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Nadia Petrova wearing EleVen by Venus Williams at Wimbledon 2008

admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:35:25 +0000

Venus Williams is not the only player at Wimbledon wearing EleVen clothing line. Cool. Nadia Petrova is supporting her colleague’s designs wearing a white peace at the Championships.

Here’s what Venus said after her first round match about Nadia wearing EleVen:

Q. You brought out a new clothes line here, but you have Petrova wearing your clothes, right?

VW: Uh-huh.

Q. Is that the first time you’ve had another player wearing your clothes? Talk about how you worked that out with her.

VW: I think she’s just in transition between — was in transition, so she I think wanted — she was doing me a favor. So I’m hoping to see her in the clothes. I saw her in some warmups yesterday, but I haven’t seen her in the match clothes. I’m hoping to see her. She’s a great girl. I have a lot of respect for her on and off the court. She’s a good person.

World No.18 Nadia Petrova is still alive at Wimbledon, having defeated Olga Govortsova, Mara Santangelo, and Victoria Azarenka in the first three rounds. The Russian next faces compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva. (via Tennis Served Fresh)

Retargeting by Chango

WTA fashion at the 2011 Australian Open

admin — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:51:39 +0000

As our reader Brenda from Argentina asked for my overview of the 2011 Australian Open tennis fashion, here it is – a little bit of every brand, a little bit of good and bad.

Let’s not save the best for the last. Let’s start with by far the biggest fashion attention-grabber of the tournament – Venus Williams. The American played three matches (actually two, but she started her third one) and showcased the same number of outfits. The following one is the unofficial ugliest tennis outfit of the decade.

Venus, a graduate in fashion design and the person behind clothing line EleVen, made the outfits herself.

Believe it or not, Venus’ dresses, or whatever they can be called, have gained a fan base. Whoever likes Venus’ latest EleVen dresses, please leave a comment! I’m sure the world would love to hear your reasoning.

I’d like to continue with Nadia Petrova, the representative of Ellesse. Petrova has also had some colorful and imaginative styles (remember her US Open 2010 outfit that had stripes of all the possible colors?). There might be sound logic behind Petrova’s support of EleVen.

Another fashion favorite is always Aravane Rezai. Even though this time her family drama attracted more attention than her dress, the Frenchwoman stayed faithful to the touch of crazy uniqueness. Although, she definitely can do better!

Let’s move on to adidas – plenty of it. Read more »

Zheng Jie and Li Na welcomed home in Beijing

admin — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 23:35:57 +0000

Chinese tennis stars Zheng Jie and Li Na have arrived home after their enormous success in Australia and were welcomed by crowds of fans and media.

Zheng and Li made history for China when they reached the 2010 Australian Open semifinals. Actually, never before had two Chinese players been in the second week of a major at the same time. Moreover, Zheng and Li are now both within Top 20 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings – Zheng is No.20 and Li has become the first Chinese Top 10 player by reaching No.10.

The national celebration of Zheng’s and Li’s arrival took place in Beijing. They answered questions from fans and media, and donated their equipment to the Chinese Tennis Association’s Youth Foundation. Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications China President Roger Eriksson presented Zheng and Li with special gifts for their achievements. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

Retargeting by Chango

Serena Williams defeats Justine Henin, wins Sony Ericsson Open

admin — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:57:15 +0000

Justine Henin didn’t manage to add the Miami title to her collection, while Serena Williams accompanies Steffi Graf as the only two female tennis players who won both the Australian Open and Miami in the same year.

Justine won the first set with an astonishing 6-0 – I was afraid that I was going to watch a boring final. But, things slowly began to change, which made the match much more exciting. In the second set Serena began to fight. Serena’s wealth of experience helped her survive Justine’s two championship points, and even win the second set 7-5. In the third set Henin became a bit discouraged especially after she fell – two times! I thought she will not be able to continue the match. In addition, vast majority of spectators were encouraging Serena, while only from time to time you could hear the French “Allez”.

All in all, I think we can all be satisfied because we were watching a really interesting final.

Hansol Korea Open: Alisa Kleybanova wins another title in Asia

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:51:36 +0000

Russian world No.28 Alisa Kleybanova won her second career title in her second Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles final with a 6-1 6-3 victory over 39th-ranked Czech Klara Zakopalova at the Hansol Korea Open. Kleybanova’s first title came at the inaugural Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur this year.

After winning the longest tiebreak of the year (15-13) against Ksenia Pervak in the second round, the fifth-seeded Kleybanova didn’t lose more than three games per set on her way to the Seoul title.

Zakopalova, who advanced to the title match as top seed Nadia Petrova retired because of stomachache in the first set of their semifinal, has now lost seven of her eleven career finals. (photo via Hansol Korea Open)

Let’s tune up for Bali tournament (and beaches)

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 21:16:35 +0000

The second edition of the $600,000 Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali, the last tournament of the WTA season, will feature up-and-coming stars, but also established players including Grand Slam champion Ana Ivanovic.

To qualify for Bali and its tropical fun a player had to win an International-level event during the season and be one of the six highest-ranked players who did not qualify for the WTA Championships.

Here’s the 2010 Bali field, including one International-level title a player has won in 2010:

Li Na – Birmingham
Aravane Rezai – Bastad (won the Bali title last year with Marion Bartoli retiring in tears after losing the first set 7-5 in the final)
Yanina Wickmayer – Auckland
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – Monterrey
Ana Ivanovic – Linz
Alisa Kleybanova – Kuala Lumpur
Daniela Hantuchova (wildcard)
Kimiko Date Krumm (wildcard)

This year there will be no round-robin format at Bali and thus all the players have received a bye in the first round. Li, Date Krumm, Pavlyuchenkova and Ivanovic are in the top half of the draw, Hantuchova, Wickmayer, Kleybanova and Rezai are in the bottom half.

What do you think of the Bali tournament being scheduled to take place after the WTA Championships? Wouldn’t it be better to finalize the season with the WTA Championships? I feel that the new Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions is decreasing the feeling of the elite and grand ending to the season that the WTA Championships are bringing. (photos via Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions)

Sharapova shows off engagement ring on streets of LA

admin — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:40:03 +0000

Maria Sharapova and her future husband Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Sasha Vujacicwere spotted walking hand in hand while out for lunch in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 23. It is the first time we get to see the 23-year-old Sharapova’s engagement ring, and as you can notice, it’s huge!

Sharapova and Vujacic got engaged recently, on the first anniversary of the day they met.

(via JustJared)

Courier to lead US Davis Cup hopes

admin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:58:40 +0000

NEW YORK: The Davis Cup’s preparations are in full swing and US Tennis Association has announced the man who will lead their team in the Davis Cup. Jim Courier, former world number one has been given the responsibility to captain the United States Davis Cup team.

Courier has succeeded and took place of the 44 year old Patrick McEnroe who resigned last month after leading successfully the US Davis cup team for a decade.

While happily commenting upon his current appointment the 40 year old said that it is definitely a big thing and this is what I had always dreamt of and aimed at adding that for me I have always thought that being the captain of a team is an enjoyable experience lets see now whether I enjoy it or not.

The man appointed by the USTA is certainly of caliber as Courier along with holding the number one world ranking for 58 weeks in 1992 and 1993 has also won four grand slam tournaments, the 1991 and 1992 French Opens and the 1992 and 1993 Australian Opens and also possess the record of being the youngest ever to reach in all the 4 grand slam finals.

Courier who retired from his international career in 2000 enabled US to win the Davis Cup in 1992 and 1995. James Spencer Jim Courier first assignment would be to conquer the hosts Chile in a first-round match in March. Last time the US won the 2007 Davis Cup under McEnroe’s guidance and supervision.

sportsencounter.com

Maria Sharapova hot news: boyfriend Sasha Vujacic becomes fiance

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 22:01:47 +0000

Although I’ve been following the relationship of tennis superstar Maria Sharapova and LA Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic since the very beginning, I have to say that headlines about their engagement came as quite of a shock. The news is most likely true, as many credible sources are reporting it. However, Sharapova’s official website is still saying nothing about it.

Here’s what Vujacic said Thursday night before the Lakers’ exhibition game against the Golden State Warriors:

We are engaged and are both really happy. It’s good and now we can focus on other things.

The story is that Vujacic met Sharapova a year ago at a friend’s barbecue and now he decided to propose to her on the anniversary of the day they first met. Sharapova is 23 years old and Vujacic is 26.

Here’s a little retrospective of Maria and Sasha together:

couple first seen holding hands – last Novemberspotted relaxing in Los Angeles – in FebruaryMaria brought Sasha with her to Indian Wellsstrolling the streets of Udine together – in July.

Pakistan upbeat on return of int’l tennis

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:16:16 +0000

KARACHI: Pakistan is very confident and optimistic at the fact that International Tennis will definitely make a comeback and will return to Pakistan after the thorough examination by the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) security personnel.

Aisam-new

These comments were put forth by Dilawar Abbas, President Pakistan Tennis Federation.

Abbas also apprised that Ian Todd the security consultant of ITF had visited Pakistan to assess security arrangements and situations at venues adding that an official request has already been made to ITF in which is demanded that international events including Davis Cup ties matches should be conducted in Pakistan as we have the capabilities and the facilities to successfully host such events.

Aisam

The current discussions with the Tennis’s apex body are being held to bring back in Pakistan the game of Tennis with its full potential and charm. Since it was the security concerns that forced ITF to move from Pakistan its matches of Davis cup against Oman, Philippines, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Abbas also commenting about the effect of the above ITF decision said that we lost too much in Davis cup because we lost the home advantage aspect in the game.

The Tennis regulator has also confirmed the news of the conductance of a security assessment in Pakistan and added that a full report is being awaited.

Hopeful and optimistic at the encouraging attitude of ITF Abbas said that something positive will happen soon and it must happen since it is necessary for the promotion of the sport in Pakistan.

sportsencounter.com