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July 6 2015 by Beeyong Sison : London, England - Top Filipino junior Albert Lim is set to play his maiden Wimbledon Championships in the Boys Singles 18-under event at the All-England Tennis and Croquet Club. Philippine Davis Cup player Treat Huey and American partner Scott Lipsky failed to advance to the second week losing to Jonathan Erlich of Israel and Philipp Pletzschner of Germany 6-3 7-5 7-6(3) in the second round. Continue reading

November 28 - 30, 2014 ITS Staff Manila, Philippines - Micromax Indian Aces posted their third straight victory in the inaugural International Premier Tennis League on Sunday. Led by Gael Monfils and Ana Ivanovic, the Aces dominated the three day event by capping their successful weekend after beating UAE Royals 28-20 held at at the Mall of Asia Arena.Complete results, highlights

atpworldtour.com: September 28, 2014 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Top seed Kei Nishikori won his third ATP World Tour title of the season on Sunday as he denied Julien Benneteau with a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory in the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur final. Victory at this ATP World Tour 250 indoor hard-court tournament earns Nishikori a net 170 points in the Emirates ATP Race To London to extend his lead over seventh-placed David Ferrer. Nishikori surged into contention to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after reaching his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open (l. to Cilic). He is hoping to become the first Asian man to compete at the season finale. Full recap, results

September 19 2014 Beeyong Sison - The tennis world was shocked on Friday as Li Na of China announced her retirement from the professional tour due to a recurring knee ailment. The 32-year old Li has won a total of nine WTA Tour singles titles, including two Grand Slam singles titles at the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open. Her French Open victory made her the first and only Grand Slam singles winner from Asia catapulting her to stardom. Read more inside

September 17 2014 - Maria Sharapova will be playing for the Philippines in the opening leg of the International Premier Tennis League to be held at the MOA Arena on November 28-30. The tournament's team tennis format has Sharapova joining Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Carlos Moya, Kirsten Flipkens, Daniel Nestor and the Philippines' own Treat Huey to form the Manila Mavericks team. The Mavericks will battle three other teams composed of other past and present tennis greats. The Singapore Slammers will have Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Tomas Berdych, Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Kyrgios, Daniela Hantuchova, Bruno Soares and Patrick Rafter, while Team Indian Aces will field Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras, Gael Monfils, Ana Ivanovic, Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna and Frabrice Santoro. Read full article

September 8 2014 ITS Staff New York USA - Japan’s Kei Nishikori made tennis history on Saturday when he became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final. Tenth seed Nishikori defeated top seed and 2011 champion Novak Djokovic 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the semifinals at the US Open. No. 14 seed Marin Cilic proved he was the best player at this event, cruising through a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win against Nishikori in just under two hours to capture his first Grand Slam title. Before the final, Nishikori recorded his third straight win over a Top 10 player. He had prevailed against World No. 6 Milos Raonic in four hours and 19 minutes at 2:26am on Tuesday - tied for the latest finish at the US Open - and against No. 4 Stan Wawrinka in four hours and 15 minutes on Wednesday. More inside

September 5 2014 New York USA - China's Shuai Peng was unable to continue her match against Caroline Wozniacki after over two hours under the heat on Friday afternoon. The No.10 seed was leading 7-6(1), 4-3 when Peng pulled back during a rally and started cramping on her leg. After a medical time-out and evaluation, Peng tried to play on but had to give up the match to Wozniacki as she was carried off the court. A heart-breaking finish for Peng, meanwhile, will not negate her magnificent 2014 U.S. Open  run having upset No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, No.14 Lucie Safarova, No.28 Roberta Vinci, and in the quarterfinals, Swiss Belinda Bencic. More inside

wimbledon.com: July 4 2014 by Lewis Hannam - Li Na may be the most famous, but she's far from being the only player China can pin its hopes on. Her exit from this year’s Championships was greeted with speculation in China about when the 32-year-old may retire from tennis. The reigning Australian Open champion insists such speculation is premature, but the prospect raises the question of who is waiting in the wings to emulate China’s first global tennis star. One such candidate is Shilin Xu, who lost her girls’ singles quarter-final on Friday to Romanian Elena Gabriela Ruse. Full article

