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	<title>Tennis Ledger &#187; Rafael Nadal</title>
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		<title>The Best There Ever Was</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/09/04/the-best-there-ever-was/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/09/04/the-best-there-ever-was/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:06:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard Kent</dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[Arnold Palmer]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tennisledger.com/?p=2063</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If there is a better and more erudite interview in sports than Roger Federer then I must have missed him over the years and this comes from a writer who has interviewed Arnold Palmer, Jim Calhoun, Geno Auriemma, Coach K., Vivian Stringer, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and a whole host of others. Federer spends a good [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If there is a better and more erudite interview in sports than Roger Federer then I must have missed him over the years and this comes from a writer who has interviewed Arnold Palmer, Jim Calhoun, Geno Auriemma, Coach K., Vivian Stringer, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and a whole host of others.</p>
<p>Federer spends a good hour after each match answering questions in English,French and Swiss.And he answers every one thoughtfully.</p>
<p>One might get a few word answer from Rafael Nadal to a question and that in part is a result of his lack of command of English,but Federer is good for a full 3 paragraphs on each question,be them about his opponent,his daughters or his perspective on Tiger Woods,a friend.</p>
<p>Federer is very bright and has a keen perspective at the age of 30 of his place in the tennis lexicon.But there is more to his life then tennis.he is a fan of a bunch of sports,is a great family man and when he vacations tennis is the furthest thing from his mind.He made that clear in his Saturday press conference after his win over Marin Cilic.</p>
<p>After the match, Cilic marveled about Federer and made it clear that in his mind Federer has a few more Majors to win.</p>
<p>This US Open could be one of them.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Sunshine Packs A Punch</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/09/03/sunshine-packs-a-punch/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/09/03/sunshine-packs-a-punch/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Sep 2011 20:02:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe McDonald</dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[Caroline Wozniacki]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tennisledger.com/?p=2055</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY &#8211; Tennis is not the only sport Caroline Wozniacki excels at. The No. 1 seed also plays other games to keep fit. One is in the squared circle, where she does a boxing workout, something she started a while back. &#8220;Well, boxing is great,&#8221; she said after beating American Vania King in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY &#8211; Tennis is not the only sport Caroline Wozniacki excels at. The No. 1 seed also plays other games to keep fit.</p>
<p>One is in the squared circle, where she does a boxing workout, something she started a while back. </p>
<p>&#8220;Well, boxing is great,&#8221; she said after beating American Vania King in straight sets, 6-2 6-4 to get to the fourth round.  &#8220;I get my aggressions out.  It was fun, but it was hard, as well.  You get to work your core, your arms, your shoulders.  It was a lot of cardio, as well.  You learn how to distribute your power as well, because the first time I actually went in the ring and tried just for fun to fight with someone.  I just went all in in the beginning, and after two rounds you&#8217;re dead.</p>
<p>&#8220;I realized you have to wait for your chances.  I need to wait for the right moment.  The same in tennis.  You can&#8217;t just go all in all the time.  You need to play the ball and then wait for a right chance to go in and then attack.&#8221;</p>
<p>Of course, don&#8217;t expect her to knock out Manny Pacquiao anytime soon.</p>
<p>&#8220;I prefer not to knock out anyone,&#8221; Woznacki added.  &#8220;I&#8217;m a nice girl, so&#8230; Or I like to think so.&#8221;</p>
<p>And then there&#8217;s soccer, a game she played as a youth, </p>
<p>&#8220;Keep my feet up,&#8221; she injected when asked. &#8220;No, but I don&#8217;t know, I just think tennis is a great sport.  It&#8217;s fantastic.  I&#8217;ve had so many good experiences. But, yeah, to have my kids playing, I would just put them and give them to a coach or someone, yeah, who could teach them, because I have spent enough hours on court, I think.&#8221;</p>
<p>And then there&#8217;s golf. A sport Rafael Nadal plays to teach himself concentration and enjoys in his spare time. If Wozniacki picks it up, she would have a great teacher in her boyfriend Rory McIlvoy.</p>
<p>&#8220;Well, even though golf and tennis have some similarities, it&#8217;s also much different,&#8221; she said,  &#8220;Golf is such a mental game.  You&#8217;re playing against the course.  You&#8217;re playing with yourself and trying to do a good score. </p>
<p>&#8220;You know, sometimes we can get into that spiral where you just think, Okay, I just can&#8217;t hit it right, you know, or I just need to put it in the hole but it just keeps missing. It&#8217;s so mental.  If you stay positive and believe in yourself, it makes the game so much easier.</p>
<p>&#8220;So, you know, it&#8217;s the same, similar in tennis, but you have an opponent, as well.&#8221;</p>
