Tennis Now News

Notes On Indian Wells' Men's Draw

Tennis Now — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:26:41 GMT

By Richard Pagliaro

(March 9, 2010) INDIAN WELLS — Carlos Moya stood outside the lobby of his holding his blue Babolat racquets in his hand and acknowledging well-wishers with a nod and a smile while waiting for his ride to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden this morning.

It was 11 years ago that the man from Mallorca knocked off Jim Courier, Xavier Malisse, Karol Kucera and Guga Kuerten before falling to Mark Philippoussis in the 1999 Indian Wells final. A result that helped Moya make history as the first Spanish man to secure the World No. 1 ranking.

Though the shoulder-length mane of hair and that famed inside-out forehand remain relatively unchanged these days, Moya may well be making his farewell to the BNP Paribas Open this week.

A wild card recipient into the draw, Moya opens against a qualifier and could face 26th-seeded Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the second round. Nothing is a given for the 1998 Roland Garros champion who was confined to the sidelines for much of the 2009 season after suffering a right hamstring injury and undergoing big toe surgery.

Injury-induced inactivity has seen Moya's ranking drop to No. 639. The 33-year-old Moya is 1-4 this season and will likely assess his playing future at the end of the season.

Among the other early-round story lines to follow at Indian Wells this week:

Former World No. 7 Mario Ancic, the 2004 Wimbledon semifinalist, is scheduled to play his first ATP Tour main draw match since losing to Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in Kitzbuhel last May. Ancic has posted a 1-3 record playing a Challenger and two Futures events this season.

Taylor Dent and 17-year-old American talent Ryan Harrison reached the Delray Beach doubles semifinals two weeks ago and will be first-round opponents this week. Harrison, who turned down a Delray Beach wild card, played through qualifying to reach the main draw in Florida where he fell to eventual-champion Ernests Gulbis in a tight, 6-4, 7-6 loss. Harrison, who plays an appealing all-court game, accepted a wild card into Indian Wells. New father Dent has been practicing under the eye of his father, former Australian Open finalist Phil Dent, this week.

Can David Nalbandian, who conquered Andreas Vinciguerra, 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, to clinch Argentina's dramatic 3-2 Davis Cup victory over host Sweden last weekend the day after helping Argentina win the doubles point, continue the form he showed in carrying Argentina to the quarterfinals? Or will the injuries that have plagued him since last season continue to haunt the 28-year-old from Cordoba? Nalbandian nearly knocked Rafael Nadal out of Indian Wells last March, but ultimately succumbed in a three-set loss.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal Could Resume Rivalry In Indian Wells

Tennis Now — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:52:38 GMT

By Richard Pagliaro

(March 9, 2010) INDIAN WELLS — Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal took a magic carpet ride to launch the 2010 season.

The current and former World No. 1 players will both try to relaunch their seasons with successful comebacks at Indian Wells this week.

In recent years, only those players who thrive in the rare air at the top of tennis have succeeded in mastering the season's first Masters 1000 event.

Three men — three-time champion Federer (2004-2006), 2008 champion Novak Djokovic and reigning champion Nadal — have combined to capture the last six BNP Paribas Open championships and enter this week's event as the top three seeds.

All three men open the tournament facing challenges before they strike a single shot.

Australian Open champion Federer has been sidelined with a lung infection since sweeping Andy Murray to win the Melbourne major. Nadal has been out of action with a right knee injury since retiring from the Australian Open quarterfinal match against Murray. Djokovic is bidding to bounce back from a physically-demanding Davis Cup weekend that saw him out duel big-serving American John Isner in a five-set fight that spanned four hours.

It's been 10 months since Nadal and Federer last faced off with Federer posting a 6-4, 6-4 victory in the Madrid final. The current and former World No. 1 players kicked off the ATP season in January engaging in a promotional match aboard a magic carpet ride in Doha and both will be bidding to relaunch their Masters ascent in Indian Wells.

The men's draw for the BNP Paribas Open was conducted today and offers the prospect of the first Federer-Nadal final since last May.

Though Nadal has not won a hard-court title since his crushing conquest of Andy Murray, 6-1, 6-2, in the 2009 final and comes into the tournament with a severe shortage of match play, players report the gritty court is playing sand-paper slow, which could help the third-seeded Spaniard strong-arm his way to his fifth consecutive Indian Wells semifinal.

Federer, who has looked eager and excited to be back on court in his practice sessions this
week, has a first-round by and will play either Romanian Victor Hanescu or Argentina's Juan
Ignacio Chela in the second round. Federer's first match against a seed could come in the third round against 27th-seeded Marcos Baghdatis, who is winless against Federer in six matches.

If the seeds hold true to form Federer would face seventh-seeded Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals. Roddick, who looked strong and rarely missed a ball practicing with former Davis Cup teammate James Blake on stadium court today, has reached the Indian Wells semifinals in two of the last three years.

Should the Federer-Roddick quarterfinal come off it would mark their first meeting since Federer fought off Roddick in the classic 2009 Wimbledon final.

Acrobatic Frenchman Gael Monfils, the enigmatic, but extremely talented Richard Gasquet and wild card David Nalbandian, who nearly knocked Nadal out of the tournament last year and arrives in Indian Wells fresh off his Davis Cup heroics in helping Argentina top host Sweden last week, are all intriguing floaters capable of disrupting a potential Federer-Roddick quarterfinal.

On paper, Federer has the clearest path to the semifinals of any of the top four seeds.

Andy Murray has been an Indian Wells semifinalist in two of the last three years and and is a
solid favorite to continue that run. The fourth-seeded Scot will play either American wild card
Robby Ginepri or Italian Andreas Seppi in his opening match. Murray's first test could come in the form of a fourth-round clash with either 13th-seeded Acapulco champion David Ferrer or No. 23 seed Ivo Karlovic, the Delray Beach runner-up.

Sixth-seeded Robin Soderling or ninth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are potential quarterfinal opponets for Murray, who owns a 2-1 record against both men. Soderling won his last meeting with Murray, but that match was played four years ago on an indoor hard court in Memphis. Tsonga toppled Murray in the opening round of the 2008 Australian Open and went on to reach the final that year.

Both Nadal and Djokovic reside on the bottom half of the draw and could face first-week
challenges from Americans.

Nadal, who has a first-round bye and will face a qualifier in his second-round match could be
tested in the round of 16 against either Isner or 17th-seeded Sam Querrey. The American Davis Cup teammates partnered to win the doubles title in Memphis and are set to square off in the third round with the winner potentially playing Nadal. Nadal is 3-0 lifetime against Querrey, but the 6-foot-6 Californian has won a set in all three of those meetings. The 20th-ranked Isner and Nadal have never met in a pro match.

Should Nadal advance to the quarterfinals he could face either fifth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, whose strained right wrist that prevented him from playing last weekend's Davis Cup tie in Moscow makes him a question mark here, 10th-seeded Fernando Verdasco, who played a pulsating five-set semifinal against Nadal in the 2009 Australian Open, but whose backhand has been vulnerbale to Nadal's left-handed forehand or 19th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych. Latvian Ernests Gulbis could be the darkhorse in Nadal's quarter of the draw. Gulbis captured his first career ATP Tour title in Delray Beach two weeks ago. The former French Open quarterfinals has won eight of his last nine matches, including victories over Radek Stepanek, Berdych and Karlovic in that span.

Djokovic will play either Germany's Michael Berrer, Federer's practice partner on Monday, or Mardy Fish in his first match. A Djokovic-Fish match would be a rematch of the 2008 Indian Wells final. Fish has been pained by his surgically-repaired left knee and if his movement is compromised he could be hard-pressed to slow Djokovic, one of the smoothest movers on hard court in the game.

The second-seeded Serbian has played some of his best tennis at Masters 1000 hard-court events. Djokovic reached five Masters 1000 finals last season, losing his first four finals before beating Gael Monfils in the Paris final. Djokovic led the ATP Tour in hard court matches won (53) last season, but has sometimes complicated matters for himself playing a bit too defensively this season.

Grimm's Golden Achievement

Tennis Now — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:36:07 GMT

(March 9, 2010) The International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation have announced that Heinz Grimm of Switzerland is the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Golden Achievement Award. The Golden Achievement Award is given jointly by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation. It is presented annually on a worldwide basis to individuals who have made important contributions internationally to tennis in the fields of administration, promotion or education, and have devoted long and outstanding service to the sport.

Grimm has been active as an administrator in the sport for more than five decades. He has shown outstanding dedication toward growing tennis in Europe by serving in executive positions within several leading industry organizations.

Presentation of the 2010 Golden Achievement Award will be made on March 10 at the Swiss Tennis Gala Night in Zurich. The presentation will be made by Sir James Harvie-Watt, a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

In 1968, Grimm took on his first role in tennis administration as president of the Swiss Tennis Competition Committee, a position he held for twenty years. He went onto serve as vice president of Swiss Tennis from 1980 - 1994, and in 1995 he was named honorary vice president of the organization.

In 1975, Grimm co-founded the European Tennis Association, now known as Tennis Europe. He was president of the organization from 1978 - 1993, and was named an honorary life president in 1993.

From 1983 - 2001, Grimm held many roles within the International Tennis Federation, including chairman of the Fed Cup Committee, co-chairman of the ATP/ITF Satellite and Challenger Committee, and member of the Board of Directors. In 2001, he was named an honorary life vice president.

Preceding his administrative contributions to the sport, Grimm was an active competitor, playing on the Davis Cup teams in 1960, and serving as a playing captain in 1961 and a non-playing captain from 1962 -1974. Additionally, he served as honorary treasurer for the Swiss Olympic Committee from 1994 - 1997 and was a member of the Board of Directors from 1984 - 1998.

Grimm, 75, resides in Basel, Switzerland with his wife Marianne. He is a former owner of a clock importing business.

Past recipients of the Golden Achievement Award are Fern Lee "Peachy" Kellmeyer of the United States (2009); Juan Maria Tintore of Spain (2008); Nancy P. Jeffett of the United States (2007); James R. Cochrane of Great Britain (2006); Eiichi Kawatei of Japan (2005); John Curry of Great Britain (2004); J. Howard "Bumpy" Frazer of the United States (2003); Enrique Morea of Argentina (2002); Pablo Llorens Renaga of Spain (2001); Gil de Kermadec of France (2000) and Brian Tobin of Australia (1999).

Nominations for the Golden Achievement Award are submitted by tennis federations and individuals from the around the world, and then voted on by the Golden Achievement Award Selection Committee. For more information, please email newport@tennisfame.com or learn more online at www.tennisfame.com.

Roger Federer Relaxed At Indian Wells Practice

Tennis Now — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:05:00 GMT

By Richard Pagliaro

(March 9, 2010) INDIAN WELLS — It was a quiet Monday evening at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden — until Roger Federer took to the court.

Crouching low on the thickly muscled legs that made him resemble a rugby player emerging from a scrum, left-hander Michael Berrer ripped backhand after backhand as his coach, Italian Claudio Pistolesi, continued to feed him shots on the Indian Wells stadium court.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound German’s Lotto sneakers squeaked across the court, his grunts became a bit louder and soon Berrer was working up a sweat on this cool night.

All that effort was the prelude to a practice.

Then the main attraction took the stage.

Federer walked out on court carrying his red Wilson racket bag over his shoulder. Plopping down on his court-side seat, Federer pulled a red headband out of his bag, wrapped it around his forehand and did not bother removing the silver Rolex from his wrist as he bounced out onto court.

It was merely a practice session on a Monday night before three spectators and a few scattered security guards, but Federer spent a large part of the next hour bounding around the court with the enthusiasm of a teenager let loose on the stadium for the first time.

Preparing to play his first tournament since he swept Andy Murray in straight sets to capture his 16th Grand Slam championship at the Australian Open, the World No. 1 showed no signs of the lung infection that has sidelined him since he won the Melbourne major.

Clad in a blue Nike t-shirt, black Nike shoes with the red swoosh and the trademark “RF” log on the heel and black matching socks, Federer looked fit and relaxed. When he spoke the words echoed around the empty stadium.

“I feel fresh as a daisy,” Federer said at one point.

Talking to Berrer in German at times and occasionally joking with Pistolesi in an operatic Italian accent, Federer showed his sense of humor and his explosive shotmaking skill.

At one point, Federer mimicked a Marcelo Rios move in driving a leaping two-handed backhand down the line. He put his foot down and stopped one errant Berrer return off the short hop with the sole of his shoe, tried a between-the-legs shot that didn’t quite clear the net (“I hit that once against Starace,” Federer remarked to Pistolesi) and hit one behind-the-back, no -look backhand that struck his trainer right in the hands.

The pair started off hitting down the middle before Federer came to net and hit some volleys. After a brief break that Federer spent talking to Berrer and Pistolesi while munching on an energy bar, the players switched sides.

“Hey guys, good to see you,” Federer said to two observers sitting in the front row as he made his way to the baseline on the west side of the stadium.

Timing and movement are typically the two elements that can elude a player after a long layoff, but Federer’s precise steps and fast footwork were on display as a he buried a few backhand passes past Berrer, who snapped off several sharp serves when the pair played practice points.

Sitting directly behind the baseline, you get a good idea of why Federer’s forehand is such a lethal shot. He seems to be able to generate more spin and speed when he needs it without steepening or lengthening his swing. At times, Federer forehand moved with topspin, sidespin and pace making the ball bounce as if it intended to boomerang back to his side of the court.

The three-time Indian Wells champion tugged at his forearm after one serving sequence as if trying to shake loose a sense of tightness, but Federer played on and concluded a relaxed practice session shaking hands with both Berrer and Pistolesi before sitting down to scan his cell phone messages.

Around The Grounds At Indian Wells

Tennis Now — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:21:27 GMT

By Richard Pagliaro

(March 8, 2010) INDIAN WELLS — The sun was out and so were the stars at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Women's qualifying play began today at the BNP Paribas Open with several familiar faces, including Karolina Sprem, Michelle Larcher de Brito and Shenay Perry advancing.

Some of the biggest crowds turned out to watch the stars practice.

Wild card Justine Henin, who will play in Friday night's "Hit For Haiti" exhibition alongside Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova against Steffi Graf and Lindsay Davenport, attracted a large crowd for her morning practice.

Rallying with a male hitting partner as coach Carlos Rodriguez offered encouragement, Henin spent much of her training session hugging the baseline and taking the ball early. During one sequence, she drilled several inside-out forehands before abruptly changing direction and diring her forehand downt ehline. It was a pattern Henin, who was hitting the ball flatter than she typically does, repeated over and over.

Reigning women's champion Vera Zvonareva practiced twice. Zvonareva opened up practice on the outer court then hit on stadium court at about 4:30 local time. Looking fit and wearing K-Swiss sweat pants and a long-sleeve t-shirt for both sessions, Zvonareva hit serves while her coach stood outside the service box and fed her quick forehands after her serves landed. The drill, designed to simulate a rapid return, forced Zvonareva to move her feet quickly and respond with a crosscourt reply. In her stadium court practice session, Zvonareva worked on her return game.

Families were out in full force as Taylor Dent walked out to the practice court with father and former Australian Open finalist Phil Dent. Taylor stopped en route signed autographs and took photos with several fans.

Melanie Oudin ate a late lunch with her younger brother. Larcher de Brito and her brother also hit the dining room together at the same time Ernests Gulbis, who won his first career title in Delray Beach two weeks ago ate while his father smoked a cigarette.

Second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki warmed up for her second practice of the day by running the stadium steps alongside Agnes Szavay. Wozniacki's parents joined her in the dining area after lunch.

A pair of former French Open champs were in the dining area at the same time: wild card Carlos Moya and Gaston Gaudio.

Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 champion, stopped traffic when she walked through the player dining area ahead of her team, including her mom, who trailed behind.

Female fans were out in full force to watch Fernando Verdasco practice shortly after 5 p.m. Gil Reyes, Andre Agassi's trainera and a member of the adidas training team who works with Verdasco, stood with his back to the wall on court watching his charge.

WTA Tour Retains Sony Ericsson Sponsorship In Restructured Pact

Tennis Now — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:19:05 GMT

By Richard Pagliaro

(March 8, 2010) The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has found a new global sponsor in its current title sponsor.

The Women's Tennis Association has retained Sony Ericsson as its lead sponsor in a restructured deal that will see Sony Ericsson step down as title sponsor and relinquish its role as title sponsor of the Tour's season-ending Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships, but retain its sponsorship role as a global sponsor.

The new, three-year deal runs through the end of 2012 and is worth about $9 million annually, according to a published report in the SportsBusiness Journal written by Daniel Kaplan.

While the WTA Tour announced the pact as a "two year extension to their existing partnership" in reality the two sides have restructured their current deal.

Under the new terms of the agreement, Sony Ericsson's name will be removed from the Tour's title sometime this year with the Tour reverting back to the name "WTA Tour." Sony Ericsson will remain a prominent presence at Tour events with its name and logo appearing on the nets of the Tour's 53 tournaments in 33 countries. Additionally, players who do not have existing apparel pacts that prevent patch placement will be required to wear a patch with the Sony Ericsson name or logo.

"Sony Ericsson has been an incredible partner for the last five years and this extension is both a real sign of strength and stability, and a testament to the investment value delivered by our players and tournaments," said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, in a statement released today. "We are very pleased that Sony Ericsson will remain our partner and we look forward to continuing to deliver to fans and taking women's tennis and Sony Ericsson to new heights through our joint vision for the future of the sport."

While the Tour loses a title sponsor and takes an initial financial hit from the reported $16 million it was set to receive this year, the restructured contract is still a significant win for the WTA Tour.

Amid a deflating economy when acquiring sponsors is a challenge — the ATP Tour has still not procured a title sponsor since Mercedes-Benz concluded its sponsorship run at the end of 2008 — the WTA has successfully salvaged its relationship with the mobile phone manufacturer and given itself options to mine more revenue streams.

