Tough draw for Hewitt (Adelaide International)

Hewitt has been handed a tough draw for the season opener. The number-1 seed will play Dudi Sela in the first round. He might face Jose Acasuso in the next match. Hewitt lost to Acasuso in their previous encounter.

Full draw at ATP site.

However, the draw shouldn’t be a problem for Hewitt. He seems to be working very hard for the next season. With Tony Roche in his team, he might come up with added weapons to his game.

Chennai Open Draw

The Chennai Open (one of the three tournaments in the first week of 2008 season) draw was released few hours ago. Top four seded players for this tournament: 1. Nadal   2. Bhagdatis,   3. Moya,    4. Youzny

Full draw at ATP site.

The draw is evenly distributed. The seeded players do not have any significant challenges in the early rounds. Nadal will play the first round match against Frenchman Mathieu Montcourt. Good news for Nadal is that Malisse (who beat Nadal last year in this tournament) is not in his quarter.

Melbourne slicker than Wimbledon

From The-Age:

NOT ONLY are the new blue Australian Open courts faster than the contentious surface they replaced, they have been measured as even quicker than Wimbledon’s grass.

That is the claim of the Australian Open’s tournament director, Craig Tiley, who consulted widely with top players — keeping Australian Lleyton Hewitt “in the loop” — before selecting Plexicushion, a surface he says is quicker than Wimbledon and slightly slower than the US Open’s hardcourts — the slickest of the grand slam events.

The International Tennis Federation has devised a pace-rating scale for the various courts on the tour.

On the scale, a rating below 30 is “slow”, 30-34 medium, 34-38 was designed medium-fast, while anything above 38 was considered “fast”.

Tiley said the new Plexicushion had a speed rating of “34 to 38″, which defined it as medium-fast.

Surprisingly, this was quicker than Wimbledon — historically, the tournament that had always favoured serve-and-volley tennis, in which rallies were relatively short.

“Wimbledon is actually slower,” Tiley said. “Because Wimbledon is medium … the grass is new grass, a new kind of grass. The French is obviously very slow. So we’re faster than Wimbledon, faster than the French, and a little bit below the US Open — not much though … US Open is 38, 39, they’re faster.”

Tiley said Wimbledon’s grass had been changed five years ago.

While the notion that the Australian Open’s courts — in the past derided by the Hewitt camp for resembling “green clay” — might be quicker than the game’s grass slam seems astounding, this does not necessarily make the tournament a serve and volleyer’s nirvana.

As Tiley acknowledged, on grass “the ball keeps low” which tends to give the impression of greater pace. A low bounce and skidding ball makes it harder, for instance, to retrieve a volley.

Tiley said Hewitt, the major critic of Rebound Ace, had indicated that he liked Plexicushion, even though he had not been on Melbourne Park yet.

“Lleyton, I’ve kept him the loop the whole time. I’ve shown him colours, when we were in colour choices, I kept him in the loop on that and the type of choice we were making, … I don’t make any apologies for consulting our top players.

“He’s happy for us to be rid of the lot, what we had out here last time, and he’s played on this (Plexicushion) before and he likes it … he hasn’t said to me directly ‘I love it’ but he hasn’t hit on Melbourne Park yet, so he needs to hit on it, which he will do before the Open.

“But everyone else has liked it, you know — across the board, every single player has said they really love it.”

Tiley said world No. 1 Roger Federer also had been informed about the new surface. Federer is another obvious beneficiary of a quicker surface.

Tiley and Tennis Australia are touting the new courts as quicker, more reliable and consistent than Rebound Ace, which was said to have variations in pace and bounce.

“They like the colour because they can actually see the ball,” Tiley said.

“The most important thing is we can actually replicate this across Australia, so it takes care of all the environmental sustainability issues that we have,” he added.

Sampras: Federer is the most dominant sportsman in the history of mankind

Federer seems to have a special quality that makes people sing about his greatness. Last year, Nadal was all praises for Roger after their Seoul exhibition. Now, it’s Sampras.

In a recent interview, Pete said some nice and insightful words about Roger and also about who the greatest player is. After the exhibition matches in November, I think Pete and Roger became really good friends.

Some excerpts from the interview:

On the greatest player debate…

“It’s difficult to say who is the greatest tennis player in history. The people who are usually mentioned are Roger, myself and Rod Laver, and I think it’s probably one of us three.”

“Roger’s critics say that he can’t be the greatest of all time unless he wins the French Open, but I don’t think that’s true.

“It’s difficult to compare generations, as things have changed so much since Laver’s day. Rod was my hero, and I have such great respect for what he did, but I remember him telling me once that he only had to start playing from the fourth round onwards. There’s no way that’s the case now, as you really have to turn it on from the first round onwards.

