FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

DUNLOP SPORT AND FAMILY CIRCLE CUP PARTNER

TO SEND A LUCKY FAN TO THE FRENCH OPEN

 

Dunlop Returns as Official Ball & Racquet for Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier Event

 

CHARLESTON, SC (March 9, 2010) – The Family Circle Cup is proud to continue its multi-year relationship with the globally renowned racquet sports manufacturer Dunlop Sports Group, the designated provider of the official ball and racquet of this Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier Event.  The specially made tournament balls will be produced in the same production run as the Dunlop balls to be used at Roland Garros, and will be uniquely adorned with the Family Circle Cup logo.  A major element of this partnership involves giving fans an opportunity to win a trip for two to the 2010 French Open in Paris, France.  The prize package includes roundtrip airfare on Continental Airlines and a three night stay in a central Paris hotel.  Fans can enter to win the trip by clicking on the Dunlop ad on www.familycirclecup.com. ; Through a partnership with Dell, computer kiosks will be on site during Family Circle Cup, allowing fans to access the entry page from the Dunlop and Dell sponsor booths.

“Throughout the world, Dunlop tennis balls are the ball of choice in clay court competition, and we are delighted to continue our partnership with this great company,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager.  “Using the same production run as Roland Garros is an added benefit for the players here in Charleston as they start their preparation for Paris.  It’s exciting that two lucky Family Circle Cup fans will be able to watch these players compete on clay again in Paris.”

 

As the official ball and racquet of the Family Circle Tennis Center, amateur tennis players will benefit throughout the year from the superior quality of the Dunlop ball and their entire line of racquets and equipment,” commented Rob Eppelsheimer, Family Circle Tennis Center Director.  “Dunlop’s exciting products are making a big splash at all levels of tennis, and our facility is glad to be a part of this revolution in tennis equipment.”

“Partnerships with a high profile event like the Family Circle Cup and its Tennis Center enable us to support the game and promote our brand,” said Kai Nitsche, General Manager for Dunlop Racquet Sports.  “Dunlop has a very proud history in tennis and is equally proud to have its North American business headquartered in the State of South Carolina.  It only makes sense for us to be in partnership with the premier professional event and tennis center in the state.”

 

Dunlop Sports Group Americas, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dunlop Slazenger International, Ltd., is known worldwide by sports enthusiasts who value quality and performance in their sporting goods equipment. Headquartered in Greenville, SC, the company’s product line spans tennis racquets and tennis balls; squash racquets and balls; Dunlop badminton and shuttles; Carlton badminton racquets and shuttles; golf balls, golf accessories and golf clubs. International endorsers include tennis legend John McEnroe and Dominika Cibulkova, star player on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.  For further information, call 800-768-4727.

 

The Family Circle Cup is scheduled April 10-18, 2010 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, SC.  The Family Circle Tennis Center is a public facility owned by the City of Charleston and operated by Meredith Corporation that also hosts a variety of additional events including concerts, festivals, tennis tournaments and other activities throughout the year.  With over 21 million readers, Family Circle is one of the most widely read monthly magazines in America and is one of 14 leading subscription magazines owned by Meredith Corporation.  The Tennis Center features a 10,200 seat stadium, Grand Lawn, 17 tennis courts lighted for night play, racquet club, Pro Shop, and a full service event management staff capable of handling all aspects of an event including ticketing, operations, sales, marketing, public relations, and food & beverage.  For tickets or more information on the Family Circle Cup or Tennis Center, call (843) 856-7900 or visit familycirclecup.com.

# # #

 

Family Circle Tennis Center

City of Charleston Facility

161 Seven Farms Drive

Daniel Island ∙ Charleston, SC ∙29492

www.familycirclecup.com

 

        

Virgin Mobile USA Believes in Melanie Oudin

Partners With World Ranked Teen Tennis Sensation

Comprehensive Relationship Includes $1,000,000 Donation to Homeless Youth with U.S. Open Win

WARREN, N.J., March 9, 2010 -- Virgin Mobile USA has announced its sponsorship of tennis pro Melanie Oudin as she continues on her quest to become tennis royalty, trying to capture a WTA Championship at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open today in Indian Wells, California.

In celebration of the new sponsorship, Virgin Mobile USA is committing to donate -- if Oudin wins this year's U.S. Open in September -- one million dollars to homeless youth organizations as part of The RE*Generation program, the company's initiative to raise awareness for the issue of homeless youth in the United States.

"The RE*Generation initiative was founded by Virgin Mobile to empower young people to help less fortunate peers resurrect their lives. We've made significant strides in raising awareness and direct involvement with the troubling issue of youth homelessness, and having an ambassador like Melanie Oudin committed to this cause is very powerful," said Bob Stohrer, vice president of marketing for Sprint's Virgin Mobile brand. "Melanie's 'Believe' mantra transcends tennis and naturally extends to the work we'll do together."

