WELSH sporting chiefs have joined forces to congratulate Dai Greene on his World Championship success.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Sharapova lifts a level to reach third round
Maria Sharapova shifted into a higher gear today as she overwhelmed unseeded Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus with the loss of just two games to surge into the third round of the US Open.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Nick's Picks: 2011 U.S. Open, Day 3
Each day during the 2011 U.S. Open, coach Nick Bollettieri will discuss three of the most intriguing matches on the schedule and offer his predictions.
John Isner [28] vs. Marcos Baghdatis (Louis Armstrong Stadium, fourth match)
This will be the fourth meeting between these two and, incredibly, the third in just the last few weeks. Isner beat Baghdatis in Canada and Winston-Salem, and will now play him again! With those wins under his belt and the crowd behind him, I have to give the edge to Isner. The biggest concern I have is if this match goes deep into a fourth or fifth set, Baghdatis becomes a tougher out. He is great at hanging in there and with a big serve and forehand, he is dangerous. But I look for Isner to advance.
Nick?s Pick: Isner in four sets.
***
Sabine Lisicki [22] vs. Venus Williams (Arthur Ashe Stadium, third match)
Lisicki advanced on Tuesday with a relatively easy win over Alona Bondarenko and comes into this tournament full of confidence. She just won the WTA event in Dallas last week and has had an excellent summer, which included a run to the semis at Wimbledon.
There were questions as to whether or not Venus was going to play in this tournament at all, and she looked a bit shaky in her first-round win. It was good for her to get that out of the way, though, and I saw her practicing and she looked to be in good shape.
When the draw first came out, this was a match that I had my eye on. These two have met twice before and have split those matches. We all know what Venus is capable of when healthy, but she hasn?t played very much tennis in 2011 and for that reason there is a big question mark hanging over her. In her first match, she displayed a good backhand, her movement was excellent, she came forward and seemed comfortable at the net, but her forehand and serve were a little tentative. When her serve is on, it is one of the best in the game, but I don?t know right now where she is at health-wise.
Lisicki played well in her win over Bondarenko. She had a few too many unforced errors and double faults, but that is how she plays. She goes for it all on every shot, and that has been a successful recipe for her thus far in 2011. If Venus tries to slug it out from the baseline, I have to give the edge to Lisicki. Venus must try and come in and force the issue a bit. This is going to be a big test for both girls.
Nick?s Pick: I have to give a slight edge to Lisicki because she is healthier, but this is going to be a great match!
***
Andy Roddick [21] vs. Michael Russell (Arthur Ashe Stadium, first night match)
Roddick is 1-0 against Russell, but that match was back in 2002 on clay and much has changed since then. For years, Roddick had the biggest serve in the game and it was one of the most feared shots in tennis. That is certainly not the case anymore as all the top guys seem to serve big and have the big forehand to go with it. That used to be Roddick?s bread-and-butter and it won him many titles, including the U.S. Open.
Against Russell, Roddick cannot fall 6-8 feet behind the baseline. He needs to step in and take the ball early and win quick points. Russell is a scrapper and will fight Roddick for every point. Roddick should advance in straight sets, but it will be interesting to see how he handles Russell.
Nick?s Pick: Roddick in three sets
Nick Bollettieri of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/oDtbJoMtKjk/
Belgian players ask court to end doping probe
Belgian tennis players Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse have appealed to Switzerland's supreme court to end a two-year investigation into whether they broke anti-doping rules.
Athletics: Welsh chiefs praise Dai Greene
WELSH sporting chiefs have joined forces to congratulate Dai Greene on his World Championship success.
Greek PM Papandreou rules out snap elections
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou Saturday ruled out snap elections and said his government would succeed in bringing Greece out of the crisis by the end of his term in 2013. 
Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/topNews/~3/zaNS9G5URwk/us-greece-pm-idUSTRE7820T920110903
Tipsaveric advances after injured Berdych retires
NEW YORK (AP) -- Janko Tipsarevic advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. Open when ninth-seeded Tomas Berdych retired in the second set Saturday.
Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/si_tennis/~3/s3Uv2BttKRY/index.html
In throes of injury, Nadal weighed move to golf
Devastated and "without appetite for life," Rafael Nadal contemplated a move into professional golf after a career-threatening injury sidelined him, the 10-time Grand Slam champion writes in his autobiography.
Andy Murray plays Indian at US
Andy Murray will play India's Somdev Devvarman in the first round of the US Open, with Rafael Nadal again a potential semi-final opponent.
Jim Courier Blog: Training for the Champions Series
It?s a little over six weeks until we get started on the 2011 Champions Series, which means it is time for some serious training for yours truly. I just took a two-week vacation where I didn?t touch a racquet, and now I?m starting from ground zero to build my body and game back up again for the tournaments.
So how will I get ready? It's a question I get a lot, so I thought I?d answer it here in the hope that I don?t have to answer it elsewhere! I train in a similar fashion to how I trained when I was playing full-time on the ATP tour. I need to train for my worst case scenario for any given day, which used to be five-setters but is now a little over two sets (we will play a one-set semi-final and an eight-game pro-set at each of the one-night Champions Series tournaments this fall). So I basically do a pro-rata version of what I used to do, i.e. about 40 percent as much time and repetition. My body is not capable of taking the same type of pounding that it once did, but it can still do pretty well for a good amount of time, and I find that my body likes it when I push it to the limit every now and then.
Here?s what a typical week of training will look like for the next five weeks or so. I will taper off the last week as I get ready to play, losing the track work and focusing more on speed and agility.
1. Play tennis four times a week for 90 minutes each time (mostly playing sets/baseline games). I don?t do two-a-days anymore?
2. Hit the weight room (two to three times a week for one hour) to keep toned, not to bulk up
3. Hit the track for some sprint work (50?s, 100?s, 200?s) (once a week for about 20 minutes of intervals)
4. Do on-court foot drills for agility (once a week for about 20 minutes)
5. Stretch (daily)
6. Get massage once a week
While doing the prep work I?ll also be doing my other jobs, like my full-time day job at InsideOut Sports as well as a little U.S. Open TV for CBS, and of course watching the Americans closely at the Open in my role as Davis Cup Captain. It?s going to be a full plate but let it be said that I will not be bored!
Feel free to send in any questions about my training (or anything else) to our twitter page at @cs_tennis or via the Champions Series website in the fanzone Q&A section and I?ll be sure to answer them.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/NKSeGA29m7Q/
Friday, September 2, 2011
Nadal advances when injured Mahut stops (AP)
Defending champion Rafael Nadal reached the U.S. Open's third round when Nicolas Mahut stopped playing because of an abdominal muscle injury while trailing 6-2, 6-2. After needing nearly three hours to get through his first match, Nadal dominated the 99th-ranked Mahut, a Frenchman best known for losing the longest match in tennis history, 70-68 in the fifth set.
The Pragmatic Champion: What's next for Federer
One can?t easily accuse Roger Federer of having delusions of grandeur. He owns more major singles titles (16) than any man in history. He?s fabulously wealthy. He rarely gets injured. He?s happily married with two children. Put Federer up against some of the world?s most influential, and luckiest, people and one would still say the former world No. 1 has lived a charmed life in comparison.
Federer is still convinced that there are more accomplishments, even major ones, ahead. As he prepared to travel to Montreal for the start of the summer hard court swing and his 30th birthday, Federer spoke to reporters from Switzerland, where he has trained for the last few weeks.
?I think I?m really close to making something special happen,? he said. ?I haven?t been thinking too much of what?s been happening. I?m more looking forward to what?s hopefully to come.?
For Federer, what has happened for most of 2010 and all of 2011 are late-round losses. He hasn?t won a major title since the 2010 Australian Open and now finds himself ranked behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, two younger and more confident stars. At Wimbledon, he squandered a two-sets-to-love lead at a Slam for the first time in his career. He hasn?t won the U.S. Open since 2008, when he won the last of five straight titles.
