TENNIS BITS & PIECES – Federer scores 300th win. Serena not happy with her season. McIlroy improves after breakup and the USTA has taken majority ownership of the ATP event in Memphis. Angelo Lo Conte
Federer gets 300 Master win in Cincinnati
By winning his opening match at the Western & Southern Open with a three-set victory over Vasek Pospisil, Roger Federer has earned his 300th career victory during a Masters tournament. He’s the first player to reach the mark; Rafael Nadal is second with 281 such wins. ‘‘It’s a nice, round number,” Federer said. ”I’ve had some more important ones over the one today. Nevertheless, it’s nice to reach such milestones.”
Serena comments her disappointing 2014
Serena Williams says she is not putting herself under any additional pressure at the U.S. Open after three early-round losses at this year’s Grand Slam tournaments. Asked about winning a major this season, the No 1 in the world said, “I’m not even thinking of it anymore. I haven’t even been able to get to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam this year. At this point, I am just looking forward to next year.” Explaining her comment, Serena added, “I’m just saying I’ve had a really disappointing year, especially in the Grand Slams. So I’m not going to put any pressure on myself. I almost feel like the pressure is lifted because I haven’t performed the way I’ve wanted to personally. Maybe for other people, but for me it’s not the way I’ve wanted to perform”.
Rory McIlroy says breakup with Caroline Wozniacki has helped his golf game
After the recent success in the PGA Championships Rory McIlroy admitted life after Wozniacki has been more conducive to developing his golf game.“I think what happened has been for the better in terms of my golf,” he said. “I’ve put a bit more time into it and it has refocused me. I mean, what else do I have to do now? I go to the golf course, I go to the gym and it’s just my life at the minute”. McIlroy said that while he’s always taken golf seriously, he now devotes more time and effort to his craft than ever: “I worked pretty hard before but the past couple of months I’ve really just buried myself in my game. It obviously works pretty well, so I am going to keep doing it.”
USTA to run Memphis pro tennis event
The USTA has taken majority ownership of the ATP event in Memphis to keep the tournament in the city, reports the Memphis Commercial Appeal. David Brewer, the U.S. Open tournament director, told the paper that the ATP board had approved the sale. The USTA had bought the tournament to keep it “in the United States, and more importantly, in the market it’s been all these years”. The tournament was previously owned by Sharks Sports and Entertainment, which had an ATP 500 event in Memphis and a 250 event at San Jose. The group sold the 500 event a year ago to organizers from Rio, and moved the 250 event to Memphis. It also owned the Memphis Racquet Club, which was sold to the club managers. The United States now has only 11 ATP events, with two tournaments moving to South America during the previous two years. The Memphis tournament is looking for a new tournament director and a new title sponsor, preferably a local company.
