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Post by TennisHack on Aug 29, 2003 18:56:04 GMT -5
Jarkko Nieminen, of Finland, makes a return against David Nalbandian, of Argentina, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York Friday Aug, 29, 2003. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 8, 2003 14:49:48 GMT -5
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22nd August 2003
Scandinavians Jarkko Nieminen and Kenneth Carlsen to join Thailand Open Field
Scandinavians Jarkko Nieminen and Kenneth Carlsen are the latest players to confirm entry into the Thailand Open, the ATP World Ranking Event to be held in the Kingdom.
“Finnish No.1 Jarkko Nieminen and Danish No.1 Kenneth Carlsen have confirmed to play at the Thailand Open, which will offer valuable ATP World Ranking points,” said Mr. Chaiyapak Siriwat, Chairman of the Thailand Open Organizing Committee. “The appearance of these two top players travelling from such long distances in Europe highlights the importance of the inaugural ATP men’s professional tennis tournament in Thailand,” he added.
Just like Paradorn in Thailand, the success of the powerful Nieminen on the ATP circuit has skyrocketed the popularity of tennis in Finland, where ice hockey and football are the dominant sports. Nieminen has already reached three ATP finals in his short career and his thrilling brand of tennis has already prompted the great Bjorn Borg to say “I think he could become a great personality.”
The tall, blond Kenneth Carlsen is no stranger to the limelight having signed with a top modelling agency in Copenhagen last year. For now, modelling is still only a secondary career for the Dane as he aims to add to the two ATP titles that he has already won.
“Playing in Asia has produced my best moments in my career, where I won my ATP titles in Hong Kong and Tokyo, so I am really looking forward to competing in Thailand,” said Carlsen.
“The Thailand Open has a good number of left-handed players with Nieminen, Carlsen, Lopez and Norman now confirmed to play. Lefthanders produce wonderful shots and create some amazing angles which I’m sure will delight fans watching this great Event”, said Brian L. Marcar, Managing Director of tournament promoter and entertainment giant BEC-TERO Entertainment. “I’m really looking forward to witnessing some great matches at the first ever Thailand Open,” he added.
The Thailand Open will be played at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani from 20 – 28 September, 2003. Also confirmed to play are 2003 French Open Champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, former World No.1 Carlos Moya, ATP Champions Race No.1 Andy Roddick and Thailand’s own Paradorn Srichaphan.
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Post by Lee on Sept 9, 2003 17:21:59 GMT -5
tennis.info
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 9, 2003 18:04:50 GMT -5
Mmm, I saw plenty of that shot in Cincinnati Thanks, Lee!
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 12, 2003 22:31:07 GMT -5
An interesting article on how juniors' success translates into the pro tour: High Stakes Junior TennisBy Mark Winters 09/12/2003 If there is a constant in tennis, it is the somewhat obsessive focus those in and around the game have on finding the "stars of tomorrow." Tennis lore is full of stories about youngsters — some as young as 10 years old — having clothing and racquet contracts. Steffi Graf and Monica Seles are among this group. Given the game’s this-is-the-next-superstar mind-set, the U.S. Open Junior Championships is one part "Star Search" and one part "For Love or Money." Why a company invests in a young player can be as intriguing as the matches themselves. More to the point, with the U.S. Open Junior Championships having just finished, will the victories by France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens be significant in dollars and cents in the current tennis world? "(Grand Slam) accomplishments are important because they reflect a player’s ability to perform at a high level and provide the visibility that a sponsor looks for," said Linda Glassel, senior director of Marketing Communications & Tour for Prince. Markus Hämmerle, director of Advertising and Communication at HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports agreed that the Grand Slam arena, "is important because it is an indicator of performance under pressure," adding, "while this is only part of our decision making, it is a big part." Another part of the equation, one that tends to give the U.S. Open at least the appearance of having more weight than the other Grand Slam junior events, can be junior rankings. Clearly, higher ranked international juniors have more endorsement opportunities than others. In the past six years, eight of the U.S. Open junior champions (four boys, four girls) went on to finish the year as the International Tennis Federation junior world No. 1 and, thereby, the ITF Junior World Champion, often clinching that designation with their U.S. Open triumph. Members of this select group are Arnaud Di Pasquale and Cara Black in 1997; Jelena Dokic in ’98; Lina Krasnoroutskaya in ’99; Andy Roddick and Maria Emilia Salerni in 2000; Gilles Muller in 2001 and Richard Gasquet in 2002. It often appears, however, that winning a Grand Slam title is at the very least the clincher. "Of course it changed things," said David Nalbandian, who defeated Roger Federer for the 1998 U.S. Open boys’ singles title, although Federer went on to be junior world champion. "I was 16 and had this success. I started playing more Challengers. The next year, I only played juniors in Paris and London. Winning the U.S. juniors was a big help to my career." Coming from Finland, Jarkko Nieminen was an unknown before his 1999 Open triumph. "It was my first big international victory," he said. "It was my last year in the juniors, and it gave me a lot of confidence. A lot of the guys who won went to the Top 50. People in Finland started to know me and so did the media. It also gave me sponsors. Without any money, it is tough to travel. At the beginning of your career you have to qualify. Even if you play well, there is little money. Having sponsors helps."The list of U.S. Open junior champions who have gone on to success on the professional level is extensive, most notably this year, of course, with U.S. Open men’s champion Roddick, who is only the second player to have won U.S. Open boys’ and men’s titles, joining Stefan Edberg. (Lindsay Davenport is the only U.S. Open women’s champion to have won the girls’ singles title.) But as important as junior Grand Slam championships are, currently, companies are looking for a complete package if they are going to provide sponsor support. "I would always look for a weapon that made a player stick out amongst the others," said Ryan Macaulay, who spent more than four years on the tennis promotions staff with adidas before moving on to AEG this spring to head up its tennis operations, including the WTA Tour season-ending championships in Los Angeles. "Whether it was a big serve, lethal backhand or monster forehand, these are the important characteristics, in addition to on-court behavior." Beginning a relationship with a youngster also means forming a bond with the family. Tennis is replete with tales about families who would never earn Family of the Year recognition. Another important factor in the equation is the coach. In fact, with so many parents assuming the position, some have difficulty clearly defining their coaching and parental roles. From an industry perspective, the best situation is parents being solely parents. "The more areas in which a player is ‘settled’ allows for fewer issues on court and the ability to focus better," Glassel said. Tennis is a buyers market, which means companies are constantly competing to land a "hot" player. "We hoped to have a player in our product prior to their winning a junior Grand Slam and grow with them into the pro ranks," Macaulay said. But in researching a player before signing him or her, staff members, advisors and teaching professionals, as well as other industry insiders, are canvassed for their input. From there, the decision to make a commitment rests with one or two company individuals. As would be expected, the decision-makers are experienced and often use "gut instinct." Will they take chances on a "long shot?" Of course. Have mistakes been made, with players tagged as "can’t make it" or "sure thing," only to have the opposite success? Again, the answer is of course. “A prime example for many manufacturers," Macaulay said, "might be a player named Andy Roddick." SFX and Reebok hit the jackpot with Roddick. Among the next wave of U.S. junior talent, SFX is banking on French Open boys’ singles runner-up Brian Baker, who lost in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open juniors to Tsonga. SFX has landed Baker an apparel and shoe contract with adidas that is said to be a mid-six figures, multiyear deal similar to Roddick’s initial agreement with Reebok. One thing is certain, those who are looking for contracts in 2003 will not enjoy the avalanche of wealth that filled pockets five years ago when retainers and guarantees were standard. Today’s approach reflects the dollar shortage in the tennis industry as a whole. Limited funds mean contracts are performance- based. In other words, "you win; you are paid." In 2001, the promising French junior Marion Bartoli had a goal. She wanted to win a junior Grand Slam title. After reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, she realized her objective by defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the U.S. Open girls’ singles final. "I had contracts and they improved for sure," she said. "But good players don’t think about the money. You play for fun and enjoy the competition. At the end, you think about what you achieved. For that tournament you are No. 1." Tsonga and Flipkens left New York with the same feeling and, they hope, a bit more financially secure. Contributing writer Mark Winters is a former U.S. Junior Davis Cup coach. His last story for Tennis Week was about college tennis (“Better Players, Fewer Highlights”) and appeared in the May 6, 2003 issue. www.tennisweek.com
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 23, 2003 16:00:52 GMT -5
Jarkko made the front page of ATPTennis!! Jarkko Back on Track; Star Trio Set for Bangkok Debut Fifth seed Jarkko Nieminen ousted Thai wild card Danai Udomchoke 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the second round of the inaugural Thailand Open in Bangkok on Tuesday. Playing his first tournament since the US Open, the Finn improved his record for the year to 37-23. American Brian Vahaly snapped a four-match losing streak when he defeated Australian qualifier Jaymon Crabb to reach the second round. © Getty Images Jarkko Nieminen is on track to pass 40 wins for the season.
