| In conjunction with the cancellation of The Championships, Wimbledon, the ATP and WTA have jointly announced the continued suspension of the ATP and WTA Tours until July 13, 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to Wimbledon, the suspension covers the entirety of the ATP/WTA European grass court swing, including ATP events in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Stuttgart, London-Queen’s, Halle, Mallorca, Eastbourne, as well as WTA events in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Nottingham, Birmingham, Berlin, Eastbourne and Bad Homburg. The suspension comes into effect at all levels of the professional game, including the ATP Challenger Tour, as well as the ITF World Tennis Tour. At this time, tournaments taking place from July 13, 2020 onwards are still planning to proceed as per the published schedule. The ATP and WTA realize the importance and responsibility to prioritize the health and safety of the tennis community and general public while assessing the feasibility of the Tours’ resumption. “This was a decision that the WTA and our members did not take lightly, however we remain vigilant in protecting the health and safety of our players, staff and fans,” said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. “While we share in the disappointment of the season’s further postponement, our priority remains to support each other during this unprecedented time and work together as a sport in preparation of our return to play.” “Regrettably, the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic leaves us with no choice but to suspend the Tour further; a decision we’ve made in close cooperation with our members and the other governing bodies of tennis,” said Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman. “Health and safety remains the top priority as we navigate the challenges ahead in these unprecedented times, and we will do everything we can for the Tour to resume at the earliest opportunity once it is safe to do so.” |
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ATP, WTA and ITF Tennis Events Now Postponed Through June 7
Due to the continuing outbreak of COVID-19, all ATP and WTA tournaments in the Spring clay-court swing will not be held as scheduled. This includes the combined ATP/WTA tournaments in Madrid and Rome, along with the WTA events in Strasbourg and Rabat and ATP events in Munich, Estoril, Geneva and Lyon.
The professional tennis season is now suspended through 7 June 2020, including the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour. At this time, tournaments taking place from 8 June 2020 onwards are still planning to go ahead as per the published schedule.
In parallel, the FedEx ATP Rankings and WTA Rankings will be frozen throughout this period and until further notice.
The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to professional tennis demand greater collaboration than ever from everyone in the tennis community in order for the sport to move forward collectively in the best interest of players, tournaments and fans.
We are assessing all options related to preserving and maximising the tennis calendar based on various different return dates for the Tours, which remains an unknown at this time. We are committed to working through these matters with our player and tournament members, and the other governing bodies, in the weeks and months ahead.
Now is not a time to act unilaterally, but in unison. All decisions related to the impact of the coronavirus require appropriate consultation and review with the stakeholders in the game, a view that is shared by ATP, WTA, ITF, AELTC, Tennis Australia, and USTA.
All ITF events postponed until 8 June 2020
After careful consideration and in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ITF has postponed the ITF World Tennis Tour until Monday 8 June 2020. This aligns with the ATP and WTA’s suspension of their respective tours and the decision by the Fédération Française de Tennis to postpone Roland Garros until late September.
In addition to the suspension of the men’s and women’s ITF World Tennis Tour, the ITF will also postpone the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, ITF Beach Tennis World Tour, and ITF Seniors Tour until 8 June 2020.
The ITF, ATP and WTA firmly believe it is better for everyone in the tennis community if we work together. We are committed to working through these matters with players, tournaments and our national and regional associations in the weeks and months ahead. More than ever, the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to professional tennis demand collaboration and unity in order for us to do what is right for our fans, players and tournaments.
ITF President David Haggerty said, “In these challenging times, it is more important than ever for our sport to pull together to provide as much certainty as possible to all those affected by these postponements. We recognise the huge impact this will have, but ultimately the health and safety of players, officials and spectators has to be our primary concern. The ITF is committed to taking a responsible approach, working with all tennis stakeholders to enable players of all levels to resume playing as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Corona Virus Causes Indian Wells To “Not Take Place At This Time”
The Riverside County Public Health Department has declared a public health emergency for the Coachella Valley after a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) locally. As a result, the 2020 BNP Paribas Open will not take place at this time due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus and the safety of the participants and attendees at the event. This is following the guidance of medical professionals, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and State of California.
“There is too great a risk, at this time, to the public health of the Riverside County area in holding a large gathering of this size,” said Dr. David Agus, Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California. “It is not in the public interest of fans, players and neighboring areas for this tournament to proceed. We all have to join together to protect the community from the coronavirus outbreak.”
“We appreciate the proactive stance tournament organizers are taking to ensure public health and safety,” said Martin Massiello, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Eisenhower Health.