<p>And that opponent will be the winner of the match between 15th seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova and Akgul Amanmuradova.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Serena&#8217;s Antics Will Get Her In Trouble</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/08/31/serenas-antics-will-get-her-in-trouble/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/08/31/serenas-antics-will-get-her-in-trouble/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:48:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe McDonald</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Flushing Meadows, NY – When we last saw Serena Williams step foot in the Borough of Queens, she threatened a line judge with her racket after committing a foot fault, ultimately forfeiting her Semifinal Match against Kim Clijsters in 2009. The incident cost her around $95,000 in fines and also put her on probation for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Flushing Meadows, NY – When we last saw Serena Williams step foot in the Borough of Queens, she threatened a line judge with her racket after committing a foot fault, ultimately forfeiting her Semifinal Match against Kim Clijsters in 2009.</p>
<p>The incident cost her around $95,000 in fines and also put her on probation for the 2010 and 2011 US Opens.</p>
<p>She didn’t play last year due to a foot injury, so that made her first round matchup last night against Bojana Jovanowski her first appearance in the 718 area code since the foot fault heard around the world.</p>
<p>Even though she is a low seed (28<sup>th</sup> due to injuries), this is still Serena Williams so of course she cruised to a 6-1 6-1 victory.</p>
<p>But it’s not a Serena match without some controversy. Last night the Open set her match as the late start, so she had to wait three hours for Rafael Nadal to win his round. And of course Williams couldn’t hold her tongue about it.</p>
<p>“No, I think the guys should play second,” she said. “They&#8217;re guys. We&#8217;re ladies. We&#8217;re ladies. They should totally play second all the time. Ladies, you open the door for ladies. They should go second. It&#8217;s ridiculous.”</p>
<p>Before last year’s Open, the ladies always went first, but then in 2010 the Open decided to mix up the matches with some nights having the men in the leadoff spot.</p>
<p>It’s pretty obvious why this is done – money. With the Open taking ESPN’s money, they have become slaves to what the networks want to see in primetime. ESPN’s ratings are dictated by the Eastern Time Zone, which is the most populous part of the United States. Prime time is 8 pm to 10 pm, so you can understand why the network will want the biggest ratings grabber for its first match.</p>
<p>So when it came down to the defending US Open Men’s champion and international star, or Serena, whose first round matchup was a mockery then you can understand what would go first.</p>
<p>Frankly, Serena will be more than glad to take all the prize money from the Open – equal prize money with the men for that matter – so she should sometimes bite the bullet for the bigger and better matches.</p>
<p>With the spotlight on her this year and the zero tolerance policy she has with the Open after two years ago, Serena should just keep her head down and play the game.</p>
<p>The bottom line is this Serena got off easy two years ago, but if anything happens this year then she will probably face harsher sanctions from tennis’s governing bodies.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Q &amp; A With Rafael Nadal</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/08/29/q-a-with-rafael-nadal/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/08/29/q-a-with-rafael-nadal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:46:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tennis Ledger Staff Reports</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Profiles]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Q.  What are your thoughts about being here during a hurricane, and how will you spend your time? RAFAEL NADAL:  I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going on, I think.  Nobody knows exactly what&#8217;s going on, no? But having the club closed, all the places in Manhattan will be closed, so not much.  Just stay in the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Q.  What are your thoughts about being here during a hurricane, and how will you spend your time?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going on, I think.  Nobody knows exactly what&#8217;s going on, no?</p>
<p>But having the club closed, all the places in Manhattan will be closed, so not much.  Just stay in the hotel.  Maybe watch some films.  But we will see what&#8217;s going on.  I never had an experience with a hurricane.  Is something new.</p>
<p>I think is very bad for the city, for the weekend, for everybody.  But, you know, that&#8217;s a new experience, and not enjoyable experience, but we know how is when is hurricane.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  How are the fingers?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  Much better.  I am able to practice with normal conditions.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  Bandages?  No bandages or anything?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  Bandages, yes.  The skin is still very thin, but it&#8217;s fine.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  A lot of people have said you&#8217;ve been stymied, you&#8217;ve been flummoxed by Djokovic this season.  I mean, do you feel like if you possibly meet him in the US Open this week or next week that you have good chance against him?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I am here.  You know, I am here at the start of the tournament and you start to talk about a match against Djokovic.  I have to win a lot to play Djokovic.  And probably him, too.  He&#8217;s not in the final yet.</p>
<p>I am focused on try to play well and try to have very good practice this week.  That&#8217;s what I am doing.  And the good chances against Djokovic, those chances always depends how I am playing, how he&#8217;s playing.  Not talking about here, talking in general.</p>
<p>After we will see, no?  I think I played a fantastic year this year.  I had a lot of victories all the year; I am not happy about how I played against him.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  Could you talk about exactly what happened to your fingers?  You got burned in Cincinnati at some restaurant, right?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  Yeah, I get burned in a Japanese restaurant.  Probably, you know, the Teppanyaki grill was there, probably the plate.  When I arrived at the restaurant the plate was there, so probably the plate stayed there for a long time.  Not inside the grill.  Something like this away to the grill.</p>
<p>You know, when they put the food, I tried to put the plate closer to me and was obviously very hot.  (Smiling.)</p>
