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Archive for the ‘ATP News’ Category


Posted on November 19, 2008 - by The Insider

Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic Are The World Number 1 Doubles Team

Canada’s Daniel Nestor and Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjic beat American twins Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 (3), 6-2 on Sunday in the Masters Cup doubles final to clinch the year-end No. 1 ranking.

The Bryans, seeking their third straight title in the event, had held the top ranking and won the Olympic bronze medal in August.

But Nestor and Zimonjic have beaten the Americans three straight times and went through the tournament undefeated, taking all three of their round-robin matches and the semifinals. Zimonjic also won the mixed doubles in the Australian Open with Tiantian Sun.


Posted on November 19, 2008 - by The Insider

Novak Djokovic Claims Masters Cup Title in Shanghai

Novak DjokovicNovak Djokovic is on a high after winning the year ending Masters Cup in Shanghai on Sunday. Novak overwhelmed Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko 6-1 7-5 in the final.

A jubilant Djokovic seemed to have the best victory celebration of the year, by throwing two rackets, wristbands and his sweat-soaked shirt — into the cheering crowd at Qi Zhong stadium.

Djokovic didnt stop there, then he headed to the plaayers box, where his coach, family and a former Miss Universe were standing and cheering. A joyous group hug ensued, and they all bounced up and down together, reveling in the Serb’s first title in six months. When he walked away from the players box he then realized he had cut his left hand somewhere in the melee.

Congrats Novak on a good win and a solid year. However, you will have to step up your game next year if you are going to compete with Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal.


Posted on November 16, 2008 - by The Insider

Jonas Bjorkman Retires From Mens Professional Tennis Tour

Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman has bowed out of professional tennis after a glittering 17 year career that earned him nine Grand Slam doubles titles.

Bjorkman, 36, was treated to a special ceremony at Qi Zhong Stadium after he and partner Kevin Ullyett were knocked out of the Tennis Masters Cup doubles.

“They reminded me a little bit that this is obviously maybe my last match,” said Bjorkman, who noticed preparations for the farewell ceremony during the match.

“You know, I was trying to do everything possible to stay alive one more day, or maybe two.”

Bjorkman won all four doubles Grand Slams as well as the 1998 Davis Cup with Sweden and also reached the 1997 US Open singles semi-final and the last four at Wimbledon just two years ago.

Bjorkman and Ullyett fell to Poland’s Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski as the Swede failed in his bid for a third year-end title.

“I still think it’s great to end my career in the biggest event of the year, even if I would have gone further. But you can’t have everything,” he said.

“I’ve been mentally prepared for this because I’m mentally very ready to retire. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to play for so long.”

Bjorkman, who will now concentrate on editing a Swedish tennis magazine, cited the 1997 US Open loss to Britain’s Greg Rusesdski as his biggest regret.

“Obviously losing to Greg Rusedski in the semi-final was a tough loss because I think that was a chance for me maybe to go all the way,” he said.


Posted on November 15, 2008 - by The Insider

Lacoste Will Continue Its Partnership With The ATP Tour

Lacoste Shanghai, China – LACOSTE, renowned lifestyle brand of relaxed Elegance, and the ATP, governing body for the men’s professional tennis circuit, today announced that they have extended their partnership. LACOSTE will continue as the official apparel and footwear partner of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals until 2013. As the exclusive provider of apparel and footwear on the court of the tournament, LACOSTE will also continue to dress the linesmen and ball kids.

As part of the restructuring of men’s tennis in 2009, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals will replace the Tennis Masters Cup, currently held in Shanghai, as the year ending finale of the ATP World Tour. With only the year’s top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the world, including the Grand Slam champions, qualifying to compete, it is the year’s climactic final event that determines the official year-end South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings.

This partnership includes a sales area dedicated to the brand that will offer the next LACOSTE collection, including outfits worn by the LACOSTE champions.

With a strong and unique heritage in the world of sports due to its origins and founder, the famous “Crocodile” tennis champion René Lacoste, LACOSTE today implements an active sponsorship policy. LACOSTE’s values of integrity, performance and elegance are exemplified by a number of ambassadors, including tennis players such as Andy Roddick, Richard Gasquet, Alizé Cornet and Tatiana Golovin. LACOSTE also has a presence at prestigious international tennis tournaments such as the US Open, Roland Garros and the Australian Open; these last two together add up to a cumulative 3.19 billion TV spectators a year worldwide.

“I am delighted that LACOSTE have decided to extend their partnership with the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals,” said Etienne de Villiers, Executive Chairman of ATP. “LACOSTE are one of the world’s most inspiring brands and we have had a hugely exciting and successful partnership over the last six years. I am delighted that LACOSTE share in our excitement and vision for our new end-of-season finale.”

“After signing with the Australian Open, renewing the partnership with an event that symbolizes our values of tenacity, performance and excellence such as the finals of the ATP World Tour season is a further demonstration of LACOSTE’s attachment to tennis as well as the voluntary and active policy of our brand in this sport,” said Christophe Chenut, CEO of LACOSTE.

