PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI
Following the second men's semifinal that featured Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych at the Western & Southern Open, I had an opportunity to speak with CBS tennis broadcaster Mary Carillo. "It's been a busy week in tennis" she shared with me while we were awaiting Rafael Nadal's post-match press conference in the Paul M. Flory Player Center at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati.
Busy it turns out, would be an understatement as plenty happened in the tennis world in Cincinnati from August 9-18. The following highlights feature the events that the sport of tennis experienced last week:
- Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal Meet for the 31st Time
Rafael Nadal practicing prior to his semifinal match last Saturday at the Western & Southern Open. Pete Ziebron Images
Cincinnati had the unique opportunity to witness the greatest rivalry in tennis history as Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer 5-7 7-6(5) 6-3 in the quarterfinals last Friday night. Nadal would go on to win his first Western & Southern Open, defeating John Isner in Sunday's final. Federer and Nadal have won a combined 28 major tournaments and 47 Masters 1000 tournaments and met for the 31st time, with Nadal now holding a 21-10 advantage.
- Maria Sharapova Fires Jimmy Connors After 1 Match
World #3 Maria Sharapova discusses her decision to hire Jimmy Connors with the media last Monday. Pete Ziebron Images
World #3 Maria Sharapova hired Jimmy Connors to assist her with some of the mental aspects of her game. On Monday during the WTA all access hour, Sharapova repeated the fact that the addition of Connors would not be with respect to her game, since at age 26, she was comfortable with her play. In her first match with Connors, Sharapova was upset by upstart American Sloane Stephens. On Wednesday, Connors was fired by Sharapova.
- 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli Retires From Tennis
2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli meets with the Western & Southern media last Monday. Pete Ziebron Images
Following Rafael Nadal's press conference after his victory over Benjamin Becker in the 2nd round, I was ready to head to Court 9 to watch the 3rd set of the Tommy Robredo-Stanislaus Wawrinka match when I heard the announcement in the press box at 8 PM: "Attention media, Marion Bartoli will be in the main interview room at 8:15." Bartoli lost her match on Grandstand, so I thought that it was odd that the Wimbledon champion would have a press conference, especially since the press was able to spend nearly 15 minutes with Bartoli on Monday afternoon in the WTA all-access hour.
Although I acknowledged the media alert about Bartoli's presser, I headed to the Robredo-Wawrinka match. Later that night, I received notification that Bartoli announced her retirement from the sport of tennis. Some players are not so sure about the finality of the Bartoli announcement, including Sloane Stephens: "I think maybe it's a trick or something. She's going to like come back and be like, I'm playing New Haven next week or something."
- #1 Serena Williams v. #2 Victoria Azarenka in the W & S Open Final
Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka appearing at the WTA press conference last Monday. Pete Ziebron Images
Sunday's women's final in Cincinnati featured the top two players in the world, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka. Azarenka would prevail in their fourth meeting of the year 2-6 6-2 7-6(6) to even their series this year at two apiece. Williams leads the overall head-to-head 12-3.
Following the match, Serena had very nice things to say about her opponent: "I'm a big Victoria fan. Whenever I'm not at a tournament, I root for her. For me, I think she's just the ultimate competitor on the court and just really nice. She just leaves everything on the court and nothing personal, and everything off the court, she's just so, so professional and so nice. I mean, I really get along with her. She's just a great person."
- Martina Hingis Continues Doubles Comeback with Daniela Hantuchova in Front of Capacity Crowds
Recent Hall of Fame inductee Martina Hingis is all smiles at the Western & Southern Open. Pete Ziebron Images
Calendar year Grand Slam doubles Champion & 5-time Grand Slam singles Champion Martina Hingis partnered with career Grand Slam mixed doubles Champion Daniela Hantuchova for their 3rd tournament in 4 weeks at the Western & Southern Open. Although Hingis and Hantuchova would lose in their second match to #1 seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, both of their matches were played in front of capacity crowds on Court 9. Hingis confirmed that she and Hantuchova have accepted a wild card into the main draw women's doubles at the 2013 US Open. Martina Hingis is enjoying her return to tennis:
- No American Men in the ATP Top 20 the Week of August 12? John Isner Advances to the W & S Open Final and is Ranked #14 the Week of August 19
John Isner serves his way to the Western & Southern Open final. Pete Ziebron Images
For the first time ever in the 40 year history of the ATP world rankings, no American man was ranked in the top 20. John Isner was the highest ranked American at #22. Last week, Isner recorded consecutive victories over #11 Richard Gasquet, #10 Milos Raonic, #1 Novak Djokovic and #7 Juan Martin del Potro before falling in the Cincinnati final to #4 Rafael Nadal. With his run to the final, Isner improved to #14 and received some hearty praise from Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday.
