Tennis Tour Tidbits – Roland Garros, Stephens, Federer and more…

Written by: Staff on 24th May 2013

Tennis Tour Tidbits - Roland Garros, Stephens, Federer and more...

epa03669770 Rafael Nadal of Spain serves the ball to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during their semi final match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 20 April 2013. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO |

Brad Gilbert is at Roland Garros primarily to work in his role as a television analyst for ESPN but the Northern Californian will also be coaching Milos Raonic. Gilbert, former coach to Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray, has spent the last week in Monte Carlo doing preparation work with world no.16 Raonic who last week fired long-time coach Galo Blanco.

The French Tennis Federation and Paris City Hall will present a progress report on the modernization of Roland-Garros Stadium on Saturday. The press conference will be attended by Anne Hidalgo, First Deputy Mayor of Paris, Jean Vuillermoz, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of Sport, Jean Gachassin, President of the French Tennis Federation, and Gilbert Ysern, Managing Director of the FFT and Director of the Roland-Garros tournament. . .

Eugenie Bouchard became the first Canadian to reach a WTA semifinal since Rebecca Marinoin 2011 at Memphis when she reached the final four at Les Internationaux de Strasbourg. Bouchard is reportedly working with coach Antonio van Grichen through Wimbledon on a trial basis. Van Grichen coached Victoria Azarenka as well as Ana Ivanovic. . .

There is a group in Australia that reportedly trying to buy a team in the new Asian Tennis League. Owner Mahesh Bhupathi told the New York Times he already has commitments from Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic, among others. . .

Sloane Stephens tells TIME Magazine that she actually was upset when she faced Serena Williams in the year’s first tournament in Brisbane and Serena was fist pumping and yelling. “That’s insane,” Just intimidation. That’s just what happened. That’s what she does. She scares people.” Stephens will return to Washington this summer to compete at the Citi Open, July 27 – August 4 at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park.

@rogerfederer. The G.O.A.T. Has joined twitter. This is going to be great. Thanks RF. he had over 1 hundred thousand followers within hours by now it must be a million.

American Jamie Hampton is going thru all the Belgian stars this week. As if the rain didn’t damper the Brussels event enough in the first round she took Wickmayer out in 3 sets. Today she took out Kirsten Flipkens after being down 2-5 in the 3rd set she came back to win 7-5. Flip served for it at 5-4.

The 2013 RG mobile app is available. It’s awesome . It’s free. Get yours ASAP.

Sven Groeneveld international tennis consultant and expert is right. And world class adidas coach says : The clay isn’t RED! It’s ORANGE! A burnt orange color. But definitely orange. And if you don’t know your colors there is a paint color called ” Wimbledon White ”

The Paris players party looks to be an epic event. We will post more as we hear it , see it , know it.
Major players that have announced they will not play the French this year. Andy Murray , Stan Wawrinka , and Juan Martin Del Potro.

It’s tough having two slams so close together on such a crowded ,crazy schedule. Having to change surfaces. Balls. Foods. Environments. Surroundings. The biggest hurdle is going from the clay to the grass. All in a few weeks.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: AnaIvanovic, Asian Tennis League, Brad Gilbert, Eugenie Bouchard, French Tennis Federation, Mahesh Bhupathi, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Roland Garros, Serena Williams, Sloane Stephens, Tennis News, TIME Magazine