Martina Hingis to Play Exhibition in Liverpool
Article by Aaress Lawless on Mar 4, 2008 | Print |
Martina Hingis will play for the first time since her drug conviction at the 7th TFS-ICAP Liverpool International Tennis Tournament in Liverpool, England.
The Liverpool tournament runs from June 10-15, 2008 and will feature both ATP and WTA Tour player events, also a legends competition.
“I have heard a lot about Liverpool over the years and all the fine work they have done up there to develop tennis in a region that is mostly famous for football,” said Hingis in the press announcement.
“l am very much looking forward to playing the event and to visit all the things that have made Liverpool the European Capital of Culture.”
Because of her two-year ban from professional tennis, Hingis cannot contest the WTA Tour draw, however, she is permitted to play in the legends exhibition tournament.
“It’s fantastic to have Martina playing in Liverpool for three days during our event,” said tournament director Anders Borg. “Her attitude on and off the court has always been superb and she still has a lot to offer the world of tennis. She is one of the most successful women tennis players ever and it will be a thrill for everyone to see her play at Calderstones Park.”
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Arthur Brocklebank | Mar 7, 2008 | Reply
Once again Liverpool city council show their naivety supporting a ‘circus’ tennis event that damages and severs any creditability that may have once been planted in grass roots tennis throughout the city. The hand that has fed them financially over the past 18 years, The Lawn Tennis Association has been bitten once too often. Officers at the LTA will be literally ‘gob smacked’ in the words of Cilla Black that Hingis has been invited to play tennis in England a few days before Wimbledon.
Some will call this an ‘acid’ decision, (excuse the pun) by the hierarchy of this tennis event. The appearance of disgraced and banned Hingis at the Liverpool tournament will be a concern to every parent who guards their children from todays outside pressures of society. Surely to have Hingis as a roll model for young local tennis hopefuls to be inspired at a public park is not the appropriate way forward for the future citizens of Liverpool.
How will the local announcer introduce Hingis as she enters the court? Probably as the former Wimbledon champion. Political correctness will take precedence. It will be an embarrassment for her and to the people of Liverpool.
That old cliché of putting something back into tennis, could it be a rather ‘large expenses’ cheque she will undoubtedly receive and in return the tennis public will get the mandatory permanent Hingis grin that was always cemented on her face while gracing the lawns of Wimbledon..
Hingis will soil her designer tennis clothes if she bothers to get a sweat on while playing a local opponent but Liverpool’s image of holding a serious tennis event will buried deep into the grass of the public courts forever I fear.
Hey it’s Showtime folks.
pov | Mar 7, 2008 | Reply
That seems more than a bit harsh. She’s not playing as part of the official WTA tourney, she’s in a legends exhibition. Plus, let’s remember that although she did snort some coke (which was in coca-cola at one time) that doesn’t erase her achievements.
patrick knowles | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
ARTHUR BROCKLEBANKS COMMENTS 7TH MAY 2008
I feel they are not in the best interest for the standard of the on thebaseline comment policy
the policy is there for all to read.
Also the harsh criticism bestowed upon Martina Hingis,and the reason I say this,is that I have read all that has been available and the outcome has not convinced me of a clean cut case and also the amount of drug that was found was so minute acording to the records,plus there was the hair test that took place and came back negative. How ever enough of this, for there will always be a division for and against.
How would they introduce her , well yes it will be done in a professional manner, and I hope she will be excepted in that manner.
And to mention the expences that go along with these types of events, and what martina would take home,I think that would be the last thing on her mind.
And then to jump on her grin and her designer clothes with so much agresion, I wonder why?
My oppinion is that I am very happy that martina has been given the invitation to play at the exhibition matches, by the liverpool international tennis tournament Organisers, to use these matches in the three days to help her through her situation and use it as a platform for the future.
I for one still believe martina has a lot more to offer in the sport of tennis and I feel I am not alone.
And for the doubters give her this chance.
Patrick
KING ARTHUR | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’
The tennis circus in Calderstone Park at the Liverpool international tennis tournament could literally be a reality this summer.
I visited the park this week and found to my amazement the poor condition of the courts. Surely these courts will not be ready for world class players to perform on.
