December 2008 Archives

Happy New Year, with 2009 right around the corner, the ATP Tour is still making moves.  Most recently they announced the arrival of Belgrade on their 2009 schedule.

ATP WORLD TOUR TO FEATURE NEW BELGRADE TOURNAMENT IN 2009   

London, UK. - Belgrade will play host to the Serbia Open 2009 next season following the ATP Board's approval of the Amersfoort sanction sale.  The new ATP World Tour 250 event will be staged at SRPC Milan Gale Muskatirovic in Belgrade from 4-10 May. The event will be played on outdoor clay.  

 ATP Player Board Representative Ivan Ljubicic said:

"We are delighted to welcome Belgrade onto the 2009 ATP World Tour. The team involved in this new event have shown great passion and ambition in their plans to bring the ATP World Tour to Serbia and we all look forward to a fantastic week of world class tennis in May.” 

 World No. 3 Novak Djokovic said:

“I am very excited that we are able to create an opportunity in Serbia to be a part of the ATP World Tour. My family, along with myself, is also very emotional about that. Tennis is a very popular sport in my country and we are happy that having a ATP World Tour 250 event from 2009 will help us show the world the beauty of my home town Belgrade and of Serbia.” 

Sports cartoonist Frankie Galasso recently made this NFL cartoon illustrating my NBC10 Sports colleagues and I...pertaining to the New England Patriots.  Happy Holidays from Tennis Talk!

Play Tennis Florida Magazine recently released a few off season tennis gossip notes...just wanted to share them with you:

32-year-old Lindsay Davenport announced she is pregnant again, and has withdrawn from the 2009 Australian Open.

Serena Williams withdrew from the January Hopman Cup team event citing a hamstring injury. Partner James Blake will now team with countrywoman Meghann Shaughnessy to represent the U.S.

Pete Sampras says it could be a long wait for the next U.S. tennis No. 1 in today's ultra-competitive international climate: "It's a tricky time. The American media and the fans expect American champions and our guys to be No. 1, and when you don't get that people start complaining. It's a tough comparison for Andy (Roddick) and James (Blake) to be compared to myself and Andre (Agassi) and Jim (Courier) and Michael (Chang). That was a pretty unique crew...It's going to take maybe five, 10, 15 years for another crew of really good young Americans. It might not happen for 40 years -- it's hard to say."

USTA officials are considering putting a roof on Arthur Ashe stadium and converting it to a multi-use sports arena, possibly attracting a pro sports team.

The Outback Champions Series senior tour has dropped the Naples (Fla.) and Dallas (Tex.) events off the calendar for 2009, but added events in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena in Birmingham, Ala., will host the 2009 first-round Davis Cup tie between the United States and Switzerland on March 6-8 featuring Roger Federer and Andy Roddick.

"This was in Palm Springs. I think it was Andy and James, Bob and Mike had set up a karaoke machine in the lobby of the hotel. A bus full of 200 or so USTA staff members pulled up in front of the lobby and I had to sing karaoke in front of them all."
-- Sam Querrey on being 'hazed' as a new U.S. Davis Cup team member in 2008. 

Atptennis.com & Getty Images recently released their top photos from 2008.  These two were tied for first, in my own opinion.  The first is a shot of Rafael Nadal making a dramatic entrance in Paris, and the second is Rafa falling to the ground after winning his first Wimbledon title.  I feel that they are very symbolic:  Rafa "entering" the city which hosts his beloved Roland Garros; which was the location of his first major title of the year.  Meanwhile, the second picture represents successfully "leaving" the city which hosts Wimbledon, which was his last major title of the year.  It was a memorable season for Rafa...can't wait for 2009!

© Getty Images

© Getty Images

These days, one hears more about NCAA men's tennis teams getting eliminated than teams being promoted. But a promotion is what we are seeing this year for the Bryant University men's tennis team. The Bryant Bulldogs are a bright ray of positive light. After a successful run in Division II, Bryant is in the midst of its first year competing at the Division I level.

Questions and Answers

Harry Cicma (HC): Coach, there is a lot to be excited about pertaining to Bryant tennis. How has the jump to Division I been for you and your team?

Ron Gendron (RG): The jump to Division I has been a lot of fun so far. Our team has responded quite well, and many of the universities in the area have been very receptive to the addition of a new team rather than the constant subtraction of Division I tennis programs.

HC: What has been the biggest challenge in moving to the top division of NCAA tennis?