“We are very disappointed that the tournament will not take place, but the health and safety of the local community, fans, players, volunteers, sponsors, employees, vendors, and everyone involved with the event is of paramount importance,” said Tournament Director Tommy Haas. “We are prepared to hold the tournament on another date and will explore options.”
Any patron who has purchased tickets directly from the tournament may request a refund for the 2020 tournament, or a credit for the 2021 tournament. Patrons can visit www.bnpparibasopen.com/coronavirus to request a refund or credit.
About the BNP Paribas Open
The BNP Paribas Open is the largest ATP Tour and WTA combined two-week event in the world and is held annually at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The tournament offers more than $17 million in prize money and is the only event to provide the Hawk-Eye line challenge system on all match courts, including qualifying rounds. For more information, visit www.bnpparibasopen.com.
Why Federer’s Fall from the Top 3 Does Not Mean Retirement
by Bob Stockton
@BobStockton10
Roger Federer’s time in the world’s top 3 is over after the Swiss great dropped to number four following his decision to undergo surgery in February. Federer could not defend his Dubai title from a year ago, and Australian Open runner-up Dominic Thiem has taken his place. The Austrian is now in the top 3 for the first time, despite not playing last week.
While Thiem’s progress is worthy of discussion, all eyes are on Federer as he dropped from the top 3 for the first time in three years. Federer’s drop means the Djokovic, Nadal, Federer stranglehold on the top of men’s tennis has ended. Many fans are now asking what the future holds for Federer and whether he could choose to retire from the sport.
That’s certainly not Federer’s intentions publicly. According to the 20-time grand slam champion, he will be ready to return in time for the grass-court season. Federer will once again be amongst the favorites for Wimbledon when sports betting websites open markets for the tournament. Still, for some observers, we could be about to witness the end of Federer’s career.
At 38-years-old, Federer has already been managing his schedule and limiting which events he plays for several years. Even with his on-court guile and in-game management, it is clear Federer cannot compete at the same physical level he used to. For a player who spent 10 years of his prime without significant injury, the last couple of seasons have seen problems hamper his progress.
With a three-month break to the grass season, Federer will have plenty of time to reflect. For a champion like him, playing just to turn up at Grand Slams is not enough… he needs to be competitive. If injury and age finally catch up with Federer and he thinks he cannot compete at the highest level, retirement could be closer than many predict.
Why Roger Federer Won’t Retire
At the moment, Federer will believe he is still in the elite group of players in the world. Let’s not forget he made the semi-finals of the Australian Open when he was clearly carrying a problem. Additionally, he demolished Djokovic at the ATP Tour Finals last November. In other words, Federer remains very much in the mix at the major tournaments.
It seems unless injury decides for him, Federer’s game continues to hold up against the best in the world. While many predict the end of Federer’s career is imminent, 8-time slam champion John McEnroe has warned against writing the Swiss off.
McEnroe compares Federer’s longevity and ability to stay competitive to Tom Brady’s similar staying power in the NFL. He says he’s unsure how Federer and six-time Super Bowl winner Brady keep going, but the clear fact is they do.
“I mean, how they keep doing it would be the first thing at their age. It’s phenomenal, right? I mean, how in the world are these guys still playing at such a high level?
“I’ve admired watching Tom Brady because he makes players around him better. But you’re out there on your own and you’re 38 and you could be turning 39 on a tennis court with the wear and tear.
“That’s really tough. It’s already amazing he’s made it this far.”
McEnroe suggests Federer has already come back from injury once before with a renewed strength and believes it is possible again. Federer missed the second half of the 2016 season and went under the knife for a back problem. Then in his mid-thirties, many predicted Federer’s career at the top was over, especially as he had not won a slam since 2012.
However, Fed returned from injury and picked up the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2017, before winning the Open again in 2018. Discussing that previous injury, McEnroe suggests it would be foolish to write Federer off again.
“And I thought, you know, that’s pretty much it. That’s four years ago.
“And he came back after not having played for six months and managed to win the Australian Open (the next) year, winning three best-of-five-set matches, which is virtually unheard of to begin with.
“And to win three majors post-surgery. So, you never can count him out.”
Djokovic Agrees
Novak Djokovic, one of Federer’s great rivals, admits he was surprised Federer needed time out for surgery but says he expects the Swiss master to return.
“I knew he was struggling with an injury in the Australian Open. But no one knew really what was the injury, what is the extent of that injury.
“I really don’t like to see anybody going through surgery. I’ve been through that once, and hopefully the last time in my life.
