Weekend Warriors

by Savannah

Very happy to see Anna Chakvetadze back in the winners circle after a 2 1/2 year absence. She won the Portoroz singles title in straight sets.

Andrey Golubev hoists his first main tour ATP winners trophy. Golubev played solid tennis all week and defeated Jurgen Melzer in straight sets. And no it's not a fan, it's a replica of a ship's propeller.

Julia Goerges (center) is also a first timer. She won the title at Bad Gastein after having to play her semi final and final in the same day due to inclement weather.

Mardy Fish playing in the city known as Hotlanta overcame the weather and his opponent to win the first ATChampionships title. Court temperatures measured over 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lucie Hradecka and Anabel Medina-Garrigues won the doubles title at Bad Gastein.

The team of Kondratieva and Uhlirova won the doubles crown at Portoroz.

Rajeev Ram and Scott Lipsky won the doubles crown in Atlanta.

And last but not least twenty three year old Blake Strode won the US Open National Playoffs earning a spot in the US Open Qualifying Draw. Strode has delayed his entry to Harvard Law in order to pursue his dream of playing professional tennis.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Miscellany

The Monogram has posted on his blog that he will be working with Paul Annacone on a trial basis. Annacone as you know is the former coach of Pete Sampras.

The recently reinstated ATP tournament will not be held in Atlanta in 2011 due to a PGA event. Some are saying the tournament should remain in Georgia and be held at the University of Georgia.

Both Novak Djokovic and Robin Soderling withdrew from tournaments due to "Personal Reasons". Andy Murray took Djokovic's place as top seed in Los Angeles.

Maria Sharapova will not be playing doubles at Stanford.

Juan Martin del Potro is not playing the US Open despite announcements to the contrary. That is the situation right now. Who said what to whom and when is in dispute.

I'm Too Sexy To - Qualify?

by Savannah

I'm still surprised at the controversy regarding the decision by the folks at Tennis Canada to follow the rules and not grant a Main Draw Wild Card to media darling Ana Ivanovic who is currently ranked about #65 in the world. Why am I surprised this controversy rages on? I don't remember hearing much of an outcry when the AELTC juggled the men's rankings this year. To judge by the volume level you'd think the world of tennis as we know it was falling down around our heads. It's not.
As one tennishead said Ana is playing as if she is still a top ten player. She is not playing the International level tournaments to try and get her ranking up and when she's in a Main Draw she has yet to go deep.

The pre Open era of tennis is a distant memory yet calls to put Ana into the MD regardless of her ranking harken back to that time.
To cite a very recent example James Ward of Great Britain was granted a Wild Card into the ATP Atlanta Main Draw due to some kind of quid pro quo between the USTA and the LTA. I actually watched some of the "match". I put match in quotes because all I saw was Mardy Fish having a practice hit. If Ana is shoe horned into the MD in Montreal we could see a similar "match".
I don't usually have anything too positive to say about Tennis Canada but in this case I'm glad to see them holding their ground so far. There is always the chance that with Serena Williams withdrawal things could change.

Speaking of Serena the picture above was posted on Twitter and shows Serena, Common, and other friends admiring Serena's cast. Of course for some unless they saw a shard of glass and blood all over the place they'd feel this is all bullshit. Keep in mind it was the WTATour that announced that the injury was severe enough that it might keep her out of the US Open not Serena's people. The Tour wouldn't announce this without independent verification of what's going on with the foot of the World Number One.

1 1 Williams, Serena USA 8475

2 2 Jankovic, Jelena SRB 5900

3 3 Williams, Venus USA 5606

4 4 Wozniacki, Caroline DEN 5555

5 5 Stosur, Samantha AUS 4890

6 6 Dementieva, Elena RUS 4670

7 7 Clijsters, Kim BEL 4510

8 8 Schiavone, Francesca ITA 4285

9 9 Zvonareva, Vera RUS 3965

10 10 Li, Na CHN 3756

Serena's ranking is secure until the US Open. I've seen Serena play with injury before but if the healing is not complete by then lt's hope she does what's best for Serena and not for the tour.

In a recent interview before a World Team Tennis event in Philadelphia Andy Roddick said that no one jumped him, he was not bound and gagged in his sleep or otherwise highjacked and ended up with his new haircut. It was all his idea he says.

Nikolay Davydenko whose brother Edouard has been a fixture in his box is in the market for a coach. Edouard wants to concentrate on the budding career of his son and would not be available to coach his brother full time.

