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legg mason tennis classic

Rafael Nadal breaks through as Andrea Petkovic gets hit by injury — The Friday Five

April 27, 2012 by tennisbloggers

By Maud Watson

Breakthrough

Having already won the title seven consecutive times, an eighth Monte Carlo crown for Nadal would have seemed more of a given than a breakthrough. As he ended a seven-match skid against rival Djokovic, however, his victory took on added importance. Nadal played flawless tennis all week, served better than he has in recent memory, and perhaps best of all (and not surprisingly), we saw no evidence of knee problems during his play. Suffice it to say, Nadal is firing on all his legendary clay court cylinders, and it will take something special to derail him on the dirt. But the extent of his breakthrough against Djokovic is difficult to measure and dependent on a couple of factors. First and foremost is how much belief Nadal takes from the victory. He justifiably should be proud of last week’s performance, but he also knows his opponent was playing well below the level that had earned him seven straight victories over the Spaniard. The second factor is Djokovic himself. Djokovic was bleeding errors, and he was unable to apply any pressure on Nadal due to his inability to keep the match even remotely tight that day. Had Djokovic been closer to his own top level, it would have been interesting to see if Nadal’s aggressive tactics would have paid dividends so consistently, as well as if he would have stuck by them rather than reverting back to his comfort zone of merely grinding it out. Just as people tend to put an asterisk by Nadal’s 2009 Roland Garros loss, the same logic could easily apply to last weekend. In short, it was a phenomenal week and achievement by Nadal with his eight consecutive tournament titles at a top tier event – a feat unlikely to be matched in our lifetime or ever. But for my money, Nadal is going to have to clip Djokovic again – with the Serb playing at his own top level – to truly cement a breakthrough.

Valiant Effort

Presumably to honor his recently deceased hero and grandfather, Vladimir, who taught him to “always fight,” Djokovic opted to play out Monte Carlo rather than withdraw. Throughout the tournament, he produced subpar play that saw him squeak by Dolgopolov and narrowly escape Berdych in the semis. He wasn’t as fortunate against Nadal in the final, and that loss is a consequence he’ll have to live with based on his decision to continue playing the event. But how bad is that consequence really? If anything, it may prove a positive in the long run. His final press conference reminded me much of Federer’s frankness when dissecting a match. He recognized his vanquisher’s superior play but also noted what anyone who watched the match already knew – his heart wasn’t in it, and his play suffered as a result. He knows he can easily mentally write this one off. And who knows? If the two meet again this clay court season, especially if they square off in the Roland Garros final, having his win streak snapped earlier may take some of the pressure off of the Serb’s shoulders.

Cruel Twist of Fate

Andrea Petkovic rolls her right ankle in her match against Victoria Azarenka (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images)

It’s hard not to feel just a bit sorry for Andrea Petkovic. She had hoped to finally get her 2012 campaign off the ground in her German homeland, but fate was cruel. After a straight-set defeat of countrywoman Kristina Barrois, she had the unenviable task of facing No. 1 Victoria Azarenka. After losing the first set, she battled back in the second to level things at four-all in what was turning out to be a very entertaining contest. Unfortunately for Petko, who has had to overcome back and knee injuries this season, an upset was not in the cards. While dashing for a forehand, her right shoe stuck in the dirt, and she badly rolled her ankle. If anyone can overcome this added setback, it’s someone as positive as Petkovic. Hopefully she recovers quickly, as the WTA would greatly benefit from her return.

Change Comes to SW19

Wimbledon may be steeped in tradition, but it’s also clearly no stranger to modifications with some positive changes are on tap for 2012. A welcomed adjustment is not only the increase in prize money, but how that increase will be dispersed. This year’s qualifier and early round losers will be reaping a 13% increase in prize money, as officials have opted to skew a larger portion of the prize money increase their way (and props to the ATP’s “Big Four” for lobbying for this change). Another positive modification is the decision to bump the start time up by a half an hour on courts 2-19. With that unpredictable English weather, the earlier start time will hopefully curtail the number of matches that get pushed into a second day. And while it’s not set in stone, there are more than a few murmurs that a roof for Court 1 could come to fruition in the future. It’s probably safe to say that SW19 won’t be putting out fires the way officials in New York were last summer.

New Day, New Game

Known as the Legg Mason Tennis Classic since 1994, the hard court event in Washington D.C. will henceforth be known as the CitiOpen. But a new sponsor is only half the story. In keeping with the current trend, Washington D.C. will now be a dual event, simultaneously playing host to a lower-tier WTA tournament alongside the ATP 500 event. There’s more tennis to love, and perhaps with a little luck, the event will grow in stature similar to the way that the Cincy event blossomed into top-tier events for both tours. It’s apt to make the lead-up to the final major of the year more exciting.

