Every year at Wimbledon there is a pre tournament players party and this year is no different. We came across a great picture of Ana Ivanovic with Virgin boss Richard Branson. Im wondering if Branson actually knows who she is or just another tactical publicity stunt.
A major critique of the current teen generation on the WTA Tour has been their inability to win big matches. Players like Azarenka, Wozniacki, Radwanska, Cornet, and Cibulkova have no problem racking up points by playing a full schedule and making a fairly deep run at each of their tournaments, but they crumble in the biggest late-round matches. Then it falls to veterans like the Williams sisters, Dementieva, Jankovic, and Zvonareva to actually take these titles. Over the last year, this trend has created a perception that the newest generation just is not good enough and that our current champions will not be unseated by a fresher crop.
At the Australian Open this year, it seemed as though the pattern would only continue. Teens were playing effectively, but all of the sudden Kleybanova runs into Dokic, Cornet chokes against Safina, Azarenka gets sick against Serena, and the Semifinals contain Safina, Zvonareva, Dementieva, and Serena. The old guard all over again. The Miami tournament seemed like it would only be more of the same, with Serena and Venus advancing deep in the event ready to ward off any brazen youthful challengers. Things did not go as expected, though, it was at that event that Victoria Azarenka made her statement that teens were ready to buck this trend. Certainly, the ease of Azarenka’s win over Serena can be somewhat attributed to Serena’s knee injury, but it nonetheless proves that she has both the talent and mental fortitude to win big titles.
From Miami to the green clay, where Caroline Wozniacki took up the mantle of impressive teen sensation while Azarenka took a rest to count her winnings and newfound celebrity. Wozniacki has been known for the past year as a player who will beat all the people ranked lower than her but cannot effectively break through against the top-10. Her win in Ponte Vedra Beach could be brushed off with this critique, as her highest ranked opponent was #29. This last week in Charleston brought a new set of accomplishments for Wozniacki as she cruised into the semifinals, where she went up against top seed Elena Dementieva. In the past, this is where Wozniacki would crumble. The Wozniacki of last year would lose this match in two competitive sets, but this week she overcame her own nerves and fought for a tight three set victory. Wozniacki made it one step further.
The only thing that could derail her celebration train was another plucky teen with even more to prove. Sabine Lisicki has not achieved the success of the other women in her age group. While they are on the verge of the top 10, Lisicki’s pro career so far has been marked with inconsistency. Her talent is undeniable, but she becomes plagued with unforced errors and has difficulty putting together successive wins. This week, spurred on largely by her upset victory over Venus Williams, Lisicki finally showed the impressive form she has been hiding from the world. With aggressive groundstrokes and enormous serve, she was able to oust a visibly exhausted Wozniacki in the Charleston final and score another victory for the teen contingent.
After more than a year of quarterfinal appearances and unfulfilled potential, the teens appear ready to make a serious move. With Azarenka, Wozniacki, and Lisicki suddenly playing career tennis and other emerging young players like Pavlyuchenkova and Kleybanova showing they can make a deep run here and there, the established veterans might finally have a serious challenge in front of them. This will be especially true with the equalizing power of the red clay waiting to receive the tour in the coming weeks. As the teens find their game, more and more players are being added to the list of potential challengers with every new event. This clouds the image of tour favorites, but it also ensures that this year’s French Open will be a sight to see.
It seems to have been the season for chaning coaches and management companies. Here is a list created by tennis.com which shows a quick breakdown of what has been happening around the place.
Jelena Jankovic
Jankovic hopped onto the International Management Group (IMG) bandwagon on January 1, joining Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal, among others, on the sports marketing giant’s star-studded client list. She will be represented by the company’s London office. The former world No. 1 was previously signed to Virginia-based Octagon.
Andy Murray
Several management companies were vying to sign the U.S. Open finalist, currently ranked No. 4 in the world. Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Sports, Lagardere Group, IMG, and Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment (think American Idol fame) were all suiting the 21-year-old Murray whose endorsement earnings could reach nine figures (one outlet reported his earnings potential as $200 million). Eventually, Murray left Ace Group and signed on with CAA, whose sports division also represents David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ana Ivanovic
After the breakup of her four-month courtship with fellow pro Fernando Verdasco, Ivanovic also ended her coaching relationship with Sven Groeneveld just prior to the start of the Australian Open. While Groeneveld was not acting in an official coaching capacity, he was seen in Melbourne courtside with his former charge during practice sessions.
The world No. 8, who dropped three spots in the rankings after her third-round loss at the Australian Open, announced on Wednesday that she will be working with Craig Kardon on a trial basis, starting next week in Dubai.
Andy Roddick
A leaner Roddick made the semifinals in Oz before falling in straight sets to Roger Federer. In addition to the 15-pound weight loss, much credit for Roddick’s impressive run was given to his new coach, veteran Larry Stefanki, who joined the American’s team late last season.
