WTA Future stars returns to Bangkok

WTA Legend and hometown hero Tamarine Tanasugarn welcomed back the WTA Future Stars in Bangkok, Thailand, today as she introduced 50 children aged 10-12 years from a local primary school, the Preedavittaya School, to tennis for the first time in a series of fun basic activities and drills.

Tanasugarn, who will be returning as a WTA Finals Legend Ambassador in Singapore this October, shared her experience with the next generation saying, “It has been great working with the WTA to promote tennis in Thailand through the WTA Future Stars programme over the last few years. Each time, we are able to reach out to a new group of children and introduce them to tennis, and I really enjoy being able to share my experience with them. It would be great to see more children take up tennis in Thailand and hopefully we will see some Thai stars in future!”

“Over the last four years, the WTA has built a strong foundation in the Asia-Pacific through the WTA Future Stars initiative, which has been an integral part of raising awareness on tennis and the WTA Finals in the region. The WTA Future Stars was launched alongside the first edition of the WTA Finals held in Singapore in 2014, and we have since gone on to conduct clinics and masterclasses in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. Working closely with our WTA legends like Tamarine Tanasugarn, the WTA Future Stars outreach is aimed at highlighting how sport is great way for young boys and girls to develop beneficial life skills that will help them to achieve whatever goals they may set for themselves,” said Melissa Pine, Vice President of WTA Asia-Pacific and Tournament Director of the WTA Finals.

Speaking after assisting Tanasugarn during the clinic, the 2017 WTA Future Stars Under-14 finalist from Thailand, Pimrada Jattavapornvanit, said, “It was a wonderful experience to be able to represent my country at the WTA Future Stars tournament in Singapore last year, and I am glad to be able to attend the clinic today to share my passion for tennis with other local children. Tamarine Tanasugarn is our role model and being able to stand next to her to encourage more children in Thailand to play our sport is a very special experience for me.”

Mr. Kitsombat Euammongkol, President of the Lawn Tennis Association Thailand (LTAT), said, “This is the second year that the WTA has worked with the LTAT to host the WTA Future Stars at our national tennis centre, and it has been a great success. We look forward to more opportunities in the future to work with the WTA to promote tennis in Thailand. I would also like to wish our 2018 WTA Future Stars representatives from Thailand all the best at the tournament in Singapore in October.”

The WTA Future Stars Clinic is part of a regional platform to promote tennis among children throughout Asia-Pacific and includes the WTA Future Stars Tournament where each country sends two representatives to compete in the U14 and U16 categories respectively.

Launched in 2014 when the WTA Finals was first hosted in Singapore, the WTA Future Stars tournament started with 12 countries, and in 2018 will bring together players from 21 markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

The WTA Finals, which is the crown-jewel of the WTA calendar, will take place in Singapore from October 21 – 28 2018 where the best in women’s tennis will compete for the year’s biggest prize purse of US$7 million. Players accumulate points throughout the season and the top eight singles players and doubles teams on the Porsche Race to Singapore Leaderboard then compete in the season finale at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore holds Wimbledon viewing party for women's finals

Get the Pimm’s chilling and crates of strawberries ready as Wimbledon fever takes over.

Tennis fans are invited to join in the summer Grand Slam festivities and enjoy free pints and snacks at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global Wimbledon Women’s Finals viewing party, on 14 July 2018 at Harry’s Bar, Boat Quay.

Date:14 July 2018 (Saturday)
Time: 7PM till late
Venue: Harry’s Bar (Boat Quay), Level 2, 28 Boat Quay, 049818

Fans can catch the exciting Wimbledon Women’s Finals match live, test their tennis knowledge by joining the trivia, or participate in a lucky draw. Prizes include VIP hospitality passes to Racquet Club, exclusive access to the Aces Lounge, as well as match tickets to catch the greatest in women’s tennis live at the WTA Finals Singapore.

