Tennis FanHouse

Roger Federer Is No. 1 Again

FanHouse Newswire — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:56:00 EST

LONDON (AP) -- Roger Federer has reclaimed his spot at the top of the tennis world, securing the year-end No. 1 ranking for the fifth time.

The record 15-time Grand Slam champion is closing in on Pete Sampras' all-time mark of six.

"It means a lot to have returned to No. 1 and to finish the year again at No. 1," Federer said Wednesday after accepting a trophy on court at the ATP World Tour Finals. "It was an incredible year for me both on the court and off the court and to be able to break the all-time Grand Slam record and finish the year on top is amazing."

Federer earned the top year-end ranking after winning his opening two matches at the season-ending tour finals at the O2 Arena. Rafael Nadal, who ended Federer's five-year run as the end-of-season No. 1 last year, had a mathematical chance of overtaking Federer for the top spot but lost his opening match.

Federer struggled in the 2008 season, but reached all four Grand Slams finals yet again in 2009 and won two titles. The first championship came at the French Open, making the Swiss player only the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.

At the All England Club, he reclaimed the Wimbledon title by defeating Andy Roddick 16-14 in the fifth set and surpassing Sampras with his 15th major title.

"After having a rough 2008, coming back this year and being able to dominate and play at the top when the depth in tennis is so, so great at the moment, I think it's a wonderful achievement," Federer said after beating Andy Murray on Tuesday. "It's a wonderful feeling."

Up next for Federer, who got married and had twin daughters this year, is trying to match Sampras with a sixth year-end No. 1 ranking. He's tied with Jimmy Connors with five apiece.

But this year's achievement was also special because Federer became only the second player to reclaim the distinction after losing it. Ivan Lendl, who was No. 1 from 1985-87, did it in 1989.

At the ATP World Tour Finals, Federer has twice rallied after losing the first set, first beating Fernando Verdasco on Sunday and Murray on Tuesday. He will face Juan Martin del Potro on Thursday to guarantee a spot in the semifinals of the season-ending tournament.

Del Potro, who is 1-1 in the round-robin tournament, beat Federer in five sets in the U.S. Open final.

"It could be a make-or-break match for us to get through," Federer said. "If that's the case, I'll give it all I have and try to beat him this time. Last time we played, it was a fantastic match in New York."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Roger Federer Is No. 1 Again originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Federer, Murray Win in London

FanHouse Newswire — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:03:00 EST

Filed under: ATP, ATP Rankings

LONDON (AP) -- Roger Federer overcame an erratic forehand and Fernando Verdasco on Sunday, rallying to beat his Spanish opponent 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the round-robin stage of the ATP World Tour Finals.

The top-ranked Federer was broken only once -- in the opening game of the Group A match after double-faulting on the first point -- but he never looked dominating until late in the second set when he converted his first break point to even the score at one set apiece.

In the third set at the O2 Arena, Federer was back to his old self. He controlled play as usual, and gave Verdasco little chance to stay in the match.

"I was down a set, and only the second set was I able to sort of get the ball into play, find my range, find my rhythm," Federer said. "This is also when I started to feel like I had chances.

"My first break points, I think I could have had them earlier if I played a bit earlier, but they came for set points, and it was a crucial moment for me because I knew the longer the match went, the more my belief was going up and his was going down. Then in the third, I was able to play more freely."

In the early Group A match, Andy Murray overcame a second-set slump to beat Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Federer had been in real danger of losing for the third straight match. Although Verdasco earned only two more break points in the match, his shots were landing and his serve was working for much of the night.

All that changed in the course of three shots. Federer and Verdasco were even at 15-15 on the Spaniard's serve in the 12th game of the second set when Verdasco shanked an overhead shot and then sent a forehand long. With two break points, Federer converted with an easy smash at the net on the first.

"After that, my fitness started going down," Verdasco said. "He also got confidence, and the match changed."

Federer finished the match with more unforced errors on his forehand (15) than winners (13). But only one of those errors came in the third set.

Overall, Federer had 30 winners and 29 unforced errors, while Verdasco managed only 18 winners and 31 unforced errors.

"I don't think he has much to prove," Federer said. "Now he has to reach very high, which is not an easy thing to do because it's quite open at the top in a way, so everybody beats everybody."

Coming into the tournament for the top eight players in the world, Federer was riding a two-match losing streak. He was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the Swiss Indoors final early this month, and then lost to Julien Benneteau in his only match at the Paris Masters.

Federer will next play Murray on Tuesday, and Verdasco will take on Del Potro.

In Group B, Rafael Nadal will play Robin Soderling on Monday in the first singles match of the day. Novak Djokovic then faces Nikolay Davydenko.

Murray and Del Potro mixed brilliant winners with an equal amount of simple errors in the opening match, and it was the Argentine who double-faulted to give Murray his one and only match point.

"It was a really good start," Murray said. "Me and Juan haven't played that much since the U.S. Open. I kind of expected a little bit of a scrappy match."

Del Potro needed a medical time-out after the third game in the first set to treat a bleeding nose, but didn't seem bothered by the ailment for the rest of the game. He shrugged off the incident after the match, saying he has a history of nosebleeds.

"I have a big nose, that's the problem," the Argentine said. "It's just bleeding, I don't know why."

Murray dominated the third set, breaking Del Potro in the second game en route to a 4-1 lead.

"There was a period (between the) end of the first set till the beginning of the third where he was hitting it big," Murray said. "He's got a big serve, long reach, goes for huge shots. You just have to try and find a way through that. Tactically, I've always been quite good. So I found a way through it today."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Federer, Murray Win in London originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATP Will Not Reopen Agassi Case

FanHouse Newswire — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:57:00 EST

Filed under: ATP, ATP Rankings

LONDON (AP) -- The ATP Tour will not reopen a doping case against Andre Agassi even though he admitted to lying about using crystal meth in 1997.

Agassi revealed in his recent autobiography that he failed a 1997 drug test, a result he says was thrown out after he lied by claiming he "unwittingly" took crystal meth.

However, ATP chairman Adam Helfant said on Friday that there was no way to sanction the American retroactively since he has retired from tennis.

"There has been a lot of speculation about whether the ATP would reopen the case, but we cannot do that because he's no longer playing on the tour," Helfant said at the ATP World Tour Finals in London. "I asked an outside law firm to go through the records from 1997 so I had all the facts. Andre Agassi has admitted he failed a drugs test in 1997 and regrettably he then lied about it. Even more regrettably he got away with it."

He said the ATP's decision not to reveal the positive test was in line with its policy not to comment on doping cases.

"If we had revealed that test it would have been in contravention of the rules at the time," he said.

Helfant said he had a "very frank conversation" with Agassi after the book came out, and that the ATP has responded to the World Anti-Doping Agency's questions about the case.

"But what was said will remain between us and will not be made public," he said.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

ATP Will Not Reopen Agassi Case originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suspended Players Wickmayer, Malisse Appeal WADA Rulings

FanHouse Newswire — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: WTA, ATP

BRUSSELS (AP) -- Suspended Belgian tennis players Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse are launching appeals with European authorities challenging the legality of the whereabouts rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Victory at the European Commission in Brussels and the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights could force WADA to change its rules on when and where athletes can be tested out of competition.

