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Stefan Edberg

Who Has The Greatest Backhand Volley of All Time?

May 25, 2018 by TennisGrandstand

Social media is a popular venue for discussions – and arguments – and one that has gone around is who has the best backhand volley of all time? Steve Flink, in his book “THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME” ($28.95, New Chapter Press, available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0942257936/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_SIRbBbB48F1H1) rated Stefan Edberg and Martina Navratilova as having the best backhand volley of all time by men and women, respectively.

The backhand volley rankings are as follows.

BACKHAND VOLLEY
Men

1. STEFAN EDBERG The Swede was his era’s best at the net, by a considerable margin. He was the quintessential serve-and-volleyer, with a heavy kick serve designed to allow Edberg to get exceedingly close to the net for his first volley. His forehand volley was awfully good, but his backhand volley was stupendous. Edberg was supremely confident on the backhand volley, which he could “stick” better than anyone. Either high or low on the backhand volley, Edberg always had all of the answers, displaying finesse, precision and the capacity to put it away whenever possible.

2. TONY ROCHE The formidable Australian’s backhand volley was virtually on a par with Edberg’s—some would say that Roche’s was even better. His shoulder turn and soundness were his enduring virtues as a player. No one wanted to allow Roche to hit that backhand volley if they had a choice because he invariably would keep the low ones deep and put the high ones away emphatically. Roche played the backhand volley with clinical efficiency.

3. KEN ROSEWALL While the understated Australian was more revered in some circles for his backhand ground stroke, the fact remains that his backhand volley was every bit as impressive. Rosewall altered his game when he left the amateur ranks and turned pro, realizing he had to approach the net more frequently. Once that change occurred, Rosewall put his stellar backhand volley on display with growing assurance. It was ineffably good.

4. ROD LAVER The two-time winner of the Grand Slam was spectacularly versatile, capable of taking his place alongside any of the great shot makers of all time. But I believe no one gave him the plaudits he deserved for his backhand volley. This deeply humble left-hander had good feel and great control on that side and he never wavered when he was set up for a backhand volley.

5. PETE SAMPRAS Over the second half of his career, the American became more committed to following his second serve in at almost all times. Sampras made serious strides in his ability to volley with the best in his business. He had a very good forehand volley as well, but his backhand volley was outstanding. Even when he was stretched out or reaching down to his shoelaces, he would make even the toughest backhand volleys look remarkably easy.

BACKHAND VOLLEY
Women
1. MARTINA NAVRATILOVA This outstanding left hander’s athleticism was displayed most convincingly when she was stationed up at the net. Her speed and anticipation was second to none and her long reach on the backhand volley was phenomenal. It seemed almost impossible to get a ball by her on that side. Navratilova could not only pound her volleys for winners at sharp angles but also could use her touch for some astounding drop volleys.

2. BILLIE JEAN KING Her technique and flair on the backhand volley was comparable to Navratilova’s. King had a much better backhand than forehand off the ground. On the volley she was highly skilled off both sides, but her backhand volley was more of a weapon. She would knife it away with total conviction, go down the line as well as crosscourt and her footwork and forward movement was outstanding.

3. EVONNE GOOLAGONG Goolagong was very comfortable at the net, relishing the challenge to end points with her dazzling athleticism and staggering grace. Goolagong’s backhand volley was awesome. Navratilova and King were more adept at making the low volley in many ways, but Goolagong was the best on high backhand volleys and backhand overheads. She would leave audiences gasping when she played that shot.

4. MARIA BUENO The Brazilian’s elegance and grace were reminiscent of Goolagong. This fierce competitor hit a heavy ball off the ground, but her forte was the volley. Bueno had wonderful touch and vision at the net, which made her such an estimable grass court player. She knew exactly what to do with the backhand volley and had one of the best ever.

5. VIRGINIA WADE The winner of three singles majors on grass courts—including Wimbledon in 1977—Wade possessed a terrific first serve. It was among the most potent of her time and she followed it in persistently. Up at the net, she was comfortable and usually in command, exhibiting very good lateral movement. Her backhand volley was first rate. Wade could knife that shot crosscourt with extraordinary regularity.

“The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” features profiles and rankings of the greatest matches of all time dating from the 1920s featuring Bill Tilden and Suzanne Lenglen up through the modern era of tennis featuring contemporary stars Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. Flink breaks down, analyzes and puts into historical context the sport’s most memorable matches, providing readers with a courtside seat at these most celebrated and significant duels. Flink also includes a fascinating “greatest strokes of all-time” section where he ranks and describes the players who best executed all the important shots in the game through the years. Other champions featured in the book include Don Budge, Maureen Connolly, Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf among many others.

The book is published by New Chapter Press, the premier global publisher of tennis books.
Flink, one of the most respected writers and observers in the game, is currently a columnist for TennisChannel.com. A resident of Katonah, N.Y., he is the former editor of World Tennis magazine and a former senior columnist at Tennis Week.

The book has received high praise from some of the most respected names in the sport, including Chris Evert, a winner of 18 major singles titles in her career, who wrote the foreword to the book.

Said seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras, “Steve Flink was there reporting on almost every big match I played in my career. He has seen all of the great players for the last 45 years. I encourage you to read this book because Steve is one of the most insightful writers on the game that I have known and he really knows his tennis.”
Said former U.S. Davis Cup captain and player Patrick McEnroe, “As a writer and a fan, Steve Flink’s knowledge of tennis history and his love of the sport are second to none, which is why you should read his book.”

Said ESPN’s Cliff Drysdale, “To see tennis through the eyes of Steve Flink is to wander through a wonderland. These are not fantasies because Steve captures the essence of tennis matches in graphic detail. There is no one more passionate or caring about his subject. In this absorbing book, I can relive matches that I have called on television.”

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “The Secrets of Spanish Tennis” by Chris Lewit, “Trojan Tennis: The Storied History of the Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” by S. Mark Young, “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion: The Full Extraordinary Story” by Mark Hodgkinson, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins, “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was” by Sidney Wood, “Titanic: The Tennis Story” by Lindsay Gibbs, “Sport of a Lifetime” by Judy Aydelott, “Macci Magic: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others” by Rick Macci with Jim Martz, “Absolute Tennis: The Best And Next Way To Play The Game” by Marty Smith, “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, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker (www.TennisHistoryApp.com), “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), “How To Permanently Erase Negative Self Talk So You Can Be Extraordinary” by Emily Filloramo, “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.

