The Madrid Masters have apparently gone through some drastic changes, as the traditional color of clay will not be present at the ATP 1000 event. Instead, the color will be a somewhat new and different: blue. I am deeply interested at the sight of these courts, and some players have already spoken their thoughts about the change at the Mutua Madrilena Open:
Rafael Nadal: “The history of the clay court season was on red, it wasn’t on blue. . .”
Novak Djokovic: “Sometimes change is good. I like innovative and creative people. But, on the other hand, it’s going to be the only blue clay-court tournament in the world, first time ever in history. To be honest with you. . . I never played on blue clay. Rafa didn’t. Roger didn’t. We’re going on there and we’re going to play for the first time ever. We don’t even know if it’s a natural blue clay because natural clay is a red clay. I’m not really too happy about it.”
Andy Murray: “For the players, it would be better for it to be on the red clay. But at the same time, I’ve watched sometimes in Madrid. It’s very difficult to see the ball. I understand the reasons for doing it.”
We have yet to know what Roger Federer thinks about this change, and I wonder if his opinion will be positive or negative, and whether, based on all of these opinions from top players, the tournament will change back to red clay in a matter of years…
The yearly hard court Washington DC warm-up event to the US/Canada Masters swing has received a new sponsor in the shape of Citigroup.
The tournament will remain in its present home at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park. Work is currently underway to expand the site and includes a new 2,500-seat show court along with five new practice courts. The work is expected to be complete for the start of this years tournament on July 28.
The tournament has also changed to a ATP/WTA combined event but the Men’s field will be weakened this year as it clashed with London 2012 Olympic Games being held at Wimbledon.
Robin Haase and other top players had an awful time at the ATP tournament in Casablanca.
“At the tournament, the bathrooms are so dirty that you want to keep your clothes and shoes on when taking a shower,” Haase wrote on his website. “Some players don’t shower at all and decide to take one at the hotel in the evening. If the showers are that disgusting, I hope you can image yourself how the toilets are. Some players even take their own toilet paper with them.”
Haase also claimed that he and other players were robbed. “Fortunately not my computer or other valuables which however did happen to other players.”
The stadium in Hamburg is scheduled to be pulled down in 2013, regional media are reporting. There has been a lot of buzz on Twitter about this report, and if true it would mean the end of the ATP500 Masters event in Hamburg.
@NeilHarmanTimes @TennisReporters Stadium in Hamburg should be pulled down 2013, regional media reporting. Would be the end for the ATP500
Roger Federer has withdrawn from the 2012 Monte Carlo ATP Masters event in April. Roger has decided to take a little break with the aim to be fresh and ready for Roland Garros.
Hopefully Roger can have a strong clay court season.
Sergei Bubka Jr. has lived his entire existence being called “the great pole vaulter’s son.” However, it seems that he is now being removed from his fathers shadow.
Sergei Jr., No. 182 in the ATP World Tour rankings, played a strong opening main-draw match at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park, defeating 79th-ranked Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-4, 6-4, on a low-profile side court.
There has been a lot of press around the Michael Llodra racial insult scandal. The ATP Tour has just announced that the Michael Llodra investigation isnt closed and it is still ongoing.
Originally Llodra was fined $2,500, but apparently that fine could go higher, or other measures could be taken.
What an amazing week for Marinko Matosevic who made the final of the ATP Tour Delray Beach tournament. There were a lot of the worlds best players in the tournament, but Matosevic who was a qualifier made it all the way to the final. Matosevic lost the final to Kevin Anderson 6-4 7-6, but it was still the best week of tennis in his career.
Congrats Marinko! Looking forward to more great results in 2012 and seeing you in the top 40 in the world.
“There’s significant gap from where I am and where I need to be,” he said. “It would be abnormal if you weren’t frustrated, the question is how to figure your way through it… There’s a fine line [between deciding to rehab or play on] and something I don’t know if there’s a perfect answer to. I don’t know if I can tell you if one way or another is right or wrong.”
Here is a little clip from the 2010 ATP year end finals in London. I love it when they ask players funny and embarrassing questions.. makes them a little bit more human and you can relate.
