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Britain's tennis clubs and centres have suffered a sharp cut in grants from the Lawn Tennis Association in the year of Andy Murray winning the Wimbledon championships.
The full scale of budgetary restraint at the governing body is emerging as it counts the cost of the seven year-reign of chief Executive Roger Draper, whose replacement, Canadian Michael Downey, arrives in January.
The financial year that ended yesterday saw just £1million of Sport England money being handed out to those who requested help with creating or updating facilities, compared to the £13m from the same source over the previous four years.
The severe belt-tightening has been felt across all departments at the LTA, including elite performance, as it tries to shore up its financial position after the heavy spending years of Draper, which is said to have seen some of the organisation’s reserves eroded.
A threatened funding cut of £10.3m from Sport England is one of the reasons for the reductions. They have suspended some of the money due to the LTA due to sliding participation figures, and although numbers have improved they want to see a further rise by January before releasing the cash.
Another concern is the impact that dramatic prize money increases for the players at Wimbledon, plus long term plans to redevelop the All England Club will have on the Championships surplus – over £35 million in recent years - handed over every year to the LTA.
The governing body has effectively been run over the last few months by Chief Financial Officer Nick Humby, who wants to put the house in order before handing over to Downey.
He said: 'We are currently developing a new facilities strategy and in the meantime we have been helping tennis venues find out about other funding sources such as Sport England’s Inspired facilities fund.
'In an ideal world we would like to provide financial support for every single tennis venue around the country seeking to grow the level of tennis activity.
'However investment is more than just the physical facilities, it is also about having the right people to coach and run the venue and we need to ensure that our investment is maximising our drive to increase numbers of people playing tennis.'
Read more: British tennis clubs get LTA funding slashed | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The full scale of budgetary restraint at the governing body is emerging as it counts the cost of the seven year-reign of chief Executive Roger Draper, whose replacement, Canadian Michael Downey, arrives in January.
The financial year that ended yesterday saw just £1million of Sport England money being handed out to those who requested help with creating or updating facilities, compared to the £13m from the same source over the previous four years.
The severe belt-tightening has been felt across all departments at the LTA, including elite performance, as it tries to shore up its financial position after the heavy spending years of Draper, which is said to have seen some of the organisation’s reserves eroded.
A threatened funding cut of £10.3m from Sport England is one of the reasons for the reductions. They have suspended some of the money due to the LTA due to sliding participation figures, and although numbers have improved they want to see a further rise by January before releasing the cash.
Another concern is the impact that dramatic prize money increases for the players at Wimbledon, plus long term plans to redevelop the All England Club will have on the Championships surplus – over £35 million in recent years - handed over every year to the LTA.
The governing body has effectively been run over the last few months by Chief Financial Officer Nick Humby, who wants to put the house in order before handing over to Downey.
He said: 'We are currently developing a new facilities strategy and in the meantime we have been helping tennis venues find out about other funding sources such as Sport England’s Inspired facilities fund.
'In an ideal world we would like to provide financial support for every single tennis venue around the country seeking to grow the level of tennis activity.
'However investment is more than just the physical facilities, it is also about having the right people to coach and run the venue and we need to ensure that our investment is maximising our drive to increase numbers of people playing tennis.'
Read more: British tennis clubs get LTA funding slashed | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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Rob Lowe, anyone?
The Parks and Recreation star has reached agreement to play a former tennis doubles champion in The Pro, a single-camera comedy that has received a production commitment from NBC. It will be a co-production of ABC Studios and Universal Television, but no further details regarding the deal are available.
In the workplace comedy, Lowe, who also is an executive producer, will play "Big Ben" Bertrahm, whose career mishaps and wrong-headed investments have left him working as the pro at a tennis and golf club where he tries to maneuver and charm his way back to the upper class.
Lowe and Rashida Jones are both leaving NBC's Parks midway through this season.
Deadline.com first reported the NBC production commitment.
The Parks and Recreation star has reached agreement to play a former tennis doubles champion in The Pro, a single-camera comedy that has received a production commitment from NBC. It will be a co-production of ABC Studios and Universal Television, but no further details regarding the deal are available.
In the workplace comedy, Lowe, who also is an executive producer, will play "Big Ben" Bertrahm, whose career mishaps and wrong-headed investments have left him working as the pro at a tennis and golf club where he tries to maneuver and charm his way back to the upper class.
Lowe and Rashida Jones are both leaving NBC's Parks midway through this season.
Deadline.com first reported the NBC production commitment.
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2006/12/07
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Rafael Nadal will become No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday after reaching the China Open final.
Nadal will contest his 13th championship match of a remarkable season after World No. 5 Tomas Berdych retired at 2-4 in the first set in their Beijing semi-final on Saturday with a back injury.
Since returning from seven-month absence due to a left knee injury in February, Nadal has compiled a 65-3 match record on the season. He has won 10 titles from 12 finals, including the Roland Garros (d. Ferrer) and US Open (d. Djokovic) crowns plus five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies.
"[This is] a great year, one of the best years of my career without any doubt," sad Nadal. "[It] sure is special be back to the top position of the rankings after more than a half year without playing tennis."
He said he was prouder of the hard work and results that earned him the No. 1 ranking, rather than the number itself. "At the end, it's just a number... What [makes] me happy is [everything] I did to be back where I am today."
The left-handed Nadal extended his FedEx ATP Head2Head over Berdych to 16-3. He has now won his last 15 clashes against Czech.
The 27-year-old Spaniard has had two stints at the summit of men’s professional tennis for a total of 102 weeks. Nadal first became No. 1 on 18 August 2008 for a period of 46 weeks. He regained top spot from Roger Federer on 7 June 2010 and added 56 weeks to his tally until relinquishing No. 1 to Novak Djokovic on 4 July 2011.
By reaching the final, Nadal is one win away from claiming his first China Open title since 2005. The Mallorcan extended his current winning streak to 21 matches. It's the sixth season in his career than Nadal has posted 20 or more consecutive victories.
Nadal will attempt to retain the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time since 2010 and the third time overall (also ’08). "[It] will be a great finish [to] the season if I am able to finish the season [at] the No. 1 spot. For that, I am sure I need to win more matches if I want to be there," said the Spaniard.
If he manages the feat, he'll become the first player to finish as year-end No. 1 three years after losing the ranking. Ivan Lendl and Roger Federer both recaptured the year-end top spot in 1989 and 2009 respectively, after a gap of two years.
"If I am able to be No. 1 at the end of the season, then, that's an important achievement because I will be the best of the year... That's something that really motivates me," said Nadal.
He wished Berdych a speedy recovery, ahead of next week's Shanghai Rolex Masters.
"I barely can sit, I [can] barely can stand up [or] walk," said Berdych, who described the injury as new. The Czech No. 1 said he tweaked his back while running for a backhand slice.
Berdych voiced his respect for Nadal. "It's really incredibly well done in how short [a] time he [became] No. 1 again after [his] comeback... That's really an achievement."
Rafael Nadal Will Return To No. 1 By Reaching Beijing Final - Tennis - ATP World Tour
Nadal will contest his 13th championship match of a remarkable season after World No. 5 Tomas Berdych retired at 2-4 in the first set in their Beijing semi-final on Saturday with a back injury.
Since returning from seven-month absence due to a left knee injury in February, Nadal has compiled a 65-3 match record on the season. He has won 10 titles from 12 finals, including the Roland Garros (d. Ferrer) and US Open (d. Djokovic) crowns plus five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies.
"[This is] a great year, one of the best years of my career without any doubt," sad Nadal. "[It] sure is special be back to the top position of the rankings after more than a half year without playing tennis."
He said he was prouder of the hard work and results that earned him the No. 1 ranking, rather than the number itself. "At the end, it's just a number... What [makes] me happy is [everything] I did to be back where I am today."
The left-handed Nadal extended his FedEx ATP Head2Head over Berdych to 16-3. He has now won his last 15 clashes against Czech.
The 27-year-old Spaniard has had two stints at the summit of men’s professional tennis for a total of 102 weeks. Nadal first became No. 1 on 18 August 2008 for a period of 46 weeks. He regained top spot from Roger Federer on 7 June 2010 and added 56 weeks to his tally until relinquishing No. 1 to Novak Djokovic on 4 July 2011.
By reaching the final, Nadal is one win away from claiming his first China Open title since 2005. The Mallorcan extended his current winning streak to 21 matches. It's the sixth season in his career than Nadal has posted 20 or more consecutive victories.
Nadal will attempt to retain the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time since 2010 and the third time overall (also ’08). "[It] will be a great finish [to] the season if I am able to finish the season [at] the No. 1 spot. For that, I am sure I need to win more matches if I want to be there," said the Spaniard.
If he manages the feat, he'll become the first player to finish as year-end No. 1 three years after losing the ranking. Ivan Lendl and Roger Federer both recaptured the year-end top spot in 1989 and 2009 respectively, after a gap of two years.
"If I am able to be No. 1 at the end of the season, then, that's an important achievement because I will be the best of the year... That's something that really motivates me," said Nadal.
