Daily Racquet

Watch out Sloane Stephens and Serena Williams; Kelly Clarkson Is Coming For You

The 2018 US Open is going to start with a bang if Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson has anything to do with it.

She’s totally ready… Check out this tongue-in-cheek video featuring Clarkson in her green and yellow tennis outfit complete with her “Ellen” shoes setting out challenges to two of the games best, Sloan Stephens and Serena Williams.

“Sloane Stephens, I’m coming for you,” Clarkson laughed. To six-time champion Serena Williams she said, “Serena, I’m sorry. I’m probably gonna beat you while singing.”

Sipping a glass of wine in a tennis wine glass Clarkson said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if they all to take a shot before they took a shot,”
Clarkson will take Center Court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Aug. 27th. Her performance will kick off the 50th anniversary of the two-week event, bringing together some of the world's most powerful tennis figures.

Clarkson recently released her eighth studio album, Meaning of Life. The Texas-born singer has worldwide sales of more than 25 million albums and 36 million singles.

It’s Official! Roger Federer and Nike Split Ways

It was a sad day for tennis fans as the long rumored split between Nike and Roger Federer were proven true   at Wimbledon as Federer appeared on Center Court wearing a headband, jacket, shirt and socks from the Japanese brand Uniqlo. The only part of his partnership with Nike were his shoes. After 24-years, one of the most iconic tennis partnerships was over.

What created the split? Wouldn’t you know it — money!

It seems the Federer team wanted more money and it looks like that is exactly what they’ll get.

According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, Federer’s deal with the Japanese outfitter is for 10 years and will pay him over $300 million. It’s a huge deal for a the Swiss superstar, and one that carries the money Federer’s team had wanted. His career on-court earnings — $116.6 million — pale in comparison to this apparel deal, Rovell wrote. Perhaps most importantly, the deal also features a clause that says he will continue to be paid even if he doesn’t play. Given that Federer is 36, the end of his playing career is certainly approaching.

Nike was on Federer’s body for all 20 of his career Grand Slams. If he should win Wimbledon this year, something will be missing and this tennis fan and loyalist will feel sad.

Hats Off To TennisTV.com for catching a perfect #Rafa Moment…

Click here to see the whole video.

UH Rainbow Wahine Tennis captures Women's Tennis Win First Big West Tourney Title

The University of Hawai'i women's tennis team won its first ever Big West Tournament title with a 4-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Sunday morning. With the win, the Rainbow Wahine advances to its second NCAA Tournament in school history.
 
Hawai'i got off to a quick start winning the doubles point for the early 1-0 lead. UH's No. 2 duo of Klara Pribylova and Nikola Dolakova blanked Cal State Fullerton's Masako Makiba and Danielle Pham, 6-0. On the No. 3 court, Marina Hruba and Alzbeta Houbova doubled up on CSF's Jadie Acidera and Genevieve Zeidan, 6-3.
 
In singles, Pribylova gave UH its second point with a straight-set win over Luxizi Meng, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4. It marked the senior's sixth-straight singles win.
 
The Titans' Karla Portalatin then responded by defeating UH's Hruba at No. 3, 6-2,6-2.
 
No. 80 Petra Melounova then notched her eighth-straight singles win at No. 1 to defeat Zeidan, 6-3, 7-5 to give UH a 3-1 lead.
 
Despite a valiant comeback effort, UH's No. 2 Dolakova lost in a match that ended with a second set tiebreaker to CSF's Sarah Nuno, 6-3, 7-6 (5).
 
With Hawai'i leading 3-2, No. 6 Roxanne Resma then clinched the match and the championship, holding off Acidera, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
 
The third time was the charm for the 'Bows after falling twice to UC Santa Barbara the past two seasons in 2016 and '17 in the Big West's championship match. Last year, UH was the conference's regular season champions going undefeated with an 8-0 BWC record. It is just the second conference crown that the Rainbow Wahive have ever won. The 'Bows won the Western Athletic Conference championship in 2012, the school's final season in the WAC. That year, UH faced Notre Dame in the opening round of their first NCAA appearance that was hosted by Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will find out where they will be going on the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Selection Show which will be aired on Tuesday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m. (HT) at NCAA.com.

Bryan Brothers To Host High Powered Doubles Tennis Camp at Royal Lahaina

Join sixteen-time Grand Slam winning doubles players Bob and Mike Bryan and legendary doubles player/U.S. Davis Cup & Olympics coach Tom Gullikson as well as a cast of other top-notch doubles coaches at the High Powered Doubles Tennis Camp, September 26-30 at the Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch.

