Out there in the cold!
5 Jan 2013 2:30 AM GMT
Strong title contenders Marin Cilic and Stanislas Wawrinka, who was also the defending champion, were knocked out of the Chennai Open by their respective opponents, on Friday.
French fifth seed Benoit Paire handed two-time champion and third seed Cilic a 6-4 1-6 7-5 defeat in the quarter-final, which lasted one hour and 54 minutes.
Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene put paid to the hopes of world number 17 and fourth seed Swiss Wawrinka with an impressive 6-2 7-6(6) win that came in one hour 31 minutes.
Wawrinka broke back immediately after dropping serve in the very first game of the match but Bedene tired him out by engaging him in long rallies.
Bedene’s forehand passing shots stood out as he broke Wawrinka in the fifth and seventh games to race away with the opening set.
The second set was fought fiercely and was stretched to the tie-breaker in which Beden held his nerves to prevail over Wawrinka.
In the other match, Paire and Cilic traded early breaks in the first set but teh French man broke the Croat one more time for a 4-3 lead and then wrapped up the set 6-4 in 40 minutes.
Cilic went in the decider with momentum and broke Paire in the first game. But the advantage was lost when he dropped his serve in the fourth game. Cilic struggled to control his unforced errors and Paire cawshed in on the two break chances to walk out triumphant and stun Cilic outright.
PLAYERS THREATEN BOYCOTT; AITA TO GIVE MORE MONEY
Faced with a boycott threat from India’s top tennis players, a beleaguered AITA on Friday sought to placate the revolting group by terming their suggestions as ‘progressive’ and agreeing to meet some of their demands. Hours after the players issued a fresh threat to pull out of the upcoming Davis Cup tie against South Korea from February 1, the national tennis body dropped enough hints that it may increase the players’ share in the Davis Cup prize money, which is one their major demands. ‘The players suggestions are progressive. If they want a change in the (prize sharing) agreement after 18 years, it is rightly so,’ AITA President Anil Khanna said. ‘AITA CEO and other senior Executives had a fruitful meeting with the players and AITA is looking with a positive frame of mind to help the players financially. AITA is aware that the players do not make tremendous amount of money on the circuit.
They deserve all the support which, they can get,’ Khanna added. As per the current agreement, the AITA and the players divide the prize money, given by the International Tennis Federation, equally.
The players are okay with 50-50 ratio for Group II ties but want more share for the upper level ties.
As per media reports, they want 70-30 ratio for Group I ties and 80-20 for the World Group ties.
French fifth seed Benoit Paire handed two-time champion and third seed Cilic a 6-4 1-6 7-5 defeat in the quarter-final, which lasted one hour and 54 minutes.
Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene put paid to the hopes of world number 17 and fourth seed Swiss Wawrinka with an impressive 6-2 7-6(6) win that came in one hour 31 minutes.
Wawrinka broke back immediately after dropping serve in the very first game of the match but Bedene tired him out by engaging him in long rallies.
Bedene’s forehand passing shots stood out as he broke Wawrinka in the fifth and seventh games to race away with the opening set.
The second set was fought fiercely and was stretched to the tie-breaker in which Beden held his nerves to prevail over Wawrinka.
In the other match, Paire and Cilic traded early breaks in the first set but teh French man broke the Croat one more time for a 4-3 lead and then wrapped up the set 6-4 in 40 minutes.
Cilic went in the decider with momentum and broke Paire in the first game. But the advantage was lost when he dropped his serve in the fourth game. Cilic struggled to control his unforced errors and Paire cawshed in on the two break chances to walk out triumphant and stun Cilic outright.
PLAYERS THREATEN BOYCOTT; AITA TO GIVE MORE MONEY
Faced with a boycott threat from India’s top tennis players, a beleaguered AITA on Friday sought to placate the revolting group by terming their suggestions as ‘progressive’ and agreeing to meet some of their demands. Hours after the players issued a fresh threat to pull out of the upcoming Davis Cup tie against South Korea from February 1, the national tennis body dropped enough hints that it may increase the players’ share in the Davis Cup prize money, which is one their major demands. ‘The players suggestions are progressive. If they want a change in the (prize sharing) agreement after 18 years, it is rightly so,’ AITA President Anil Khanna said. ‘AITA CEO and other senior Executives had a fruitful meeting with the players and AITA is looking with a positive frame of mind to help the players financially. AITA is aware that the players do not make tremendous amount of money on the circuit.
They deserve all the support which, they can get,’ Khanna added. As per the current agreement, the AITA and the players divide the prize money, given by the International Tennis Federation, equally.
The players are okay with 50-50 ratio for Group II ties but want more share for the upper level ties.
As per media reports, they want 70-30 ratio for Group I ties and 80-20 for the World Group ties.
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