“Last year, through the Dubai, Rotterdam and Indian Wells swing where I won all three, I didn’t get tested once. That shouldn’t be OK.”

At the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Roger Federer once again shared his thoughts about doping and testing. He revealed that in 2012, there was a lack of frequent and consistent testing for doping whilst he was competing, despite having won three consecutive tournaments.

This week, the ITF (International Tennis Federation) have shared their plans for biological passports. They have been busy of late redesigning their Davis Cup and Fed Cup websites and their latest relaunch has been the official website of its Anti-Doping department.

The website aims to share detailed information on the Tennis Anti-Doping programme and it has uploaded many PDFs from recent years of blood testing which has been carried out on the athletes.

A summary of testing conducted under the 2012 ITF Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is now available on their website of all players who hold an ATP or WTA ranking. The results show the amount of times the athletes have been tested during the year whilst competing and also when they are out of competition. The results do not include samples collected during the London Olympics by the National Anti-Doping Organisations.

During 2012, the statistics show that a total of 1727 in-competition urine specimen samples were taken from male and female athletes and 124 specimens of blood.

Out of-competition testing was slightly lower with 271 specimens for urine and 63 for blood. Overall, 2185 total specimens were taken and it is interesting to see how consistently players were tested, particularly the higher ranked players.  I have put together a table of results for the current top 20 ATP and WTA players.

ATP Top 20 Testing Summary

These are the sample testing results for the players ranked in the top 20 in the ATP rankings as of this week.

The samples are fairly consistent with Djokovic, Murray, Ferrer, Berdych, Del Potro, Tsonga. Tipsarevic, Gasquet, Cilic, Wawrinka and Seppi all tested on seven and above occasions, whilst the other players were largely tested four to six times.

The only exceptions are Rafael Nadal, who due to injury was not tested for in-competition as frequently and therefore has a higher out-of-competition sample compared to his colleagues. Milos Raonic was also tested on one to three in-competition occasions.

For further names of athletes and their testing summary, you can access the ITF anti-doping website here:

WTA Top 20 Testing Summary

These are the sample testing results for the players ranked in the top 20 in the WTA rankings as of this week.

Half of the WTA top 20 players were tested during competitions on seven or more occasions and surprisingly four out of the current top 5 have been tested fewer times than some of their counterparts. Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Na Li have been tested on one to three occasions and four to six occasions respectively.

For further names of athletes and their testing summary, you can access the ITF anti-doping website here:

Over the next few years, expect the number of overall testing to rise, as the ITF have made it clear that they are going to increase the number of blood tests done each year under its anti-doping programme.

Federer was pleased by the announcement and said at the BNP Paribas Open:

“I think tennis has done a good job of trying everything to be as clean as possible but we are entering a new era. We have to do everything to ensure our tour is as clean as it possibly can be.”

Jo-Wilfired Tsonga wins his 10th ATP title. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Marseille, France - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga enjoyed a successful comeback after saving a match point against Tomas Berdych in front of a home crowd at the Open 13 final in Marseille.  He beat the top seed 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 in two hours and 10 minutes.

Berdych started the match as the favourite, as the top seed had beaten Tsonga in four of their five previous matches, having won all three of their meetings in 2012 and this was a losing streak that Tsonga was determined to put a stop to.

The Czech No.1 began playing aggressively from the onset.  The rallies were lengthy and aggressive and he was able to move the quick-footed Frenchman around the court fairly easily due to the depth of his shots. Berdych had three break points early in the set, but finally converted on his fourth before taking the set 6-3.

The Wimbledon finalist continued to serve well and Tsonga was denied having a single break point during the first two sets and the 27-year-old forced Berdych into an all-important second set tiebreak.

The Frenchman held his nerve well and his powerful first serve prevented Berdych from taking the ball on the rise and be aggressive at the start of the rallies.

To the delight of the crowd, Tsonga took the second set 8-6 in a nail-biting tiebreaker, having trailed 5-6.  The two consecutive aces forced a final third set.

Taking the second set gave the crowd something to cheer about and Tsonga had the mental edge as he broke early in the third set. Tsonga continued to dictate the rallies during the third set and eventually wrapped it up  6-4 in the third to lift his fifth ATP title on home soil, his seventh indoors and his 10^th ATP title overall.

