#Patrick Mouratoglou Edition | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ecoorganic · 5 years ago

Text

Mailbag: Will the 2020 U.S. Open Have an Asterisk?

Should the 2020 U.S. Open have an asterisk next to it, given the circumstances? Plus the tennis equivalent of golf's Jordan Spieth, the possible advantages for players who were already infected with COVID-19 and much more.

Hope everyone is well, safe and masked.

• On our most recent podcast, Patrick Mouratoglou talked about tennis-during-COVID and Serena Williams’ return. Andrea Leand talked about World TeamTennis.

• Next up: Up-and-comer Jannik Sinner on his 2020.

• If you had Lexington on your tennis bingo card, you win! The first U.S. event since the U.S. Open has commenced….

• Trust me. This is worth six minutes of your day:

youtube

• I tweeted this yesterday but let me reiterate: the WTA communications team is doing an exceptional job wrangling players, sending around audio files and generally making the sport relevant and accessible. We—fans, players, media—owe them a shot of Kentucky bourbon and/or Czech beer. And a deep measure of gratitude.

Mailbag

The Shift 8 edition….

Assuming the U.S. Open takes place (nothing’s a given at this point) and if Serena finally gets to the Golden 24th Slam, do you think there would be an asterisk, given the circumstances? —@keithsd42

• Let’s do the asterisk question and then put a strikethrough in it. In fact, I would declare that from here on out, anyone who types or says the word “asterisk” in a tennis context must make a donation

here or to a similar charity.

I’m not a * absolutist. I am open to the possibility that the U.S. Open draw will appear to be moth-eaten. That players will advance when opponents are forced to withdraw. That without fans and the usual circus, the atmosphere will be flatter than a Czech player’s forehand. That somehow the title will feel hollow.

I am also open to the opposite: that the player who wins will have shown all manner of resolve and mettle and compartmentalization and persistence and focus. That winning seven matches in this cratered season, in this bat-guano-crazy context, should be adorned with an exclamation point.

I think we need to see how this unfolds. We need to see the quality of the draw and quality of tennis. We also need to see context. (Specific to Serena, I struggle to see how any major won by a 38-year-old is diminished.) It strikes me as ungenerous to tell players in advance that, even if they win, it’s a tainted title. It also strikes me as inconsistent with reality. Plenty of players have won majors under extraordinary circumstances. Wafer-thin draws. Medical flukes. Boycotts. Opponents having panic attacks and injuries and menstrual issues in finals. Especially with some time, we tend only to remember the winners, not the circumstances.

On Twitter, I saw a discussion about Jordan Spieth and whether there was a tennis equivalent. Care to weigh in? —Dennis D.

• I assume the context is a guy who won multiple majors in one year and is now struggling to make cuts? If Spieth comes back and mounts a comeback, there are obvious parallels, starting with Agassi. (Note: Spieth is 27, Agassi’s pivot year as well.) Otherwise…Maybe Ana Ivanovic, who reached three majors in one year, won the 2008 French Open and then—get this—made only three quarters in her next 34 majors. Marat Safin, who won two majors but never became the transformative player imagined. I guess you could suggest Roddick, though he didn’t self-destruct or go through a real crisis; he simply had the misfortune of coinciding with Federer and Nadal.

Italy seem reluctant to waive quarantine so Rome tournament should be moved to France so players can be in bubble like Cincy and U.S. —@chippoc_y

• Funny, a week ago, there was speculation that Madrid would move to Rome. It’s an intriguing idea you raise. (Hey, if Cincinnati—city of seven hills—can move to New York, why can’t the original City of Seven Hills move to Paris.) Let’s, however, be clear about this: the term “bubble” has become voguish but it’s also become misused. World TeamTennis was not truly a bubble, not with players walking the grounds and eating in the restaurant alongside other guests. The U.S. Open is a gallant attempt, but isn’t a true bubble, especially as players will have come from “hot zones” and flown commercial. The French Open certainly is not planned as a bubble, not with fans in the stands and players staying at Paris’ finest hostelries.

On the latest Craig Shapiro Podcast (right up there with Beyond the Baseline in tennis gold), Tim Mayotte made a great point that I'd never heard—in his era, he got zero support from his countrymen. McEnroe and Connors were no one's mentors. Compare that to the way Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Murray (apparently) support the players from their country. We're starting to see this more on the WTA side among American women and across tours in Canada. There are probably other examples that I'm not aware of. Do you think this owes more to the character of the individuals or to the increase in prize money that makes it easier to earn a great living at the top? —Megan

• Interesting question. I think there are a number of factors here.

