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Monday, December 28, 2009 10:06 AM PT
Bob’s Blog. Volume, I Edition IV
Warm regards for the New Year and our sincere wishes for another spectacular decade of championship tennis here at UCLA.
2010
is already off to an amazing start as we prepare for your Eighty-Fourth
annual event. The Tennis Association and University are very proud of
the combined results during the first quarter century in partnership at
the Straus Stadium of the Los Angeles Tennis Center. During this
period, the tournament has raised more than $5 million for the two
not-for-profit organizations.
Be sure to join us July 26 -
August 1 as the LA Tennis Open creates even more unforgettable memories
here at UCLA. We look forward to hearing from you in the New Year and
to your continued support of one of the most celebrated tennis events
in the world. Thank you.
Happy New Year!
Bob
Top Ten Matches of the Decade
As
we look back on these first ten wonderful years of the new millennium,
we have prepared a thought provoking list of some of our "top ten"
matches (in no particular order) of the decade here at the LA Tennis
Open, presented by Farmers Insurance Group:
Andre Agassi defeats rival Pete Sampras during another epic final at the 75th annual championships (July 29,2001)
Juan Martin del Potro stuns top seeded Andy Roddick in a thrilling finals showdown (August 10, 2008)
Tommy Haas overcomes #1 seed Andre Agassi on his way to his first of two Los Angeles singles titles (July 16, 2004)
Defending Champion Andre Agassi ousts #1 seed Gustavo Kuerten in a thrilling quarterfinal (July 26, 2002)
Bob and Mike Bryan win a record fifth doubles title, extending their LA winning streak to twelve matches (August 2, 2009)
Michael Chang defeats Jan Michael Gambill for his 34th and final ATP Tournament crown. (July 30, 2000)
Andre Agassi squeaks by top seed Gustavo Kuerten in another classic semifinal battle (July 28, 2001)
Pete Sampras overcomes defending champion and rival Michael Chang in two marathon tiebreakers (July 25, 2001)
Top seed and 2-time champion Tommy Haas escapes #8 Marat Safin during the quarterfinals (July 31, 2009)
Fernando Gonzalez ousts defending champion Andre Agassi as 7 of 8 seeds reach the quarterfinals (July 28, 2006)
Sunday, July 19, 2009 1:27 PM PT
Bob’s Blog. Volume, I Edition III
The Los Angles Tennis Center – UCLA and the Straus Stadium are currently being transformed into the “LA Tennis Open Tennis Club.”
It’s truly an amazing physical transformation that takes months of
planning, weeks of preparation, and many days of diligent execution.
The actual physical set-up takes about three complex, laborious weeks
to complete, and yet only three hectic days to strike. It’s truly a
scheduled ballet of fences, tents, cabling, canvas, platforms,
scaffolding, seats, electronics, plants, furniture, trailers, carpet,
concrete, and flowers. Come out and see our astonishing results
beginning July 27 – you too will be amazed. See photos of the
transformation here.
A
key and rewarding ingredient to the UCLA campus transformation to a
world class competition venue is the fantastic relaxation destination,
our signature “ACEs Lounge.” Located adjacent to the main
entrance and fabulous “Champions Club patio restaurant, by Wolfgang
Puck, Aces, this is the evening destination to meet friends, entertain
clients and guests, take in the celebrities coming and going, and
generally relax after a hectic day in the office or Grandstand.
Reserve your place for this dining indulgence by calling (323)
491-1266.
Legends Packages are moving quickly so don’t’
miss this combination of some of the best LA Tennis Open ATP matches
together with the incredible experience of savoring Sampras, Chang, Courier and Edberg throughout the week. This exclusive VIP package includes:
A.
