April 2009 Archives

JIM COURIER TO USE "TWITTER" DURING MATCH WITH JOHN MCENROE AT TURNING STONE

Former World No. 1 To Provide Fans and Followers With In-Match Insight This
Saturday

Two-time French and Australian Open Champion Believed To Be First Pro Player To
"Tweet" During a Match

NEW YORK, April 29, 2009 - Jim Courier will provide fans and followers with
insights into his in-match thought processes by using the social network
"Twitter" during his upcoming Saturday, May 2 grudge match against John McEnroe
at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, N.Y.

"I have been using Twitter for the last few months and find it an excellent way
to communicate directly with fans," said Courier, who can be found at
www.twitter.com/jimcourier. "It will be quite a unique experience to use Twitter
on change-overs and provide fans and followers some unique perspectives on
in-match thought processes and perspectives."

Courier and McEnroe will open up the "Turning Stone Resort and Casino Legendary
Night" at 7 pm EST with a grudge match in their first meeting in New York State
since the 1992 U.S. Open. Following the singles match, Courier will pair with
Anna Kournikova in mixed doubles against McEnroe and Tracy Austin, who both won
their first major titles at the U.S. Open 30 years ago. The event will be run by
the Turning Stone Resort in conjunction with InsideOut Sports & Entertainment,
the New York-based sports marketing company co-founded by Courier that also runs
the Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis
players age 30 and over.

Courier is believed to be the first professional tennis player to use Twitter or
any social networking device while competing in a professional match. The use of
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are forbidden in the rules of tennis as it
opens up the possibility of illegal coaching.

"My match with John is not a sanctioned match and not part of the Outback
Champions Series circuit so this allows me to have some fun with Twitter," said
Courier. "I will be tweeting my thoughts on changeovers but won't be answering
any questions until after the match is concluded. It should be fun experimenting
with this and I'm looking forward to the feedback that the Tweeters will no
doubt provide."

Coaching is allowed on-court between sets in WTA Tour events and on on-court on
changeovers by designated captains in Davis Cup and Fed Cup play. Coaching is
also allowed in World Team Tennis play.

Courier is fresh off winning his first tournament of the year on the Outback
Champions Series, defeating Jimmy Arias 6-4, 6-2 in the final of The Residences
at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships Sunday in the Cayman
Islands. Courier's win vaulted him past Pete Sampras to the No. 1 ranking on the
global champions' tennis circuit. In February, McEnroe won the Rio Champions Cup
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, defeating Courier in the final. The 50-year-old
McEnroe, in fact, has beaten the 38-year-old Courier in their last two Outback
Champions Series meetings

Courier is one of 15 men in the history of tennis to play in all four Grand Slam
tournament finals. He won two French Open singles titles (1991 and 1992) and two
Australian Open titles (1992 and 1993) and was a Wimbledon finalist in 1993 and
a US Open finalist in 1991. Courier finished the 1992 season as the world No. 1
ranked player and won 29 career titles (23 singles titles, 6 doubles). He also
helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 1992 and 1995. He was inducted
into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.

Barcelona Singles - Final
[1] R Nadal (ESP) d [4] D Ferrer (ESP) 62 75

Doubles - Final
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [4] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) 63 76(9)

