Rafael Nadal receives no. 1 trophy at Madrid

The no. 1 trophy is finally presented to Rafael Nadal today in the Pista Central (central court) of the Masters Series of Madrid.

The tennis player from Majorca reached the first place in the ranking on 18th August.

"Rafa's achievement of the no. 1 place in the South African Airways ATP Ranking is the reward for a fantastic career in a complicated year."

"His great season on clay, where he was undefeated, and his good results on grass this year have confirmed him as a great player on all surfaces."

"Putting an end to Federer's reign has been a small great deed but, now, the best player in the world and all tennis fans hope that both players keep competing with each other in one of the strongest rivalries in the sports world," commented Etienne de Villiers, ATP's CEO who presented the award to Nadal.

The Masters Series of Madrid will be the first ATP tournament Nadal plays in Spain as no. 1.

"We are delighted that the ATP has chosen our court to hand over the trophy. Rafa is loved in every country, but here specially. Tennis public in Madrid has always supported him," commented Manuel Santana, tournament director.

The ceremony will be accompanied by the acrobatic show of "Dream2".

Today, the matches of the tournament's final draw start as well. If the draw is favourable chances are good that Nadal will make his debut in the singles draw on Tuesday 14th October at 8 p.m.

He will also play in the doubles draw with Carlos Moya.

(Image by PEDRO ARMESTRE/AFP/Getty Images)

Tennis players could boycott 2009 WTA Tour, Dinara Safina speaks out

The top players could boycott next year's WTA Tour if their questions were left unanswered, world no. 3 Dinara Safina said on Saturday.

The Russian said the players were unhappy with the changes being made to the schedule.

"If they (WTA) don't listen to what we have to say we might even choose to boycott the new tour," Safina told reporters.

"They said the leading players would have to play in designated tournaments while lower-ranked players would be able to enter any event they like. There's no logic in that at all.

"What if all the top players choose to enter the same tournament? What will the WTA do then? We want to know," added Safina.

Under the so-called Road Map 2010, 26 Tier One and Tier Two events will be combined into 20 Premiere tournaments with players committed to play in at least 10.

Four $4.5 million tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing will be mandatory for all players who qualify.

Below the mandatory events will be five $2 million stops in Canada, Dubai, Rome, Cincinnati and Tokyo, of which the top-ranked players must play at least four.

The WTA has committed to having at least seven of the world's top 10 players at each of these events. Players will complete their schedules by competing in at least one or two $700,000 events.

"There are a lot of grey areas," said Safina.

"No one seems to understand which tournaments you can play and which you can't."

Her thoughts were echoed by Zvonareva and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"I was told only two players from the top 10 could enter a smaller tournament like the Kremlin Cup next year," said world no. 7 Kuznetsova.

"What if (world no. 1) Jelena Jankovic and Serena or Venus (Williams) want to play here?"

"Then all the top Russian players, and there are five of us in the top 10, will not be able to play in their home tournament. That's nonsense."

Safina, who will rise to a career-high number two when the new rankings are released on Monday, said the leading players will get together at next month's season-ending WTA Championships in Doha to share their concerns.

WTA officials were not available for comment.

(Via Reuters UK, Image by Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

Maria Sharapova in-court, Serena Williams off-court

It seems that Maria Sharapova is trying to get back into the swing of things while still nursing her shoulder injury.

The tennis beauty grabbed a yogurt before heading to tennis practice. Her practice consisted of playing court games with some fellow male players.

Towards the end of practice a young tennis fan, who was practicing on the court next to her, went up to Sharapova and was lucky enough to play with her and get some pointers.

In the meanwhile, Serena Williams was seen with former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland hitting the Miami Beach together.

Serena who is scheduled to travel to Lagos, Nigeria with sister Venus this month, has been postponed to November due to Serena's ankle injury.

(Maria Sharapova's photos by Andrade Perkins, Serena Williams photo via justjared.buzznet.com)

Hands off the Australian Open, Sydney told

A view of one of the courts at the Melbourne Park complex in Melbourne.

It was revealed in The Age's front page report on how Sydney as well as Shanghai, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were manoeuvring to host the first grand slam event of the year when the current contract expires in 2016.

"I don't understand why Tennis Australia would be having any discussions with another government or another city about the tournament," Mr McNamee, a former Australian Open director, told The Sunday Age.

"That's what's such a shock. What would be the reason for that because we have a venue that is the envy of the tennis world. "It would be akin to Wimbledon having discussions with Edinburgh. Why would you do that?"

Tennis Australia has admitted holding talks with Events NSW and others about a possible future venue for the tournament.

Events NSW says the discussions are at an early stage but there are plans to build a multimillion-dollar tennis stadium at Glebe Island, near Darling Harbour.

Despite the move, Victorian Premier John Brumby said yesterday he was confident the Open would stay in Melbourne.

"It's a great stadium, the players love Melbourne, we've got the best sports precinct in the world and I don't think we need to take too seriously the threats that are coming from Sydney," he said, adding the Government would work with Tennis Australia to improve the Open in coming years.

Mr McNamee said it was hard to imagine the Open not being played in Melbourne.

"It's part of the DNA of Melbourne, like the Opera House is part of the DNA of Sydney.

"The Australian Open is part of who we are in Melbourne. The juxtaposition of the Australian Open and Melbourne is sacrosanct."

Grand slam legend Margaret Court, who won 11 Australian Opens during her career, said the tournament was held in Melbourne because "it was the sporting city of the world".

"Melbourne is known for the Australian Open just like New York is known for the US Open and Paris for the French Open," Ms Court said.

She said Melbourne was renowned for having the best atmosphere as well as the best crowds.

"(In) Sydney … you never know if people are going to turn up to watch," she said.

(Via theage.com.au, Image via Yahoo! Sport)