Showing posts with label Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stars. Show all posts

Thursday, May 26, 2011

French Open tears put stars in shade

Updated May 25, 2011 06:57:00

Grieving Virginie Razzano and struggling former champion Ana Ivanovic have flooded the French Open with tears, sweeping winning drawcards Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters into the shade.

French 28-year-old Razzano was inconsolable as she recounted how fiance and coach Stephane Vidal, who died from a brain tumour eight days ago, had encouraged her to play Roland Garros.

Ivanovic, the 2008 champion and former world number one, also broke down as she vented her mounting frustration at seeing her career bedevilled by a series of stomach and wrist injuries.

"I am very emotional, I was here for Stephane," said Razzano, after her 6-3, 6-1 defeat by Australian 24th seed Jarmila Gajdosova.

"It was really hard to come on the court, there was a lot of emotion and a lot of pain. That pain will always be there. I tried to make a tribute to Stephane. It was mission impossible but I gave my all."

Ivanovic, the 23-year-old 20th seed, lost 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 6-2 to Sweden's world number 64 Johanna Larsson.

After committing 45 unforced errors, Ivanovic wept as she revealed how a left wrist injury had restricted her ambitions.

"I had stomach problems at the start of the year. But I felt healthy before Indian Wells, then hurt my stomach again at the Fed Cup. It's been stop and go," the Serbian said.

"It is very frustrating. It's inflammation of the wrist but I didn't suffer it playing, I woke up with the problem.

"The bone has slipped and has caused friction. I'm very upset."

Meanwhile, second seed Clijsters, playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2006, swept past Belarusian Anastasia Yakimova 6-2, 6-3.

Clijsters, the reigning US and Australian Open champion, has been Paris runner-up twice, in 2001 and 2003, but had not played in the event since losing in the 2006 semi-finals to compatriot Justine Henin.

She will next face Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.

"I was excited to be back out there," said Clijsters, whose participation in Paris was under threat because of an ankle injury.

"I moved well and was aggressive. There's a few things that will have to be better. I didn't always hit the lines like I wanted to."

Sharapova had little trouble disposing of Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic 6-3, 6-0, as the former world number one began her campaign to clinch a first French Open title.

It took the seventh-seeded Russian just 56 minutes to seal victory as her 29-year-old opponent, playing the tournament for the first time in eight years, was overwhelmed, winning just four points in the second set.

"It was a tough beginning because she started off serving really big, and I didn't get too many looks on second serves," said Sharapova, who captured the Rome claycourt tournament in the run-up to Paris.

"But once I got a good rhythm I felt like I started playing better and better."

Sharapova, who sported diamond-encrusted earrings, has never got beyond the semi-finals in Paris. She next faces French wild card Caroline Garcia.

Fourth seed Victoria Azarenka, a quarter-finalist in 2009, breezed past Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3.

Azarenka, at a career-high four in the world after a 2011 that has seen her capture titles in Miami and Marbella and finish runner-up in Madrid, now faces either Pauline Parmentier of France or Russia's Ksenia Pervak.

Chinese sixth seed Li Na, who reached the Australian Open final this year, struggled past Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 and she will next face Spain's Silvia Soler Espinosa.

After Heather Watson became the first British woman to win a match at Roland Garros in 17 years on Monday, Elena Baltacha joined her compatriot in the next round with a 7-5, 6-2 win over US qualifier Sloane Stephens.

- AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, france

First posted May 25, 2011 06:23:00


View the original article here

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Female Tennis Stars


There are many female tennis stars around the world who have won the hearts of millions of people. The list is simply never ending, but still you can spot few female tennis players that have left special mark on the game. The history of tennis is not clear but the major grand slam events gave birth to famous female tennis stars.

The female players were included in prestigious Wimbledon in 1884. But the start of 20th century was the real period when female tennis stars began to leave their impact on the game. The four grand slam tournaments Australian open, French open, Wimbledon, and U.S. open allowed many women to prove their talent in tennis. American female tennis stars Elisabeth Moore and Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman won many U.S. championship titles in early part of 20th century. Molla Mallory created history by winning eight titles from 1915. Suzanne Lenglen of France and Helen Wills Moody of the United States were the rising female tennis stars, and Moody created records by winning eight Wimbledon titles, seven U.S. championship titles, and four French championship titles.

The dominant female tennis stars in 1940s included Pauline Betz who won four U.S. championships and Louise Brough who won four Wimbledon titles. Maureen Connolly dominated tennis by winning the grand slam in 1953. Althea Gibson won both U.S. and Wimbledon titles in 1957 to become the first black woman player in history of tennis. The female tennis stars in 1960s included Maria Bueno from Brazil, Margaret Smith Court from England, and Billie Jean King from the United States.

The start of 1970 gave birth to one of the real legend in female tennis stars. Martina Navratilova from Czech Republic ruled the tennis world from 1970-1990. The only player to compete with Martina was the American Chris Evert who managed to won seven French opens and six U.S. opens in her entire career. The games between these two female tennis stars were the most intense games in history of women tennis. Martina Navratilova, a left-handed player was declared as the greatest tennis player of all times. She won 18 grand slam single titles, 31 grand slam womens doubles titles, and 10 grand slam mixed doubles titles.

Martina was unstoppable until the arrival of another legend Steffi Graf. Steffi, from West Germany is still considered to be the one of the hottest female tennis stars of all time. Steffi Graf ruled hearts of millions of people around the world by winning 22 grand slam titles. She also won a gold medal in 1988 Olympics and became the first tennis player to hold No.1 spot for a record of 377 weeks. Many other great female tennis stars such as Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain, were over-shadowed by this great legend, Steffi Graf. The injury in 1992 allowed Monica Seles to enter the exciting world of tennis. Monica Seles from America also managed to won nine grand slam titles in her entire career.

The 21st century was regarded as a new beginning in female tennis stars. The quality of play was raised and many hot tennis beauties entered the world of tennis. You can now easily enjoy the true combination of beautiful game and beautiful girls. The competition became tough and not a single player was allowed to stay on the No.1 spot for long time. Martina Hingis from Switzerland, Maria Sharapova from Russia, Daniela Hantuchova from Slovakia, Elena Dementieva from Russia, Anna Kournikova, Jelena Dokic, Jennifer Capriati, Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Sania Mirza from India, Maria Kirilenko, Anastasia Myskina, etc. and above all the black beauties William sisters Serena and Venus are the most beautiful and eligible female tennis stars in history of tennis.








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