WTA: 1-14.

That is the combined title win/loss record for Stosur and Schiavone, who happen to be our two finalists in Osaka this week.
So who wants to win? 
I’ve got my fingers crossed for Sam, who “deserves” a title at least to validate what’s been a breakthrough year for her, not to mention a semifinal well-played against Caroline [...]

Picket Fence Vid: Not enough Federer.

Basically that’s my complaint about everything in the tennis world these days. Guess I can’t talk, since Nole or Murray fans are shortchanged altogether. 
 
The Australian Open 2010 ad: 
 

 
Meh. Funky, spashy blue paint. 
It doesn’t suck. Nor is it the most memorable ad I’ve ever seen.
Next year’s Australian Open, however, is going to [...]

Tokyo: So who wants to play tennis?

Dinara Safina: OUT.
Venus Williams: OUT.
Elena Dementieva: OUT.
Svetlana Kuznetsova: OUT.
Caroline Wozniacki: OUT. 
Vera Zvonareva: OUT.
Flavia Pennetta: OUT.
Nadia Petrova: OUT. 
Ana Ivanovic: OUT. 
 
Hardly excusable for any of these players. With the exception of CWoz and Flavia, none of them made it beyond 4th round at the US Open. Even with an extended break, none of them came to Tokyo [...]

Picspam: I don’t know where do start…

There are so many things wrong with this. So many. 
 

 
It’s best just to keep focused on the face… 
 

 
The WTA premier tournament in Tokyo starts next week, with most of the top gals arriving in the city. Maria Sharapova, being the commercial magnet that she is, handled pre-tournament practice and a little night out in town for [...]

Cincy/Toronto Day 2: Who stole Masha Fierce’s visor?

It was YOU Fernando Verdasco! 
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want the faux hawk back. That birds nest sitting on top of Nando’s head is killing me. 
 
Expect sparrows to fly out any minute: Nick Laham/Getty Images
 
Fernando Verdasco is at the stage in his career where he’s probably thinking to himself – “I’ve made it. I’ve broken [...]

LA: Under the Radar.

Who would’ve thought at the start of the week that we’d have a Stosur/Pennetta final?
 
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
 
I woke up this morning with Stosur and Cirstea just about to start playing. Went out for breakfast, came back an hour later and it was … finished? As far as semifinals go, this was about as crushing [...]

LA Picspam: talk about a perfect tennis universe…

Let’s see? Slammin’ Sammy beat Ana Ivanovic, Masha Fierce survived a three-setter against ABond, Zheng Jie did my ancient ancestors proud and took down the Real World No 1. Not to mention – Zvonareva and both the Rads are still in the draw - just in time for live streaming.
Seriously, Tennis Gods, why are you being so good [...]

Aussies Update: Comeback.

The theme for Australian tennis this year: comebacks.
And the latest to join the comeback trail is Alicia Molik, who will be making her singles comeback at a small $US25,000 Pro Circuit event in Darwin next month, almost a year since her retirement.
 
‘‘She’s hoping to [play in Darwin], that’s the plan,’’ her agent, Alice Estcourt of [...]

Stanford Snapshots: EFF YOU, Hamster.

“My first goal tomorrow is not to lose 6-0 6-1.” – Marion Bartoli. 
 
Yeah Hamster, taking down two of my favourite players in a row? I hope you lose 6-0 6-0 instead.
 
Venus Williams def Elena Dementieva 6-0 6-1
 

 
So I’m thinking Masha Fierce is feeling a lot better about her loss now?
Two indicators of Venus Williams’s form: forehand [...]

Stanford Snapshots: Masha Fierce Killbilled. JJ Smacked. Sam’s Revenge.

 

 
Bartoli def Jankovic 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3
The thing about smack-talking is that once you let it out there, you cannot afford to lose. You absolutely have to “bring it”, dazzle your opponent with fabulous tennis and body glitter, and make her pay. JJ did the opposite. She let Marion off the hook in the last set. 
Oh JJ, [...]