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New Website for Record-Breaking Bryan Brothers: This Week in Tennis Business

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By Bob Stockton

* Mike and Bob Bryan, who just won their record-breaking 62nd ATP World Tour doubles title last week in Los Angeles, have launched their new website www.bryanbros.com. Visit www.bryanbros.com for up-to-the-minute tweets from the Bryans, view videos, and learn about the Bryan Bros. Foundation activities.

* The United States Tennis Association announced that tickets for the 2010 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final between the United States and Italy, will go on sale on Friday, August 20, at 10 a.m. PST.  The matches will be played at the San Diego Sports Arena, November 6-7. This will mark the first time the Fed Cup Final has been played in the United States since 2000, when the U.S. won their record 17th Fed Cup title. The match-up between the U.S. and Italy will mark the second consecutive Fed Cup Final between the two nations. The U.S. lost to Italy on a slow red clay court in Reggio Calabria, Italy last year, 4-0. The 2010 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final will begin with two singles matches on Saturday, November 6.  Sunday’s schedule features two singles matches followed by one doubles match on Sunday, November 7. The San Diego Sports Arena will be hosting Fed Cup for the first time. The venue also was the site for the 1989 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal between the United States and France, and will become the eighth U.S. venue to host both a Davis Cup and Fed Cup tie. Ticket prices range from $80 to $350 and are sold as two-day packages. Tickets can be purchased: at www.ticketmaster.com or www.USTA.com; by calling Ticketmaster at 888-334-USTA (8782). The two-day, best-of-five match final is being organized, staged and promoted by the USTA. For more information about the U.S. Fed Cup team, visit www.usta.com/fedcup. Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage of the U.S. vs. Italy Fed Cup Final.

Mike and Bob Bryan
Mike and Bob Bryan

* Pete Sampras will make his long-awaited debut in China as part of a star-studded eight man field at the second annual Chengdu Open. Sampras will join old rivals Pat Rafter, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Michael Stich at the ATP Champions Tour event, which takes place October 21-24, 2010 at the Sichuan International Tennis Center in Chengdu, China. Famed for being the home of the giant panda, the city of Chengdu warmly welcomed the ATP Champions Tour for the first time in 2009. The event was a roaring success with players and fans alike, and with the legendary Sampras gracing the event in 2010, fans are set for another feast of top quality tennis. Sampras has been drawn into Group A for the round robin stages alongside the 1987 Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash as well as the French Davis Cup captain and recent Sao Paulo runner-up Guy Forget. The group is completed by ATP Champions Tour debutant Paradorn Srichaphan, whose stellar play over the past decade helped to ignite a tennis boom across South East Asia. Group B will be headed by Rafter, as well as the defending Chengdu Open Champion Thomas Enqvist, the 1991 Wimbledon Champion Michael Stich and former world No. 1 Kafelnikov. In all, the eight players of the 2010 Chengdu Open hold a staggering 150 ATP World Tour singles titles and 62 ATP World Tour doubles titles between them. Chengdu Open Tournament Director Nick Freyer is delighted to be welcoming 14-time Grand Slam Champion Sampras to China for the first time. “It is a tremendous honor to join forces with Pete Sampras,” he said. “To make history with Pete’s first ever visit to China, and to do it in the company of so many other ATP Champions, is a coup for Chengdu and very exciting for all of us at the tournament.”

