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Diego, Boris lead cheer squads From correspondents in Moscow
Former Australian Captain December 01, 2006

WORLD World Cup-winning captain, Diego Maradona, has arrived here for the Davis Cup final between Russia and Argentina.

“His plane just landed, so he’ll attend the (Davis Cup) final to root for Argentina,” said Diego Gomez, a spokesman for the Argentina Davis Cup team.

The Argies, bidding for a first Cup win, take on the 2002 champion at Moscow’s Olympic arena from tonight (AEDT).

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Nalbandian turns up heat From correspondents in Moscow
Former Australian Captain December 01, 2006

ARGENTINA No.1 David Nalbandian has been trying to build up the pressure on opponent Russia ahead of the Davis Cup final starting in Moscow tonight (AEDT).

Nalbandian insists that playing on home soil will be more of a hindrance than a help to the host.

“They have all the pressure, we are much calmer,” he said.

“And when the time comes to play, they will feel even more pressure from being here.

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Annacone has coached both Tim Henman and Pete Sampras He will spend 20 weeks of the year supporting new head of men’s tennis, former Davis Cup captain Paul Hutchins.Belgian Carl Maes, who has coached Kim Clijsters, is the new women’s tennis chief, working alongside Nigel Sears.The LTA announced a total of seven appointments on Thursday as part of its new ‘Tennis Leadership Team’.Hutchins gets the key position but can call on Americans Annacone and Brad Gilbert to “create a
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Moscow - Marat Safin is counting on surging Russian teammate Nikolay Davydenko to put the early heat on David Nalbandian as the hosts face Argentina in Friday’s start of the Davis Cup final. Newly married world number 3 Davydenko has put his honeymoon on hold for the weekend tie which would cap a breakthrough tennis season. Davydenko will begin his work against Argentine number 2 Juan Chela with Safin to follow against Nalbandian. Davydenko won five titles this season, including the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on indoor carpet, following up with a trophy
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No-man’s land … Scud puts hopes on Aussie Open wildcard. Pic:AP Scud stuck in grand slam limbo By Leo Schlink
Former Australian Captain December 01, 2006

MARK Philippoussis yesterday ended 2006 as he started it, clad in uncertainty and in desperate need of an Australian Open wildcard.

The Wimbledon and US Open finalist’s quest for automatic entry into the January 15 to 28 Australian Open was scuttled by world No.349 Brendan Evans, from the United States.

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Williams leads field at Moorilla
Former Australian Captain November 30, 2006

TENNIS superstar Serena Williams is set to draw the crowds in the strongest field ever assembled for the Moorilla Hobart International tournament.

Ten of the world’s top 50 female tennis players have signed on for the event, including Russian world No.13 Anna Chakvetadze and defending champion Michaella Krajicek.

Tournament director Michael Roberts launched the event today, telling media he was “thrilled” with the field.

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Moscow, Russia - The 2006 Davis Cup champion will be decided this weekend when Russia hosts Argentina in the best-of-five World Group final.The host Russians will be led by world No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko and two-time Grand Slam champ Marat Safin, while the underdog Argentines feature David Nalbandian. Russia will also have Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny at its disposal, while Argentina will complement Nalbandian with Jose Acasuso, Agustin Calleri and Juan Ignacio Chela.Shamil Tarpischev is the Russian captain, while Argentina is led by Alberto
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Henman represented Great Britain for 10 years in the Davis Cup Henman told the BBC: “I want to stay healthy and see where that can take me. I’ve still got a lot of passion.”If I can play half-decently next year, there’s no reason why I can’t get back into the top twenty - and if I can play well, I can improve from there.”I’ve always wanted to keep my options open (on the Davis Cup) and I’ve spoken to Jeremy Bates and now John Lloyd.”

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Dream duo Gilbert (left) and Annacone may be a costly gamble

This Christmas, the governing body is signing cheques like a lottery winner on a first spending spree. While change is necessary, expenditure on luxury items is a dangerous habit to get into.

New chief executive Roger Draper started the lavish outlay after sweeping his new broom through the dusty corridors of Queens’ Club and axing several senior figures.

