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Chair umpires have made no shortage of announcements through the decades at Wimbledon, but not many could have felt the need to say what Carlos Ramos said Wednesday as Jerzy Janowicz and Lukasz Kubot reached a critical phase of the second set on Court 1. “Please, as a courtesy to the players, can we please get back to this match,” Ramos said to the crowd. “Thank you.”
These, clearly, were unusual circumstances. Henman Hill lies just outside Court 1, and the crowd gathered on that grassy slope was not watching big-screen television coverage of Janowicz and Kubot. It was watching coverage of the British star Andy Murray’s perilous match with Fernando Verdasco that was being played across the concourse on Centre Court.
The predominantly British fans inside Court 1 were watching Murray on their smartphones and also picking up on reactions from the Hill: roaring and groaning themselves, often out of sync with the triumphs and disasters available in the match at hand.
But in truth, they had another quality tennis tale developing right in front of them: the first all-Polish men’s singles match in Grand Slam history. That it came in a Wimbledon quarterfinal made it even more of a novelty, and when it ended, the 22-year-old Janowicz was the first Polish man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.
Janowicz, a 6-foot-8 force of nature, has not been universally embraced by his elders because of his demonstrative, in-your-face style and perhaps because of the obvious threat he now poses with his massive serve (an overused term that truly applies) and his surprising touch and mobility.
But he and the 31-year-old Kubot are Davis Cup teammates as well as countrymen and when Janowicz’s 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 victory was complete and Janowicz had dropped to the grass with a mixture of disbelief and delight, Kubot soon crossed to his side of the net, waited for him to rise to his feet and hugged him.
It was a long embrace, longer than Kubot expected as the taller Janowicz buried his head in his shoulder and they exchanged thumps on the back. When it ended, they borrowed a rite from soccer and swapped shirts even if they were, in a sense, representing the same team.
“It was first time,” Kubot said. “It just came quick to my mind: ‘Let’s do it, and let’s do it quickly and show it’s not just about playing and challenging each other on the court. Just show the friendship and show that Polish tennis is getting better and we have one player in the semifinals.’ ”
In fact, Poland has two singles players in the semifinals, and one more than that if you count Polish roots. Agnieszka Radwanska, the No. 4 seed in the women’s tournament, is back in the semifinals after reaching the final last year. Though she is as subtle as Janowicz is brash, they are on fine terms.
“I know her many, many years,” Janowicz said. “We stay in touch all the time. She’s my really good friend.”
On Thursday, Radwanska will face Sabine Lisicki, the powerful German whose parents are Polish immigrants and who speaks the language and understands the culture.
“It’s amazing; this is the Polish Wimbledon,” said Wojtek Fibak, the last Polish man to advance to the final eight in a Grand Slam tournament.
Fibak has long called Radwanska “a tennis genius” for her artful, adaptive approach to the game, but he said Janowicz was the one grabbing the most attention at home. “You need quite the connoisseur to appreciate Radwanska’s tennis,” Fibak said in a phone interview. “Because she doesn’t come across as the athlete, she doesn’t hit big. Janowicz is much easier to appreciate and understand for the Polish people because he’s tall and big and hits hard.”
Fibak, now 60, was ranked as high as No. 10 and reached the quarterfinals at four different major tournaments, the last run coming at the 1980 United States Open. He later coached and advised Ivan Lendl, the great Czech champion who eventually took United States nationality and now coaches Murray.
For years, Fibak waited for Polish successors without success. “On the men’s side, nobody even played in Wimbledon for 20 years,” Fibak said. “There was no Polish player in the main draw, much less two guys in the quarterfinals.”
Kubot, in light of his age and ranking of 130, will likely struggle to get this far again, which is a pity considering how delightful it was to watch his throwback serve-and-volley style in the second week of the tournament where it was once a full-fortnight staple.
The fans, when they were not focused on the Murray developments, seemed to appreciate Kubot’s deft low volleys and fast-twitch reactions, too.
But the Wimbledon crowd is likely to get other chances through the years to appreciate Janowicz, who was seeded 24th here and is now guaranteed to break into the top 20 after his first run to a Grand Slam semifinal, where he will face Murray.
“I hope Andy will feel some kind of pressure,” Janowicz said. “I’m sure he feel some kind of pressure because Great Britain is waiting for the English champion in Wimbledon.”
The rough-cut Janowicz knows he can beat Murray. He defeated him in three sets last November when he announced himself to the tennis world at large by reaching the final of the Masters 1000 indoor event in Paris.
“I think he has potential to be, for sure, top 5 player,” Kubot said. “With his character he can beat everyone, I think. He can focus for the next game, and let’s see what’s going to happen.”
Though it is an unexpected matchup — Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were once in this half of the draw, remember? — it is also a compelling matchup. It will be the increasingly mature Murray and his home-court support against the combustible Janowicz, who looks like the sort of ill-shaven competitor who enjoys a big occasion even if the roars are against him.
It will be Murray’s world-class returns against Janowicz’s explosive serve, delivered at a top speed of 140 miles per hour Wednesday. His serve, like many a great serve, i
These, clearly, were unusual circumstances. Henman Hill lies just outside Court 1, and the crowd gathered on that grassy slope was not watching big-screen television coverage of Janowicz and Kubot. It was watching coverage of the British star Andy Murray’s perilous match with Fernando Verdasco that was being played across the concourse on Centre Court.
The predominantly British fans inside Court 1 were watching Murray on their smartphones and also picking up on reactions from the Hill: roaring and groaning themselves, often out of sync with the triumphs and disasters available in the match at hand.
But in truth, they had another quality tennis tale developing right in front of them: the first all-Polish men’s singles match in Grand Slam history. That it came in a Wimbledon quarterfinal made it even more of a novelty, and when it ended, the 22-year-old Janowicz was the first Polish man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.
Janowicz, a 6-foot-8 force of nature, has not been universally embraced by his elders because of his demonstrative, in-your-face style and perhaps because of the obvious threat he now poses with his massive serve (an overused term that truly applies) and his surprising touch and mobility.
But he and the 31-year-old Kubot are Davis Cup teammates as well as countrymen and when Janowicz’s 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 victory was complete and Janowicz had dropped to the grass with a mixture of disbelief and delight, Kubot soon crossed to his side of the net, waited for him to rise to his feet and hugged him.
It was a long embrace, longer than Kubot expected as the taller Janowicz buried his head in his shoulder and they exchanged thumps on the back. When it ended, they borrowed a rite from soccer and swapped shirts even if they were, in a sense, representing the same team.
“It was first time,” Kubot said. “It just came quick to my mind: ‘Let’s do it, and let’s do it quickly and show it’s not just about playing and challenging each other on the court. Just show the friendship and show that Polish tennis is getting better and we have one player in the semifinals.’ ”
In fact, Poland has two singles players in the semifinals, and one more than that if you count Polish roots. Agnieszka Radwanska, the No. 4 seed in the women’s tournament, is back in the semifinals after reaching the final last year. Though she is as subtle as Janowicz is brash, they are on fine terms.
“I know her many, many years,” Janowicz said. “We stay in touch all the time. She’s my really good friend.”
On Thursday, Radwanska will face Sabine Lisicki, the powerful German whose parents are Polish immigrants and who speaks the language and understands the culture.
“It’s amazing; this is the Polish Wimbledon,” said Wojtek Fibak, the last Polish man to advance to the final eight in a Grand Slam tournament.
Fibak has long called Radwanska “a tennis genius” for her artful, adaptive approach to the game, but he said Janowicz was the one grabbing the most attention at home. “You need quite the connoisseur to appreciate Radwanska’s tennis,” Fibak said in a phone interview. “Because she doesn’t come across as the athlete, she doesn’t hit big. Janowicz is much easier to appreciate and understand for the Polish people because he’s tall and big and hits hard.”
Fibak, now 60, was ranked as high as No. 10 and reached the quarterfinals at four different major tournaments, the last run coming at the 1980 United States Open. He later coached and advised Ivan Lendl, the great Czech champion who eventually took United States nationality and now coaches Murray.
For years, Fibak waited for Polish successors without success. “On the men’s side, nobody even played in Wimbledon for 20 years,” Fibak said. “There was no Polish player in the main draw, much less two guys in the quarterfinals.”
Kubot, in light of his age and ranking of 130, will likely struggle to get this far again, which is a pity considering how delightful it was to watch his throwback serve-and-volley style in the second week of the tournament where it was once a full-fortnight staple.
The fans, when they were not focused on the Murray developments, seemed to appreciate Kubot’s deft low volleys and fast-twitch reactions, too.
But the Wimbledon crowd is likely to get other chances through the years to appreciate Janowicz, who was seeded 24th here and is now guaranteed to break into the top 20 after his first run to a Grand Slam semifinal, where he will face Murray.
“I hope Andy will feel some kind of pressure,” Janowicz said. “I’m sure he feel some kind of pressure because Great Britain is waiting for the English champion in Wimbledon.”
The rough-cut Janowicz knows he can beat Murray. He defeated him in three sets last November when he announced himself to the tennis world at large by reaching the final of the Masters 1000 indoor event in Paris.
“I think he has potential to be, for sure, top 5 player,” Kubot said. “With his character he can beat everyone, I think. He can focus for the next game, and let’s see what’s going to happen.”
Though it is an unexpected matchup — Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were once in this half of the draw, remember? — it is also a compelling matchup. It will be the increasingly mature Murray and his home-court support against the combustible Janowicz, who looks like the sort of ill-shaven competitor who enjoys a big occasion even if the roars are against him.
It will be Murray’s world-class returns against Janowicz’s explosive serve, delivered at a top speed of 140 miles per hour Wednesday. His serve, like many a great serve, i
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2006/12/07
Messages:
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Tomas Berdych says drug testing in tennis "cannot be worse" as the sport's governing body defended its procedures.
Last year, world number one Novak Djokovic claimed he had not been blood-tested for "six or seven months", while Roger Federer and Andy Murray also said they wanted to see more testing.
There were only 63 out-of-competition blood tests in tennis in 2012.
The International Tennis Federation said "intelligently targeted" tests were the best use of resources.
"The programme is in a good place to detect instances of doping," Dr Stuart Miller, the ITF's anti-doping chief, told BBC Sport. "In an ideal world you would test every player, every day but the resources required for that would be astronomical. Nobody does that.
"You need to make more use of your resources. More testing doesn't mean better testing.
"I'd rather have a programme that is more intelligently targeted, testing the right people at the right time, rather than doing more tests for the sake of it."
This year the ITF introduced biological passports, which track any changes in an athlete's blood against an original profile, but Darren Cahill, who has coached Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi, nevertheless claimed drug testing in tennis had "gone backwards".