<p>Q.         So your pointing finger and two fingers?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  Two fingers.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  Can you tell us a little bit about this book?  Was it important for you to do something like this?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, it is something that we decided to do.  Was the really first autobiography I was able to do.  Was a good opportunity to work with John Carlin.  We had a very good feeling together.  He speaks in Spanish, too, so it makes a little bit easier everything to talk about the emotion and to talk about, you know&#8230;</p>
<p>I think it was a fantastic experience.  I talk a long time with him and remember a lot of things that you normally usually don&#8217;t think about the past, no?  So when you start to talk you remember, yeah, few moments of your career, few moments when you were a kid.  Was interesting and I had fun, and hopefully the book will like to the people.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  In the book where you talk about your parents&#8217; separation, it seemed like it came out of the blue for you, that you did not realize that they were having any troubles.  Is that right?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  I didn&#8217;t understand that very well.</p>
<p>(Translation.)  You know, what happened there was ‑‑ but in the book ‑‑ I never talk about my personal things in the press, but, you know, all the changes in your life needs a little bit of time.  That&#8217;s what happened.</p>
<p>So after a little bit of time I was perfect, but, you know, at the beginning it&#8217;s tough.  But, you know, I am not the only one who has the parents divorcing in one moment of my life.  Only thing is that Mallorca the family is very important, you are very close of the people that your friends, your family.  So any change in this part, these people close to you, affects you, no?</p>
<p>That&#8217;s happened.  That&#8217;s past.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  I understand how it affected you.  What I don&#8217;t understand is how you did not see problems between your mother and father.  You did not notice problems between your mom and dad?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  I know the problems, but anyway, I gonna repeat you, I don&#8217;t want to talk about that now.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  How does it feel to come here after having you won it last year?  Do you see the tournament different?  Is it less pressure because you won it once?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  The emotions probably are a little bit different, because when you come back after the victory of last year the emotions are higher.  Of course, it was the last Grand Slam for me to complete all four.  Was very, very nice moment of my career, one of the biggest moments of my career.  That makes the comeback a little more special.</p>
<p>But if we talk about the goal, is the same.  Play well, try to arrive to the final rounds.  That&#8217;s the same, no?</p>
<p>Pressure?  I don&#8217;t feel extra pressure.  I am happy about how I did.  I didn&#8217;t play very well during the summer, but I am practicing much better here.  So we&#8217;ll see.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  Have you been surprised this year by the turnaround, where before it was you and Roger for so long at the top, and now all of a sudden ‑ Djokovic didn&#8217;t come out of nowhere, but he really has jumped up very quickly this year.  Have you been surprised by that change?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  Djokovic didn&#8217;t arrive this year, no?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  But he was not playing at the level that you were&#8230;</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  He was No. 3 of the world for three years.  That&#8217;s not bad.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  But he only won one slam.</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  Only one, and most of the people never won one.</p>
<p>For me is a little bit strange about the people here from tennis talks about Djokovic, about his big new improvement.  Djokovic was here before, no?  Djokovic played fantastic before.  He had fantastic potential to be where he is today.</p>
<p>He&#8217;s doing great.  He&#8217;s playing without injuries.  He&#8217;s playing very solid, the mental, the tennis.  What he&#8217;s doing is something very difficult to repeat.</p>
<p>For me surprise?  I think for everybody surprise see a player that he&#8217;s not losing.  He&#8217;s only lost two matches during all the year.  For everybody surprising, but for me is no surprise that Djokovic is No. 1.  For me is not a surprise that Djokovic is able to win Grand Slams, because he&#8217;s very good.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s not from six months ago.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Q.  Two questions:  One, you&#8217;re 25 years old.  Does it feel strange to have a book about your life at 25?  And second, you seem like generally a pretty private person.  What did you want to tell?  What did you want to accomplish with this book?</p>
<p>RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I am lucky.  25 years old and I enjoyed a lot of experiences in my life.  You never know if you can have another book in the future, but I felt it&#8217;s a good time to have that one.</p>
<p>Is a little bit of the history of my life.  Is a little bit of the history how I am where I am today.  Just open a little bit more of my life to them, to the fans, to the people who support me, the people who are interested about me.</p>
<p>For me, you know, now I am a little bit more open with the fans with the Twitter with the Facebook, and now with the book.  So I am trying to be more connected with them, and that&#8217;s probably a good way to do it.</p>