He wished Berdych a speedy recovery, ahead of next week's Shanghai Rolex Masters.
"I barely can sit, I [can] barely can stand up [or] walk," said Berdych, who described the injury as new. The Czech No. 1 said he tweaked his back while running for a backhand slice.
Berdych voiced his respect for Nadal. "It's really incredibly well done in how short [a] time he [became] No. 1 again after [his] comeback... That's really an achievement."
Rafael Nadal Will Return To No. 1 By Reaching Beijing Final - Tennis - ATP World Tour
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Juan Martin del Potro defeated Canada's Milos Raonic 7-6 (5), 7-5 for the Japan Open title on Sunday.
The loss drops the Thornhill, Ont., product to 41-18 on the year, but Raonic is currently in 10th position in the battle for the eight-player season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour finals in London next month.
"The improvement in the rankings is icing on the cake," said Raonic. "The important thing to me is getting better as a player. As long as I can do that, I will give myself more opportunities like this."
Raonic is now 5-5 in title matches, having won his fifth ATP title at the Thailand Open in Bangkok last week. The third-seeded Raonic hit 17 aces but came up short in his second straight appearance in the Japan Open final. He lost to local favourite Kei Nishikori last year.
The first set lasted 54 minutes and included a rally by del Potro that bounced him back from a 0-2 deficit in the tie-break. Though Raonic put pressure on the Argentine throughout the set, he could not capitalize.
Tied at 5-5 in the second set, del Potro locked in and broke Raonic to go up 6-5, then held serve to secure the 7-5 victory.
"There is nothing really to be down about," Raonic said. "Maybe the double fault in the tiebreak and then later in the match to break me he gets four winners so there is not much I could have done there to play better."
After the match, Raonic congratulated his opponent and thanked the fans for showing their support throughout the tournament. Nobuo Kuroyanagi, the President of the Japan Tennis Association, then presented del Potro with the 16th tour-level trophy of his career.
Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, was a late addition to the tournament after Andy Murray withdrew due to a back injury. The Japan Open marks his third title of the year, adding to wins in Rotterdam and Washington.
Milos Raonic loses in final of Japan Open - CBC Sports - Tennis
The loss drops the Thornhill, Ont., product to 41-18 on the year, but Raonic is currently in 10th position in the battle for the eight-player season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour finals in London next month.
"The improvement in the rankings is icing on the cake," said Raonic. "The important thing to me is getting better as a player. As long as I can do that, I will give myself more opportunities like this."
Raonic is now 5-5 in title matches, having won his fifth ATP title at the Thailand Open in Bangkok last week. The third-seeded Raonic hit 17 aces but came up short in his second straight appearance in the Japan Open final. He lost to local favourite Kei Nishikori last year.
The first set lasted 54 minutes and included a rally by del Potro that bounced him back from a 0-2 deficit in the tie-break. Though Raonic put pressure on the Argentine throughout the set, he could not capitalize.
Tied at 5-5 in the second set, del Potro locked in and broke Raonic to go up 6-5, then held serve to secure the 7-5 victory.
"There is nothing really to be down about," Raonic said. "Maybe the double fault in the tiebreak and then later in the match to break me he gets four winners so there is not much I could have done there to play better."
After the match, Raonic congratulated his opponent and thanked the fans for showing their support throughout the tournament. Nobuo Kuroyanagi, the President of the Japan Tennis Association, then presented del Potro with the 16th tour-level trophy of his career.
Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, was a late addition to the tournament after Andy Murray withdrew due to a back injury. The Japan Open marks his third title of the year, adding to wins in Rotterdam and Washington.
Milos Raonic loses in final of Japan Open - CBC Sports - Tennis
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It is unusual to see Roger Federer playing in doubles, but given the current form of the 17-time grand slam champion, it is easy to see why he is teaming up with a partner at the Shanghai Masters.
The Swiss along with Ze Zhang have formed a wildcard pairing at this year's event, and they flew into the last-16 of the competition after beating Kevin Anderson and Dmitry Tursunov 6-2 6-1 in just 48 minutes.
Federer has only won one title in 2013 (Halle) and has been sliding in the rankings, with his place at this year's ATP World Tour Finals not certain as he finds himself down at seventh. Early losses and experiments with a new racquet have led many to believe the record major winner will call time on his career soon.
His bid to find some form and end the season on a high begins here in Shanghai, and as well as looking to rediscover his touch Federer added that playing in the doubles is an attempt to boost the profile of the sport in the country.
"That's kind of the ultimate goal, to partner up with a Chinese up and coming player and promote the game at the same time," he said. "I'm just so happy for Zhang Ze, that he played really well. I really am, because he couldn't have played any better."
Read more at No troubles in doubles for Roger Federer at Shanghai Masters | Tennis News | ESPN.co.uk
The Swiss along with Ze Zhang have formed a wildcard pairing at this year's event, and they flew into the last-16 of the competition after beating Kevin Anderson and Dmitry Tursunov 6-2 6-1 in just 48 minutes.
Federer has only won one title in 2013 (Halle) and has been sliding in the rankings, with his place at this year's ATP World Tour Finals not certain as he finds himself down at seventh. Early losses and experiments with a new racquet have led many to believe the record major winner will call time on his career soon.
His bid to find some form and end the season on a high begins here in Shanghai, and as well as looking to rediscover his touch Federer added that playing in the doubles is an attempt to boost the profile of the sport in the country.
"That's kind of the ultimate goal, to partner up with a Chinese up and coming player and promote the game at the same time," he said. "I'm just so happy for Zhang Ze, that he played really well. I really am, because he couldn't have played any better."
Read more at No troubles in doubles for Roger Federer at Shanghai Masters | Tennis News | ESPN.co.uk
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Rafael Nadal says his belief that too many tournaments are played on hardcourts hasn't changed with his success on the surface this year — he's simply given up trying to change the system.
The Spaniard, who retook the No. 1 ranking from Novak Djokovic this week, has compiled a 27-1 record on hardcourts this year, including capturing his second U.S. Open crown and three Masters titles.
His success on the surface has been the most surprising part of his comeback from a seven-month layoff due to a left knee injury, which many believed would limit his action on hard courts.
Nadal said Tuesday before the Shanghai Masters tournament he still believes too many tournaments are played on the surface, but he's done trying to influence ATP policymakers.
"I am really out of politics, and I don't want to be involved in politics of the tennis anymore. I know even if you have strong ideas and even if you believe the changes are possible, I know there is always a wall there that is impossible to go over," he said.
The 13-time Grand Slam winner has long advocated a shorter tournament schedule and more tournaments on clay courts to lessen the wear on players' bodies and prevent career-threatening injuries like the kind with his knees he's struggled with in recent years.
"I say because it's something that I think is going to be fair for the next generations if they are able to play (on) an easier surface for the body, to try to have a longer career, to try to be more healthy when they finish (their) careers," he said. "Something that probably I will not (be lucky enough to have)."
Djokovic said later he shares Nadal's frustrations with the slow pace of change at the top of the sport.
"It's been over five years that we all have been trying in different ways to effect some things regarding the schedule, tournaments, different formats," he said. "But the system is rooted inside. It's very difficult to change.
"I understand why Rafa is saying that he has had enough of it because at the end of the day you can't do everything alone. It's much deeper than that."
Nadal and Andy Murray have been the most outspoken critics of tour conditions in recent years, with Murray even floating the idea of a player strike two years ago if tour organizers didn't take their complaints seriously.
Nadal then criticized Roger Federer on the eve of last year's Australian Open for allowing other players to lead the charge to make changes to the tour while he stayed above the fray to maintain his good reputation.
Now it appears Nadal is done with the fight, as well.
"What I am saying I am saying because it's something that I feel," he said. "If somebody from the ATP asks me, I will say the same things. But as always happened, nothing gonna change."
Nadal said he's focusing instead on keeping up his momentum through the end of the season and the ATP World Tour Finals in London — a time of year the Spaniard has traditionally struggled with fatigue and injuries.
He's never won the Shanghai Masters. In the last seven years, Nadal has won only one tournament following the U.S. Open — in Tokyo in 2010.
"I know in the past this part of the season was hard for me, but I am confident that I can keep playing well. I am doing the right things to be ready."
Nadal says he's done with tennis politics
The Spaniard, who retook the No. 1 ranking from Novak Djokovic this week, has compiled a 27-1 record on hardcourts this year, including capturing his second U.S. Open crown and three Masters titles.
His success on the surface has been the most surprising part of his comeback from a seven-month layoff due to a left knee injury, which many believed would limit his action on hard courts.
Nadal said Tuesday before the Shanghai Masters tournament he still believes too many tournaments are played on the surface, but he's done trying to influence ATP policymakers.
"I am really out of politics, and I don't want to be involved in politics of the tennis anymore. I know even if you have strong ideas and even if you believe the changes are possible, I know there is always a wall there that is impossible to go over," he said.