* Ivan Lendl will end a period of 16 years out of tournament tennis by joining the ATP Champions Tour this coming October. The former world No.1 and winner of eight major tournament titles will make his long-awaited Champions Tour debut at the Jean Luc Lagardere Trophy (October 1-3) in Paris, the site of his three French Open victories. He will come face-to-face with the man he defeated to win his first Grand Slam title in the same city in 1984 – John McEnroe. Lendl’s addition to the circuit of former World No.1’s, Grand Slam champions and finalist, and Davis Cup winners means that every great tennis champion of the past three decades will have played on the ATP Champions Tour. Since retiring in 1994, Lendl has barely lifted a tennis racquet, preferring to spend his time on the golf course and with his wife and five children. At the age of 50, the Czech now feels it is time to return to the sport that made him a star, and will once again take to the Parisian clay courts, this time at the prestigious Paris Racing Club in the Bois de Boulogne. Lendl’s meeting with McEnroe will revive a rivalry with the man that he vanquished in the final at Roland Garros in 1984. It was to be the American’s best chance of lifting an elusive French Open title. The pair met 36 times during their playing careers, with the Czech leading the head-to-head 21-15. Faced with the opportunity to avenge that painful French Open final defeat, McEnroe said: “Oh boy, l’m looking forward to it. We had some great matches together but it’s been a long time and he hasn’t played for more than 15 years so I think we need to discuss a few things, both on and off the court! “I know he’s been working most of the last year to get back into the type of shape he needs to be in, because it doesn’t get any easier as you get older. But we’ll be giving it our all, that’s for sure.” Also set to appear at the 2010 Jean Luc Lagardere Trophy will be the charismatic Frenchman Yannick Noah, who will be making a much-anticipated return to the ATP Champions Tour after an absence of more than seven years. Noah, who has pursued a successful career as a recording artist during his time away from tennis, has chosen Paris for his comeback since it was the scene of his historic win at Roland Garros in 1983. The line-up in Paris will be further strengthened by the presence of yet another Roland Garros Champion and former world No. 1, Mats Wilander. The Swede, who captured a total of seven major singles titles during his illustrious career, currently sits in tenth position in the South African Airways Rankings, so will arrive in Paris hoping for a good run of form and some rankings points. The six-man field will be rounded off by two players to be announced in the coming weeks. Matches are played over the best of three sets, with a Champions’ Tie-break (first to 10 points with a clear advantage of two) to decide the winner. After all round-robin matches are complete, the top two players in each group will meet in Sunday’s final.

* Cliff Richey, former U.S. No. 1, Davis Cup hero and author of the book ACING DEPRESSION: A TENNIS CHAMPION’S TOUGHEST MATCH ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.CliffRicheyBook.com) will be speaking about overcoming obstacles in life and his fight with depression at 3 pm on Sunday, August 15 at the Westwood First Presbyterian Church, 3011 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio. Richey will also sign be selling and signing copies of his book, which has been met with rave reviews. Richey is also expected to appear on site at the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati on Monday, August 16 at the ACE AUTHENTIC booth on site at the event.

* The USTA announced that singing sensation David Archuleta, rising star Shontelle and tennis great Roger Federer have been added to an already star-studded line-up that includes chart-topping pop superstars Jonas Brothers, TV and recording sensation Demi Lovato, tennis world # 1 Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic for the 15th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess Saturday, August 28 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hosted by Adrienne Bailon and Quddus, the show will feature special celebrity guests including Nick Cannon. The popular full-day tennis and music festival for children and families – including interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis clinics – will also feature performances from Allstar Weekend and School Gyrls. More musical acts and tennis stars will be announced in coming weeks. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Presented by Hess will kick off the 2010 US Open, which runs from August 30 – September 12. From 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., kids and their families can experience an exciting schedule of free tennis games, live music and attractions taking place throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., the live tennis and music show will feature fun exhibition matches and skills competitions with Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Novak Djokovic, and other top players and celebrities with musical performances by the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and more. In celebration of the 15th anniversary of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato are the first artists to reprise their performances at the event, having appeared in 2007 and 2008 respectively, with the Jonas Brothers having made their debut here in 2005 on the Hess Get Pumped Up stage. Stadium show tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster (1-866-OPEN-TIX), usopen.org and at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office. American Express is the official card of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. General admission promenade tickets cost $10 and loge tickets are $20.  Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will be broadcast nationally by CBS on Sunday, August 29, from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m (EST). Kids 12-and-under with stadium show tickets will receive a free Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day hat from the USTA and Hess on a first-come, first-served basis.  In the event of inclement weather, ticket holders can log on to usopen.org for the most up to date information. “We have seen some of the biggest names in tennis and entertainment on the court during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess,” said Harlan Stone, Chief Marketing Officer, USTA. “Our 15th year will be no different, and this day of excitement and fun for kids and families, will again honor a great humanitarian and icon of our sport.” Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has featured many of music’s biggest acts including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, Backstreet Boys, Ne-Yo, Sean Kingston, Jesse McCartney, Bow Wow and Hanson.

