Nissan has become an official partner of the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and leading UK bottled water provider Highland Spring had extended its partnership with the tournament through 2013, the ATP has announced.
Nissan comes on board as the official car supplier of the ATP’s season-ending tournament for a one-year term. Nissan will be transporting the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams across the eight days of the tournament and will receive on court brand exposure during the ATP’s crown jewel event.
John Parslow, Marketing Manager, Nissan Motor (GB) Limited commented: “We are thrilled to be involved in such a significant event, which extends Nissan’s proud partnership with The O2. The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals offers a brilliant opportunity to showcase our diverse range of cars, including the soon to launch Nissan LEAF, the world’s first, mass market family 100% electric vehicle.”
Nissan, a founding partner of The O2, will be using a combination of Qashqai, Murano, X-TRAIL, Navara, Pathfinder and LEAF vehicles to manage player transportation during the tournament.
“We are happy to welcome Nissan as the official car supplier of the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Transportation services are a critical part of every ATP World Tour tournament and as a founding partner of the venue, Nissan is familiar with handling world-class events at The O2. We look forward to a successful partnership,” said Brad Drewett, Tournament Director, Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
The ATP and Highland Spring, the leading UK produced brand of bottled water, have signed a four-year agreement designating Highland Spring as the official water supplier to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
Claire Wilson, Head of Sponsorship at Highland Spring, commented: “The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is one of the biggest and most exciting events on the international sporting calendar and provides a fantastic platform for Highland Spring to strengthen its association with tennis. We are looking forward to supporting the event for the next four years and are delighted to be keeping the world’s top eight players hydrated during the tournament.”
Brad Drewett, Tournament Director of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, said: “The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals has quickly established a terrific home for itself in London, and having Highland Spring as official water supplier will further boost the reputation of the event.”
The tournament is the climax of the men's professional tennis season and gives tennis fans the opportunity to see the top eight singles players and the top eight doubles teams battle it out for the coveted last title of the year. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Robin Soderling have already qualified for this year’s event.
Visitors to this year’s tournament can also brush up on their own tennis skills by visiting the Highland Spring Hot Shots Tour which will be part of the new Fan Zone at The O2. Developed in association with the LTA, the interactive tennis feature will help budding players of all ages improve coordination and racquet skills with a range of fun and educational tennis games.
Courtesy: ATP
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Thursday's Tennis previews
Will today prove to be as shocking as yesterday?
Basel - ATP
Cilic is the player in danger today given his woeful recent results. I fancy Nalbandian to take this match.
Gasquet v Kamke could be a good one if Tobias continues on from his result yesterday.
No problems for Nole (fingers crossed)
Live stream available at BET365.com. You need to register but you do NOT need to deposit funds.
Valencia - ATP
Now my pick in the MTL suicide game is Davydenko. He is so up & down that I am tempted top change to Granollers. Anyway hopefully Davy will not implode when taking on Chela, they are first up on Centre.
Soderling & Ferrer should not have too much trouble making it through their matches.
It is the final match that will hopefully be a cracker. Monfils has vastly improved over the past months but so has Stan. Both can play some nice stuff though equally then can have some horror too. I guess that is why i am looking forward to it, i just can't call the match.
Live coverage begins on Sky Sports and also on BET365.com
Basel - ATP
Cilic is the player in danger today given his woeful recent results. I fancy Nalbandian to take this match.
Gasquet v Kamke could be a good one if Tobias continues on from his result yesterday.
No problems for Nole (fingers crossed)
Live stream available at BET365.com. You need to register but you do NOT need to deposit funds.
Valencia - ATP
Now my pick in the MTL suicide game is Davydenko. He is so up & down that I am tempted top change to Granollers. Anyway hopefully Davy will not implode when taking on Chela, they are first up on Centre.
Soderling & Ferrer should not have too much trouble making it through their matches.
It is the final match that will hopefully be a cracker. Monfils has vastly improved over the past months but so has Stan. Both can play some nice stuff though equally then can have some horror too. I guess that is why i am looking forward to it, i just can't call the match.
Live coverage begins on Sky Sports and also on BET365.com
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Rafael Nadal to receive Alma Award
This is a Google translation so please excuse any errors and i hope you can understand.
Realmadrid Foundation held Thursday in Theaters Canal (20.00 hours), its Annual Gala, which will deliver the 'Alma Awards 2010', among which you will receive the player Rafa Nadal.
