Tennis Tour Tidbits – Maria Sharapova, Barcelona Open and more…

Written by: Staff on 26th April 2013

Tennis Tour Tidbits - Maria Sharapova, Barcelona Open and more...

epa03676855 Maria Sharapova of Russia returns the ball to Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic during their second round match at the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, 25 April 2013. EPA/BERND WEISSBROD |

Organizers of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell paid tribute to Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former No. 1 who retired last year. Ferrero captured the Barcelona trophy in 2001, beating fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya. . .

Julia Goerges praised Petra Kvitova’s mental toughness after her loss to her in Stuttgart. “She was ice cold in exploiting [my letdown].”. . . .

Alize Cornet says that her press conferences are boring in any language: “It’s a shame because it would be fun to get some other questions sometimes apart from tennis,” she told the Daily Mail. . .

The injured Brian Baker tells USA Today that he has finally been cleared to do all movements and exercises. . .

In an interview the Telegraph, Tim Henman says that now that all the Slams have stepped up in paying more prize money it’s time for the ATP and WTA to do the same. “Twenty-three years on, the Challenger tournaments are still paying exactly the same money that they were then. Players need to look at their own tours, which are run separately from the slams, and ask why they haven’t improved the funds on offer,” he said…

Maria Sharapova is shying away from playing the Fed Cup final against Italy because she thinks it’s unfair for any of the Russian players who helped the team to the final to lose a spot to her…

That Martin del Potro will be changing apparel sponsors…

Topics: Alize Cornet, Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Carlos Moya, Davis Cup, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Julia Goerges, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova