McEnroe urges Kyrgios to decide on tennis career following US Open injury

After yet another major tournament finished in disappointment for Nick Kyrgios, legendary figure within the game John McEnroe has called upon the Australian to seriously consider his future within the game, believing that the 21-year-old should retire if his heart is not in it. Kyrgios had been displaying his usual lackadaisical demeanour during his third-round US Open tie against Illya Marchenko, before eventually retiring from the match with a suspected hip flexor injury. Australia’s number one was trailing two sets to one at the time, with Kyrgios stating that he felt like he had been “hit by a bus”.

Image via gq.com

This is not the first time in which McEnroe has vented his frustration at the way in which Kyrgios acts on court, previously lamenting the player’s tactics during a match with Andy Murray at Wimbledon earlier this year. McEnroe believes that such injuries are a result of Kyrgios not being dedicated enough, pointing to a lack of training when compared to the top players in the game. However, despite this, the loss was Kyrgios’s first in 21 matches against unseeded opponents at grand slam events, and he has recently climbed to a career high of no.15 in the world rankings. Perhaps Kyrgios could take up a career in online blackjack as you don’t have to keep a straight face at online casino’s such as Australia’s Lucky Nugget Casino.

Kyrgios’ compatriot Bernard Tomic is never too far away from controversy himself, with the 23-year-old becoming embroiled in a sledging match with a supporter during his first-round US Open loss to Damir Dzumhur. The Australian was heard calling the fan a ‘peasant’, before launching into a sleazy attack for all to hear. Both Kyrgios and Tomic were both part of Australia’s recent Davis Cup victory over Slovakia, and having secured their place in the world group, will next take on the Czech Republic in their 2017 campaign.

Meanwhile, Kyrgios has received support from another American tennis legend in the form of Andre Agassi. Agassi sees plenty of himself in the young Australian, believing that Kyrgios has all the talent to be one of the best players on the tour. Perhaps kyrgios should give Agassi a call and pick his brains over how to turn talent into titles.

Bernard Tomic likely to lose his driving licence

Bernard Tomic has run into trouble with traffic police again.

Tomic was reportedly driving his yellow Ferrari at 78kph in a 60kph zone on Australia's Gold Coast after the conclusion of the Australian Open.

According to Eurosport, around the same time last year, Tomic made headlines after he refused to stop for police while driving an orange BMW, leading to a bizarre stand-off with police outside his home.

If found guilty, he is likely to lose his driving licence this time.

(Image via Menstennisforums.com)

Australian Open 2013 gets thumbs up from tennis stars

While it must be love for the US Open, the Australian Open gets the most 'likes' from the tennis players and fans. This is not a surprise since the 'Happy Slam' is usually the most anticipated tennis event after a year-end break.

Here are some of the players who show their support for the event.

Andy Murray

Victoria Azarenka

Bernard Tomic

Novak Djokovic

Li Na

(Via Australian Open Facebook page)

Australian Open Day 3 Wrap-up: Brutal end for Dementieva, Blake, Tomic

It's another missed opportunity for Elena Dementieva at the Grand Slam after beaten by comeback queen Justine Henin yesterday.

Fresh from winning in Sydney last week, she came to Melbourne with confidence to clinch a Grand Slam title which is still missing from her trophy list.

Dementieva lost 7-5, 7-6 in the high-pressure match at Rod Laver Arena.

In the men's singles, US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro battled for over four hours before winning 6-4, 6-7, 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 against James Blake to reach the third round of the Australian Open.

Another notable match yesterday was the one between Marin Cilic and local boy Bernard Tomic.

Cilic survived the match with a 6-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over the 17-year old.