This has been by far the best ATP tour end final. Roger Federer and David Nalbandian played a classic match back in 2005. This would be a career turning point especially for Nalbandian, but turning in the wrong direction.
There are now four who have qualified for the year ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Roger Federer has joined Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.
(Based on Year-to-Date 2011 ATP Rankings points as of Monday, 29 August, 2011)
1. N. Djokovic (SRB) 11,295
2. R. Nadal (ESP) 7,785
3. A. Murray (GBR) 4,730
4. R. Federer (SUI) 4,450
5. D. Ferrer (ESP) 3,420
6. M. Fish (USA) 2,505
7. N. Almagro (ESP) 2,270
8. T. Berdych (CZE) 2,260
9. R. Soderling (SWE) 2,080
10. J. Tsonga (FRA) 2,080
Wimbledon is often considered sacred ground from the perspective of a professional tennis player. Victory on these revered lawns presents the ultimate tennis glory. A majority of professional tennis players would sight Wimbledon as the most desirable title in all of tennis. There is a distinct, indescribable eminence that comes with claiming the Wimbledon trophy.
No player better represents not only the brilliance but pure elegance that is characteristic of a Wimbledon champion than Roger Federer. The graceful nature with which Federer plays the game is of no comparison and is truly visible on grass. It is on this surface that Federer’s fluidity and variety really provide him with the upper hand against virtually every opponent.
Unfortunately, the beauty associated with grass court tennis is only seen for an abbreviated time span. The grass court season begins the Monday following the French Open and ends around a month later. With four warm up tournaments over a span of two weeks, transitioning from the slow, high bouncing clay courts to the fast, low bouncing grass courts presents a formidable challenge. Many players such as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have even opted to skip these warm up tournaments and jump into Wimbledon cold.
For the surface on which the most striking and highly technical tennis is played, it would seem a just exploit to the tennis world to extend the season much beyond its current length. The Clay court season, which spans from February to June, is four months of relentless back court grinding that presents an extremely demanding physical challenge. The Hard court season, which lasts from July to the end of November, arguably takes an even bigger physical toll on players. A prime example of this is Rafael Nadal. Nadal plays the game with a never say die attitude, but unfortunately because of this he has encountered various knee problems throughout his career due the incredible effort and grit he puts into every single point. The toll taken on his knees on grass is not nearly as severe as the aggravation experienced on the hard and clay courts.
With this being said the grass courts are considerably less destructive to the body and allow the players to focus more on what’s being done on the court as opposed to what the court is doing to their body. Despite all of this, I am in full recognition that there are obvious obstacles in the way of extending the grass court season such as a lack of venues and scheduling. If the ATP is in fact able to extend the life of the grass court season, it would not only be a positive improvement for the health of the players but it would also be nothing short of a gift to tennis fans all around the world.
Im not exactly Ryan Harrison’s biggest fan, but he was at the Cincinnati Red’s game yesterday to throw out the first pitch. He was very nervous and as you can see in the video he actually gets it right!
Harrison is currently ranked No. 78 this week on the ATP computer. He is the youngest American in the Top 100.
Radek Stepanek has performed amazingly well and has found a way to win the ATP Tour title in Washington.
Stepanek was a little lucky as Mardy Fish had to withdraw from the tournament, but he had a string of very solid wins, including the final where he beat Gael Monfils 6-4 6-4 to take the title.
This is Stepanek’s fifth title and his first ATP 500 win. At 32, he is the oldest player in the top 100.
Thomas Muster wasnt able to pull off a good performance on his comeback against Philipp Kohlschreiber at Kitzbuhel. Muster was defeated in the first round by Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-0.
Muster hasnt been performing very well on his comeback only winning one out of 15 main-draw matches on the lower-tier Challenger tour.
Thomas, I know you love playing the game at a high level, but it is time to play on the seniors tour!
The result means that Jimmy Connors remains the oldest player to win an ATP match after reaching the quarterfinals in Halle, Germany, in 1995 at age 42.
Here are the updated ATP Tour rankings as at the 1st August 2011. There seems to be a growing gap between Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