"I've only heard a little bit of that," world number six Berdych said of the biological passports.
"Maybe it might work. I hope it's going to be better than it is now - it cannot be worse. Everything can be better so fingers crossed for that."
Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam tournament winner, said in March that it would be "naive" to think the sport is without drug cheats.
Cycling's governing body the UCI, which introduced biological passports in 2008, carried out 3,314 out-of-competition blood tests in 2011.
Figures for last year show tennis carried out 2,185 urine and blood tests in 2012 - but only 124 of these were in-competition blood tests.
And according to the World Anti-Doping Agency's own 2010 statistics, tennis carried out 3,638 tests in 2010, compared with 21,427 in cycling, 25,013 in athletics and 13,138 in swimming in the same year.
Asked about Djokovic's claims that he had not been tested for more than six months, Miller said: "I can't comment on that particular statistic but what I do know is that in the last 22 months he's had over 20 tests. "All the top players are tested on average about 10 times a year so it would be highly unusual for any player to go for an extended period untested."
Since 1996, 66 tennis players have tested positive for banned substances. Four received warnings while the rest were banned for between 55 days and eight years.
Stimulants such as cocaine are the most common substances detected, while the last of the 12 players caught using anabolic agents was banned in 2005.
The ITF, which leads the unified Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, men's tour the ATP, women's tour the WTA and the four Grand Slam tournaments unanimously supported the introduction of the biological passport when it was announced in March.
And all bodies agreed to increase anti-doping funding, which currently stands at approximately £1.3m a year.
"Would we like more money? Everybody would like more but that's an issue that you're not going to be able to deal with in a single day," added Miller.
"Is it possible there are instances of doping we haven't caught? I suppose so. What you try to do is have a programme in place that detects doping where it exists and we try as hard as we can to detect doping where it exists."
BBC Sport - Wimbledon 2013: Tomas Berdych critical of tennis drug testing
Last year, world number one Novak Djokovic claimed he had not been blood-tested for "six or seven months", while Roger Federer and Andy Murray also said they wanted to see more testing.
There were only 63 out-of-competition blood tests in tennis in 2012.
The International Tennis Federation said "intelligently targeted" tests were the best use of resources.
"The programme is in a good place to detect instances of doping," Dr Stuart Miller, the ITF's anti-doping chief, told BBC Sport. "In an ideal world you would test every player, every day but the resources required for that would be astronomical. Nobody does that.
"You need to make more use of your resources. More testing doesn't mean better testing.
"I'd rather have a programme that is more intelligently targeted, testing the right people at the right time, rather than doing more tests for the sake of it."
This year the ITF introduced biological passports, which track any changes in an athlete's blood against an original profile, but Darren Cahill, who has coached Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi, nevertheless claimed drug testing in tennis had "gone backwards".
"I've only heard a little bit of that," world number six Berdych said of the biological passports.
"Maybe it might work. I hope it's going to be better than it is now - it cannot be worse. Everything can be better so fingers crossed for that."
Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam tournament winner, said in March that it would be "naive" to think the sport is without drug cheats.
Cycling's governing body the UCI, which introduced biological passports in 2008, carried out 3,314 out-of-competition blood tests in 2011.
Figures for last year show tennis carried out 2,185 urine and blood tests in 2012 - but only 124 of these were in-competition blood tests.
And according to the World Anti-Doping Agency's own 2010 statistics, tennis carried out 3,638 tests in 2010, compared with 21,427 in cycling, 25,013 in athletics and 13,138 in swimming in the same year.
Asked about Djokovic's claims that he had not been tested for more than six months, Miller said: "I can't comment on that particular statistic but what I do know is that in the last 22 months he's had over 20 tests. "All the top players are tested on average about 10 times a year so it would be highly unusual for any player to go for an extended period untested."
Since 1996, 66 tennis players have tested positive for banned substances. Four received warnings while the rest were banned for between 55 days and eight years.
Stimulants such as cocaine are the most common substances detected, while the last of the 12 players caught using anabolic agents was banned in 2005.
The ITF, which leads the unified Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, men's tour the ATP, women's tour the WTA and the four Grand Slam tournaments unanimously supported the introduction of the biological passport when it was announced in March.
And all bodies agreed to increase anti-doping funding, which currently stands at approximately £1.3m a year.
"Would we like more money? Everybody would like more but that's an issue that you're not going to be able to deal with in a single day," added Miller.
"Is it possible there are instances of doping we haven't caught? I suppose so. What you try to do is have a programme in place that detects doping where it exists and we try as hard as we can to detect doping where it exists."
BBC Sport - Wimbledon 2013: Tomas Berdych critical of tennis drug testing
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2006/12/07
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Charlie Lesser's favourite tennis players are Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal. He is already hitting forehands quite like them - and he is only six.
So with a tennis-mad son, parents Simon and Rebecca might worry that the costs of playing could pile up.
But, as a family, they sign up to a scheme in Dorset that allows them to get on court all year round for £30.
"It is really accessible here. It means we can come to play here as much or as little as we want," says Rebecca, a 37-year-old clinical psychologist.
Charlie says he does not ask for the most expensive equipment, but maybe he will in time.
"There is always pressure," says Rebecca. "But at the moment he has got his racquet and that is all he needs."
Play in the park
For two weeks each year, Wimbledon serves up a feast of big hitters, big personalities and big winners' cheques.
But for the other 50 weeks, the sport's authorities in the UK are trying to promote the concept of "anyone for tennis".
The Dorset scheme, called Tennis in the Park, is one programme aimed at dispelling the image of tennis as elitist.
Others are in place up and down the country, aimed at allowing people to get out to play even if their household budget is squeezed.
In Sheffield, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is running Mini Tennis sessions, which cost £5 for a family of four. There are cardio and coaching sessions in Manchester that cost £1.50 for children and £3 for adults, so people can get fit with a racquet in their hands.
Across the South East of England, people who have never played before can get involved in beginner games every weekend for £3 per family. They get a free tube of tennis balls on their first visit.
Other LTA projects are in place across England, Scotland and Wales.
Saving tips
It is not just access to the courts that can cost money.
However, Simon Johnson, operations manager for the LTA in the South West region, says that there are other moneysaving tips to keep costs down, especially for those playing for the first time.
They include:
Looking out for discounted racquets and balls at local supermarkets
Signing up to group coaching, rather than individual sessions, to spread the cost
Finding free or cheap park courts, which are listed on the LTA All Play Tennis website
Borrowing a racquet and hiring some tennis balls
"It is not just for the rich and famous. It is one of those sports that mum and dad can play with their kids," he says.
Tennis is one sport hoping to attract new players and greater participation as a result of the success of the London 2012 Olympics.
Sport England's figures, compiled twice a year, showed that 4,000 more people play tennis once a week than did so a year ago.
That put it sixth on the participation list in the Active People Survey, with 424,300 people playing. Swimming is top of the chart.
Involved in coaching
Southbourne in Dorset is among the tennis clubs hoping to benefit from this greater interest.
Chairman Keith Mitchell says that all that is needed to get started is a pair of trainers.
His club is involved in coaching for schoolchildren, players who have learning difficulties, and wheelchair tennis.
About 150 adults have signed up to the club's membership for £3.75 a week, and 120 children are on the club's books too.
They hope that finding the next young star to break into the big time does not have to break the bank too.
BBC News - Can you play tennis on a budget?
So with a tennis-mad son, parents Simon and Rebecca might worry that the costs of playing could pile up.
But, as a family, they sign up to a scheme in Dorset that allows them to get on court all year round for £30.
"It is really accessible here. It means we can come to play here as much or as little as we want," says Rebecca, a 37-year-old clinical psychologist.
Charlie says he does not ask for the most expensive equipment, but maybe he will in time.
"There is always pressure," says Rebecca. "But at the moment he has got his racquet and that is all he needs."
Play in the park
For two weeks each year, Wimbledon serves up a feast of big hitters, big personalities and big winners' cheques.
But for the other 50 weeks, the sport's authorities in the UK are trying to promote the concept of "anyone for tennis".
The Dorset scheme, called Tennis in the Park, is one programme aimed at dispelling the image of tennis as elitist.
Others are in place up and down the country, aimed at allowing people to get out to play even if their household budget is squeezed.
In Sheffield, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is running Mini Tennis sessions, which cost £5 for a family of four. There are cardio and coaching sessions in Manchester that cost £1.50 for children and £3 for adults, so people can get fit with a racquet in their hands.
Across the South East of England, people who have never played before can get involved in beginner games every weekend for £3 per family. They get a free tube of tennis balls on their first visit.
Other LTA projects are in place across England, Scotland and Wales.
Saving tips
It is not just access to the courts that can cost money.
However, Simon Johnson, operations manager for the LTA in the South West region, says that there are other moneysaving tips to keep costs down, especially for those playing for the first time.
They include:
Looking out for discounted racquets and balls at local supermarkets
Signing up to group coaching, rather than individual sessions, to spread the cost
Finding free or cheap park courts, which are listed on the LTA All Play Tennis website
Borrowing a racquet and hiring some tennis balls
"It is not just for the rich and famous. It is one of those sports that mum and dad can play with their kids," he says.
Tennis is one sport hoping to attract new players and greater participation as a result of the success of the London 2012 Olympics.
Sport England's figures, compiled twice a year, showed that 4,000 more people play tennis once a week than did so a year ago.
That put it sixth on the participation list in the Active People Survey, with 424,300 people playing. Swimming is top of the chart.
Involved in coaching
Southbourne in Dorset is among the tennis clubs hoping to benefit from this greater interest.
Chairman Keith Mitchell says that all that is needed to get started is a pair of trainers.
His club is involved in coaching for schoolchildren, players who have learning difficulties, and wheelchair tennis.
About 150 adults have signed up to the club's membership for £3.75 a week, and 120 children are on the club's books too.
They hope that finding the next young star to break into the big time does not have to break the bank too.
BBC News - Can you play tennis on a budget?
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2006/12/07
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29893
Andy Murray said winning Wimbledon and ending Britain's 77-year wait for a men's champion was the "pinnacle of tennis".
The 26-year-old Scot converted his fourth championship point to beat top seed Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4 in what Murray described as a brutal match.
"Winning Wimbledon, I can't get my head around that. I still can't believe it's happened," said the British number one.
"I think that last game will be the toughest I'll play in my career." Murray squandered three championship points from 40-0 and saw off three Djokovic break points before the world number one netted a backhand to end a gruelling contest lasting three hours and 10 minutes.
"Winning Wimbledon is the pinnacle of tennis, the last game almost increased that feeling," added Murray, who has won Olympic gold, the US Open and now his second Grand Slam title since losing last year's Wimbledon final.