On the first Wednesday of the French Open, he was
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Andy Murray beat Greg Rusedski to give Scotland a 3-1 lead in their match against England. Murray defeated Rusedski in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.Murray came out with all guns blazing and broke Rusedski in the first game of the first set which he then went on to claim as the rest of the set went with serve.The 33-year-old Rusedski, who had earlier in the day hinted that his playing career may be coming to an end, showed that there is still life and quality left in his game.The Canadian-born Brit broke Murray at the ideal time when the score was
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British tennis star Greg Rusedski says he will put off retirement and play on next season and wants to continue to represent his country in the Davis Cup.Rusedski is currently in Aberdeen competing in the annual England versus Scotland match which takes a similar structure to the Davis Cup event.The Canadian born Brit said: ‘I’m definitely going to play next year. I don’t know how much. I’ve spoken to John Lloyd [Davis Cup captain] and if selected, I’d love to play in Birmingham. I am already really looking forward to it, in terms of playing in
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Belgrade - Jelena Dokic has denied reports of her kidnapping and says she is relying on inspiration from Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce in an attempt to make another return to top tennis. Speaking with the Sportski Zurnal newspaper in the Serbian capital, the 23-year-old rubbished claims from her estranged father Damir that she had been spirited away by a boyfriend and a former coach, both brothers. ‘Of course I haven’t been kidnapped, that’s complete nonsense.’ Dokic, who once stood fourth in the world, has played in only five events this season,
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The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has rejected claims that it is trying to capture the top coaching talent in Australia by offering massive wages to mentor Britain’s emerging players.The Australian’s fear that it is their coaches who the LTA are targeting most and Tennis Australia’s director of player development Craig Tiley says that there have been unwanted approaches made.Tiley said: ‘They’ve got an international recruiting agency to find the people who are delivering in the other federations from around the world and they’ve been heavy on the
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Geneva, Switzerland - Argentine David Nalbandian started his preparation for the Davis Cup final on Wednesday in Geneva, and his doctors said that he is ‘in a perfect physical and mental state.’ ‘He is very well, all the analyses that we have carried out came out fine. He is perfectly fit,’ Angel Ruiz Cotorro, the player’s personal doctor, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa. World number 8 Nalbandian arrived in Barcelona from Shanghai on Monday, and underwent numerous studies until Wednesday morning. He hardly touched a racket, but he did keep working
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Shanghai - Roger Federer faces one more task in tennis after completing another superlative ATP year by lifting his third Masters Cup shield from the past four editions at the weekend. The Swiss superman ended the official 2006 season with a dozen trophies, a 92-5 match record as he hammered James Blake 6-0, 6-3, 6- 4 in the final of the elite wrapup event. Federer has banked more than eight million dollars in on-court winnings and will top up that tidy sum on Tuesday with an exhibition match in Korea. The hit-and-giggle with Rafael Nadal will
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Shanghai - Roger Federer claimed his 28th straight match victory to move to within one win of a third Masters Cup title after defeating Rafael Nadal 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday. The Swiss managed only his third career victory against his nearest career rival, following up on a title victory against the Spaniard at Wimbledon five months ago. He now stands 3-6 in that series with the double French Open winner. The end came after nearly two hours on a third match point, with Federer hammering a sharply angled cross-court winner to break Nadal. The Swiss
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Philadelphia, PA - The 2006 WTA Tour season was dominated by Justine Henin-Hardenne and Amelie Mauresmo, with honorable mention going out to U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova.Henin-Hardenne finished as a year-end No. 1 for the second time in her strong career thanks in part to her performance at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, where, for the first time ever, three women were vying for the year-end top spot. The diminutive Belgian collected the $1 million top prize by going 4-1 in Madrid, including her title match victory over the
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Shanghai - Rafael Nadal booked the last semi-final place at the Masters Cup on Friday, his 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 Gold group win over Nikolay Davydenko setting up a clash with Roger Federer. The Spanish world number 2, who has not played a final since losing to his top-ranked Swiss rival at Wimbledon five months ago, defeated Russia’s Davydenko in the pair’s first meeting. ‘I’m at my best level, I’ve won two matches against some of the best players in the world,’ said Nadal. ‘The match with Federer will be nice. ‘It’s important for me to be in a semi-final,
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Rusedski does not know if he will play another Wimbledon The 33-year-old has a long-term hip injury and has slipped to 193rd in the world, leading him to previously hint he might retire at the end of 2006.But he told the Sun on Saturday: “I’m definitely going to play next year, I don’t know how much.”If I have to, I’ll play a few smaller events, maybe some Challengers.”Britain face Holland in Birmingham in April and Rusedski has made no secret of his desire to play at least
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Dokic has laughed off her father’s latest outburst Damir Dokic alleged that the boyfriend of the former world number four was behind her disappearance in Croatia. Dokic told Sportski Zurnal: “Of course I haven’t been kidnapped, that’s complete nonsense. I’ve been listening to so much rubbish from my father.”I need to say this to protect my boyfriend because he has never interfered either with my private life or with my tennis.”Dokic has plummeted to 583 in the world rankings
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Paul Annacone is one of the high-profile coaches linked to the LTA Tennis Australia’s director of player development Craig Tiley claimed at least four members of his staff had been made offers.An LTA statement said: “We are unclear where Mr Tiley is coming from.”We can confirm that none of our top positions will go to anyone currently employed by Tennis Australia.”The LTA has recently employed Brad Gilbert, who has worked with Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, as coach to Andy
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Serena Williams missed this year’s Wimbledon through injury Injury withdrawals from tournaments by players ranked in the world’s top 10 more than doubled this season.The WTA confirmed on Tuesday it wants to shorten its season, cut the number of events in which players must take part and have post-Grand Slam breaks.The WTA board is expected to back the changes in March for the 2009 season.WTA chief Larry Scott admitted: “A season that overtaxes our players is hurting the fan
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Lee has decided to call it quits after a series of injuries The former world junior number one is currently ranked ninth in Britain and 284th in the ATP rankings.Lee, who won the Wimbledon boys’ doubles title in 1995, has undergone three knee operations and suffered groin injuries in recent years.”The injuries have taken their toll and over the last six months I haven’t been enjoying playing as much as before,” said the left-hander.