Filed Under: Lead Story, The Friday Five Tagged With: Andrea Petkovic, ATP, citiopen, legg mason tennis classic, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, stuttgart injury, Tennis, tennis salary, Wimbledon, WTA

New sponsor, facility upgrades for Legg Mason Tennis Classic

April 25, 2012 by tennisbloggers


Change is coming to the nation’s capital and it might take tennis fans some time to adjust.
The Legg Mason Tennis Classic is now the Citi Open, after Legg Mason, the title sponsor of the ATP tournament in Washington, D.C. for the past 18 years, has decided not to renew its contract.

The facility upgrades for the Citi Open include a new 2,500 seat Grandstand and five new practice courts.

No reason was given for the why the Baltimore-based Legg Mason will no longer be the title sponsor, but Donald Dell, the chairman and co-founder of the tournament, emphasized that both sides parted on good terms.
“I want to thank Legg Mason for their tremendous sponsorship,” he said. “They have been with us 18 years – they were the longest running title sponsor in tennis in North America. We owe the Legg Mason a great bit. They decided not to come back – their contract expired in November. It was a very amicable transition.”
Stepping in to replace Legg Mason is Citigroup Inc., the sponsor of the inaugural professional women’s tournament in College Park, MD last summer, for a five-year deal. The Citi Open will combine the ATP tournament with the women’s event in efforts to attract an even more diverse fan base.
“We are very excited about [having a joint tournament], because over the years we’ve had lots of requests and lots of pressure to have both events – men and women – and the demographics of tennis is 52 percent men and 48 percent women,” said Dell.
The men’s tournament will remain an ATP 500 event, one of only two in the United States (the other is in Memphis), and the women’s will be a $250,000 International Level tournament. Last year’s winner on the men’s side was Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, while Russia’s Nadia Petrova claimed the women’s trophy.
Along with the name change and the inclusion of the women’s tournament will be stadium upgrades to accommodate the increase of players. The renovations, which will begin in May and finish before the start of the summer tournament, will include a new show court that seats 2,500 people and five new practice courts. The Washington Tennis and Education Foundation (WTEF), a charitable foundation that provides tennis instruction and education to DC-area youth, privately funded the expansion. The tournament is owned by the organization.
“We built [the stadium] with [WTEF] in 1989, and we just think it’s time to upgrade in a lot of different ways,” said Dell. “We are competing on the world tour. It is very competitive that we have a facility and proper usage of the court site for the players.”
The Citi Open will continue to be held at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park and will run from July 28 to Aug. 5.
Because the tournament coincides with the London Olympics, the draw size will decrease from the usual 48 players to 32. While several marquee players will be competing for Olympic medals, current world No. 9 Mardy Fish has already confirmed to play at the Citi Open in preparations for the U.S. Open. Also expected is former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.
Despite the tournament expansion, Dell said that there are no plans on increasing parking, but that General Admission ticket prices will most likely not rise.
The name may take some getting used to, but the changes should give tennis fans in the metropolitan area much to be excited about.

Filed Under: Kelyn Soong, Lead Story Tagged With: citi open, Donald Dell, legg mason tennis classic, Lleyton Hewitt, Mardy Fish, Nadia Petrova, Radek Stepanek, washington tennis and education foundation

John Isner: The Emergence of a True Contender

February 22, 2012 by tennisbloggers

John Isner waves to the crowd at the 2011 Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. He was the recepient of the tournament's sportsmanship award.

