Written by the USTA
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 2, 2008 – The USTA today announced that Patrick McEnroe has been named General Manager, USTA Elite Player Development, as part of a new strategic direction for the development of future American champions. This initiative will provide a greater focus on top American junior players and young pros in an effort to achieve championship status. As part of a unified effort, the USTA will create a “Champions Advisory Board” and “Coaches Commission,” bringing together the best in American tennis to provide input into talent identification, program development, and coaching. In addition, the new direction will include the launch of “USTA Pro Track,” providing a pathway for top American juniors to achieve at the highest levels of the game.
McEnroe, who led the U.S. Davis Cup team to its first title in 12 years last December, will remain in his role as Captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team. He will begin his new full-time position as General Manager on May 12, and will report to Arlen Kantarian, CEO, Professional Tennis. McEnroe will oversee the USTA’s National Coaches and coaching program, as well as the USTA Training Centers in Boca Raton, Florida, and Carson, California.
For the first time, the USTA is now training and housing top junior talent on a full-time basis in the new state-of-the-art training facility at its Boca Raton Training Center on the campus of the Evert Tennis Academy. Its creation is the first-step in the hands-on development of top junior talent by the USTA.
“This is the beginning of a new strategic direction for the USTA as we create a unified effort to help keep America a dominant force in tennis for years to come,” said Arlen Kantarian, CEO Pro Tennis, USTA. “Patrick McEnroe is one of the most respected and forward-thinking minds in tennis today, and has achieved success at every level of the sport. With Patrick at the helm, we look forward to building a broad coalition of support toward one common goal – – create the next generation of American champions.”
“This is one of the sport’s highest callings and I am thrilled to unify and lead a team to work together to keep America the home of champions,” said McEnroe. “The USTA has significantly stepped-up its commitment to the development of elite champions, and I am honored to lead this effort. I look forward to working with our past champions, top coaches, academies, and other industry leaders for the betterment of American tennis.”
In his 11-year pro career (1988-98), McEnroe won one singles and sixteen doubles titles, including the 1989 French Open doubles title. He reached a career high singles ranking of No. 28 in September 1995 and an individual doubles high of No. 3 in 1993. He was a member of the U.S. Davis Cup team in 1993, ’94 and ’96. As U.S. Davis Cup Captain he began his tenure committed to working with younger talent. His 14 wins are tied for second all-time for a U.S. Davis Cup Captain and he now has a roster that has played as a group for a record nine straight ties and captured the Davis Cup for the U.S. for the first time in 12 years in 2007. He also was coach of the 2004 U.S. Olympic men’s tennis team.
A respected television and radio commentator, McEnroe graduated from Stanford University with a degree in political science as a three-time singles All-American (1986-88) and member of two NCAA championship teams (1986 and ’88). As a junior in 1984, McEnroe claimed the USTA Boys’ 18s National Grass Court singles title, the USTA Boys’ 18s National Clay Court doubles title and French Open boys’ doubles title. He was a member of the U.S. Junior Davis Cup Team in 1986 and ’87.
McEnroe, 41, is married to actress Melissa Errico. The couple resides in Manhattan and has a daughter, Victoria.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT PATRICK McENROE…..
“Patrick is a strong leader and understands the players, the sport and what it takes to build champions. He is a driven man of the highest character. I look forward to working with him as part of the USTA’s inclusive effort to develop American champions.”
— Billie Jean King
“The USTA continues to make the right moves in regards to Player Development. Patrick is an excellent choice to head its new Elite Player Development unit. I look forward to seeing him down here in Boca Raton at the USTA Training Center.”
— Chris Evert
“The USTA made a great choice in selecting Patrick for this position. Patrick is a good friend, a great Davis Cup Captain and a solid ambassador for the sport of tennis. I wish him nothing but the best and will help in any way I can.”
— Pete Sampras
“I’ve known Patrick for a long time and have always been impressed with his commitment to the sport. Patrick is a great guy for the job.”
— Andy Roddick
“I have witnessed first hand Patrick’s desire to build champions and win. This shows that the USTA is committed to doing everything it can to develop the next group of American champions. I know Patrick will have an open mind and a creative vision that will allow our top talent to develop into champions.”
— James Blake
“The USTA is clearly on the right track – great hire. Patrick is a man who puts what is best for American tennis in front of everything else. We look forward to working with him and the USTA on this new focused effort to create American champions and inspire individuals to play the game.”