RG: The amount of tournament play is much greater, along with the fact that most - if not all - of our competition is equal or greater. There are no more bunnies, Harry! This is a welcome challenge which hopefully, we are prepared to handle.

HC: Have you noticed any distinct differences between Division I and II with respect to time traveling on the road and time spent on the court?

RG: One of the largest differences for Bryant in transitioning from D2 to D1 has been that the nearby Boston- and Connecticut-areas have more high-caliber teams for us to compete against. While travel has improved, time on court has tripled. The Fall for D1 tennis is loaded with tournaments where we are spending three and four days on the court as opposed to a handful of dual matches.

HC: When looking for a recruit, what are the main traits you look for, and how important are attitude/personality versus sheer skill level?

RG: We are looking for the best student athletes we can possible find. Bryant University is a very challenging business school that takes pride in preparing its student-athletes for the rigors of the workplace and life. So we need to find young men that can handle the workload off the court - and still be able to compete on the court.

HC: You played college tennis at the Division I level for Providence College in the Big East. How has that on-court experience helped you with your players? Do you get more respect from them per se?

RG: I would like to think that we recruit young men who come in with respect for their coaches. Of course, playing for a Big East school gives me some experience to help with this challenge. Hopefully I am a better coach than I was a player.

HC: The University of Rhode Island men's tennis team recently got eliminated, leaving Bryant and Brown University as the only remaining Division I men's programs in the state. Do you feel an extra responsibility now to represent the Ocean State?

RG: No I don't feel any extra responsibility to represent the Ocean State, although I hope we do so in a positive manner. It's a wonderful opportunity for me to be at Bryant where there is a commitment to the men's tennis program. It's also a great feeling to be a part of a University that is adding - rather than detracting - from Division I Tennis.

HC: Speaking of Brown, Jay Harris and his Bears have built a strong legacy throughout Rhode Island, and the whole northeast region. Do you feel that Brown's presence forces your team to maintain a top level of play in order to compete for local recruits?

RG: What Jay and Brown University have done is nothing short of amazing. The fact that RI has a premier tennis program is something I wish all Rhode Islanders knew so that more of them would come out to see the matches.

If anything, I feel that Brown's presence can only help Bryant University. Since our transition, Jay and his team have gone out of their way to be great neighbors. Based on the fact that Bryant has a high caliber business program, we should be attracting different student athletes than those who would look at a university such as Brown.

HC: Your Bulldogs have notched a few impressive wins over Ivy League players at fall invitational tournaments, so it's clear that you can compete at a solid level. With that being said, what are your team's goals for the spring season?

RG: This spring we hope to maintain a high level of play, graduate our seniors, and have as much fun we possible can.

When I was a freshman at Providence there was a buzz around campus - we had a young basketball coach in Rick Pitino, we were going to Final Four, and we were competing in baseball, tennis, track, and everything else. It was a great time to be a Big East athlete.

We have a very similar feeling here at Bryant. The transition to D1 has invigorated our campus and community, our kids are fired up, and we also have a very energetic and high-quality coaching staff led by the best lacrosse coach in the country, Mike Pressler. It's awesome to feel that buzz again!

After I witnessed Pete Sampras lose to Roger Federer in a third set tie breaker last March in New York, a part of me believed that Sampras could quite possibly make a run at the All England Club and maybe win one more Wimbledon trophy (for the ages).  Although, that hope quickly came crashing down when I saw John McEnroe beat Pete at Jim Courier's 2008 Outback Champions Event in Boston.  Johnny Mac is still the man on court, but he isn't at a top 30 ATP caliber anymore (at least not in singles), and if Pete can't tool Mac, he would stand virtually no chance against Rafa or Roger on grass.  The biggest problem that Sampras would face at Wimbledon is that the courts are slower than they used to be, giving baseliners such as Rafa and Djokovic a much better look at Pete's serve.  Sampras could feasibly win a few rounds, maybe even make it to the second week of Wimbledon, but I'm sure he would agree that his body would break down in the 5th set of a Grand Slam quarterfinal match, even on grass.  It was a fun thought while it lasted, but my childhood role model made a wise choice to step down from ATP tennis after winning his final 2002 US Open in dramatic fashion.  The reason I bring Pete up is because he just fell to Cedric Pioline in the year end Seniors event (speaking of Seniors tennis events, I love Courier's Outback tour, strongy recommend attending a few matches if you get the chance):