Tennis News From All Around: Tennis Hall of Fame To Expand, Del Potro Decides Not to Renew Wilson Contract, and More

Written by: Staff on 28th August 2013

Tennis News From All Around: Tennis Hall of Fame To Expand, Del Potro Decides Not to Renew Wilson Contract, and More

epa03839654 Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Grega Zemlja of Slovenia during their match on the second day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 27 August 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, Rhode Island is planning to expand.

The Hall of Fame has retained Shawmut Design and Construction of Providence, Rhode Island. Currently engaged in pre-construction, Shawmut’s team will undertake a significant expansion to the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s existing facility. The project includes the addition of three new indoor tennis courts, three new indoor/outdoor courts for year round use, retail space, offices, locker rooms, social area, exercise facility, and a potential squash facility consisting of three singles and two doubles courts.

The newly constructed elements of the project will be located on the northeast corner of Memorial Boulevard and Freebody Street. The focus of the project will be creating a cohesive campus with an exterior on Memorial Boulevard that complements the historic Newport Casino complex on Newport’s famed Bellevue Avenue, The facility consists of an extensive tennis museum, historic grass tennis courts, indoor tennis courts, and a 295-seat theater.

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Juan Martin del Potro, former US Open champion and sixth seed at this year’s event, will be playing in New York without a racket sponsor after deciding not to renew a seven figure endorsement contract with Wilson.

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Christina McHale says that US Open transportation is picking her up every day in New Jersey and driving her up and back to the site over both the George Washington and The Triborough Bridges. . . American player Denis Kudla accompanied Sloane Stephens to her interviews for her sponsor, American Express. Stephens will pay mixed doubles with another young American at the tournament, Jack Sock. Some other interesting duos are Duval/Donald Young and Martina Hingis/Mahesh Bhupathi. . . .Serena Williams will miss her good friend as James Blake retires. “Just pure heart. I mean, the guy has been really just a great person with a great heart. He’s been through so much. Being even able to be a professional player with his back, and then doing so well. We won together at Hopman Cup. He was such a great partner and a great friend. It’s just sad to see. Sad to see another good friend of mine that I’m not going to see on a daily basis.”…Spain’s David Ferrer just can’t shake his inferiority complex against the elite, specifically Roger Federer. “He is better than me, that’s only my opinion. Maybe this year Roger, he doesn’t play too many tournaments, and that’s I think because I am now No. 4 or was No. 3. I am very proud of that, but Roger is playing good again. I saw him in Cincinnati, and he’s coming back.” . . . Ryan Harrison says he’s too young to get discouraged. Harrison fell to Rafael Nadal in the first round of the US Open. “Well, I’m 21 years old. If I lost faith in my career at this point, that would be pretty embarrassing. So no,” he said,

Bernard Tomic is once again without his father on site at a major as John Tomic has been banned from tournaments for allegedly head butting his son’s hitting partner in Madrid last May. “I’m managing now,” said Tomic. “It’s still difficult, you know, what can I do? I’m trying to play as best as I can play. The main thing now for me is just to keep improving. Of course my dad is still on my side and that’s an important thing, but I’m trying to find myself deep down inside and become the best player I can be. . .

Promising young American Sloane Stephens said coming into the US Open that she could fall early and almost did to Mandy Minella. The 20-year-old was less than calm.

“I just think here, more expectations here being seeded, as opposed to last year when I was not seeded,” Stephens said. “I was like 40 in the world, whatever I was ranked. I think now there’s more eyes on me. Some little things that go with it. But I think overall it’s not that bad.” . .. In the new issue of Tennis-Journal, Grigor Dimitrov says that his life has not changed substantially since he began dating Maria Sharapova. “I don’t see any difference. I’m still Grigor Dimitrov. The most important thing is for me to stay real and be the person I am will never change.” . . . The Radwanska sisters returned to Poland during the tournament in Cincinnati to attend the funeral of their grandfather who was an inspiration. “He used to play tennis,” Aga said. “He was a hockey player and a hockey coach. He was really a sports guy. He was working in sports school until he was 79, so pretty, pretty late. He was very fit and skiing as well, playing tennis, everything.” . . . Francesca Schiavone hugged a ball kid during the middle of a game during her 6-0 6-2 loss to Serena Williams: “I don’t need a hug in that moment,” the Italian said. “I need a game, points. I don’t need the hug. No, no I went to the ballboy to say, ‘Well, that’s tough. No, it was just a joke.’” . . . Hard court lover Victoria Azarenka as to why it took her seven years to reach the US Open final in 2012: “I think dealing sometimes in the past with the pressure of wanting to succeed so bad here because, it may be like is one of my favorite events, so that plays a role.” . . .

The Wilson US Open store will feature a racquet that is not available in other retail locations yet, the Blade 98S which is a new addition to the Spin Effect Technology line. Wilson has added a new 18 x 16 string pattern to The Blade, which is used by Milos Raonic, Madison Keys and Gael Monfils. . . Heading into the US Open, Roger Federer says that his sore back feels better, “My back problem is not that major. I just need to make sure I don’t have any bad moments in the future. I’m doing a lot of exercise, the right exercises at the right time, how much is enough, how much is too much. It’s a balance I have to find, and I think I’m getting it slowly.” . . . USTA Player Developments coach Jose Higueras’ on making sure that young players know the value of hard work and real achievement: “The culture has to be there. You only get something for something. If you want to be successful, you have to do what everyone that is successful does,” he told Sports on Earth. “You watch Roger Federer play, for example. He always plays like he’s just having a drink, but don’t get fooled by that, there’s a lot of work beyond that. He didn’t get to where he was by just being talented. If it was up to me, there would be no wild cards. Wild cards create entitlement for the kids. I think you should be in the draw if you actually are good enough to get in the draw.” .. . Former ATP pro Bobby Blair, CEO of Cybermesh International Corp. will be publishing his memoirs later this year. He will hold a press conference at Lily’s in NYC on Thursday, August 29 at 9:00 a.m. . . . Roger Federer is all about tennis for the rest of 2013 as the Swiss struggles to lift a ranking which has left him on seventh in the world, 4 “I’ve had enough vacation this year, I need to make sure I practice & get back to the old form again”

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro, Martina Hingis, nadal, Radwanska, Serena Williams, Tennis, US Open, Wta

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jkoloski says:

August 30, 2013 at 8:37 am

Tennis News From All Around: Tennis Hall of Fame To Expand, Del Potro… http://t.co/C4NzeQkj5a
jkoloski says:

August 30, 2013 at 8:38 am

RT @Shawmut_Builds: In sports news today, we got a great mention on our upcoming work with @TennisHalloFame: http://t.co/tk1ETiVlhw