Stefan Edberg
Stefan Edberg

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured Columns, Latest News, Lead Story Tagged With: Billie Jean King, Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time, Martina Navratilova, Stefan Edberg, Steve Flink, Tony Roche

New Events In Brazil And Mexico Highlight 2009 Outback Champions Series

December 11, 2008 by Tennis Grandstand

NEW YORK, N.Y., December 11, 2008 – InsideOut Sports & Entertainment today announced the full slate of tournaments for the 2009 Outback Champions Series, highlighted by two new events in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, new single-knockout tournament formats and increased prize money for tournament champions.
The fourth full season of the Outback Champions Series will feature eight total events – each offering $150,000 in prize money – with six events as single-knockout, six-player events, while two events (Rio de Janeiro and Newport, R.I.) will be eight-player, round-robin format events. Tournament champions will also receive first-prize paychecks of $60,000 in each single-knockout event, while undefeated tournament champions in the eight-player round-robin events will continue to earn $54,000. As in 2008, the player who finishes the year ranked No. 1 in the Stanford Champions Rankings will earn a $100,000 bonus, courtesy of the Stanford Financial Group. The final Stanford Champions Rankings in 2009 will be comprised of each player’s best-of-five tournament results.
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series is a collection of global tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30, including former world No. 1 players Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Stefan Edberg. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world in singles or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team.
The full 2009 Outback Champions Series schedule is as follows;
* Champions Cup Boston – Boston, Mass., Feb. 13-15
* Rio Champions Cup – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 12-15
* The Del Mar Development Champions Cup – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, March 18-22
* The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships – Grand Cayman, April 23-26
* International Tennis Hall of Fame Champions Cup – Newport, R.I., August 19-23
* The Citadel Group Championships at The Palisades – Charlotte, N.C. September 25-27
* Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships at Surprise – Surprise, Ariz., November 6-8
* Emirates NBD The Legends “Rock” Dubai – Dubai, U.A.E., Nov. 19-21
Each six-player event will also feature special doubles exhibition matches with some of the greatest men and women players of all-time. In 2008, mixed doubles exhibition matches featuring Anna Kournikova were held at events in Charlotte and Dallas.
“We are very pleased with the growth and evolution of the Outback Champions Series since inception in 2005 and we look forward to what will be our most exciting season yet in 2009,” said Jon Venison, co-founding partner of InsideOut Sports & Entertainment and the Outback Champions Series. “Our events take place in many of the world’s most interesting and beautiful locations and feature the greatest champion tennis players in the world. With new fan friendly elements such as doubles joining the event schedules alongside current favorites such as kids’ day, player clinics and pro-ams at each event, we eagerly await the beginning of our season with our first event in Boston.”
Information on each individual event – including ticket information – can be obtained by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
The Rio Champions Cup in Rio de Janeiro and the Del Mar Development Champions Cup in Mexico are the two new events in 2009 announced last summer, marking the tour’s expansion into South America and Mexico. The Rio Champions Cup will be held March 12-15 at the HSBC Arena in Rio, while The Del Mar Development Champions Cup will be held March 18-22 at the Palmilla Tennis Club in Cabo San Lucas. The 2009 Outback Champions Series will begin in Boston Feb. 13 at the Champions Cup Boston at the Agganis Arena at Boston University.
Courier finished the 2008 season as the No. 1 ranked player in the Stanford Champions Rankings, earning him a $100,000 bonus by virtue of winning events in Grand Cayman, Charlotte, Dallas and Dubai. Todd Martin finished the 2007 season as the champion of the Series, while Courier also ended 2006 with the top ranking.
The 2008 Outback Champions Series kicked off March 12-16 in Naples, Fla., at The Oliver Group Champions Cup where Martin defeated McEnroe in the final. Courier won the second event of the season at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman Legends Championships April 16-20, defeating Wayne Ferreira in the final, while McEnroe won his first career Outback Champions Series event in Boston April 30- May 4, defeating Aaron Krickstein in the final. Pat Cash won his first Outback Champions Series title in Newport, R.I., in August, defeating Courier in the final, while Courier won his second and third titles of the season in September in Charlotte and in October in Dallas, defeating Martin and Thomas Enqvist in the final, respectively. In November, McEnroe won his second title of the 2008 season in Surprise, Ariz., defeating Martin in the final. In the final event of 2008 in Dubai, Courier defeated Outback Champions Series debutant Edberg to win his fourth title of the year.
InsideOut Sports & Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including one-night “Legendary Night” exhibitions as well as charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com

Filed Under: Lead Story Tagged With: Jim Courier, John McEnroe, Jon Venison, Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg

Pioline topples Sampras at last and meets Rusedski in final

December 7, 2008 by Tennis Grandstand

Cedric Pioline recorded an historic win against Pete Sampras on Saturday afternoon to reach the final of the BlackRock Masters Tennis. The Frenchman had never previously beaten Sampras in nine attempts, but he produced some explosive tennis to topple the American 7-6(7), 7-6(5).
“This is a great feeling,” said Pioline. “I tried to hold my serve and today I was reading his serve pretty good as well. It was a close match in the end and it’s so great to finally shake Pete’s hand as a winner.”
After the match Sampras paid tribute to his opponent.
“It was a dog fight today,” he said. “I was really impressed with Cedric and he was returning better today than he used to way back when. I had my chance there in the first but I took my foot off the pedal serving for the set and he produced some great shots.” It was competitive and I wanted to win so I’m disappointed I didn’t make the final, but at least the crowd enjoyed it.”
Despite his defeat today, Sampras has enjoyed his long-awaited return to London, a place that holds so many special memories for the seven time Wimbledon Champion.
“I had a great time this week and I’ve been really impressed with the tournament,” he said. “It’s nice to be back in London and seeing the British people was fun for me. I’ve got some good memories coming here and just driving around the streets makes me think about my titles and my wins. It’s a shame I couldn’t win another one here at the Albert Hall.”
Pioline will now take on Greg Rusedski in Sunday’s final, and the Frenchman is expecting another tough battle.
“I think it’s going to be a difficult match again because he’s in good shape,” he said. “He has a big serve so I will need to return well again. To win the tournament would be something special and I’d love to leave London as a winner with the cup in my hand.”
In the final match of the day at the Royal Albert Hall Jeremy Bates put in a sensational performance to beat John McEnroe 6-4, 6-7(4), 11-9 (Champions’ Tie Break).
SAMPRAS TO RETURN TO WIMBLEDON WHEN TIME IS RIGHT
For Pete Sampras the All England Lawn Tennis Club is a special place, and one he has not revisited since his retirement from professional tennis more than six years ago. He had been considering a return to SW19 during his stay in London this week for the BlackRock Masters Tennis but the seven-time Wimbledon Champion decided to leave it a little longer before taking a trip down the most emotional of memory lanes.
“I decided not to go,” he said. “I hear there’s a lot of construction going on and I wanted to go at a time when all the courts are up. That way I’ll have a chance to properly reminisce and maybe even walk on to Centre Court again.”
Despite almost a decade of glittering success at the All England Club, Sampras’ most recent memory of SW19 came back in 2002 when the American suffered a  painful second round loss at the hands of the unseeded swiss George Bastl on Court Two. He retired later that year after winning the US Open and has not returned to the UK since.
“I decided that it’s probably better to go while the event is going on, and also I’d like to take my kids over to check it out as well and they’re not here this week. I’m going to go back one day. It’s just a matter of when.”
The event is being covered by ITV4 in the UK, and matches are also being streamed live on the ITV website, ITV.com. Click here to access the live stream http://www.itv.com/sport/tennis/default.html.
ITV4 TRANSMISSION TIMES
Sunday                                  13.00 – 17:00
RESULTS – Saturday 6th December
Cedric Pioline d. Pete Sampras 7-6(7), 7-6(5)
Jeremy Bates d. John McEnroe 6-4, 6-7(4), 11-9 (Champions’ Tie Break)
FINAL GROUP STANDINGS
GROUP A
Matches won/lost (sets)
Cedric Pioline                                                    3-0 (6-0)
Pete Sampras                                                    2-1 (4-2)
Jeremy Bates                                                     1-2 (2-5)
John McEnroe                                                                      0-3 (1-6).