Here's the rest of the results from the Australian Open singles and doubles on Day 3 (prefix number denotes seeding):

Round 2 - Men's Singles
14-Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-7(6) 6-3 4-6 6-2 6-4.
4-Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) bt James Blake (USA) 6-4 6-7(3) 5-7 6-3 10-8.
Florent Serra (FRA) bt Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 3-6 6-4 5-7 7-6(4) 7-5.
5-Andy Murray (GBR) bt Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-1 6-4 6-3
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 2-6 6-1 6-3 6-3.
Florian Mayer (GER) bt 29-Viktor Troicki (SRB) 4-6 6-4 7-6(2) 6-1.
12-Gael Monfils (FRA) bt Q-Antonio Veic (CRO) 6-4 6-4 6-4.
19-Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) bt Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-3 6-2 6-2.
24-Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) bt Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-3
27-Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) bt Wayne Odesnik (USA) 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-2
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) bt 21-Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-4 6-4 7-5
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) bt Rainer Schuttler (GER) 6-3 2-6 6-3 6-2
33-John Isner (USA) bt Louk Sorensen (IRL) 6-3 7-6(4) 7-5
2-Rafael Nadal (ESP) bt Lukas Lacko (SVK) 6-2 6-2 6-2
7-Andy Roddick (USA) bt Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-3 6-4 6-4
11-Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) bt Marsel Ilhan (TUR) 6-3 6-4 7-5

Round 1 - Women's SIngles
22-Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) bt Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) 3-6 6-1 7-5
29-Shahar Peer (ISR) bt Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 6-7(5) 6-2 6-1
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) bt Jarmila Groth (AUS) 6-4 2-6 6-4
Tathiana Garbin (ITA) bt 28-Elena Vesnina (RUS) 7-6(5) 6-4
Julia Gorges (GER) bt Tamira Paszek (AUT) 6-0 3-6 6-3
7-Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (FRA) 6-2 6-0
9-Vera Zvonareva (RUS) bt Kristina Kucova (SVK) 6-2 6-0
Melinda Czink (HUN) bt Stefanie Vogele (SUI) 5-7.
16-Li Na (CHN) bt Marina Erakovic (NZL) 6-2 6-0
Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) bt Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 6-4 6-4.
Julia Gorges (GER) bt Tamira Paszek (AUT) 6-0 3-6 6-3.
4-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) bt Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) 6-4 6-2.
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) bt Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) 6-4 6-2
Iveta Benesova (CZE) bt Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) 7-5 6-2.
Agnes Szavay (HUN) bt Stephanie Dubois (CAN) 6-3 6-2

Round 2 - Women's Singles
Justine Henin (BEL) bt 5-Elena Dementieva (RUS) 7-5 7-6(6).
Roberta Vinci (ITA) bt Vania King (USA) 7-6(7) 7-5.
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) bt Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) 6-3 6-1.
8-Jelena Jankovic (SRB) bt Katie O'Brien (GBR) 6-2 6-2.
Sara Errani (ITA) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-2 6-3.
27-Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 6-4 6-3.
2-Dinara Safina (RUS) bt Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 6-3 6-4.
31-Alona Bondarenko (UKR) bt Polona Hercog (SLO) 6-4 7-5.
Angelique Kerber (GER) bt 26-Aravane Rezai (FRA) 6-2 6-3.
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) bt 12-Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 7-6(2) 6-1.
19-Nadia Petrova (RUS) bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6-4 6-4.
Zheng Jie (CHN) bt 24-Maria Jose Martinez (ESP) 2-6 6-2 6-3.
11-Marion Bartoli (FRA) bt Sandra Zahlavova (CZE) 6-4 6-4.
15-Kim Clijsters (BEL) bt Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) 6-3 6-3.
Elena Baltacha (GBR) bt 30-Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 6-2 7-5.
3-Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-2 6-2