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		<title>Lineup For Indian Wells Announced</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/01/27/lineup-for-indian-wells-announced/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tennisledger.com/2011/01/27/lineup-for-indian-wells-announced/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 06:29:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tennis Ledger Wire Services</dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[Vera Zvonareva]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[With the Australian Open concluding this weekend, the next major stop on the tennis calendar will be the BNP Paribas Open, the most-attended tennis tournament outside of the Grand Slams. Once again the tournament, to be held March 7-20 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, will feature hundreds of the best players in the world, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With the Australian Open concluding this weekend, the next major stop  on the tennis calendar will be the BNP Paribas Open, the most-attended  tennis tournament outside of the Grand Slams. Once again the tournament,  to be held March 7-20 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, will feature  hundreds of the best players in the world, including the top three  players on both tours – Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki (No. 1),  Roger Federer and Vera Zvonareva (No. 2) and Novak Djokovic and Kim  Clijsters (No. 3).</p>
<p>Nadal, who had an incredible season in 2010 capturing three of  the four majors, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, will be in  search of his third crown in Indian Wells (2007, 2009), and would join  Jimmy Connors, Michael Chang and Federer as three-time winners of the  BNP Paribas Open. Wozniacki became the 20th World No. 1 in WTA history  last year, and captured six titles. A finalist at the 2010 BNP Paribas  Open, she is seeking her first Grand Slam title this week at the  Australian Open and is into the semifinals.</p>
<p>Federer, who is the only man to ever win the BNP Paribas Open  three years in a row (2004-2006), bookended 2010 by winning the  sixteenth major of his career in Australia in January and the ATP World  Championships in the final week of the season. A win this week would  continue to increase his all-time leading major title record. Zvonareva  had a fantastic 2010 reaching the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open,  and climbing to an all-time high ranking of No. 2 in the world. The 2009  BNP Paribas Open champion has another shot at a major title this week  at the Australian Open.</p>
<p>Djokovic had another strong campaign in 2010, and entrenched  himself further into the Serbian history books  by helping his country  capture its first ever Davis Cup title with a win over France in  December. The 2008 BNP Paribas Open champion is trying to capture the  second major of his career this week in Australia, with the first coming  in 2008 in the land down under. Clijsters, who has three major titles,  including the last two US Open’s, will look to become the only woman to  ever win the BNP Paribas Open singles title three times (2005, 2003).  She is currently in the hunt this weekend for her fourth Grand Slam  title and her first at the Australian Open.</p>
<p>In addition to these six stars, the fields will feature a host of  others who have captured titles in Indian Wells including the last six  women to win the title – defending champion Jelena Jankovic, Ana  Ivanovic (2008), Daniela Hantuchova (2007, 2002), Southern California  resident Maria Sharapova (2006), Zvonareva and Clijsters. On the men’s  side, defending champion Ivan Ljubicic and Lleyton Hewitt (2001-2002)  join Nadal, Federer and Djokovic as former champions in the draw.</p>
<p>In addition to these champions, numerous other top ten stars such  as Robin Soderling (No. 4), Andy Murray (No. 5), Tomas Berdych (No. 6),  David Ferrer (No. 7), American Andy Roddick (No. 8), Fernando Verdasco  (No. 9), Mikhail Youhzny (No. 10), Samantha Stosur (No. 6), Francesca  Schiavone (No. 7) and World No. 9 Victoria Azarenka will also vie for  the title. Other American stars that will compete include Mardy Fish,  Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Sam Querrey, Melanie Oudin, John Isner and the  World No. 1 doubles team, Mike and Bob Bryan, who will be seeking to  capture one of the few titles that have eluded them in their  record-setting career.</p>
<p>One of the new additions for the players and fans this year will  be the addition of Hawkeye replay technology and video displays on all  match courts. While most tournaments feature Hawkeye replay technology  and video displays on one, two, or three courts, none have made it  available on eight match courts.</p>
<p>The women’s qualifying draw will take place March 7-8 and the  men’s qualifying rounds will be held March 8-9. There will be 48 players  in each draw vying for 12 spots in the main draws. First-round play  will begin Wednesday, March 9 for the women and Thursday, March 10 for  the men. The men’s and women’s singles championship finals will be held  on Sunday, March 20. For information or to buy tickets, visit <a href="http://www.bnpparibasopen.com/">www.bnpparibasopen.com</a>, call the Indian Wells Tennis Garden at 800-999-1585, or visit the box office, 78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, CA 92210.</p>
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		<title>Odds of a Federer Reemergence</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2010/11/11/odds-of-a-federer-reemergence/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tennisledger.com/2010/11/11/odds-of-a-federer-reemergence/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:10:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tennis Ledger Staff Reports</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tennisledger.com/?p=1725</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the frenetic pace of which a tennis match is played, most athletes barely get a foothold in the “professional” rankings before their careers are derailed by injury or simply a natural aging process which causes them to lose a proverbial step and fall behind the competition. Roger Federer, undoubtedly one of the best tennis [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With the frenetic pace of which a tennis match is played, most athletes barely get a foothold in the “professional” rankings before their careers are derailed by injury or simply a natural aging process which causes them to lose a proverbial step and fall behind the competition.</p>