Greg Rusedski                                                    3-0 (6-2)
Stefan Edberg                                                    2-1 (5-2)
Guy Forget                                                         1-2 (3-5)
Pat Cash                                                                                0-3 (2-6).
ORDER OF PLAY (subject to change)
Sunday
1          Singles Final                  Cedric Pioline vs. Greg Rusedski
2          Doubles Final                   Bahrami/Fleming vs. McNamara/Woodforde
3          Doubles                          Bates/Murray vs. Black/Jarryd
About BlackRock
BlackRock is one of the world’s largest publicly traded investment management firms. At September 30, 2008, BlackRock’s AUM was $1.259 trillion. The firm manages assets on behalf of institutions and individuals worldwide through a variety of equity, fixed income, cash management and alternative investment products. In addition, a growing number of institutional investors use BlackRock Solutions investment system, risk management and financial advisory services. Headquartered in New York City, as of September 30, 2008, the firm has approximately 5,800 employees in 22 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.blackrock.com.
The BlackRock Masters Tennis: http://www.theblackrockmasters.com
BlackRock Tour of Champions: http://www.blackrocktourofchampions.com

Filed Under: Featured Columns, Lead Story Tagged With: BlackRock Masters Tennis, Cedric Pioline, Greg Rusedski, Jeremy Bates, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, Wimbledon

Sampras beats Bates to set up winner-take-all Pioline showdown

December 6, 2008 by Tennis Grandstand

Pete Sampras set up a mouth watering winner-take-all clash with Cedric Pioline on Saturday after battling to victory over former British number one Jeremy Bates at the BlackRock Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday.
In a match that lasted just over an hour, Sampras was pushed to a second set tie break before eventually triumphing 6-3, 7-6(3) against an opponent nine years his senior. After the match, Sampras admitted he hadn’t been expecting to be pushed as hard as he was.
“The match was much tougher than I thought it would be,” he said. “I think on this court Jeremy’s pretty effective and he was serving and volleying well, particularly in the second set. I felt like I played pretty well, a little spotty at times but I’ve got to give him credit because he played really well.”
Sampras will now play Cedric Pioline on Saturday afternoon in a match that will decide which of the two men is to progress to Sunday’s final. Pioline has lost all nine of his previous meetings with Sampras, including the two most painful losses of his career in the 1993 US Open and 1997 Wimbledon finals.
“We’ve played in two Major finals before. He’s a talented guy and he’s going to be very tough to break out there because the court’s playing really quick,” said Sampras. “He’s got a good serve and he’s pretty eager to beat me so we’ll see what happens.”
The winner will take on Greg Rusedski in the final. The British player defeated Pat Cash 4-6, 7-5, 10-3 (Champions’ Tie-Break).
The event is being covered by ITV4 in the UK, and matches are also being streamed live on the ITV website, ITV.com. Click here to access the live stream http://www.itv.com/sport/tennis/default.html.
ITV4 TRANSMISSION TIMES
Saturday                                12.30 – 17.00 (19.30 Match on Red Button and also on the ITV.com website) Sunday                                  13.00 – 17:00
For tickets to the BlackRock Masters Tennis, or for further information, please call the box office on: +44 (0) 208 233 5882, or visit the official website.
Corporate Hospitality packages are also available. For more information, please call: +44 (0) 208 233 5854.
RESULTS – Friday 5th December
Stefan Edberg d. Guy Forget 1-6, 7-6(1), 10-6 (Champions’ Tie Break) Pete Sampras d. Jeremy Bates 6-3, 7-6(3)
LATEST GROUP STANDINGS
GROUP A
Matches won/lost (sets) Cedric Pioline                                                    2-0 (4-0) Pete Sampras                                                    2-0 (4-0) Jeremy Bates                                                     0-2 (0-4) John McEnroe               0-2 (0-4).
Greg Rusedski                                                    3-0 (6-2) Stefan Edberg                                                    2-1 (5-2) Guy Forget                                                         1-2 (3-5) Pat Cash                        0-3 (2-6).
ORDER OF PLAY (subject to change)
Saturday afternoon
Starting at 1pm
1          Singles RR      Pioline v Sampras  LIVE ITV4            2          Doubles Forget and Leconte v Black and Murray LIVE ITV4   3       Doubles Bahrami and Bates v Gullikson and McNamara LIVE ITV4
Saturday evening
Starting at 7.30pm
1          Singles RR      Bates v McEnroe                                2          Doubles           TBC                                        3          Doubles           TBC
Sunday
1          Singles Final                  LIVE   TBC                                        2          Doubles Final
LIVE   TBC                                        3          Doubles                                   LIVE   TBC
About BlackRock
BlackRock is one of the world’s largest publicly traded investment management firms. At September 30, 2008, BlackRock’s AUM was $1.259 trillion. The firm manages assets on behalf of institutions and individuals worldwide through a variety of equity, fixed income, cash management and alternative investment products. In addition, a growing number of institutional investors use BlackRock Solutions investment system, risk management and financial advisory services. Headquartered in New York City, as of September 30, 2008, the firm has approximately 5,800 employees in 22 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.blackrock.com.
The BlackRock Masters Tennis: http://www.theblackrockmasters.com BlackRock Tour of Champions: http://www.blackrocktourofchampions.com

Filed Under: Featured Columns, Lead Story Tagged With: BlackRock Masters Tennis, Cedric Pioline, Greg Rusedski, Jeremy Bates, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, Wimbledon

