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.