Official Wimbledon Debentures

Wimbledon debenture tickets

2011-04-27T13:35:00.001-07:00

Ways to see the 2011 Championships

Getting Wimbledon debenture tickets is not generally a task for the faint hearted. You have to really want them and to go to serious lengths to secure them. For most big events including Wimbledon it’s generally possible to go online or ring the ticket office – and provided you do so in good time, you should succeed for a sensible price. But to buy tickets requires a combination of research skills, patience, single-minded determination and luck. And of course money.
For the “show courts” Court 1 or Court 2, a ticket through the gate will only qualify you to watch matches on the outside courts, with no guarantee of a seat and large queues at every point. You run the risk of seeing the back of a lot of other people’s heads rather than any serious tennis.
1. The Ballot
One of the cheapest options is to go in for the Ballot run by All England Lawn Tennis Club. Even getting into that is quite laborious.
You write with a stamped addressed envelope and ask them to send you a ballot application form. Then you have to fill it in. This must be done after the end of August and before the end of December.
There are dire warnings all over the Ballot Paper that you can only enter this once, or you will be blacklisted forever. There are instructions/threats that any failure to follow the rules will disqualify you.
You will know sometime in February whether you have successfully secured your chance of tickets. Your chances are around 1 in 10. That means you have a 90% chance of not being successful. But even if you succeed in the ballot you may still be disappointed. You may only get an individual ticket. Your hopes of seeing Andy Murray versus Roger Federer on Centre Court may be fade as you may only get into Court Number 2 on the second Saturday, where the only thing on offer may be an over 45s Mixed Doubles or a Junior boys game.
You are not allowed to indicate a preference of which day or Court you want. All is in the gift of the All England Club.
But beware, if you can’t go for any reason, you will not be allowed to sell these tickets and they will not even let you give them away. They are not transferable, if you can’t go, you have to send them back. And if you are caught trying to sell them on eBay, they will void the ticket. Likewise, if you buy a Ballot ticket on eBay, there is a danger that this will be voided.

2. Buy Debenture Tickets
Alternatively you can buy Official Wimbledon Debentures tickets from a Debenture Holder. Many of the sites that sell Wimbledon tickets are selling Debenture seats. They are the only ones that can be transferred and sold on.
At Official Wimbledon debentures you can buy directly the tickets rather than selling them on to agents. You will also have access to the Debenture Lounges where you will have the opportunity to spend even more money on very pleasant food and drink.

3. Queue up
Queuing is a glorious British tradition. I have friends who enjoy the Wimbledon Queue more than the tennis itself. They do it every single year. They make lifelong friends, share food and drink and war stories, and often spend day several days and nights queuing. If you have the time and the inclination, you can get in this way. There are only a handful available each day for the show courts. Be prepared to invest in sleeping bags, camping equipment, sun hats and warm clothes. Enjoy!

4. Buy from a Tout
Touts are not allowed to ply their trade close to the grounds of the Club. They get arrested or moved on by the police. They are to be found near the Underground stations. What they offer is very expensive and very risky. There is a chance that the tickets are not valid or not what they say they are. Be VERY careful. It’s generally a bad idea.

So there it is. If there are any other ways you know of getting Wimbledon tickets, please tell us, or you may prefer to keep the knowledge to yourself. Is it worth it? Of course it is. See you in June!

Wimbledon tennis 2011

2011-04-07T09:19:00.002-07:00

Rafa Nadal is unstoppable. The shooting distance in the standings to Roger Federer, the only one who could take away that privilege, at 220 points, insufficient income to recover the Swiss number 1. Federer, Wimbledon champion on six occasions (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009) defends the 2,000 points that won last year by winning his sixth championship, while Nadal does not give up to participate in the next Wimbledon tournament, even with the problem in his knees that it made Nadal do not play in the last Open Australia.

Rafa Nadal Wimbledon is the absolute winner of the last Wimbledon tournament. The mallorqui won the final match against Tomas Berdych.The Spaniard won the final to Czech Tomas Berdych by an tight score of 6-3, 7-5 and 6-4 after two hours and twelve minutes. The Spaniard, with this victory ratifies that is the number 1 in world. In this ranking reaches legends like Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl.

