US take Davis Cup lead 
From correspondents in Portland, Oregon
Former Australian Captain December 01, 2007
AMERICAN number one Andy Roddick outclassed Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov 6-4 6-4 6-2 in the opening rubber of the Davis Cup final to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Roddick, who lost to Tursunov in five sets in last year’s semi-final, fired down 24 aces to wrap up victory in one hour and 52 minutes at Memorial Coliseum.
Tursunov, beaten by the American
(more…)
There are a lot of things to learn when taking up tennis, but one of the main fundamentals that must be taught is how to swing. Perfecting your swing may make the difference between being able to handle yourself on the court, and never quite learning how to play a decent game of tennis.
Want to know how to improve your swing? Follow these important guidelines:
Keep your racquet back at all times. Once the ball has left your opponent’s racquet, you must move into position. It’s important to keep your racquet back while positioning yourself
(more…)
Tennis is a great sport that offers even those with little sporting aptitude to excel in a way that keeps them physically fit and active. Learning to play tennis can be the beginning of a lifelong appreciation for physical exercise and the outdoors. It’s a sport that young and old (and everyone in between) can enjoy.
-Learn something that interests them.
-Be with friends.
-Being involved and included since everyone gets to play!
-Belong and being recognized.
-See progress from virtually the first day (great for the self esteem).
(more…)
To the novice, all tennis balls may look alike (except for their color), but those who’ve been playing the game awhile know that that is simply not so Tennis balls are much more than fuzzy rubber things. Want to learn more? Read on.
There are two main types of tennis balls: pressurized and pressureless.
Pressurized tennis balls are hollow in the center and are filled with air. Or even nitrogen. Pressurized balls are short lived, only lasting about a month once taken form their sealed can since the pressure of the can is released once
(more…)
Tennis has a long-standing history steeped in tradition. Yet, there are two main events that seemed to set the sport apart from any other in the hearts and minds of those who enjoy watching and playing it.
One was the invention-vulcanized rubber that allowed real tennis to take the lead from lawn tennis - a popular gentleman’s sport of the 18th century.
The other was the match between female tennis star Billie Jean King and her male counterpart, Bobby Riggs. Her wondrous victory over Riggs gave female tennis stars the respect they had long sought.
Learning basic tennis strokes is essential to setting the stage for better play in the future. Fail to learn these basics early on and you will struggle with overcoming bad playing habits for years to come.
While there are a variety of strokes that new and advanced players can use in tennis, the novice should concentrate on the two main strokes first, before moving on to the more advanced techniques and movements used in more advanced play.
There are two basic tennis strokes that every player must master in order to be competent on the court:
(more…)
Tennis requires great concentration. Even the slightest distraction can affect your game. Even something as simple as a pinched toe or an aching heel can send your game in a downward spiral. That’s why it’s so important to find and wear the right tennis shoes for your feet and game. Don’t risk playing poorly because of sore feet. Take the time to find just the right tennis shoe to help you hit the court in style and comfort.
It is often said that you get what you pay for. Purchasing tennis shoes is no different. While there are some lower-end
(more…)
Tennis elbow can be a painful debilitation soft tissue injury that affects more than your ability to play. The best way to treat tennis elbow is by using the R.I.C.E.R. treatment:
Resting any injury is essential before beginning a more intensive physical therapy treatment - tennis elbow is not exception. It is imperative to take a few days (or even weeks) off the court before even attempting to get back in playing shape.
Ice is a wonderful way to reduce swelling and help your injury to heal faster. Muscles and tendons have the tendency
(more…)
Always wanted to learn how to play tennis, but have no idea where to begin? The best way to learn is to take a few classes or find a friend who knows how to play and hit the courts. But, if you’re afraid of looking like a novice, look over these basic rules and game tips before hitting the courts:
-The basic equipment needed: a racquet, tennis balls, and a tennis court.
-The lines painted on the court are: Service Lines: The closest parallel lines to the net (on either side of the net). Baseline: The parallel line furthest from the net is called the baseline. The Alleys: The two long strips on both sides of the court, perpendicular to the net.
In order to play the best game you can, you must have the right equipment. Of course, your racquet is the most important piece of tennis equipment you will ever buy.
Power racquets - which are most suitable for beginners and middle intermediates.
Tweener racquets - which are best suited for intermediate to advanced players.
Control racquets - made especially for more advanced players.
