Federer to take on new role: fatherhood

Roger Federer just announced on his website that he is going to be a father.

"I also have some really awesome news to share with all of you: Mirka and I are excited to let you know that we will be parents this summer! Mirka is pregnant and we are so happy to be starting a family together. This is a dream come true for us. We love children and we are looking forward to being parents for the first time. Mirka is feeling great and everything is going well.

Speak soon and thanks for all your continued support!

Roger"

The fans and media didn't lose time getting worried that Roger's focus will shift from tennis. But he was quick to appease all by stating:

“I think in a way I always had the dream that once I became No. 1 in the world if I have a child I hope I have it early enough so he can see me playing. So this is very exciting. I think it’s not going to really disturb my mind-set on tennis a whole lot. I’ve always made sure that my schedule is (arranged with time to) get away from tennis a little but and then come back when I’m ready to play again. If it does something to me, I think it’s going to motivate me to play for a long time. For me, this is not a massive shock. But when it does happen (and) your girlfriend-wife is pregnant, it definitely changes your mind-set. All of a sudden you’re hoping everything goes well, whereas before you’re just joking about it. From that respect, I’m excited that the baby comes out healthy and everything goes OK. Other than that, it’s just happiness. And all the people around me, all the people I talk to, everybody is like, ‘Wow, it’s such great news.’ It’s a nice time. And yeah, the baby is due in summer. Summer is a big word, yeah. I’m not going to say anymore.”

Congratulations to the two of them. Who knows maybe there is continuation to Federer's greatness in junior Federer, but maybe not. Few kids of tennis greats take up the sport for one reason or another. Come to think of it, it is interesting why kids of tennis greats don't pursue tennis professionally. After all, they have ideal genetics for it. I think a big part of it is the pressure of being great, and impossible expectations.

Back on track regarding Federer, inspiration for Federer at this point might be exactly what he needs to reach new heights. The goal for his new child to see him on top may push him to further greatness-watch out world!

Your 2009 Guide to New Tennis Racquets

Everything gets in the way of a bad dancer, implying that a good dancer will be good no matter what. This can be translated to sports too. You would think that a good player, can play with any type of racquet and any type of shoes.

However, science and technology can change our lives. Whether we are talking about swim suits or tennis racquets,technology advances at an astronomical pace.

Tennis racquets are justified in their variety. Just think back to the wooden racquet era, and even a decade ago there were the 85 square inch models compared to todays 90 inch models. Picking up that old heavy Wilson today will give anyone tennis elbow after several minutes of heavy swinging. Just as game styles vary, so do racquets, and this all around evolution is at the center of progress in the tennis world.

You can just imagine, hidden away in laboratories, are teams of women and men in goggles, white coats, rubber gloves, playing around with beakers, metals and laws of gravity to come up with the best weapon for the modern day tennis players. Some frames have more power, some have more control, some feel stiff, others feel loose. No wonder all these wonderful tennis equipment websites offer trials before you make up your mind.

Ultimately, the racquet doesn't make the player, although some players like, McEnroe would disagree. He often says how players post results today, not because of more talent, but because of better technology. But then again, if that were entirely true, we wouldn't have had Sampras and Graf to compare to Nadal and Sharapova.

No one will argue that technology certainly helps. Lets not forget that pros have their frames custom made, and altough, we see them hitting with the same color racquets that we see at our local tennis shop, these racquets are different. They probably are a lot heavier and the paint conceals several differences.

No manufacturer is blacklisted and players find their fit with all kinds of racquets. One reason for choosing a certain racquet could be potential sponsorship deals, but another reason has to be function and comfort. There is a right frame for everyone.

Wilson, Babolat, Yonex, Head, and Prince are popular. But it really comes down to evaluating your game and trying a couple of racquets out to see what feels good, and what gives you the ultimate balance between power, spin, and control.

Here is a list of some improvements for the weapons of 2009, and by the sound of them, they do sound like military code names:

Head MicroGel Extreme with Teflon
Price: $200

New aspect: The Teflon coating around the grommets reduces the friction and allows the strings to move more freely during contact which in turn gives you more power and a cleaner stroke. Recommended for all courters with a lot of spin.

Prince EXO3 Graphite
Price: $220

New Aspect: Addition of O-ports and large grommetless string holes which reduce the space going against the wind, this provides more stability but because of the graphite it remains low on power. You can add your own grommets to it if you want to control the frame better. Recommended for people that want a lot more control and less power.

Prince EXO3 Rebel
Price: $210

New Aspect: This model has a large frame, 95 sq.in and a dense pattern for strings. It is a lot heavier and while it takes away spin it adds to the power. Recommended for serious tennis players who have developed techniques as it is not very forgiving.

