Tennis News

Discussion regarding the gradual drop in the quality of American men’s tennis has circulated for the better part of the past decade. 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras added his own opinion to the bubbling pot of criticism when he explained that he was not particularly thrilled with the direction that American men’s tennis is taking.

“It looks a little bit on the slim side for American tennis. I don’t see anyone or really even know anyone that people talking about breaking through or even getting to the Top 10.

Following several decades of consistent Men’s champions in the USA, including Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Sampras, Andre Agassi and Jim Courier, it is easy to contrast that golden age with the current drought. Now-retired Andy Roddick was the last American male to win a Grand Slam title for his country, and that took place eleven years ago at the US Open.

Sampras believes that since the game expanded its reach internationally, American players have far more competition than the previous generations did.

“We gotta take small steps you know. We are not in the 90′s anymore. The game has become so international and so global these days and a lot of kids are playing tennis around the world. It’s tougher on the Americans. Maybe the other kids are just more hungrier and we are just not producing enough young pros with potential.

Nevertheless, the legendary champion hopes that this is nothing more than a temporary “phase” that will bring about a new age of American dominance in tennis.

“Hopefully, it’s a phase and it won’t last too long.”

14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has officially resumed training following a premature ending to his 2014 season on the tour due to appendix surgery and later a wrist injury.

“I began to train two days ago and yesterday, I played tennis for the first time. It is a strange feeling as I didn’t have much rhythm and my body hurt, but that is nothing unusual,” Nadal was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

The Spaniard was diagnosed with appendicitis during the Shanghai Rolex Masters in September and did not end his 2014 season until a quarter-final loss to 17-year-old Borna Coric in Basel. He eventually withdrew from the Paris Bercy and the ATP World Tour Finals and underwent successful surgery to rectify the problem. He also had his knees checked and underwent stem cell therapy.

“I hope now to be able to train well in December and lay the foundation for when the tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Doha start, so I can use those to recover my rhythm,” explained Nadal.

Nadal revealed that he was also recovering from a minor wrist injury but that it was nothing like the previous knee injury that plagued his 2012 season.

“I want to be able to recover the feeling of hitting the ball and knowing it will go in,” the 28-year-old said.“In that case, I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, now all I need to do is work. I will see what my realistic aims are as the weeks go by, but my aim is to get into shape and find form and if I am able to compete in Abu Dhabi and Doha, my aim is to be competitive in Australia.”

The world No. 3 is expected to return from the sidelines at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in December. He will then take part in the Qatar Exxon Mobil Open between Jan. 4-11

Tournament officials announced this week that a compelling line-up of Top 50 WTA players is expected to compete at the 2015 edition of the event. The entry list includes Sloane Stephes, Heather Watson, and former champion Mona Barthel.

Stephens reached the semi-final at this event in 2013and will be looking to replicate those efforts in the coming year. This is just the second time that the young American will take part in the tournament.

Following a tough 2013 season marred with injuries and illness, Watson stormed back onto the tennis scene this year and rose over 65 places in the rankings to regain the title of British No. 1.

“We are excited to host 23 of the world’s top 60 female players in January as the event continues to provide a platform for players to get match ready ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year,” Hobart International Tournament Director Mark Handley said. “With Casey leading a field that includes Sloane, Heather and former champion Mona we have a group of extremely talented female athletes that have the pedigree to produce some highly competitive matches to be enjoyed by our Tasmanian sporting fans.

“We invite the local community to come out and support the players and enjoy a day out at the tennis.”

Also confirmed for the event is Kirsten Flipkens, Monica Niculescu, Roberta Vinci and Kaia Kanepi.

The Hobart International, take place at the Domain Tennis Centre from 11 to 17 January 2015.

After announcing several weeks ago that former Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport would join her during the 2015 season as a consultant, Madison Keys revealed that she has hired Wim Fissette as her new coach for the upcoming season.

Fissette only recently parted ways with world No. 3 Simona Halep and will now officially begin working with his first non-Romanian client in a significant period of time. Key’s agent Max Eisenbud confirmed the hiring to Sports Illustrated.

The Romanian is expected to accompany Keys during international events, while Davenport will remain alongside her during domestic events.

Davenport is a former World No. 1 American professional tennis player. She has won three Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. Her association to Keys is a big step forward for the young American and a potential sign of things to come in 2015.

The world No. 30 won her first WTA title at Eastbourne ahead of the Wimbledon Championships. She would later reach the third round at SW 19 for the first time in her career. She finished her season with a quarter-final loss to Luksika Kumkhum in Osaka.

After it was initially announced that the Singapore Slammers would get Andre Agassi as their main legends player, spirits were high as the team anticipated some impressive showings from the American legend.