Oudin stepped onto the professional tennis stage last year at the age of 17 and made her mark quickly with her strong performances at Wimbledon and the 2009 U.S. Open. At the U.S. Open, she defeated Maria Sharapova, Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova to become the youngest American Grand Slam quarterfinalist since Serena Williams won the 1999 Open. Melanie has adopted "Believe" as her mantra and has stamped the word on the tennis shoes she wears during every match.

"I am thrilled to partner with Virgin Mobile USA. They have made great strides in their efforts to help disadvantaged youth, and the company brings excitement and creativity to everything it does," said Oudin. "I am looking forward to a great partnership."

Virgin Mobile USA will also provide fans with the chance to watch Melanie compete at this year's U.S. Open through their FREE I.P. program, which offers free tickets to concerts and events in exchange for volunteering time at not-for-profit homeless youth organizations. The FREE I.P. program, introduced last year, has already produced more than 30,000 hours of volunteer work and more than 5,000 tickets to the Virgin Mobile Festival and Virgin Mobile Presents The Monster Ball Tour Starring Lady Gaga.

For more details for fans and other details of the sponsorship visit www.webelieveinmo.com.

The RE*Generation is Virgin Mobile USA's pro-social initiative to address the issue of youth homelessness and empower a generation to help its own. For the past four years, Virgin Mobile has been a consistent voice in raising awareness for the more than two million young people living on the streets, raising funds and promoting volunteerism. With innovative programs like FREE.I.P., Virgin Mobile USA has encouraged thousands to volunteer supplies and their time to local homeless youth organizations, rewarding them with access to exclusive events like Virgin Mobile Festival and the Monster Ball Tour featuring Lady Gaga. The National Alliance to End Homelessness will honor Virgin Mobile USA with the 2010 Private Sector Achievement Award at its annual Kennedy Center Awards Ceremony in April 2010 for its significant contributions in the struggle to end youth homelessness. For more information, visit www.virginmobileusa.com/regeneration

About Virgin Mobile USA

Virgin Mobile USA, one of Sprint's Prepaid brands, offers millions of customers control, flexibility and connectivity through Virgin Mobile's Plans Without Annual Contracts for cell phone service and prepaid Broadband2Go high-speed Web access. Virgin Mobile USA also offers Pink Slip Protection*, which provides eligible monthly customers who lose their jobs free service for up to three months. Virgin Mobile Top-Up cards are available at almost 150,000 locations nationwide and can be used for Assurance Wireless and Broadband2Go services. For more information, visit www.virginmobileusa.com

* Subject to certain terms and conditions.

        

 

                           

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

International Tennis Hall of Fame Honors Switzerland's Heinz Grimm with the Golden Achievement Award  NEWPORT, R.I., U.S.A., March 9, 2010 -  The International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation have announced that Heinz Grimm of Switzerland is the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Golden Achievement Award. The Golden Achievement Award is given jointly by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation. It is presented annually on a worldwide basis to individuals who have made important contributions internationally to tennis in the fields of administration, promotion or education, and have devoted long and outstanding service to the sport.   Grimm has been active as an administrator in the sport for more than five decades. He has shown outstanding dedication toward growing tennis in Europe by serving in executive positions within several leading industry organizations.   Presentation of the 2010 Golden Achievement Award will be made on March 10 at the Swiss Tennis Gala Night in Zurich. The presentation will be made by Sir James Harvie-Watt, a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.   In 1968, Grimm took on his first role in tennis administration as president of the Swiss Tennis Competition Committee, a position he held for twenty years. He went onto serve as vice president of Swiss Tennis from 1980 - 1994, and in 1995 he was named honorary vice president of the organization.   In 1975, Grimm co-founded the European Tennis Association, now known as Tennis Europe. He was president of the organization from 1978 - 1993, and was named an honorary life president in 1993.   From 1983 - 2001, Grimm held many roles within the International Tennis Federation, including chairman of the Fed Cup Committee, co-chairman of the ATP/ITF Satellite and Challenger Committee, and member of the Board of Directors. In 2001, he was named an honorary life vice president.   Preceding his administrative contributions to the sport, Grimm was an active competitor, playing on the Davis Cup teams in 1960, and serving as a playing captain in 1961 and a non-playing captain from 1962 -1974. Additionally, he served as honorary treasurer for the Swiss Olympic Committee from 1994 - 1997 and was a member of the Board of Directors from 1984 - 1998.   Grimm, 75, resides in Basel, Switzerland with his wife Marianne. He is a former owner of a clock importing business.   Past recipients of the Golden Achievement Award are Fern Lee "Peachy" Kellmeyer of the United States (2009); Juan Maria Tintore of Spain (2008); Nancy P. Jeffett of the United States (2007); James R. Cochrane of Great Britain (2006); Eiichi Kawatei of Japan (2005); John Curry of Great Britain (2004); J. Howard "Bumpy" Frazer of the United States (2003); Enrique Morea of Argentina (2002); Pablo Llorens Renaga of Spain (2001); Gil de Kermadec of France (2000) and Brian Tobin of Australia (1999).   Nominations for the Golden Achievement Award are submitted by tennis federations and individuals from the around the world, and then voted on by the Golden Achievement Award Selection Committee. For more information, please email newport@tennisfame.com or learn more online at www.tennisfame.com.    # # #   About the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, enshrining tennis heroes and heroines, and providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum was recognized as the sport's official Hall of Fame in 1986 by the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis. For information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and its programs, call 401-849-3990 or visit us online at www.tennisfame.com.   About the International Tennis Federation The ITF is the world governing body of tennis, responsible for the Rules of Tennis and maintaining the integrity of the sport. In addition to its administrative role, the ITF is the owner and international rightsholder of the two largest annual international team competitions in sport, Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas. The ITF also organizes the Olympic Tennis Event on behalf of the IOC. Through its Technical Department, the ITF closely monitors both equipment and technology, while its Officiating Department oversees the education and advancement of officials worldwide. The ITF organizes over 650 weeks of professional tournaments on its Men's and Women's Circuits.  Through its Tennis Development Department that oversees the development of tennis worldwide, the ITF manages the ITF Junior Circuit and Team Competitions for elite juniors as well as international tennis events and programs for wheelchair and senior players. The ITF also manages the Tennis Anti-Doping Program on behalf of the sport and is a partner in the Tennis Integrity Unit. For more information, visit www.itftennis.com.