1) Some of this is our evolved thinking about mentorship in general and its value.

2) Some of this is the example set by so many players…. and then paid forward. Andy Roddick, for instance, hosted player after young player at his home in Austin. Anyone benefitting from that would be inclined to do likewise. (Same for Agassi and Federer and the Czech women and so many others.)

3) I wonder if this isn’t yet another virtuous outgrowth of the extended careers. If McEnroe, to pick a name, did some mental accounting and said, “I have a few years to make my bones,” you can see why he wouldn’t spend it helping to cultivate a potential opponent. When you play deep into your 30s, it’s easy to see how you are more giving of your time, feel less threatened and have more maturity in general.

4) Yes, there’s probably some noblesse oblige, but there’s also a financial factor. Federer, for instance, can afford to fly players to his base and work with them, much as a champion boxer would sparring partners.

5) Overall, the culture of both tours has become so much more collegial.

Here are a couple of underrated tennis records I like: The doubles team of Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver went two years (109 matches) without losing. The streak started in 1983 and ended in 1985. Remember Rainer Schüttler, who lost to Andre Agassi in the final of the 2003 Australian Open? He went 9 consecutive years (1995 to 2003) with a year-end ranking better than the one he had the year before. That shows a commitment to hard work and improvement over a long period of time. I wonder how many other players have done that. —Earl Strickler, Houston

• Those are great. I always like this trivia question: how many Hall of Fame players did Serena beat en route to winning her first major, the 1999 U.S. Open? Also, Chris Evert and Martina won every women’s major held, save one, from 1982-86.

Interestingly, [the USTA liability waiver] would arguably have precluded Genie Bouchard’s lawsuit as well. I am surprised they are only now coming around to the idea. —@stephenbirman

• Yes and no. Not all waivers are valid and enforceable. We’ve seen this in all kinds of contexts including sports. Waivers are certainly a hurdle a plaintiff would have to clear in order to win a liability judgment. But there are instances of gross negligence that would supersede a waiver. Here’s my occasional collaborator and former (it hurts to write that word) colleague Mike McCann weighing in v/v a COVID-19 context. Note this as well v.v COVID-19 waivers and Hollywood.

I heard you and Chanda on Tennis Channel talking about Camila Giorgi. Can you think of a player who has a wider gap between their physical size and their power? —Charles T.

• In a word, no. Giorgi is listed at 5’6”, 119 lbs. And she absolutely pounds the ball. Not only that: she has no other gear. She reminds me of the MMA fighter who simply throws bombs and has no interest in winning by any means other than knockout.

There are other fighters who are under-sized and overpowering. Alex Dolgopolov is 5’11” and 157 lbs. and plays heavyweight tennis. Philipp Kohlschreiber is 5’10” and often among the ATP ace leaders. But Giorgi is really in another La Liga here.

I am SO confused. Why is Nadal traveling to New York for this tournament and not playing the U.S. Open? Why go to New York at all if the primary reason not to play is the pandemic? —Lucy M.

• I’ve said this before, but this COVID-19 period has doubled as a great Tennis X-ray, everything covered with barium and laid bare. One of the many lessons: an entry list is not a “playing” list.

Jon, thank you for helping us stay connected to the sport we love during a time when we miss both the professional tours and our community of tennis mates. Because of its Q&A format, the Mailbag also functions as a sort of tennis community ("we" are not just happy to be reading an article someone has written, but participating in the writing), and we really appreciate that now.

Our question/comment this week has to do with the possible irony that players who were infected with COVID-19 through the Adria exhibitions might in some cases have a unique advantage. As players all over the world consider whether or not to travel, players who were infected might have reason to feel less vulnerable or invulnerable to infection. I realize they still have team members to think of, and also that being sick could have hurt their preparation and could even hurt their performance. (Grigor Dimitrov seems to have struggled to get well.)

Kudos to Frank M. for reminding us about "the wonderful Mohamed Lahyani" and his role in the longest match. —Sherrie and David, Ukiah, Calif.

• I appreciate that. And, yes, all hail Mo Lahyani—and that best-in-class bladder. And, yes as well, to your question. Some of the players impacted by the debacle that was * the Adria Tour are, of course, compromised and have no doubt done harm to their prospects. But others might have a perverse advantage. For one: there is the invulnerability to infection and comfort that comes with that. (At least in New York, people who have tested positive and recovered can go three months without another test.) I wonder if this doesn’t translate to a mental edge as well. I don’t need to devote as much psychic energy to COVID-19 when I know the odds of my getting it again are minuscule.

