French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga says he is targeting a spot in the top 10 as his new year goal after knee injuries hampered his 2016 season. The popular player has slipped to 12th in the rankings after reaching a career-high five and is keen to get back into the groove with a solid showing at the Australian Open next week.
“Last year was difficult for me, I didn’t play that much, just 13 or 14 tournaments,” he said after beating Borna Coric 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) in an exhibition match at the Kooyong Classic. “So the challenge for me this year is to play a little bit more and to be able to have a better ranking. I want to be seeded in the big tournaments and then get some good results, the top 10 naturally (is a goal) but the top eight if I can of course because you’re a little bit protected in the big tournaments.”
Tsonga made the Australian Open final in 2008 and is keen for another deep run at the tournament. “That’s what I needed,” he said after spending 79 minutes on court in summer sunshine. “I played indoors last week and had three matches so it was good to play a match this week also to get ready for Monday or Tuesday.”

Injury ends former no. 3 Petrova’s career
Former world number three Nadia Petrova has retired from tennis after almost two decades in the sport. The 34-year-old Russian had not played on the WTA Tour since 2014 after failing to shake off a torn muscle in her shoulder and a number of other injuries.
Petrova was part of the golden generation of Russian tennis in the first decade of the century along with Grand Slam champions Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anastasia Myskina as well as Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva and former world number one Dinara Safina.
Despite an all court game and booming serve, the powerful right hander’s career was blighted by injury which prevented her from challenge her compatriots and contemporaries like Justine Henin, Amelie Mauresmo and Kim Clijsters for top billing.
Petrova, who also reached a career high of world number three in doubles, finished with 13 WTA singles and 24 WTA doubles titles. She reached the singles semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2003 and 2005 as well as the doubles final at the US Open in 2010 and the French Open in 2012.

Downey resigns as British tennis chief
Michael Downey has resigned as the Lawn Tennis Association’s chief executive after three years in the role. Downey will serve six months’ notice before returning to his previous position as chief executive of Tennis Canada.
The Canadian cited his desire to return home to be nearer his two sons as the driving force behind his surprise departure.  
Downey was in charge of the LTA during a successful period for British tennis, which included Andy Murray rising to the top of the world rankings after winning a second Wimbledon title last year.
Murray also won gold in the singles at the 2016 Rio Olympic and, together with his brother Jamie, led Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015.

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