        

Montreal Selected to Host Fed Cup

March 9, 2010

Tickets on sale today for Canada-Argentina tie that will be held at Uniprix Stadium

Tennis Canada announced today that a Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II playoff tie will be played at Montreal’s Uniprix Stadium on April 24 and 25 with tickets available starting at only $25.

The tie will pit Canada against Argentina with the winner earning a spot in World Group II for 2011. This selection marks the second time that Uniprix Stadium has been chosen to host a Fed Cup tie and the third time that Montreal has been selected as the host city. In 2004, Canada played Switzerland in Dorval and in 2009, Canada was the home team for the Americas Zone Group I event held at Uniprix Stadium.  .

“Tennis continues to be a very popular sport in Montreal and the team is already looking forward to repeating the strong performance we enjoyed last year,” said Sylvain Bruneau, Captain of the Miele Canadian Fed Cup team. “The great crowd support was one of the determining factors in our convincing win last February when we earned our spot in a World Group II playoff and we hope to have the Montreal fans fully behind us again this time around.”   

Last month, Canada took home top honours at the Americas Zone Group I round robin event for the second consecutive year, defeating Colombia in the final to solidify their place in a World Group II playoff tie. The Miele Canadian Fed Cup squad was crowned champion of the competition that also included teams from Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Paraguay and Puerto Rico.   

Three ways to purchase tickets

Tickets for next month’s event are on sale today and can be purchased through three different avenues:

·         Online at: www.admission.com

·         By phone at: 514-273-1515 ext. 11

·         At Uniprix Stadium reception (285 Faillon Ouest)

A total of 1500 spectators will be able to attend each of the two sessions thanks to the temporary stands that will be built indoors at Uniprix Stadium for the occasion.

The players who have been selected to be part of the Miele Canadaian Fed Cup team for this upcoming tie will be announced in April and the event will be web cast live on www.tenniscanada.com.

        

                                                              

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

TENNIS CHANNEL TO CARRY 90 HOURS OF LIVE MATCHES

AT 2010 BNP PARIBAS OPEN

Nine Straight Days of Network Coverage on Tap fromIndian Wells, Calif., Including Live Men’s and Women’s SinglesFinals, 12-Hour Days and 70 Hours of Encore Competition

 

Telecast Begins Friday with “Hit For Haiti”Relief Exhibition that Features

Agassi, Sampras, Navratilova, Federer, Nadal, Graf, Davenport and Henin

 

LOS ANGELES, March9, 2010 – TennisChannel will essentially become the2010 BNP Paribas Open network during the next two weeks, adjusting itsprogramming schedule for the Indian Wells, Calif.-based men’s andwomen’s tournament, one of the most celebrated events of the year.  Thechannel plans 90 hours of live coverage over the 12-day competition, includingthe men’s and women’s singles finals, a tennis-legends “HitFor Haiti” exhibition, and seven consecutive days of close to 12 hours ofback-to-back matches.

 

Tournamentcoverage begins with “Hit For Haiti presented by Oracle” Friday,March 12, at 10:30 p.m. ET.  The exhibition will feature a lineup of Grand Slamchampions that includes Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi,Lindsay Davenport, Steffi Graf, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Justine Henin. Proceeds from ticket sales and viewer contributions will support American RedCross relief efforts in Haiti. Tennis Channel will run an on-screen crawl with donation information forviewers and an encore replay of the event immediately following itsconclusion.  The network’s Web site, www.tennischannel.com, will alsostream the event live and provide a link for visitors who want to contribute toHaitirelief.  The exhibition will be accessible online via on-demand throughout thetournament, as will the donation link.

