Tennis Tips, Tricks And Gear
Sharapova Featured on Cover of Entrepreneur
The 31-year-old Russian has become quite the business mogul. Maria Sharapova graces the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine this month. The 31-year-old Russian has always been given credit for being one of the greatest tennis players of her generations, but now she is getting it for her tremendous work in building brands.
In the article, Sharapova discusses her vision of Sugarpova candy as a growing brand in a growing industry.
“I’m not someone who goes into something without looking at charts and looking at how it’s distributed in the world and what the growth opportunities are,” Sharapova said. “I wanted to create a brand that people saw on shelves and didn’t eat on their way from the register and throw away before they got in the car. I wanted them to treat it as a souvenir, something they appreciated, something they wanted to share and show and gift.”
“The great thing about @Sugarpova is that I started it as a businesswoman not as Maria Sharapova.” – @MariaSharapova discussing her journey as an entrepreneur #ENTLIVE @Entrepreneur pic.twitter.com/eWVxiTHL8e
— Chante Harris (@chante__harris) November 16, 2018
According to the article, Sharapova launched the brand with 500,000 of her own cash and it began to grow—before it hit a major speed bump when Sharapova was handed a drug ban for Meldonium usage in 2016.
Patrick Kenny, a marketing director who came on board after the launch, says they dealt with the challenge of Sharapova’s image head on.
“We didn’t brand around it,” Kenny told Entrepreneur. “We branded right through it. Maria worked as hard as ever on bringing new products to market during that time period, and we touched base with all our customers and told them that we were going to continue to be successful and Maria was going to continue to be behind the brand. There was never space between us and Maria and our customers, and everybody stayed with the project.”
Sharapova was the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 years running until the scandal broke in 2016. Since then she has fallen off the Top 10 list. She has struggled to regain her tennis form as well, finishing the year at 29 in the world and earning just over $1.3 million in prize money.
If her play has stagnated, her ability to run a business has not. Her portfolio currently includes Sugarpova as well as investments in Ultimate Fighting Championship, sunscreen maker Supergoop and an app called Charly that lets users message celebrities. Sharapova also has an upcoming partnership co-designing hotel gyms with architect Dan Meis, whose projects include the Staples Center in Los Angeles and Safeco Field in Seattle.
USTA Names Patrick Galbraith as Chairman of Board and President
The USTA announced a new slate for its board of Directors on Tuesday. The USTA announced its new slate of Board of Directors on Tuesday, naming Patrick J. Galbraith as USTA Chairman of the Board and President. The new Board has been elected to a two-year term that begins on January 1, 2019.
Katrina Adams, who served two terms and was the first African-American, first former professional tennis player and youngest person ever to serve as USTA President, will serve the next two years as the USTA's immediate past president.
Galbraith is a two-time winner of the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. He ended 1993 as part of the No.1-ranked men’s doubles team with partner Grant Connel. Galbraith is currently Senior Vice President-Wealth Management for UBS Financial Service, Inc.
Read more: https://t.co/38MdaILsrm pic.twitter.com/LXe5Bfltn8
— USTA (@usta) November 27, 2018
De Minaur and Barty Share Tennis Australia’s Newcombe Medal
For the first time in history the award is shared by two players.
Alex de Minaur and Ashleigh Barty were so scintillating in 2018, that Tennis Australia had to break the rules to give them their due.
The pair of rising Aussie phenoms were jointly awarded the Newcombe Medal on Monday at the Australian Tennis Awards in Melbourne.
For Barty, who went 46-19 with two titles in 2018, its her second consecutive Newcombe medal. The 22-year-old took it home in 2017 as well after notching her first career Top 20 finish.
De Minaur, still 19, burst onto the scene in 2018, rising from outside the Top 200 to his current perch at No.31 in the world. He was named ATP Newcomer of the Year.
History has been made in 2018. The highest individual honour in Australian tennis is awarded to @alexdeminaur and @ashbar96 🏅 🏅 #Newks18 pic.twitter.com/ne3wuNXOxR
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) November 26, 2018
“[The decision] was very difficult,” Newcombe said. “So we did the only sensible thing. For the first time, we have dual medallists.”
