Black Tennis Pros

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — The Wimbledon champions are getting a big increase in prize money this year, at least when it comes to the British pound.

The prize for each of the men's and women's champions went up by 13.3 percent to $1.24 million, organizers said Tuesday, but the pound's weak exchange rate means that translates to a reduction in dollars of 17 percent from last year's $1.49 million.

Buoyed by a new television contract in Asia and the extension of its commercial agreement with IBM, the tournament has also raised the total prize fund for the June 22-July 5 tournament by 6.2 percent to $18.38 million.

But that still compares unfavorably to last year's $23.46 million despite the increase being nearly double the 3.4 percent hike the All England Club managed 12 months ago.

All England Club chairman Tim Phillips said the event was doing what it could to help offset the weakened exchange rates and maintain the prestige among players of the only grass-court Grand Slam.

"Most of the players here don't bank in sterling," Phillips said. "We have to be mindful of the fact that a year ago it was $2 to the pound."

The pound has dropped by more than 25 percent against the dollar since last year's prize money was announced, and has slumped by about 11 percent against the euro. On Tuesday, the exchange rate was $1.45 to 1 pound.

The All England Club also announced a five-year extension of its sponsorship with IBM, which advises on and helps implement new technologies at the event, and said that it had signed a new broadcast deal with Star Sports Asia.

"In this climate, it's a vote of confidence in Wimbledon," All England Club chief executive Ian Ritchie said. "In the current climate, it would be foolish for anyone to be complacent, but we feel the strength of the brand is coming through and commercial opportunities continuing unabated."

This year's tournament will feature the unveiling of a sliding roof over Centre Court.

Ritchie said the tournament was in good financial health despite the global economic crisis, pointing out that the All England Club had received 20 percent more ticket applications than in 2008.

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The Press Association - Gael Monfils' hopes of repeating his French Open exploits of last year have been damaged after he was ruled out of action for up to a month with knee trouble.

The Frenchman will miss all the preparation tournaments for Roland Garros, which begins on May 24, as he is suffering from tendonitis in both knees.

Monfils, a semi-finalist at his home grand slam in 2008, should be fit for this year's event but his lack of practice on clay will not help his bid for the title.

The world number 10 was knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters in the first round by Janko Tipsarevic in straight sets earlier this week.

PARIS (AFP) — French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has pulled out of the ATP tournament in Barcelona which starts on Monday with pain in his right knee, his agent revealed on Friday.

It was due to be the world number 11's first claycourt engagement of the season.

Fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils also pulled out of the tournament on Friday due to tendinitis in his knees.

"Jo is training in Geneva at the moment and felt something in his right knee," said Tsonga's agent Morgan Menahem, who said his client would return at the tournament in Rome the week after next.

"He won't go to Barcelona as a precaution, but it's nothing to worry about."

Tsonga, who has won two tournaments this season - in Johannesburg and Marseille - had already withdrawn from this week's Monte Carlo Masters in order to keep fresh.

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ATP World Tour No. 6 Andy Roddick became the second Top 10 player inside a week to tie the knot as he and fiancée, Brooklyn Decker, exchanged vows in a candlelit ceremony before close family and friends in Austin, Texas on Friday.

Last Saturday, World No. 2 Roger Federer wed his long-time girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec in his hometown of Basel.

Roddick and Decker were joined in their celebration by former and current American players, Andre Agassi – with wife Steffi Graf - , Justin Gimelstob, James Blake and Mardy Fish, while Sir Elton John – a good friend of Roddick and Agassi - flew in from Las Vegas to perform for the wedding party.

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American Venus Williams was ousted today by German Sabine Lisicki at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina 6-4, 7-6(5).

While the Wimbledon champion gave Lisicki quite a bit of help in defeating her today, Lisicki never backed down and basically took her game to Venus, whose response was inadequate.

Post match Venus said, "I wasn't expecting that and, you know, I'll try to come back next year and win. "I made a few errors at the wrong time and she played some great shots."

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American tennis superstar Serena Williams and fashion model Selita Ebanks both look gorgeous as they highlight the red carpet of the 6th Annual New Yorkers For Children Spring Dinner Dance at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City on Wednesday evening. The event benefits many of the City’s 17,000 youth in foster care.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Second-seeded Venus Williams struggled to advance at the Family Circle Cup on Wednesday, beating Sania Mirza of India 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

It took the fifth-ranked Williams almost 2 1/2 hours to defeat the 100th-ranked Mirza on the green clay of stadium court at the tennis center on Daniel Island. Williams, who won the Family Circle five years ago, is now 3-0 against Mirza.

"When she's playing against me, she's got to go for it and I think there's also a sense of nothing to lose," Williams said. "When you look at the numbers and the rankings and statistics, you know, I'm supposed to win this match, so I think that gives her an opportunity to swing freely."

It appeared Williams had the match well in hand, winning the first set 6-1, although it took 46 minutes to do so. She led 3-1 in the second before Mirza rattled off five straight games, including breaking Williams at love to take a 5-3 lead and holding serve in the final game, which went to deuce eight times.

Williams recovered to easily win the third set.

"These kind of matches are great to pull out," she said. "I've been in these situations before, so I rely on that."

Photos by AP

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American Alexandra Stevenson had the pleasure of having more than the Charleston, South Carolina tennis fans observe her match against Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan - dear old dad was in the stands.

Former NBA superstar Julius 'Dr. J' Erving sat in the stands of the Family Circle Cup and for the first time witnessed Alexandra play a tour match. As depicted in ESPN's "Outside The Lines, Reaching Out: Alexandra Stevenson And Julius "Dr. J" Erving," the father and daughter have been slowly building their newfound relationship.




Of Erving's visit Stevenson said, “He actually wanted to come to one of the challenger tournaments, and I was like, I don’t think you should come there. We play on public parks, and some of them are a bit sketchy.”

“This is a nice tournament to come to, and I think he knows the tournament director, Bob Moran, and he just picked this tournament.”

“We were never in a bad place, I just didn’t know him. So it’s good now. I mean, obviously, it’s still odd, because you are getting to know somebody. But it’s nice that I know him, and he is supporting me out here, coming to watch me play."

Stevenson was not able to bring in a win in front of her father, as she was defeated by Amanmuradova 6-2, 6-4. When asked if having Erving present made her nervous Stevenson said, “I actually didn’t even see him until the second set.”

“And he can see how hard tennis is. It’s not like basketball where you have a whole team of support. So it’s nice that he came out here.”

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