The Tour can sell title sponsorship rights for its year-end Championships, which will take place in Doha this year and in Istanbul from 2011-2013.

"Our relationship with the WTA Tour over the past five years has been tremendously successful giving us significant international brand exposure and awareness," Aldo Liguori, Corporate VP and Head of Global Communications & PR, Sony Ericsson said in a statement. "We are delighted to be extending this relationship for a further two years as we take the company into a new stage of growth."

Under the leadership of then WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott, Sony Ericsson signed a six-year title sponsorship pact that was billed as the most lucrative sponsorship pact in the history of women's sports. There was growing speculation that Sony Ericsson would not renew sponsorship of the Tour. But on October 15, Allaster, Venus Williams, Melanie Oudin, WTA Tour communications exec Andrew Walker and Hall of Famer Billie Jean King met withi new Sony Ericsson president Bert Nordberg in Manhattan, according to the SportsBusiness Journal, and that meeting helped formed the foundation for the new pact.

"I've been playing on Tour for 15 years now and it's amazing to see how much women's tennis has grown in the last five years since Sony Ericsson has been involved with the Tour," Venus Williams said in a statement. "The value that Sony Ericsson brings to women's tennis is significant, giving us tremendous opportunities to market the sport and connect with fans in every corner of the globe."

Photo: WTA Tour CEO Stacey Allaster with Hall of Famer Billie Jean King (photo credit: WTA Tour)

BNP Paribas Open Doubles Domestic Television Exposure

Tennis Now — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:48:42 GMT

(March 8, 2010) Indian Wells will have a larger presence on the small screen.

The BNP Paribas Open will more than double its domestic television coverage for the 2010 event with over 120 hours of live HD programming scheduled, tournament director Steve Simon announced.

Television coverage kicks off on Friday night with a live telecast of the "Hit For Haiti" charity exhibition featuring Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Justine Henin and Lindsay Davenport

The tournament, to be held March 8-21 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, will be televised for 34 hours on Fox Sports Net’s (FSN) 19 owned-and-operated regional networks that reach more than 85 million homes across the United States.

In addition, Tennis Channel will increase its coverage to nine days and 90 hours of live action, with 70 hours of encore coverage. The announcing team for FSN will feature three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport, former ATP World Tour player Justin Gimelstob, and veteran tennis commentator Sam Gore. Tennis Channel will bring Hall of Famer Tracy Austin to the booth during women’s matches, alongside sportscaster Brett Haber and field reporter Cari Champion. ATP Media’s Jason Goodall, Doug Adler and Robbie Koenig will handle the network’s coverage of the men’s matches in Indian Wells, with the Emmy Award-winning Brian Webber providing off-camera hosting assistance.

"We are extremely excited that we have been able to increase the overall television coverage of the BNP Paribas Open," said Simon. "Our partnership with FSN, and expanded relationship with the Tennis Channel, will allow us to provide multi-court coverage and more action than ever before to our fans across the United States. We hope to continue expanding our coverage in years to come."

Coverage of the BNP Paribas Open on Tennis Channel will begin live on Friday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time with a special broadcast of the Hit For Haiti exhibition, presented by Oracle, that will feature 94 Grand Slam titles on the same court with Graf and Davenport taking on Navratilova and Henin, and Federer and Sampras playing Nadal and Agassi. It is anticipated that the evening will raise a minimum of $1 million for Haiti relief efforts. FSN will broadcast the exhibition on tape delay, and fans should check their local listings for the times.

In addition to the live broadcast, live web streaming will be available on bnpparibasopen.org, TennisTV.com, atpworldtour.com, sonyericssonwtatour.com, usta.com, tennis.com, espn360.com, and others. As a show of support, the broadcasters, satellite uplink providers and production teams of the event are picking up all of the production costs to ensure that the maximum amount of money can be generated for the fundraising effort.

FSN’S main draw coverage will begin at noon Pacific time on Monday, March 15 and continue through the duration of the tournament. The women’s and men’s singles finals will be live on Sunday, March 21 at noon and 2:00 p.m. Pacific time. Tennis Channel’s coverage of the main draw will begin on Saturday, March 13 at 11:00 a.m. PST and continue through the finals on Sunday, March 21.

The Loud Roar Of The Silent Crowd

Tennis Now — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:41:34 GMT

By Jean Kirshenbaum

"Thanks, you guys have been great all week. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks for all your support."

How many times have you heard Serena Williams, Roger Federer and so many other tournament champions express their gratitude in the trophy ceremonies to fans in packed houses around the world? They do it not only at the majors in New York, London, Paris, and Melbourne, but also at Tier I events in Dubai, Indian Wells, Toronto, Miami, and many others. It’s the first thing they say. In a recent example, here’s what Venus Williams said after she won the Billie Jean King Cup last Monday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden:

“There was definitely a real connection…,” said Williams, who defeated Kim Clijsters, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. "They were just rooting me on and it felt great. That’s the most fun I had in front of a crowd anywhere. It’s nice to see how much it means to them having tennis at the Garden."

But have you ever heard the invisible silent crowd? Wha’? A silent crowd? Yeah, the global crowd of millions who are watching their favorite players on television, or just thinking about matches regardless of whatever else they might be doing. If you haven’t heard them, you just may have seen their influence — a win for the player with the most fans the world over. (Yeah, right!)

Most athletes, and certainly professional tennis players, have benefitted not only from the roar of the crowd in the stands, but perhaps also from the unseen power of positive group thinking.

You see, I believe that the universe rules in the world of sports, and that includes professional tennis. It’s been said by the Zen and karma crowd that when a person puts out a vibe or certain type of energy it can and will be picked up by everyone! But how about when everyone throws positive vibes or collective energy toward one player in particular? I believe that a person’s positive thoughts are being felt by others all the time, whether you realize it or not. Is there an indirect fan impact on athletic performance? Say fans all over the world want Justine Henin to win Wimbledon — a trophy she cannot yet claim as hers. Assuming she is healthy and can play, will a Wimbledon trophy continue to elude her — or can the fan universe put her in play? Did the weight of tennis universe want Kim Clijsters to win the 2009 US Open?

Let’s put it on a personal level. While playing a match, have you ever upped your game when people show up to watch? They may be watching your match while waiting for another to begin. And I don’t mean friends and relatives, who often make people nervous, a subject that continues to fascinate both players and sports psychologists and scholars, or understandable reasons. But what about strangers who have no relationship to you whatsoever? Suddenly your serves are faster and harder, you move faster, you make incredible shots. Yeah, you’re showing off—so what. If it helps you to have more fun and to win, good for you.

By the same token, in pro tennis it’s rare that the winner of a match doesn’t thank the fans in the stands for their support. That’s not hard to understand. There is a lot to be said for having a large group of people cheering you on and helping you out with positive energy... So, perhaps there is support in another dimension that can influence player performance. It is my theory that that millions of people around the world watching and rooting for a Roger Federer, a Serena Williams, or even a lower ranked player, can create an unconscious positive energy that somehow reaches those players and helps them along — similar to a different stratum of reality, as conceived by the late Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology. So this is not your standard Dale Carnegie power of positive thinking stuff. What I’m talking about is the possibility of a Jungian twilight zone of fan influence on the mortal affairs of the top tennis players.

Take the example of Melanie Oudin, who mowed down three top ten players to reach the quarterfinals of the 2009 US Open. No doubt, the American crowd helped pull her along. But, on some dimension did it also matter that millions of us were rooting for her from our rec rooms? In subsequent tournaments, however, where she hasn’t done nearly as well, did fans substitute expectations or a "wait and see attitude" for a vigorous root ‘n toot energy? Similarly, picture football fans jumping up and down at home, as well as in the stands, yelling and whooping loudly when “their” team scores. (Perhaps you are one of these. I’m not; I save my energy for tennis.)

Another example: In the 2009 baseball World Series, were more people at home in New York, and even around the country rooting for the victorious Yankees than for the loser Phillies—and could that actually have influenced the outcome? Let’s ponder this: Was that in play when Kim Clijsters — the sentimental favorite as the comeback mom — won one more game on her way to an unlikely victory US Open victory? In other words, it may just be possible that players at the top, like Roger Federer and Serena Williams get a boost and stay at the top because millions of fans around the world are rooting for them. Granted, this may be a quandary worthy of Jung.

Who is a fan and what defines one? A review of a scholarly study of fan support at small college athletic events, which appears in The Sport Journal of the United States Sports Academy, may prove illuminating. According to this study, "… most true fans attend sporting events because of some deep involvement in what the authors describe as ‘the almost religious rituals’ one sometimes associates with the sporting event itself. While there are many ways of developing an interest in a sport, one of the principal methods of developing deep knowledge of a sport is through participation, either as a player or as a spectator."

Religious rituals? Although clearly I am given to flights of fancy, that’s even more intensity than even I can imagine. What’s even more interesting is this conclusion from a study of hockey fans (released in 2009 by Canada’s Laurentian University's Institute for Sport Marketing). This study confirms what every die-hard sports fan instinctively believes:
"Cheering on a hockey or any other team does have an impact on a player's performance and in combination with other factors, can help influence the outcome of even the most nail-biting of games.

"…When we examined 33 possible variables affecting players during a game," the study says, “We found that while obvious factors like coaching, mental training, high performance support, and physical preparedness are paramount to all athletes for optimum performance, cheering can also impact the on-ice performance of our elite national women's ice hockey team and other high performance players surveyed…These results confirm what fans have believed all along - that crowd support is an integral part of competition and has the ability to play a supporting role in changing the outcome of a game."

The theory goes a step further in another study (reviewed in Qualitative Report, 1997) that differentiates fans from spectators. One of its conclusions states that “whereas a spectator of sport will observe a spectacle and forget it very quickly, the fan continues his interest until the intensity of feeling toward the team becomes so great that parts of every day are devoted to either his team or in some instances, to the broad realm of the sport itself.” And yet another study states: “It seems reasonable to suggest…that fandom comprises more than simply attending and observing a sporting event.” Rather, being a fan "represents an association from which the individual derives considerable emotional and value significance"

With so much evidence regarding in-house, real-time fan support, let’s raise it to a higher level. Can “fandom” occupy another larger, yet invisible, and as yet unexplained dimension, that also is a factor that can influence who wins and who loses a tennis match?

I believe that it does. Okay, call me a loon. Although I am about as middle class and conventional as any club player, perhaps over these many years, watching tennis and rooting for my favorites (and the influence of my husband Gary) has made me a happy “victim” — right here in the Open Era of the 21st century — of the New Age philosophy rooted in the 1960s and ‘70s. Maybe I should find a Jung disciple for some intensive therapy — along with a good tennis instructor. Even so, please root for me this spring when I start to play again. I’m not generally a winner, but I’ll report back at the end of the season to let you know whether I might have been a beneficiary of a silent crowd (which I hope are my readers). Oh well, these are just some musings as I gear up for The French Open, which doesn’t begin until May 23.

According to my view, you might also make a difference. Start now to root for your favorite players and begin to build the global energy of fandom. Once again I’ll be rooting Serena Williams and Roger Federer. Given their success so far, especially in the majors, those of us in the “silent” universe of tennis seem to have been doing pretty well on that score.

Jean Kirshenbaum is a Tennis Now contributing writer and long-time tennis player based in Pennsylvania.

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

U.S. Davis Cup Team, Fernando Gonzalez, Mardy Fish, Ivo Karlovic Headline Houston Field

Tennis Now — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:13:39 GMT

(March 8, 2010) The United States Davis Cup team came up slightly short in falling to host Serbia, 3-2, on red clay in last weekend's Davis Cup World Group first round. But the entire American team — John Isner, Sam Querrey and twins Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan — will reconvene on the red clay of River Oaks Country Club in Houston for next month's U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships.

In addition, a trio of former U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship champions — Mardy Fish, Fernando Gonzalez and Ivo Karlovic — will all be part of the 28-player field for the 2010 edition of the tournament set for April 5-11.

Tommy Haas, the 2004 event winner, had previously been announced as part of the 2010 tournament field, but a hip injury has forced him off the court for several months.

World No. 20 Isner, playing his third match in three days, pushed second-ranked Novak Djokovic to the brink before bowing, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-4 as Serbia clinched the World Group tie with a 3-2 victory over the United States.

Memphis champion Querrey beat Viktori Troicki to account for the Americans' final point. The No. 1 doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan, the defending Houston champions, will continue in their role as the doubles team for the US.

"When you’re six weeks out from the tournament and finally get the initial acceptance list, it always puts a little more jump in your step," said tournament director Van Barry. "There’s an extra boost of energy seeing our list this year. To have the entire US Davis Cup team participating seems fitting for a US championship, and to have four former winners participating is also very special. On top of all that, rankings-wise this is up there for as deep and as strong of a field as we’ve had."

Ten different countries are represented on the initial list, including six Americans among the 19 players. Joining Isner, Querrey and Fish among American players are Houston resident Michael Russell, Taylor Dent and Rajeev Ram.

Gonzalez, who is No. 10 in the world, won the tournament in 2000, while Fish won in 2006 and was followed by Karlovic’s win in 2007.

In 2010, the US Men’s Clay Court Championship will feature a smaller draw with 28 players, down from 32, meaning the top four seeds will have opening round byes. Those byes will be determined based on the rankings as of March 22, but if they were made today, Gonzalez, Isner, Querrey and Karlovic would automatically advance to the second round.

Other notable entrants include the 2009 ATP World Tour Newcomer of the Year Horacio Zeballos of Argentina, 2009 Houston semifinalist Evgeny Korolev and former French Open doubles champion Pablo Cuevas.

The cut off for this initial list of 19 players is a ranking of 87. Four players will be added through qualifying while three others will be granted wild cards. The remaining two spots are held as special exempts based on performance the week preceding the tournament, or, if not applicable, will go to the next players on the acceptance list.

Season tickets, individual sessions and the finals weekend “Champ Pass” for the 2010 are on sale now. In 2009, the final three days of the tournament sold out by mid-week. For more information on tickets, please visit www.mensclaycourt.com/tickets.

TC's Ken Solomon Sworn In On President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

Tennis Now — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:56:56 GMT

(March 8, 2010) The Tennis Channel's Chief Executive is now part of the Chief Executive's team.

Tennis Channel CEO Ken Solomon supported Barack Obama's run for President. Solomon was sworn in as a member of President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Wednesday in the U. S. Supreme Court. Justice Stephen Breyer administered the oath to committee members, including Mr. Solomon, who is currently Chairman of Ovation, the only television network dedicated to art and contemporary culture, and Chairman and CEO of Tennis Channel.

After being sworn in Wednesday, Solomon participated in a dinner honoring the 2009 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal awardees, and attended a White House ceremony Thursday in which President Obama acknowledged the Committee during the Medal presentations. As a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (“PCAH”), Solomon and his fellow committee members will work with federal cultural agencies, and civic, corporate, foundation, and private funders to further the United States ' national investment in its cultural life. The PCAH helps to underscore the civic, social, educational, and historical value of arts and humanities in the life of our nation.

"It is extremely humbling to be named to this esteemed committee, but the highest honor will come in what we’re able to accomplish," said Solomon. "Not only can we drive our nation’s economic growth via the arts and humanities, but through cultural diplomacy we seek to strengthen our relationship within the global family of nations as well. I welcome this service, the work ahead and the chance to advance the democratization of the arts through education."

With more than 25 years of television and multimedia experience, Mr. Solomon has held top posts with the Walt Disney Corp., Universal Television, DreamWorks, News Corp. and Scripps. He is currently vice chairman of the Young Presidents Organization Bel-Air (YPO) and has been named "Humanitarian of the Year" by H.E.L.P. Group, one of the largest and most influential children's charities in the United States , for which he serves on the Circle of Friends advisory board.

"I’m thrilled that my friend has been appointed to this crucial national committee," said Charles Segars, CEO of Ovation. "He works tirelessly for education and will be instrumental in PCAH’s efforts to promote the arts and arts education throughout the country."

Solomon joins such well-known and accomplished individuals as actors Edward Norton, Forest Whitaker, Kerry Washington, and Sarah Jessica Parker; American playwright and director George C. Wolfe, Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour, Pulitzer prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri; Grammy Award-winning classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and National Medal of Arts winning visual artist Chuck Close, to name a few.

The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) has served each Administration since 1982, advancing the White House's arts and humanities objectives by working directly with the three primary cultural agencies – National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – to initiate and support key programs; to recognize excellence in the fields of arts and humanities; and to encourage private-public partnerships around those disciplines.

Through the leadership of its Honorary Chairman, the First Lady, Michelle Obama, and its federal and private members, the PCAH has compiled an impressive legacy over its tenure including initiating the Medal of Arts and the National Medal for the Humanities, catalyzing signature cultural programs such as Save America's Treasures, Coming Up Taller, and AFI Project: 20/20, and taking the lead on groundbreaking cultural delegations to countries such as China and Mexico.

Marat Safin Set For Champions Series Debut In Rio

Tennis Now — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:32:54 GMT

(March 8, 2010) It didn't take Marat Safin too long to tire of retirement.

The former World No. 1, who officially retired from the ATP Tour last fall, will make his return to tournament tennis on the Champions Series circuit on Friday.

The charismatic winner of two major singles titles and one of 24 men to rank No. 1 in the world, will open up play in his debut Champions Series tennis event Friday against Wayne Ferreira at the Banco Cruzeiro do Sul Rio Champions in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The Banco Cruzeiro do Sul Rio Champions Cup, held March 12-14 at the Maracanãzinho Stadium in Rio, is the opening event on the 2010 Champions Series tennis circuit, the U.S.-based international tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.

Also competing in the eight-player, single-knock out event are Jim Courier, Mats Wilander, Mark Philippoussis, Cedric Pioline, Mikael Pernfors and Fernando Meligeni.

