Kim Clijsters at Gildredge Park

World number nine and current US Open champion Kim Clijsters was on hand to present Gildredge Park in Eastbourne with their beacon plaque.

Clijsters, who is in Eastbourne ahead of the AEGON International, took time out to visit the thriving park site to see for herself how Gildredge Park is enabling more people to get involved in tennis.

A group of AEGON FutureStars and some of the park’s pre-school players got the chance to have a hit with the Belgium star whilst Francis and Gemma Mackie who have developed Gildredge Park over the last five years accepted the beacon site plaque.

Tennis coach Francis said:

“It’s been absolutely brilliant to have Kim come and join us. You’d certainly never expect somebody like her to be playing on our courts so it’s been a real treat.

“We’re very proud of what we’ve been able to achieve here. Before we came along, the site was really derelict and you couldn’t even play on one of the courts. Now thanks to support from the Tennis Foundation we have re-surfaced our courts, we have floodlights and have managed to build up a real community spirit centred around our cafe and so it’s great that Kim has been able to see how we’re helping to improve community tennis.”

Louisiana Vine, one of the six AEGON FutureStars invited to meet Clijsters added:

“It was really great to meet Kim. I’ve seen her play on TV a lot and so it was really nice to actually meet her. She’s such a great role model for girls like me and I’ve always looked up to her. I’ll definitely be cheering for her at Wimbledon.”

Gildredge Park was awarded beacon site status by the Tennis Foundation in recognition of their high quality, affordable community tennis programmes. They have been selected for the accolade along with 41 other Beacon sites across the country and are one of the first community sites to achieve the status, which recognises the best community-focused facilities, as part of AEGON Parks Tennis.

Sue Mappin, Executive Director of the Tennis Foundation, said: “We were delighted to recognise the excellent work Gildredge Park is already doing by awarding them ‘Beacon’ status. To grow participation we need more quality public tennis facilities like this, offering the local community a fun, affordable tennis experience all year round.

"The Tennis Foundation is working in partnership with the City to develop community tennis, as part of its ongoing drive to enhance tennis opportunities."

“Through AEGON Parks Tennis, we are committed to improving access to tennis around the country – whether playing for fun or competing. Tennis is a fantastic lifelong sport and I strongly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to take part."

"Working with local tennis providers, this will make a real contribution to building healthier and safer communities, as well as ensuring that anyone wanting to pick up a racket can do so in a quality local environment.”

AEGON Parks Tennis aims to increase community access to tennis in parks and communities nationwide. Led by the Tennis Foundation and supported by the LTA, AEGON Parks Tennis is a key programme in British tennis’ drive to increase participation and grow tennis at all levels. The long-term aim is to have one beacon site acting as a centre of community tennis excellence in each of the 442 local authorities in Britain.

lta.org.uk

Martina Hingis Pre-Nottingham Masters Interview

One thing I've always enjoyed about Martina is her interviews. They are never boring, and always insightful case and point:

Billie Jean King says Martina Hingis likely to return to WTA doubles

Last year it was Kim Clijsters, this year it was Justine Henin, and now it might be Martina Hingis, again.

Hingis, the former world No. 1 and 5-time Grand Slam champion, is scheduled to play a full slate of World Team Tennis this summer. Billie Jean King, the co-founder of World Team Tennis, believes that Hingis will attempt to return to the WTA after the WTT season is over. King noted that Hingis would most likely start playing doubles first. Hingis has nine career Grand Slam doubles titles.

Hingis dominated the women's tennis world from 1997-1999. However, by 2003, Hingis was plagued by injuries and seemingly burned out from the sport she dominated from such a young age. She also started to have increasing trouble against the emerging power players on tour, including the Williams sisters.

Hingis retired from competitive tennis in 2003 before returning to the sport for one unsuccessful tournament in 2005. She then played World Team Tennis in 2005 to shore her game up, and it worked. She made a full tour comeback in 2006. She missed the sport she ruled as a youngster too much.

Hingis was able to win a few tournaments on tour following her 2006 return, but she was never able to recapture her youthful dominance of the late 1990s.

Hingis was ousted from Wimbledon in the third round in 2007. During Wimbledon of that year, Hingis provided a drug sample that later tested positive for cocaine. Although Hingis fervently denied taking the drug, the International Tennis Federation confirmed in January 2008 that traces of the drug were found. The ITF consequently handed Hingis a two-year ban that ran through September 30 of last year. She has been involved in occasional equestrian events in her time away from the sport (photo).

Hingis has not played competitively on tour since becoming eligible again. Billie Jean King believes that Hingis will use this year's World Team Tennis matches to prepare herself for future WTA doubles play, just as she did in 2005 following her first retirement.

Hingis will be teaming up this summer in legends doubles on the WTT circuit with partner Anna Kournikova. This is just King's hunch as the 29-year-old Hingis has not made any official statement yet. She will most likely see how the summer treats her first.

tennisfunhouse.com

Since I don't see any actual quotes from King herself. I'm gonna chuck this up to the 'wishful thinking' category.

