Australia & Russia Crowned Champions
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The News Bulletin of the International Tennis Federation www.itftennis.com Australia & Russia crowned champions The Australian boys’ and Russian girls’ teams came out on top in the finals of the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas held in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The event began with 16 boys teams and 16 girls teams from 28 nations around the world, who had all come through tough qualifying rounds for the chance to compete in this showcase event. Teams were split into round robin groups of four, with the winners of each group progressing to the semifinals and then the final. Junior Davis Cup top seeds, France, were eliminated by the strong British doubles pairing of Andrew Bettles and George Morgan in the semifinals, after the countries Australia has scored one apiece in the singles matches. Australia experienced no such (Photo: Susan Mullane) problems in its semifinal against Czech Republic, winning both singles matches and the doubles, with Jason Kubler, who was undefeated all week, and Luke Saville leading the attack. 5 October 2009 Issue 40 In the final, Bettles overcame Saville in the opening rubber 64 64 before Kubler levelled the tie with a tight 76(4) 75 victory over Morgan. In the doubles Bettles and Morgan, who had not dropped a set all week, combined against Kubler and Joey Swaysland. The Australians attacked mercilessly in the opening set and took advantage of several British errors, but the second set went with serve until the 11th game, when the British serve was broken and the Australians were able to serve out to win 61 75 and lift the trophy. In the girls’ competition, top seeds Russia were strong favourites to come through its final against Germany, having cruised past Japan in the semifinal. However, the German team had shown resilience all week and its semifinal win against Slovakia in the third set of the doubles rubber demonstrated their strong will to win. In the opening match of the final, Russia’s Ksenia Kirillova fought long and hard to edge past Stephanie Wagner 63 46 86 and give her country the advantage. The second rubber was much more one-sided, with Russian No. 1 Daria Gavrilova completely overwhelming Annika Beck 60 60 to win the title for Russia for only the second time in the competition’s history. 2016 Olympics - Rio de Janeiro The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that Rio de Janeiro will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016. The decision was made after final presentations from the candidate cities at the IOC’s 121st Session, held in Copenhagen on Friday. Rio was awarded the Games ahead of strong bids from Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago. “The ITF would like to congratulate the city of Rio de Janeiro and Rio 2016 on their successful bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. All four bids were outstanding and, from our perspective, each could have staged a first class Olympic Tennis Event,” said Francesco Ricci Bitti, ITF President. “As a tennis man, I was proud to see the participation of our athletes, in particular Rafael Nadal who threw his support behind Madrid, and Gustavo Kuerten who came to Copenhagen on behalf of Rio de Janeiro. This underlines again the interest and commitment of tennis to the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement.” Inside IOC Congress News In Brief Results 12 & under Training Camp Rankings This Week Next Week The News Bulletin of the International Tennis Federation www.itftennis.com ITF President speaks at Olympic Congress ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti addressed the Olympic Congress in Copenhagen this weekend on behalf of the International Federations. He stressed the importance of the national federations as the link between the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees. He asked the IOC to consider the following: 1) Analyse and define what autonomy in sport means especially in relation to the influence of sponsorship and governmental funding and legislation. Establish a set of basic governance principles to be made mandatory to the major IOC stakeholders. 2) Greater recognition for the vital role of the national federation in the preparation of the athletes for the major competitions including the Olympic Games. This should include enhanced and consistent accreditation for the national federation top representatives, with qualified competing athletes, who wish to attend the Games. 3) To find a common ground between the IFs and NOCs to solve the problem of the qualification system of the Olympic Games taking into account the specificity of different sports. Following progress, review and clarify the Olympic Charter to deal with the contradictions between rule 45.4 (entry by the NOCs) and byelaw of rule 41 (IF establishment of eligibility criteria). 