Thursday, January 27, 2011

Passing shots

"Stuff just happens," Chanda Rubin said her recent house fire. Reporters asked Rubin which professional tennis player she would have picked to be on the fire rescue team. She immediately answered "Arantxa," a reference to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Good choice.

Serena Williams says she plans to play on the USA Fed Cup team in April. First, however, the USA has to beat Belgiam in the quarterfinals.

Maria Sharopova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Dinara Safina are scheduled to play for Russia in the 2011 Fed Cup World Group quarterfinals. Russia will play France in Olympic Stadium in Moscow.

Aravane Rezai has withdrawn from both Fed Cup and the indoor Paris tournament. She withdrew from doubles competition at the Australian Open, following media reports that a member of her family would most likely be banned from tournaments. Rezai's father has a history of inappropriate behavior at tournaments, and--though one report mentions that a female is under investigation--it has now been widely reported that the French player's father threatened her romantic partner. Rezai says that the reports are inaccurate and exaggerated, but--considering her father's history--it isn't that hard to believe them. One thing is certain: Rezai's withdrawal from Fed Cup and the Open GDF Suez is very unfortunate.

Fern Lee "Peachy" Kellmeyer, the WTA's first director (and first employee) has been elected for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This honor has been a long time coming.

4 comments:

svente said...

Given the number of times they've pulled out, I always feel a bit for Mary Jo Fernandez when she has to report Serena and/or Venus plan to play Fed Cup. It must be infuriating for her.

I know they have to play a couple of times before the Olympics in 12, but I tend not to believe it til I see it.

Diane said...

Well, sometimes MJF begs them to play, so maybe she sets up some of her own frustration. At this point, with all the injuries, that windows is getting kind of small.

Fog Mountain said...

If the U.S. loses to Belgium, they will play a relegation tie in April.

Diane said...

That's true--I'd forgotten about that. Thanks, Fog Mountain.