"The indispensable fight against doping is not the issue here. The problem is the lack of proportionality of certain measures," their lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The athletes are already appealing their one-year bans before the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Greg Couch: WADA Punishing Wickmayer for Agassi's Sin

Dupont was the lawyer of Belgian soccer player Jean-Marc Bosman, and secured the 1995 ruling of the European Court of Justice that forced FIFA to drastically change its transfer rules and limits on foreign players.

The 20-year-old Wickmayer, a U.S. Open semifinalist, was banned for failing three times to correctly report where she could be found for testing. The 16th-ranked player said she never missed a test or tested positive.

Malisse, a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2002, missed one test and twice failed to report his whereabouts. The 29-year-old says the one-year suspension could end his career.

"No one has accused them of doping, yet their careers are shattered," Dupont said.

"The European Union treaty gives them the right to freely ply their trade and play throughout Europe. This right is now disproportionally violated," he said, explaining the complaints to EU authorities.

The controversial "whereabouts" rule is a cornerstone of WADA policy. It requires elite athletes to make themselves available for out-of-competition testing for one hour a day, 365 days a year.

Under the rules, athletes must give three months' notice of where and when they can be located for testing. The information is registered online and can be updated by e-mail or text message.

If an athlete misses three out-of-competition tests or fails three times to register where he will be for anti-doping tests, sanctions can be imposed.

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Yanina Wickmayer Photos

Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer wipes a tear as she addresses the media at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009. U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer was suspended for one year by a Belgian anti-doping tribunal on Thursday for failing to report her whereabouts to anti-doping officials three times. Wickmayer has denied any wrongdoing and said on her Web site she planned to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.(AP Photo/Yves Logghe)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yanina Wickmayer Photos

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer cries as she addresses the media at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009. U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer was suspended for one year by a Belgian anti-doping tribunal on Thursday for failing to report her whereabouts to anti-doping officials three times. Wickmayer has denied any wrongdoing and said on her Web site she planned to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer addresses the media at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009. U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer was suspended for one year by a Belgian anti-doping tribunal on Thursday for failing to report her whereabouts to anti-doping officials three times. Wickmayer has denied any wrongdoing and said on her Web site she planned to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.(AP Photo/Yves Logghe)

Belgian tennis star Yanina Wickmayer speaks during a press conference, at the Koning Boudewijn Stadium - Stade Roi Baudouin, in Brussels, on November 12, 2009. Wickmayer, who burst onto the scene in September with a run into the US Open semi-finals, was handed one-year bans by the Flemish Doping Tribunal (VDT) on November 3, 2009. AFP PHOTO / BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM (Photo credit should read DIRK WAEM/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Belgian tennis star Yanina Wickmayer gestures during a press conference, at the Koning Boudewijn Stadium - Stade Roi Baudouin, in Brussels, on November 12, 2009. Wickmayer, who burst onto the scene in September with a run into the US Open semi-finals, was handed one-year bans by the Flemish Doping Tribunal (VDT) on November 3, 2009. AFP PHOTO / BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM (Photo credit should read DIRK WAEM/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Many athletes contend the system violates their right to privacy, while WADA says the fight against doping benefits all athletes and supersedes that right.

WADA says it is necessary to test athletes out of competition because many banned substances are undetectable by the time a competition starts. The agency instituted the "whereabouts" rule to catch athletes who were doping between competitions.

Wickmayer has said she was never properly informed how the system works and is now being punished like a doping cheat without ever having tested positive.

"They are taking my work of 10 years away. Just like that. Just because I didn't fill in (my whereabouts)," she said on Thursday. After the one-year suspension, Wickmayer will have lost her ranking and will be forced to start over.

Wickmayer was suspended last week by a Belgian anti-doping tribunal, which based its decision on the WADA rules.

Suspended Players Wickmayer, Malisse Appeal WADA Rulings originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Novak Djokovic Wins First Paris Masters

FanHouse Newswire — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:16:00 EST

Filed under: ATP

PARIS (AP) -- Third-seeded Novak Djokovic scrambled to a 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (3) victory over local favorite Gael Monfils on Sunday to win the Paris Masters for the first time.

The victory gave Djokovic back-to-back ATP Tour titles after his win over top-ranked Roger Federer in the Swiss Indoors final last Sunday.

The third-ranked Djokovic also beat World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals in Paris and will be a strong favorite when he'll try to defend his title at the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals from Nov. 22-29 in London.

"Winning back to back titles at this level is a huge achievement for me, and adding to that, beating the World No.1 and No. 2," Djokovic said. "I really feel that I'm in great form right now."

The Serb looked set for a comfortable triumph after winning the first set in just 30 minutes, but then struggled to stay at the same level.

"It was unbelievably difficult," said Djokovic, who has won a record 76 matches on the tour this season and claimed his first Masters 1000 tournament of the year following defeats in four finals.

"Gael was very unpredictable and he was hitting the ball very good," said Djokovic, who is 4-0 against Monfils.

Djokovic will defend his title at the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals from Nov. 22-29 in London.

The former Australian Open winner fell on his knees and screamed on the center court when Monfils -- who was chasing his third career title -- double-faulted on the first match point to give Djokovic his 16th career title.

"I didn't find any solution in the beginning, I was playing too defensive", Monfils said. "But I didn't lose faith in my chances and I almost overturned the match."

Losing only three points on his serve in the first set, Djokovic pumped his fist when he took a 5-2 lead with a forehand winner down the line. He won the set in the next game when Monfils hit his first double-fault.

But Djokovic made 21 unforced errors in the second set and Monfils finally gave his supporters something to cheer by converting his first break point of the match in the fifth game after Djokovic missed an easy backhand volley.

Monfils then leveled at 3-3 and kept the pressure on Djokovic, failing to convert three other chances to break before taking the Serb's service with a return winner for a 6-5 lead.

In the final set, Djokovic broke in the fourth game with a little help from Monfils, who lost his serve with his third double-fault of the match. Djokovic also double-faulted on Monfils' break point in the seventh game and the 15th-seeded Frenchman leveled at 4-4 and eventually force a tiebreaker.

"The support of the crowd was one of the probably crucial things of today's match in his favor," Djokovic said. "So that makes my success even bigger."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Novak Djokovic Wins First Paris Masters originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Djokovic Trumps Nadal, Will Meet Monfils in Paris Finals

FanHouse Newswire — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:46:00 EST

Filed under: ATP

PARIS (AP) -- Novak Djokovic overpowered Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-3 Saturday to reach the Paris Masters final for the first time.

The Serb will face Gael Monfils of France on Sunday. He advanced to the final with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over Radek Stepanek.

Djokovic is 3-0 overall against Monfils.

"He is one of the players who is very unpredictable," Djokovic said. "He can play really, really fast. And with a big serve, he can do a lot of damage to opponents."

The third-ranked Djokovic was dominant from the start and didn't face a single break point en route to the victory over Nadal. Winning 83 percent of first-serve points, Djokovic also had 31 winners.

"I felt so good on the court that all the shots I hit transformed into winners," Djokovic said. "It was perfect, exactly the way I wanted."

Djokovic defeated Nadal for the second consecutive time to improve his overall record to 6-14 against him. He reached his 10th final of the year.

Nadal defeated defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals after two difficult three-set matches in the previous rounds.

"I finished this tournament much better than I started," Nadal said. "The confidence will not go away because I lost 6-2, 6-3 to Djokovic."

