in the same tournament, said, “Winning a tournament is always great, but it's the first time I beat Roger and Rafa in the same tournament, which is probably the most pleasing thing, and then didn't drop a set against either of them.”

Murray also posted solid results in the U.K. capital, reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals for a second straight year – with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in attendance – and the semi-finals at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, where he lost to Nadal in one of the best matches of the year. Murray reclaimed the No. 4 ranking with his showing at the season-ending finale, marking the first time in 25 years that the same quartet of players finished among the Top 4 for three straight years.

Robin Soderling

Robin Soderling’s 2010 season started off with surprising first round exits at Chennai and the Australian Open, leaving some observers to wonder if his stunning 2009 breakthrough was a one-off.

But the Swede brushed aside memories of the rocky start by winning the ATP World Tour 500 title in February at Rotterdam and continued his climb in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings with semi-final showings at the hard-court ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami and a runner-up finish on clay in Barcelona.

One year removed from his breakout performance at Roland Garros, the Swede proved that his run was no fluke. He played the role of giant killer for a second straight year, ousting defending champion Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, and finished the week second to only Rafael Nadal. He continued to prove his status as one of the circuit’s best as he reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the first time and at the US Open for a second straight year.

Soderling’s consistency following the year’s final major helped him attain a career-high No. 4 ranking, as he reached the quarter-finals or better in all six of his tournament appearances to conclude the regular ATP World Tour season, capped by his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the BNP Paribas Masters.

“I feel like I’m improving and I like being a top player," said Soderling, who finished the year at No. 5. "It is what I have worked hard for. This is where I want to be.”

Elena Dementieva Retires: Farewell to the last Girl Scout

World No.9 Elena Dementieva has announced her surprise retirement from tennis while still near the top of the game, a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Francesca Schiavone at the WTA Championships counting as the last of the consistent Russian's 847 matches over 13 seasons.

The Beijing Olympic gold medallist and two-time grand slam finalist revealed her decision at an emotional on-court presentation attended by her peers, having qualified for the championships for the 10th time in 11 years. Dementieva, 29, won 16 career titles, including two — the Sydney International and Paris Indoors — in 2010, and was runner-up at both the French and US Opens in 2004.

She reached a career-high No.3 in singles in April, 2009 and was also a top-five player in doubles. Her serve was often a liability, but her groundstrokes and athleticism among the best in the game over a sustained period.

"This year is very special for me becuase this is my last tournament," Dementieva told the crowd at the Khalifa Tennis Complex, as the likes of Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka shed tears near the net. She paid tribute to her mother Vera, who has also been her coach and constant companion, while compatriot Vera Zvonareva paid tribute to Dementieva's contribution to the game.

Her 576th and last match win was against Australian Sam Stosur on Thursday night

Muster celebrates Tour comeback at 43

By ERIC WILLEMSEN
Associated Press Writer
Associated Press Sports

VIENNA (AP) -Former top-ranked Thomas Muster will celebrate his return to the ATP Tour at the age of 43 at the Bank Austria Trophy on Austria's National Holiday.

Muster will play fellow Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer on Tuesday in his first match back on the tour since losing in the first round of 1999 French Open.

Muster was handed a wild card and was scheduled to play fifth-seeded Ernests Gulbis, but organizers said Monday that the 24th-ranked Latvian had withdrawn for "personal reasons" and will be replaced by lucky loser Haider-Maurer.

"For me, every opponent would have been a huge challenge," Muster said before being told of Gulbis's withdrawal. "I have one advantage - I won't freeze when I enter the Stadthalle. It's a usual feeling to me."

Muster first played in the Vienna event 26 years ago, reaching the final three times but failing to win the tournament.

The 157th-ranked Haider-Maurer pulled out of qualification with a thigh injury earlier Monday but expected to be healthy again for Tuesday's match.

"I will only go on court when I am 100 percent fit," the 23-year old Haider-Maurer said. "On paper, Thomas Muster is one of the easiest draws in the first round but with his experience and the spectators getting behind him, he will play his best tennis."

Muster became Austria's most successful tennis player ever by winning 44 titles, most notably the French Open in 1995, and holding the No. 1 spot for six weeks the next year.

By then, Muster had already staged a remarkable comeback to professional tennis.

His career was almost ruined when he severely damaged his left knee when his car was hit by a drunk driver before the final of the 1989 Key Biscayne tournament. He was back on tour less than six months later.

Muster never formally retired from professional tennis but said in 1999 he would "go on a holiday."

Muster has since been playing on the Champions Tour but suddenly announced his comeback to competitive tennis in June.

"(I'm) getting better every day, feeling the ball well, playing great shots, that still gives me a kick," said Muster, who managed just one win in seven matches on the second-tier Challenger circuit this season.

"I won't set my goals too high but will just play my best tennis and we'll see where it brings me," he said. "Many players ask me if I want to train with them. That's the biggest reward I could possibly get."

Muster returns to the main tour at 43, the same age as Jimmy Connors when he retired in 1996.

Manager Ronnie Leitgeb, who coached the Austrian in his heyday, is skeptical about his former pupil's comeback.

"I am really worrying that he might overdo it physically," Leitgeb said. "He is at an age now with physiological borders, which you can't and shouldn't pass."

Muster, who earned career prize money of more than $12.2 million, denied that his return to top-level tennis is a one-off and said he aims to play as many as 25 tournaments in 2011.

"Next season will be a mix of Challenger events and some of these (like Vienna)," Muster said.

Muster said he has been working hard on coordination and physical fitness but admitted he is lacking match practice.

"It's like completing a puzzle," he said. "There still are several pieces which have to fit in."