There are few players who, after spending what he has gone, which re-emerged phoenix from the ashes. There are few players who, after beating the local hero with authority, leaving Centre Court cheered by the British public. Rafael Nadal is the only Spanish player who can say he has won two Wimbledon (in the individual discipline). There are few athletes with the same career of Nadal, specially at his age.

Nadal, 25 years old, accumulated 14 consecutive victories on the Green London, where he has won 26 of the last 28 games he has played. After losing the end of 2006 and 2007 with the 'almighty' Roger Federer, Rafa won his first Wimbledon in 2008, doubling the Swiss in one of the best finals in history. Last year could not defend his title because of tendinitis in his knees forced him to miss the tournament. Today, two years later, returns to reclaim London and write a new chapter of his own legend.

Nadal is the favourite tennis player for the coming Wimbledon tournament.Berdych, meanwhile, played his first Grand Slam final, but came to the appointment with the band of 'matagigates "after beating Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in previous rounds. Roger Federer is also favourite candidate to in Wimbledon 2011, sixth Wimbledon and a record 15th Grand Slam title after a thrilling men's final.

Wimbledon is getting more popularity and the tickets for the whole event are sold out since February.However, the organisation has provided official debentures that still have good seats. It is highly recommendable check the availability as soon as possible, because the tickets are selling very fast.
This debenture provides fabulous seats for the whole event and looks like they have still availability, at least for the firsts matchs! Wimbledon tennis 2011

Andy Murray kicked off his grass-court campaign with a 7-6(8) 6-3 win over Spaniard Ivan Navarro at the AEGON Championship at Queen's.

2010-06-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

Defending champion Murray has been looking forward to returning to the grass court after a bad start to the year in recent tournaments, finishing runner-up to Roger Federer at the Australian Open.

Third seed Murray, who last year became the first Briton to win the title in 71 years, initially seemed taken aback at the sight of a serve-and-volleying Spaniard but once he had gotten over that shock he found his groove to book a place in the third round.

"Tricky play, not what you expect from a Spaniard coming forward on every point," Murray said in a courtside interview.

He has yet to win a title in 2010 and went out in the fourth round of the French Open. At times on Tuesday it seemed as if Murray had forgotten that he had left the claycourts behind as he repeatedly slapped his heels - as if trying to get the red dust from the sole of his shoes.

Murray would also have expected Navarro - whose stocky build would not have put him out of place on a rugby pitch - to hug the baseline since the world number 108 hails from Alicante.

But Navarro showed off his grasscourt skills as he attacked the net at every opportunity and with a little more experience he could have stolen the first set off Murray.

"I just managed to get him in the tiebreak but it was definitely tough," said Murray, who walked into his news conference holding a large ice pack wrapped around his right knee.

"It's nice to see someone serve and volley. I haven't played a serve-and-volleyer this year so it was tricky and he did it very well."

While Murray and Roddick were glad to finish their matches in one take, others had to endure a stop-start day as rain swept across west London.

We all hope Murray can retain his AEGON title which will line him up perfectly for a long awaited Wimbledon win!

Wimbledon Debenture Tickets - still a few available for this year's Wimbledon Tennis Tournament

Andy Murray latest – Time to pick himself up!

2010-06-04T04:10:00.000-07:00

Murray was defeated on a wet and windy Suzanne Lenglen Court in straight sets by Berdych after failing to come up with an answer to his opponent's raw power.
But last year’s AEGON Championship winner has vowed to pick himself up from his crushing French Open defeat to Tomas Berdych and defend his AEGON Championships title.

Murray has just a week to prepare for his first grasscourt match of the season at Queen's Club and said: "I look forward to playing another tournament. That's the good thing about tennis. I'm going to be very disappointed just now, but it's a different challenge in a week's time."

He added: "You get to spend a lot of time at home in front of home support, and I look forward to the grasscourt season, regardless of what goes on off the court."
Murray will have to really prove himself at the Queen’s Club to retain his title. This next tournament will lead him straight into the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament where all eyes will be on the 23-year-old star.