The 13-time Grand Slam winner has long advocated a shorter tournament schedule and more tournaments on clay courts to lessen the wear on players' bodies and prevent career-threatening injuries like the kind with his knees he's struggled with in recent years.
"I say because it's something that I think is going to be fair for the next generations if they are able to play (on) an easier surface for the body, to try to have a longer career, to try to be more healthy when they finish (their) careers," he said. "Something that probably I will not (be lucky enough to have)."
Djokovic said later he shares Nadal's frustrations with the slow pace of change at the top of the sport.
"It's been over five years that we all have been trying in different ways to effect some things regarding the schedule, tournaments, different formats," he said. "But the system is rooted inside. It's very difficult to change.
"I understand why Rafa is saying that he has had enough of it because at the end of the day you can't do everything alone. It's much deeper than that."
Nadal and Andy Murray have been the most outspoken critics of tour conditions in recent years, with Murray even floating the idea of a player strike two years ago if tour organizers didn't take their complaints seriously.
Nadal then criticized Roger Federer on the eve of last year's Australian Open for allowing other players to lead the charge to make changes to the tour while he stayed above the fray to maintain his good reputation.
Now it appears Nadal is done with the fight, as well.
"What I am saying I am saying because it's something that I feel," he said. "If somebody from the ATP asks me, I will say the same things. But as always happened, nothing gonna change."
Nadal said he's focusing instead on keeping up his momentum through the end of the season and the ATP World Tour Finals in London — a time of year the Spaniard has traditionally struggled with fatigue and injuries.
He's never won the Shanghai Masters. In the last seven years, Nadal has won only one tournament following the U.S. Open — in Tokyo in 2010.
"I know in the past this part of the season was hard for me, but I am confident that I can keep playing well. I am doing the right things to be ready."
Nadal says he's done with tennis politics
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Tennis history was created this week, and it all comes down to money.
Rafael Nadal moved to $10,700,000 (£6.7m) for the season this week, and it is the first time ever that two players have cracked the eight-figure barrier in the sport.
Who was the other? Well, it is not a rival player from the ATP Tour.
Serena Williams is the other legendary tennis star to have reached the eight-figure mark - a women's prize money record - meaning that one player from each tour has done so this year.
To date in her career, Serena has racked up an incredible $51,738,481 in prize money alone, while Rafa has $60,761,862.
At the ages of 32 and 27 respectively, and with years still ahead of them on the main tours, life is very good for this year's dominant forces.
It is, perhaps, no surprise then that it was Serena and Rafa who were the two players bemoaning the tax they had to pay on their earnings.
Only in September, after the pair won the respective titles at the US Open, did both complain that some of their $3.6 million top prizes were to be taken from them in taxes.
Not only did the duo net the $2.6m winner's cheques, but they also received $1m bonuses for having enjoyed the most successful run-ups in pre-US Open tournaments.
The US Tennis Association increased the prize money to record levels this year and the victory boosted 13-time Grand Slam champion Nadal's career total above $60 million, but it also meant that more money came out of the champion's pockets in taxes.
"At the end, it's a lot of money anyway, but that's not the real prize money,'' Nadal said. ''You have to pay the tax, and in Spain today it is 56 (per cent), I think.
''Anyway, a lot of money. Is more than half. Is more than half less and then is Euros.''
Williams, a 17-time Grand Slam winner and five-time US Open champion, faces a hefty bite from 'Uncle Sam', meanwhile.
''Someone told me today I passed 50 (million), but half of that goes to my Uncle Sam. I love him. I'm always giving him half my money," she said.
''I think my dad got me into tennis because of the money, but me being naive and silly, I never thought about it.''
The amount of money Rafa and Serena have to fork out on taxes may well be galling, but most people would recognise that they are both doing okay for themselves this year.
Tennis legends smash annual earnings record | Tramlines - Yahoo Eurosport UK
Rafael Nadal moved to $10,700,000 (£6.7m) for the season this week, and it is the first time ever that two players have cracked the eight-figure barrier in the sport.
Who was the other? Well, it is not a rival player from the ATP Tour.
Serena Williams is the other legendary tennis star to have reached the eight-figure mark - a women's prize money record - meaning that one player from each tour has done so this year.
To date in her career, Serena has racked up an incredible $51,738,481 in prize money alone, while Rafa has $60,761,862.
At the ages of 32 and 27 respectively, and with years still ahead of them on the main tours, life is very good for this year's dominant forces.
It is, perhaps, no surprise then that it was Serena and Rafa who were the two players bemoaning the tax they had to pay on their earnings.
Only in September, after the pair won the respective titles at the US Open, did both complain that some of their $3.6 million top prizes were to be taken from them in taxes.
Not only did the duo net the $2.6m winner's cheques, but they also received $1m bonuses for having enjoyed the most successful run-ups in pre-US Open tournaments.
The US Tennis Association increased the prize money to record levels this year and the victory boosted 13-time Grand Slam champion Nadal's career total above $60 million, but it also meant that more money came out of the champion's pockets in taxes.
"At the end, it's a lot of money anyway, but that's not the real prize money,'' Nadal said. ''You have to pay the tax, and in Spain today it is 56 (per cent), I think.
''Anyway, a lot of money. Is more than half. Is more than half less and then is Euros.''
Williams, a 17-time Grand Slam winner and five-time US Open champion, faces a hefty bite from 'Uncle Sam', meanwhile.
''Someone told me today I passed 50 (million), but half of that goes to my Uncle Sam. I love him. I'm always giving him half my money," she said.
''I think my dad got me into tennis because of the money, but me being naive and silly, I never thought about it.''
The amount of money Rafa and Serena have to fork out on taxes may well be galling, but most people would recognise that they are both doing okay for themselves this year.
Tennis legends smash annual earnings record | Tramlines - Yahoo Eurosport UK
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After dropping the first set, the 17-time Grand Slam title winner was on the brink of going out in straight sets at 3-5 down in the second, and later 3-5 down in the tie-break before winning four straight points.
Monfils then broke the Swiss former world number one in the fourth game of the decider.
"[It was] one of those matches that could have gone either way," Federer told the ATP tour website. "I think I was a little lucky in the second set to get back, to be quite honest. I played a solid tie-break.
"I had chances early on in the third set I think to make something happen. He kind of recovered, then started to serve a bit better again towards the end of the third set, which made it difficult for me. It's a bit of an up and down performance for me."
"I knew that I choked on this forehand at 5-4 (in the tie-break)," Frenchman Monfils - a former top-10 player whose career has been derailed by injury - said.
"Then I changed my ideas because I was maybe nervous, too. Even (though) I was tired, I tried to play more aggressively sometimes, going more for my shots and it worked.
"It's a good win for me. I feel a bit sorry for him because I know he's running for London. But it's tennis. He's going to have more opportunity (in) those weeks coming up."
It was Monfils's second victory over Federer in eight meetings, and leaves the Swiss battling to reach the end-of-season ATP World Tour Finals for the 12th consecutive year.
"I'm just going to focus on trying to play well. I'm just going to try to have a good tournament in Basel and Paris. In the end, if I get the invite (to London), I'll be there," Federer added.
Monfils will play top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals after the Serb brushed aside Fabio Fognini.
Other matches saw wins for Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga go through, while David Ferrer was shocked by Florian Mayer, and Tomas Berdych lost out to Nicolas Almagro.
Shanghai Masters Men's Singles Round 3 matches on Thursday
1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-3 6-3
2-Rafael Nadal (Spain) beat Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 6-1 7-6(5)
Florian Mayer (Germany) beat 3-David Ferrer (Spain) 6-4 6-3
15-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) beat 4-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 6-7(6) 6-3 7-6(4)
Gael Monfils (France) beat 5-Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3
6-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat 11-Tommy Haas (Germany)WO
7-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat 12-Kei Nishikori (Japan) 7-6(5) 6-0
8-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat 10-Milos Raonic (Canada) 7-6(2) 6-4
Tennis - Federer crashes out in Shanghai - Yahoo Eurosport UK
Monfils then broke the Swiss former world number one in the fourth game of the decider.
"[It was] one of those matches that could have gone either way," Federer told the ATP tour website. "I think I was a little lucky in the second set to get back, to be quite honest. I played a solid tie-break.
"I had chances early on in the third set I think to make something happen. He kind of recovered, then started to serve a bit better again towards the end of the third set, which made it difficult for me. It's a bit of an up and down performance for me."
"I knew that I choked on this forehand at 5-4 (in the tie-break)," Frenchman Monfils - a former top-10 player whose career has been derailed by injury - said.
"Then I changed my ideas because I was maybe nervous, too. Even (though) I was tired, I tried to play more aggressively sometimes, going more for my shots and it worked.
"It's a good win for me. I feel a bit sorry for him because I know he's running for London. But it's tennis. He's going to have more opportunity (in) those weeks coming up."
It was Monfils's second victory over Federer in eight meetings, and leaves the Swiss battling to reach the end-of-season ATP World Tour Finals for the 12th consecutive year.
