Imagine Tennis - Blog RSS (News)

Your Guide to Tennis in 2012

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:50:47 +0000

At Imagine Tennis, we like to keep one eye on what’s happening in the future, and we’re sure you’re the same. So to make sure you never miss a serve, grunt or Grand Slam winning moment, here is the full schedule for the 2012 ATP and WTA Tours.

January

2^nd – 8^th BRISBANE WTA International Championships and ATP 2...

By Chris White

Venus Doubtful for Australian Open

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:22:40 +0000

Former world number one Venus Williams could be forced to miss the Australian Open in January after pulling out of the ASB Classic in Auckland due to her continuing health problems.

The 31-year old American is still suffering from Sjogren’s syndrome, which can cause fatigue and pain in the joints, which has restricted her to a num...

By Chris White

Baltacha in Retirement U-Turn

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:48:49 +0000

British number one Elena Baltacha has admitted that she is likely to change her current retirement plans and play on into 2013, saying it would be “silly” to retire if things are going well after the London Olympics.

The 28-year old had previously said that she was likely to end her professional career after the London games, but having broken into the world’s top 50 for the first time in 2011, she’s admitted that her plans would be...

By Chris White

Bryan Brothers Break Doubles Ranking Record

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:54:44 +0000

Bob and Mike Bryan have broken the record for the most weeks on top of the world doubles rankings, hailing their own achievement as “truly awesome.”

The American duo have just entered their 271^st week at the top of the ATP rankings, one more than the great John McEnroe held in his career. Mike said that the achieve...

By Chris White

Judy Murray Named GB Fed Cup Captain

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:00:22 +0000

Judy Murray has been named as the new team captain of Great Britain for the Fed Cup. The post has been vacant since June this year when Nigel Sears stepped down to take up a role coaching Ana Ivanovic.

Murray, the mother of world number four Andy and doubles star Jamie,...

By Chris White

Hewitt Given Wild Card Boost

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:15:41 +0000

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt has been given a boost ahead of his home competition, by being handed a wild card entry to the Australian Open, sparing him from the qualification process.

A host of injury problems have seen Hewitt fall from world number one to 188^th in the world, and he would have had to qualify to take part in Australia, but tournament...

By Chris White

Nadal Beats del Potro to Secure Davis Cup for Spain

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:51:31 +0000

World number two Rafael Nadal beat Juan Martin del Potro in the thrilling final to win the Davis Cup for Spain for the fifth time, and the third in four years. Nadal lost six games in a row during the first set, but bounced back to take the final victory in four sets in Seville.

“Today is one of the most emotional days ...

By Chris White

Federer Wins ATP Tour Final

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:44:11 +0000

In the 100^th final of his career, world number four Roger Federer won his 70^th title, and an unprecedented sixth at the ATP World Tour Finals, by beating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in three sets at London’s O2 Arena.

A set and a break ahead, Federer looked like wrapping up the final in no ti...

By Chris White

Down and Out

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:37:54 +0000

British number one and world number three Andy Murray has been forced to withdraw from the ATP World Tour Finals because of a groin injury that hampered him throughout his first match defeat against David Ferrer, in which the Spaniard comfortably won in straight sets.

Murray made the announcement after a training session,...

By Chris White

Murray "too negative"

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:34:43 +0000

Tennis legend Boris Becker has criticised Andy Murray’s game plan, claiming that he is “too negative” to win a Grand Slam title, with the German urging him to start attacking more if he is to final break his duck in the major competitions.

Becker, who works as part of the UK commentary team, told BBC Sport ahead of next week’s ATP World Tour Finals in London has been made, with the players now aware of the men they need to beat in order to win the tournament.

The best eight players on the ATP World Tour qualified for the competition at the O2 Arena, including British number one and world number three Andy Murray. The Scot has been drawn in Group A alongside world...

By Chris White

Federer Wins First Paris Masters title

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:25:37 +0000

Roger Federer won the Paris Masters for the first time in his career with a 6-1 7-6 (7-3) victory over home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Swiss had never reached the final of the Paris tournament, but secured his 18^th career Masters victory and his 69^th tournament victory in under...

By Chris White

Czech Republic Win Fed Cup

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:24:12 +0000

The Czech Republic won the decisive doubles match to beat Russia 3-2 in the final of the Fed Cup in Moscow, thanks to a victory from Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke. The Czech duo beat Maria Kirilenko and Elena...

By Chris White

Hometown Hero

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:02:42 +0000

Roger Federer sealed only his second title of 2011 at the Swiss Indoor tournament; by beating world number 32 Kei Nishikori in the final in straight sets.

Federer won 6-1, 6-3 against the wildcard entry, who shocked the tennis world at the competition by beating the seemingly unbeatable world number one Novak...

By Chris White

Glasgow to Welcome Slovaks

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:44:02 +0000

Great Britain will return to one of their favourite arenas for the Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 match in February against Slovakia. The match will take place at Glasgow’s Braehead Arena, the scene of recent victories against Luxembourg and Hungary, which secured their promotion back to the second tier of the Davis Cup.

The Glaswegian crowd, and captain Leon Smith...

By Chris White