So is Federer talking a big game, deluded, or honestly at ease with his chances at this year?s U.S. Open and in future majors? I?ll go with the latter?because he should be.
Djokovic and Nadal are both better than Federer right now. They?re younger, faster, steadier and less likely to make strings of errors with one stroke, as Federer sometimes does with his backhand. Federer can serve better than either of them and has more options to attack, but he can?t out-defend them and defense, in today?s hyper-athletic tennis, usually prevails.
Still, I can?t recall a 30-year-old in the Open Era who had more going for him than Federer. His health has been remarkable over the years, thanks to a strict training regimen and a carefully planned schedule (not to mention the gene that gave him grace). He still likes to travel and doesn?t sound burned out or frustrated by the sport: As Federer put it, ?the mind is there.?
Now consider the case of Andre Agassi. At 30, Agassi had been both high and low, content and fed up, dedicated and lazy. He never moved as well as Federer and didn?t have as many weapons. Through persistent training, he won two major titles in his 30s and reached two other finals, including one against Federer at the U.S. Open (Agassi, a heavy underdog, played Federer more closely than people expected before losing in four sets).
Agassi?s greatest asset in those years was pragmatism, and that?s how the soon-to-be 30-year-old Federer sounds to me. Work hard. Enjoy it. Concentrate. Get to the later rounds?and then hope that things break your way. Maybe a younger, fitter player on a long winning streak gets tight, as Djokovic did at this year?s French Open. Maybe someone gets injured. Maybe the draw implodes and you play Rainer Schuettler in a major final. These and many other things can happen in tennis, and if a player is good enough to stay alive in a tournament until they do, the result might well be a title.
?I?m at peace with myself,? Federer said. ?I know my abilities. I don?t want to say I?m overconfident, but I also know what I can do and I also know, how do you say, my limits. Hopefully that allows me to play the best tennis I can each day.?
It?s a philosophy that has worked in the past?and it can work again.
Tom Perrotta is an editor-at-large at TENNIS. Follow him on Twitter.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/-WwVkjh0Z3E/
American Young bounces No. 14 seed Wawrinka
American Donald Young eliminated 14th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka, winning 7-6, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 after a fifth-set tiebreaker Friday to advance to the third round of the U.S. Open.
2010 Guide to Camps & Clinics
Whether you are a weekend tennis arrior at the local club, or a junior with aspirations to be the next college tennis star, your quest to improve your game is endless. That's why you read TENNIS Magazine and why we have compiled the following list of 40+ tennis camps for Summer 2010. Find the camp that's right for you and sign up today!
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/Tenniscom-Travel/~3/cfOW2MlqKTs/
John McEnroe: Hungry Andy Murray can rock Novak Djokovic
John Mcenroe reckons hungry Andy Murray can feed off the energy of the crazy New York crowd at the US Open.
Washington Kastles win WTT title in 16-0 season
CHARLESTON, S.C. (July 24, 2011) -- It took nearly eight hours through three rain delays, but the Washington Kastles finally made World TeamTennis history by winning the WTT Championship and completing the first undefeated 16-0 record in WTT's 36 seasons. The Kastles overpowered the St. Louis Aces 23-19 at the WTT Finals presented by GEICO on Sunday evening at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C.
Slowed by the first rain delay shortly after the 5 p.m. match start time, it took more than three hours for St. Louis to win the opening set of mixed doubles, 5-3. The Aces, led by Jean-Julien Rojer and 2011 Female MVP Liezel Huber, won 72% of their first service points in a tight battle with Male MVP Leander Paes and Rennae Stubbs.
Stubbs and Rodionova upended Huber and Tamira Paszek in women's doubles, 5-0, to give the Kastles a 8-5 lead after the second set. The Kastles continued to roll in men's doubles, powering past Rojer and Roman Borvanov 5-2.