"That last game pretty much took everything out of me. I worked so hard in that last game. They will be the hardest few points I have to play in my life. Some of the shots he came up with were unbelievable.
"I didn't know what was going on [during that last game]. There were a lot of different emotions at that time."
Murray, Scotland's first Wimbledon singles champion since Harold Mahony in 1896, thanked his coach Ivan Lendl for believing in him.
Lendl, an eight-time major winner but never a Wimbledon champion despite reaching two finals, started coaching the Scot last year.
"He stuck by me through some tough losses and he's been very patient with me, I'm just happy for him," said the world number two, whose Wimbledon victory earned him a first prize of £1.6m to take his 2013 earnings so far to over £3.3m.
"He's always been very honest with me and told me exactly what he thought and in tennis that's not easy to do in a player/coach relationship.
"He's got my mentality slightly different going into matches." On Britain's hottest day of the year, the court-side thermometer on Centre Court read 40C and the temperature, added to the fearsome exchanges between the two finalists, contributed to what the second seed described as an "incredibly demanding match".
"It was so tough, it was so hot as well. I hadn't played any matches in the heat of the day," said Murray.
"Since the clay-court season, since I missed the French Open with my back, it had been cool. I hadn't played at all in those sort of conditions.
"The first few games were brutal as well. It was 30 minutes for the first four games."
Murray, convincingly beaten in the first four Grand Slam finals he competed in, said perseverance has been the story of his career.
He also admitted that being the standard-bearer for the sport in Britain was "really hard".
"For the last four or five years it's been very tough, very stressful, a lot of pressure," he said.
"The last two days were not easy because it's just everywhere you go.
"It's so hard to avoid everything because of how big this event is but also because of the history and no Brit having won [for so long]. It's been very, very difficult."
BBC Sport - Andy Murray: Winning Wimbledon is 'pinnacle of tennis'
The 26-year-old Scot converted his fourth championship point to beat top seed Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4 in what Murray described as a brutal match.
"Winning Wimbledon, I can't get my head around that. I still can't believe it's happened," said the British number one.
"I think that last game will be the toughest I'll play in my career." Murray squandered three championship points from 40-0 and saw off three Djokovic break points before the world number one netted a backhand to end a gruelling contest lasting three hours and 10 minutes.
"Winning Wimbledon is the pinnacle of tennis, the last game almost increased that feeling," added Murray, who has won Olympic gold, the US Open and now his second Grand Slam title since losing last year's Wimbledon final.
"That last game pretty much took everything out of me. I worked so hard in that last game. They will be the hardest few points I have to play in my life. Some of the shots he came up with were unbelievable.
"I didn't know what was going on [during that last game]. There were a lot of different emotions at that time."
Murray, Scotland's first Wimbledon singles champion since Harold Mahony in 1896, thanked his coach Ivan Lendl for believing in him.
Lendl, an eight-time major winner but never a Wimbledon champion despite reaching two finals, started coaching the Scot last year.
"He stuck by me through some tough losses and he's been very patient with me, I'm just happy for him," said the world number two, whose Wimbledon victory earned him a first prize of £1.6m to take his 2013 earnings so far to over £3.3m.
"He's always been very honest with me and told me exactly what he thought and in tennis that's not easy to do in a player/coach relationship.
"He's got my mentality slightly different going into matches." On Britain's hottest day of the year, the court-side thermometer on Centre Court read 40C and the temperature, added to the fearsome exchanges between the two finalists, contributed to what the second seed described as an "incredibly demanding match".
"It was so tough, it was so hot as well. I hadn't played any matches in the heat of the day," said Murray.
"Since the clay-court season, since I missed the French Open with my back, it had been cool. I hadn't played at all in those sort of conditions.
"The first few games were brutal as well. It was 30 minutes for the first four games."
Murray, convincingly beaten in the first four Grand Slam finals he competed in, said perseverance has been the story of his career.
He also admitted that being the standard-bearer for the sport in Britain was "really hard".
"For the last four or five years it's been very tough, very stressful, a lot of pressure," he said.
"The last two days were not easy because it's just everywhere you go.
"It's so hard to avoid everything because of how big this event is but also because of the history and no Brit having won [for so long]. It's been very, very difficult."
BBC Sport - Andy Murray: Winning Wimbledon is 'pinnacle of tennis'
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As if the cheers of a delighted nation weren't enough, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has inspired a song – albeit one by a former tennis partner. Under the Lights (Song for Andy Murray), was written by Keith Meisner, a 26-year-old Elgin-born PE teacher, who has enjoyed a sudden rise to fame after Murray tweeted a link to the track to his 1.5 million followers.
Meisner has performed the song on BBC Breakfast and to crowds at Wimbledon, and as a result has become reacquainted with Murray, with whom he played junior tennis in Scotland.
"He was being bombarded by press and folk wanting pictures [last night] but saw me sitting at the back and politely told them to wait two minutes and came over to me, shook hands and thanked me for the song. I spoke some rubbish for a bit and said something along the lines of 'well done' and we said we'd catch up sometime," Meisner told the Guardian. "He's a busy man and had a ball to go to."
The folk-flavoured single has since been made available on iTunes with 50% of proceeds going to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The Royal Marsden hospital treated Murray's friend, fellow tennis professional Ross Hutchins, who has had Hodgkin's lymphoma. Written to celebrate the "diamond of Dunblane", Under the Lights has been viewed more than 48,000 times on YouTube and features the chorus: "He's got a game as sharp as a dagger/He'll boom that backhand past you/He got a chess player's mind and boxer's feet/That's a combination that's tough to beat."
Meisner now coaches tennis in Aberdeen, but he reached No 89 in the world junior rankings in his teens and was awarded a wild card for Wimbledon's junior championship in 2004. It was while travelling and playing tennis that Meisner taught himself to play guitar, but his passion for music later become a handicap: four days before a tournament he sneaked off to Cardiff to see Bob Dylan perform and missed a vital training session. As a result, his wild card was withdrawn.
Since then, Meisner has self-released his debut album, Drink Up While You're Here, which came out last year under the name The Exile of Elgin, but says he has enough songs for another album and hopes to have it recorded by end of the year. "At the moment I just play in bars around Aberdeen," says Meisner. "Music is my passion and I would obviously love to be signed and to get noticed."
Meisner says Murray is a fan of singer Ed Sheeran, and is also a huge boxing enthusiast: "My heroes, Dylan, [Mark] Knopfler and [Warren] Zevon, have all written songs about boxers. I thought I could write one about a tennis player and link in some boxing references," he says "[but I'm] going to have to write a new verse after yesterday."
Andy Murray song puts former tennis partner Under the Lights | Music | guardian.co.uk
Meisner has performed the song on BBC Breakfast and to crowds at Wimbledon, and as a result has become reacquainted with Murray, with whom he played junior tennis in Scotland.
"He was being bombarded by press and folk wanting pictures [last night] but saw me sitting at the back and politely told them to wait two minutes and came over to me, shook hands and thanked me for the song. I spoke some rubbish for a bit and said something along the lines of 'well done' and we said we'd catch up sometime," Meisner told the Guardian. "He's a busy man and had a ball to go to."
The folk-flavoured single has since been made available on iTunes with 50% of proceeds going to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The Royal Marsden hospital treated Murray's friend, fellow tennis professional Ross Hutchins, who has had Hodgkin's lymphoma. Written to celebrate the "diamond of Dunblane", Under the Lights has been viewed more than 48,000 times on YouTube and features the chorus: "He's got a game as sharp as a dagger/He'll boom that backhand past you/He got a chess player's mind and boxer's feet/That's a combination that's tough to beat."
Meisner now coaches tennis in Aberdeen, but he reached No 89 in the world junior rankings in his teens and was awarded a wild card for Wimbledon's junior championship in 2004. It was while travelling and playing tennis that Meisner taught himself to play guitar, but his passion for music later become a handicap: four days before a tournament he sneaked off to Cardiff to see Bob Dylan perform and missed a vital training session. As a result, his wild card was withdrawn.
Since then, Meisner has self-released his debut album, Drink Up While You're Here, which came out last year under the name The Exile of Elgin, but says he has enough songs for another album and hopes to have it recorded by end of the year. "At the moment I just play in bars around Aberdeen," says Meisner. "Music is my passion and I would obviously love to be signed and to get noticed."
Meisner says Murray is a fan of singer Ed Sheeran, and is also a huge boxing enthusiast: "My heroes, Dylan, [Mark] Knopfler and [Warren] Zevon, have all written songs about boxers. I thought I could write one about a tennis player and link in some boxing references," he says "[but I'm] going to have to write a new verse after yesterday."
Andy Murray song puts former tennis partner Under the Lights | Music | guardian.co.uk
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They played at a dressy London gala thrown by tennis star Novak Djokovic.
They were all dressed up, but that didn't stop them.
Goldie Hawn
Goldie Hawn swings a big raqcquet at Monday's Novak Djokovic Foundation benefit.(Photo: Tim P. Whitby, Getty Images)
Fun-loving Goldie Hawn, 67, and her daughter Kate Hudson, 34, hiked up their skirts and picked up their racquets to play a little tennis at a gala dinner in London Monday night.
But that's what you do when it's a Novak Djokovic Foundation inaugural to supports disadvantaged children, especially in Djokovic's native Serbia.
Kate's partner Matt Bellamy also attended the dinner, but didn't join in the play.
Jeremy Piven was on hand to compete with Djokovic in doing the splits. Gerard Butler, Ron Wood and Princess Beatrice and Eugenie were all smiles at the bash, too.
Goldie Hawn takes on Kate Hudson in tennis
They were all dressed up, but that didn't stop them.
Goldie Hawn
Goldie Hawn swings a big raqcquet at Monday's Novak Djokovic Foundation benefit.(Photo: Tim P. Whitby, Getty Images)
Fun-loving Goldie Hawn, 67, and her daughter Kate Hudson, 34, hiked up their skirts and picked up their racquets to play a little tennis at a gala dinner in London Monday night.
But that's what you do when it's a Novak Djokovic Foundation inaugural to supports disadvantaged children, especially in Djokovic's native Serbia.
Kate's partner Matt Bellamy also attended the dinner, but didn't join in the play.
Jeremy Piven was on hand to compete with Djokovic in doing the splits. Gerard Butler, Ron Wood and Princess Beatrice and Eugenie were all smiles at the bash, too.
Goldie Hawn takes on Kate Hudson in tennis
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Every night has been a question mark for Andy Roddick, who is starring for the Springfield Lasers in World TeamTennis.