 

TennisChannel’s first tournament-match coverage begins Saturday, March 13, at 2p.m. ET.  The network will keep cameras on the courts until 2 a.m. ET. Sunday,March 14, and repeat the process that afternoon.  After the weekend’splay the on-air schedule begins at 3 p.m. ET daily, from Monday, March 15through Sunday, March 21, when the women’s and men’s singles finalstake place.  In addition to 90 hours of live matches, Tennis Channel will offer70 hours of “instant encore” matches.  These replay blocks of theprevious evening’s competitions begin at 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. ET and run upto the afternoon’s live coverage.

 

The network will bringHall of Famer Tracy Austin to the booth during women’s matches, alongsidesportscaster Brett Haber and field reporter Cari Champion. ATP Media’sJason Goodall, Doug Adler and Robbie Koenig will handle Tennis Channel’scoverage of the men’s

 

More…

Page 2/Tennis Channel 2010 BNPParibas Open Schedule Release

 

matches in Indian Wells,with the Emmy Award-winning Brian Webber providing off-camera hostingassistance.

 

Beyond itsonline activity for “Hit For Haiti,” www.tennischannel.com will go behindthe scenes via Tennischannel.com Grounds Pass video updates, and post thenetwork’s Court Report on-airand online news segments, produced from Indian Wells during the tournament. The network’s Web site will also host its popular Racquet Bracket tournament-predictiongame.

 

TennisChannel’s Live BNP Paribas Open Match Schedule

 

Date                                        Time(ET)                   Event                                     

Saturday, March 13                  2p.m.-2 a.m.               Second-Round

Sunday, March 14                    2p.m.-2 a.m.               Second-Round, Third-Round

Monday, March 15                  3p.m.-2:30 a.m.           Third-Round

Tuesday, March 16                  3p.m.-2:30 a.m.           Third-Round, Round of 16

Wednesday, March 17             3p.m.-2:30 a.m.           Round of 16, Women’s Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 18                 3p.m.-midnight            Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals

Friday, March 19                     3p.m.-midnight            Men’s Quarterfinals, Women’s Semifinals

Saturday, March 20                  3p.m.-11 p.m.             Men’s Semifinals, Doubles Final

Sunday, March 21                    3p.m.-7:30 p.m.          Women’s Final, Men’s Final

 

TennisChannel (www.tennischannel.com) is the only 24-hour, television-basedmultimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennislifestyle.  A hybrid of comprehensive sports, health, fitness, pop culture,entertainment, lifestyle and travel programming, the network is home to everyaspect of the wide-ranging, worldwide tennis community.  It also has the mostconcentrated single-sport coverage in television, with telecast rights to theUS Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros (French Open), Australian Open, Olympus USOpen Series, ATP Masters Series, top-tier Sony Ericsson WTA Tour championshipcompetitions, Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, and Hyundai Hopman Cup.  TennisChannel is carried by nine of the top 10 MSOs, Verizon FiOS TV, and has anational footprint via DIRECTV and DISH Network.

        

BNP PARIBAS OPEN - INDIAN WELLS, USA
USD 3,645,000.00 (ATP)
USD 4,500,000.00 (WTA)
MARCH 08 - MARCH 21, 2010
RESULTS - MARCH 08, 2010
Women's
Qualifying Singles - First Round
Qualifying - E Baltacha (GBR) d [WC] J Boserup (USA) 26 64 64
Qualifying - T Tanasugarn (THA) d M Niculescu (ROU) 60 61
Qualifying - P Martic (CRO) d [WC] A Pivovarova (RUS) 64 46 64
Qualifying - E Gallovits (ROU) d S Zahlavova (CZE) 64 75
Qualifying - A Parra Santonja (ESP) d [WC] C Vandeweghe (USA) 63 61
Qualifying - A Morita (JPN) d D Kustova (BLR) 62 46 64
Qualifying - M Larcher de Brito (POR) d K Zakopalova (CZE) 64 36 63
Qualifying - K Chang (TPE) d G Voskoboeva (KAZ) 36 60 61
Qualifying - K Woerle (GER) d A Rodionova (AUS) 62 57 62
Qualifying - K Sprem (CRO) d A Yakimova (BLR) 61 62
Qualifying - Y Chan (TPE) d S Dubois (CAN) 63 46 62
Qualifying - A Amanmuradova (UZB) d C Scheepers (RSA) 63 57 61
Qualifying - V Kutuzova (UKR) d M Johansson (FRA) 64 75
Qualifying - R de Los Rios (PAR) d M Zec Peskiric (SLO) 63 61
Qualifying - S Perry (USA) d L Osterloh (USA) 63 64
Qualifying - N Llagostera Vives (ESP) d E Rodina (RUS) 36 76(5) 62
Qualifying - V Lepchenko (USA) d A Hlavackova (CZE) 62 62
Qualifying - M Krajicek (NED) d M Koryttseva (UKR) 61 63
Qualifying - P Parmentier (FRA) d [WC] A Spears (USA) 36 64 76(2)
Qualifying - E Bychkova (RUS) d [WC] A Riske (USA) 61 62
Qualifying - T Pironkova (BUL) d K Kucova (SVK) 61 76(3)
Qualifying - [WC] S Stephens (USA) d R Voracova (CZE) 62 61
Qualifying - P Mayr (AUT) d V Tetreault (CAN) 63 57 62
Qualifying - A Rus (NED) d M Domachowska (POL) 63 64

ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, MARCH 09, 2010
STADIUM 2 start 10:00 am
Qualifying - D Istomin (UZB) vs B Reynolds (USA) - ATP
Qualifying - N Lindahl (AUS) vs R Kendrick (USA) - ATP

Not Before 12:00 PM
Qualifying - K Chang (TPE) vs S Perry (USA) - WTA
Qualifying - [WC] F Krajinovic (SRB) vs G Gaudio (ARG) - ATP

Not Before 4:00 PM
Qualifying - L Gregorc (SLO) vs D Young (USA) - ATP
STADIUM 3 start 10:00 am
Qualifying - [WC] V Spadea (USA) vs T Alves (BRA) - ATP
Qualifying - K Anderson (RSA) vs S Grosjean (FRA) - ATP

Not Before 12:00 PM
Qualifying - Y Chan (TPE) vs V Lepchenko (USA) - WTA
Qualifying - A Parra Santonja (ESP) vs [WC] S Stephens (USA) - WTA
Qualifying - S de Chaunac (FRA) vs S Koubek (AUT) - ATP

Not Before 4:00 PM
Qualifying - S Devvarman (IND) vs A Kuznetsov (USA) - ATP-Frist Available Court
COURT 4 start 10:00 am
Qualifying - B Phau (GER) vs [WC] J de Armas (VEN) - ATP
Qualifying - R Schuettler (GER) vs A Bogomolov Jr. (USA) - ATP

Not Before 12:00 PM
Qualifying - K Sprem (CRO) vs R de Los Rios (PAR) - WTA
Qualifying - P Martic (CRO) or [WC] A Pivovarova (RUS) vs M Krajicek (NED) or M Koryttseva (UKR) - WTA

Not Before 4:00 PM
Qualifying - D Brands (GER) vs K Im (KOR) - ATP
COURT 5 start 10:00 am
Qualifying - I Klec (SVK) vs D Kindlmann (GER) - ATP
Qualifying - G Lapentti (ECU) vs S Gonzalez (MEX) - ATP

Not Before 12:00 PM
Qualifying - K Woerle (GER) vs V Kutuzova (UKR) - WTA
Qualifying - D Brown (JAM) vs T Smyczek (USA) - ATP

Not Before 4:00 PM
Qualifying - M Mcclune (USA) vs R Delgado (PAR) - ATP
COURT 6 start 10:00 am
Qualifying - [WC] B Battistone (USA) vs J Witten (USA) - ATP
Qualifying - R de Voest (RSA) vs R Sweeting (USA) - ATP

Not Before 12:00 PM
Qualifying - M Larcher de Brito (POR) vs A Rus (NED) - WTA
Qualifying - E Baltacha (GBR) or [WC] J Boserup (USA) vs [WC] A Riske (USA) or E Bychkova (RUS) - WTA

Not Before 4:00 PM
Qualifying - I Marchenko (UKR) vs M Matosevic (AUS) - ATP
COURT 7 start 10:00 am
Qualifying - C Ball (AUS) vs V Millot (FRA) - ATP
Qualifying - R Mello (BRA) vs D Norman (BEL) - ATP

Not Before 12:00 PM
Qualifying - A Amanmuradova (UZB) vs P Mayr (AUT) - WTA
Qualifying - T Tanasugarn (THA) or M Niculescu (ROU) vs N Llagostera Vives (ESP) or E Rodina (RUS) - WTA
COURT 8 start 10:00 am
Qualifying - L Cook (USA) vs M Yani (USA) - ATP
Qualifying - K Kim (USA) vs B Evans (USA) - ATP

Not Before 12:00 PM
Qualifying - E Gallovits (ROU) vs P Parmentier (FRA) - WTA
COURT 12 start 10:00 am
Qualifying - Y Lu (TPE) vs [WC] R Borvanov (USA) - ATP
Qualifying - P Amritraj (IND) vs B Dabul (ARG) - ATP

Not Before 12:00 PM
Qualifying - A Morita (JPN) vs T Pironkova (BUL) - WTA

        

GVTN Net Notes for March 8, 2010



Davis Cup - Chile defeats Israel

Chile has secured a spot in the Davis Cup quarterfinals after Fernando Gonzalez defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 6-4, 6-4, 6-3

Gonzalez Dedicates Win To Battered Countrymen

BNP Paribas Open Begins Today with Qualies



The Ladies draw is out and BNP Paribas Open Television Coverage is set.

