CAPS Hope for Strong Finish; Will Host Championship Weekend

Season at a Glance

    The CAPS are back on track and have evened their record at 6-6 going into the final two matches.  After the CAPS fell to 1-4 to begin the season, the team has started to mesh and has looked strong in the second half of July.  Here's a look at how the CAPS have rebounded from that slow start:

    On July 11, Dmitry Tursunov proved why he was chosen as the CAPS' marquee player.  After the first four sets, the CAPS trailed the Springfield Lasers 14-13 with men's singles to decide things.  Enter local product and No. 32 in the world; Tursunov punished Springfield's Isak Van der Merwe with his trademark forehand and won the final set 5-0 to get the CAPS back into the win column with an 18-14 victory.  Record: 2-4.

    Next up was the Newport Beach Breakers.  Even with the services of Newport's marquee player Lindsay Davenport, the CAPS were still able to find a way to win, this time in dramatic fashion.  After a tightly contested five sets, nothing had been decided -- the CAPS and Breakers were tied at 20 games each.  Eric Butorac and Sam Warburg recovered quickly from a 5-4 loss in the final set and won the super-tiebreak 7-3 to give the CAPS a huge win, 21-20.  The biggest crowd of the year at Allstate Stadium had plenty to cheer for as the CAPS improved to 3-4.

    Unfortunately they couldn't follow it up two nights later in Newport Beach, losing 23-16 in what CAPS players called one of the ugliest matches of the year.  Record: 3-5.

    The CAPS returned home for the easiest match of the year, taking out the St. Louis Aces 25-12.  They won every set in the win and improved to 4-5. 

    Back on the road, the CAPS would play three matches in three nights.  And the first night in Washington, they finally reached .500.  The surprise story of the night was the play of Tammy Hendler and Elena Likhovtseva.  After struggling early in the season, it seemed the pair figured out how to play together as they won the deciding fifth set 5-0, a first for the duo, much to the delight of CAPS Coach Wayne Bryan and the rest of the squad!

    Now at 5-5, the CAPS headed to New York to take on the Buzz.  Although they trailed all night,  Sam and Booty won the final set in a tiebreaker, giving the CAPS hope for a comeback.  In overtime, the leading team has to win a game to close out the match or they continue play.  The CAPS looked like they were ready to take advantage of the rule, winning the first game and inching within two games, 20-22.  However, New York's Patrick Briaud and Nathan Healey were able to close out the next game.  Record: 5-6.

    On to Deleware, where women's doubles came up big once again.  This time, Tammy and Elena won their set 5-1, which proved to be the difference.  Booty and Sam got the job done in another tiebreak set, 5-4, but this one would go down to the wire.  After the impressive doubles win, "The Belgian Babe" lost her singles set 5-2 and Hendler and the CAPS were suddenly in a nail-biter, leading by just one game, 19-18.  Tammy had to win the next game or the match would have gone to a super-tiebreaker.  Luckily for the CAPS, the youngest player in the league held on to give her team a 20-18 victory.    

     So the CAPS return home tonight at 6-6!

     They take on the Boston Lobsters tonight and the New York Sportimes tomorrow to wrap-up the 2008 regular season.  But don't forget the CAPS are hosting WTT Championship Weekend July 24-27.  Come out to AllState Stadium and watch the best teams in the league compete for the King Trophy, including your CAPS!  For more information and tickets, visit us at www.gocaps.net, or call (916)638-4001.  

Tammy in SacBee

"The Belgian Babe" Tammy Hendler was featured in today's Sacramento Bee.   She got quite the front page treatment in the sports section.  Pick up a copy or see Paul Bauman's article at:  http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1099470.html .  

 

Road Woes; Looking Ahead

CAPS Struggle on Road

    After an impressive victory in St. Louis on Monday, the CAPS had a great shot to take out the Springfield Lasers on Tuesday and even its record at 2-2.  Going into the final set, the CAPS were in yet another tight battle, leading the match 18-17.  That's when the wheels fell off for Elena and Tammy, who could only muster one game, giving the Lasers a 22-19 win.  

    Although disappointed, the CAPS had to recover quickly to be ready for a duel with undefeated Kansas City last night.   Perhaps it was the fact that it was their third match in as many days, or maybe the Explorers are just that good, but the CAPS dropped all five sets, losing 25-15, one of its worst losses in years.  

    The CAPS, now 1-4, return home this week facing another back-to-back, on Friday and Saturday.

Mark Your Calendars

    Every year, the CAPS prepare their schedule with the fans in mind.  Theme nights help make a night out at Allstate Stadium more than just a tennis match.  Here's a look at what the CAPS have in store for you in '08.

Friday, July 11 - CAPS Idol -- The CAPS seek revenge on the Springfield Lasers.  Marquee player Dmitry Tursunov will be in action and we might even get to hear his singing voice.  It's CAPS Idol Night! Back on June 21st, contestants battled in an American Idol type singing competition as Coach Wayne Bryan played the part of Simon (only much more cheery).  Now the finalists will perform at half-time and you get to help decide the winner... Reminder, this is tomorrow night!

Saturday, July 12 - Drop-Shot Divas - Lindsay Davenport and the Newport Beach Breakers are in town, but this day is all about the ladies!  Just listen to this:  For only $50, ladies start the day at Nordstrom for a private "Dress Like a Diva" seminar, makeup session, and gourmet lunch.  After you pamper yourself, enjoy a clinic with Coach Bryan and Lindsay Davenport has even agreed to participate!  A ticket to the match is also included.  This is by far the best deal in town, so go ahead, be a Diva for a day!  