Considered one of the best doubles teams in the history of the game, Bob and Mike Bryan have done it all from winning Grand Slams to playing exhibitions to doing commercials and sharing their musical talents. The 39-year-old twin brothers have won 116 doubles titles, including 16 Grand Slams, and reached 30 Grand Slam finals, all of which are records for a men’s doubles team.

Sign up now for this once in a lifetime opportunity to take your doubles game to a whole new level while learning from the best in the game.

The camp is open to all doubles players ranked 4.0-5.5 NTRP skill level, bring a partner or get paired up at the Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch and master return of serve strategies, effective doubles practice drills, a better tennis mindset on "big points", and video analysis of your game using Dartfish technology.

For more information on the camp, call Cathy Nicoloff at 264-0752 or visit royallahaina.com.  

 

Roger Federer Makes Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People List

Out for the clay court tennis season, Roger Federer is still in the headlines. Not only did Federer make Time Magazine’s annual 100 Most Influential People list, he graced the cover. And if that weren’t enough, his introduction was written by Bill Gates.

“It’s no secret that Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player ever. As David Foster Wallace wrote, he is “one of those rare, preternatural athletes who appear to be exempt, at least in part, from certain physical laws.” He also seems exempt from the laws of aging. At 36, he’s still winning Grand Slams with a combination of grace and grit.”

Gates has had the good fortune of being Roger’s doubles partner the last two years in ”Match for Africa," an exhibition match that benefits Federer's foundation.

Read the full article here.

Coming Soon: #BeingSerena on HBO Sports

 

Already one of the greatest tennis players in history, Serena Williams faces new challenges in motherhood, marriage and regaining her supremacy on the court. Being Serena, a documentary series produced by HBO Sports and IMG, premieres May 2 at 10 PM. #BeingSerena #HBO #HBODoc

Check out the trailer for the All New: #BeingSerena premiering May 2nd on HBO. (Click to Watch)

Tommy Haas Leads Invesco Series As It Heads To The Big Island

Tommy Haas made his Invesco Series debut April 7th by winning the QQQ Legends Charleston title defeating Andy Roddick 6-1 in the championship match at the Volvo Car Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina making him the player to beat when the series moves to the Kohala Coast on May 6th.

Haas, who turned 40 on April 3, ended his career on the ATP World Tour last year and officially announced his retirement at the 2018 BNP Paribas Open where is he is the Tournament Director. The former world No. 2 and silver medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games won his last career ATP match in Stuttgart, Germany last June on grass when he upset Roger Federer in the second round. Roddick, the winner of the year-long Invesco Series points title in 2015 and 2017, joked his displeasure of Haas joining the North American circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30 by saying there should be a rule that players should not be eligible to play on the series if they had beaten Federer within the last year.

Haas, John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Mardy Fish will be the four players competing in the inaugural Champions Cup hosted by the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows and will play two one-set semifinal matches and a championship match between the winners. The tournament will be one of ten events in 2018 on the PowerShares Series, the North American tennis circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30. Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows was also the host venue for the 1992 Davis Cup first round tie between the United States and Argentina, featuring McEnroe.

“It’s great that the PowerShares Series has made its way to Hawaii, which will undoubtedly be a very enjoyable event,” said McEnroe. “I have some good memories of playing at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows in Hawaii from our first round Davis Cup match against Argentina in 1992, when we went on to win the title. It’s going to be great to come back, play some great tennis and enjoy a bit of Hawaiian paradise.”
Festivities will begin on Saturday May 5 at 2 pm with a charity kids clinic, following by VIP hit-with-the-pros sessions and VIP Player Party.

On Sunday, doors will open at 1 pm and the program will start with a local exhibition match. Haas and Fish, the Olympic silver medalists from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, respectively, will play the first semifinal at 2 pm, following by McEnroe, the four-time U.S. Open and three-time Wimbledon champion against Courier, the two-time French and Australian Open champion. The winners will then face off in the championship match to follow.

For more information and to purchase tickets go to PowerShares.com.

Grab A Free Duffel Before Their All Gone

Purchase any performance racket $179 or more from Wilson.com and receive a free Wilson duffel. This durable bag features a primary compartment to store your tennis gear and shoes, as well as a side pocket to house any smaller valuables or items you may carry around. Offer good while supplies last.

 

Coming Friday To A Theater New You!