Doha: the Real No 1. FACT.

 
Serena Willliams, when she’s focused and hungry, is simply something else. Half the problem is of course getting her in that zone.
There was no such problem today. With her leg firmly strapped, I half expected Serena to lose every match in Round Robin once Safina retired. Surprisingly, she’s managed to take advantage of a fully [...]

Doha: Not with a bang but a whimper.

 
So it ends like this. There will be no final shootout for the top spot between Serena and Safina. Dina made life easier for all of us by quitting her opening match against JJ after 13 minutes, citing a a lower back injury.
“My body just gave up, and I couldn’t handle the pain anymore.”
Back pains are a [...]

Doha: The Bland and the Beautiful.

Weary players, half empty stadiums – must be the WTA year-end championships. 
I’m starting to worry about Venus Williams. How many times this year have we seen her win the first set, braincramp in the second, and completely lose control over her game in the third?
And the annoying part is, she could – and should – [...]

Picspam: Catwoman and the Reject Bridesmaids of the WTA

Is it time for Doha already? The WTA year-end championships gets underway this week over in Woop Woop, as the players glammed for the draw ceremony. 
By “glammed up”, I mean they all went through their gloryboxes and practiced the aisle walk.
 

 

 
In times like these, I miss having Maria Sharapova in the top 8. She can [...]

Beijing/Tokyo: Sayonara Dinara.

Yes Dina, I’m a terrible person:
 

 
Cheers erupted on Centre Court in Beijing as Zhang Shuai (not to be confused with Peng Shuai) took out the “Real World No 1″ Dinara Safina 75 76.
Zhang, ranked 226 in the world, has never won a match in the second round of a main draw [...]

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 [...]

USO Day 7: Tears and Fears.

REUTERS/Shaun Best
 
As bummed as I am about Venus getting booted out so early in the tournament, I must admit Kim got to me with her sincere reactions to the 6-0 0-6 6-4 victory. 
How can you not want to reserve your seat on the Comeback Train after this? 
 
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
 
Tennis-wise, it wasn’t fantastic until [...]

USO Day 5: Stirred by not shaken.

Who woulda thought that Andy Murray would be the first top 10 seed to lose a set this tournament en route to his 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 win over Capdeville? 
Rafael Nadal also had a minor hiccup against Kiefer, dropping the second set to win 6-0 3-6 6-3 6-4. Apart from a slight concentration lapse in [...]

USO Day 1 Wrap: ConFederercy of Radness.

It’s Day 1 folks, apart from drooling over Federer’s “beautiful lines” and his outfit, which turned out to be pleasantly stark against the colour of the court, there ain’t much to say. Or is there?
Firstly, the obligatory drooling session starts … now:
 

 
I will never get over his uncanny balance…
 

 
Or the aesthetic value of his movement…
 

 
Slobber [...]

Picspam: America, meet your next president.

I crossed Obama and Hilary, and liked what I got. 
 

 
Venus was at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the closing bells. I don’t know why, but I ain’t complainin’ when she looks fabulous and  fit to rule. 
 

 
 
Meanwhile, if any New Yorker wants to go and smash this gal to pieces, I will supply the [...]