Prince EXO3 Red
Price: $260

New Aspect: Has an Energy Bridge made of carbon fiber strips that run through the middle of the frame to increase the sweet spot and enhance the feel of the ball on the strings. Recommended for pretty good players but also those that are getting up there in age, its very forgiving and pretty long.

Technifibre T-Fight 320 VO2 MaX
Price: $199

New Aspect: Places carbon fiber at 5 and 7 o'clock positions on the frame to stop it from twisting on the shot. Players wish it had some more power, but like the spin. Recommended for high level players who can create their own power, otherwise you will feel like a pusher.

Volkl Power Bridge 4
Price: $225

New Aspect: It is half an inch longer than most. It is very light and makes for an easy fast swing. The carbon fibers are at the bottom here. Recommended for those that like to be at the net, and also have trouble with racquet acceleration, but it is not the most forgiving thing off center.

Volkl Power Bridge 6 Attiva
Price: $200

New Aspect: Carbon fibers at 6 o'clock to add power and stability. Softer, rounder grip. Recommended for very aggressive players and doubles players. Geared towards women.

Wilson Kobra Team.FX
Price: $230

New Aspect: Large cutouts in the racquets throat to evenly distribute its weight between four sections rather than the usual 2. Gives more power than spin. Recommended for all court tournament players as it is pretty subservient.

Yonex RQiS1 Tour XL 95
Price: $230

New Aspect: Usually Yonex gives you more control and feed than power, but this one gives more pop. Gotta find the sweet spot on it to drive the ball. Recommended for players that like to go for their shots and create their own power.


Babolat has also just unveiled their Y line, motto: to win
Price: $229

New Aspect: It is the first oversize racquet to combine power with precision. It was developed specifically for club players in the US to give that comfort and forgiveness most recreational players are looking for.


Now as you noticed, racquets are not cheap. If your child has a high ranking it is worth contacting some of these manufacturers to see if you can work out a deal or a sponsorship of a sort. It is also worth looking around online for some good deals or at your local pro shop for seasonal discounts.

If you are just a beginner and can afford a frame, it is not necessary to buy four to six racquets right away; that is for more serious players who need several frames because of the frequency of popped strings, different conditions requiring different tensions, etc.

Most importantly if you are struggling, don't lose hope and desire to let your kid learn tennis, contact tennisracquetsforkids.com and we will do our best to provide those in need with their first frame and put a smile on that kids face. Tennis is Great!




Source: April 2009 Tennis.com magazine

Long Island Tennis Magazine Features Tennis Racquets For Kids,Inc.

Long Island Tennis Magazine, featured Tennis Racquets for Kids Inc., in its charitable iniative section in the March/April edition. The magazine is designed to promote and develop the sport of tennis on every level in the community.

In the spirit of community, Tennis Racquets for Kids, was acknowledged for their dedication to provide every child an opportunity to play tennis. This non-profit, tennis charity was the brain child of twin high school tennis players, who realized that their outgrown racquets would provide a wonderful opportunity for children who could not afford their own tennis racquets. They realized that other tennis players would also have old racquets laying around that would be cherished by those who were less fortunate.

The concept has grown in the community, and has already extended to other parts of the nation. With the phrase, "Donate for the Love of the Game!", people have have come forward to donate their old racquets at local drop off sites, or shipped their racquets to the Tennis Racquets For Kids Inc., directly. Tennis Centers are also getting involved. Temples and churches have collected racquets to support this tennis charity.

Even in these difficult times, people have opened their hearts and realized this opportunity to start to make the world a better place. Think of the impact that could be created if every tennis center, every tennis pro, every recreational or serious tennis player, and industry, would take a moment and realize this great opportunity.

We hope that we can all take a moment to " Donate For the Love of the Game" To bring smiles to children, and to bring families together!!

FOLLOW UP ON SHAHAR PEER IN DUBAI

Finally, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour acted out against the injustice in Dubai by fining the tournament a record $300, 000 for denying Shahar Peer the visa. Larry Scott, Chairman & CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, said the following, “The actions taken today are intended to redress the wrongs suffered by Shahar Peer, who was victimized by an unjust policy of discrimination by the UAE. These actions are also intended to send a clear message that our Tour will not tolerate discrimination of any kind and that we will never allow this situation to happen again."

Thanks to the courage of Shahar, and all those individuals and organizations - including her fellow players - that supported her, the UAE has changed their policy and another barrier of discrimination has fallen”.

