Serena Complaints Unfounded? Gimelstob Show? Blue Clay Here to Stay?

by Staff | May 17th, 2009, 10:03 pm
  • 23 Comments

After rejecting the WTA Dubai’s appeal of their fine for denying Israel’s Shahar Peer a spot in their tournament draw, the WTA Tour says The Dubai Tennis Championships will pay their $300,000 fine. Which to you and me is like paying the electric bill…
ADHEREL
Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters won the doubles portion of the Wimbledon exhibition on Sunday, beating Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf 7-6(6). In singles Agassi beat Henman 6-4, and Clijsters defeated Graf 6-4…

French Open wildcards thus far include John Isner, Gaston Gaudio, Bernard Tomic, Lauren Embree, and Olivia Rogowska…

French player Mathieu Montcourt’s suspension for betting on matches has been reduced from eight to five weeks by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which cited “the small amounts gambled [and] the absence of influence of the bets on the matches in question.”…


David Nalbandian is out 4-5 months after hip surgery…

Richard Gasquet is expected to have a hearing on his positive coke test within the next two months, and he will miss the French Open…

Madrid tournament promoter Ion Tiriac says that whether Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal like it or not, his event will eventually be played on blue clay (to appease their main sponsor’s company color): “We try something new every year. The ATP has nothing in the rules that does not say I cannot play in any color I want…that’s the future of the game…Nadal is a huge champion. He’s an unbelievable asset not just for Spain but for sports in general. But after Nadal are going to come the others. But an event like this is not made for two players. I hope they are going to wake up, the ATP and everybody.”…

According to the SportsBusiness Journal, the ATP is developing a new TV show hosted by Justin Gimelstob: “The ATP is developing a TV series titled “ATP World Tour Uncovered,” offering a behind-the-scenes look at the circuit. The show is being produced by British Telecom and IMG and will be sold by Pitch International, a British sales agency with soccer and rugby experience.”…

From BBC tennis blogger Jonathan Overend on Serena Williams complaining about having to play injured: “The clear implication is that she feels forced into playing through injury by an overly strict WTA rulebook. A rulebook she clearly hasn’t read properly. Nobody is forcing an injured player to play a match, that clearly would be insane and irresponsible. What the WTA has introduced, for its premier tournaments, is a requirement for injured players to turn up to the venue, shake a few hands, do some media and sponsor work. If those commitments are fulfilled — and a medical certificate is produced — the fine for not playing will be waived. The player can even turn up on any one of three nominated dates in the future, if more convenient. Serena Williams would not have been fined for pulling out of her match with Schiavone because she had already honoured her commitments and the suggestion that she would have been fined $75,000 was total hogwash. The same situation was true in Rome — a bit of handshaking and publicity work and the fine would have been waived.”…


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23 Comments for Serena Complaints Unfounded? Gimelstob Show? Blue Clay Here to Stay?

zola Says:

Why can’t they have Gasquet’s hearing earlier? he can miss FO and Wimbledon. What if he is really innocent?

Tiriac is not going to make many friends among players with this attitude. I don’t know any player who liked the blue clay. not just because of the color, but because the ballmark was not as visible. besides as Fed said, ATP has vetoed the blue clay. Then how can Tiriac talk like that? I hope ATP slashes or fines Madrid if they use the blue clay.

And I am amazed by Gimelstob’s power. Is he related to Tiriac or some invisible tennis power? He is a terrible commentator. Makes sexist comments and gets TV shows in return? I can’t believe ATP could not find anyone but Giml for this job!

——–
btw,
one of the best funk/trunk I have seen.


jules Says:

And see what’s Serena the ‘real’ number 1’s reply would be.


smuck Says:

Yep, Tiriac has definaly lost a few marbles along the way. His tone and look during his speech on award ceremony was downright scary, i though he’d pull out a gun a start shooting the crowd.

They want to be a fifth slam, yet we don’t even get the interviews? The court itself is the worst claycourt i’ve seen in ages. He should be lucky to keep the 1000 satus, let alone dream of something bigger.

PS Nadal really needs to dumop one tournament from his schedule. Either Barcelona or Madrid. He was lucky this year that he had 2 walkovers, and sill he wiped himself out.

Lets hope he gets rid of Barcelona in the future, 3 tournaments in 3 weeks is just to much.


Skorocel Says:

Ion Tiriac = Don King of tennis


Tenniscoach Says:

Why can’t Serena quit the complaints and play tennis. She remeinds me a little baby that
cries when they don’t get their way!!

Come on Serena, you are a big girl now (sorry)
and you need to grow up in the thinking mode
now.


RZ Says:

Gasquet missing the FO isn’t that big a deal since he’s never done that well there. But missing Wimbledon would be a huge shame because outside of the Big 4 and Andy Roddick, Gasquet is the best grasscourt player around.


Ares Vista Says:

It’s hard for professional athletes to look at what they see as a sport, and see the business side of it. Serena has been around long enough that she should know about these things, guess she’s exercising her ‘diva’…


Giner Says:

“Madrid tournament promoter Ion Tiriac says that whether Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal like it or not, his event will eventually be played on blue clay (to appease their main sponsor’s company color):”

Madrid is losing credibility fast. A high altitude clay court is already questionable as a tune up for the French. At least Canada and Cincy use courts that simulate the US Open. But blue clay? Morons.

Madrid should have been demoted to 500 and remain indoor hard, with Hamburg keeping its status and spot in the calendar.


Jambalya Says:

When is the Wimpy Tennis Association going to fine the Williams sisters for skipping a mandatory tournament for no valid reason?

booing by fans is not a valid reason, sorry.