New deal with Sony Ericsson for the WTA Tour

Sony Ericsson Renews Partnership with WTA Tour

Fallout from Great Britain's loss to Lithuania in Davis Cup

Read BBC Sport's Jonathan Overend:

Like a dazed party of stags, coming round the morning after the night before, the Lawn Tennis Association high command bravely fronted up today here in Vilnius.

The wreckage was not of broken bottles or body parts, the stench notof alcohol poisoning, but British tennis had effectively been strippedbare, roped to a tree and beaten with branches.

Defeat to Lithuania had been total humiliation.At least the bosses admitted so. "It's like being in a very bad dream,"LTA chief executive Roger Draper told BBC Sport. "Along with lots ofother British tennis fans [we are] sharing the humiliation of losing toLithuania."

Britain's3-2 defeat to a team of teenagers, only one of whom has a rankinginside 500, means a relegation play-off at home to Turkey in July.Defeat there will send us down to the fourth tier of the competitionentry level - along with Moldova, Malta, San Marino and Armenia.

Read the rest...



Serena Williams in Jet Magazine

Serena Williams is profiled in the new edition of Jet. The article is entitled "Serena's Comfort Zone."
The article focuses on "playful" side, her charity work and her favorite things

Williams lists some of her favorites:
Car - Audi
TV Show - Desperate Housewives
Food - Candy, Starburst in particular
Feature - "my smile"
Sport to play (other than tennis) - "Golf, because I can still wear a dress."



Safin in Rio

        

MORE THAN DOUBLES FOR 2010 TOURNAMENT

 

FSN And Tennis Channel To Televise More Than 120 Hours Of Tennis

 

Indian Wells, Calif., Monday, March 8, 2010 – The BNP Paribas Open, the most attended tennis tournament outside of the four major events, will more than double its domestic television coverage for the 2010 event with over 120 hours of live HD programming scheduled, it was announced today by tournament director Steve Simon.

 

The tournament, to be held March 8-21 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, will be televised for 34 hours on Fox Sports Net’s (FSN) 19 owned-and-operated regional networks that reach more than 85 million homes across the United States. In addition, Tennis Channel will increase its coverage to nine days and 90 hours of live action, with 70 hours of encore coverage. The announcing team for FSN will feature three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport, former ATP World Tour player Justin Gimelstob, and veteran tennis commentator Sam Gore. Tennis Channel will bring Hall of Famer Tracy Austin to the booth during women’s matches, alongside sportscaster Brett Haber and field reporter Cari Champion. ATP Media’s Jason Goodall, Doug Adler and Robbie Koenig will handle the network’s coverage of the men’s matches in Indian Wells, with the Emmy Award-winning Brian Webber providing off-camera hosting assistance.

 

“We are extremely excited that we have been able to increase the overall television coverage of the BNP Paribas Open,” said Simon. “Our partnership with FSN, and expanded relationship with the Tennis Channel, will allow us to provide multi-court coverage and more action than ever before to our fans across the United States. We hope to continue expanding our coverage in years to come.”

 

Coverage of the BNP Paribas Open on Tennis Channel will begin live on Friday, March 12 at 7:30 PM PST with a special broadcast of the Hit For Haiti exhibition, presented by Oracle, that will feature 94 Grand Slam titles on the same court with Stefanie Graf and Lindsay Davenport taking on Martina Navratilova and Justine Henin, and Roger Federer and Pete Sampras playing Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi. It is anticipated that the evening will raise a minimum of $1 Million for Haiti relief efforts. FSN will broadcast the exhibition on tape delay, and fans should check their local listings for the times.

 

In addition to the live broadcast, live web streaming will be available on bnpparibasopen.org, TennisTV.com, atpworldtour.com, sonyericssonwtatour.com, usta.com, tennis.com, espn360.com, and others. As a show of support, the broadcasters, satellite uplink providers and production teams of the event are picking up all of the production costs to ensure that the maximum amount of money can be generated for the fundraising effort.

 

FSN’S main draw coverage will begin at Noon PDT on Monday, March 15 and continue through the duration of the tournament. The women’s and men’s singles finals will be live on Sunday, March 21 at Noon and 2:00 p.m. PDT. Tennis Channel’s coverage of the main draw will begin on Saturday, March 13 at 11:00 a.m. PST and continue through the finals on Sunday, March 21.

 

For more information about the BNP Paribas Open and the television schedule, visit www.bnpparibasopen.org.

 

About the BNP Paribas Open
The BNP Paribas Open is held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and is the largest combined ATP World Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event in the world. The event will be celebrating its 35^th anniversary March 8 – 21, 2010, with defending champions Rafael Nadal and Vera Zvonareva and more than 300 of the best men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. To purchase tickets visit www.bnpparibasopen.org, call 800-999-1585 or 760-200-8000, or visit the Indian Wells Tennis Garden box office, 78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, CA 92210.

