Aces
Zvonareva taking swing at politics
Zvonareva, the No. 4 seed at the BNP Paribas Open this year, has been enrolled in the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the hopes of some day working with the United Nations.
- The Desert Sun
Italy chooses Castellaneta Marina for Russia clash
The Italian Tennis Federation (FIT) has announced that the 2009 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinal tie between Italy and Russia on 25-26 April will be held in Castellaneta Marina in Puglia, southern Italy.
- Fed Cup by BNP Paribas
A Centre Court Celebration Tickets On Sale March 12 at 10AM
Star line-up of Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Kim Clijsters and Tim Henman to play under the new Centre Court roof on Sunday 17 May 2009.
Tickets go on general sale at 10:00am on Thursday 12 March 2009 through Ticketmaster – www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wimbledon
- Wimbledon
Tennis Spy: Marina Erakovic
The only Kiwi tennis player of either gender in the world’s top 300 (the highest ranked man is Jose ‘Rubin’ Statham, at 443). Erakovic reached a career-high ranking of 49th last summer after a good run that culminated in getting to the third round at Wimbledon.
- Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Rising Azarenka makes waves on tennis court
Azarenka already has surpassed $1.5 million in Tour earnings and has a Nike deal to boot.
“Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m 19. The years go by like two,” she says in English with a thin accent.
But she’s not growing up too fast to enjoy the journey. She has a Facebook page and her own Web site, admits to being a recovering shopaholic and loves to drive her Mercedes.
- The Arizona Republic
Black, Huber Look to Conquer California
Black and Huber, who have won 24 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles together, including four majors, failed to hoist the winners’ trophies at their first four tournaments of 2009, but after winning Paris and Dubai, they are clearly the team to beat in California.
- Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
Oudin Injects Optimism Into American Women’s Tennis
At 5 feet 5 inches and forever looking up at her peers, Oudin (pronounced ooo-DAN) says she wishes she were taller “every single day.” She says she tries to fashion her game after that of the similarly diminutive Justine Henin.
“I can’t expect to get aces like those 6-foot Russians do all the time,” said Oudin, whose prematch ritual includes visualizing points that she never loses. “But I’m quick, so it kind of evens out.”
- The NY Times
Net Cords
Tennis Week Announces Focus On Web And Digital Media
Tennis Week announced today a shift in focus to its online web site www.tennisweek.com and its video distribution platform while placing the brand’s print edition on hiatus through 2009.
- Tennis Week
Faults
Indian Wells shows signs of the times
Last year, 331,269 paid to see what was then the Pacific Life Open. In tennis, only the Australian, French, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open attract more. Last year, the world only feared a terrible downturn in the economy. This year, it has one.
- The Los Angeles Times
The story behind the Williamses and Indian Wells
The controversy surrounding Venus and Serena Williams’ decision not to play at Indian Wells has been composed of rumors, conjecture, and confusing comments about racism and match fixing. Joel Drucker, who covered the tournament for Tennis Week in 2001, recounts the events from eight years ago that caused two of tennis’ biggest stars to skip this significant tournament.
- ESPN
Endless simmer
WTA chairman and CEO Larry Scott announced a number of sanctions against the organizers of the women’s tournament in the United Arab Emirates after Israel’s Shahar Peer was denied a visa to enter the country, and those organizers have decided to appeal their $300,000 fine.
Scott, who looked noticeably tired in his public appearances when the Dubai situation was at full boil, said he isn’t losing any sleep over this maneuver. “I don’t know what kind of pressure they’re under to appeal, but they’re entitled,” he said before the Madison Square Garden event. “If a member wants to appeal my decision, they can appeal to our board [of directors]. I imagine they’ll comply with the final decision. Our board is due to meet in May. They [the tournament] have to post a letter of credit and accept the conditions by the beginning of July, so it’s not going to last a long time.”
- ESPN
I have to say that I’m disgusted by Dubai’s decision to appeal the Board’s decision.
In my opinion, fairly minimal action was taken by the WTA Tour in the first place. Given the UAE’s wealth, $300,000 is tiny, and the conditions were few and far between; basically, make sure this doesn’t happen again. Neither of these should be hard to comply to – Andy Ram was allowed to play in the men’s tournament, signifying a changed stance on allowing Israeli players to compete, and, as said before, $300,000 is a small price to pay.
I feel as though, because of this appeal, perhaps more action should be taken: a larger penalty, if anything, should be given. What happened to Shahar Peer was an undoubted injustice, and Dubai should not be allowed to walk away punishment-free.