Win over McEnroe gives Pioline chance for Sampras revenge

December 5, 2008 by Tennis Grandstand

Cedric Pioline will have the chance for revenge against Pete Sampras after ending John McEnroe’s hopes of a fifth BlackRock Masters Tennis title at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Pioline, 39, put in an impressive display of serving to record a 6-3, 6-4 victory over McEnroe in front of a packed crowd of nearly 4000 fans. The Frenchman took just one hour and 15 minutes to beat his American opponent 6-3, 6-4 and now moves into first position in Group B. On Saturday, he will face Sampras, the man he lost to in the 1993 US Open final and the 1997 Wimbledon final. If Pioline wins, Sampras will be going home empty-handed.
“Those two Grand Slam finals belong to the past but of course I wish I could have won at least one of them,” said Pioline. “It’s going to be fun because I haven’t played against Pete for eight or ten years and if I win it will be revenge for me.
“The way Pete’s serving and the way he’s hitting the ball, he probably could be in the top 20 or top 30 in the world today. But I’m playing good and I’m serving good so I think I have a good chance too and if I win I’ll be in Sunday’s final which would be special for me.”
McEnroe, who is ten year’s Pioline’s senior, showed clear signs of frustration throughout a match in which his opponent dominated with his thunderous serve, hitting 12 aces in total. Pioline went ahead early in the first set, breaking early on to lead 4-1 and serving out the set in impressive fashion. The second set was a tighter affair, with McEnroe managing to stay level until 3-3 when his opponent produced a scorching backhand winner to take a 4-3 lead. The break of serve proved to be decisive and from that point the Frenchman never looked back. He fittingly clinched the match with an ace down the centre line, at which point McEnroe held up his hands in surrender.
“It was one of those days when you hit the ball and everything goes in so that’s a great feeling for me,” said Pioline.
“I served very well and I felt good moving side to side. John’s always in good shape and I think he was playing very good tennis but today I was just a little bit better.”
Pioline will now play Pete Sampras on Saturday afternoon in a match that will decide who will top Group A and progress to Sunday’s final. The two men met nine times during their ATP Tour careers and Pioline is yet to notch up a victory against the 14 time Grand Slam champion Sampras. The Frenchman will have more than a place in the final to play for on Saturday as he will also be seeking revenge against the man who denied him his two best chances of Grand Slam success, beating him in both the 1993 US Open and 1997 Wimbledon finals.
In the first match of Thursday’s afternoon session last year’s BlackRock Masters runner up Guy Forget toppled Pat Cash 6-4, 4-6, 10-2 (Champions’ Tie Break) to move to second place in Group B.
The event is being covered by ITV4 in the UK, and matches are also being streamed live on the ITV website, ITV.com. Click here to access the live stream http://www.itv.com/sport/tennis/default.html.
ITV4 TRANSMISSION TIMES
Friday                                     18:00 – 21:30 Saturday                                12.30 – 17.00 (19.30 Match on Red Button) Sunday                                  13.00 – 17:00
For tickets to the BlackRock Masters Tennis, or for further information, please call the box office on: +44 (0) 208 233 5882, or visit the official website.
Corporate Hospitality packages are also available. For more information, please call: +44 (0) 208 233 5854.
RESULTS – Thursday 4th December
Guy Forget d. Pat Cash 6-4, 4-6, 10-2 (Champions’ Tie Break) Cedric Pioline d. John McEnroe 6-3, 6-4
LATEST GROUP STANDINGS
GROUP A
Matches won/lost (sets) Cedric Pioline                                                    2-0 (4-0) Pete Sampras                                                    1-0 (2-0) Jeremy Bates                                                     0-1 (0-2 John McEnroe               0-2 (0-4).
Greg Rusedski                                                    2-0 (4-1) Guy Forget                                                         1-1 (2-3) Stefan Edberg                                                    0-1 (1-2) Pat Cash                        0-2 (1-4).
ORDER OF PLAY (subject to change)
Friday afternoon
1          Singles RR      Edberg v Forget                                  2          Single              Bates v Sampras                                  3          Doubles           Bahrami/Pioline v McNamara/Murray
Friday evening
1          Singles RR      Cash v Rusedski                                 2          Doubles           Jarryd/Wilkinson v Black/Murray                   3          Doubles           Gullikson/Leconte v Fleming/Woodforde
Saturday afternoon
1          Singles RR      Pioline v Sampras                    2          Doubles          TBC                                        3          Doubles          TBC
Saturday evening
1          Singles RR      Bates v McEnroe                                2          Doubles           TBC                                        3          Doubles           TBC
Sunday
1          Singles Final                  LIVE   TBC                                        2          Doubles Final
LIVE   TBC                                        3          Doubles                                   LIVE   TBC
About BlackRock
BlackRock is one of the world’s largest publicly traded investment management firms. At September 30, 2008, BlackRock’s AUM was $1.259 trillion. The firm manages assets on behalf of institutions and individuals worldwide through a variety of equity, fixed income, cash management and alternative investment products. In addition, a growing number of institutional investors use BlackRock Solutions investment system, risk management and financial advisory services. Headquartered in New York City, as of September 30, 2008, the firm has approximately 5,800 employees in 22 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.blackrock.com.
The BlackRock Masters Tennis: http://www.theblackrockmasters.com
BlackRock Tour of Champions:

http://www.blackrocktourofchampions.com

Filed Under: Featured Columns, Lead Story Tagged With: BlackRock Masters Tennis, Cedric Pioline, Greg Rusedski, Jeremy Bates, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, Wimbledon

Sampras beats 'best ever' McEnroe on London return

December 4, 2008 by Tennis Grandstand

Pete Sampras received a rapturous, hero’s welcome in his first appearance on English soil in six years as he defeated John McEnroe 6-3, 6-4 at the BlackRock Masters Tennis in London.
In the opinion of Sampras, McEnroe played the best tennis he has ever produced against the seven-time Wimbledon champion, but it still wasn’t enough to slay the younger of the two Americans at the Royal Albert Hall.
McEnroe forced 0-40 on Sampras’s opening service game, but he couldn’t quite convert his only real opportunity on the Sampras serve.
After that, some of the rallies and reflexes were breathtaking for men supposedly past their peak.
Both players served and volleyed throughout, and a packed crowd in the Royal Albert Hall savoured every moment. So did the players.
“Talking to a few of the guys about playing here they told me there were great crowds and that the arena was phenomenal and it really was,” said Sampras.
“To be retired for six years and still be able to play in front of good crowds like this is an honour. It was a fun night of tennis, it really was.”
And he had some generous words for McEnroe.
“To be 49 and to be able to serve and volley and be effective and still have the hands and the movement is incredible. Forty nine is not young in tennis so more credit to him for keeping himself fit. I know he does a lot of off court training and it’s paid off. I’m really impressed.”
So was McEnroe.
“This is the twelfth year I’ve played and I don’t know if there’s a lot of matches I’ve played better than this and I lost,” said McEnroe. “I was a little unlucky in some of the games, like the two service games and when I had 0-40 in the first game. It’s sort of like being thrown out to the wolves to play Pete in my first match but it’s just good to be part of it even though I lost.”
Sampras said he might use his day off on Thursday to visit Wimbledon. He hasn’t been back to the scene of his greatest triumphs since he lost to George Bastl in 2002.
Elsewhere, Greg Rusedski scraped past Stefan Edberg 7-6(7) 5-7,10-6 (Champions’ Tie Break), and Cedric Pioline defeated Jeremy Bates 6-3, 6-4.
MURRAY DREAM COMES TRUE
Growing up, Jamie Murray dreamt of trading groundstrokes with the great Pete Sampras. On Wednesday in London, his dream came true.
Needing a practice partner with a swinging, left-handed delivery ahead of his clash with John McEnroe, Sampras asked Murray, who is here to play in the doubles event.
The pair laughed and joked together, and for Murray, it was a special experience.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Murray. “I don’t think I’ve ever concentrated as hard in my life on a tennis court but it’s got to be done against Pete.  The first ball he fed in was about 120 mph. It was a lot of fun and he still hits the ball as sweet as a nut and he was caning it from the back of the court right the way through. But I enjoyed it and I never thought or expected that I’d get the chance to do it in my life.”
The event is being covered by ITV4 in the UK, and matches are also being streamed live on the ITV website, ITV.com. Click here to access the live stream http://www.itv.com/sport/tennis/default.html.
ITV4 TRANSMISSION TIMES
Thursday                               18:00 – 22:00
Friday                                     18:00 – 21:30
Saturday                                12.30 – 17.00 (19.30 Match on Red Button)
Sunday                                  13.00 – 17:00
For tickets to the BlackRock Masters Tennis, or for further information, please call the box office on: +44 (0) 208 233 5882, or visit the official website.
Corporate Hospitality packages are also available. For more information, please call: +44 (0) 208 233 5854 , e-mail:blackrockmasters@imgworld.com or click here.
RESULTS – Wednesday 3rd December
Cedric Pioline d. Jeremy Bates 6-3, 6-4
Greg Rusedski d. Stefan Edberg 7-6(7) 5-7,10-6 (Champions’ Tie Break)
Pete Sampras d. John McEnroe 6-3, 6-4
ORDER OF PLAY (subject to change)
Thursday afternoon
1          Singles RR      Cash v Forget
2          Doubles           Bahrami/Bates v McNamara/Wilkinson
3          Doubles           Fleming/Woodforde v Jarryd/Leconte
Thursday evening
1          Singles RR      McEnroe v Pioline
2          Doubles           Rusedski/Wilkinson v McNamara/Woodforde
3          Doubles           Black/Leconte v Bahrami/Gullikso
Friday afternoon
1          Singles RR      Edberg v Forget
2          Single              Bates v Sampras
3          Doubles           Bahrami/Pioline v McNamara/Murray
Friday evening
1          Singles RR      Cash v Rusedski
2          Doubles           Jarryd/Wilkinson v Black/Murray
3          Doubles           Gullikson/Leconte v Fleming/Woodforde
Saturday afternoon
1          Singles RR      Pioline v Sampras
2          Doubles          TBC
3          Doubles          TBC
Saturday evening
1          Singles RR      Bates v McEnroe
2          Doubles           TBC
3          Doubles           TBC
Sunday
1          Singles Final                  LIVE   TBC
2          Doubles Final                          LIVE   TBC
3          Doubles                                   LIVE   TBC
About BlackRock
BlackRock is one of the world’s largest publicly traded investment management firms. At September 30, 2008, BlackRock’s AUM was $1.259 trillion. The firm manages assets on behalf of institutions and individuals worldwide through a variety of equity, fixed income, cash management and alternative investment products. In addition, a growing number of institutional investors use BlackRock Solutions investment system, risk management and financial advisory services. Headquartered in New York City, as of September 30, 2008, the firm has approximately 5,800 employees in 22 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.blackrock.com.
The BlackRock Masters Tennis: http://www.theblackrockmasters.com
BlackRock Tour of Champions: http://www.blackrocktourofchampions.com

