Andy’s Reads – Ons Jabeur’s Historic Win, Kiki Bertens To Retire In 2021

Wimbledon ball boys and ball girls go through a rigorous training program that starts in January. The training lasts two and a half hours a week until Wimbledon begins in June. (Evening Standard)

Bad luck continues for Juan Martin Del Potro. He joins a long list of top players skipping the Tokyo Olympics (Twitter)

ITF lifted Dayana Yastremska’s doping ban after accepting her explanation of how the banned substance mesterolone entered her system (Eurosport)

Rafael Nadal skipped Wimbledon but plans to play at the Rogers Cup, at Cincinnati, and at the US Open (Tennis.com)

Ons Jabeur becomes the first Arab woman to win a WTA title (WTA)

Kiki Bertens, former world number 4, will retire later this year. She has been struggling recently with injuries. (Reuters)

Continue ReadingAndy’s Reads – Ons Jabeur’s Historic Win, Kiki Bertens To Retire In 2021

Kosmos To Represent Dominic Thiem, Highlights Conflict Of Interest In Tennis

Kosmos is entering the talent management agency business. The company founded by Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué announced that it has signed up 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem.

The new business vertical will be headed by Galo Blanco. Blanco will also be Thiem’s agent. Blanco coached Thiem until 2018.

I am very happy that Galo is part of the team again. He stayed in close contact with me and my family, even when he stopped being my coach. The season has not started as I would have liked, but I am working very hard to get back to the levels we saw at the end of 2020. Adding Galo and the rest of the Kosmos team will certainly help this process

-Dominic Thiem

Kosmos took over Davis Cup in 2019 promising a $3 billion investment over 25 years. The 121-year event was revamped into a soccer world cup style format with top countries fighting for the title.

Owning a major event and representing athletes represents a conflict of interest, which is rampant in tennis. Top tennis players such as Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer also own events on the ATP calendar. Federer also sits on the ATP Player Council.

Continue ReadingKosmos To Represent Dominic Thiem, Highlights Conflict Of Interest In Tennis