"I'm just going to focus on trying to play well. I'm just going to try to have a good tournament in Basel and Paris. In the end, if I get the invite (to London), I'll be there," Federer added.
Monfils will play top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals after the Serb brushed aside Fabio Fognini.
Other matches saw wins for Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga go through, while David Ferrer was shocked by Florian Mayer, and Tomas Berdych lost out to Nicolas Almagro.
Shanghai Masters Men's Singles Round 3 matches on Thursday
1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-3 6-3
2-Rafael Nadal (Spain) beat Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 6-1 7-6(5)
Florian Mayer (Germany) beat 3-David Ferrer (Spain) 6-4 6-3
15-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) beat 4-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 6-7(6) 6-3 7-6(4)
Gael Monfils (France) beat 5-Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3
6-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat 11-Tommy Haas (Germany)WO
7-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat 12-Kei Nishikori (Japan) 7-6(5) 6-0
8-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat 10-Milos Raonic (Canada) 7-6(2) 6-4
Tennis - Federer crashes out in Shanghai - Yahoo Eurosport UK
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NOVAK DJOKOVIC swept aside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in less than an hour-and-a-half to reach the final of the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
The defending champion and top seed, right, won 6-2, 7-5 and takes on Juan Martin del Potro in the final after the Argentinian upset world No1 Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4.
“It’s important for me to get into another final,” Djokovic said.
The defending champion and top seed, right, won 6-2, 7-5 and takes on Juan Martin del Potro in the final after the Argentinian upset world No1 Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4.
“It’s important for me to get into another final,” Djokovic said.
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Roger Federer’s split with coach Paul Annacone was one of the least surprising decisions of the season.
If I’m surprised about anything it’s that they didn’t end their working relationship earlier. It’s a wonder it lasted this long.
You wonder why Roger had a coach in the sense that he is such an instinctive, natural player. And how do you tell him what to do?
My view was that, if Roger is to have a technical coach, it needed to be someone who would challenge him, someone with the personality and gravitas to make big changes to his game.
Was Annacone, who is a personal friend of Roger’s, the right man to do that? I don’t think so. For me he was a sounding board.
Will Roger look for a new coach, one who will make wholesale changes to his game or mental approach? At this stage of his career, I doubt it.
Roger said that he’s looking forward to next year. He won’t have many ranking points to defend, the pressure is off and his new outlook on life can be matched by revised expectations.
Roger wants to enjoy his tennis, and I suppose – as much as his decline pains me as a fan – he may be able to do that once more.
Roger knows he will not be world number one again, or at least that it is highly unlikely; his chances of adding to that haul of Grand Slams are slimming, but there’s always Wimbledon.
But he can now pick and choose his tournaments, base his schedule around his family life, and play – and train – for the fun of it.
And why not. He has earned the right to ease off a bit. And you never know, it could rejuvenate him into an Indian Summer. He has proved us wrong before.
So, with all this in mind, I don’t see him taking on a proper coach now. He has a backroom staff and continues to work with Pierre Paganini on fitness, and the Swiss Davis Cup team.
Roger Federer should stay coachless and just enjoy his tennis | Simon Reed - Yahoo Eurosport UK
If I’m surprised about anything it’s that they didn’t end their working relationship earlier. It’s a wonder it lasted this long.
You wonder why Roger had a coach in the sense that he is such an instinctive, natural player. And how do you tell him what to do?
My view was that, if Roger is to have a technical coach, it needed to be someone who would challenge him, someone with the personality and gravitas to make big changes to his game.
Was Annacone, who is a personal friend of Roger’s, the right man to do that? I don’t think so. For me he was a sounding board.
Will Roger look for a new coach, one who will make wholesale changes to his game or mental approach? At this stage of his career, I doubt it.
Roger said that he’s looking forward to next year. He won’t have many ranking points to defend, the pressure is off and his new outlook on life can be matched by revised expectations.
Roger wants to enjoy his tennis, and I suppose – as much as his decline pains me as a fan – he may be able to do that once more.
Roger knows he will not be world number one again, or at least that it is highly unlikely; his chances of adding to that haul of Grand Slams are slimming, but there’s always Wimbledon.
But he can now pick and choose his tournaments, base his schedule around his family life, and play – and train – for the fun of it.
And why not. He has earned the right to ease off a bit. And you never know, it could rejuvenate him into an Indian Summer. He has proved us wrong before.
So, with all this in mind, I don’t see him taking on a proper coach now. He has a backroom staff and continues to work with Pierre Paganini on fitness, and the Swiss Davis Cup team.
Roger Federer should stay coachless and just enjoy his tennis | Simon Reed - Yahoo Eurosport UK
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A 12-year-old wheelchair tennis player has become the top under-18 player in England after just nine months in the sport.
Luz Esperanza Merry, from Plymouth in Devon, is ninth in the world junior rankings and now she is one of Team GB's hopes for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Esperanza, from Plymouth in Devon, was a rising star of able-bodied players.
However, after experiencing septic arthritis in her hip she had to switch to wheelchair tennis.
Esperanza had won 45 tournaments at home and abroad before her 11th birthday when in November 2011 she was diagnosed with an infection in her right hip, which has led to septic arthritis.
'Hardest thing'
After coming across British number one Lucy Shuker training at Taunton Tennis Centre, Esperanza's parents asked about wheelchair tennis coaching and she is now coached by Lucy's coach, Natalie Ayton.
She travels from her Plymouth home to Taunton for coaching.
It has not been an easy transition from able-bodied to wheelchair tennis.
"The technique is almost the same, but I used to have a double-handed backhand and now I have a single-handed backhand," Esperanza said.
"The hardest thing for me was the new backhand and the mobility."
She made her wheelchair tennis tournament debut in May at the 2013 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Turkey, winning gold as part of the junior team.
The sport's grand slam tournaments only take the top eight wheelchair tennis players worldwide and Esperanza intends to be one of them in a few years.
BBC News - Tennis player Luz Esperanza Merry on track for stardom
Luz Esperanza Merry, from Plymouth in Devon, is ninth in the world junior rankings and now she is one of Team GB's hopes for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Esperanza, from Plymouth in Devon, was a rising star of able-bodied players.
However, after experiencing septic arthritis in her hip she had to switch to wheelchair tennis.
Esperanza had won 45 tournaments at home and abroad before her 11th birthday when in November 2011 she was diagnosed with an infection in her right hip, which has led to septic arthritis.
'Hardest thing'
After coming across British number one Lucy Shuker training at Taunton Tennis Centre, Esperanza's parents asked about wheelchair tennis coaching and she is now coached by Lucy's coach, Natalie Ayton.
She travels from her Plymouth home to Taunton for coaching.
It has not been an easy transition from able-bodied to wheelchair tennis.
"The technique is almost the same, but I used to have a double-handed backhand and now I have a single-handed backhand," Esperanza said.
"The hardest thing for me was the new backhand and the mobility."
She made her wheelchair tennis tournament debut in May at the 2013 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Turkey, winning gold as part of the junior team.
The sport's grand slam tournaments only take the top eight wheelchair tennis players worldwide and Esperanza intends to be one of them in a few years.
BBC News - Tennis player Luz Esperanza Merry on track for stardom
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Ten days after a solid team showing at the West Point Fall Quad, the men’s tennis team is set to begin the United States Tennis Association (USTA)/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional Championships, hosted by Yale.
After a slow start to the season, the Bulldogs have steadily improved over the past few tournaments. The Elis notched a particularly impressive performance at West Point two weeks ago, where they went 24–7 overall against the competition. Alex Hagermoser ’17, Tyler Lu ’17 and Zach Krumholz ’15 went undefeated in singles match play and Jason Brown ’16, Patrick Chase ’14 and Kyle Dawson ’14 won all of their doubles matches.
Lu is in the midst of a seven-match unbeaten streak in singles after winning his bracket at the Ivy Plus Invitational in late September. While his steady performance thus far has been a pleasant surprise for the team and coaching staff, Lu isn’t the only freshman who has played well. Hagermoser’s success at West Point adds to a fall season that includes a semifinal appearance at the Princeton-Farnsworth Invitational, while Photos Photiades ’17 also picked up wins at West Point after being forced to sit out the first tournament of the season because of NCAA eligibility regulations.
“Our freshmen continue to shine and we believe that they can continue their success this weekend,” Dawson said. “Tyler Lu has been playing especially well and we think he can continue that trend.”
Lu and Photiades will both feature as main draw entries for Yale this weekend, along with Dawson and Martin Svenning ’16. Lu’s success has earned him the ninth seed out of 16. Brown, Daniel Faierman ’15, Hagermoser and Krumholz start their qualifying matches Thursday night for a chance to join their teammates in the main draw.
The Bulldogs are in a good position for the doubles draw as well. Chase, the team’s most experienced doubles player, was able to win his three matches at West Point with three separate partners. Brown, Krumholz, Faierman, Lu, and Hagermoser also picked up doubles wins at West Point to give the team momentum heading into the Regional Championships.
