Thanks Esther for this press release from the media team at Tashkent Challenger. Top seeded Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei stopped the winning run of Frenchman Mathieu Montcourt to lift the singles title at the $125,000 Tashkent Challenger, an ATP Challenger series event which concluded at the Olympic Tennis School here. In a one sided final top seed Rendy outplayed Montcourt 6-3, 6-2 in a 1 hour 24 minutes final to take his first title in 3 months.
Rendy won $18000 and 90 ATP points for his win, while Montcourt had to be content with $10,600 and 63 ATP points.
The finalist were also presented with the national dress of Uzbekistan. The finals played in a full capacity stadium was expected to be a close encounter with both players in good form, but turned out to be damp squib with Rendy taking charge from the very beginning of the match.
“I twisted my ankle four days before coming here and I thought would not be able to play in the event, but my trainer has done a fantastic job and I ended up winning the event,” said an elated Rendy.
"I had a plan for him, I decided to cut the speed and not give my opponent any rhythm, this ploy worked for me," he added.
"My win here is not luck, I beat many good players, I played the best tennis of my career, after my win here I’m confident that I’ll be able to play good tennis and beat many good players in the future."
A dejected Montcourt said all credit to Rendy,
"He did not give me chance at all, basically I’m a patient player wait for my chances, but today I had no chance."
"I was hitting the ball very well, but my legs just did not support me, I was tired after the four good matches I played this week," he added.
Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony the Tournament Director Mr. S. Uthrapathy said that he was hopeful that the Tashkent Challenger would become an annual feature on the ATP calendar.
He added that there will be many more exiting professional tennis events in Uzbekistan next year.
The Mayor of Tashkent Abdukhahhor Tukhtaev, the Deputy Minister of Sports and Culture Erkin Kutibaev, Tournament director S. Uthrapathy and ATP Supervisor Carl Baldwin presented the awards.
In the doubles final on Saturday, Flavio Cipolla and Pavel Snobel won the doubles event after defeated 4th seeded Russian pair of Michail Elgin and Alexandre Kudryatsev 6-3, 6-4 in a one sided encounter.
The winning pair received a purse of $7,750 and 90 points, while runners-up had to be content with $4,500 and 63 points.
“We’re both good friends and have played for the first time and won, may be we will play more events in the future,” said Cipolla.
The Deputy Minister of Sports and Culture Erkin Kutibaev, Tournament director S. Uthrapathy and ATP Supervisor Carl Baldwin presented the awards.
Once ranked around top 50 in the world Michael Berrer, comes out as straightforward person. Currently ranked 105 in the world Berrer is looking to gain points and more than that a lot of confidence to get him back into the top 50.
Q: Why did you choose to play at Tashkent Challenger this week?
Berrer: One of the reasons I entered the event was to make up points. I dropped quite a lot of points from Moscow, where I had entered the semifinals last year.
Q: After being on the ATP tour and playing at the grand slams, isn’t playing Challengers like coming down a bit?
Berrer: Yes, It’s a Catch 22 situation really, playing at the bigger events I did not win many matches frankly and losing matches surely harms confidence of players. I feel by playing in challengers is not disgrace; a few wins and close matches surely help to regain confidence back into the game.
Q: How was your experience on the ATP tour tennis wise?
Berrer: I played many of the top players in the world like Federer, Schuettler, Roddick at the Grand Slams. Playing on tour is tough, tensions are high, and there is tremendous pressure at events. That’s professional tennis; those who survive and conquer it are winners.
Q: It’s like getting back to basics, what do you expect for yourself in the new season?
Berrer: My aim to play some very good tennis, and get back into the groove and gain confidence and make up points till the end of the year , there a few more events . Then it is to get back to my rankings and then to improve on it steadily.
Q: So do you think the Tashkent challenger will help you in your effort?
Berrer: Surely, I really had not expected this kind of high ranked players to be playing here, and it’s a tough tournament, which is even better for me. I playing well and am feeling comfortable.