Silver Box seats to experience the following sessions and Stadium
matches: Monday Evening, July 27 - 7:30 PM. (featuring Pete Sampras
v. Marat Safin) with ATP first round match to follow; Wednesday Day,
July 29 - 12:00 PM (featuring Stefan Edberg v. Jim Courier ) following
second round ATP tournament matches ; Wednesday Evening 7:00 PM Doubles
Night, (featuring the Bryan Brothers) with a second round ATP singles
match to follow ; Thursday Evening, July 30 - 7:30 PM (featuring
Michael Chang v. Stefan Edberg) following an ATP second round singles
match ; Saturday Evening, August 1 - 8:00 PM (featuring Jim Courier v.
Michael Chang) following an ATP semi-final singles match.
B.
A complimentary $50 voucher (per seat) to the exclusive "Champions
Club" by Wolfgang Puck patio restaurant. Each pair of Legends Pack
seats also comes with a complimentary parking pass for all 5 sessions (a $50 value).
A limited numbers of select packages are available in our Silver Box
Seat sections in the East and North Stadium for only $399 per seat. In
addition to the VIP elements above, Legends Box Pack holders will still
enjoy the opportunity to enjoy the air-conditioned Straus Clubhouse.
A handful of excellent Legends packages are also
available in our Series Seat sections in the South and West for only
$249 per seat. Legends Series Pack holders, however, will not have
access to the air-conditioned Straus Clubhouse, but will still receive
complimentary parking and Champions Club by Wolfgang Puck restaurant
vouchers.
Finally, on the heels of one of the greatest Wimbledons I have ever attended, here are my thoughts and musings about the ten greatest women’s Wimbledon champions (modern era):
Martina Navratilova The most titles (20) here with Billie Jean, including a record 9 singles.
Venus Williams Five singles, plus doubles. Rewriting the record book with Serena. Quickest ever?
Stephanie Graf Seven wins, two other finals should be enough? Greatest forehand.
Billie Jean King Six singles wins. Held all the records until Martina. Fiercest competitor ever.
Serena Williams Can only move up. Look out Venus and Martina! Strongest of all time.
Chris Evert Hard to top 10 finals, three titles. Like Connors, changed the way tennis was played.
Margaret Court Five finals, three wins. Most Slams ever. An amazing 62!! No other is even close.
Yvonne Goolagong An original. Perhaps the greatest athlete ever, until Serena and Venus. 14 majors.
Maria Bueno 3 singles, 5 doubles. #1 South American of all-time. The most graceful ever.
Maureen Connolly Year for year, perhaps the greatest ever. Period.
Greatest
players that have not won the Wimbledon Ladies singles title include:
Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin, Pam Shriver, Arantxa
Sanchez-Vicario, Tracy Austin, Gabriella Sabatini, and Darlene Hard.
Thursday, July 02, 2009 5:51 PM PT
Bob’s Blog. Volume, I Edition II
The Morning Line:Whilst
Andy Murray has virtually played himself into Buckingham Palace,
Tommy Haas
has played himself back into the world’s top twenty, thus guaranteeing
himself a high seeding here in LA later this month. The Scot has become
a national sensation during the fortnight, and may have only been
overtaken by record high temperatures at SW19 earlier in this week.
Look for early fireworks on the third.
Two potential headlines
in London newspapers seem to be destined to collide over the 2009
Fourth of July weekend. And they would be 1)
Roger Federer advancing to have a chance to break Pete Samaras’ all-time Slam singles record of fourteen, and 2)
Andy Murray
becoming the first British Wimbledon male singles champion in over
sixty years. No contest here though. If Andy is dandy, you can throw
out the record books for the greatest moment of national pride, well,
probably since
Winston Churchill. To help “get even,” the Brits could consider introducing the
Fifth of July?
Brass Tacks:•
Roger Federer in straight sets over the resurgent
Tommy Haas•
Andy Murray in four over “the other” Andy, and the colonists last hope. (if there is an upset, look out Roger!)
Getty Images.
The greatest men’s singles champions (modern era) at Wimbledon, include:1. Pete
Sampras. He had the game, the guns, 2nd serve, and the rivals to test his mettle of seven titles.
2. Roger
Federer. He has the game, the jackets, the shots, and the record book in his grasp.