 

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas (www.bnpparibas.com) is a European leader in global banking and financial services and is one of the 3 strongest banks in the world according to Standard & Poor’s. The group is present in 85 countries, with more than 171,000 employees, including 131.000 in Europe. The group holds key positions in three major segments: Corporate and Investment Banking, Asset Management & Services and Retail Banking. Present throughout Europe in all of its business lines, the bank’s two domestic markets in retail banking are France and Italy. BNP Paribas also has a significant presence in the United States and strong positions in Asia and the emerging markets.

 

About BNP Paribas and tennis

In 2008, BNP Paribas celebrated the 35th anniversary of its association with the tennis world. Since 1973, BNP Paribas has been actively involved in this sport, regularly increasing its support – both locally and internationally, for families, schools and the community.

 

Historically, BNP Paribas has had a special relationship with every facet of the tennis world: official global sponsor of Roland Garros for 35 years, sponsor of the Davis Cup since 2001, of the Fed Cup since 2005 and since the acquisition of BNL in 2006, the "Internazionali BNL d'Italia", as well as actively supporting numerous other international competitions (WTA Bank of the West Classic in California, the Monte Carlo Masters Series, BNP Paribas Strasbourg Women's Open, Grand Prix de Lyon, etc.). BNP Paribas also supports tennis locally in France, and is involved in more than 550 tournaments, including the BNP Paribas family trophy, various training programmes set up by the French Tennis Federation and Yannick Noah’s “Fête le Mur” association.

 

About FSN

FSN is the nation's leading provider of local sports. Through its 19 owned-and-operated regional networks, FSN serves as the TV home to more than half of all MLB, NHL, and NBA teams. FSN's nationwide roster of regional sports networks includes FOX Sports Arizona, FOX Sports Carolinas, FOX Sports Detroit, FOX Sports Florida, FOX Sports Houston, FOX Sports Indiana, FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports North, FOX Sports Ohio, FOX Sports Oklahoma, FOX Sports South, FOX Sports Southwest, FOX Sports Tennessee, FOX Sports West, FOX Sports Wisconsin, PRIME Ticket, SportSouth, and Sun Sports. FSN produces close to 5,000 live local events each year, including more than 2,800 in high definition, making FSN the most prolific producers of HD Sports programming in the country. In addition to its thousands of home team games and a wide variety of locally produced sports programs, FSN televises national sports events and programs, including Pac-10 and ACC basketball and Pac-10 and Big 12 football.

About Tennis Channel

Tennis Channel (www.tennischannel.com) is the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle.  A hybrid of comprehensive sports, health, fitness, pop culture, entertainment, lifestyle and travel programming, the network is home to every aspect of the wide-ranging, worldwide tennis community.  It also has the most concentrated single-sport coverage in television, with telecast rights to the US Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros (French Open), Australian Open, Olympus US Open Series, ATP Masters Series, top-tier Sony Ericsson WTA Tour championship competitions, Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, and Hyundai Hopman Cup. Tennis Channel is carried by nine of the top 10 MSOs, Verizon FiOS TV, and has a national footprint via DIRECTV and DISH Network.

        

SAFIN TO OPEN CHAMPIONS SERIES TENNIS CAREER AGAINST FERREIRA IN RIO DE JANEIRO

NEW YORK, March 8, 2010 - Marat Safin, the charismatic winner of two major singles titles and one of 24 men to rank No. 1 in the world, will open up play in his debut Champions Series tennis event Friday against Wayne Ferreira at the Banco Cruzeiro do Sul Rio Champions in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The Banco Cruzeiro do Sul Rio Champions Cup, held March 12-14 at the Maracanãzinho Stadium in Rio, is the opening event on the 2010 Champions Series tennis circuit, the U.S.-based international tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.

Also competing in the eight-player, single-knock out event are Jim Courier, Mats Wilander, Mark Philippoussis, Cedric Pioline, Mikael Pernfors and Fernando Meligeni. The event will feature $150,000 in total prize money, with the singles champion earning $60,000. Tickets can be purchased by calling 5521-3005-4023 or by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com

The full schedule of play at the event is as follows;

Friday 12th March: Starting at 6 pm
Quarterfinal #1 - Fernando Meligeni vs. Mikael Pernfors
Quarterfinal #2 - Mark Philippoussis vs. Cedric Pioline
Quarterfinal #3 - Marat Safin vs. Wayne Ferreira
Quarterfinal #4 - Jim Courier vs. Mats Wilander

Saturday 13th March: Starting at 6 pm
Men’s Doubles Match
Semifinal #1 - Winner of Safin/Ferreira vs. Meligini/Pernfors
Semifinal #2 - Winner of Philippoussis/Pioline vs. Courier/Wilander

Sunday 14th March: Starting at 11 am
3rd Place Match
Championship Final

Safin became the first Russian to win the U.S. Open in 2000 when he shocked Pete Sampras 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the men's singles final. Safin rode the momentum of winning his first major singles title to earn the No. 1 ranking later that year and rank in the top spot for a total of nine weeks during his career. He reached the final of the Australian Open in 2002 and again in 2004, losing to Thomas Johansson and Roger Federer, respectively, but broke through to win his second major title in Australia in 2005, defeating Lleyton Hewitt in the final. Safin, who also reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2002 and at Wimbledon in 2008, won 15 career singles titles and guided Russia to Davis Cup titles in 2002 and 2006. Safin turned 30 years old on January 27 and concluded his ATP World Tour career last fall.