Round 1 - Men's Doubles
2-Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) bt Samuel Groth/Jason Kubler (AUS) 7-6(5) 6-3.
Kaden Hensel/Greg Jones (AUS) bt Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)/Christophe Rochus (BEL) 7-6(3) 3-6 7-6(2).
Leonardo Mayer/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) bt 12-Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares (BRA) 7-6 6-4.
Lucas Arnold (ARG)/Horia Tecau (ROU) bt Wesley Moodie (RSA)/Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 4-6 7-6(4) 7-5.
Colin Fleming/Ken Skupski (GBR) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE)/Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 7-5 6-4.
17-Jurgen Melzer (AUT)/Philipp Petzschner (GER) bt Marc Lopez/Santiago Ventura (ESP) 6-4 6-1.
8-Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) bt Matthew Ebden/Brydan Klein (AUS) 6-2 6-4.
5-Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT) bt Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)/Daniel Gimeno (ESP) 6-7(1) 6-3 6-1.
Albert Montanes (ESP)/Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) bt Jose Acasuso/Sebastian Prieto (ARG) 6-4 6-4
5-Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT) bt Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)/Daniel Gimeno (ESP) 6-7(1) 6-3 6-1
Colin Fleming/Ken Skupski (GBR) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE)/Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 7-5 6-4
17-Jurgen Melzer (AUT)/Philipp Petzschner (GER) bt Marc Lopez/Santiago Ventura (ESP) 6-4 6-1
1-Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) bt Michael Berrer/Simon Greul (GER) 6-4 7-5.
7-Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) bt Ross Hutchins (GBR)/Jordan Kerr (AUS) 6-4 2-6 7-6(4)
Rik De Voest (RSA)/Scott Lipsky (USA) bt Rohan Bopanna (IND)/Aisam Qureshi (PAK) 4-6 6-1 7-6(6).
Arnaud Clement (FRA)/Jonathan Erlich (ISR) bt 10-Julian Knowle (AUT)/Robert Lindstedt (SWE) 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4
Rameez Junaid/Peter Luczak (AUS) bt 15-Jaroslav Levinsky (CZE)/Travis Parrott (USA) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2
Johan Brunstrom (SWE)/Jean-Julien Rojer (AHO) bt Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)/Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-2 6-3
Philipp Marx (GER)/Igor Zelenay (SVK) bt Nick Lindahl/Matt Reid (AUS) 6-3 6-4
Prakash Amritraj/Somdev Devvarman (IND) bt James Cerretani/Travis Rettenmaier (USA) 5-7 6-4 7-5

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

TENNIS WATCH: Justine Henin confirms return to tennis

• Former world no.1 Justine Henin confirmed her return to professional tennis on Belgian TV station RTL-TVI yesterday. She is expected to return in January in Australia. [More]

• Beilgium media Le Soir reported that Telecom company Belgacom will be one of Henin's sponsors in her comeback.

• L'Equipe reported that Richard Gasquet is looking for a new coach in his preparation for next year. French great Yannick Noah has advised Gasquet to pick a foreign coach who speaks French and specifically named Brad Stein, the former coach of Jim Courier and Sebastien Grosjean.
  

• Andy Murray's camp confirmed that the Scot suffered "no long-term damage" to his wrist following his Davis Cup injury. Murray plans to be back on tour soon for the Japan Open.

• 2009 US Open junior champ Bernard Tomic has left the Bollettieri tennis academy and will be based in Australia again.

(Via Yahoo! Sports, tennis.com)

Bernard Tomic to choose the US or London over Australia

Australia's teenage sensation Bernard Tomic announced that he will move abroad, either to the US or London, in the next three months, so he can continue developing his game as he begins his life as a professional tennis player.

After gaining a wildcard entry and making it to the Australian Open second round, Tomic believes he's ready to take on the men.

"Now that I'm becoming more of a name in Australia, I've got to take the opportunity to build my game and work hard and take it to the next level," Tomic said.

"My parents are looking at moving to either England or America in the next three or four months."

"Then I have to work on my game and get a lot more opportunities."

"I can't stay on the Gold Coast forever."

"There's a lot of expectations now and I've got to find the right place where I can stay and have a home base."

Tomic said he would next head to Burnie in Tasmania, for a challenger event, and would then try to pick up a wildcard in Miami.

He said it was unrealistic to expect a huge rankings climb.

"To be honest with you, I don't think I can make top 100 this year," he said.

"I think I could get in the top 300 and that's a good goal."

"If I crack the 300 then I can play grand slam qualifying straight away and I'll never need wildcards and that's where I can build myself up."

"The next year is going to be good for me to build up, play more futures and challengers, because I've seen I can match it with these guys."

"It's just a matter of me getting stronger and playing in those big tournaments."