The final four at WTA Championships, Doha

DOHA, Qatar - With an ace on match point, Kim Clijsters defeated Victoria Azarenka in a competitive three-setter, 64 57 61, and locked in the final four line-up at the WTA Championships - Doha 2010. Clijsters, Samantha Stosur, Caroline Wozniacki and Vera Zvonareva will be in the semifinals.

After losing an incredibly tight 65-minute second set it was all Clijsters in the third, as she needed just 26 minutes to prevail, her ninth win in a row on the WTA (she went 7-0 to win the US Open and also won her first match here).

"It's a matter of time. It's work, and I know I'm going to improve. I just need more time," Azarenka said after the match. "Next year I'm going to be stronger."

Clijsters is now 2-0 in her group, as is Zvonareva; the two will meet on Friday, with the winner to finish No.1 in their group and the other No.2. Azarenka and Jelena Jankovic, both 0-2 so far, will also play to determine No.3 and No.4.

The Top 2 in the other group were settled, with Stosur No.1 and Wozniacki No.2. Elena Dementieva and Francesca Schiavone will play for No.3.

Victoria Azarenka reaches Kremlin Cup final in Moscow

From BBC News


Victoria Azarenka booked her place in the final of the Kremlin Cup with a 6-3 6-3 win over Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in Moscow.

The Belarussian, in her fourth final of the year, will play Maria Kirilenko, who beat Vera Dushevina 6-1 6-1.

Azarenka is chasing her fifth career win and second this year after beating Maria Sharapova in Stanford in July.

The 21-year-old has already qualified for next week's season-ending WTA Tour championships in Doha.

Azarenka saved two break points in the opening game and did not face another one in the rest of the match. She broke the 28th-ranked Sanchez in the sixth game of the first set and in the first and eighth games of the second.

"Sanchez is such a player that you never know what to expect from her," said Azarenka, who lost to the Spaniard twice earlier this season.

"I've chosen the right tactics against her today and didn't allow her to change the rhythm or advance to the net to attack as she likes doing. I've fought for every ball and that was the key to my victory."

On the men's front, Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas takes on Serbian Viktor Troicki in the first semi-final followed by fourth-seeded Cypriot Macos Baghdatis against Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

Victoria Azarenka secures WTA Tour final place

Source: BBC News

Victoria Azarenka secures WTA Tour final place

Victoria Azarenka has clinched her place in next week's season-ending WTA Tour Championships for the second year in a row.

The Belarussian world number 10 achieved the feat by beating Andrea Petkovic in three sets to reach the second round of the Kremlin Cup.

Azarenka will replace Serena Williams in the event which starts on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar.

Williams withdrew on Tuesday because of a re-torn tendon in her right foot.

Azarenka and Li Na of China were the two substitutes for the tournament, but Li, who was five points ahead of Azarenka in the standings, lost in the first round in Moscow and will remain top substitute.

Azarenka, who won the last five games of the match to beat Petkovic 6-4 2-6 6-1, said afterwards: "My nerves were right on the edge.

"Every player wants to play in Doha and I'm happy I turned the match my way in the third set."

The men's tournament lost three of its leading players after Russian defending champion Mikhail Youzhny pulled out with a virus after losing a doubles match while top seed Nikolay Davydenko and eighth seed Janko Tipsaravic were knocked out.

Davydenko was shocked 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) by Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay while Tipsaravic, who struggled with pain in his lower back, was upset by Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 4-6 6-4 6-3.

Kim Clijsters Wins U.S. Open After Beating Vera Zvonareva

NEW YORK — Kim Clijsters' 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Jada, spent Saturday evening in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium, munching on a thick slice of watermelon, then savoring some candy.

Sort of like "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" – except how many children get to watch Mom win a Grand Slam title?

Her game as good as can be on hard courts, Clijsters won a second consecutive U.S. Open championship and third overall by easily beating Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1 in a final that lasted 59 minutes and lacked any drama – perfect for a tot's short attention span.

"I'm glad to be standing here as the winner now. New York is an amazing place for me," said the 27-year-old Clijsters, a Belgian whose husband is from New Jersey. "The U.S. Open brings nothing but happiness to my tennis life."

She is the first woman since Venus Williams in 2000-01 to win the title in Flushing Meadows two years in a row. And Clijsters' U.S. Open winning streak is actually up to 21 matches because she also won the 2005 title. She missed the tournament in 2006 because of injuries, including wrist surgery, and skipped it the next two years while taking time off to get married and have a baby.

"It's been an incredible year being back. This is the first time I've been able to defend my title here at the U.S. Open," Clijsters said, reaching down to fix Jada's hair, getting mussed in the breeze. "The conditions have been very hard the last two weeks with wind – I've always tried to keep her curls down. I'm always hoping."

Last year in New York, when Jada pranced around the court during the postmatch ceremony, Clijsters became the first mother since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to take home a Grand Slam trophy.

On Saturday, in addition to another championship, Clijsters was awarded $2.2 million – the winner's check of $1.7 million, plus another $500,000 for finishing second in the U.S. Open Series standings that take into account hard-court tuneup tournaments.

"I've always felt more comfortable on this surface. Not just this year, but even when I was 14, 15, 16," Clijsters said in an interview the week before the U.S. Open began. "Everything comes easier."

Sure does, nowadays.

After losing the first four Grand Slam finals of her career, Clijsters has won her last three. Perhaps that will give some hope to Russia's Zvonareva, who is now 0-2 in major championship matches, after losing to Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final in July.

Not since 1995 has a U.S. Open women's final lasted three sets, and this one wasn't about to end that trend. Indeed, you have to go back to 1976 to find a women's final in which the loser won only three games.

Put simply, the second-seeded Clijsters was too dominant; the seventh-seeded Zvonareva too shaky.

"She didn't really give me chances to get into the match," Zvonareva said. "But I also think that physically today she was just much better."