* Just a note on Lindsay, it is so clear how much she loves the game of tennis.  It's not often a marquee player agrees to interact with fans, participate in clinics, and don't forget she had to pull out of Wimbledon with an injured knee.   But she will be here in Sacramento, honoring her commitments to World Team Tennis.  Be sure to give her a warm CAPS-style welcome on Saturday night.

Tuesday, July 15 - Ready to Rumble - Get a group together from your club and see how you stack up against the local competition.  Teams will play a WTT-format match for $500 in prize money.  Bring your A-game!

Tuesday, July 22 - Couples Night -  Couples receive two-for-one ticketing and a chance to win great prizes in a special half-time contest.   The 7th Annual Coca-Cola High School Challenge also will take place today!  During the day, area high school teams compete in a co-ed, WTT-format tournament, with the finals being held under the lights after the match.  It's a bonus for the fans, who can stick around for more great tennis, as some of the top high-school players in town try to bring the title to their school. 

 

Wednesday, July 23 - Fan Appreciation Night, as well as a tribute to our local heroes.  Join the CAPS as they salute local law enforcement officials, volunteers, and firefighters, who especially deserve recognition after the past two months battling numerous wildfires in California. 

Don't forget, WTT Championship Weekend is July 24-27 at Allstate Stadium!  Contact the CAPS at (916)638-4001 or visit our website at www.gocaps.net for more information.  

Great Day for Tennis

    The Wimbledon final put tennis back on the map.  

    Rafael Nadal's epic victory over Roger Federer was absolutely shocking, stunning, incredible, magnifico, bueno... in whatever language you choose, whatever adjective you can come up with, the match was one for the ages!  

    I got up at 6:15 am thinking I would watch Federer win yet another Wimbledon title, breaking Bjorn Borg's record, and I would be on with my Sunday by 10 am, catching up on the things I failed to do all week.  About 2 pm, I was still glued to the television, watching two of the greatest players our sport has ever seen battle back and forth in a winner-take-all fifth set. Four hours, 48 minutes later -- but really about seven hours real time -- we had a winner.  

    Nadal deserves major credit for his grittiness and fighting attitude, prevailing 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 after two rain delays and unbelievable pressure packed moments.  But as crushed as Federer was -- nearly breaking into tears in his post-match interview with John McEnroe -- he is still the better player.  Regardless, the fact that the match took place on the most prestigious court in tennis with the world watching, was a big boost for the sport.  

    The image of an elated Nadal laying on the grass in triumph was voted ESPN's Image of the Week.  It's not often an image from a tennis match gets that kind of recognition in a sports world dominated by major sports like football, basketball, baseball, and NASCAR.  

    I cannot wait for the US Open, and I have a feeling plenty of sports fans now share that sentiment.  So please join me in welcoming tennis back to the mainstream!    

CAPS Notch First Win

After Tough Start, CAPS Rebound on Road

    The 2008 season is underway and the CAPS are now on the board in the win column after taking out the St. Louis Aces yesterday in dramatic fashion.

    It was a tough holiday weekend for CAPS fans, as they watched their team lose it's first two matches at home, the second by just one game!   

    Now on the road, the CAPS have three matches in as many nights.  And last night, they proved why they are the defending WTT Champions.  

    Elena and Booty looked strong in mixed doubles, winning 5-3 to start the night right for the CAPS in St. Louis.  However, the team dropped the next three sets 5-4. 

    Tammy Hendler, the youngest player in the league at just 15 years old, made her World Team Tennis debut.  Although she lost her singles set and came up just short in doubles with Elena (both were 5-4), CAPS owner Lonnie Nielson was impressed.  "Sacramento is going to love 'The Belgian Babe'," he said.  "She's going to be great!"

    The CAPS entered the final set of the night down 18-17, but Sam Warburg's big serving proved to be the difference as he and Booty came through with a 5-3 win that sealed the victory for the CAPS 22-21!  This was almost the exact opposite of Friday night's CAPS loss.  The CAPS can get back to .500 tonight with a win in Springfield!

Here We Go...

Opening Night Upon Us

Tomorrow night, the CAPS take the court for the first match of the 2008 season.  For "Vine and Vibes" night, the Newport Beach Breakers will be in town .  Get there early to enjoy jazz and wine tasting at Mansour's Rug Gallery from 5:30-7:30 (cost is just $15).  

The CAPS invite you celebrate this Independence Day family-style.  Friday night, come join the Family Freedom Fest at Allstate Stadium as the CAPS take on the Kansas City Explorers!  As you root your team to victory, join in the summertime favorite watermelon eating contest, take advantage of $1 menu items, and stick around for the kids parade.  Did I mention kids under 13 get in FREE!  If you're can't make it to the match, the CAPS wish you a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

The CAPS may be shorthanded for this week's matches because Tammy Hendler is into the quarterfinals of Wimbledon Juniors.  She has only lost one set thus far, and will next play the No. 2 seed, Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.  Good Luck to "The Belgian Babe!"

Busy Month for CAPS Players

CAPS Recap

With less than a week until the July 3rd season opener, CAPS players should be ready, as they have been everywhere in June.  From NorCal to Wimbledon, here's a look at what the players have been up to.

DADDY!

On Friday, June 20, Dawn Knowles, wife of CAPS veteran Mark, welcomed the couple's second child!  At 9.5 pounds and 22 inches tall, not-so-little Brody required a C-section, but the Knowles family is happy to report everything went smoothly.  Brody joins older brother Graham, who you may have seen atop dad's shoulders at past CAPS matches, testing Dawn's nerves every time (Graham will be 3 in September). I don't think one kid on each shoulder is going to work, so Knowlsey may have to find a new system to bring his family out on court.  

