In disappointing news for tennis fans everywhere, the London Times is reporting that Andy Roddick has withdrawn from the ATP’s year-ending championships in London next week:

The American world No.6 has withdrawn from the eight-man extravaganza – which starts on Sunday at the 02 Arena in south-east London – having been unable to overcome the knee injury that forced him to pull up lame against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in his opening round of the Shanghai Masters last month. It had been feared for some days that the 27-year-old would not have enough time to recover sufficiently to give his all and he had to bow to the inevitable today.

Andy Roddick will reportedly stop by the O2 Arena to say hello to some of the British fans who fell in love with him during this year’s Wimbledon final vs. Roger Federer.

Robin Soderling will fill in for the ailing Roddick and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will become first alternate. At least the Sod is sure to add a little drama to the affair – especially if he’s in Rafael Nadal’s round robin group. The two have avoided playing each other since the Sod took Rafa out of this year’s French Open.

The World Tour Finals draw will be held tomorrow morning at the London Eye. Click here for the WTF website.

(BTW: Andy Roddick’s foundation fundraiser with Elton John is scheduled for November 30, the day after the WTF final. Click here for more info.)

Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, the Williams sisters and others have responded to Andre Agassi’s “shocking” confession that he used crystal meth and lied to the ATP about it after a drug test came back positive.

UPDATE: Rafael Nadal was less moderate than others in his reaction to Agassi’s confession. He wonders why “now that he is retired, he comes out and says this,” adding, “it’s a way of senselessly damaging the sport.”

“If the ATP covered for Agassi at the time, then I think that’s dreadful,” Nadal, the world No 2, said in Madrid yesterday. “The only thing I can say is that if they covered at that moment for the player and punished others for doing the same kind of thing, then that would seem to me to be a lack of respect for all sportsmen.” (via BBC)

Roger Federer responded today at a press conference with his new sponsor, Lindt, calling Agassi’s confession “a shock”. Quotes via Blick.ch (translated):

“I am disappointed that something like this has happened. I hope that the outing was good for Agassi.”

“With his Foundation, he (Agassi) has generated over 100 million U.S. dollars. This is at the forefront.”

“In the future, such a thing won’t happen. The sport must remain healthy.”

Andy Roddick via Twitter:

“Andre is and always will be my idol. I will judge him on how he has treated me and how he has changed the world for (the) better.”

“To be fair, when Andre wrote the reported letter, he was well outside the top 100 and widely viewed as on the way out.”

Serena Williams gives a classic response in Doha (via Reuters):

“I don’t even know what crystal meth is so, you know, that’s what my reaction to it is. I haven’t read anything about Andre Agassi’s book. All I know is that I have a book coming out.“

And Venus: “His book will probably sell. It seems very interesting, to say the least.”

He may not be a tennis super-star, but I like this reaction from CBS columnist Ray Ratto:

“Hope it’s very therapeutic for him. Hope it causes someone else to walk away from meth, or coke, or Peruvian poisonous toad extract, or whatever else is out there now. We’re not here to kick a guy now that he’s back up, although in fairness we’ve always found honesty to be more refreshing when it doesn’t come at $31.99 a copy.“

Here’s the ATP’s official statement:

“Under the tennis anti-doping programme it is, and has always been, an independent panel that makes a decision on whether a doping violation has been found. The ATP has always followed this rule and no executive at the ATP has therefore had the authority or ability to decide the outcome of an anti-doping matter.“

And Francesco Ricci Bitti, the International Tennis Federation president:

“The ITF is surprised and disappointed by the remarks made by Andre Agassi in his biography admitting substance abuse in 1997. Such comments in no way reflect the fact that the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is currently regarded as one of the most rigorous and comprehensive anti-doping programmes in sport. The events in question occurred before the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was founded in 1999 and during the formative years of anti-doping in tennis when the programme was managed by individual governing bodies.”

What with the drug confessions, memories of an abusive father and stories of hustling around the courts as a kid, this book will definitely be on my nightstand after it comes out in November. Are you buying it?

We’ve been following the (never ending?) story of the tennis players vs. the tennis schedule this week, as both Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal have said that current scheduling commitments are hurting the players. Roddick, who retired from his second round match in Shanghai, offered some solutions to the problem via Twitter today (I cleaned up the Twitterisms a little bit):

Obviously I know we are all very blessed to be able to be able to play tennis, but when asked what I think could improve the tour, I will definitely share my opinion . . .I think a shorter schedule will keep stars like Roger and Rafa around for more years and therefore be beneficial for the sport that we all love. I just don’t think it makes sense that we have a year as long as we do, and then people act shocked when injuries play a part.