The event will feature $150,000 in total prize money, with the singles champion earning $60,000. Tickets can be purchased by calling 5521-3005-4023 or by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

The full schedule of play at the event is as follows:

Friday, March 12th starting at 6 p.m.
Quarterfinal #1 – Fernando Meligeni vs. Mikael Pernfors
Quarterfinal #2 - Mark Philippoussis vs. Cedric Pioline
Quarterfinal #3 - Marat Safin vs. Wayne Ferreira
Quarterfinal #4 - Jim Courier vs. Mats Wilander

Saturday, March 13th starting at 6 p.m.
Men’s Doubles Match
Semifinal 1 - Winner of Safin/Ferreira vs. Meligini/Pernfors
Semifinal 2 - Winner of Philippoussis/Pioline vs. Courier/Wilander

Sunday, March 14th starting at 11 a.m.
Third Place Match
Championship Final

Safin became the first Russian to win the U.S. Open in 2000 when he shocked Pete Sampras 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the men’s singles final. Safin rode the momentum of winning his first major singles title to earn the No. 1 ranking later that year and rank in the top spot for a total of nine weeks during his career. He reached the final of the Australian Open in 2002 and again in 2004, losing to Thomas Johansson and Roger Federer, respectively, but broke through to win his second major title in Australia in 2005, defeating Lleyton Hewitt in the final.

Safin, who also reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2002 and at Wimbledon in 2008, won 15 career singles titles and guided Russia to Davis Cup titles in 2002 and 2006. Safin turned 30 years old on January 27 and concluded his ATP World Tour career last fall.

The Rio Champions Cup is part of the global Champions Series tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. To be eligible to compete, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each event features $150,000 in prize money – with the tournament champion earning $60,000 – and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1. Each tournament champion earns 800 ranking points.

Jim Courier finished the 2009 season as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series, followed by Pete Sampras and Todd Martin. John McEnroe won the inaugural Rio Champions Cup in 2009, defeating Courier 6-2, 6-3 in the final.

The full 2010 Champions Series schedule of tournaments will be announced in the near future. The first tournament in the United States — the Staples Champions Cup — will be held April 29-May 2 in Boston, Mass., and will feature Bjorn Borg playing in his first tournament in the U.S. in 10 years.

With Safin and Borg’s commitment to play in 2010, the five-year old Champions Series features 10 former world No. 1 players competing on the circuit, joining Courier, McEnroe, Wilander, Sampras, Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg, Thomas Muster and Patrick Rafter.

No Surrender: Bob Bryan, John Isner Win Doubles To Keep U.S. Alive

Tennis Now — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:14:08 GMT

(March 6, 2010) Chicken curry brought Mike Bryan to his knees, weakening an already wounded American squad before a single shot was struck in today's Davis Cup doubles match between the USA and Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic.

Room service chicken curry caused a case of food poisoning in Mike Bryan early this morning.

Playing without his twin for the first time in a Tour-level doubles match, Bob Bryan turned to John Isner and in the second Davis Cup match of his career, Isner brought some service spice to support Bob's net play on the red clay of the Belgrade Arena.

In the end, there was no surrender in this makeshift American doubles duo that saved five set points in the first-set tie breaker to earn a 7-6(8), 5-7, 7-6(8), 6-3 win over Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic, who were partnering for the second time.

"Mike got room service, chicken curry, and at 3 a.m. he started to get the shakes and started to vomit, we put him on an IV, he came out to the stadium and tried to practice but shook his head as he knew he couldn’t finish a match," Bob Bryan told the official Davis Cup website. "I picked John because I wanted to back up that big serve and I think we combined pretty well.”

The three hour, six-minute triumph cuts Serbia's lead to 2-1 heading into Sunday's reverse singles in the best-of-five match tie.

The 6-foot-9 Isner will need to come up big again tomorrow. Isner, who has played just four matches on clay in the past year, will face World No. 2 Novak Djokovic with both men highly motivated. Djokovic, who beat Sam Querrey in a physical four-setter to stake Serbia to a 2-0 lead on Friday, is trying to clinch Serbia's first World Group quarterfinal appearance in history. Isner, who will be playing just his second Davis Cup singles match, is trying to make the fifth match matter.

Querrey will face Viktor Troicki, who rallied from a 4-5 first-set deficit to defeat Isner in the opening match. Troicki beat Querrey in their lone prior meeting at the Belgrade tournament last May.

It's a tall task for Isner, who could well be fighting fatigue playing his third five-setter in as many days. Djokovic is one of the best defensive players and movers on the ATP Tour, which means it will be imperative for Isner to try to play short points.

"I think the doubles is going to help John a lot," U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said. "The fact he has two matches under his belt now, I think we’re going to see him play his best tennis; obviously it’s a very tough match against Novak but we’re looking forward to it."

Novak Djokovic Downs Sam Querrey; USA On Edge Of Elimination

Tennis Now — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:43:17 GMT

(March 5, 2010) The sizable singles starters on the tallest American Davis Cup team in history experienced both growth spurts and growing pains in Belgrade today.

Ultimately, both 6-foot-10 John Isner and 6-9 Sam Querrey came up slightly short in four-set losses leaving the United States facing a towering task as it faces a 2-0 deficit against host Serbia.

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic fought off four set points in the second set to subdue a spirited Querrey, 6-2, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3 to give Serbia a commanding 2-0 advantage and put the host within one win of its first Davis Cup quarterfinal in the nation's history.

"It was a very exciting match with a lot of good rallies and excitement in general," Djokovic told the official Davis Cup website. "The crowd enjoyed it but I think a lot of people expected me to win in straight sets after having a two sets lead, but he came back in great style, opening the court, serving really well and effective and hitting a lot of winners from the forehand side. It was not easy to hold on with the game pace he had, especially with the fact that I didn’t feel that great in the third set physically, I have not had a lot of time on the clay."

Djokovic delivered an inside-out forehand winner on his fourth match point to end a hard-fought encounter with Querrey, who had set points on Djokovic's serve at 5-4 in the second set, but could not convert.

It's up to Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan to stave off American elimination. The Bryan brothers, who have posted a 16-2 record together in Davis Cup play, face Wimbledon doubles champ Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic in Saturday's doubles match.

In the opening match, Isner's size 15 Nikes embedded some tracks so deep on the red clay the shoe prints resembled pot holes.

In his Davis Cup debut, Isner made his mark in serving for the opening set, but squandered that opportunity and ultimately could not gain ground on Viktor Troicki.

Troicki's superior speed around the court and his crunching two-handed backhand helped him hold off Isner, 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4, and stake host Serbia to a 1-0 lead over the United States in today's Davis Cup World Group first round tie at the 19,900-seat Belgrade Arena.

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic plays 21st-ranked American Sam Querrey in today's second singles match. Djokovic, who has not surrendered a set to Querrey in two prior meetings, is the heavy favorite to move Serbia to within one win of a victory in the best-of-five match tie.

Serbia is seeking to surpass the first round for the first time in history. Twins Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan will play Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic in Saturday's doubles match.

In Sunday's reverse singles, Isner meets Djokovic with Querrey facing Troicki in the final match.

Isner had opportunities throughout the match, but converted just 2 of 11 break point chances and contributed to his own demise with 59 unforced errors.

Down 1-3 in the third set, Isner found himself on the verge of falling into a double-break chasm, facing triple break point. He sliced a serve out wide to set up a forehand volley and followed with an ace down the T to draw even at deuce. Isner erased a fourth break point and eventually held for 2-3.

Three games later, Isner broke for 4-all. But in the 11th game, Isner was too careful with a forehand volley. He pushed it rather than punching it and paid the price as Troicki found an open expanse of court with a cross court backhand pass for break point. Isner had an answer with an exceptional forehand drop volley winner, but Troicki blasted a backhand winner to break for 6-5.

That break proved to be crucial. In the next game, Troicki curled a backhand pass cross court to seize the third set, 7-5.

Clay is Isner's least favorite surface as it allows opponents to exploit two of his vulnerabilities: his lack of speed around the court and stamina. Still, the man who has played just four clay-court matches in the past 12 months, showed some shot subtlety to break in the eighth game of the match.

Playing off-speed slices, Isner induced the break when Troicki, who is more comfortable off the backhand side, brushed an inside out forehand wide on the 16th shot. Isner had the break and a 5-3 lead.

Serving for the set, he opened with an ace, but could not close the game. Troicki hammered a backhand winner down the line to break back for 4-5.

Isner attacked net and earned the first mini-break of the tie breaker when Troicki tightened and missed a backhand pass. The USA had a 2-1 lead, but Troicki was just starting to heat up.

Isner steered backhand down the line wide, nudged a forehand volley into the top of the net and blocked a backhand wide as Troicki took a 4-2 lead.

Dictating play behind his backhand, Troicki hit a backhand crosscourt to open up the court then blasted a backhand down the line to gain set points at 6-4.

Troicki hit a slice serve wide to seal the first set.

The 35th-ranked Troicki was two points from a two-set lead when he snatched a 5-4 lead in the second-set tie breaker after Isner fed him an easy forehand volley winner.

A service winner followed by an overhead winner gave Isner set point. Isner sliced a backhand that landed a foot inside the service line. A surprised Troicki did not get up to the ball quickly enough as Isner took the second set.

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

SPAIN level with SWITZERLAND 1-1

Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera, Logrono , Spain (clay – indoors)

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) d. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 36 64 36 75 63

David Ferrer (ESP) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 62 76(5) 61

Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) v Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)

David Ferrer (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)

FRANCE leads GERMANY 2-0

Venue: Palais des Sports, Toulon , France (hard - indoors)

Gael Monfils (FRA) d. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 61 64 76(5)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) d. Benjamin Becker (GER) 63 62 67(2) 63

Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Christopher Kas/Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

Gael Monfils (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)

RUSSIA leads INDIA 2-0

Venue: Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow , Russia (hard – indoors)

Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) d. Somdev Devvarman ( IND ) 67(6) 76(4) 63 64

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) d. Rohan Bopanna ( IND ) 64 62 63

Teimuraz Gabashvili/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND)

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)

Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)

SWEDEN level with ARGENTINA 1-1

Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm , Sweden (hard – indoors)

Robin Soderling (SWE) d. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 61 76(0) 75

Leonardo Mayer (ARG) d. Joachim Johansson (SWE) 57 63 75 64

Robert Lindstedt/Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer/Horacio Zeballos (ARG)

Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)

Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)

CROATIA leads ECUADOR 2-0

Venue: Gradska Sportska Dvorana, Varazdin , Croatia (hard – indoors)

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) d. Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 62 57 67(2) 63 64

Marin Cilic (CRO) d. Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 64 63 63

Ivan Dodig/Antonio Veic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)

Marin Cilic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)

SERBIA leads USA 2-0

Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade , Serbia (clay – indoors)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) d. John Isner ( USA ) 76(4) 67(5) 75 64

Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Sam Querrey ( USA ) 62 76(4) 26 63

Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA)

Novak Djokovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)

CHILE v ISRAEL (to be played 6-8 March)

Venue: Enjoy Tennis Center , Coquimbo , Chile (clay – outdoors)

Nicolas Massu (CHI) v Dudi Sela (ISR)

Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) v Harel Levy (ISR)

Fernando Gonzalez/Nicolas Massu (CHI) v Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram (ISR)

Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) v Dudi Sela (ISR)

Nicolas Massu (CHI) v Harel Levy (ISR)

CZECH REPUBLIC leads BELGIUM 2-0

Venue: Expodroom, Bree , Belgium (clay – indoors)

Tomas Berdych (CZE) d. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 63 60 64

Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Xavier Malisse (BEL) 62 64 76(3)

Steve Darcis/Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Lukas Dlouhy/Jan Hajek (CZE)

Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)

Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

URUGUAY leads DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2-0

Venue: Federacion Dominicana de Tenis, Santa Domingo , Dominican Republic (hard – outdoors)

Pablo Cuevas (URU) d. Jose Hernandez (DOM) 62 75 63

Marcel Felder (URU) d. Victor Estrella (DOM) 06 36 64 63 62

Victor Estrella/Jhonson Garcia (DOM) v Pablo Cuevas/Marcel Felder (URU)

Victor Estrella (DOM) v Pablo Cuevas (URU)

Jose Hernandez (DOM) v Marcel Felder (URU)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

COLOMBIA leads CANADA 2-0

Venue: Club Campestre El Rancho, Bogota , Colombia (clay – outdoors)

Carlos Salamanca ( COL ) d. Peter Polansky (CAN) 64 63 62

Santiago Giraldo ( COL ) d. Milos Raonic (CAN) 75 46 64 64

Juan-Sebastian Cabal/Carlos Salamanca (COL) v Daniel Nestor/Milos Raonic (CAN)

Santiago Giraldo (COL) v Peter Polansky (CAN)

Carlos Salamanca (COL) v Milos Raonic (CAN)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

AUSTRALIA leads CHINESE TAIPEI 2-0

Venue: Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Park , Melbourne , Australia (hard – outdoors)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) d. Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE) 62 61 61

Peter Luczak (AUS) d. Chu-Huan Yi (TPE) 46 63 62 63

Carsten Ball/Paul Hanley (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang/Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)

Peter Luczak (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)

JAPAN leads PHILIPPINES 2-0

Venue: Namihaya Dome, Osaka , Japan (carpet – indoors)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) d. Treat Huey (PHI) 36 63 64 36 64

Go Soeda (JPN) d. Cecil Mamiit (PHI) 67(4) 63 63 63

Toshihide Matsui/Takao Suzuki (JPN) v Francis Casey Alcantara/Johnny Arcilla (PHI)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Cecil Mamiit (PHI)

Go Soeda (JPN) v Treat Huey (PHI)

CHINA, P.R. level with UZBEKISTAN 1-1

Venue: Huayuan Hotel Jiangmen , Guangdong , China P.R. (hard – indoors)

Denis Istomin (UZB) d. Di Wu (CHN) 26 63 75 64

Ze Zhang (CHN) d. Farrukh Dustov (UZB) 64 06 75 63

Mao-Xin Gong/Zhe Li (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov/Denis Istomin (UZB)

Ze Zhang (CHN) v Denis Istomin (UZB)

Di Wu (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov (UZB)

KAZAKHSTAN leads KOREA , REP. 2-0

Venue: The National Tennis Centre, Astana , Kazakhstan (clay – indoors)

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR) 61 61 64

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) d. Kyu-Tae Im (KOR) 64 76(9) 76(5)

Andrey Golubev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) v Hyun-Joon Kim/Jae-Min Seol (KOR)

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Kyu-Tae Im (KOR)

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

ITALY leads BELARUS 2-0

Venue: Nova Yardinia, Castellaneta Marina , Italy (clay – outdoors)

Potito Starace (ITA) d. Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) 64 61 62

Fabio Fognini (ITA) d. Alexander Bury (BLR) 62 64 61

Simone Bolelli/Filippo Volandri (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik/Max Mirnyi (BLR)

Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)

Potito Starace (ITA) v Alexander Bury (BLR)

POLAND level with FINLAND 1-1

Venue: Hala 100 Lecia Sopotu, Sopot , Poland (hard – indoors)

Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. Michal Przysiezny (POL) 67(5) 76(4) 67(5) 76(7) 64

Lukasz Kubot (POL) d. Henri Kontinen (FIN) 64 62 76(5)

Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) v Harri Heliovaara/Timo Nieminen (FIN)

Lukasz Kubot (POL) v Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

Michal Przysiezny (POL) v Henri Kontinen (FIN)

UKRAINE leads LATVIA 2-0

Venue: Megaron Tennis Club, Dnipropetrovsk , Ukraine (hard – indoors)

Illya Marchenko (UKR) d. Andis Juska (LAT) 63 62 64

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) d. Deniss Pavlovs (LAT) 62 63 64

Sergei Bubka/Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska/Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska (LAT)

Illya Marchenko (UKR) v Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

AUSTRIA level with SLOVAK REPUBLIC 1-1

Venue: Gleichenberg-Halle, Bad Gleichenberg , Austria (Hard – indoors)

Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Daniel Koellerer (AUT) 26 62 76(5) 63

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Martin Klizan (SVK) 63 63 75

Julian Knowle/Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Michal Mertinak/Filip Polasek (SVK)

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Lukas Lacko (SVK)

Daniel Koellerer (AUT) v Martin Klizan (SVK)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

PERU leads EL SALVADOR 2-0

Venue: Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposicion, Lima , Peru (clay – outdoors)

Ivan Miranda (PER) d. Rafael Arevalo (ESA) 63 62 75

Mauricio Echazu (PER) d. Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) 26 62 64 36 63

Sergio Galdos/Ivan Miranda (PER) v Marcelo Arevalo/Rafael Arevalo (ESA)

Ivan Miranda (PER) v Marcelo Arevalo (ESA)

Mauricio Echazu (PER) v Rafael Arevalo (ESA)

BOLIVIA v VENEZUELA

Venue: Club de Tenis La Paz , La Paz , Bolivia (clay – outdoors)

Federico Zeballos (BOL) v Yohny Romero (VEN)

Mauricio Estivariz (BOL) v Roman Recarte (VEN)

Mauricio Doria-Medina/Federico Zeballos (BOL) v Luis David Martinez/Yohny Romero (VEN)

Mauricio Estivariz (BOL) v Yohny Romero (VEN)

Federico Zeballos (BOL) v Roman Recarte (VEN)

PARAGUAY leads NETHERLANDS ANTILLES 2-0

Venue: Yacht y Golf Club Paraguayo, Lambare , Paraguay (clay – outdoors)

Diego Galeano (PAR) d. Alexander Blom (AHO) 62 63 46 62

Ramon Delgado (PAR) d. Martijn van Haasteren (AHO) 61 62 61

Paulo Carvallo/Ramon Delgado (PAR) v Alexander Blom/Martijn van Haasteren (AHO)

Ramon Delgado (PAR) v Alexander Blom (AHO)

Diego Galeano (PAR) v Martijn van Haasteren (AHO)

MEXICO leads GUATEMALA 2-0

Venue: Rafael "Pelon" Osuna, Mexico City , Mexico (clay – outdoors)

Bruno Rodriguez (MEX) d. Julen Uriguen (GUA) 64 60 20 ret.