Djokovic took the first set after claiming four games in a row. He pumped his fist when he broke the second-ranked Nadal at love to lead 4-2 with a backhand winner down the line. He didn't lose a point in the next two games, overwhelming his rival with powerful groundstrokes and subtle drop shots.

Nadal, who lost 14 straight points on his serve and seven consecutive games overall, was broken at love for the third time in a row when Djokovic hit another forehand down the line for a 2-0 lead in the second set.

Djokovic, who defeated top-ranked Roger Federer in the Swiss Indoors final last week, twisted his ankle in the seventh game after firing a crosscourt backhand passing shot. But he held serve and closed out the match with a forehand winner.

Monfils broke in the fifth game before clinching the set when Stepanek sent a backhand wide.

In the second set, Monfils served for the match at 5-4 but Stepanek broke him twice in row behind strong play at the net.

Monfils and Stepanek traded breaks early in the third. Monfils broke in the ninth game when Stepanek missed a volley.

"I found a solution by digging deep in my mental resources," Monfils said. "I gave the proof that I'm a great player."

He knows he'll have to find more inner strength against Djokovic.

"I'm burnt out, but tomorrow it will be a fierce mental battle," Monfils said.

Nadal returned to competition in October after a month off because of a pulled stomach muscle. He reached the semifinals in Beijing, then the final in Shanghai where he lost to Nikolay Davydenko. His last title victory on the tour came in May at the Rome Masters.

Nadal and Djokovic are among eight players who will compete in the ATP World Tour Finals on Nov. 22-29 in London.

Nadal is also expected to play the Davis Cup final when defending champion Spain will host the Czech Republic on Dec. 4-6 in Barcelona.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Djokovic Trumps Nadal, Will Meet Monfils in Paris Finals originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marat Safin Calls it a Career

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: ATP, ATP Rankings

PARIS (AP) -- Known for furious, racket-throwing rants, Marat Safin would rather be remembered for the hard work he put in during a 12-year career marked by two Grand Slam titles and a Davis Cup win.

The former No. 1 ended his career Wednesday after losing to Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the second round of the Paris Masters.

"A lot of people there really thought that I'm not a really hard worker," Safin said. "But you can ask all my coaches how I dedicated myself to tennis. They will tell you it's completely the opposite of what a lot of people think."

Greg Couch: Safin Bows Out His Way

The 29-year-old Safin first made headlines in 1998 when he reached the fourth round at the French Open with victories over Andre Agassi and Gustavo Kuerten. He won his first ATP title the year after, and claimed his first major at the 2000 U.S Open with a victory over Pete Sampras in the final.

Safin reached No. 1 in November 2000 before injuries and other issues prevented him from a long stay at the top. He lost two major finals before adding a second Grand Slam title at the 2005 Australian Open.

Safin, who said he will miss high-level competition, is relieved he won't have to deal with injuries and pressure anymore.

"You are completely stressed 24-7," the 65th-ranked Russian said. "This is what I hate about it. It's just too much. There is no rest for the brain at all. Once you are top 10, and then you can drop to 150. And it's difficult to comeback. It's a very tough living."

Safin said he'd love to change the outcome of two painful defeats.

"French Open semifinals against (Juan Carlos) Ferrero and Australian Open final against (Thomas) Johansson," said Safin, remembering losses dating back to 2002.

That year, the Russian was beaten by Johansson in four sets on his 22nd birthday, but also gave Russia a Davis Cup win over France in Paris.

"It's where I started and where I finished," Safin said about the French capital. "I couldn't have found a better place to (retire). French people have been great to me. Great fans, great spectators. They perfectly understand tennis."

Safin, a three-time winner at the Paris Masters, captured 15 singles titles during his career. But the charismatic Russian hasn't won a tournament since his Australian Open victory in 2005. His best result this year was reaching the semifinals last month in St. Petersburg, Russia.

"Today I will put all my memories, all my wins and losses in a small box," Safin said during a small ceremony where he received a special trophy. "Today a door is closed, hopefully another one will open."

Safin was joined on the court by several current and former players, including Marc Rosset, Younes El Aynaoui and Albert Costa.

"It's really a special feeling to see Younes, Marc and Alberto here," Safin said. "We had some fun together. For me it means a lot that they came to say goodbye."

Safin, known for his outspokenness, also teased some of the players who came to greet him.

"Of course it's very nice to see all the people coming to the court," Safin said. "And I hope the ATP people didn't push them to do that. Because I didn't expect some of them to be here."

For his last match, Safin gave the Parisian crowd terrific winners from the baseline, fine touch at the net, strong first serves but also horrendous unforced errors and a tossed racket.

In the first set, he missed a chance to break Del Potro when the fifth-seeded Argentine served a winner to even it at 3-3. Safin then lost his serve after sending a forehand wide and Del Potro ended the set with a service winner.

Safin saved a break point at 5-5 in the second set and earned three set points when Del Potro sent a forehand in the net. Del Potro survived the first one with a service winner but was left stranded by Safin's forehand winner on the next point.

In the third, Del Potro broke for a 2-1 lead and finished Safin off on his second match point with an ace.

Del Potro congratulated Safin at the net while the audience gave the Russian a standing ovation.

Safin remained unclear about his projects for the future.

"Sportsmen are great when they are sportsmen," Safin said. "Afterwards, it's a little bit tough for them. The transition from being a tennis player to do something else is difficult. And if time passes too much, you're just an ex-tennis player."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Marat Safin Calls it a Career originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andre Agassi Remorseful on '60 Minutes'

Chris Sesno — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:16:00 EST

Filed under: ATP

A reflective Andre Agassi gave his first TV interview on CBS' 60 Minutes since the shocking excerpts from his autobiography were released to the public less than two weeks ago.

Katie Couric pressed Agassi on many of the revelations from his book, including the pressure he felt from his father, his secret sentiments toward the sport that made him famous and the admission that he frequently used crystal meth with his trainer in 1997.

"I have to call it like it is," Agassi said when asked about the motivations behind revealing his past. "And hating tennis was a deep part of my life for a long, long time."

Agassi was visibly emotional -- saying he was scared, isolated and "living a fraud" during his years in the tennis spotlight.

More: Couch: Shamefully, Agassi Fails the Trust Test
Mariotti: For Andre, Truth is Everything

Most of his troubles during his career stem from the intense pressure that his father put on him from a young age. Agassi remembers his father taping ping pong paddles to his hands at a very young age and telling him to 'hit anything in his way.'

"I think he drove me because he drove himself hard," he said. His father had him practicing four to five hours a day on the court by the time he was six years old, but the pressure didn't stop there.

Agassi remembers the terrible fear he felt toward the ball machine he nicknamed "the dragon" because his father put a "souped up" engine in there that launched the balls at 110 mph. Now, at 40 years old, he can still remember the terror that "the dragon" brought to him as a child.

All of this was a way for his father to help his son realize the "American Dream" for his family, even if it meant Andre lived a lie to do so. "I needed to do it for the family," Agassi said. "Possibly an unfair burden for a child, but one that I had to carry."

Since his father thought school was a waste of time that should be spent practicing on the court, Agassi felt a deep anxiety over the need to make it as a pro. All this pressure clearly built up a sense of resentment inside the budding tennis star, so he simply maintained the image to keep his endorsements.

"I hit a big wall," he said. "I lost desire, lost interest and lost inspiration. I got disinterested in tennis."