Murray, believed play should have been abandoned on Sunday night due to the encroaching darkness and wet conditions stated: "I look forward to the whole grasscourt stretch.

"Queen's is obviously a great tournament, it's got great history. To have won that last year was awesome.

"I'll just go back there and try to win again this year and give it my best shot."

If Murray can show his true talents over the next 30 days in both the AEGON Championship and the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament he could really move his ranking back into top position.

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Murray doesn't want to be favourite to win

2010-05-22T04:35:00.000-07:00

Andy Murray believes he should be stripped of the favourite's tag for his French Open first-round match following his nightmare draw.

Murray will play the former world number seven Richard Gasquet in his opener at Roland Garros, he admitted he could hardly have been handed a tougher opponent.

"The one thing I know is it's not a match I'm going into being the favourite, which probably hasn't happened in a slam for quite a few years," said fourth seed Murray. "So it will be a different sort of feeling."

Although regarded as one of the brightest talents, Gasquet has recently slipped to 68th in the world following injury and a ban for inadvertently taking cocaine.

Gasquet will also have the home advantage, something Murray enjoyed when winning their epic five-setter at Wimbledon two years ago. Both only 23 years old, the Frenchman Gasquet and Scottish Murray are both seen in the World as amazing young talents, that have had some difficult times recently.

"With him playing at home in front of his home supporters and crowd, then obviously that's something that I'll have to deal with and make sure I'm ready for," said Murray, who has a 2-1 losing record against Gasquet.

"I'll definitely be focused for the match and be ready to play five long sets if I have to."
Should Murray get through, he could face an incredibly tough run of matches against Juan Ignacio Chela, Marcos Baghdatis, Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Before Friday's draw, Murray targeted winning the tournament. And despite enduring a slump in form between reaching the Australian Open final and the last eight at the Madrid Masters last week, he believes he is going into Roland Garros in good shape.

"I think last year I had good preparation," said Murray, whose run to the quarter-finals in 2009 was his best performance in Paris. I've played a lot of matches on the clay. But I haven't played that many gruelling matches, I guess, in the lead up to this one. So I'm definitely well prepared."

Hopefully Murray can improve his form in the Roland Garros tournament, putting him in a good position for this year's Wimbledon Tennis Championship.

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Odesnik’s unfortunate Two-year ban

2010-05-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

Wayne Odesnik the American tennis player, ranked 114th in the world, has been banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation for violating doping rules by possessing human growth hormone.

Odesnik, 24, had not obtained a therapeutic use exemption for the HGH, of which eight vials were found in his luggage by customs officials in Australia in January.

The South African-born left-hander stressed he had intended to seek permission for the HGH before using it, and said he had not used it at the time of its discovery.

His suspension is backdated to December 29 and will end on December 28 next year. His results since December 29 have been quashed and he must forfeit ranking points and prize-money of just over £60,000 from the tournaments he has participated in.

Wimbledon Tennis has been relatively free of drug scandals, however the recent revelation by Andre Agassi that after his positive drug test for crystal meth, he lied about how it came to be in his body to avoid a ban. His revelation have not sat well with many players, especially as the ATP will not be taking action against him as it was so long ago.

It is unfortunate that Odesnik has had to suffer this ban, but to ensure a clean image for the sport and for the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, players must realise that they cannot let anything slide.

Debenture seats for Wimbledon 2010 arte still available but selling fast. Book your tickets at Official Wimbledon Debentures to ensure you are guaranteed your day and seats Wimbledon Debenture Tickets

Andy Murray hoping the World Cup will ease his stress!

2010-05-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

Andy Murray is hoping the pressure will be eased on him this summer at Wimbledon by England's footballers.

The World Cup action will coincide with this year’s two weeks of the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament in June and July and if England does well in one of the easiest group phases against the USA, Algeria and Slovenia then the nation's sporting focus is bound to be on South Africa. It is a scenario Murray, a passionate Scot, welcomes.

"Going into Wimbledon there is always a lot of pressure. Last year there wasn't a lot going on other than Wimbledon so it was the whole focus of the media. Everyone's attention was solely on tennis," said Murray.

