Tennis Briefs - Former tennis player Vishnu Mohan dead

The Press Trust of India, CHENNAI: Former Indian tennis player Vishnu Mohan, who played in Wimbledon mixed doubles in 1955, died here today due to old age problems, family members said. For more click here

Bernama, SHAH ALAM: Tennis superstars Sania Mirza, Elena Dementieva, Maria Kirilenko and Zheng Jie gave the local fans their money's worth with some sensational tennis action in the "Showdown of Champions" at the Malawati Stadium here on Saturday night. For more click here

Indo-Asian News Service, KOLKATA: Tamil Nadu's Ranjeet Virali Murugesan and Rushmi Chakravarthi are the highest ranked players to have sent in their entries in the men's and women's sections of the Rs.4.5 lakh Vishwarupa Tubes National Grass Court Tennis Championships to be held at the Calcutta South Club from Dec 21. For more click here

The Press Trust of India, NEW DELHI: A men's doubles Grand Slam title has eluded Mahesh Bhupathi since 2002 and the Indian tennis star is hoping to end the seven-year drought next season when he rejoins forces with Max Mirnyi. For more, click here

Yuki Bhambri planning to play U.S. Open juniors

For all those who thought tennis prodigy Yuki Bhambri has turned his back on the junior circuit, go eat dirt.

Bhambri told The Indian Tennis Blog he's planning to play the US Open in September.

The Australian Open boys champion and reigning world number one surprised fans by skipping Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year.

An ankle injury did trouble Bhambri just before the French Open, but three days short of his 17th birthday, India's next big tennis hope is hitting balls at a Futures event in sweltering New Delhi instead of cheering compatriots Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza at the All England Club.

There's a method to this madness. Bhambri won back-to-back Futures events in April, helping him reach a career-best men's singles ranking of 650 in June. A win at the F5 event this week would help him zoom up the senior rankings even quicker.

After all, he's hoping to break into the Top-500 by the end of the year.

But what of his ankle injury?

"I think I have fully recovered because the ankle is not bothering me at all," Bhambri told us.

After back-to-back hardcourt Futures in India, the young tennis sensation said he might be headed to Syria to play in a Futures event there.

Hardcourt season beckons for Somdev Devvarman

It's been a quick exit from Wimbledon 2009 for top Indian player Somdev Devvarman -- he lost in the singles qualifiers -- but on the plus side, he did get to play his debut Grand Slam match on the hallowed grounds of the All England Club.

The 24-year-old teamed up with Kevin Anderson to stretch fourth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles before losing in four sets in Round 1 of the men's doubles.

Though his recent form has been disappointing, especially in the light of his giant-killing run to the Chennai Open final in January, Devvarman is now ranked a career-best 129 in singles.

But his ranking could drop with Devvarman having plenty of points to defend in the coming months, thanks to some good results on the tour last year.

The Indian tennis sensation spoke to The Indian Tennis Blog about his immediate plans.

You reached your highest singles ranking of 129 this month. Any ranking goals for the year?
I have never set any goals for myself as far as rankings go. I just want to keep improving my tennis, the rankings will take care of themselves.

Also, you have a lot of points to defend in the coming months. Any strategy for doing do?
Just go out and win matches.

How was the experience of playing at Wimbledon?
It was great playing at Wimbledon. Would like to be in the singles main draw also next year.

Which tournaments will you be playing in the coming months?
I will be playing in the US hard court tournaments as the tour moves there now.

Tennis Briefs - Sania Mirza praised for her athleticism

The Press Trust of India, NEW DELHI:Renowned fitness trainer Gil Reyes, who has worked with top stars like Ana Ivanovic and Fernando Verdasco, on Monday lauded Sania Mirza's 'athleticism' after working for one week with the Indian tennis ace. For more click here

Daily News & Analysis, NEW DELHI: The All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary, Anil Khanna, feels the game can become the most high profile one in the country with the help of the government and sponsors. For more click here

The Times of India, BANGALORE: Focusing on hard facts instead of tradition, the Indian Davis Cup team have chosen hardcourts over the old favourite grass, for their upcoming tie against Australia. For more click here