Anyone else wonder how Adria—which looks to be a mobile home brand—feels about this unfortunate association? Virtually every reference is preceded by a modifier on the order of: “irresponsible” or “ill-fated” or “catastrophic” or “super-spreading.”

• Andrew Miller, take us out:

Dear Mr. Wertheim,

Andrew Miller here (Maryland), a reader of your column. Thank you for continuing to plow through the Mailbag as we all become the equivalent of supply chain logisticians and corporate risk managers in our everyday lives.

I hope as a reader to continue to hear more about the material on the cutting room floor that rarely gets enough press. I have a sense of some of what we're all missing in this year of limited sports and everything, but it helps when sportswriters point it out to us. So much in this sport gets short shrift when the focus is the final box score of every tennis tournament—there are actual tournaments and players! I am reminded of this in re-runs of tournaments such as the Australian, where huge birds circle the courts and wildlife, rather than wildfire, sometimes takes center stage.

Thanks for your take on the U.S. Open and the asterisk. My sense is years from now few will pay attention to this, but players will have stories and hopefully less harrowing ones than what has stormed everyone's social media feed over the last half year. It shouldn't take away from the winners should the matches take place. It should also prove a test to play without crowds, which players are capable of doing but not necessarily at this kind of highest profile event! It will be memorable.

As to the players themselves and especially the big guys, I think you rescued a point earlier this year that given their legendary preparation this kind of surreal context of the pandemic and so much time on their own may help them—these players need no motivation if their names are Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer—they play for other reasons and rely on their legendary competitiveness to keep their desire red-hot. I don't think one of them will ever have settled for less than another shot at a big title if their bodies are willing. They often speak of tennis titles as if winning the slams are always within reach and it's always a pity only that they didn't make it further in one tournament or another. Their losses keep pushing them. I am sure they still have some big matches in them when given the opportunity. Given we're all in overtime in their careers as it is, all this talk of their slam chances strikes me as gravy as a tennis fan, even if to them it's another milestone that they somehow want more than their last trophy! Another testament to their legendary careers and competitiveness.

from Blogger https://ift.tt/33PnzUV

#Blogger

0 notes

dailynewsupdatesindia · 5 years ago

Text

New tennis tournament in France aiming for younger audience

[ad_1]

With discussions ongoing over whether the U.S. Open or the French Open can even take place later this year, a new digitally friendly tennis tournament starts Saturday in southern France with four Top 10-ranked players involved.

Co-founder Patrick Mouratoglou hopes the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) — whose first edition features ATP Finals winner Stefanos Tsitsipas and U.S. Open…

View On WordPress

#corona #coronavirus #news #sport #world

0 notes

awesomenews47 · 5 years ago

Text

New tennis tournament in France aiming for younger audience | Latest Sports

Co-founder Patrick Mouratoglou hopes the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) — whose first edition features ATP Finals winner Stefanos Tsitsipas and U.S. Open semifinalist…

View On WordPress

0 notes

watchilove · 5 years ago

Text

A new era of tennis has begun. Zenith Friend of the Brand Patrick Mouratoglou, outspoken tennis and life coach extraordinaire, has always dreamed of making a name for himself in the world of tennis. His unique energy and tireless vision led him to become one of the most influential and outspoken coaches in the game; training some of the greatest tennis players. Zenith celebrates him with his own special edition of the Defy 21 – Zenith Defy 21 Patrick Mouratoglou Edition.

Patrick Mouratoglou

Parallel to Swiss watchmaking, tennis is a sport that places great importance in tradition. And just as Zenith strives to break the boundaries of the past and craft the watchmaking of the future, Patrick Mouratoglou has left a lasting mark on tennis by elevating the game through his unique approach to coaching and the astounding success of the players he has worked with that include Marcos Baghdatis, Grigor Dimitrov and since 2012, Serena Williams. Mouratoglou also mentors a whole new generation of rising tennis stars at his academy like Coco Gauff. Patrick Mouratoglou has reached his star by transmitting his knowledge and passion so that others can reach theirs.