Rodionova (pictured to the right with Coach Murphy Jensen), who was named MVP of the WTT Finals, took control in women's singles and edged Paszek to push the Kastles lead to seven games heading into the final set. St. Louis staged an impressive rally in men's singles with Borvanov holding off Reynolds 5-4 to send the match into Overtime. Borvanov won the first three games in Overtime to close the gap to 22-19 before Reynolds held serve to close out the historic victory just after 1 a.m.
Rennae Stubbs also made history by becoming only the fourth player in WTT history to be on five Championship teams. Kastles co-captain Stubbs joins an elite list of 5-time WTT Champions - Martina Navratilova; Richie Reneberg; and Craig Kardon (as coach).
The Kastles finished the season with a 16-0 mark, while the Western Conference Champion St. Louis Aces finished at 9-7.
For more on WTT, visit WTT.com.
FINAL RESULTS
WTT Finals presented by GEICO - Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C.
WASHINGTON KASTLES def. St Louis Aces 23-19 (OT)
Mixed Doubles: Liezel Huber/Jean-Julien Rojer (STL) def. Rennae Stubbs/Leander Paes (WAS) 5-3
Women's Doubles: Rennae Stubbs/Arina Rodionova (WAS) def. Liezel Huber/Tamira Paszek (STL) 5-0
Men's Doubles: Leander Paes/Bobby Reynolds (WAS) def. Jean-Julien Rojer/Roman Borvanov (STL) 5-2
Women's Singles: Arina Rodionova (WAS) def. Tamira Paszek (STL) 5-4
Men's Singles: Roman Borvanov (STL) def. Bobby Reynolds (WAS) 5-4
Overtime: Roman Borvanov (STL) - 3, Bobby Reynolds (WAS) 1
Originally published on WTT.com
Slowed by the first rain delay shortly after the 5 p.m. match start time, it took more than three hours for St. Louis to win the opening set of mixed doubles, 5-3. The Aces, led by Jean-Julien Rojer and 2011 Female MVP Liezel Huber, won 72% of their first service points in a tight battle with Male MVP Leander Paes and Rennae Stubbs.
Stubbs and Rodionova upended Huber and Tamira Paszek in women's doubles, 5-0, to give the Kastles a 8-5 lead after the second set. The Kastles continued to roll in men's doubles, powering past Rojer and Roman Borvanov 5-2.
Rodionova (pictured to the right with Coach Murphy Jensen), who was named MVP of the WTT Finals, took control in women's singles and edged Paszek to push the Kastles lead to seven games heading into the final set. St. Louis staged an impressive rally in men's singles with Borvanov holding off Reynolds 5-4 to send the match into Overtime. Borvanov won the first three games in Overtime to close the gap to 22-19 before Reynolds held serve to close out the historic victory just after 1 a.m.
Rennae Stubbs also made history by becoming only the fourth player in WTT history to be on five Championship teams. Kastles co-captain Stubbs joins an elite list of 5-time WTT Champions - Martina Navratilova; Richie Reneberg; and Craig Kardon (as coach).
The Kastles finished the season with a 16-0 mark, while the Western Conference Champion St. Louis Aces finished at 9-7.
For more on WTT, visit WTT.com.
FINAL RESULTS
WTT Finals presented by GEICO - Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C.