"I was a little worried of how my shoulder would come around, I hadn't served in nine months," Roddick said in a pre-match news conference Monday before facing the Washington Kastles. "I'm still going so that's good. We'll see how tonight feels."
The Kastles' record streak of 34 consecutive wins ended Wednesday against the Texas Wild, and Roddick, for one, was disappointed.
"The Kastles have been the ones creating the story lines for World TeamTennis the last couple of years," Roddick said. "I was (upset) the streak ended last night. There are few things I can get up for anymore, so that was disappointing." Picking up a racket just three times this year and practicing lightly during the last 10 days, Roddick admitted his tennis in the first few matches of the season has been going better than he expected.
And despite a few bumps, so has his transition to retirement.
"I think its foolish to think that if you've done something for so long you can just kind of delete it from your memory bank or delete any emotion attached to it," Roddick said. "I never expected that."
With the end of the year Grand Slam looming, Roddick has no plans at the moment to make an appearance in New York. He was the U.S. Open champion in 2003.
"I don't know that I'll ever be the guy who needs to go to a tournament to be seen and to spectate," Roddick said. "I feel like I can accomplish spectating from home. I'll certainly go back at some point, but I think the last thing that has been a priority on my itinerary this year is going to watch tennis tournaments live."
Kicking off the night, Roddick tried to stay steady with Anderson, but ended up falling short 5-2. Roddick double faulted to give Anderson a 4-2 edge. Strong serving proved successful for Anderson yet again and winning four straight points he closed out the set.
In good fun, Roddick was still his old self, though, uttering comments throughout the duration of the match. After getting lucky on a net cord in his first service game, Roddick said "I'll take it." He also uttered "that was stupid," after missing a return. He even poked a little fun when a cheerleader got hit from a powerful Anderson serve. "Hate to see that," he joked.
His remarks didn't stop there.
A few controversial calls from the umpire irked a "use more of your senses at a time, I don't want to put too much at your plate there." When one went the Lasers' way, and the Kastles' fans booed, he whispered to his teammate, Alisa Kleybanova, "you know what the best sound is? Boos at an away match."
The Lasers took the second, third and fourth set, which then saw Roddick come back on court for men's doubles with partner Jean-Julien Rojer. Down 1-0 after a Bobby Reynolds hold, Roddick was able to stir up a pair of aces to tie the final set 1-1. He held for a second time to tie it up again at three.
His lyrical soundtrack seemed to make an impact as the Lasers duo closed out the set in a tiebreak to win with an overall score of 22-15.
The competition doesn't stop for Roddick tonight. He returns to Springfield tomorrow where his team will take on the Orange County Breakers.
"These are busy days, I have a lot more responsibility with the league now, so I land and we go to work trying to promote the league," Roddick said. "It's tough, but I'm having a blast this week."
Roddick says transition back to tennis going well
"I was a little worried of how my shoulder would come around, I hadn't served in nine months," Roddick said in a pre-match news conference Monday before facing the Washington Kastles. "I'm still going so that's good. We'll see how tonight feels."
The Kastles' record streak of 34 consecutive wins ended Wednesday against the Texas Wild, and Roddick, for one, was disappointed.
"The Kastles have been the ones creating the story lines for World TeamTennis the last couple of years," Roddick said. "I was (upset) the streak ended last night. There are few things I can get up for anymore, so that was disappointing." Picking up a racket just three times this year and practicing lightly during the last 10 days, Roddick admitted his tennis in the first few matches of the season has been going better than he expected.
And despite a few bumps, so has his transition to retirement.
"I think its foolish to think that if you've done something for so long you can just kind of delete it from your memory bank or delete any emotion attached to it," Roddick said. "I never expected that."
With the end of the year Grand Slam looming, Roddick has no plans at the moment to make an appearance in New York. He was the U.S. Open champion in 2003.
"I don't know that I'll ever be the guy who needs to go to a tournament to be seen and to spectate," Roddick said. "I feel like I can accomplish spectating from home. I'll certainly go back at some point, but I think the last thing that has been a priority on my itinerary this year is going to watch tennis tournaments live."
Kicking off the night, Roddick tried to stay steady with Anderson, but ended up falling short 5-2. Roddick double faulted to give Anderson a 4-2 edge. Strong serving proved successful for Anderson yet again and winning four straight points he closed out the set.
In good fun, Roddick was still his old self, though, uttering comments throughout the duration of the match. After getting lucky on a net cord in his first service game, Roddick said "I'll take it." He also uttered "that was stupid," after missing a return. He even poked a little fun when a cheerleader got hit from a powerful Anderson serve. "Hate to see that," he joked.
His remarks didn't stop there.
A few controversial calls from the umpire irked a "use more of your senses at a time, I don't want to put too much at your plate there." When one went the Lasers' way, and the Kastles' fans booed, he whispered to his teammate, Alisa Kleybanova, "you know what the best sound is? Boos at an away match."
The Lasers took the second, third and fourth set, which then saw Roddick come back on court for men's doubles with partner Jean-Julien Rojer. Down 1-0 after a Bobby Reynolds hold, Roddick was able to stir up a pair of aces to tie the final set 1-1. He held for a second time to tie it up again at three.
His lyrical soundtrack seemed to make an impact as the Lasers duo closed out the set in a tiebreak to win with an overall score of 22-15.
The competition doesn't stop for Roddick tonight. He returns to Springfield tomorrow where his team will take on the Orange County Breakers.
"These are busy days, I have a lot more responsibility with the league now, so I land and we go to work trying to promote the league," Roddick said. "It's tough, but I'm having a blast this week."
Roddick says transition back to tennis going well
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Ten months into his happy retirement, Andy Roddick said he finally felt something in his stomach watching Wimbledon this year.
Roddick is asked often if he misses the sport he walked away from last September at age 30. As if he must feel some regret after exiting with several serviceable years left.
"I think people are looking for a very dramatic answer about how tough the transition was," Roddick said Wednesday before his World TeamTennis match against the Freedoms at the Pavilion at Villanova, one of his few post-retirement playing appearances. "Maybe I just had reasonable expectations."
Roddick has stepped away with surprising ease from the game he played for 13 years. He expected tears when he announced his retirement at a news conference during the 2012 U.S. Open. They never came. He did choke up during an on-court farewell speech after his elimination from the tournament. But Wednesday, he seemed at peace with his decision and his career.
"I realize why I was stopping, and I don't have a quick-erase memory, if that makes sense," Roddick said. "It never felt like work to me."
Roddick said his life post-tennis has been busier than during his career. He cohosts a radio show. He works on his foundation. In a month, Roddick will begin cohosting the nightly program Fox Sports Live on the new Fox Sports 1.
He also became a minority owner of WTT and is now more than halfway through a stretch of five games in five days with the Springfield Lasers. Springfield split the first two games and beat the Freedoms on Wednesday, 23-20, in overtime. Roddick won his singles set and lost his doubles set, but came back to win the overtime game.
The Freedoms lost their first two outings of the season on the road, against the Orange County Breakers on Sunday and the Sacramento Capitals on Monday.
Roddick said he can enjoy playing again without missing the professional circuit. Before opening the match Wednesday with a set against Sam Groth, Roddick pleaded for mercy.
"Tone it down a little bit," he said from the baseline. "I don't even know how to play anymore."
Roddick still won fairly easily. He won nearly every point on his serve and shouted jokes throughout the match. He laughed often.
Only while discussing Wimbledon did Roddick sound wistful. It was the one time he sensed acutely that he was no longer playing.
"It seemed like a lot of stuff changes very quickly," he said. "Including Roger [Federer] losing."
Roddick laughed, but Federer's early exit was the cruelest twist for him. Federer had foiled Roddick three times in the Wimbledon finals. And this year, Federer had been upset in the early rounds.
As Roddick finished his news conference, he was asked where, exactly, he had watched the tournament.
"Where was I?" Roddick said, thinking. "I was back at home in the living room." He paused, thinking again.
"Like everyone else," he finished, and he smiled and walked away.
Retirement from tennis agrees with Andy Roddick - Philly-com
Roddick is asked often if he misses the sport he walked away from last September at age 30. As if he must feel some regret after exiting with several serviceable years left.
"I think people are looking for a very dramatic answer about how tough the transition was," Roddick said Wednesday before his World TeamTennis match against the Freedoms at the Pavilion at Villanova, one of his few post-retirement playing appearances. "Maybe I just had reasonable expectations."
Roddick has stepped away with surprising ease from the game he played for 13 years. He expected tears when he announced his retirement at a news conference during the 2012 U.S. Open. They never came. He did choke up during an on-court farewell speech after his elimination from the tournament. But Wednesday, he seemed at peace with his decision and his career.
"I realize why I was stopping, and I don't have a quick-erase memory, if that makes sense," Roddick said. "It never felt like work to me."
Roddick said his life post-tennis has been busier than during his career. He cohosts a radio show. He works on his foundation. In a month, Roddick will begin cohosting the nightly program Fox Sports Live on the new Fox Sports 1.
He also became a minority owner of WTT and is now more than halfway through a stretch of five games in five days with the Springfield Lasers. Springfield split the first two games and beat the Freedoms on Wednesday, 23-20, in overtime. Roddick won his singles set and lost his doubles set, but came back to win the overtime game.
The Freedoms lost their first two outings of the season on the road, against the Orange County Breakers on Sunday and the Sacramento Capitals on Monday.
Roddick said he can enjoy playing again without missing the professional circuit. Before opening the match Wednesday with a set against Sam Groth, Roddick pleaded for mercy.
"Tone it down a little bit," he said from the baseline. "I don't even know how to play anymore."
Roddick still won fairly easily. He won nearly every point on his serve and shouted jokes throughout the match. He laughed often.
Only while discussing Wimbledon did Roddick sound wistful. It was the one time he sensed acutely that he was no longer playing.
"It seemed like a lot of stuff changes very quickly," he said. "Including Roger [Federer] losing."
Roddick laughed, but Federer's early exit was the cruelest twist for him. Federer had foiled Roddick three times in the Wimbledon finals. And this year, Federer had been upset in the early rounds.
As Roddick finished his news conference, he was asked where, exactly, he had watched the tournament.
"Where was I?" Roddick said, thinking. "I was back at home in the living room." He paused, thinking again.
"Like everyone else," he finished, and he smiled and walked away.
Retirement from tennis agrees with Andy Roddick - Philly-com
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The 32-year-old from Switzerland was among a distinguished class of inductees who were formally inducted at Newport, Rhode Island.
Hingis, who was seemingly born to play tennis and succeeded in fulfilling her destiny, told the crowd she was humbled by the honour.
"Thank you, tennis. You gave me the world," she said.
"And now I honestly am out of words, because there are no words to explain what I feel.