"This year it will be different. England have got a good chance of winning the World Cup and the World Cup is huge, the viewing figures, the amount of coverage is massive so it splits up the attention which might make it a bit easier."

Last year Murray reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon but was unfortunately knocked out by an in-form Andy Roddick.

This season he has struggled following an emotional final defeat in the Australian Open against Roger Federer after which famously he admitted he could weep as well as the champion even if he could not play as well.

Since the Australian Open he has won five matches but also lost five matches, most worryingly including back-to-back defeats against Robin Soderling, Mardy Fish and Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Lets hope he can keep up his spirits for this year’s Wimbledon, as long as we see him playing the best tennis he can I am sure the crowds will be most entertained.

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Stuttgart title taken by Henin

2010-05-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Title in Stuttgart has been won by Justine Henin who claims her first WTA Tour title since making her comeback at the start of the year.
The seven-time grand slam winner beat Australia's Sam Stosur in one hour and 41 minutes; 6-4 2-6 6-1

Henin had looked in trouble midway through the match when she lost five games in a row to lose the second set and go 1-0 down in the decider. The 27-year-old recovered spectacularly to claim her 42nd career title as she reeled off the next six games to close out the match.

Henin announcing her return at the start of the year after previously retiring in May 2008, she immediately found her best form as she reached the final in Brisbane and at the Australian Open in January.

The Belgian, who had reached the final in Stuttgart on four occasions previously, beat seeds Yanina Wickmayer (eighth) and Jelena Jankovic (fourth) en route to the final before ending seventh seed Stosur's 11-match winning streak.
"I never thought I'd be back in Stuttgart a year ago - and especially for it to be on clay now, it means a lot to me," said Henin, who is looking forward to returning to the French Open later this month.

"When I saw Roger Federer winning the French Open (last year) - it brought back the fire that wasn't there anymore before.

"It has been a lot of work but I'm ready for it. It's great to be back and share these emotions with all of you guys. I had a fantastic week. Everything was perfect."
Her opponent Stosur, the world number 10, admitted that she had been outplayed.

"Justine was just too good," the Australian said. "In the third set she just got really aggressive, made some really good returns and put me under a lot of pressure."

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Andy Murray looking a little worse for wear!!

2010-04-30T06:05:00.000-07:00

Andy Murray's looking a little dishevelled as defeat by David Ferrer at the Rome Masters.

The world number five produced some superb play but his Spanish opponent was sharper, especially on the vital points with Murray's lack of tennis evident as he made a number of unforced errors.

The 22-year-old started 2010 in positive fashion with a run to the Australian Open final but has struggled for form ever since before his poor run came to an end with a straight-sets victory over Andreas Seppi on Tuesday.

A wild swipe by Murray gave Ferrer two break points in the sixth game which he converted when Murray put his return into the net and he had a point for 5-2 before the Dunblane-born player produced a stunning slice up the line for break point. However, Ferrer played a superb drop shot at the net before handing the Briton another chance but Murray could not capitalise and the 13th seed eventually prevailed.

Murray held for the first game of the second set with a blistering forehand and the match continued to go with serve. Murray had a chance to break in the sixth but his opponent held and he was forced to repel Ferrer in the following game when the Spaniard chased down every ball to force Murray into returning into the net for another break point.

Ferrer went long but Murray failed with a volley into the net and a backhand into the net gave him a break for a 4-3 lead. On a number of occasions Murray was working himself into good positions but failed to find the finishing shot and he let slip a 30-0 lead in the eighth with a miscued shot into the tramlines as Ferrer opened up a 5-3 advantage.

Murray held emphatically but faced Ferrer serving for the match and a forehand return which flew wide handed the Spaniard match point which he duly took at the first time of asking as his opponent put the ball into the net.

Hopefully his form will be back on track for Wimbledon. Still a few Debenture seats available after all of the ballots disappeared very quickly again this year! Wimbledon Tennis Tickets

Venus Williams pulls out of semi-final squad in US Fed Open

2010-04-23T05:24:00.000-07:00

Both Serena and Venus are sitting out the tie in Alabama, after Venus hurt her knee in Miami last month.
Williams said in a statement: "I am continuing to rehabilitate my knee and regret that I will not be able to participate in the Fed Cup tie."