FINAL NOTES - UNSTOPPABLE NADAL WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT BARCELONA TITLE

• ATP World Tour Champion Rafael Nadal won a fifth successive title at the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell after defeating fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 6-2, 7-5 Sunday in a repeat of the 2008 final. As the winner of the ATP World Tour 500 tennis tournament, Nadal collects € 286,000 and 500 South African Airways 2009 ATP Ranking points.
• The 22-year-old Mallorcan clinched his 35th ATP World Tour title (35-9 in finals) and 24th on clay. Last week, he captured his 14th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title on clay at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, where he has won each year since 2005.
• Nadal had held all 23 of his service games this week entering the final, but dropped serve three times against Ferrer in the championship match. The two traded breaks of serve in the first four games of the second set before Nadal succeeded in breaking Ferrer in the 11th game and promptly went on to serve out the match.
• The two players were facing off for the first time since last year's final at the ATP World Tour 500 tennis tournament, a match Nadal won in three sets. Nadal now improves to a 7-3 record against Valencia-native Ferrer.
• It was the eighth all-Spanish final in Barcelona in the Open Era, including the fourth in the past five years. Nadal had won his first three Barcelona titles by defeating countrymen Juan Carlos Ferrero (2005) and Tommy Robredo (2006) and Argentine Guillermo Canas (2007). A Spaniard has won the Barcelona title the past seven years.
• Victory for Nadal marked his 24th straight win in Barcelona, taking him to a 25-1 event record. His only loss came to countryman Alex Corretja in the second round in 2003, when he made his tournament debut at age 16.
• Nadal has now won 47 consecutive matches on clay in the month of April, claiming eight titles during that stretch - five in Monte-Carlo and four in Barcelona (last year's Barcelona final was on May 4). His last loss on clay in April came on April 8, 2005 to Igor Andreev in the Valencia quarter-finals. Since 2005, he has compiled a 142-4 surface match record.
• He extended his clay-court winning streak to 25 matches, with his last loss coming to compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome last year. Nadal will attempt to atone for that early exit when he opens against the winner between Italian Andreas Seppi and American Sam Querrey next week as the top seed in Rome.
• Nadal leads the ATP World Tour this season with a 33-3 match record and four titles, highlighted by wins at the Australian Open (d. Federer in five sets to win sixth Grand Slam championship) and the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournaments in Indian Wells (d. Murray) and Monte-Carlo (d. Djokovic). He also was a finalist in February at Rotterdam (l. to Murray).
• Ferrer dropped to a 7-7 mark in tour-finals (4-5 on clay) and a 23-9 season match record. The 27 year old also finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic earlier this year at the ATP World Tour 500 tennis tournament in Dubai.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

Nadal: "I never imagined anything like this. To win again here in Barcelona, in my home club and at such an important tournament is incredible."

"This has been my best match of the year so far on clay. David played very well and was very aggressive. It was hard to take control of the match and I was lucky that the second set didn't slip away from me."

Ferrer: "Rafa is playing even more aggressively this year. He has a great rhythm right from the start and it's very difficult to beat him."

"The second set was very open. My serve wasn't great and I lacked a little spark but I'll leave here happy and with good memories because I know I'm playing good tennis and on a regular basis."

Barcelona Results, watch for Rafael Nadal to run through Nikolay Davydenko in the semifinals.

RESULTS - FRIDAY, 24 APRIL, 2009

Singles - Quarterfinals
[5] [WC] F Gonzalez (CHI) d [2] F Verdasco (ESP) 63 46 64
[3] N Davydenko (RUS) d [9] R Stepanek (CZE) 67(4) 62 62
[4] D Ferrer (ESP) d [6] T Robredo (ESP) 63 64

Doubles - Quarterfinals
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [5] B Soares (BRA) / K Ullyett (ZIM) 16 63 10-7
[4] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) d L Arnold Ker (ARG) / F Gonzalez (CHI) 75 62
S Aspelin (SWE) / W Moodie (RSA) d R Stepanek (CZE) / V Troicki (SRB) 64 63

ORDER OF PLAY - SATURDAY, 25 APRIL, 2009
   
CENTRAL start 1:30 pm
[1] R Nadal (ESP) vs [3] N Davydenko (RUS)

Not Before 3:30 PM
[4] D Ferrer (ESP) vs [5] [WC] F Gonzalez (CHI)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [4] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH)

PISTA 1 start 12:30 pm
S Aspelin (SWE) / W Moodie (RSA) vs [2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB)