Through these awards, the Foundation wishes to acknowledge the work of individuals or entities that represent an example for society and directly or indirectly have a link to the world of sport.
Thus, the prizes are awarded in four categories, Lifetime Sports, to Solidarity, the National Collaboration Project, International Cooperation and one special, which will be delivered to the five-time champion at Roland Garros "in recognition of his career, values and social commitment. "
Alfredo di Stefano, meanwhile, will receive the award "a very successful sports career, symbolizing consistent with the values advocated by the Foundation and, therefore, represent an example for society."
For its part, the other winners will be AC Milan Glorie "for its social commitment," Prisons (Home Office) and Open Horizons, "for the development of social projects related to sport in Spain", and former President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe, for the same work outside the country.
Courtesy: Marca
Realmadrid Foundation held Thursday in Theaters Canal (20.00 hours), its Annual Gala, which will deliver the 'Alma Awards 2010', among which you will receive the player Rafa Nadal.
Through these awards, the Foundation wishes to acknowledge the work of individuals or entities that represent an example for society and directly or indirectly have a link to the world of sport.
Thus, the prizes are awarded in four categories, Lifetime Sports, to Solidarity, the National Collaboration Project, International Cooperation and one special, which will be delivered to the five-time champion at Roland Garros "in recognition of his career, values and social commitment. "
Alfredo di Stefano, meanwhile, will receive the award "a very successful sports career, symbolizing consistent with the values advocated by the Foundation and, therefore, represent an example for society."
For its part, the other winners will be AC Milan Glorie "for its social commitment," Prisons (Home Office) and Open Horizons, "for the development of social projects related to sport in Spain", and former President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe, for the same work outside the country.
Courtesy: Marca
Some results from today
The biggest shock has just happened in Valencia. Murray is OUT. The #1 seed and defending champion has gone down in 3 sets to Juan Monaco of Argentina.
ESPN
Monfils, Cuevas & Granollers are all through
ATP
The evening match between Verdasco & Simon is due to start in just under an hour (8pm local time)
In Basel Andy Roddick came out on top in the all American clash with Sam Querrey.
Yahoo
Federer is current on court leading a set and 4-3 with a break.
Isner has literally just lost to Haase in 3. Robin wins 6-2, 6-7, 7-5
ESPN
Monfils, Cuevas & Granollers are all through
ATP
The evening match between Verdasco & Simon is due to start in just under an hour (8pm local time)
In Basel Andy Roddick came out on top in the all American clash with Sam Querrey.
Yahoo
Federer is current on court leading a set and 4-3 with a break.
Isner has literally just lost to Haase in 3. Robin wins 6-2, 6-7, 7-5
Tsonga OUT of the DC final
As feared, Jo Wilfried's season is over :-(
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The world number 13 has already missed three months of the year following surgery on his left knee and only returned to action last month.
But any hopes he had of facing Serbia on December 3-5 have been dashed when he ruled himself out for the rest of the season after aggravating the problem in Montpellier last week.
The French team will now be led by Gael Monfils in the singles with Michael Lodra, Richard Gasquet or Gilles Simon battling for the second spot.
Courtesy: Sky Sports
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France's Davis Cup hopes have received a major blow with the news that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has re-injured his knee.
The world number 13 has already missed three months of the year following surgery on his left knee and only returned to action last month.
But any hopes he had of facing Serbia on December 3-5 have been dashed when he ruled himself out for the rest of the season after aggravating the problem in Montpellier last week.
The French team will now be led by Gael Monfils in the singles with Michael Lodra, Richard Gasquet or Gilles Simon battling for the second spot.
Courtesy: Sky Sports
Tuesday previews
Here are the previews for today's matches in Basel & Valencia
Basel - ATP
Looking forward to today's play. Roddick returns after his injury lay-off still looking for his place in London. He plays fellow American Sam Querrey 2nd on court.
This is followed by local boy Roger against Tipsarevic. I hope Tispy can give him a match, i want the guy full of confidence for the DC final in a few weeks.
Berdych finishes off the day's action, like Roddick, still looking to secure his place in London. He will play lucky loser Kamke of Germany.
Valencia - ATP
2 stand-out matches today in Valencia. 3rd on court is Murray v Monaco who have recent history in Shanghai. This is followed by Verdasco v Simon.
Basel - ATP
Looking forward to today's play. Roddick returns after his injury lay-off still looking for his place in London. He plays fellow American Sam Querrey 2nd on court.