"You chose to give me a place here for eternity."
Hingis became the fourth youngest player to be inducted, following Tracy Austin (30), Bjorn Borg (31) and Hana Mandlikova (32).
Born in Czechoslovakia and named after Martina Navratilova, Hingis announced her arrival on the world stage when she won the 1993 French Open junior title at just 12 years of age.
She turned professional two weeks before her 14th birthday and went on to achieve a series of youngest-ever records.
Hingis won five grand slam singles titles - the 1997, 1998 and 1999 Australian Opens, 1997 Wimbledon and 1997 U.S. Open - and held the number one ranking for 209 weeks.
She also won nine grand slam doubles titles and a mixed doubles title before injuries forced her into early retirement at the age of 22.
Hingis made a comeback four years later but retired after testing positive for cocaine. She denied using the drug but retired without fighting the ban.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame president Stan Smith said Hingis was a worthy recipient.
"Having achieved world number one status in both singles and doubles and having won an incredible 15 grand slam tournament titles, Martina Hingis is undoubtedly one of the world's elite tennis players, and we are glad to pay tribute to her among the legends of the sport," Smith said.
Also enshrined were 94-year-old Australian great Thelma Coyne Long, who was inducted in the master player category, and Ion Tiriac, Cliff Drysdale and Charlie Pasarell, who were inducted for their contributions to tennis.
Tennis - Hingis inducted into Hall of Fame - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Hingis, who was seemingly born to play tennis and succeeded in fulfilling her destiny, told the crowd she was humbled by the honour.
"Thank you, tennis. You gave me the world," she said.
"And now I honestly am out of words, because there are no words to explain what I feel.
"You chose to give me a place here for eternity."
Hingis became the fourth youngest player to be inducted, following Tracy Austin (30), Bjorn Borg (31) and Hana Mandlikova (32).
Born in Czechoslovakia and named after Martina Navratilova, Hingis announced her arrival on the world stage when she won the 1993 French Open junior title at just 12 years of age.
She turned professional two weeks before her 14th birthday and went on to achieve a series of youngest-ever records.
Hingis won five grand slam singles titles - the 1997, 1998 and 1999 Australian Opens, 1997 Wimbledon and 1997 U.S. Open - and held the number one ranking for 209 weeks.
She also won nine grand slam doubles titles and a mixed doubles title before injuries forced her into early retirement at the age of 22.
Hingis made a comeback four years later but retired after testing positive for cocaine. She denied using the drug but retired without fighting the ban.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame president Stan Smith said Hingis was a worthy recipient.
"Having achieved world number one status in both singles and doubles and having won an incredible 15 grand slam tournament titles, Martina Hingis is undoubtedly one of the world's elite tennis players, and we are glad to pay tribute to her among the legends of the sport," Smith said.
Also enshrined were 94-year-old Australian great Thelma Coyne Long, who was inducted in the master player category, and Ion Tiriac, Cliff Drysdale and Charlie Pasarell, who were inducted for their contributions to tennis.
Tennis - Hingis inducted into Hall of Fame - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
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James Blake is trying to create a new generation of tennis fans. He started with his wife.
"Five years ago she didn't know the first thing about tennis," Blake said, "and now she's taking lessons and says, 'It looked so easy when you were doing it. Now I see it's pretty tough what you're doing out there.' That hopefully has created a fan."
That prompted Claude Okin, coach of the World TeamTennis New York Sportimes, to reply, "If the most effective way to make them fans is for you to marry them, it's going to be a slow process."
Blake was a willing substitute Monday night for the Sportimes, who needed a marquee attraction for their match at SEFCU Arena. Scheduled guest Sloane Stephens, a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon, had to cancel because of an abdominal strain.
Playing in three matches, Blake tried to win a few more followers by leading the Sportimes to a 22-17 victory over the Philadelphia Freedoms in front of an estimated 700 fans at the University at Albany facility.
"It's a lot of fun," Blake said, "with the crowd getting into it, you've got a lot of kids here, the music going. I enjoy this a lot. I wish the tour was a little more like this where they invited the crowd to be a part of it. If there was a way to have some sort of a home crowd, it would be a little more fun."
A seven-year WTT veteran, Blake got the call last week to fill in for Stephens, who played for the Albany-based New York Buzz as a 16-year-old four seasons ago.
"This was going to be a training week," said Blake, who was born in Yonkers and grew up in Fairfield, Conn. "I still remember the first time I played TeamTennis, it was a great experience for me to play the whole three weeks. I wanted to use that as a training block to get used to the competition and, in such a short format, get used to better starts and really putting a lot of emphasis in each point. For me, in a training week, to have an opportunity to play one match where you put a lot of pressure on every point, that's great for me."
Blake and Jesse Whiten cruised to a 5-2 victory in the opening men's doubles. He lost his singles match to Samuel Groth by the same score, getting broken at love in the final game, then teamed with Kveta Peschke to defeat Groth and Liezel Huber in mixed doubles, 5-4.
"We've got a great player here," Okin said, "and he's still a great player."
The Sportimes (3-3) closed out the match when their women's doubles team of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Peschke won the women's doubles 5-4 in a tiebreaker.
Blake, 33, acknowledged that he isn't as consistent as he was seven or eight years ago, when he perennially was in the top 10 and reached as high as No. 4 in the world.
That said, he still believes he still can produce the tennis that has helped him to 10 ATP titles.
"I can play at that level at times," said Blake, a member of the U.S. Davis Cup-winning team of 2007. "When I was having a bad day when I was 26, 27 years old, I was 95 percent of my 100 percent potential. Now I have days where my body just doesn't feel as good or I'm not playing my best, and it's definitely not my top level. I have those bad days a little more frequently than I used to, but I still feel like when I'm on, I still can compete with the top guys. It's just a matter of putting it together in a Grand Slam."
He said his health is as good as it has been in awhile. Blake is currently ranked No. 86 as he gets ready for the hardcourt season, which culminates with the U.S. Open at the end of summer.
Blake wants to play as long as he is competitive, and even after that he may play more WTT. After all, John McEnroe, 54, will play for the Sportimes here Thursday.
"That's possible," he said. "I do love this environment."
Blake pitches in for tennis fans - Times Union
"Five years ago she didn't know the first thing about tennis," Blake said, "and now she's taking lessons and says, 'It looked so easy when you were doing it. Now I see it's pretty tough what you're doing out there.' That hopefully has created a fan."
That prompted Claude Okin, coach of the World TeamTennis New York Sportimes, to reply, "If the most effective way to make them fans is for you to marry them, it's going to be a slow process."
Blake was a willing substitute Monday night for the Sportimes, who needed a marquee attraction for their match at SEFCU Arena. Scheduled guest Sloane Stephens, a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon, had to cancel because of an abdominal strain.
Playing in three matches, Blake tried to win a few more followers by leading the Sportimes to a 22-17 victory over the Philadelphia Freedoms in front of an estimated 700 fans at the University at Albany facility.
"It's a lot of fun," Blake said, "with the crowd getting into it, you've got a lot of kids here, the music going. I enjoy this a lot. I wish the tour was a little more like this where they invited the crowd to be a part of it. If there was a way to have some sort of a home crowd, it would be a little more fun."
A seven-year WTT veteran, Blake got the call last week to fill in for Stephens, who played for the Albany-based New York Buzz as a 16-year-old four seasons ago.
"This was going to be a training week," said Blake, who was born in Yonkers and grew up in Fairfield, Conn. "I still remember the first time I played TeamTennis, it was a great experience for me to play the whole three weeks. I wanted to use that as a training block to get used to the competition and, in such a short format, get used to better starts and really putting a lot of emphasis in each point. For me, in a training week, to have an opportunity to play one match where you put a lot of pressure on every point, that's great for me."
Blake and Jesse Whiten cruised to a 5-2 victory in the opening men's doubles. He lost his singles match to Samuel Groth by the same score, getting broken at love in the final game, then teamed with Kveta Peschke to defeat Groth and Liezel Huber in mixed doubles, 5-4.
"We've got a great player here," Okin said, "and he's still a great player."
The Sportimes (3-3) closed out the match when their women's doubles team of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Peschke won the women's doubles 5-4 in a tiebreaker.
Blake, 33, acknowledged that he isn't as consistent as he was seven or eight years ago, when he perennially was in the top 10 and reached as high as No. 4 in the world.
That said, he still believes he still can produce the tennis that has helped him to 10 ATP titles.
"I can play at that level at times," said Blake, a member of the U.S. Davis Cup-winning team of 2007. "When I was having a bad day when I was 26, 27 years old, I was 95 percent of my 100 percent potential. Now I have days where my body just doesn't feel as good or I'm not playing my best, and it's definitely not my top level. I have those bad days a little more frequently than I used to, but I still feel like when I'm on, I still can compete with the top guys. It's just a matter of putting it together in a Grand Slam."
He said his health is as good as it has been in awhile. Blake is currently ranked No. 86 as he gets ready for the hardcourt season, which culminates with the U.S. Open at the end of summer.
Blake wants to play as long as he is competitive, and even after that he may play more WTT. After all, John McEnroe, 54, will play for the Sportimes here Thursday.
"That's possible," he said. "I do love this environment."
Blake pitches in for tennis fans - Times Union
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Tennis star Agnieszka Radwanska's naked photo shoot in this month's ESPN Magazine has led to her being dropped by the Polish Catholic youth movement and facing a storm of criticism. Alice Arnold, normally opposed to women posing nude, explains why world number four's decision was justified on this occasion. Athletes tend to have great bodies. We admire them. Who can say they didn't look at the swimmers and divers during the Olympics and think 'Wow'? Most sporting attire reveals quite a lot of the human body but the majority of people tend to think: "Wow, I'd love a body as lean as that" rather than "wow, I'd like to sleep with that."
Agnieszka Radwanska, the world number four tennis player and former Wimbledon finalist, has been roundly criticised for posing nude. She is well known in home country of Poland for being a confirmed Catholic. Some of the criticism comes from from this angle: “She should save her body for Jesus and her husband,” and she has subsequently dropped by her country’s Catholic youth movement because of her “immoral behaviour”.
I'm not a Christian so I can't argue against her decision to strip off on those grounds. However, I have never liked women being asked to take their clothes off for a photo shoot. Perhaps I am prudish but I have no desire to look at naked pictures of women. I can't read The Sun. I have never been able to. Occasionally in the BBC Radio 4 newsroom I used to flick through it for research purposes only. Usually surrounded by men, I found it degrading and embarrassing to try to read an article with a photo of a nubile, naked young woman staring out at me.