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 23, 2003 16:02:55 GMT -5
The article © Getty Images Jarkko Nieminen holds a 37-23 record for 2003. THAILAND OPEN BANGKOK, THAILAND September 23, 2003 Nieminen, Vahaly Advance in BangkokTuesday fifth seed Jarkko Nieminen ousted Thai wild card Danai Udomchoke 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the second round of the first edition of the Thailand Open in Bangkok. The Finn, who reached the final in Munich during the claycourt season, improved his record for the year to 37-23. Udomchoke competed in an ATP tournament for the first time since Tokyo in 2001. ... WHAT THE PLAYERS SAIDJarkko Nieminen: "Well it wasn't so easy to start with his home crowd and I haven't played a tournament after the US Open. We didn't have Davis Cup as we are done for this year. I have been practicing well for about three weeks and kind of waiting for the match since I came here on Thursday. I started a little bit tight in the beginning, but when I got the first set then the rest was easier. This crowd was very good. You can see that they have been watching tennis pretty much and they understand how to act during the points and after the points. I practiced very hard after the US Open. First I rested and then I started to practise for the indoor season and very hard fitness for one or two weeks. When I was younger I used to play almost a whole year indoors so I always like to play indoors and I am looking forward to the rest of the season. There are not so many tournaments left and it is a tough schedule but I am really looking forward to them."
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 24, 2003 22:58:46 GMT -5
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 24, 2003 22:59:52 GMT -5
Two more All from first round action.
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 26, 2003 9:41:57 GMT -5
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 26, 2003 9:47:28 GMT -5
Moya bounced out by Nieminen 2003-09-26 11:24:40 GMT (Reuters)
BANGKOK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Third seed Carlos Moya's Thailand Open challenge was halted in the quarter-finals when he was beaten 6-7 6-4 6-4 by Finland's Jarkko Nieminen on Friday.
Nieminen, seeded fifth, edged out the Spaniard with his stinging groundstrokes and penetrating service returns after more than two hours of action.
"I was very satisfied with how I played right from the start," said Nieminen.
"I was disappointed that I lost the first set but I kept my concentration and played good tennis in the last two sets."
Even though the Finnish left-hander lost just three points on serve in the opening set before the tiebreak, Moya proved to be the better player early in the contest.
The world number six saved a set point against him at 6-5 in the tiebreak before clinching it 7-5.
But the Finn quickly got into his stride in the second as he broke Moya in the third game and held on to the advantage to level the match.
Nieminen kept up the pace in the decider and he grabbed a break in the opening game with a ferocious service return.
Although Moya got back on level terms at 3-3, Nieminen forced a backhand error to break for 5-4 before serving out for the match.
"I knew it would be a difficult match and I knew if I wanted to win I had to play 100 percent," said Moya.
"I thought I played really well but I still couldn't win.
"He played an excellent match. If I had won I would have been a little bit surprised.
"I had a few chances (that) I didn't take but I had the feeling he was controlling the match more than I was."
The Finn will meet eighth-seeded American Taylor Dent, who advanced after Frenchman Nicolas Thomann retired with a right foot injury.
Thomann dropped the first set 6-3 when he quit.