She added: "I waited until this moment in the hope that I would have an opportunity to play but I am being advised by my medical support team that I will need more time to recover.

"I will be rooting for a United States win and look forward to returning to Fed Cup competition." It has now been three years, since 2007 that neither Venus or Serena have played in the Fed. Captain Mary Joe Fernandez said: "We're kind of used to not having either Venus or Serena around, so it's not like a shock to the team that really disrupts it."
With the Williams sisters out Fernandez has been forced to rely on a very inexperienced line-up, including Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and South African-born Liezel Huber.

Teenagers Sloane Stephens and Julia Boserup travel as back-up in case of further injuries.

Due to the air travel chaos, caused by volcanic ash, several members of the Russian tennis team have been stranded in Europe, they are expected to arrive in time for the match.

The other semi-final takes place in Rome, where defending champions Italy will play their first ever Fed Cup tie at the famous Foro Italico - venue for the Italian Open - as they host the Czech Republic.

It will be interesting to watch these players form over the next month as we lead up to Wimbledon 2010. Hopefully Serena and Venus will both be able to compete in this year’s tournament. Whenever they play at Wimbledon tickets are very hard to come by.

To book your Wimbledon Tennis Tickets for Wimbledon 2010 book early – Wimbledon Tennis Tickets

Beatriz Garcia Vidagany beats Kim Clijsters at the Andalucia Open

2010-04-09T05:51:00.001-07:00

Kim Clijsters made a shock early exit at the Andalucia Open in Marbella, losing to world number 258 Beatriz Garcia Vidagany of Spain in round two.

The reigning US Open champion lost the opening set but looked to have regained control when she took the second.

But Garcia Vidagany stunned the Belgian as she broke her three times in the deciding set to seal a 7-5 4-6 6-4 win.

The tournament was Clijsters' first on clay in three years following her two-year spell in retirement.

Clijsters, 26, arrived in Marbella as the number three seed on the back of an impressive win over Venus Williams in the Miami final last Sunday.

But the Belgian had needed three sets to beat Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru in the first round as she struggled to adapt to the clay, and she could not convert three set points in the opening set against Garcia Vidagany.

"I feel disappointed with the way I played," Clijsters told the WTA website. "I played a really bad match. I felt mentally drained.

"Maybe the change from Miami came too quickly, but I played a good player today. She didn't make any mistakes.

"Marbella has been really great though. It's beautiful here and everyone working here was so nice. You really want to do well here - it's a shame I lost today."

Garcia Vidagany, 21, came through qualifying and is playing in the main draw of a WTA event for the first time.

Top seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus had little trouble in seeing off Estrella Cabeza Candela 6-2 6-4.

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8 April 2010 20:45 UK

Sony Ericsson Open: Marion Bartoli defeats Svetlana Kuznetsova

2010-03-30T05:00:00.001-07:00

Top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova was beaten 6-3 6-0 by Marion Bartoli in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Kuznetsova, the 2006 champion, required treatment on a shoulder injury three times during the match and won only eight points in the second set.

Venus Williams lost eight of the first nine games before beating Daniela Hantuchova 1-6 7-5 6-4.

But defending champion Victoria Azarenka is out after losing 6-4 6-0 to Kim Clijsters.

Williams found herself a set and 2-0 down to the Slovakian but rallied to set up a quarter-final meeting against sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

Second seed Caroline Wozniacki also advanced after beating Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-2 and will next play former world number one Justine Henin.

Thirteenth seed Bartoli of France has won seven of her past 11 matches against top-five players and set up the win when she broke twice in the first set and converted all three of her break-point chances in the second.

Her next opponent will be 12th seed Yanina Wickmayer, who comfortably dismissed Timea Bacsinszky 6-0 6-1.

Kuznetsova revealed after the defeat that she had suffered the injury in her first match of the tournament and it had grown steadily worse.