WASHINGTON KASTLES def. St Louis Aces 23-19 (OT)
Mixed Doubles: Liezel Huber/Jean-Julien Rojer (STL) def. Rennae Stubbs/Leander Paes (WAS) 5-3
Women's Doubles: Rennae Stubbs/Arina Rodionova (WAS) def. Liezel Huber/Tamira Paszek (STL) 5-0
Men's Doubles: Leander Paes/Bobby Reynolds (WAS) def. Jean-Julien Rojer/Roman Borvanov (STL) 5-2
Women's Singles: Arina Rodionova (WAS) def. Tamira Paszek (STL) 5-4
Men's Singles: Roman Borvanov (STL) def. Bobby Reynolds (WAS) 5-4
Overtime: Roman Borvanov (STL) - 3, Bobby Reynolds (WAS) 1
Photos: Camerawork USA
Originally published on WTT.com
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/HTHmdzpYadg/
Tennis Talk: Q&A with Venus Williams
MASON, Ohio?Hours before main draw matches began at the Western & Southern Open, noise and people and hope filled the players lounge. Bernard Tomic walked through a side door with racquets in tow and, across the big, busy room, Igor Andreev typed away at a computer. Sitting on a couch in a quiet corner, or perhaps it seemed so because of its current occupant, was seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams. She looked as regal as you?d expect and possessed legs longer than you figured. Her dog Harold sat next to her, his head sticking out of the black handbag that held the rest of him. He sniffed the voice recorder at the start of the interview, and at the end, upon discussion, we asked him a question or two. He had no answers, but we did get quite a few from his owner, who withdrew from the tournament with a viral illness but was in town Sunday to fulfill tour obligations. We chatted with Venus about her trophies, interviewing tips, little sis, the upcoming U.S. Open and more.
What have been your proudest moments, on court and off?
I guess the times that it seems like you shouldn?t win but I?ve been able to grab the win. I don?t know. There?s been so many, many, many, many matches that it?s hard to pick just one. Off the court I guess my proud moments are just being a big sister?I enjoy being a big sister.
How are you as a little sister? Going by number of sisters, you?re more of a little sister than a big sister.
Yeah, I?m pretty low on the totem pole. There?s a lot of people ahead of me, but I only have one person that I need to be a role model for. At the end of the day I guess we all influence each other.
You have seven majors. Is there one that stands out for you?
All seven. (Laughs) They?ve been awesome times. I mean, one led to the next. Winning the first one is huge. Maybe the first one is just kind of breaking down all the walls to get ready for the next one.
On court what do you do better and worse now than when you first started playing?
I think I have a lot better strategy, and I?m able to think through things a lot better. Obviously understanding the game better is huge. Worse? Maybe I think more than I used to in the past, which can also be an Achilles heel. Because when you?re younger and you don?t have any strategies, you just hit the ball. Looking back, I don?t remember any strategy. I?m sure I had some, but I just hit the ball. So I?m not sure how I won matches, but I did. There?s definitely a benefit to [not thinking too much], not an overwhelming benefit but definitely a benefit.
Who are some of the best players you?ve played apart from Serena?
Obviously all the players who I played in my time who were at the top of the game?Hingis or Davenport or, even now, Clijsters or whoever you want to name?they?re all great players. [If you had to pick, say, two?] Obviously I played Serena a lot, and I played Lindsay a lot. I think she was a great player. [Apart from Serena] I would say Lindsay was probably the best one.
How about Steffi Graf and Monica Seles?
I didn?t play Steffi a lot and Monica I had a really strong record against. I think she was a great player, but I had a strong record against her.
Did you have any childhood tennis heroes?
I definitely watched a lot of Monica Seles. I started grunting because she grunted and guess I never looked back. I don?t even know why Serena grunts, but regardless?now I?m a grunter.
You consider yourself a grunter?
Yeah, I grunt all the time. I grunt in practice and everything.
Grunting is being talked about a lot again. Did you notice that?
I don?t listen to the commentary too much. Hopefully most of the time I?m able to be playing instead of listening on TV. I don?t know, because I don?t read a lot of press. So I?m not sure what the whole vibe is or what people are saying. I kind of stay from all of that stuff, especially topics like grunting which aren?t really relevant to real tennis.
Talking about not reading press, when asked at Wimbledon what advice you?d give Laura Robson one of the things you said is to not read a lot of press about herself. Can you elaborate on that?
You know, it?s already hard enough to be at the top level that you want to be at. And it?s even tougher when you?re reading press and blogs and a thousand million other people?s opinion of you. No one can perform under those kinds of circumstances. Except maybe a President or something, and he has a whole Cabinet. (Laughs) It?s just important to keep your own thoughts in your head and keep those positive.