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 26, 2003 11:46:04 GMT -5
Bits from today's ATPTennis article Earlier in the day, Jarkko Nieminen ended third seed Carlos Moya's Bangkok campaign when he defeated the Spaniard 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4. The No. 5 seeded Finn, advanced to his third semifinal of the season following a runner-up effort in Munich as well as an appearance among the last four in Milan. In the semifinals, Nieminen takes on 22-year-old American Taylor Dent, who advanced when his opponent Nicolas Thomann retired with a right foot injury at 6-3. WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID Nieminen: "I lost a tight first set. It would have been a different story if I had taken the first set, but now I can forget that first set loss quickly and started to concentrate again. I started to fight, and I played really well the last two sets." "I have been practicing very well for this indoor season and I have a new coach (Fredrik Rosengren) since Montreal, and I have been playing really well with him. This year I have won pretty much all the matches against the players behind me in the rankings. I have been serving better all the time and at least here I have been serving really well, and my game is all the time getting more accuracy. Against good players like Moya you can't be too defensive because they can finish the points almost from everywhere so you have to win the points yourself." About bowing to the crowd like Srichaphan: "I've noticed that Paradorn does it, and I see the people like it. The people have treated us well here at the tournament, so it's nice to give something back to them, to do something nice for them also."
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 26, 2003 16:17:34 GMT -5
;D Jarkko Nieminen, of Finland, celebrates after winning a quarterfinal match over Carlos Moya, of Spain, at the Thailand Open tennis tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Sept. 26, 2003. Fifth-seeded Nieminen beat Third-seeded Moya 6-7 (7-5), 6-4, 6-4. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
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Post by Lee on Sept 26, 2003 16:23:25 GMT -5
That's a really great pic of Jarkko ;D ;D
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 26, 2003 16:27:08 GMT -5
LOL, the guy who's been sending me pictures from Bangkok sent me this whole series of pics of Jarkko changing his shirt between sets in his first round match I can post them if you guys want to see, I just thought it was quite amusing. Can't wait to see the next batch he has I also hope he's going to continue to watch the tourney. I'm glad he's sending his pics to me, makes me think my website is still be viewed by people other than myself :red:
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 27, 2003 12:40:10 GMT -5
Jarkko Nieminen of Finland hits a backhand to Taylor Dent of the United States during the Thailand Open in Bangkok on September 27, 2003. Dent defeated Nieminen 7-6, 6-2 to advanced into the final round tomorrow. REUTERS/Adrees Latif Jarkko Nieminen of Finland reacts after losing the first set to Taylor Dent of the United States during the Thailand Open in Bangkok on September 27, 2003. Dent defeated Nieminen 7-6, 6-2 to advanced into the final round tomorrow. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 27, 2003 12:57:05 GMT -5
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 27, 2003 13:03:39 GMT -5
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 27, 2003 16:22:44 GMT -5
Jarkko After a shaky start, 22-year-old Dent reached his second ATP final of the season by defeating Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 7-6(3), 6-2. The American captured the Memphis title in February and has a 2-0 career-record in finals. ... Nieminen: "I'm angry at myself, I should have taken the first set. I had the momentum, and a great start to get two breaks against him. You cannot expect more, I felt good at that moment. But I totally lost it, I'm very disappointed. He didn't serve well at the start, that's how I had a chance to break him.When he started serving better, then my chances went away. I had the perfect start and then I just gave the first set away. I'm not saying I would have won the match. But I should have taken the first set. I tried to concentrate when I was leading, but he's difficult to play against as he gives you no rhythm. i didn't hit my first groundstroke until about 3-0. I missed some of my early forehands."