If you would combine Palm Springs and Miami to three weeks combined, and cancel the off week between Paris (Bercy) and (the year end) Masters, you would eliminate two weeks without canceling any tournament. It would take some cooperation from those tournaments which might be the problem at this point. Plus if you had Monday and Tuesday night finals in Palms Springs you wouldn’t be going against March Madness on the weekends there which would make for better TV.

He also addressed Marat Safin’s comments that Andy Roddick should have listened to him during the 2004 Olympics, when Marat had spoken out against the length of the season:

(Our discussion) wasn’t exactly about the calendar. It was more about the fact that there was too much tennis in the Summer of 2004. I agreed with this, but found it odd that he (Safin) chose to play in Sopot the week before on clay. I didn’t think it gave him much of an argument as far as complaining about too much tennis. That being said, I really like Marat and his opinions and am excited that at the very least this issue is getting discussed and yes, I certainly feel like I know more now than I did when I was 21. I don’t really know anyone who wouldn’t feel that way 6 years further into a career. . .

What do you think of Andy’s fix, which would give the players an extra two weeks of off-season (or an extra two weeks of exhibitions)?

“What kind of sportsman are you, what kind of man are you?” - Marat Safin

The ATP’s Grumpy Season is in full swing at the Shanghai Masters (no wonder Roger’s sitting it out). Even Marat Safin, who is saying adios to the tour in just a few weeks, is taking the opportunity to settle some scores. At issue are two of the players’ favorite complaints: 1. the length of the season, and 2. sketchy injury time outs.

Marat says that Andy Roddick, a vocal critic of the ATP schedule this week in Shanghai, should have listened to him years ago:

In 2004 we had this discussion in Olympic Games with Roddick about it and they were blaming me that I’m playing too much. And I was saying that the season is too long. We should make it shorter. And the guys, they jumped on me, like I was the one who was wrong.

So look at all of them — everybody is falling apart. Everybody is getting injured left and right, and everybody is complaining the season is long. It takes six years to realize that something is wrong.

They just have to deal with that, not when they are 21 and ambitious and want to make money. They have to think a little bit with their brains and to make the career a little bit longer. (via the AFP)

Safin may have a bone to pick with Roddick, but he still agrees that the calendar is a problem: “It’s a beautiful sport, so why kill the players and make the calendar basically playing 12 months of the year?” (via Monsters & Critics)

I’ve always wondered why Safin was once quoted as saying he didn’t like Andy Roddick. I assumed it was  a tiff over a girl (silly me!), but perhaps it’s just run-of-the-mill office politics.

AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

Marat is especially grumpy because he lost in Shanghai on Wednesday, going out to Tomas Berdych: 3-6 6-4 6-4. Safin declined to shake Berdych’s hand after the match, angry at the Czech for making a dubious request for the trainer towards the beginning of the second set. Here’s what Safin had to say after the match:

Just come on; just grow up a little bit; 26 years old; just deal with that. If you’re losing, just be a man; be a man and lose as a man.

Don’t pretend like you are injured and then you start running around and start to hit winners and then all of a sudden you pull the hands up in the air after winning the match?

So then of course the guy will say: ‘No, I’ve been injured but then I felt a little bit better’.

Of course he will find 10,000 excuses. Still, it’s not enough. You’re playing or you’re not playing. If you’re playing, so just shut up and play. (via the AFP)

Actually, it was “so just shut the f#ck up”. Click here for the audio file. Good stuff.

And I love this report from the press room:

“(Marat Safin’s tirade) was an impressive display and one that had some members of the media nodding in agreement. Meanwhile the wee Chinese girl providing simultaneous translation had gone beetroot red, having heard language that she never encountered at the Beijing University of Linguistics.”

Come on, Marat, just say it: “Nanny nanny boo boo!”

Are the top seeds staging a walk-out at the Shanghai Masters? Fourth-seeded Andy Roddick retired yesterday with a mysterious knee injury during his second round match against Stan Wawrinka. The 3rd and 7th seeds followed today, as Juan Martin del Potro retired with a wrist injury against Jurgen Melzer, and Ivan Ljubicic defeated Fernando Verdasco in straight sets. (And a moment of silence for Marat.)

Of course, the underlying theme this week has been the length of the ATP’s season and the toll it (supposedly?) takes on the top players. Roddick expressed his displeasure before his match – providing fodder for walk-out conspiracy theorists everywhere:

I don’t think it’s coincidental that you see, you know, Murray and Roger a little bit hurt now or Rafa missing four months in the middle of the year, maybe some odd results from Del Potro and myself last week. You know, I don’t think that’s all of one big coincidence, and I think — you know, I just hope that the short-sightedness doesn’t affect the length of careers, you know. I think in tennis you definitely want your stars around as long as possible.

