Monday,
November 7, 2011
WORLD NEWS
Istanbul Was Huge Success for WTA
The WTA season is now over, and there are smiles in the
St Petersburg office after the move to Istanbul for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA
Championships proved to be a resounding success as the event registered the
highest attendance in 12 years and set record broadcast and digital audience
milestones.
Total Championships attendance reached 70,824, with the average session
visited by 11,804 fans. The Sunday finals (October 30, 2011) were watched by
13,676 fans. In addition, the event broadcast more than 400 hours of live
coverage in 164 countries through 22 international TV broadcasters, the
widest reach of a WTA Championships to date.
Among the broadcast highlights, the WTA’s longstanding partner Eurosport once
again telecast the Championships across its pan-European footprint. The
previous high came last year at the WTA Championships in Doha, Qatar through
coverage by 19 international broadcasters in 162 countries.
Additionally, Eurosport.com and ESPN3.com, among many others, offered live
streaming web broadcast of all matches, and TennisTV.com brought fans not
only matches but daily highlights, shot of the day, player interviews and
features.
The WTA’s official website offered fans daily highlight videos, player
features, scores and photos and registered record traffic during the
Championships. Unique visits and page views were up by 67% and 56%,
respectfully, over last year’s Championships results. The number of daily
visits peaked on Friday, October 28, 2011 – the highest since September 2010.
"The TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships was an historic event in a new
market, and having a full stadium of enthusiastic fans supporting our players
at the WTA’s crown-jewel finale has demonstrated the global reach and
strength of women’s tennis.
"Sold-out attendance is also a testament to the Ministry of Sport and
Turkish Tennis Federation’s efforts in executing, promoting and organizing
this great event," said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the WTA.
***
Federer Is Pumped For London After A Win In Basel
Roger
Federer will be the defending champion at the upcoming Barclays ATP World
Tour Finals in London while this week’s BNP Paribas Masters at
Paris’ Palais Omnisports de Bercy is one of the notable blanks on the
Swiss’ list of 68 singles titles. So the world no.4’s insistence that he is
fit and ready for a late season winning run is not something to be taken
lightly by his rivals.
Federer’s confidence was clearly sky high after a ten month wait for a title
win came to an end as he got his name on the Swiss Indoor trophy in Basel for
the fifth time in his career.
It was the world no.4’s first final appearance since losing the French Open
to Rafael Nadal in early June and he heads back to Paris insistent that the
six week rest he took by missing the Asian swing would be beneficial.
“I'm feeling ready and fit and fired up, that's how it's supposed to be,”
said Federer after his emphatic Basel final win over Kei Nishikori.
“This is the last push of the season and I'm ready for it. It's been a great
start to the autumn, I think my pause paid off. I've got different priorities
than some of the younger guys who are ranked around me, I needed to take that
time off, it was best for my mind, my body, my family and my fitness.”
Federer’s best showing at Bercy came last year when he lost out in the
semi-final to local hero Gael Monfils but undeterred he went on to triumph in
London with a final win over Rafael Nadal.
He added: “There is a lot of tennis to be played until the end of the season
and it will be packed in early 2012. I want to be a danger everywhere that I
play."
However Federer reached the Bercy semi-final on an exceptionally quick
surface. This year tournament director Jean-Francois Caujolle has elected to
adopt a far more pedestrian court.
Second seed Andy Murray reported after a practice session: “It is very, very
slow.”
***
End Of Season For Injured Del Potro
Juan
Martin Del Potro, beaten finalist in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals two
years ago, will now definitely not qualify as a member of this year’s top
eight after pulling out of this week’s BNP Paribas Masters at Paris’ Bercy
because of an injured shoulder.
The 23 year-old Argentine, currently tenth in the race for a place after
staging a late season run, would appear to see the Davis Cup final against
Spain in Seville on December 2 thru 4 a far more important engagement.
Three years ago in the final against Spain staged in Mar Del Plata, Del Potro
was the brunt of a distinct cold shoulder from Argentine team-mate David
Nalbandian. The more experienced team member was upset that Del Potro
chose to travel to Shanghai to contest the Tennis Masters Cup rather than
remain in Argentina to prepare for the final.
Subsequently Del Potro was distinctly below par after the long journey to and
from China.
Del Potro is insistent his Paris no-show is legitimate and claims he
aggravated the injury so badly that immediate rest was necessary when losing
to eventual champion Marcel Granollers in the Valencia Open semi-final on
Saturday.
“My shoulder started bothering me in Valencia and it got worse after each
round,” said Del Potro who needed to reach the final of the Paris event
to guarantee qualification for London. However there are many other
factors that could affect the final line-up such as injury doubts over
American Mardy Fish who is suffering from an injured hamstring that forced
him to quit after just one game against James Blake at last week’s Swiss
Indoors.
***
Murray Believes He Is Ready For Bercy
Andy
Murray believes he will be ready to play at the Paris Masters after pulling
out at the last minute with a glut injury last week's Basel tournament. The
world No. 3 had been hoping to continue his momentum from three straight
Asian title last month, but lost his way a bit when he got back to Europe.
After ditching Basel on the shortest of notice after asking and receiving a
wild card entry, the Scot has fronted up in Paris all smiles and keen on his
chances at the last event of the ATP regular season.
He is also determined to not be bothered by what can generously be called a
harsh Paris crowd which is never hesitant about passing judgment on players.
"If you’re not playing well or giving your best effort, then sometimes
the crowd can get on top of you a little.
"But that's a good thing! In football, crowds get on top of different
players every other week, and I like it. It adds a bit of pressure to play
well, and they’re the ones paying for tickets.”
He added: "I really enjoy it here, the Centre Court is fantastic – great
court, great atmosphere. I was looking at the draw and there are very few
easy matches. It’s a very strong tournament with a lot of depth, so it’s
definitely up there as one of the strongest Masters Series.”
***
***
We Hear—
--that Venus Williams has been productive during her time off court.
Williams, who has a degree in interior design, owns her own company, V*Starr
Interiors and is currently working on a project in Florida, One Thousand
Ocean. She is also working on a project at Howard University in
Washington, D.C.
***
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***
THIS WEEK
MEN
Paris
WOMEN
No events
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
No events
WOMEN
No events
***
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