Check out the link below for more on the birth of Brody:

http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/2008news/knowles_baby.asp

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KNOWLES FAMILY!

Warburg Strong at Yuba City; Has Tough Time on Grass

Early this month Sam Warburg was seeded second in the Yuba City Challenger.  After reaching the semis in doubles, Sam lived up to that seeding by reaching the final, but came up just short in a three setter.  

Warburg then took off to WImbledon, where he was seeded No. 11 in the qualifying tournament.  Unfortunately, Alexander Peya of Austria was ready for him, and the local CAP's star went out in the first round, 6-2, 6-4.  He also had a tough first round loss in the doubles.

However, I have seen Sam compete since he was 12, and he's never been a fan of losing.  If anything, it fuels him, so look for the fiery Warburg to come out strong for the CAPS come July 3!   

Tracking Tammy 

CAPS rookie Tammy Hendler had to miss the French Open due to injury, opting to return to action at the Tradition-ICAP Liverpool International Tournament.  Although she got just one win in four matches, the round robin format was a great way for Hendler to gain valuable match experience after missing over a month.  

"The Belgian Babe" followed up her performance in Liverpool with an impressive result at an ITF event in Sweden.  Tammy took out the top seed and reached the quarterfinals of the clay court tournament.

The injury-free Hendler is the No. 11 seed in the Wimbledon Juniors and said she can't wait to show Sacramento what she can do!

Dmitry Gets DQd

CAPS 2008 Marquee player Dmitry Tursunov was recently disqualified from the Wimbledon warm-up tournament in Nottingham.  The No. 31 player in the world disagreed with a line call in his doubles match and stormed off the court.   Apparently his outburst was enough for the tournament director to disqualify Tursunov from the singles event as well.  

In no way do I condone Tursunov's behavior in, but it just seems those traditionalists in England could lighten up once in a while.

Dmitry will appear at Allstate Stadium in Roseville on July 11.

Wimbledon

CAPS players have been hot at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships.  Let's start with Eric Butorac, who won a grueling first round match in five sets!  The first-year CAP and partner Ashley Fisher took more than three hours to advance, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5.   "It was a war," Butorac said.  "I had no idea how long a five-setter felt until this one."  Make sure you give "Booty" a warm welcome next week at Allstate Stadium.  

We have to mention former CAPS youngster Anastassia Pavlyuchenkova, who got her first Grand Slam win at the French Open.  The 16-year old's tremendous confidence boosted her to two more wins, as she upset No. 17 Alice Cornet in a close first round, 7-6(6), 7-6(4), and then breezed by Li Na of China before meeting her match -- Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska.

As noted earlier, Mark Knowles has plenty on his mind these days, like his newborn baby boy.  Perhaps that played a role in he and Mahesh Bhupati's first round loss at the All-England Club, and I don't blame him.  Thoughts of the beach (his home in the Bahamas), the family, and little Brody likely were stronger than focusing on hitting a little yellow fuzzy thing.  Knowles said he will likely take some time off to be with his family.  You never know, maybe he'll make an appearance this year for the CAPS.  We'll have to wait and see...

Dmitry Tursunov had a great draw at the French Open, but was upset in the third round.  Now at Wimbledon, the door was left wide open once again.  His half of the draw was loaded with talent, but with Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick, and James Blake all losing early, Dmitry had a great shot to go deep into the second week.  After squeaking out a five setter in the opening round, he looked more composed in round, beating Britain's Chris Eaton in straight sets.  

With Dmitry's aggressive game being especially suited for grass, I thought he had a great shot at the semis, where he would have faced Rafa Nadal.  My only concern was Janko Tipsarevic, and despite Tursunov being the favorite, he was not able to hold off the Serbian. 

Phew!  What a month.  At least in July, you'll know where to find your favorite CAP.  

All matches are held at Allstate Stadium in Roseville and begin at 7:30 p.m.

Roland Garros Wrap-up

Double Take at Roland Garros 

Mark Knowles was probably the CAPS best hope to do well in Paris, but he and Mahesh Bhupati had a tough go, losing in the first round.  The No. 4 seeds just didn't have the typical energy and spark they had played with most of the season.  

However, the 2008 CAPS Male Marquee Player Dmitry Tursunov had a surprising run, reaching the semifinal with fellow Russian Igor Kunitsyn.  Known mostly for his singles play throughout his career, Tursunov's aggressive game proved strong enough to catapult he and Kunitsyn through their early rounds, before losing to Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic, seedes No. 2, in the semifinal.  At least Knowlsey still has a shot to beat Nestor as the first to win a grand slam with a different partner.  Since their split last season, neither man has won a major.  But guess who  has?  The 2008 French Open Doubles Champs are.... no, not the Bryan Brothers, but Pablo Cuevas and Luis Horna!  Go figure...

CAPS Coach Wayne Bryan has even more to be proud of.  Although his twin sons, the top doubles team in the world, did not win the French this year, Bob did take home the mixed doubles title with Victoria Azarenka.  To play the mixed event was a last second decision for Bob.  "We weren’t even signed up," Bryan said. “I was at the practice court. I rushed over (to the referee’s office). Made it with two minutes to go.”  Good thing, as the first time pair played like they had been partners before, winning the final in straight sets. 