“Roger is Roger – this sport needs him.”
Best Las Vegas Memories
Las Vegas is known to be one of the most memorable places to spend a holiday, and there’s probably a hundred or so reasons why. Everyone has heard the saying, “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” but should this always be the case? We’ve come up with a list of some things you can do in Vegas to help create some of the best memories while on your trip.
Destruction Therapy
Sometimes you get angry, and the only way to relieve that rage is to break something. What if we told you you could do this, and even bring your friends? Sin City Smash is exactly what you’re looking for! The rage room venue hosts all kinds of activities that involve breaking things, throwing axes, and flinging paint. You can even have your next office or birthday party here!
As long as you’re 18 years old or more, you can smash as many things as you want. Kids under 10 years old will need to have their parent or guardian with to be allowed to take part in the destruction.
Other rage rooms include:
It might not be the first thing you think of when you think of Vegas, but it’s something different to do that everyone can get involved in!
Celebrity Dining
Las Vegas attracts people who like to spend a lot of money, especially in the casino, so it comes as no surprise that celebrity chef owned restaurants dominate the Strip. From Nobu Matsuhisa, to Gordon Ramsay, here a few chefs you might run into in Vegas and their restaurants:
- – é by José Andrés: Deemed as one of the “100 Most Influential People” by Times Magazine, Chef Jose Andres owns a Spanish themed restaurant in The Cosmopolitan, famous for its two hour tasting menu that features over 20 dishes.
- : The popular British chef owns a two story steak house in the Paris Las Vegas hotel, as well as the famous Hell’s Kitchen at Caesars Palace.
- : Italian chef Giada De Laurentiis has won numerous awards, including an Emmy, for her restaurant and food. Enjoy some of the best Italian cuisine offered in Vegas at GIADI, located in The Cromwell.
The Strip
You can’t experience Vegas properly until you have been on the Strip. What makes it so great is that it has something to offer everyone, but is best known for the world class resort casinos it hosts up and down the street. These casinos are some of the biggest and best you will find anywhere in the world, and offer a number of activities even non gamblers can participate in.
The Bellagio holds the title as the best resort casino in the world, and can be found right in the center of the Strip. Other luxury resorts include; Caesars Palace, The Venetian, and the ARIA Resort & Casino.
Visit AmericanCasinoGuide to discover everything Las Vegas casinos have to offer you!
Pancho Segura’s Great Nephew Matthew Excels In Vero Beach, Florida
Matthew Segura, the ambidextrous great nephew of Hall of Fame legend Pancho Segura, won the Sea Oaks Mardy Fish “Wild Card” Championships Friday with an overwhelming 6-0, 6-0 final-round decision over ATP-ranked Emmett Ward of Delray Beach, Florida. It marked the third straight year that Segura, a 19-year-old from Apopka, Florida, has won this specially-created tournament that awards the winner a main-draw singles wild card entry into the $15,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit event April 26-May 3 at The Boulevard tennis club.
Segura said the final against Ward, played in front of a crowd of about 300 people, was one of the best matches he has played in his career.
“There are hardly any occasions where I win 6-0, 6-0,” Segura said. “I just played really well. I was in the zone.”
Earlier Friday in the semifinals, Segura was lucky to advance when he came back from a set down and saved a match point before edging 18-year-old Quinn Snyder of New Jersey 4-6, 7-5, (14-12) in a match decided by a 10-point match-tiebreaker in lieu of a third set. Ward, ranked No. 1892 in singles and No. 1829 in doubles by the ATP Tour, also advanced to the final in a decisive 10-point match-tiebreaker, beating former U.S. Open doubles and mixed doubles competitor Brian Battistone of Las Vegas 6-4, 4-6 (10-2).
Segura heaped high praise on the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation and the fans, membership and staff at Sea Oaks for the atmosphere at this specially-created event, calling it a “mini ATP event.”
“It’s amazing playing in front of all these amazing people,” said Segura. “I like it here. The crowd here is amazing and it also kind of feels like a mini ATP event.”
Segura won this title in 2018 defeating Jack Vance of Las Vegas in the final and in 2019 beating Perry Gregg of Chicago in the final. Segura will likely play his first match at the 2020 MFCF Tennis Championships on Wednesday, April 29 at The Boulevard. Segura lost in the first round in his previous two appearances at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships and is still seeking his first ATP ranking point.