Of course, you may say, I am a woman, so these pictures are not going to appeal. Well, I am a gay woman, so presumably, they are meant to appeal to me as much as a man? Let me assure you, they do not.
I don't know why women agree to pose naked. I have heard all the arguments that some do it because it makes them feel empowered. If they are feeling empowered they are in a state of false consciousness. They are not empowered. They are laying themselves open to objectification and lust. This is not power. However, and here I am quite prepared to contradict myself, the issue of ESPN magazine is the 'Body Issue'. It is all about athletic bodies - male and female. There are men and women posing naked but in every case covering up the bare essentials. In her interview, Radwanska is asked if there is anything she would change about her body. Most of us start the list at tum, bum, thighs and move on to feet, hands, ear lobes, but Radwanska is entirely practical in her response: "My serving shoulder is quite susceptible to injury, so probably that. A bionic arm would be great for tennis!"
I am torn on this one. I don't like the sexual nature of the photograph but I love the fact that she talks about her body in terms of what it can do for her, not what it looks like. I applaud ESPN magazine for applying the same rules to men as to women (fellow tennis star John Isner is pictured entirely naked playing a backhand, his left leg strategically placed to cover any dangly bits) and I understand the rules of the game - if you get a load of famous sports stars to pose naked, you will get an awful lot of attention.
There is a fine line between showing off an athletic and well toned body - as Jessica Ennis did as the poster girl of the Olympics - and becoming a sexual object. It's a fine line and in this instance the line is blurred. Are these pictures purely for sexual titillation? If you read the words as well as look at the pictures it is clear that they are not.
They are not 'Page 3’, the ESPN photos are more in the mode of Calendar Girls. It doesn't change my view of exploitative nudity that purely sexualises women but this is a slightly different scenario, mainly because of the balance that the male photos bring and the content of the interview.
I think this is most certainly a case of 'context is everything'.
Why tennis star Agnieszka Radwanska was right to get naked in a photo shoot - Telegraph
Agnieszka Radwanska, the world number four tennis player and former Wimbledon finalist, has been roundly criticised for posing nude. She is well known in home country of Poland for being a confirmed Catholic. Some of the criticism comes from from this angle: “She should save her body for Jesus and her husband,” and she has subsequently dropped by her country’s Catholic youth movement because of her “immoral behaviour”.
I'm not a Christian so I can't argue against her decision to strip off on those grounds. However, I have never liked women being asked to take their clothes off for a photo shoot. Perhaps I am prudish but I have no desire to look at naked pictures of women. I can't read The Sun. I have never been able to. Occasionally in the BBC Radio 4 newsroom I used to flick through it for research purposes only. Usually surrounded by men, I found it degrading and embarrassing to try to read an article with a photo of a nubile, naked young woman staring out at me.
Of course, you may say, I am a woman, so these pictures are not going to appeal. Well, I am a gay woman, so presumably, they are meant to appeal to me as much as a man? Let me assure you, they do not.
I don't know why women agree to pose naked. I have heard all the arguments that some do it because it makes them feel empowered. If they are feeling empowered they are in a state of false consciousness. They are not empowered. They are laying themselves open to objectification and lust. This is not power. However, and here I am quite prepared to contradict myself, the issue of ESPN magazine is the 'Body Issue'. It is all about athletic bodies - male and female. There are men and women posing naked but in every case covering up the bare essentials. In her interview, Radwanska is asked if there is anything she would change about her body. Most of us start the list at tum, bum, thighs and move on to feet, hands, ear lobes, but Radwanska is entirely practical in her response: "My serving shoulder is quite susceptible to injury, so probably that. A bionic arm would be great for tennis!"
I am torn on this one. I don't like the sexual nature of the photograph but I love the fact that she talks about her body in terms of what it can do for her, not what it looks like. I applaud ESPN magazine for applying the same rules to men as to women (fellow tennis star John Isner is pictured entirely naked playing a backhand, his left leg strategically placed to cover any dangly bits) and I understand the rules of the game - if you get a load of famous sports stars to pose naked, you will get an awful lot of attention.
There is a fine line between showing off an athletic and well toned body - as Jessica Ennis did as the poster girl of the Olympics - and becoming a sexual object. It's a fine line and in this instance the line is blurred. Are these pictures purely for sexual titillation? If you read the words as well as look at the pictures it is clear that they are not.
They are not 'Page 3’, the ESPN photos are more in the mode of Calendar Girls. It doesn't change my view of exploitative nudity that purely sexualises women but this is a slightly different scenario, mainly because of the balance that the male photos bring and the content of the interview.
I think this is most certainly a case of 'context is everything'.
Why tennis star Agnieszka Radwanska was right to get naked in a photo shoot - Telegraph
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The Hall of Famer Martina Hingis will play doubles at the Southern California Open. Hingis, 32, will be making her first WTA tournament appearance since September 2007. She will play with Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.
www-nytimes-com/2013/07/17/sports/tennis/hingis-to-return-to-tennis-html?_r=0
www-nytimes-com/2013/07/17/sports/tennis/hingis-to-return-to-tennis-html?_r=0
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Roger Federer’s new racket continues to bring success, as the Swiss superstar ousted Jan Hajek in the third round of the 2013 German Open Tennis Championships, 6-4, 6-3.
The straight-set victory has Fed advancing to the quarterfinals of the Hamburg-based tournament and he seems to be poised to win it all this weekend.
Federer won 70 percent of his points on the first serve, recorded seven aces and saved three-quarters of his break points.
Despite a mediocre start, the legend quickly rallied against his Czech opponent and ousted him in 72 minutes of world-class tennis. After his humbling experience at Wimbledon earlier in the summer, it was clear that Fed needed a change. Prior to the start of the tournament, he announced that he would switch to a larger racket. Perhaps the adjustment was just the thing to rejuvenate the 31-year-old’s career, as he seems to be playing better than before now that he has more square inches to work with.
Federer is now in the quarterfinals and is eyeing just his third potential final of the 2013 season. He has only one title to his name this year and direly needs to get back on track with a championship in Germany.
Wimbledon was an absolute disaster for Fed, as the former No. 1-ranked star fell in the second round to unheralded Sergiy Stakhovsky.
The result saw the 17-time Grand Slam champion plummet in the ATP rankings to No. 5, his lowest showing in a decade. Federer can begin his rise back up from the ashes here and parlay that success into a run at the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year.
Play begins in late August for the New York City-based event and Federer needs to advance deep in order to prove that he is still capable of winning a major tennis tournament.
German Tennis Open 2013: Roger Federer Defeats Jan Hajek to Advance | Bleacher Report
The straight-set victory has Fed advancing to the quarterfinals of the Hamburg-based tournament and he seems to be poised to win it all this weekend.
Federer won 70 percent of his points on the first serve, recorded seven aces and saved three-quarters of his break points.
Despite a mediocre start, the legend quickly rallied against his Czech opponent and ousted him in 72 minutes of world-class tennis. After his humbling experience at Wimbledon earlier in the summer, it was clear that Fed needed a change. Prior to the start of the tournament, he announced that he would switch to a larger racket. Perhaps the adjustment was just the thing to rejuvenate the 31-year-old’s career, as he seems to be playing better than before now that he has more square inches to work with.
Federer is now in the quarterfinals and is eyeing just his third potential final of the 2013 season. He has only one title to his name this year and direly needs to get back on track with a championship in Germany.
Wimbledon was an absolute disaster for Fed, as the former No. 1-ranked star fell in the second round to unheralded Sergiy Stakhovsky.
The result saw the 17-time Grand Slam champion plummet in the ATP rankings to No. 5, his lowest showing in a decade. Federer can begin his rise back up from the ashes here and parlay that success into a run at the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year.
Play begins in late August for the New York City-based event and Federer needs to advance deep in order to prove that he is still capable of winning a major tennis tournament.
German Tennis Open 2013: Roger Federer Defeats Jan Hajek to Advance | Bleacher Report
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Top-seeded Roger Federer beat Florian Mayer, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-5, to reach the semifinals of the German Tennis Championships in Hamburg. He will play Federico Delbonis. Fabio Fognini will face Nicolas Almagro in the other semifinal.
■ Serena Williams dismantled Lourdes Dominguez, 6-1, 6-1, to reach the semifinals of the Swedish Open in Bastad. She will play Klara Zakopalova. Johanna Larsson will play Flavia Pennetta in the other semifinal.
■ Serena Williams dismantled Lourdes Dominguez, 6-1, 6-1, to reach the semifinals of the Swedish Open in Bastad. She will play Klara Zakopalova. Johanna Larsson will play Flavia Pennetta in the other semifinal.
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Roger Federer lost to Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) Saturday in the semifinals of the German Tennis Championships.
Federer, a four-time champion in Hamburg, was outplayed by the 114th-ranked left-hander who advanced to his first career final.
''He played well, he was a little more aggressive,'' Federer said.
Federer took a wild card for Hamburg after losing in the second round at Wimbledon.
In the final, Delbonis will play Fabio Fognini of Italy. Fognini defeated third-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain 6-4, 7-6 (1).
Federer has dropped to No. 5, his lowest ranking in a decade. The 31-year-old Swiss ace's only title this year came on grass before Wimbleon in Halle, Germany.
The defending Wimbledon champion, Federer lost to No. 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky - a player who failed to qualify for Hamburg. It was his earliest Grand Slam defeat in 10 years, and his first loss to a player ranked outside the top 100 since 2005.
Federer changed his racket after Wimbledon, going for a bigger frame. But he struggled in Hamburg, going to three sets in two of his previous three matches.
Delbonis was playing only the second semifinal of his career. But he maintained his composure and gave Federer, the 17-time Grand Slam champion, only two break points, one of which he saved.
Federer broke for a 2-1 lead but was broken right back and had to save two set points to force the tiebreaker. He squandered a 4-2 lead, was unable to convert his one set point and saved three with service winners before Delbonis converted his fourth with a smash after some well-played points.
Federer came under pressure immediately in the second set and had to fend off three break points in his opening service game and another in the sixth. Delbonis saved one break point in the next game with a superb volley winner.
In the tiebreaker, Federer made two straight groundstroke errors and he netted a forehand on Delbonis' first match point.
Delbonis will improve to a career-high ranking of around No. 59, according to the ATP.
Fognini won his first career title in Stuttgart last week and is riding a nine-match winning streak.
''I feel incredible,'' Fognini said.
The Italian earned his 24th win on clay this season. Fognini is the second Italian to reach the final in Hamburg after Adriano Panatta lost to Manuel Orantes in 1972.
Almagro is second in career clay-court titles among active players with 12. Rafael Nadal has 42.
