Tennis News

With only the Davis Cup still left to play for after another action-packed tennis year, PA Sport looks at the highlights from the 2008 campaign:
 
MEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Andy Murray
 
Murray started the year as a player on the fringe of the true elite and proceeded to establish himself as very much part of it, claiming two Masters Series titles and finishing runner-up in the US Open.
 

Roger Federer insists he is not worried by the prospect of being overtaken by Novak Djokovic in the world rankings.

Federer lies second, but Djokovic closed the gap to only 10 points with victory at the Masters Cup.

"I'm going to sleep well for a month. He is not going to pass me anytime soon," said Federer, 27.

"For me, honestly, ranking two, three, four, five, 25, it doesn't really matter a whole lot. It is either number one or being in the main draw."

So Andy Murray's season ended in a disappointing defeat at the Masters Cup at the weekend, but what a year it's been.

Five ATP titles, including two in the prestigious Masters Series, and a first Grand Slam final prove Murray has truly turned potential into success. At least to me it does.

However, the wider British public will, rightly or wrongly, decide whether his career is a success or not on two factors - whether he wins a Grand Slam title or not and whether he ever climbs to the top of the world rankings.

Due to lack of sponsors, Indian women tennis ace Sania Mirza’s proposed Pakistan tour has reportedly been postponed.
 
The tour was jointly planned by the PTF (Pakistan Tennis Federation) and the (ITF) Indian Tennis Federation to promote tennis and improve bilateral relations between the two federations, reported the Daily Times.
 
It added that the PTF had announced that it would host top Indian women tennis star in November or December this year, but lack of sponsorship forced the PTF to postpone the scheduled tour of Sania.

David Nalbandian wanted Rafael Nadal to play in the Davis Cup final for Spain - but he is not going to complain about anything that boosts Argentina's chances of lifting the trophy for the first time.

Tendinitis forced the world number one to pull out of this weekend's showdown in Mar del Plata, the first time Argentina will host the final.

"I wanted Nadal to be in this final," said Nalbandian. "He is a friend of mine and missing this decisive chance is not nice at all.

Confidence is running high in the Argentine team with three days to go until the first ball is struck at the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final between Argentina and Spain in Mar del Plata.

“Today, I would say we can win all five points,” said Argentine captain Alberto Mancini at Tuesday’s press conferences at the Estadio Islas Malvinas. “The boys are playing very well in practice.”

Argentina captain Alberto Mancini finds only so much comfort in knowing Rafael Nadal won’t be playing in the Davis Cup final.

The top-ranked Spaniard pulled out of the best-of-five championship because of tendinitis in his knee.

“Even without Nadal, Spain is a strong team,” Mancini said in Mar del Plata, the beachside resort town that will host the final. “We can’t relax.”

The best-of-five series opens Friday with two singles matches. Doubles is Saturday, with the reverse singles Sunday.

For the first time in the history of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, a world No.1 stepped away from the sport she ruled in 2008. But there was no shortage of pretenders to the tennis throne, in a season that saw a handful of teens establish themselves as serious contenders, and mid-career surges by a clutch of more established players. There was plenty of action off court as well, including a marketing push of heroic proportions and happy news from some of the Tour's best-loved retired stars.
 
JANUARY
 

Russian sensation Victoria Azarenka is riding high on an amazing season on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. At 19 years old Azarenka has already won the 2007 mixed doubles title at the US Open, and this year she went on to win the same title at the French Open, while reaching a career high on No.14 on the singles rankings.
 

Fans of world No.1 Jelena Jankovic in Belgrade had the opportunity to take an in-depth look into her life on and off the court last week when the feature documentary Jelena's World opened in the Serbian capital.
 
Following Jankovic over a 14-month period, the film shows the demanding, glamorous and exciting elements of Jankovic's life,traveling to tournaments in Madrid and Berlin, while striking a balance with her life at home in Belgrade. Jankovic was in attendance at the film's premiere on November 12 at the Roda Cineplex in Belgrade.