BBC Sport’s Caroline Cheese analyses his remarkable year in numbers.

Tournament bosses can be pretty sure that if Federer enters their event, he will also feature in the final. The world number one signed up for 17 tournaments in 2006 and was still in the mix on the final Sunday on all but one occasion.

His only real failure came at the Cincinnati Masters in August,
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Watch Roger Federer attempt to win Wimbledon again on the BBC The BBC will have comprehensive coverage of some of 2007’s biggest tennis tournaments on TV, radio, Interactive and online.Sue Barker will be your host for a range of top-class events including three out of the four Grand Slam tournaments.As always we will bring best live action from the splendour of the grass courts of Wimbledon.Our interactive service, via the red button, will give you options to watch a selection
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Students provided the on-court action at a Madrid university

Next day it happens all over again.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic sport when it’s played and presented well, but it happens every week for 11 months a year in pretty much the same format. That can get rather monotonous.

The tennis top table - or at least sections of it - recognises the need for change.

Executives such as Etienne De Villiers at the ATP and Larry Scott at the WTA want tennis to
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Dokic wants to get to the top From correspondents in Belgrade
Former Australian Captain November 25, 2006

FORMER world No.4 Jelena Dokic believes she can work her way back into the WTA top 30 after flatly denying recent suggestions from her father that she had been kidnapped.

In an extensive interview with Belgrade daily Sportski Zurnal, Dokic said: “Of course I haven’t been kidnapped, that’s complete nonsense. I have been listening to such rubbish from my father for the last three years.”

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Dokic denies father’s kidnap story By Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade
Former Australian Captain November 25, 2006

FORMER world number four on the WTA tour Jelena Dokic believes she can work her way back into the top 30 after flatly denying recent suggestions from her father that she had been kidnapped.

In an extensive interview with Belgrade daily Sportski Zurnal, Dokic said: “Of course I haven’t been kidnapped, that’s complete nonsense. I have been listening to such rubbish from my father for the last three years.”

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Each year, twelve teams compete in the World Team Tennis (WTT) Pro League and are comprised of some of the sport’s top athletes. The season runs for three weeks during summer and attracts over 150,000 fans annually.

If you would like to request a signed photo from any of the players, you may do so by writing in care of their World Team Tennis team. When preparing your request, always handwrite a brief letter and be complimentary to the addressee. A SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) will help to increase your chances of receiving a response
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Without question, it is the most aesthetically pleasing stroke in the game and undeniably the toughest to master. It is sought by most but executed by few. It is compact in form and cunning with its disguise. The one handed back hand drive in all its glory is some club player’s reason for being.

The stroke simply has more moving parts than its antonym on the other side. It requires some imagination and body awareness to sequentially unwind the body parts required for unleashing the racquet head perfectly for impact. Golf and tennis are so similar
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A Power Baseliner is a tennis player who prefers to play the base from the baseline than the net. This type of player is the most common sight in a professional game.