That's when the drugs started. He was in such a bad way that he was looking for anything to help him get past the hardships. "My decision (on whether to take crystal meth) was why not? Can't feel any worse.

"There was a sadness that came with it initially, followed by the energy and a chemically induced reconnection to live. I was looking for anything ... to make me reengage to life."

He further admits to not thinking at all about the ramifications of his actions. "I knew what I was doing, but tennis wasn't a concern to me because I didn't care about tennis," he said. "My own body wasn't a concern to me because I didn't think that highly of myself."

One thing he was not clear on was the number of times he used crystal meth. Despite Couric's best attempts to get him to put a number to his usage, the best Agassi could come up with was that it was a "foggy time" in his life and he used the drug "way too many (times)" in 1997.

It seemed like Agassi was remorseful of his behavior during this time, but Couric never pushed him on his motivations behind coming clean now. I still find myself searching for the lesson from the former tennis star and now pedagogue of children, but can't quite nail it down.

Perhaps he is warning his students of the dangerous path that drugs can lead down. "In life, bad decisions lead to more bad decisions," he said. The problem with this is that Agassi was never punished for his actions.

When he failed a drug test, he wrote a bogus letter claiming he ingested the drug in a spiked drink his manager gave him. Agassi did express gratitude about the second chance he was given, but he earned that chance by lying to tennis authorities.

So what is the message to the kids? Agassi messed up. He asks for compassion instead of condemnation, understanding instead of judgment.

"Regardless of how somebody else would perceive the life I've lived, the fact that I perceived it that way and found a way to get through, I think, is a hopeful and inspirational story."

I hope that it is: for tennis, for himself and most importantly the children who look up to him.

Follow Chris Sesno on twitter: @csesno

Andre Agassi Remorseful on '60 Minutes' originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WADA Crock: Making Wickmayer Pay for Agassi's Sin

Greg Couch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: U.S. Open, ATP

The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency acknowledged that it's too late to punish Andre Agassi for his failed drug test from 1997, darned statute of limitations. But WADA said it still wants some punishment, anyway. Maybe for Agassi's lies to doping officials, which he admits in his book? Maybe for perjury?

Doubtful. But I knew tennis would get its pound of flesh, anyway, as Agassi has embarrassed the sport's governing bodies. What I didn't know was how fast they would get that flesh.

Or that they would take it from Yanina Wickmayer.

She was banned Thursday for a year for a doping offense. It wasn't for failing a test, or apparently even for missing one, though details still aren't out. It was because she failed to report three times to doping officials over the past 18 months where she would be.

So Agassi did crystal meth. Tennis swept it under the rug.

And Yanina Wickmayer took the fall.

How cold.

Players have to tell officials months in advance about their whereabouts for an hour each day, though they can adjust if their schedules change. Rafael Nadal calls it harassment. Serena Williams and others have complained.

Wickmayer has her excuses, but she blew it and she needed to be punished. How about a two-week suspension, a fine and a probationary period where she's tested twice a week?

A one-year ban? That's massive overkill.

Worse, it's pathetic and transparent.

Tennis is trying to send a message: See world? We are tough on drugs, no matter what Agassi says.

Look, if it's a PR campaign the sport wants, then it just happened to pick the wrong person to beat up, though the handiest, because her file was on the desk.

Wickmayer is the 20-year old Belgian who emerged at the U.S. Open in September, reaching the semifinals. Her mother died when Yanina was 9. Days later, Yanina told her father she wanted to move to the U.S. So he dropped everything -- house, business, cars and friends -- in his toughest grief and left within a week for his daughter's happiness. She had just taken up tennis to get away from the pain.

At the Open this year, I asked her about it, and she sat in front of her father and said this: "He listened to a girl that was 9 years old, and left his life, left his dreams. . .I have no words for what he's done. There is no way of thanking him in any way for what he did.

"But I hope with my semis here this week, I can show him that I really thank him for everything he's done. It's been great spending my whole life with him.''

Imagine hearing that from your teenage daughter.

On Thursday, Wickmayer withdrew mid-tournament from an event in Bali and left the country, as her suspension started immediately.

She denied wrongdoing and said she'll appeal.

Why do I think this is a stunt? Take a look at the calendar. She said a month ago, when her problems first came up, that she had had trouble with her password getting onto the WADA website to update her whereabouts.

On Oct. 22, a prosecutor at the Belgian anti-doping tribunal suggested she get a stern warning. That's where this was headed. And it's quite a difference from the one-year suspension from the tour that she got.

So what happened in those 14 days between warning and banning?

In his autobiography, Agassi admitted he had used crystal meth as a player in 1997, and had failed a test for it. He wrote that he talked his way out of trouble by saying he had mistakenly taken a sip of a friend's spiked drink.

So the ATP either stupidly bought it or swept the failed test under the rug because Agassi was a big name. I'll go with the second one. And suddenly the anti-doping people have fangs for Wickmayer.

To clarify, in 1997, the ATP ran its own drug-testing program. Now, tennis drug-testing has been handed over to WADA, known for its toughness. But earlier this year, player Richard Gasquet won an appeal over his suspension for failing a cocaine test. How? He said he had gotten the drug in his system by kissing a woman in a bar.

It's true we're talking about different organizations here. Wickmayer, along with fellow Belgian player Xavier Malisse, was suspended by a Belgian anti-doping tribunal. Wickmayer, ranked No. 18, is the fall person because tennis needed a top player for the hit. Malisse is barely in the top 100.

But tennis is an incestuous operation and all these different governing bodies can oddly work as one sometimes.

Things seem to be out of control in tennis. The ITF, all this time later, is still investigating Williams for her U.S. Open tirade, and theoretically will punish her within the next two weeks. Let's see how her punishment for threatening a line judge stacks up to Wickmayer's.

WADA has told the ATP to investigate Agassi's claims, which is like asking a fox to investigate the sudden disappearances in the chicken coop.

Meanwhile, CBS has released clips of Agassi's appearance on "60 Minutes" this Sunday, and he talks about the players former and current, particularly Martina Navratilova, who have been ripping him.

"I had a problem, and there might be many other athletes out there that test positive for recreational drugs that have a problem,'' Agassi said. ``So I would ask for some compassion ...

"I had way more to lose by telling this story in its full transparency than I had to gain. The part that I worry and think more about is who this may help.''

He risked reputation, but was paid $5 million for the book, for that risk. That was his price for supposed honesty. As for worrying about helping others with his message, well Andre, I'm sure that will make Wickmayer feel much better.

Email me at gregcouch09@aol.com

WADA Crock: Making Wickmayer Pay for Agassi's Sin originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shamefully, Agassi Fails the Trust Test

Greg Couch — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: ATP

You're being handled, played, manipulated. I am, too.

Where is Andre Agassi? Why hasn't he come out in the past 72 hours to tell us that drugs weren't the greatest thing to happen to him, no matter what his book excerpts seem to say? Why has this man who has done so many great things with his school for disadvantaged kids, let the message just hang out there?

Drugs fun. Hate tennis. Bad relationship with Dad.

If he wanted to clear his soul, to confess to his sins, then why did he need be paid $5 million to do it.

"Now that he is retired, he comes out and says this?" Rafael Nadal said at an awards ceremony in Madrid. "It's a way of senselessly damaging the sport."

