MOYA MAKES EMOTIONAL FAREWELL IN LONDON

Former World No. 1 Carlos Moya took part in an emotional retirement ceremony on Sunday, alongside every player competing at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and a selection of former ATP World Tour stars.

Earlier this week, the 34-year-old Spaniard ended a 15-year professional career that included 20 titles, including 1998 Roland Garros. He had been suffering from a long-term foot injury.

“It was not easy,” admitted Moya, on his decision to retire. “But it didn't happen overnight.  [Tennis] is a sport I love. It is what I've been doing since I was six years old. And it’s not easy to leave the love of your life. I have no regrets about anything because I try my best.”

Nadal, who first met Moya when he was 11 years old, admitted: "It's a sad day for me because I'm saying goodbye to a friend and tennis is saying goodbye to a great ambassador.

"He was the first Spaniard to be number one and he helped me a lot when I was a young player. I've missed him a lot this last year when he's not been on the circuit."

Moya, speaking at a post-ceremony press conference, never imagined the precocious young talent would become one of the all-time great players.

"He is amazing player," said Moya, who was embraced by past and present players including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. “He was a good prospect of being a good player but you never know what can happen. I realised he had something special, but could never think that he could be that good, to be honest.

"He's one of the greatest ever. But he's on his way to become, who knows, maybe the greatest."

Moya also admitted, “I think he helped me. When he was 13 or 14 we were practising together. I was near the Top 10 and sometimes he was beating me during the practice.

"That made me think. That made me improve, and evolve. You see a kid like this kicking your ass so you try to avoid that. So he made me improve and made me more positive.

Moya received a warm reception from 17,500 fans as he walked onto the Centre Court at The O2 in London.

“Although I didn't play great here at Wimbledon, well – one year played fourth round – they treated me always very well. They knew I was a Top 10 player.

“Today has been an honour for me to be here.  Like I said before, I would like to thank the ATP for this recognition. It has been a great feeling.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … emony.aspx

Son Moix odda cześć Carlosowi Moyi



Zarząd Mallorki poinformował, że w sobotę przed meczem z Barceloną zostanie oddany hołd Carlosowi Moyi, który niedawno zakończył swoją karierę tenisową. Były numer 1 rankingów światowych, zwycięzca m.in. French Open na kortach Rolanda Garrosa oraz Pucharu Davisa otrzyma złote insygnia klubu z Balearów za wspaniała karierę sportową i uroczyście rozpocznie spotkanie.

Mallorca oczekuje, że uroczystości związane z Moyą oraz imprezy organizowane przez fankluby będą wspaniałym wstępem do "spotkania roku", jak nazywa mecz z Barceloną zarząd klubu. Oczekiwana jest rekordowa frekwencja - jak na razie najwięcej kibiców w tym sezonie przyszło na Son Moix podczas pierwszej kolejki Primera División, kiedy na wyspę przyjechał Real Madryt.

http://www.fcbarca.com/index2.php?goto=kom&news=35585

Moya Wins First ATP Champions Tour Title In Sao Paulo

Carlos Moya defeated two-time winner Thomas Enqvist to win his first ever ATP Champions Tour tournament at the Grand Champions Brasil in Sao Paulo.

Moya, who trailed Enqvist 3-5 in their head-to-head on the ATP World Tour, found a level of play that Enqvist could not live with to triumph 7-6(0), 6-3.

“I am very happy to win my first tournament on the Champions Tour here in Sao Paulo, a city that I haven’t been to before," said Moya. "I was amazed with the city and the public. I've played in many places around the world and this is one of the most beautiful clubs I've been to.”

Moya added that he enjoyed the unique combination of competition and entertainment on the ATP Champions Tour.

“The head of a sportsman is always focused on winning, and that was the same today," said Moya. "But the atmosphere is more relaxed as well and that requires less physical pressure. I’ve had a great week and am very pleased with how I played. I'll rest now because I played seven games in 12 days, but my idea is to participate in five or six tournaments on the Tour each year. I’ve really enjoyed my first two so I want to continue.”

The first set was predictably tight, with Enqvist having had so many positive experiences in Sao Paulo with victories over the past two years. Once into the Tie-Break it was all Moya. Using his serve and big forehand to good effect, the Spaniard didn't lose a single point.

One break of serve was enough in the second set, and Moya was clearly ecstatic when he sealed match-point to win his first ATP Champions Tour title.

Elsewhere, home favourite Flavio Saretta caused another upset by beating Yevgeny Kafelnikov 1-6, 6-3, 10-6 to take third place.

Matches on the ATP Champions Tour are played over the best of three sets, with a Champions’ Tie-break (first to 10 points with a clear advantage of two) to decide the winner. After all round-robin matches are complete, the top two players in each group meet in the final.

To view the round-robin groups and the order of play for the week in Sao Paulo, go to results.

The Tour will now move on to Algarve, Portugal in August for one of the most popular tournaments of the year.

http://www.atpchampionstour.com/news167.html

Carlos w formie. Kilka dni wcześniej, w Bogocie uległ Markowi Philippousisowi w finale w Super Tie-Breaku.

Ostatnio edytowany przez Serenity (01-06-2011 13:20:20)