June 29, 2014 ITS Staff Los Angeles, California USA – With great sadness, a good friend, teammate, tennis partner, and mentor of the tennis community has left the building. Former Philippines Davis Cup player Bien Dimalanta passed away last May 27 in Los Angeles, California of natural causes. Dimalanta was 65. Bien competed nationally in the juniors in the mid-1960s and became one of the country’s representatives in international events in the professional Asian Tennis Circuit and the Davis Cup competition in the 70’s. More on Bien

March 28, 2014 ITS Staff Manila, Philippines – Filipino Davis Cup player Patrick John Tierro continued his winning ways at the $15,000 (ITF Futures) Olivarez Cup International on Friday. The 28-year old Tierro this time registered a thrilling upset victory over No.4 seed Roberto Ortega-Olmedo of Spain 6-1 6-7(2) 7-6(5) to reach his first career ITF Pro level semi-final appearance. The victory earned Tierro the right to compete for the final against Karunuday Singh of India who stunned No. 2 seed Ti Chen of Taiwan 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(5) on Saturday. Full recap, results

February 17, 2014 ITS Staff – Reigning Australian Open champion Li Na moved up to a career high ranking of No. 2 in the WTA Tennis Tour released Monday. Compatriot Peng Shuai also went atop the doubles field as World No.1 – both firsts for Chinese and Asian players. Stacey Allaster, the Chairman & CEO of the WTA, said, "I'd like to congratulate Li Na and Peng Shuai on their achievements and rise up the WTA Rankings to respective career-highs. As they have done throughout their careers, both players continue to set new milestones for Chinese tennis. Their accomplishments are truly inspirational and the WTA is fortunate to have such ambassadors representing the sport around the world. I'm also thrilled that with a record number of WTA events to be held in Asia-Pacific in 2014, culminating in the WTA Championships in Singapore, Asian fans will have a unique opportunity to see their heroines in action in the months and years ahead." 

atpworldtour.com February 16 2014 Memphis - Kei Nishikori toppled Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 7-6(0) to successfully defend his U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships title on Sunday. Nishikori has set Memphis ablaze in his two most recent trips, dropping just one set en route to consecutive titles. The Japanese became the first back-to-back winner in Memphis since Tommy Haas retained his 2006 crown. More inside

daviscup.com February 2 2014 Tokyo - Japan's No.1 Kei Nishikori clinched the tie for the host 3-1 after Canada's Frank Dancevic was forced to retire with the score 6-2 1-0 for Nishikori. It was the first ever World Group victory for Japan who took a 2-1 lead over Canada after a four-set victory 63 76(3) 46 64 in doubles on Saturday in their Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first-round match. Nishikori and Yasutaka Uchiyama relied on their speed and agility to defeat the taller Frank Dancevic and Daniel Nestor indoors on the hardcourt at Ariake Colosseum. China Denies New Zealand; Philippines Top Sri Lanka; more results

January 26, 2014 ITS Michael Duranceau – After two frustrating runner-up finishes in Melbourne, Li Na finally won her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open after defeating Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets 7-6(3) 6-0 on Saturday. Appearing in her fourth career Grand Slam final, the Chinese star halted the Slovakian’s incredible run by dominating the second set after a tense first set tie-breaker. The Wuhan-resident hit 34 winners while limiting her 20th seeded hard-hitting opponent to just 11 winners in the one hour 37 minute contest. Full article, video

wtatennis.com January 4, 2014 Shenzen - With sharp play at the tail end of each set, Li Na scored the first successful WTA title defense of her career, edging Peng Shuai in an all-Chinese final at the Shenzhen Open. For most of the match Li was in the driver's seat - from 3-4 in the first set she won seven of the next eight games to build a 64 41 lead. The No.5-seeded Peng made a big push from there, reeling off four games in a row to lead 5-4 in the second set, but the No.1-seeded Li hung on, sneaking out three long games of her own to close the match out in straight sets after an hour and 49 minutes, 64 75. More inside

January 04 2014 Brisbane - Former World No.1 Lleyton Hewitt came through eking-out a come-from-behind victory over No.2 seed Kei Nishikori 5-7 6-4 6-3 to reach the finals of the Brisbane International on Saturday. Hewitt hasn’t won an ATP singles title since Halle in 2010, and if odds are correct he will face the very man he beat to that trophy and one of the sport’s greatest ever challenges, top seed Roger Federer, who outlasted Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3 in a late afternoon match. More inside