Do you follow President Barack Obama much?
No, I don?t follow a lot of politics at all.
What?s the best two pieces of advice your parents gave you? 
Wherever Venus goes, little sister Serena usually isn't far behind. (AP Photo)
Put God first, and put family first. That helps you to really have perspective.
What about on the tennis court?
Run for every ball. Stay positive.
Why do you think a parent-child coaching arrangement worked for you and Serena when it hasn?t for some?
Well I think that parents and children will have to know their roles. Thankfully everything worked out for us?strong, nice parents, our sisters are very supportive, but also Serena and I have our own minds. We were raised to have our own minds so we could make our own decisions.
Do you recommend the arrangement for others?
I don?t know what to tell anybody else. Everyone?s path is always a little different. I think if your parents are positive and you can get along with them, it?s a good idea. But if you can?t, maybe separate it.
How have your roles as coach and student changed over the years? It?s been more than 15 years.
I think it?s just important to continue to listen. It?s easy to kind of tune things out when you?ve been working with someone for a long time. It?s not easy to be a coach. It?s not easy to be a student either.
Does Serena do anything that surprises you on court or off?
No, nothing surprises me on or off the court. I know her pretty well. I believe in her on and off the court.
A long time ago you and Serena had a tennis newsletter. Any chance that will come back?
It?s still making a comeback. It?s hard to write and edit a paper. It was so much fun. We interviewed Sampras, Gimelstob? It was really short-lived, but it?s legendary at this point I guess. (Laughs)
Do you have any interview tips based on what you learned from that experience?
Definitely come into the interview prepared. We came into one interview, and we hadn?t really done our homework. And we realized it?s not really as easy as it looks. So after that we came prepared with questions and background information and goals. So quick learn.
And you did some more interviewing for your book Come to Win?
I have to say, I didn?t really like doing interviews. I was always really nervous. I just wanted to make sure I didn?t talk over someone or interrupt them. And trying to get in all the questions in the allotted time and hopefully get enough information. I just didn?t enjoy the interviews as much.
Could you see yourself being WTA CEO one day?
No. I?ve lived a lot of dreams in tennis, and I have some dreams outside of tennis that I?m going to go for after this.
Like what?
Especially in the design world. There?s a lot of things I?d like to do in fashion and interiors, so that?ll be a lot of work in itself.
Your WTA bio says you like to get packages. What?s the last package you received?
I just like to receive fun packages. I don?t open the packages with orthotics in them or the sports shorts. (Laughs) I?ll open the ones with the DVDs and the new books and the new clothes. I got a textbook in my last package?I find those exciting, sadly. [What subject?] Organizational behavior.
If you were writing a story on the U.S. Open what storylines would you focus on this year?
I don?t know. I guess I?m not into the big story, because the big story never is the story?you can?t predict how these tournaments are going to go. So it [would be] just a story that hopefully people are interested in, that would be fun to read.
Let?s say you wanted to write a fun story, what would it be?
I would talk about [something] like, The Karaoke Times of the Williams Sisters. (Laughs)
You?ve said you tend to base your goals around the Olympics these days. Have you made plans for mixed doubles yet?
I?ll have to be in the shape of my life to play 90 matches in eight days. I don?t commit?I?m not a committer. Hopefully whoever is playing well at the time and has a serious winning attitude, hopefully I?ll be able to play with them.
Do you watch much tennis when you?re not playing?
Yeah, I do watch a lot of tennis?a ton, maybe too much. I like to watch the women more than the men.
Who are the young players you can see doing well in, say, five years?
I don?t know, because I never pick the right player. The player that I think will be good never is good. And the one I don?t think is the best one is always the best. So I?m no scout?I?ll be honest with you on that.
Who else do you like to watch playing?
I actually like watching the legends a lot. They think a little bit different on the court, so I like it when they show some of the older players or the older matches. I?ve watched Billie Jean King play. I?ve watched Ashe and Connors. I really enjoy that.