However, this was certainly not the case over the second leg of the International Premier Tennis League, as Agassi effectively embarrassed himself in his first two showings and was forced to take a back seat on the final day of the event.

The 44-year-old lost to Mark Philippoussis 6-3 on Tuesday and followed up with a 6-2 loss to Fabrice Santoro on Wednesday. Pat Rafter would eventually replace him for his final legends match against Goran Ivanisevic.

Agassi later admit that he was not prepared for such a physical and competitive environment and expected less from the exhibition. The IPTL features a fast-paced format that includes no advantage scoring, a 20-second serve clock, and a seven minute shoot out.

“I wasn’t fond of it being so full-on and competitive. Coming back here I’m a bit embarrassed with the way I was not responding to the environment from a playing perspective,” Agassi said, according to Agence France-Presse. “So I would have to make some adjustments and change how much I play so I can flat-out compete and make somebody else look s-tty.”

Clearly embarrassed with his poor showings, Agassi smashed several rackets during his second match and left for home feeling dejected and unfulfilled.

“If I do come back I’ll spend a few months trying to get myself better form,” he said.

Agassi’s performances did not prevent the Singapore Slammers from successfully defeating the Indian Aces on Wednesday and the UAE Royals on Thursday.

Following concerns regarding a repetition of last year’s dangerous conditions during a heat wave in Melbourne at the Australian Open, organizers of the Grand Slam event revealed that they have altered the extreme heat policy for the coming tournament.

According to tournament director Craig Tiley (via Associated Press), the Australian Open will take into account weather forecasts that exceed 40 degrees Celsius and a Wet Bulb Global Temperature that exceeds 32.5. The second measurement takes into consideration wind direction and humidity as well.

However, as was the case last year, the tournament referee will have the final say on whether or not to apply the extreme heat policy during any given match. If the decision is taken, then the match will be suspended following the completion of a tiebreak, or once an even number of games has been reached in a set.

”We believe this update will clarify and streamline the communications process for both players and support staff,” Tiley said. ”We’ve consulted the playing group and this is seen as the fairest way to implement the policy by many of the top players.”

It should be noted that the Australian Open, which is hosted at Melbourne Park, features three courts with retractable roofs. However, following the 2014 edition of the event, which saw temperatures exceed 40 degrees C for three consecutive days, it was a necessary concern to address ahead of the tournament in January.

The Australian Open takes place between Jan. 19 – Feb. 1.

Although rumours were running rampant that there would be significant change implemented to the French Davis Cup team following their disappointing Davis Cup final against Switzerland, it appears that Arnaud Clement will remain France’s Davis Cup captain for the foreseeable future.

According to the French Federation of Tennis (FFT), Clement’s contract has been extended for two more years.

“As usual, the players have been consulted beforehand,” the FFT said in a statement

There was no mention of Yannick Noah, who hinted that he would be honoured to coach the French team following their loss. Noah is the last Frenchman to win a Grand Slam title and would have been an interesting choice to lead the team. However, the FFT made their feelings clear when they resigned Clement following his questionable decision at the final.

The FTT also confirmed that British No. 1 Andy Murray’s infamous coach Amelie Mauresmo would be the Fed Cup captain for the next two years.

The French team will begin 2015 with a first round tie against Germany, which takes place between March 6-8.

Just a few weeks ago, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic announced that he would be making his debut at the Qatar Exxon Mobile Open during the 2015 season. Ti will mark the first time since 2009 that the Serbian star takes part in a warm-up event ahead of the Australian Open.

Now, it appears that longtime rival Rafael Nadal will join Djokovic at the season-opening tournament in Doha. The Spaniard is the defending champion at the tournament, after he won it for the first time at the start of the season by defeating Gael Monfils in the final.

“It’s great to have Novak Djokovic the world number one, here for the first time,” said Tournament Director Karim Alami. “I’m sure he’ll bring out lots of Serbian fans. To also have Rafael Nadal our defending champion returning is fantastic especially as we are the first tournament on his return from injury.”

“There is so much depth throughout the player list. Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer, Ernests Gulbis, Fernando Verdasco – a former top-eight player – and former champion Richard Gasquet. It is going to be a great tournament.

“It’s a great draw for the first week of the year; it’s a very important week in the calendar to go to Australia,”

The world No. 3 was diagnosed with appendicitis during the Shanghai Rolex Masters in September and did not end his 2014 season until a quarter-final loss to 17-year-old Borna Coric in Basel. He eventually withdrew from the Paris Bercy and the ATP World Tour Finals and underwent successful surgery to rectify the problem. He also had his knees checked and underwent stem cell therapy.

The world No. 3 is expected to return from the sidelines at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in December.

The Qatar Exxon Mobil Open takes place between Jan. 4-11 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.