And when Agassi said that he failed a drug test, but the tour swept it under the rug, he took down all of his contemporaries, too. Superstars were given passes then, huh? Which other stars?

So where is Agassi? Why isn't he clearing up the details that have come out since the excerpts were released earlier this week? Well, he'll be on 60 Minutes on Sunday.

That's the next step in this sales pitch. Agassi has sold out. And if not, then he's following the worst advice imaginable from PR people. They are letting out information in drips to keep Agassi and his book in the headlines as long as possible.

Well, it's working. Earlier this week, I wrote a column saying that while this tarnishes his image, it was 12 years ago. It was a different lifetime ago for a man who had turned himself around. I was still going to believe.

Next headline: I'm losing belief. Watching Agassi manipulate us has changed everything.

See, I was categorizing him as having two lives: One was the young punk, rebel. Then came the grown up philanthropist.

An awful lot of people have believed this new life was all for show, that he was a phony. I'm still desperately clinging to the idea that he was not.

"There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness," he writes in the book, explaining his first experience with crystal meth. "Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I've never felt so alive, so hopeful -- and I've never felt such energy.''

So don't give up kids. There are easy ways to find hope, euphoria and the feeling you're alive.

Have you tried crystal meth?

I'm sorry, but this is not exactly the best message I've heard. And reading through every word of the excerpts in Sports Illustrated, I see not one hint of remorse or anything.

Surely, he isn't intentionally promoting drugs to kids. But at this point, no accidental message matters more than promotion of the book, apparently. Or the $5 million he reportedly received for the rights to it.

He should have been out the day these excerpts were released to explain. Instead, we have to wait for wherever his publicist might decide is the best place for him to clear his conscience.

It gets harder and harder each hour of this handling, Andre. It is not so easy to put his drug use and joyful memories of it into the first Agassi life anymore, because his irresponsibility these past few days are the actions of a 39-year old Agassi.

He still has done so much with that school, still talks eloquently about trying to overcome his mistakes and becoming the best person he can be. He honestly still says not to trust the good image you see now, either, because life is always a work in progress.

"Shocking,'' Martina Navratilova told the Associated Press. "Not as much shock that he did it as shock he lied about it and didn't own up to it. He's up there with Roger Clemens, as far as I'm concerned. He (Agassi) owned up to it (in the book), but it doesn't help now."

First, they dripped out that Agassi's excerpts will include a confession that he had done crystal meth. The next day, we got the excerpts. Now comes TV interviews. And soon, the book, Open, will be out.

And they keep things slightly out of context, slightly blurred and confusing so we'll have to keep looking for more. Just don't let any responsibility get in the way of the plan.

Agassi's career was down in 1997, and his assistant, Slim, Agassi says, suggested they do crystal meth together, because it would make him feel like Superman.

Hear that, kids?

Eventually, Agassi writes, he became a regular user, and once failed a drug test on the ATP Tour. When a tour official told him he had failed and would likely get a three-month suspension, Agassi invented a lie to get out of it. He wrote the tour, he says, saying that he had accidentally had a drink of pop from Slim, who had spiked the drink.

So the issue went away.

Would you be comfortable hearing the guy running your kids' school send this message?

Give him this: The story about the lie is helpful because you wonder how often this happens in other sports, too, where a star is given a pass. The ATP Tour seems, awkwardly, to be denying Agassi's charge. We need more truth about this stuff.

But this also makes you wonder about the other stars of his era.

Tennis players have reacted from different parts of the world. Serena Williams said, "I don't even know what crystal meth is, so, you know, that's what my reaction to it is."

Andy Roddick wrote this on his Twitter page: "Andre is and always will be my idol. I will judge him on how he has treated me and how he has changed the world for (the) better.'"

I was thinking the same thing, Andy. About three days ago.

Email me at gregcouch09@aol.com

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Andre Agassi

FILE - In this May 21, 1989 photo, Andre Agassi hits a return during the final match against Argentina's Alberto Mancini at the Italian Open men's tennis championships in Rome. International tennis and anti-doping officials expressed disappointment Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, at Andre Agassi's admission that he used a banned drug and lied to escape a ban, but said it was too late to take any sanctions against the eight-time Grand Slam champion. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Andre Agassi Photos

In this book cover image released by Knopf, "Open," by Andre Agassi, is shown. (AP Photo/Knopf)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this book cover image released by Knopf, "Open," by Andre Agassi, is shown. (AP Photo/Knopf)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE - In this Sept. 2, 1997 file picture Andre Agassi, seen, during a news conference following his lost match against Australia's Patrick Rafter at the U.S. Open in New York. Andre Agassi's upcoming autobiography contains an admission that he used crystal meth in 1997 and lied to tennis authorities when he failed a drug test - a result that was thrown out after he said he "unwittingly" took the substance. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE - In this Sept. 2, 1997 file picture Andre Agassi, seen, following his match against Australia's Patrick Rafter at the U.S. Open in New York. Rafter won 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-3. Andre Agassi's upcoming autobiography contains an admission that he used crystal meth in 1997 and lied to tennis authorities when he failed a drug test - a result that was thrown out after he said he "unwittingly" took the substance. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

(FILES) -- A file photo taken on July 16, 1997 shows US tennis player Andre Agassi reacting to his performance against fellow countryman Doug Flach during the Legg Mason tennis Classic in Washington DC. Agassi has admitted he tested positive for hard drugs during his career and lied to sporting authorities to escape a ban, reports said on October 28, 2009. Agassi, one of the world's greatest tennis players with eight Grand Slam titles, reveals in his autobiography to testing positive for the highly addictive drug crystal methamphetamine. In the book, serialised in London-based newspaper The Times, Agassi reveals he took crystal meth in 1997 when his form was falling and he was having doubts about his impending marriage to US actress Brooke Shields. AFP PHOTO/JAMAL A. WILSON (Photo credit should read JAMAL A. WILSON/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

(FILES) -- A file photo taken on December 13, 1997 shows US Andre Agassi playing a shot during his match against German Boris Becker on the second day of the Nelson Mandela Tribute held in Cape Town. Agassi has admitted he tested positive for hard drugs during his career and lied to sporting authorities to escape a ban, reports said on October 28, 2009. Agassi, one of the world's greatest tennis players with eight Grand Slam titles, reveals in his autobiography to testing positive for the highly addictive drug crystal methamphetamine. In the book, serialised in London-based newspaper The Times, Agassi reveals he took crystal meth in 1997 when his form was falling and he was having doubts about his impending marriage to US actress Brooke Shields. AFP PHOTO / STRINGER (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

(FILES) -- A file photo taken on March 11, 1997 shows Andre Agassi of the US lunging for the ball during his match against Mark Philippoussis of Australia in their Champions Cup match in Indian Wells, California. Agassi has admitted he tested positive for hard drugs during his career and lied to sporting authorities to escape a ban, reports said on October 28, 2009. Agassi, one of the world's greatest tennis players with eight Grand Slam titles, reveals in his autobiography to testing positive for the highly addictive drug crystal methamphetamine. In the book, serialised in London-based newspaper The Times, Agassi reveals he took crystal meth in 1997 when his form was falling and he was having doubts about his impending marriage to US actress Brooke Shields. AFP PHOTO / Hector MATA (Photo credit should read HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Shamefully, Agassi Fails the Trust Test originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Rivalry Revisited: Sampras Tops Agassi

FanHouse Newswire — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:13:00 EST

Filed under: ATP

MACAU (AP) -- Pete Sampras edged by Andre Agassi in three sets on Sunday as the two retired American tennis greats revisited one of the sport's greatest rivalries.

