Tennis Tour Tidbit – Del Potro, Roddick, Fish, Sharapova, Roland Garros and more…

Written by: Staff on 23rd May 2013

Tennis Tour Tidbit - Del Potro, Roddick, Fish, Sharapova, Roland Garros and more...

epa03385258 Andy Roddick of the US serves to Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during his last service game in their fourth round match on the tenth day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2012. The match is Roddick's last as a singles tennis player as he had announced at the start of the US Open that he would retire whenever this US Open ended for him. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Juan Martin Del Potro pulled out of Roland Garros as he is still suffering the effects of a respiratory illness but is hoping to play Queens and Wimbledon. As expected, Americans Mardy Fish and Brian Baker also withdrew. “I’m sad to miss such an important tournament, and obviously this is a blow because these are the tournaments that one always dreams of winning,” Del Potro said. . .

Fox Sports 1 has hired the retired Andy Roddick to join the network as a co-host of Fox Sports Live, the network’s counter to ESPN Sports Center. “I was the way I have always been: pretty direct and pretty opinionated,” Roddick told SI.com. “I think that’s what they were looking for. I don’t know if they were looking for a typical, run-of-the-mill type of show or someone with fabricated opinions. . .

Stanford women’s coach Lele Forood had this to say about Kristie Ahn, who was back in the lineup after missing parts of the last two seasons, and clinched the final match over Texas A&M to win NCAA women’s tennis championship. “For Kristie Ahn to clinch, it’s poetic justice,” She’s been the missing player for us the last two years. We weren’t able to get it done without her.” Ahn added: “I was thinking about how absurd it was coming down to me. It’s a big moment, highlight of life.” . . .

UCLA coach Billy Martin couldn’t believe that his team had a match point on its racket and that his playerAdrien Puget was called for touching the net. UCLA lost the point and eventually the NCAA men’s tennis championship to Virginia, 4-3. “We were right there — match point — and thought we won it,” Martin said. “We were starting to celebrate ourselves. I’m sure they didn’t make the wrong call. It’s just hard to imagine we were that close but didn’t get it.” . . .

Mahesh Bhupathi’s new International Tennis Premiere Leaguewill have a soft launch at the Park Hyatt in Paris on Friday. . .

In the new issue of Tennis-Journal, Michael Joyce, the ex-coach of Maria Sharapova, says that her father and former coach Yuri was always afraid of his daughter playing Serena Williams. . .

On WTA Live, US teenager Madison Keys says she is currently reading eight books on her Kindle.

Yannick Noah’s much vaunted return to Roland Garros to play the senior event at the French Open 30 years after his momentous title triumph has been ruled out by injury.

Great seeing everybody arriving in Paris. This is a very exciting slam for everyone. But mostly for worlds number one Novak Djokovic . His lovely Jelena is always by his side but so is Pierre. Does Pierre get VIP status. Can he go where Thers little doggies can’t. He flies on gulfstreams and boring business jets but can he be around Nole in the players lounge ? This slam is a big deal for him because by winning Australia he is the only guy that can win a grand slam this year.

Venus is in Paris with her cute little doggy Harry. she is all snuggled warm but mentioned she forgot Harris coat .
The French open app is ready for download on your smartphones. Check it out. It’s great.

Topics: Andy Roddick, Brian Baker, ESPN tennis news, French Open, Jelena, Juan Martin Del Potro, Mardy Fish, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic, Pierre Djokovic, Roland Garros, Sports, Tennis News, Venus Williams