“It’s been a whirlwind of a year–I’ve enjoyed every second of it,” De Minaur said. “I’ve just tried to keep improving each day, keep battling it out, keep fighting every single point. I’m super proud of my efforts.”
“It truly is amazing to be standing up here again,” Barty said of the honor. “I’m very grateful and very thankful to be in the position to be able to play the sport that I love, to do this as a job and to enjoy every single moment.”
Darren Cahill picked up the coaching excellence award from Tennis Australia for his work with Simona Halep, while Destanee Aivia and Rinky Hijikata picked up the awards for male and female junior athlete of the year.
Former star Casey Dellacqua was awarded with the Spirit of Tennis Award.
Legendary. The tennis family unites at #Newks18 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CUo4OOXOVT
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) November 26, 2018
Noah: Call it Davis Cup and You’re a Liar
The French legend gave the media lots to chew on in his farewell press conference
The winds of change are blowing hard in Lille, France, and after the dust settled and Croatia was crowned the 2018 champion, the stark reality set in.
The Davis Cup as we know it is over.
Even during the trophy ceremony on Sunday Nicolas Mahut could be seen giving ITF President David Haggerty a piece of his mind.
And he wasn't the only one with strong words on offer.
Just after the final, Yannick Noah said farewell to the media after his final tie as French Captain, and gave them plenty to chew on as well.
"It's very confusing,” he said of the future of Davis Cup. “Nobody knows what will happen. I hope, in any case, that the money promised, will serve small countries. I hope so.”
Noah, who coached the French to three Davis Cup titles over the course of his three stints and nine years at the helm of Les Bleus, leaves with a bittersweet feeling about the soon to be revamped competition.
Call it anything you like, he says, just not Davis Cup.
A deep, meaningful, sad and already nostalgic end to a great chapter.
"This was my last press conference, tennis is over for me" said legendary Yannick Noah to the journalists here at Stade Pierre-Mauroy #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/XnhCHCmN70
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) November 25, 2018
“To be continued,” Noah added. “But do not call this Davis Cup competition yet! Matches in two sets? It will not be the Davis Cup. Those who still call this competition by name are liars! Nothing will be the same again.”
Noah expressed doubts that the competition will have the same emotional tone now that the final will be an 18-team affair at a neutral venue.
"I said I'm disgusted and upset to his face,” he said. “It's the truth. It's the way I feel. Everyone has a right to feel differently but I feel I owe the Davis Cup because it means so much to me as a player, as a spectator. We have people who have decided it doesn't matter, I don't know if they don't know, or they don't care. But as I told the president I'm not from his world."
Naomi Osaka Signs Global Sponsorship Deal with Shiseido
The 2018 U.S. Open champion adds the Japanese beauty brand to her sure-to-grow portfolio. A breakthrough season on the WTA Tour is helping Japan’s Naomi Osaka to break the bank. The 21-year-old World No.5 has signed her second global sponsorship deal after winning the 2018 U.S. Open title–this deal with Shiseido. Osaka will be the new face of Shiseido’s beauty brands, ANESSA and bareMinerals.
“Shiseido never stops innovating and changing to best support the lives of consumers worldwide through beauty. With our ever-stronger foundations and upgraded global structure, such as Osaka, we are always striving to improve ourselves. We are never satisfied, always challenging the status quo. As Osaka gives her best, we too are taking on various new initiatives, challenging the world and reaching for new heights,” the brand said in a release.
Earlier this year Osaka signed on with Nissan to be a brand ambassador. As part of the deal, Osaka will be appearing in global promotions and advertising for the Japanese car brand. In addition, Nissan will support her activities as a tennis player, including the provision of Nissan vehicles at her tour destinations.
U.S. Open Day 2 Live Blog Sponsored by Tecnifibre
From first ball to last, keep up with all the action on Day 2 of the 2018 U.S. Open with the live blog sponsored by Tecnifibre.