Filed Under: Featured Columns, Lead Story Tagged With: BlackRock Masters Tennis, Cedric Pioline, Greg Rusedski, Jeremy Bates, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, Wimbledon

Sampras back in London at last

December 3, 2008 by Tennis Grandstand

Pete Sampras arrived in London for the BlackRock Masters Tennis today and caught up with old friends, adversaries and members of the media.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion will take on John McEnroe in a mouth-watering debut match at the event on Wednesday, and he can’t wait to get started.
“I still want to win,” said Sampras.
“It’s still competitive. We all have a lot of pride in playing well and winning. It’s not like I need to come here and ‘have’ to win the event like when I was in my mid-20s when it was a question of ‘all or nothing’. But that said, people want to see me play well and all the guys play well so we all do take a lot of pride in doing what we used to do. For me, I still want to win and I still want to play good tennis.”
It completes the circle for Sampras, who has not set foot in England since his last Wimbledon in 2002.
“I said during my career that I would never play senior’s tennis,” he admitted.
“But you should never say never and I didn’t know how retirement was going to be. It’s tricky. Every athlete will tell you that when they stop at a pretty young age, trying to find different ways to keep yourself fulfilled is difficult and some people have to come out of retirement to do that. The schedule provided by playing here keeps me in shape and makes me a better father and husband. When you’re not doing much throughout your day I can lose my patience and start to think ‘what am I doing with my life’. But I’ve got years to figure it out and retirement is still a work in progress for me. There’s no book on it. But I’m still enjoying playing a little tennis.”
He is looking forward to the prospect of taking on McEnroe, Cedric Pioline and Jeremy Bates in Group A this week, and possibly Stefan Edberg or Greg Rusedski in the final, but Sampras has no regrets about calling it a day when he did. After winning the US Open in 2002 he took his time to make his decision, before ultimately declaring his 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Andre Agassi in the final as his last match.
“I was done, I really was,” said Sampras.
“Those last couple of years took a lot out of me. Not winning an event and then winning that last US Open, that was the last fuel I had in my tank. I gave it some time, I gave it six to eight months to really make sure I was done. Then, once Wimbledon came and went the year after I won the Open I knew it was time for me to move on. And I wasn’t going to play for the money or the limelight or to wave goodbye. I play to win. Once that day came where I was 100% done and I wasn’t willing to do the work, it was time for me to call it a career. Watching Wimbledon the year after made me realise that I didn’t have it in my heart to be there, and that’s when I knew that it was for real and I was feeling the emotion of not wanting to play anymore. So that was sort of my epiphany. I was waiting for that something to happen and once it didn’t happen it was time for me to move. I will say in the last couple of years I’ve missed it more than I did when I first retired. I definitely miss that Centre Court. But it’s a brutal sport and it took a lot out of me so I needed a few years to decompress and take a deep breath. To get to the point where I’d like to play again and play in a few of these events is pretty fun for me.”
The event is being covered by ITV4 in the UK, and matches are also being streamed live on the ITV website, ITV.com. Click here to access the live stream http://www.itv.com/sport/tennis/default.html.
On Tuesday, Greg Rusedski got off to a winning start with 6-3, 7-6 win over Guy Forget.
ITV4 TRANSMISSION TIMES
Wednesday                          18:00 – 19:00 (19.30 Match on Red button)
Thursday                               18:00 – 22:00
Friday                                     18:00 – 21:30
Saturday                                12.30 – 17.00 (19.30 Match on Red Button)
Sunday                                  13.00 – 17:00
For tickets to the BlackRock Masters Tennis, or for further information, please call the box office on: +44 (0) 208 233 5882, or visit the official website.
Corporate Hospitality packages are also available. For more information, please call: +44 (0) 208 233 5854.
RESULTS – Tuesday 2nd December
Greg Rusedski d. Guy Forget 6-3, 7-6
Stefan Edberg d. Pat Cash 6-4, 6-3
ORDER OF PLAY (subject to change)
Wednesday afternoon
1          Singles RR      Bates v Pioline
2          Singles RR      Edberg v Rusedski
3          Doubles           Bahrami/Wilkinson v Gullikson/McNamara
Wednesday evening
1          Singles RR      McEnroe v Sampras
2          Doubles           Leconte/Woodforde v Jarryd/Murray
3          Doubles           Gullikson/McNamara v Black/Fleming
Thursday afternoon
1          Singles RR      Cash v Forget
2          Doubles           Bahrami/Bates v McNamara/Wilkinson
3          Doubles           Fleming/Woodforde v Jarryd/Leconte
Thursday evening
1          Singles RR      McEnroe v Pioline
2          Doubles           Rusedski/Wilkinson v McNamara/Woodforde
3          Doubles           Black/Leconte v Bahrami/Gullikso
Friday afternoon
1          Singles RR      Edberg v Forget
2          Single              Bates v Sampras
3          Doubles           Bahrami/Pioline v McNamara/Murray
Friday evening
1          Singles RR      Cash v Rusedski
2          Doubles           Jarryd/Wilkinson v Black/Murray
3          Doubles           Gullikson/Leconte v Fleming/Woodforde
Saturday afternoon
1          Singles RR      Pioline v Sampras
2          Doubles          TBC
3          Doubles          TBC
Saturday evening
1          Singles RR      Bates v McEnroe
2          Doubles           TBC
3          Doubles           TBC
Sunday
1          Singles Final                  LIVE   TBC
2          Doubles Final                          LIVE   TBC
3          Doubles                                   LIVE   TBC
About BlackRock
BlackRock is one of the world’s largest publicly traded investment management firms. At September 30, 2008, BlackRock’s AUM was $1.259 trillion. The firm manages assets on behalf of institutions and individuals worldwide through a variety of equity, fixed income, cash management and alternative investment products. In addition, a growing number of institutional investors use BlackRock Solutions investment system, risk management and financial advisory services. Headquartered in New York City, as of September 30, 2008, the firm has approximately 5,800 employees in 22 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.blackrock.com.
The BlackRock Masters Tennis: http://www.theblackrockmasters.com
BlackRock Tour of Champions: http://www.blackrocktourofchampions.com