Cesar Ramirez (MEX) d. Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA) 61 63 61

Luis Diaz-Barriga/Daniel Garza (MEX) v Manuel Chavez/Wilfredo Gonzalez (GUA)

Bruno Rodriguez (MEX) v Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA)

Cesar Ramirez (MEX) v Julen Uriguen (GUA)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

THAILAND leads PACIFIC OCEANIA 2-0

Venue: National Tennis Development Centre, Nonthaburi , Thailand (hard – outdoors)

Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) d. Michael Leong (POC) 75 61 63

Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) d. Cyril Jacobe (POC) 64 61 60

Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA) v Brett Baudinet/Cyril Jacobe (POC)

Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) v Michael Leong (POC)

Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) v Cyril Jacobe (POC)

INDONESIA leads MALAYSIA 2-0

Venue: National Tennis Centre, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia (hard – indoors)

Christopher Rungkat (INA) d. Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) 60 61 62

Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA) d. Yew Ming Si (MAS) 46 76(5) 62 62

Adam Jaya/Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Ketut-Nesa Arta/Christopher Rungkat (INA)

Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)

Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) v Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA)

HONG KONG, CHINA level with PAKISTAN 1-1

Venue: Victoria Park, Hong Kong , China (hard – outdoors)

Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) d. Aqeel Khan (PAK) 64 62 36 36 63

Aisam Qureshi (PAK) d. Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) 62 63 64

Cheuk-Wai Hui/Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Jalil Khan/Aisam Qureshi (PAK)

Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Aisam Qureshi (PAK)

Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) v Aqeel Khan (PAK)

NEW ZEALAND leads SRI LANKA 2-0

Venue: Sri Lanka Tennis Association, Colombo , Sri Lanka (clay - outdoors)

Jose Statham (NZL) d. Harshana Godamanna (SRI) 64 36 46 63 64

Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) 62 36 61 62

Harshana Godamanna/Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Marcus Daniell/Mikal Statham (NZL)

Harshana Godamanna (SRI) v Daniel King-Turner (NZL)

Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Jose Statham (NZL)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

LITHUANIA level with GREAT BRITAIN 1-1

Venue: Seb Arena, Vilnius , Lithuania (hard – indoors)

James Ward (GBR) d. Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) 64 62 64

Ricardas Berankis (LTU) d. Daniel Evans (GBR) 61 46 76(5) 36 63

Laurynas Gregelis/Dovydas Sakinis (LTU) v Colin Fleming/Ken Skupski (GBR)

Ricardas Berankis (LTU) v James Ward (GBR)

Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) v Daniel Evans (GBR)

IRELAND leads TURKEY 2-0

Venue: Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Dublin , Ireland (hard – indoors)

James McGee (IRL) d. Haluk Akkoyun (TUR) 62 62 64

Conor Niland (IRL) d. Marsel Ilhan (TUR) 63 62 61

Barry King/James McGee (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun/Marsel Ilhan (TUR)

James McGee (IRL) v Marsel Ilhan (TUR)

Conor Niland (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun (TUR)

BULGARIA level with MONACO 1-1

Venue: Tennis Hall, Sofia , Bulgaria (hard – indoors)

Benjamin Balleret (MON) d. Todor Enev (BUL) 46 67(1) 75 62 61

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) d. Thomas Oger (MON) 64 75 63

Grigor Dimitrov/Todor Enev (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret/Guillaume Couillard (MON)

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret (MON)

Todor Enev (BUL) v Thomas Oger (MON)

SLOVENIA leads NORWAY 2-0

Venue: Riksanlegget For Tennis, Oslo , Norway (hard – indoors)

Blaz Kavcic (SLO) d. Stian Boretti (NOR) 62 64 62

Grega Zemlja (SLO) d. Erling Tveit (NOR) 62 62 76(2)

Stian Boretti/Erling Tveit (NOR) v Luka Gregorc/Grega Zemlja (SLO)

Erling Tveit (NOR) v Blaz Kavcic (SLO)

Stian Boretti (NOR) v Grega Zemlja (SLO)

PORTUGAL leads DENMARK 2-0

Venue: Complexo de Tenis da Maia, Maia , Portugal (clay – indoors)

Rui Machado (POR) d. Frederik Nielsen (DEN) 46 64 60 61

Frederico Gil (POR) d. Martin Pedersen (DEN) 62 76(7) 36 63

Frederico Gil/Leonardo Tavares (POR) v Frederik Nielsen/Martin Pedersen (DEN)

Frederico Gil (POR) v Frederik Nielsen (DEN)

Rui Machado (POR) v Martin Pedersen (DEN)

CYPRUS level with EGYPT 1-1

Venue: "Spyros Kyprianou" Athletic Centre, Limassol , Cyprus (hard – indoors)

Karim Maamoun (EGY) d. Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) 63 64 75

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) d. Sherif Sabry (EGY) 62 61 61

Marcos Baghdatis/Photos Kallias (CYP) v Karim Maamoun/Sherif Sabry (EGY)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Karim Maamoun (EGY)

Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Sherif Sabry (EGY)

ESTONIA level with HUNGARY 1-1

Venue: Coral Tennis Club, Tallinn , Estonia (hard – indoors)

Adam Kellner (HUN) d. Jaak Poldma (EST) 63 64 64

Jurgen Zopp (EST) d. Kornel Bardoczky (HUN) 76(7) 61 60

Mait Kunnap/Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Marton Fucsovics/Robert Varga (HUN)

Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Adam Kellner (HUN)

Jaak Poldma (EST) v Kornel Bardoczky (HUN)

MACEDONIA, F.Y.R. level with BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA 1-1

Venue: Sport Hall "Gemidzii, Veles , Macedonia , F.Y.R. (clay – indoors)

Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) d. Ismar Gorcic (BIH) 64 62 64

Aldin Setkic (BIH) d. Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) 61 64 60

Lazar Magdinchev/Pedrag Rusevski v Ismar Gorcic/Aldin Setkic (BIH)

Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) v Aldin Setkic (BIH)

Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) v Ismar Gorcic (BIH)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Stretches French Davis Cup Lead Over Germany

Tennis Now — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:59:01 GMT

(March 5, 2010) A recent illness sapped seven pounds and some strength from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but that didn't stop the Frenchman from throwing his weight around today.

Tsonga beat Benjamin Becker, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-3, to stake host France to a commanding 2-0 lead over Germany in the Davis Cup World Group first-round tie.

History doesn't offer much hope for Germany, which has to go back a half-century for its last Davis Cup comeback from a 0-2 deficit. Germany's last win over France came 72 years ago.

Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra can clinch a French victory tomorrow with a doubles win over Christopher Kas and Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Gael Monfils was in control throughout in earning his first Davis Cup win today at the Palais des Sports in Toulon.

Monfils smacked five of his 15 aces in the third set of his 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The match was a rematch of last year's Metz final, which Monfils won, 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-2.

The 15th-ranked Frenchman converted five of 14 break points and played more ambitious tennis in producing 71 winners compared to 45 for Kohlschreiber.

The winner of the France-Germnay tie will face either two-time defending champion Spain or Switzerland in the July 9-11 Davis Cup quarterfinals.

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

SPAIN level with SWITZERLAND 1-1

Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera, Logrono , Spain (clay – indoors)

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) d. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 36 64 36 75 63

David Ferrer (ESP) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 62 76(5) 61

Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) v Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)

David Ferrer (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)

FRANCE leads GERMANY 2-0

Venue: Palais des Sports, Toulon , France (hard - indoors)

Gael Monfils (FRA) d. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 61 64 76(5)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) d. Benjamin Becker (GER) 63 62 67(2) 63

Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Christopher Kas/Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

Gael Monfils (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)

RUSSIA leads INDIA 2-0

Venue: Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow , Russia (hard – indoors)

Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) d. Somdev Devvarman ( IND ) 67(6) 76(4) 63 64

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) d. Rohan Bopanna ( IND ) 64 62 63

Teimuraz Gabashvili/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND)

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)

Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)

SWEDEN level with ARGENTINA 1-1

Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm , Sweden (hard – indoors)

Robin Soderling (SWE) d. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 61 76(0) 75

Leonardo Mayer (ARG) d. Joachim Johansson (SWE) 57 63 75 64

Robert Lindstedt/Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer/Horacio Zeballos (ARG)

Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)

Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)

CROATIA leads ECUADOR 2-0

Venue: Gradska Sportska Dvorana, Varazdin , Croatia (hard – indoors)

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) d. Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 62 57 67(2) 63 64

Marin Cilic (CRO) d. Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 64 63 63

Ivan Dodig/Antonio Veic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)

Marin Cilic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)

SERBIA leads USA 2-0

Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade , Serbia (clay – indoors)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) d. John Isner ( USA ) 76(4) 67(5) 75 64

Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Sam Querrey ( USA ) 62 76(4) 26 63

Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA)

Novak Djokovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)

CHILE v ISRAEL (to be played 6-8 March)

Venue: Enjoy Tennis Center , Coquimbo , Chile (clay – outdoors)

Nicolas Massu (CHI) v Dudi Sela (ISR)

Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) v Harel Levy (ISR)

Fernando Gonzalez/Nicolas Massu (CHI) v Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram (ISR)

Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) v Dudi Sela (ISR)

Nicolas Massu (CHI) v Harel Levy (ISR)

CZECH REPUBLIC leads BELGIUM 2-0

Venue: Expodroom, Bree , Belgium (clay – indoors)

Tomas Berdych (CZE) d. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 63 60 64

Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Xavier Malisse (BEL) 62 64 76(3)

Steve Darcis/Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Lukas Dlouhy/Jan Hajek (CZE)

Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)

Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

URUGUAY leads DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2-0

Venue: Federacion Dominicana de Tenis, Santa Domingo , Dominican Republic (hard – outdoors)

Pablo Cuevas (URU) d. Jose Hernandez (DOM) 62 75 63

Marcel Felder (URU) d. Victor Estrella (DOM) 06 36 64 63 62

Victor Estrella/Jhonson Garcia (DOM) v Pablo Cuevas/Marcel Felder (URU)

Victor Estrella (DOM) v Pablo Cuevas (URU)

Jose Hernandez (DOM) v Marcel Felder (URU)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

COLOMBIA leads CANADA 2-0

Venue: Club Campestre El Rancho, Bogota , Colombia (clay – outdoors)

Carlos Salamanca ( COL ) d. Peter Polansky (CAN) 64 63 62

Santiago Giraldo ( COL ) d. Milos Raonic (CAN) 75 46 64 64

Juan-Sebastian Cabal/Carlos Salamanca (COL) v Daniel Nestor/Milos Raonic (CAN)

Santiago Giraldo (COL) v Peter Polansky (CAN)

Carlos Salamanca (COL) v Milos Raonic (CAN)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

AUSTRALIA leads CHINESE TAIPEI 2-0

Venue: Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Park , Melbourne , Australia (hard – outdoors)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) d. Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE) 62 61 61

Peter Luczak (AUS) d. Chu-Huan Yi (TPE) 46 63 62 63

Carsten Ball/Paul Hanley (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang/Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)

Peter Luczak (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)

JAPAN leads PHILIPPINES 2-0

Venue: Namihaya Dome, Osaka , Japan (carpet – indoors)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) d. Treat Huey (PHI) 36 63 64 36 64

Go Soeda (JPN) d. Cecil Mamiit (PHI) 67(4) 63 63 63

Toshihide Matsui/Takao Suzuki (JPN) v Francis Casey Alcantara/Johnny Arcilla (PHI)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Cecil Mamiit (PHI)

Go Soeda (JPN) v Treat Huey (PHI)

CHINA, P.R. level with UZBEKISTAN 1-1

Venue: Huayuan Hotel Jiangmen , Guangdong , China P.R. (hard – indoors)

Denis Istomin (UZB) d. Di Wu (CHN) 26 63 75 64

Ze Zhang (CHN) d. Farrukh Dustov (UZB) 64 06 75 63

Mao-Xin Gong/Zhe Li (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov/Denis Istomin (UZB)

Ze Zhang (CHN) v Denis Istomin (UZB)

Di Wu (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov (UZB)

KAZAKHSTAN leads KOREA , REP. 2-0

Venue: The National Tennis Centre, Astana , Kazakhstan (clay – indoors)

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR) 61 61 64

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) d. Kyu-Tae Im (KOR) 64 76(9) 76(5)

Andrey Golubev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) v Hyun-Joon Kim/Jae-Min Seol (KOR)

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Kyu-Tae Im (KOR)

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

ITALY leads BELARUS 2-0

Venue: Nova Yardinia, Castellaneta Marina , Italy (clay – outdoors)

Potito Starace (ITA) d. Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) 64 61 62

Fabio Fognini (ITA) d. Alexander Bury (BLR) 62 64 61

Simone Bolelli/Filippo Volandri (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik/Max Mirnyi (BLR)

Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)

Potito Starace (ITA) v Alexander Bury (BLR)

POLAND level with FINLAND 1-1

Venue: Hala 100 Lecia Sopotu, Sopot , Poland (hard – indoors)

Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. Michal Przysiezny (POL) 67(5) 76(4) 67(5) 76(7) 64

Lukasz Kubot (POL) d. Henri Kontinen (FIN) 64 62 76(5)

Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) v Harri Heliovaara/Timo Nieminen (FIN)

Lukasz Kubot (POL) v Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

Michal Przysiezny (POL) v Henri Kontinen (FIN)

UKRAINE leads LATVIA 2-0

Venue: Megaron Tennis Club, Dnipropetrovsk , Ukraine (hard – indoors)

Illya Marchenko (UKR) d. Andis Juska (LAT) 63 62 64

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) d. Deniss Pavlovs (LAT) 62 63 64

Sergei Bubka/Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska/Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska (LAT)

Illya Marchenko (UKR) v Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

AUSTRIA level with SLOVAK REPUBLIC 1-1

Venue: Gleichenberg-Halle, Bad Gleichenberg , Austria (Hard – indoors)

Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Daniel Koellerer (AUT) 26 62 76(5) 63

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Martin Klizan (SVK) 63 63 75

Julian Knowle/Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Michal Mertinak/Filip Polasek (SVK)

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Lukas Lacko (SVK)

Daniel Koellerer (AUT) v Martin Klizan (SVK)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

PERU leads EL SALVADOR 2-0

Venue: Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposicion, Lima , Peru (clay – outdoors)

Ivan Miranda (PER) d. Rafael Arevalo (ESA) 63 62 75

Mauricio Echazu (PER) d. Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) 26 62 64 36 63

Sergio Galdos/Ivan Miranda (PER) v Marcelo Arevalo/Rafael Arevalo (ESA)

Ivan Miranda (PER) v Marcelo Arevalo (ESA)

Mauricio Echazu (PER) v Rafael Arevalo (ESA)

BOLIVIA v VENEZUELA

Venue: Club de Tenis La Paz , La Paz , Bolivia (clay – outdoors)

Federico Zeballos (BOL) v Yohny Romero (VEN)

Mauricio Estivariz (BOL) v Roman Recarte (VEN)

Mauricio Doria-Medina/Federico Zeballos (BOL) v Luis David Martinez/Yohny Romero (VEN)

Mauricio Estivariz (BOL) v Yohny Romero (VEN)

Federico Zeballos (BOL) v Roman Recarte (VEN)

PARAGUAY leads NETHERLANDS ANTILLES 2-0

Venue: Yacht y Golf Club Paraguayo, Lambare , Paraguay (clay – outdoors)

Diego Galeano (PAR) d. Alexander Blom (AHO) 62 63 46 62

Ramon Delgado (PAR) d. Martijn van Haasteren (AHO) 61 62 61

Paulo Carvallo/Ramon Delgado (PAR) v Alexander Blom/Martijn van Haasteren (AHO)

Ramon Delgado (PAR) v Alexander Blom (AHO)

Diego Galeano (PAR) v Martijn van Haasteren (AHO)

MEXICO leads GUATEMALA 2-0

Venue: Rafael "Pelon" Osuna, Mexico City , Mexico (clay – outdoors)

Bruno Rodriguez (MEX) d. Julen Uriguen (GUA) 64 60 20 ret.