Stan Wawrinka dismissed his long time coach and is now being guided by Peter Lundgren.

Can we all just say no? Good.

Vera Zvonareva told the world that she'd posted this pic of herself on her Facebook site. The general consensus is not positive but I like it. It's edgy. Sue me.

Sunday's Winners

by Savannah

Nicolas Almagro of Spain defeated Robin Soderling at Bastad, Sweden 7-5, 3-6, 6-2. Soderling was the defending champion.

Kaia Kanepi was the winner over Italy's Flavia Pennetta in Palermo in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.

Albert Montanes of Spain defeated France's Gael Monfils at Stuttgart. Monfils twisted an ankle and was forced to retire.

Agnes Szavay successfully defended her title at Prague defeating Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.

In mens doubles play

the second seeded team of R. Lindstedt and H. Tecau won the title at Bastad.

C Berlocq and E Schwank won at Stuttgart.

In women's doubles at Palermo Brianti/Errani (ITA/ITA) d. Craybas/Goerges (USA/GER) 64 61

At Prague Bacsinszky/Garbin (SUI/ITA) d. (3) Niculescu/Szavay (ROU/HUN) 75 76(4)

Miscellany

Andy Roddick was given a wild card into Atlanta. He's seeded number one. Atlanta is the kick off tournament for the US Open Series.

Nicole Vaidisova married the man of her dreams, Radek Stepanek on Saturday at the country's largest and most famous cathedral, St. Vitus. At 31 Stepanek is ranked No. 29. Vaidisova, is 21 and a former top 10 player. She retired from the women's tour this year.

Idle Chit Chat

by Savannah

Wading in the shallow end of the pool this go 'round kiddies.

I'll lead off with the, uh, sweet inspiration that was sitting in Vera Zvonareva's box during her run to the Wimbledon final. Pics are courtesy of CornedBeefHash. I'm thinking this ad is from Europe since folks in the US have such delicate constitutions we can't be exposed to things like this.

Sergey Demekhine is now said to be Bepa's coach. Work your show girl. Ahem.

Maria Sharapova and boyfriend, NBA player Sasha Vujacic were photographed at a wedding in Italy.

Speaking of weddings Janko "No fat girls" Tipsarevic married Biljana Šešević. The wedding pictures appeared in a Serbian magazine and are airbrushed/photoshopped to death. I'm sure Mrs. Tipsarevic doesn't look like she belongs in a wax museum. I'm just worried what her husband will think when she gets pregnant. There is no avoiding that "baby bump" as it's so euphemistically called these days.

All of the top Serbian players were there. Apparently a good time was had by all.

I'm On A Boat...

More pictures surfaced of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Federer on vacation in Corsica.

Paul Henri Mathieu strikes a pose for French tennis.

And Jelena Jankovic, who poses at the flash of a camera is seen below. Didn't Francesca Schiavone do a pose in front of a mirror? I'm just saying.

I'll close with this Swiss ad for Sports Illustrated.

The Reign of Spain

by Savannah

If you don't know why this octopus is the most famous animal on the planet right now you have been living in a cave. Named Paul, the cephalopod mollusk correctly predicted the outcome of eight out of eight World Cup matches including the eventual winner Spain. The Washington Post reports this morning that the now famous oracle was given his own replica of the World Cup. As of now there is no truth to any rumors about Paul taking his act to Vegas.

While on the subject of the World Cup I'm sure the NFL has emailed players saying that while cleats to the chest of a man who is not wearing any protective gear underneath his jersey is not a red card offense in the World Cup any attempts at duplicating this will result in a flagrant foul being called.

American sports fans also know this guy got off easy. Try to get at the Super Bowl or World Series trophy. I'm just saying.

To kind of segue back to tennis this gentleman was seen in South Africa. It appears that he has yet to meet a trophy he doesn't like.

This is the first year I've been able to watch the World Cup from beginning to end and I have to say I totally enjoyed it. Here in the States we have an event called the World Series as well as the Super Bowl but nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to what goes on for the month the World Cup takes place.
It is truly a spectacle and it's a good thing it's only held every four years.
This was the first World Cup held on the continent of Africa and despite all the people predicting gloom and doom it went off without a hitch. No hooliganism in the stands, nothing. Everyone seemed to be having a great time blowing the now famous, or infamous, vuvuzelas.

I did read some fan posts saying that Spain has a racist history towards players from the African continent and that that was reason enough to not support the Spanish team. I guess they forget that the word "apartheid" is a Dutch word and defined the racial caste system that dominated South Africa. No Western European country has a clean record when it comes to the African continent. All I can say is haters to the left.