Filed Under: Featured Columns, Lead Story Tagged With: BlackRock Masters Tennis, Cedric Pioline, Greg Rusedski, Jeremy Bates, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, Wimbledon

Mondays With Bob Greene: It's the most exciting victory of my life

November 24, 2008 by Bob Greene

STARS
Dmitry Tursunov beat Karol Beck 6-4 6-3 to win the IPP Open in Helsinki, Finland
Caroline Wozniacki won the Nordea Danish Open, beating Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-1 in Odense, Denmark
Jim Courier beat Stefan Edberg 6-3 6-4 to win the Legends “Rock” Dubai Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
DAVIS CUP
David Nalbandian (Argentina) beat David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3 6-2 6-3
Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) 4-6 7-6 (2) 7-6 (4) 6-3
Feliciana Lopez and Fernando Verdasco (Spain) beat Agustin Calleri and David Nalbandian (Argentina) 5-7 7-5 7-6 (5) 6-3
Fernando Verdasco (Spain) beat Jose Acasuso (Argentina) 6-3 6-7 (3) 4-6 6-3 6-1
SAYINGS
“It’s the most exciting victory of my life. Playing for my country, against the best players, it’s a dream.” – Fernando Verdasco, after winning the clinching point to give Spain its third Davis Cup title.
“I was prepared for the match, but Verdasco played very well in the fourth and fifth sets. He started serving better and deserves a lot of credit for this win.” – Jose Acasuso, after losing decisive match to Fernando Verdasco
“When you lose such an important player like Juan Martin, it opens a big hole in the team. After that, things got complicated for us.” – Alberto Mancini, Argentina Davis Cup captain.
“I have to remember Rafael Nadal because we played the Davis Cup final thanks to him.” -Verdasco, honoring the man who won two singles matches in the semifinals against the United States.
“Nadal gave us several victories, and thanks to him we are here. But the players who are here are the ones who deserve all the credit now.” – Emilio Sanchez Vicario, Spain’s Davis Cup captain.
“This is a great finish to a great year. Dubai is a fantastic place for me, and for all the players, to end up the season.” – Jim Courier.
“We get our grounds back and then we can decide what we do with it and be in charge of our own destiny, while it secures investment in British tennis for the next 40 years until 2053.” – Tim Phillips, on Wimbledon paying USD $83 million to gain total control of the All England Club.
“Carole and I first met when we were both 12 years old and remained lifelong friends. More than any other person, Carole worked tirelessly behind the scenes to be the driving force and influential leader of Fed Cup, the international women’s tennis team competition.” – Billie Jean King, about Carole Graebner, who died at the age of 65.
SPAIN SI SI
So what if the world’s number one player, Rafael Nadal, is missing. Spain still won its third Davis Cup by besting Argentina 3-1 in the best-of-five international competition. The winning point came on the first “reverse singles” when Fernando Verdasco outlasted Jose Acasuso 6-3 6-7 (3) 4-6 6-3 6-1 before a boisterous crowd in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. It was a battle of replacements as Verdasco had replaced David Ferrer for Spain and Acasuso was a replacement for the injured Juan Martin de Potro. Feliciano Lopez had rallied to give Spain its first point by upsetting del Potro 4-6 7-6 (2) 7-6 (4) 6-3, then teamed with Verdasco to win the doubles, besting Agustin Calleri and David Nalbandian 5-7 7-5 7-6 (5) 6-3. It was the first time Spain had won a Davis Cup title on the road. Playing on home courts, Spain beat Australia in 2000 and the United States in 2004.
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STILL WINLESS
For Jose Acasuso, losing the decisive match to give Spain the Davis Cup title was doubly devastating. The Argentine became the first man to lose two decisive five-set matches in Davis Cup finals, having also lost to Marat Safin in five sets in 2006 as Russia beat Argentina for the title. In the fourth set of the match against Spain, the trainer came onto court to work on Acasuso’s abdominal strain. “There was a lot of sadness in the locker room after the loss,” Acasuso said, “and the fact that three of the four of us lost to Russia two years ago means that the pain was double.”
STRAIGHT TO JAIL
Jimmy Connors was arrested at a University of California Santa Barbara basketball game when he refused to move on after being instructed to do so by police officers. An eight-time Grand Slam tournament champion, Connors refused to leave an area near the entrance of the Thunderdome following a confrontation, according to police. The tennis great was arrested at the beginning of the game and was taken to the Santa Barbara County jail where he was booked and released.
SUCCESS AT HOME
Caroline Wozniacki’s return home ended in triumph. Denmark’s top player won the Nordea Danish Open by defeating Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 6-1. “I played incredibly stable and pushed her around the court, just as I had planned,” Wozniacki said. “Therefore, she never really got started. So I win the fight, and since it was on my home ground, I am obviously more than happy.” Ranked 12th in the world, Wozniacki was the highest ranked player ever to play an International Tennis Federation (ITF) Women’s Circuit event. It was the first USD $100,000 women’s tournament played in Denmark.
STEFANKI ON BOARD
Andy Roddick has a new coach. The former world number one player announced on his website that he has hired Larry Stefanki, who has previously coached John McEnroe, Marcelo Rios, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Tim Henman and Fernando Gonzalez. Under Stefani’s guidance, both Rios and Kafelnikov reached the world number one ranking. Roddick has been without a coach since splitting from Jimmy Connors.
SEEKING OWN DESTINY
Wimbledon is buying back its own club. Organizers of the grass court Grand Slam tournament will pay USD $83 million to regain total control of the All England Club, buying back the 50 percent it gave away in 1934. The money will be paid to Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association after the existing agreement expires. Under the 40-year deal, the All England Club will keep 10 percent of the profits instead of giving it all to the LTA, the governing body of British tennis. This year’s tournament generated a profit of USD $39 million.
SPOTLIGHT ON VILAS
Guillermo Vilas is this year’s recipient of the Davis Cup Award of Excellence. The International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) presented the award to Vilas during the Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentina in Mar del Plata, Argentina. ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti presented the award to Vilas with past award recipients Neale Fraser (2001), Pierre Darmon (2002) and Manolo Santana (2004) in attendance. Vilas holds the Argentinean Davis Cup record for most total wins (57), most singles wins (45), most doubles wins (12), most ties played (29), most years played (14) and best doubles team, with Jose-Luis Clerc. Born in Mar del Plata in 1952, the left-hander is credited with being the first Argentine to win a Grand Slam tournament singles (Roland Garros in 1977) and the first Argentine to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (1991). He also won the last US Open to be played at Forest Hills in 1977.
SENIOR CHAMP
Jim Courier closed out the 2008 Outback Champions Series season in style by capturing the Emirates NBD The Legends “Rock” Dubai Championships. Courier beat Stefan Edberg 6-3, 6-4 to win his fourth tournament title of the year on the tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. He also won titles this year in Grand Cayman, Charlotte and Dallas, was finished the 2008 Outback Champions Series as its number one player in the Stanford Champions Rankings. Counting his Stanford Financial Group bonus, Courier won USD $404,000 in prize money this year.
STARS OF OLD
BlackRock Tour of Champions stars John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg joined up with Roger Federer and James Blake for a series of exhibition matches in Macao, China. Federer bested Blake 6-4 6-4 and Borg edged McEnroe in a one-set clash 7-6 before the two Americans teamed up to beat Borg and Federer 10-7 in a single Champions’ Tiebreak.
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE
Julia Parker Goyer, a Duke University graduate and tennis player, was among 32 Americans chosen as a Rhodes Scholar. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Goyer graduated with a psychology major and neuroscience minor in May 2007. She will pursue a masters of science in comparative and international education at Oxford University in England. After making trips to Vietnam and Belize in 2007, Goyer founded the Coach for College program, which sends student-athletes to teach middle schoolers in rural areas of developing countries.
SAD NEWS
Carole Caldwell Graebner, who won doubles titles at the US and Australian Championships in the 1960s, is dead. She was 65. The top-ranked doubles player in the United States in 1963, Graebner teamed with Nancy Richey to win the 1965 US Championships, now the US Open, and the 1966 Australian Championships, now the Australian Open. She reached the US Championships women’s singles final in 1964, losing to Brazil’s Maria Bueno. Graebner was a member of the inaugural 1963 US Fed Cup team, and played college tennis alongside Billie Jean King at California State University at Los Angeles. She later served as United States Tennis Association (USTA) chair of the Fed Cup committee, and was a vice president of Tennis Week magazine and a radio and television commentator. She is survived by a daughter, Cameron Graebner Mark; a son, Clark Edward Graebner Jr.; and four grandchildren.
SHARED PERFORMANCES
Helsinki: Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach beat Eric Butorac and Lovro Zovko 6-7 (2) 7-6 (7) 10-6 (match tiebreak)
Odense: Sarah Borwell and Courtney Nagle beat Gabriela Chmelinova and Mervana Jugic-Salkic 6-4 6-4
SITES TO SURF
ATP: www.atptennis.com
WTA Tour: www.sonyericssonwtatour.com
ITF: www.itftennis.com