Cesar Ramirez (MEX) d. Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA) 61 63 61

Luis Diaz-Barriga/Daniel Garza (MEX) v Manuel Chavez/Wilfredo Gonzalez (GUA)

Bruno Rodriguez (MEX) v Christopher Diaz-Figueroa (GUA)

Cesar Ramirez (MEX) v Julen Uriguen (GUA)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

THAILAND leads PACIFIC OCEANIA 2-0

Venue: National Tennis Development Centre, Nonthaburi , Thailand (hard – outdoors)

Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) d. Michael Leong (POC) 75 61 63

Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) d. Cyril Jacobe (POC) 64 61 60

Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA) v Brett Baudinet/Cyril Jacobe (POC)

Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) v Michael Leong (POC)

Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) v Cyril Jacobe (POC)

INDONESIA leads MALAYSIA 2-0

Venue: National Tennis Centre, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia (hard – indoors)

Christopher Rungkat (INA) d. Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) 60 61 62

Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA) d. Yew Ming Si (MAS) 46 76(5) 62 62

Adam Jaya/Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Ketut-Nesa Arta/Christopher Rungkat (INA)

Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)

Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) v Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA)

HONG KONG, CHINA level with PAKISTAN 1-1

Venue: Victoria Park, Hong Kong , China (hard – outdoors)

Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) d. Aqeel Khan (PAK) 64 62 36 36 63

Aisam Qureshi (PAK) d. Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) 62 63 64

Cheuk-Wai Hui/Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Jalil Khan/Aisam Qureshi (PAK)

Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Aisam Qureshi (PAK)

Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) v Aqeel Khan (PAK)

NEW ZEALAND leads SRI LANKA 2-0

Venue: Sri Lanka Tennis Association, Colombo , Sri Lanka (clay - outdoors)

Jose Statham (NZL) d. Harshana Godamanna (SRI) 64 36 46 63 64

Daniel King-Turner (NZL) d. Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) 62 36 61 62

Harshana Godamanna/Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Marcus Daniell/Mikal Statham (NZL)

Harshana Godamanna (SRI) v Daniel King-Turner (NZL)

Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Jose Statham (NZL)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

LITHUANIA level with GREAT BRITAIN 1-1

Venue: Seb Arena, Vilnius , Lithuania (hard – indoors)

James Ward (GBR) d. Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) 64 62 64

Ricardas Berankis (LTU) d. Daniel Evans (GBR) 61 46 76(5) 36 63

Laurynas Gregelis/Dovydas Sakinis (LTU) v Colin Fleming/Ken Skupski (GBR)

Ricardas Berankis (LTU) v James Ward (GBR)

Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) v Daniel Evans (GBR)

IRELAND leads TURKEY 2-0

Venue: Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Dublin , Ireland (hard – indoors)

James McGee (IRL) d. Haluk Akkoyun (TUR) 62 62 64

Conor Niland (IRL) d. Marsel Ilhan (TUR) 63 62 61

Barry King/James McGee (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun/Marsel Ilhan (TUR)

James McGee (IRL) v Marsel Ilhan (TUR)

Conor Niland (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun (TUR)

BULGARIA level with MONACO 1-1

Venue: Tennis Hall, Sofia , Bulgaria (hard – indoors)

Benjamin Balleret (MON) d. Todor Enev (BUL) 46 67(1) 75 62 61

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) d. Thomas Oger (MON) 64 75 63

Grigor Dimitrov/Todor Enev (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret/Guillaume Couillard (MON)

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret (MON)

Todor Enev (BUL) v Thomas Oger (MON)

SLOVENIA leads NORWAY 2-0

Venue: Riksanlegget For Tennis, Oslo , Norway (hard – indoors)

Blaz Kavcic (SLO) d. Stian Boretti (NOR) 62 64 62

Grega Zemlja (SLO) d. Erling Tveit (NOR) 62 62 76(2)

Stian Boretti/Erling Tveit (NOR) v Luka Gregorc/Grega Zemlja (SLO)

Erling Tveit (NOR) v Blaz Kavcic (SLO)

Stian Boretti (NOR) v Grega Zemlja (SLO)

PORTUGAL leads DENMARK 2-0

Venue: Complexo de Tenis da Maia, Maia , Portugal (clay – indoors)

Rui Machado (POR) d. Frederik Nielsen (DEN) 46 64 60 61

Frederico Gil (POR) d. Martin Pedersen (DEN) 62 76(7) 36 63

Frederico Gil/Leonardo Tavares (POR) v Frederik Nielsen/Martin Pedersen (DEN)

Frederico Gil (POR) v Frederik Nielsen (DEN)

Rui Machado (POR) v Martin Pedersen (DEN)

CYPRUS level with EGYPT 1-1

Venue: "Spyros Kyprianou" Athletic Centre, Limassol , Cyprus (hard – indoors)

Karim Maamoun (EGY) d. Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) 63 64 75

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) d. Sherif Sabry (EGY) 62 61 61

Marcos Baghdatis/Photos Kallias (CYP) v Karim Maamoun/Sherif Sabry (EGY)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Karim Maamoun (EGY)

Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Sherif Sabry (EGY)

ESTONIA level with HUNGARY 1-1

Venue: Coral Tennis Club, Tallinn , Estonia (hard – indoors)

Adam Kellner (HUN) d. Jaak Poldma (EST) 63 64 64

Jurgen Zopp (EST) d. Kornel Bardoczky (HUN) 76(7) 61 60

Mait Kunnap/Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Marton Fucsovics/Robert Varga (HUN)

Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Adam Kellner (HUN)

Jaak Poldma (EST) v Kornel Bardoczky (HUN)

MACEDONIA, F.Y.R. level with BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA 1-1

Venue: Sport Hall "Gemidzii, Veles , Macedonia , F.Y.R. (clay – indoors)

Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) d. Ismar Gorcic (BIH) 64 62 64

Aldin Setkic (BIH) d. Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) 61 64 60

Lazar Magdinchev/Pedrag Rusevski v Ismar Gorcic/Aldin Setkic (BIH)

Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) v Aldin Setkic (BIH)

Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) v Ismar Gorcic (BIH)

Viktor Troicki Tops John Isner, Serbia Takes 1-0 Lead Over USA

Tennis Now — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:28:51 GMT

(March 5, 2010) John Isner's size 15 Nikes embedded some tracks so deep on the red clay the shoe prints resembled pot holes.

In his Davis Cup debut, Isner made his mark in serving for the opening set, but squandered that opportunity and ultimately could not gain ground on Viktor Troicki.

Troicki's superior speed around the court and his crunching two-handed backhand helped him hold off Isner, 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4, and stake host Serbia to a 1-0 lead over the United States in today's Davis Cup World Group first round tie at the 19,900-seat Belgrade Arena.

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic plays 21st-ranked American Sam Querrey in today's second singles match. Djokovic, who has not surrendered a set to Querrey in two prior meetings, is the heavy favorite to move Serbia to within one win of a victory in the best-of-five match tie.

Serbia is seeking to surpass the first round for the first time in history. Twins Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan will play Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic in Saturday's doubles match.

In Sunday's reverse singles, Isner meets Djokovic with Querrey facing Troicki in the final match.

Isner had opportunities throughout the match, but converted just 2 of 11 break point chances and contributed to his own demise with 59 unforced errors.

Down 1-3 in the third set, Isner found himself on the verge of falling into a double-break chasm, facing triple break point. He sliced a serve out wide to set up a forehand volley and followed with an ace down the T to draw even at deuce. Isner erased a fourth break point and eventually held for 2-3.

Three games later, Isner broke for 4-all. But in the 11th game, Isner was too careful with a forehand volley. He pushed it rather than punching it and paid the price as Troicki found an open expanse of court with a cross court backhand pass for break point. Isner had an answer with an exceptional forehand drop volley winner, but Troicki blasted a backhand winner to break for 6-5.

That break proved to be crucial. In the next game, Troicki curled a backhand pass cross court to seize the third set, 7-5.

Clay is Isner's least favorite surface as it allows opponents to exploit two of his vulnerabilities: his lack of speed around the court and stamina. Still, the man who has played just four clay-court matches in the past 12 months, showed some shot subtlety to break in the eighth game of the match.

Playing off-speed slices, Isner induced the break when Troicki, who is more comfortable off the backhand side, brushed an inside out forehand wide on the 16th shot. Isner had the break and a 5-3 lead.

Serving for the set, he opened with an ace, but could not close the game. Troicki hammered a backhand winner down the line to break back for 4-5.

Isner attacked net and earned the first mini-break of the tie breaker when Troicki tightened and missed a backhand pass. The USA had a 2-1 lead, but Troicki was just starting to heat up.

Isner steered backhand down the line wide, nudged a forehand volley into the top of the net and blocked a backhand wide as Troicki took a 4-2 lead.

Dictating play behind his backhand, Troicki hit a backhand crosscourt to open up the court then blasted a backhand down the line to gain set points at 6-4.

Troicki hit a slice serve wide to seal the first set.

The 35th-ranked Troicki was two points from a two-set lead when he snatched a 5-4 lead in the second-set tie breaker after Isner fed him an easy forehand volley winner.

A service winner followed by an overhead winner gave Isner set point. Isner sliced a backhand that landed a foot inside the service line. A surprised Troicki did not get up to the ball quickly enough as Isner took the second set.

Fernando Gonzalez Hosts Fund Raiser For Chilean Earthquake Victims

Tennis Now — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:49:14 GMT

(March 5, 2010) Haunted by television images of earthquake victims in his home country, Fernando Gonzalezhas gone to work aiding relief efforts in Chile.

Gonzalez is a devoted Davis Cup player and Olympic gold medalist for Chile. While Gonzalez will play for his country in this weekend's Davis Cup tie against visiting Israel and he's already spent time working to raise money for victims of Saturday's 8.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Chile.

Gonzalez endured a travel odyssey from Acapulco, where he played last week's ATP event, back home to Chile. He appeared at a fund raiser at Coquimbo’s gym last night and will play for Chile in tomorrow's opening day of play on the red clay of the Enjoy Tennis Center in Coquimbo.

"About Davis Cup, is tough to speak. It’s uncomfortable to play when people have problems," Gonzalez said. "Last three nights I couldn’t sleep and always remembered the TV images of destruction at south of Chile. But it’s tough to change a Davis Cup. No dates available. If we can win against Israel, we can give a little happiness to our people.Thanks for all. It’s time to help our brothers in south. We can wake up our country."

Stan Wawrinka Stakes Swiss To Davis Cup Lead Over Spain

Tennis Now — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:35:58 GMT

(March 5, 2010) Life — more specifically new life — interrupted Stanislas Wawrinka's tennis career for the past six weeks.

Wawrinka's wife, Ilham, gave birth to the couple's first child, daughter Alexia, on February 12th. Embracing fatherhood, Wawrinka has been a doting dad who had not played a match since his third-round Australian Open loss to Marin Cilic in January.

Today, the new father labored for five sets and nearly four hours and ultimately gave birth to Swiss hopes of crafting an improbable upset.

The 19th-ranked Wawrinka fought back from a one-set deficit twice to defeat Nicolas Almagro, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 to stake Switzerland to a 1-0 lead over host Spain in today's Davis Cup World Group first-round tie on a red clay court constructed in a converted bullring of the Plaza de Toros de la Ribera.

Two-time defending Davis Cup champion Spain will try to restore order as David Ferrer takes on Marco Chiudinelli in the second match.

An overwhelming favorite for this tie, Spain has won 18 consecutive home ties and is undefeated in its last 20 ties on clay.

Switzerland is playing without World No. 1 Roger Federer, who is recovering from a lung infection. Spain is missing four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since the Australian Open with a knee injury.

Wawrinka was down a break in the final set but rorared back to raise his record to 7-2 on the season with both losses coming to Cilic.

The winner of the Spain vs. Switzerland tie will play either Germany or France in the July 9-11th Davis Cup quarterfinals.

Igor Kunitsyn, Mikhail Youzhny Power Russia To Davis Cup Lead

Tennis Now — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:46:19 GMT

(March 5, 2010) No Nikolay Davydenko, no problem for Russia.

Mikhail Youzhny did not drop serve in dismissing Rohan Bopanna, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, to stake host Russia to a 2-0 lead against visiting India in today's Davis Cup World Group first-round on the hard court of Moscow's Luzhniki Arena.

Playing without its top-ranked player, World No. 6 Davydenko, who is sidelined with a wrist injury, Russia moved within one victory of reaching the quarterfinals for the 11th time in the past 12 years.

Russia has won its last 16 home ties dating back to 1996 and got off to a strong start thanks to a surprise starter.

Scheduled starter Igor Andreev was forced out of the first match due to a knee injury so Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev turned to 107th-ranked Igor Kunitsyn.

Competing in his second career Davis Cup singles match, Kunitsyn responded with a 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4 comeback victory over a stubborn Somdev Devvarman. The match lasted three hours, 35 minutes.

A precise Devvarman patiently built a one-set, 5-2 lead and had a set point in the eighth game of the second set. had he converted, Devvarman would have had an imposing two-set lead, but the World No. 128 could not finish points off and Kunitsyn, who consistently took more risk throughout the match, rallied to beat Devvarman for the third time in as many meetings.

"I had him where I wanted to and we both played a pretty good first set," said Devvarman. "Things started to go my way, but I wasn’t able to close it out as I would have liked to."

It was Kunitsyn's first career Davis Cup singles win; he lost to Israel's Harel Levy in straight sets in his singles debut in the 2009 quarterfinals in Tel Aviv.

"It was an exciting match," said Kunitsyn. "It’s the first time I ever opened a Davis Cup tie for Russia, the first time I ever played a live singles match, it was a day of firsts for me."

A day that began with Kunitsyn getting the nod on short notice.

"It was a surprise for me and there is no way you can prepare yourself with just an hour to go before your match," Kunitsyn said. "We are used to having at least one day, or 12 hours to prepare."

The veteran Indian doubles team of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes will be heavy favorites to stave off elimination when they face Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili in Saturday's doubles match.

Youzhny plays Devvarman and Kunitsyn will face Bopanna in Sunday's reverse singles matches.

The winner of the Russia-India tie will play either Argentina or Sweden in the July 9-11th Davis Cup quarterfinals.

Gael Monfils Wins First Davis Cup Match For France

Tennis Now — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:31:32 GMT

(March 5, 2010) Gael Monfils was in control throughout in earning his first Davis Cup win today.

Teammate Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will try to give host France a commanding 2-0 lead when he faces Germany's Benjamin Becker in the second singles match of the Davis Cup World Group first round tie at the Palais des Sports in Toulon.

Monfils smacked five of his 15 aces in the third set of his 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The match was a rematch of last year's Metz final, which Monfils won, 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-2.

The 15th-ranked Frenchman converted five of 14 break points and played more ambitious tennis in producing 71 winners compared to 45 for Kohlschreiber.

The winner of the France-Germnay tie will face either two-time defending champion Spain or Switzerland in the July 9-11 Davis Cup quarterfinals.

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Caroline Wozniacki Plans To Pack Punch For Indian Wells

Tennis Now — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:02:48 GMT

By Richard Pagliaro

(March 5, 2010) Caroline Wozniacki will hit the desert with a bulls-eye on her back, bling on her wrist and a swing strengthened from packing a potent punch.

An avid boxing fan, Wozniacki has taken her training to the ring in preparing for next week's BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Continuing a cross-training regimen she launched last season, Wozniacki has spent time in a Copenhagen boxing gym throwing punches — and learning that ducking is often the most important skill when it comes to duking it out.

"As for practicing, I am still doing boxing, as a cross-training and I am good at it," Wozniacki posted on her official blog. "My right hand hits really hard, and I try not to get beaten up when we train. Funny thing is that every time I do boxing, I get so hungry."

Rather than resort to the Rocky Balboa five-egg breakfast drink, Wozniacki has spent time satisfying her taste for protein in a different way.

"A few nights ago, after my day was over, a couple of my friends and I grabbed steak at a great steak house," Wozniacki said. "It was delicious, and I had tons of fun chatting and just hanging out with my girlfriends. I also did some yoga and Pilates. I think it increases strength, and stamina. It will give me a boost for sure. As of right now, I am staying with my brother in his apartment in Copenhagen. My mom and I spent some time in my home in Monte Carlo, too, which was nice of course."

Wozniacki's training is designed, in part, to help her add some aggression to her game. While the majority of the women's top 10 are power-based baseliners, Wozniacki, Agnieszka Radwanska and former World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic are the top 10 who players who rely more on their movement and ability to change the pace rather than try to hit through opponents. In oder for Wozniacki to take the next step and win a major she knows she must refine a finishing shot.

Her ranking recently slipped to No. 4, but the US Open runner-up will be the second seed behind Svetlana Kuznetsova at Indian Wells since two of the three players ranked ahead of her — World No. 1 Serena Williams and second-ranked Dinara Safina — will not play the tournament. The Williams sisters have not played Indian Wells since Serena said she was victimized by racial taunts from the crowd during the 2001 final against Kim Clijsters and Safina withdrew with the back injury that has pained her since last fall.

The challenge for Wozniacki is trying to live up to her seed playing with the pressure that comes at a Premier event. The top-seeded Wozniacki bombed out of the Dubai round of 16 in a straight-sets loss to Shahar Peer as her record dropped to 4-3 on the season.

The 19-year-old Wozniacki reached consecutive quarterfinals at Indian Wells (losing to eventual-champion Vera Zvonareva) and Miami (falling to Kuznetsova) last year. An early exit in either event this month could jeopardize her place in the top 5. However, with both Serena and Safina sitting out the event if Wozniacki can string together strong performances in both events she could surpass Kuznetsova, who holds a string-slender five point lead in the rankings, and move closer to Safina, who will lose the quarterfinal points she gained at Indian Wells last year. Safina is currently 555 points ahead of Wozniacki.

"I am obviously thrilled to be one of the top seeds again after Dubai but at the same time, I will have to get used to the feeling of having the bull’s eye on your back," Wozniack said. "I am hoping that I will do a little better than I did in Dubai, and hopefully, by the end of the tournament, I will be ranked in the top three again."

Wozniacki will bring some added sparkle to the desert. She recently signed a multi-year endorsement pact with Rolex and will wear the watch at Indian Wells.

"I already did some appearances for them at the 2010 Australian Open, but now it is official and I can’t really describe how excited I am. They already have been great to work with and I’ve always loved their watches," Wozniacki said. "Rolex has had a long presence in tennis, and I really am honored to be a part of such a prestigious team. They were kind enough to provide me with two beautiful watches at the Australian Open. They are absolutely amazing, I love them."

In another sign of her status as a budding start, Wozniacki recently completed a photo shoot for the adidas line of Stella McCartney-designed clothes she wears on court. The player nicknamed "Sunshine" for her perpetually positive disposition came face-to-face with the man who penned the classic "Good Day Sunshine", former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, Stella's father.

"The best thing about the shoot was that I not only met Stella, but also her father, Paul McCartney," Wozniacki said. "I got to talk to him a little, and I wish I had the nerve to ask him to sing a Beatles song for me, ha-ha. Anyway, even without a Beatles song, meeting was something I will probably remember forever. He is a legend after all."

Before she hits the court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, you can catch Wozniacki and her friend, Victoria Azarenka, court side at next week's Lakers game in Los Angeles.

"I am also excited to see my good friend Vika Azarenka in America. I am flying out tomorrow, and we’ll be going to the LA Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors game next week, which should be great," Wozniacki said. "We always have tons of fun, so this game will probably just add to it."

Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin Join Hit For Haiti

Tennis Now — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:49:49 GMT

(March 4, 2010) Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova are in the Hall of Fame. Lindsay Davenport and Justine Henin are headed there.