Think you?ll play the U.S. Open?
That?s my goal obviously. That?s what I?m aiming for the next couple of weeks.
What are your goals for the rest of your career?
To continue to play championship tennis is always my goal, so that?s the plan.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/uAuAaD4C6kU/
Athletics: Dai Greene bursts onto the world stage
DAI GREENE once complained he was the forgotten man in the British athletics team – but just 48 seconds in South Korea means everyone now knows his name.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
9/11 firefighters have higher cancer risk: study
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Male firefighters who were exposed to toxic dust and smoke from the 9/11 attacks on New York's World Trade Center have a 19 percent higher risk of getting cancer of all kinds than colleagues who were not exposed, U.S. researchers said on Thursday. 
Nick's Picks: 2011 U.S. Open, Day 2
Each day during the 2011 U.S. Open, coach Nick Bollettieri will discuss three of the most intriguing matches on the schedule and offer his predictions.
Sabine Lisicki [22] vs. Alona Bondarenko (Court 17, first match)
Like Heather Watson and Maria Sharapova, who played each other on Day 1, Lisicki grew at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, and I have worked with her for many years. She always has a great attitude on the court, and if she can stay healthy, she has an extremely bright future.
These two have met once before, back in the 2008 U.S. Open, and Bondarenko won that in three sets. Bondarenko is an experienced player who has had excellent results on both the singles and doubles side. She doesn?t have any huge weapons, but she will make you cover the court and won?t roll over. Lisicki likes to go for everything. She hits the tar out of the ball from both wings and her serve is one of the best on tour. She needs to get a high percentage of first serves in to win this match, and she also needs to remain patient. I give her the edge because of Bondarenko?s injury issues (she didn?t compete until May due to wrist and right knee injuries) and the fact that Lisicki has had an excellent year ? and loves playing on hard courts.
Nick?s Pick: Lisicki in three sets
***
Jelena Jankovic [11] vs. Alison Riske (Grandstand, second match)
Jankovic comes in ranked 12th in the world and should have plenty of confidence after reaching the finals of Cincinnati. It will be interesting to see how she rebounds after that performance, to see if she can sustain that level of play for two weeks. She was a finalist here just three years ago and she definitely has the talent to reach that point again.
To me, this match is all about Jankovic. A couple of years ago her movement was off the charts, but she doesn?t seem to be covering the court as well as she used to. Her two-handed backhand is still one of the best, and when she is able to step in and hit it down the line, she is very difficult to beat. Against Riske, she needs to get down to business right away and not let the crowd get into it. Jankovic is a bit unpredictable because of her emotions, so the longer this match goes, the better the American?s chances are of winning. I look for Jankovic to win, but this will be a fun match.
Nick?s Pick: Jankovic in two sets
***
Novak Djokovic [1] vs. Conor Niland (Arthur Ashe Stadium, third match)
When I was working on the picks, I didn?t know who Djokovic was playing and honestly, it doesn?t matter. This match is all about him and his shoulder health. He was forced to retire in the finals of Cincinnati and it could have a major effect on this match. His record is still 57-2 on the year and he?s won nine titles, which is simply amazing.
I was recently asked how I would compare Djokovic to the greats in the game, and I believe he is right up there. I don?t think that there is anyone in the history of the game that has been as solid in all areas as he is right now. He is so well-rounded and his game is so complete that it is extremely difficult to even take a set off of him. The ball is basically on a string and he is the puppet master. He is remarkable to watch. I look for him to advance, but I?ll be keeping my eyes on how his shoulder feels moving forward.
Nick?s Pick: Djokovic in three sets
Nick Bollettieri of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/ahBXIb9P9b4/
Australians Gajdosova, Dokic snap streaks
If only Jarmila Gajdosova really could earn some points for honesty.