As one of the world’s leading sporting occasions, television coverage of the 2007 Tennis Masters Cup was distributed to over 166 countries and watched by a cumulative worldwide audience of 50 million people. The 2009 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals will be held in late November at London’s O2 Arena.

Article courtesy atptennis.com


Posted on November 14, 2008 - by The Insider

Bernard Tomic To Make Attack on ATP Tour If Possible

The reigning Australian Open junior champion is eligible to spend another two years bolstering his already impressive age record, if he wants to.

But, after mixing junior and senior events in roughly equal measure in 2008, the talented Gold Coast teenager would prefer to speed up his development by committing fully to the men’s circuit next year.

“I’ve started this year to play more and more (open) Futures and Challengers, but then again I’ve played also juniors,” German-born Tomic said.

“I think it’s time to put juniors away next year hopefully and just focus on Challenger level and Futures and getting my ranking up to where I want it to be.”

Tomic is the junior world No.3, with the two players ranked above him both about 18 months older.

In the senior rankings, he is 772.

While he hopes to steadily cut that number, he needs to rely on the generosity of officials if he is to play in ATP events or senior grand slams.

His chief aims for the coming summer are to make his ATP debut at the Brisbane International, starting January 4, and then play in the Australian Open later that month.

He will need wildcards for both, a prospect that remains uncertain, particularly given Tennis Australia’s recent emphasis on awarding wildcards on a merit basis, with Tomic only the 26th-ranked Australian man.


Posted on November 14, 2008 - by The Insider

Daniela Hantuchova Confirms For Brisbane International

Slovakian glamour girl, Daniela Hantuchova, is the latest to confirm her attendance at the Brisbane International in January.

The world number 19 was a semifinalist at the Australian Open in 2008 and broke into the top 10 when she reached number 5 in August 2002.

She will be joined by French Open Champion Ana Ivanovic and reigning Australian Women’s Hardcourt Champion Na Li in the women’s draw.

The men’s draw boasts Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Marcos Baghdatis, Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet and Mardy Fish with the player cut off date, for the tournament ,on the 21 November.

Daniela Hantuchova said “I am really excited about returning to Australia and playing a strong field in the lead up to the Grand Slam.

“I took home some really nice memories last year. It was something very special for me.

“With my preparation this year and the quality field at the Brisbane International, I will be even more ready.

“I love Australia and have played in tournaments there since 2001. I am looking forward to playing in this new event and challenging some high quality players in the lead up to the Australian Open.”


Posted on November 12, 2008 - by The Insider

Raphael Will Miss Davis Cup Final Against Argentina

Rafael Nadal will miss Spain’s Davis Cup final against Argentina because of a knee injury.

The top-ranked Nadal said Monday he was still struggling with tendinitis in his right knee following a week of treatment.

“The knee said no,” the 22-year-old said.

Spain team doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro said Nadal would need three to six weeks to recover from the injury.

“These are very difficult moments, but I have done all that I could to be ready for the final,” he said. “It was a huge objective, and I’m used to playing with pain, but this is a distinct, new pain that I couldn’t control.”

Nadal’s absence deals a big blow to Spain’s bid for a third Davis Cup title since 2000. Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario has until Tuesday to name his team.

Spain plays Argentina on indoor hard court at Mar del Plata from Nov. 21-23.

“We’re sorry for him, but it’s good news. Spain is one thing with Nadal and another thing without him,” Argentine captain Alberto Mancini told Buenos Aires-based radio station Continental.


Posted on November 10, 2008 - by The Insider

TennisTV Is Coming in January 2009. Online Video Streaming Of Tennis Tournaments

The ATP and WTA have announced a new joint venture website which is a new online video streaming website, TennisTV.com.

TennisTV will launch in January 2009 and will offer live streaming of more than 700 matches, highlights, exclusive interviews and behind the scenes features from more than 40 tournaments around the world.


Posted on November 6, 2008 - by The Insider

Roger Federer To Not Play Exhibition Matches in 2009

Roger Federer will cut exhibition matches from his 2009 schedule as he pursues Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles, his agent said Sunday.

Federer and Sampras played three exhibition matches across Asia last November and again in New York City last March.

Such commitments won’t be repeated in 2009, agent Tony Godsick told The Associated Press. “Roger will only play a schedule that works for him physically,” Godsick said after Federer won his hometown tournament at the Swiss Indoors on Sunday.


Posted on November 6, 2008 - by The Insider

Stanislas Wawrinka Loses Drivers License

Stanislas Wawrinka has lost his diver’s license due to the amount of speeding tickets he has been accumulating!

I think most atheletes and especially tennis stars are more inclinded to be very quick behind the wheel of a car. I guess it has something to do with sport, plus the fact that they have enough money to get a really good car and can afford speeding fines.

Wawrinka was quoted as saying “I’m not proud to admit it, but recently I lost my license for a month for driving a little fast”. “But I have learnt my lesson and we took it easy on the trip [to Basel]. Besides, there are lots of speed cameras so you will almost certainly be caught if you drive too fast.” His license has since been re-instated but only time will tell for how long.