5 October 2009 Issue 40 4) Review the revenue distribution system, as soon as contracturaly possible, to take into account the current and future needs in terms of control of the sport of the major stakeholders, NOCs and IFs. 5) Review the current practice regarding IOC membership election criteria to achieve a more balanced representation of the major groups involved (IOC, NOC, IF, Athletes) with some consideration being given to the terms of office. To watch the Congress in full visit www.olympic.org/en/content/The-IOC/IOC-Sessions/Olympic-Congress-2009/. Zimbabwe players progress in Bloemfontein tournament Three of the eight players on the ITF/CAT 12 & under Southern African Regional Training Camp made it through to the main draw of a SATA-sanctioned event in Bloemfontein, with Alwyn Mushonga (ZIM) and Keren Muswere (ZIM) progressing through to the second round. Four boys and four girls were selected to participate in the this year’s camp which included a week’s training, where the players worked on fitness, tactical play and match play, before they contested the qualifying competition for the tournament in Bloemfontein thanks to wild cards from SATA. The players were chosen to attend the camp based on their results and the promise they showed at the regional 12 & under circuit that took place in June, also in South Africa. The main objective of the training camp is to try and give the most promising players an opportunity to improve their playing level and also show interest in attending the ITF/SATA Training Centre on a full time basis. This is the first time the training camp had hosted players of this age group, as this year the regional circuit changed from 13 & under to 12 & under. The selected players were: Boys Girls Chisomo Lumeta (MAW) Jackinah Rakotohasy (MAD) Levi Mningwa (MAW) Sedi Jacobs (NAM) Alwyn Mushonga (ZIM) Keren Muswere (ZIM) Innocent Tidimane (BOT) Moira Raoilison (MAD) Page 2 The News Bulletin of the International Tennis Federation www.itftennis.com NEWS IN BRIEF Vergeer becomes Laureus ITHF elects new board members ambassador The International Tennis Hall of Fame has Esther Vergeer has been chosen as a Laureus appointed ten new members to its Board of Ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Directors, following an election at its AGM in New Foundation the Netherlands. The world No. 1 and York last month. They include Jeanne five-times Paralympic champion was named Moutoussamy-Ashe, photographer and wife of alongside Pieter van den Hoogenband and Arthur Ashe, Carlos Fleming who is vice president Yvonne van Gennip at the launch in Amsterdam of IMG and Dianne Hayes, director of global last week. The Laureus Foundation the entertainment at Reebok International Ltd. Bill Netherlands is set to support three projects in Phillips was also named as a life trustee. For 2010, including the De Laureus Maritime further information visit www.tennisfame.com. Challenge. 5 October 2009 Issue 40 Romania & Germany Hopman Cup teams Philipp Kohlschreiber and Sabine Lisicki will combine for the first time for Germany while Victor 28 Sep-9 Oct: ITF/OS Level 2 Coaches Course - Hanescu will partner Sorana Cirstea in an attempt Buenos Aires, Argentina to win Romania its first Hyundai Hopman Cup title 2-11 October: ITF/OS Level 1 Coaches Course - at the 22nd tournament to be held in Perth next San Salvador, El Salavador 7-10 October: ITF/OS Regional Play Tennis Tutors January. Hyundai Hopman Cup - the ITF Course - Rotterdam, Netherlands International Mixed Teams Championship - will be 13-16 October: ITF/OS East African Regional played from Saturday 2 January through to a day Coaches Conference - Nairobi, Kenya final on Saturday 9 January 2010. For further 16-18 October: National Play Tennis information visit www.hopmancup.com. Course - Paramaribo, Surinam National Association update Latest Seniors Rankings The latest ITF Seniors Rankings have been released Brazil - BRA today. For further information and to view them Confederacao Brasileira de Tenis please visit www.itftennis.com/seniors New address: Rua Nhu-Guaçu, 44 - Campo Belo São Paulo – SP Brasil CEP 04625-000 Australia chooses Fed Cup venue New phone number: Australia has chosen Adelaide as the venue for its +55 11 23590160 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II First Round New fax number: tie against Spain. The tie will be played on 6-7 +55 1133138656 February 2010 on hardcourt. Page 3 The News Bulletin of the International Tennis Federation www.itftennis.com South African Airways ATP Rankings Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings Position Player Name (Nationality) Points Position Player Name (Nationality) Points 1st FEDERER, Roger (SUI) 11255 1st SAFINA, Dinara (RUS) 8250 2nd NADAL, Rafael (ESP) 8845 2nd WILLIAMS, Serena (USA) 7806 3rd MURRAY, Andy (GBR) 8390 3rd WILLIAMS, Venus (USA) 6367 4th DJOKOVIC,