TENNIS BITS & PIECES – Federer named in the Swiss Davis Cup team to face Italy. Belinda Bencic is aiming to be seeded at the Australian Open and Li’s agent denies retirement suggestion.
Federer named on preliminary roster for Davis Cup semifinals
Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka are part of Switzerland’s preliminary roster for its Davis Cup semifinal against a team from Italy that includes Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi.Gael Monfils, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet are on the French team that will face Tomas Berdych and the Czech Republic in the other semifinal next week, after the U.S. Open.In the World Group playoffs, No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic is on Serbia’s team submitted to the International Tennis Federation on Tuesday for that country’s playoff at India. Players can be replaced on rosters until the day before play begins.
Bencic about to be seeded at the Australian Open 2015
The 17-year old Swiss Belinda Bencic is aiming at being seeded for the 2015 Australian Open following her run to the U.S. Open where she lost in quarter finals against Peng Shuai, rising to No. 33 in the world ranking. Bencic is playing her first full season on tour and has attracted attention for her victories as well as her similarity to compatriot Martina Hingis. With her ascent, Bencic will also get straight into any tournament she wants to play, instead of having to qualify.”I mean, yeah, it’s my fourth Grand Slam. Yeah, next year maybe seeded in Australia, it’s unbelievable. Next year I don’t have to play any more qualies,” she said. However, the teenager will have only three tournaments to reach and stay in the Top 32, which is required to secure an Australian Open seed. She is entered in Tokyo, Beijing, and Tianjin. Because of the WTA age-eligibility rule, Bencic is restricted to playing any more tournaments than those the rest of this season.
Li’s agent denies retirement suggestion
Broadcaster Mary Carillo is said to have suggested on CBS that Li Na is planning to retire following the Beijing tournament later this month.The Australian Open champion’s agent, Max Eisenbud, has reportedly denied that assertion. Li Na flirted with the idea of retirement a year ago right before Wimbledon, but changed her mind. She went on to win her second Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open at the start of this season, but has not been beyond the quarterfinals since withdrawing from Stuttgart with the a knee injury. Li’s coaching relationship with Carlos Rodriguez also ended this year; he is under contract to a Chinese tennis academy that wanted him to return to the country. The 32-year-old has not played since losing in the third round of Wimbledon, withdrawing from her subsequent tournaments with a knee injury.
