Passing shots

I'm tossing a big bouquet to Any Given Surface for this piece on sexism and Victoria Azarenka. I certainly couldn't have said it better myself.

Perhaps you have a friend or family member who would like to share your enthusiasm about tennis but is having trouble grasping all of the crazy rules. Craig Schwartz has written an ebook, The Quick and Easy Guide to Learning Tennis, which explains everything. You can get a Kindle edition here.

Argentines know how to party.

It's no surprise, but it's nevertheless a sad thing that Agnes Szavay has retired from professional tennis. Szavay has suffered for some time with a painful back condition. The former top-20 Hungarian player says she would like to create a tennis academy. Szavay was a fine player with a beautiful two-handed backhand. She won five WTA titles.

Best photo ever of the charming and inimitable Elena Vesnina.

Serena Williams, Sara Errani and Mona Barthel will compete in the Family Circle Cup, which begins March 30 in Charleston. 2010 champion Sam Stosur will be there, too. Williams won the championship in 2009 and 2012.

Here's 'Pova at LAX, on her way to Doha.