Today, Tomic who have just signed a two-year deal with Garnier, made a special appearance as their brand ambassador during the Australian Open week.

He might be only 16 years old but this guy qualifies to show you why chicks dig guys who take care of their beauty and health.


(Via news.com.au; Images via sports.sina.com.cn)

Fernando Gonzalez is ready to blow Lleyton Hewitt away

Fernando Gonzalez took time out to play a didgeridoo by the banks of the Yarra River during day one of the 2009 Australian Open.

Gonzo is scheduled to take on homeboy Lleyton Hewitt tomorrow.

Whether Hewitt will make it to the next round or not, I don't think it's a big deal for Australia anymore because the Aussies have found Hewitt's successor in atomic boy, Bernard Tomic.

Quoting from Forty Deuce, this 16 year-old boy wonder's future is so bright that he has to wear shades.

Tomic defeated Starace Potito 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 7-6 and will be facing an exhausted Gilles Muller in the second round.

Poor Muller had to overcome Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 4-6, 16-14 in a 4-hour, 23-minute match.

(Images by zimbio.com)

Bernard Tomic's Dad launched verbal attack on Roger Rasheed

"Roger Rasheed is not a coach, he's a fitness conditioner. He took Lleyton Hewitt from no. 2 in the world to no. 60 and I think that Gael Monfils should be very careful."

~ John Tomic, Bernard Tomic's dad

Tomic Sr. the father of Australia's future top-10 prospect, Bernard Tomic has launched a stinging attack on leading coach and commentator Roger Rasheed.

Tomic Sr. questioned the credentials of Rasheed, the former coach of Lleyton Hewitt who is now steering Frenchman Gael Monfils.

He made the comments in his hometown paper, The Gold Coast Bulletin, and refused to back down.

Tomic said Rasheed had never taken a player from the "bottom" to the top echelon.

Rasheed declined to comment on the verbal attack by Tomic Sr.

Bernard Tomic had the opportunity to hit with Rafael Nadal yesterday..

Tomic's assault on Rasheed stems from comments the coach made about Bernard.

Last month, Rasheed said Tennis Australia should consider cutting ties with Tomic if problems persist with either the teenage star or his father.

I don't have much things to say except this: Never ever mess with the parents of your country's future star players.

(Via new.com.au)

Yang Tsung-Hua (楊宗樺) claims world's top junior in year-end rankings

Taiwan's Yang Tsung-hua (楊宗樺) became the country's first young tennis player to finish the year as the world's top-ranked junior, but now faces the even bigger challenge of converting that promise into a thriving pro career that has eluded many other highly-ranked juniors.

The 17-year-old, known for his powerful, though at times erratic first serve, secured the top spot thanks to the International Tennis Federation's rankings system for juniors that weighs both singles and doubles performances.

Yang, who captured this year's French Open junior singles title, trailed Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov and Australia's Bernard Tomic in the singles rankings, but made up the gap with outstanding doubles results in partnership with Taiwan's Hsieh Cheng-peng, including trophy-winning runs in the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior doubles.

After being ousted in the Orange Bowl's round of 16 by American Alexander Domijan, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, it was another reminder to Yang that one's ranking in today's fiercely competitive tennis world provides no guarantees for success.

It's a lesson Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun, who was ranked 8th in junior singles at the end of 2000, and Wang Yeu-Tzuoo, who finished 2001 ranked 5th, have learned the hard way.

Both have faced considerable obstacles in sustaining a professional career at the highest level, including litanies of injuries and funding shortages.

Also, for every Roger Federer (1998) , Andy Roddick (2000) and Richard Gasquet (2002), who turned their top junior singles rankings at year's end into outstanding pro careers, there have also been Arnaud di Pasquale (1997), Kristian Pless (1999) , Gilles Muller (2001) and Donald Young (2005) who have never fulfilled the promise of their top ranking.

Yang, who plans to turn pro next year and is already ranked 550th on the ATP Tour after playing in some lower level Futures events this year, will soon find out if he can make the successful leap to the pros that has eluded so many juniors.

(Via etaiwannews.com; Image via ITF)