Now, Mouratoglou is reaching another star in his career: The creation of his own tennis league, in a totally new and innovative format that seeks to appeal to a younger, more inclusive demographic while emphasizing the sense of entertainment in the sport. Dubbed the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, the tournament was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way of bringing tennis to the masses in an unprecedented format that features a lighter code of conduct, where players can bring out more of their personalities on the court. Zenith is proud to support Patrick Mouratoglou in his new endeavour.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS, JULIEN TORNARE, MATTEO BERRETTINI, PATRICK MOURATOGLOU

“Since many years, I have realized that tennis stands in a danger zone. The world around us has changed, but tennis has failed to adapt to those changes. Although I love it just as it is, it desperately needs to reinvent itself. I decided to turn these challenging times into an opportunity: the opportunity to modernize tennis. This is why I have created UTS, a new independent and innovative tennis league that puts forward suspense, emotion and immersion with the dual objective of attracting a larger audience and younger tennis fans”, said Patrick Mouratoglou of his Ultimate Tennis Showdown.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS, MATTEO BERRETTINI, JULIEN TORNARE, PATRICK, MOURATOGLOU

“Here in Switzerland, tennis is something of a national sport”, said Zenith CEO Julien Tornare. “We’ve all grown up watching local players battle on the court to become global sensations. But today, there is something of a disconnection between younger sports fans and tennis, which is often perceived by them as rigid and elitist. Just like Zenith strives to bring the codes of watchmaking into the 21st century, our dear friend Patrick Mouratoglou is revolutionizing tennis to keep the sport relevant for future generations”.

UTS TOURNAMENT

To celebrate the debut Ultimate Tennis Showdown tournament and Zenith’s burgeoning friendship with Patrick Mouratoglou, a special rendition of its 1/100th of a second chronograph was in order: the DEFY 21 Patrick Mouratoglou edition, featuring a case and bezel crafted in light yet robust carbon, a composite material used in professional tennis rackets, the sleek and sporty chronograph style and performance are not mutually exclusive. The partially open dial with closed chronograph counters are treated in a blue tone, matching the tennis courts of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown tournament. Touches of yellow are applied in the same tone as the ubiquitous tennis ball. For some words of wisdom from the coach himself, the rim of the carbon bezel is engraved and filled in luminescent pigments with a motto Patrick Mouratoglou lives by: “Little details make big difference”.

MATTEO BERRETTINI – WINNER UTS

A limited-edition of just 50 pieces, the collaborative DEFY 21 Patrick Mouratoglou edition is slated for a commercial release in November 2020 at Zenith Boutiques around the world as well as the Zenith Online Boutique. Those interested can sign up to receive an alert as soon as the watch is available to purchase online. The winner of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown will be awarded the watch as a commemorative prize. And for the 50 lucky owners of the watch, they will receive the exclusive opportunity to spend one night at the Mouratoglou Academy in the south of France and enjoy a one-on-one training session with Patrick Mouratoglou.

MATTEO BERRETTINI – WINNER UTS

Zenith: Time To Reach Your Star.

Zenith exists to inspire individuals to pursue their dreams and make them come true – against all odds. Since its establishment in 1865, Zenith became the first watch manufacture in the modern sense of the term, and its watches have accompanied extraordinary figures that dreamt big and strived to achieve the impossible – from Louis Blériot’s history-making flight across the English Channel to Felix Baumgartner’s record-setting stratospheric free-fall jump.

With innovation as its guiding star, Zenith features exceptional in-house developed and manufactured movements in all its watches. From the first automatic chronograph, the El Primero, to the fastest chronograph with a 1/100th of a second precision, the El Primero 21, as well as the Inventor that reinvents the regulating organ by replacing the 30+ components with a single monolithic element, the manufacture is always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Zenith has been shaping the future of Swiss watchmaking since 1865, accompanying those who dare to challenge themselves and break barriers. The time to reach your star is now.

Zenith Defy 21 Patrick Mouratoglou Edition Technical Specifications

Reference: 10.9000.9004/M99.R939

Key points

Full carbon model: case, bezel, pushers, crown and buckle head.

Bezel adorned with Patrick Mouratoglou’s motto: “Little details make big difference”

This sentence is engraved and filled with SuperLuminova

1/100th of a second chronograph movement.

Exclusive dynamic signature of one rotation per second for the Chrono hand.

1 escapement for the Watch (36,000 VpH – 5 Hz)

1 escapement for the Chronograph (360,000 VpH – 50 Hz).

TIME LAB Chronometer certified.

Limited edition of 50 units

Movement

El Primero 9004 automatic

Frequency: 36,000 VpH (5 Hz)

Power reserve: approx. 50 hours

Blue coloured the main plate on movement and rotor

Functions

Hours and minutes in the centre.

