Tennis Country 2009 Memorable Moments
• January
o Roger Federer’s tears on the podium after losing the 2008 Australian Open Final to Rafael Nadal almost overshadowed Nadal’s first title down under… but Nadal handled the moment with such class and warmth by walking over to Federer and putting his arm around him.• February
o Amelie Mauresmo winning what turned out to be her 25th and final title over Elena Dementieva at the Paris Indoors… while Israeli Shahar Peer was denied a visa to play in Dubai…• March
o There were no fans watching the Davis Cup tie in Sweden against Israel because of security concerns… very sad situation… while Maria Sharapova quietly returned to the tennis Tour, albeit in doubles• April
o Roger Federer and Andy Roddick both got married within a week of each other…Victoria Azarenka “arrived” in the top ten and Dinara Safina became Number One• May
o La Caja Magica hosted a major new men’s and women’s tennis tournament in Madrid• June
o Roger Federer won the French Open for the first time, tying Pete Sampras’ record 14 Grand Slam titles and achieved a career Grand Slam in the process… in the wake of Nadal, decked out in a bright pink Nike shirt, losing to Robin Soderling in the round of 16… while Svetlana Kuznetsova capped off an impressive French Open run by winning her second Grand Slam singles title• July
o The fifth set of the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Final in which Federer finally broke Andy Roddick to win 16-14 and collect his sixth Wimbledon title and record fifteenth Grand Slam… but who can forget the new retractable roof over Centre Court which was only used once during the 2009 Championships! Federer also became the father of twin girls while Monica Seles took her rightful place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame… and the Israeli Davis Cup team stunned Russia to reach the semis• August
o Flavia Pennetta became the first Italian woman to crack the top ten and she followed that up with an impressive performance at the 2009 U.S. Open… while Billie Jean King was honored with the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama• September
o Kim Clijsters won her second U.S. Open title… followed closely by Juan Martin del Potro collecting his first Grand Slam title at the 2009 U.S. Open and the impressive play of Caroline Wozniacki, Melanie Oudin and Taylor Dent… the month ended with Kimiko Date Krumm winning the first title of her remarkable comeback• October
o Samantha Stosur followed up her semifinal run at the French Open with the first singles title of her career… Marcos Baghdatis and Maria Sharapova (finally) returned to the winners’ circle again after lengthy absences• November
o Llagostera Vives and Martinez Sanchez upset the Williams sisters to take the doubles title at the year-end Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships… while Marat Safin said goodbye…• December
o Rafael Nadal led the Spanish Davis Cup team to victory in the 2009 Final… and sadly Amelie Mauresmo bid adieu… but there will be mixed doubles at the 2012 Olympics on the grass courts at Wimbledon!
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