Tennis News / Tour News and Tidbits

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 26th December 2013

Tennis News / Tour News and Tidbits

epa03979805 Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova during a practice prior of her exhibition match against Serbian Ana Ivanovic, in Bogota, Colombia, 06 December 2013. EPA/Mauricio Duenas Castaneda |

Maria Sharapova has arrived at the Brisbane International and will attempt to play her first tournament since August. She has been recovering from a right shoulder injury. When asked if her shoulder was ready for tournament tennis, she said: “I hope so.” Sharapova is scheduled to practice with her new coach, Sven Groeneveld on Thursday in Brisbane. Sharapova and her boyfriend, Grigor Dimitrov, arrived at the Brisbane airport together. He reached the final last year before falling to Andy Murray. . . Aussie teenager Nick Kyrgios seems almost assured of a wild card into his home country’s Grand Slam. Tennis Australia’s Todd Woodbridge said: ”He’s one of the best we’ve had for some time. I think it’s pretty obvious he deserves it. He’s won a round at the French Open and qualified at the US Open, the only 18-year-old to do that.” . . .Roger Federer says that Bernard Tomic needs to step up in 2014 after a somewhat disappointing 2013. “Clearly, we all expect more from Bernard after the great start he had in Sydney and then at the Australian Open,” he said. “He has had a very tough season, let’s be honest. We know he has a higher gear to go to and has great potential. It’s going to be one of those seasons where he (needs to) prove himself on the tour and not lingering around No. 50 in the world and move inside the top 25.” . . . Bob Bryan and his wife Michelle announced the birth of their second child, a son. Bob junior being referred to as a Bobby jr. They also have a three-year-old daughter, Michaela. Laura Robson won the Tennisreporters.net Player Tweeter of the Year, edging out Roger Federer. . . The Romanian press is reporting that the WTA Budapest Grand Prix, which was held after Wimbledon in 2013, will move to Bucharest, but the WTA has not been notified of any such change.

We Hear —

–That Ana Ivanovic was once offered a role in a Hollywood movie but turned it down. “Most of [the offers have been] independent movies but there was one role in a Hollywood movie that looked so exciting,” she said. “It was a bit more than a cameo, but not a major role.”

Topics: 10sballs, Bernard Tomic, Bob Bryan, Brisbane, Laura Robson, Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, Sports, sven groeneveld, Tennis, Tennis News