Article sports.espn.go.com 27-12-06

The drought Down Under

by: Kamakshi Tandon, TENNIS.com

Mark Edmondson, 1976. Over the next few weeks, Australians will make their annual reacquaintance with that date -- the last time they had a home win at their Grand Slam event.

It doesn't come close to matching the British men's futility at Wimbledon -- that dates all the way back to Fred Perry in 1936 -- but it does put them behind the other two Grand Slam-hosting countries. For all the hand-wringing about American tennis this season, the United States is the most recent Slam nation to have a home winner: Andy Roddick in 2003. Yannick Noah won Roland Garros in 1983 before going on to earn additional fame as a pop star in France (and in the U.S., as the father of Florida Gators basketball player Joachim Noah).

But the French have two of generation next's brightest lights -- Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils -- and even the British have genuine world-class talent in Andy Murray. For the Australians, the beacon of hope lies much further down the road: 14-year-old Bernard Tomic. Even though Tomic won 23 straight matches in under-18 events this year -- "I feel like Roger Federer," he said -- he's still a few years away from playing on the men's tour.

So great Aussie expectations again fall squarely on the shoulders of Lleyton Hewitt. The good news: Players already practising Down Under say the courts are playing faster, after years of Hewitt haranguing for the surface to be speeded up. He's also been able to get in more preseason training time after an injury ended his 2006 season early.

The bad news is it could be too little, too late. History might show that Hewitt's best chance to win was 2005, the Australian Open's 100th anniversary -- after playing his heart out, he was just one match short of the dream finish. The chances are much slimmer now. Physical problems and family priorities (his daughter is now just over a year old) have reduced Hewitt's schedule, and his last Melbourne outing was a second-round loss. His famed feistiness has also become more subdued. Unlike two years ago, it would be a surprise if Hewitt showed he still has the firepower and the fire to win seven best-of-five matches and beat the best players along the way.

Not that they don't still respect him. Here's the roll call of challengers Federer gave this week: Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin, David Nalbandian and "new ones coming" Ivan Ljubicic and Nikolay Davydenko. Nadal, for his part, said, "Lleyton was No. 1 for two years and, if he wants, he's always going to have a big chance to come back to the top positions."

But both would certainly like their chances against the battling Aussie in Melbourne, meaning that Edmondson might have his annual 15 days of fame for at least a few more years to come.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=tennis#20061207

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Enfin la saison 2007 !!!

ATP PREVIEW - Week 1	December 26, 2006
ATP Stars Ready for 2007 Season
© Tennis Australia Eleven players inside the Top 20 of the ATP Rankings will make their 2007 debuts at either Adelaide, Doha or Chennai as the new season kicks off in exciting fashion. ATPtennis.com profiles the three ATP tournaments on the road to the first Grand Slam of the season: the Australian Open. Next Generation Clubs Adelaide International December 31, 2006 – January 7, 2007 ATP Tournament Profile \| Official Web Site \| 2006 Final Report The first tournament on the ATP circuit to play host to a 32-player hybrid round-robin format over a period of eight days – are just two changes that intend to help the sport achieve broader appeal. Fans First as ATP Primed for 2007 Changes France’s Florent Serra (pictured) returns to Memorial Drive to defend the title he won over Xavier Malisse of Belgium, but he will face stiff competition. Richard Gasquet, Jarkko Nieminen, Radek Stepanek and Adelaide resident and two-time former champion Lleyton Hewitt – all placed in the Top 20 of the INDESIT ATP Rankings, also compete at the $436,000 event. Hewitt will also partner Australian compatriot Paul Hanley in the doubles competition, having finished runner-up with Sandon Stolle in 2000. Thomas Muster (1990), Goran Ivanisevic (1992) and Yevgeny Kafelnikov (1994, 1996) are previous singles winners of the ATP tournament, which first started in 1974. Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Doha January 1-7, 2007 ATP Tournament Profile \| Official Web Site \| 2006 Final Report ATP World No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko (pictured) and Ivan Ljubicic, currently No. 5 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings, headline the field at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex. Tommy Haas, 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis and Andy Murray, who each finished 2006 in the Top 20 of the INDESIT ATP Rankings, also compete. First held in 1993, the $1.1 million tournament boasts an impressive roll of honor with Grand Slam champions such as Boris Becker (1993), Stefan Edberg (1994-95), Petr Korda (1996, 1998), Jim Courier (1997) and Roger Federer (2005-06). ATP World No. 1 and two-time champion Federer, who beat Gael Monfils of France in the 2006 final, does not return this year. Chennai Open, Chennai January 1-7, 2007 ATP Tournament Profile \| Official Web Site \| 2006 Final Report ATP World No. 2 Rafael Nadal (pictured) will be hoping to go further than on his only previous visit to Chennai in 2004, when he lost to France’s Thierry Ascione in the first round. David Nalbandian, currently No. 8 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings, joins the Spaniard, who went 59-12 with five titles in 2006. In the absence of defending champion Ljubicic, the player he beat in the final, Carlos Moya, will hope to add a third title to his 2004 and 2005 vintage years. Paradorn Srichaphan, winner in 2003, also returns for the 12th edition of the Chennai Open at the SDAT Tennis Stadium.

http://www.atptennis.com/en/news/2006/preview_wk1.asp

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Bientôt Chennai !

Chennai Open 2007 to the reach global audience

Chennai Open 2007 will be telecast through the strong TV broadcast network of 7 top international TV channels reaching more than one billion households across 140 countries worldwide.

It doesn't get bigger than this! Chennai Open, India's first ATP International Series Tennis tournament and one of the only nine ATP events in whole of Asia will be reaching to a worldwide audience in 2007. Chennai Open 2007 will be telecast through the strong TV broadcast network of 7 top international TV channels reaching more than one billion households across 140 countries worldwide. Chennai Open 2007 will be held from Jan 1-7, 2007 at the Nungambakkam Stadium, Chennai.

In a major development, the strong television network of Zee Sports, Canal +: Spain, SNTV, Fox TV, Argentina, Trans World Sports, Viasat - Scandinavia (Viasat Sport Sweden, Viasat Sport Denmark and Viasat Sport Norway) and Bet & Win from Germany will telecast the high voltage action every day live from the courts of Chennai Open, an event that has changed the face of Indian tennis and continues to set the standards for any international sports event staged in India.

Sports enthusiasts across the globe will get an opportunity to watch the best field ever in the history of the tournament in action comprising of World No 2, Rafael Nadal (Spain), World No. 8, David Nalbandian (Argentina), World No 43, Carlos Moya (Spain), World No 53, Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand), World No 37, Xavier Malisse (Belgium), World No 40, Julien Benneteau, World No 52, Fabrice Santoro amongst others.

Says Fernando Soler, Tournament Director, Chennai Open, "We are thrilled with the growing popularity of the tournament across all demographics of audience worldwide. With a humble beginning in 1996, Chennai Open now, in its 12th year, has really come alive for the sports fans across the length and breadth of the globe. The presence of a strong line-up of players of the likes of Boris Becker, Carlos Moya, Richard Krajicek, Rafael Nadal and India's own Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi over the years indicates that the Chennai Open has gained respect throughout the ATP tour. Continuing with its legacy, Chennai Open 2007 promises to showcase world class tennis for its fans across the world with its impressive roster of international stars featuring as many as 18 players from Top 100."

Chennai Open, which has been awarded with prestigious awards like ATP Award for excellence-1997 & 1999, ATP Award for best promoted tournament (International group) -1998 and ATP's Player Services Award of Excellence - 2006, in the past, has acquired the status of a much sought-after tennis event for both players and fans alike in the International tennis circuit. The tournament has branded Chennai as a global sporting destination on the world map.

Mr. Balu Nayar, Managing Director, IMG India, "Chennai Open has been a trend-setter for other major sporting events in the country. The star-studded field, action packed matches and the successful organization of the tournament, year after year, has been instrumental in capturing the imagination of the sports enthusiasts, thus creating an experience that takes them beyond the TV sets into the thick of the action. With the objective of reaching out to wider audiences this year, the strong TV broadcast plan for Chennai Open 2007, promises audiences from over 140 countries worldwide of some quality high voltage tennis in the coming days.

"Also, as a result of the increasing global reach of this tournament, this year we are happy to provide enhanced visibility to our sponsors, who have thrust their belief in the uniqueness of the tournament and have provided us with their unfailing support to take Chennai Open to new heights every year."

The matches of Chennai Open 2007 will be telecast on Zee Sports in the Indian Sub Continent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan). The telecast rights of the US$ 416,000 tournament were awarded to the premier broadcaster by IMG, who owns and organizes Chennai Open.