Over and over, Clijsters would scramble to balls that seemed out of reach and get them back over the net, sometimes doing full splits right there along the baseline. She compiled a 17-6 edge in winners, and made nine fewer unforced errors than Zvonareva, 24-15.

Clijsters broke twice to take the first set, and she did it by letting Zvonareva cause her own problems. Clijsters needed only four winners in that set, because Zvonareva made 13 unforced errors, including dumping a backhand into the net on the last point.

After that mistake, Zvonareva told a ballkid to get out of the way, so she could take a practice swing on her backhand side.

Didn't work.

When Zvonareva failed to get to a backhand and fell behind 40-love in the opening game of the second set, she cracked her racket against the court twice, breaking it, and earning a warning from the chair umpire.

"I was trying to find a way to pump myself up, to change something up," Zvonareva explained later.

But things only got worse for Zvonareva, known for losing her temper during matches.

She yelled at herself after two unforced errors in the second game of that set, and proceeded to double-fault to get broken at love and trail 2-0. All things considered, it was nothing compared to the tantrum Zvonareva threw in her fourth-round loss at last year's U.S. Open, when she wasted six match points. She bawled. She pounded her palm on her leg while sitting on the court. She slammed her racket against her leg. She begged the chair umpire to let her have some scissors so she could cut tape off her knees.

Zvonareva seemed to be much better at harnessing her emotions of late, perhaps thanks in part to her habit of placing a towel over her head during changeovers to block out distractions. That worked wonders at Wimbledon this summer, and for nearly two weeks at the U.S. Open.

But Clijsters never gave her a chance to get into this match. It was so lopsided, CBS analyst John McEnroe felt compelled to tell viewers early in the second set: "This might be the most I've ever wanted Kim Clijsters to lose serve. She's such a great person, but this is difficult to watch right now."

It wouldn't get any better from Zvonareva's perspective.

She never had made it past the fourth round at the U.S. Open before, but she won all 12 sets she played to get to the final, including during her upset of No. 1-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals.

About a half-hour before the final, Zvonareva and her coach, Sergey Demekhin, were alone on a patio outside the stadium, warming up with some stretching and hand-eye-coordination exercises. For a few minutes, Zvonareva made like a circus performer and juggled three tennis balls.

Once out on the court with Clijsters, though, one ball was more than Zvonareva could handle.

Her victory complete, Clijsters picked up Jada, cradling her in the crook of her left elbow, while holding the U.S. Open trophy in her right hand as photographers snapped away.

Moments later, after being plopped in a chair by Mom, Jada pointed to the nearby cameras and said, "No photos."

Kim Clijsters advances at U.S. Open 2010 1st Round

NEW YORK -- Defending champion Kim Clijsters struggled to find her footing on a windy day before recovering in time to win her 15th straight match at the U.S. Open.

The second-seeded Belgian beat Hungary's Greta Arn 6-0, 7-5 in the first round Monday. She fell behind 4-0 in the second set, and the 104th-ranked Arn had a chance to serve out the set at 5-4. But Clijsters got the break, then did it again to clinch the straight-set victory.

Kim Clijsters fell behind 4-0 in the second set, but rallied to beat Greta Arn 6-0, 7-5 on Monday.
"I'm just glad to finish that second set off and not let it go three sets," she said.

Clijsters said she had some trouble adjusting her strokes when she was playing with or against the wind. What wasn't troubling her much was the left hip that bothered her during a tuneup tournament earlier this month.

A year ago, Clijsters was a wild-card entry in only her third tournament back after 2½ years away from the sport. Now she's one of the favorites to win the Open.

Melanie Oudin and Francesca Schiavone also know how quickly perceptions can change. Oudin struggled with higher expectations since her crowd-pleasing run to the U.S. Open quarterfinals last year. So did Schiavone after her breakthrough French Open title in June.

But neither showed any signs of the pressure in cruising to dominant first-round wins.

Oudin, the 18-year-old from Marietta, Ga., needed just 56 minutes to beat Olga Savchuk of Ukraine 6-3, 6-0. Schiavone, the Italian who won her first Grand Slam weeks before her 30th birthday, dispatched Ayumi Morita of Japan 6-1, 6-0 in 58 minutes.


If anything, Schiavone seems to be having fun in the spotlight. Asked why she's a fan favorite, she playfully replied, "I attract them because I'm beautiful."

Schiavone acknowledged that maybe she's a bit more motivated at a Grand Slam than at other tournaments. She was pleased that her first-round match was in the grandstand -- a year ago, she was relegated to an outer court.

"I like to do it, because adrenaline is coming up and I enjoy much more than play in faraway court," she said with a laugh. "Maybe because I am 30 years old and now I want to enjoy with people."

Also in action on Day 1 were former No. 1s Dinara Safina and Ana Ivanovic, as well as Sam Stosur, who lost to Schiavone in the French Open final.

The 43rd-ranked Oudin won the last nine games against Savchuk, a 143rd-ranked qualifier. Oudin's success last year earned her the opening match in Ashe, where the sparse crowd gave her a warm ovation when she took the court a little after 11 a.m.

Oudin snapped a four-match losing streak and won for only the fifth time in her past 18 matches. A year ago, she became the darling of the tournament, upsetting Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva en route to becoming the youngest U.S. Open quarterfinalist since Serena Williams in 1999.

Schiavone, seeded No. 6, had been just 3-6 since winning at Roland Garros. She lost in the first round at Wimbledon and dropped her opening match at three other tournaments. Her only three victories came against opponents outside the top 65.

Schiavone had no difficulty against the 83rd-ranked Morita, facing just one break point and hitting 28 winners.

Russia's Dementieva, the No. 12 seed, also advanced easily, beating Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-1, 6-2.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Confusion: Is Juan Martin del Potro playing the U.S. Open or not?

