Tennis News And Tidbits From Around The World

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 8th January 2014

Serbian tennis player Ana Ivanovic practice

Tennis News And Tidbits From Around The World

epa04011560 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga of France practices on Margaret Court Arena for the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 08 January, 2014. The Australian Open starts on 13 January. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY |

Seiko Watch Company has invited the media attending the Australia Open to attend the official announcement of an unnamed major endorsement on Friday morning. The invitation was printed on a card containing a photograph of Novak Djokovic who is not known to be an endorsee of Seiko Watch.

Roger Federer defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5 in a spirited charity exhibition played in front of 14,000 fans at the Rod Laver arena. Federer and Friends was staged to raise money for the Swiss player’s charity for under-privileged South African children, which he began 10 years ago and which has so far helped 86,000 kids with a goal of touching the lives of one million by 2018.

The world No.6 and his French opponent thrilled the crowd at an event where tennis legend Rod Laver warmed up Federer before the match. “It was a big night for me, I’m looking forward to another ten years for my foundation,” said Federer. ”

Gilles Simon thinks that the era of the Big 4 may soon be ending: “I think this time will be over soon. I think we’re going to have some big changes in the next two years and I will be ready to get the opportunity to do something good.” . . . Kei Nishikori on his new coach, Michael Chang: “He’s not the tall guy; same as me,” Nishikori said. ““I mean, he’s American, but he’s half Asian. (I) do think we can know more stuff. Yeah, I think we (are) doing great.” . . . ( since when is Chang half Asian ? ) Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, Kei Nishikori and Caroline Wozniacki all made Forbes 30 under 30 list. . . . Lleyton Hewitt on what it will feel like to play his 18th consecutive Australian Open. “At the moment it’s just another number while I’m still trying to play and compete against the best guys but obviously to play 18, it’s pretty remarkable. “When you first start out, you’re happy to play just one or two main draws as a teenager. To play them all straight, as well, is an amazing accomplishment and something that when I do finally retire I’ll be pretty proud of.” . . . Petra Kvitova on why there have been and still are so many good lefty Czech women. She bested another lefty, Lucie Safarova, in Sydney on Wednesday. “Martina, there is one more, Iveta Benesova, she’s not playing right now. But I don’t know. Maybe something in the water.” . . . Aussie Marinko Matosevic, who has had two good tournaments at Brisbane and Sydney, says that there are VIPs in tennis who have faith in his future. “My highest ranking is 39. I definitely think I can go higher. I don’t want to talk about goals, what my coach, Mark Woodforde, has set up. He has lofty goals for me. He believes in me, and so do all the other Aussie greats.” Post cards in today : our Dutch buddy Floris Minnaert is home in Amsterdam waiting the birth of his first child. A daughter due any day now. Heard from our buddy Austin Karosi from Singapore. Sure hoping we get him to Indian wells and maybe Miami this year. We heard from K. T. Kim from Solinco strings. Our partner since we started four years ago. KT is so proud that that for the third year in a row his string is number one in the “poly ” and “spin” categories. Also KT was thrilled that his string was used at this years Hopman Cup. The polish player Grzegorz Panfil was called in at the last minute to fill in for Jerzy Janowicz.

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Atp, Caroline Wozniacki, Gilles Simon, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Kei Nishikori, Lleyton Hewitt, Lucie Safarova, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta