Leaks won't affect Malaysian Open

Malaysian Open tournament director Nick Freyer briefing the media at the DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Bernama pic

DISRUPTIONS due to water leaks at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil are set to be a thing of the past with the organisers of the Malaysian Open Kuala Lumpur having done modifications to the venue in preparation for the Sept 22-30 event.
Tournament director Nick Freyer said a protective membrane has been applied onto the roof to prevent any such leakages from occurring this year in addition to a number of other minor improvements to the tournament venue.
The problem has plagued the Putra Stadium in recent years, which last year saw authorities covering affected areas in the stadium with plastic tarps to stop rain water dripping into the stadium during the tournament.
"Leaks, which were quite embarrassing for us in the past, should not be a problem for us anymore," said Freyer, during the media briefing at the DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
"They (the contractors) have applied a first layer of membrane on top of the roof with no visual effect to the interior of the stadium. This should stop the rain from affecting us anymore.
"They will, however, be adding another layer of membrane just to make sure (it does not recur) as it can deteriorate over time after being exposed to the sun and other elements."
Meanwhile, Freyer hinted that a "good name" is likely to get one of the remaining two wildcards, the first of which went to American Bryan Baker. However, he declined to name the player.
"In tennis there are two big (comeback) stories this year. One is Bryan Baker and the other is this guy," said Freyer.
"He is one of the older players on the tour and has beaten Roger Federer this year. I would rather not give any names at the moment out of respect to him.
"We will officially announce who gets the wildcards after the US Open ends as there is always the possibility of getting an unexpected big name at the end of each grand slam."
Rado, Corona, 100Plus and the DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Wilson, CNN International and Astro, the official host broadcaster, are the sponsors.- www.nst.com.my

Putra Stadium roof repaired in time for tourney, says Freyer

KUALA LUMPUR: This year’s ATP 250 Malaysian Open tennis tournament will not be dripping with embarrassment now that the roof at the venue – the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil – has been repaired after three long years.
The stadium management, Malaysian Stadium Corporation, began renovating the stadium six months ago and laid a membrane on the roof to prevent future leaks.
The leaking roof at the indoor Putra Stadium proved to be an embarrassment for tournament director Nick Freyer since the tournament started in 2009 as matches were disrupted whenever it rained.
“What’s interesting is that the contractors have stopped working to allow us to prepare for the tournament ... they will continue with their renovation work in October,” said Freyer.
“The important thing is they’ve got the roof fixed and that’s just great. Besides the roof, the toilets have also been upgraded following complaints by the public.”
Among the stars coming for the Malaysian Open this year are world No. 5 David Ferrer of Spain, Argentine Juan Monaco (No. 11) and Asian ace Kei Nishikori of Japan (No. 18).- www.thestar.com.my

Dashing Nishikori inspired to give better show at Malaysian Open

PETALING JAYA: Kei Nishikori had a rough start to his tennis career, having to leave home at 14 to train at the famed IMG Bollettieri Academy in Florida, USA, under the guidance of Nick Bollettieri and Dante Bottini.
To make matters worse, Nishikori, the son of Kiyoshi and Eri, could not speak a single word of English when he first arrived in the US and struggled just to adapt to his new surroundings.
But his persistence and perseverance soon paid dividends, with Nishikori qualifying for and winning an ITF Futures event in Mazatlan, Mexico, in 2006, as an unranked player. It was his first ever singles title.
Nishikori, now 22, had to wait until 2008 before earning his first breakthrough on the ATP Tour, gaining entrance into the Delray Beach Championship in February that year. Ranked No. 244 in the world, he defeated several higher ranked players, including Florian Mayer, Sam Querrey and top seed James Blake, to become the first Japanese man in nearly 16 years to win an ATP title.
Although that is his only ATP title to date, Nishikori’s star continued to rise, as did his rankings. And last October, he rose to world No. 30 – becoming the highest ranked Japanese man since Shuzo Matsuoka, who reached No. 46 in 1992. This year, Nishikori has already achieved a personal best by reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time, beating world No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France along the way.
Nishikori is currently the world No. 18, having made the quarter-finals in the London Olympics and the third round of the US Open last week.
The dashing youngster, well-known for his speed and endurance on court, will be competing in the Malaysian Open ATP 250 at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from Sept 22-30.
It will be his third straight year competing in Malaysia and the crowd favourite took some time out from his hectic schedule to tell us a little – via e-mail – about his aspirations and hopes about competing here.
Starsport: Nishikori, you’ve been a rising Asian sensation in the world of tennis and you’re still only 22. Can you describe your journey so far?
Nishikori: It has been a very interesting journey so far. I moved to Bollettieri’s when I was just 14 and that was a big sacrifice. I didn’t know anyone there and I really had to learn to grow up in a new culture. In a way, I learned a lot from those days and it has helped me in my travels around the world.
Starsport: Training in the US has certainly improved your game. What else have you learned and improved on? Will fans be seeing a new style from you?
Nishikori: I am not super tall so my game is obviously based on speed and my big forehand. I don’t suppose my style will change but I will gain more experience to become more all-rounded. My serve and net game though, has certainly improved a lot.
Starsport: You’re currently the highest ranked Asian men’s tennis player. Does that put more pressure on you and can you break into the top 10?
Nishikori: There is a lot of attention back in Japan but I don’t really feel the pressure because I just focus on my tennis and continuously seek to improve myself. This is the first year I’ve broken into the top 20, so there’s still a long road ahead.
Starsport: Your best Grand Slam result was making the quarter-finals of the Australian Open this year. Does it represent a step forward in your career?
Nishikori: It was definitely the biggest moment of my career and I think I was the youngest quarter-finalist there so it means that I am on the right track. Having said that, you can’t be satisfied with what you have done and I always want more. I will also try to win a title as I’ve not won any since 2008.
Starsport: In Malaysia, the fans adore you and treat as a local player. How does that make you feel?
Nishikori: It is a very nice feeling indeed because we travel so much and to come to a place where the fans make you feel at home is very nice and makes you want to play better. I’m definitely looking forward to the Malaysian Open because it helped me when I was still low in the rankings and it’s really nice to be back.
Starsport: Besides tennis, what other sports do you follow?
Nishikori: I’m a huge football fan and I follow the Japanese national team a lot.
Starsport: So is it Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
Nishikori: Lionel Messi.
Starsport: What about food? Will you like to try some spicy Malaysian food?
Nishikori: I like a variety of food but my favourite is obviously sushi. But I’m also looking forward to tasting the local cuisines.- www.thestar.com.my

Optimism abound at Asian U-14 Series tournament

BANKING ON EXPERIENCE: Saeed Afzalirad hopes his experience will guide his players to win the U-14 tournament. From left: Tara Afzalirad, Saeed and Ernest Dagenhart.

KUCHING: Former national tennis coach and trainer Saeed Afzalirad has never stopped his quest to unearth new tennis stars for Malaysia.
Speaking to The Borneo Post yesterday, Saeed commented that he can’t wait for the start of the Eighth edition of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Asian U-14 Series tournament as he sees the competition as a platform to unearth rising stars of tennis.
He was hoping that his current players, Ernest Dagenhart and Tara Afzalirad will do well in the eagerly awaited competition.
“I don’t have a specific target. I haven’t seen any of the other players in this tournament in action so it’s difficult for me to set a target,” replied Saeed when asked on any specific target that he has set for his players.
He continued that participants come into a tournament to win and he expects no less from his players. He thinks that his players stand a realistic chance to win the tournament.
Saeed added that he was full of praise on the efforts made by Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) to organise the tournament.
He continued that the competition is well managed and organised, and is worth his time coming here.
“In Malaysia, I think SLTA organises one of the best tournaments besides Penang.
They are doing a good job and I think we need more organisers like them in the country,” he commented.
Residing in Malaysia for about 20 years now, Saeed commented that he feels very much at home here.
He is optimistic that Malaysia could one day be a tennis powerhouse.
From 1990 to 1998, he was the national junior coach. He would then go on to become the national junior coach for his native Iran.
“I returned to Malaysia in 2000. I now prefer to work independently now as I run a mini tennis academy in Kuala Lumpur,” he added.
Dagenhart, who is originally from Belarus, is qualified to represent Malaysia in the tournament as his father is a permanent resident of the country.
He will be facing his compatriot Hanif Pauzi today in the tournament qualifiers.
13 players will be playing each other in the qualifiers today for a place in the main draw of the Asian U-14 Series.
The qualifiers starts today at the SLTA tennis grounds near Kuching Civic Centre.