By Chris Chase


If you believe the Thailand Open, Juan Martin del Potro will make his return to the ATP Tour in Bangkok in late September. If you believe the USTA, the Argentinian will return in time to defend his U.S. Open title beginning next month. I believe neither. It's only apparent that del Potro will come back to tennis at some point this year, but it's doubtful that anybody, even him, knows exactly when that will be.

The confusion began on Thursday when organizers from the Thailand Open released a statement saying del Potro would play in their tournament. The press release included a generic quote from del Potro about how he's looking forward to returning to tennis and having a good result in Bangkok. Immediately, stories and blog posts were written (including here) about how del Potro would make his comeback in Thailand and, presumably, miss his title defense in New York.

Not so fast, said the USTA. Within a few hours of the announcement from Bangkok, the USTA issued a press release of its own touting the fact that del Potro was on the entry list for this year's U.S. Open. That was no surprise, since appearing on the list only means that a player is not not playing. If there's a 1 percent chance that a player thinks he or she might be able to compete in a Grand Slam, they're appearing on that list. It's much easier to withdraw at the last minute than it is to get into the tournament. (This is like checking the "maybe" box on an Evite. You're not sure you can go but you don't want to completely rule it out either. My guess is that Delpo has done the same thing here. There's no harm in optimistic planning.)

Tennis people who know what they're talking about realized this was a non-story. To others it seemed like a big deal — Del Potro is back! Wire stories were rushed out with the breathless headlines that the defending champ would return to Flushing Meadows, even though nothing had changed.

But then, sensing that some were excited about the news and others were skeptical, the USTA went a step further and released another statement specifically addressing del Potro's status. This one said del Potro was already hitting. The USTA didn't say whether he was warming up with a coach to test out his wrist or putting in eight-hour days, just that he was "hitting", which evidently is enough to suggest that he's ready to compete in one of the biggest tournaments of the year.

For what it's worth, del Potro himself has been largely silent on the subject. He Tweeted that his doctor is happy with his progress, but didn't specifically adress when he would return.

For others to speculate as to how del Potro's wrist will feel in a month is foolish. Only Juan Martin del Potro knows his plans and, from the sounds of it, he's just as unsure about them as the rest of us.

Aussie tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt loses battle for 'come on'

AUSTRALIAN tennis star Lleyton Hewitt has lost a legal battle over his famous "come on" catchcry.
Lleyton Hewitt Marketing failed to remove a trademark owned by Brisbane man John Sheils which consisted of the words "come on" accompanied by a fist-pumping gesture.

Mr Sheils said he designed the mark with his two daughters and registered it in 2004 with the intention of creating a mark "representative of all Australian sports people."

But Hewitt's team argued the words and fist pump were associated with the tennis star in the eyes of the public.

Hewitt, 29, is not the only tennis player known for the "come on" shout. Maria Sharapova is also known to utter the phrase, accompanied by a fist pump, when she wins a point.

Kim Clijsters: One Year On

A glistening, distorted toddler with blonde bouncing curls pounced closer and closer. Her mouth stretched from ear to ear on the silver reflection of the US Open trophy that her mother grasped tightly to her body.

Later, she was asked if she thought 18-month-old Jada Ellie knew what had just happened. Kim Clijsters simply replied, "No." Little Jada seemed to love the spotlight on court with her mother, aimlessly jumping up and down in celebration, clueless that she would become as much of the storyline as the former world No. 1 Clijsters' triumphant return to tennis.

Clijsters left tennis for two years and four months without a tournament, and in just her third tournament back she won her second, and sweetest, Grand Slam. She became the first unranked and unseeded woman since 1968 and the first mother since Evonne Goolagong-Cawley in 1980 to win a Grand Slam.

In a few weeks, Clijsters' second career will reach one year. In what has been a year of ups and downs, winning three titles and suffering a foot injury that sidelined her for the French, it will be the image of mother and daughter and trophy that will forever define it - not just the year, but perhaps her entire career.

"This wasn't a part of the plan," Clijsters said shortly after winning the 2009 US Open. "Not in my wildest dreams could I ever imagine this happening."

Check out photos of Kim's Flushing Meadows triumph here.

Clijsters is a winner of 37 titles, 11 doubles titles and reigned as the No.1-ranked player for 19 weeks. Her return to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour became heavily anticipated, only to be eclipsed by her fellow compatriot Justine Henin's return. However, it was Clijsters in the end that cast the shadow over Henin, defeating her in the final in Brisbane, again on her way to winning the title in Miami and finally holding off the hopes of Henin getting the Slam she never won.

The media has played up the Belgians' return, creating an older, more powerful women's tennis demographic that leaves no mercy for teenage burnouts. That trend looks as if it will continue as critics are quick to point that Clijsters may be better than she's ever been. Clijsters doesn't seem to always disagree. As a mother, she has more balance in her life and a fresher outlook on her career.

"Well, the motivation was missing then," Clijsters said about her game before her retirement. "I came to an age where I felt like, combined with the injuries, I wasn't 100% focused on my tennis anymore."

Now, Clijsters says she is much more organized than she was during her first career. As a mother, everything has to be a little more planned, and she has translated that ability to adjust on the court with her skill and emotion.

But to everyone's surprise, it's her even stronger body that has tennis bracing itself. The daughter of a former professional soccer player and a Belgian champion in gymnastics, pure genetics have always been the culprit behind Clijsters' raw power, but her new body as a mother has caused a stir in what scientists call the "baby boost." Researchers have claimed that childbirth can leave some women more able to cope with the demanding activity of professional sports. The body produces more red blood cells during pregnancy, improving the amount of oxygen that reaches muscles by nearly one third.

See 20 of Kim's best pre-retirement moments in this special gallery.