Tennis: Federer upset by qualifier in Hamburg semis - Omni Sports - Sports - Ahram Online
Federer, a four-time champion in Hamburg, was outplayed by the 114th-ranked left-hander who advanced to his first career final.
''He played well, he was a little more aggressive,'' Federer said.
Federer took a wild card for Hamburg after losing in the second round at Wimbledon.
In the final, Delbonis will play Fabio Fognini of Italy. Fognini defeated third-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain 6-4, 7-6 (1).
Federer has dropped to No. 5, his lowest ranking in a decade. The 31-year-old Swiss ace's only title this year came on grass before Wimbleon in Halle, Germany.
The defending Wimbledon champion, Federer lost to No. 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky - a player who failed to qualify for Hamburg. It was his earliest Grand Slam defeat in 10 years, and his first loss to a player ranked outside the top 100 since 2005.
Federer changed his racket after Wimbledon, going for a bigger frame. But he struggled in Hamburg, going to three sets in two of his previous three matches.
Delbonis was playing only the second semifinal of his career. But he maintained his composure and gave Federer, the 17-time Grand Slam champion, only two break points, one of which he saved.
Federer broke for a 2-1 lead but was broken right back and had to save two set points to force the tiebreaker. He squandered a 4-2 lead, was unable to convert his one set point and saved three with service winners before Delbonis converted his fourth with a smash after some well-played points.
Federer came under pressure immediately in the second set and had to fend off three break points in his opening service game and another in the sixth. Delbonis saved one break point in the next game with a superb volley winner.
In the tiebreaker, Federer made two straight groundstroke errors and he netted a forehand on Delbonis' first match point.
Delbonis will improve to a career-high ranking of around No. 59, according to the ATP.
Fognini won his first career title in Stuttgart last week and is riding a nine-match winning streak.
''I feel incredible,'' Fognini said.
The Italian earned his 24th win on clay this season. Fognini is the second Italian to reach the final in Hamburg after Adriano Panatta lost to Manuel Orantes in 1972.
Almagro is second in career clay-court titles among active players with 12. Rafael Nadal has 42.
Tennis: Federer upset by qualifier in Hamburg semis - Omni Sports - Sports - Ahram Online
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Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska is upset and surprised about the negative reaction in her home country after posing nude for the “Body Issue” of ESPN: The Magazine.
The world number four, who was photographed naked while sitting beside a swimming pool filled with tennis balls, came under fire in her largely Catholic country, with priests and a Catholic youth group calling her behaviour immoral.
“I was little disappointed,” Radwanska told Reuters at the Bank of the West Classic where she is the top seed.
“I was really surprised about everything that happened afterward. The Catholics reacted like I did a photo shoot for a men's magazine. I was surprised because they didn't even know what I exactly the photo shoot was.”
Radwanska, whose arms and positioning in the photograph cover her private areas, is one of 21 athletes who appear nude in the annual issue that showcases the physiques of athletes, including a cover photo of 77-year-old golfer Gary Player.
Three days ago, Radwanska took to Facebook to defend herself. She said she made the decision because “the press and subject in Poland was huge”.
“It was just to show the people what the magazine actually was.”
On Facebook, Radwanska said that the pictures were not meant to cause offence and that “to brand them as immoral clearly does not take into account the context of the magazine”.
“Moreover, they do not contain any explicit imagery whatsoever. I train extremely hard to keep my body in shape and that's what the article and the magazine is all about.
“I agreed to participate to help encourage young people, and especially girls, to exercise, stay in shape and be healthy.”
The 24-year-old Radwanska added that she is no longer reeling from her defeat to Germany's Sabine Lisicki in the Wimbledon semi-final in early July.
The Pole was the highest seed remaining in the tournament at that point and, had she won the match, would have faced eventual champion Marion Bartoli in the final, whom she owns a 7-0 record against.
Radwanska, who has yet to win a grand slam, said she grew exhausted late in the match because she had played three marathon matches prior to the semi-finals.
“It was a huge chance this year,” she said.
“Definitely I had a chance to win a grand slam.”
“It's always disappointing and of course I was sad that I didn't use the opportunity that I had but I wasn't 100 percent fit. I wanted to get to the balls and my legs were just staying in one spot. I couldn't really move.”
Tennis player defends nude pictures - Tennis | IOL.co.za
The world number four, who was photographed naked while sitting beside a swimming pool filled with tennis balls, came under fire in her largely Catholic country, with priests and a Catholic youth group calling her behaviour immoral.
“I was little disappointed,” Radwanska told Reuters at the Bank of the West Classic where she is the top seed.
“I was really surprised about everything that happened afterward. The Catholics reacted like I did a photo shoot for a men's magazine. I was surprised because they didn't even know what I exactly the photo shoot was.”
Radwanska, whose arms and positioning in the photograph cover her private areas, is one of 21 athletes who appear nude in the annual issue that showcases the physiques of athletes, including a cover photo of 77-year-old golfer Gary Player.
Three days ago, Radwanska took to Facebook to defend herself. She said she made the decision because “the press and subject in Poland was huge”.
“It was just to show the people what the magazine actually was.”
On Facebook, Radwanska said that the pictures were not meant to cause offence and that “to brand them as immoral clearly does not take into account the context of the magazine”.
“Moreover, they do not contain any explicit imagery whatsoever. I train extremely hard to keep my body in shape and that's what the article and the magazine is all about.
“I agreed to participate to help encourage young people, and especially girls, to exercise, stay in shape and be healthy.”
The 24-year-old Radwanska added that she is no longer reeling from her defeat to Germany's Sabine Lisicki in the Wimbledon semi-final in early July.
The Pole was the highest seed remaining in the tournament at that point and, had she won the match, would have faced eventual champion Marion Bartoli in the final, whom she owns a 7-0 record against.
Radwanska, who has yet to win a grand slam, said she grew exhausted late in the match because she had played three marathon matches prior to the semi-finals.
“It was a huge chance this year,” she said.
“Definitely I had a chance to win a grand slam.”
“It's always disappointing and of course I was sad that I didn't use the opportunity that I had but I wasn't 100 percent fit. I wanted to get to the balls and my legs were just staying in one spot. I couldn't really move.”
Tennis player defends nude pictures - Tennis | IOL.co.za
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It’s been years in the making but Roger Federer, perhaps the greatest male tennis player of all time, has confirmed he will begin his Australian summer at the Brisbane International.
Federer is the most in-demand player on the tour and his presence at the first tournament of 2014 will guarantee unprecedented demand for tickets, some of which go on sale Wednesday.
The 31-year-old’s decision to come through Brisbane on the way to the Australian Open only confirms the event’s growing reputation as a key lead-up to the first Grand Slam of the year.
It has proved the perfect recipe for two-times defending champion Andy Murray and many players are seeing the benefit of preparing in the Queensland heat two weeks out from Melbourne.
Tournament director Cameron Pearson said Federer wanted to play last year but his schedule changed as the year progressed. This time, he had made the decision to play in Brisbane prior to Wimbledon.
“It’s been a couple of years in the making. I think he was keen to come last year. It just didn’t work with his schedule,” Pearson said.
“He played a lot of matches in the first half of the year and changed his schedule in the second half of the year. I guess that’s why Roger has been at the top of his game for such a long time.”
Federer won his last Grand Slam in Wimbledon in 2012 and claimed the most-recent of his four Australian Open crowns in 2010.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion said word of mouth from other players was a contributing factor to his decision to play in Brisbane. It will be the first time he has been in Queensland since he was on holiday as a 14-year-old.
“I’ve heard many great things from the other players, they say it’s a very friendly tournament, fan friendly, player friendly,” Federer said. “What else do you expect to be quite honest, in Australia you guys do great work.
“I’ve always hoped that I could come there [to Brisbane] ... so I am happy we are all able to make it work. I’m not just coming there [to Australia] for the Australian Open, especially when I commit so early in advance, it’s also to win in Brisbane.”
Federer holds the ATP World Tour record of 302 weeks for the most weeks at world number one. The only current player close to this record is Rafael Nadal, who has previously been ranked No.1 for 102 weeks. Federer first clinched the No.1 world ranking in February 2004.
He has captured 77 singles titles and on June 2 this year he notched up his 900th career singles match win. He also holds records for the most Grand Slam titles, 17, and for appearing in the most Grand Slam finals, 24.
Read more: Roger Federer to play Brisbane International tennis tournament
Federer is the most in-demand player on the tour and his presence at the first tournament of 2014 will guarantee unprecedented demand for tickets, some of which go on sale Wednesday.
The 31-year-old’s decision to come through Brisbane on the way to the Australian Open only confirms the event’s growing reputation as a key lead-up to the first Grand Slam of the year.
It has proved the perfect recipe for two-times defending champion Andy Murray and many players are seeing the benefit of preparing in the Queensland heat two weeks out from Melbourne.
Tournament director Cameron Pearson said Federer wanted to play last year but his schedule changed as the year progressed. This time, he had made the decision to play in Brisbane prior to Wimbledon.
“It’s been a couple of years in the making. I think he was keen to come last year. It just didn’t work with his schedule,” Pearson said.
“He played a lot of matches in the first half of the year and changed his schedule in the second half of the year. I guess that’s why Roger has been at the top of his game for such a long time.”
Federer won his last Grand Slam in Wimbledon in 2012 and claimed the most-recent of his four Australian Open crowns in 2010.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion said word of mouth from other players was a contributing factor to his decision to play in Brisbane. It will be the first time he has been in Queensland since he was on holiday as a 14-year-old.
“I’ve heard many great things from the other players, they say it’s a very friendly tournament, fan friendly, player friendly,” Federer said. “What else do you expect to be quite honest, in Australia you guys do great work.
“I’ve always hoped that I could come there [to Brisbane] ... so I am happy we are all able to make it work. I’m not just coming there [to Australia] for the Australian Open, especially when I commit so early in advance, it’s also to win in Brisbane.”
Federer holds the ATP World Tour record of 302 weeks for the most weeks at world number one. The only current player close to this record is Rafael Nadal, who has previously been ranked No.1 for 102 weeks. Federer first clinched the No.1 world ranking in February 2004.
He has captured 77 singles titles and on June 2 this year he notched up his 900th career singles match win. He also holds records for the most Grand Slam titles, 17, and for appearing in the most Grand Slam finals, 24.
Read more: Roger Federer to play Brisbane International tennis tournament
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Former British number one Anne Keothavong has retired from tennis to pursue a career in broadcasting.
The 29-year-old reached seven WTA semi-finals and, in 2009, became the first British woman in 16 years to be ranked inside the world's top 50.
Keothavong will join BT Sport's tennis coverage team later this year. "I think I am leaving tennis in excellent shape with both Laura Robson and Heather Watson leading the way for Britain in the women's game," she said.
