Tennis Tour Tidbits

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 11th October 2013

Tennis Tour Tidbits

epa03585502 Maria Sharapova of Russia in action against Samantha Stosur of Australia during their quarter final match of the WTA Qatar Ladies Open tennis tournament at the International Khalifa Tennis Complex Doha, Qatar, 15 February 2013. EPA/STRINGER |

The Chinese city of Shenzhen is seeking either an ATP 500 or 250 level event. . . Maria Sharapova has scheduled December exhibitions in Bogota, Mexico City and Thailand. . . L’Equipe is reporting that there was only one bidder for the Roland Garros pay TV rights for 2014-2018. Apparently, Canal Plus and Sport BeIN did not put in bids and Eurosport submitted a bid but lower than the $15 million Euros that was said to be the French Tennis Federation’s minimum requirement. . . Russia’s Elena Vesnina has decided to play the Tournament of Champions-Sofia rather than the Fed Cup final against Italy. Her doubles partner, Ekaterina Makarova is injured and may also skip the tie. . . Belgian Steve Darcis underwent surgery on right shoulder and will be out for six months. He’s been hurt since he stunned Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon. . . Spanish Tennis Federation president Jose Luis Escanuela on new captain Carlos Moya: “Our main challenge is to win the sixth title and any decision we take is based on that. And we believe that in the hands of Carlos Moya we can achieve it.” Moya, on why he decided to sign only a one-year contract, “My decision was a year because things must be earned.” . . . Two time calendar year Grand Slam Rod Laver says that Roger Federer’s consistency still makes him the best player of his generation. “When I look at Federer, with what he’s accomplished, against the competition that he’s accomplished it with, I’d have to say I would think that Roger is the greatest player. I’ve always said if you’re the best in your era, that’s as good as you really can do. You could take it back to ‘Is it Fred Perry, is it Don Budge, is it myself that came along?'” . . . Roger Federer has finally become very active on Twitter and said it took him a long time to join because “I just didn’t want to let the fans down if I did join that I was not going to live up to the expectations. I just don’t want them to expect me to do something every single day or every single week. It goes in phases.”

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Ekaterina Makarova, Elena Vesnina, Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, Rod Laver, Roger Federer, Sports, Steve Darcis, Tennis, Tennis News