U.S Open Day 2 Order Of Play
Djokovic, Federer, Sharapova and Wozniacki all on tap for Day 2 in NYC. DAY 2: TUESDAY, AUGUST 28
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM 12:00 PM
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 S. Stosur (AUS) vs. C. Wozniacki (DEN) [2]
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 N. Djokovic (SRB) [6] vs. M. Fucsovics (HUN)
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM 7:00 PM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 Y. Nishioka (JPN) vs. R. Federer (SUI) [2]
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Keys (USA) [14] vs. P. Parmentier (FRA)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM 11:00 AM
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 A. Petkovic (GER) vs. J. Ostapenko (LAT) [10]
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Gasparyan (RUS) vs. A. Kerber (GER) [4]
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 P. Polansky (CAN) vs. A. Zverev (GER) [4]
LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM 7:00 PM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 N. Kyrgios (AUS) [30] vs. R. Albot (MDA)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Sharapova (RUS) [22] vs. P. Schnyder (SUI)
GRANDSTAND 11:00 AM
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 N. Osaka (JPN) [20] vs. L. Siegemund (GER)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Cilic (CRO) [7] vs. M. Copil (ROU)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 C. Garcia (FRA) [6] vs. J. Konta (GBR)
NOT BEFORE: 5:00 PM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 F. Tiafoe (USA) vs. A. Mannarino (FRA) [29]
COURT 17 11:00 AM
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 P. Kvitova (CZE) [5] vs. Y. Wickmayer (BEL)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 K. Flipkens (BEL) vs. C. Vandeweghe (USA) [24]
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 F. Fognini (ITA) [14] vs. M. Mmoh (USA)
NOT BEFORE: 4:00 PM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Marterer (GER) vs. K. Nishikori (JPN) [21]
COURT 5 11:00 AM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 Y. Sugita (JPN) vs. R. Gasquet (FRA) [26]
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 K. Bertens (NED) [13] vs. Kr. Pliskova (CZE)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 D. Collins (USA) vs. A. Sabalenka (BLR) [26]
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 F. Bagnis (ARG) vs. G. Monfils (FRA)
COURT 10 11:00 AM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 R. Berankis (LTU) vs. H. Chung (KOR) [23]
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 D. Schwartzman (ARG) [13] vs. F. Delbonis (ARG)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 T. Babos (HUN) vs. D. Kasatkina (RUS) [11]
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 A. Kontaveit (EST) [28] vs. K. Siniakova (CZE)
COURT 13 11:00 AM
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 A. Cornet (FRA) vs. J. Larsson (SWE)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Cecchinato (ITA) [22] vs. J. Benneteau (FRA)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Vondrousova (CZE) vs. M. Buzarnescu (ROU) [21]
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 A. de Minaur (AUS) vs. T. Daniel (JPN)
COURT 4 11:00 AM
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 Y. Wang (CHN) vs. A. Schmiedlova (SVK)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Jaziri (TUN) vs. P. Carreno Busta (ESP) [12]
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 L. Pouille (FRA) [17] vs. Y. Maden (GER)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 N. Gibbs (USA) vs. C. Suárez Navarro (ESP) [30]
COURT 6 11:00 AM
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Niculescu (ROU) vs. J. Glushko (ISR)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 J. Brooksby (USA) vs. J. Millman (AUS)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Baghdatis (CYP) vs. M. Youzhny (RUS)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 L. Cabrera (AUS) vs. A. Tomljanovic (AUS)
COURT 7 11:00 AM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Kukushkin (KAZ) vs. N. Rubin (USA)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 D. Cibulkova (SVK) [29] vs. A. Rus (NED)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 F. Gaio (ITA) vs. D. Goffin (BEL) [10]
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 Y. Putintseva (KAZ) vs. B. Pera (USA)
COURT 8 11:00 AM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 L. Djere (SRB) vs. L. Mayer (ARG)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 A. Sasnovich (BLR) vs. B. Bencic (SUI)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. Puig (PUR) vs. S. Voegele (SUI)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 B. Paire (FRA) vs. D. Novak (AUT)
