Kirilenko withdraws from Brisbane

Maria Kirilenko has withdrawn from the Brisbane International tournament. She was to have played in the very first match, against Samantha Stosur. Stosur will play Ai Sugiyama instead.

Some reports say that Kirilenko withdrew because of illness; others say it was because of injury.

This and that...

According to Chris Pike, both Marat and Dinara Safina (and especially Dinara) are feeling really desperate. The next match is between Russia and Italy, so the crowd will get to see the desperate siblings play together for the first time.


Speaking of Hopman Cup, Alize Cornet topped off her win against Hsieh Su-Wei with a mixed doubles win (with partner Gilles Simon) over Hsieh and Lu Yen-Hsu, 6-4, 7-6.


The season is about to officially start, but you still have time to answer 100 intriguing questions.


Jelena Dokic's first round opponent at the Brisbane International tournament is Amelie Mauresmo. Mauresmo has a 2-1 record over Dokic.


And first on the court--which means first ever on the court for the new Brisbane Intenational tournament--will be Sam Stosur, who will play Maria Kirilenko.

Cornet starts Hopman Cup with a win

The 2009 Hyundai Hopman Cup has begun, with France competing against Chinese Taipei. Alize Cornet has defeated Hsieh Su-Wei, 6-4, 6-4.

Cornet's partner for the Hopman Cup is Gilles Simon. Unfortunately, neither of the Chinese doubles stars--Chan Yung-Jan and Chuang Chia-Jung--is participating in the event.

Magazine cover of the year

Both Forty Deuce and Women's Tennis Blog are featuring this existentially stunning magazine cover. What can I say? Enjoy.

Friday cat blogging--New Year edition

Velma and Roxie join me in wishing all our readers and blogging friends a happy and successful new year, and a successful new year to our top favorites--Amelie, Patty and Jelena!

Saving the best for last

Amelie Mauresmo's 2008 tennis outfits are the last to be shown in Women's Tennis Blog's fashion retrospective, a very enjoyable series.

New Year's resolutions I'd like to see

If the Sony Ericsson players are smart, then they know better than to make New Year's resolutions. But if they're going to make them, here are the ones I wish they would make:

Maria Sharapova: "I will be treated by a whole new team of doctors, some of whom will actually know how to look at x-rays."

Jelena Jankovic: "I will shut up about being number 1 and just win a major (I promise, however, not to shut up about anything else)."

Patty Schnyder: "I will seek the services of a hypnotherapist ten years ago--wait--now--I'll do it right now..."

Laura Robson: "I will ignore all the stupid adults who tell me to be careful what I say."

Ana Ivanovic: "I will stop striking child porn poses for magazines and websites."

Daniela Hantuchova: "I'll take the appointment right after Patty's, thank you."

Venus Williams: "Despite what my sister says, I won't be around forever, and I will increase--not shy away from--my feminist activism on the tour so others will learn to emulate me."

Anna Chakvetadze: "I will consider the possibility that I really was traumatized by the break-in and attack."

Serena Williams: "I will not sulk for more than a few moments when I lose."

Svetlana Kuznetsova: "Are Patty and Dani out of there yet?"

Lindsay Davenport: "I will use the "r" word.

Elena Dementieva: "I will learn why people think freedom of the press is a big deal."

Dinara Safina: "I will not play myself into the ground and burn out."

Olga Govortsova: "I will find Edina and make her my doubles partner again."

Marion Bartoli: "I will get a new coach."

Agnieszka Radwanska: "I will volley, just for the hell of it."

Elena Gallovits: "Where's Olga?"

Sabine Lisicki: "I will learn to think and hit the ball at the same time."

Tamira Paszek: "I will find some kind of consistency in training and coaching."

Flavia Pennetta: "I will believe."

Vera Zvonareva: "What Flavia said."