For those who are either new at the game of tennis, or only play periodically, a power racquet is best. Designed to accommodate those with weaker,
(more…)
Playing your best on the tennis court requires strength, endurance, flexibility and coordination. All of these things can be approved upon with the right exercises, thus making you stronger, faster and able to play harder and longer sets.
-Practice slow bursts of exercise like sprinting, jumping and fiercely swinging the racket.
-Allowing yourself minimal recovery periods during exercise. Tennis is a fast-paced game that lends itself to very little downtime on the court.
-Run using a lot of lateral movement.
-Work on increasing your endurance for longer playing times.
(more…)
Moya heading to Sydney 
Former Australian Captain November 30, 2007
JELENA Jankovic and Carlos Moya are the latest additions to the entry list for next month’s Sydney International at Olympic Park. Two of the world’s most charismatic and exciting tennis stars, Jankovic and Moya were both runners-up last year and will be aiming to go one better in 2008.
They are the latest big names confirmed for the Australian Open warm-up event from January 6-12, joining Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake, Richard Gasquet, Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic.
(more…)
Davis Cup … impressive piece of silverware. Pic: Associated Press Davydenko left out of singles 
From Mark Lamport-Stokes in Portland, Oregon
Former Australian Captain November 30, 2007
RUSSIA tennis captain Shamil Tarpishchev has sprung a surprise by omitting Nikolay Davydenko from the singles rubbers in the Davis Cup final against the United States.
Tarpishchev, who has guided Russia
(more…)
This may seem like the most bizarre piece of information you’ve ever heard, but let’s just back things up a little bit.
Let’s think about what happens when you playing a game.
You get yourself into the point with a great return off a good wide serve by your opponent. You are moving (each other) all over the court building the point nicely when all of a sudden your opponent attacks by deciding to come to the net. You attempt a pass which they volley into the opposite corner and you head off to play a stunning running single-handed backhand pass down the line that a certain Mr Federer would be proud of.
Nadal plays down foot injury 
From correspondents in Madrid, Spain
Former Australian Captain November 30, 2007
RAFAEl Nadal insisted a left foot injury that makes it difficult for him to run has not affected his game and is not career-threatening.
The world No.2 was responding to reports quoting his uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, that the injury could affect his future career.
“It’s very serious,” Toni Nadal told a Spanish daily. “I don’t know
(more…)
Scud agrees to play juniors 
By Leo Schlink
Former Australian Captain November 30, 2007
MARK Philippoussis has swallowed his pride, and took a significant step to revive his stalled career, by entering the Australian Open wildcard playoff.
His decision almost certainly will pave the way for Open organisers to award the US Open and Wimbledon finalist main draw berths at Melbourne Park and also at Memorial Drive next month for the Adelaide International.
Australian
(more…)
Hobart claims best field in history 
Former Australian Captain November 29, 2007
NINETEEN of the world’s leading 50 women have committed to play the 2008 Moorilla Hobart International, an important Australian Open lead-up tournament.
Alona Bondarenko, the world No.21 from Ukraine, former top-10 player Vera Zvonareva, from Russia, and 2006 champion Michaella Krajicek, from the Netherlands, headline the strongest field in the tournament’s history.
Russian glamour
(more…)
There are many components that contribute to an effective tennis-training programme but whilst most people will readily mention strength, endurance, flexibility, speed etc one of the most important yet understated components is variety.
Your body is fantastically adaptive in as much as if you repeat the same thing over and over you will adapt and it will become the norm (an important factor in learning), however if you perform the same workout routine (no matter how good it is) it will eventually prove counter productive as all initial gains you make plateau and there will be no overload and any gains will be reversed.
-Tennis Players Network visits Four Seasons Racquet Club in Snellville, Georgia and leaves’ feeling like a day was spent in the mountains!
Georgia tennis stands on its own just the way it is, with over 110,120 competing tennis players playing tennis in neighborhoods and at large posh tennis clubs. However, there is much more available to players; as a tennis player you really can’t always see the forest through the trees. This analogy came to me like a beautiful sunny day the first time I drove up to Four Seasons Racquet Club: tucked away
(more…)
I did not begin playing tennis until the tender age of 36 and a half when my best friend forced me to join her mixed doubles team. Because I was pretty athletic in high school and college, I thought it would be a fairly easy sport to pick up. After all, I ran varsity track, played varsity volleyball, won 4 years in a row in my intramural volleyball team in college, always won at badminton and even organized and captained a co-ed volleyball team for three seasons at my job. Yikes. Wrong. My first mistake was buying a twenty dollar tennis racket at a discount super store. My second was assuming I’d do well from the beginning.