Q: This week you have seen a lot of Asian players and you are also played against Lu who is the top Asian Player, Your thoughts on the difference in the game compared to Europeans?
Berrer: The Asians are coming up very strongly and are very tough players, most of them have flat strokes, because they are used to playing on hard courts. Lu is a different player as he has the European style of play.
Q: Is there any difference in the organizational aspect between Asian and European events of this stature?
Berrer: Anytime, hospitality in Asian countries is better than in Europe, Mostly the tournaments are well organized here .
Q: Your comments on the Tashkent Challenger?
Berrer: This is my first time in Tashkent, before coming here there were apprehensions about the event, the food, language. But some of the senior players and other German player who have played in Uzbekistan before have said a lot of good things about how events are organized here.
I’m happy that I came here. I would like to compliment the organizers of this event for putting an excellent week for the players.
(Via Sunder Iyer on behalf of the media team at Tashkent Challenger)
Giant killer Mathieu Montcourt of France has had a wonderful week so far at Tashkent Challenger recording two upsets in a row against 8th seed Go Soeda of Japan and against 2nd seed and 70th ranked Dudi Sela of Isreal.
Here's a piece of the interview with Montcourt after his win against Sela.
Q: How do you feel after today’s win?
Montcourt: I’m very proud of the way I played today, I played very well. It’s a good win for me. I told myself I had to fight hard and win today and I did it. I’m playing very well and feel nice. Also I’m liking the courts.
Q: Are you surprised with your performance?
Montcourt: Yes, I’m truly surprised, I was not expecting this results. I cam e here with a view to win a few matches. I had lost couple of matches in the last few weeks and feeling low on confidence.
Q: But you are playing relatively well this week?
Montcourt: Like I said, I have nothing to loose, I’m just trying to play fee as I can without expecting too much, that is why I’m probably playing better
Q: It’s believed that the French are essentially clay court players, but your game is much suited for the hard courts?
Montcourt: Very true, I practice at the Rolland Garros which has clay courts, so all of us practice on the clay courts, but if you see today many of the results of French players are coming on hard courts look at Tsonga, Gasquet they are winning on hard courts. Nowadays it doesn’t matter on which surface you practice, one has to learn to win on other surfaces like hard courts and grass too.
Q: How do you look at the future?
Montcourt: I have 2 more events still to go , I’m playing in Korea, I haven’t set any goals , this is the end of the season I want to end it with a high and make lot of points. I want to play well without putting pressure on myself. This way I’m preparing to play better tennis next year.
Q: Your views on the Tashkent Challenger?
Montcourt: It’s my first time in Uzbekistan, and I’m impressed with the organization of the event. I did not expect anything here, but I’m surprised at the way they are doing the event. The people are friendly and the hotel is good, so are the courts and playing conditions. I think it’s a very high and well organized event. (Via Sunder Iyer on behalf of the media team at Tashkent Challenger)
The reason why I'm covering a bit of the Tashkent Challenger this week is because Rendy Lu, one of Asia's top 100 player is the top seed here.
Besides that I'm pretty impress with the efforts put in by the organiser and media to make Tashkent Challenger a successful one.
Here's the press release shared by Esther via the media team in Tashkent Challenger.
It was an interesting battle to witness as 32 selected children in the age group of 6-10 years came out to play in a mini tennis tournament coinciding with ongoing Tashkent ATP Challenger in an event organized by the Uzbekistan tennis Federation (UTF).
Akhliyor Abduraimov, Umar Akhmedjanov, Diana Borisenko, Yasmila Karimjanova, Jamila Akmedjanova, Dariya Kungurova, Kamil Dautov, Sitora Kamilova won prizes in their respective events.
Tournament Director of the Tashkent Challenger S. Uthrapathy gave away racquets as prizes for winning the event, which also meant that graduated from the mini tennis courts to the mains courts.
A small gift was also given to all the participants on behalf of the UTF.