The Bulldogs have three doubles teams entered in the main draw. Seniors Chase and Dawson will combine for the most seasoned Yale pair. Brown and Hagermoser will play together and Lu and Svenning will make up an underclassman combination.
Apart from showcasing the best collegiate talent in the Northeast, the USTA/ITA Northeast Regional Championships will send its champion to the USTA/ITA Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, This tournament will feature top talent from across the country Nov. 7–10 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
The Bulldogs will first focus on the task at hand and look to turn in a solid showing at the Regional Championships. Brown, Chase, Svenning and Matt Saiontz ’15 all notched victories at the event last year.
“We have been working extremely hard on and off the court to prepare for regionals,” Krumholz said. “If everyone competes and executes well, the results should take care of themselves.”
The tournament begins tonight at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center.
MEN
After a slow start to the season, the Bulldogs have steadily improved over the past few tournaments. The Elis notched a particularly impressive performance at West Point two weeks ago, where they went 24–7 overall against the competition. Alex Hagermoser ’17, Tyler Lu ’17 and Zach Krumholz ’15 went undefeated in singles match play and Jason Brown ’16, Patrick Chase ’14 and Kyle Dawson ’14 won all of their doubles matches.
Lu is in the midst of a seven-match unbeaten streak in singles after winning his bracket at the Ivy Plus Invitational in late September. While his steady performance thus far has been a pleasant surprise for the team and coaching staff, Lu isn’t the only freshman who has played well. Hagermoser’s success at West Point adds to a fall season that includes a semifinal appearance at the Princeton-Farnsworth Invitational, while Photos Photiades ’17 also picked up wins at West Point after being forced to sit out the first tournament of the season because of NCAA eligibility regulations.
“Our freshmen continue to shine and we believe that they can continue their success this weekend,” Dawson said. “Tyler Lu has been playing especially well and we think he can continue that trend.”
Lu and Photiades will both feature as main draw entries for Yale this weekend, along with Dawson and Martin Svenning ’16. Lu’s success has earned him the ninth seed out of 16. Brown, Daniel Faierman ’15, Hagermoser and Krumholz start their qualifying matches Thursday night for a chance to join their teammates in the main draw.
The Bulldogs are in a good position for the doubles draw as well. Chase, the team’s most experienced doubles player, was able to win his three matches at West Point with three separate partners. Brown, Krumholz, Faierman, Lu, and Hagermoser also picked up doubles wins at West Point to give the team momentum heading into the Regional Championships.
The Bulldogs have three doubles teams entered in the main draw. Seniors Chase and Dawson will combine for the most seasoned Yale pair. Brown and Hagermoser will play together and Lu and Svenning will make up an underclassman combination.
Apart from showcasing the best collegiate talent in the Northeast, the USTA/ITA Northeast Regional Championships will send its champion to the USTA/ITA Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, This tournament will feature top talent from across the country Nov. 7–10 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
The Bulldogs will first focus on the task at hand and look to turn in a solid showing at the Regional Championships. Brown, Chase, Svenning and Matt Saiontz ’15 all notched victories at the event last year.
“We have been working extremely hard on and off the court to prepare for regionals,” Krumholz said. “If everyone competes and executes well, the results should take care of themselves.”
The tournament begins tonight at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center.
MEN
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Rene Simpson, a former player, coach and longtime captain of Canada's Fed Cup tennis team, has died. She was 47.
Simpson died Thursday in Chicago after a year-long battle with brain cancer, Tennis Canada said in a statement.
"We are extremely saddened and carry a heavy heart by the news of Rene's passing," said Hatem McDadi, Tennis Canada's vice-president of tennis development. "We have lost a very dear friend and member of our tennis family. Rene will be remembered for her courage, patriotic spirit, warmth and loyalty to friends and family. She has been an inspiration and a role model to friends, family and our current generation of female tennis players.
"Rene is dearly loved and will be missed. We extend our deepest condolences to Rene's family and friends including her husband Jason Collins, her parents Burt and Jane and her sisters Carol and Anne. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time."
As a player, Simpson reached a career high of No. 70 in April 1989 and advanced to the third round at the French Open that year. In doubles, she was ranked as high as No. 32, won three titles and was a US Open quarter-finalist.
Simpson was a regular player on Canada's Fed Cup team in the 1990s and recorded a 20-16 record in tournament play. She served as team captain from 2001 to 2009 and guided Canada to a World Group II berth in 2007.
WTA chairman and chief executive officer Stacey Allaster, a former Tennis Canada vice-president, issued a statement Thursday.
"Rene was a truly special person who touched the lives of so many in such a positive way," Allaster said. "A great champion on and off the court, she was an inspiration to generations of young Canadian girls who loved the sport of tennis and the competition like she did.
"Rene loved to win and she was incredibly proud of representing Canada on the WTA's world stage, and although she enjoyed a lot of success on the court her greatest accomplishment was living a full life and living the life she wanted to live."
Private memorial services will be held at a later date in both Chicago and Toronto.
"Today we are deeply saddened to lose our friend," Allaster said. "And although our WTA star has lost her fierce battle with cancer, her competitive, independent spirit will inspire us and our memories of Rene will continue to shine brightly.
"As a personal friend of Rene, and on behalf of Rene's former competitors and everyone in the WTA family, our hearts go out to her loving and supportive husband Jason, her parents, sisters and friends on this incredibly sad day."
Simpson was inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2011. She will be honoured by Tennis Canada during the upcoming World Group II first-round tie Feb. 8-9 against visiting Serbia.
Tennis world loses Canadian Rene Simpson to cancer - CBC Sports - Tennis
Simpson died Thursday in Chicago after a year-long battle with brain cancer, Tennis Canada said in a statement.
"We are extremely saddened and carry a heavy heart by the news of Rene's passing," said Hatem McDadi, Tennis Canada's vice-president of tennis development. "We have lost a very dear friend and member of our tennis family. Rene will be remembered for her courage, patriotic spirit, warmth and loyalty to friends and family. She has been an inspiration and a role model to friends, family and our current generation of female tennis players.
"Rene is dearly loved and will be missed. We extend our deepest condolences to Rene's family and friends including her husband Jason Collins, her parents Burt and Jane and her sisters Carol and Anne. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time."
As a player, Simpson reached a career high of No. 70 in April 1989 and advanced to the third round at the French Open that year. In doubles, she was ranked as high as No. 32, won three titles and was a US Open quarter-finalist.
Simpson was a regular player on Canada's Fed Cup team in the 1990s and recorded a 20-16 record in tournament play. She served as team captain from 2001 to 2009 and guided Canada to a World Group II berth in 2007.
WTA chairman and chief executive officer Stacey Allaster, a former Tennis Canada vice-president, issued a statement Thursday.
"Rene was a truly special person who touched the lives of so many in such a positive way," Allaster said. "A great champion on and off the court, she was an inspiration to generations of young Canadian girls who loved the sport of tennis and the competition like she did.
"Rene loved to win and she was incredibly proud of representing Canada on the WTA's world stage, and although she enjoyed a lot of success on the court her greatest accomplishment was living a full life and living the life she wanted to live."
Private memorial services will be held at a later date in both Chicago and Toronto.
"Today we are deeply saddened to lose our friend," Allaster said. "And although our WTA star has lost her fierce battle with cancer, her competitive, independent spirit will inspire us and our memories of Rene will continue to shine brightly.
"As a personal friend of Rene, and on behalf of Rene's former competitors and everyone in the WTA family, our hearts go out to her loving and supportive husband Jason, her parents, sisters and friends on this incredibly sad day."
Simpson was inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2011. She will be honoured by Tennis Canada during the upcoming World Group II first-round tie Feb. 8-9 against visiting Serbia.
Tennis world loses Canadian Rene Simpson to cancer - CBC Sports - Tennis
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In 1991, as the Connecticut Tennis Center in New Haven was getting ready to open, journalists got a tour of the joint from the executive director of the Tennis Foundation of Connecticut. Despite the fact that state taxpayers had sunk $18 million into the venue, it is owned by the foundation.
Courant sports columnist Owen Canfield described the young director as "a quick, earnest man" who admitted that it was hard in 1989 to persuade Gov. William A. O'Neill that the project would work. By '91, the economy had gone south. The director admitted the project would not have been greenlighted in that climate.
"Like any business, if you get through 1990, '91 and '92, you're going to do all right," said the young director, whose name was — wait for it — John DeStefano.
I know! Isn't that the cutest thing?
DeStefano went on to be mayor for 211 years, but the tennis center and its pro tournament became kind of a permanent drunk uncle, dropping by with its hand out and never quite delivering on any of its genial promises.
It was supposed to generate $10 million in economic activity for New Haven, but an early study showed the total amount of direct spending was $7 million, and 85 percent of that was spent right in the stadium. A 10 percent admission surcharge was supposed to help pay back the state, but after a few years, Drunk Uncle told the state it would go under if it couldn't keep that money.
By 1999, the men's side of the tournament had vamoosed and the stadium was so obviously a white elephant that Joe McGee, commissioner of economic development in the Weicker administration and a former booster of the tournament, told The New York Times: "'We can learn a lesson from what has happened. It shows that we have to hold sports operators to a much tighter standard in the future.''