(AFP) December 11 2013 Tokyo - Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori said on Wednesday he has signed up former French Open champion Michael Chang of the United States as a coach from next year. "Excited to announce an addition to the team. Michael Chang will join us in 2014," Nishikori, who will be 24 on December 29, said on Twitter and Facebook. His current full-time coach Dante Bottini will remain in his job, said the world's number 17, who made his ATP Tour debut in 2007 and has won three singles titles. "We have already spent the last two weeks working hard and are getting ready for 2014," Nishikori added. His agent, IMG Japan, said Chang, 41, will serve as a "sort of advisory coach" to use his experience in helping Nishikori "particularly on his mental side".

Read also: Interview: Michael Chang on Teenage Stardom, Jeremy Lin and Tennis in China

Photo Matthew Stockman, Gerry Images

India Times

Somdev Devvarman Hopes to Break Into Top 60

Photo malaysianopentennis.com

Villanueva named to Asian Tennis Federation Board

sports.inquirer.net: Philippine Tennis Association vice president Randy Villanueva was named treasurer and member of the board of the Asian Tennis Federation during its annual meeting in Tehran, Iran, recently. Villanueva, who oversees the national men’s and women’s teams, expressed delight over the ATF recognition and pledged to fast-track tennis development in the country. Read more

tennis.com.au November 24, 2013 Shenzen, China – Shanghai's Di Wu defeated Jiangsu's Zhang Ze 6-0, 6-3 in the final of the Asia-Pacific Australian Open Wildcard Play-off in Shenzhen on Sunday. Earlier on the day, 19-year-old qualifier Tang Hao Chen of China claimed the women’s wildcard, downing Risa Ozaki of Japan 6-3 6-3. Tang, ranked No.467, settled into the match quicker than her opponent, breaking Ozaki’s serve in the opening game and then breaking again in the ninth game to take the first set in 43 minutes. More inside

wtatennis.com November 4, 2013 Nanjing, China -  It may not have come the way she wanted, but Zhang Shuai conquered the Nanjing Ladies Open on Sunday afternoon, winning the title after an injured Ayumi Morita retired in the final. Morita had been the talk of the tournament going into the final. She scored thrilling comebacks in back-to-back matches earlier in the week, saving seven match points in her second round match against Petra Martic and another match point against Anna Schmiedlova in the quarterfinals. More inside

wtatennis.com October 27, 2013 Istanbul, Turkey - It all seemed stacked against her - an exhausting semifinal victory the day before, an inspired opponent in the final - but like she has done time and time again, and again and again, Serena Williams found that extra gear right when she needed it, battling back from a set down to beat Li Na and win the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships for the fourth time in her career. Recap, video highlights

shanghairolexmasters.com October 7, 2013 Shanghai -  They look pretty happy. First time pairing, Roger Federer and Zhang Ze delighted the local crowd with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Kevin Anderson and Dmitry Tursunov in the first round. Doubles attention is usually the domain of world No. 1 brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, but at the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Monday it was Roger Federer and China’s Zhang Ze who were centre stage and the focus of the day. > Federer, Zhang Win Doubles

malaysianopentennis.com:September 22, 2013 Kuala Lumpur - The ATP 250 Series Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2013 is set to kick off proper with two singles ties along with one doubles match from the main draw being contested on the Centre Court of the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil tomorrow. Korean 17-year-old wild card entry Hyeon Chung, the 2013 Wimbledon junior runner-up will take on 22-year-old Federico Delbonis of Argentina. More details

wtatennis.com: September 21, 2013 Guangzhou, China - Zhang Shuai squeaked out a tight first set then went on total cruise control in the second set to beat Vania King and win her first WTA title at the Guangzhou Open on Saturday. Zhang, a wildcard into the draw, didn't drop a set all week and continued that pattern against King, a qualifier, winning an air-tight 65-minute first set on a tie-break then rolling through a 32-minute second set. The Chinese won 16 of the last 17 points of the match - and the last 13 - to finish it off, 76(1) 61. Read more