The top seed of the event and Asia’s top ranked player Yen- Hsun Lu of Taipei commenting on the kids day event said,
“It’s important to have days like these as it helps to inspire the kids."
According to Andrei Kornilov Coordinator UTF, these programmes involve bringing children from different schools to the courts and expose them to the atmosphere of the event and the sport.
"We will have another few kids coming in tomorrow," he said.
Uzbekistan Tennis Federation Junior Tennis has initiated the event to popularize the sport among children.
“It’s not about teaching them to play tennis but to show them the fun side of it,” Kornilov added.
Almost 17,000 youngsters all over the country are a part of the mini tennis programme initiated by the UTF.
Again, thanks to Esther via the media team at Tashkent Challenger for providing this interview.
Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun of Chinese Taipei currently ranked 77 in the world and Asia’s second top player (after Kei Nishikori who is positioned at 66).
Once ranked as high as 69, Lu twisted his ankle last week, but now he is much fitter and raring to go at the Tashkent Challenger where he is seeded No 1.
The media team spoke to him about his aims, tennis in Asia and his preparations after he put out India’s Rohan Bopanna in a three set encounter 3-6,7-5,6-0.
Q: How has been the year for you so far?
Lu: It’s not bad, I played for my country at the Olympics, though I lost some points and the ranking, I have four more events two in Korea and two in Kazakhstan where I hope to make more points and get into the bigger event.Probably I’m looking at playing in more tour events from the beginning of next year. I had a twisted ankle last week, but I’m okay now and want to do well at the Tashkent Challenger.
Q: You are Asia’s topmost player, isn’t it lonely up there to be the only Asian?
Lu: (Laughs) What I can say that we have so many talented players in Asia who could be the top 100, may be 50, maybe even 10, but we players in Asia should higher goals for ourselves. Asian players are looking positive and are getting close. I surely wish there are more players in the top bracket this will do tennis in Asian countries a lot of good.
Q: What do you think is lacking in Asia?
Lu: I can tell you for my country, we should have more tournaments, so players can get points. We also need to have more professional trainers / coaches. We need quality than quantity.
Q: What about tour events Asia has four of them do you think it is enough?
Lu: ATP was talking to us players as they are also seeing potential and growth in the continent. We told them that Asia should have more events. As of now we have Four Tour events slotted in two weeks. They need to decide and separate the events, as Asian players are comfortable playing in the region due to the food, hotels, language and the people.If we can have four events in four weeks it will easy for Asian players rather than to miss two events.
Q: Coming back to your country the girls’ tennis is doing much better in terms of number of players you have in the rankings?
Lu: I agree that the women’ tennis results have been better; we have 2 players in top 100. The government is supporting us and now we have very good junior boys coming out of the country. Also one has to remember Men’s tennis I much tougher that the women’s, but in the last 5 years men’s tennis has surely improved in our country. But like I said our federation should have more events for men’s.
Q: Your country is playing with Kazakhstan, but now they have many players who have come over from Russia in their team?
Lu: I know they have imported players in order to make their team strong, last time we defeated them, and I know this time will be tougher outing. Importing of players is also good sign for federations to make their respective team stronger.
Q: How are Asian’s doing compared to the Europeans in terms of fitness?
Lu: Now, everybody realizes importance of fitness and employ trainers on the tour. I’m more fit today than I was 2 or 3 years ago. I’m giving a lot of importance to my physical conditioning. Now when I play it’s a different feeling and feels much stronger. I feel in Asia we are still in a learning process, but we have to get there fast.
Q: What are your thoughts about the Tashkent Challenger?
Lu: It’s a good event, there are players from Europe and Asia have come together because of the geography of the country, as it in the middle of both continents. Also it’s a very strong event with top 4 of the 100 players and a lot of top 150 players from 24 countries participating. Also we have around 10 or 12 players who were earlier in the top 100 here. It’s a tough event for sure. There is great need to focus and fight out every match.