* Tickets are on sale for the New York Junior Tennis League’s (NYJTL) 15th annual “Summer Gala with the Stars” to be held at the Central Park Boathouse in Manhattan on Wednesday August 11, 2010, from 6:30-11:00pm. All proceeds will benefit NYJTL programs and the Arthur Ashe Endowment for the Defeat of AIDS.”The Summer Gala with the Stars” includes cocktails and a buffet dinner, live music and dancing, silent auction, raffle, gondola rides, caricatures, tarot readings, magicians and more. The event is Co-Chaired by: Fay Ann Lee, Bruce Manson, and Lee Miller. In 2009, the Summer Gala raised $155,000. Honorary Committee Chairs include: John Andariese, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Mary Carillo, Jim Courier, Former Mayor David Dinkins, Lucy Garvin, Luke Jensen, Ilene Margolin, Patrick McEnroe, Melissa McEnroe, Dennis and Pat Van der Meers, Eizabeth Vargas, Virginia Wade. NYJTL offers comprehensive school and community tennis and education programs throughout New York’s five boroughs serving youth from ages 6-18. To reach its goals, NYJTL mobilizes the support of the community, corporate citizens, Foundations, organizations and individuals who are committed to achieving net gains for kids. NYJTL is the largest tennis and education-themed community organization in the United States serving more than 120,000 children in New York City’s five boroughs. Tickets which range from $175 to $500, are now on sale on the NYJTL website (www.nyjtl.org) or by telephone. For more information or to purchase tickets by phone, contact Pam Glick at (347) 417-8146.

* According to the Florida Times Union, Florida’s Amelia Island Plantation is fielding bids from investors as it hopes emerge from bankruptcy. In addition to Noble Investment Group’s $45.9 million bid for the property, two other hotel “top-flight hotel and hospitality investors” are interested in buying the property in an August 23 auction. The resort, the former site of WTA Tour’s Bausch and Lomb Championships, features four 18-hole golf courses, a holistic spa and 23 tennis courts. The economic downturn has hurt sales at the resort. According to court papers obtained by the Times Union, the resort said its annual revenue fell to an estimated $57 million last year from $75 million in 2007.

* Alta Bates Summit Foundation announced that Gigi Fernandez will participate in the 19th Annual Celebrity Tennis Classic with Martina Navratilova at 2 p.m., on Saturday, October 2, 2010, at the Berkeley Tennis Club in Berkeley, Calif. A “Casino Royale” Gala will also be held after the Celebrity Tennis Classic at the Claremont Resort and Spa in Berkeley. Attendees will experience the thrill and excitement of casino gaming, sip some fine wine and other libations, dine on a delicious variety of international cuisine, and can participate in an exciting live auction and casino gaming along with Martina Navratilova and Gigi Fernandez and other participants from the day’s tennis events. Proceeds will support the lifesaving work of Thunder Road Adolescent Treatment Center. For information about attending, sponsoring, donating to or playing in the Alta Bates Summit Foundation 19th Annual Celebrity Tennis Classic, please contact Dorine Tanaka (email: tanakad@sutterhealth.org) or Shirley Silverstein (email: silvers@sutterhealth.org) at the Alta Bates Summit Foundation, telephone number: 510-204-1667.  For more info about the event, Alta Bates Summit Foundation and Thunder Road, please visit: www.InvestmentInMiracles.org

Pete vs Andre/Mac vs Lendl at MSG, Federer in Paperback, Fed Cup to San Diego: This Week in Tennis Business

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By: Justin Cohen

  • The 2011 BNP Paribas Showdown on February 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York City will feature Andre Agassi taking on old rival Pete Sampras, while John McEnroe will battle Ivan Lendl. Tickets go on sale for the exhibition tennis matches on September 27.  The event had been a women’s exhibition for the past two years featuring Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Kim Clijsters.
  • “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection,” the updated and re-released book that chronicles the incredible tennis career of Roger Federer, has been officially re-released in paperback by publisher New Chapter Press. The was written by Rene Stauffer, the Swiss tennis journalist who has covered Federer since the budding tennis champion was a 15-year-old. The book chronicles Federer’s life as a tempermental junior player, his early struggles on the ATP Tour, his break-out win at Wimbledon in 2003 through his record-breaking 15th major singles title at Wimbledon in 2009.