She said: "It wasn't so bad as today; today was really bad.

"At 5-3 I started to serve and I felt like a pull but I still kept serving. I almost had stars in my eyes it was so painful.

"I called physio and tried to continue to play. I think I should have pulled out earlier. I mean, it's impossible. You know, I cannot return. Then I cannot serve. That was my choice to play."

Check the most up-to-date Wimbledon ticket prices: Wimbledon Tickets 2010

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30 March 2010 07:51 UK

Murray to open his Sony Ericsson Open campaign to try and retain his biggest title

2010-03-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

Defending champion Andy Murray will open his Sony Ericsson Open campaign this weekend as he bids to retain the biggest title of his career to date.

Murray, who beat Novak Djokovic in the 2009 final in Miami, and is one of the favourites despite his quarter-final defeat in Indian Wells last week.

The Scot will face American Mardy Fish in round two on Saturday or Sunday after being given a first-round bye.

Fish beat Leonardo Mayer 7-6 6-4 to set up a clash with the world number three.

And Murray, 22, is confident of going far in the tournament again after working closely with coaches Miles Maclagan and Alex Corretja this week.

Miami is a frequent training base and second home for the Brit, and he said: "The whole feel of the tournament is nice for me, because I live like eight, 10 minutes away.

"I've played a lot on the courts so it doesn't take me that long to get used to the conditions and stuff because I spend so much time here.

"Obviously I would have liked to have done a bit better at Indian Wells but I wasn't going in expecting to win the tournament," added Murray, who lost 6-1 7-6 (7-4) to Swede Robin Soderling in Indian Wells.

"Now, we (him and his coaches) have talked about what happened in Indian Wells and what I need to do to get better and what to do to get ready for here."

Meanwhile, former French Open quarter-finalist Juan Ignacio Chelasaw off the challenge of Paolo Lorenzi to reach the second round with a 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-3) win.

Nicolas Lapentti is also through after he beat Potito Starace 7-5 6-3, though the Ecuadorian veteran now has the unenviable task of facing world number one Roger Federer in the second round.

World number 47 Andreas Seppi is out after being beaten by Argentina's Horacio Zeballos in straight sets.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8588909.stm

Friday, 26 March 2010

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Nadal prepares for a Wimbledon 2010 showdown with Andy Murray

2010-03-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

Rafael Nadal plans to dethrone Andy Murray as Queen's Club champion after confirming he will play in the pre-Wimbledon tournament in London in June.

The world number three from Spain has not played on grass since beating Roger Federer in the 2008 final at the All England Club due to a knee injury.

"Queen's is a big, important tournament," said Nadal.

"This year there is even more motivation because I could not defend my titles last year."

In the Spaniard's absence last year Murray defeated James Blake to clinch his first grass-court title at the Aegon Championships at Queen's while Federer beat Andy Roddick to collect his sixth Wimbledon crown.

Nadal added: "No-one was more disappointed than me that I couldn't play because I love those tournaments.

"It was an amazing feeling to win Queen's in 2008 and then to fulfil my dream by winning Wimbledon.

"To not defend my Wimbledon title last year was one of the toughest decisions in my career, but this is a new year and now I have the chance to go back to England and to compete on the grass again."

The Aegon Championships, which are live on BBC Sport, run between 7-13 June.

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15:01 GMT, Thursday, 11 March 2010

David Lloyd points his finger and blames Lawn Tennis Association for Davis Cup defeat

2010-03-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

Former Davis Cup captain David Lloyd has called on Lawn Tennis Association chief Roger Draper to quit over the lack of home-grown male talent.

"Where are the male players that the LTA has actually produced? Zero. That's the bottom line," he said.

"How do you keep your job if you are failing? I think Roger should walk. I don't see it getting better."

Britain's Davis Cup team, captained by David's brother John, suffered a 3-2 loss to lowly Lithuania on Sunday.

Another loss in a relegation play-off against Turkey in July would see Britain slip into the lowest tier of the competition.

Bosses at the LTA are conducting a review into the embarrassing events against Lithuania, and current captain John Lloyd's future is believed to be central to that.