That was 1999, when the tournament was pretty flush compared to now. This year, the final of the New Haven Open attracted a crowd of 3,993, which would be a decent crowd for a cockfight in the Philippines but doesn't look so good sprinkled across a 15,000-seat stadium, which is visible from outer space. Anyway, I think we all remember how it came out, right? Simona Halep upset Petra Kvitova 6-2, 6-2. You can't put a price on that kind of sports magic.
Oh wait. You can! The state is buying the tournament for $618,000. The same tournament that was so bad in 1999 that it was supposed to teach government a lesson! And then it got worse. And the lesson it taught us is that government should own it?
This is not a pet rabbit that gets sick and dies a couple of days after you bring it home. This is a bunny that is lying on its side in the pet store window while the other bunnies gather around and Father McCottontail pronounces last rites. This is the bunny we want to own!
The purchase is also a beautiful illustration of the Dunning-Kruger Effect, named after two psychology researchers who demonstrated a human cognitive bias in which people overrate their own competence and under-recognize their own inadequacies. This phenomenon is so rampant in government — especially right now — that it seems almost pointless to come up with a name for it.
State budget director Ben Barnes was quoted on the tennis site 10sBalls-com: "We are working on creating a management structure under which we are given a commensurate level of control of expenses of the tournament."
You are doing what?
You're a state budget director. You don't know how to run a tennis tournament. Even people who know how to run tennis tournaments don't know how to run this tennis tournament.
And yet, I have good news. There are many things we can do in this stadium that will draw far more than 3,993 people. A Tom Foley Demolition Derby would probably damage the surface, but how about a tennis match between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his nemesis, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie? I, as promoter, could sell 5,000 tickets. Unless I have Dunning-Kruger Syndrome.
Connecticut courts failure with purchase of New Haven tennis tournament - Courant-com
Courant sports columnist Owen Canfield described the young director as "a quick, earnest man" who admitted that it was hard in 1989 to persuade Gov. William A. O'Neill that the project would work. By '91, the economy had gone south. The director admitted the project would not have been greenlighted in that climate.
"Like any business, if you get through 1990, '91 and '92, you're going to do all right," said the young director, whose name was — wait for it — John DeStefano.
I know! Isn't that the cutest thing?
DeStefano went on to be mayor for 211 years, but the tennis center and its pro tournament became kind of a permanent drunk uncle, dropping by with its hand out and never quite delivering on any of its genial promises.
It was supposed to generate $10 million in economic activity for New Haven, but an early study showed the total amount of direct spending was $7 million, and 85 percent of that was spent right in the stadium. A 10 percent admission surcharge was supposed to help pay back the state, but after a few years, Drunk Uncle told the state it would go under if it couldn't keep that money.
By 1999, the men's side of the tournament had vamoosed and the stadium was so obviously a white elephant that Joe McGee, commissioner of economic development in the Weicker administration and a former booster of the tournament, told The New York Times: "'We can learn a lesson from what has happened. It shows that we have to hold sports operators to a much tighter standard in the future.''
That was 1999, when the tournament was pretty flush compared to now. This year, the final of the New Haven Open attracted a crowd of 3,993, which would be a decent crowd for a cockfight in the Philippines but doesn't look so good sprinkled across a 15,000-seat stadium, which is visible from outer space. Anyway, I think we all remember how it came out, right? Simona Halep upset Petra Kvitova 6-2, 6-2. You can't put a price on that kind of sports magic.
Oh wait. You can! The state is buying the tournament for $618,000. The same tournament that was so bad in 1999 that it was supposed to teach government a lesson! And then it got worse. And the lesson it taught us is that government should own it?
This is not a pet rabbit that gets sick and dies a couple of days after you bring it home. This is a bunny that is lying on its side in the pet store window while the other bunnies gather around and Father McCottontail pronounces last rites. This is the bunny we want to own!
The purchase is also a beautiful illustration of the Dunning-Kruger Effect, named after two psychology researchers who demonstrated a human cognitive bias in which people overrate their own competence and under-recognize their own inadequacies. This phenomenon is so rampant in government — especially right now — that it seems almost pointless to come up with a name for it.
State budget director Ben Barnes was quoted on the tennis site 10sBalls-com: "We are working on creating a management structure under which we are given a commensurate level of control of expenses of the tournament."
You are doing what?
You're a state budget director. You don't know how to run a tennis tournament. Even people who know how to run tennis tournaments don't know how to run this tennis tournament.
And yet, I have good news. There are many things we can do in this stadium that will draw far more than 3,993 people. A Tom Foley Demolition Derby would probably damage the surface, but how about a tennis match between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his nemesis, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie? I, as promoter, could sell 5,000 tickets. Unless I have Dunning-Kruger Syndrome.
Connecticut courts failure with purchase of New Haven tennis tournament - Courant-com
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Patra Sangpoompong was part of two wins for the No. 1 seed Penn State Behrend women's tennis team that defeated fourth-seeded Penn State Altoona 5-0 in an AMCC semifinal at Alpha Tennis and Fitness Center on Saturday.
Behrend (11-4 overall, 8-0 AMCC) swept the doubles portion of the event with wins of 8-4, 8-5 and 8-0. The Lions finished the sweep with straight-set wins in singles by Sangpoompong and Morgan Kramer.
Behrend will face the winner of Saturday night's match between Franciscan and Mount Aloysius.
Penn State Altoona finished its season with 7-7 and 5-3 records.
Behrend tennis tops Altoona in AMCCs | GoErie-com/Erie Times-News
Behrend (11-4 overall, 8-0 AMCC) swept the doubles portion of the event with wins of 8-4, 8-5 and 8-0. The Lions finished the sweep with straight-set wins in singles by Sangpoompong and Morgan Kramer.
Behrend will face the winner of Saturday night's match between Franciscan and Mount Aloysius.
Penn State Altoona finished its season with 7-7 and 5-3 records.
Behrend tennis tops Altoona in AMCCs | GoErie-com/Erie Times-News
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Current US Open Junior champion and FCMB sponsored Governor's Tennis championship, number six seed, Borna Coric from Croatia, on Saturday emerged as the winner of Futures One played at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Court, Onikan, Lagos.
The 16 years old junior tennis star defeated fifth seeded Ante Pavic also from Croatia in a two straight set of 6-4, 6-3 to win the $15, 000 prize money for the first leg of the competition.
Coric, a first time visitor to Lagos for the annual tournament, is the current World number one Junior player and won the last US Open junior championship held last month in Flushing Meadow in USA.
"Winning the Junior tournament of this year's US Open gave me the confidence that I could win the Governor's Cup. I worked hard and my hard work paid for me. I'm so glad that I came to Lagos as a player on number 525 in the world ranking, but winning this leg has improved my ranking to 400. This is a great leap.
"I'm looking forward to the second leg with high expectation of winning it," he said after the presentation.
In the Women's singles, top seed, Tadeja Majeric of Slovenia, defeated 8th seed Dalila Jakupovic of Slovakia in straight set of 7-5,7-5 to win the $25.000 prize money of Futures one.
Meanwhile, the final leg of the tournament starts today and spectators that come to match venue from Sunday the 20th to Friday 26th October, to watch exciting matches at the Tennis Championship will have the chances of winning Gionee smartphones, some products of Lifemate Furnitures.
The Local Organising Committee, LOC, in conjunction with some sponsors of the tournament, have decided to reward fans who come to the venue, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, to watch matches at the Governor's Cup, which Futures 2 Main Draws serve off yesterday with qualifications. According to the LOC, the spectators are to be rewarded through draws and predict and win exercises.
To be a winner, a spectator must have come to the venue at least three match days.
"Spectators are expected to pick up free entry ticket booklets at the gate of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and other designated distribution points. On every match day, fans will present their retained ticket copy part booklet at the gate where these would be stamped and automatically numbered, enabling records of appearances on a data base. Detached stumps will be used for the draws," said the Tournament Director, Wale Oladunjoye.
Coric Rules FCMB Governor's Tennis Futures One, Articles | THISDAY LIVE
The 16 years old junior tennis star defeated fifth seeded Ante Pavic also from Croatia in a two straight set of 6-4, 6-3 to win the $15, 000 prize money for the first leg of the competition.
Coric, a first time visitor to Lagos for the annual tournament, is the current World number one Junior player and won the last US Open junior championship held last month in Flushing Meadow in USA.
"Winning the Junior tournament of this year's US Open gave me the confidence that I could win the Governor's Cup. I worked hard and my hard work paid for me. I'm so glad that I came to Lagos as a player on number 525 in the world ranking, but winning this leg has improved my ranking to 400. This is a great leap.
"I'm looking forward to the second leg with high expectation of winning it," he said after the presentation.
In the Women's singles, top seed, Tadeja Majeric of Slovenia, defeated 8th seed Dalila Jakupovic of Slovakia in straight set of 7-5,7-5 to win the $25.000 prize money of Futures one.