Segura’s double-handed ambidextrous game is very similar to his great uncle Pancho, a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame who tutored his great nephew for 10 years before his death in 2017. Pancho’s knowledge, philosophy and coaching style was passed on to Matthew’s father Jeff, who continues to teach the “Segura style” to his son. The young Segura also has recently received tutoring from five-time U.S. Open champion Jimmy Connors, who himself was a pupil of Pancho Segura during his tennis career.
Tournament tickets and sponsorships for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships are now on sale and can be purchased at www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org Daily tickets for the April 26-May 3 are $20, with “night session” tickets starting at 5 pm from April 27 – May 2 costing $10. Season tickets for every session of the event are $100. Admission for children 18 and under is free. Fans can follow news and developments on the tournament on Facebook and on Twitter at @VeroFutures. Detailed sponsorship information can be obtained by emailing Tom Fish at Ttfish10s@aol.com, Randy Walker at RWalker@NewChapterMedia.com or Lynn Southerly at LSouth1072@aol.com. Proceeds from the event benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit tennis foundation benefiting at-risk children, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, the former top 10 tennis star and the current U.S. Davis Cup captain.
Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.com) currently supports over 2,400 children in conjunction with several other nonprofit organization as well as 15 elementary schools and six middle schools in Indian River County, Florida by funding after-school exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 which are Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends. The Foundation’s story can also be seen in a video here: https://www.mardyfishchildrensfoundation.org/a-message-from-mardy/
Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007, competed in Vero Beach in 1999. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Kyle Edmund, the 2013 champion in Vero Beach, helped Great Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and most recently world No. 50 player and teen sensation Denis Shapovalov, who played in Vero Beach in 2016. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Seven former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young, Ryan Harrison and Frances Tiafoe.
World TeamTennis Taps TennisONE To Be It’s Official Mobile App
The TennisONE App, a comprehensive new mobile tennis app created and run by sports tech start-up Bleachr LLC, has been named the Official Mobile App for World TeamTennis. The announcement comes just days before the WTT Celebrity All-Star Match kicks off the 2020 World TeamTennis season at Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California on Sunday, March 1st with some of the top names in tennis.
World TeamTennis, set for its 45th season in 2020, will join the growing number of international tennis events to be featured on the new TennisONE App, a year-round mobile hub for all-things-tennis. Fans who download the TennisONE App will be able to follow WTT teams and players, check live scores, watch video streams, monitor standings and enjoy social games that elevate the mobile fan experience.
The 2020 World TeamTennis season will showcase nine teams and 63 matches over 19 consecutive days from July 12-30, with its semifinals and finals at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas, NV, August 1st & 2nd. It will mark the second-season under the stewardship of new Chief Executive Officer Carlos Silva.
“The World TeamTennis format is exciting and we’re thrilled to integrate the league and all of its teams into the TennisONE App,” said Kristin Geer, Bleachr’s Chief Executive Officer. “Carlos Silva and his team are revolutionizing World TeamTennis with a state-of-the-art live mobile fan experience, building on the legacy established by Billie Jean King so many years ago.”
Over the past three years, TennisONE has built its reputation in the tennis industry as the mobile app developer-of-choice for ATP and WTA tour events around the world. It has produced white-label apps for prestigious events such as the Miami Open, Rolex Paris Masters, Western & Southern Open, Hall of Fame Open, New York Open, BB&T Atlanta Open, Citi Open, Winston-Salem Open, Volvo Car Open, Delray Beach Open, Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, Ladies Open Lausanne, Swiss Open Gstaad, and was ranked the #1 app in Canada during the Rogers Cup, two years in a row.
In addition to hosting the World TeamTennis League and Teams, TennisONE’s new year-round app is designed to feature live scores, draws, and action from all ATP and WTA tournaments globally, with exclusive social gaming opportunities for fans.
The Official Mobile App partner of World TeamTennis, the TennisONE App, is available on both iOS and Android and can be downloaded today in the App Store and on Google Play. For more information and to receive a link to download the app, click here.
World TeamTennis showcases the best in professional tennis with nine teams competing in the innovative team format for the King Trophy, the league’s championship trophy named after tennis icon and co-founder Billie Jean King. Since the league’s debut, virtually every major champion of the Open era has played WTT, including Andre Agassi, Venus and Serena Williams, Pete Sampras, Stefanie Graf, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Bob and Mike Bryan, Sloane Stephens, Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova, Lindsay Davenport, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Naomi Osaka. WTT is owned by innovator Fred Luddy and entrepreneur Eric Davidson. WTT’s 45th season will play from July 12-30, 2020, and conclude with the WTT Playoffs; league semifinals on Aug. 1 and the WTT Final on Aug. 2. For more information on World TeamTennis, please visit www.wtt.com.
