Hiberno International are delighted to announce the signing of an International Partnership Agreement with FutFire Sports of India.  The partnership officially began on the 9th of March and will run for 2 years.  As part of the agreement FutFire will have access to the complete list of HI clients for promotion in the Indian market. 

Upon conclusion of the agreement Hiberno's MD stated that this is "a great step for us and our clients into a vibrant market with a partner who is of the highest quality".  Headed by Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, one of the leading figures in Indian football, FutFire are to the forefront of development in the Indian game.  Already work is underway to expose HI's clients to indian oportunities and it only remains to be said - watch this space!

10/06/2011

After reaching the final of the $25,000 ITF event in Uzbekistan 2 weeks previously, Marta Sirotkina ventured to Thailand to chase more ranking points. Concentrating on singles play she made the semi-finals in her first week, losing to Indonesian Fed Cup star Damayanti, and in the second week of action beating the same player in the 2nd round before beating a Finn and two Thai's before cheering crowds. In winning her first $25,000 event Marta was understandably elated. "It was unbelieveable, now I have to go further." Next week she plays another $25,000 event in Istanbul where she will begin as (at least) the 5th seed, before another training camp in Dublin and a tilt at the Woking-Foxenhills $25,000 event.

25/03/2011
A terrific 3 weeks came to a conclusion in the quarter finals of the AEGON Pro Series $25k event in Bath, UK.  Having beaten top seed and World 250, Naomi Broady en route to winning the previous weeks $10k event (while also making the last four of the doubles event), Marta found herself in a tough spot having to qualify for the bigger event.  First up was her doubles partner from the week before Lesley Kerkhove who as a former no. 12 in the World Juniors and now 560 in the pros, fell 77-5, 6-0.  Which booked Marta a place with the imposing and powerful Sarah Gronert the World No. 258 (who was as high as 195 in 2010).  Marta came through in 3 hard sets 7-6, 6-7, 6-2. 

This put her in the main draw and into a match with Spanish prospect and World No. 234 Leticia Costas-Moreira, Marta triumphed 6-1, 7-6.  HI's joy as shortlived when the next opponent was known.  Anna-Lena Groenefeld had destroyed the equally experienced Anne Kremer in the 1st round and now Marta would meet the 25 year old former World No. 14 who had made the 4th rounds in the Australian and US Opens.  Expecting a tight match the watching crowd was shocked to see the tall and powerful German star (currently at No. 255 and at 53 in doubles) getting destroyed 6-0, 6-2 by the on fire Marta. 

As in boxing the importance of "names" on a players record is an important indicator of talent and ability.  Unlike in boxing tennis players don't have the luxury of meeting players on the way down, so with a scalp like Groenefeld Marta proved she is on the upward curve.  Groenefeld has, in the past 12 months, played 3 Grand Slams, beaten numerous top-100 players and in her previous match beat former World No. 18 and current No. 145 Kremer.

However today the exertions of 9 singles matches and 6 doubles matches in less than 2 weeks ended in a close and hard fought 3 set 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 to World No. 272 Claire Feuerstein from France.  The Frenchwoman, who has played main draw in the last 2 French Opens, was as high as No. 171 in the World and was expected to progress easily, Marta had other ideas.  Though after 3 weeks of non-stop tennis, first in the Tennis Ireland BNP-Paribas National Academy in Dublin, the next 2 in Bath, Marta's winning tennis commitments came to an end.  She returns to Moscow on Monday.

24/10/2011

Having already broken into the top-250 in singles, Marta Sirotkina came through 3 tough qualifying matches to make the main draw of the Barnstaple $75,000 event in England.  Beating the talented Lenka Jurikova in the 2nd round to lead their series 2-1, she faced off against former foe Sarah Gronert who was on a good run of form.  Marta remained unbeaten against the German coming through in 3 sets.  She now faces former World no. 66 and form player Ekaterina Bychkova in the main draw 1st round.

update:  Marta lost to her compatriot in 2 sets 6-3, 6-2, and also lost in the first round of doubleson a Championship set 10-12 to the talented pairing of Bertens and Ejdesgaard.  Marta plays in Istanbul next week. 

17/06/2011
Hiberno International are delighted to announce the signing of a deal between Irish-based Russian tennis star Vitalia Diatchenko and Sportsrisq Capital.  Vitalia, currently playing in Wimbledon, will be backed for 13 months, with the option of a further 12 month deal, in her coaching and training.  Already the support is paying off with Vitalia making her first singles main draw at Wimbledon.  This turn of fortune should see her edge back close to the top-150.

24/10/2011
Australian tennis star Anastasia Rodionova joined members of the Russian National Aussie Rules Team at Shooters Bar in down Moscow last week during her excellent run to the doubles final of the Kremlin Cup.  Bar owner Len Readle, also a member of the Russian side that finished 10th in the recent Euro Cup, hosted the tennis ace and in return she wore the Russian National strip on court in Olimpiski.  Also joining Anastasia was Louise Pleming, former WTA player and current AIS coach.