<p>Roger Federer, undoubtedly one of the best tennis players of all time and possibly the greatest ever when it’s all said and done, has been on-again, off-again recently, seemingly falling victim to the relentless effects of aging.</p>
<p>29 isn’t old by any stretch of the imagination – but in a game where, if you’re expected to be worth your salt, you start an extensive training/playing regiment before puberty, athletes like Federer, while still young amongst the public at large, are aged warriors, battle-tested for nearly two decades.</p>
<p>Rafael Nadal, Roger’s archenemy and current no.-1 ranked tennis player in the world, is five years Federer’s junior and, after years of shellacking on every surface save clay, has finally caught up and, by many estimates, surpassed Federer’s skill level. But is Roger done?</p>
<p>What are Federer’s odds of reclaiming the type of dominance he had only a few short years ago?</p>
<p>If you were the gambling type, looking for sure bets in the <a href="http://www.casinotop10.net/">best online casinos</a> out there, you would probably shy away from Roger and put your eggs in Nadal’s basket.  The truth of the matter: Federer is not getting younger; and for every muscle that’s toned and prepped, flexing its way to success, there’s a screaming piece of cartilage and a flimsy ligament acting as a counterbalance.</p>
<p>Don’t make the mistake in writing Roger off, however. Federer still holds the no.-1 spot among some polls and is still a force to be reckoned with in the world of competitive tennis. He’s a huge favorite to make it to the finals of <a href="http://www.oddspreview.com/category/Tennis/2010-ATP-Basel--Roger-Federer-v-Radek-Stepanek-preview-%2819-00-GMT%29-201011050091/">ATP Basel</a>, and he utterly decimated his last opponent.</p>
<p>Roger is still extremely good and manages to show flashes of greatness on occasion, so to think he cannot go on a 5-tourny tear at this stage in his life is a little naïve. Nadal, however, is shaping up to be better – he doesn’t have the same number of victories (468 to 731), and his trophy cabinet is a little lighter than Federer’s (43 to 64), but his winning percentage of 82.4% is better than Roger’s 80.8%.</p>
<p>The reason Nadal’s percentage isn’t higher, of course, is due to playing Federer and losing on many occasions. But those tables are turning now, and Roger will need to show up with some Brett Favre-like heroics if he’s expected to reclaim his top spot for any extended period of time.</p>
<p>For Federer fans out there, nothing’s over ‘til it’s over. But if you want a safer bet, stick to playing <a href="http://www.casinotop10.net/baccarat.shtml">baccarat online</a>. Practically speaking, Federer is about 60:1 to jump in the way-back machine and take over like he once did.</p>
<p>It’s enough of a testament to Roger’s tremendous skill that he’s still the second-best player in the world and probably will be among the top tennis pros for at least another five years.</p>
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		<title>ATP Launches Art Series</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2010/09/27/atp-launches-art-series/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tennisledger.com/2010/09/27/atp-launches-art-series/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:05:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tennis Ledger Wire Services</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Art Canvases]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tennisledger.com/?p=1509</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[LONDON, ENGLAND – The ATP has commissioned the world’s top tennis players to create a series of one-of-a-kind self-portraits in celebration of their qualification for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be played at The O2 in London from 21-28 November. The world’s leading players used their tennis skills to create individual masterpieces by [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>LONDON, ENGLAND – The ATP has commissioned the world’s top tennis players to create a series of one-of-a-kind self-portraits in celebration of their qualification for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be played at The O2 in London from 21-28 November.</p>
<p>The world’s leading players used their tennis skills to create individual masterpieces by hitting paint covered tennis balls against large art canvases. Each canvas was overlaid with a stencilled image, which, when removed, revealed a unique self-portrait showing one of the player’s signature moves on court.</p>
<p>The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals sees the Top 8 men’s tennis players in the world battle it out against each other for the last title of the season. Players compete for South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings points throughout the season in a bid to earn one of the eight coveted berths and a chance to win the $1.6m prize money on offer for the winner.</p>
<p>The artwork created by the final eight players will be exhibited for public viewing in Central London in early November, and during tournament week at the new Fan Zone at The O2. The artwork then will be auctioned off for charity with tennis fans around the world getting the chance to bid on a rare piece of art created and signed by their favourite player.</p>
<p>Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have already qualified for the tournament. The remaining six places are still up for grabs, as a chasing pack featuring the likes of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick continue to battle for rankings points at ATP World Tour events during the remainder of the season in order to finish among the Top 8.</p>
<p>Nadal, the 2010 Wimbledon, Roland Garros and US Open Champion, is looking forward to returning to London in November. &#8220;Making the artwork was fun and something I&#8217;ve never done before. It&#8217;s a great way to celebrate the World Tour Finals coming back to London. Last year the crowd and the stadium were amazing although I didn&#8217;t play my best tennis. Hopefully this year I will arrive playing well again and will try to do my best in front of the London fans who add such a special feeling to the event,&#8221; said the World No.1.</p>