COURT 9 11:00 AM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 J. Sousa (POR) vs. M. Granollers (ESP)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 T. Bacsinszky (SUI) vs. A. Krunic (SRB)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 F. Krajinovic (SRB) [32] vs. M. Ebden (AUS)
COURT 11 11:00 AM
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 T. Townsend (USA) vs. A. Anisimova (USA)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 V. Troicki (SRB) vs. T. Sandgren (USA)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 Y. Hanfmann (GER) vs. P. Kohlschreiber (GER)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 S. Cirstea (ROU) vs. A. Riske (USA)
COURT 12 11:00 AM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 T. Smyczek (USA) vs. J. Struff (GER)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 F. Di Lorenzo (USA) vs. C. McHale (USA)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 M. McDonald (USA) vs. R. Haase (NED)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 H. Tan (FRA) vs. E. Bouchard (CAN)
COURT 14 11:00 AM
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 S. Travaglia (ITA) vs. H. Hurkacz (POL)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 G. Garcia-Lopez (ESP) vs. J. Munar (ESP)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 V. Zvonareva (RUS) vs. A. Blinkova (RUS)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 K. Mladenovic (FRA) vs. T. Zidansek (SLO)
COURT 15 11:00 AM
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 A. Van Uytvanck (BEL) vs. L. Tsurenko (UKR)
WOMEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 E. Alexandrova (RUS) vs. S. Hsieh (TPE)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 J. Vesely (CZE) vs. C. Moutet (FRA)
MEN'S SINGLES – ROUND 1 Y. Bhambri (IND) vs. P. Herbert (FRA)
U.S. Open Day 1 Live Blog Sponsored by Tecnifibre
From first ball to last, keep up with all the action from the U.S. Open with the Tecnifibre Live Blog 
Polansky Takes a Slice of Grand Slam History at U.S. Open
The Canadian is the luckiest of the lucky loser. Canada’s Peter Polansky has etched his name into tennis’ record books as the luckiest man in Grand Slam tennis. Some might call him the luckiest loser…
The 30-year-old Ontario native has earned his way into a fourth consecutive major as a lucky loser—he’ll open his third U.S. Open main draw with a first-round encounter with Alexander Zverev of Germany. Polansky is the first player in history to record the feat.
LL-SLAM COMPLETE ✌🏻PEACE OUT pic.twitter.com/dcbRSclLDv
— Peter Polansky (@PPolansky) August 24, 2018
If you’re scoring at home, Polansky lost all three of his Grand Slam main draw appearances this season, winning one set and losing nine. The Canadian owns a 1-9 record at the Slams in main draw play.
Polansky is one of four Canadian men in the main draw. Milos Raonic, seeded 25, will face Argentine qualifier Carlos Berlocq in round one, while qualifier Felix Auger Aliassime will face No.28-seeded Denis Shapovalov in a highly anticipated round one contest.
Video: Robredo and Mahut Have Magical U.S. Open Qualifying Moment
Two 36-year-olds, gunning for a spot in the main draw, shared a major emo moment on Friday in New York.
The main draw hasn't even started and we already have this moment…@NMahut's son consoles his father after his qualies loss to @TRobredo. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/k62RtSYkbw
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 24, 2018
Got your tissues handy? Because you might want to shed a tear for this magical U.S. Open qualifying moment, where Tommy Robredo defeats Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to reach his first main draw at the U.S. Open since 2015.
In and of itself, that would have been an emotional moment for the former quarterfinalist who has been besieged by injuries, but the fact that he defeated fellow 36-year-old Mahut to do it made the victory all the more sweet—and bittersweet.
Mahut, ranked 132, may never get into another main draw at the U.S. open in singles, but even as he didn’t make it over the finish line today, he and his son Natanel made the moment special. Natanel is a regular at ATP Tour events and Grand Slams and he’s not shy about coming to his papa’s side in good times or in bad.
🤗 and 😘@p2hugz @nmahut #RG18 pic.twitter.com/R5QJmOtHzv
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2018
Today he rushed out to hug his father after a tough loss, and World No. 193 Robredo took notice and shared a big, beautiful moment with the two. That’s tennis, one big happy family!