“I think there’s a chance that people will look back on Roger as the greatest of all time.”

“But I don’t think that Roger is at all comfortable with how great he is. Roger and I were talking about this a few weeks ago, the debate about who is the greatest tennis player in history, and he found the whole conversation really uncomfortable.

On Roger’s performance in the past few years…

“What Roger has been doing the last three years or so has been nothing short of phenomenal – I think he has been the most dominant individual sportsman in the history of mankind. I can’t think of anyone in an individual sport who has even got close to what Roger has done the last few years,”

On Roger’s love for tennis…

“Roger isn’t playing tennis for the limelight, for the pat on the back and for the medal at the end of the race. He plays tennis because he loves tennis, and he is competitive when he gets out there on the court, but I don’t think he’s doing it for the praise and to be called the greatest. All he wants to do is get out there and play tennis, and that’s what I love about Roger, that you can see he loves the game.”

On their friendship…

“When Roger came to my house, it was great. We had a hit for a few hours, played a few points, did some drills, and spoke about tennis, about the different generations. But it was probably only in Asia that I got to know him that well. We hung out a ton there, and there was a connection between us.”

“Roger is such a great guy, and we had a lot of laughs over dinners. He is a funny guy, he likes his jokes, and is a bit of a prankster.

“I think that’s a side of him which he likes to keep private. All those things that people do say about Roger, they are all true – he is a humble guy, he’s down to earth. I love the way he handles himself. Tennis couldn’t have a better ambassador.”

On their respective play levels…

“Roger has got no holes in his game, he’s got the whole package, and he rarely has an off-day, and even then he usually finds a way to win.”

“Our games are different as I used to take more risks, so I probably had more off-days. There are a few players who have gone toe-to-toe with him, such as [Rafael] Nadal and [Novak] Djokovic, but Roger always seems to have something extra when it really matters, especially at the grand slams. He’s got another gear.”

On Roger’s 2008 season and possibility of breaking his record…

“Roger’s the favourite for the Australian Open, so that’s 13, and he has a good chance of winning the French Open, even though he’s never done that before, and so he could equal my record in Paris. And he could break it on Centre Court at Wimbledon, which would be something.”

“If he doesn’t win the French Open, then he will probably break it at the US Open.

“I don’t think it’s a shoo-in, and there is a lot more work for him to do, but I think he has a great chance of doing it in 2008. The story for the last few years has been Roger breaking all the records – during 2007, he beat the Jimmy Connors record for most consecutive weeks at No 1, and soon the grand slam record is going to be his as well. Soon all the records are going to be his, and I’m pleased for him. He is dominating the sport more than I ever did, more than anyone ever has.”

Full interview at Telegraph.

Stepanek, Vaidisova to Marry

From Tennis-X:

Hold onto your hats. Just when you though things in tennis couldn’t get any weirder, the Bradenton (Fla.) Herald is reporting that 29-year-old ATP tennis pro Radek Stepanek and 18-year-old Nicole Vaidisova, both of Czech origin, have filed papers in Bradenton to tie the knot.

Stepanek was engaged to Swiss Martina Hingis until the two broke it off last August. A couple months later, Hingis announced she had drug-tested positive for cocaine and was subsequently retiring from tennis.

The two applied for a marriage licence on Dec. 10 according to Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court papers. Vaidisova’s agent at IMG Academies, Olivier Van Lindonk, could not be reached for comment by the newspaper.

Stepanek is known for his signature move “The Worm,” where he writhes around on court after big wins. Vaidisova is known as a young talent who struggles to control her temper, and finished 2007 just outside the Top 10 on the WTA Tour Rankings.

“Fresh” Hewitt Looking Ahead to Australian Open

Hewitt says he will be lot fresher than Federer and co for the next grand slam. He’s hitting with Roche for 3 hours a day and working out in the gym for three more hours. Come January… he will be ready with his best preparation ever for the Open… so says Hewitt.

From Gaurdian:

Rejuvenated Hewitt looking ahead to new season

SYDNEY, Dec 6 (Reuters) – A month-long layoff due to an ankle injury has put Lleyton Hewitt in a good position to challenge for next month’s Australian Open, the former world number one said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old, who missed the last month of the 2007 season because of the injury, said the year-ending schedule for most of the world’s top players, including world number one Roger Federer, could take its toll in the heat at Melbourne Park.

“I’m going to be a lot fresher than Federer,” Australian Hewitt told reporters. “Even when you look at (Novak) Djokovic, (Rafael) Nadal … (Nikolai) Davydenko were getting tired at the Masters Cup so I’m going to be a lot fresher than those guys but I’ve just got to try and get some matches under my belt.”