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 27, 2003 22:38:55 GMT -5
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 28, 2003 13:38:46 GMT -5
Jarkko & Andrew Kratzmann lost the doubles final, 6-3, 7-6
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Post by TennisHack on Sept 30, 2003 0:08:08 GMT -5
The Thai guy sent me his last pictures from Bangkok tonight, and some of them are fabulous. I'll put them up later. He sent me almost 40 of Jarkko alone
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Post by Lee on Oct 6, 2003 12:52:44 GMT -5
from the official site of CA tennis trophy
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Post by TennisHack on Oct 12, 2003 12:54:02 GMT -5
A nice little article about Jarkko from early-2002. Curtesy the Jarkko Nieminen group at yahoo: groups.yahoo.com/group/Jarkko_NieminenBy Jarmo Färdig Jarkko Nieminen is a cheery young fellow. The 20-year-old native of Masku has toured the tennis circuit as a professional for one year now, and the trend of his career has been pointing steeply upwards. "This is definitely the profession of my dreams. I played tennis for the first time at age three, and my hobby has become my job. That is something really fantastic", Nieminen muses. Over the course of the past year, Nieminen has risen to 56th in the ATP rankings. This is the second-highest ranking ever held by a Finnish player. The top spot is still held by Veli Paloheimo, the world number 48 in 1991. Nieminen has a calm demeanour. He thinks before he speaks, and does not babble on. He has also approached his career with a patient attitude. Contrary to the common practice, Nieminen finished high school and did not rush to earn tennis dollars even after winning the U.S. Open junior championship in 1999. "Personally, it was an excellent decision. I was by no means ready for the professional circuit at that time, neither physically nor emotionally. If I had not finished high school, I would be solely dependent on tennis." Just under one year ago, Nieminen played in Challenger events, winning four titles. Last October, the young left-hander astonished tennis circles by advancing to the final of the Stockholm Open indoor tournament. Dutchman Sjeng Schalken eventually beat Nieminen in five sets in the final. Last week, Nieminen played in his first ATP clay-court tournament in Portugal's Estoril, and immediately made it to the final. David Nalbandián of Argentina triumphed in the final over two sets. "My life has not changed much over the past year. I play in more tournaments these days, since I am a professional and no longer have school work." "Maybe I am better known these days, and there are more people offering me advice, but I do not have so many fans that they would have become a nuisance", Nieminen laughs, while greeting people who recognise the tennis star in the lobby of the Helsingin Sanomat building. Nieminen's values are well in place. He was a surprise guest at a function of the Finnish Heart Association yesterday, relating his news and signing autographs. Top tennis players earn astronomical sums of money. Nieminen emphasises that the reason he plays is love for the sport. This is quite easy to believe, as he delivers his words very convincingly. "I have never thought about money while on the court, and I will not begin to do so in the future, either. I do not normally even know the amount of prize money at tournaments, but on the other hand, the number of ATP points up for grabs does interest me." Tennis players earn ATP points at tournaments, and these points determine their ranking each week. The best players can enter tournaments without needing to play in the qualifying stage. Nieminen currently has 722 ATP points, and he has earned a good 90,000 euros this year. World number one, Australian Lleyton Hewitt has amassed 4,520 points. "I have an inner force that drives me to the courts, a competitive drive. When you succeed and get to play a good amount of matches at each tournament, you have energy to travel around the world even in poor conditions." "You need to love the sport in order to be able to do this. I have always been able to choose whether I want to go on the court or do something else", observes Nieminen, who is known to take an enthusiastic and meticulous attitude towards training. Nieminen's strengths include versatile groundstrokes and speed around the court, a quality which has developed greatly of late under the supervision of coach Henrik Johansen. Nieminen also thrives in tough situations, like when he is down in a match. He is able to lift the level of his game in these circumstances, a fact which was witnessed by former world number one Marat Safin in Estoril. The Russian player is currently ranked number six in the world, and in his quarter final encounter with Nieminen, served for the match in the second set. However, the Finn broke Safin's serve, and went on to win the second and third sets. Nieminen spends a good amount of time on the road. Travelling is one of the down-sides of the profession. This year, Nieminen plans to play in 25-30 tournaments. That translates into quite a number of weeks on the road, and long separations from girlfriend Neea Vilkkinen. "When given the opportunity to play and tour the circuit, one needs to do so. Careers in professional sports are always quite short anyway. I have already learned to value close relationships with loved ones, however." "The life of a tennis player is often far from luxury, it involves plenty of travelling around the world and hanging out by the courts." "Many outsiders think we see only fancy places, hit the ball around a bit and then take home a nice wad of cash. That is far from the truth, this profession requires a great deal of hard work." At the larger tournaments, everything is well organised so that things run smoothly. Nieminen has also seen the other side. A couple of years ago, Nieminen toured small events in Asia for six weeks. At these tournaments, all players must fend for themselves. Nieminen now laughs at a trip in Japan, where he took two planes, two trains, a bus, and finally a taxi to get to the venue of the tournament. "The trip to Asia provided an excellent lesson in preparing for life as a professional." For Nieminen, Finland is the best place on earth. "I always tell my friends abroad that Finland is the best place I have ever visited", he laughs. "I have no plans to move abroad. Masku provides a good and safe base for me."
