Billie Jean King and Virginia Wade will be the coaches. The players will include Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Martina Hingis, Rennae Stubbs, Jimmy Connors, and Aaron Krickstein. That sounds irrsistible, and it's going to be a reality on Saturday, April 7, at 7 p.m. at the Family Circle Cup. 40 Love: A Night of Empowerment Celebrating 40 Years of the Family Circle Cup, a special evening presented by Dove, will include a stadium court dedication to Billie Jean King. The Original 9 of the WTA will be on hand, and proceeds will go to the WTA Player Assistance Fund. Tickets are available now from Ticketmaster.
Bruce Jenkins makes a passing shot at Caroline Wozniacki because she made one at Martina Navratilova. (And while I agree that Wozniacki is as unfunny as they come, I disagree that others don't even try. Jenkins is the second writer to make this remark in recent times, and it seems that he and the other man--I forget who it was--have somehow managed to miss the interviews and press conferences of Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Andrea Petkovic, Maria Sharapova, and other genuinely witty and funny WTA players.)
Navratilova is going to be on "Dancing With the Stars." She and Chris Evert have turned down multiple offers to be on the show. "No, no and no" have always been her answers, Evert said a few years ago, but the show managed to get at least half of the pair to participate.
Here's some really good news: Alisa Kleybanova will play in the Sony Ericsson Open next month. Kleybanova has completed her treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. She has a wild card into the Miami tournament.
Andrea Petkovic says she may be back on the tour in a month. She is recovering from a stress fracture in her back.
Melanie Oudin has moved to New York and is working at the USTA Player Development Center in Flushing Meadows.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Arvidsson wins Memphis, Babos wins Monterrey
Unseeded Sofia Arvidsson won the 2012 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis over the weekend. Arvidsson defeated 4th seed Marina Erakovic 6-3, 6-4 in the final. The doubles title was claimed by top seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. The Czech team defeated 2nd seeds Vera Dushevina and Olga Govortsova 6-3, 6-4 in the final.
In Monterrey, Timea Babos topped off a good week by winning the championship. Babos, who defeated Alexandra Cadantu 6-4, 6-4 in the final, also beat 2nd seed Sara Errani and 3rd seed Sorana Cirstea. Errani and her partner, Roberta Vinci, won the doubles title. The Italian team, seeded 1st, beat 2nd seeds Kimiko Date-Krumm and Zhang Shuai 6-2, 7-6 in the final.
In Monterrey, Timea Babos topped off a good week by winning the championship. Babos, who defeated Alexandra Cadantu 6-4, 6-4 in the final, also beat 2nd seed Sara Errani and 3rd seed Sorana Cirstea. Errani and her partner, Roberta Vinci, won the doubles title. The Italian team, seeded 1st, beat 2nd seeds Kimiko Date-Krumm and Zhang Shuai 6-2, 7-6 in the final.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Radwanska wins in Dubai
It wasn't that long ago that Agnieszka Radwanska told the tennis press that she planned to move into the top 5. She did that today by winning the title in Dubai. Radwanska, seeded 5th, defeated Julia Goerges 7-5, 6-4. "She doesn't give you anything," Goerges said after the match. "She doesn't do any mistakes at all. And when she does a few, it's at 15-all or 15-0, not in the important moments."
Goerges had a very good week, taking out Svetlana Kuznetsova, Daniela Hantuchova and Caroline Wozniacki. The match against Hantuchova was of especially high quality.
Neither finalist had to deal with either Petra Kvitova or Victoria Azarenka; both had to withdraw because of illness and injury, respectively.
Top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond won the doubles title. Huber and Raymond defeated 2nd seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-1.
Goerges had a very good week, taking out Svetlana Kuznetsova, Daniela Hantuchova and Caroline Wozniacki. The match against Hantuchova was of especially high quality.
Neither finalist had to deal with either Petra Kvitova or Victoria Azarenka; both had to withdraw because of illness and injury, respectively.
Top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond won the doubles title. Huber and Raymond defeated 2nd seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-1.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Jankovic advances to Dubai semifinals
Jelena Jankovic upset 4th seed seed Sam Stosur in the Dubai quarterfinals Thursday, defeating her 6-4, 6-2. Jankovic, who is seeded 8th, will play Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals. Radwanska beat the ailing Sabine Lisicki.
Also winning in the quarterfinals was Caroline Wozniacki, who defeated Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 7-5. And Julia Goerges, in an entertaining and high-quality match, defeated Daniela Hantuchova 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The two had never before played each other, and Goerges said it took her a set to figure out ways to throw Hantuchova off of her game. The German, who will play Wozniacki in the semifinals, hit 49 winners. Here's hoping that the Dubai final is as good as this match was.
In Memphis, the four who advanced to the semifinals were Marina Erakovic, Alberta Brianti, Sofia Arvidsson, and Vera Dushevina. And in Monterrey, Timea Babos, Greta Arn, Mandy Minella, and Patricia Mayr-Achleitner advanced. Babos upset 3rd seed Sorana Cirstea in three sets.
Also winning in the quarterfinals was Caroline Wozniacki, who defeated Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 7-5. And Julia Goerges, in an entertaining and high-quality match, defeated Daniela Hantuchova 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The two had never before played each other, and Goerges said it took her a set to figure out ways to throw Hantuchova off of her game. The German, who will play Wozniacki in the semifinals, hit 49 winners. Here's hoping that the Dubai final is as good as this match was.
In Memphis, the four who advanced to the semifinals were Marina Erakovic, Alberta Brianti, Sofia Arvidsson, and Vera Dushevina. And in Monterrey, Timea Babos, Greta Arn, Mandy Minella, and Patricia Mayr-Achleitner advanced. Babos upset 3rd seed Sorana Cirstea in three sets.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Serena Williams enters Family Circle Cup
2008 Family Circle Cup Champion Serena Williams has entered the 2012 event in Charleston. Williams, who has won 39 singles titles--including 13 majors--called the Family Circle Cup's upcoming 40th anniversary "an important milestone in women's tennis."
Willliams, generally considered the greatest player of her generation, will be joined by the Original 9 for the anniversary celebration. Her 2008 opponent in the final, Vera Zvonareva, will also be in Charleston, as will 2010 champion Sam Stosur and 2004 champion Venus Williams.
The Family Circle Cup has one of the richest histories of any tennis tournament, and--in many ways--was the event that launched the WTA into the mainstream of sports. The tournament is played on green clay at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island. The event is a player favorite because of its relaxed atmosphere and because of the staff's dedicated attention to detail. Fans have a lot of player access, and can also enjoy interviews, clinics, Happy Hour on the lawn, and music.
The 2012 tournament will be held March 31-April 8.
Willliams, generally considered the greatest player of her generation, will be joined by the Original 9 for the anniversary celebration. Her 2008 opponent in the final, Vera Zvonareva, will also be in Charleston, as will 2010 champion Sam Stosur and 2004 champion Venus Williams.
The Family Circle Cup has one of the richest histories of any tennis tournament, and--in many ways--was the event that launched the WTA into the mainstream of sports. The tournament is played on green clay at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island. The event is a player favorite because of its relaxed atmosphere and because of the staff's dedicated attention to detail. Fans have a lot of player access, and can also enjoy interviews, clinics, Happy Hour on the lawn, and music.
The 2012 tournament will be held March 31-April 8.
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