1/100th of a second chronograph with yellow dots recalling tennis balls

Central chronograph hand – one turn per second

30-minute counter at 3 o’clock

60-second counter at 6 o’clock with “M” Mouratoglou logo

Chronograph power-reserve indication at 12 o’clock

Material

Black carbon case and bezel. Bezel filled with SLN

Water resistance

10 ATM

Dial

Black with 3 blue colored counters inspired from tennis court.

Touch of yellow on the hand of the 6 o’clock counter and on power reserve indication.

Hour markers

Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova SLN

Hands

Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova SLN

Bracelet & Buckle

Black rubber with blue “Cordura effect”.

Titanium double folding clasp with black carbon head

Price

19500 CHF

Ltd Edition of 50 units

STEFANOS-TSITSIPAS, JULIEN-TORNARE, MATTEO-BERRETTINI, PATRICK MOURATOGLOU

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS, MATTEO BERRETTINI, JULIEN TORNARE, PATRICK, MOURATOGLOU

MATTEO BERRETTINI – WINNER UTS

UTS TOURNAMENT

Zenith Defy 21 Patrick Mouratoglou Edition A new era of tennis has begun. Zenith Friend of the Brand Patrick Mouratoglou, outspoken tennis and life coach extraordinaire, has always dreamed of making a name for himself in the world of tennis.

#Defy 21 #news #Patrick Mouratoglou #Patrick Mouratoglou Edition #Press release #Zenith #Zenith Defy 21 Patrick Mouratoglou Edition

0 notes

thisdaynews · 6 years ago

Text

Coco Gauff: Wimbledon sensation's wish to attend Beyonce concert after winning run continues

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/coco-gauff-wimbledon-sensations-wish-to-attend-beyonce-concert-after-winning-run-continues/

Coco Gauff: Wimbledon sensation's wish to attend Beyonce concert after winning run continues

Media playback is not supported on this device

Watch the best of the action as Gauff completes a remarkable turnaround to beat Hercog

Wimbledon 2019 on the BBC Venue:All England ClubDates:1-14 July Coverage:Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full details

Coco Gauff is hopeful she might get an invitation to a Beyonce concert as the 15-year-old’s remarkable story at Wimbledon continued with a third-round victory over Polona Hercog.

The American, who received a wildcard for qualifying, has become the star attraction of these championships following her stunning opening round win over five-time champion Venus Williams, then a second-round win over Magdalena Rybarikova.

Slovenian world number 60 Hercog gave the teenager her stiffest test, as Gauff lost her first set and faced two match points.

How day five at Wimbledon unfolded

Murray and Williams match postponed

Beaten Wozniacki unhappy with Hawk-Eye

Djokovic through to fourth round

Beyonce’s mother Tina Knowles posted a video of her watching Gauff’s display

However, she survived and eventually secured a 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5, a minimum pay day of £176,000 and a fourth-round match against former number one Simona Halep.

In the post-match news conference, Gauff was as excited about meeting one of her music idols as the progress she had made.

She said: “Ms Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s mum, posted me on Instagram and I was screaming! I hope Beyonce saw that, I hope she told Beyonce about me because I would love to go to her concert.”

And regarding the prize money, she added: “I can’t buy a car because I can’t drive. I hate spending money.

“I love wearing hoodies, my mum actually banned me from buying them for two months as I kept getting them delivered to the house.”

Her parents, father Corey and mother Candi, were present to watch their daughter wow the Wimbledon crowd once again .

Parents Corey (left) and Candi Gauff were once again present to watch their daughter

Gauff explained the influence both have had on her career.

“My mum changed my mindset on how I look at things and my dad is the reason I dream so big,” she continued. “It’s a good mix. They definitely work together well to tell me the right things.

“My mum doesn’t like to play the coach role as my dad is my coach, so she plays the mother role.”

“I look at my dad mostly. I didn’t tell mum, but she’s going to go viral. She’s going to be a meme and I’m going to retweet it.”

Gauff’s epic contest forced the postponement of the mixed doubles match involving Andy Murray and Serena Williams.

‘Gauff will transcend the game’

Nine-time championMartina Navratilovabelieves a “star has been born”.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anyone arrive in a greater flash at their first major,” she told BBC Sport.

“I have a feeling Coco Gauff will transcend the game. She wants it, she lives it already. She was born to do this.”

