Showing posts with label Bangalore Open. Show all posts
The Dog Ate My Homework; The Twinkie Defense; The Woman I Kissed Used Cocaine, Not Me... Okay
Friday, July 17, 2009
LONDON (AP) — Richard Gasquet escaped a lengthy doping ban Wednesday when the International Tennis Federation ruled that he inadvertently took cocaine.
The 23-year-old Frenchman, who was cleared to resume playing after completing a 2 1/2-month ban Wednesday, convinced an independent anti-doping tribunal that he ingested cocaine by kissing a woman he met at a nightclub in Miami.
The tribunal panel of three lawyers said Gasquet consumed no more than "a grain of salt" of the drug, and a long ban would be an injustice in a case which was "unusual to the point of being probably unique."
"We have found the player to be a person who is shy and reserved, honest and truthful, and a man of integrity and good character," the tribunal said in its ruling.
The ITF, which had sought a two-year ban under the terms of the World Anti-Doping Agency's code, was told to impose a retroactive ban of two months, 15 days. The ban ended Wednesday morning, clearing 32nd-ranked Gasquet to resume playing.
Gasquet tested positive in a urine sample in March after he pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, with a shoulder injury.
After deciding to withdraw from the tournament he went to a nightclub with friends to see a French DJ perform at a Miami dance music festival, which the tribunal noted was "notoriously associated with use of illegal recreational drugs including cocaine."
Gasquet told the tribunal hearing held in London last month that he kissed a woman, identified in the ruling only as "Pamela."
The tribunal said it was likely she had consumed cocaine during the night, though it had no direct evidence.
Gasquet was "on the balance of probability, contaminated with cocaine by Pamela" and, therefore, not significantly at fault for the doping offense, the ruling said.
"We take into account that the amount of cocaine in the player's body was so small that if he had been tested only a few hours later, his test result would be likely to have been negative," the tribunal stated.
Gasquet also argued at the hearing that his positive test was given after he had pulled out of the Key Biscayne tournament. Cocaine is a banned drug for athletes in competition.
The tribunal said Gasquet's rights to practice his profession would be infringed by a one-year suspension, though it was required to find that a doping offense was committed.
It also noted that Gasquet would be banned for life if he tested positive for a banned drug a second time.
The ruling allowed the Frenchman to keep the ranking points and prize money he gained at tournaments in April.
The ITF provisionally suspended Gasquet when the test result was announced in May and he was forced to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. His ranking has since dropped nine places.
The ruling can be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within three weeks.
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Serena Banks Bangalore Title
Sunday, March 9, 2008
"Watch out for women power, that's what you saw ..." Great words from a woman Indian dignitary spoken during the presentation ceremony. Prior to that, there was a fight to the finish.
With dad Richard Williams, sisters Venus and Isha supporting her from the stands, American Serena Williams brought the 2008 Canara Bank Bangalore Open to a conclusion with her first title of 2008. Serena defeated Swede Patty Schynder 7-5, 6-3.
To reach this title Serena had to get by big sister Venus the day before. It wasn't an easy task, but Serena prevailed. While neither of the sisters was in tip top form, Serena seemed to have just a bit more fighting spirit.
The same was true of today's match against Switzerland's own Patty Schynder. Neither Patty or Serena played remarkably well, but Serena's fight game was on as usual. The more errors she made, the harder she battled to get the next point, classic Serena.
The first set was literally whomever could get to that crucial point, it consisted of service break after service break. Fortunately for Serena, she was able to hang in there and come out on top.
The second set was more of the same until Serena saw blood in the water after being down a break then bringing the set to 3-3, she devoured the balance of Schynder's game straight to the finish.
As proud dad Richard took lots of pictures as usual, and Venus signed autographs in the stands, former ATP Tour player Indian Vijay Amritraj spoke very fondly of Serena and the Williams family as he prepared to bring Serena up to receive her trophy.
"She comes from a remarkable family, and you've heard me on the television many many years talking about Richard and Venus and what they've done for tennis worldwide."
"It is a great pleasure to have all of them, the entire family here with us in India for the first time, and making their first visit to Bangalore. And rightly, the winner of this years tournament, the former world no. 1 and grand slam champion, ladies and gentlemen Serena Williams."
Amritraj stated, "Serena, first time in India and you win the tournament, feel good?" "I definitely feel good, it's my first time in India, everyone here is so nice and the crowd was great, it was fun out here.