The 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 win in this southern Chinese gambling enclave was the first time the two had played since Sampras won in the 2002 U.S. Open final for his then-record 14th Grand Slam.

The fast indoor surface at The Venetian Macao arena favored Sampras' attacking style, but it was Agassi who came out strong in the first set. He showed no signs of the bad back that required four injections during his final tournament, the 2006 U.S. Open.

"Somehow when you see Pete, it all comes back to you pretty quickly," Agassi said. "I just go, 'Well, I don't really have much of a choice here.' It's just nice to be so familiar with somebody's game."

Sampras, who beat Roger Federer at the same venue in an exhibition two years ago, bounced back in the second set, serving an ace and using a delicate pickup volley to draw even.

He continued to have the advantage in the super tiebreaker, overwhelming Agassi with a powerful serve. Trailing 9-6, Agassi saved two match points -- the second with a down-the-line backhand winner -- but Sampras served out the match with another ace.

"Andre just hits the ball so cleanly, even after being retired for three years. The pace of his shots was very heavy," Sampras said, noting Agassi served more aces than he did.

"How many times does that happen?" Agassi joked.

The two Americans captivated fans in the 1990s and early 2000s with their contrasting styles and personalities. Sampras led their head-to-head series 20-to-14, including 4-to-1 in Grand Slam finals.

"Pete's hands are the same as they've always been," Agassi said. "He has great feel for the ball. He surprised me with the number of pickups he made out there. It was like it just came very naturally."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

A Rivalry Revisited: Sampras Tops Agassi originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Agassi, Sampras Will Face Off in China

FanHouse Newswire — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: ATP

HONG KONG (AP) -- Even though the stakes may not be as high as in their epic clashes of the past, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras aren't planning to put on a friendly exhibition.

The two American icons, who staged one of tennis' greatest rivalries, will play each other Sunday in the southern Chinese gambling enclave Macau.

"It's going to be competitive tennis -- obviously not quite as cutthroat as it once was -- but I still feel we can both play quite well," Sampras said Thursday.

"As much as it's an exhibition, there's still a lot of pride. Our egos are pretty big. Once the first point starts, I'm going to want to beat him."

"Whenever I stepped out against Andre when we were playing, it was like a heavyweight fight. That's one thing I miss."

Both have been brushing up on their game in recent months, ensuring their will not be too much rust for Sunday's showdown.

Sampras, 38, played on the ATP seniors tour last year and Agassi made a one-time appearance at a seniors event in Arizona earlier this month, where he won two matches before losing to fellow American Todd Martin in straight sets in the final.

Agassi, 39, has been playing consistently in recent months and Sampras said he's been practicing against juniors in Los Angeles.

The former world No. 1s have 22 Grand Slam titles between them-eight for Agassi and 14 for Sampras. Agassi is one of six men in history to win all four majors and won Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996. Sampras won what was a record 14 Grand Slams, a mark recently broken by Roger Federer. They played 34 times over a 13-year span, including five major finals.

Even with the passing of years since their memorable clashes of the 1990s and early 2000s, Sunday's match is likely to see Sampras again relying on his famously accurate and powerful serve, while Agassi's strength will be his returns and counter-punching groundstrokes.

"I believe having two styles that are so opposite, having two personalities that are so opposite really lent for a great rivalry," Agassi said.

Sampras recalled their last professional match -- his four-set victory over Agassi in the 2002 U.S. Open final. The seven-time Wimbledon champion went into the match struggling with his form, ranked No. 14.

"I felt great. I felt a little vindication. People wrote me off. And I just sort of believed in myself at a time when everyone lost faith in me," he said.

Sampras added it was fitting to end his career against the same opponent and on the same stage where he claimed his first major victory. A skinny 19-year-old Sampras beat the neon-clad tennis rebel Agassi in straight sets in the 1990 U.S. Open final.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Agassi, Sampras Will Face Off in China originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two Tennis Players Detained in Sweden

FanHouse Newswire — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:19:00 EST

Filed under: Police Blotter, ATP

STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Swedish police say two tennis players are suspected of soliciting prostitutes before the Stockholm Open.

The two men were identified only as foreign citizens. Investigation leader Jonas Trolle told The Associated Press on Monday that they were detained as they entered a hotel in Stockholm early Sunday with their escorts. He said both players were set to compete in the tournament, which started Monday.

Organizers said in a brief statement that it would be inappropriate to comment because the investigation was ongoing.

Tournament spokesman Pelle Hjertquist told The Associated Press that the investigation wouldn't stop anyone from competing in the tournament, which has a 32-player singles draw and prize money of $600,000.

Trolle said a prosecutor in the case had issued a so-called summary punishment, which allows someone suspected of a minor offense to avoid a trial by signing a confession. It wasn't immediately clear whether the players had signed the document.

Sweden's prostitution law is highly unusual because it punishes those who pay for sex but not the prostitutes.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Two Tennis Players Detained in Sweden originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Pain, No Gain on the Tours

Greg Couch — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: WTA, ATP

Three weeks. That's all Andy Roddick is expected to miss with the knee injury that knocked him out of the Shanghai Masters last week in the middle of his first-round match.

It should still give him time to qualify for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London in November.

"Results of the MRI [scan] showed a mild sprain of his medial collateral ligament of the left knee," said a statement on Roddick's website. "The news was very good for Andy. No surgery will be needed and Andy is expected to make a 100 percent recovery."

But Roddick's warning still stands. This time every year, players grumble about the difficulty of the schedule. Basically, the U.S. Open has passed, casual sports fans think the season is over, and plenty of the top players, tired from a long year, are wanting the same thing.

The day before Roddick got hurt, he complained about the 11-month long season, filled with required appearances. So did Rafael Nadal.

From there, the outcome of the tournament proved their point, as nine players withdrew during matches with injuries. On top of that, Roger Federer (fatigue) and No. 4 Andy Murray (sore wrist) didn't come at all.

"It's ridiculous to think that you have a professional sport that doesn't have a legitimate off-season to rest, get healthy and then train. . ." Roddick had said. "I just hope that the short-sightedness doesn't affect the length of players' careers. In tennis you definitely want your stars around as long as possible."

And then, pop, Roddick was out in the middle of the first set against Stanislas Wawrinka, followed by a row of players.

This has become the big issue on tour. And Adam Helfant, new CEO of the ATP Tour, will talk with the players about it in London.

But the schedule is not as easy to change as you might think. It is already set through 2011, and the 2012 schedule will need to have room for the London Olympics.

Also, the players do not have a union independent of tournament officials. So half the decision-making process is done by tournament directors who don't want the season shortened. On top of that, the post-U.S. Open part of the year is the Asian swing of the tour, and it's not easy to simply dismantle that when a worldwide game is being promoted in front of such large populations.

The best hope is for an adjustment to the number of required stops. Or maybe a strong players union, but it's doubtful that Helfant will be pushing that.

So what's next for Roddick? Rest and rehab.

For two weeks.

Then, he starts training again. He figures to play in the Paris Masters Nov. 8-15 in a push for a spot in the World Tour Finals which invites the top eight players. Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro are already in.