This is followed by local boy Roger against Tipsarevic. I hope Tispy can give him a match, i want the guy full of confidence for the DC final in a few weeks.
Berdych finishes off the day's action, like Roddick, still looking to secure his place in London. He will play lucky loser Kamke of Germany.
Valencia - ATP
2 stand-out matches today in Valencia. 3rd on court is Murray v Monaco who have recent history in Shanghai. This is followed by Verdasco v Simon.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Round - up
Brown turns Deutsch - Tennis.com
Dent may retire - Tennis.com
Basel round-up
ESPN
ATP
Valencia round-up
The Independent
Sky Sports
ATP
Dent may retire - Tennis.com
Basel round-up
ESPN
ATP
Valencia round-up
The Independent
Sky Sports
ATP
BNP Paribas Open expands replay technology
No hiding from Hawkeye at Indian Wells. All courts will feature the "challenge" technology from 2011.
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The BNP Paribas Open will become the first tennis tournament to feature replay technology on all eight match courts in 2011.
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The BNP Paribas Open will become the first tennis tournament to feature replay technology on all eight match courts in 2011.
The tournament, to be played March 7-20 in Indian Wells combines the men's and women's pro tours.
Most pro tournaments feature Hawkeye replay technology and video displays on up to three courts, but none have made it available on all eight courts.
Tournament director Steve Simon believes adding replays for all courts will make the tournament the most accurately officiated in the world.
Video displays will be added throughout the Indian Wells Tennis Garden so fans can keep up with matches when they're away from the courts.
Courtesy: USA Today
September Player of The Month
What would you deem a successful accomplishment for a 24-year-old?
Completing a masters degree with honors? Moving up the corporate ladder within a year of being hired? How about owning a few condos, while saving up for an early retirement?
While these and other well-deserved accomplishments have been met by hundreds of thousands of young adults around the globe, very few will ever lay claim to what Rafael Nadal achieved at this year's US Open.
Closing the door on his Grand Slam collection in New York City, Nadal became the seventh man in history to win all four Major championships, and the youngest in the Open era.
Capturing the Olympic gold medal in 2008, two Davis Cup titles for his native Spain, and 18 Masters 1000 trophies, the island-born Mallorcan could be headed toward an untouchable resume.
Remaining humble throughout his 10 years on Tour, Nadal has always lived and died by the motto of self-improvement. Never one to take an opponent lightly, Nadal's two hard-court Majors in Flushing Meadows and Melbourne Park were perhaps his two toughest victories.
Arriving Down Under in 2009, Nadal was by no means the favorite. Roger Federer and Andy Murray were the superior asphalt contenders, and Novak Djokovic had a lot on the line as the defending champ. However, with his head down, and an explosive will behind his sails, Nadal gutted out a riveting semifinal victory over Fernando Verdasco, only to outshine those efforts in the finals with a five-set win over Federer. Shedding his label as a slow-court specialist, Nadal had banked three of the four Majors with the US Open hot on his radar.
Injuring his knees while battling through the divorce of his parents in the spring of '09, Nadal was forced to skip the defense of his Wimbledon title, and later suffered a blowout defeat to Juan Martin del Potro in New York. Although del Potro poured in a whale of an effort to take home his first Slam title, Nadal's abdominal tear prevented him from competing at his best.
The prognosis for Nadal's body would not improve throughout the early stages of 2010. Landing in Australia with an outside chance of defending his title, the Spaniard was forced to withdraw in the quarterfinals with further knee pain. Andy Murray's delectable play would've been tough to defeat under normal circumstances, but with Nadal's tendinitis an ongoing issue, his chances of survival were next to impossible.
Regrouping from his injuries with a month off in February, Nadal returned in March to record competent semifinal finishes at Indian Wells and Miami. Although his dominant 2008 form was far from present, his tenacity and wherewithal on court appeared ready to rise. Admitting after his loss to Andy Roddick in Florida that if he continued to reach the semifinals of Tour events good things would happen, Nadal ended eight months of hard-court action, and set his sights on his home-bred clay surface.
Capturing the Monte Carlo title for the sixth straight time, Nadal began an unstoppable tear on the dirt, which included losing only two sets on his way to his fifth crown at Roland Garros. What started off as a bleak and potentially catastrophic year was now shaping into a season that he would soon not forget.