Singled Out 

Dmitry Tursunov had a great draw to get back on track in singles and perhaps get back into the top 25 for the first time in months.  He started off strong, winning his first two rounds without dropping a set.  But in the third, he failed to win one against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.  Two more wins and Dmitry, now ranked No. 30, would've had a showdown with Rafael Nadal.  Ya never know... 

After qualifying for her first grand slam, former CAP Anastassia Pavlyuchenkova got her first main draw win.  She took out Argentine Maria Emilia-Salerni 6-1, 6-1, and looked to continue a surprise run when she won the first set of her second round match with No. 26 seed Flavia Penneta.  However, the Italian came back to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.  

"Booty" in Paris

Eric Butorac was also in the main draw doubles with longtime partner Ashley Fisher.  The duo had a chance to knock off the No. 8 seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett in the first round, but came up just short 7-6(8), 1-6, 7-6(2).  That's about as close as it can get.  

"Booty" was nice enough to give us a little insight into life as a "journeyman" on tour during the European clay court season. 

"This week the French Open starts up, marking the end of the clay court season.  For me, like most Americans, this can be a bit of a struggle.  Each year, I start up with high aspirations and am motivated to improve and get some big wins on the dirt and this year, like the last 2, I just barely survived a few matches here and there, losing a couple heartbreaking super tie-breakers and getting beat around by some South American teams who hammer the ball from the baseline.  So, with one tournament left, I'm looking to my former home (I was based in France for almost 2 yrs) to bring me some luck and put a cap on my clay season.  

A couple highlights/lowlights from the clay season....
* Kicking off the season in Houston with a 11-9 loss to Sergio Roitman and Marcos Daniel.  FYI....when you look at your draw in a clay court event, Sergio and Marcos are two names you don't really want to see....I'd add them to the list of names like Garcia, Gonzalez or Lopez.  All spell trouble.  

* A trip to Bermuda with plenty of time to see the sights due to a first round loss
* The players party in Munich at the BMW Open.  These Germans not only know how to run a tournament, but they throw a great party as well.  
* Did I mention parties?  Well, the following week a good friend of mine, doubles player Christopher Kas, took me out in Dresden, Germany.  The party we attended was some sort of local horse jumping tournament party.  Standing in a freezing cold barn with the smell of horses all around, I was suddenly wishing I was back in Munich!  
* A 7 hour car journey on the German Autobahn from a challenger in Dresden, Germany to Aarhus, Denmark.  Yeah, that's right, those are actually locations hosting pro tennis tournaments.  I also think that is the fastest I've ever gone in a car.  
* Paying $7 for a coke in Denmark.  I knew the dollar was plummeting, but I had no idea the Danish Kroner was so strong!  
* Panicking cause I was so out of breath in our first practice in Austria, thinking I was out of shape, then realizing, the city is located at over 3,000 feet.  

There it is, the ups and downs of another clay court season.  I survived those six tournaments and am ready to take on Paris!  

Allez!
- Booty

Now that is good stuff!  If you ever wondered what life was like on tour for those not named Federer, Nadal, or Roddick, there you have it!  Thanks Booty for the great, very entertaining, info!

Final Word 

On the women's side, we had two women who believed in themselves.  What a run it was for Dinara Safina!  Twice down a set and 5-2, she came back to win (and for Maria Sharapova, there's just no excuse).  Maria lost the No. 1 ranking due to her meltdown against Safina, as Ana Ivanovic took over the top spot, and then took the French Open Championship. 

Rafael Nadal proved once again that he is the king of clay.  I know Bjorn Borg won four straight titles at Roland Garros, but I'm not sure anyone has been as dominant as Nadal.  Rafa's 2008 performance left little doubt that he could win this title every year for as long as he wants without even being challenged.  He simply made it look easy.  

As for Roger, I was pulling for him to get the job done, to complete the career grand slam, to finally overcome his rival on clay.  But I have to wonder if even he was awed by Nadal's play on the dirt.  In the final, he seemingly had little belief that he could win.  It was the worst Fed has looked in a long time, and as much as fans may want to give Nadal the credit for taking it to him, the truth is it was mental.  Perhaps the best player we have ever seen doubted his abilities, and it proved disastrous.   

Roland Garros is probably the best tournament to watch as a fan of the game, as the rallies are long, strategies are more apparent and necessary, and fitness is key.  It's a true test, both mentally and physically, and rarely disappoints. 

My Picks:

Most Heart:  Dinara Safina -- her comebacks were amazing!  She deserved to be in the final.

Biggest Surprise:  Tie:  Gael Monfils -- semifinal run was fun to watch (hopefully he can stay healthy now).                 Roger Federer -- Failure to show up in the final was shocking!

Best Storyline:  Ana Ivanovic -- Becomes No. 1 and wins her first grand slam.  What a week!

Player of the Tournament:  Rafael Nadal -- Wow!  Need I say more?

Hendler Hopes to be Back in Action as Roland Garros Nears

Knowles Makes Second Straight early exit
After such a great start to the year, the red clay of Europe has been a challenge for Mark Knowles and Mahesh Bhupati. They have two straight second round losses and have dropped to No. 3 in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race.

However, they remain ahead of Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic, which is of course all we CAP fans really care about, right? Knowlsey remains 45 points ahead of his former partner thanks to the Bryan Brothers, who were able to fend off Nestor and Zimonjic in the finals of the Rome and Hamburg Masters Series.
For all the latest on Mark, visit his website at http://www.markknowlestennis.com/.

