Tennis Frontier

Author: Owen Gigg

  • Wimbledon splashes the cash

    Wimbledon splashes the cash

    The All England Club has announced a significant increase in prize money for the Wimbledon Championships 2013.

    Players can look forward to a hike of 40%,making Wimbledon the most lucrative of all the four major championships.

    The tournamount winners will each receive £1.6 million (a jump from £1.15 million in 2012) and the overall price fund has increased by £6.5 million to a bumper £22.6 million booty.

    In percentage terms, the biggest increases are focused on players who lose either in qualifiers or the early rounds of the tournament. Doubles players also enjoy a 22% increase in their share of the loot.

    The historic club also announced plans to install a roof over the second showcourt. Court No. 1 will enjoy a retractable roof by the 2019 tournament.

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  • Ivo Karlovic hospitalized by Viral Meningitis

    Ivo Karlovic hospitalized by Viral Meningitis

    It’s been reported that Ivo Karlovic has been admitted to a hospital  suffering from viral meningitis.  Initially, the illness was reported to have been a mild stroke, but the Karlovic family have since made an announcement to state the true illness.

    The 34 year old Croat, notable on the Tour for his huge serve is currently recuperating at a medical facility in Miami, Florida.

    We wish him a speedy recovery.

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  • Nadal and Almagro to contest Barcelona final

    Nadal and Almagro to contest Barcelona final

    Rafael Nadal moved into the final of the Barcelona Open after a comfortable straight sets win including a second set bagel over the promising Canadian Milos Raonic.

    “I think it was my best match of the whole week,” stated Nadal after wrapping up the clash 6-4 6-0.

    Almagro defeated Phillip Kohlschreiber in only 51 minutes to book his slot in the final, but has never beaten Nadal in nine attempts.

    The Mallorcan is bidding to win the Barcelona title for the eighth time in nine years after his streak at Monte Carlo was ended by Novak Djokovic. He will be a very heavy favourite to secure the silverware.

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  • Li Na and Maria Sharapova in Stuttgart Final.

    Li Na and Maria Sharapova in Stuttgart Final.

    The top two seeds at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Stuttgart, Maria Sharapova and Li Na both advanced to face off in Sunday’s final. Top seeded Maria Sharapova defeated hometown girl Angelique Kerber with Li Na prevailing over Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

    Sharapova had the tougher task of the two, being pushed by the German to a 7-5 final set decider. The Russian World Number 2, began well enough, breaking twice to take the first set and then started the second set with another break.

    Kerber fought back strongly, reeling off eight of the next nine games to secure the second set and break Sharapova early in the third.

    The third set was a rollercoaster of momentum swings following Kerber’s initial break with both players breaking. Delicately poised at 5-5, Sharapova put the hammer down, winning the next two games without dropping a point to take the match and advance to the final. Notably this was her 15th straight clay court victory.

    Her opponent on Sunday, Li Na advanced in more convincing fashion. A straight sets victory over in-form American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 64 63. Mattek-Sands had enjoyed a great week, including taking the scalp of fourth seeded Sara Errani. However, Li Na’s combinaton of poise, strength and consistency were a step too far.

    Sharapova leads the head to head 8-5, but on the single occasion they have met this year, Li ran out a comfortable winner. It will be an interesting final.

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  • Take me home, country roads…

    Take me home, country roads…

    All roads point to West Virginia for tennis legends Pete Sampras, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl as they confirmed participation in the White Sulphur Springs exhibition at the Greenbier Resort.

    The trio will be joined by Tommy Haas – still active on the ATP circuit and currently enjoying a rich vein of form.

    Haas will face off against 14 time major titleist Sampras, whilst McEnroe will renew hostilities with old adversary Lendl.

    The following day will see a doubles match between the quartet.

    It is the second successive year that Sampras and McEnroe have been invited to the tournamount.

    The two day exhibition is scheduled to begin on the 21 September.

  • Sharapova progresses in Stuttgart following marathon tussle.

    Sharapova progresses in Stuttgart following marathon tussle.