August 26 - September 09 New York - The 2013 U.S.Open Championships is all set to hold the 133rd edition in New York, the final and fourth Grand Slam event of the year.

atpworldtour.com: September 8, 2013 - Fourth seeds Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek have clinched their second Grand Slam title as a team, winning the US Open men's doubles final 6-1, 6-3 over second seeds Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares in one hour and 12 minutes. It's the Indian/Czech team's fifth title together, and second major following victory at the 2012 Australian Open. Paes dedicated Sunday's win to Richard Leach, the father of his coach Rick, and a former tennis coach at the University of Southern California. It is the eighth men's doubles Grand Slam title for the 40-year-old Paes who won in New York in 2006 and 2009 with Martin Damm and Lukas Dlouhy respectively, both also from the Czech Republic. More on US Open Day 14

September 04 2013 ITS Staff:New York - Philippines’s Treat Huey and Dominic Inglot of Great Britain were denied a spot at a Grand Slam Final Four on Wednesday bowing out to Wimbledon finalists Carmelo Melo of Brazil and Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 7-5 6-3 played at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Full recap

ATP Winston-Salem Open: Leander Paes, Daniel Nestor Defeat Treat Huey, Dominic Inglot in Doubles Final.

WTA New Haven Open: Sania Mirza, Jie Zheng Capture New Haven Doubles Crown

Asian Youth Games: Vietnam's Ly Denies Philippines's Mendoza Gold in AYG Nanjing Finals

Hsieh, Peng Capture Cincinnati Doubles Title; Duo Still Perfect in Finals

wtatennis.com: August 18 2013 Cincinnati - Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai kept their fantastic year going at the Western & Southern Open, beating Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Kveta Peschke for the Premier-level title. Read full article

Li Na Reaches Semi-finals After Victory Over Kerber, Radswanka Withdrawal

wtatennis.com: August 15 2013 Cincinnati - In a rematch of last year's Western & Southern Open final, Li Na beat Angelique Kerber, this time in straight sets - and this time only in the third round of the Premier stop. Li's quarterfinal opponent was to be No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, but after Radwanska's third round win over Elena Vesnina - she won in just 50 minutes, 60 62 - the Pole had to withdraw. Read more

Nishikori Reaches Rogers Cup 3rd rd; Sets Clash Against Gasquet

atpworldtour.com: August 06 2013 Montreal - Japan's Kei Nishikori became the first player is first player to reach third round after rallying past Italy's Andreas Seppi 4-6 7-5 6-1. The Asian No.1 and No.9 seed will now face last year's finalist Richard Gasquet of France who eliminated Martin Klizan 6-3 6-2 for a place in the quarter-finals. More updates

Dewarman Upsets Defending Champion Dolgopolov; Huey, Inglot to Defend Crown

July 30, 2013 ITS Staff: Washington D.C. - Former NCAA Singles champion Somdev Dewarman rocked the second day of the Citi Open Championships in Washington D.C. after eliminating defending champion Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 7-6(4) on Tuesday. Dewarman, who attended nearby University of Virginia with defending doubles titlists Treat Huey and Dominc Inglot, broke the No.9 seed twice in the first set then traded breaks in the second before hanging on to clinch the second set tie-breaker 7-4. Read more

New York Times

July 19 2013 by Dan Levin: Beijing - What is the quickest way for a professional athlete in Taiwan to get a sponsorship deal? Perhaps by threatening to shift her allegiance to China. A Taiwanese tennis champion tapped into her homeland’s deep political insecurities after word spread that she was willing to become a citizen of China. Read full article

July 16 2013 ITS Staff: Leipzig, Germany - Former Manila PCA Champion and German-born Filipino Marc Sieber won this year's Leipzig Open after beating Stephan Hoiss in straight sets 6-4 6-2. The 25-year old Sieber, who plays for Bremerhaven in the German Bundesliga, dropped only one set out the five matches he won to capture the prestigious week-long tournament last June 16 held in Saxony, Germany. The first set was very competitive with Hoiss storming ahead with the first break in the opening set before Sieber broke back twice, then again secured two more breaks in the second set dominating his 27-year old opponent in the one hour and 12 minute match. Full article, full match video