Filed Under: Lead Story, Mondays with Bob Greene Tagged With: Agustin Calleri, Alberto Mancini, Andy Roddick, Billie Jean King, Bjorn Borg, Carole Graebner, Caroline Wozniacki, David Ferrer, David Nalbandian, Davis Cup, Dmitry Tursunov, Emillio Sanchez-Vicario, Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Gonzalez, Fernando Verdasco, Guillermo Vilas, IPP Open, James Blake, Jim Courier, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Jose Acasuso, Juan Martin del Potro, Karol Beck, Larry Stefanki, Legends "Rock" Dubai Championships, Marcelo Rios, Nordea Danish Open, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sofia Arvidsson, Stefan Edberg, Tim Henman, Tim Phillips, Wimbledon, Yevgeny Kafelnikov

Courier Tops Edberg To Reign In Dubai

November 22, 2008 by Tennis Grandstand

DUBAI, U.A.E., Nov. 22, 2008 – Jim Courier closed out the 2008 Outback Champions Series season in style Saturday, defeating Stefan Edberg 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Emirates NBD The Legends “Rock” Dubai Championships. The win earned Courier a first-prize paycheck of $54,000 for his fourth tournament title of the year on the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.
Courier, who also won titles this year in Grand Cayman, Charlotte and Dallas, was also presented with a $100,000 check from the Stanford Financial Group for finishing the 2008 Outback Champions Series as its No. 1 ranked player in the Stanford Champions Rankings. In all, Courier collected $404,000 in prize money in 2008, including his Stanford Financial Group bonus.
“This is a great finish to a great year,” said Courier after his win over Edberg. “Dubai is a fantastic place for me, and for all the players, to end up the season. It’s a pleasure playing in front of the great crowds in this great city.”
Courier broke Edberg in the eighth game of the first set, hitting a blistering forehand down-the-line passing shot on break point to take a 5-3 lead, before serving out the set the next game. Courier appeared to take complete control of the match by breaking Edberg in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. Edberg, however, made a last stand by breaking Courier back to even the set at 4-4. The Swede, however, was unable to keep the momentum, losing serve the next game before Courier served out the match the following game.
“I played well today,” said the 42-year-old Edberg, playing in his first Outback Champions Series event. “I didn’t really have much of a chance toward the end of the match. He played his points too well. He really hit some great passing shots. I hope to have the opportunity to play him again very soon.”
“Stefan just keeps applying pressure,” said Courier, 38. “I had to serve well to keep him from coming into the net. And I did serve well today. His volleys are deadly – probably the best I have ever seen.”
The final marked the first meeting between Courier and Edberg since they last competed on the ATP tour in the semifinals of Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1995. During their ATP careers, Courier and Edberg had a spirited rivalry with Courier winning six of their 10 meetings, including the finals of the 1992 and 1993 Australian Opens. Edberg’s signature win over Courier came in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 victory in the final of the 1991 U.S. Open.
In the third-place match Saturday, Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands, the 2007 champion in Dubai, defeated Anders Jarryd of Sweden in an abbreviated 8-5 pro set.
The Outback Champions Series features eight events on its 2008 schedule with each event featuring a round-robin match format. The winner of each division meets in the title match while second place finishers in each division play in the third-place match. Each event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000 as well as Champions Series ranking points that will determine the year-end Stanford Champions Rankings No. 1. Beginning in 2008, the year-end champion will receive a $100,000 bonus courtesy of Stanford Financial Group, the official rankings sponsor of the Outback Champions Series.
The 2008 Outback Champions Series kicked off March 12-16 in Naples, Fla., at The Oliver Group Champions Cup where Todd Martin defeated John McEnroe in the final. Courier won the second event of the season at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman Legends Championships April 16-20, defeating Wayne Ferreira in the final, while McEnroe won his first career Outback Champions Series event in Boston April 30- May 4, defeating Aaron Krickstein in the final. Pat Cash won his first Outback Champions Series title in Newport, R.I., in August, defeating Courier in the final, while Courier won his second and third titles of the season in September in Charlotte and in October in Dallas, defeating Martin and Thomas Enqvist in the final, respectively. In November, McEnroe won his second title of the 2008 season in Surprise, Ariz., defeating Martin in the final.
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Pete Sampras, McEnroe, Courier and many others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each event also has the right to choose a “wild card” entrant. More information on the Outback Champions Series can be obtained by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
InsideOut Sports & Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including one-night “Legendary Night” exhibitions as well as charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com
Results From Wednesday, November 19
Anders Jarryd, Sweden, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 1-6, 6-1, 11-9 (Champions Tie-Breaker)
Paul Haarhuis, Netherlands, def. Sergi Bruguera, Spain, 7-5, 6-4
Results From Thursday, November 20
Stefan Edberg, Sweden, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 6-3, 6-2
Jim Courier, United States, def. Paul Haarhuis, Netherlands, 7-6 (7), 6-4
Results From Friday, November 21
Stefan Edberg, Sweden, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 7-5, 7-5
Jim Courier, United States, def Sergi Bruguera, Spain, (walk-over, knee injury)
Results from Saturday, November 22
Championship Match
Jim Courier, United States, def. Stefan Edberg, Sweden, 6-3, 6-4
Third Place Match
Paul Haarhuis, Netherlands, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 8-5 (Match shortened to eight-game pro-set)
ROUND ROBIN STANDINGS
Group A
Stefan Edberg 2-0
Anders Jarryd 1-1
Wayne Ferreira 0-2
Group B
Jim Courier 2-0
Paul Haarhuis 1-1
Sergi Bruguera 0-2
2008 FINAL STANFORD CHAMPIONS RANKINGS
1.  Jim Courier (USA) 4100 points
2.  John McEnroe (USA) 2500 points
3.  Todd Martin (USA) 2200 points
4.  Wayne Ferreira (RSA) 2100 points
5.  Aaron Krickstein (USA) 1650 points
6.  Magnus Larsson (SWE) 1000 points
Jimmy Arias (USA)
8.  Thomas Enqvist (SWE) 900 points
9.  Pat Cash (AUS) 800 points
10. Mikael Pernfors (SWE) 750 points
11. Anders Jarryd (SWE) 700 points
12. Paul Haarhuis (NED) 650 points
13. Karel Novacek (CZE) 500 points
Stefan Edberg (SWE)
15. MaliVai Washington (USA) 450 points
16. Pete Sampras (USA) 200 points
Goran Ivanisevic (CRO)
18. Mats Wilander (SWE) 100 points
Sergi Bruguera (ESP)
Justin Gimelstob (USA)