WTA Finals Singapore 2017 Champion Caroline Wozniacki

Fans dressed in their best Wimbledon whites can also participate in a best dressed competition, and walk away with a racquet autographed by past WTA Finals Singapore qualifiers.

Interested fans can form teams of six and register here. (Seats are limited and registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis).

The final edition of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global takes place from 21 to 28 October 2018 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The WTA Finals is the crown jewel of the WTA calendar, where the world’s greatest eight Singles players and Doubles team battle it out for the US$7 million prize purse and prestigious Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova Trophy.

For more ticketing information, please refer to ANNEX A or visit www.WTAFinals.com.

Nadal reclaims ATP no.1 spot and trains for Davis Cup

Source: Marca.com

Rafael Nadal is finally back from his hip injury by training for the upcoming Davis Cup match against Germany. While I bet you are going to enjoy the online live streaming of the match, feel free to also check out Dreamz.com if you're up for a thrilling session of online casino.

After the 10-time French Open champion dethroned arch-rival Roger Federer from the number one spot, Nadal started training again under the direction of Spain captain, Sergi Bruguera alongside with his fellow compatriots David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez, Roberto Bautista and Pablo Carreno Busta.

Source: laht.com

Nadal, who just completed his first training at the iconic Plaza de Toros de Valencia, could be playing when the two countries meet from April 6-8. Spain defeated Great Britain in the last round of the competition to reach this stage of the Davis Cup.

By returning to the top spot in the ATP ranking, it will certainly boost Nadal's confidence a little bit more. I do not mean to jinx him but it seems like every time he reached the no.1 rank, he could go on to finish the year as the no.1 ranked player.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer who had an amazing run in 2018, will not be competing throughout the entire clay court season. With just 100 points behind Nadal, and no points to defend, it seems like the perfect plan for Federer. As for Nadal, he couldn't afford to make any error. A small slip by Nadal's side would make the Swiss maestro the top-ranked player again.

Nadal has been out of action since the Australian Open quarterfinal match in January.

Andy Murray could make return from hip injury before Wimbledon

Great news to all Andy Murray fans! The former world no. 1 and current British no. 2 is set to make a return to the ATP Tour in June after revealing his plan to play at the Libema Open in the Netherlands this June. This will be his first event since a hip surgery in January and after missing from the tour for 11 months.

A little post op photo. I'm feeling really positive and looking forward to starting rehab. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and support the last few days.. It really helps. And everyone try and find a partner who looks at you the way @jamie__delgado looks at me 💪💪👍🎾

A post shared by Andy Murray (@andymurray) on Jan 8, 2018 at 8:06am PST

The grass court tournament in Rosmalen, which is formerly known as the Ricoh Open, will take place from 11 to 17 June.

With that, it means Murray will miss the entire clay surface. The ATP250 event that he's planning to take part is the week right after the French Open. It will be a warm up tournament for Queen’s, where he has won a record five times, and which will serve as his main and only preparation for Wimbledon.

Source: https://www.mouratoglou.com/

Currently, Murray is stepping up his rehabilitation by practising at Patrick Mouratoglou's Tennis Academy near Nice, France. On social media he has posted a photograph of himself on the court hitting with Aidan McHugh, a 17-year-old Glaswegian he has been mentoring.

Chasing down another @aidymchugh error today during practice #progress #hip #unforced #youngpup

A post shared by Andy Murray (@andymurray) on Mar 28, 2018 at 10:58am PDT

In his long absence, Murray has surrendered the British no.1 ranking to Kyle Edmund and has slipped 29 places from the no.1 ranking he surrendered to Rafael Nadal last August, although the 31-year-old Spaniard subsequently has had his own hip problem. By the time the draw is made for the Libema Open, Murray is very likely to have fallen out of the world’s top 40 and by the time the Queen’s tournament starts he could be outside the top 150.

Fortunately, Murray will have no problem getting into tournaments for the rest of 2018 because he can use a “protected” world ranking besides the potential number of wildcards that will be given to him.