An undisclosed source told me with a despondent look ‘The courts are being attended by a different group of grounds people who have even never marked out tennis court never mind prepared a grass court.’
‘Last year was a difficult time because of the rain.’ ‘We had to order covers from Birmingham. They were so wet that the grass could not dry and electric blowers had to be placed on the court to dry out the ground.’
‘During the week they ran out of marking paint for the courts and a person had to go to the local shop for a tin of white emulsion paint to mark the lines.’
‘This year, drains have been put into place but they are not level with the ground.’
‘Some players did not want to play on the wet grass last year for fear of injury’ the source said.
Last year at the tournament the rain nearly wiped out the event and because of the location of the court (it is situated on a slope) water was able to seep under the covers.
The lack of quality covers in the event of rain has made me wonder why the use of a ‘Wimbledon type cover.’ (These are used on their outside courts with constant warm air fed into the inflated mini tent to stop moisture appearing on the court) are not used at the Liverpool tournament. Bjorn Borg the 5 times former Wimbledon champion 1976-80 who was bitten on his leg by his dog and was advised by his doctor not to play and Greg Rusedski failed to fulfil his last two days due to a sudden shoulder injury? It was suggested that there were other reasons that contributed to their decisions not to play.
The tournament still has no big male star attraction unlike last year when Bjorn Borg was announced. Martina Hingis and Jana Novotna former Wimbledon Champions will play an exhibition match this year but they are players from another era.
The timing of The Liverpool Tournament is unfortunate or ‘clown like planning’ as the date of the tournament clashes with the prestigious 9-15 June Stella Artois Championships at Queens Club, London Most of the major players tennis professionals except for Federer enter there and the following week 16-21 June is the Nottingham open. Wimbledon starts on the 23 June.
There are no other calendar openings in the grass court season to have another ATP grass tournament with the backing of the LTA unless Wimbledon was put back and then the City of Manchester would press claims for the revival of their ‘Northern tournament’ to be place on the ATP tour, as it stands Manchester has a challenger 15-22 July after Wimbledon.
There is no doubt Anders Borg has worked with passion and enthusiasm to put this International Tennis tournament on in Liverpool over the past 6 years even though it is not recognised as an ATP tournament. This is the main criteria besides a surface that is nowhere near the standard for professional tennis to be played on. It is not recognised as a serious grass court tournament for players to prepare for Wimbledon.
The only players who attend the Liverpool tournament have probably been enticed by a rather large cheque that they could not earn elsewhere. Anders Borg advisors should have foreseen the obstacles early on that are becoming every year insurmountable to stage a ‘world class tennis tournament’ that has been ‘ smacked in the gob’ of tennis association.
There are rumours of Tournament Director Anders Borg becoming increasingly dissatisfied and frustrated by Liverpool City Council’s lack of financial support and this year’s poor maintenance of the public courts can only add to this. A recent report in January of this year made Liverpool City council as the worst financially managed local authority in England by an independent watchdog.
Another source said, ‘He has sacrificed his personal time to get this tournament running and close friends have asked him to consider walking away from the hassle.’
‘He is going to blow a fuse when he comes up from London and see the tennis court.’
It has been suggested that this could be the last year of the International Liverpool tournament.
Has Anders Borg efforts been misguided by ‘expert officers and consultants’ who do not share his passion for tennis but won’t hesitate an invitation to the corporate hospitality tent for a of drink champagne or has it been a foolish maverick idea against the tennis governing bodies and the ATP tour?
As I left the park I saw a grass court and tournament struggling to grow in the damp and cold of Liverpool. A few hundred yards away from the tennis courts, groundsmen were marking out football pitches. ‘We have to do this so the kids don’t play football on the tennis courts.’ A groundsman said.
Anders Borg, The Ringmaster of this ‘Tennis Circus’ has been introducing the wrong acts to the audience. I have just had an idea; Liverpool Football Club could be invited to the park for their pre season football training sessions. Anders Borg would have no trouble attracting the help and sponsors. Steven Gerrard playing head tennis with Fernando Torres and who cares about the grass if it is wet, it was ‘invented’ for football in this football mad city of Liverpool.
All together now, ‘You’ll never walk alone’