The term Tennis elbow is medically known as lateral epicondylitis. It is an inflammation of the tendons that attach the forearm to the arm bone, the usual stress point is around the elbow, and hence the term tennis elbow. What exactly causes tennis elbow, is still completely not understood, some people believe that the reason is the frequent wear and tear of the elbow joints, others believe that the muscles that are responsible for the cocking the wrist back are to blame (this group of muscles is also called the extensor carpi radialis brevis).However
(more…)
Nadal won six titles in 2007 including a third French Open Reports suggested the 21-year-old’s career was in doubt after uncle Toni admitted: “It’s very serious. I don’t know (if it’s career-threatening).”But the Spaniard’s spokesman Benito Perez-Barbadillo told BBC Sport: “This is nothing new and really serious.”It’s something he lives with. It’s definitely not career-threatening.”Nadal’s season ended with a 6-4 6-1 defeat by world number one Roger Federer at the Masters
(more…)
Borg and McEnroe will renew their long-time rivalry in London McEnroe gets the final automatic qualifying position for the 12-man event after Thomas Muster withdrew.And Borg receives a wild card along with Goran Ivanisevic, Pat Cash, Guy Forget and Jeremy Bates.Sergi Bruguera, Henri Leconte, Cedric Pioline, Paul Haarhuis, Anders Jarryd and Michael Stich complete the field.The 12-man event will be drawn into four groups of three players. 
(more…)
Murray and Mirnyi should be a strong partnership in 2008 The Scot, 21, is ranked 32 in doubles and won four titles with American Eric Butorac in 2007 before their partnership ended in September.Mirnyi, 30, is ranked 16 in the world and has won 33 doubles titles including two US Opens and two French Opens.”He serves big, volleys well and has a great presence. I think he’s a great player,” Murray told The Herald. 
(more…)
Age is not a factor. That’s what the Russian tennis player, Maria Sharapova, proved to the world when she became the third youngest Wimbledon women’s champion in 2004 and World No.1 in 2005 - amazing feat she has accomplished in a short span of time since her debut at the major tennis league. “A great tennis career is something that a 15-year-old normally doesn’t have. I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things they never thought possible.”
The beautiful Sharapova, now 20, has become a hot celebrity figure in and
(more…)
Last chance … Time’s running out for the Scud. Pic: AFP Scud could be finished 
By Leo Schlink
Former Australian Captain November 28, 2007
THE clock is ticking for Mark Philippoussis. The former world No.8 has less than 72 hours in which to make the decision that could save his career. If Philippoussis’s name is missing from the Australian Open wildcard playoff list when the entry deadline closes at 5pm on Friday, his days as a grand slam and ATP warrior will virtually be over.
(more…)
Scud might need qualifying period 
Former Australian Captain November 27, 2007
MARK Philippoussis is prepared to go through qualifying in lead-up tournaments to the Australian Open in a last-ditch attempt to resurrect his career. The 31-year-old’s ranking has been in freefall since suffering another knee injury in December, the two-time grand slam finalist now rated at No.1115 in the world.
While his injury-protected ranking is 112, it’s still not high
(more…)
Haas ‘was not poisoned’ 
From staff reporters
Former Australian Captain November 27, 2007
TOMMY Haas was not poisoned before the Davis Cup semi-final between Germany and Russia in Moscow this year, the International Tennis Federation has found.
Haas withdrew from the tie before his reverse singles against Mikhail Youzhny, and Russia won both reverse singles to defeat Germany 3-2 and reach the Davis Cup final.
Haas withdrew citing a stomach virus, but Germany teammate
(more…)
The more I see the round robin system in the ATP final tournament the less I like it! Simply because at a certain point of the tournament it leads to some very questionable matches like the one between Andy Roddick and Roger Federer. It is obvious to me that since Francisco Gonzales had lost to Nikolai Davidenko, Roddick was automaticaly qualified winning or losing, so when he lost the 1st set against Federer he figured he would save his energy for the semifinal against David Ferrer and let Federer deal with nemesis Rafael Nadal by NOT FIGHTING!
(more…)
Henin sets sights to Sydney 
Former Australian Captain November 26, 2007
WORLD No.1 Justine Henin will use the Sydney International as her final lead-up event to next January’s Australian Open.
The Belgian finished this year with ten titles, including the Grand Slam double of the US Open and French Open.
But it started with the disappointment of missing the Australian circuit through personal reasons that led to her marriage break-up, and the star is looking to start 2008 on the right note.