IMG's television division, TWI, will be responsible for producing the programming for Chennai Open. TWI is the world's largest independent distributor and producer of televised sports. The international reach to the tournament will be ensured through a TV broadcast plan-- Fox Sports: South America (excluding Brazil), Central America and Mexico, Canal+: Spain, Trans World Sports: The world's most popular sports magazine show with a reach of 260 million households over 131 countries worldwide, SNTV: The world's only dedicated sports news TV agency, with a reach of 850 million people worldwide, Viasat - Scandinavia: Through its network of Viasat Sport Sweden (Reach: 1440 000 households), Viasat Sport Denmark (Reach: 720 000 households and Viasat Sport Norway (Reach: 800 000 households, Viasat will reach out to the Northern Europe region and Bet & Win from Germany will promote the tournament on its network worldwide (ex India) on internet / broadband.

Also, on another note, with the global reach of the tournament getting larger every year, as many as 27 brands have got associated with Chennai Open 2007 thus reaping the benefit of creating top-of-mind recall to a wider audience across the world.

- End -

About the 2007 Chennai Open

The USD 416,000 Chennai Open, owned and organised by IMG, is India's first ATP International Series Tennis event, and one of only nine in all of Asia. Started in 1996, by IMG, a global leader in sports management and marketing, Chennai Open has completed eleven successful years of existence, branding Chennai and India on the global tennis map thus creating a legacy of sorts of promoting international tennis in India. Winner of the prestigious ATP's Player Services Award of Excellence in 2006 for its outstanding organization and wonderful hospitality towards the participants, Chennai Open has acquired the status of a much sought-after tennis event for both players and fans alike in the International tennis circuit. The event now in its 12th year will be held from January 1-7, 2007 at SDAT Tennis stadium in Nungambakkam, Chennai. The tournament is conducted in Chennai under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and is organised with the active collaboration of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA). The tournament is sponsored by a consortium of sponsors in Gold and Platinum category, set up by Government of Tamil Nadu (GOTN) and the Tami Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA).

http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/sports/200612201385.htm

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Article elmundodeportivo.es 26-12-06

Rafa Nadal, esperanzado en alcanzar el número uno del mundo y a Federer

Nadal cree que Federer podrá aguantar así uno o dos años

"Por la presión a que está sometido, no puede jugar igual toda su carrera", dijo

26/12/06 03:00 h.Rafael Nadal, actual número dos del Mundo, afirmó ayer que está “muy motivado” y con esperanzas de que el nuevo año le reporte más éxitos, mientras que de Federer comentó que “no puede jugar igual toda su carrera. Tiene mucha presión y podrá aguantar así uno o dos años a ese nivel”.

En una entrevista en Cuatro TV, el manacorí cree que “lo único que hay que hacer para alcanzar el número uno y a Federer es prepararse. Él está ahora a un nivel superior al resto y hay que esperar a ver si en algún momento baja para alcanzarle”, señaló.

El tenista señaló que “estoy trabajando para mejorar el servicio. En tenis, o mejoras o te vas abajo. La derecha que tengo es bastante buena, pero hay que mantenerla. Siempre hay algo que mejorar”.

Para 2007, Rafa Nadal pide un deseo muy concreto: “Que la gente que está cerca de mi les respete la salud y a nivel general, que terminen los desastres y las guerras, aunque sea un tópico”, indicó Nadal, quien afirmó que “no he acabado muy 'quemado' este año, aunque la temporada ha sido larga”.

Por último, El número dos del mundo recordó que 2006 “ha sido un año increíble. Gané Roland Garros después de estar tres meses sin entrenarme. Federer me estaba pegando un repaso, pero reaccioné y gané”

http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/20061226/NOTICIA243719806.html

Mardi 26 Décembre 2006

Article elmundodeportivo.es 26-12-2006 (traduit par Cristina)

Nadal pense que Federer pourra résister comme ça un ou deux ans

Dû à la pression à laquelle il est soumis, il ne peut pas jouer de la même manière toute sa carrière, a-t-il dit

Rafael Nadal, actuel numéro deux mondial, a affirmé hier qu’il est «très motivé» et qu’il espère que la nouvelle année va lui apporter davantage de succès, alors que de Federer il a commenté qu’il ne peut pas jouer de la même manière toute sa carrière. Il a beaucoup de pression et il pourra résister comme ça un ou deux ans à ce niveau».

Dans une interview sur Cuatro TV(quatrième chaîne), le joueur de Manacor pense que «la seule chose à faire pour devenir numéro un mondial et rejoindre Federer c’est se préparer. En ce moment il est à un niveau supérieur au reste et il faut attendre voir si à un quelconque moment il descend pour le rejoindre», a-t-il indiqué.

Le joueur a signalé que «je suis en train de travailler pour améliorer mon service. Au tennis, ou tu t’améliores ou tu chutes. Mon coup droit est assez bon mais il faut le maintenir. Il y a toujours quelque chose à améliorer».