<p>Federer, a four-time winner of the season-ending tournament, has qualified for the event for a ninth consecutive year. “They staged a fantastic event at The O2 last year and I look forward to returning in November and finishing the season strong. It was great fun being invited to create my self-portrait and I’m excited to see how the finished artwork looks hanging in the gallery,” said the Swiss.</p>
<p>The tournament is the world&#8217;s biggest indoor tennis event, where each of the top eight players are drawn to play a minimum of three round-robin matches to determine which four players advance to the knockout semi-finals. Tickets are available online at <a href="http://www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/">www.BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com</a>.</p>
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		<title>The College Conundrum</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2010/09/21/the-college-conundrum/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tennisledger.com/2010/09/21/the-college-conundrum/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Sep 2010 05:23:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard Kent</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tennisledger.com/?p=1408</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Professional tennis players and especially American professional tennis players face the decision at some point in their careers. Men and women. To go to college or not go to college? Players from outside of the United States like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal invariably choose to turn professional at an early age. There is less [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Professional tennis players and especially American professional tennis players face the decision at some point in their careers. Men and women. To go to college or not go to college?</p>
<p>Players from outside of the United States like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal invariably choose to turn professional at an early age. There is less pressure on young tennis stars to attend college in many foreign countries than there is in the United States. There is also less precedent.</p>
<p>As early as 30 years ago, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors had to make the decision. Mac attended Stanford for two years and won the NCAA’s. He has never regretted his college decision.Same with Jimmy Connors at UCLA. He went for one year and also won the NCAA’s.</p>
<p>Three years ago, John Isner and Sam Querry burst on the scene.Isner went to the University of Georgia for four years and led his team to an NCAA crown.He finished second in singles. He wasn’t ready as a player to turn pro out of high school.Sam Querry, on the other hand turned down a full scholarship at USC. They are both about equally ranked now.</p>
<p>The college scene has changed dramatically over the past decade or so. More foreign players are attending colleges in the States  and that makes the competition better for Americans who continue on with their educations. Benjamin Becker is a prime example. He attended Baylor and is now No. 50 in the world.</p>
<p>The US Open Junior Finals this year pitted Jack Sock against Denis Kudla. Sock won the event and is torn between college and turning pro. Kudla has already turned pro. Sock and his family were approached by countless agents at the Open.</p>
<p>In our opinion, players should take a page from the James Blake playbook. The former Fairfield, Connecticut high school star attended Harvard for two years and then turned pro. He honed his skills at Harvard and picked up many valuable life tools in the process.He rose to as high as no. 6 in the world and was an endorsement guru. College did not hurt him a bit.</p>
<p>Jesse Levine turned pro after one year at the University of Florida. He stated, &#8220;You can always go back to school but not to pro tennis.” That is true but Levine has had a somewhat undistinguished pro career and probably wasn’t ready physically to turn pro when he did. Perhaps four years in college would have made Levine a better pro and a more well rounded individual.</p>
<p>Clearly, there is no easy answer to this conundrum facing many young tennis players.</p>
<p><em>Richard Kent is the autor of Inside the US Open and The Racket.</em></p>
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		<title>After The Win, Nadal Basks In Glory</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2010/09/16/after-the-win-nadal-basks-in-glory/</link>
		<comments>http://www.tennisledger.com/2010/09/16/after-the-win-nadal-basks-in-glory/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:53:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard Pagliaro</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tennisledger.com/?p=1316</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the city that never sleeps, Rafael Nadal wasn&#8217;t resting on his laurels after capturing his first career US Open to complete the career Grand Slam on Monday night. The World No. 1 stayed on site at the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center until after 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, celebrating with his family [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In the city that never sleeps, <a href="http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Coronation--Rafael-Nadal-Wins-US-Open-To-Complete-.aspx" target="_blank">Rafael Nadal</a> wasn&#8217;t resting on his laurels after capturing his first career US Open  to complete the career Grand Slam on Monday night. The World No. 1  stayed on site at the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center until  after 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, celebrating with his family and friends,  making a point to personally thank the members of the USTA staff for  running the tournament and conducting interviews with Spanish  television.</p>
<p>&#8220;I had the control antidoping, and saying hello, all the US Open staff  and say thanks, everybody, for the organization, for the facilities that  they give me, they give to me,&#8221; Nadal said in explaining his activity  immediately after he crashed to the court following championship point.   &#8220;After that, I was with the authorities, they came, thank you very  much. And the president of the Spanish Federation and the family.  Just  be out there for the family for a few minutes, and afterward I was in  the locker room organization, and having organizing all the clothes.&#8221;</p>