Debuting Fila's new Heritage Apparel Collection this year, there's no doubt that Clijsters is finding the perfect fit in her dual role as a mother and tennis player. The balance has given her a sharper focus. She is unwavering in her priorities as a mother and wife first and tennis player second, but she has also found ways to be much more beyond that - after winning Brisbane, she donated her $37,000 winner's cheque to the Royal Brisbane Hospital children's wing.

Now Clijsters is back in the Top 10 rankings, and even if her return to tennis isn't long term, she has let everyone know it is where she belongs. The 2009 US Open was an early statement in the comeback of her career, making history as a mother and player. She defeated Serena Williams in a controversial match, but now Williams is back to the top of her game as the Wimbledon champion, and tennis around the world will be holding their breath for a rematch.

Clijsters, of course, would embrace the challenge. For all the new passions in her life, tennis was by far the first.

"I feel very lucky that I've been able to do what I love to do for so long. But everything else that comes with it... I don't say to Bryan or Jada, Mommy is going off to work. I say, Mommy is going to try to train to get better."

Dulko & Pennetta Add To Title Haul

In this week's doubles finals on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, No.1 seeds Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta topped No.2 seeds Renata Voracova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in Bastad, while No.2 seeds Timea Bacsinszky and Tathiana Garbin defeated No.1 seeds Sorana Cirstea and Anabel Medina Garrigues in Budapest.

Dulko and Pennetta's 76(0) 60 victory on Saturday at the Collector Swedish Open Women gave them their fourth title of 2010 together, the most by a duo so far this year. They now have seven Tour titles in their careers together, including Bastad last year as well.

"In the beginning we were a little nervous, but we fought hard and in the tie-break we played really well," said Pennetta, who now has 10 Tour doubles titles to her name. "The second set was perfect."

Interestingly enough, Dulko beat Pennetta the previous day in a singles semifinal before falling to Aravane Rezai in Saturday's final.

"It was nice to finish the day like this," said Dulko, who now has 13 Tour doubles titles to her name. "It was tough to come back on court after losing the singles, but Flavia makes it easier for me."

As for Bacsinszky and Garbin, their 63 63 win on Sunday at the GDF SUEZ Grand Prix gave them their first Tour title together, with their previous best result having been a runner-up showing in Barcelona earlier this year.

This was Bacsinszky's first Tour doubles title and Garbin's ninth, but her first since Canberra in 2005. She also won Budapest in 2001 with Janette Husarova.

Zheng Jie - China's Brightest shinning tennis star

Zheng Jie (simplified Chinese: 郑洁; traditional Chinese: 鄭潔; pinyin: Zhèng Jié; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tēⁿ Chia̍t, Mandarin pronunciation: [tʂə̂ŋ tɕjɛ̌]; born 5 July 1983 in Chengdu, Sichuan) is a Chinese professional tennis player. Her career high ranking is World No. 15 which she achieved on May 18, 2009. As of May 17, 2010, Zheng is ranked World No. 24 in singles and World No. 16 in doubles.

Zheng is one of the most successful tennis players in China's history. She has won three WTA singles titles at Hobart in 2005 and Estoril and Stockholm in 2006. She has also won twelve doubles titles, eleven of them with Yan Zi including Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2006. Her career high doubles ranking is World No. 3. Zheng has reached the singles semi-finals at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships, becoming the first Chinese player to reach the semi-finals at a Grand Slam, and at the 2010 Australian Open. She also won the bronze medal in doubles with Yan Zi at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was the first Chinese player to defeat a World No. 1 (by defeating Ana Ivanović at Wimbledon in 2008) as well as the first Chinese player to reach the top 15.

Country People's Republic of China
Residence Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Date of birth 5 July 1983 (1983-07-05) (age 27)
Place of birth Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
Turned pro 16 January 2003
Plays Right-handed; two-handed backhand
Career prize money US $3,531,187
Singles
Career record 267–155 (63.3%)
Career titles 3 WTA, 4 ITF
Highest ranking No. 15 (18 May 2009)
Current ranking No. 23 (5 July 2010)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open SF (2010)
French Open 4R (2004)
Wimbledon SF (2008)
US Open 3R (2008, 2009)
Doubles
Career record 281–121 (69.9%)
Career titles 12 WTA, 16 ITF
Highest ranking No. 3 (10 July 2006)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open W (2006)
French Open SF (2006)
Wimbledon W (2006)
US Open QF (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)
Last updated on: May 24, 2010.

Woodies, Davidson Inducted Into International Hall Of Fame

Australians Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, known throughout the tennis world as the "Woodies", were both inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the venue of the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships at Newport, on Saturday.

“This is an amazing day for the Woodies,” said Woodforde, during the 65-minute ceremony that started in heavy rain.

“I don’t know if any of us said we’re just going to be doubles players. We just excelled on the doubles court a little more than we did on the singles. As much as we would have loved to win more in the singles titles, we did in doubles.”

Together, Woodbridge and Woodforde won 11 major doubles championships and 61 tour-level titles overall from 1991 to 2000. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan equalled their overall title-record earlier this year.

Watch Video Tribute To The "Woodies"

“I think we won our fourth tournament [sixth event at 1991 Brussels] we played together,” said Woodbridge. “It was close on average to every fourth tournament we won the next 10 years. That’s pretty good business.

“I figured if I could team up with Mark we’d do well together. We did better than well, we did bloody great.”

They had a 508-137 lifetime record. Woodforde retired after the duo won the silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Woodbridge, now aged 39, won an Open Era record 83 doubles trophies. He spent 204 weeks at World No. 1 and finished his career with a 782-260 match record. He was a member Australia's Davis Cup winning team in 1999 and 2003. He reached the Wimbledon singles semi-finals in 1997 (l. to Sampras).