ATP RANKINGS (9 March 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
150 (0) Devvarman, Somdev
192 (+1) Amritraj, Prakash
317 (+3) Bopanna, Rohan

DOUBLES
5 (+1) Paes, Leander
8 (-1) Bhupathi, Mahesh
79 (-7) Bopanna, Rohan

WTA RANKINGS (9 March 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
88 (+1) Mirza, Sania
224 (-5) Rao, Sunitha
363 (-1) Lakhani, Isha

DOUBLES
71 (+1) Mirza, Sania
249 (-1) Rao, Sunitha
295 (+1) Uberoi, Shikha

Tennis Briefs - Sania Mirza loses Pattaya Open final

Reuters, BANGKOK: Russian top seed Vera Zvonareva overcame a tough challenge from a battling Sania Mirza to win the Pattaya Open final 7-5 6-1 on Sunday. For more click here

Indo-Asian News Service, SAN JOSE: India's Rohan Bopanna and Jarkko Nieminen of Finland went down to Czech Radek Stepanek and German Tommy Haas in the $600,000 SAP Open final here. For more click here

Indo-Asian News Service, ROTTERDAM: India's Leander Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy went down to top seeds Serbian Nenad Zimonjic and Canada's Daniel Nestor 2-6, 5-7 in the World Tennis Tournament final here Sunday. For more click here

ATP RANKINGS (16 February 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
154 (+1) Devvarman, Somdev
198 (+1) Amritraj, Prakash
321 (+4) Bopanna, Rohan

DOUBLES
5 (0) Bhupathi, Mahesh
7 (0) Paes, Leander
78 (+7) Bopanna, Rohan

WTA RANKINGS (16 February 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
87 (+39) Mirza, Sania
221 (-5) Rao, Sunitha
361 (-2) Lakhani, Isha

DOUBLES
63 (+7) Mirza, Sania
213 (-3) Rao, Sunitha
306 (-5) Uberoi, Shikha

Tennis Briefs - Injury forces Sania Mirza out of Fed Cup

The Press Trust of India, NEW DELHI: In a big setback to the Indian Fed Cup team, Sania Mirza will miss the upcoming Group I Asia/Oceania zone tie, citing an abdominal injury. For more click here

Indo-Asian News Service, MUMBAI: India's star tennis player Sania Mirza said on Monday that winning the Australian Open mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi was the best way she could make a comeback in the international circuit. For more click here

The Press Trust of India, NEW DELHI: India's first Australian Open boys' singles champion Yuki Bhambri returned to a warm reception at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi on Monday. For more click here

Business Line, MUMBAI: With brands turning cautious on ad spends in the wake of the economic slowdown, it is unlikely that tennis stars Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi would see a fresh line-up of endorsements, despite the duo clinching the mixed doubles finals at the Australian Open tennis tournament. For more click here

ATP RANKINGS (2 February 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
153 (+2) Devvarman, Somdev
205 (+4) Amritraj, Prakash
326 (-9) Bopanna, Rohan

DOUBLES
6 (0) Bhupathi, Mahesh
7 (+3) Paes, Leander
84 (-8) Bopanna, Rohan

WTA RANKINGS (2 February 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
127 (-19) Mirza, Sania
201 (-5) Rao, Sunitha
360 (+1) Lakhani, Isha

DOUBLES
72 (-13) Mirza, Sania
211 (+7) Rao, Sunitha
305 (+4) Uberoi, Shikha

Tennis Briefs - Sania Mirza in Round 2 of Australian Open

Agence France-Presse, MELBOURNE: Sania Mirza made a successful return from a long-term wrist injury on Monday when she downed Marta Domachowska of Poland in straight sets (6-1, 6-4) at the Australian Open. For more click here

The Press Trust of India, NEW DELHI: His phenomenal performance at the Chennai Open has re-ignited the passion in the men's game in the country but Sania Mirza is hoping that Somdev Devvarman's success will do more than just help tennis shoot up the popularity chart. For more click here