Skorocel Says:

Giner: “Madrid is losing credibility fast. A high altitude clay court is already questionable as a tune up for the French. At least Canada and Cincy use courts that simulate the US Open. But blue clay? Morons.

Madrid should have been demoted to 500 and remain indoor hard, with Hamburg keeping its status and spot in the calendar.”

Didn’t they say it was actually Hamburg which resembled the FO conditions the very least? Strange, how quickly can people change their minds…


Von Says:

Skorocel:

“Didn’t they say it was actually Hamburg which resembled the FO conditions the very least? Strange, how quickly can people change their minds…”

Ideally, Hamburg is the best preparation for the FO because it has a mixture of Rome and the FO in the way the court plays and it’s why it’s better suited to the players than Madrid. I told you I didn’t like Madrid and now you can see the reasons piling up. How’s that Mon Ami. Ha ha. I believe several of the fast court players are going to struggle at the FO, unless it’s warm, because they are going from very fast to medium.


Skorocel Says:

Hmmm, you left me confused, Von :)


zola Says:

Skorocel,
Hamburg is nothing like RG. You can see that the results obtained in Hamburg hardly translates to RG. The court is slower and the bounce is lower.

I have read that Monte Carlo is the one that is closest to RG and usually the winner in MC has better chances to win RG.

I think what Giner says ( and I agree) is that even Hamburg was better than Madrid. I think Madrid has not been able to draw support from neither players nor fans. Saying things like:”whether Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal like it or not, his event will eventually be played on blue clay ..”, will not make players like it more!


zola Says:

I think MonteCarlo should be mandatory again and either madrid or hamburg ( or both) become master series on grass! wouldn’t it be great?


Joe O'Brien Says:

I wish Ion Tirian would just shut up about his stupid blue clay already. It is clear that the top players dont want it and his excuse that it matches the sponsors logo or something is rediculous and does not justify changing the colour of the clay.

And as for Serena…. I wish she would just shut up sometimes. She has really annoyed me as of late. She acts like a child. She is always complaining about something. If she isnt disrespecting other players rankings shes crying over the WTA rules which she was wrong about in the first place. She deserves a slap in the face from Safina.


tennisontherocks Says:

So Tiriac claims that only Roger-Rafa are opposed to blue clay courts and the rest are just dieing to come home with blue clay stains on their clothes and socks…I am curious to get the reaction from the laundry staff at the player hotel :)

I think Madrid or some spanish city deserves to have its own masters event with Rafa and so many other spanish players at the top…just need a more responsible person in charge as opposed to the ostentatious moron like Tiriac. Maybe Rafa can buy the tourney and have uncle Tony run it.

zola, I love idea of converting Hamburg into grass masters (or the 1000 or whatever they call it now). They already have sliding roof, rains a lot, close enough to London and can join forces with Halle. It will be nicer if they can add one more week between wimby and french to accommodate a ‘grass season’. but wait a minute, I am asking the slams to do something sensible about scheduling??? WILL NEVER HAPPEN.


Terry House Says:

So for the rest of our lives we tennis fans are going to have Gimelstob shoved down our throats. Who likes this guy besides Andy Roddick? He never knows when to shut his mouth, his constant use of superlatives renders completely noncredible anything he says, plus he’s an incredible sexist. Send him back to live with his father in New Jersey.


Von Says:

“Who likes this guy besides Andy Roddick? He never knows when to shut his mouth, his constant use of superlatives renders completely noncredible anything he says, plus he’s an incredible sexist.”

Federer and quite a few of the other players. I personally don’t like him, but I suppose he’s probaably different when interacting with him on a personal level than when he’s commentating or being interviewed.


MMT Says:

tennisontherocks said: “…just need a more responsible person in charge as opposed to the ostentatious moron like Tiriac.”

I would call Ion Tiriac a moron or ostentatious. That man is extremely accomplished in tennis and otherwise, and while I may disagree with blue clay, I think he’s been great for tennis and is a good man. Tough? Definitely. Shrewd? Without a doubt. A pain in the arse sometimes? No argument there.

But he’s anything but an ostentatious moron.


vared Says:

I hope some qualifier named karma knocks out Serena in the 2nd round.


Von Says:

Serena likes to make unnecessary waves and because she has gotten away with her complaints over the years, she now feels she’s above reproach. I’m sure she’s cognizant of the rules, she did some PR stuff at IW in lieu of playing to avoid the fine. Anyway, somehow she feels she’s “Serena” the tennis goddess and refuses to comply with the rules, when she feels like it and it suits her fancy. How dare the WTA ask “Serena” to produce a doctor’s note, isn’t her word good enough? They should be thankful she even speaks to them and makes her appearances at tournaments, because she is above all and everything. Dream on Serena, sports is all about “what have you done recently” meaning today, and from your results, it’s been NADA. The ’09 AO wave she’s been riding on, is now flat, and has been forgotten. Today and tomorrow is what counts.


Von Says:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22052009/3/serena-ivanovic-happy-hobble-paris.html

Serena’s thoughts on her present form going into the FO.


suzanne Says:

I am a hardcore fan of professional tennis, but in this year’s french open(rolland garros) the chair empire(emmanuel joseph)has proven that it is about time to implement the technology on the courts, specially in grand slam tournaments.The tennis fans
are tired of watching chair empires making bad calls. Tennis fans wants to see fair tennis matches.
All the calls ought to be absolutely correct, and the only way to do this is to put the technology on the court where every ball a player hits will get the absolute right call whether it is in or out, instead of relying on the chair empire’s final decision. It’s not fair to the tennis players to work very hard and lose a point or a match because of a bad call.

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