Tennis’ teenage wonderkids Martina Hingiswas 16 when she won the 1997 Wimbledon singles title after winning the Australian Open earlier that year. She won the mixed doubles (which Gauff has entered with Britain’s Jay Clarke) aged 15. Boris Beckerwon Wimbledon at the age of 17 in 1985, beating Kevin Curran to become the youngest ever Grand Slam champion at the time. Maria Sharapovawon the 2004 edition of Wimbledon aged 17, beating the legend that is Serena Williams. Nick Kyrgiosbecame the first Wimbledon debutant to reach the quarter-finals in 10 years when he upset Rafael Nadal in the fourth round in 2014.

Navratilova, who won her first Wimbledon title aged 21, does think Gauff’s next match against former world number one Halep will be a “a mountain too tall to climb”.

“Against Halep it will be tricky – the pressure is all on her as a big favourite, but the crowd will be going nuts for Gauff which will be hard for the Romanian to handle.”

John McEnroe, the three-time men’s singles winner, also believes Halep will edge it but added that the world number seven’s game might suit her compatriot.

“Halep has not had a great year and looks tight on this surface,” he told BBC’s Today at Wimbledon. “I would obviously pick the Romanian to win but I’m not going to bet a whole lot on that one.

“I think Halep will be easier because she hits a solid ball. This was an awkward opponent today.”

Spice Girl Geri Horner (left) and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner were in attendance to watch the fascinating encounter

He added: “It’s better that Coco Gauff doesn’t win it this year, for her sake, long-term. We want her to be out there for 15-20 years.”

As for Gauff, she said she was taking it “one tournament at a time”.

“I watch Halep a lot – I’ve never hit with her so I don’t know how the ball will feel when I play but I’m familiar with how she plays from watching her,” said the student, who is being nurtured by Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

“I don’t believe in fate or destiny because I think you can change your own world. Fate can’t always be a good thing, so I try not to think of it being my destiny. If I do, my head is going to get big. I just take it one tournament at a time.”

Who is Coco Gauff?

Media playback is not supported on this device

Wimbledon 2019: Sprinklers, rage & Coco – The day when the fun never stopped

Gauff at 15 years and 122 days became the youngest player to qualify for the main Wimbledon draw since the Open era began in 1968.

She started playing tennis at the age of seven and comes from a sporting family having initially been coached by her father Corey, who played basketball at Georgia State University. Her mother Candi was a gymnast before moving into track and field.

Their daughter began to deliver in major arenas two years ago when she became the youngest US Open girls singles finalist, aged just 13. And last year she won the French Open equivalent only two months after her 14th birthday.

Wimbledon qualifying was a target for Gauff this year, but her ranking of 301 was not high enough to earn a shot. However, while she was shopping online, she found out she had received a wildcard.

More reaction to Gauff’s successes

Social media reaction #bbctennis

Richard Arians:Coco Gauff – controlled patience. A quality mastered by veterans. She’s 15!!!

David Symonds:Never have I been so excited to see an American win something!

Di Johnson:What a match, Coco definitely a name to watch.

Che Seabourne:Well this is turning into quite the story for Coco Gauff! A word too for Polona Hercog – who conducted herself with a lot of composure in the face of a partisan crowd. Hugely entertaining match!

Live scores, schedule and results

Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

#concert #winning

0 notes

todaynewsstories · 7 years ago

Text

Australian Open organizers working toward stand on coaching rule

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australian Open organizers are working to determine whether coaching will be allowed during the Grand Slam tournament in an effort to end the controversy that led to Serena Williams’ outburst over a code violation during the U.S. Open final.

FILE PHOTO: Sep 8, 2018; New York, NY, USA; (L-R) Naomi Osaka of Japan, chair umpire Carlos Ramos, and Serena Williams of the United States during the women’s final on day thirteen of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY SPORTS

Williams was given the violation when chair umpire Carlos Ramos saw her coach Patrick Mouratoglou make a hand gesture to tell her to play closer to the net against Japan’s Naomi Osaka.

She was then docked a point after she later smashed her racquet and then penalized a game for calling Ramos a “thief”.

Coaching while the players are on court is not permitted in Grand Slam tournaments, although the WTA Tour allows it in other events at specified times. It is prohibited in all men’s matches.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said at the time that he would urge tennis officials to affirm its position on coaching during matches and said on Tuesday that they were working with the governing bodies to clarify the rules.

“We’re getting the global governing bodies – the ATP, WTA and ITF – and the grand slams together to talk about our approach to coaching,” Tiley told reporters at an event for next year’s opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.