Indo-Asian News Service, NEW DELHI: While Somdev Devvarman is fast emerging as a new Indian tennis star, Yuki Bhambri is seen as another one in the making. For more click here

The Press Trust of India, KOCHI: The four-day All India Lotus Trophy Tennis Tournament will commence here from January 21. For more click here

ATP RANKINGS (19 January 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
155 (-1) Devvarman, Somdev
209 (0) Amritraj, Prakash
317 (-1) Bopanna, Rohan

DOUBLES
6 (0) Bhupathi, Mahesh
10 (0) Paes, Leander
76 (0) Bopanna, Rohan

WTA RANKINGS (19 January 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
108 (-1) Mirza, Sania
196 (0) Rao, Sunitha
361 (0) Lakhani, Isha

DOUBLES
59 (+1) Mirza, Sania
218 (0) Rao, Sunitha
309 (0) Uberoi, Shikha

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - Somdev Devvarman

Indian tennis sensation Somdev Devvarman spoke to The Indian Tennis Blog about life after his giant-killing run to the final of the 2009 Chennai Open.

How helpful was the 3-week training with Andy Roddick before the Chennai Open. Did it play a part in your performance last week?
It was an incredible experience, training with Andy. He and Coach Larry Stefanki gave me some really good tips. Also training with someone who has been in the top 10 of the world for many years gave me great insight into how hard I need to work. It definitely had a big role in my performance in Chennai.

Any ranking goals for 2009?
I've never set any goals for myself as far as rankings are concerned. I just want to keep working hard and enjoying the hard work. The rankings will take care of themselves.

Any expectations from the Australian Open?
I go into the Australian Open with a lot of confidence as I feel I'm playing well. I have worked hard in the off season to prepare for a good showing in the Australian Open.

Which is your favourite career win - Moya, Karlovic, Kendrick (Lexington)...?
Probably Moya. He has been a former world No. 1 and he has been in top flight tennis for over a decade.

Given the Somdev-mania in India right now, it seems only a matter of time before you are offered your first ad. Will we see you endorsing something soon?
Well, I don't really concern myself with it. I have an excellent Management company in Mamba International and they will look after that aspect. I just want to keep my focus on playing tennis.

(Click here for another interview by Somdev Devvarman to The Indian Tennis Blog in October 2007, more than a year ago -- when he hadn't turned professional yet)

FROM THE ARCHIVES
Somdev Devvarman wins at Lexington, his fourth title in a row

Somdev Devvarman misses out on ACC player honour

Twin triumph for Somdev Devvarman at Rochester

Somdev Devvarman's twin triumph at Florida

Tennis Briefs - Somdev goes down fighting in Chennai

Reuters, CHENNAI: Third-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic defeated Indian wildcard Somdev Devvarman 6-4 7-6 to win the Chennai Open on Sunday. For more, click here

The Press Trust of India, CHENNAI: The Chennai Open will remain in the city for at least another five years with increased prize money and a title sponsor. For more, click here

The Times of India, BANGALORE: Comeback girl Sania Mirza made a strong statement in the World Team Challenge tennis tournament in Hong Kong on Friday when she dismissed world No.25 Agnes Szavay of Hungary to give the Asia Pacific team a 2-0 win over a Europe side led by world No.1 Jelena Jankovic. For more, click here

Sportstar: By winning the singles title in the under-18 section of the Orange Bowl in Miami, the 16-year-old Yuki Bhambri has not only become the No. 2 in the world junior rankings but also the best hope for 2009. For more, click here

ATP RANKINGS (12 January 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
154 (+48) Devvarman, Somdev
209 (-3) Amritraj, Prakash
316 (+16) Bopanna, Rohan

DOUBLES
6 (0) Bhupathi, Mahesh
10 (0) Paes, Leander
76 (0) Bopanna, Rohan

WTA RANKINGS (12 January 2009)
(in brackets - positions lost/gained since last week)
SINGLES
107 (-7) Mirza, Sania
196 (0) Rao, Sunitha
361 (0) Lakhani, Isha

DOUBLES
60 (+1) Mirza, Sania
218 (+1) Rao, Sunitha
309 (+1) Uberoi, Shikha