Getting ready to go to Charleston

I'm leaving for Charleston on Friday, and will be at the Family Circle Cup--as always--from qualifying on. Depending on my mood and the circumstances, I may do some live-blogging. At any rate, I'll keep everyone up to date and in the know.

If you have questions about the Family Circle Cup, feel free to post them in comments, and I'll do my best to find you the answers if I don't already know them.

Bondarenko out in Ponte Vedra Beach

2nd seed Alona Bondarenko made a first round exit in Ponte Vedra Beach today. Bondarenko was defeated 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 by Olga Govortsova. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki advanced with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Patty Schnyder.

In Marbella, 6th seed Maria Kirilenko was upset 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 by Sorana Cirstea.

Miscellany

Venus Williams has still not made a decision about playing in the Fed Cup semifinal the last weekend in April. “I don't think [USA captain Mary Joe Fernandez] wants to talk to me about Fed Cup right now," Williams said. "Wouldn't be the best answer right now. I think she has been smart enough not ask me about Fed Cup." Miami finalist Williams said she wants to see how she feels physically following playing every round of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Chris Oddo writes about the disappearance of the one-handed backhand in women's tennis.

What becomes of top-ranked junior players?

Andrea Petkovic had to withdraw from Marbella because of hay fever.

Something I should have mentioned earlier: Tennis TV has enhanced its interface to permit the viewing of a small desktop screen. Also added is a section wherein one can view ball placement.

The Heroes Among Us program is again open for nominations.

Mirza madness continues

Jelena Jankovic is sometimes referred to as the drama queen of the WTA, but she has nothing on Sania Mirza. (Actually, I think she has nothing on Justine Henin.) The Indian player--who has had a fatwa issued against her, faced charges of disturbing the peace, gotten in trouble for supporting safe sex, received a warning for dishonoring the Indian flag, and saw one of her doctors receive death threats--inadvertently triggered a new round of drama when she decided to get married. Upon hearing the news that Mirza would marry Sohrab Mirza, a man threatened to kill himself, and another man went to her house to declare his undying love for her. Both were arrested.

There is also quite a bit of controversy over the tennis star's selection of a Pakistani man to be her husband. Not long ago, Mirza announced her split with Mirza, and she became engaged to Pakistani cricket player Shoaib Malik. Today, Indian police seized Malik's passport and questioned him about allegations that he is already married. Ayesha Siddiqui claims that Malik married her in 2002, and she is demanding a divorce.

3 of 5 wild cards given by Family Circle Cup

Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Mallory Cecil and Alison Riske have received wild cards into the main draw of the Family Circle Cup.

Mattek-Sands and Nadia Petrova won the 2010 doubles championship in Charleston.

Cecil received a wild card last year, and lost in the first round to Virginie Razzano. In 2008, she won the SMASH Junior Cup, which entitled her to a wild card into Charleston qualifying. Cecil won the NCAA singles championship while she was a freshman at Duke.

Riske won the SMASH Junior Cup title last year and received a wild card into Family Circle Cup qualifying.

Two more wild cards are to be awarded soon. The tournament begins on Monday, April 12, and qualifying takes place April 10 and 11.

Miscellany

Alicia Molik, seeded 2nd in the qualifying draw for the Andalucia Tennis Experience in Marbella, was defeated 7-6, 6-0 today by Beatriz Garcia Vidagany in the second round of qualifying.

Because it's so important that we know she's a blonde...

"I don't really understand the whole Twitter thing," says Sam Stosur. "Who cares if you're eating a sandwich or getting a haircut?" Amen, sister.

But also from Stosur: "I don't really read that many books...."

Serena Williams says she has not set a date to return to the tour. She has withdrawn from Marbella.

Casey Dellacqua has apparently withdrawn from the Family Circle Cup. Sabine Lisicki has withdrawn from the MPS Group Championships in Ponte Vedra Beach. She is continuing to rehabilitate her ankle.

And finally, here's something from Miami you didn't see on television:

Dulko & Pennetta win Miami championship

The unseeded team of Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta won the Sony Ericsson Open today, defeating 3rd seeds Nadia Petrova and Samantha Stosur 6-3, 4-6, 10-7. Dulko and Pennetta are long-time friends and frequent doubles partners. This is their fourth title together.