3. Rod
Laver. If “Open Tennis” had come a little earlier, almost certainly the greatest ever on grass at SW19
4. Bjorn
Borg. The reason for breakfast at Wimbledon. Unstoppable. Changed the modern game on grass.
5. Boris
Becker. Fierce. Seven finals for “boom boom” in eleven years. Need we say more?
6. John
McEnroe. Untouchable. Can you spell tiebreaker. Including singles and doubles, the best ever?
7. Jimmy
Connors. Ferocious. Five finals in ten years ought to do it. Greatest competitor ever.
8. Stefan
Edberg. Smooth. Built for grass. Two classic triumphs over Becker in the finals in three years.
9. John
Newcombe. Invincible serve and forehand volley combo. Pretty good mustache too!
10. Lew
Hoad. Probably the strongest tennis player ever. The one guy Laver did not want to see across the net.
Close but no cigar. Greatest players to never win Wimbledon, include:Pancho
Gonzalez, Ken
Rosewall, Ivan
Lendl, Jim
Courier, Pat
Rafter, Ilie
Nastase, Tony
Roche.
Updated Notes about our Event:The
LA Tennis Open, presented by Farmers insurance Group has been played
every year since 1927, making it the longest-running annual
professional sporting event in Los Angeles. Few tennis championships
have thrived for eighty-three incredible years, and just one has
enjoyed the unique success of the historic LA Tennis Open. Originally
known as the Pacific Southwest, our celebrated Tournament has proven to
be a durable, landmark event on the annual Southern California social,
business, entertainment, and sporting landscape.
Since the
championships were founded in 1927 (to help attract the 1932 Olympic
Games to LA) , the singles crown has been won an amazing fifty-five
times by players destined for enshrinement in the International Tennis
Hall of Fame. Moreover, since the establishment of the present ATP
circuit, the Tournament has been won by Grand Slam Singles Champions in
a remarkable 14 of 19 years.
In over three-quarters of a
century, this celebrated event has been captured on sixty-three
separate occasions by a Grand Slam singles champion. In another ten
championship years, the singles title holder of the LA Tennis Open has
been a Grand Slam doubles champion.
The historic 2009 LA Tennis
Open is being held during the Twenty-Fifth anniversary year at the
Straus Stadium of the Los Angeles Tennis Center – UCLA. Our “Silver
Anniversary” championships at UCLA represent an era of tennis
excellence, entertainment, and fundraising efforts by and for the
not-for-profit Southern California Tennis Association.
Previous winners of the LA Tennis Open, include our 2009 Tournament Honoree,
Pete Sampras;
plus Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Bob & Mike Bryan,
Michael Stich, Boris Becker, Richard Krajicek, Stefan Edberg, John
McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Rod Laver, Ken
Rosewall, Pancho Gonzalez, Jack Kramer, Bobby Riggs, Don Budge,
Ellsworth Vines, Fred Perry, and Bill Tilden to name just a few.
The
2009 LA Tennis Open, presented by Farmer insurance, features a
28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles competition. Offering
total player compensation in excess of $1 million, the 2009 LA Tennis
Open will be again be held at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the
beautiful UCLA campus. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the
event’s highly successful move to Westwood from the Los Angeles Tennis
Club, and the hosting of the 1984 Olympic Games. (Gold medalists:
Stefan Edberg & Stephanie Graf)
Our ATP 250 tournament is an
important part of the Olympus US Open Series, the six-week summer
tennis season linking 10 ATP World Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
events to the US Open. Proceeds from the LA Tennis Open benefit the
grassroots programs of the non-profit Southern California Tennis
Association (SCTA) and UCLA. The SCTA offers programs, leagues, and
tournaments involving 300,000 juniors and 50,000 adults and seniors.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 3:28 PM PT
Bob's Blog. Volume, I Edition I
Welcome
to the completely renovated LA Tennis Open presented by Farmers
Insurance Group website. What a difference one year and much hard work
by the USTA Advanced Media Department and our Tournament Staff (thank
you Erica Quandt) can make. Please return to this site for the latest
updates and views regarding the upcoming July 27 – August 2
championships at UCLA.