Most people know his story by now.
He attended the University of Georgia, where he led the Bulldogs to a national championship in 2007. He won the longest match in the history of professional tennis at the 2010 Wimbledon. And he owns one of the most vicious serves on the ATP Tour, a weapon that can be credited to his 6’9’’ stature.
And now the 26-year-old John Isner is poised to crack the top 10 in the world.
Isner turned pro in 2007 and left school as a four-time All-American honoree, finishing his career as the program’s leader in singles and doubles victories. He was 12 credits shy of earning his degree in speech communications, but quickly made an impact on the pro tour, advancing to the final in just his second ATP event, the 2007 Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. Isner lost to then top-ranked American Andy Roddick in the championship, but earned victories over former top-five players Tim Henman and Tommy Haas.
And just a few months removed from celebrating winning the NCAAs with his Georgia teammates, Isner was on Arthur Ashe Stadium playing against eventual champion Roger Federer in the third round of the U.S. Open. Isner delighted the American crowd by taking the first set off Federer before falling in four sets.
It became clear those wins in Washington were no fluke.
Since then, the soft-spoken Isner has won fans over with his powerful game and friendly demeanor. He picked up the 2009 ATP Most Improved Player award and has earned several sportsmanship awards along the way.
When Isner reached the quarterfinals at the 2011 U.S Open, fellow American Mardy Fish made a bold declaration. “I think he can win the tournament,” he said. Isner didn’t win, but he showed that the best was yet to come.
Although not young in tennis terms, Isner, currently ranked a career-high No. 13 in the world, has the most upside among the top ranking Americans. Roddick’s career faces a downward trajectory and the 30-year-old Fish has struggled on the Grand Slam stage. Isner’s recent four-set victory over Federer at the 2012 Davis Cup rubber between the United States and Switzerland was further proof of his emergence as a contender for tennis’ big prizes – the Grand Slams.
As young Americans continue to turn pro at a young age, (19-year-old Ryan Harrison, the latest promising U.S. prospect, went pro when he was 15), Isner remains a rare breed. His modest junior career coupled with four years of collegiate tennis experience would make him an unlikely Grand Slam champion. But if his improvements in the past few years are any indication, Isner is perhaps America’s best hope to win a major championship in the near future.
He is currently the top seed at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, TN and will play compatriot Donald Young in the second round.
Immediately after beating Nicolas Mahut in the record-shattering 11 hour, five minute marathon match, Isner embraced the attention but emphasized that he wanted to be remembered for more than just a Guinness World Record.
That may or may not end up being the case, but in a career that has already been full of expectation-exceeding surprises, Isner does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Correction: The original article stated that Isner graduated from the University of Georgia. He turned pro with 12 credits left to complete in his Speech Communications degree.

Filed Under: Kelyn Soong, Lead Story Tagged With: Andy Roddick, ATP Tour News, Davis Cup, John Isner, legg mason tennis classic, Mardy Fish, regions morgan keegan championships, Roger Federer, U.S. Open, unviersity of georgia

Denis Kudla’s Steady Rise

February 15, 2012 by tennisbloggers

Slow and steady wins the race.
Shortly after winning the prestigious junior Boys 16’s Orange Bowl title in 2009, 16-year-old Denis Kudla decided he was ready for the pro game. In the three years that followed, Kudla, who is currently at a career high world No. 203, has slowly but steadily risen in the rankings. The now 19-year-old has struggled to make an impact on the ATP Tour but is improving with each year and appears ready for a breakout season.
My introduction to Kudla was at the 2009 Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. The then 17-year-old Kudla had just taken a set off French journeyman Sebastien De Chaunac in the first round of qualifiers on center court and fans began to gather to observe this latest American hopeful.
As the much older and more experienced De Chaunac argued after close calls and expressed frustration throughout the match, Kudla remained poised and displayed maturity beyond what his age, Lleyton Hewitt style backwards-hat and long hair image would signify. Despite eventually losing 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, the crowd left with a sense that the future was bright for the kid.

Denis Kudla serving to Sebastien De Chaunac at the 2009 Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Kudla moved to Virginia with his family at a young age and began playing tennis at seven-years-old. He would become a member of the renowned Junior Tennis Champions Center located at the USTA Regional certified training facility at College Park, MD. Kudla led a contingent of highly talented young players there and experienced a stellar junior career that culiminated in a 2010 U.S. Open Boys runner-up trophy, losing to fellow American up-and-comer Jack Sock – the first all-American boys’ final at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick defeated Robby Ginepri in 2000.
While young American players such as 19-year-olds Ryan Harrison and Sock grab headlines and are touted as the nation’s future, Kudla has quietly amassed a respectable resume, with consecutive wins over hard-serving Ivo Karlovic and the precocious Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov at the 2011 Campbell’s Hall of Fame Championships. Kudla mainly plays on the Challenger Tour, fighting for those precious ATP points, and has only played in one Grand Slam main draw match – losing to veteran Tommy Haas in the first round of this year’s Australian Open, but if the early months of 2012 are any indication, this can be his year in the spotlight.
This week Kudla qualified for the SAP Open in San Jose, CA and defeated Sock to set up a second round marquee matchup against Andy Roddick on Wednesday night.
“I learned that I can do anything if I believe, and if I put my mind to it a lot can be done with hard work and strong mentality towards a goal,” Kudla told Tennis Grandstand. “This is where I thought I would be [in my career] and my goals are to break top 100 and hopefully top 50.”
The reserved, yet highly driven Kudla is out to make a name for himself and has a chance to make it happen against the 17th-ranked Roddick. As Kudla’s confidence continues to rise, so will his rankings, just as it has ever since he turned pro.
This race is just getting started.

Filed Under: Kelyn Soong, Lead Story Tagged With: Andy Roddick, denis kudla, jack sock, junior tennis champions center, legg mason tennis classic, Ryan Harrison, sap open

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