<p>So exactly what did <a href="http://www.tennisnow.com/Tennis-Now-TV/Tennis-Player-Videos/September-2010/Rafael-Nadal-at-the-US-Open-Montage.aspx" target="_blank">Nadal</a> do the morning after his triumph in New York City?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tennisnow.com/Blogs/The-Lowdown-on-the-Top-Tennis-Players/June-2010/Rafael-Nadal-Spotted-with-Girlfriend.aspx">Nadal and girlfriend Xisca</a>,  who sat by herself in the player dining area gazing out of the window  and watching the rain fall during the one hour, 47-minute rain delay  that interrupted the men&#8217;s final, sat side-by-side in a van that took  the pair back to their Manhattan hotel after 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning.</p>
<p>The nine-time Grand Slam champion only got about three hours of sleep  before heading to Times Square with his family and management team for a  photo shoot across the street from the Hard Rock Cafe.</p>
<p>Tourists and fans, seeing the swarm of photographers waiting and blue  police barricades set up in Times Square knew something was about to  happen and began to crowd the area.</p>
<p>Nadal and his team rolled up, he jumped out of a car and posed for a  series of photos while fans screamed support (and a couple of marriage  proposals) in his direction. An immensely popular presence in New York,  Nadal acknowledged the crowd then it was back in the car for the short  ride to <a href="http://www.tennisnow.com/Blogs/The-Tennis-Diva/August-2010/Nike-Primetime-Knockout-Event.aspx">Nike Town in mid-town Manhattan</a> where fellow <a href="http://www.tennisnow.com/2010_News/Shoes_Racquet/John_McEnroe_Tennis.aspx">Nike endorser and tennis television analyst John McEnroe</a>,  who picked Nadal to win the Open before the tournament began last  month, conducted a question and answer session in front of fans wearing <a href="http://www.tennisexpress.com/NIKE-Mens-Rush-And-Crush-Rafa-Nadal-Tennis-Tee-17753">Nike Nadal t-shirts </a>staffers passed out at the door.</p>
<p>At the start of the interview McEnroe asked Nadal the question that had long been on his mind.</p>
<p>&#8220;How are you so damn humble?&#8221; McEnroe asked. &#8220;(You must be thinking) Why  is this old man asking me these boring questions I want to get the hell  out of here  and go home.&#8221;</p>
<p>A grinning Nadal replied: &#8220;Always a pleasure to talk to you John. That&#8217;s  the only thing I can do (be nice to people). There are people out there  every day waiting for a photo. That&#8217;s the normal thing to do. That&#8217;s my  opinion.&#8221;</p>
<p>An unconvinced McEnroe shot back, &#8220;I tell them to get a life sometimes&#8221; prompting laughter from both the crowd and Nadal.</p>
<p>Nadal said life in Mallorca has shaped the player and man he has become.</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s part of the character in Mallorca; we are very relaxed,&#8221; Nadal said. &#8220;The life there goes a<br />
little slower than here in New York so for that reason I am more relaxed on court.&#8221;</p>
<p>Completing the career Grand Slam on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court, Nadal  fell to his back in a complete collapse and said his match point moment  was purely a physical response.</p>
<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have control of your body at that moment,&#8221; Nadal said. &#8220;I  don&#8217;t have any plan to go down when I win the title. When I won the last  point I am (there).&#8221;</p>
<p><strong><em>Rich Pagliaro is the editor of <a href="http://www.tennisnow.com">TennisNow.com</a>. </em></strong></p>
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		<title>Nadal Clinches Year End No. 1 For The Second Time</title>
		<link>http://www.tennisledger.com/2010/09/16/nadal-clinches-year-end-no-1-for-the-second-time/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:01:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tennis Ledger Wire Services</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[LONDON, ENGLAND – For the second time in three years Rafael Nadal will finish as the No. 1 player in the year-end South African Airways ATP Rankings. The 24-year-old Spaniard is the ninth player in the history of the South African Airways ATP Rankings (since 1973) to finish as ATP World Tour Champion at least [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>LONDON,  ENGLAND – For the second time in three years Rafael Nadal will finish  as the No. 1 player in the year-end South African Airways ATP Rankings.</p>
<p>The 24-year-old Spaniard is  the ninth player in the history of the South African Airways ATP  Rankings (since 1973) to finish as ATP World Tour Champion at least  twice. He and rival Roger Federer are the only players since 2000 to  clinch the year-end No. 1 ranking in the week after the US Open. Federer  did it in 2004 and &#8217;06.</p>
<p>Nadal said: &#8220;It has been an incredible season &#8211; one of my best ever, if  not the best. Winning the US Open together with Roland Garros and  Wimbledon, as well as the three back-to-back (ATP World Tour) Masters  1000s in Europe, was not easy.  I worked very hard to get back to the  top and it feels really good to know I will end the year as No.1.&#8221;</p>
<p>Nadal will be officially crowned  as the 2010 ATP World Tour Champion during a special ceremony at the  season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, Nov. 21-28.  Nadal and Federer are the first two players to qualify for the eight-man  field. He is the third left-hander to finish No. 1 at least twice,  joining Jimmy Connors (five times, 1974-78) and John McEnroe (four  times, 1981-84).</p>
<p>On Monday,  Nadal became the seventh man in history to achieve a career Grand Slam  as he earned his first US Open title. He is also the first player to win  three straight Grand Slam titles in the same year since Rod Laver won  all four in 1969. Nadal is the youngest player in the Open Era to  achieve a career Grand Slam. It was the Mallorcan native&#8217;s ninth career  Grand Slam crown and he is the second-youngest player behind Bjorn Borg  to win nine Slam titles.</p>
<p>Nadal also joins Ivan Lendl and Federer as the only players to have  held, lost and regained the year-end No. 1 ranking in the 37-year  history of the South African Airways ATP Rankings (since 1973). Lendl  held the year-end No. 1 ranking from 1985-87 and finished No. 2 in 1988  before reclaiming No. 1 in 1989. Federer was No. 1 from 2004-07, went to  No. 2 in &#8217;08 and then returned to the top spot last year.</p>