Peng Shuai
China’s Peng has begun working with Frenchman Tarik Benhabiles, who previously coached Richard Gasquet, Tatiana Golovin, Andy Roddick and most recently, Benjamin Becker.
Daniela Hantuchova and Tamira Paszek
Austrian phenom Paszek has parted ways with Lari Passos, the former coach of Gustavo Kuerten, and is now being coached by Angel Gimenez of the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona. Gimenez had recently been coaching Daniela Hantuchova, but the Slovak began working with former ATP Tour player Albert Portas in November.
Yanina Wickmayer
The 19-year-old Wickmayer, an heir-apparent to the Belgian tennis throne who is currently ranked No. 76, is under the tutelage of Carlos Rodriguez, who was Justine Henin’s lifelong coach.
Have you ever wondered what some of the worlds best tennis players looked like when they were younger. Well over at the Tennis Warehouse forum they have come up with some brilliant pics.
Pictures include Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and more.
A question that seems to get asked all the time is “how much does it costs to be a professional tennis player”? I personally have played all over the world but on tour all of the time and Ive never been good with money, so I thought I would discuss what players on the pro tour have to pay for.
Cost/Expenses breakdown:
Possible additions include:
I know that most players on tour are sponsored by large clothing and racquet suppliers, but you still need to be in the top 200 in the world to have this full subsidised. However, at tournament you are always paying for re-strings and food costs. Some tournaments have subsidies for training facilities, hotels at the tournament and food.
The big killer is the travel between tournaments. I know a player who used to be in the top 10 in the world for Doubles and one year he spent $100,000 on flights alone. Planning your tournament schedule is very important when playing on tour. Additionally, you have to think about travel, accommodation, training and food in between tournaments.
Finally you might have additions such as Coaches, Trainers and PR or agents. Coaches and Trainers normally get a wage, plus you have to pay for their travel and accommodation, etc.
Of course these prices will change dramatically depending upon what tour you are on and what prizemoney tournaments you are playing.
Professional on the ATP or WTA tour = $200,000 per year (est.)
Challenger tour = $70,000 per year
ITF tour = $40,000 per year
All these amounts above are just complete estimates, but im sure you could do it cheap. Plus the longer you are on tour, the more you know about planning the right schedule, keeping costs low, etc.
If you put this in perspective saying that your a professional player just outside the top 100, but you constantly get into Grand Slams. If you play all 4 Grand Slams in one year and only win 1 round at each event, then you will receive $25,000 per Grand Slam, thus $100,000 per year. Hence, if you play well and get to the 2nd round of every Grand Slam, then you are able to possibly cover half of your costs per year. Normally, the average player on tour will play around 25 tournaments per year. You do the math!
Verdict – To make good money playing tennis you need to be inside the top 50 players in the world. If you can do this then you have a good chance of being a millionaire. If you are around the 50-150 mark then if you are able to keep control of your costs, then you could make a good living from tennis and travel the world at the same time. However, if you are below the 150 mark making money from tennis is going to be a little difficult. There is only so long you can hang around the 150 mark or low and make just enough money to live off.
Over at the DamnGoodList they have profiled the top 25 female tennis players. The list features so big names and some ladies who are still yet to actually make their mark on tour. Take a look and let us know what you think.
Players include:
Elena Dementieva
Tatiana Golovin
Sania Mirza
Marta Domachowska
and more..
We have previously reported about the relationship between Ana Ivanovic and Fernando Verdasco and this time they have been out and about together.
French Open champion Ana Ivanovic and Polish number one Agnieszka Radwanska have called on their fellow players to band together and fight new rules that limit where they can play in 2009.
Although part of the WTA’s new Roadmap is designed to reduce the number of tournaments and shorten the season, it also dictates that top 10 players must compete in at least 10 of the 20 Premier events — previously known as Tier 1 and 2 tournaments — and the four grand slams.
All of the top 10 players must play the tournaments held at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing.
“We do have our voice and we have to come together,” Ivanovic said at the Linz Open. “The changes were made in the middle of the season and when you’re playing grand slams you don’t really want to think about next year’s schedule.
There have been a lot of rumours lately about who is dating who, and I could stop there so here is another one. Move over Ivanovic and Verdasco and Sharapova here is Marat Safin getting some action.
Although Marat is in too much pain to play tennis at the moment (pulling out of the Madrid Masters) he seem to be doing ok with the ladies still off the court. It appears that Marat is now seeing Nastya Osipova and Russian pop singer. Nice result Marat.
From January, they will be denied the miserly per diem of $42 a match awarded for fetching balls, handling the sweat-laden towels and, perhaps, verbal serves from surly stars.
In place will be a gift package from the Open sponsors, although Tennis Australia was adamant it would match and possibly exceed what the kids could normally expect to earn in pocket-money.
The $20 daily allowance has been cut to an $8 snack package – about the cost of a sandwich in the player and media restaurant last year – but will also receive a lunch-pack that will compensate for the reduction, a spokesman said.