Q. How do you compare the Tashkent challenger to other events?
Lu: Compared to other challengers the tournament is really very nice, the hotel, the people, the courts, the organization is very nice and I have no complaints. I’m enjoying it and also hope to do well.
Thank you Esther for sharing this piece of interview via the media people at Tashkent Challenger.
So here you go:
An interview with Rohan Bopanna
India’s top tennis player Rohan Bopanna who has been performing exceedingly well in the doubles scene on the ATP Tour , is all set to partner leading doubles specialist Max Mirnyi of Belarus at the ATP Tour event at St Petersburg next week.
“I’m looking forward to play with Mirnyi, it’ll surely be a great experience for me to play with someone like him”, said Bopanna after entering the main draw of the Tashkent Open.
“I called up Mirnyi after he broke up with his regular partner Jamie Murray and he instantly agreed to play with me. I can surely learn a lot from his caliber and experience at the highest level”, said an elated Bopanna
Asked whether they will play in the future as well Bopanna replied, there is no commitment, but if they can do well and progress at St. Petersburg they will decide the future steps and hopefully continue partnerships on a long term basis.
Bopanna however added that his partnership with Aisam Qureshi would continue as they will be playing at the German and Slovak challengers in the next few weeks.
“Knowing each other for so long and our off court relationships have helped me and Aisam to pull off some very good matches, he said.
Expressing bitterness over being dropped for the Davis Cup for Romania, Bopanna said
“I was surprised at not being on the Davis Cup team for the tie against Romania, normally we have 5 players traveling on the Davis Cup team for the away tie, but for this tie only 4 players were sent to Romania."
"I’ve been in the team from 2002 and also have played singles all the while. I was told I was dropped because my performance was not good enough in the singles for a place in the squad," he added.
Bopanna, who was among the players who rebelled against the captaincy of Leander Paes, said
"He admitted that we have had differences in April, but I guess some grouses we raised have been sorted out, we need to have high team morale and good camaraderie amongst team members, which helps in close Davis Cup ties, this was missing," he added.
“Now that we are back to Group I and have to keep fighting to get back into the World Group."
On his rankings in the singles, Bopanna replied
“Many don’t know that my singles ranking has been affected because of my doubles performances. Many a times I can’t play qualifying in the singles as I’m playing in the finals of a doubles event."
"I’ve had to miss quite a few singles events as the qualifying is played on weekends, and so are the semifinals and finals of doubles.”
"But I guess that’s part of the profession, I’m playing well and will be playing at the Challengers in Germany and Slovakia , and also qualifying at Tashkent , will surely help my singles rankings. My performance at Newport, where I reached the quarterfinals in singles has been the best so far this year."
"I’m just trying to leave everything behind me and trying to improve my singles rankings and get back my place back into the squad for the tie which will take on the winners of Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei in April 2009."
Bopanna also added that travelling with his trainer Shyamal Vallabhjee, have helped him immensely to overcome his injuries.
“Shyamal who has also been a trainer of the South African cricket team, and also travels with Mahesh Bhupathi has done a great job for me in getting me out of injuries.”
"I’ve realized how important it is to have a trainer on the professional circuit, if I would have had a trainer before it would have been a boon, he said. I feel some times it is more good to have trainer on the tour than a coach," he added.
Thanks Esther for this press release from the media team at Tashkent Challenger.
The finals played in a full capacity stadium was expected to be a close encounter with both players in good form, but turned out to be damp squib with Rendy taking charge from the very beginning of the match. 
In the doubles final on Saturday, Flavio Cipolla and Pavel Snobel won the doubles event after defeated 4th seeded Russian pair of Michail Elgin and Alexandre Kudryatsev 6-3, 6-4 in a one sided encounter. 
The Deputy Minister of Sports and Culture Erkin Kutibaev, Tournament director S. Uthrapathy and ATP Supervisor Carl Baldwin presented the awards.