Filed Under: Featured Columns, Lead Story Tagged With: Anders Jarryd, Davis Cup, Jim Courier, John McEnroe, Michael Chang, Outback Champions Series, Pat Cash, Paul Haarhuis, Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, Todd Martin, Wayne Ferreira

Edberg and Courier To Renew Rivalry In Dubai Final

November 21, 2008 by Tennis Grandstand

DUBAI, U.A.E., Nov. 21, 2008 – Stefan Edberg will meet Jim Courier in Saturday’s final of the Emirates NBD The Legends “Rock” Dubai Championships after both players emerged from round-robin play with undefeated records. Edberg defeated former doubles partner and Swedish Davis Cup teammate Anders Jarryd 7-5, 7-5 Friday to reach the final, while Courier advanced courtesy of a walk-over victory when Sergi Bruguera was unable to play their round-robin match due to a knee injury. The Emirates NBD The Legends “Rock” Dubai is the eighth and final event on the 2008 Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.
The final will mark the first meeting between Edberg and Courier since they last competed on the ATP tour in the semifinals of Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1995. During their ATP careers, Courier and Edberg had a spirited rivalry with Courier winning six of their 10 meetings, including the finals of the 1992 and 1993 Australian Opens and in the final of the 1989 Swiss Indoors in Basel for his first ATP singles title. Edberg played near flawless tennis in defeating Courier 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in the final of the 1991 U.S. Open. Saturday’s winner will earn a first-prize paycheck of $54,000.
“This is the first time I’ve played Stefan on the Outback Champion Series and I can’t wait to be back out there trying to hit passing shots by him,” said Courier of playing Edberg in the final. “He’s one of the last pure serve and volleyers and we’ve played in quite a few finals including my first in Basel and in three Grand Slam finals. He’s one of the game’s great champions and it will be a privilege to be back out there with him.”
Both Courier and Edberg have combined to win 10 major singles titles (two Wimbledon, U.S. and Australian Opens for Edberg; two French and Australian Opens for Courier) and have ranked No. 1 in the world for a combined 130 weeks (72 weeks for Edberg; 58 weeks for Courier.) Both Courier and Edberg are also two of only 15 men in the history of tennis to play in all four major singles finals in a career. (Edberg also lost the 1989 French Open final while Courier lost the 1993 Wimbledon final (after defeating Edberg in the semifinals) and the 1991 U.S. Open final (losing to Edberg).
Against Jarryd, the 42-year-old Edberg struggled with his serve-and-volley game – sometimes abandoning it – as Jarryd was able to break his serve three times in the match. Jarryd broke Edberg in the seventh game of the first set to lead 4-3, but was unable to consolidate the break by losing his serve the very next game. Edberg was able to break Jarryd at 6-5 to close out the first set. In the second set, Jarryd fought off a 0-40 deficit on his serve in the second game to hold for 1-1. The two exchanged two breaks over the next four games – Jarryd not able to consolidate his break on both occasions – before Edberg closed out the match in the 12th game of the second set by breaking Jarryd for a fifth and final time.
“Anders and I played so many times, we know each other’s games so well,” said Edberg. “He made me work very hard today. He returns so well. I had to stay back more than I normally do. This was a great match to play going into the final – where you have to fight and work hard the whole way.”
Said Jarryd, “I had so much fun out there, everything worked for me. It’s been so long since we played. I thought for a while there maybe I could do it. I was up a break twice in the second set, but Stefan is a champion and I take my hat off to him.”
The Edberg-Courier final Saturday will be played following the third-place match between Jarryd and Paul Haarhuis.
The Outback Champions Series features eight events on its 2008 schedule with each event featuring a round-robin match format. The winner of each division meets in the title match while second place finishers in each division play in the third-place match. Each event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000 as well as Champions Series ranking points that will determine the year-end Stanford Champions Rankings No. 1. Beginning in 2008, the year-end champion will receive a $100,000 bonus courtesy of Stanford Financial Group, the official rankings sponsor of the Outback Champions Series.
The 2008 Outback Champions Series kicked off March 12-16 in Naples, Fla., at The Oliver Group Champions Cup where Todd Martin defeated John McEnroe in the final. Courier won the second event of the season at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman Legends Championships April 16-20, defeating Wayne Ferreira in the final, while McEnroe won his first career Outback Champions Series event in Boston April 30- May 4, defeating Aaron Krickstein in the final. Pat Cash won his first Outback Champions Series title in Newport, R.I., in August, defeating Courier in the final, while Courier won his second and third titles of the season in September in Charlotte and in October in Dallas, defeating Martin and Thomas Enqvist in the final, respectively. In November, McEnroe won his second title of the 2008 season in Surprise, Ariz., defeating Martin in the final.
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Pete Sampras, McEnroe, Courier and many others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each event also has the right to choose a “wild card” entrant. More information on the Outback Champions Series can be obtained by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
InsideOut Sports & Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including one-night “Legendary Night” exhibitions as well as charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com
Results From Wednesday, November 19
Anders Jarryd, Sweden, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 1-6, 6-1, 11-9 (Champions Tie-Breaker)
Paul Haarhuis, Netherlands, def. Sergi Bruguera, Spain, 7-5, 6-4
Results From Thursday, November 20
Stefan Edberg, Sweden, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 6-3, 6-2
Jim Courier, United States, def. Paul Haarhuis, Netherlands, 7-6 (7), 6-4
Results From Friday, November 21
Stefan Edberg, Sweden, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 7-5, 7-5
Jim Courier, United States, def Sergi Bruguera, Spain, (walk-over, knee injury)
Saturday
Starting at 3 pm
Anders Jarryd, Sweden, vs. Paul Haarhuis, Netherlands – Third-place match
Followed by
Stefan Edberg, Sweden, vs. Jim Courier, United States – Championship match
ROUND ROBIN STANDINGS
Group A
Stefan Edberg 2-0
Anders Jarryd 1-1
Wayne Ferreira 0-2
Group B
Jim Courier 2-0
Paul Haarhuis 1-1
Sergi Bruguera 0-2

Filed Under: Featured Columns, Lead Story Tagged With: Anders Jarryd, Davis Cup, Jim Courier, John McEnroe, Michael Chang, Outback Champions Series, Pat Cash, Paul Haarhuis, Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, Todd Martin, Wayne Ferreira

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