But BBC tennis correspondent Jonathan Overend says there is support for Lloyd to stay on.

"The players are rallying around the captain," said Overend.

"One player said on Monday night, 'There is nobody better for the job, so why get rid of him.'

"Lloyd is known to have plenty of respect in the British locker room and he will hope that counts for more than historical ignominy."

World number four Andy Murray won both his singles matches for Britain as they lost to Poland in September, but missed the match against Lithuania to concentrate on preparing for this season's Grand Slams.

The Scot, who moved to Spain as a teenager to continue his training, was supported in his decision by Draper, though David Lloyd believes Murray should have been encouraged to play.

"Murray didn't come from the system. His mother was brave enough to take him out of it," said Lloyd, who is also a successful entrepreneur with a chain of fitness and tennis clubs.

"Roger is wrong endorsing the fact that Andy shouldn't have played. That was a bad call.

"I would try and encourage him to play and give something back to the game.

"I would ask him to play against Turkey. We want him to help our young kids. We all owe something to the game."

Draper was appointed as chief executive of the LTA in 2006 after modernizing Sport England, but his hiring of high-profile coach Brad Gilbert failed to galvanize the men's game.

The American stepped down from his coaching role with British number one Andy Murray after just 16 months and ended his association with the LTA altogether when his contract expired in September 2008.

David Lloyd was part of the last Great Britain team to reach the Davis Cup final in 1978, playing doubles with Mark Cox as the US won 4-1 in California.

He was sacked as Davis Cup captain in January 2000 after criticizing the fitness of some of his players in the wake of a 4-1 World Group defeat by the Czech Republic.

He subsequently ran High Performance Centres with financial support from the LTA, but remained critical of the organization.

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Tuesday, 9 March 2010

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Murray heads towards the US Open after Dubai Championship defeat

2010-02-25T08:36:00.001-08:00

Andy Murray stumbled out of the Dubai Championships with a 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-4 defeat by unseeded Janko Tipsarevic.

The Serb won the first set on a tie-break and Murray seemed fuelled by his frustration in the second, securing an early break which he never lost.

Tipsarevic took the initiative in the decider and, despite failing to serve out at 5-3, the world number 39 broke Murray's serve to wrap up the win.

Murray will now head to the US ahead of next month's Indian Wells Masters.

"It is always disappointing to lose, but I did not have much expectation from the tournament," said Murray.

"I am coming from a big break after the Australian Open and was not as prepared as I should have been for the tournament.

"I was still trying out things on the court, rather than playing my normal game."

The opening set of their second-round clash went with serve until the fifth game, when Tipsarevic broke and followed up with a good service game for 4-2.

Murray's play was strangely muted and he failed to make any headway on the Tipsarevic serve until the Serb moved to within one game of the first set.

With the pressure now on, Murray sparked into life and found the returning and defensive skills that are the basis to his game.

It came down to a tie-break and the momentum appeared to be with the Scot, but Tipsarevic was not in the mood to crumble and he controlled it from the outset.

The set ended on a confused note, with Tipsarevic's serve initially being ruled out before the umpire admitted his mistake and awarded the point, and with it the set, to the Serb.

This seemed to inspire a riled-looking Murray, who pulled off a fine cross-court winner to break his opponent in the opening game of the second and went on to level the scores.

Again, Murray looked to have wrestled the initiative away but Tipsarevic's all-court game proved a constant challenge and he was soon 3-0 up in the final set.

Murray narrowly avoided falling a double-break behind but then had five chances to pull the break back in a thrilling fifth game, the best of the match.

When the Serb prevailed it seemed there was no way he was going to let the advantage slip, but serving for the match at 5-3 he made two backhand errors and could only watch as Murray fired a backhand passing shot on the run to break back.

The comeback ended abrupty in the next game, though, as Tipsarevic broke serve once again to clinch a deserved victory with a forehand winner into the corner that set up a quarter-final against Mikhail Youzhny.

"One of the biggest wins, surely," is how Tipsarevic described his achievement. "Murray is a contestant to be number one at the end of the season.