Juan Martin del Potro Book “The Gentle Giant” Launches
New Chapter Press, the world’s premier publisher of tennis books, today announced the launch of its latest book, “Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” the “Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant,” the first English-language book on Argentine tennis great Juan Martin del Potro written by respected tennis writer Sebastian Torok.
“Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” for sale and download here via amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559920/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_lRArEbY4VMWP3 tells the story of one of Argentina’s greatest tennis players and the most important of his generation. After winning the 2009 U.S. Open, defeating Roger Federer in a glorious five-set final, del Potro was poised to take over the tennis world. However, wrist problems developed and del Potro endured three surgeries over 15 months. One of the world’s most popular players, del Potro’s fan base grew as he made his comeback—watching him win his second Olympic medal in Rio in 2016, where he once lost to Andy Murray, but won the hearts of millions around the world. He followed up by leading Argentina to victory in the Davis Cup. Described as the “Gentle Giant,” del Potro has the sensitivity to comfort a ball girl hit during a match, to stop in the middle of the game to gaze at a butterfly, and to accompany a young fan in the last days of his life. However, when he grips the racket, he becomes one of the most destructive strikers of a tennis ball.
“This book is an unprecedented trip to the emotional and sporting aspect of one of the best tennis players of the last decade,” said Torok, the author of the book, an internationally regarded tennis writer for La Nacion and with ESPN in Argentina. “Juan Martin del Potro is someone who lived with tragedy since his childhood, a tennis player who hit bottom and had the strength to persevere multiple times. This book was created with more than 70 interviews of people who, in one way or another, had to do with the life of del Potro. I am very excited and proud that this book is now available in English around the world.”
The original version of the book was published in Spanish under the title “El Milagro Del Potro.” The English language book was translated by Luis Rossi of Argentina and Haley Hunt of Brookline, Mass.
Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All-Time” by Steve Flink, “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “The Secrets of Spanish Tennis” by Chris Lewit, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins, “The Pros: The Forgotten Era Of Tennis” by Peter Underwood, “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was” by Sidney Wood, “Titanic: The Tennis Story” by Lindsay Gibbs, “Macci Magic: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others” by Rick Macci with Jim Martz, “Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion: The Full Extraordinary Story” by Mark Hodgkinson, “Cattle To Courts: A History of Tennis In Texas” by Ken McAllister, “Sport of a Lifetime: Enduring Personal Stories From Tennis” by Judy Aydelott, “Trojan Tennis: A History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” by S. Mark Young, “Absolute Tennis: The Best And Next Way To Play The Game” by Marty Smith, “How To Permanently Erase Negative Self Talk So You Can Be Extraordinary” by Emily Filloramo, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, “Your Playbook For Beating Depression: Essential Strategies For Managing and Living with Depression” by Cliff Richey and Mary Garrison, “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” by Rene Stauffer, “The Days of Roger Federer” by Randy Walker, “Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” by Jan Kodes with Peter Kolar, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker, “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by Tony Serksnis, “Court Confidential: Inside The World Of Tennis” by Neil Harman, “A Backhanded Gift” by Marshall Jon Fisher, “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli (www.Boycott1980.com), “Internet Dating 101: It’s Complicated, But It Doesn’t Have To Be” by Laura Schreffler, “How To Sell Your Screenplay” by Carl Sautter, “Bone Appetit: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog” by Suzan Anson, “The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle” by Stewart Wolpin among others.
Can Novak Djokovic Win The “Golden Grand Slam” In 2020?
by Bob Stockton
@BobStockton10
Following a magnificent eighth career triumph at the Australian Open, the love affair Novak Djokovic has with the blue courts in Melbourne continues. No player in either the amateur or open eras has enjoyed more success in this traditional first Grand Slam tournament of the calendar year, which bodes well for what could be a spectacular 2020 for the Serbian tennis star.
With his victory against Dominic Thiem at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, the 32-year-old has now won 17 Grand Slam titles during his illustrious career. Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal is just two ahead with 19 career Grand Slam titles, while Swiss sensation Roger Federer remains the all-time leader and three ahead with 20 Grand Slams. Remarkably, none of them have won the Calendar Grand Slam of all four major tournaments in one year.
During what has been a golden age of talent in the modern tennis era over the last couple of decades, all three of these spectacular players have come very close. Federer won three of the four major tournaments in 2004, 2006 and 2007, Nadal scored his trio of majors in 2010, while Djokovic has achieved a triple of majors twice, in 2011 and 2015.