Davis Cup

Davis Cup played second fiddle, as did all other sports, to the World Cup but there were some stunning surprises in the results. I'm posting the World Group quarterfinal results today. I'll post the complete results tomorrow.

WORLD GROUP QUARTERFINALS

FRANCE defeated SPAIN 5-0
Venue: Grande Halle d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France (hard - indoors)

Gael Monfils (FRA) d. David Ferrer (ESP) 76(3) 62 46 57 64
Michael Llodra (FRA) d. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 67(5) 64 63 76(2)
Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) d. Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 61 62 67(6) 76(5)
Gilles Simon (FRA) d, Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 76(4) 76(7)
Julien Benneteau (FRA) d. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 76(3) 64
Spain going out to nil is stunning. After it's horrid World Cup performance I think the French were on a mission. Michael Llodra, above was the most valuable player on the French side.

ARGENTINA defeated RUSSIA 3-2
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia (hard - indoors)

David Nalbandian (ARG) d. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 64 76(5) 76(6)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) d. Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 63 61 64
Eduardo Schwank/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) d. Nikolay Davydenko/Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 76(7) 64 67(3) 61
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) d. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 46 63 61 64
David Nalbandian (ARG) d. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 76(5) 64 63
The world met David Nalbandian's brother from another mother Diego Forlan from Uruguay during the World Cup but David got to dance a jig while dodging water as Argentina defeated Russia in Russia. Think I'm kidding about Forlan?

SERBIA defeated CROATIA 4-1
Venue: Spaladium Arena, Split, Croatia (hard – indoors)

Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 76(3) 64 61
Marin Cilic (CRO) d. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 64 75 62
Janko Tipsarevic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) d. Marin Cilic/Ivan Dodig (CRO) 63 62 64
Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Marin Cilic (CRO) 63 63 62
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d. Antonio Veic (CRO) 62 76(5)
Serbia overcame the ugliness that greeted their arrival in Croatia by defeating the Croatian team on its own soil.

CZECH REPUBLIC defeated CHILE 3-0
Venue: Enjoy Tennis Center, Coquimbo, Chile (clay - outdoors)

Ivo Minar (CZE) d. Nicolas Massu (CHI) 60 62 63
Jan Hajek (CZE) d. Paul Capdeville (CHI) 60 62 61
Lukas Dlouhy/Jan Hajek (CZE) d. Jorge Aguilar/Nicolas Massu (CHI) 76(3) 63 36 63
Nicolas Massu (CHI) v Jan Hajek (CZE)
Cristobal Saavedra-Corvalan (CHI) v Ivo Minar (CZE)
The Czech Republic (got that Hannah Storm?) won rather easily over Chile. the semi finals will see France vs Argentina in France and the Czech Republic vs Serbia in Serbia.

Weekend Winners

Aravane Rezai holds her trophy after winning the singles title in Bastad.

Agnes Szavay successfully defended her title in Budapest defeating Patty Schnyder in the final.

Flavia Pennetta and Gisela Dulko won the doubles crown in Bastad.
Timea Bacsinszky and Tathiana Garbin won the doubles crown in Budapest.

Mardy Fish won the title in Newport.

Carsten Ball and Chris Guccione won the doubles title at Newport.
Unfortunately an investigation into possible illegal gambling has been launched against the match between Christophe Rochus and Richard Bloomfield. Bloomfield, a British player ranked #552 in the world defeated Rochus. As usual tremendous sums of money were involved. This is the second time Bloomfield's name has come up in relation to gambling.

Idle Chit Chat
Tennis players were still out and about last week. There is photographic proof of this.

Alona Bondarenko married her coach Nikolay Dyachok on July 8 in the Ukraine. It's important to say they were married in the Ukraine otherwise residents of the United States would think the wedding took place somewhere in the South.
A formal church wedding and reception was held afterwards.

Venus Williams looked very nice while out promoting her new book.

Serena Williams attended the wedding of basketball star Carmelo Anthony to former MTV vj Lala Vasquez. That looks like her sister Isha in the background.

This man was seen almost Monogramless on the beach.

Maybe Andy Roddick wants to get into acting. With his new haircut maybe he's lobbying for a role in a remake of the HBO prison drama Oz?

End Notes

No they're not rioting over some political situation. It's just Spanish fans getting their party on after their country's win in the World Cup. I think the image below is a much more fitting last image.

God willing and the creek don't rise I hope to be able to witness another World Cup in four years.