<p>Nadal leads the ATP World Tour with six  titles and a 59-7 match record in 2010. Since April he has won 43 of 46  matches, winning six of nine tournaments, including three consecutive  ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay court events (Monte-Carlo, Rome,  Madrid) and his fifth Roland Garros title in six years. In July, he  captured his second Wimbledon title in three years.</p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><strong>ATP  WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONS (since 1973)</strong></td>
<td width="19"></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>MULTIPLE  ATP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONS</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48"></td>
<td width="230"></td>
<td></td>
<td width="148"></td>
<td width="180"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20"><strong>Year</strong></td>
<td><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>Player</strong></td>
<td><strong>Number of titles.</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20"><strong>2010</strong></td>
<td><strong>Rafael Nadal (Spain)</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td>Pete  Sampras</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">2009</td>
<td>Roger  Federer (Switzerland)</td>
<td></td>
<td>Jimmy Conners</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20"><strong>2008</strong></td>
<td><strong>Rafael Nadal (Spain)</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td>Roger  Federer</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">2007</td>
<td>Roger  Federer (Switzerland)</td>
<td></td>
<td>Ivan Lendl</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">2006</td>
<td>Roger Federer (Switzerland)</td>
<td></td>
<td>John  McEnroe</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">2005</td>
<td>Roger  Federer (Switzerland)</td>
<td></td>
<td>Bjorn Borg</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">2004</td>
<td>Roger Federer (Switzerland)</td>
<td></td>
<td>Stefan  Edberg</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">2003</td>
<td>Andy  Roddick (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
<td>Lleyton Hewitt</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">2002</td>
<td>Llyeton Hewitt (Australia)</td>
<td></td>
<td><strong>Rafael  Nadal</strong></td>
<td><strong>2</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">2001</td>
<td>Lleyton  Hewitt (Australia)</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">2000</td>
<td>Gustavo  Kuerten (Brazil)</td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2" rowspan="28"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1999</td>
<td>Andre Agassi (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1998</td>
<td>Pete Sampras (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1997</td>
<td>Pete Sampras (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1996</td>
<td>Pete Sampras (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1995</td>
<td>Pete Sampras (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1994</td>
<td>Pete Sampras (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1993</td>
<td>Pete Sampras (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1992</td>
<td>Jim Courier (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1991</td>
<td>Stefan Edberg (Sweden)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1990</td>
<td>Stefan Edberg (Sweden)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1989</td>
<td>Ivan Lendl (Czech Republic)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1988</td>
<td>Mats Wilander (Sweden)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1987</td>
<td>Ivan Lendl (Czech Republic)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1986</td>
<td>Ivan Lendl (Czech Republic)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1985</td>
<td>Ivan Lendl (Czech Republic)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1984</td>
<td>John McEnroe (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1983</td>
<td>John McEnroe (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1982</td>
<td>John McEnroe (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1981</td>
<td>John McEnroe (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1980</td>
<td>Bjorn Borg (Sweden)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1979</td>
<td>Bjorn Borg (Sweden)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1978</td>
<td>Jimmy Connors (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1977</td>
<td>Jimmy Connors (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1976</td>
<td>Jimmy Connors (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1975</td>
<td>Jimmy Connors (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1974</td>
<td>Jimmy Connors (U.S.)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="20">1973</td>
<td>Ilie Nastase (Romania)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>About the ATP<br />
</strong>The  ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) is the governing body of the  men&#8217;s professional tennis circuits &#8211; the ATP World Tour, the ATP  Challenger Tour and the ATP Champions Tour. With 62 tournaments in 32  countries, the ATP World Tour showcases the finest male athletes  competing in the world’s most exciting venues. From Australia and Europe  to Africa; from North and South America to Asia, the stars of the ATP  World Tour battle for prestigious titles at Grand Slams (non ATP  members), ATP World Tour Masters 1000, ATP World Tour 500 and ATP World  Tour 250 events. At the end of the season the world’s top 8 ranked  singles players and top 8 doubles teams, based on their performance  throughout the year, will qualify to compete in the season’s climax &#8211;  the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Held at The O2 in London, the event  determines the final South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings. For more  information, please visit <a href="http://links.mkt1003.com/ctt?kn=43&amp;m=35797313&amp;r=NjA0MzU4NDE1NwS2&amp;b=3&amp;j=ODIxMDM4MzMS1&amp;mt=1&amp;rt=0" target="_blank">www.ATPWorldTour.com</a>.</p>
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