I know I've said that we should all move on, and stop dreaming about another Hingis singles comeback but after seeing the patheticness that was the French Open women's final.

I'm starting to once again swing back to the 'it may not be a bad idea' category.

If someone like freakin' Francesca Schiavone can win the French Open, why not Hingis?. Might certainly revitalize the women's game again.

It's in major need of one at the moment imho. And yes I know Hingis has explicitly stated otherwise but she did the same thing after her first retirement.

And so did Clijster's and Henin. 2010 seems to be the year of 'the comeback'. So I say what the heck come back and join the party full time Martina!.

Martina Hingis to play Marbella Masters in the fall

Former Wimbledon champion, Martina Hingis has been confirmed to join the line up at this summer’s Marbella Masters. Hingis, who has now retired from the professional circuit,

spent a total of 209 weeks as world no1, winning five Grand Slam singles titles and nine Grand Slam women’s doubles titles.

She is best known for breaking many ‘youngest –ever’ records including the youngest ever player in the 20th Century to win a Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open in 1997 at the tender age of 16. Martina Hingis, said: “I am really excited to be playing and competing in the Marbella Masters at the Puente Romano Tennis Club, especially alongside great players such as Richard Krajicek and Pat Cash. I am also looking forward to seeing the young and upcoming talent, which is so important to the future of the game.” Hingis was forced to withdraw temporarily from professional tennis in 2002 at the age of 22 after suffering ligament injuries in her ankles.

Anders Borg, Tournament Director at Northern Vision, the UK event and sports management company behind the event, said: “We are delighted to announce Martina’s presence at the Masters and she is certain to add a certain quality and flair to the proceedings. Her vast experience and success in the game is certain to entertain the crowds. It is fantastic that we already have such a strong line-up for the first ever Marbella Masters.”

English ace, Jeremy Bates, will also be joining the line-up at this year’s event. Bates is well known for winning the first British doubles title at Wimbledon in 1987, for the first time in more than 50 years as well as the Australian Open in 1991.

Tickets for the Marbella Masters, which takes place from 16th September – 19^th September are now on sale. Tickets are available from Northern Vision’s dedicated Marbella Masters website and www.ticketmaster.es.

marbellamasters.es

Maura Tierney to star in new ABC show?

Call it casting synchronicity.

After Joely Richardson dropped out as the lead on ABC's forthcoming legal drama 'The Whole Truth' earlier this month, the Ausiello Files is reporting that the network is in talks with Maura Tierney to replace her.



Tierney found herself in a similar situation last year when she dropped out as a lead on NBC's 'Parenthood' to undergo treatment for cancer. Lauren Graham was brought in to replace her, and the series has since gone on to moderate success for the Peacock.



'The Whole Truth' promises a different take on legal dramas by building each case with equal emphasis on prosecution and defense. Viewers won't know the truth until the final moments of each episode. If cast, Tierney would star as the Deputy Bureau Chief in New York's DA office, squaring off against Rob Morrow ('Numb3rs') as a rising criminal attorney.

tvfanatic.com

Interesting although I just don't know how to feel about the 'ABC' part. It would be great seeing Maura on t.v. again though.

F U Roland Garros

There is a reason why I hate rain at the Grand Slams, and there's an even bigger reason why I hate rain on the clay at the French Open.

In a repeat of last year's French Open final Roger Federer lost to Robin Soderling in 4 sets 3-6 6-3,7-5,6-4 in the quarters thus losing his 23 consecutive semi-finals record.

And a chance at defending the title he finally won last year. Yep after losing to him 12 times the Swede finally beat the Swiss.

13 turned out to be his lucky number. I have to say even though I knew this was a possibility (after all this is the men who broke Rafael Nadal's streak last year in the semi's) I'm still in a great deal of shock.

Though they remained respectfully polite, the French crowd seemed equally as stunned.

The thing with Roger is no matter how dire the situation the guy always finds a way to pull through, which is why I held my breath up until the very last point.

Because the man has been known to perform miracles. I was really pulling for a 5th and decisive set.

The rainy conditions didn't do him any favors making the ball very heavy and harder to control.

And that's another reason I hate this tournament anywhere else they would have stopped play and resumed the following day.

Here they don't do that because as long as the court lines remain dry, the clay is playable (although I still hope they put in a retractable roof one of these days, get with the times Paris!).

This whole tournament has been one big disappointment, first with Justine Henin losing to Sam Stosur and now Roger losing to Robin.

Thanks Roland Garros for giving me a new reason to strongly dislike you.

Song of the Moment: Hanson- Give A Little

This is fast becoming one of my absolute faves off of their newest album "Shout It Out". June 8th can't come soon enough!.

Songs like these are the reason I've remained a fan of theirs for so many years. Or I should extend that to albums.

Unlike a lot of artists today all of their albums are very different, but at the same time always have a familiar sound (with perfect harmonies at the core).

What I love about this album is how positive it is, all of the songs just make you wanna jump around and dance.

In that way it's unique to all their previous efforts (which were equally catchy mind you). Just never to this extent. And I love it!. :)