- : http://www.theborneopost.com

Alvin victorious at Kuching Age Group tourney

KUCHING: Alvin Teng clinched the Boys Under-18 singles title in the Kuching Age Group 3rd Leg Tennis Tournament at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) centre when he won all six games in the competition based on league system.
The runner-up was Kenneth Tan who won five games and lost one while in third place was Gregory Tan who won four games and lost two.
Finishing in fourth and fifth positions were Ricoh Soh and Isaac Law respectively.
Alvin failed to complete a double victory when he and his partner Kirstin Leong lost 1-9 to Gregory Tan and Mark Leong in the Under-18 mixed doubles final.
Kirstin made up for the disappointment by capturing the Boys/Girls Under-14 singles after defeating Caitlin Lean 6-1, 6-3 in the final.
The losing semi-finalists were Matthew Chong and Jonathan Sia. In the losers’ pool final, Daniel Law beat Tay Chen Kiat 6-2, 6-3.
The duo had earlier beaten Abey Bong and Bong Yi Yeng in the semi-finals. Daniel then partnered Tay to win the Under-14 mixed doubles title, beating Matthew Chong-Zachary Chan 8-5.
Meanwhile, Sean Law and Mitchell Brapui took the Under-12 mixed doubles crown after they defeated Brandon Foo-Ming Rui 8-3 in the final.
The Boys/Girls Under-12 singles title went to Sean Law who beat seven other contestants in the league.
Second was Mitchell while third to fourth was Anjeline Ong, Zoe Lean and Brandon.
The tournament organised by Kuching Division Lawn Tennis Association (KDLTA) was aimed at giving the youngsters the chance to compete at development level and gauge their abilities and skills.
KDLTA president Dato Patrick Liew, who also helms SLTA, gave away the prizes.- http://www.theborneopost.com

SLTA ready to host Asian U-14 Series

KUCHING: The Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) continues its hardwork in putting Malaysia in the world tennis map with president Dato Patrick Liew announcing yesterday that the highly anticipated Eighth edition of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Asian U-14 Series tournament will commence here from Sept 5 to 9.

According to Liew, the tournament has been and will always be a platform for young and aspiring tennis players to gain useful experience and also improve their world rankings. It will be a very useful exposure for them.

He assures youths who participate in the competition, especially those who came from far, will not go home empty-handed as there will be no knock-out phase in the tournament. All players stood a chance to play equal number of matches and will be ranked accordingly after the competition.

“We (SLTA) were the first to organise an Asian U-14 tennis tournament, sanctioned by the ITF in this country. We were also among the earliest in Asia,” he added.

Liew continued that it is essential for those who aspire to play tennis seriously to start at a very young age. He is especially serious about the development of youth tennis here in the country.

“We can see now that more Asian tennis players are becoming professional tennis players. There is indeed a future for tennis here in this continent,” he said.

Giving out a piece of advice, Liew told The Borneo Post yesterday that local junior tennis players should be grateful that there is an international-class tournament held right here in Sarawak.

They need not travel abroad for exposure or experience.

In another development, Liew also informed that organising a tennis tournament is not an easy task and admitted that it would be nice if there are more sponsors who are willing to co-operate with SLTA. With the sponsors, it will help SLTA continue its work in organising more world-class tournaments in Sarawak.

A total of 55 boys and 26 girls tennis players will represent their respective countries at the Asian U-14 Series tennis tournament next month.

Twelve countries have registered for the competition including Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Iran, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Uzbekistan.

Among the players to watch during the tournament is Malaysia’s very own Koay Hao Sheng who is ATF ranking number seven, the highest in the tournament.

Alvin Teng Wee Jie is another player to watch as he is a local Sarawakian, ranked 109 in the ATF.

“Let’s see how well Malaysia do compared to the other countries in Asia in tennis. It will be exciting to see how well we do as we really harbour the ambition to be among the best tennis countries here in Asia,” said Liew at the end of the interview. -- http://www.theborneopost.com

Baker Boy gets first KL maindraw wildcard

The world of tennis often has stories that capture the imagination of fans and followers of the sport, and the stories of those individuals become quite inspirational. In 2012 one such story is that of the comeback of Brian Baker, the American tennis player who for almost a decade was not able to compete on the Tour because of injuries and surgeries.

Now, at the age of 27 he has been given a second chance. Since late April, Brian Baker has been on a wonderful journey and that journey will be making a transit stop in Kuala Lumpur, as the ATP World Tour weaves its way through Asia in a month’s time.

