| Tour Talk - November 13, 2007 |
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Hingis retires amidst cocaine controversy
In an amazing turn of events last week, former world No.1 Martina Hingis announced her retirement from professional tennis and revealed that she had tested positive for cocaine.
The positive result came at Wimbledon earlier this year, but the Swiss Miss, winner of 43 WTA singles titles and 37 doubles titles, maintains her innocence.
Hingis cited a hip injury as the reason for her retirement from the game. This follows her initial retirement in 2003, which was due to a persistent ankle injury.
The current world No.19 signalled that there would be no more comebacks: “I'm frustrated and angry and I believe I'm absolutely 100 per cent innocent, but accusations like these don't give me motivation to even make another comeback”.
Full story
Read Hingis's full statement
Henin caps off a great year by winning the Sony Ericsson Championships
World No.1 Justine Henin has finished a remarkable year by outlasting Russia's Maria Sharapova in a marathon three-set final at the Sony Ericsson WTA Championships in Madrid.
In the three hour, 24 minute final - the longest in the
tournament's history - Henin came from one set down to clinch her 10th title of the year 5-7 7-5 6-3.
Henin became the first player in 10 years to win 10 or more tournaments in a season.
Sharapova had a number of chances during the match, but was unable to take advantage of her opportunities.
"Impossible is nothing and I've proven it again this year. It's been a very difficult year but I remained very positive and I grew up a lot. A lot of things happened in my life that fuelled my tennis more than ever. I have no hesitations to say that it's been the best season in my career so far, even if it has been one of the most difficult," said Henin.
In the doubles the Zimbabwe's Cara Black and the United States' Liezel Huber overpowered Katarina Srebotnik of Slovakia and Japan's Ai Sugiyama 5-7 6-3 (10-8).
View 2007 WTA Championships slideshow
Haas: I was poisoned
Germany's Tommy Haas has made the startling claim that he was poisoned during Germany's semifinal Davis Cup tie with Russia. Haas lost his first singles rubber 2-6 2-6 2-6 to Igor Andreev and was unable to compete in the reverse singles.
Speaking about the incident recently, Haas, the world No.13, said, "I have never felt so miserable in my whole life as I did on the Saturday and Sunday nights in Moscow".
Haas's claims have been backed up by his Davis Cup teammate Alexander Waske, who said a stranger approached him and told him that “it's a shame that Tommy [Haas] was poisoned”.
The ITF has announced that they will investigate the claims.
Davenport getting back to her best
Lindsay Davenport's comeback continues to gain momentum as she took out the Bell Challenge title in Quebec City, Canada last week.
Davenport defeated Ukrainian and first-time finalist Julia Vakulenko in straight sets 6-4 6-1. It was Davenport's second title of the season and 53rd WTA Tour title, she now sits in eighth place (tied with Monica Seles) on the all-time singles titles list.
It was just over four months ago that Davenport gave birth to her first child, Jagger Jonathan Leach. The win means Davenport's ranking should climb into the 80s.
Jankovic wins Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Diamond Aces Award
World No.3 Jelena Jankovic has been named the inaugural winner of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Diamond Aces Award.
The award recognises the player who goes above and beyond to promote the
sport of women's tennis in the media, in the community and beyond.
Jankovic was ranked ahead of Serbia's Ana Ivanovic and Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova.
“I am honoured and delighted to receive this award,” said Jankovic. “Tennis has been the joy of my life and I am very happy to be able to give back to the sport and help it grow. I am looking forward to participating in the ACES program again next year and hope to be able to make a larger difference on and off the court.”
Nalbandian runs hot in Paris
Argentine David Nalbandian defeated Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on his way to winning the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris.
Nalbandian was in devastating form, defeating world No.2 Nadal 6-4 6-0. It was Nalbandian's second Masters Series event in two weeks after winning in Madrid.
"I never thought that I can win Madrid and Paris like the way I did,” said Nalbandian. “But I feel that I play very good from the last Sunday, not just today. All week I was playing great, and I don't know why the result was so easy."
Birthday trivia
This 20-year-old Serbian recently qualified for the season-ending Sony Ericsson WTA Championships for the first time. Who is she? (Answer below.)
November birthdays
Caroline Maes (BEL) turns 25 on November 9, 1982.
Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) turns 25 on November 9, 1982.
Jessica Kirkland (USA) turns 20 on November 10, 1987.
Aniko Kapros (HUN) turns 24 on November 11, 1983.
Most aces for 2007 as at 5 November 2007
| Rank | Player |
No. of aces |
Matches played |
| 1 | Ivo Karlovic |
1288 |
63 |
| 2 | Ivan Ljubicic |
940 |
64 |
| 3 | Andy Roddick |
725 |
60 |
| 4 | Roger Federer |
552 |
68 |
| 5 | Mardy Fish |
511 |
46 |
| 6 | Feliciano Lopez |
504 |
51 |
| 7 | Sam Querrey |
500 |
40 |
| 8 | Novak Djokovic |
499 |
80 |
| 9 | James Blake |
484 |
69 |
| 10 | Tomas Berdych |
476 |
64 |
Credit: Getty Images
Quote of the week
"But I couldn't help the team from my seat on the toilet."
Tommy Haas explains his predicament during Germany's Davis Cup semifinal tie with Russia in September.
Birthday trivia answer
Ana Ivanovic (SRB) turns 20 on November 6, 1987.
