Aces
Nine members of the top ten are set to play at Sydney’s Medibank International tennis tournament in January. Maria Sharapova is the only top player not currently scheduled to compete at the Tier II event. (Women Announced: Best-Ever Field in History of Medibank International)
Did you know that all four of the finalists at the ATP & WTA Tour Championships have one-handed backhands? (Lots of one-handers)
A documentary on Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton’s memorable 1956 Wimbledon doubles title is scheduled to be released around Wimbledon next season to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of their win. (A Perfect Match)
Chanda Rubin and Maria Kirilenko have been added to January’s Mondial Australian Womens Hardcourt’s entry list. (Rubin to play at Royal Pines)
Maria Sharapova, Martina Hingis, and Elena Dementieva have committed to play the Tier I Toray Pan Pacific Open in January. (Toray Tennis)
The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour website is running a fan poll about the biggest story of the 2006 season. Options include Henin-Hardenne recapturing the top ranking, Mauresmo winning two major titles, Sharapova’s US Open victory, Hingis’ comeback, or China emerging as a major force on the tour. (Weekly Poll)
Australia’s Samantha Stosur has engaged a new traveling coach, Nicole Bradtke, for next season. (Stosur gets Bradtke in her corner)
Faults
Bad parents, mostly fathers, are infamous on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. John Inverdale at the Telegraph has an excellent article on the difference between Damir Dokic-like parents and the ones that are just helping their kids be successful at sports. (Pushy parents should not be vilified for aiming high)
Wow… the Sydney field is better than most Tier 1′s tourneys this year…
:O