"He played unbelievable tennis at the Australian Open. He was one of the favourites to win the tournament here, for sure."

http://officialwimbledon.spaces.live.com

Wednesday, 24 February 2010

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British Elena Baltacha Wins the Dow Corning Classic

2010-02-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

British number one Elena Baltacha has won the Dow Corning Classic in Michigan after a three-set victory over top seed Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic.

The Suffolk-based Scot lost the first set before coming through 5-7 6-2 6-3.

The 26-year-old, who reached round three of this year's Australian Open, now climbs to a career-high rank of 70.

In this week's WTA event in Memphis, Baltacha will play Renata Voracova in the first round, while Anne Keothavong faces sixth seed Kristina Barrois.

Britain's former number one Keothavong, who recently returned from a six-month lay-off after a knee injury, lost in the quarter-finals in Michigan to Poland's Marta Domachowska - the player Baltacha beat in the semis.

Baltacha, born in Ukraine, did not drop a set in four matches on her way to Sunday's final but struggled for consistency in the opening few games against Hradecka before hitting back strongly to pick up a large cheque in the $100,000 tournament.

She told the LTA website: "It's amazing. I've never won a $100K event before, and to beat such a good player in the final as well.

"We were looking at the 75 spot and after the quarters we were like, 'OK, we've done it. In the semis, you can relax and enjoy it.' And then I thought, 'I want to win the title.'

"To win the title, to beat Hradecka and to make top 75 is just so special."

The result follows an impressive few weeks for Baltacha, who matched her best performance at a Grand Slam in January at the Australian Open, losing to former world number one Dinara Safina in the third round.

Baltacha will go up against the 26-year-old Voracova of the Czech Republic on Tuesday in Tennessee.

The pair have met once before with Voracova, 115 in the world rankings, winning the encounter in straight sets in Auckland seven years ago.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8514510.stm

Monday, 15 February 2010

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Russia knocks out Serbia 3-2 in Fed Cup Doubles

2010-02-08T07:06:00.000-08:00

Four-time Fed Cup champions Russia knocked out Serbia 3-2 following a convincing victory in Sunday's decisive doubles rubber in Belgrade.

With the World Group first-round tie level at 2-2, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Alisa Kleybanova swept past Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic 6-1 6-4.

Russia move on to the semi-finals to face the US, who won 4-1 in France.

Holders Italy completed a 4-1 win over Ukraine and next meet the Czech Republic, who edged past Germany 3-2.

Serbia looked on course for a famous win when Jankovic upset world number four Kuznetsova 6-3 4-6 6-3 in Sunday's opening singles, but Ivanovic could not finish off the tie as she went down 6-2 6-3 to Kleybanova.

"I tried to play more aggressively, but I'm struggling psychologically," said an emotional Ivanovic.

And the home side were made to regret that defeat when Kuznetsova and Kleybanova dominated the doubles, sweeping through the first set and reeling off five games in a row to take the second.

"We should have ended the series before the doubles," said Jankovic. "Both Ana and myself are primarily singles players who rarely play the doubles."

The US, without the Williams sisters, moved into an unassailable 3-0 lead when Melanie Oudin beat Julie Coin 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in Lievin.

"This victory is very important for me as I lost the decisive match against Italy in last year's final," said the 18-year-old Oudin.

"I was tense to begin with but Julie was also making things tough for me as she was serving very well. Then I got into my game. I'm really happy to have helped my team win this match in France."

Italy remain on course to defend their title after Flavia Pennetta beat Alona Bondarenko 7-5 7-6 (7-3) and Francesca Schiavone defeated Kateryna Bondarenko 2-6 6-1 6-1 to take a 3-1 lead in Kharkiv.

There was drama in Brno where the Czech Republic and Germany were locked at 2-2 following wins for Lucie Hradecka and Anna-Lena Groenefeld respectively.

Hradecka and Kveta Peschke held their nerve in front of the home crowd to beat Groenefeld and Tatjana Malek 6-1 6-3 in the decisive doubles.

The Fed Cup semi-finals will take place on 24-25 April.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8502975.stm

Sunday, 7 February 2010

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