CAPS at the French Open
The French Open begins on Monday, May 26, so be sure to root on your CAPS. If Tammy Hendler's injury is healed, she will be playing the junior event (they expect to make a final determination this weekend). Elena Likhovtseva will be playing doubles, in search of her third grand slam title. Knowlsey has twice been in the final at Roland Garros and is the defending champion.
Check back for all the latest results from Paris!

One Win Away
Former CAP Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is just one win away from her first main draw appearance in a grand slam event. She has won two qualifying rounds, including a surprisingly easy upset over the No. 3 seed Maret Ani, 6-1, 6-4. She will battle fellow Russian Anna Lapushchenkova on Friday for a spot in the main draw. I feel bad for the announcer in that match. "Today, we'll have two Russians looking to get into their first grand slam main draw. Coming up, it'll be (pause, stutter), it'll be... Pavlyuchenkova vs Lapushchenkova??" (Let's just say Gary Gelfand has it easy this year).

It's been a good month for Pavlyuchenkova, who has reached a career high in both singles and doubles.

Tammy Gets Ink in Sac Bee
Check out this short but sweet article from the Sacramento Bee to learn more about CAPS rookie; "Belgian Babe" Tammy Hendler.
Paul Bauman's report: http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/948707.html

The article comes just days after fellow Belgian Justine Henin shocked the tennis world by becoming the first woman to retire while still ranked No.1. After recently struggling through pain, injuries, and a lack of motivation, Henin simply called it quits last week.

I stilll think she should've tried to defend her title at Roland Garros. After all, it is her favorite tournament and perhaps she could've gone out in grand fashion with a with a win. Why not at least give it a shot if you know your going to retire anyway?

CAPS Staffer Gets Big Win
The Farmer family makes the trek to Sacramento from their home in Idaho every summer to work for the CAPS. Jami, one of 10 kids (yes, she has 7 sisters and two brothers!), is a high school freshman who recenlty played Emma Wilander in the first round of the Idaho state tennis tournament.

You might recognize that last name. Emma is the daughter of former world's No. 1 and Hall of Famer Mats Wilander. However, Jami is the niece of CAPS owner and former BYU stallworth Lonnie Nielson. The Wilander intimidation factor was no match for Jami, who won 6-2, 6-1, which, I believe counts as an indirect win for Lonnie over Mats!

Good News for Tennis
I can't tell you how glad I was to hear the news that ESPN will cover the US Open starting in 2009. Finally, a major network gives tennis it's due. Now, it can truly call itself, "The Grand Slam Network."

While on the topic of tennis programming, what is with the Tennis Channel? How many episodes of "No Strings" and "Center Court with Chris Meyers" can they show in a day? And as much as I enjoy watching classic matches, it was nice to see them cover a current, live tournament in the Hamburg Masters Series.

Fan Poll:
* Do you have The Tennis Channel?
* What kind of programming ideas would you pitch to network producers?

Gelfand Joins CAPS Team

Missed Opportunity for Knowles

    Mark Knowles and Mahesh Bhupati missed a chance to take over the top spot in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race.  Both players have been No. 1 before, but they came up just short of getting back there when they lost to Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo in the Monte Carlo Masters Series final, 6-7(7), 7-5, 10-7.  The pair did not play in Barcelona and lost in the second round of the Rome Masters event.

    Both of those titles went to the sons of CAPS Coach Wayne Bryan, who haven't lost since the quarterfinals of Monte Carlo.

    While Bhupati and Knowles try to find their way around the clay, the Bryan Brothers have taken over the top spot in the ranks and are the favorites to win at Roland Garros later this month.  

    Both teams are back in action this week in Hamburg.  Knowles and Bhupati will face the American duo of James Blake and Mardy Fish in the second round, while the Bryans take on Andre Sa and Marcelo Melo of Brazil.    

    

Gary Gelfand on Board as New Voice of the CAPS

    The CAPS recently announced its newest team member.  Gary Gelfand will entertain the Allstate Stadium crowd as the new public address announcer.  A Chicago native, Gelfand has been doing live TV for over fifteen years.  You may know him as the sports anchor for "Good Day Sacramento," or the host of CBS-13's "The Sports Show."  Gelfand has also  worked nationally with CNN in Atlanta and brings a passion for tennis and high-energy persona to the CAPS.  

    He has covered the CAPS before, and reflected on some of his favorite moments.

    "I was given the opportunity play against Anna Kournikova and return a serve from Andre Agassi.  I had no business doing either but it was all in good fun." Gelfand said.  

    So did his tennis skills shine through?

   "Well, I was too busy looking at Anna, and Agassi's serve painted the center line and was past me before I even had a chance to react."

    Gelfand said he is ready for another great season of World Team Tennis. 

   "I've covered the Capitals for many years and I am very excited about the opportunity to now work for the team. I'm looking forward to 2008, the playoffs, and another championship; GO CAPS!!"

From Mexico to Monte Carlo; a Note From Belgium too

To view entire blog, please click "search blog" above.

Will someone please tell me where the month of April went? It's been awhile, so let's get you up to speed.

Warburg Continues Rise in Ranks
Last week, Sam Warburg went down to Mexico City, where he was the top seed. After a see-saw win in the semifinals over George Bastl, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2, Warburg came up short in the title match. With a 6-4, 6-3 victory, Dawid Olejniczak won his second straight futures tournament.

Despite the loss, Warburg reached a career high ranking of 138.

Warburg was also invited by the USTA to compete in a four-man qualifying tournament for the American wildcard spot into the French Open.