When asked about the match being so tight Serena said, "Yeah you know, I've got to give thanks to my God Jehovah because, I mean, a couple of weeks ago I just wasn't even sure if I would be able to play here.
Serena was asked whether it was very tough playing Venus on Saturday, "Yeah it was really tough because you know to me, she's the best player on the tour, so, I hate to see my name next to hers (laughing).
Serena Triumphs in Sister Semi
They last met at the U. S. Open in 2005 where Venus defeated Serena 7-6, 6-2. There's nothing new about seeing both of these former world no. 1's battle it out, with the exception of their being sisters, and that always makes it a bit more exciting. On the other hand, there's a bit of a down side for me. I don't like to see either one of the sisters lose, let alone to each other.
At the Bangalore Open in India on Saturday, American superstars Venus and Serena Williams met in a semifinal match. Serena came away the victor by defeating big sis' 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4). 
After winning the quarterfinal match that put her into this semifinal Serena laughed and said, "She is a tough player and the only chance of beating her is when she is injured. I want her leg to be broken."
"Venus is nice to me all the time except when she is on court. I am also very competitive and I always want to win. We will have fun tomorrow."
Venus said, "Would have been nice if we'd me in the final ... I'm happy that one of us will be in the final."
This is what helps me through it, the sisters have a wonderful love for each other and a tremendous perspective on where they begin and where the game ends.
After Saturday's match Serena said, "It was a close match, although we both weren't at our best ... My serve let me down on match point"
At one point during the tie-break Venus held match point, but committed an error allowing Serena to come even, surpass her and take the match.
Serena, will face Patty Schnyder in the final.
Venus And Serena Welcomed And Admired In Bangalore
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Williams sisters come across as a pleasant interlude, in comparison to the hefty air some Indian players with smaller stakes throw
BANGALORE: Serena Williams has 15 Grand Slam titles to her credit, Venus Williams has 14. If one would not be a tennis fan, it would be impossible to know the achievements that these women have to their credit given their easy demeanour.
Given the noise and air that some of our players with much smaller stakes on the world stage manage to quickly adopt, the Williams sisters are a pleasant interlude for any Indian tennis reporter.
The sisters have faced the same questions across the world over and over again. They could hardly be blamed for looking jaded when an eager press pressed in with queries that did not always stem from tennis know-how.
Serena Aims To Smash Down Barriers In Sports
BANGALORE, India, March 4 (Reuters) - Opportunities for black players to succeed in tennis are increasing but still there is much to be done to make the sport accessible for all, according to multiple grand slam winner Serena Williams. "Each year when I go on tour and at the U.S. Open I see another black face. It just makes my heart smile," the younger of the Williams sisters told Reuters on the sidelines of the WTA Bangalore Open.
Tennis, however, is yet to become affordable for the underprivileged black community, she said, adding that she plans to address the situation after her retirement from active tennis.
"It takes time, this isn't a typical black sport," she said. "It's the same thing in golf. There is pretty much one black player that is playing," she said referring to Tiger Woods.
"Maybe sometime if you want to talk economics, then maybe it (tennis) might not be affordable for some black people.
"Traditionally you look at tennis, you see in the past, fifty years, maybe one black player there. Tennis is an expensive sport.
"I mean just like, you know, I can name two great players that are playing tennis right now who have won 20 grand slams (singles, doubles and mixed) amongst them, they are black," she said referring to herself and elder sister Venus.
INTO PHILANTHROPY
"I am definitely into philanthropy. Whether I am helping some of the poverty in India, which I would love to do, or some of the poverty in Africa, I am definitely into it," she added.
"I want to travel, get dirty and help people. That's really my goal," she said on her plans for life after tennis.
Serena and Venus, currently ranked 11th and seventh in the world, dominated women's tennis for a decade and more, winning 14 grand slam singles titles between them.
Serena, 27, is the last player --- male or female --- to have held all four grand singles titles simultaneously.
She said there was much reason for optimism.
"I think it has come a long way. Like I said every tournament I see a lo t more black people playing tennis, which is really good to see and just takes time," she said.
"And I think there are more black people coming up. It's cool. Like the guy who got to the final of the Australian Open. That was really exciting seeing him," she added.
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, born to a French mother and Congolese father, made a spectacular run at the season's opening grand slam.
Unseeded Tsonga breezed past four highly ranked players, including world number two Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals, before losing to Serb Novak Djokovic in four sets.
"Tennis, you know, is still pretty much a white sport. There are, however , lots more African American players who are playing... which (is) really very exciting for me," Serena said.
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