Rafael Nadal chimed-in, too:

Is impossible to play 1st of January and finish 5th of December. No one sport can do it, and you can play — well, you play shorter career. Is impossible to be here playing like what I did last five years, playing a lot of matches and being all the time 100% without problems. For last five years, if you see I am No. 1 or No. 2 on matches played on court, and I was okay, I have a few problems in this five years, but not a lot, but sooner or later, finally is impossible, I think. No, I think everybody is working hard to try to change that. . .But I don’t know the solution, but that’s must — my opinion, that’s must be changed and soon.

As I type, Nadal, Tsonga  Djokovic et al. have yet to complete their matches. Let’s hope a few top seeds still remain after today!

James Martin of tennis.com thinks the stars should stop bellyaching about the length of the season.

On the miraculous Abu Dhabi cure:

What’s been especially disappointing this week, in the middle of the Shanghai bitch fest, is that the players seem more clueless than ever. Take Nadal. While he said “it’s impossible to play 1st of January and finish 5th of December,” he has also announced that he’ll be competing in the Abu Dhabi exhibition at the beginning of next year before the Australian Open. (Roger Federer is also scheduled to compete there.) It’s not required that Rafa sign up for this event, though one can only guess that the folks at Abu Dhabi are offering up sizeable appearance fees that will probably go a long way in making a tired mind and body feel rejuvenated.

On the gruelling 25 week season:

On the ATP tour, the pros are supposed to play eight of the nine Masters Series events (Monte Carlo is the exception) and four 500-level events (Monte Carlo can count toward this quota) throughout the year, with only one required to be after the U.S. Open. The Top 8-ranked players are also required to show up for the year-end World Tour Finals. Add to that the Grand Slams, at two weeks each, and the Davis Cup (4 times per season for teams that reach the final) and you’ve got a maximum tournament requirement of 25 weeks. Don’t know about you, but I’d fancy a work schedule like that. And this, of course, assumes that these players are getting deep into the second week of majors and going far in Davis Cup, which only a select few actually do.

Click here to read the whole piece – there’s lots more fuel for the fire.

I still maintain that the season is too long – not for the players but for the fans. We can only stay up past our bedtimes and watch crappy live streaming for so long before it starts messing with our minds. . .

REUTERS/Nir Elias (CHINA SPORT TENNIS) via Daylife

It’s official – the Grouchy Season has started.

Here’s Nadal complaining about the long season to reporters in Shanghai on Tuesday:

“It’s impossible to play 1st of January and finish 5th of December. It’s impossible to be here playing like what I did the last five years, playing a lot of matches and being all the time 100 percent without problems.”

Andy Roddick seconds that emotion:

“It’s ridiculous to think that you have a professional sport that doesn’t have a legitimate off season to rest, get healthy, and then train. I just feel sooner or later that common sense has to prevail.”

But Andy Roddick is not sure who in the ATP should step up and make the necessary changes:

“I certainly don’t see any other sporting leagues or federations following our lead as far as not being individually represented (i.e. through an autonomous players’ union.) I don’t know that it’s up to the players to be making business decisions about the schedule. At a certain point, I wish our input would be: ‘It’s got to be someone’s job to figure that out, right?’”

(Quotes via AP)

We already discussed the scheduling topic at GTT last week, after Roddick brought it up in Beijing. If GTT readers ruled the tennis world, most of us would  push the Australian Open to Februray (sorry Aussies!) and add a couple more weeks between Wimbledon and the French. Feel free to chime in here or here.

But until the powers that be decide to end the season after the US Open, there’s this week’s Shanghai Masters to be played. The tournament features 8 of the top 10 players in the world (who are those missing two, again?) and the most famous man in China, Marat “Tsar” Safin. I love this photo – check out the best Marat sign ever: “Marat Just Be Yourself!”

AP Photo/Andy Wong via Daylife

Safin beat fellow wild-card Gong Mao Xin in the first round and faces the winner of the Marin Cilic vs. Tomas Berdych match next.

Rafael Nadal is at the top of the draw, and will face James Blake in the second round (a rematch of last week’s three-setter in Beijing.) Fernando Verdasco is in his quarter and Juan Martin Del Potro and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are possible semifinal opponents.

Defending champion (and this weekend’s Beijing titlist), Novak Djokovic, anchors the draw. He could face Tommy Haas in the third round and Simon, Cilic or  Safin are possible in the quarters. Roddick or Davydenko could await in the semis.