Singles - Final
[1] R Nadal (ESP) d [3] N Djokovic (SRB) 63 26 61

Doubles - Final
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) 64 61


FINAL NOTES - NADAL CLINCHES FIFTH STRAIGHT MONTE-CARLO TITLE

• Reigning ATP World Tour Champion Rafael Nadal captured his fifth straight Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title on Sunday with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 victory over third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia to extend his winning streak to 27 matches at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament.
• The top-seeded Spaniard won his third ATP World Tour title of the 2009 season and is the first player to win an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament five consecutive years. At 22 years of age he joins Roger Federer with 14 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles, second only to Andre Agassi's record haul of 17.
• Nadal is the first ATP World Tour No. 1 to win the Monte-Carlo title since Ivan Lendl in 1988 (d. Jaite), and received €434,000 in prize money and 1000 South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings points for his triumph at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament.
• Nadal, who was appearing in his 43rd ATP World Tour final, has now won 34 trophies putting him alongside Michael Chang in a tie for No. 15 place on the Open Era title list. He is now 23-1 lifetime in clay-court finals, with his only loss coming at Hamburg in May 2007 to Swiss Roger Federer.
• He has won 43 straight matches on clay in the month of April since 8 April 2005.
• In the 16th career meeting between Nadal and Djokovic, the two traded breaks of serve to start the final. Nadal fought off one break point at 1-2, 30-40, but could not conjure up a suitable response to a Djokovic drop shot on the Serbian's second break point opportunity. Nadal then reeled off five straight games with three service breaks to take the opening set in 63 minutes.
• Nadal conceded his first set in Monte-Carlo since his 2006 final win against Federer after Djokovic went up two breaks of serve early in the second set, and needed to recover from a 0-30 deficit and save three break points in the first game of the third set.
• The Spaniard claimed a 2-0 lead when a Djokovic forehand hit the net tape and landed wide, but the World No. 3 won the third game after Nadal hit two groundstrokes out on successive points. After 41 minutes of play in the third set Nadal flexed his muscles and won four straight games - dropping just three points - to wrap up victory in two hours and 44 minutes.
• With the victory, Nadal took a 12-4 lead in the head-to-head series against Djokovic, including a 7-0 mark on clay.
• Nadal is now just one Monte-Carlo title away from equalling England's Reggie Doherty's six titles (1897-99, 1902-04) at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, won at the dawn of the 103-year-old championship. The Spaniard has a 29-1 career record at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament, with his only loss coming in 2003 to Guillermo Coria.
• The Mallorcan, who has ranked No. 1 since 18 August 2008, improved to 29-3 on the 2009 ATP World Tour season with other championship successes coming at the Australian Open (d. Federer) in January and at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells (d. Murray) in March.
• Djokovic was appearing in his first Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters final, having retired due to dizziness in the second set of his 2008 semi-final against Federer. The Monte-Carlo resident has an 8-4 tournament record. He was awarded €203,000 as runner-up and received 600 South African Airways 2009 ATP Ranking points.
• Djokovic dropped to 26-9 on the 2009 ATP World Tour season after he appeared in his 20th ATP World Tour final (12-8). This year he won his 12th ATP World Tour title at Dubai (d. Ferrer) and also finished runner-up at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami (l. to Murray).
• His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the 103rd edition of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, which had a record attendance of 123,000 spectators during the week.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

Nadal: "[It is] always really important for me start the clay season like this, for the confidence. [To] win another time here is more than a dream for me.  [It] is unbelievable, a fifth title here in Monte Carlo. I never expect something like this. [It] is one of the most important tournaments in the world. [It] is a really historic tournament. [The] best players of the history [played] here."

"[Novak] is a very good player. On clay, too, he has very good results. I think top three or top four on clay. [Whenever you] play against him [it] is tough. And today wasn't an exception."

Djokovic: "I think I've played a very good match, actually one of the best I have played against him on this surface. It's really unfortunate that in certain moments I didn't play the way I was supposed to play, with a little bit more patience. I went for too much. He used his strength and his experience playing in the big matches and just waited wisely for his chances, then he used them."

On whether he can beat Nadal: "We are coming back again to the story of believing in yourself. I think there is where the key of playing him. You just have to be focused every single point because you have a player on the other side of the net that doesn't really give you any points. I mean, you could see him [at] 5-1 in the third set, he played like it's 5-all. He really doesn't care about the result. He just wants to give his best every single point. That's why he's very unique and that's why he's the best now."