“This is a great victory. I stayed in the match even when it was very difficult and waited for my chance. I survived and took my chance when it came. I’m very happy. This shows me that I’m on the right way. The draw was very strong here.”

Despite a disappointing loss for world No. 6 Berdych, he has improved on a poor win/loss record ahead of the tournament.  Previously he had won only two of his six matches, coming into the event and his run through to the finals ended that spell of disappointment.

“I had a few chances, but Jo was able to serve well in the moment.  That’s the sport. Here, I lost three tie-breaks. This one was very important. But it happens.”

Petra Kvitova defeated Sara Errani in the final in Dubai. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Dubai, UAE - Former Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova has proven once more that she has what it takes to win on a big occasion after beating Sara Errani 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 and lift the Dubai Duty Free Championships title.

Welcome back Petra Kvitova.  The 22-year old silenced her critics after securing her third WTA title since winning Wimbledon in 2011 and no doubt silenced any negative thoughts in her mind about winning the major events on the Tour.

It was not a straightforward victory for Kvitova.  The No.6-seeded Czech won the first set comfortably 6-2, but Errani changed tactics during the second set and this seemed to alter the power of dominance between the ladies.

Having changed from attack to more defensive play in the rallies, the 5ft 4in Italian used every inch of her height to retrieve heavily struck balls to keep in contention for the title.  When Errani did attack the ball, her serve-and-volley style of game proved profitable for the 25-year-old.

The Italian’s unshakeable determination to stay in the match proved to be the key, as she world No.7 comfortably took the second set 6-1.

Kvitova reignited her Grand Slam winning determination to rally back in the third set.  She unleashed her bludgeoning forehand and fired the ball with great power from her backhand to win five games in a row to seal the victory and lift the title.

Errani had no answer to Kvitova’s game and eventually succumbed 1-6 in the third set.

“I knew I had to keep fighting for every ball, because she was really on fire in the second set and continued that in the third too.  I was just thinking to not give up and just fight for every point. When it was 2-1 and she missed a volley, and I think that was a turning point for me.”

She continued:

“I was quite down after the second set. I just tried to stay positive and just play.”

Kvitova may not be one of the greatest movers on the Tour, but this is an area she knows she needs to work on and that speed and agility are key to further Grand Slam success.   She is still the only player born in the 1990s who has won a Grand Slam title and clearly has time on her side.  But for now, Kvitova is quite happy to enjoy the victory in Dubai.

“I’m glad how I’m playing right now – that’s the important thing for me,” Kvitova said. “I’m not thinking this is a turning point or a turning tournament for me. Yes, it was a lot of great players here and it was hard to beat them, but I’m still just thinking about my game. That’s the priority for me.”

Rafael Nadal is crowned champion in Brazil. (Photo credit: InovaFoto)

Rafael Nadal is back. How long have his fans and supporters been waiting to hear those words? A very long 222 days.

Time is a great healer, or so we are told. The Spaniard may have been back for less than two weeks, but in that time he has reached the singles and doubles final at Viña del Mar and has been crowned champion in São Paolo.

Today he won his 51st ATP Tour title and 37th on clay, but is Rafa back at his very best after a great two weeks of his comeback? I doubt it, but give him time.

‘Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time.’ – Abraham Lincoln

Taking time out from the ATP Tour to recuperate and recover has been necessary for the 11-time Grand Slam champion to ensure his knee heals and to prevent further injury. Undoubtedly his rhythm and feel for the ball is not at its best, but at least he is back on the courts competing again and without taking the time to recover, he may have made his injuries worse.

He may have ‘lost’ seven months on Tour, but in doing so he may have lengthened his time competing and that is the most valuable thing.

‘It’s better to do the right thing slowly than the wrong thing quickly.’ – Peter Turla

Nadal has won his first title in eight months and has received a mix bag of press about his return. He has been honest that he is not 100% and still feels some occasional discomfort in his knee. Whilst playing at the two South American tournaments, he revealed that he has struggled with his movement and timing on the ball, but after months of not playing, that is natural.

The Spaniard will not be playing in Buenos Aires next week and this is a sensible decision. It will give him an opportunity to assess his performance over the last two weeks, evaluate how he is feeling physically and relax mentally after two weeks of interrogation about his knee and level of play. Taking things slowly now may create better results in the future.