From Belgium, With Love
The CAPS newest aquisition Tamryn Hendler has chimed in and written a personal note to all CAPS fans. Here is what she had to say:

To all,
I am sooo excited to part of the world champions in team tennis, and am looking forward to learning from my great teammates and coach. I am 15 year old Tammy Hendler (will be sweet 16 in August) who loves to hit the ball very hard. I was born in South Africa and moved to Florida more than 10 years ago. I have spent many years training at Bollittieiri's where Nick spent hundreds of hours on my tennis over the years. I will never forget at 10 years old, he decided to change my grip... well, I will leave it at that.

My mother is Belgian, hence my nickname "The Belgium Babe." I will be representing Belgium at Fed Cup at the end of the month for the 4th consectutive time. One of my goals is to surpass our captain's (Sabine Applemans) record of "32 ties for Belgium."

Currently I spend a lot of time in a small town in Belgium called Mons, where I am working with the technical director of the French Speaking Federation (AFT) and am making a lot of progress on the technical aspects of my game. (I want the slice and drop shot, but for us girls thats not so easy).

I cant wait for Team Tennis. In the meantime you can follow my progress on my website at http://www.tamarynhendler.be/

With love from Mons,
Tammy

What a sweetheart!

Unfortunately for Hendler, she suffered a torn quadriceps last week in practice, forcing her to pull out of this weekend's Fed Cup match. Although it will be a slow healing injury, Hendler plans to be ready for the CAPS season.

BIG Decision
Former CAP Nicole Vaidisova has parted with long-time coach and stepfather Alex Kodat. After struggling in her last few tournaments, Vaidisova has dropped to No. 17 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

"She lost in the first round of both Indian Wells and Key Biscayne and said she wanted to spend a week away from the game getting her head together," manager Oliver van Lindonk said.

She has turned to David Felgate, who was Tim Henman's coach. Felgate also was recently asked to re-focus Xavier Malisse.

Kodat had been coaching Vaidisova since she began playing at six years old. Now 19, she felt it was time for a change if she wants to reach her goal of becoming the best player in the world.

"She had to make a big decision to part with Alex but she also needed to feel she could maximize her talents with the right coach," van Lindonk added.

The CAPS wish Nicole a Happy 19th Birthday! (today)

Knowles in Monte Carlo
Mark Knowles is back in action this week. He and Mahesh Bhupati are the fourth seed in the Masters Series event in Monte Carlo. The pair got a first round bye and face the Brazilian duo of Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa in round two.

After Draft, CAPS '08 Roster Complete

Roster Finalized
The 2008 WTT Draft took place April 1, in Miami, where the CAPS took doubles specialist Eric Butorac to team with Sam Warburg on the men's side. For the women, Elena Likhovtseva will be joined by Tamaryn Hendler this season.


If you liked the energy from last year's young rookie, Michelle Larcher de Brito, you'll enjoy watching this 15-year-old as well. For Hendler, tennis has been her whole life. "Tammy" has trained at the Bollettieri Academy and Chris Evert's Academy in Florida, and now trains mostly in Belgium. The young Belgian, currently the No. 18 junior in the world, just partnered with former CAP Nicole Vaidisova at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. The pair lost to Elena and Lisa Raymond in the first round. I'm sure Hendler will enjoy being Elena's teammate rather than going up against her this summer at Allstate Stadium.


Eric Butorac, at just 26-year-old, is a tour veteran. Since turning pro in 2003, the Minnesotan has focused mainly on doubles and is joining the CAPS after a career year in 2007, in which Butorac won three titles -- San Jose, Memphis, and Nottingham. He has continued that momentum into '08. In February, he reached No. 30 in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race, a career high. He and Warburg will be looking to dominate in men's doubles for the CAPS!


Coming soon: More detailed player profiles and player reaction/thoughts on playing for the defending WTT Champions.


Knowles and Bhupati Back in Finals
A rivalry is brewing in men's doubles on the ATP Tour. For the second time in the last three tournaments, CAPS MVP "Knowlsey" and partner Mahesh Bhupati have taken out the Czech team of Martin Damm and Pavel Vizner. This time, it was a tight 7-6 (5), 4-6, 11-9 triumph to reach the finals of the Sony Ericsson Open.


March Madness
The NCAA Basketball Tournament has to be near the top of the "best sporting events" list. The upsets, the cinderella story, the .... 4 top seeds making up the Final Four?? The year I decide fill my bracket with upset picks just happens to be the year everything goes according to plan (mostly). So my brackets were busted a long time ago, but the games, the passion, the suspense, is still as entertaining as ever. The effort put forth by collegiate athletes, especially with so much on the line, just makes you wonder what happens to that heart and emotion if and when they turn pro.


Dream Job
Have you happened to notice all the beautiful people at sporting events these days? If not, the camera guys are trying to help you out. Just about every time a game comes back from a commercial, there's a shot of some gorgeous young blonde or good-looking couple enjoying their evening. This got me thinking, and I think I've found the ultimate dream job:

Job description: Attend sporting events, hang out and watch games for free. During timeouts or breaks in action, please scope crowd for any and all "hotties," zoom in and focus camera on them. Go strike up conversation with "hottie" that caught your eye (to be sure we can put them on TV, of course), and if needed, please get contact info (this is a judgement call). Requirements: Good vision and people skills. Wow, can the job get any better?!

* It is probably worth mentioning that the Major League Baseball season began this week.

Adios Michelle! Warburg Storms Miami

Who's next?
Year after year, the CAPS have been able to count on Elena Likhovtseva to step up against any and all WTT female competitors. However, she can't play doubles on her own. From 17-year-old Nicole Vaidisova to 15-year-olds Anastassia Pavlyuchenkova and last year's WTT rookie, Michelle Larcher de Brito, the CAPS have brought in young talent to accompany the veteran.