“I think it’s really important that it’s consistent so fans and players don’t get confused on it so hopefully in the coming weeks we are able to make an announcement on our position.”

Tiley added that Australian Open organizers had asked the now retired Casey Dellacqua and John Millman to lead a players’ review of the rules. More than 100 players were interviewed as part of the review.

“We’ve had a team out there interviewing them and the players too want some consistency on coaching and we’d like to be able to lead the way on that,” he said.

Tiley added that total prize money for the 2019 tournament would be increased by 10 percent, taking the total pool to A$60.5 million ($42.81 million). It was A$55 million for the last edition.

The tournament’s heat policy, which involves a calculation based on humidity and temperature and can be confusing to understand, was also being reviewed.

The U.S. Open was blighted by heat issues this year, although the design of the court might also have contributed to the stifling conditions on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“We have an extreme heat policy and we’re working toward an extreme heat index which will be a little different,” Tiley said.

“The research we’ve had has been sport in general and we’ve just completed some research specifically for tennis so that’s going to be concluded in the coming weeks and it will be easier to understand.”

Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source link

The post Australian Open organizers working toward stand on coaching rule appeared first on Today News Stories.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2QDw3EJ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #WordPress

0 notes

newsintodays-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Osaka claims U.S. Open title after Serena meltdown

New Post has been published on http://newsintoday.info/2018/09/09/osaka-claims-u-s-open-title-after-serena-meltdown-2/

Osaka claims U.S. Open title after Serena meltdown

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Naomi Osaka became Japan’s first Grand Slam singles champion after she thumped Serena Williams 6-2 6-4 in a controversial U.S. Open final on Saturday, with the American suffering a mesmerizing meltdown after being handed a code violation.

It was drama-filled conclusion to a final that was rich with storylines but will now go down as one of the most controversial Grand Slam finals of all time.

There was much riding on the match for both women, with Osaka bidding to become the first man or woman from Japan to lift a Grand Slam singles title and Williams poised to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles.

In the end it was Osaka making history but on a day of bizarre events her victory will only be a footnote to what is sure to go down as one of the most infamous matches ever played at Flushing Meadows.

The chaotic finish filled with screaming, tears and jeers cast a cloud over what should have been Osaka’s shining moment.

Standing on the podium waiting to be handed her trophy and a winner’s check for $3.8 million, Osaka heard only boos as an angry crowd took out their frustration on Portuguese chair umpire Carlos Ramos, who stood to the side.

“I know everyone was cheering for her and I’m sorry it had to end like this,” said Osaka. “It was always my dream to play Serena in the U.S. Open finals … I’m really grateful I was able to play with you.”

With Osaka in control of the match after taking the first set, Ramos sent Williams into a rage when he handed the 23-time Grand Slam champion a code violation in the second game of the second set after he spotted the American’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou making some hand signals from the player’s box.

A string of bad behavior followed from Williams and she went on to incur a point penalty for smashing her racket before being slapped with a game penalty at 4-3 down after she launched into a verbal attack against Ramos, accusing him of being “a liar” and “a thief for stealing a point from me”.

The game penalty put Osaka 5-3 up and the 20-year-old Japanese kept her cool to pull off the win.

Mouratoglou later admitted he had been coaching but in another strange twist an unrepentant Williams continued to deny she had received any advice and was instead a victim of sexism.

��He (Ramos) alleged that I was cheating, and I wasn’t cheating,” said Williams. “I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things.

“I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff.

“For me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark.”

Almost lost in the chaos was a fearless and cool display from Osaka.

Sept 8, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Naomi Osaka of Japan holds the U.S. Open trophy after beating Serena Williams of the USA in the women’s final on day thirteen of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Before Williams’s meltdown, Osaka had already put the 36-year-old under rarely seen pressure.

Osaka had given Williams plenty of respect but no other concessions as she grabbed the early break on a double fault by her idol for a 2-1 first set lead that she would not let go.

Playing on tennis’s biggest stage in her first Grand Slam final, the enormity of the moment did not faze Osaka while Williams, contesting her 31st major final, looked unsteady.

Williams’s implosion was not a totally unfamiliar sight for tennis fans, who watched a similar meltdown nine years earlier on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Playing the semi-finals against Kim Clijsters, Williams flew into a rage after a line judge called her for a foot-fault on a second serve, leaving her match point down to the Belgian.

