Archive for February, 2007

World number one Maria Sharapova doesn’t limit her goodness to tennis, today she was appointed goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), pledging to support their fight against world poverty. The 19-year-old Russian tennis star also donated $100,000 to recovery projects in rural areas in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine still impacted by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

“My first step is to focus on the Chernobyl-affected region, where my family has roots,” Sharapova explained. “Today, it is poverty and lack of opportunities that pose the greatest threat for young people in the Chernobyl region.” As an ambassador, Sharapova will help to promote international efforts to reduce poverty and achieve improvements in the areas of education, health, women’s rights, and sanitation.

If you’d like to attend the Davis Cup or Fed Cup quarterfinals–both being held here in the US–we list the details for tickets.

The United States hosts Spain in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup April 6-8 at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This round will be played indoors on a hard-court surface, the circumstances seem conducive to the power game the American team is playing. Tickets go on sale to the general public next Monday, February 19 at 10 a.m. USTA members have the opportunity for advance purchase beginning Thursday, February 15. Now may be a good time to consider that USTA membership if you want to see Roddick, Blake, and the Bryan Bros take on Nadal et al. For information call (888) 484-8782 or visit the USTA site.

The dynamic Williams duo faces off against the best of Belgium in the Fed Cup quarterfinals at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Florida on April 21-22. Maybe we’ll even get a glimpse of Clijsters or Henin, should their strenuous schedules allow time to squeeze in a world class tennis tournament. Tickets for this best-of-five series are being sold as a two-day series only and prices range from $35 to $225. To buy tickets now, call (888) 334-8782.

Andy Roddick defeated Tomas Berdych in Round 4 to give the United States a 3-1 lead, assuring us a slot in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in April. In this high-pressure match of two giant players with giant serves, Roddick’s growing confidence finally reigned king (4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4)). Roddick is now 8-0 in Davis Cup play.

In the last match, James Blake was scheduled to play Ivo Minar but captain Patrick McEnroe made a last-minute adjustment and substituted Bob Bryan instead. Bryan had no trouble spanking Lukas Dlouhy in two sets in Round 5 to give America the resounding victory over the Czech Republic’s finest (7-6 (5), 6-4).

The US will host Spain in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on April 6 - 8 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; the surface is hard court. Hopefully the American team will build on this encouraging triumph to exact revenge on the Spaniards for the defeat we suffered in the 2004 Davis Cup final in Seville. Other World Group winners in the first round were Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, and Sweden.

Thanks to the Bryan brothers, the US leads the Czech Republic 2-1 in the first round of the 2007 Davis Cup. The world’s number one ranked doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan beat Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner in three symmetrical sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Both sides fought hard with skill and enthusiasm, providing the crowd with a compelling display of amazing tennis. Superb serves, rallies, shots, and saves from both sides made this Davis Cup match one to remember. Tomorrow world number four Andy Roddick takes on Tomas Berdych, does this rising star have what it takes to propel the Czech Republic into the tying spot for a second time? Tune in tomorrow…

The United States and the Czech Republic are locked at 1-1 in the first round of the 2007 Davis Cup. Andy Roddick gave the US an early lead, defeating Ivo Minar 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in Round 1. Roddick’s serve was clearly in control, including a flurry of formidable aces. Though Minar played an aggressive game, Roddick spent just as much time at net and held his confidence throughout. “It was a tough match,” Roddick stated, likely a bit relieved to avoid going to five sets. He faces Tomas Berdych in Round 4.

And speaking of Mr. Berdych, he managed to move the Czech Republic into the tying position in Round 2 with his win against James Blake (6-1, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5). With his country down 1-0, the pressure was clearly on Berdych to perform. And perfom he did. Berdych’s dazzling play left Blake little room to think or breathe. Ace and smash though he might (and gorgeously), Blake’s own frustration with himself outwitted him in the end. Hopefully he can get this out of his system before facing Ivo Minar in Round 5.

Next up are the world number one ranked Bryan brothers in Round 3–Bob and Mike take on Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner in doubles play Saturday. This promises to be an interesting tiebreaker, with two more rounds of world class tennis to follow. Bring it on!

It’s official–Australian Open champion Serena Williams will join her sister Venus on this year’s American Fed Cup team. The Williams sisters will play in the quarterfinals against Belgium scheduled for April.

Fed Cup Team Captain Zina Garrison announced to tennis fans today: “We are thrilled to have Serena back on the US Fed Cup team, especially after her tremendous victory at the Australian Open. The last time both Serena and Venus were on the court for a US Fed Cup team was 2003, so it will be an exciting time to see the sisters together again.”

Venus and Serena joined forces in 1999 to win the Fed Cup honors for the US; their combined Fed Cup record is an impressive 19-3. Garrison has until ten days prior to the quarterfinals to designate the two women that will complete the 2007 US Fed Cup tennis team.

The United States meets Belgium in the first round of play for the Fed Cup on April 21-22 in Florida at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. US Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison picked Venus Williams to lead the US against Belgium and hopes to persuade her sister (and Australian Open champion) Serena to join the team as well. Other possibles include Vania King, Ashley Harkleroad, and doubles expert Lisa Raymond.

The US may have an easy first round of it as neither of Belgium’s two top female players will be able to make this year’s Fed Cup. Both world number two Justine Henin and world number four Kim Clijsters have pulled out of the competition; each blames a heavy schedule for her withdrawal. Belgium’s third best player, Kirsten Flipkens, is currently ranked 104th.

The 2007 Davis Cup kicks off on February 9, sixteen nations vie in a year-long best-of-five match series. Here is the draw for the first round of Davis Cup play:

Chile vs Russia in Chile
France vs Romania in France
Germany vs Croatia in Germany
Belgium vs Australia in Belgium
Czech Republic vs USA in Czech Republic
Switzerland vs Spain in Switzerland
Belarus vs Sweden in Belarus
Austria vs Argentina in Austria

The United States faces off against the Czech Republic; they will play on indoor clay courts at CEZ Arena in Ostrava. Representing the US on the Davis Cup team are world number one doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan, world number four Andy Roddick, and world number six James Blake. Patrick McEnroe is the team captain. If the US wins in the first round, they will host Spain or Switzerland in the Quarterfinals round in April. The US currently holds 31 Davis Cup titles, leading all other nations for this honor, though we have not won one since 1995. USTA.com has the full schedule of television coverage posted.

Official Men’s Rankings (ATP Tour)

1 Roger Federer
2 Rafael Nadal
3 Nikolay Davydenko
4 Andy Roddick
5 Fernando Gonzalez
6 James Blake
7 Tommy Robredo
8 Ivan Ljubicic
9 Tommy Haas
10 Mario Ancic

Official Women’s Rankings (WTA Tour)

1 Maria Sharapova
2 Justine Henin
3 Amelie Mauresmo
4 Kim Clijsters
5 Svetlana Kuznetsova
6 Martina Hingis
7 Nadia Petrova
8 Elena Dementieva
9 Nicole Vaidisova
10 Jelena Jankovic