CityTennis
For those who play tennis in San Francisco
Professional Tennis Registry is conducting an
INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP & CERTIFICATION TESTING
at Bay-O-Vista Tennis Club in San Leandro, CA
Saturday, September 11 • 9am-6pm
Sunday, September 12 • 9am-6pm (includes testing)
US OPEN
Day Seven Recap
No. 4 Andy Murray falls on Sunday
Closing out the second week of play at the US Open, it was a win or go home Sunday schedule for many of the top contenders. Some survived to play another day while others were sent packing.
Defending women's champion Kim Clijsters made a strong statement and routed Ana Ivanovic, clinching a berth in the quarterfinals. Venus Williams passed a tough test, outlasting a determined Shahar Peer. French Open winner Francesca Schiavone proved she has a game for all surfaces in a straight-set takedown of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. In the most hotly-contested match of the women's draw so far, Samantha Stosur bested Elena Dementieva, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6.
Andy Murray was on the short list of men's contenders, but wasn't counting on a superlative performance by Stanislas Wawrinka, who upset the No. 4 seed in four sets before a capacity crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Top seed Rafael Nadal continued his march toward reaching the first US Open final of his career in a straight-set win over Gilles Simon. Other notable results included Sam Querrey over Nicolas Almagro, Mikhail Youzhny over John Isner, and Fernando Verdasco over David Nalbandian.
Complete Match Results - Click here
US Open Week 1 Review - Watch Now
Juniors Get Underway
The US Open Junior Championships began Sunday
Grand Slam champions and Youth Olympic medalists highlighted the opening day of play for juniors at the US Open. With the exception of just a handful of surprises, Sunday's results showed that seedings for the 2010 boys' and girls' singles tournaments were accurate almost down to the number.
Juniors Photo Gallery - Click here
Junior Tournament Preview & Day 1 Recap - Watch Now
Doubles Action
India/Pakistan duo continue to dominate doubles
The unlikely alliance of India and Pakistan continued to rock the doubles courts Sunday. The team of India's Rohan Bopanna and the Pakistani Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi knocked out second seeded specialists Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic 6-3, 6-4 on Court 7 and move on to face No. 9 Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman in the fourth round.
Also in men's doubles, the 10th seeded team of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski moved into the fourth round, where they could potentially face the top-seeded Bryan Brothers.
Complete Doubles Recap - Click here
Doubles Photo Gallery - Click here
Venus Williams Book Signing
Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession.
Venus Williams, two-time US Open singles champion, entrepreneur and now NY Times best-selling author, will be at USTA Membership, Monday, September 6th at 1 p.m. signing copies of her book - Come to Win. Books can be purchased at USTA Membership or the US Open Bookstore while at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center or online at the US Open Shop.
Venus Williams - Come to Win - Click here
Celebrities at the US Open
presented by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
There are more than just tennis stars everyday at the US Open.
Check out all the celebrities that have made the trip to Flushing during week 1 of the 2010 US Open, including Derek Jeter, Kanye West, John Legend, Usher, Bode Miller and more.
Celebrities at the US Open - Click here
US Open Live
Free Live Streaming on USOpen.org
Svetlana Kuznetsova, Mardy Fish, Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova, Gael Monfils, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer headline Labor Day on US Open Live.
Visit USOpen.org during the entire 2010 US Open for more than 200 matches streamed for free from Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand, Court 11 and Court 13.
US Open Live Schedule - Click here
Top Chef Demonstration
Waxman Wins Charity Masters Chef Competition
Jonathan Waxman won the 2010 US Open Master Chef Charity Competition on Saturday, September 4. Waxman's Roast Chicken Panini with Basil Aioli and Greens was the best selling dish from the competition, which featured signature dishes from other top chefs including Tony Mantuano, Susan Feniger, Carmen Gonzalez and Rick Moonen.
Waxman sold 385 of his paninis Saturday, and has sold 2,200 since the start of the US Open on August 30. For winning the competition, the US Open will donate $5,000 on Waxman's behalf to his chosen charity - Citymeals-on-Wheels.
Waxman Wins Charity Master Chef Competition - Read more
Top Chef Demonstration - Click here
USOpen.org Auctions
2010 USOpen.org Auctions are Underway
Experience the US Open like you've never seen before. Want to play on Arthur Ashe Stadium? Want to go behind the scenes?
Bid now on these great opportunities, as well as tennis memorabilia and other VIP Experiences.
Don't miss out... Bid Now.