Now, the CAPS have learned "the kid" will not return for the 2008 season. This summer, Larcher de Brito is planning to increase her tournaments and training. She and her family have decided that playing for the CAPS just doesn't fit in the youngster's schedule. Although she might miss shopping at the Galleria, this teen has bigger things on her mind. The CAPS thank her for her efforts in last year's championship run and wish her luck with her promising career!

Sam I am
After missing his chance at qualifying for the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, Sam Warburg showed up in Miami this week with a chip on his shoulder. At Indian Wells, Warburg was up 6-0, 5-3 against Italy's Fablo Fognini before falling 6-0, 6-7(2), 2-6. If you play competitive tennis, you know the feeling...

However, in Miami this week, Warburg has been playing with renewed confidence. Just to qualify for the main draw at the Sony Ericsson Open, he beat two higher-ranked players. First was a 7-6(1), 6-3 victory over Argentina's Juan Pablo Brzezicki, ranked 117. Next came the big win over Australia's Chris Guccione, ranked 68, 7-6(4), 6-2 to get into the main draw.

The local CAP, Warburg reached his career-high ranking last month, and stands at 157 today. But look for that to jump after his upset win over world No. 37 Potito Starace in the first round, 7-6(2), 6-2. He will face Guillermo Canas tomorrow afternoon.

CAPS Players Heat Things up in the Desert

To participate in our interactive surveys (**), please scroll to bottom of post and click "Comments."

Nine and Counting...
Mark Knowles continued his hot streak with partner Mahesh Bhupati with a win on Monday in the first round of the Pacific Life Open. That's nine in a row for the pair, who look to take over the top spot in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race with a third straight title. It won't be easy, though, as they are on a collision course for a potential semifinal showdown against the No. 1 team in the world (if you're a CAPS fan at all, you better know who we're talking about). If the two teams do end up facing off, I have to wonder who CAPS Coach Wayne Bryan will be rooting for. I'm guessing he's always pulling for his twin boys, but he and "Knowlesy" certainly have some history, both on tour and here in Sacramento...

Tursunov TV
How about former CAPS MVP and local talent Dmitry Tursunov? After a close second round loss to Juan Ignacio Chela 6-7(1), 7-6(6), 6-4, he still found a way to entertain the crowd at Indian Wells. For his online blogging duties, Tursunov created a video blog in which he roamed the grounds, asking fans for their input on anything from his new bearded look to who the sexiest men are on tour. He even tried to get Daniela Hantuchova's vote in the ongoing battle he has with Knowles -- who is better looking? It seems that ever since the two played together for the CAPS, Dmitry has been trying to set the record straight. Hantuchova was no help though, as she kindly replied, "both of you."
For more, check out his blog at atptennis.com, then take part in our survey (below).
** Ladies, this is your chance to weigh in:
1) Do you like Dmitry better with or without the beard?
2) So who is better looking? Dmitry or Mark?

CAPS Roster Nears Completion
This week, the CAPS finalized deals to return Sam Warburg and veteran Elena Likhovtseva for the 2008 season. Also, according to co-owner Lonnie Nielson, the CAPS will draft 26-year-old Eric Butorac to fill the void left by Mark Knowles. No, "Knowlesy" is not leaving the CAPS behind; his wife is expecting their second child in July, so he might be a little tied up this summer. Whether or not youngster Michelle Larcher de Brito will return is yet to be determined.
** Who would you most like to see play live?

Anna K. Reflects on CAPS Experience
The CAPS 2006, '07 marquee player, Anna Kournikova, was featured on the front page of AOL Sports last week. Dave Hollander's interview provided good insight into Kournikova's current ventures and lifestyle -- she shared thoughts on her first trip to Rio de Janeiro's Carnival celebration, traveling in general, and how she misses her days competing on tour, among other things. Most importantly, though, was Kournikova's response to the following question: "What sad words of farewell would you like to tell the good people of Sacramento?" You'll have to visit the link provided to find out, but I will tell you she gave a shout out to CAPS players Mark Knowles, Elena Likhovtseva, Coach Bryan, and owner Lonnie Nielson! She also expressed no bad feelings for being traded, although some male CAPS fans may take isssue with it.
To read the entire interview, please visit: http://money.aol.com/taxNCID=aolprf00030000000001

Former CAPS Post Mixed Results
Nicole Vaidisova has come a long way since playing for the CAPS as a young 16-year old. However, as the seven seed at the 2008 Pacific Life Open, she dropped her second round match to Casey Dellacqua in three sets. Dellacqua is another young player to watch. She is climbing up the ranking ladder after a strong showing in her homeland -- the Australian Open.

Former WTT Female MVP Lindsay Davenport, who was with the team for three of its seven championship seasons, is into the fourth round at the Pacific Life Open, where she will face Marion Bartoli of France. What a feel-good story Davenport has provided for fans of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour! The new mother has shown signs of her former self, which is bad news for the rest of the women's tour. With crowds strongly behind her and the pressure off, Davenport looks like a little kid again, just enjoying every moment, something we don't see too often in professional sports. Refreshing!

Knowles on a Roll; CAPS release '08 Schedule

CAPS happenings this week

     The 2007 WTT Champions found out just what the road to another title will look like this summer. The CAPS will launch their 2008 campaign with back-to-back matches July 3 and 4 at Allstate Stadium at Westfield Galleria, Roseville.  So be sure to have your holiday BBQs during the day so you can make it out for two great nights of tennis.  The team will be returning its key players from last year's title run and look to improve on its 11-3 match record.  Players must sign up for WTT play by March 22 with a draft to be held April 1.  Check back for who the CAPS will sign as the "marquee player" and for finalized rosters.  Also, visit us at www.saccapitals.com anytime!

