RISING WORLD TENNIS STAR, RUSSIAN-BORN GALINA VOSKOBOEVA SELECTS BROKEN SOUND CLUB AS TRAINING SITE FOR 2014 AUSTRALIAN OPEN, THE FIRST GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT OF THE NEW YEAR

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RISING WORLD TENNIS STAR,
RUSSIAN-BORN GALINA VOSKOBOEVA

SELECTS BROKEN SOUND CLUB AS TRAINING SITE
FOR 2014 AUSTRALIAN OPEN, THE FIRST GRAND SLAM
OURNAMENT OF THE NEW YEAR 

Broken Sound Club’s Tennis Pro Erwan Le Ridant – Her Touring Coach –

To Travel With Her to the Four Majors

BOCA RATON, FL (December 19, 2013) – Rising world tennis star Galina Voskoboeva has chosen Broken Sound Club, a Platinum Club of America, as her official training site as she prepares for the hotly contested mid-January 2014 Australian Open in Melbourne Park accompanied by her long-time professional touring coach Erwan Le Ridant, who runs the high performance group at the Broken Sound Club Junior Tennis Academy alongside Vernon Gettone, BSC Tennis Head Professional. Each year Le Ridant travels with her to the four majors: Australian Open-the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.

“Voskoboeva faced Venus Williams in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open, has been training diligently to triumph in 2014,” notes French-born Le Ridant who has been coaching Voskovoeva for several years. “During the two months of training on the courts at Broken Sound Club, Galina has been extremely focused, and exceptionally determined to begin the new year with a strong competitive start at the Australian Open where she will challenge some of the world’s most accomplished tennis players.”  

Le Ridant reports that the 2014 Australian Open will feature 99 of the top 100 women and 99 of the top 100 men tennis players in the world. The roster includes Florida’s own Serena Williams (vying to win the title for the first time in four years) and Rafael Nadal with each of their top 10 rivals, including defending women’s champion Victoria Azarenka, 2013 finalist Li Na, who ranked No. 3 in the world, the highest ranking ever achieved by an Asian player, male or female, and Maria Sharapova who is on the come-back trail and men’s top ranking players Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray (following a few months out of the game due to injury).

Russian-born Voskoboeva, who began playing tennis at the age of six and turned pro in 2002 at the age of 18 (representing Kazakhstan – formerly Russia since 2008), has steadily grown in Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings to no. 67 in singles. Playing right-handed with a two-handed back-hand and favoring clay (like those at Broken Sound Club) and hard surfaces, she has won 63 career matches and nearly $2 million in prize money to date. She has been awarded the International Master of Sports for her efforts representing her home country, and has appeared in 13 WTA Finals, 12 of which coming in doubles play, and she has won two International Tennis Federation (ITF) singles titles. [The WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sport with more than 2,500 players representing 92 nations competing for more than $118 million in prize money at the WPA’s 54 events and four Grand Slams in 33 countries; the ITF is the world governing body of tennis, overseeing administration and regulation, international competition organization, and game structure, development and promotion.]

“Broken Sound residents and their guests love coming out to watch Galina as she trains with Erwan,” said Cindy Braun, chair of the Club’s tennis committee. “We’ve taken her on as our own, with all the pride and encouragement of the community behind her as she rises in the tennis world. We will all be cheering for her as she hits the courts at Melbourne Park in January and beyond.”

When asked why she chose Broken Sound Club as her training location, Voskoboeva cited the excellent facilities and the people. “It’s a very nice club, an excellent place for practice. I’ve played all over the world –the people here are very friendly, and it makes me very comfortable. You can feel their genuine support on and off the courts.”

“While training here, Galina has spent time with our junior tennis players, sharing tips on the game and giving advice to those striving to make the college and pro tennis circuit,” noted Arnaud Delanoe, Broken Sound Club Junior Program Manager. “She is a great role model, taking the time to interact with the youngest tennis players who live in Broken Sound Club and play regularly with and receive guidance from her coach Erwan and other certified tennis pros at the Club throughout the year.”

