STARS
Bojana Jovanovski beat Nina Bratchikova 6-4 6-2 to win the $25,000 NECC ITF Women’s tournament in Pune, India
SAYINGS
“I am thrilled that I can return to the game and compete in the sport about which I am truly passionate.” – Wayne Odesnik, after the International Tennis Federation cut his two-year ban for a doping offense in half, allowing Odesnik to begin playing again immediately.
“He’s a good player on enhanced substances. Let’s see if he can be a good player without them.” – Mardy Fish, upset over the ITF cutting Wayne Odesnik’s two-year ban in half.
“These four guys (Viktor Troicki, Jano Tipsarevic, Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic), together with representatives of the women’s game – Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic – have reached these heights owing to the help of their parents and families and with no help from Serbian tennis officials.” – Srdjan Djokovic, Novak’s father, calling for changes in the Serbian Tennis Federation, including a new president.
“This is a special match to me that I’ll remember forever.” – Roger Federer, after beating Rafael Nadal in an exhibition in Zurich, Switzerland, that raised money for the Roger Federer Foundation.
“I am lucky enough to be able to do what I love to do, which is to play tennis, but at the same time, through my foundation, I get the opportunity to help hundreds of kids who are not as lucky.” – Rafael Nadal, after beating Roger Federer in an exhibition in Madrid, Spain, that raised money for the Fundacion Rafael Nadal.
SERBIAN DELIGHT
Top-seeded Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia captured her first International Tennis Federation (ITF) title by defeating Nina Bratchikova of Russia 6-4 6-4 in the Indian city of Pune. Jovanovski reached her second straight final, having lost to Sania Mirza in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a week ago. In Pune, Jovanovski was solid from the baseline throughout the NECC women’s ITF tournament, striking the ball with tremendous power and maintaining good depth. One of her toughest matches came early in the week when she stopped Liga Dekmeijere of Latvia 7-6 (3) 6-4, then beat Anna Shkudun of Ukraine 6-2 6-3 in the semifinals.
SWITCH
Pakistan’s first-round Davis Cup tie against Hong Kong has been moved to Hong Kong because of security problems. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) decided to move the competition after a security official visited Pakistan and submitted a negative report on the security arrangements in the country. It will be the fourth straight year that Pakistan has been unable to hold matches at home because of fears for players’ safety.
STRANGE MOVE
Wayne Odesnik has been given the green light to play tennis again, much to the dismay of Mardy Fish. The International Tennis Association (ITF) had banned Odesnik for two years after he pleaded guilty to importing human growth hormones into Australia. But the ITF waived the second year of the ban because Odesnik had cooperated with anti-doping authorities. Fish called the ITF’s decision “a black eye for all of sport, not just tennis. He’s a good player on enhanced substances. Let’s see if he can be a good player without them.” Since the ban began on December 29, 2009, Odesnik can begin competing on December 29, 2010. Odesnik reached a career high of 77th in the world in 2009, the same year he reached his only ATP Tour final at Houston. His best results have been on clay, including a third-round showing at the French Open in 2008. Last January he was arrested when customs officials found eight vials, each containing 6 milligrams of HGH, in his baggage as he arrived in Australia to play the Australian Open warm-up event in Brisbane. The 25-year-old pleaded guilty in March and was fined more than USD $7,280.
SMASHING PERFORMANCE
The GCC Cup Tennis Championships in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, was open to women for the first time. Fatma Al Nabhani of Oman took advantage of the chance and won two titles. Al Nabhani beat the UAE’s Fatima Jannahi 6-2, 6-1, and then teamed with her opponent to win the doubles, crushing a Kuwaiti pair of Sarra Bahbahani and A S Sil Al Kandhari 6-0, 6-1. “We are happy to have organized this tournament,” said Tennis Emirates technical director Slah Bramly. “Considering that eight women players turned up for first-ever tournament for women was a very positive sign. We hope to make it bigger and better in the coming years and make it a regular event in the calendar.” Kuwait’s Mohamed Al Ghareeb won the men’s singles, besting Omar Bahrouzian of the UAE 7-6, 6-4.
STARTING IT OFF
Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik will be the first to take the court as they lead Australia against third-seeded Belgium in the opening match of the 2011 Hyundai Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia. The team event begins on New Year’s Day, with Justine Henin and Ruben Bemelmans playing for Belgium. Eight teams are divided into two groups, with Australia competing in Group A along with Belgium, Kazakhstan and top-seeded Serbia, who will field Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic. Second-seeded Great Britain, with Andy Murray and Laura Robson, will be in Group B along with fourth-seeded Italy, France and the United States.
SWAP FOR A CAUSE
The world’s top two players – Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – teamed up for two “Match for Africa” exhibition contests to raise money for their charities. Probably as expected, Federer won the match played in Zurich, Switzerland, his home, while Nadal came out on top the next night when the two played in Madrid, Spain. What was unique was the fact that Federer showed up at the Zurich airport to chauffeur Nadal to his hotel and then treated treat the world’s top-ranked player to lunch. He even gave Nadal a 90-minute tour of Zurich. Playing in front of his home fans at the Caja Magica in Madrid, Nadal won a first-set tiebreak en route to a three-set victory.
SETS DATE
Mahesh Bhupathi and Lara Dutta are planning to marry in February. Appearing on Karan Johar’s “Koffee With Karan” show together, reportedly answered a question by saying they will wed in February 2011 and that their families are “in the process of fixing the date.” According to an unnamed source, the couple also talked opening about their past marriages. Both have recently been divorced.
STRAIGHT IN
Jelena Dokic and Peter Luczak both lost in the final of the wild-card playoffs, but they will be in the main draws of the Australian Open anyway. Both were awarded wild-card entries into the year’s first Grand Slam tournament. In the playoffs, Dokic lost to Olivia Rogowska in a three-set, rain-interrupted match, while Luczak was beaten by Marinko Matosevic.
SAYONARA
Carlos Moya went out a winner. In an emotional farewell to the men’s tennis tour, the 34-year-old Spaniard beat Guillermo Canas in an exhibition match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the same venue where he won his first professional title in 1995. The former world number one ended his 15-year career in November, but has vowed to stay in the sport in some capacity. Moya won 20 titles in his career, including the French Open in 1998.
SWEPT INTO OFFICE
Edwin Olivarez has been unanimously elected as president of the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta). Olivarez, whose family has long been associated with tennis, will assume his post starting in January. Also elected were Ajay Pathak as vice president for juniors and grassroots; Randy Villanueva as vice president for elite men/women and Davis Cup administrator officer in charge; Romeo Magat as secretary general, and Edna Olivarez-Nguyen, Edwin’s sister, as treasurer.
SHARED PERFORMANCES
Pune: Nina Bratchikova and Alexandra Panova beat Sachie Ishizu and Anna Shkudun 6-3 7-6 (2)
SITES TO SURF
Brisbane: www.brisbaneinternational.com.au/
Chennai: www.aircelchennaiopen.org/2011/
Doha: www.qatartennis.org/
Auckland: www.asbclassic.co.nz/
Perth: http://hopmancup.com
TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK
(All money in USD)
MEN
$1,024,000 Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Dubai, Qatar, hard
$398,250 Aircel Chennai Open, Chennai, India, hard
$372,500 Brisbane International, Brisbane, Australia, hard
$100,000 Sao Paulo, Brazil, hard
WOMEN
$220,000 ASB Classic, Auckland, New Zealand, hard
$220,000 Brisbane International, Brisbane, Australia, hard
MEN AND WOMEN
Hopman Cup, Perth, Australia