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Post by TennisHack on Oct 12, 2003 23:17:11 GMT -5
Good luck in Madrid!! Make the most of your zillionth shitty draw!!
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Post by TennisHack on Oct 13, 2003 10:00:54 GMT -5
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Post by Lee on Oct 13, 2003 11:29:45 GMT -5
Jarkko Nieminen of Finland returns a backhand to Argentine Gaston Gaudio during their first round tennis match at Madrid's Tennis Master tournament October 13, 2003. Gaudio won 3-6 7-5 6-2. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
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Post by Lee on Oct 13, 2003 12:03:16 GMT -5
from TMS Madrid web site
Nieminen: "He really improved his game from 5-3"
Q. You played a brilliant shot to go a break up in the second set. At that point did you think you had the match won? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Well, I was pretty confident. I had all my serves until 5-3, then I just -- maybe in the second set, I might have been too passive. When I had to take the match, I was serving for the match 5-4, he played more accuracy. He didn't miss any balls, he played a good game. Yeah, suddenly at 5-All, from that time you never know what happens. Q. He is one of those players who seems to never know when he's beaten. How difficult is that when you're playing someone like that? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Yeah, he really improved his game from 5-3. When he was down 5-3 in the second, I noticed that. I tried to be more accuracy, but I really couldn't. I had a few bad games in a row, then he was back in the match.
Q. Have you heard anything about the publicity out today regarding betting on matches? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Well, I just read the news about it.
Q. You read the Sunday Telegraph? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Yes.
Q. You have the gist of the situation? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Yeah.
Q. One thing we'd like to know, nobody is suggesting that anything was untoward or has been proved, particularly in your match with Lopez in Long Island. What we'd like to know from a player who is coming up the rankings, is getting towards that stage of being a leading player, as you are, what is your view on the principle of the whole thing? Does it shock you that this may be happening? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Well, I have no examples from anything like that. I'm not aware of anything that some players would bet for the matches. So I haven't heard anything. In that English newspaper, the Sunday Telegraph, they were talking about my match against Lopez, when he retired against me. He was really throwing up the whole day. That's only example that I really know that there was some such pieces of people about that match. Yeah, he was really felt terrible on that day. He was throwing up. He really couldn't play. He really couldn't finish the match. I think tennis is so tight nowadays that you can't play that so much on the paper. There's so many surprising results, I can say that. When I'm playing well, I feel like I can almost beat against anyone, even the Top 10 players. I have already done it a few times this year. If I play bad, I can easily lose against guys who are ranked over a hundred.
Q. Clearly some people are betting matches because a bookmaker did say there was more business in betting on that match. Does that worry you as a player, that some people are gambling lots of money on matches? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Well, if some people are really so much into that, I can't do anything about it. Only good thing until now, I haven't heard those people would be players. I can't do anything if someone is betting a lot of money for my matches. I don't feel any pressure for that. I think ATP and those betting companies have pretty good information. They get good information between each other. If someone is betting huge amounts for certain match, they inform each others.
Q. From a player's point of view, presumably you are aware of the penalties of such an offense? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Yes. I think it's good that the penalties are very big, they affect a lot. That's how it should be, everything. For example, if you use doping or if you cheat somehow, doesn't matter if you are betting, you don't give your best on the court, of course the penalty should be very harmful for the player who is doing that.