Promenade Experience
Fans enjoy perks of Promenade Experience
Seats in the promenade section of Arthur Ashe Stadium may not put you right next to the action on court, but fans who make the trek up 116-plus stairs to the venue's upper levels are enjoying the excitement of the new "Promenade Experience" at the 2010 US Open.
Promenade Experience - Read more
Email: webresponse@usta.com
Web: http://www.usta.com
We recommend Bob Larson’s Tennis News as the best source of tennis related news and you can sign up for numerous updates:
COURTESY of Bob Larsons’s Tennis News:
Serena Williams Locates her Injury
Finally, she has spoken. Serena Williams told USA Today she cut her foot outside a restaurant when she stepped on glass that had been broken by World Cup soccer fans.
At first Serena thought she had stubbed her toe, but, realizing she had been cut, went to an emergency room where she received 18 stitches; we on her right foot and six on her left. She told the newspaper that when she returned to the US and the pain persisted she underwent surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles to repair a lacerated tendon on the top of her right foot.
Wozniacki Looking at US Open With Confidence
Time will tell, but top seed and 2010 US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki insists she is not suffering any negative effects from her run of success since Wimbledon which has netted her titles in Copenhagen, Montreal and New Haven. In fact, she feels exactly the opposite.
"I feel good. I'm in good shape," she said on the eve of her US Open campaign, which will boost her bank balance by a massive $2.7 million if it results in her winning the title. "Definitely I feel like I'm playing better and better. The last four weeks have been great for me. It's a positive problem to me if I have so many matches. It means I'm winning. I don't feel there's any pressure. Pressure is when you are put on the spot and you don't feel like you belong there, don't think you deserve to be there. I feel like I deserve to be where I am and I'm feeling comfortable."
Since losing to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 final, the Dane has climbed to No.2 in the world and she believes she is a fitter, if not necessarily a more skillful, player 12 months on.
"It's hard to compare myself to how I was last year. My fitness level has definitely improved. I've gotten better little by little," she said. "(But) I don't think too much has changed since last year. More people are talking about my game. I'm still the same person. I still love playing tennis."
***
Graf to Host Clinic at New York’s Central Park
Stefanie Graf, will host the Center Court for Kids Tennis Clinic on Thursday, Sept. 2 at Central Park Tennis Center in Manhattan during this year’s U.S. Open. The event is presented in partnership with City Parks Foundation and USTA Eastern Section.
The event is part of Longines’ global commitment to support and develop tennis’ superstars of tomorrow. Fifty young girls from the metro New York area will receive special instruction from Graf and other tennis pros on sportsmanship and the game’s most integral shots: forehand, backhand, serve and volley.
Additionally, visitors of Central Park will also be able to test the speed of their swing on an adjoining clinic court from 12p.m.-1 p.m. Proceeds raised at this event will benefit Graf’s charity Children for Tomorrow.
***
The Fastest Serves in Women’s Tennis
Who has hit the fastest serve on the WTA Tour this year? No prizes for guessing it is a Williams. In fact, both of them hold the record so far. Venus tops sister Serena, just, and the pair also hold the record for the all-time fastest serves. The IDS Serve Speed rankings for 2010 are:
1 - Venus Williams (USA) 128.6mph/207.0kph - French Open
2 - Serena Williams (USA) 128.0/206.0 - French Open
3 - Li Na (CHN) 123.7/199.0 - French Open
4T - Samantha Stosur (AUS) 123.0/198.0 - French Open
4T - Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 123.0/197.9 - Indian Wells
6T - Karolina Sprem (CRO) 122.4/197.0 - French Open
6T - Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 122.4/197.0 - French Open
8 - Nadia Petrova (RUS) 121.8/196.0 - French Open
9T - Jarmila Groth (AUS) 120.5/194.0 - French Open
9T - Yaroslava Shvedova 120.5/194.0 - French Open
The all-time figures also rank Venus and Serena at No.1 and 2 respectively, with Brenda Schultz-McCarthy following up at No.3.
1 - Venus Williams (USA) 129.0/207.6 - 2007 US Open
2 - Serena Williams (USA) 128.0/206.0 - 2010 French Open
3 - Brenda Schultz-McCarthy (NED) 126.0/202.7 - 2007 Indian Wells
The figures are subjective, however, as might be guessed from the fact that nine of the top 10 speeds were clocked on clay at Roland Garros, rather than on a faster surface. That is because IDS only collects serve speed data on show courts at certain events - 12 this year - and only started doing so in 1989. Also, players who have had multiple Top 10 fastest serves only have their top one listed, and if they hit that top speed multiple times, just the first time they did it is listed.