Keothavong won a total of 20 singles titles on the International Tennis Federation circuit, the level below the top-tier WTA tour, and eight ITF doubles titles, reaching a career-high singles ranking of 48 in the world in early 2009.
In Grand Slams her high point was reaching the third round of the US Open in 2008, while at Tour level she reached the last four in 2009 in Warsaw, which was the best British result at a Premier level clay-court event since Jo Durie was a semi-finalist at the 1983 French Open.
She was ranked at 285th in the world before her retirement ,
Keothavong said: "I have given my decision a lot of thought and I believe this is the right time to move on to the next stage of my career. "I have had some magical moments along the way and I would like to thank my family for their unwavering support and encouragement, the LTA for their fantastic backing, my coach Jeremy Bates and also Nigel Sears, who have both been very influential in my tennis career, and, of course, the great tennis fans in Britain and all over the world."
Keothavong made 13 consecutive main draw appearances at Wimbledon despite her career being threatened by serious injuries to each knee.
LTA chief executive, Roger Draper, said: "Anne has been a true ambassador for British tennis, both on and off the court during her entire career.
"Anne's courage was evident in coming back from not one, but two challenging knee surgeries. A journey that began on the park courts of Hackney led to her being an inspirational role model for young girls everywhere, as well as to our current generation of players. We wish her well in the next chapter of her life."
Britain's Federation Cup captain Judy Murray added: "It's been a real pleasure for me to work with Anne as part of the Fed Cup team. You couldn't ask for a better, more committed team member - a great professional who represented her country with huge pride and passion."
BBC Sport - Anne Keothavong retires from tennis for broadcast career
The 29-year-old reached seven WTA semi-finals and, in 2009, became the first British woman in 16 years to be ranked inside the world's top 50.
Keothavong will join BT Sport's tennis coverage team later this year. "I think I am leaving tennis in excellent shape with both Laura Robson and Heather Watson leading the way for Britain in the women's game," she said.
Keothavong won a total of 20 singles titles on the International Tennis Federation circuit, the level below the top-tier WTA tour, and eight ITF doubles titles, reaching a career-high singles ranking of 48 in the world in early 2009.
In Grand Slams her high point was reaching the third round of the US Open in 2008, while at Tour level she reached the last four in 2009 in Warsaw, which was the best British result at a Premier level clay-court event since Jo Durie was a semi-finalist at the 1983 French Open.
She was ranked at 285th in the world before her retirement ,
Keothavong said: "I have given my decision a lot of thought and I believe this is the right time to move on to the next stage of my career. "I have had some magical moments along the way and I would like to thank my family for their unwavering support and encouragement, the LTA for their fantastic backing, my coach Jeremy Bates and also Nigel Sears, who have both been very influential in my tennis career, and, of course, the great tennis fans in Britain and all over the world."
Keothavong made 13 consecutive main draw appearances at Wimbledon despite her career being threatened by serious injuries to each knee.
LTA chief executive, Roger Draper, said: "Anne has been a true ambassador for British tennis, both on and off the court during her entire career.
"Anne's courage was evident in coming back from not one, but two challenging knee surgeries. A journey that began on the park courts of Hackney led to her being an inspirational role model for young girls everywhere, as well as to our current generation of players. We wish her well in the next chapter of her life."
Britain's Federation Cup captain Judy Murray added: "It's been a real pleasure for me to work with Anne as part of the Fed Cup team. You couldn't ask for a better, more committed team member - a great professional who represented her country with huge pride and passion."
BBC Sport - Anne Keothavong retires from tennis for broadcast career
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Roger Federer begins his quest for the title at the Swiss Open on Thursday inspired by the fighting spirit shown over the years by Australian contemporary Lleyton Hewitt.
The fifth-ranked Swiss who holds the record of 17 grand slam singles titles but has claimed just one trophy of any kind (Halle) in 2013, will start on Thursday in the second round against Daniel Brands, the German who took him to three sets last week on clay in Hamburg.
The 31-year-old Federer, who grew up in tennis with Hewitt, 32, told Swiss media that his motivation remains as strong as it always was, with his confidence high despite his lowest ranking in a decade.
"Lleyton Hewitt is a good example for me," he told Zurich's NZZ am Sonntag. "The ranking could be 170th, 20th or 5th - it's fun just to play."
Hewitt, ranked 64th, has been denying the years in recent seasons after his comeback from multiple foot surgeries. The Australian has reached the quarter-finals in Atlanta a fortnight after playing a grass final in Newport.
Federer added: "My motivation is at the top. If I got to the point where I'd had enough of the travel and training then I would ask serious questions. But that's not the case now.
"There comes a time when the ranking is not so important. Quite honestly, I don't even know exactly what my current ranking. 4th? 5th? 3rd? It doesn't matter to me so much.
"After Wimbledon (second-round loss to Sergiy Stakhovsky), I was burning to play."
The Swiss who looks consistently at the big picture in his career, said that he has dealt with doubts and harsh critiques before: "I have no problem with criticism, but I expect us to be honest," he told NZZ.
"This situation is not new for me. In 2009 and 2010 already, people said: 'He's won everything, now it's finished.' The more people that comment, the more likely that someone will be talking nonsense."
Federer will be looking for his 10th victory at Gstaad and his 31st of the season on clay when he plays Brands.
Roger Federer inspired by Hewitt on Gstaad clay | Tennis - News | NDTVSports-com
The fifth-ranked Swiss who holds the record of 17 grand slam singles titles but has claimed just one trophy of any kind (Halle) in 2013, will start on Thursday in the second round against Daniel Brands, the German who took him to three sets last week on clay in Hamburg.
The 31-year-old Federer, who grew up in tennis with Hewitt, 32, told Swiss media that his motivation remains as strong as it always was, with his confidence high despite his lowest ranking in a decade.
"Lleyton Hewitt is a good example for me," he told Zurich's NZZ am Sonntag. "The ranking could be 170th, 20th or 5th - it's fun just to play."
Hewitt, ranked 64th, has been denying the years in recent seasons after his comeback from multiple foot surgeries. The Australian has reached the quarter-finals in Atlanta a fortnight after playing a grass final in Newport.
Federer added: "My motivation is at the top. If I got to the point where I'd had enough of the travel and training then I would ask serious questions. But that's not the case now.
"There comes a time when the ranking is not so important. Quite honestly, I don't even know exactly what my current ranking. 4th? 5th? 3rd? It doesn't matter to me so much.
"After Wimbledon (second-round loss to Sergiy Stakhovsky), I was burning to play."
The Swiss who looks consistently at the big picture in his career, said that he has dealt with doubts and harsh critiques before: "I have no problem with criticism, but I expect us to be honest," he told NZZ.
"This situation is not new for me. In 2009 and 2010 already, people said: 'He's won everything, now it's finished.' The more people that comment, the more likely that someone will be talking nonsense."
Federer will be looking for his 10th victory at Gstaad and his 31st of the season on clay when he plays Brands.
Roger Federer inspired by Hewitt on Gstaad clay | Tennis - News | NDTVSports-com
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What triggered gasps throughout a sport thrown off-kilter by a flood of upsets last week was how unaggressive Williams often was. Overwhelmingly favored to win her sixth Wimbledon and 17th Grand Slam title, she was so ineffective at crucial moments, and so tentative, that "shocking" is the only fitting description for her performance, if not the result itself.
Lisicki's big serve and even bigger store of feistiness were her key weapons Monday in a 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 triumph at Center Court. Although Lisicki lost 14 straight points and nine straight games at one stage — she dropped the final six games of the second set and the first three games of the third — she bounced back decisively to end Williams' 34-match winning streak. "I went into this match feeling that I could win," said Lisicki, who lives in Bradenton, Fla. "I just was fighting for every single point no matter what was happening out there."
Williams, the defending champion, didn't play like the woman who owns 16 Grand Slam titles and had lost only twice this year. She had a chance to seize control when she led 3-0 and 15-0 in the third set but hit a couple of forehands long and gave Lisicki an opening. Lisicki broke her twice and held serve in a 10-point game to pull even at 4-4 before breaking a rattled Williams again for a 5-4 lead.
"I think that I didn't play the big points good enough," Williams said with admirable honesty. "I didn't do what I do best. I think I had a little hesitation, and that explains it.
"I definitely had my opportunities and I didn't take them. Maybe I backed off a little bit at some points. If I'm going to be successful, I'm never going to do it backing off."
Lisicki clinched the victory — and a quarterfinal berth Tuesday — on her second match point. After pounding a forehand winner, she promptly dropped face-first to the grass in delight. "I'm still shaking," she said after defeating a reigning French Open champion here for the fourth time in the last five years.
Williams' loss left 20-year-old Sloane Stephens the lone American singles contender. Stephens, seeded 17th, rallied for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Monica Puig of Puerto Rico. On Tuesday she will face No. 15 Marion Bartoli of France, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Italy's Karin Knapp. "I think Sloane has a really good chance of winning," Williams said. "She has a great draw. I think she can take it. It would be really nice to see her win."
Stephens was flattered. "Very nice of her," Stephens said. "I have a couple more matches to go till that happens."
Lisicki will face Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, who eliminated British darling Laura Robson, 7-6 (6), 7-5. The top remaining women's seed, No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, advanced with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. Radwanska on Tuesday will face No. 6 Li Na of China, who routed Roberta Vinci of Italy, 6-2, 6-0. No. 8 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, the 2011 champion, will face No. 20 Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium.
There were no upsets among the men, just a historic note when Jerzy Janowicz and Lukasz Kubot won five-set matches to create the first all-Polish Grand Slam quarterfinal.
No. 1 Novak Djokovic held off a late push from No. 13 Tommy Haas to win, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4), and earn a quarterfinal spot against No. 7 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, who defeated Bernard Tomic of Australia, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4. No. 2 Andy Murray of Britain defeated No. 20 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-1, to set up a quarterfinal against unseeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain.
Murray said he felt calmer Monday than last week. "I think everyone was a bit on edge, a little bit uptight because of what was happening with the injuries, withdrawals, upsets and stuff," he said. "Obviously, Serena losing today is a major shock as well."
There's that word again. . . .
In the other men's quarterfinal, No. 4 David Ferrer of Spain, a four-set winner over Croatia's Ivan Dodig, will face No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who defeated Italy's Andreas Seppi in straight sets.
Also of note, Camarillo natives Bob and Mike Bryan won their third straight match in their bid to win the men's doubles title at a fourth consecutive Grand Slam event.
Williams' winning streak is over, and the shock waves are still reverberating.
Serena Williams' Wimbledon loss is latest, biggest tennis shocker - latimes-com