Given there have been three such phenomenally talented players on the elite tennis scene at the same time, winning the Calendar Grand Slam is incredibly difficult. Especially considering that one of this trio of superstars has denied another the opportunity on a number of occasions. It’s also why Don Budge in 1938, then Rod Laver twice in 1962 and 1969, remain the only players to have won all four major tournaments in one year.
That said, despite the fact that Nadal is outright -110 favorite for the upcoming French Open, having dominated the tournament in Paris with 12 triumphs in the last 15 editions, Djokovic will still fancy his chances at +300 odds as he seeks to produce a monumental year of tennis. If he can triumph at Roland-Garros in May, Djokovic will then be looking ahead to continued success at Wimbledon in June, followed by the US Open in August.
However, there’s one elusive accolade that no men’s tennis player has ever achieved, which only legendary German player Steffi Graf managed to achieve in the women’s game. This was the remarkable feat of winning all four Grand Slam titles, plus an Olympic Gold medal at the 1988 Summer Games in South Korea. This established what came to be known as an unprecedented Calendar Golden Slam.
Of the trio of current greats in the men’s game right now, with Federer in his twilight and Nadal having struggled with injuries over the last few years, Djokovic is the youngest and arguably most likely male player who could yet achieve the Golden Slam. Having made such a fine start to this year and with the Tokyo Olympics this year, the Serbian will no doubt be hoping he’s the one who can accomplish the Calendar Golden Slam dream in men’s tennis.
TennisONE Brings Cutting-Edge Mobile App To Delray Beach Open Fans
The TennisONE App, a comprehensive new mobile tennis app created and run by sports tech start-up Bleachr LLC, has been named the Official Mobile App of the 2020 Delray Beach Open.
The Delray Beach Open is one of the first tournaments to be featured in the new TennisONE App, a year-round mobile hub for all-things-tennis. In addition to live scoring & practice court streaming, the TennisONE App features Daily Match Picks, AI “ball tracer” technology, interactive draws, player stats, trivia, and exclusive news and content from tennis insiders.
“Delray Beach is known as one of the best tennis cities in America, and we are excited to bring a new mobile app experience to those true tennis fans and players during the upcoming Delray Beach Open,” said Kristin Geer, Bleachr’s Chief Executive Officer. “The TennisONE App elevates the fan experience by allowing fans to follow their favorite players, watch them live on the practice court, and play along with Points Streak Live during matches to win prizes.”
Over the past three years, TennisONE has built its reputation in the tennis industry as the mobile app developer-of-choice for ATP and WTA tour events around the world. It has produced white-label apps for prestigious events such as the Miami Open, Rolex Paris Masters, Rogers Cup, Western & Southern Open, Hall of Fame Open, New York Open, BB&T Atlanta Open, Citi Open, Winston-Salem Open, Volvo Car Open, Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, Ladies Open Lausanne, and Swiss Open Gstaad.
TennisONE’s new year-round app is designed to feature client partners during the tournaments and act as a bridge during the rest of the year to connect to fans worldwide. The app will host live scores and action from all ATP and WTA tournaments globally, with exclusive social gaming opportunities for fans.
The Official Mobile App partner of the Delray Beach Open, the TennisONE App, is available on both iOS and Android and can be downloaded today in the App Store and on Google Play. For more information on how to download the app, click here.
About TennisONE:
TennisONE is a product sub-brand of Bleachr, the leading mobile sports app developer, whose patented geofence technology has powered more than 12 million fan interactions across hundreds of global sporting events. For more information, go to bleachr.co.
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About the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com: The only tournament in the world featuring an ATP Champions Tour event and an ATP Tour event in the same week at the same venue is held in Delray Beach, Florida, February 14-23 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. The ATP Tour’s first North American hard-court event of the outdoor season is one of just 10 ATP World Tour events in the United States. 2020 will be its 22nd year in Delray Beach, and 28th overall. The 3-day, ATP Champions Tour team-event is in its 11th year and was the first-ever event played on US soil. Each year the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com brings world-class tennis players and thousands of visitors to Delray Beach and Palm Beach County. In 2010, the tournament received the Discover The Palm Beaches Florida’s annual Providencia Award for its extraordinary contribution to tourism. The City of Delray Beach was also a finalist for the USTA’s “Best Tennis Town” award, and in 2003, the tournament was the recipient of an “ATP Award of Excellence.” For more information, please visit www.YellowTennisBall.com.