Rafael Nadal: "Nobody likes to play against a player who you will not have the chance to be on rhythm for most of the time. So John is this kind of player that, in my opinion, he should be fighting for the Masters, for the top 10."
Juan Martin del Potro: "His game's on the rise. He's improving a lot, and he's moving fast. He has experience, of course, and he's a really tough opponent for us. His serves are unbelievable, and nobody wants to play against him."
- SAP Partners with the WTA Until at Least 2016, Possibly "Forever"
Mary Joe Fernandez, Stacey Allaster, Steve Peck, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka announce and discuss the new partnership between the WTA and SAP last Monday in Cincinnati. Pete Ziebron Images
United States Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez was joined by WTA CEO and President Stacy Allaster , SAP Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiative Steve Peck and world #1 Serena Williams and world #2 Victoria Azarenka to announce the fact that SAP, the world's largest software provider, has joined the WTA family as a partner. Tennis Acumen was on hand for the press conference announcing the partnership at the Paul Flory Player's Center and asked Mr. Peck for clarification of the terms of the partnership:
Tennis Acumen: With respect to baseball and football stadiums changing names every two, three years, you had mentioned this deal was about a year in the process. How long is this partnership?
STEVE PECK: The initial one is committed through 2016, but...
STACEY ALLASTER: You told me forever. And once you get us in, we never leave you. No pressure.
STEVE PECK: Surrounded by women. Just dig in.
MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: It's forever.
STEVE PECK: Right now through 2016, but forever. We didn't look at this as short term at all, and our history is thinking in the long term. Just the fact we're an independent brand 41 years later in a technology space is pretty stunning in and of itself.
We also don't pick partnerships just because they may look good or be trendy. This was about being able to make a strategic impact on the business, and in turn, getting so much more in return and strategic impact on the brand.
So we take the long view in what we do, and this is going to be a great showcase for us and our other 24 industries outside of sport.
I expect it to be a very long‑term relationship. Is that good?
STACEY ALLASTER: Good answer.
- WTA #4 Agnieszka Radwanska Withdraws After Two Victories to Attend Funeral of Grandfather in Poland
Aga Radwanska speaks with the media at the WTA All-Access hour last Monday. Pete Ziebron Images
Friday's women's quarterfinal schedule featured only three matches as world #4 Aga Radwanska withdrew from the Western & Southern Open after a 3rd round win over Elena Vesnina of Russia. Radwanska confirmed with the media on Monday at the WTA All-Access hour that her Grandfather recently passed away. On Thursday she withdrew from the tournament, sending defending Champion Li Na into the semifinals via walkover. Li would lose to finalist Serena Williams 5-7 5-7 in the semifinals.
Aga Radwanska's statement: "I'm very sorry that I have to withdraw from the tournament. Unfortunately, my granddad passed away last Sunday. The funeral is going to be Saturday and I need to be there. I am disappointed to not continue with the tournament, especially because of my form so far this week. It was a difficult decision,but I need to go home and be with my family."
- Incoming UCLA Bruin Freshman Mackenzie McDonald Defeats 2-Time NCAA Champion & Former USC Trojan Steve Johnson to Qualify for W&S Main Draw
Mackenzie McDonald qualifies for the Western & Southern Open main draw. Pete Ziebron Images
Admittedly when looking at the Western & Southern Open men's qualifying draw, I did not recognize the opponent of Nicolas Mahut. The name was Mackenzie McDonald and in the first round of the qualfying draw, would defeat Mahut, winner of 2 ATP titles in 2013, 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4.
Next up was Steve Johnson, the 2-time NCAA Champion from the University of Southern California. The fact that Johnson attended the rival school where McDonald would enter as a Freshman later this month was not lost on the soon to be UCLA Bruin. As it appeared that the two players would split sets, I headed to the Grandstand court to watch the action. Sitting behind the baseline and very close to members of the UCLA coaching staff, I witnessed McDonald pulling off an absolute shocker for the second consecutive day as he defeated the world #100 Steve Johnson 3-6 6-4 6-4 to advance to the main draw of a Masters 1000 tournament.
- Hearty Congratulations to the Western & Southern Open Staff and Volunteers for Making 2013 the Best Ever at the Turnstiles
The Grandstand crowd looks on in early round action in the early evening at the Western & Southern Open. Pete Ziebron Images
Numerous attendance records were set during he 2013 Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
Tournament records were set for single session, single day, total week and sellouts during the 16 sessions held over 9 days.
Below are each of the records that were established during the 2013 event:
- 186,501 - total attendance
- 13 sessions - sellouts (including 11 straight to end the week)
- 25,155 - single day (Thursday, August 15)
- 13,704 - single session (Wednesday, August 14 Day session)
The 2014 Western & Southern Open will be held August 9-17.
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