(Interesting tidbit I picked up from people who actually understand the points system:  If Nole wins this week – admittedly a tough task – and Rafa loses before the quarterfinals, Novak’s ranking will go to No. 2. But the ranking would still be a toss up at the World Tour Finals.)

I’m thinking this is Del Potro’s to lose. What do you think?

Time for some audio-visuals!

Here’s Andy Roddick, not saying but probably thinking: “Same sh*t, different day”:

I feel like James Blake is playing his own mini season right now.  He has a new coach, played Rafa tough in Beijing and just scored a  confidence-building first round win over Ivo Karlovic in Shanghai. He’ll get a second chance at Nadal in the second round this week. Compared to Roddick he’s bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.:

And the ATP’s preview:

Click here for the Shanghai Masters TV schedule (USA only.) For live streaming options, click here.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won the Japan Open title on Sunday, beating Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-3 in just over an hour. It wasn’t the most dramatic match, but it’s always nice to see the top seed make good, especially when that top seed is the gallant Jo-Wilfried. And we were treated to a snazzy trophy, too – I call this one Mr. Roboto:

After the match, I realized that Tsonga and Youzhny perform my two favorite post-victory routines:

There’s Tsonga’s  exultant victory dance:

And Youzhny’s racquet salute:

Not to be confused with Youzhny’s racquet self-flagellation routine:

Side note – I also like Paradorn’s:

This one’s good, too:

Now, back to this weekend’s winners. . .

Novak Djokovic continued his perfect record against Marin Cilic, bringing the head-to-head to 4-0 after beating him 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the China Open final. It’s a nice win for Nole, who has now won three titles out of the eight finals he’s played this season.

After the match, Nole gave some smart answers to some Dumb Press Conference Questions:

Q: As a Serbian is there a special feeling to play against a Croatian?
DJOKOVIC: It doesn’t make any difference to be honest if I’m playing Croatian or whoever I’m playing. He’s one of my best friends, and I have always had best relations on the Tour with Serbian and Croatian guys, so it doesn’t make any difference to me.

Q: It seems Chinese women are delighted by your charms. How do you feel about Chinese women?
DJOKOVIC: I don’t want to talk about too much details about what do I like in Chinese women or not. Certainly it’s flattering when I hear that I have so many fans in China, and it’s been a great experience for me participating in the tournaments here in Asia and in China especially where I’ve had the most amazing presence and situations that I’ve ever faced with a fan. Last year in Shanghai I got a letter from one fan that said she was waiting for 32 hours to see me and she got a hug, and that was the best moment of her life. When somebody tells you something like that, you must be very fulfilled. It’s a pleasure for me to win the title in front of those people.

Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Agnieszka Radwanska for the women’s China Open title: 6-2, 6-4. Sveta is already guaranteed a spot in the Year End Championships, but the $775,500 in prize money was likely reward enough. Though she admitted after the match “I didn’t realize that it (China Open) was such a high category and the amount of prize money until this morning.” Well, at least I’m not the only one who’s confused by the WTA’s tournament ranking system.

This photo really confused me:

In doubles action, the Bryan Brothers won their sixth title of the year with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 victory over the first-time pairing of Mark Knowles and Andy Roddick. But it’s nice to see a little friendly body bumping between opponents. (It’s hand’s down, belly out, Andy!)

In Tokyo,  Austrians Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer won their second doubles title of the season after edging Ross Hutchins and Jordan Kerr 6-2, 5-7, 10-8.

Next up for the guys is the Shanghai Masters (actually, it’s already started!) and the WTA plays on in Linz and Osaka.

World No. 15, Marin Cilic, steamrolled Rafael Nadal in Beijing, winning 6-1, 6-3. Here’s an interesting post-match comment from Rafa:

“I can accept to win and I can accept to lose but mentally probably I wasn’t there. If you’re losing 6-1, 6-3 then there’s something wrong.”

It is very rare for Rafa not to be “there” in a match and even rarer for him to admit it. But with Shanghai coming up next week, he may welcome the extra day or two of rest.

Cilic, who shocked tournament favorite Andy Murray at the US Open this year, said today’s key was confidence:

“From the beginning of the match to end I didn’t let my level of play drop. With more confidence and not giving him too much time to adjust. And I was aggressive when I had to be. In the second set when he came back the match wasn’t easy but I think I kept with what I did in the first set and the best thing was that I didn’t back off and I was just stubborn with my style of play.”