Roddick fell to No. 7 in the rankings on Monday.

No time for pain.

Email me at gregcouch09@aol.com

No Pain, No Gain on the Tours originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shanghai Masters Semifinals Preview

Chris Sesno — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: ATP

Five days and eight injury retirements later, the Shanghai Masters semifinals are set.

In the last quarterfinals match on Friday, Ivan Ljubicic pulled out of his match against Rafael Nadal in the third set with noticeable pain in his left thigh. He joined an absurdly long list of players to withdraw due to injury in Shanghai, including reigning U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and world No. 6 Andy Roddick.

Ljubicic withdrew in the first game of the third set and handed Nadal a spot in the semifinals where he will take on fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who topped the No. 9-seeded Robin Soderling in straight sets on Thursday.

On the other side of the draw, Nikolay Davydenko is geared up to take on second-seeded Novak Djokovic for a spot in the finals. Djokovic dominated Davydenko in straight sets (6-1, 7-5) in the 2008 Masters Cup final at the Qi Zhong arena last year.

Djokovic won in the quarters in an intense three set battle with Gilles Simon. The two started out the third set with five consecutive service breaks before Djokovic was able to hold serve and win the match 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

Davydenko is coming off a three set victory over Radek Stepanek where he relied on heavy hitting from the baseline to knock off the world No. 16.

If Nadal can beat Lopez in the semifinals, it will be his first finals appearance in any event since recurring knee injuries hampered his season earlier this year.

Follow Chris Sesno on Twitter: @csesno

Shanghai Masters Semifinals Preview originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Players Divided Over Grueling Schedule

Greg Couch — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:10:00 EST

Filed under: WTA, ATP

It seemed so simple at first, when Andy Roddick made his point better than anyone could. He complained on Monday that the tennis schedule is too demanding, and warned that star players could start dropping.

Then his knee popped, and he dropped.

But that has turned into a disagreement between two former No. 1 players, Roddick and Marat Safin, and other players have piped in over the hot topic on tour now. And it all shows how difficult this scheduling mess will be to clear up.

What Roddick said was absolutely right. But leave it to Safin to hammer more blunt truth into the discussion. Just two tournaments from the end of his career, Safin left the Shanghai Masters taking shots at Roddick and others over their warnings.

"In 2004, we had this discussion at the Olympic Games with Roddick, and they were blaming me, that I'm playing too much," Safin said. "And I was saying that the season is too long. And the guys jumped on me, like I was the one that was wrong.

"So look at all of them [now]. Everybody is falling apart. ... They just have to deal with that not when they are 21 and ambitious and want to make money. They have to think a bit with their brains to make their careers a little bit longer."

Earlier this week, I wrote that it's amazing the players don't have some independent, strong union standing up for them in the face of the greedy governing bodies running the game, milking the players.

Since then, it has become clear why there is no strong union:

The players aren't unified. They don't agree on what they want, and in many cases don't know.

Roddick responded to Safin Thursday afternoon on his Twitter account, saying that Safin's memories of 2004 are a little off:

"(It) wasn't exactly about the calendar ... was more about the fact that there was too much tennis in the summer of 2004."

"I agreed with this, but found it odd that he chose to play in Sopot (Poland) the week before on clay ... didn't think it gave him much of an argument as far as complaining about too much tennis."

It has become clear why there is no strong union: The players aren't unified. They don't agree on what they want, and in many cases don't know.
Seven players now have dropped out of Shanghai hurt, including U.S. Open champ Juan Martin del Potro, who left with a sore wrist. And that doesn't count Roger Federer (exhaustion) and Andy Murray (sore wrist), who didn't come.

Roddick said on Monday that the tour schedule, with 13 mandatory events spread through the calendar worldwide, is "ridiculous," and that it's unreasonable to have an 11-month season without time to rest and recover. He now awaits test results on his knee.

Rafael Nadal, who missed several months this year with sore knees and then sore abdominals, said similar things. But then he announced he would play an additional exhibition tournament at the start of the year in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. And while Federer is skipping the Asian leg of the tour, citing exhaustion, he also has chosen to play the additional exhibition tournament.

Safin has hit on it perfectly here -- though, to hear Roddick, Safin may have had the same problem, too. The players have their own greed to deal with.

Safin's point is that many players are greedy and don't really want a shortened schedule until they start getting hurt and it's too late.

Meanwhile, Andre Agassi, preparing for an exhibition against Pete Sampras, said that tennis needs an offseason, allowing the game to build momentum when the season starts up again.

Yet Tommy Robredo said there should be tournaments year-round, but that the players shouldn't be required to play so many of them. That way, they can play when they want.

As for the current No. 1 players, Federer is simply skipping mandatory tournaments now, apparently figuring any potential fines added or rankings points lost won't matter. And Serena Williams said she hoped to play Fed Cup, depending on "if I am walking or if I am going to be in a wheelchair."

She also inexplicably went to a small tournament in Spain in April.

"Everybody is getting injured left and right,'' Safin said. "And everybody is complaining the season is long. It takes six years to realize something is wrong?"

So what now? Adam Helfant, new CEO of the ATP Tour, plans to be at the Masters Final in London next month, and will talk with players about scheduling. The schedule, though, is set through 2011, and 2012 will be tough to shorten with the London Olympics added in.

And while top players grumble and also act hypocritically, those players just trying to scratch out a living aren't going to want a shortened season with less opportunity.

So the players aren't together, don't know what they want and don't have a voice strong enough to push it, anyway.

Apparently, Roddick is trying to fill that role.

"I really like Marat and his opinions, and am excited that at the very least this issue is getting discussed," he tweeted. "And yes, I certainly feel like I know more now than I did when I was 21. I don't really know anyone who wouldn't feel that way six years further into a career."

The women in tennis keep burning out, and the men are getting hurt. So many varied interests. It will be amazing if they all come together with one solution.

Email me at gregcouch09@aol.com

Players Divided Over Grueling Schedule originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Injury List Grows, Players Want Change

Chris Sesno — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: WTA, ATP

On Monday, Andy Roddick spoke out against the ATP for the lack of a normal tennis offseason. On Tuesday, he retired from the Shanghai Masters with knee pains.

Fast-forward to Thursday, the injury count at Shanghai has grown to seven after just four days of play. The latest additions are Gael Monfils of France and Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, who retired from their matches earlier today.

The Shanghai injury list includes reigning U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, Tommy Haas, Jose Acasuso and Mischa Zverev. Not included are Roger Federer (fatigue) and Andy Murray (wrist), who opted out of the tournament before it began to recuperate.

Greg Couch: Hellish Schedule Breaking Down Players

The biggest stars in tennis have publicly spoken out on the tough schedule, and the grueling effects of the irregular season are evidenced by the major injuries that have plagued tennis stars all year.

Rafael Nadal missed several months due to knee troubles and was also bothered by an abdominal injury during the U.S. Open.

On Monday, Nadal spoke out against the ATP schedule citing the toll it has taken on his body. "It's impossible to play first of January to finish fifth of December," he said. "It's impossible to be here playing like what I did the last five years, playing a lot of matches and being all the time 100 percent without problems."

Roger Federer is sitting out, citing fatigue. Less than one week after his taxing loss to del Potro in the U.S. Open finals, he was back on the court in Switzerland to compete in a Davis Cup match. "It would be nice to have a week of holiday, but it's not possible right now," Federer said before he was set to represent the Swiss against Italy.