Getty Images.
Jet / Net lagged:
Just
returned from Wimbledon and the buzz was all about Great Britain’s
great hope, Andy Murray, and the innovative Centre Court roof. Because
Wimbledon has not seen a British men’s champion since Fred Perry (circa
1936) the interest is intense (not to mention pressure on the young
Scot) and people are literally lining up for hours just to view a large
video screen atop what used to be known as “Henman Hill”. If Murray can
win the coveted SW19 title this weekend, they may not only have to
rename that sacred viewing location, but perhaps the entire country!
Shade for the Royal Box:
The
All England Club has done a remarkable job with the new roof, but there
is always a controversy and drama when such a traditional event makes
such a significant change. The match this week with Andy Murray and
Stanislaus Wawrinka was proof positive. The contest ended at nearly
10:45PM (the latest ever) and the conditions were not quite what was
expected. The main condition that Murray was almost upset by the
nineteenth seeded Swiss which could have made the roof debut infamous!
Wondering about the weekend: Bombs away, its Independence Day weekend:
MS: Federer over Murray in four close sets. Unless the Queen can help make Andy King for a day?
WS: How do you spell Williams? It’s Serena’s turn.
MD: Bob and Mike yet again, in an “All-American” finale
WD: Singles outcomes permitting, “Sister Act” in straight sets
MXD: Bob Bryan and Stosur reprise in the weekend finale.
Abbreviations are in “American”
Notes about our Event:
Few
tennis championships have thrived for eighty-three incredible years,
and just one has enjoyed the unique success of the historic Los Angeles
Tennis Open, presented by Farmers Insurance Group. Originally known as
the Pacific Southwest, our celebrated Tournament has proven to be a
durable, landmark event on the annual Southern California social,
business, entertainment, and sporting landscape.
Since the
championships were founded in 1927 (to help attract the 1932 Olympic
Games to LA) , the singles crown has been won an amazing fifty-five
times by players destined for enshrinement in the International Tennis
Hall of Fame. Moreover, since the establishment of the present ATP
circuit, the Tournament has been won by Grand Slam Singles Champions in
a remarkable 14 of 19 years.
In over three-quarters of a
century, this celebrated event has been captured on sixty-three
separate occasions by a Grand Slam singles champion. In another ten
championship years, the singles title holder of the LA Tennis Open has
been a Grand Slam doubles champion.
The historic 2009 LA Tennis
Open is being held during the Twenty-Fifth anniversary year at the
Straus Stadium of the Los Angeles Tennis Center – UCLA. Our “Silver
Anniversary” championships at UCLA represent an era of tennis
excellence, entertainment, and fundraising efforts by and for the
not-for-profit Southern California Tennis Association.
Previous winners of the LA Tennis Open, include our 2009 Tournament Honoree, Pete Sampras;
plus Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Bob & Mike Bryan,
Michael Stich, Boris Becker, Richard Krajicek, Stefan Edberg, John
McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Rod Laver, Ken
Rosewall, Pancho Gonzalez, Jack Kramer, Bobby Riggs, Don Budge,
Ellsworth Vines, Fred Perry, and Bill Tilden to name just a few.
The
2009 LA Tennis Open presented by Farmer Insurance Group, features a
28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles competition. Offering
total player compensation in excess of $1 million, the 2009 LA Tennis
Open will be again be held at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the
beautiful UCLA campus. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the
event’s highly successful move to Westwood from the Los Angeles Tennis
Club, and the hosting of the 1984 Olympic Games. (Gold medalists:
Stefan Edberg & Stephanie Graf)
Our ATP 250 tournament is an
important part of the Olympus US Open Series, the six-week summer
tennis season linking 10 ATP World Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
events to the US Open. Proceeds from the LA Tennis Open benefit the
grassroots programs of the non-profit Southern California Tennis
Association (SCTA) and UCLA. The SCTA offers programs, leagues, and
tournaments involving 300,000 juniors and 50,000 adults and seniors.