Williams launched into an expletive-laced rant at the official. She waved her racket in the lineswoman’s direction and then shook a ball in her clenched fist as she threatened to “shove it down” her throat.

She was initially fined $10,500 for unsportsmanlike behavior, the maximum allowed on site at a tournament, and was then slapped with an additional $164,500 fine and put on probation for two years by the Grand Slam Committee.

Williams could face further sanctions for her actions on Saturday against Osaka, the WTA issuing a statement that they will be looking into the incident.

Slideshow (18 Images)

“There are matters that need to be looked into that took place during the match,” said the WTA. “For tonight, it is time to celebrate these two amazing players, both of whom have great integrity.”

Editing by Pritha Sarkar/Peter Rutherford

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source link

0 notes

dragnews · 7 years ago

Text

Mothers know what

LONDON (Reuters) – At first sight the tattoo on the inside of Kim Clijsters’ left wrist does not seem like a sign of how busy life can be for a tennis-playing mother. It reads “Jada” – the name of her first born.

FILE PHOTO: Kim Clijsters of Belgium and her family pose for a photograph after she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, U.S., July 22, 2017. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

Only problem is Clijsters is now a mother-of-three and by the time her sons Jake and Blake came along, she simply had no time to indulge in getting some more body art inked to her wrist, or anywhere else for that matter.

“I’ve been tattooed out,” the Belgian told Reuters with a laugh as she sat on a balcony overlooking Wimbledon’s Court 14.

So do the boys make an issue of this apparent snub by mum?

“They don’t but Jada does. She feels very happy as she thinks she’s the special kid.”

As a curly-haired 18-month-old toddler, Jada melted hearts as she ran around on Arthur Ashe Stadium in September 2009 but her presence also celebrated the fact that Clijsters had just become the first mother to win a Grand Slam title since 1980.

Clijsters went on to lift two more major trophies and she remains the only mother to have claimed any of the four slams over the past 38 years.

However, expectations have been growing that Serena Williams may be about to join that club as she chases a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam crown after returning from a year-long maternity break.

The fact that Clijsters triumphed at Flushing Meadows in only her third tournament back or that in 2008 Lindsay Davenport was winning WTA titles three months after giving birth to her son Jagger Jonathan through an emergency c-section has perhaps skewed expectations about the comeback process.

YOUNGER MOTHER

Aged 26 at the time, Clijsters was a much younger mother on the circuit than the 36-year-old Williams, who is only contesting her fourth tournament after suffering a series of complications during childbirth last September.

“Serena knows what she has to do to get back to her best level. Nobody else knows. Not even (her coach) Patrick (Mouratoglou),” explained Clijsters, who won three of her four slams after the birth of Jada.

“Patrick knows what she has to do to be the best tennis player, her fitness coach knows what she needs to do to get back into the shape she was in before she had her baby.

“But only Serena knows all the details. The mental side of things, nobody can get into your head. That’s only her. She’s so strong to do all those things but it takes time.”

When Clijsters came back, she would often touch base with Davenport, who was part of her support network. She also had access to the WTA’s traveling troop of physiotherapists, massage therapists, medical advisors and psychologists who could help her in whatever way she needed.

With such a wealth of resources available to any player, would Clijsters encourage more women to take career breaks and come back to tennis after starting a family?

“You can’t force that. Every player has to figure that out for themselves. I followed my instincts and I quit when I was 24,” said the Belgian, who is an ambassador for the Oct. 21-28 WTA Finals in Singapore.

“If I had listened to a lot of people, they were telling me it was too soon. But to me it felt right. Like it felt right to me to come back.

“There is not one situation that is (the) same for all the players. If there is a player who is 26 and (they) have a very strong motherly instinct… it’s going to be hard to be fully dedicated to your sport.

“I felt guilty for a while after coming back… because I wanted to do this for myself and it felt selfish in a way. But it was okay to be selfish. (Being) selfish often looks like a negative thing but it’s not in a lot of ways.”

Thanks to the blueprint mapped out by Clijsters, today there are at least seven mothers in the top 200 of the WTA rankings.

However, the one thing that has yet to be seen in the professional era is a mother-of-two winning a Grand Slam title, is that possible?

“I hope one day we could have that. I’m sure it’s possible,” she said before adding with a laugh: “But I know a third pregnancy is a lot harder than a first pregnancy!”

Reporting by Pritha Sarkar, editing by Neil Robinson

The post Mothers know what appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2uiQahJ via Today News

#Daily News #Daily World News #Daily Business News #Daily Sports News #World The News