    Roger Federer
    Roger Federer
  • The USTA announced on Tuesday that the Fed Cup final between the United States and Italy will be played at San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif., from November 6-7. The last time the Fed Cup final was held in the United States, the Americans won their record-breaking 17th Fed Cup title. “We are very excited that San Diego will be hosting the 2010 Fed Cup Final,” said Mary Joe Fernandez, the U.S. Fed Cup Captain. “The area always has been supportive of women’s tennis.  We look forward to playing in front of a large, enthusiastic, and patriotic crowd and hope to use the home-court advantage as we try to bring the Fed Cup title back to the U.S.” The San Diego Sports Arena will be hosting its first Fed Cup tie. The venue hosted the 1989 Davis Cup quarterfinal between the United States and France. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale to the public at the beginning of August.
  • The premiere of Billie Jean King’s “Homecoming with Rick Reilly” will be shown on ESPN on Saturday, July 3 at 7 p.m. EST. It will re-air on Friday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. EST, on ESPN2. “Homecoming with Rick Reilly” is a exceptional show that tells the behind the scenes story on an athlete’s life in front of an audience of family and friends that they have known throughout their remarkable career. The show was filmed at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Long Beach, Calif. King’s mother Betty Moffitt, Tracey Austin, Rosie Calas, Bud Collins, Owen Davidson, Zina Garrison and Maria Sharapova were all in attendance during the filming of the show.
  • Come to Win by Venus Williams (HarperCollins, $24.99), a book that shares wisdom on how to turn a competitive spirit and athletic background into success off the playing field, went on sale on Tuesday. Venus will start her book tour on Tuesday, July 6 at 12:30 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble on 5th Avenue and 46th Street in New York City. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and three-time Olympic Gold medalist, will also make book tour stops in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Dallas, Chicago, St. Louis and Los Angeles.
  • USTA Serves, the philanthropic and charitable entity of the United States Tennis Association, announced on Monday that it has rewarded 26 grants in its 2010 spring funding cycle, totaling more than $300,000. The program was developed to provide disadvantaged, at-risk children the opportunity to learn to play the sport of tennis and improve their academic skills in a structured format, while learning healthy lifestyles. “USTA Serves is excited to continue investing financial and other resources to help support organizations that believe in the powerful combination of tennis and education to help change lives. We applaud the expertise, commitment and passion for tennis and education that these organizations have shown to the children and people with disabilities whom they serve,” said Deborah Slaner Larkin, Executive Director of USTA Serves. “Our goal is to support as many programs as possible and we look forward to our next grant cycle when we’ll hear from even more programs.”
  • The Daily Mirror reported that The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), who eliminated 15,000 jobs recently, spent $800,000 (UK) on a suite on Court One at Wimbledon in a three-year deal, so executives could spend time with important clients.
  • Rafael Nadal was slapped with a $2,000 fine on Monday by Wimbledon officials for receiving coaching during his third-round victory over Philipp Petzschner on Sunday. Nadal was given a code violation warning by Chair Umpire Cedric Mourier for allegedly getting advice from his coach, Uncle Toni Nadal. “The rules are the rules,” said Nadal.
  • Victor Hanescu was fined $15,000 by Wimbledon officials for “not using his best efforts” and spitting towards the crowd during his third-round loss against Daniel Brands. Hanescu led by two sets and held match points in the third, but then was arguing with fans in the crowd in the fifth set. He earned a code violation warning after spitting towards the crowd. The Romanian then stopped trying and purposely foot-faulted and double faulted on three straight points before shaking Brands hand.  “I would like to apologize to the fans, the AELTC and everyone else for my behavior last (Friday) night at the end of my match against Daniel Brands,” said Hanescu.
  • Former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic accepted a wild card invitation into the 2010 Bank of the West Classic at the Taube Family Tennis Center at Stanford University from July 26-August 1. The 22-year-old Serbian, who won the French Open in 2008, will be making her first appearance at the tournament.