Q. If it was discovered that a player or players had done this, if it was discovered, the penalty obviously puts them out for three years anyway, with the big fine, I think $100,000, three years out of the game would put you out anyway, but do you think the other players would be disgusted and not want that player back anyway? Do you think it's possibly the worst thing that can happen in sport, that somebody would bet against themselves to lose? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Yeah, sure, it's one of the worst. Like saying if someone -- like I say, if you are cheating, using doping, or you're betting against yourself, those are the worst things I could believe as a player. It would be very hard to come back for that player.
Q. Davis Cup, you have a tie coming up with Luxembourg. In Britain we're keenly seeing who wins that because it could be Britain against you in the new year. What are your thoughts going into the tie with Luxembourg? Is that a tie you feel you should win? JARKKO NIEMINEN: Well, maybe we are a favorite this time. But we play away. They have been playing very well in Davis Cup. We have to be ready for that. I don't know the players so well. I saw some results from Davis Cup. They have been playing really well, so we have to be very careful and prepare well for that. I hope we can beat them and it would be great to play against Great Britain in their home courts.
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Post by TennisHack on Oct 13, 2003 14:33:29 GMT -5
from the front page of ATPTennis.com: © Getty Images Jarkko Nieminen fell to Gaston Gaudio in three sets. Argentines Lead Early Assault in Madrid Gaston Gaudio and Juan Ignacio Chela have given Argentine fans plenty to cheer about on the opening day of Tennis Masters Madrid. Gaudio advanced to the second round with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Jarkko Nieminen to set up a meeting with fifth seed Carlos Moya. Chela also needed three sets to pass the first round, defeating qualifier Alberto Martin 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. All 16 seeds have a first-round bye. article: Arengentines Off To Winning Starts in MadridArgentines Gaston Gaudio and Juan Ignacio Chela got off to winning starts on the opening day of the Tennis Masters Madrid on Monday, both progressing to the second round with three set wins. Down a set and a break in the second, Gaudio looked to be heading for an early exit. The Argentine dug deep however, edging past Finnish player Jarkko Nieminen 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 to earn his place in round two. Niemenen looked to have the match sealed as he served for the win 5-4 up in the second set before Gaudio asserted himself, showing true steel to clinch the match in three sets. Gaudio improves to a 38-23 match record in 2003 and next faces No. 5 seed Carlos Moya. ... WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Nieminen: "I was pretty confident. I held all my service games until 5-3 in the second -- then I might have been too passive. I was serving for the match at 5-4, he started playing with more accuracy. He didn't miss anything, he played a good game. Suddenly at five-all, you never know what can happen." On the potential Davis Cup tie against Great Britain next year: "I hope we can beat them and it would be great to play against Great Britain on their home courts."
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Post by TennisHack on Oct 19, 2003 17:59:40 GMT -5
Wild card Enqvist eyes fourth Stockholm title Posted: Friday October 17, 2003 1:06PM; Updated: Friday October 17, 2003 1:06PM STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -- Thomas Enqvist received the last Stockholm Open wild card on Friday and has targeted a fourth title at the indoor hardcourt event in the city of his birth. The 29-year-old, once fourth in the world, is keen to end a three-year title drought and prove that he has fully recovered from the shoulder injury which caused him to slide out of the top 100 in the rankings this year. "I have finally started to find the level of my game that I know I can achieve at," Enqvist said "I will do everything I can to try and win my fourth Stockholm Open title." Enqvist, who can take his career winnings over the $10 million mark if he reaches the semi-finals next week, won in Stockholm in 1995, 1996 and 1999. The Swede has won 19 ATP singles titles since he turned professional in 1992, but his last triumph came back in 2000 at Long Island. This year he has reached the last 16 three times -- in Milan in January, Scottsdale in March and in Lyon earlier this month -- and is now 146th in the ATP entry rankings. The 2002 Stockholm Open winner and world number 11 Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand will be the number one seed this year ahead of Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, the 2001 winner here. Following his third round win over world number two Andy Roddick of the United States at the Madrid Masters on Thursday, big-hitting Chilean Nicolas Massu is perhaps the hottest name entered for Stockholm Open. Finn Jarkko Nieminen, who announced his arrival onto the world stage here two years ago when he beat Enqvist in the semi-finals and took Schalken to five sets in the final, returns to Stockholm in pursuit of his first title.Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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