A ten year veteran of the pro circuit, Russell is having one of his best years on the tour, and is currently ranked number 86 in the world. At the ’07 Australian Open, he was up two sets to love against hometown favorite Lleyton Hewett before falling in five sets. In 2001, he nearly pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Grand Slam history in his fourth-round match against top-seed and defending champion Gustavo Kuerten, who eventually won the championship.

• Nickname: Mighty Mouse
• Began playing tennis at age five with his father
• Grew up in Michigan and graduated as valedictorian at Saddlebrook(Fla.) High School
• Favorite playing surface is clay

A ten year veteran of the pro circuit, Russell is having one of his best years on the tour, and is currently ranked number 86 in the world. At the ’07 Australian Open, he was up two sets to love against hometown favorite Lleyton Hewett before falling in five sets. In 2001, he nearly pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Grand Slam history in his fourth-round match against top-seed and defending champion Gustavo Kuerten, who eventually won the championship.

• Nickname: Mighty Mouse
• Began playing tennis at age five with his father
• Grew up in Michigan and graduated as valedictorian at Saddlebrook(Fla.) High School
• Favorite playing surface is clay

• Created The Tennis Channel which launched in 2003
• Former rock musician/songwriter
• Named one of the 10 most influential people in professional tennis by Sports Business Journal
• Served as national radio analyst for ESPN and Sporting News
• Creator of The Ski Channel

Enter the world of Vince…if you dare!

• Born: 7/19/74
• Residence: Boca Raton, FL
• Won 1992 Orange Bowl title, becoming first American to win title since Courier in 1987
• Turned Pro: 1993
• Wrote a book about life on tour, entitled “Break Point” released in 2006
  

Produced by Vienna Productions

A chat with the WTA’s top eight women on Indian Wells, what keeps them grounded, and life on the WTA tour.

Tennis legends John McEnroe and Jim Courier discuss the depth of men’s tennis, the greatest match of all time, and the ascension of Andy Murray.

Produced by Vienna Productions

Life on the Challenger Circuit

• The Challenger circuit is the springboard to fame for the future stars of professional tennis. Nearly every player on the ATP Circuit has fought his way to the top of the game through the Challengers.

•Currently every single player in the top ten of the ATP Rankings competed in the Challenger Circuit in the early part of his career.

• The Challenger Circuit consists of approximately 160 events held in more than 40 countries throughout the world.

• The competition at this level is intense, with young up and coming players fighting for those vital ATP Ranking Points which will qualify them to compete at the very top level of their profession.

• Not only do these tournaments give fans the fun and excitement of watching first class matches, but by providing opportunities for young players to develop their talents, The ATP Challenger Circuit ensures the continued success of professional tennis.

*from ATP.com

Calabasas Challenger

Quick Takes:

•  Born in Fresno, California, Robert Kendrick began playing tennis at age five.

• In 2006 at Wimbledon, Kendrick had Rafael Nadal down two sets before Nadal mounted a comeback, winning in five.

Special Thanks:

Post Production: Sarah Eshelman

Podcast Music by Jason Miller www.jasontmillermusic.com

Zack Fleishman played one year of high school tennis at Crossroads School in 9th grade, where he went undefeated for that season.
At the age of 18, he began playing collegiate tennis at UCLA and played one season in 1998-99 at the No. 2 position. Soon after, he became the highest ranked American in the year-end world junior rankings (at # 18 in the world). After one year of competing on the collegiate level, Fleishman opted to turn professional in 2000.

Quick Takes:
Began playing tennis at age eight
Ranked No. 2 nationally in Boys 18 and under in 1998, and the top-ranked player in Southern California in Boys 10, 12, 14, and 18s
Favorite playing surface is hard

Special Thanks:

Podcast Music by Jason Miller
www.jasontmillermusic.com