(more…)
Nalbandian takes final spot 
Former Australian Captain November 26, 2007
ARGENTINA’S world No.9 David Nalbandian has taken the final spot in the field for January’s AAMI Classic field in Melbourne, becoming the fourth top-10 player in the eight-man line-up.
Nalbandian recently won back-to-back Masters Series titles in Madrid and Paris, beating world No.1 Roger Federer and No.2 Rafael Nadal.
The performances lifted the 26-year-old from 25th in world rankings to his latest position.
(more…)
Stosur plots circuit return 
By Leo Schlink
Former Australian Captain November 26, 2007
QUEENSLANDER Sam Stosur is confident of being able to play a full January schedule after plotting a recovery program from a recent spate of illness.
Stosur, Australia’s top-ranked female tennis player at 46th in the world, has struggled with different viruses since Wimbledon.
She spent time in a Florida hospital in September after being diagnosed with viral meningitis, which inflames the soft-tissue membranes around the brain.
Roddick fires broadside 
Former Australian Captain November 25, 2007
Andy Roddick has hurled a two-pronged attack at Russian Nikolay Davydenko and the ATP, just days before the Davis Cup final.
Roddick will spearhead the US assault against defending champions Russia on Friday, but Davydenko has already copped his first serve.
Davydenko was fined $2000 in August after he withdrew from a match in Poland in the third set against 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello and was accused of not trying.
Sampras shocks Federer 
From correspondents in Macau
Former Australian Captain November 24, 2007
PETE Sampras shocked world number one Roger Federer in Macau on Saturday to pull back to 2-1 in their Asian exhibition series.
The former US world champion forced the first break of the match at 4-4 in the second set and served out for victory.
He had earlier taken the first set on a tie-break 10-8 after a tight affair in which there were no breaks of serve.
(more…)
Sampras ran Federer close in match two before winning in Macau Sampras, who retired in 2002, won both his break points against the world number one to seal victory in Macau.”It’s one for the old guy,” said the 36-year old American afterwards.Swiss star Federer, 26, had won the previous two matches earlier this week, beating Sampras 6-4 6-3 in Seoul and 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) in Kuala Lumpur.He was quick to praise Sampras, saying: “We delivered a great level of play. The surface
(more…)
Vaidisova and Petrova for hardcourts 
Former Australian Captain November 23, 2007
CZECH star Nicole Vaidisova is among eight of the world’s top 20 players confirmed for the Australian Women’s Hardcourt Tennis Championships next month.
Vaidisova, who reached the semi-finals of this year’s Sydney International and Australian Open, will be joined by Russia’s Nadia Petrova (14).
Petrova, a finalist in the 2004 event, has reached the quarter-finals or better in 10 events and won this year’s Paris Indoors.
Stosur … still suffering from the effects of viral meningitis. Pic: Getty Stosur told not to rush back 
Former Australian Captain November 23, 2007
DON’T rush a comeback from a debilitating illness. That’s Alicia Molik’s advice to Australia’s top-ranked women’s tennis player Sam Stosur after a nasty virus ruined the second half of the Queenslander’s 2007 world tour campaign. Stosur, 23,
(more…)
Stosur back from illness 
Former Australian Captain November 23, 2007
AUSTRALIA’S top-ranked women’s tennis player Sam Stosur says she’s almost fully recovered from a nasty virus that ruined the second half of her 2007 world tour campaign. Stosur says she’ll be ready to take on the likes of former world number one Amelie Mauresmo and Czech star Nicoles Vaidisova at her home event, the Australian women’s hardcourts starting on the Gold Coast on December 30.
(more…)
Kuala Lumpur - World number Roger Federer one spanked Pete Sampras 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5) on Thursday to win as expected in the second of three Asian tennis exhibitions, then paid tribute to the former great.
The Swiss champion, ten years the junior of 36-year-old Sampras, is two Grand Slam titles away from levelling on the all-time best of 14 set by the American. He is expected to match and likely surpass that record during 2008 if past form is any guide. Like Sampras, Federer has dominated at Wimbledon, winning the last five
(more…)
Federer masters Sampras again 
From correspondents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Former Australian Captain November 23, 2007
WORLD No.1 Roger Federer defeated Pete Sampras for the second time in three days, 7-6 7-6 in Kuala Lumpur - and said the retired US star would be top-five material were he playing today.
Both men held serve to take the first set to a tie-break with the Swiss maestro inching ahead when Sampras hit a forehand into the net.
The American hit back
(more…)