The following actions were taken to somehow appease the seemingly unappeasable situation. The tour awarded Shahar 130 ranking points, points she would have lost since she was unable to defend them from last year. She was also given US$44,250 which is the average amount she earns per tournament in singles and doubles to compensate her loss. Her doubles partner, Anna-Lena Groenfeld was also awarded US$7,950 in prize money for being unable to compete with Peer.

The tournament itself was fined the US$300,000, for breach of rules and conditions of membership. The tournament also had to promise a US$2 million guarantee that to remain on the calendar for next year they have to:
1) accept all players qualifies for the tournament regardless of nationality or any other reasons and issue them visas 2) allow any Israeli player to enter the UAE 8 weeks prior to competition 3) guarantee Shahar a wild card into the tournament next year if her ranking doesn’t get her in. All of these things are a little too late! This shouldn’t have happened in the first place!!

It is especially hurtful because Shahar is such a talented player who does charity work in other countries. Silence supports evil and more players should have spoken up against this discrimination. Tennis Racquets for Kids,feels strongly that we must set an example for our children.

Tennis Brings Smiles to Those Less Fortunate

Anna Kournikova recently visited Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Where there is poverty, there is often more misfortune; suffering population that deals with diseases, illiteracy, lack of sewage, waste management and water purification systems, and on top of that nature’s destruction in the form of seasonal hurricanes. Kournikova was asked by the PSI (Population Services International Group) to join them on this trip’s initiative of fighting AIDS and working alongside like programs. These services target kids ages 5 and under and their families by educating them on diseases like malaria, malnutrition, diarrhea and AIDS. Education is also provided on preventing these terrible diseases. “It’s been extremely difficult to try to describe and express what I saw while I was there,” says Kournikova in her blog. Kournikova met with local families and kids and watched the programs tasks unfold and even got to distribute malaria nets to villagers living in huts. “It was completely and devastatingly humbling to experience it all and it will certainly be something that stays with me. This trip made a huge impact on my life, both mentally and emotionally. I’m very thankful and honored that I was able to hear so many personal stories. I am grateful to so many of the kind Haitian people that opened up to a stranger and shared their thoughts and feelings with me,” confesses Anna Kournikova. The real question is who does Anna’s visit help more? Although her blog raises awareness for the awful conditions in Haiti, can a celebrity's visit make the poverty ridden villagers feel any better,and change these horrific conditions. Anna’s probably fully sponsored trip didn’t help to feed an extra family on the 5$ a day budget she describes. It’s really nice to see celebrities doing great charitable things, but sometimes it gets controversial when great charities rely on celebrities to raise everyone else’s awareness. So yes, it may be hard to encourage the 60% under 24 yr old population of Haiti to attend these PSI clinics and educational speeches without attracting them by putting on volleyball games, popular music and the presence of blonde beauties like Anna, but that sounds like a one time event rather than a constant commitment. It also doesn’t help that Anna is sporting her K-Swiss contract gear while posing with the kids.It is not enough to talk about these problems, but action is required to evoke change. Her sponsors should send financial help to the people she visited. Anna could use her website to encourage her fans to contribute to the cause. These things would certainly help. Her visit to bring awareness is just the first step. It would truly be great if she took the next step.Tennis Racquets For Kids, a tennis charity, is encouaged by efforts like this. We can only hope that efforts like this represents the beginning of a greater goal of helping all people.

Check out the links of these important sites:

http://www.psi.org/http://www.fiveandalive.org/http://www.youthaids.org/

Potential New Treatment for Tennis Elbow and Other Injuries

Tennis Raquets For Kids came across an interesting article in the NY Times about a new treatment option for stubborn injuries like tendinitis, tennis elbow and more serious things like rotator cuff rips and torn meniscus.

This new form of treatment is called platelet-rich plasma therapy. It works by injecting portions of a patient’s blood right into the injured area, which prompts the body’s instincts to repair muscle, bone and other tissue.

The coolest thing about this new treatment method is that it appears to regenerate ligament and tendon fibers, which could lessen the time athletes spend in rehab and maybe even help them avoid surgery.

Hines Ward and Troy Palamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers underwent this therapy prior to the Superbowl. It has been tested on hundreds of recreational athletes too and seems to work. It is quite expensive still, it costs about $2000 bucks.

Many times when athletes are not sure what is wrong with them or don't want to risk surgery, this new treatment may be a good alternative.

Stanford’s Dr. Mishra said: “It’s not just the professional athlete who needs to get back to their game. Everyone wants to get back to what they do for play or for work.”

Image Source: Getty Images
Content Source: NY Times

If you would like to read the entire NY Times article CLICK HERE