Inside-Tennis.net Articles http://www.inside-tennis.net Thu, 22 May 2008 19:52:39 +0200 en Inside-Tennis.net Thu, 22 May 2008 19:52:39 +0200 http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_558_Sony-Ericsson-Open-preview-2008.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_558_Sony-Ericsson-Open-preview-2008.html They once ambitiously called it the "fifth Grand Slam" back in the day when this Florida based tournament was first conceived in the mid 1980's. While it may not have managed to gain Grand Slam status, there is no denying that most if not all players consider the $7.54 million Sony Ericsson Open to be the most prestigious title outside of the four majors.  ... http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_557_Barclays-Dubai-Tennis-Championship.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_557_Barclays-Dubai-Tennis-Championship.html The defending champion Roger Federer has been handed a tough first round draw as he attempts to claim his fifth title here at the $1.5 million Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. The world number 1 has been drawn to play Andy Murray, currently ranked 12 but unseeded due to the incredible depth of the field which boasts 8 of the world's top 10 players.   Even last... http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_556_Australian-Open-looks-at-Sunday-start-and-Womens-night-final.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_556_Australian-Open-looks-at-Sunday-start-and-Womens-night-final.html THE Australian Open next year could become the biggest - and busiest - grand slam in tennis, with a Sunday start and a night women's final.   Tennis Australia's annual tournament review will canvass the logistics of expanding the record-breaking tournament to 15 days and 27 sessions.   It almost certainly will formalise a women's singles... http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_555_Players-Comments-About-Hingis-Retirement.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_555_Players-Comments-About-Hingis-Retirement.html As reported earlier in the week, Martina Hingis has announced her retirement amid allegations she used cocaine during this year's Wimbledon championships. Below are numerous player's comments about the issue of drugs and Martina Hingis' career.   Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario "Until the opposite is proven, Hingis is innocent. She&... http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_554_Grand-Prix-de-Tennis-de-Lyon-preview.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_554_Grand-Prix-de-Tennis-de-Lyon-preview.html Former US Open champion Andy Roddick is the top seed at the €680,250 Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon played at the delightfully intimate Palais des Sports de Gerland here in the south of Lyon.    The 2005 Lyon champion who loves to play at this event is making his first return after winning the title having pulled out last year due to injury. ... http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_553_Federer-Peerless-amongst-the-greats.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_553_Federer-Peerless-amongst-the-greats.html Roger Federer continues to re-write the history books; 4 US Open titles in a row following his 7-6 7-6 6-4 victory over Novak Djokovic and 12 Grand Slams to boot; the Swiss maestro is now well on his way to becoming the undisputed greatest player of all time.   Having won 3 out of the 4 majors once again this year, Federer does not look like he is slowing down in his quest to... http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_552_BCR-Open-Preview-Bucharest.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_552_BCR-Open-Preview-Bucharest.html The BCR Open here in Bucharest will see eyes divert from the hard courts of Flushing Meadows where Roger Federer claimed a record equalling fourth successive US Open title yesteday, to the red clay of this €353,450 event where clay court specialists such as top seeded Nicolas Almagro and defending champion Jurgen Melzer are competing for the silverware.   Almagro is... http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_551_US-Open-Womens-Preview.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_551_US-Open-Womens-Preview.html If you were the world number two and defending champion you might expect to be highly backed as the tennis world descends on Flushing Meadows this week. Instead Maria Sharapova, nursing a leg injury after withdrawing from the East West Bank Classic in Los Angeles two weeks ago, is being overshadowed by the draw.   Justine Henin, Serena and Venus Williams, and the two Serbs, Jelena... http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_550_US-Open-Mens-Preview.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_550_US-Open-Mens-Preview.html Just 7 weeks after the rains and high tradition of Wimbledon, the focus is shifted across the Atlantic to the glitz and glamour of the Big Apple for the final Grand Slam event of the year - the US Open.   For the third year running, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the bookends of the draw as the top 2 seeds, continuing their stranglehold on men's tennis, having shared... http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_549_Umag-preview.html http://www.inside-tennis.net/tennis-stories_549_Umag-preview.html The 2007 Studena Croatia Open boasts one of its strongest fields ever with six players ranked inside the top 20 competing for the coveted title and a lion's share of the €353,450 total prize money purse.   The top seed and local favourite Novak Djokovic whose Belgrade home is just a few hours drive away from this idyllic seaside resort, will...