Murray Content With His Current Coaching Set Up
Andy Murray’s successful campaign to become the first male player to retain the Rogers Cup since Andre Agassi at the year’s sixth Masters 1000 Series event in Toronto would seem to suggest the feisty Scot is happiest playing without a coach in his corner. But
Murray insists he has no intention of working solo for the remainder of his career.
Successive straight sets wins over Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer emphasized how Murray had recaptured top form after an indifferent year and the parting of the ways with former coach Miles Maclagan a month ago.
“Obviously I am playing without a coach at the moment so it’s a little bit different,” said the player whose first title of the year warded off the challenge from Robin Soderling for the world no.4 spot. “I just want to enjoy playing my game and express myself on the court in the way I want.
“I’m just playing a little bit freer. I was going for my shots and just felt pretty calm on the court the whole week. In fact it was one of the best weeks I’ve had. I was playing pretty free flowing tennis and didn’t get too nervous.”
Sitting in Murray’s corner were his mother Judy along with fitness trainer Jez Green and physio Andy Ireland. He is on the look out for a successor to Maclagan but no appointment will be made before the US Open and he is in no rush.
“I’m not going to rush into hiring a coach unless I feel it is the right person because it’s a big commitment,” said Murray. “It’s 30 or 35 weeks a year that you travel with that person and you spend a lot of time together. There’s a lot of pressure at the high or top end of sport so you need to make sure you get on very well.
“I don’t want to pick someone just before the US Open and make a mistake. I’d rather play like I’m playing now and have people around me that I know and enjoy being with so you are enjoying yourself. After the Open I will sit down and think about what I want to do.”
Venus Williams and Serena Williams Commit to Play Fed Cup Finals
The USTA announced that Serena Williams and Venus Williams have committed to represent the U.S. in the 2010 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Final against Italy on an indoor hard court at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, November 6-7.
The Williams sisters will join the core U.S. Fed Cup group of Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Liezel Huber, who have led the United States to its second straight Fed Cup Final.
The best-of-five rubber series begins on Saturday, November 6, with two singles rubbers featuring each country’s No. 1 singles player facing the No. 2 singles player from the other nation. The event concludes the next day with “reverse singles,” as the No. 1 player from each country face off followed by the No. 2 singles players meeting. The second day of competition concludes with a doubles rubber. Per ITF rules for the Fed Cup Final, Sunday’s schedule is subject to change after one country wins three rubbers.
Fed Cup rules require nations to submit an initial official roster of three or four players no less than 10 days prior to the start of play. Captains can change one or two players on the final roster that is submitted up to one hour before the draw which is held the day before matches begin.
Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage of the U.S. vs. Italy Fed Cup Final.
Nalbandian, Querrey and Fish Lead in US Open Series
Former world No. 3 David Nalbandian defeated Marcos Baghdatis at Washington, D.C., while Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Agnieszka Radwanska to win San Diego. Both Nalbandian and Kuznetsova earn 70 points in the US Open Series Bonus Challenge Standings to take a share of first place in the current points race.
Winning his first career Olympus US Open Series tournament title, Nalbandian is now in a three-way tie atop the men’s standings with Americans Sam Querrey and Mardy Fish, while Kuznetsova, who won the 2004 US Open and 2009 French Open, is in a similar tight race, sharing the lead in the women’s standings with Victoria Azarenka and Radwanska. The win at San Diego is the second career US Open Series tournament title for Kuznetsova.
The men's and women's winners of the Olympus US Open Series will compete for $1 million in bonus prize money at the 2010 US Open.
***
Nadal Sets Up Education Foundation in India
We all are aware of Andre Agassi’s Foundation For Education and his award-winning campus, which houses elementary, middle and high schools. Then there is Serena Williams and her Serena Williams Secondary School in Kenya and her support for education for kids all over Africa. And there is Roger Federer’s Foundation that also provides education and sporting opportunities for kids in several African countries.
Perhaps less well-known is the work undertaken by the Rafa Nadal Foundation in India, in collaboration with the Vicente Ferrer Foundation. This consists of the construction and maintenance of a school and a three-court tennis training center with an aim to improve the future opportunities and quality of life of 150 boys and girls in Anantapur.
The boys and girls will receive educational support English and mathematics, reinforcing this with training in computer skills and improving their integral education through sport.
The project also contemplates nutritional and healthcare cover for the beneficiary students, in order to supplement their nutritional and medical needs. Sport plays a vital part in the aim of the project with the belief that, in addition to providing a healthy life, sports and games encourage youngsters to adopt aptitudes of comradeship and solidarity which they can then go on to develop in their daily lives.
