Tennis Tour News

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 23rd November 2013

Tennis Tour News

epa03954126 Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic during their Davis Cup final match in Belgrade, Serbia, 17 November 2013. EPA/KOCA SULEJMANOVIC |

NJTL Honors Tennis Channel And Chairman Solomon

New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) honored Tennis Channel and Chairman & CEO Ken Solomon yesterday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.

NYJTL is the largest provider of tennis and education services in the nation and serves more than 75,000 children in New York’s five boroughs in 26 schools and 68 community-based sites.

The Leadership Awards Luncheon is NYJTL’s major annual fundraiser drawing 400 guests annually to the sold out event that has been underwritten by the Lawrence B. and Frances Benenson Family Foundation since its inception in 1986. Luncheon co-chairs are Lawrence Benenson, Peter Malkin, and Polly Scott. Honorary Chairs include Jeanne Moutoussamy Ashe, former Mayor David Dinkins, and USTA President David Haggerty.

“The Tennis Channel is being honored in 2013 because it represents excellence in presenting all the benefits of playing tennis from the highest levels of the professional game to the joys of the every day player, “ said Dr. Deborah Antoine, NYJTL President & CEO. “Ken Solomon has been the driving force behind the growth of the Tennis Channel into more than 35 million homes nationwide.”

Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who recently provided hands on instruction more than 600 NYJTL participants at the Fall Tennis Festival, introduced Solomon.

Recent past honorees have included Bill Ackman, Clay Hamlin, Billie Jean King, Howard Lutnick, and John McEnroe.

In addition to honoring Tennis Channel, NYJTL presented the following awards:

NYJTL Achievement Award— Amanda Rivera, 9, who attends Our World Charter School in Queens.

Irwin Askenase Sportsmanship Award—Chris Tham, 12, who attends Adrien Block IS 25 in Queens.

Principal of the Year—Ed Tom, who is the founder of Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics High School in the South Bronx.

Sports broadcaster Bill Macatee was the master of ceremonies, and ATP Player Council representative and Tennis Channel broadcaster Justin Gimelstob conducted the live auction of two VIP Grand Slam packages to the French Open, donated by Tennis Channel, and to the US Open, donated by USTA.

Nishikori To Play Kooyong

Kei Nishikori has been added to the mix for the relaunched AAMI Classic at Kooyong, Melbourne, one of the prime informal tune-ups prior to the mid-January start of the Australian Open. The Japanese No. 1 will join an eight-man field which also includes Aussie holder Lleyton Hewitt, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych and Richard Gasquet and Grigor Dimitrov. Two more spots have yet to be filled for the January 8-11 event.

“I’m really looking forward to playing,” said Nishikori, who added: “I only played one match last year against (Paul Henri) Mathieu before I had to pull out injured. I can’t wait to get there to play again.”

Nishikori won the third title of his career in 2013, taking Memphis honors nine months ago without dropping a set. He also beat Roger Federer in the Madrid quarter-finals and ended the season ranked 17th after touching a career-best 11th following a French Open fourth-round appearance.

ADDITIONAL NEWS

The Age has reported that Todd Woodbridge is no longer a contender for Tennis Australia’s vacant high performance director’s role, and has moved into a new media/ambassadorial/spokesman’s position within the organization. Tennis Australia is still looking to replaced promoted chief executive Craig Tiley. . . Venus and Serena Williams gave a clinic to about 50 youngsters at the Tryall Club, in Hanover, Jamaica, which was co-hosted by National Commercial Bank. . . Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych have been named three of GQ’s most stylish athletes. . . David Ferrer to the New York Times on the recently retired David Nalbandian: “He could have been No. 1.” . . . Radek Stepanek calls No. 2 Novak Djokovic “the best player in the world.” . . . Tickets are now on sale for the 2014 Hobart International, January 5-11 at the Domain Tennis Centre. . . Young American Nicole Gibbs, a two-time NCAA champion, is now wearing New Balance. . . . That adidas Player Development has not decided whether they will replace recently departed head coach Sven Groeneveld, but is still employing Darren Cahill, Mats Merkel and Gil Reyes.

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Atp, David Ferrer, Kei Nishikori, Ken Solomon, Novak Djokovic, Radek Stepanek, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Sports, sven groeneveld, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych, Venus Williams, Wta