Woodforde, 44, captured 67 doubles titles, four singles titles and fived mixed doubles crowns. He was World No 1 for 84 weeks and upon retirement in December 2000 he held the No. 1 individual ranking plus the No. 1 team ranking with Woodbridge. He represented Australia in Davis Cup over a 10-year period, participating in three finals in 1993, 1999-2000.

Another Australian, 65-year-old Owen Davidson, nicknamed “Davo”, was also inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. During a 15-year career he won 12 major doubles titles and is one of just 12 people who have won a personal Grand Slam in tennis history.

Source: ATP.com

Paradorn Srichaphan retires from Professional tennis

Out of action for almost three years, Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan announced his retirement from professional tennis this week. While it was a persistent wrist injury that had sidelined him, it was an awful motorcycle racing accident recently that broke both hands and severely injured a knee which dealt the coup de grace on one of tennis great ambassadors.

A former Top 10 player, Srichaphan’s rise to the top read like a fairy tale. On the way to winning five ATP World Tour titles and a career-high South African Airways ATP Ranking of No. 9 (12 May 2003), Paradorn captured the hearts of millions and was the inspiration of the ‘Asian Invasion’ on the men’s and women’s tennis tours.

Srichaphan’s charismatic smile and ‘grip it and rip it’ slugfest style electrified fans while earning him a legion of followers worldwide. But it was in Asia, at the height of his career, where his popularity was so widespread that the press dubbed it, “Paradorn Fever”.

During that time billboards with his bare-chested image lined expressways, tennis racquet sales soared and politicians jockeyed for photo-ops with the young man nicknamed, ‘Ball’. Paradorn rose so high in status that he received a private royal audience with the King of Thailand, an honour usually reserved for heads of state. When Srichaphan took to the court, everyone from the noodle vendor to the prime minister tuned in. And after each match, diplomats, businessmen and rock stars queued to shake the hand of the young man that was filling stadiums and dominating the news all over Asia.

His native Thailand is known around the world as the ‘Land of Smiles’, and nobody personified that better than Paradorn Srichaphan. Recognising his ability to attract people, Thailand Tourism Authority named him as their Cultural Ambassador and the government granted him a red diplomatic passport. His easy going manner and friendly ways on the tennis court earned him the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in 2002 and 2003. And Time Magazine Asia featured him on the cover as an Asian Hero.

“Paradorn means so much to all of us,” claims Davis Cup teammate Sanchai Ratiwatana. “He is more than a big brother, he is a hero and he has showed us how to achieve our dreams.”

There are more testaments to his legacy. Thailand’s Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, the 2009 girl’s Wimbledon champion and World No. 1, credits Paradorn for opening the doors to Asians.

“Before Paradorn we were not sure if we were good enough,” says Lertcheewakarn. “But when he started winning so much, we knew that we (Asians) could follow his example.”

During his career, Srichaphan would reach 11 ATP World Tour finals, winning five titles and finish 2003 at a year-end best World No. 11. But it was the victory over Andre Agassi on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2002 that propelled him to demi-god status in Asia. An Asian defeating one of the greatest players of the game on the hallowed court of the All England Lawn Tennis Club was a dream come true.

Even off the court, Paradorn remained in the spotlight, whether it was marrying a former Miss Universe, Natalie Glebova, racing motorbikes or opening restaurants, Paradorn’s star appeal never waned. Last year, a movie director came calling his name, and Paradorn accepted the role of an action hero in the Thai movie sequel, Bang Rajan II. Just like his days on the tennis court, Paradorn stole the show and a promising career as an actor is now in full swing. Though his playing days are over, Paradorn remains involved in tennis as the Thai Davis Cup captain and occasional exhibition match. They say in Thailand that Srichaphan was born to be on centre court, now it seems that he will continue to thrill the masses, except this time it is likely to be on centre stage.

Estoril Open 2010 - The Gods get their feet on the dirt!

The Estoril Open is an ATP and WTA clay court tournament held in Jamor, Oeiras, Portugal (in spite of nominally located in Estoril). The men's tournament was created in 1990 and since its inception, every champion except 2004 champion Juan Ignacio Chela and 2009 champion Albert Montañés has been in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings, including former World No. 1 players Thomas Muster (1995 and 1996), Carlos Moyà (2000), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2001), and Roger Federer (2008).

Also, Marat Safin lost the 2004 final and Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Gustavo Kuerten won the doubles tournament in 1995 and 1997, respectively. It currently gives 40 Champion's Race points to its winner. The women's tournament, created in 1998, started as an ITF tournament, but in the next year became a WTA tournament. The women's tournament is currently an International Series tournament.

Statistically, this tournament highlights the dominance of Argentine and Spanish male players on red clay. Between 1990 and 2001, at least one Spaniard appeared in the final ten times, with a player from Spain claiming the title in nine of those twelve years.

The Spanish dominance waned in recent years. Since 2001, there were only two Spaniards in the final and only one of them won. Between 2002 and 2006, an Argentine made the final at Estoril, wining four of these five titles.

The roll of champions on the women's side is more diverse. In 2006, Estoril showcased the first all-Chinese final in tour history, between Jie Zheng and Na Li.