Mark eyes 50 titles

     CAPS doubles specialist Mark Knowles and partner Mahesh Bhupati are on a roll.  The duo won their second tournament in a row today with a win over Martin Damm and Pavel Vizner in the Dubai Tennis Championships.  The runners up took out the 2007  WTT Male MVP Daniel Nestor (who happens to be Knowles's former partner) and Nenad Zimonjic in the semis.  Looks like Knowles is handling the change just fine, as he and Bhupati are 13-3 this year and have won their last eight matches without dropping a set.  This was Mark's 49th career doubles title, not to mention the Kings Cup Trophies he's won with the CAPS!

     Also worth noting is that Andy Roddick seems to be back!  After a slow 2007 season, Roddick won in Dubai, taking out Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-2.  After winning the SAP Open in San Jose just two weeks ago, that's also two in a row for the American.  Maybe a break from hanging with all those A-List celebs has done the man some good.  Speaking of A-Listers, Venus and Serena Williams played each other today... 

Random Thoughts

     Did anyone see the Kings strong finish against the Lakers on Tuesday night?  What was once a great cross-state rivalry is no more.  The 'Lake Show' seemed to give the Kings players (and their fans) a false sense of hope before ending the game on a 26-5 run.  I can deal with the loss, but could've done without the Laker fans who roamed Arco Arena afterwards taunting the Kings faithful.  There tends to be more class shown by the fans out at Allstate Stadium, so there's nothing to worry about when bringing the whole family to a CAPS match.  

     On a much more serious note, Cody Tappan, son of Spare Time, Inc's Mark Tappan, was in car accident back on Feb. 23 that left the 17 year-old in a coma for almost two days and with a head injury.  Cody is currently trying to regain his speech and has made tremendous strides toward what the Tappan's hope will be a full recovery.  Best wishes to Cody and the Tappan family. 

Knowles and Mahesh win 1st title

Top seeds Mark Knowles and Mahesh Bhupathi captured their first ATP title together at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis as they defeated Thai twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana 7-6(5), 6-2 in one hour and 16 minutes. Bhupathi-Knowles, won their first tournament together as a team. The title was Knowles' 48th career crown. Congrats to Mark. In looking at the schedule, it looks like a week at home for Mark to be with Dawn and Graham. The following week, things will pick back up at the big tour stop in Indian Wells. If you are heading south, make sure to give Mark, Sam Warburg, and Nicole Vaidisova a "Go Caps". They always appreciate the support from the Caps fans. Elena is skipping the event at Indian Wells this year, but we will see her down in Miami. She is playing a limited schedule this year. Michelle will also be playing in Miami and trying to defend her first round victory points that she gathered by defeating Megan Shaunessy....On another note, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova said hi to all the Caps fans. She is still playing a few junior events. Her ranking is in the 300s. She is looking to move up by getting into more pro tournaments all the time.

Knowles Buphati in Finals

Mark Knowles and Mahesh Buphati head into the finals of the tournament in Memphis.  They beat the duo of Haggard and Melzer 7-6 (9), 6-2.  They are awaiting there opponents for tomorrows final.  Here's a big Caps cheer for Knowlsey in the finals.  Keep an eye out for the results tomorrow.  As always, a great resource for timely results is www.atptennis.com.  On the women's side a great site is wtatour.com.

Update from Memphis....Michelle Larcher de Brito lost in the 2nd round to Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4,6-2. Sam Warburg beat Max "The Beast" Miryni in the qualies. He lost in the 2nd round of the qualies to Jessie Witten. However, as a Lucky Loser, he filled in as a replacement for James Blake, who withdrew because of an injured knee. Sam then lost a close one to Donald Young. Mark Knowles is into the semifinals and playing today.

TheProfessional Tennis Registry (PTR) presented its annual awards during the 2008 PTR International Tennis Symposium held on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Highlighting a long list of honorees were new PTR Master Professionals, Shinichi Suzuki of Chiba, Japan and Fernando Velasco of Austin, Texas and PTR Professional of the Year, Wayne Bryan, Camarillo, California. Well deserved of course. If I had a vote, I'd throw it in for coach.... Coach Bryan's hard work and tireless energy is what it takes. BJK and Coach Wayne are the leaders of the troops on the ground for more (and better) tennis in the US. I don't think that there are 2 people I've met that do more for the game than those two. That is the cold hard truth! :) All the rest of us just benefit from their passion for the game....I told Coach that his WTT title might have been the clinching vote. :)

Regions Morgan Keegan Championships

Michelle Larcher de Brito, the Caps 15 year old player, won her first round at Memphis. She will be playing her a 2nd round match against Caroline Wozniacki on Wednesday. Sam Warburg plays Donald Young in the first round of the same tournament. He'll play early afternoon and you can check the results at http://www.rmkchampionships.com. Mark Knowles will be playing on Wednesday as the #1 seed with his partner Mahesh Bhupati also in Memphis.I'm sure all of them are having a good time in Memphis with recollections of great times last year. We are cheering for all of them from afar.

Welcome

Come join local tennis fans for the opportunity to watch world class professionals competing in an exciting and action packed co-ed format. The Capitals season will take place between July 3rd and the 27th at Allstate Stadium located at Westfield Galleria at Roseville.