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Post by jimm on Dec 26, 2007 16:12:50 GMT
here
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Post by jimm on Dec 26, 2007 16:22:12 GMT
Italian duo hit with betting bans
Starace has won two doubles titles but none in singles Italian number one Potito Starace and countryman Daniele Bracciali have both been suspended for betting on matches.
Starace, ranked 31 in the world, was banned for six weeks from 1 January and fined £21,400 by the sport's governing body for making five bets in 2005.
Bracciali, ranked 258, was banned for three months and fined £14,300 for making around 50 five-euro bets.
Italian Alessio Di Mauro was banned for nine months in November, the first player caught in a betting crackdown.
He has said he would appeal against his ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
However, the Italian Tennis Federation has complained that the ATP, the governing body of men's tennis, was making scapegoats of its three players.
I cannot believe that we Italians were the only ones that placed the odd little bet
Daniele Bracciali
"The penalties are out of proportion with the size of infringements committed by the two players," said a spokesman. "Obviously, neither player betted on their own matches."
And Bracciali, 29, claims he and Starace have been hung out to dry because they are not big names.
"We were the sacrificial lambs. That is why they have got upset with us," he said.
"We are not champions and we are not important at a high level. But I cannot believe that we Italians were the only ones that placed the odd little bet.
"The regulations of the ATP lend themselves to numerous interpretations of the rule 'not necessary to bet on tennis'.
"Plus, if I had wanted to be sly, I certainly wouldn't place bets in my own name."
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Post by jimm on Dec 31, 2007 10:52:59 GMT
Hewitt unfazed by Adelaide heat
By Daniel Brettig December 31, 2007
LLEYTON Hewitt advised his fellow professionals to shape up or quit the sport after several raised concerns about steepling temperatures on day one of the Adelaide International at Memorial Drive.
The forecast maximum of 43C was mercifully not reached on Monday, but a high of 42.1C soon after 1pm was unpleasant enough to have vanquished No.5 seed Radek Stepanek saying it was the hottest tournament he had played.
Stepanek's conqueror, Australian wildcard Joe Sirianni, said it was possible the players would look for some consideration to be given to an extreme heat policy for all tour events.
But after losing his opening doubles match with fellow Australian Nathan Healey, Hewitt was adamant the ATP Tour's non-implementation of a heat policy, in line with that employed by the Australian Open, was the right call.
"It's not comfortable for anyone to play sport on days like this, but that's what it's about though, gruelling out matches,'' Hewitt said.
"There shouldn't be a heat rule regardless, we're athletes and if you don't put in the hard yards then don't play.
"The Australian Open is the only tournament that has a heat rule, there's been a lot of guys cramping in the past in the US Open in tough conditions and they've never brought in a heat rule there.
"So it's only fair the ATP week in week out (don't), we're only playing best of three sets too, so if you can't last in that, then get a new job.''
Hewitt and Healey went down in two and a bit sets, 6-3 7-5 and 10-8 in the match tiebreaker to American Eric Butorac and Canadian Frank Dancevic, saving Hewitt from the prospect of playing doubles and singles throughout a week of steep temperatures.
Having watched Hewitt at close quarters in his first match of the summer, Healey was impressed.
"He's hitting the ball great, he's fit and he's ready to fire,'' Healey said.
AAP
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Post by jimm on Dec 31, 2007 10:54:14 GMT
Stepanek succumbs to injury
December 31, 2007
NO.5 seed Radek Stepanek retired from his opening round match with a heel injury at the Australian men's hardcourt tennis championship at Memorial Drive in Adelaide.
The Czech bowed out to Australian wildcard Joe Sirianni while trailing 6-7 (3-7) 3-4 and down a break in the second set, citing a right heel problem.
The former world No.8 said he did not pull out of the match because of the fierce heat, with temperatures hovering around 42C.
"Definitely, it's the hottest tournament I've ever played but it's different, some in the (United) States, in Washington you have very high humidity, here's it's very dry,'' he said.
"Guys are coming in here and a couple of them are already sick or injured, on the court it can be around 50C, so definitely it's maybe too much.''
Stepanek was not the only seed to crash out on Monday's first day with No.7 seed Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina beaten 6-3 6-3 by American Michael Russell.
Elsewhere, American Sam Querry eliminated Belgian Steve Darcis 7-5 6-4, and Germany's Benjamin Becker ousted Australian Robert Smeets 3-6 6-4 6-2.