Pour 2007 Rafa a un souhait très concret : «Que les gens qui sont près de moi soient en bonne santé et d’un point de vue général, que les désastres et les guerres finissent, bien que ce soit un cliché», a signalé Nadal, qui a affirmé que «je n’ai pas fini très «fatigué» cette année bien que la saison ait été longue».

Enfin, le numéro deux mondial a rappelé que 2006 «a été une année incroyable. J’ai gagné Roland Garros après ne pas m’être entrainé pendant trois mois. Federer était en train de me donner une leçon, mais j’ai réagi et j’ai gagné».

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Les objectifs de l'adversaire n°1

Federer: "La prioridad en 2007 es ganar Wimbledon"

Roger Federer es recibido por los niños de Kinnur Pudupettai (en Cuddalore, India). (Reuters)

También espera seguir de Nº1 y poder conquistar Roland Garros.
Se encuentra en la India como embajador de UNICEF.
25 años, nueve Grand Slam y más de ocho millones de dólares en premios.

La ambición del tenista suizo Roger Federer no tiene fin. Quiere seguir reinando, pero su máximo objetivo a sus 25 años es ganar su quinto título de Wimbledon tras nueve torneos Grand Slam en su bolsillo. Sin embargo, también aspira a triunfar en el Roland Garros de París, donde Nadal ha ganado los dos últimos años.

"La motivación nunca ha sido un problema y no lo será en los próximos años", dijo Federer, quien se encuentra en La India como embajador de UNICEF en un encuentro con los habitantes de las zonas que fueron arrasadas por el tsunami hace dos años.

"Ganar Roland Garros sería un sueño hecho realidad, pero la prioridad más alta es siempre Wimbledon y permanecer al frente de la lista mundial", añadió el jugador que en el 2006 se convirtió en el primero en sobrepasar los ocho millones de dólares en premios, en una temporada.

Ganar Roland Garros sería un sueño hecho realidad

Los rivales

"Ahora tenemos un buen grupo de grandes jugadores, como Nadal, Roddick, Hewitt, Safin, Nalbandian, y otros nuevos que vienen como Ljubicic y Davydenko", dijo Federer sobre el panorama actual, en el que hizo mención especial a Agassi.

"Tuvimos un fantástico 2006 y un interesante 2007 nos espera", dijo el suizo que abre su temporada en el torneo de Kooyong, en Australia, el ocho de enero, justo antes de que comience la defensa de su título en Melbourne, en el primer grande del año.

http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/185716/0/federer/nadal/wimbledon/

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Article supertennis.co

Record prize pool, instant replay in 2007

Players will be competing for a record prize pool of US$14.95 million (AU$20 million) at the Australian Open next January while instant replay technology will be used for the first time at the tournament, organisers said on Tuesday.

The winners of the men's and women's singles events at the January 15-28 event will pick up $957 000, while total prize money has increased five per cent from this year's tournament.

Officials confirmed that instant replay, which enables players to challenge line calls using the Hawk-Eye system first used in a Grand Slam at the US Open this year, will also be introduced.

"It will be a fantastic innovation for the fans," new tournament director Craig Tiley told reporters at the tournament launch in Melbourne.

"We will have two giant screens at Rod Laver Arena and it will be a great way of involving spectators."

Tiley said tournament officials would hold continuing dialogue with the ATP Tour over the parameters of the players' challenges.

In New York, players were allowed up to three challenges per set but would lose a challenge if they incorrectly questioned a call.

"The experience at the US Open among the players and fans were very similar, we're very excited about it."

Tiley said he was hopeful that world number two Rafael Nadal and 2005 champion Marat Safin would be competing at Melbourne Park after missing this year's event with injuries.

He said there would be no change to the speed of the courts despite criticism from home hope Lleyton Hewitt before the 2006 tournament that the slower pace of the surface did not suit his game.

"We've had ongoing discussions with Lleyton Hewitt's management team on a variety of different subjects but again the event we are delivering is an international event, and we will uphold that integrity," Tiley said.

"According to the International Tennis Federation, we fit into the category of a medium to a medium-fast court," he said.

"Our objective from day one is to have uniformity and consistency throughout the tournament," said Tiley, adding that all outside courts would be resurfaced in November.

Mark Edmondson, the last home winner of the men's singles title in 1976, will be inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame during the tournament on Australia Day, on January 26.

http://www.supertennis.co.za/default.asp?id=192654&des=article&scat=supertennis/australianopen

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