TENNIS News -Tidbits

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 5th February 2014

TENNIS News -Tidbits

epa04026094 Richard Gasquet of France in action during his match against Tommy Robredo of Spain in round three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 17 January 2014. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

France’s Richard Gasquet has confirmed his participation in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 2014. Gasquet joins Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Kei Nishikori at the clay court tournament. . . Novak Djokovic appeared to say on a Serbian TV that he would marry his fiancée Jelena Ristic in the spring. . . Rafael Nadal visited with his doctor Angel Cordero on Tuesday who said that the world No. 1’s sore back is improving. However, Nada’s participation in next week’s event in Buenos Aires is still questionable. . . Lawn Tennis Association CEO Mike Downey claimed that the British squad team was “dealing with pretty unruly crowd” in San Diego when facing the US in Davis Cup. . . Aussie Open champ Stan Wawrinka has pulled out of Rotterdam with a leg injury and defending champion Juan Martin Del Potro may not play due to a with a wrist injury. . . Former top 10 player Nicole Vaidisova has no current plans to stage a comeback. She is still rehabbing her surgically repaired right shoulder in Florida–That although Britain is currently being buffeted by gales and much of the country is suffering from flooding, the grass courts of Wimbledon’s All England Club underwent their first major cut of the year yesterday.

The impact of new Spanish coach Sergi Brugera is starting to be felt on the game of ninth-ranked Richard Gasquet as the Frenchman returns to April’s Barcelona ATP event for the first time since 2011. In his last appearance, Gasquet achieved his tournament-best of the third round in a loss to Gael Monfils. It will be the fourth Barcelona appearance for Gasquet, whose one-handed backhand is one of the top examples of the style on the ATP.

The entry of Gasquet is likely the result of strong advice and lobbying from Bruguera, the ex-French Open winner who played two Barcelona finals at the Real Club de Tenis. Both of Gasquet’s coaches, Bruguera and France’s Sebastien Grosjean, also live in the Catalan capital.

Gasquet joins a field headed – naturally – by eight-time champion Rafael Nadal, plus four-time runner-up David Ferrer and Japan’s Kei Nishikori. Other top 10 entries include Australian Open winner Stanislas Wawrinka and Melbourne semi-finalist Tomas Berdych, along with No. 11 Canadian Milos Raonic.

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, David Ferrer, Jelena Ristic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Kei Nishikori, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Sports, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News