List of players for the 2010 draw

Men - (22/03/2010)
Bios courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com)
Roger Federer (SUI)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Albert Montanes (ESP)
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)
Pablo Cuevas (URU)
Florian Mayer (GER)
James Blake (USA)
Eduardo Schwank (ARG)
Marc Gicquel (FRA)
Alejandro Falla (COL)
Arnaud Clement (FRA)
Oscar Hernandez (ESP)
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)
Santiago Giraldo (COL)
Nicolas Massu (CHI)
Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)
Xavier Malisse (BEL)
Marcel Granollers (ESP)

Women (23/03/2010)
(Bios courtesy of SonyEricssonWTATour.com)
Na Li (CHN)
Agnes Szavay (HUN)
Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU)
Melinda Czink (HUN)
Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)
Shaui Peng (CHN)
Sybille Bammer (AUT)
Iveta Benesova (CZE)
Tamira Paszek (AUT)
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)
Anastasija Sevastova (LTH)
Anna-Lena Gronefeld (GER)
Kimiko Date-Krumm (JAP)
Stefanie Voegele (SUI)
Julia Goerges (GER)
Angelique Kerber (GER)
Kirsten Flipkens (BEL)
Peta Martic (CRO)
Ioana Raluca Olaru (ROU)
Alize Cornet (FRA)
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE)
Julie Coin (FRA)

DATES May 1-9, 2010


QUALIFYING May 1-2, 2010


MAIN DRAW May 2-9, 2010


SITE

Estadio Nacional
1495 Cruz Quebrada
Lisbon, Portugal

Site Plan

EXECUTIVE OFFICE João Lagos Sports SA
Rua da Barruncheira, nº 6 2790-034 Carnaxide Portugal


DIRECTOR João Lagos (Tournament Director)

SURFACE Clay (Centre Court, Centralito and four Show Courts)

2009 ATTENDANCE 45,543 spectators

Federer To Compete At 2010 Estoril Open

ATP World Tour No. 1 and former champion Roger Federer has confirmed he will return to compete at the Estoril Open, an ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tournament, from 1-9 May 2010.



The Swiss superstar snapped a five-month title drought by winning his 54th career ATP World Tour trophy at the Estoril Open (d. Davydenko) in May 2008, when a record 53,888 spectators visited the Estadio Nacional.

Federer is the all-time Grand Slam title-leader, having broken Pete Sampras’ record of 14 triumphs (1990-2002) at The Championships, Wimbledon, in July 2009.

Estoril Open - Chinese Star NA LI Headlines Women's Entry

Na Li, the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam semi-final and break into the Top 10 of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings, will lead the Estoril Open women’s field from 1-9 May 2010.


Li, who reached the 2005 (l. to Safarova) and 2006 (l. to Zheng) finals at the Estadio Nacional, venue of the clay-court tennis tournament, is joined by five other Top 50 players, including Agnes Szavay, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Aleksandra Wozniak, Sorana Cirstea and Melinda Czink.

Two-time runner-up Iveta Benesova will also compete again this year.

Estoril Open - Ljubicic Adds Name To 2010 Field

World No. 13 Ivan Ljubicic, who captured his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells in March, will join World No. 1 Roger Federer and another former champion Nikolay Davydenko at the Estoril Open from 1-9 May 2010.

Seven players in the Top 50 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings have agreed to play at the Estadio Nacional, venue of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament.

Ljubicic, 31, competed at the tournament in 2001, losing in the first round to Nicolas Lapentti. Federer captured the 2008 title, while Davydenko lifted the 2003 title and reached two other finals in 2006 and 2008.

Defending champion Albert Montanes, with a 9-4 overall tournament record, and last year’s runner-up James Blake will also return to the scene of their memorable final.

Djoker masters the smash

Just over a year ago, Serbian legend and world number two Novak Djokovic was having a nightmarish time with his new racquet.
Having just changed from Wilson to Head, he was struggling to get used to the new equipment and blamed it for a run of poor form.
He got the hang of it soon enough though, and though he was Grand Slam-free in 2009 he enjoyed an otherwise superb season to establish himself even more firmly - not that he needed to - as one of the very best in the business.
It seems, however, that the pesky racquet has started to play up once again, because he thrashed it to within an inch of its life and beyond as he muddled past Mikhail Youzhny to secure victory at the Dubai Championships.
Incredibly, though, his hot-headed tactic worked: the remainder of the racquets in the Djoker's bag, clearly fearing for their lives, began to behave much better as the Serb finished up a comfortable final set victory.
Sport is littered with examples of ridiculous, illogical tactics that shouldn't work - yet do.
Football club presidents look ridiculous when they fire their managers on the back of a brief run of bad results; yet the shot up the backside for the players invariably turns things round.
And how often do you see a golfer shouting at his ball in mid-air to get over the lake, then smile in gratitude as the under-hit shot does exactly what it's told.
Smashing a racquet is in exactly the same category, and not for a second should anybody grumble about it.
It adds to the spectacle, gives the crowd some pantomime-villain action to enjoy booing at, and increases the level of play from the player.
In fact, we'd rather see the ATP and WTA fine players for NOT losing their tempers when they clearly ought to have done.

Q&A With 'Jersey Girl' Clijsters - Interesting article from Tennnis.com

Q&A With 'Jersey Girl' Clijsters
By Bill Gray
Monday, March 1, 2010
Clijsters and Kuznetsova were the only two players to defeat Serena Williams in Grand Slam competition in 2009.

Availiable here:

http://www.tennis.com/articles/templates/features.aspx?articleid=4399&zoneid=9

To hear Kim Clijsters tell it, her weekend wasn’t much different than that of any other high-powered New Jersey working mom trying to balance family duties with work life. “It’s taken some time to get the right balance, but I’m getting the hang of it,” Clijsters said Sunday after a 60-mile commute from Wall, New Jersey, to New York City for a work obligation.
The start of the weekend was all about her mother role, as Clijsters was celebrating the second birthday of Jada, her daughter with her Jersey-born husband Brian Lynch. After baking a birthday cake and preparing and hosting a brunch for 24 of her husband’s relatives on Saturday, Clijsters changed into her work clothes—a Fila warm-up from its new Center Court Collection—to fulfill some promotional obligations for her apparel sponsor on Sunday. The tour culminated at Madison Square Garden, where Clijsters squared off with fellow Fila endorser Svetlana Kuznetsova in a Wii racquet sports contest and then took photos with disadvantaged kids as part of MSG’s Garden of Dreams Foundation program.
Clijsters is in town for the Billie Jean King Cup/BNP Paribas Showdown at the Garden, where she, Kuznetsova, Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic will really get down to business, competing in a single-elimination exhibition event for $1.2 million in prize money.