The four former World No. 1 players will convene on court for the BNP Paribas Open’s “Hit For Haiti” exhibition set for Friday night, March 12.

A women’s match featuring an astounding 50 Grand Slam titles on the same court will include Steffi Graf and Lindsay Davenport taking on Martina Navratilova and Justine Henin. They will be the first match that evening, which will be followed by the match comprised of 44 Grand Slam title holders, Roger Federer and Pete Sampras playing Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi.

Oracle will lead a comprehensive fundraising effort which will include on-site, text messaging and private donations targeted to reach $1 million. Funds will benefit the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development fund, which was established to help those impacted by the recent earthquakes in Haiti.

"Oracle is proud to participate in fundraising efforts to benefit the relief efforts in Haiti," said Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. "It is impressive to see this remarkable line up of athletes work together to raise much-needed funds for Haiti. Our hope is to hold an event that supports relief efforts and continues to raise the visibility for how Haiti needs the world’s help."

The event will be broadcast live in numerous countries around the world, and domestically on the Tennis Channel, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time. In addition, live web streaming will be available on bnpparibasopen.org, TennisTV.com, atpworldtour.com, sonyericssonwtatour.com, usta.com, tennis.com, espn360.com, and others. As a show of support, the broadcasters, satellite uplink providers and production teams of the event are picking up all of the production costs to ensure that the maximum amount of money can be generated for the fundraising effort.

The evening will begin at 7:00 p.m. with the annual Salute to Heroes ceremony, where the tournament will recognize veterans, military personnel, police, firemen and women, and Red Cross volunteers on Stadium Court for their efforts in the community and around the world.

The ceremony and tennis exhibition will be followed by one main draw match.

For more information about the BNP Paribas Open, or to purchase tickets and travel packages, please visit www.bnpparibasopen.org, call (800) 999-1585 or (760) 200-8000.

Photo Credit: Natasha Peterson/Corleve

Tennis Channel To Televise USA Vs. Serbia Davis Cup Tie

Tennis Now — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:55:16 GMT

(March 4, 2010) The United States Davis Cup team hits the red clay of Belgrade in this weekend's tie against Serbia and Tennis Channel will be there to cover it.

Tennis Channel will provide exclusive coverage of the U.S. Davis Cup team’s first-round competition against Serbia in Belgrade this weekend, with live and primetime telecasts this weekend.

The meeting will consist of two singles matches on Friday, March 5, at 10 a.m. Eastern time, followed by the doubles match Saturday, March 6, at 8 a.m. Tennis Channel’s coverage concludes with the remaining singles play Sunday, March 7, at 9 a.m. Eastern time.

John Isner will make his Davis Cup debut when he opens the tie against Viktor Troicki tomorrow. Sam Querrey takes on World No. 2 Novak Djokovic in the second singles match.

The winner of the USA vs. Serbia tie will face either Croatia or Ecuador in the quarterfinals July 9-11.

Each evening at 7 p.m. ET Tennis Channel will offer an encore presentation of the day’s Davis Cup action.

Coverage from Beogradska Arena in Belgrade is as follows (all times are Eastern):

Friday, March 5:

10 a.m. – John Isner (USA) vs. Viktor Troicki (SRB)

1 p.m. – Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

7 p.m. – Instant Encore Isner vs. Troicki

10 p.m. – Instant Encore Querrey vs. Djokovic

Saturday, March 6:

8 a.m. – Mike Bryan/Bob Bryan (USA) vs. Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)

12 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles

3 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles

7 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles

Sunday, March 7:

9 a.m. – John Isner (USA) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

12 p.m. – Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)

7 p.m. – Instant Encore Isner vs. Djokovic

10 p.m. – Instant Encore Querrey vs. Troicki

The United States and Serbia have never faced each other in Davis Cup play. Last year the American squad defeated Switzerland 4-1 in the first-round, but lost against Croatia , failing to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2005. In 2007 the U.S. team won its 32nd Davis Cup title with a 4-1 win against Russia .

Isner won his first ATP World Tour title in Auckland, New Zealand, in January, and became the second ranked American singles player when he reached the fourth round at the 2010 Australian Open. Querrey, World No. 22, will be making his second Davis Cup appearance this weekend after winning his second singles title at the LA Open and winning his first ATP World Tour doubles title in San Jose , Calif. , at the SAP Open with Mardy Fish. The world’s top-ranked doubles players, twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, continue to be the world’s most dominate pair, capturing their eighth Grand Slam doubles title at the 2010 Australian Open.

Unlike the United States , Serbia has a relatively short Davis Cup history, competing as Serbia & Montenegro from 2004-2006 and Yugoslavia from 1927-2003. Last year Serbia lost to Spain 4-1 in the first round. Serbia is captained by Bogdan Obradovic.

John Isner Opens U.S. Davis Cup Tie Against Host Serbia

Tennis Now — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:38:27 GMT

(March 4, 2010) John Isner won't have to wait too long for his Davis Cup debut.

The draw for this weekend's Davis Cup World Group first-round tie was conducted in Belgrade today and the 6-foot-9 Isner will play a major role in American homes of upsetting a Serbian squad led by World No. 2 Novak Djokovic on the red clay of the 20,000-seat Belgrade Arena.

Isner will play his first Davis Cup match when he takes on Viktor Troicki in Friday's opening singles match. It is a crucial match for the Americans, who hope to split the opening day of singles play to give the veteran doubles team, Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan, a shot at staking the USA to a lead with a win in Saturday's doubles.

"It's nice to try to get the team off to a 1-0 start," Isner told the official Davis Cup website. "I'm confident in my ability, but at the same time I know it's gonna be a really tough match. Maybe it is a little bit better (to play first) then I don't feel the nerves waiting in the locker room for the first match to finish. So I can kind of go out there and know what to expect from the get go."

Djokovic, who is bidding to lead Serbia out of the first round for the first time in history, plays American Sam Querrey in Friday's second singles match. Querrey endured his own Davis Cup baptism by fire when he faced then top-ranked Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Davis Cup semifinals on the red clay of Madrid in his Davis Cup debut. Querrey won the opening set of that match before bowing to Nadal in four sets and knows he faces a tough task against Djokovic.

"It's gonna be a tough match. He's fresh off the win in Dubai. He's ranked two in the world right now," Querrey said. "He's a great clay courter so I'm gonna have to play really well to win. I played one another Davis Cup (tie) in Spain and the crowd was pretty boisterous there, but it could be another notch up here. (My) first two (ties) are both away on clay against the one and two players in the world, but that's how it goes."

The Bryan brothers will carry a 16-2 Davis Cup doubles record into Saturday's doubles match against Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic.

Sunday's reverse singles pits Djokovic against Isner followed by Troicki against Querrey in the fifth and final match of the best-of-five match tie.

The 20th-ranked Isner is 15 spots ahead of Troicki in the rankings, but the 24-year-old Belgrade native won their lone meeting, 7-6(3), 6-2 on a hard court in Bangkok last year.

"I played him once before on an indoor court. He's a good player with a great backhand and good serve," Isner said. "But I'm playing better this year than I was last year so it's gonna be a really good match."

Isner is playing the best tennis of his career this year, starting off on a 12-3 tear. He opened the season winning his first ATP title in Auckland, lost to Andy Murray in the Australian Open fourth round and was runner-up to Querrey in Memphis. In an effort to prepare for this weekend's tie, Isner played the Acapulco event on clay last week, losing in the first round to Germany's Simon Gruel.

The winner of the Serbia-USA tie will play either Croatia or Ecuador in the July 9-11 quarterfinals.

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

SPAIN v SWITZERLAND
Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera, Logrono , Spain (clay – indoors)

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)
Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) v Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)

FRANCE v GERMANY
Venue: Palais des Sports, Toulon , France (hard - indoors)

Gael Monfils (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)
Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Christopher Kas/Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Gael Monfils (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)

RUSSIA v INDIA
Venue: Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow , Russia (hard – indoors)

Igor Andreev (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)
Teimuraz Gabashvili/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)

SWEDEN v ARGENTINA
Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm , Sweden (hard – indoors)

Robin Soderling (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Robert Lindstedt/Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer/Horacio Zeballos (ARG)
Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)

CROATIA v ECUADOR
Venue: Gradska Sportska Dvorana, Varazdin , Croatia (hard – indoors)

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)
Ivan Dodig/Antonio Veic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)

SERBIA v USA
Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade , Serbia (clay – indoors)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)
Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)

CHILE v ISRAEL (to be played on 6-8 March)
Venue: Enjoy Tennis Center , Coquimbo , Chile (clay – outdoors)

Draw to be held on Friday 5 March

BELGIUM v CZECH REPUBLIC
Venue: Expodroom, Bree , Belgium (clay – indoors)

Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Steve Darcis/Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Lukas Dlouhy/Jan Hajek (CZE)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC v URUGUAY
Venue: Federacion Dominicana de Tenis, Santa Domingo , Dominican Republic (hard – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

COLOMBIA v CANADA
Venue: Club Campestre El Rancho, Bogota , Colombia (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

AUSTRALIA v CHINESE TAIPEI
Venue: Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Park , Melbourne , Australia (hard – outdoors)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE)
Peter Luczak (AUS) v Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)
Carsten Ball/Paul Hanley (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang/Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)
Peter Luczak (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE)
Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)

JAPAN v PHILIPPINES
Venue: Namihaya Dome, Osaka , Japan (carpet – indoors)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Treat Huey (PHI)
Go Soeda (JPN) v Cecil Mamiit (PHI)
Toshihide Matsui/Takao Suzuki (JPN) v Francis Casey Alcantara/Johnny Arcilla (PHI)
Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Cecil Mamiit (PHI)
Go Soeda (JPN) v Treat Huey (PHI)

CHINA, P.R. v UZBEKISTAN
Venue: Huayuan Hotel Jiangmen , Guangdong , China P.R. (hard – indoors)

Di Wu (CHN) v Denis Istomin (UZB)
Ze Zhang (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov (UZB)
Mao-Xin Gong/Zhe Li (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov/Denis Istomin (UZB)
Ze Zhang (CHN) v Denis Istomin (UZB)
Di Wu (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov (UZB)

KAZAKHSTAN v KOREA, REP.
Venue: The National Tennis Centre, Astana , Kazakhstan (clay – indoors)

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Kyu-Tae Im (KOR)
Andrey Golubev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) v Hyun-Joon Kim/Jae-Min Seol (KOR)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Kyu-Tae Im (KOR)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

ITALY v BELARUS
Venue: Nova Yardinia, Castellaneta Marina , Italy (clay – outdoors)

Potito Starace (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Alexander Bury (BLR)
Simone Bolelli/Filippo Volandri (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik/Max Mirnyi (BLR)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)
Potito Starace (ITA) v Alexander Bury (BLR)

POLAND v FINLAND
Venue: Hala 100 Lecia Sopotu, Sopot , Poland (hard – indoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

UKRAINE v LATVIA
Venue: Megaron Tennis Club, Dnipropetrovsk , Ukraine (hard – indoors)

Illya Marchenko (UKR) v Andis Juska (LAT)
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)
Sergei Bubka/Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska/Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska (LAT)
Illya Marchenko (UKR) v Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

AUSTRIA v SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Venue: Gleichenberg-Halle, Bad Gleichenberg , Austria (Hard – indoors)

Daniel Koellerer (AUT) v Lukas Lacko (SVK)
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Martin Klizan (SVK)
Julian Knowle/Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Michal Mertinak/Filip Polasek (SVK)
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Lukas Lacko (SVK)
Daniel Koellerer (AUT) v Martin Klizan (SVK)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

PERU v EL SALVADOR
Venue: Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposicion, Lima , Peru (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

BOLIVIA v VENEZUELA
Venue: Club de Tenis La Paz , La Paz , Bolivia (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

PARAGUAY v NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Venue: Yacht y Golf Club Paraguayo, Lambare , Paraguay (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

MEXICO v GUATEMALA
Venue: Rafael "Pelon" Osuna, Mexico City , Mexico (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

THAILAND v PACIFIC OCEANIA
Venue: National Tennis Development Centre, Nonthaburi , Thailand (hard – outdoors)

Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) v Michael Leong (POC)
Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) v Cyril Jacobe (POC)
Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA) v Brett Baudinet/Cyril Jacobe (POC)
Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) v Michael Leong (POC)
Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) v Cyril Jacobe (POC)

MALAYSIA v INDONESIA
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia (hard – indoors)

Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)
Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA)
Adam Jaya/Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Ketut-Nesa Arta/Christopher Rungkat (INA)
Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)
Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) v Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA)

HONG KONG, CHINA v PAKISTAN
Venue: Victoria Park, Hong Kong , China (hard – outdoors)

Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Aqeel Khan (PAK)
Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) v Aisam Qureshi (PAK)
Cheuk-Wai Hui/Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Jalil Khan/Aisam Qureshi (PAK)
Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Aisam Qureshi (PAK)
Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) v Aqeel Khan (PAK)

SRI LANKA v NEW ZEALAND
Venue: Sri Lanka Tennis Association, Colombo , Sri Lanka (clay - outdoors)

Harshana Godamanna (SRI) v Jose Statham (NZL)
Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Daniel King-Turner (NZL)
Harshana Godamanna/Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Marcus Daniell/Mikal Statham (NZL)
Harshana Godamanna (SRI) v Daniel King-Turner (NZL)
Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Jose Statham (NZL)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

LITHUANIA v GREAT BRITAIN
Venue: Seb Arena, Vilnius , Lithuania (hard – indoors)

Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) v James Ward (GBR)
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) v Daniel Evans (GBR)
Laurynas Gregelis/Dovydas Sakinis (LTU) v Colin Fleming/Ken Skupski (GBR)
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) v James Ward (GBR)
Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) v Daniel Evans (GBR)

IRELAND v TURKEY
Venue: Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Dublin , Ireland (hard – indoors)

Louk Sorensen (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun (TUR)
Conor Niland (IRL) v Marsel Ilhan (TUR)
Barry King/James McGee (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun/Marsel Ilhan (TUR)
Louk Sorensen (IRL) v Marsel Ilhan (TUR)
Conor Niland (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun (TUR)

BULGARIA v MONACO
Venue: Tennis Hall, Sofia , Bulgaria (hard – indoors)

Todor Enev (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret (MON)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Thomas Oger (MON)
Grigor Dimitrov/Todor Enev (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret/Guillaume Couillard (MON)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret (MON)
Todor Enev (BUL) v Thomas Oger (MON)

NORWAY v SLOVENIA
Venue: Riksanlegget For Tennis, Oslo , Norway (hard – indoors)

Stian Boretti (NOR) v Blaz Kavcic (SLO)
Erling Tveit (NOR) v Grega Zemlja (SLO)
Stian Boretti/Erling Tveit (NOR) v Luka Gregorc/Grega Zemlja (SLO)
Erling Tveit (NOR) v Blaz Kavcic (SLO)
Stian Boretti (NOR) v Grega Zemlja (SLO)

PORTUGAL v DENMARK
Venue: Complexo de Tenis da Maia, Maia , Portugal (clay – indoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

CYPRUS v EGYPT
Venue: "Spyros Kyprianou" Athletic Centre, Limassol , Cyprus (hard – indoors)

Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Karim Maamoun (EGY)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Sherif Sabry (EGY)
Marcos Baghdatis/Photos Kallias (CYP) v Karim Maamoun/Sherif Sabry (EGY)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Karim Maamoun (EGY)
Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Sherif Sabry (EGY)

ESTONIA v HUNGARY
Venue: Coral Tennis Club, Tallinn , Estonia (hard – indoors)

Jaak Poldma (EST) v Adam Kellner (HUN)
Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Kornel Bardoczky (HUN)
Mait Kunnap/Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Marton Fucsovics/Robert Varga (HUN)
Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Adam Kellner (HUN)
Jaak Poldma (EST) v Kornel Bardoczky (HUN)

MACEDONIA, F.Y.R. v BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA
Venue: Sport Hall "Gemidzii, Veles , Macedonia , F.Y.R. (clay – indoors)

Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) v Ismar Gorcic (BIH)
Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) v Aldin Setkic (BIH)
Lazar Magdinchev/Pedrag Rusevski v Ismar Gorcic/Aldin Setkic (BIH)
Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) v Aldin Setkic (BIH)
Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) v Ismar Gorcic (BIH)

Igor Andreev Starts Russian Davis Cup Tie Against India

Tennis Now — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:09:13 GMT

(March 4, 2010) Igor Andreev wasn't on the Russian roster when the week began, but he'll start Russia's Davis Cup World Group first-round tie against India tomorrow.

The 38th-ranked Russian, who was added to the team after Nikolay Davydenko's injured wrist forced him out of the tie, will start the opening singles match against India's Somdev Devvarman on Friday. Dubai runner-up Mikhail Youzhny will face Rohan Bopanna in the match on the hard court of the 6,380-seat Luzhniki Area in Moscow.

Russia has won its last 16 home ties dating back to 1996 and is a strong favorite to reach the quarterfinals for the 11th time in 12 years even without Davydenko.

"We have a home-court advantage, it's a slow court so our chances are still very good," Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev said.

Teimuraz Gabashvili and Igor Kunitsyn will face India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes in Saturday's doubles match.

In Sunday's reverse singles, the 13th-ranked Youzhny plays World No. 125 Devvarman and Andreev meets Bopanna in the final singles match.

The tie between Russia and India is the first meeting between the nations since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Their last meeting was in 1986 when India defeated USSR 4-1.