— Nick Bollettieri
“Hiring Patrick to head Elite Player Development is an outstanding move by the USTA. He will have the respect of the players, the coaches and from the tennis world at large. His keen competitive instinct, his exceptional understanding of the game and his classy leadership capabilities help to make him uniquely qualified for this honor and responsibility.”
— Dick Gould
Patrick’s coach at Stanford
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USTA
Andy Roddick, James Blake and World No.1 Doubles Team Bob and Mike Bryan to Face France In Davis Cup Quarterfinal, April 11-13
Written by the USTA
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 27, 2008 — The USTA and U.S. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe today announced that the defending Davis Cup champions will feature world No. 6 Andy Roddick, No. 9 James Blake and the No. 1 doubles team in the world Bob and Mike Bryan in the 2008 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Quarterfinal. The U.S. will face France on an indoor premiere hard court in Winston-Salem’s Joel Coliseum, April 11-13.
This is the tenth straight time that U.S. Davis Cup Captain McEnroe has used this lineup — a record for the U.S. Davis Cup team — dating back to the 2005 World Group Play-off in Belgium. The previous U.S. record was three consecutive ties, held by eight different teams. In addition, Mardy Fish — the third-ranked American — will come to Winston-Salem as a reserve and practice with the team.
The weekend festivities will begin Friday before the matches with a special ceremony to recognize the 2007 Davis Cup champions. During the ceremony, a banner will be raised and the team will be presented custom-designed 14-karat gold rings commissioned by the USTA with five diamonds on the top, representing McEnroe and each of the four players.
“We’re looking forward to adding another chapter to our rich Davis Cup history with France,” said U.S. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe, who has led the U.S. to a 14-6 record since taking over as Captain in 2001. “We received tremendous support from the crowd last year in Winston-Salem and we hope to experience that same excitement again this year.”
Good seats are still available and can be purchased by calling (888) 484-USTA (8782) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. The event is being organized, staged and promoted by the USTA.
The United States began the defense of its record 32nd Davis Cup title with a 4-1 win over Austria on an indoor red clay court in Vienna. Should the United States defeat France, the U.S. would travel to either Germany or Spain for the World Group Semifinal in September.
The United States and France will meet for the fifteenth time in their more than one-hundred-year history. The series is tied 7-7 with France winning the last meeting in the 2002 World Group Semifinal at Roland Garros in Paris. From 1925-1930, France and the U.S. met each year in the final, with the U.S. winning the first two match-ups.
Versus and Tennis Channel will air same-day coverage of all three days of competition. Versus’ live coverage will begin each day, starting at 1 p.m. ET Friday and Sunday, and 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Tennis Channel will re-air coverage at 8 p.m. ET.
The opening day of play in the best-of-five match series features each country’s No. 1 singles player against the No. 2 player from the other country. The pivotal doubles match is played Saturday, followed by Sunday’s “reverse singles,” starting with each country’s No. 1 player squaring off followed by the No. 2 players in the fifth and final match.
Roddick, 25, has a 27-9 record in Davis Cup matches since joining the team in 2001, which ties him for second all-time in singles victories for the U.S. Davis Cup team. Last year, he went undefeated (6-0) to lead the U.S. to its first Davis Cup title since 1995. He has been the No. 1 player for the United States in all but two appearances — his debut at the 2001 Davis Cup First Round at Switzerland and the 2002 Davis Cup First Round win over the Slovak Republic (behind Pete Sampras) in Oklahoma City.
Blake, 28, has an 18-9 overall record in Davis Cup (15-8 in singles, 3-1 in doubles), having represented the United States in 14 ties over the past seven years. Blake turned professional after completing his sophomore season at Harvard as the No. 1 player in college tennis. In 2001, he became the first former Harvard student to represent the U.S. in Davis Cup in 75 years. Dwight Davis, a senior at Harvard, founded the Davis Cup competition in 1900.
Bob Bryan, 29, ranking No. 1 in the world in doubles with twin brother Mike, holds a 14-1 record in Davis Cup doubles with twin brother Mike and is 3-2 in singles. The duo is tied for first all-time in U.S. Davis Cup history with 14 doubles wins as a team. The Bryan brothers have won 44 doubles titles as a team and are the most successful sibling doubles team in the Open Era. Bob also won the mixed doubles titles at the US Open with three different partners: Katarina Srebotnik (2003), Vera Zvonareva (2004) and Martina Navratilova (2006).
Mike Bryan, 29, has played every doubles match for the U.S. Davis Cup team since he and his twin brother, Bob, joined the team in September 2003. They are the only brothers to pair in victory for the United States Davis Cup team. Together, they ended 2007 as the No. 1 doubles team in the world for the fourth time in five years. Mike has 46 career ATP doubles titles and won the 2002 US Open and 2003 French Open mixed doubles titles with Lisa Raymond.