From a young age, her mother Elena inspired her to pursue a professional sport, introducing her to the worlds of synchronized swimming and tennis and supporting her training in both.  When it was time to prepare to make a choice for college play and professional aspirations, she chose tennis and never looked back. A graduate of University of RUPG in Moscow (2005) who majored in public relations, Voskoboeva speaks Russian and English. Off the court, she enjoys reading, dancing, and Russian music.

When asked what was her most memorable tournament, she immediately points out the 2011 Toronto Open. “I was on fire!” she shared, thrilled when she beat Marion Bartoli, who had won Wimbledon. She also said she was pleased to make it all the way to the finals in singles and doubles in Seoul, Korea.

While she has competed ‘round the globe in Russia, China, Australia, Canada, U.S., U.K. (Wimbledon), Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Mexico and New Zealand, she says her favorite pro tennis competitions are the French Open in Paris (her favorite city), the U.S. Open, and the annual Kremlin Cup tournament in Moscow. “There is nothing like competing in your home country!” she says, beaming with pride. “It is so exhilarating to have all your country’s fans, your family and friends filling the stands to cheer you on. You feel the energy and excitement that makes you want to win for them.”

Voskoboeva’s advice for her young fans getting in the game for pleasure or serious competition: “There are going to be good moments and bad moments. Just give 100% of what you have… even in the bad moments because you still need to be strong and believe.”

She continues sharing that advancement in professional tennis “is a long journey and to be ready for serious competitive success, it requires more than just a ‘like to’ approach.  Often there is not time to do what you like to do such as getting to see friends, staying out late, or going on vacations, and that can be tough.”

Having grown up in tennis, she also cautions parents not to compare their children to their others in their competitive circuit, but rather show support focused on their children, encouraging them to advance their
own core strengths, build confidence and improve their competitive skills. Parents also need to be sure that
they find the right coaching professionals and role models to help their children to succeed.” 

“In addition to Galina, we have hosted many tennis greats on our courts over the years, offering wonderful ‘tennis spectating’ opportunities for our Club members and young tennis academy players,” noted Broken Sound Club Director of Tennis Greg Wheaton, Florida’s former number one ranked head tennis pro who competed and ranked as a finalist at the 2012 USTA National Men's 50 Clay Court Championships. “Having such regular ‘upclose and personal’ experiences with champions as Kevin Anderson and Jesse Levine who played each other in a ‘friendly’ exhibition match this month is priceless for avid players and sports enthusiasts alike.”

Offering a world-class facility with 23 Har Tru courts and pro shop, Broken Sound gives players at every skill level the complete tennis experience. Under the direction of Tennis Director Wheaton, who recently was presented the Distinguished Achievement in Leadership award by BoardRoom Magazine (the most respected and influential magazine in the private club industry), Broken Sound Club offers active tennis programs for men, women, juniors and seniors; organizes competitive Club, league, and Pro-Am tournament events for singles, doubles, ladies, men, mixed doubles and seniors; private instruction; provides complimentary clinics and hosts Club, IntraClub and Member/Guest tennis socials. Broken Sound is also home to a renowned junior tennis academy and pro exhibitions with world-class tennis champions.

About Broken Sound Club:
Whatever one’s passion or interest…their active enviable home life, business life, sporting life, and social life complement each other perfectly at Broken Sound Club. Known as the “friendly” club for its signature blend of warmth, elegance and genuine hospitality, this award-winning private gated golf and country club community offers a choice of 27 lushly landscaped intimate residential villages, each with its own character. All are just minutes away from its main clubhouse with indoor and outdoor dining, two Audubon Sanctuary certified signature golf courses (one host to the PGA Champions Tour season opener), a new two-acre $6 million poolscape with bistro, a new $7 million 38,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, and 23 tennis courts. This 5-Star Platinum Club of America is conveniently close to two international airports, and just a few miles from the private Boca Raton Executive Airport, Boca’s burgeoning Class A office parks and vibrant Downtown, pristine beaches, A-rated public and award-winning private schools, two universities, sports arenas and stadiums, and an exciting world of shopping, dining, art and culture, recreation, and nightlife.

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