You can beat someone who tends to play from the baseline. The trick is to understand some simple tips. A professional player does not expect you to know these tricks. If you follow the tips correctly during your game, you can beat your opponent at his or her own game.

Make sure the other player has to hit a number of balls throughout the match. By constantly running around to return the ball you have just hit, you will quickly tire your opponent.

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Tennis would be a boring world if every player used the same tricks. Winning would become very tedious. With this in mind, you are probably asking if Dinkers and Moon Ballers are beatable. You can beat them, but it is important to understand their tricks.

A Dinker is the type of player who never misses a ball. A Dinker is also known for hitting lightly, yet still getting the ball deep and angled to where you cannot possibly hit it back. This type of player is extremely successful because they force you to make errors every step of the way.

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Ticket sales were always high—in fact, higher than ever before. U.S. open tennis set a record in 2006 because of best attendance as well, and is expected to rise to virtually sixty-four thousand next.

When instant replay was applied to the U.S. open tennis (also in 2006), U.S. open tennis was declared, therefore, that 2006 would prove to be a historic evolutionary time for U.S. open tennis. There was seventeen million dollars for the winners of U.S. open tennis tournaments. Choosing over six hundred individual professional tennis players, both male and female, would win approximately one million per winner provided as prize money.

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Without first learning the movement and developing the skills for your achievement, you should take lessons in the basics of tennis for beginners. No matter how talented you may be, practicing consistently is the only way to stay in shape, and build technique for tennis.

- For example:

- The following are two basic types of stroke for people just learning the game:

1. Groundstrokes:

a) The player (or student) learning tennis for beginners must realize that groundstrokes are very important to master. A groundstroke begins with a slight, short backswing.

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The first rule of tennis strategy is not to beat yourself. That means that your first goal when playing tennis is to keep the ball in play.

But just pushing the ball over won’t do it if you are playing against quality players. Your shots need to be deep, with good pace to prevent your opponent from setting up for the shot and they need to be directed into open court to keep your opponent on the move.

So your first opponent in tennis is actually… tennis. You are dealing with tennis challenges - judging the ball flight, moving to the ball, timing the shots and trying to hit that big square over that 1m high net.

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Tennis is a great sport, but not without a few foibles. Tennis was a game I remember playing from a very young age. Not really sure, what prompted me to pick up the game, but my younger brother and I use to head over to the local public tennis courts quite a few times during our summer vacation. Quite a few very competitive matches ensued during those long summer days, and a number of them evolved into some very competitive and verbal matches. Ala John Mcenroe vs Jimmy Conners kinda stuff. Not the same tennis skill level of course, but some of the tennis style disagreements certainly did.

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Although she is no longer the number one tennis player in the world, Maria Sharapova is still absolutely the most famous and most watched female tennis superstar as well as the world’s highest paid female athlete.

Her parents were originally from Gomel, Belarus but they moved to the infamous Siberia in Russia in 1986 after the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe. Sharapova herself was born in Nyagan, Russia on April 19, 1987. She now resides in the United States but has retained her Russian citizenship.

After moving with her family to the Black
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Sometimes we like someone or something so much that we want things to happen that are unrealistic. Is this type of group phsycosis happening in tennis today with Roger Federer’s feats? Do we all like Roger Federer so much that we want him at all costs to be the best player ever? It’s possible.

Nevertheless, as much as I like Roger Federer, his game, his tacticts, his nimbelness around the court, his fantastic eye, his fluid style, the reading of his oponents game and intentions, in spite of all those fantastic assets and all the exploits that Federer has accomplished, I have to accept math and unless math is wrong:

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If you are serious about tennis—you must focus on nothing but the game. You want to do your very best, but even someone with the greatest talent and skill can be unfortunately effected by painful tennis shoes. When your tennis apparel is not right, you are often distracted from your concentration on the game. This takes away from your potential and can then lower your confidence.

Therefore, you want to be sure you have tennis shoes from the very best manufacturers, and in the highest quality condition. This way you will not have to worry about
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Of course, just as in any game, there are certain tennis rules one must follow. The most basic of which can be broken into five categories. Here are a few tennis rules:

1. Opponents remain on opposite sides of the court:

This is quite a simple and self-explanatory one of many tennis rules to remember: one opponent on the opposite side of the net—directly across from the other opponent.

2. The right to serve: Determine how the match will begin:

a) The second of the tennis rules I am laying out for you, the server begins with the ball,
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