Latest Indian tennis players news…
Despite his previous disagreements with the All India Tennis Association [AITA - The Governing Body for Lawn Tennis In India], Mahesh Bhupathi, the Indian doubles Ace has said that he is available to play for the country and would love to play against Serbia in the 16-team World Group Play-Offs to be held in September this year (12th to 14th Sept, mostly). He said, at a racquet launch event at the Cricket Club of India, Mumbai:
“I am always available. I know the Captain’s talked about the same just like coach has. I think it is important because the doubles will be pivotal in that match, so let’s see how things pan out.”
At another event, Indian Veteran tennis player Leander Paes lauded Indian Tennis sensation Somdev Devvarman, who spearheaded the Indian Tennis Squad for clinching the Davis Cup Play-Off berth with a 3-1 away game victory over South Korea last week.
The in-form Indian Tennis Squad will next face Serbia which will be a difficult clash.
Leander Paes has teamed up with the Khar Gymkhana to start a Tennis Academy in his name. Paes is clearly following his ex-doubles partner’s footsteps (Mahesh Bhupathi), who has also done the same by opening the Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academy (MBTA). Also, Paes was of the opinion that India should focus on its Singles tennis players as India need stronger Singles players to take on stronger opponents.
International players…
On the International Tennis Circuit, Ana Ivanovic defeated Jovana Jaksic in straight sets (6 – 6 – 1) to lift the WTA Tour’s Monterrey Open and her 13th singles title of her career and her second title of the season. Beating Danish star Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-final and firing four aces and saving 5 of 7 break points is what it took Ana Ivanovic to lift the title. There was nothing new in the Top 5 rankings on the new International rankings which was released by the WTA. Serena Williams still remains Dominant on the top spot even after her second round exit at Charleston last week.
In the Men’s Circuit Frenchman Richard Gasquet broke back into the top ten of the ATP rankings, which were also released on Monday after a spectacular performance in the Davis Cup. The Top 20 Men’s International Rankings remained the same, only Milos Raonic the Big Serving Canadian dropped to the 11th spot. The Number 1 Tennis Player in the World, Rafael Nadal still has a 2,050 point advantage over the Serbian top player Novak Djokovic. Andy Murray dropped to the 8th position after losing his second singles match against Italy in the Davis Cup which cost Great Britain a place in Davis Cup semis for the first time since 1981.
Despite his previous disagreements with the All India Tennis Association [AITA - The Governing Body for Lawn Tennis In India], Mahesh Bhupathi, the Indian doubles Ace has said that he is available to play for the country and would love to play against Serbia in the 16-team World Group Play-Offs to be held in September this year (12th to 14th Sept, mostly). He said, at a racquet launch event at the Cricket Club of India, Mumbai:
“I am always available. I know the Captain’s talked about the same just like coach has. I think it is important because the doubles will be pivotal in that match, so let’s see how things pan out.”
At another event, Indian Veteran tennis player Leander Paes lauded Indian Tennis sensation Somdev Devvarman, who spearheaded the Indian Tennis Squad for clinching the Davis Cup Play-Off berth with a 3-1 away game victory over South Korea last week.
The in-form Indian Tennis Squad will next face Serbia which will be a difficult clash.
Leander Paes has teamed up with the Khar Gymkhana to start a Tennis Academy in his name. Paes is clearly following his ex-doubles partner’s footsteps (Mahesh Bhupathi), who has also done the same by opening the Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academy (MBTA). Also, Paes was of the opinion that India should focus on its Singles tennis players as India need stronger Singles players to take on stronger opponents.
International players…
On the International Tennis Circuit, Ana Ivanovic defeated Jovana Jaksic in straight sets (6 – 6 – 1) to lift the WTA Tour’s Monterrey Open and her 13th singles title of her career and her second title of the season. Beating Danish star Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-final and firing four aces and saving 5 of 7 break points is what it took Ana Ivanovic to lift the title. There was nothing new in the Top 5 rankings on the new International rankings which was released by the WTA. Serena Williams still remains Dominant on the top spot even after her second round exit at Charleston last week.
In the Men’s Circuit Frenchman Richard Gasquet broke back into the top ten of the ATP rankings, which were also released on Monday after a spectacular performance in the Davis Cup. The Top 20 Men’s International Rankings remained the same, only Milos Raonic the Big Serving Canadian dropped to the 11th spot. The Number 1 Tennis Player in the World, Rafael Nadal still has a 2,050 point advantage over the Serbian top player Novak Djokovic. Andy Murray dropped to the 8th position after losing his second singles match against Italy in the Davis Cup which cost Great Britain a place in Davis Cup semis for the first time since 1981.
In a big shock, Novack Djokovic crushed Rafael Nadal (6-3 6-3) in the Sony Open Final to claim his fourth Sony Open title and denying the Spanish Maestro of a Maiden win on the Sunny courts of Miami. The Big-Win was the second straight Master’s title for the No.2 Ranked Serbian who had previously only defeated Roger Federer in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California.
Djokovic said:
“That was a great confidence boost for me that I carried on in this week, and this tournament has been perfect from the beginning to the end.”
Veteran Martina Hingis won her first WTA Doubles title since 2007 at Miami at the Sony Open with her German partner Sabine Lisicki. This has been the duo’s second tournament together.
Readers, finally to the part of my views about the sport. It indeed is an extremely difficult sport - one must have great passion for it, if played competitively. The sport as a hobby also makes you focus more on other activities that you do and makes you fit. Lawn Tennis is a sport in which the players have pride and give each other respect; both on and off the court. It is a sport which requires extreme amount of skill, patience, discipline and dedication.
With these views I would like to end this article, and until next time,
Game, Set & Match!
-Jai M.
Djokovic said:
“That was a great confidence boost for me that I carried on in this week, and this tournament has been perfect from the beginning to the end.”
Veteran Martina Hingis won her first WTA Doubles title since 2007 at Miami at the Sony Open with her German partner Sabine Lisicki. This has been the duo’s second tournament together.
Readers, finally to the part of my views about the sport. It indeed is an extremely difficult sport - one must have great passion for it, if played competitively. The sport as a hobby also makes you focus more on other activities that you do and makes you fit. Lawn Tennis is a sport in which the players have pride and give each other respect; both on and off the court. It is a sport which requires extreme amount of skill, patience, discipline and dedication.
With these views I would like to end this article, and until next time,
Game, Set & Match!
-Jai M.