Meanwhile, the final leg of the tournament starts today and spectators that come to match venue from Sunday the 20th to Friday 26th October, to watch exciting matches at the Tennis Championship will have the chances of winning Gionee smartphones, some products of Lifemate Furnitures.
The Local Organising Committee, LOC, in conjunction with some sponsors of the tournament, have decided to reward fans who come to the venue, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, to watch matches at the Governor's Cup, which Futures 2 Main Draws serve off yesterday with qualifications. According to the LOC, the spectators are to be rewarded through draws and predict and win exercises.
To be a winner, a spectator must have come to the venue at least three match days.
"Spectators are expected to pick up free entry ticket booklets at the gate of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and other designated distribution points. On every match day, fans will present their retained ticket copy part booklet at the gate where these would be stamped and automatically numbered, enabling records of appearances on a data base. Detached stumps will be used for the draws," said the Tournament Director, Wale Oladunjoye.
Coric Rules FCMB Governor's Tennis Futures One, Articles | THISDAY LIVE
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Serena Williams wants to seal her best-ever year by winning the WTA Championships, which start today.
At 32, the American has won more titles and more matches in 2013 than any other season.
It would be a surprise if she did not retain her WTA title in Istanbul, which features the best eight women players of the year.
She said: "When I was 20 or 18 I never thought I'd be playing at this stage and I have had a lot of time to think about it.
"I never thought I would have one of my best years this year, but I always just try to keep doing better.
"I'm still looking to improve and what I learned most about this year is I have a lot of room for improvement.
"And talking with my coach Patrick Mouratoglou, I'm so excited for next year just to take my game to a new level."
Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk Serena Williams hoping to seal her best year in tennis by retaining WTA title in Turkey - Mirror Online
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At 32, the American has won more titles and more matches in 2013 than any other season.
It would be a surprise if she did not retain her WTA title in Istanbul, which features the best eight women players of the year.
She said: "When I was 20 or 18 I never thought I'd be playing at this stage and I have had a lot of time to think about it.
"I never thought I would have one of my best years this year, but I always just try to keep doing better.
"I'm still looking to improve and what I learned most about this year is I have a lot of room for improvement.
"And talking with my coach Patrick Mouratoglou, I'm so excited for next year just to take my game to a new level."
Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk Serena Williams hoping to seal her best year in tennis by retaining WTA title in Turkey - Mirror Online
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If there was any doubt that a certain amount of order has returned to the women's game, the field at this week's WTA year-end championships in Istanbul should settle the issue.
Seven of the eight players taking part are the same as last year -- Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Agnieszka Radwanska, Li Na, Sara Errani, Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber. Since the participants qualify based on their results during the season, it means the upper ranks of the WTA have now looked very similar for two years running.
The only player in the draw who wasn't there a year ago, former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, is also hardly a rookie. She qualified for the event four times between 2007 and 2010 and is back after reversing two years of declining results. So there are no first-timers this year, the only time apart from 2006 that has happened in the 41-year history of the event.
Like Jankovic, most of this year's crew are established names who have made it to the round-robin event multiple times. Errani and Kerber are the only ones who have played just once before, both making their first appearance last year. And even Kerber only got in when Maria Sharapova's injury withdrawal opened up another spot in the field.
In keeping with the general aging trend on the tour, they also tend to skew older. The average age of those taking part is about 27, ranging from 23-year-olds Azarenka and Kvitova to 30-somethings Li and Williams. That's a long way from the days when most of the players would be in their early 20s. Martina Hingis had already won the tournament twice and announced her first retirement before she was the age Azarenka and Kvitova are now.
In this context, it's no surprise that Williams is coming in as the heavy favorite -- the oldest, most experienced and familiar of all. The top seed and defending champion made her first appearance 14 years ago but has a rather unpredictable record at the year-end event. She has qualified 11 times, played seven times and completed the tournament without withdrawing just five times. But in those five finishes, she has won the title three times and reached the final twice. And expectations have never been higher than this year because it is perhaps the most consistent season of her career, with 10 titles and two finals in 14 events.
Williams has a 48-10 record against the rest of the field, and Azarenka is the only player in the field who has beaten her this year. The two can't meet till the final, so getting injured or overwrought is likely to be the biggest threat to Williams over the first few days.
Second-seeded Azarenka, the Australian Open champion, probably remains the second favorite, though she's coming off two first-round losses. She's playing not only for her first year-end crown, but to reinforce her position as the biggest threat to Williams, having beaten her twice this year and taken her to three sets in a Grand Slam final.
Apart from Williams, however, it's players like Kvitova, Jankovic and Kerber, at the lower end of the field, who have been making a mark in the past few weeks. They could be dangerous in the round-robin portion of the tournament, and Kvitova has a shot at the whole thing if she can sustain her best play over the week.
That's a big if, because since winning Wimbledon in 2011, Kvitova has only managed to play well in stretches. But she may be in the midst of one of those. In the last four weeks, she has taken the title in Tokyo and then reached the Beijing semifinals. Beating Williams has been her sticking point, but she won the year-end event in 2011 and knows what it takes.
After sneaking into the field just a couple of weeks ago, Kerber calls herself an "underdog" but one with "nothing to lose." She has surged in the past few weeks after a nondescript year, reaching the semifinals in Tokyo and winning Linz. While fatigue could be a concern, her steady hitting means the bigger names won't want to have a bad day against her.
But it won't be easy for either Kvitova or Kerber. They not only have Williams in their round-robin grouping but also Radwanska, who is a bit of an unknown quantity coming into this event. Her subtle, varied game can hang with the big hitters in this field, but as usual, she's played up a storm this year and often been tired or injured at the big events. Let's see if two weeks' rest coming in helps.
Jankovic is in what looks like a slightly easier round-robin grouping that contains Azarenka, Li and Errani, and the Serb could use a bit of breathing room. After drifting out of the top 20 last year, the Serb has rediscovered the sting in her counterpunching game and is ready to resume her pleasing battles against the big hitters. But as she confided at the US Open, she is no longer as confident at big moments in a match.
The player who looks the most vulnerable in the whole tournament is Errani. The Italian had her best results during the opening half of the season and on clay, and it would be a surprise if she wins more than one round-robin match.
Li is likely to be a strong contender in that group and has been having decent success with attacking the net more, as her coach Carlos Rodriguez suggests. But that's also a difficult transition to make at this stage of her career, and she still finds it hard to manage her emotions in big matches like the US Open semifinal against Williams or in front of the local crowds in Beijing.
Unlike many previous years when injuries and exhaustion were the main feature, the players seem to have a little left in reserve as they head into the latest WTA TEB BNP Paribas Championships, which is also the last in front of the big crowds in Istanbul before the event moves to Singapore next year.
But though the field is a strong one, it's Williams, Azarenka and the missing Sharapova who have dominated most of the big events this season. Victory by anyone else this week would mean not only winning the title, but also creating a little disr
Seven of the eight players taking part are the same as last year -- Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Agnieszka Radwanska, Li Na, Sara Errani, Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber. Since the participants qualify based on their results during the season, it means the upper ranks of the WTA have now looked very similar for two years running.
The only player in the draw who wasn't there a year ago, former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, is also hardly a rookie. She qualified for the event four times between 2007 and 2010 and is back after reversing two years of declining results. So there are no first-timers this year, the only time apart from 2006 that has happened in the 41-year history of the event.
Like Jankovic, most of this year's crew are established names who have made it to the round-robin event multiple times. Errani and Kerber are the only ones who have played just once before, both making their first appearance last year. And even Kerber only got in when Maria Sharapova's injury withdrawal opened up another spot in the field.
In keeping with the general aging trend on the tour, they also tend to skew older. The average age of those taking part is about 27, ranging from 23-year-olds Azarenka and Kvitova to 30-somethings Li and Williams. That's a long way from the days when most of the players would be in their early 20s. Martina Hingis had already won the tournament twice and announced her first retirement before she was the age Azarenka and Kvitova are now.
In this context, it's no surprise that Williams is coming in as the heavy favorite -- the oldest, most experienced and familiar of all. The top seed and defending champion made her first appearance 14 years ago but has a rather unpredictable record at the year-end event. She has qualified 11 times, played seven times and completed the tournament without withdrawing just five times. But in those five finishes, she has won the title three times and reached the final twice. And expectations have never been higher than this year because it is perhaps the most consistent season of her career, with 10 titles and two finals in 14 events.
Williams has a 48-10 record against the rest of the field, and Azarenka is the only player in the field who has beaten her this year. The two can't meet till the final, so getting injured or overwrought is likely to be the biggest threat to Williams over the first few days.
Second-seeded Azarenka, the Australian Open champion, probably remains the second favorite, though she's coming off two first-round losses. She's playing not only for her first year-end crown, but to reinforce her position as the biggest threat to Williams, having beaten her twice this year and taken her to three sets in a Grand Slam final.