    World Number 2 and the top seed, Maria Sharapova prevailed in a marathon tussle lasting over three hours to progress to the Quarter Finals in defence of her Stuttgart title over clay court specialist Lucie Safarova.

    Sharapova won in three sets 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3, squandering several match points en route to a hard fought victory.

    “I`ve had a few three-hour games in my career, so I knew I just had to keep fighting until the end. That`s when it`s the time to get the game-plan going and calm down a little bit.” said the Russian in the post match interview.

    Sharapova will now face Ana Ivanovic in the quarter finals on Friday.

  • Novak Djokovic – The Crown Prince of Monte Carlo

    Novak Djokovic – The Crown Prince of Monte Carlo

    Watched by the royalty of Monaco, Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal’s amazing 8 year winning streak at Monte Carlo with a dominant display.

    Nadal suffered his first loss since a 2003 defeat at the hands of Gaston Gaudio. 10 years and 46 matches later, he fell to World #1 Djokovic in straight sets 6-2 7-6 in just under two hours.

    “It’s such a great pleasure to win here, it’s very special,” said Djokovic, a native of Serbia but primarily based in the principality.

    Djokovic, 25, wasted no time in setting out his intentions – racing out to take the first set 6-2 in 46 minutes.

    The second set was a more competitive affair, with Nadal breaking the Djokovic serve and giving himself a chance to level up the match at 5-4. However, Djokovic broke straight back, forcing a tie-break, which he won at a canter – 7-1.

    Nadal moves onto Barcelona next, with the next opportunity of a clash between the two titans coming at Madrid.

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  • SF Results, Monte Carlo. Djokovic progresses… Nadal looms.

    SF Results, Monte Carlo. Djokovic progresses… Nadal looms.

    Novak Djokovic booked his place in the Monte Carlo Masters final comfortabley overcoming an overmatched Fabio Fognini in straight sets 6-2 6-1 .
    Fognini was subject to medical treatment as the Serb raced through a first set dominating every aspect of the match.

    This was followed by a straightforward second set where the Serbian Slayer proved far too hot to handle and Fognini capitualated, drawing a close to the match in less than an hour.

    Standing in Djokovic’s way of a first Monte Carlo title, is eight time champion Rafael Nadal.  Nadal took his 46th consecutive win at Monte Carlo defeating the mercurial frenchman Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in straight sets.

    Tsonga had opportunities but could not capitalise and made too many unforced errors at crucial moments in the match. Nadal took a first set littered with errors from the frenchman.  The second set appeared to be a foregone conclusion as the Mallorcan stretched out to a 5-1 lead.

    Not one to go quietly, Tsonga broke Nadal twice as he fought back valiantly to take the set to a tiebreak.  Errors crept back in Tsonga’s game at critical moments and Nadal took over the tiebreak at 3-3 to clinch the match and another final slot.

    It is ten years since Nadal lost a match at Monte Carlo (Gaston Gaudio, way back in 2003) but Djokovic will provide by far his sternest test since coming back from a seven month layoff.

  • QF Results – Monte Carlo, 19/04/2013

    QF Results – Monte Carlo, 19/04/2013

    As follows are the Friday results for the Men’s Singles at Monte Carlo…

    1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) 6-4 6-3

    Fabio Fognini (Italy) beat 7-Richard Gasquet (France) 7-6(0) 6-2

    3-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 6-2 2-6 6-4

    6-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat 13-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 2-6 6-3 6-4

  • Sloane Stephens Fed Cup Singles Debut

    Sloane Stephens Fed Cup Singles Debut

    Sloane Stephens makes her Fed Cup singles debut for the United States in their World Group Playoff clash at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Saturday, having previously been limited in exposure to one doubles match (a victory).

    The young american opens against Sophia Arvidsson at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Saturday and will go into the match with expectations of victory.  Stephens is now ranked 16 on the WTA Tour – 38 places higher than her opponent.

    “It’ll be my first singles match, so it’ll be a little you know, I’ll be a little nervous, But I have a great team behind me and I know they’ll be really supportive, so I’m excited.” stated Stephens.

    Serena Williams is the anchor of the team and will play Johanna Larsson of Sweden.