The Harpers are Honored in San Francisco
Harper for Kids, a non-profit organization run by former player Peanut Louis Harper and her husband Tim, was one of five organizations last week honored at the SF Giants game and at a dinner and awarded with a $10,000 All Star Community Grant. The pair also set up the Harpers For Kids Family Day on Saturday at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, which was a great success and attended by Andrea Jaeger, Mary Joe Fernandez and Mary Carillo. Harper for Kids tennis coaches guided youngsters through a series of games and tennis drills with mini tennis nets.
Federer and Show Business Stars are Added to Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Lineup
The USTA announced that singing sensation David Archuleta, rising star Shontelle and tennis great Roger Federer have been added to an already star-studded line-up that includes chart-topping pop superstars Jonas Brothers, TV and recording sensation Demi Lovato, tennis world # 1 Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic for the 15th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess Saturday, August 28 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Hosted by Adrienne Bailon and Quddus, the show will feature special celebrity guests including Nick Cannon. The popular full-day tennis and music festival for children and families – including interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis clinics – will also feature performances from Allstar Weekend and School Gyrls. More musical acts and tennis stars will be announced in coming weeks. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Presented by Hess will kick off the 2010 US Open, which runs from August 30 - September 12.
***
Serena Williams is at the Top of the List
Despite her major meltdown in the 2009 US Open semifinals, Serena Williams has been voted America's favorite female sports star for the second straight year in a poll conducted by Harris Interactive. Venus is at number two.
Those results might be expected, given the fact that until recently the sisters were ranked at numbers one and two in the world respectively. Even now, Serena remains at No.1 while Venus is at No.3, and together they top the doubles rankings.
In fact, tennis players took seven of the top 10 places in the poll, although some were a little surprising given that they no longer play. Maria Sharapova was at five, which is okay, but then they have part-timer Anna Kournikova at six, and a tie for 10th place with the finally retired Martina Navratilova and the long-time retired Billie Jean King.
***
Bob Larson Tennis to Offer a New Tennis Service
Bob Larson, owner/publisher of Bob Larson Tennis, has announced he will launch a new tennis service on August 2. While not revealing the name nor the function of the service, Larson said this service is not for everyone, but for many people it is a must-have.
Sharapova Really Believes in Helping Chernobyl Survivors
Maria Sharapova did more than just visit the site of the Chernobyl nuclear accident recently. She made a personal contribution of an impressive $250,000 to expand a UNDP-supported program that provides sports and physical activities for youth in the area affected by the disaster.
As a UNDP (United Nations Development Program) Goodwill Ambassador, she has also set up a charitable foundation to help fund a number of UNDP youth-focused projects. She supports no less than seven youth-oriented projects in areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine which were affected by the 1986 Chernobyl accident, which led to her parents fleeing the area and settling in Siberia. Maria also funds a five-year scholarship program for students coming from the contaminated regions.
Although a report from the 2005 Chernobyl Forum found that the health-related effects of the disaster have cleared up, poverty and diseases related to alcohol, smoking, stress and poor diets remain serious threats to people living in the region.
"I've seen progress and kids with a great potential to do even more," said Sharapova. "What they need is to work hard and believe in themselves. Having supported health and education initiatives, I am very happy to start contributing on sports and physical activities that promote healthy lifestyles."
Join Your Team Today
League Tennis is for Everyone!
Combo Doubles season opens July 5th for adults age 18 and over. Using combined ratings, there are teams for all levels. More Information.
Fifty Mixed season opens July 12th and is a fun league for players age 50 and over. Local league winners can advance to a section championship and on to the USTA National Invitational. More Information.
Kids, ages 8-18 can join a team too! Summer Jr. Team Tennis League is underway but there's still time to join a team through July 10th. The 6-8 week leagues are taking place all over NorCal for intermediate and advanced players. Local league champions advance to the section championship, August 14-15. Visit the USTA NorCal website to find a summer local league or call 510-748-7373.
McEnroe to Launch His Tennis Academy
John McEnroe has announced the formation of his own Tennis Academy, to be housed at the new $18 Million SPORTIME at Randall’s Island Tennis Center in New York City. SPORTIME, owner of 13 tennis and fitness clubs throughout New York State, will operate the club and will partner with McEnroe in the operation of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. The academy will encourage its students to take advantage of the many educational, athletic and cultural opportunities that New York City has to offer.
"For many years the United States has struggled to develop its next class of elite players," said McEnroe. "I believe that I can inspire young players the way that my coaches inspired me. And I plan to create a system, like the one that I learned in, that supports building an all-around person, as opposed to a tennis machine.