Apart from Williams, however, it's players like Kvitova, Jankovic and Kerber, at the lower end of the field, who have been making a mark in the past few weeks. They could be dangerous in the round-robin portion of the tournament, and Kvitova has a shot at the whole thing if she can sustain her best play over the week.
That's a big if, because since winning Wimbledon in 2011, Kvitova has only managed to play well in stretches. But she may be in the midst of one of those. In the last four weeks, she has taken the title in Tokyo and then reached the Beijing semifinals. Beating Williams has been her sticking point, but she won the year-end event in 2011 and knows what it takes.
After sneaking into the field just a couple of weeks ago, Kerber calls herself an "underdog" but one with "nothing to lose." She has surged in the past few weeks after a nondescript year, reaching the semifinals in Tokyo and winning Linz. While fatigue could be a concern, her steady hitting means the bigger names won't want to have a bad day against her.
But it won't be easy for either Kvitova or Kerber. They not only have Williams in their round-robin grouping but also Radwanska, who is a bit of an unknown quantity coming into this event. Her subtle, varied game can hang with the big hitters in this field, but as usual, she's played up a storm this year and often been tired or injured at the big events. Let's see if two weeks' rest coming in helps.
Jankovic is in what looks like a slightly easier round-robin grouping that contains Azarenka, Li and Errani, and the Serb could use a bit of breathing room. After drifting out of the top 20 last year, the Serb has rediscovered the sting in her counterpunching game and is ready to resume her pleasing battles against the big hitters. But as she confided at the US Open, she is no longer as confident at big moments in a match.
The player who looks the most vulnerable in the whole tournament is Errani. The Italian had her best results during the opening half of the season and on clay, and it would be a surprise if she wins more than one round-robin match.
Li is likely to be a strong contender in that group and has been having decent success with attacking the net more, as her coach Carlos Rodriguez suggests. But that's also a difficult transition to make at this stage of her career, and she still finds it hard to manage her emotions in big matches like the US Open semifinal against Williams or in front of the local crowds in Beijing.
Unlike many previous years when injuries and exhaustion were the main feature, the players seem to have a little left in reserve as they head into the latest WTA TEB BNP Paribas Championships, which is also the last in front of the big crowds in Istanbul before the event moves to Singapore next year.
But though the field is a strong one, it's Williams, Azarenka and the missing Sharapova who have dominated most of the big events this season. Victory by anyone else this week would mean not only winning the title, but also creating a little disr
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WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Serena and Victoria do it in their own way in Istanbul
SERENA Williams and her nearest rival Victoria Azarenka differed in opinion and quality of performance in taking first steps towards a much hoped-for meeting in Sunday's final at the WTA Championships on Tuesday.
Serena crushed one of the few women to have beaten her in the last 15 months as she began her defence of the title with a speedily impressive win.
The World No 1 took little more than an hour to win 6-3, 6-1 against Angelique Kerber, the German who beat her in Cincinnati last year but who was now outplayed from the moment she dropped serve in her opening service game.
By contrast Victoria, appeared uncertain and care-worn, was far from consistent, and might easily have lost the first set during her 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 survival against Sara Errani, the sixth-seeded Italian.
The Belarussian found it hard to force the pace and confirmed the impression of poor health given during her disappointing performances in Beijing and Tokyo. Improvement only came after squeezing through the first set tie-break.
Victoria was also ambivalent about the surface. "You know I think the court is pretty rough, I would have to say," she said frankly. "It's a little bit slow. But that's what we have. I think you know I can't really find excuses or something," she then rapidly qualified the remark.
"If the surface can be a little bit better because it's tough on the body, maybe yeah -- but I think it's the last year," she said, referring to the WTA Championships moving to Singapore next year.
Serena could hardly have thought more differently. "Well you know me -- you cannot ask me these questions. I will say it's fast when everyone else says it's slow," she said with nice irony.
For the court to be of optimum speed it should "maybe to be faster than what it is," Serena half-agreed with Victoria. "But I like slow surfaces, so you know, I like grass, so it doesn't matter for me," she added, appearing to offer further contradiction by suggesting grass was slow.
Victoria's difficulties also derived, she suggested, from having taken a break after a disappointing Asian swing and then returning to action in a tournament where you meet top players from the first match.
It was hard to make these adaptations during a match, Victoria admitted, but she was helped a little by Sara, who appeared to suffer a calf injury in the second set, and gradually lost rhythm and confidence.
However the World No 2 may need to improve if she is to win a group which includes Li Na, China's player whom Victoria only narrowly beat in the final of the Australian Open at the start of the year.
Whatever the merits of the court Serena served superbly and generated a withering power off the ground, suggesting she is as far ahead of the field as she has ever been.
Neither did Petra Kvitova appear to be too bothered by the court's slowness. The 2011 champion from the Czech republic flat-hit her way to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Agnieszka Radwanska, the third-seeded former Wimbledon finalist from Poland, and now looks well placed to qualify for the semi-finals from the Red Group along with Serena.
Read more: TENNIS: Different strokes! - Other - New Straits Times TENNIS: Different strokes! - Other - New Straits Times
SERENA Williams and her nearest rival Victoria Azarenka differed in opinion and quality of performance in taking first steps towards a much hoped-for meeting in Sunday's final at the WTA Championships on Tuesday.
Serena crushed one of the few women to have beaten her in the last 15 months as she began her defence of the title with a speedily impressive win.
The World No 1 took little more than an hour to win 6-3, 6-1 against Angelique Kerber, the German who beat her in Cincinnati last year but who was now outplayed from the moment she dropped serve in her opening service game.
By contrast Victoria, appeared uncertain and care-worn, was far from consistent, and might easily have lost the first set during her 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 survival against Sara Errani, the sixth-seeded Italian.
The Belarussian found it hard to force the pace and confirmed the impression of poor health given during her disappointing performances in Beijing and Tokyo. Improvement only came after squeezing through the first set tie-break.
Victoria was also ambivalent about the surface. "You know I think the court is pretty rough, I would have to say," she said frankly. "It's a little bit slow. But that's what we have. I think you know I can't really find excuses or something," she then rapidly qualified the remark.
"If the surface can be a little bit better because it's tough on the body, maybe yeah -- but I think it's the last year," she said, referring to the WTA Championships moving to Singapore next year.
Serena could hardly have thought more differently. "Well you know me -- you cannot ask me these questions. I will say it's fast when everyone else says it's slow," she said with nice irony.
For the court to be of optimum speed it should "maybe to be faster than what it is," Serena half-agreed with Victoria. "But I like slow surfaces, so you know, I like grass, so it doesn't matter for me," she added, appearing to offer further contradiction by suggesting grass was slow.
Victoria's difficulties also derived, she suggested, from having taken a break after a disappointing Asian swing and then returning to action in a tournament where you meet top players from the first match.
It was hard to make these adaptations during a match, Victoria admitted, but she was helped a little by Sara, who appeared to suffer a calf injury in the second set, and gradually lost rhythm and confidence.
However the World No 2 may need to improve if she is to win a group which includes Li Na, China's player whom Victoria only narrowly beat in the final of the Australian Open at the start of the year.
Whatever the merits of the court Serena served superbly and generated a withering power off the ground, suggesting she is as far ahead of the field as she has ever been.
Neither did Petra Kvitova appear to be too bothered by the court's slowness. The 2011 champion from the Czech republic flat-hit her way to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Agnieszka Radwanska, the third-seeded former Wimbledon finalist from Poland, and now looks well placed to qualify for the semi-finals from the Red Group along with Serena.
Read more: TENNIS: Different strokes! - Other - New Straits Times TENNIS: Different strokes! - Other - New Straits Times
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For the Win's Chris Chase spotted an oddly captivating video that features Serena Williams absolutely destroying her tennis racket and then tossing it aside like the useless refuse it proved to be.
As Chase notes, the racket smash comes at the end of a grueling three-match set against Liezel Huber and Chan Hao-Ching in Beijing.
A pivotal double fault gave Huber and Hao-Ching the win, and it produced a wonderful moment for tennis fans to sit back and enjoy what happens to a racket that dares to defy Williams.
Venus Williams, who has seen this kind of tirade before, isn't fazed in the slightest and goes to greet her sister with the embers of an annihilated racket presumably smoking in the background.
It isn't all bad, because ESPN reports Williams has moved along smoothly in singles competition at the China Open, beating Francesca Schiavone, 6-4, 7-5, in second-round play.
Unfortunately, there were no reports of rackets brutally discarded from that match.
Oddly, the best part of the video has to be the complete shift in attitude. Williams gets the frustration out of her system and then goes to greet the competition with a a classy hug and genuine smile.
Anyone who has played sports long enough has tossed a bat or thrown a helmet down in disgust. That frustration usually remains for quite some time afterward.
Aspiring athletes, take notes from one of the best. Smash and then move on with your lives.
Actually, belay that order, because Williams has the benefit of a near-infinite supply of luxury rackets to use, abuse and destroy.
It might be best to just count to 10, because it will prove to be far less expensive.
Serena Williams' Tennis Racket Didn't Survive Her Double Fault to End Match | Bleacher Report