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

SPAIN v SWITZERLAND
Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera, Logrono , Spain (clay – indoors)

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)
Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) v Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)

FRANCE v GERMANY
Venue: Palais des Sports, Toulon , France (hard - indoors)

Gael Monfils (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)
Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Christopher Kas/Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Gael Monfils (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)

RUSSIA v INDIA
Venue: Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow , Russia (hard – indoors)

Igor Andreev (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)
Teimuraz Gabashvili/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)

SWEDEN v ARGENTINA
Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm , Sweden (hard – indoors)

Robin Soderling (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Robert Lindstedt/Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer/Horacio Zeballos (ARG)
Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)

CROATIA v ECUADOR
Venue: Gradska Sportska Dvorana, Varazdin , Croatia (hard – indoors)

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)
Ivan Dodig/Antonio Veic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)

SERBIA v USA
Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade , Serbia (clay – indoors)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)
Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)

CHILE v ISRAEL (to be played on 6-8 March)
Venue: Enjoy Tennis Center , Coquimbo , Chile (clay – outdoors)

Draw to be held on Friday 5 March

BELGIUM v CZECH REPUBLIC
Venue: Expodroom, Bree , Belgium (clay – indoors)

Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Steve Darcis/Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Lukas Dlouhy/Jan Hajek (CZE)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC v URUGUAY
Venue: Federacion Dominicana de Tenis, Santa Domingo , Dominican Republic (hard – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

COLOMBIA v CANADA
Venue: Club Campestre El Rancho, Bogota , Colombia (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

AUSTRALIA v CHINESE TAIPEI
Venue: Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Park , Melbourne , Australia (hard – outdoors)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE)
Peter Luczak (AUS) v Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)
Carsten Ball/Paul Hanley (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang/Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)
Peter Luczak (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE)
Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)

JAPAN v PHILIPPINES
Venue: Namihaya Dome, Osaka , Japan (carpet – indoors)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Treat Huey (PHI)
Go Soeda (JPN) v Cecil Mamiit (PHI)
Toshihide Matsui/Takao Suzuki (JPN) v Francis Casey Alcantara/Johnny Arcilla (PHI)
Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Cecil Mamiit (PHI)
Go Soeda (JPN) v Treat Huey (PHI)

CHINA, P.R. v UZBEKISTAN
Venue: Huayuan Hotel Jiangmen , Guangdong , China P.R. (hard – indoors)

Di Wu (CHN) v Denis Istomin (UZB)
Ze Zhang (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov (UZB)
Mao-Xin Gong/Zhe Li (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov/Denis Istomin (UZB)
Ze Zhang (CHN) v Denis Istomin (UZB)
Di Wu (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov (UZB)

KAZAKHSTAN v KOREA, REP.
Venue: The National Tennis Centre, Astana , Kazakhstan (clay – indoors)

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Kyu-Tae Im (KOR)
Andrey Golubev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) v Hyun-Joon Kim/Jae-Min Seol (KOR)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Kyu-Tae Im (KOR)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

ITALY v BELARUS
Venue: Nova Yardinia, Castellaneta Marina , Italy (clay – outdoors)

Potito Starace (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Alexander Bury (BLR)
Simone Bolelli/Filippo Volandri (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik/Max Mirnyi (BLR)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)
Potito Starace (ITA) v Alexander Bury (BLR)

POLAND v FINLAND
Venue: Hala 100 Lecia Sopotu, Sopot , Poland (hard – indoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

UKRAINE v LATVIA
Venue: Megaron Tennis Club, Dnipropetrovsk , Ukraine (hard – indoors)

Illya Marchenko (UKR) v Andis Juska (LAT)
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)
Sergei Bubka/Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska/Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska (LAT)
Illya Marchenko (UKR) v Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

AUSTRIA v SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Venue: Gleichenberg-Halle, Bad Gleichenberg , Austria (Hard – indoors)

Daniel Koellerer (AUT) v Lukas Lacko (SVK)
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Martin Klizan (SVK)
Julian Knowle/Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Michal Mertinak/Filip Polasek (SVK)
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Lukas Lacko (SVK)
Daniel Koellerer (AUT) v Martin Klizan (SVK)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

PERU v EL SALVADOR
Venue: Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposicion, Lima , Peru (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

BOLIVIA v VENEZUELA
Venue: Club de Tenis La Paz , La Paz , Bolivia (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

PARAGUAY v NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Venue: Yacht y Golf Club Paraguayo, Lambare , Paraguay (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

MEXICO v GUATEMALA
Venue: Rafael "Pelon" Osuna, Mexico City , Mexico (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

THAILAND v PACIFIC OCEANIA
Venue: National Tennis Development Centre, Nonthaburi , Thailand (hard – outdoors)

Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) v Michael Leong (POC)
Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) v Cyril Jacobe (POC)
Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA) v Brett Baudinet/Cyril Jacobe (POC)
Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) v Michael Leong (POC)
Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) v Cyril Jacobe (POC)

MALAYSIA v INDONESIA
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia (hard – indoors)

Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)
Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA)
Adam Jaya/Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Ketut-Nesa Arta/Christopher Rungkat (INA)
Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)
Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) v Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA)

HONG KONG, CHINA v PAKISTAN
Venue: Victoria Park, Hong Kong , China (hard – outdoors)

Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Aqeel Khan (PAK)
Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) v Aisam Qureshi (PAK)
Cheuk-Wai Hui/Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Jalil Khan/Aisam Qureshi (PAK)
Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Aisam Qureshi (PAK)
Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) v Aqeel Khan (PAK)

SRI LANKA v NEW ZEALAND
Venue: Sri Lanka Tennis Association, Colombo , Sri Lanka (clay - outdoors)

Harshana Godamanna (SRI) v Jose Statham (NZL)
Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Daniel King-Turner (NZL)
Harshana Godamanna/Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Marcus Daniell/Mikal Statham (NZL)
Harshana Godamanna (SRI) v Daniel King-Turner (NZL)
Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Jose Statham (NZL)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

LITHUANIA v GREAT BRITAIN
Venue: Seb Arena, Vilnius , Lithuania (hard – indoors)

Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) v James Ward (GBR)
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) v Daniel Evans (GBR)
Laurynas Gregelis/Dovydas Sakinis (LTU) v Colin Fleming/Ken Skupski (GBR)
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) v James Ward (GBR)
Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) v Daniel Evans (GBR)

IRELAND v TURKEY
Venue: Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Dublin , Ireland (hard – indoors)

Louk Sorensen (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun (TUR)
Conor Niland (IRL) v Marsel Ilhan (TUR)
Barry King/James McGee (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun/Marsel Ilhan (TUR)
Louk Sorensen (IRL) v Marsel Ilhan (TUR)
Conor Niland (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun (TUR)

BULGARIA v MONACO
Venue: Tennis Hall, Sofia , Bulgaria (hard – indoors)

Todor Enev (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret (MON)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Thomas Oger (MON)
Grigor Dimitrov/Todor Enev (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret/Guillaume Couillard (MON)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret (MON)
Todor Enev (BUL) v Thomas Oger (MON)

NORWAY v SLOVENIA
Venue: Riksanlegget For Tennis, Oslo , Norway (hard – indoors)

Stian Boretti (NOR) v Blaz Kavcic (SLO)
Erling Tveit (NOR) v Grega Zemlja (SLO)
Stian Boretti/Erling Tveit (NOR) v Luka Gregorc/Grega Zemlja (SLO)
Erling Tveit (NOR) v Blaz Kavcic (SLO)
Stian Boretti (NOR) v Grega Zemlja (SLO)

PORTUGAL v DENMARK
Venue: Complexo de Tenis da Maia, Maia , Portugal (clay – indoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

CYPRUS v EGYPT
Venue: "Spyros Kyprianou" Athletic Centre, Limassol , Cyprus (hard – indoors)

Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Karim Maamoun (EGY)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Sherif Sabry (EGY)
Marcos Baghdatis/Photos Kallias (CYP) v Karim Maamoun/Sherif Sabry (EGY)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Karim Maamoun (EGY)
Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Sherif Sabry (EGY)

ESTONIA v HUNGARY
Venue: Coral Tennis Club, Tallinn , Estonia (hard – indoors)

Jaak Poldma (EST) v Adam Kellner (HUN)
Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Kornel Bardoczky (HUN)
Mait Kunnap/Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Marton Fucsovics/Robert Varga (HUN)
Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Adam Kellner (HUN)
Jaak Poldma (EST) v Kornel Bardoczky (HUN)

MACEDONIA, F.Y.R. v BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA
Venue: Sport Hall "Gemidzii, Veles , Macedonia , F.Y.R. (clay – indoors)

Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) v Ismar Gorcic (BIH)
Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) v Aldin Setkic (BIH)
Lazar Magdinchev/Pedrag Rusevski v Ismar Gorcic/Aldin Setkic (BIH)
Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) v Aldin Setkic (BIH)
Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) v Ismar Gorcic (BIH)

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

David Nalbandian Joins Argentine Davis Cup Team In Stockholm

Tennis Now — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:08:41 GMT

(March 4, 2010) A wounded Argentina will receive reinforcement this week.

David Nalbandian, who was initially ruled out of this weekend's Davis Cup tie due to a leg muscle tear, will join the Argentine team in Stockholm for this weekend's Davis Cup World Group tie against host Sveden.

Nalbandian was not named as a starter for this weekend's tie — Eduardo Schwank and Leonardo Mayer were selected as singles starters — however if Nalbandian's leg respond well during practice it is possible he could see action.

"Captain Modesto Vazquez and vice-captain Ricardo Rivera confirmed that Nalbandian will be in Sweden for the Davis Cup," the Argentine Tennis Association said in a statement published by Reuters. "Nalbandian will be included in the team in place of Federico Del Bonis."

Roland Garros finalist Robin Soderling faces Schwank in Friday's opening singles match followed by big-serving Joachim Johansson taking on Mayer.

Saturday's doubles match pits Robert Lindstedt and Soderling against Mayer and Horacio Zeballos. In Sunday's reverse singles, Soderling is scheduled to play mayer with Johansson slated to face Schwank in the final singles match.

The tie will be staged on hard court at the 3,500-seat Kungliga Tennishallen.

Reigning US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina's top-ranked player, is sidelined with a wrist injury and 27th-ranked Juan Monaco is also out with injury.

Nalbandian, who underwent hip surgery last May, pulled out of the tie after suffering the tear in his leg muscle during his 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(7) win over Daniel Gimeno-Traver at his comeback tournament in Buenos Aires two weeks ago.

Currently ranked No. 154, Nalbandian has won five of six meetings with seventh-ranked Swede Robin Soderling, including a three-set win in the 2008 Stockholm final.

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

SPAIN v SWITZERLAND
Venue: Plaza de Toros de la Ribera, Logrono , Spain (clay – indoors)

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)
Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) v Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)

FRANCE v GERMANY
Venue: Palais des Sports, Toulon , France (hard - indoors)

Gael Monfils (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)
Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) v Christopher Kas/Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Gael Monfils (FRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)

RUSSIA v INDIA
Venue: Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow , Russia (hard – indoors)

Igor Andreev (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)
Teimuraz Gabashvili/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) v Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Igor Andreev (RUS) v Rohan Bopanna (IND)

SWEDEN v ARGENTINA
Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm , Sweden (hard – indoors)

Robin Soderling (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Robert Lindstedt/Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer/Horacio Zeballos (ARG)
Robin Soderling (SWE) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Joachim Johansson (SWE) v Eduardo Schwank (ARG)

CROATIA v ECUADOR
Venue: Gradska Sportska Dvorana, Varazdin , Croatia (hard – indoors)

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)
Ivan Dodig/Antonio Veic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) v Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)

SERBIA v USA
Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade , Serbia (clay – indoors)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)
Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) v John Isner (USA)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)

CHILE v ISRAEL (to be played on 6-8 March)
Venue: Enjoy Tennis Center , Coquimbo , Chile (clay – outdoors)

Draw to be held on Friday 5 March

BELGIUM v CZECH REPUBLIC
Venue: Expodroom, Bree , Belgium (clay – indoors)

Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Steve Darcis/Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Lukas Dlouhy/Jan Hajek (CZE)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v Tomas Berdych (CZE)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC v URUGUAY
Venue: Federacion Dominicana de Tenis, Santa Domingo , Dominican Republic (hard – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

COLOMBIA v CANADA
Venue: Club Campestre El Rancho, Bogota , Colombia (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

AUSTRALIA v CHINESE TAIPEI
Venue: Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Park , Melbourne , Australia (hard – outdoors)

Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE)
Peter Luczak (AUS) v Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)
Carsten Ball/Paul Hanley (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang/Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)
Peter Luczak (AUS) v Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE)
Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Chu-Huan Yi (TPE)

JAPAN v PHILIPPINES
Venue: Namihaya Dome, Osaka , Japan (carpet – indoors)

Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Treat Huey (PHI)
Go Soeda (JPN) v Cecil Mamiit (PHI)
Toshihide Matsui/Takao Suzuki (JPN) v Francis Casey Alcantara/Johnny Arcilla (PHI)
Tatsuma Ito (JPN) v Cecil Mamiit (PHI)
Go Soeda (JPN) v Treat Huey (PHI)

CHINA, P.R. v UZBEKISTAN
Venue: Huayuan Hotel Jiangmen , Guangdong , China P.R. (hard – indoors)

Di Wu (CHN) v Denis Istomin (UZB)
Ze Zhang (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov (UZB)
Mao-Xin Gong/Zhe Li (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov/Denis Istomin (UZB)
Ze Zhang (CHN) v Denis Istomin (UZB)
Di Wu (CHN) v Farrukh Dustov (UZB)

KAZAKHSTAN v KOREA, REP.
Venue: The National Tennis Centre, Astana , Kazakhstan (clay – indoors)

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Kyu-Tae Im (KOR)
Andrey Golubev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) v Hyun-Joon Kim/Jae-Min Seol (KOR)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) v Kyu-Tae Im (KOR)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I FIRST ROUND

ITALY v BELARUS
Venue: Nova Yardinia, Castellaneta Marina , Italy (clay – outdoors)

Potito Starace (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Alexander Bury (BLR)
Simone Bolelli/Filippo Volandri (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik/Max Mirnyi (BLR)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR)
Potito Starace (ITA) v Alexander Bury (BLR)

POLAND v FINLAND
Venue: Hala 100 Lecia Sopotu, Sopot , Poland (hard – indoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

UKRAINE v LATVIA
Venue: Megaron Tennis Club, Dnipropetrovsk , Ukraine (hard – indoors)

Illya Marchenko (UKR) v Andis Juska (LAT)
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)
Sergei Bubka/Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska/Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andis Juska (LAT)
Illya Marchenko (UKR) v Deniss Pavlovs (LAT)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND

AUSTRIA v SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Venue: Gleichenberg-Halle, Bad Gleichenberg , Austria (Hard – indoors)

Daniel Koellerer (AUT) v Lukas Lacko (SVK)
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Martin Klizan (SVK)
Julian Knowle/Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Michal Mertinak/Filip Polasek (SVK)
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Lukas Lacko (SVK)
Daniel Koellerer (AUT) v Martin Klizan (SVK)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

PERU v EL SALVADOR
Venue: Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposicion, Lima , Peru (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

BOLIVIA v VENEZUELA
Venue: Club de Tenis La Paz , La Paz , Bolivia (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

PARAGUAY v NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Venue: Yacht y Golf Club Paraguayo, Lambare , Paraguay (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

MEXICO v GUATEMALA
Venue: Rafael "Pelon" Osuna, Mexico City , Mexico (clay – outdoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

THAILAND v PACIFIC OCEANIA
Venue: National Tennis Development Centre, Nonthaburi , Thailand (hard – outdoors)

Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) v Michael Leong (POC)
Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) v Cyril Jacobe (POC)
Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA) v Brett Baudinet/Cyril Jacobe (POC)
Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) v Michael Leong (POC)
Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) v Cyril Jacobe (POC)

MALAYSIA v INDONESIA
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia (hard – indoors)

Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)
Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA)
Adam Jaya/Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Ketut-Nesa Arta/Christopher Rungkat (INA)
Yew Ming Si (MAS) v Christopher Rungkat (INA)
Ariez Elyaas Bin Deen Heshaam (MAS) v Sunu-Wahyu Trijati (INA)

HONG KONG, CHINA v PAKISTAN
Venue: Victoria Park, Hong Kong , China (hard – outdoors)

Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Aqeel Khan (PAK)
Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) v Aisam Qureshi (PAK)
Cheuk-Wai Hui/Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Jalil Khan/Aisam Qureshi (PAK)
Hiu-Tung Yu (HKG) v Aisam Qureshi (PAK)
Cheuk-Wai Hui (HKG) v Aqeel Khan (PAK)

SRI LANKA v NEW ZEALAND
Venue: Sri Lanka Tennis Association, Colombo , Sri Lanka (clay - outdoors)

Harshana Godamanna (SRI) v Jose Statham (NZL)
Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Daniel King-Turner (NZL)
Harshana Godamanna/Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Marcus Daniell/Mikal Statham (NZL)
Harshana Godamanna (SRI) v Daniel King-Turner (NZL)
Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) v Jose Statham (NZL)

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II FIRST ROUND

LITHUANIA v GREAT BRITAIN
Venue: Seb Arena, Vilnius , Lithuania (hard – indoors)

Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) v James Ward (GBR)
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) v Daniel Evans (GBR)
Laurynas Gregelis/Dovydas Sakinis (LTU) v Colin Fleming/Ken Skupski (GBR)
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) v James Ward (GBR)
Laurynas Gregelis (LTU) v Daniel Evans (GBR)

IRELAND v TURKEY
Venue: Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Dublin , Ireland (hard – indoors)

Louk Sorensen (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun (TUR)
Conor Niland (IRL) v Marsel Ilhan (TUR)
Barry King/James McGee (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun/Marsel Ilhan (TUR)
Louk Sorensen (IRL) v Marsel Ilhan (TUR)
Conor Niland (IRL) v Haluk Akkoyun (TUR)

BULGARIA v MONACO
Venue: Tennis Hall, Sofia , Bulgaria (hard – indoors)

Todor Enev (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret (MON)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Thomas Oger (MON)
Grigor Dimitrov/Todor Enev (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret/Guillaume Couillard (MON)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Benjamin Balleret (MON)
Todor Enev (BUL) v Thomas Oger (MON)

NORWAY v SLOVENIA
Venue: Riksanlegget For Tennis, Oslo , Norway (hard – indoors)

Stian Boretti (NOR) v Blaz Kavcic (SLO)
Erling Tveit (NOR) v Grega Zemlja (SLO)
Stian Boretti/Erling Tveit (NOR) v Luka Gregorc/Grega Zemlja (SLO)
Erling Tveit (NOR) v Blaz Kavcic (SLO)
Stian Boretti (NOR) v Grega Zemlja (SLO)

PORTUGAL v DENMARK
Venue: Complexo de Tenis da Maia, Maia , Portugal (clay – indoors)

Draw will appear on www.daviscup.com

CYPRUS v EGYPT
Venue: "Spyros Kyprianou" Athletic Centre, Limassol , Cyprus (hard – indoors)

Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Karim Maamoun (EGY)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Sherif Sabry (EGY)
Marcos Baghdatis/Photos Kallias (CYP) v Karim Maamoun/Sherif Sabry (EGY)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Karim Maamoun (EGY)
Rares Cuzdriorean (CYP) v Sherif Sabry (EGY)

ESTONIA v HUNGARY
Venue: Coral Tennis Club, Tallinn , Estonia (hard – indoors)

Jaak Poldma (EST) v Adam Kellner (HUN)
Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Kornel Bardoczky (HUN)
Mait Kunnap/Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Marton Fucsovics/Robert Varga (HUN)
Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Adam Kellner (HUN)
Jaak Poldma (EST) v Kornel Bardoczky (HUN)

MACEDONIA, F.Y.R. v BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA
Venue: Sport Hall "Gemidzii, Veles , Macedonia , F.Y.R. (clay – indoors)

Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) v Ismar Gorcic (BIH)
Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) v Aldin Setkic (BIH)
Lazar Magdinchev/Pedrag Rusevski v Ismar Gorcic/Aldin Setkic (BIH)
Pedrag Rusevski (MKD) v Aldin Setkic (BIH)
Dimitar Grabuloski (MKD) v Ismar Gorcic (BIH)

Wrist Injury May Force Nikolay Davydenko Out Of Miami

Tennis Now — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:30:23 GMT

(March 4, 2010) A strained wrist has knocked Nikolay Davydenko out of Russia's Davis Cup tie this weekend and could sideline him for the season's first two Masters 1000 tournament at Indian Wells and Miami.