"My academy will provide a balance of world-class tennis and fitness training, along with a New York experience, so maybe our kids will be a little more creative, a little more intense, and will be able to think on their feet a little better, like any New Yorker. Over time and with my guidance and that of our hand-picked coaches and pros, I think our students will see great success."
Rather than a tennis-only approach, the McEnroe Academy will support a balanced training experience for the developing elite player. All or virtually all students who are admitted to the academy will attend a conventional school during the day and will train after school hours and on weekends during the school year. The academy will offer tennis coaching, training and practice, coaching at on and off-site tournaments, a fitness component and an academic support team. The cost of the academy will be determined by each student’s personal plan, and partial and full scholarships will be available based on need and ability. McEnroe has selected former ATP, Olympic and Israeli Davis Cup player Gilad Bloom as the Academy’s Director of Tennis and he and McEnroe are assembling a top-tier staff of international instructors and coaches.
SUPPORT YOUTH TENNIS ADVANTAGE
TENNIS AROUND THE WORLD
***USA Wins Fed Cup Semifinals and Earns Hosting Rights for Finals in November
The US Fed Cup team rallied to defeat Russia, 3-2, in the 2010 Fed Cup semifinals Sunday in Birmingham and earned the right to host defending champion Italy in the Fed Cup Final, Nov. 6-7 at a site to be determined by the USTA. It is the first time that the US will host the Fed Cup Final since 2000, which is also the last year the U.S. won the event.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands became the first American to win consecutive rubbers on the final day to lead the U.S. to victory. With the U.S. trailing 1-2, Mattek-Sands defeated Ekaterina Makarova, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 then teamed with Liezel Huber to defeat Elena Dementieva and Alla Kudryavtseva in the decisive doubles rubber, 6-3, 6-1. Melanie Oudin defeated Kudryavtseva Saturday in the opening rubber to give the U.S a 1-0 lead.
The USTA will select the site for the 2010 Fed Cup Final with plans to announce the venue in mid-June, pending approval from the ITF. Information about the bid process and an RFP can be found at www.usta.com/fedcup. Parties interested in bidding to host the 2010 Fed Cup final should submit a letter of intent to the USTA by May 17. The deadline for submitting a final bid to the USTA is June 4.
Tennis Travel Tip of the Day:
Dave Kensler, a 28-year veteran with Peter Burwash International (PBI), has worked in Tahiti, Hawaii, the Caribbean and many other incredible destinations during his career. He is currently the Director of Media Relations for PBI. To learn more, check out: www.pbitennis.com.
Combining a Tennis Vacation and Attending a Professional Tournament
On the surface it may seem like a relatively easy effort: Enjoying a tennis vacation and at the same time attending a professional tennis tournament. This is the best of both worlds for an avid tennis player playing tennis and watching the elite players in the world do the same.
However, upon closer examination, the opportunity to combine both is not always practical. Take the U.S. Open for example. An incredible tournament but a resort tennis vacation in New York City? Not really. On the other hand, going on vacation to Monte Carlo and watching the tournament could be a nice combination but traveling from the U.S. makes it cost prohibitive for many people.
In my opinion, one of the very best if not the best opportunity to combine both is the upcoming BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., from March 8-21 (www.bnpparibasopen.org).
For starters, as the worlds fifth largest tournament, it is one of the few outside the Grand Slams where you can watch both the men and women compete in the same venue. Weather-wise while much of the U.S. is just beginning to thaw out from winter weather, temperatures in the desert area at that time of year are normally in the 70s and 80s. On the entertainment value issue, one general admission ticket allows you to spend hours and hours roaming the complex watching matches.
On the tennis vacation aspect, between resorts, clubs, hotels, private home and gated community rentals and even public facilities, there are multiple options for playing tennis. With daily matches at the tournament starting most days at 11 a.m., there is plenty of opportunity to get in anywhere from 1-3 hours of tennis playing yourself before heading to the tournament.
I highly recommend Desert Springs A JW Marriott Resort & Spa (www.desertspringsresort.com) and Rancho Las Palmas (www.rancholaspalmas.com) as two destinations for your tennis playing/attending a professional tournament experience. Desert Springs has 20-courts: 15 hard, three clay and two grass. Rancho Las Palmas has 25 hard courts.
Tennis at both facilities is under the direction of Peter Burwash International (PBI) and have comprehensive programs to meet the needs of all levels of players. In addition, both resorts besides being located close to the tournament location are accustomed to the needs of guests who are trying to combine their own tennis playing with attending the tournament.
The BNP Paribas Open and a tennis vacation: It just doesnt get much better than that.
****