TENNIS.com caught up with the reigning U.S. Open champ for a few minutes on Sunday.

TENNIS.com: So when did you become a Jersey Girl?

Kim Clijsters: Just before the [2009] U.S. Open. We feel it’s important that Jada knows both of the worlds her parents come from. So we bought our first house together [a 2,700-square-foot three-bedroom house in southern New Jersey]. Brian already had a house in New Jersey that was really nice because it was close to the [Jersey Shore] beaches, but it had a really small garden. So we went inland a little bit more to get a bigger garden for Jada to play in.

Will New Jersey be your new home base?

For now, just a few weeks here and there. I still have a house in Belgium for when the tour is in Europe, but we’ll come back to New Jersey for the American hardcourt season, at least for a while after the Miami tournament [in March], then a few weeks before Cincinnati [in August], and, of course, the Open and probably a week or so after it’s over.

Did Jada get the Kim Clijsters Barbie Doll for her birthday?

No, she already has that one, along with the little one they made of her. But my mother-in-law gave her a regular Barbie, and Brian and I got her some paints for coloring because she’s starting to get pretty creative now.

Speaking of Barbies, which is more special to you:

The role-model Barbie created in your likeness [others so honored by Mattel Toys are Oprah Winfrey, J.K. Rowlings and German Chancellor Angela Merkel], or being nominated for this year’s Laureus Comeback of the Year award [along with Lance Armstrong and Brett Favre]?

Oh wow, that’s really hard. Laureus is like the Oscars of sports and to be nominated so soon after I started back in tennis is really special. But if I had to choose it would be the Barbie, because Jada can play with it now and she’ll realize how special it is when she’s older.

Are you getting a lot of endorsement offers after the U.S. Open win for family-oriented products? Seems like you would be a natural pick for a mom-mobile brand like Volvo or some kind of mini-van soccer-mom thing.

There’s a lot more sponsor interest now than when I won the U.S. Open the first time [in 2005]. But not really the family kind of sponsors. Nothing from Volvo or other auto companies. At least they haven’t contacted us so far.

Are your tattoos—Jada’s name on your left wrist and Brian’s first initial on your ring finger—there for inspiration during tight matches?

Once in a while when I’m waiting to return serve I look down at them. But there’s a more practical reason for the “B” on my finger. I used to wear my engagement and wedding rings, but Jada would get scratches from the diamond when I was changing her diaper. So Brian and I went to the tattoo store.

How do you feel about Serena Williams pulling out of the exhibition here in New York?

Disappointed. It would have been nice. We’ve had some great charity matches. I just like her a lot. She’s a fun girl to hang out with.

Bill Gray is TENNIS magazine’s gear editor. Read his blog, The Pro Shop.

Gulbis, in 1st ATP final, to face Karlovic

DELRAY BEACH - Ernests Gulbis could be only one match away from wrapping his arms around his first ATP Tour winner's trophy.

The 21-year-old Latvian has been whacking tennis balls on the ATP Tour since 2006, but it took him beating Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships on Saturday to journey to a final.
Unfortunately for Gulbis, he's going to have to tame birthday boy Ivo Karlovic - the Delray Beach second seed turns 31 on Sunday - and that's one tall order. At 6-10 and the tallest player ranked in the top 100, Karlovic's supersonic serve is most often an untouchable weapon.
The 33rd-ranked Karlovic, who led the tour with 890 aces in 43 matches last year, ended defending champion Mardy Fish's shot of a second consecutive title courtesy of a 6-2, 6-3 semifinal win.
Gulbis might take some encouragement from the fact that Karlovic only served seven aces against Fish. In his previous matches this week he was serving aces in the double digits.
"It was a bad day for my serve," Karlovic said. "It was cold which is why it [my serve] was not so fast as other days."
Gulbis' win took patience, a trait that he used to not possess. He was about to serve for the match at 6-4, 5-4 when he was forced to wait out a three-hour rain delay before taking care of unfinished business.
Then, skies cleared and court dried, Gulbis needed all of two minutes to serve out the match, unleashing a 125 mph ace on the final point.
The rain interruption didn't disturb the 72nd-ranked Gulbis. He enjoyed the downtime, switching from tennis balls to basketball while killing time.
"I scored 18 free throws in a row during the break," Gulbis said, then jokingly adding, "Usually I do a couple of hundred."
The hype was huge around Gulbis when he first arrived on tour. He had game; that was easy to see.
But it took him until recently to show signs of consistency and an ability to perform to expectations. In the past two weeks he reached the Memphis semifinal, following that result with at least a final appearance at Delray Beach.
What was missing? Focus.
"Basically, I used to win or lose matches by myself," Gulbis said. "I was the one guy on the court. The other guy just put the ball in, that's all he had to do if I had a bad day."
Practicing was tedious, whereas just playing matches, win or lose, was fun. Friends were out-and-about having good times, while he was supposed to be seriously working as a high-end athlete.
"I'm getting a little bit older," he said. "A couple of years ago I was playing tennis but I still had dozens of other interests in my head, which were even more important than tennis."
Gulbis' poise in the final set was evidence of a new maturity. He didn't panic after surrendering a 3-2 lead with a service break in the final set, nor did he lose his composure after initially going down 0-15 in the final game.
"I think the players have long felt that Gulbis is one of the most talented players," said the 109th-ranked Nieminen after the match. "He's found something to help him play with more courage, at least the last two weeks."