"He is seeing doctors right now," Russian Davis Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev told Reuters in Moscow today. "If the injury is serious enough it may take a few weeks for him to fully recover."

Davydenko opened the season on a 9-1 tear, beating the world's top two players — Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — in succession to win the Doha title in January before reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals where he fell to Federer.

The sixth-ranked Russian retired from his second-round match against Michael Berrer in Dubai last week after aggravating his wrist injury. It appears unlikely Davydenko will make the trip to Indian Wells next week. The Sony Ericsson Open begins on March 24 at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne.

In Davydenko's last appearance at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, he beat Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal back-to-back to capture the 2008 championship.

Aide Says Lack Of Tennis Contributed To Eliot Spitzer's Downfall

Tennis Now — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:09:18 GMT

(March 4, 2010) New York City become the tennis capital of the world during the US Open, but did the end of a long-time tennis game lead to one of the most stunning scandal's in the state's political history?

Former New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer suffered one of the most dramatic downfalls in recent political history when his liason with a prostitute became public, leading to the abrupt resignation of the man known as "Client 9" by his escort service.

Now one of Spitzer's former top aides says the entire sex scandal was precipitated by a lack of tennis and suggests continuing to chase the bouncing ball may have prevented Spitzer from being bounced out of office.

In his new book, Journal Of The Plague Year, Lloyd Constantine, a former top Spitzer aide, writes that a strained hamstring prompted Spitzer to drop their weekly tennis game in 2006 over concerns the strain would slow him on the campaign trail, according to a published report in today's New York Times. Constantine posits the theory that a lack of tennis sent Spitzer looking for another form of release.

That (lack of tennis) "deprived Eliot of an important physical release," Mr. Constantine writes, according to the Times.

Based on Spitzer's response to the book it sounds like the two former friends won't be resuming their tennis game any time soon.

"What Mr. Constantine has written is little more than a self-serving and largely inaccurate interpretation of events mixed with unfounded speculation," Spitzer told the New York Times in a statement. "That such a close adviser and confidant of my family and member of my administration would choose to write such a book is a fundamental breach of trust."

ITF Offers Financial Boost For Davis Cup Nations

Tennis Now — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:50:13 GMT

(March 4, 2010) The International Tennis Federation is giving Davis Cup nations a raise.

The ITF has increased the total payments to the participating nations by around six per cent to $9.5 million in 2010. This figure is a combination of prize money and payment to nations in lieu of advertising. The payment in lieu of advertising passes on ITF income received from the competition’s international sponsors to compensate nations for the sponsor advertising on court.

In order to further assist the nations competing at the lower levels of Davis Cup, the ITF has divided Europe/Africa Zone Group III into separate Europe and Africa Zones in 2010 to help with travel to venues. This move has seen the total number of entries increase to 133. The ITF has also doubled the host nation grants for all Davis Cup Zone Group III and IV events.

Other changes to the 2010 competition include the introduction of a web application to allow mobile devices to read Davis Cup website live scoring easily, and the use of Hawk-Eye at Davis Cup semifinal ties played on hard or grass court.

In addition to the total payments, the ITF is continuing its Recognition and Reward process that sees money distributed to nations who have produced outstanding promotional campaigns. This is a move to encourage National Associations to come up with strong promotional plans for their ties to increase the exposure of Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.

Nations will also continue to receive significant commercial revenue from television rights, with the income divided between the ITF and the National Associations hosting televised ties.

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Hip Surgery Sidelines Tommy Haas

Tennis Now — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:21:48 GMT

(March 4, 2010) Tommy Haas' ailing hip has stalled his season.

Haas underwent surgery on Saturday, February 27, for a two-inch labrum tear he suffered from in his right hip, Lagardère Unlimited, Haas' management agency announced.

"This just another hurdle in my career," said Haas, who fell in the first round of Delray Beach last week. "I have faced many obstacles before, and I know what it takes to get back out there and on the top of my game."

The 18th-ranked Haas will be sidelined for several months, prompting his immediate withdrawal from ATP Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami and the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston.

"We are saddened by the news of Tommy’s recent injury that will force him to sit out at the upcoming spring hard court events," commented Ken Meyerson, President of Lagardere Unlimited and Haas’ agent. "He has dealt with several obstacles such as this through the course of his career, and we know he will overcome this and return to the Tour as soon as he is able to."

A year ago, Haas advanced to the Round of 16 at Roland Garros and led Roger Federer by two sets before falling in a five-set thriller. Following Roland Garros, Haas also won the Gerry Webber Open in Halle, Germany, and later continued on at the Wimbledon Championships defeating ninth-ranked Marin Cilic and second-ranked Novak Djokovic before falling to eventual champion Federer in his debut semifinal appearance.

Photo Credit: Natasha Peterson/Corleve

Justine Henin, Carlos Moya, David Nalbandian Lead Indian Wells' Wild Cards

Tennis Now — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:55:17 GMT

(March 3, 2010) Indian Wells has added wild card star power to the field.

On the same day World No. 2 Dinara Safina announced she has pulled out of next week's BNP Paribas Open due to a back injury, tournament director Steve Simon announced the wild card recipients for the first Masters 1000 event of the season.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin, former World No. 1 and Grand Slam champion Carlos Moya, and former World No. 3 David Nalbandian, headline the wild card recipients for the BNP Paribas Open, set for March 8-21 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Henin, who won the BNP Paribas Open in 2004, recently returned to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour after retiring from the sport in May of 2008. She came back with a flourish this year, and as an unranked wild card reached the finals of her first event in Brisbane and the finals at the Australian Open. The former World No. 1 will be making her first trip to Indian Wells since 2006.

Moya, who won the French Open in 1998, became the first Spaniard in history to hold the World No. 1 ranking in 1999 after reaching the finals of the BNP Paribas Open that year. He is coming back from injuries sustained in 2009, but will be looking to add to his 20 career titles this season. Nalbandian, who had hip surgery last spring, is looking to return to the form that saw him reach a Grand Slam final, capture the ATP World Tour Finals, and finish ranked in the top ten for five consecutive years. Earlier this year he reached the quarterfinals at Buenos Aires. This will be his eighth trip to Indian Wells.

Two Americans, Robby Ginepri and Ryan Harrison, join Moya and Nalbandian as wild cards in the men’s field. Ginepri, a former top 20 ranked player who reached the US Open semifinals in 2005, has three career titles on his resume. Harrison, a rising 17-year old star, played in his first Grand Slam event at the Australian Open earlier this year, falling in the first round in five sets. Two years ago he became the tenth player in the history of the ATP World Tour to win a main draw match before his 16th birthday and currently he is the youngest player in the top 300. There remains one more men’s wildcard to be awarded.

On the women’s side, three American women, Christina McHale, Alexa Glatch and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, have been granted wild cards. McHale, a talented 17-year old, reached the second round of the US Open last year and was a member of the US Fed Cup team that won its first round match against France a month ago. Glatch, a California native, has five ITF titles on her resume, and reached the third round at the BNP Paribas Open last year. Mattek-Sands, who has won seven doubles titles in her career, including three last year, was also a member of the US Fed Cup team last month, winning both a singles and doubles match en route to victory.

In addition to the Americans, four international stars also accepted wild cards including former top 20 Australian star Alicia Molik, five-time winner on Tour Eleni Daniilidou, Austrian Tamira Paszek, and rising junior star Alja Tomljanovic.

Wild cards for the men’s qualifying draw were awarded to Vince Spadea, Filip Krajinovic, Roman Borvanov and Jose De Armas.

Wild cards for the women’s qualifying draw were awarded to Coco Vandeweghe, Alison Riske, Anastasia Pivovarova, Sloane Stephens and Julia Boserup. Two other qualifying draw wild cards (one man, one woman) will be given to the winners of the pre-qualifying round of the BNP Paribas Open Challenge tournament, to be held this weekend, March 6-7, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

For more information about the BNP Paribas Open, or to purchase tickets and travel packages, visit www.bnpparibasopen.org, call (800) 999-1585 or 760-200-8000.

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Ana Ivanovic On Shoulder Strain, New Coach Heinz Gunthardt,

Tennis Now — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:44:25 GMT

(March 3, 2010) Ana Ivanovic has reached the Indian Wells final in each of the last two years. She returns to the desert next week armed with a new coach and familiar shoulder stress while aiming for her first title since she won Linz in October of 2008.

Indian Wells marks Ivanovic's first tournament with new coach Heinz Gunthardt, who formerly coached Steffi Graf. Gunthardt helped Graf win 12 majors during their time together and is known for his emphasis on technique and footwork.

Ivanovic's ranking has slipped to No. 27 as she seeks to halt a three-match losing streak. Ivanovic fell to Gisela Dulko in the second round of the Australian Open and suffered successive Fed Cup losses to World No. 31 Alisa Kleybanova, who knocked the Serbian out of the 2009 Australian Open, and fourth-ranked Svetlana Kuzentsova at last month's Fed Cup tie in Belgrade.

Ivanovic said Gunthardt has brought a fresh perspective to her game. The pair will work together at Indian Wells and Miami before deciding if they will continue the partnership.

"I am listening very carefully to his philosophy about tennis. He has many new ideas, which is a positive thing for me," Ivanovic told the Serbian newspaper Politika. "I like his approach to the game. It is a little different from what my other coaches have taught me, and is perhaps influenced by the fact that he was a very good player himself: he understands the game very well and knows what I am feeling, because he went through similar situations."

The new partnership halts Ivanovic's participation in the adidas development program. She had been working with Sven Groeneveld on a part-time basis. Groeneveld, who works with several adidas-sponsored players as part of its developmental program, guided Ivanovic to the World No. 1 ranking and the 2008 Roland Garros title. Ivanovic and Gunthardt plan to discuss their partnership after the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

"We have agreed to work full-time for the next month or so, until the end of Miami, and then we will discuss things again," Ivanovic told Politika. "We both hope that this is a long-term co-operation."

The 22-year-old Serbian, who opened the season reaching the Brisbane semifinals where she fell to former No. 1 Justine Henin, concedes her strained shoulder prevents her from practicing her serve "as much as I would like."

"It is not 100 percent, but I don’t like to talk too much about injuries," Ivanovic told Politika. "I just have to be careful not to push it too hard. I can’t practice my serve as much as I would like, but in time it will be much stronger and back to normal."

Ivanovic is currently reading Monica Seles' memoir.

"It is definitely an inspiration. I am really enjoying reading it and it’s quite emotional," Ivanovic told Politika.

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Dinara Safina Withdraws From Indian Wells

Tennis Now — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:55:53 GMT

(March 3, 2010) Dinara Safina has backed out of Indian Wells.

Safina has officially withdrawn from next week's BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells citing the back injury that forced her to retire from her Australian Open round of 16 match against Maria Kirilenko after nine games.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in Indian Wells this year because of the back injury that's been bothering me since the end of last season," Safina announced in a post on her official website.

The second-ranked Russian has not played a match since the Australian Open. She hopes to return to tournament tennis at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on March 23rd. Safina owns a 7-7 lifetime record in Miami with her best result a quarterfinal finish in 2008.

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Robin Soderling Calls For Davis Cup Format Change

Tennis Now — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:20:48 GMT

(March 3, 2010) Add Robin Soderling's name to the list of top 20 players calling for a change to the Davis Cup format.

The seventh-ranked Swede said today the short turnaround time between the 2009 Davis Cup final in December and the 2010 first round in February provides players with little preparation time.

"The schedule gets very tight," Soderling, who is scheduled to lead Sweden against an undermanned Argentine team in Stockholm this weekend. "It's played so often. The final takes place in December and then we begin again with the first round in February."

World No. 1 Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, who played on Spain's 2009 Davis Cup championship squad, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick and James Blake are amon the players who have opted to sit out this weekend's Davis Cup first-round ties.

Players ranging from John McEnroe to Roddick have called for a format change in the past. Some players have called for Davis Cup to be played every other year as is the case with golf's Ryder Cup. Soderling said he believes Davis Cup would grow if it adopted a World Cup format.

"Look at the World Cup, it's the greatest event in the world but it wouldn't be like that if it was played every year," Soderling said in comments published by Reuters. "I like the way the Davis Cup is played right now, but it would be seen as a much bigger event if it was played every second year instead. It is not that big right now."

International Tennis Federation president Francesco Ricci Bitti has said repeatedly he opposes changing the current Davis Cup calendar. The ITF president said he is against adopting a Ryder Cup format in playing Davis Cup and Fed Cup every other year and "completely disagrees" with proposals to condense Davis Cup to a one month tournament-style format similar to soccer’s World Cup.

"I believe the most complicated area in tennis, professional tennis, is the calendar,” Ricci Bitti said in explaining why he opposes playing Davis Cup every other year. "So any change for one year brings a lot of complication. We know how much we struggle to adjust the calendar in the Olympic year just for the Olympic times. This is my view for now, but nothing is excluded. I believe that it doesn’t bring a lot for one year, because tennis is a very yearly calendar. So each element that brings a difference between the years is a huge complication.”

Ricci Bitti said he is against adopting a Davis Cup format similar to soccer’s World Championships because of the differences in frequency of play and commitment of the players. Soccer, Ricci Bitti asserts, requires a greater time commitment from its competitors and is played more often throughout the year.

"The average time that the team plays every year in soccer, for instance, for the World Championship, is six times. What we ask our team is to play twice a year, no more than that," Ricci Bitti said. "So it’s not true also in the sense of commitment of the team, the commitment of a team in soccer is six times a year for the qualifying. World Cup is every four years, but the commitment of the team is much bigger than the commitment of the team in Davis Cup, so this is not a fair comparison."

Roger Federer Will Try To Play Indian Wells

Tennis Now — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:19:59 GMT

(March 3, 2010) Roger Federer will try to return to tournament tennis at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells next week.

Federer has not played a match since he swept Andy Murray in the Australian Open final to capture his 16th career Grand Slam championship in January.

A lung infection forced Federer out of last week's Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, but he announced on his official website he will try to play Indian Wells.

"I am feeling really good again and I was happy to hear from my doctor today that I have the green light to start working out again so I plan to try and play in Indian Wells next week," said Federer, who has a 10-1 record on the season with his lone loss coming against Nikolay Davydenko in Doha. "See you all soon!"

The World No. 1 won three consecutive Indian Wells' titles from 2004-2006. Federer has lost in the semifinals in each of the last two years, bowing to Andy Murray in the 2009 semis and losing to Mardy Fish at the same stage in 2008.

Photo By Mark Peterson/Corleve

Nicolas Almagro Replaces Juan Carlos Ferrero On Spanish Squad

Tennis Now — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:46:19 GMT

(March 3, 2010) Juan Carlos Ferrero is the hottest Spanish player on the planet, but he won't play this weekend's Davis Cup tie against visiting Switzerland.

Ferrero, who has won 14 of his last 15 matches in capturing clay-court championships in Costa Do Sauipe and Buenos Aires, has pulled out of the Davis Cup competition due to a knee injury he sustained in the Acapulco final last weekend. Ferrero, who was ranked as low as No. 118 last year, has sky rocketed up the rankings to No. 14.

World No. 40 Nicolas Almagro has replaced Ferrero on the Spanish squad.

Almagro is 2-0 lifetime in Davis cup competition with both wins coming against Peru in the 2008 World Group first round in Lima. Almagro joins David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Marcel Granollers in leading two-time defending champion Spain, which has won 18 consecutive ties on Spanish soil. The streak started after Spain's 1999 loss to a Gustavo Kuerten-led Brazilian team.

Stanislas Wawrinka, Marco Chiudinelli, Yves Allegro and Michael Lammer have been named to the Swiss squad, which will play without World No. 1 Roger Federer.