‘All the flowers of all of the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.’ – Chinese Proverb

The South American swing of the Tour is a good test for Nadal. He may not be playing against the top 5 players, but match practice is more vital. Clay is his favourite surface and one that is the least likely to cause further injury to his knee. Participating and winning at these tournaments are small stepping stones towards his bigger goals – winning against the best and adding further Grand Slams to his outstanding list of achievements.

Not being able to do the one thing you love always has the ability to make you realise how much you miss it. Have the last two weeks planted the seeds for future success for the King of Clay? I believe so, but only time will tell…

Juan Martin del Potro win his 14th ATP Tour title in Rotterdam. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Juan Martin del Potro defeats Julien Benneteau in straight sets to win the ATP World Tour 500 indoor title in Rotterdam today.

Second seed Juan Martin del Potro comfortably dispatched of Julien Benneteau 7=6, 6-3 to lift the title at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament and has won his 14^th tour-level title.

The 24 year-old Argentine, who finished runner-up to Roger Federer in 2012, went one step further on Sunday after an impressive display against the Frenchman who ousted defending champion Roger Federer out of the tournament.

The Tandil native produced a strong serving display despite being broken two times in the first set.  The former US Open champion was stretched to a tie-break to steal the all-important first set which saw his tennis repertoire extensively tested to produce stunning angles to keep the quick-footed Benneteau at bay.

During the second set, the Argentine became more comfortable on court and was not heavily tested by the Frenchman.

The world No.39 Benneteau could not surpress the power and accuracy from Del Potro and eventually lost the second set 3-6.

Despite losing in the final, Benneteau shared his thoughts during the ceremony and believes that he has come another step closer to winning his first career title at 31 years of age.

It has been a great week of tennis for Del Potro who looks to be in good form physically and mentally and has improved his ATP Tour final win/loss record to 14-5.

Here are the on-court interviews by both finalists after the match courtesy of TennisTV.com

Roger Federer is excited about the rest of the season. (Photo credit: Ben Solomon)

Roger Federer: 17-time Grand Slam champion, 6-time Year-End Championships winner, 21-time ATP Masters 1000 champion (he holds the record amount of titles alongside Spaniard, Rafael Nadal), Olympic silver medalist and Olympic gold medalist in the doubles with compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka. Overall, he has won 76 career singles titles in total, but why am I collating a list of his outstanding career achievements? Well, it is because Roger Federer made it to the semifinals of a Grand Slam and for many tennis players that would be a dream come true, for Federer’s critics, it’s simply not good enough.

World No.2, Roger Federer, was bundled out of the semifinals of the Australian Open by eventual finalist Andy Murray after 5 gruelling sets against the world No.3, not too dissimilar to his Australian Open achievements last year.

At the start of 2012 after Federer lost to Rafael Nadal in four sets during the semifinals of the first Grand Slam of the year, some began to question his future in tennis and if it would be the beginning of his career decline due to his age, after starting a family and having other players emerging and dominating in the major tournaments.

Last year in Rotterdam during the press conferences I heard the former world No.1 being questioned about his career and possible retirement (he went on to win the title in Rotterdam), whether he would ever win another Slam again (Wimbledon 2012 anybody?) and if he believed he would regain his place at the top of the rankings again (on July 16th 2012 he tied Pete Sampras’ record of 286 weeks at No.1 after taking back the top spot once more). Prior to these achievements, Roger Federer had been written off in the minds of some people, but in 2013, write him off at your own peril.

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Laura Robson and Genie Bouchard’s video Gangnam Style features many of their colleagues who joined in with the fun…

Not to be outdone by Novak Djokovic and his Gangnam Style dance performance in Beijing, two of the WTA’s young stars, Laura Robson and Genie Bouchard, decided to create a video of their own with the song.  It features Maria Sharapova, Fernando Verdasco, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Samantha Stosur and Heather Watson and the WTA physio team. It is nice to see the girls (and guys!) are having fun in Asia during their time off! Go girls!

After defeating Jo-Wilfired Tsonga in the final of Beijing, the Serb celebrated “Gangnam Style!” (Photo credit: AP/Andy Wong)

World No.2, Novak Djokovic has not acuired the nickname ‘The Djoker” for no reason. Intiialy we had become accustomed to enjoying his impressions of his fellow players and on Sunday, after winning the title in Beijing, the Serbian No.1 celebrated defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and winning the trophy with a rapturous dance performance of the popular song “Gangnam Style.”