The Rio Champions Cup is part of the global Champions Series tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. To be eligible to compete, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each event features $150,000 in prize money,  with the tournament champion earning $60,000, and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1. Each tournament champion earns 800 ranking points.

Jim Courier finished the 2009 season as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series, followed by Pete Sampras and Todd Martin. John McEnroe won the inaugural Rio Champions Cup in 2009, defeating Courier 6-2, 6-3 in the final.

The full 2010 Champions Series schedule of tournaments will be announced in the near future. The first tournament in the United States, the Staples Champions Cup - will be held April 29-May 2 in Boston, Mass., and will feature Bjorn Borg playing in his first tournament in the U.S. in 10 years.

With Safin and Borg's commitment to play in 2010, the five-year old Champions Series features 10 former world No. 1 players competing on the circuit, joining Courier, McEnroe, Wilander, Sampras, Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg, Thomas Muster and Patrick Rafter.

InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Champions Series tennis circuit, a collection of tournaments featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including "Legendary Night" exhibitions, charity events, corporate outings and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual "Ultimate Fantasy Camp". Through 2009, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

        

                                                                                        

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 

CABLE INDUSTRY VETERAN KEN SOLOMON SWORN IN AS MEMBER, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

 

Justice StephenBreyer (l) administered the oath to KenSolomon (r)

Ovation Chairman and Tennis Channel CEO/Chairman Joins Committee Dedicated to Furthering the National Commitment to the Arts

 

SANTA MONICA, CA -- March 8, 2010 Cable industry veteran, Ken Solomon, was sworn in as a member of President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Wednesday in the U. S. Supreme Court.  Justice Stephen Breyer administered the oath to committee members, including Mr.Solomon, who is currently Chairman of Ovation, the only television network dedicated to art and contemporary culture, and Chairman and CEO of Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour network dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle.

 

After being sworn in Wednesday, Mr. Solomon participated in a dinner honoring the 2009 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal awardees,and attended a White House ceremony Thursday in which President Obama acknowledged the Committee during the Medal presentations.  As a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (“PCAH”),Mr. Solomon and his fellow committee members will work with federal cultural agencies, and civic, corporate, foundation, and private funders to further the United States' national investment in its cultural life.  The PCAH helps to underscore the civic, social, educational, and historical value of arts and humanities in the life of our nation.

 

“Itis extremely humbling to be named to this esteemed committee, but the highest honor will come in what we’re able to accomplish,” said Solomon.  “Not only can we drive our nation’s economic growth via the arts and humanities, but through cultural diplomacy we seek to strengthen our relationship within the global family of nations as well.  I welcome this service, the work ahead and the chance to advancethe democratization of the arts through education.”

 

With more than 25 years of television and multimedia experience, Mr. Solomon has held top posts with the Walt Disney Corp., Universal Television,Dream Works, News Corp. and Scripps. He is currently vice chairman of the Young Presidents Organization Bel-Air (YPO) and has been named "Humanitarian of the Year" by H.E.L.P. Group, one of the largest and most influential children's charities in the United States, for which he serves on the Circle of Friends advisory board.

 

“I’m thrilled that my friend has been appointed to this crucial national committee,” said Charles Segars, CEO of Ovation.  “He works tirelessly for education and will be instrumental in PCAH’s efforts to promote the arts and arts education throughout the country.”

 

Mr.Solomon joins such well-known and accomplished individuals as actors Edward Norton, Forest Whitaker, Alfre Woodard, Kerry Washington, and Sarah Jessica Parker; American playwright and director George C. Wolfe,Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour, Pulitzer prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri; Grammy Award-winning classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and National Medal of Arts winning visual artist Chuck Close, to name a few.

 

The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) has served each Administration since 1982, advancing the White House's arts and humanities objectives by working directly with the three primary cultural agencies – National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – to initiate and support key programs; to recognize excellence in the fields of arts and humanities; and to encourage private-public partnerships around those disciplines.

 

Through the leadership of its Honorary Chairman, the First Lady, Michelle Obama, and its federal and private members, the PCAH has compiled an impressive legacy over its tenure including initiating the Medal of Arts and the National Medal for the Humanities, catalyzing signature cultural programs such as Save America's Treasures, Coming Up Taller, and AFI Project: 20/20, and taking the lead on groundbreaking cultural delegations to countries such as China and Mexico.