Agence France-Presse
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Post by jimm on Dec 31, 2007 10:55:22 GMT
Nadal motivated in Olympic year
From correspondents in Chennai December 31, 2007
WORLD No.2 Rafael Nadal wants to win the Olympic title at Beijing, but has distanced himself from trying to topple Swiss champion Roger Federer from the pedestal.
The feisty Spaniard, 21, who is top seed for the $US436,000 ($498,000) ATP Chennai Open starting Monday, said he was excited about 2008 because of the Olympic Games in August.
"This year there is special significance because of the Olympic Games," Nadal told reporters ahead of the season-opening event in the southern Indian city of Chennai.
"Olympics is just behind the four grand slams. The Davis Cup is also there, but importantly the Olympics comes once in four years.
"It is a special tournament, special motivation."
Nadal, ranked second behind Federer for the third year in a row, said he was not working himself into a frenzy in trying to grab the No.1 position.
"I would love to be No.2 for 50 more years," said Nadal, who finished 2007 with 5735 ATP ranking points against Federer's 7180.
"(Getting) 5600 or 5700 points, that is a lot," he said. "In a normal moment in the history of tennis, I'd have been No.1.
"I'm not worried about Roger, he is better than the other guys at the moment. But a lot of young guys are coming from behind at the present time."
Nadal won six titles in 2007, including the French Open, and forced Federer into a five-set thriller in the Wimbledon final.
But he lost in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and could not get past the fourth round at the US Open.
"It is difficult to play better," said Nadal. "I played very well on grass, clay and indoors too."
Agence France-Presse
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Post by jimm on Dec 31, 2007 11:04:15 GMT
December 31, 2007
FIFTH seed Radek Stepanek reckoned he had never faced hotter conditions after bowing out to Australian wildcard Joe Sirianni on the opening day of the Adelaide International at Memorial Drive.
Sirianni, 32, was awarded the match when Stepanek retired while trailing 7-6(7-3) 4-3 and down a break in the second set, citing a right heel problem that flared up in the first.
Widely known as a hardy campaigner - and as Martina Hingis' ex-fiance - former world No.8 Stepanek was at pains to explain that he did not pull out due to the heat, but said a forecast maximum of 43C had caught his attention.
"Definitely it's the hottest tournament I've ever played but it's different, some in the (United) States, in Washington you have very high humidity, here's it's very dry," he said.
"Guys are coming in here and a couple of them are already sick or injured, on the court it can be around 50C, so definitely it's maybe too much."
The exposed layout of Memorial Drive, featuring dual centre courts for the tournament's final edition before it is superseded by a new event in Queensland from 2009, afforded little in the way of shade for the combatants.
Instead they had to make do with ice towels, plenty of fluids and relaxed time limits at changes of ends.
Unlike the Australian Open, which this year will adjust its heat policy to allow players to escape from the sun at the conclusion of a set if temperatures are deemed too harsh, ATP tour events are not suspended for heat.
Softly-spoken Sirianni admitted to having a significant climate advantage over Stepanek in the conditions, and said he had been surprised to find out there was nothing in place to suspend play at a regular tour event.
"I think I did (have the edge over him), the Aussies are acclimatised to this weather," he said.
"Even though I was down a break I said to myself just hang in there, break again and see where it's going to take me. I didn't really want to go to a third set, it did get hot out there."
Always a journeyman in 11 years on the fringes of the tour, Sirianni has risen to a career-high 195th in the world at the conclusion of 2007, and can raise his ranking further with a strong showing this week.
If he can reach the semi-finals, Sirianni will win main draw entry to the Sydney International, having already received a wildcard into the Australian Open.
"Top 100 (is the goal), but day at a time, match at a time, I'm feeling great and enjoying myself," he said.
Stepanek was not the only favourite to fall foul of the weather and a motivated opponent, as seventh-seeded Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro was marched out 6-3 6-3 by American Michael Russell.
In other results, fellow Statesider Sam Querry was too accomplished for Belgian Steve Darcis, winning 7-5 6-4 in little more than an hour, while local Robert Smeets could not sustain his form against Germany's Benjamin Becker, taking the first set before subsiding 3-6 6-4 6-2.
Theirs was the only match for the day to reach a third set.
- AAP
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Post by SuperMarion on Jan 5, 2008 12:28:37 GMT
Lleyton Hewitt forgets that isnt just athletes who will assemble in Melbourne, but fans also. Therefore in the planning of such major sporting events, consideration has to be given to public safety. Sitting baking for hours is at best uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous. I'm not advocating nannyism.. just common sense.