Marin will play Novak Djokovic for the title, after Nole beat Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-3 in the other semi. There was more on the line for Nole than a place in the finals. Today’s win also puts him back at No. 3, a spot he lost to Murray in May of this year. He’s happy to be back:

“I’m very pleased obviously (with retaking No. 3). You know I’ve been No.3 for a while and Murray played well last eight months and got 2nd in the world. What makes best for me is that I deserve it. For this sport it’s always best to have players switching spots at the top- makes it interesting and gives crowd something to cheer about.”

Novak Djokovic has beaten Cilic all three times they’ve played.

Agnieszka Radwanska is back in the top 10 after beating Marion Bartoli in the women’s semis, and will face Svetlana Kuznetsova (who beat Petrova) in the China Open final.

Sveta leads their head-to-head, 5-3.

In cool doubles news from the China Open, the home crowd had something to cheer about as the Chinese team of Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-Wei beat Alla Kudryavtseva and Ekaterina Makarova in the women’s doubles final. Awesome trophy, China Open! I’m voting it best non-slam trophy of the year (It’s right up there with Queen’s Club, which never changes, anyway.)

Andy Roddick and his partner, Mark Knowles, beat Dlouhy/Kohlschreiber in the men’s doubles semi-finals (4-6, 6-4, 10-7) and will take on the Bryan Brothers for the title. Nice to see Andy Roddick making the most of his time in Beijing. Love the photo above because you can read Andy Roddick’s thoughts: “Dude, it’s just doubles.”

In Tokyo, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will play Mikhail Youzhny in the final of the Japan Open. Tsonga leads the head-to-head 1-0 and is looking to become the third French player to win an ATP title in as many weeks (Monfils won Metz and Simon won Bangkok.) Now will on of the French guys step it up next year and win a Major already? That mean’s you, Jo-Willy.

All photos by OSportsAgency.

Perhaps this was the best tennis party of all time, but the photos from the China Open player’s reception turned out. . .awkward. They look exactly like photos from every office party I’ve ever attended – the cliques, the loners, the forced moments of hilarity.

***UPDATE*** This description from the ATP website confirms that this party was a snooze fest: “Roddick and Safin presented government officials and sponsors with gifts, while the Bryan twins and their American compatriot Blake were taught the art of calligraphy writing by a Chinese artist, who wrote in Chinese characters, ‘The Stars Are Shining In Beijing.’”

Ah, good times!

The scene: Serena and Kuzy stick together. Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova make small talk while the other Russian Maria plays chaperon. Marat Safin and James Blake zone out. But keep an eye on Agnes Szavay.

She’s inching closer. . .

And closer. . .

Success! Agnes takes a deep breath, turns to Marat and says something like “So, is that the ATP’s new PR Director sitting down there?”

Marat’s like “Oh, uh, yeah. His name’s Hector, nice guy.” Meanwhile she’s thinking “OMG! I’m talking to MARAT!”

Meanwhile, Kuzy’s like “You know, I beat you at the French fair and square.”

Marat has his own score to settle:”Hey, Serena! Go fu*k yourself!”

And Andy finds the courage to ask Maria: “Are those shorts made of plastic?”

And now for the Very Awkward Prom Photos:

Serena makes the most of things.

This guy’s obviously head over heels in love with Kuzy

Marat gets Beijing’s own Angelina Jolie

This is just so so awkward. . .

But this is even more so!

Battle of the razor cuts.

All photos from O Sports Agency. Click here for more.

No. 5 seed and defending champ Andy Roddick lost to No. 143 ranked Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot in the second round of the China Open on Tuesday: 2-6, 4-6. After the match, the American joined the late-season chorus of jaded, worn out tennis players (and tennis bloggers) who wish that the season would just be over, already!

Here’s Roddick’s take in his post-match presser:

Q: Serena Williams was just talking about how this is a tough time of the year when your body starts breaking down and things. What do you do to try to keep going tournament to tournament?

RODDICK: Serena Williams, their tour championships are in two weeks, so that’s good. Ours are not. It is, it’s a tough task. I certainly have not been shy about saying that at a certain point, something’s gotta give. There’s got to be some time to get yourself right physically and mentally. Right now, that’s just not the case, and you’re seeing it with Roger and Murray being out in Tokyo and Rafael had a four-month deal. Everyone acts surprised when that happens, but it really, I think the fact that we play all the time and all the sudden something happens, it’s really not that surprising.

Roddick, like most of the top players, has been a vocal proponent of a shortened schedule. I think he’s right on the money with this comment: “It would benefit (tennis) to not be so short-sighted and give people time to miss the sport.”

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Popular sports like American football and baseball have off seasons running from 4 – 6 months – I’m including mandatory training as part of the off-season, since tennis players must train, too -  which gives the fans and the players plenty of time to crave the competition. What do you think?