Midwest Sports Tennis Blog

Are Doubles Dead, or Just on the Backburner

When was the last time you watched Andy Roddick smash his way to victory on the court?  My guess is last week, yesterday, and probably today.  Men’s and Women’s pro tennis has been gaining more and more coverage as the years go on, but one aspect of the sport has been left on the back burner.  Doubles.  The lack of television coverage and fan and media attention means that doubles players are often forgotten while their higher-profile peers in the singles game become sports celebrities.  Doubles is also underrepresented in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Since the Hall of Fame began in 1955, only five doubles have been inducted. Many tennis greats who played on doubles teams in the last 20 years have not even had their names on the nomination ballot.
   
Tony Trabert, President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, says the lack of doubles specialists in Newport is a reflection of the struggle that doubles is facing in modern tennis.

No matter how much money the singles superstars are making there is always a doubles team out on the court to cheer for.  The twin Bryan brothers are still competing in doubles today.   They were seeded first at Wimbledon last year, but lost against arch-rivals Nestor and Zimonjic. 

 

School Without Violence T-Shirts profit UNICEF

Ana Ivanovic's limited edition Adidas UNICEF t-shirts are now on sale in Serbia.  All the profits will benefit UNICEF’s ‘School Without Violence’ program.  The School Without Violence program is to help create a safe and supportive learning environment for children’s work and development. It is designed not only for students, teachers and employees in schools, but also for families and the entire community.

The shirts come in unisex designs, women’s, and girls’ and will be available for purchase via Ivanovic’s website. 

Well-known Wimbledon Net Raffled for Charity

GOAL  UK, an aid organization created in 1977 by former sports reporter John O’Shea, has acquired a part of tennis history. The net used on Wimbledon’s Centre Court on May 17, will be raffled by the charity to help raise funds to aid the world’s poorest countries.  The net was used during Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, and Andre Agassi and Tim Henman trial of the court under the new retractable roof for the first time.

John O’Shea and Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon Champion and president of GOAL UK, are going to host a raffle in which Tennis fans and clubs can submit a check for £100 to have their name entered in the running. The famous net’s new owner will be chosen on August 28.  There is no limit in the number of people from each club that can apply.