Local organizer confirmed Kings of Tennis is still on

Finally Arianna Teoh appears in Sunday Star today making her statement that Kings of Tennis is still on.

“Speculations about the event being canceled are untrue. Those who doubt should drop by the Esplanade to see the structures already up. The players are also arriving in the next few days,” said Teoh.

SK Boey called up Roy Emerson again this morning and has forwarded the news link to him. But as far as Emerson, the Team Captain of America, is concerned, it is still off.

In that article again, Arianna expressed her disappointment for the lack of support from the Penang government.

“I feel like we are not getting enough support for the event. The Kings of Tennis is going to be an unprecedented event for Penang, and it is special for the reason that we chose to hold it outdoors at a world heritage site,” Teoh said at the venue at Esplanade yesterday.

Personally I must say kudos to the Penang government for acted responsibly by keeping an eye on the budget for Kings of Tennis.

Ultimately this event is organized by a private company and not exactly a state government-initiated event.

Penang State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law, when contacted, refuted claims the state government had turned its back on the Kings of Tennis event.

It is a new event in Penang organised by a private company on their own initiative. We helped provide the venue at a minimal rate, but the issue of the state not helping promote the event should not arise as we did not make such an agreement with the organisers,” he said.

So if you are interested in tennis, you can purchase the tickets at the temporary office set up outside the Penang City Hall building at the Esplanade from 9am to 8pm daily.

Based on an insider information, there's no live coverage of the event on Astro unless there's a last minute change. So the best way to watch is to go to Esplanade and experience the international event yourself.

(Via The Star Online)

Updates:
Click here to read about the event which is now officially cancelled.

Juan Martin Del Potro dressed up as John Travolta at Tennis Masters Cup Opening Ceremony

They are turning Juan Martin Del Potro into John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever! I mean the hair and suit (collar outside the jacket) are so 70s!

But I'm totally happy seeing him strutting down the catwalk for the first time at Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai. Good looking, huh?

And for the first time we can see Andy Roddick in Shanghai. Here are the rest of the photos at the opening ceremony, for both singles and doubles players.



(Via Osport.cn)

Andy Roddick is still missing from Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai

Where the heck is Andy Roddick?

The rest of the guys are not waiting for him. They have already taken the official Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai players photo.

Roddick is also not seen mingling with the guys at practice. Perhaps he wants to practice alone and strategize to succeed here. Or maybe he's not in Shanghai yet, I guess.

Andy Murray is begging Roger Federer not to beat him this time around.

Awww.. lovely couple, they have so much to talk about.

Gilles Simon has been practicing diligently.

So does Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Jo-Willy

This song is dedicated to Mirka. She's not exactly lonely but bored.

(Images via Tennis Masters Cup official site, Osports.cn)

Novak Djokovic at tennis clinic for kids in Shanghai

For a player who is well-known for his 'over-inflated ego', it's very heartwarming to see Novak Djokovic conducting a tennis clinic surrounded by kids in Shanghai in these pictures.

This event is sponsored by Wilson.


(Images via Osports.cn)