Tennis News
04.05.05
Guga Back...
Gustavo Kuerten, 3-time Roland Garros champion, came back this week
from another hip surgery.
03.31.05
Venus Williams Named to Fed Cup team
Venus Williams will be at the Delray Beach Tennis
Center on April 23-24 to represent the United States in the Fed
Cup. The United States Tennis Association and U.S. Fed Cup team
captain Zina Garrison announced Thursday that Williams will joinSerena,
top- Lindsay Davenport and Corina Morariu for this month's Fed Cup
quarterfinal matchup against Belgium. Venus will be an "alternate"
given that she has the lowest ranking... Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne
will not be playing.
03.06.05
Davis Cup Around the World
USA and Spain are stunned by first round losses in Davis cup, nd
without the miraculous gold-medalist Massu, Chile goes down hard
to Russia.
Slovak Republic d. Spain 4 - 1
Netherlands d. Switzerland 2 - 3
Australia d. Austria 5 - 0
Argentina d. Czech Republic 5 - 0
Russia d. Chile 4 - 1
France d. Sweden 3 - 2
Romania d. Belarus 3 - 2
Croatia d. USA 2 - 3
02.21.05
This Week's Winners...
R.C., Oncourt Tennis
Another busy tennis weekend. In Memphis, Andy Roddick sprained his
ankle and was forced to withdraw before his semifinal match against
Kenneth Carlsen. Roddick sprained his ankle in
the second set of his quarterfinal match against Robby Ginepri.
Roddick says he pulled out of the semifinal match because of concern
that he would aggravate the injury and risk missing the Davis Cup.
Carlsen moved into the finals to play the Beast, Max Mirnyi, who
upset Tommy Haas in the semifinals. Carlsen then upset Mirnyi to
win his first title since 2002.
In Rotterdam, Roger Federer got back in the winner's
circle, beating Ivan Ljubicic in three very close sets, 5-7, 7-5,
7-6(5). Ljubicic reached the finals by beating Thomas Johansson
in straight sets, while Federer breezed past Mario Ancic, also in
straight sets. Ljubicic and Ancic's level this week, combined with
Roddick's sprained ankle, should make for an interesting Davis Cup
first round in Carson, California.
In the two clay court tournaments in South America, Rafael
Nadal outlasted Alberto Martin in Brazil, 6-0, 6-7 (2),
6-1, while Flavia Pennetta downed Lourdes Dominguez Lino, 7-6(4),
6-4.
In Belgium, the women were competing for a million dollar gem covered
racquet, awarded to the first women to win three titles in five
years. Actually, the only person with a shot at the big prize was
Venus Williams, who made it to the finals, beating crowd favorite
Kim Clijsters along the way. However, Venus was unable to secure
the grand prize, as she lost to Amelie Mauresmo
in the finals, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Next week, the men are in Dubai (where Andre Agassi will play for
the first time ever), Acapulco and Scottsdale. The women are in
Qatar and Acapulco. After that it's on the Davis Cup and then the
Masters Series begins.
02.13.05
Tennis Around the Globe...
R.C., Oncourt Tennis
It was a busy weekend in tennis. Andy Roddick got back in the winner’s
column (for the first time since July), by beating up on Cyril Saulnier
6-0, 6-4 in 50 minutes. Roddick was nearly flawless, making fewer
than 10 unforced errors the whole match. Saulnier was his usual
erratic self and was unable to stay with Roddick right from the
start.
In Argentina, Gaston Gaudio picked up second consecutive title,
beating his compatriot, Mariano Puerta 6-4, 6-4. As usual, the Argentines
dominated at home, placing three of the four semi-finalists in Buenos
Aires. Gaudio looks to be setting himself up as a favorite for the
French Open with early clay court wins.
In France, two big hitters made the finals and Joachim Johansson
picked up yet another title as he continues to climb the rankings.
Johansson beat Ivan Ljubicic 7-5, 6-4. Watch out for Johansson during
the upcoming US hard court circuit.
Finally, on the women’s side, Dinara Safina followed a little
bit in her big brother’s footsteps by beating Amelie Mauresmo
6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in France. Although it’s not too unusual for
Mauresmo to lose a final, it should be considered a big accomplishment
for Safina to beat her on home soil.
Next week there are another three ATP tournaments in Memphis, the
Netherlands and Brazil. As with this week, the draws for each of
these tournaments will be diluted with each one featuring only a
few top players. Hopefully, the ATP will someday realize the benefit
of fewer tournaments with deeper draws. The women are also in three
places – Belgium, Memphis and Colombia. Look for a weekly
wrap-up next Monday.
02.07.05
Tennis Tour arrives on the West Coast
L.B., Oncourt Tennis
Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and Tommy Haas are all playing
this week at the SAP Open in San Jose, officially bringing the ATP
tour to the West Coast. Andre & Andy will then be going to Los
Angeles to play Davis Cup on the weekend of March 4th (the opening
Davis Cup Weekend).
02.01.05
Let the Games Begin... Tennis Season Opens with a Bang!
L.B., Oncourt Tennis
Nearly all the players showed up this year for the Australian Open,
nearly all the seats were filled, the 1, 2, 3, and 4 players on
the men's side advanced to make a very exciting final week of play,
Roger Federer was beaten, and Serena Williams is back! It is safe
to say that the 2005 tennis season is off to a great start.
The great thing about the slams is that a player who is well-known
on the tour to players and avid fans can be introduced in a big
way to sports fans (you know, the occassional watcher who can't
find a basketball game to watch). Remember the great match between
Roddick and El Anouyi?
This year these players were the very classy and tough Alicia Molik
and Rafael Nadal. Hopefully, the brilliance they showed in this
tournament will shine throughout the year.
All in all the tennis was awesome and in just about every match
the more complete player won - even if it went the distance - sending
a clear message to players like Andy Roddick, Elena Dementieva,
and Venus Williams that the work really needs to be done. It seems
so much of the time the players say they gave it their all (heart)
or that they played their game and were just beaten. These players
should really improve shots that are a liability to their game.
Marat Safin learned how to volley... and Lleyton Hewitt is recording
a lot of aces!
We really missed Todd Martin and Wayne Ferriera (at least I did)
and will miss them in the future. Wayne Ferriera was actually one
of the players in the first live tennis match I ever saw, so it's
the end of an era for me.
Can't wait for the next tournament... Davis Cup in Carson!
_________
Davis
Cup Tie sites are announced for March 4 - 6!
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