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Post by jimm on Jan 5, 2008 15:17:04 GMT
The heat factor is one of the reasons that the AO might lose its GS status. There are very strong rumours of China taking over that slot. China is a huge country, and the temprature varies over the whole country, so there is a teperate zone there where the heats is not so intense during their summer, plus they Chinese can build a multi court facility in no time.
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Post by SuperMarion on Jan 6, 2008 8:42:07 GMT
We'll see if that's just talk. They certainly have the money, the will, and increasingly the infrastructure, and organisational skills. The Olympics will be a big test for them.
If a slam is going to be farmed out to any country then Japan, Korea, and Canada, would be top of my list of candidates. But of course, January is the heart of winter in the northern hemisphere.
One advantage China has over those candidates is it's increasing tennis and sporting pedigree.
Where there are prestigious events, tennis home favorites and stars - Then there is scope for expanding the money and merchandise side of the game. I'm not saying that's my concern. Just that you can bet your bottom dollar it will the suits primary consideration when seeking to relocate a slam, and evaluate potential candidate countries.
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Post by SuperMarion on Jan 6, 2008 8:46:52 GMT
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Post by jimm on Jan 6, 2008 9:45:02 GMT
Scotland's Murray takes Qatar title
Published: Jan. 5, 2008 at 4:34 PM
DOHA, Qatar, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Andy Murray of Scotland topped Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 Saturday in the championship match of the Qatar Open.
Murray, the No. 3 seed and runner-up at the Qatar event last year, claimed his fourth ATP title.
The victory was Murray's first against Wawrinka, who had won their previous two matches. Murray had upset world No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko to reach the finals.
The tournament at Doha is considered a tuneup for the upcoming Australian Open.
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Post by SuperMarion on Jan 6, 2008 15:59:57 GMT
Your pretty upset about it all arent you Jim? ps. you posted the Hingis article in the mens thread, ahem.
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Post by jimm on Jan 6, 2008 18:09:02 GMT
Your pretty upset about it all arent you Jim? ps. you posted the Hingis article in the mens thread, ahem. Still half asleep then Alice. I was up late watching the scores on the PC Yes its a great pity, but Marti did silly things when she was a girl (ran away with her Ski instructor) so you dont know what to believe now. But the trbunal's saying it was clear cut is not right. They admit that the same lab had returned false results before, but they "Assumed" the problem had been fixed. Still Masha and Marion can take over her mantle now
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Post by jimm on Jan 6, 2008 20:13:01 GMT
Youzhny dominates Nadal to win Chennai Open Jan. 6, 2008 CBSSports.com wire reports CHENNAI, India -- Rafael Nadal was routed by fourth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny 6-0, 6-1 in the final of the Chennai Open. Advertisement Click here to find out more!
The 19th-ranked Youzhny clinched the fourth title of his career by shocking No. 2 Nadal, who managed to hold his service just once in two sets.
The 57-minute title contest turned out to be a letdown for Nadal, who needed 3 hours, 54 minutes to overcome third-seeded fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya in what was the longest three-set match on the ATP Tour in 15 years.
"Maybe I was a bit tired after the long semifinal, but I lost the final because Mikhail played very well," Nadal said.
Nadal took a medical time-out during the second set, but said he had no fitness problem.
"I had no injury, just wanted the trainer's help in overcoming tiredness," he said. "I lost in the semifinal last year and have now played the final. Next year, I'll win the title here."
The error-prone Nadal saw his hopes of launching the year with a title vanish as the Russian hit winners from the baseline and executed deft drops.
Nadal's only hold came in the second game of the second set.
"Rafa was not Rafa," Youzhny said. "I did not win today, it was Rafa who lost. I did not expect it to be so easy. I was lucky as he just couldn't move and couldn't play."
Nadal still leads the head-to-head series 6-4. AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service
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Post by jimm on Jan 7, 2008 18:31:57 GMT
Virus leads to Federer withdrawal Roger Federer will be hoping to defend his Australian Open title World number one Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne because of a stomach virus. The eight-man exhibition tournament is a warm-up for the Australian Open which begins on 14 January, with Federer hoping to retain his title.
"After arriving in Australia I came down with a stomach virus and it continued to get worse," said Federer.
Qatar Open winner Andy Murray does compete, but German Tommy Haas has also pulled out with a shoulder injury.
Federer is yet to play this year, and will be rusty ahead of the defence of his Australian Open title.
"The doctors have advised me that I should take a couple of days off and recuperate so that I am able to be 100% for the start of the Australian Open," he added.
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