  • Rafael Nadal said he will skip Spain’s upcoming Davis Cup quarterfinal tie against France the week after Wimbledon so he can undergo treatment on his knee. “If I play Davis Cup, I don’t have enough time to recover and play tournaments, Cincinnati,” said Nadal. “For me is a big disappointment not be in the Davis Cup… playing in France for me is a very special confrontation and a very big motivation for me.” On Tuesday, Spain’s Captain Albert Costa announced that his team would consist of Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro and Feliciano Lopez.
  • Former two-time Grand Slam mixed-doubles champion and current Tennis Channel broadcaster Justin Gimelstob will be running in the 2010 ING New York City Marathon as a part of the Community Charity Program on November 7. The American will be running for his charity, the Children’s Fund. “Running a marathon has always been on my bucket list of things to do, and I have no idea what to expect,” said Gimelstob. “Tennis players don’t usually do a lot of long-distance running, so this will be a considerable physical and emotional challenge, but I am not doing it for my own satisfaction, but for the kids and as a philanthropic effort.”
  • Nicolas Mahut, who made tennis history by competing against John Isner in the longest tennis match in the opening round at Wimbledon last week, has been awarded a wild card into the main draw at the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I., which will be held from July 5-11. “Nicolas is an excellent grass court player and he will certainly add to the competition among our field this year. We are delighted that he will return to Newport,” said Mark L. Stenning, CEO and Tournament Director for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Mahut, who is currently ranked No. 148 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, will be making his fifth appearance in Newport, where he reached the finals in 2007. The former junior Wimbledon champion will also personally deliver memorabilia from his epic record-breaking match to be displayed in the Museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “Grass court tennis is a personal favorite of mine and I have always enjoyed my experiences competing in Newport. It is a fantastic tournament in a remarkable venue with great fans. I look forward to returning again this summer, and I am grateful to the tournament committee at Newport for allowing me the opportunity to compete,” said Mahut. “Also, the Museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame is an incredible landmark for tennis. I am humbled and honored to have a piece of history from my career on display alongside memorabilia from the game’s greatest stars.”
  • The “Isner Celebration” ticket offer happened last Friday at the Atlanta Tennis Championships in honor of John Isner’s record-breaking first round win at Wimbledon, which saw the former Georgia Bulldog beat France’s Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set in 11 hours and five minutes. In respect to Isner’s victory, tournament officials offered a 20 percent discount for 11 hours and five minutes on reserved and premium tickets for the Wednesday and Thursday sessions.
  • World Team Tennis’ Boston Lobsters is offering a 10 percent discount on tickets purchased through the official team website: www.bostonlobsters.net. To receive the discount, you must use the promo code “Lobsters” and it is case sensitive. John Isner, James Blake, Eric Butorac, Coco Vandeweghe and Raquel Kops-Jones are members of Coach Bud Shultz’s 2010 Boston Lobsters squad.
  • Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka has split from longtime coach, Dimitri Zavalioff. The pair had worked together since the beginning of Wawrinka’s tennis career. Throughout their time together, Wawrinka won the junior Roland Garros title, two ATP World Tour titles and reached a career-best ranking of No. 9 in 2008.
  • Marathon man John Isner presented the Top 10 list on the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City.
  • Three-time Grand Slam singles champion Jennifer Capriati is recovering from an accidental prescription medicine overdose at a South Florida hospital according to a family spokesman. The 34-year-old, who was once ranked No. 1 and an Olympic Gold medalist in 1992, was in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery, spokeswoman Lacey Wickline told The Associated Press. The medication was not identified by the spokeswoman. “In response to an outpouring of concern and support shown by Jennifer’s fans and friends worldwide, we would like to acknowledge that Jen is recuperating at a South Florida hospital from an accidental overdose of medication prescribed to Jen by her personal physician,” said Wickline. “Jen is recovering fully and stably.” Celebrity gossip website TMZ was the first to report the story. Following their fourth round victories at Wimbledon, Kim Clijsters and Venus and Serena Williams stopped to express their concern for their former competitor.