Last April, Winston-Salem hosted the 2007 World Group Quarterfinal in which the United States defeated Spain, 4-1. The event was played in front of sold-out crowds that made the quarterfinal the third-highest-attended Davis Cup weekend in the United States. The team used that victory as a springboard to capture its first Davis Cup title in 12 years, going on to defeat Sweden in Gothenburg and Russia in the final in Portland, Ore.
Founded in 1900, Davis Cup is the world’s largest annual international men’s team competition with 127 nations competing this year. The U.S. leads all nations with 32 Davis Cup titles.
AIG is the official sponsor of the U.S. Davis Cup team. Wilson is the official ball of the U.S. Davis Cup team.
Zina Garrison and Rodney Harmon Named Coaches of 2008 US Olympics Tennis Teams
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 18, 2008 – The USTA, the governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S., today announced that U.S. Fed Cup Captain Zina Garrison and Rodney Harmon, USTA Director of Men’s Tennis have been named as the women’s and men’s coaches for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Tennis Teams. In addition, Dan James, Head U.S. National Wheelchair Team Coach, has been named coach for the U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Team.
The 2008 Olympic Games will be held August 8-24 in Beijing, China, with the tennis competition being staged August 10-17 at the Beijing Olympic Tennis Centre. The 2008 Paralympic Games will be held September 6-17 in Beijing with the tennis competition scheduled for September 8-15 at the same venue. The Olympic competition will conclude eight days prior to the US Open and will be played on the same DecoTurf II hard court surface as the US Open.
“With the top names in tennis competing in Beijing prior to the US Open, the Olympics add another dimension to what will be a memorable summer of tennis,” said Jane Brown Grimes, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “Tennis as a sport benefits greatly from being showcased on such a prestigious international stage as the Olympics.”
“Zina, Rodney and Dan each possess that combination of character and competitive fire that define leadership and are synonymous with the Olympic ideal,” said Arlen Kantarian, CEO Pro Tennis, USTA. “Each brings experience as an accomplished player and coach, with a unique ability to connect with the athletes to lead our quest for 2008 gold.”
“I’m honored to be selected again as the Olympic coach,” said Garrison. “Some of my fondest tennis memories are from the Olympics and the incomparable thrill of winning a gold medal. The goal is to share in that Olympic experience with our team this summer.”
“We have the nucleus of a very competitive international men’s team who will all be medal contenders in Beijing,” said Harmon, who has been USTA Player Development Director of Men’s Tennis since February 2002. “I know the American men will relish the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in sport.”
The 2008 U.S. Olympic tennis team will consist of up to six men and six women, with a maximum of four men and four women competing in the singles competition and a maximum of two men’s and two women’s teams competing in doubles. Olympic team selections will made by June 23. The U.S. Olympic Committee will approve all team and staff selections for the Olympic Games.
The United States has won 15 Olympic medals in men’s and women’s tennis since its return as a full medal sport in 1988 — more than any other nation. U.S. players have won 10 medals at the Paralympics, including a gold and a silver in 2004.
The 2008 Paralympic wheelchair tennis team will consist of a maximum of four men and four women in the wheelchair singles competition, with no more than two doubles teams in the wheelchair doubles competition. In the quad wheelchair competition (limited movement or strength in at least three extremities), a maximum of three players may compete in the event, with a maximum of three in the singles event and one team in the doubles event. Team selections will be based on ITF Wheelchair Tennis World Rankings from May 19, 2008.
“The Paralympics is the ultimate platform for worldwide competition among outstanding wheelchair athletes,” said James. “It is a tremendous privilege to coach at the highest level of international play and I am eager to begin our quest for medals.”
Wheelchair tennis was introduced to the Paralympic program in 1988 as an exhibition event before becoming a full medal sport at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona. Paralympic tennis is an open competition, eligible to those athletes with a mobility-related disability and all competitors must compete in a wheelchair.
The USTA was officially designated by the USOC as the national governing body for the Paralympic sport of wheelchair tennis in June 2002, becoming the first Olympic national governing body to earn this recognition. As the national governing body for wheelchair tennis, the USTA manages wheelchair tennis in the United States, including the sanctioning of tournaments, overseeing the ranking systems, creating and managing a High Performance program for developing elite disabled athletes and coaches. The U.S. Olympic Committee will approve all team and staff selections.