IMG’s Nick Freyer, Tournament Director of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur today announced that Brian Baker has been given the first main draw wild card for the event to be played 22 to 30 September at the Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

“We are excited that Brian has accepted the first singles main draw wild card,” Freyer said. “His story is truly inspirational; to think that a year ago he was coaching a college team in the United States having undergone five major surgeries to include a repaired elbow, hip and more.

“His comeback has been one of the most talked about stories in tennis and his determination to never give up has allowed him to move his world ranking from the deepest depths, to now be at a career high of 70. His story is one of THE sports stories of 2012 and our very welcoming tennis fans will have the opportunity to congratulate him for his achievements live when he plays the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur.”

From the US Open in New York where he is playing, Baker sent his thanks to the tournament.

“I am really pleased and appreciative to receive a wild card for Kuala Lumpur,” Baker said. “I have not made many trips to Asia and this would be my first time coming to Malaysia, so I am really looking forward to seeing a new city and a different culture. I’m sure it is going to be a fascinating experience and something quite different as this amazing year continues for me.”
As a junior, Baker was ranked two in the world – he was a finalist at the French Open juniors losing to Swiss No.2 Stan Wawrinka and won the prestigious Orange Bowl, but not long after he began to play the regular tour, the injuries started.

What should have been breakthrough results were interrupted as injuries and more injuries followed. Three different hip surgeries, a sports hernia and reconstructive surgery on his elbow, a year missed due to osteochondritis on the left femur in his kneecap, requiring surgery to shave down bad bone and take bone chips from his hip, and on it went. He even became injured playing Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon qualifying in 2005 and retired after two games.

Most would have given up any dreams and hopes of following a path in pro tennis. Baker was heading the same way but still in the corner of his mind there was some hope and belief that one day, the dim light at the end of the tunnel would get brighter. He was not prepared to let things go completely.

While coaching at a college he was also managing to play inter-club tennis with his father and uncle, Baker began to feel healthy. Earlier this Summer, he won a Challenger in Savannah, Georgia which gave him the USTA’s wild card for the French Open. He then went to Nice where he qualified and reached the final of the ATP 250 tournament; the journey that became the inspiring story had begun.

At the French Open he reached the second round where he took Gilles Simon to five sets on Court Philippe Chatrier. Next was Wimbledon and this time he qualified and then reached the last 16. It meant he had won six matches, in essence the number of matches one requires to reach a Wimbledon final.

“This whole year has been incredibly special for me,” Baker said. “It wasn’t that long ago when I wondered about my tennis future with all the time I had spent away from the circuit because of my injuries and surgeries, but I am a pretty competitive guy and I love this sport and that kept my hopes and beliefs alive.

“Getting the French Open wild card and doing well there allowed me to say that I was back. It has been like a whirlwind journey and very exciting to be a part of, while getting to enjoy so many new experiences which I am sure Kuala Lumpur is going to be another one.”

So seven years after the last time he played a full season on the tour, Brian Baker has a new lease of life with his career, and Kuala Lumpur is getting the chance to see what this “Baker Boy” is all about.And as part of this first wild card announcement, the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur is just as excited to reveal the 2012 version of its’ signature competition played daily after every centre court match, the “Catch the Ball Challenge”. On the last three days, Friday to Sunday, a Rado watch worth RM 6,600 each will be available as the Grand Prize of the day.

Freyer added: “One of our goals every year with the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur is to make sure our wonderful fans get to watch great tennis but most of all have fun and enjoy an experience to remember.

“Our player field is tremendous with players like David Ferrer, Juan Monaco, Alex Dolgopolov, Kei Nishikori, Sam Querry, Ryan Harrison to name a few and now Brian, and no doubt activities like our “Catch the Ball Challenge” with its prestigious Rado Grand Prizes will be right up there in the fun stakes.”

For more information on the Brian Baker story, see the links below :-
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE-Tennis/DEUCE-US-Open-2012/Brian-Baker.aspx
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Media/Videos/2012/Uncovered/Episode-23/ATP-Uncovered-S4-E23-Brian-Baker.aspx
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303610504577416491590179670.html

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: : Local Media Director, Malaysia, Mr. Ghaz Ramli at 60-16 243 0848 or email : ghazoo21@gmail.com --- source - Malaysian Open official website