Racking up his second Wimbledon title in July, Nadal encountered a worrisome summer before entering the Big Apple. Falling in uncharacteristically meek fashion in both Toronto and Cincinnati, Nadal took some much-needed inspiration from his Uncle Toni and golf legend Jack Nicklaus ahead of his New York campaign. Adjusting his hand to a slightly more continental grip on his serve, Nadal began to produce missiles in the 130-mph range.
Picking apart opponent after opponent toward his first final, Nadal backed off from the sheer pace of his serve throughout the latter stages of the event, opting to slice his delivery out wide, while controlling the tempo with his forehand.
Watching Nadal through the early part of the US Open, I couldn't help but think back to Andre Agassi's march at the 1995 Wimbledon Championships. Arriving at the All England Club in a do-rag and carrying a yellow racket, Agassi began to hammer his serve through the first few rounds, while blazing his return-of-serve past puzzled opponents.
I vividly recall John McEnroe claiming that if Agassi could continue to serve as big as he was, then the tournament committee could save everyone some time and hand the American the trophy after the opening round. The principle around McEnroe's claim was based on the addition of a point-ending serve, which was coupled by Agassi's groundstrokes. Striking arguably the cleanest forehand and backhand of his time, Agassi had become almost unbeatable with a bigger serve.
However, unlike Nadal, Agassi's luck would run out in the semifinals against a trigger-happy and opportunistic Boris Becker. While Agassi stepped off the pedal against the German during his five-set loss, Nadal continued to steamroll through his semifinal opponent Mikhail Youzhny on Super Saturday.
The rain would stall Nadal's first final by one day, but the result of his focused efforts would be met with a four-set victory over Djokovic on Monday. Hugging the baseline with his two-handed backhand, Nadal's net play and first-strike approach would allow him to fall to the ground by the late evening.
Embracing his victory with his box of supporters, Nadal shared his joy with the assembled media after his victory.
"You know, I still 24. I have, I know, for me, it's a dream have the career Grand Slam, but this is more dream have the US Open," admitted Nadal. "Is some moments unbelievable feeling because I worked a lot all my life, in all difficult moments to be here, but I never imagined have the four Grand Slams."
Honoring his commitments to his fall calender in Asia and Europe, Nadal's year may be entering an anticlimax, but his memorable finish to a troublesome beginning will be remembered for quite sometime.
There's no telling what the future will hold for the current world No. 1, but with a potential "Rafa-Slam" on the horizon in Australia, the remainder of Nadal's career appears as bright as ever.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
Davis Cup dominates Djokovic
Novak Djokovic cannot keep dreams of an historic Serbian Davis Cup final far from his mind despite facing an important title defence at the Swiss Indoors.
Even while training for a first-round ATP opener against former junior rival Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, the world number three and second seed was thinking ahead to December 3-5 in Belgrade, when France come to town for the final.
A victory would be a first for the Serbs, who a decade ago were not even a blip on the tennis radar.
"This is a bit opportunity that you don't experience it many times in your life," said Djokovic, who followed up his US Open final against Rafael Nadal with a second consecutive title in Beijing last month and a Shanghai Masters semi-final against Roger Federer.
"We really want to win that Davis Cup final."
The 2008 Australian Open champion called the goal "my priority for this year."
The 23-year-old is also the only one among the men's top four to have consistently fronted up for Davis duties as Nadal, Federer and Scot Andy Murray pick and choose their national commitments.
"I've played every tie for last couple of years," said Djokovic. "Playing for your country is a different feeling than in any other event. It's the only occasion where you can feel the team spirit and proudly represent your country."
"We (Serbia) have something really special, great friendships off the court and the atmosphere which gives us a lot of success."
Djokovic will have only a month off between the end of the Davis final and the start of the Hopman Cup in Perth which begins his season on January 1.
"My main goal and ambition is to win the Davis Cup," Djokovic said unequivocally.
"It's like that for all of our players. Our country didn't have such a long tennis tradition until two or three years ago.
"Now we've had some big success and now the fans live for tennis."
Djokovic added that the Serbian crowd violence last month in Genoa which led to a Euro 2012 qualifying match being called off only a few minutes into the game with the win later awarded to Italy, would not impact the tennis.
"You can't compare football with any Davis Cup crowd. This is a different crowd, a different culture. It's too bad that the whole country has to suffer because of some individuals.
"Belgrade is absolutely safe, one of nicest cities in Europe. We're expecting 20,000 fans every day for the final, It will be necessary for us to have that kind of support."
Courtesy: AFP
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