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/tennis/5541547/Australians-Gajdosova-Dokic-snap-streaks
Why illness caused Venus Williams to quit U.S. open
Tennis star Venus Williams has announced she's dropping out of the U.S. Open because of an autoimmune disorder called Sjogren's syndrome.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44358608/ns/health-womens_health/
Andy Murray ready to find his form of 2008 at US Open
ANDY MURRAY is determined to shake off his US Open disappointments.
Goodnight, Irene: Hurricane doesn't delay opening day
NEW YORK?Rain is as much a part of the U.S. Open as noisy 747s. And
without a covered stadium court, maneuvering matches through the puddles
has always found a way to play havoc with the tournament schedule. The
last three Opens were all extended to Monday men?s finals thanks to wet
conditions. But enduring rain showers is one thing; planning for a
hurricane is new ground. Actually, by the time Irene arrived in New York
City, she had been downgraded to a tropical storm. Still, with several
inches of rain and wind gusts of over 60 mph, it brought flooding,
closed river crossings and mass transit, and practically shuttered the
city that never sleeps. Fortunately the Open, and its participants,
escaped relatively unscathed.
without a covered stadium court, maneuvering matches through the puddles
has always found a way to play havoc with the tournament schedule. The
last three Opens were all extended to Monday men?s finals thanks to wet
conditions. But enduring rain showers is one thing; planning for a
hurricane is new ground. Actually, by the time Irene arrived in New York
City, she had been downgraded to a tropical storm. Still, with several
inches of rain and wind gusts of over 60 mph, it brought flooding,
closed river crossings and mass transit, and practically shuttered the
city that never sleeps. Fortunately the Open, and its participants,
escaped relatively unscathed.
The National Tennis Center suffered only minor damage and the inconvenience of removing and then replacing banners, benches, and television cameras. Grounds crew members stayed over on Saturday night to get an early start on the Sunday cleanup and prepare for opening day. Doors opened to fans at 10 a.m., but several of the courts had staggered start times to allow personnel extra time to arrive. Play commenced on Louis Armstrong Stadium at the customary 11 a.m., but play on Arthur Ashe Stadium was delayed until 1 p.m. With surrounding areas still suffering from power outages and road closures, the early-arriving crowd felt lighter than the typical opening day.
Perhaps the biggest casualty of Irene, though, was Arthur Ashe Kids? Day. The yearly all-day event held at the National Tennis Center the Saturday before the start of the tournament?with free grounds activities for kids and a ticketed stadium show?was cancelled due to the unsettled weather in the area. For players, the anticipation of the storm and its effect on preparation caused the most difficulties.
?It?s taken quite a few days for us sort of waiting for it and kind of having to decide how we?re going to practice,? said No. 4 seed Andy Murray. ?If we?re going to try to get in sort of more practice early in the week outdoors, or stick to kind of what the normal plan is and practicing hour and a half, two hours a day and maybe having to go indoors. That?s been the only problem.?
Players are creatures of habit and abhor anything that takes them out of their routines. Mardy Fish is a native Floridian and accustomed to dealing with hurricanes. But taking away his Starbucks?the store closed in advance of the storm?frustrated the top-seeded American. Five-time champ Roger Federer wasn?t too concerned that the wet weather could alter his preparation, as he generally takes a short break before the tournament anyway. ?Maybe I just go back and relax instead of trying to hustle around and trying to get an indoor hit,? said Federer. ?I'm not 18 anymore where that's the kind of stuff you do to show how badly you need it, how professional you are. But at my age you kind of know what it takes to get ready, and you don't panic.?
Since everybody is in the same position, players all try to roll with it. And if you?re Serena Williams, the storm can even offer a chance at entertainment. ?I played a little bit in the rain,? said Serena Williams. ?I went to Park Avenue because it was empty and danced a little bit in the streets. It was kinda fun.?
Jon Levey is covering the U.S. Open for TENNIS.com.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/nNHwt8c2GJ0/
Novak Djokovic top dog for US
WorlD No.1 Novak Djokovic has been rewarded for his amazing 2011 form by being named top seed for the US open, which starts on Monday.
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