For those of you who missed it, here is a video of him delighting the crowd with his moves and for those who have already seen it, feel free to join in Gangnam Style!

Which players on the ATP Tour have collected the most titles so far this year? (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Roger Federer (6 titles)
Roger Federer has enjoyed a very fruitful 2012 and has proven that like a fine wine, he has continued to get better with age. In February, the Swiss maestro collected his first title on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam before acquiring further titles on the hard courts of Dubai and the Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells.

During the clay court season, Federer collected his fourth title of the year and proved to be the conqueror of blue clay after winning the Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid. Since the tournament organizers have announced earlier in the year that they shall not be using blue clay in 2013, Federer will probably remain the only player to ever win on the blue clay courts of the tournament too!

In June, Federer returned to his beloved grass courts of Wimbledon where in an emotional final against home crowd favourite, Andy Murray, Federer lifted the trophy for an impressive seventh time during his career.

After his Grand Slam success, Federer went on to win another Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati and proved his great versatility after winning titles from all corners of the globe on each different type of surface.

David Ferrer (5 titles)
Spaniard David Ferrer takes the second position in the ranking of titleholders for 2012 so far. The 30-year-old Spaniard has enjoyed his most successful year in terms of winning titles this year to date. Ferrer opened up his 2012 campaign with victory on the hard courts of Auckland where he won his first title of the year, followed by a thriving South American swing collecting titles in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Acapulco, Mexico.

During the clay court season, Ferrer won another clay court title, but this time in Europe in Bastad, before moving onto the grass courts where he won the title at s-Hertogenbosch for the second time during his career. Like Federer, Ferrer has won a title on each different surface.

Rafael Nadal (4 titles)
The 26-year-old Spaniard has been missing from the ATP tennis circuit since June after his early exit at Wimbledon and has been battling with a knee injury for some time. The Spanish No.1 has been putting his knee through the paces thanks to an array of recuperation procedures, but has not yet confirmed when he will return back on court.

The opening of the 2012 season for the world No.4 began well and despite his long spell of absence, he has still won four titles this year, all on the clay courts of Europe. His first title victory was at the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 tournament where he lifted the trophy for a record-breaking eight consecutive years after defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. The Spaniard did not drop a set during the entire week en route to victory.

His impressive clay court title collection continued after he lifted the trophies in Barcelona and Rome before he stamped his authority once again at the French Open Grand Slam after he was crowned champion for the seventh time at Roland Garros.

 Which other players are on the list? Have a look at the rest of the article here.

Will Roger Federer finish the year as the No.1 player? (Photo credit: Getty Images)

It is always sad when the end of a fantastic tennis season is drawing to a close and despite the pleas for an improved calendar from the players on the ATP and WTA Tours, we are secretly and selfishly pleased that the calendar year is in some ways unforgiving, grueling and long to tantalize our tennis taste buds and keep our end of season withdrawal symptoms at bay for as long as possible.  Although the close of the 2012 season is rapidly approaching, there is still so much to look forward to before the lights dim, the curtain falls and the racket is reluctantly put down for another year. Here are the top 5 things we all have to look forward to from the ATP Tour:

The Final Masters

Shanghai and Paris Bercy are the final tournaments in the Masters 1000 Series, where the players will be clambering on top of each other to try and win the final two events in the Series on the indoor courts of Asia and Europe.  There is still a lot at stake in terms of year-end ranking and many of the top players will be hoping to snatch more ranking points in order to qualify for the World Tour Finals in London in November.  The exciting question is, who will it be to lift the title in the final two Masters tournaments and can anybody break the stranglehold dominance of the top 5 players on Tour? With Nadal and Ferrer out of action in Shanghai, you never know…

Year-end race to London

Without a shadow of a doubt, the year-end pinnacle tournament is the World Tour Finals in London, where the top four players in the rankings, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, have already qualified for their spot and are eagerly waiting to see which other players will succeed in booking their place in London. Other names hoping to qualify in the race for London are David Ferrer, Juan Martin Del Potro, Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Nicolas Almagro, Richard Gasquet, Juan Mónaco and John Isner.  There are many other players hot on their heels vying for those precious ranking points in order to steal that coveted spot at the O2 Arena.  Here is the current breakdown of the players in the race to London:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Finals/2012.aspx 

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