DOUBLES FINAL - NESTOR-ZIMONJIC TOP BRYANS TO WIN THIRD MASTERS 1000 TITLE

• Second seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic captured their second ATP World Tour title of the 2009 ATP World Tour season at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Sunday, beating top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4, 6-1 in just 48 minutes. It was their team's third ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, adding to last year's triumphs at Hamburg and Toronto.
• The 36-year-old Nestor, who was appearing in his 99th career doubles final, improved to 57-42 in championship matches while Zimonjic has now won 25 titles from 46 career finals.
• Nestor, a first-time Monte-Carlo finalist, has won 14 titles at eight different ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events. Zimonjic has won five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles, including three in Monte-Carlo. He clinched his first pair at this event in 2004 (w/Henman) and in '05 (w/Paes).
• Nestor and Zimonjic, the reigning ATP World Tour Doubles Champions were contesting their first ATP World Tour final since capturing the Rotterdam title in February. They also reached back-to-back finals in Doha (l. to M. Lopez-Nadal) and Sydney (l. to Bryans) in January.
• The Bryans were appearing in their third final in six visits to the Monte-Carlo Country Club. They captured the title in 2007 with victory over Frenchmen Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet and they were finalists in 2005 (W/O vs. Paes-Zimonjic).
• The four-time former ATP World Tour Doubles Champion dropped to 28-4 on the 2009 ATP World Tour season. They were coming off their tour-best fourth title in Houston. Their three other titles came at Sydney (d. Nestor-Zimonjic), the Australian Open (d. Bhupathi-Knowles) - where they won their seventh Grand Slam championship - and at Delray Beach.
• The American twins came into the week atop the 2009 ATP Doubles Team Rankings, 1780 points ahead of their nearest challengers - Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram.
• The 30-year-old California natives, who saved a match point in their semi-final victory over Dlouhy and Paes, were appearing in their 87th career final together (53-34 in finals). 

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

Nestor: "We were both on top of our game. Everything was working. Once we got ahead in the first set at 4-4, everything started clicking and I think it was the best we have played as a team. We're happy to win here. We got off to a slow start [to the season] and I think the most important thing has been to get confidence by playing matches. Hopefully we can carry it through the next few weeks. It's great to reach my 99th final, I've won a few and lost some too. It's always nice to get a win." 

Zimonjic: "It is a great feeling when you play finals like this, especially against the No. 1 team. Obviously everything went perfect for us. I have to say it was a perfect match, I don't think we can play better than this. We took all our chances and didn't face a break point. To do it against the Bryans in the final is a great achievement."

"We haven't been playing great the last few weeks, I had some problems with my knee and I have to say the doctors and medical staff have really helped me a lot. Slowly my game has been improving this week. Hopefully we can continue to play well and build the rivalry with the Bryans that we had last year."

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30169435/

As a fellow grinder on the court, I always enjoy watching Nadal; however, this recent move by Federer was very gutsy, and exhibits his true heart.  As my best coaches and mentors used to say..."In tennis and life... play from the heart."  -HC

 

 

Wtt.com Exclusive

Juan Martin Del Potro has the heaviest ground strokes in tennis, and that proved to be too much for Rafael Nadal in Key Biscayne.  I just returned from the tournament, it was a great time, and the tennis spirit is truly riding high in Miami (quite possibly the tennis capital of the world).  The footage is coming up soon!

 

RESULTS - THURSDAY, 2 APRIL, 2009

Singles - Quarter-Finals
[6] J Del Potro (ARG) d [1] R Nadal (ESP) 64 36 76(3)
[4] A Murray (GBR) d [8] F Verdasco (ESP) 61 62

Doubles - Semi-Finals
A Fisher (AUS) / S Huss (AUS) d [1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) 76(6) 64
M Mirnyi (BLR) / A Ram (ISR) d J Knowle (AUT) / J Melzer (AUT) 46 76(8) 10-6 - saved 5 M.P.

ORDER OF PLAY - FRIDAY, 3 APRIL, 2009

STADIUM start 1:00 pm
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [2] R Federer (SUI) - ATP
[WC] S Kuznetsova (RUS) / A Mauresmo (FRA) vs A Groenefeld (GER) / P Schnyder (SUI) - WTA
Not Before 7:00 PM
[6] J Del Potro (ARG) vs [4] A Murray (GBR) - ATP
[3] K Peschke (CZE) / L Raymond (USA) vs C Chuang (TPE) / S Mirza (IND) - WTA