The world number 21, who annually carries the weight of his country’s hopes of a first home champion at the Australian Open since Mark Edmondson in 1976, has been working with Federer’s former coach Tony Roche to climb back up the rankings and prepare for 2008.

“It’s long hours, trying to get the miles in my legs but also working on specific areas,” he said of working with compatriot Roche, who helped Federer win six grand slam titles before they parted in May.

“The hard work’s probably been done up until now and the next week or so and then try and taper off a bit more.”

Hewitt, who will warm up for the Australian Open by appearing at the Sydney International event which starts on Jan. 6, added he would also compete at next year’s Beijing Olympics.

“At the moment I’d look forward to playing hopefully singles and doubles with Paul Hanley,” said Hewitt who represented Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

“I feel like we’ve got a great opportunity of winning a medal.

“Grand slams for a tennis player are the priority and we have the US Open about a week after the Olympics.

“It’s fortunate it’s on the same surface but it is a lot of flying, a lot of travel and you’ve got to still have enough in the tank.”

Nadal seeks Software help to beat Federer

Interesting…. Nadal tied up with  an Indian software company to figure out ways to beat Federer. The software firm is currently developing a program with frame by frame analysis of Federer’s game. This program will be delivered to Nadal when he goes to India in January first week.

So, Nadal will have few surprises for Federer in their next meeting;)

From Indiatimes:

MUMBAI: Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has drawn up plans to overwhelm arch-rival Roger Federer in 2008. Easier said than done, given Federer’s imperious form this year. But he has help at hand, here in India. 

Sample this: world No 2 Nadal is consulting Swantha Software to figure out ways to beat Federer on grass. The Bangalore-based firm’s software, christened Half Volley, provides frame-by-frame analysis of how Fedex plays his trademark forehand shots and executes those electric cross-court returns. Nadal’s certainly got an ace up his sleeve when he faces Federer next.

Says Meru CEO P Sankaran, “They use our product to understand how the opponents play and devise game plans based on our analysis.” For about a decade now, India has been the world’s biggest hub for software outsourcing. But sports process outsourcing (SPO) is relatively nascent. The segment is currently generating annual revenues of about Rs 100 crore. However, experts say this segment will grow at over 40% year on year.

“There are immense opportunities. We expect that we would be a $15-million company by 2010, thanks to demand from global clients,” says Prasanna Raman, one of Swantha’s three promoters. Nadal—the king of clay with a 8-6 head-to-head record against Federer—had a brush with Swantha’s software when he came visiting last year.

Since then, Raman and his team have been working hard to get the software ready for launch at the Chennai Open in January 2008. “Mr Nadal is in touch with us. He wants to use the product and we are scheduled to meet in January when he’s in India,” says Raman.

Canas out of Australian Open

Good news for Roger Canas will miss 2008 Australian Open because of tendinitis in his left wrist. It is most likely that he will stay away from action until next April.

Joachim Johanson will also miss AO.

World No. 15 Canas has succumbed to tendinitis in his left wrist.

The Argentine has been told to stay off the ATP Tour until April or run the risk of having to undergo surgery.

Canas, barred for 15 months in 2005 for illegally using a diuretic, beat Federer in Masters Series’ matches in Indian Wells and Miami in March.

The baseliner climbed quickly back into the world top 20 on the strength of those wins, but will now be sidelined for up to four months.

His absence robs Melbourne Park officials of the perfect singles field.

The withdrawal leaves the Australian Open with 99 of the world’s top 100 players, and marginally increases Mark Philippoussis’s hopes of automatic inclusion in the main draw.

Philippoussis now has 14 players ahead of him in the race to make the January 14-27 tournament as a direct acceptance.

Canas has been bothered by soreness in the wrist since resuming after a short break.

He was recently examined by a French Open doctor, who advised against surgery but said the joint needed to be immobilised.

Canas will also miss the first round of Argentina’s Davis Cup tie in February against Great Britain.

Federer lost only six matches in 2007 — to Canas (Indian Wells and Miami), Rafael Nadal (French Open and Monte Carlo), David Nalbandian (Madrid and Paris indoors) and Novak Djokovic (Montreal).

JOACHIM Johansson will miss the Australian Open because of a lack of practice after recovering from a six-week illness.

“Of course it’s sad, but travelling to Melbourne and playing five-set matches with so little preparation does not feel meaningful,” Johansson said.

“After talking to (coach) Johan Landsberg we decided it would be better to practice one additional month.”

Johansson, who reached a career-high ranking of ninth in 2005, was limited to three ATP tournaments this year because of a right shoulder injury.

Johansson had surgery in February and did not return until September, when he lost to Andy Roddick in the Davis Cup semi-finals between Sweden and the US.

In October, Johansson withdrew from the second round at the Stockholm Open because of illness.

The Australian Open is from January 14-27.