Serena Williams said last week that she would like to play in the Fed Cup finals next month against Italy, but she is not sure if she will be healthy enough. "I definitely want to play again. I am just trying to get there," Williams said. "It's just really hard to see how my body is going to be after Doha, (Qatar) -- if I am going to be walking or if I am going to be in a wheelchair."

After taking the No. 1 ranking from Dinara Safina, missing a match would be costly for Serena who holds on to a miniscule lead in the WTA rankings.

With many of the top players bothered by injuries and speaking out against the current system, it seems to be time for the ITF to step up and make a change, or at the least, address the issue and allow the players some time to recover between events.

Follow Chris Sesno on Twitter: @csesno

Injury List Grows, Players Want Change originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ITF Hands Minar Eight-Month Suspension

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:41:00 EST

Filed under: ATP

LONDON (AP) -- Czech player Ivo Minar was banned for eight months on Wednesday after testing positive for a banned substance following a Davis Cup match.

A sample taken after the Davis Cup quarterfinal against Argentine on July 11 contained the banned stimulant methylhexanamine, the International Tennis Federation said.

The 25-year-old Minar claimed he had taken a food supplement that contained the substance and did not intend to cheat.

The ITF said the ban will end on March 10, 2010, and ruled that Minar's results this year from tournaments in Stuttgart, Hamburg and Gstaad should be disqualified.

"The ITF accepted Mr. Minar's account of the background to his positive test," the federation said in a statement. "Under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, however, it is a player's strict personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his or her body, whether as an ingredient in a nutritional supplement or otherwise."

Czech tennis federation president Ivo Kaderka said Minar has no plans to appeal the ban, in order to avoid being hit with a longer ban.

"I don't agree with a punishment for someone who has not been doping, but just purchased a food supplement which was supposed to be drug free," Kaderka told The Associated Press. "That's a problem for me."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

ITF Hands Minar Eight-Month Suspension originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Del Potro Joins Shanghai Injury List

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:38:00 EST

Filed under: ATP

SHANGHAI (AP) -- Reigning U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro retired from the Shanghai Masters with a wrist injury Wednesday, adding to the mounting injury toll at the event.

The third-seeded Argentine was trailing Austria's Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 2-1 in his second-round match when he retired with an injury to his right wrist.

Del Potro said that he suffered from similar wrist tendinitis earlier this year.

"It's a big tournament here in Shanghai, very important for me," del Potro said. "But if I want to have a good finish this season, I had to recover, go home to be in good shape for the last tournaments."

Del Potro has already qualified for the eight-man, season-ending ATP World Tour Finals next month in London.

The Argentine's departure followed that of German Tommy Haas earlier in Wednesday's play.

The 15th-seeded Haas lost the first set 6-4 to qualifier and compatriot Rainer Schuettler when he retired with a right shoulder injury.

On Tuesday, fourth-seeded Andy Roddick retired from his match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland with a left knee injury.

Prior to the tournament's start, world No. 1 Roger Federer withdrew citing fatigue, and Andy Murray pulled out as well with a left wrist injury.

Since winning the U.S. Open last month, del Potro has not been at his best. Last week, he lost to French qualifier Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the first round at the Japan Open in Tokyo.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Del Potro Joins Shanghai Injury List originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellish Schedule Breaking Down Players

Greg Couch — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: WTA, ATP

Andy Roddick warned us. Everyone has been warning us, really, with words or with pain, or meltdowns.

But on Monday, Roddick complained that the tennis schedule is too rough on the players. He called the requirements of the tour "ridiculous," and warned that the short-sightedness of the rules-makers might cut short the careers of stars.

More Coverage: Del Potro Joins Shanghai Injured List

On Tuesday, this is what he said:

"I don't really know what's going on in there. I'm not a doctor. [The pain] was enough to make me stop a tennis match, which is going to be pretty significant."

Roddick hurt his knee in the first set in the first round of the Shanghai Masters Tuesday and had to retire from the match. He planned to fly back to the U.S. for tests. And when a 27-year old tennis player's knee pops, you have to wonder about the long term.

The tennis schedule has become a major problem. Women keep retiring just to get away from the grind, and then come back after months or years. Rafael Nadal missed several months this year with tendinitis -- wear and tear -- in his knees. And in the past few weeks, most of the top-10 men have suddenly shown signs of trouble.

It is amazing that a players' union hasn't emerged to demand changes. The players' union and tournament directors merged under the ATP Tour 20 years ago.

"I certainly don't see any other sporting leagues or federations following our lead as far as not being individually represented," Roddick said before the injury. "I don't know that it's up to the players to be making business decisions about the schedule. At a certain point, I wish our input would be [considered]."

The tennis schedule has become a major problem. Women keep retiring just to get away from the grind, and then come back after months or years.
So I would like to rip into tennis' governing bodies for their greed. They draw up a long schedule, demand that players come to all sorts of tournaments -- they can't simply pick and choose -- in a money grab that endangers the health of their best players.

And I believe that all to be true. At the same time, this isn't a one-sided thing.

Nadal also complained Monday about the schedule:

"It's impossible to play first of January to finish fifth of December. It's impossible to be here playing like what I did the last five years, playing a lot of matches and being all the time 100 percent without problems."

Yes, the schedule lasts 11 months. But Nadal also plays all the tournaments leading up to the French Open, when he could easily skip one. And on Tuesday, we found that he had agreed, with Roger Federer, to play in a three-day exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi starting Dec. 31.

Rafa complained about the length of the schedule, and then added a week to it?

Andy Murray won the event in Abu Dhabi last year, and now has a sore wrist.

Serena Williams has talked about the demands of the tour, but then inexplicably played a small, meaningless tournament in Italy.

Federer is out this week, complaining of fatigue. But last year, he came down with mono that weakened him, and that came with a schedule that included exhibitions around the world with Pete Sampras.

So money grabs come from all sides.

It's clear that tennis wants its regular events meaningful, and not just its majors. So if players skip mandatory events, then they drop dramatically in the rankings and can build up big fines.

At this point, the tours seem to have the power.

Meanwhile, Federer is out with exhaustion (though, at the same time, adding the exhibition tournament). Nadal is still recovering. No. 3 Murray was a mess at the U.S. Open with his bad wrist. Juan Martin del Potro, the U.S. Open champ, and Roddick have both lost to players not ranked in the top 140 in the past few days.

"I don't think it's coincidental," Roddick said about the troubles of the top players. "It's ridiculous to think that you have a professional sport that doesn't have a legitimate offseason to rest, get healthy and then train."

This was a year of re-emergence for Roddick. He reached No. 1 as a young player, and then let the game pass him by as he stuck with mindless power. This year, he dedicated himself to fitness, to losing weight, gaining speed, developing a backhand and, most importantly, finding a strategy.

And it took him to a classic Wimbledon final, which he barely lost to Federer.

"For the last five years, I have been No. 1 or No. 2 in terms of matches played, and I was OK, with only a few problems," he said. "But sooner or later it becomes impossible."

We move into what should be one of the best eras of men's tennis, but too many top players are grinding down. Roddick has become the kind of star player tennis needs.

Now, wait for test results to see what the game has done to him.

Email me at gregcouch09@aol.com

Hellish Schedule Breaking Down Players originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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