Reign Change?

Tomorrow Serena Willams will stand one match away from reaching the number one ranking for the first time since she surendered it on October 11th, 2010 to Caroline Wozniacki. It would be her 124 week at number one which is sixth all time weeks in the top spot. After all she has been through since she last held the ranking it will be a nice achievement to become the oldest WTA number 1 at 31 years and 4 months old. If Petra were to defeat Serena tomorrow then Maria Sharapova could take over number one for the 22nd week if she wins the title. Victoria Azerenka would retain the ranking otherwise. 

Complete Order of Play for Doha Quarterfinals:

Starting 3:30 pm Local (7:30 am est)
Sharapova (3) v. Stosur (8)
followed by: Azerenka (1) v. Errani  (6)
followed by: Kvitova (9) v. S. Willams (2)
Not Before 8:30 pm Local
Radwanska (4) vs Wozniacki (10)

My trips to the US Open in Pictures

I was on the grounds for Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the first week. I was also on the grounds Wednesday and Thursday of qualies week. Enjoy. 

Pictures from the Men's matches and practice around the grounds the first week. 

Pictures from Ladies matches and practice around the grounds the first week.

Men's and Ladies practices from Qualies week

The Torch comes to SW19

The torch relay came through the All England club today. Andy Murray and Venus Williams had the honor of carrying the torch around the grounds.


The BBC torch cam did not actually show when Andy got his torch lit but then the cameras did catch up with him.

pic from Neil Harman's twitter

Maggie wasn't too pleased with torch cam.

Great footage of OUTSIDE the AELTC, bbc...
— Maggie May (@maggiemay_hem) July 23, 2012

Um... TORCH CAM SUCKS
— Maggie May (@maggiemay_hem) July 23, 2012

But once Andy got on to Centre Court it was all smiles and the feed was back!

He then made the short way to Henman Hill where Venus was waiting for him.

Venus then took the torch from Henman Hill off the grounds of the All England Club. 

Some gems from the BBC Torch Cam live text: 

"I don't want it to catch my hair", says the next torchbearer Venus Williams as she accepts the flame from Andy." 

Good thing it didn't Venus! "

" Here comes Andy. Looking fit and strong as he runs up that hill. Can he swap the gold of his torch for a gold in the tennis at London 2012? Let's hope so."

You Brits have a way with words. No?

Maggie and Rusty inspected the torch as it was brought home as a souvenir of the lovely sunny day. 

You told me there would be fire in this thing. So why is Rusty's nose still intact? twitter.com/maggiemay_hem/…
— Maggie May (@maggiemay_hem) July 23, 2012

The draw for the tennis event is Thursday at 11 am London time.

How did they do that?

This was Centre Court twelve days ago....

This is Centre Court today.... 

via @Wimbledon Groundsman

Also Rafa and Petko are out of the Olympics and going on vacation together. But not really thanks to their knees and ankles. Get well soon you two the tennis misses you both.

Yeah, you right guys. Me and Rafa going for vacation together hence the withdrawing from the Olympic games #wishfulthinking
— Andrea Petkovic (@andreapetkovic) July 19, 2012

Precious Medals

Nadal  has hopes for a golden July as he has aspirations to regain the Wimbledon title and successfully defend his Olympic gold medal. Which is a feat that has never been accomplished. This begs the question will this year Wimbledon's Champion be the favorite for the Olympics? 

“Sometimes, with stars in sport, what happens is that people around you are telling you everything you’re doing is great. Well, even stars are not doing everything great, doing bad things, so the most important thing is to have people around you who really love you, who are not afraid of telling you the truth, who don’t lie if you’re doing something bad or wrong. And my family do that for me.”

The importance of his family in keeping him grounded.

“To me, it’s special, different,” he says. “It’s true we have a fantastic tour, with all the facilities, all the money but the Olympics is the real spirit of sport. 

 “In the Games, you see a lot of sports that work really hard for that one event. It’s unbelievable; they are not winning money, they are just doing it for passion and for the personal satisfaction. And in my opinion that is what sport really is. It’s the spirit of sacrifice.” 

“No question about that. Everyone’s free to decide what is better for him but I think if you go to the Olympics, you have to stay in the village. If you’re not there, then somehow it’s as if you’re playing a normal tournament — and the Olympics is not a normal tournament. The experience of the Games is the village.” 

I love the fact that he totally gets what the Olympics are totally about and supports them.  He knows the Olympics are different experience then every week on tour. Even though the tennis will be held at the All England Club it will have a different feel to it then Wimbledon.

“I was No1 before for three years and for me it would make me more happy to win, for example, Wimbledon or the Australian Open, than to be No 1. It’s a different feeling for me today; my priority now is, one, to be healthy and, two, to be a better player than I was last year. If, as a result, that gives me the No 1 spot back, then great but the important thing is to be competitive in the biggest events.”

I think this result before ranking philosophy is good because without results you cannot achieve high rankings. 

“I think he deserves it because he’s been so solid for the last few years. And he’s a a fantastic guy who I like a lot. You put too much pressure on him. Let him keep doing it his way, he’s doing great. He will win that grand slam.”

His thoughts on the British media and Andy Murray. I agree Rafa.

Full Story

On Site: Sydney

@chel_ever1 shares her adventures of another day at Sydney Olympic Park:

One more tennis day in Sydney before I fly to Melbourne on Saturday, the OOP was packed! Mostly wanted to see Court 1 action but since I've got my cousins with me, I decided to sit a few sets with them on Rosewall since we have tickets there anyway.

First match on Rosewall was Wozniacki/Cibulkova, thought it was gonna be a routine win for Woz so I made my way to the outer courts after the first set. Turned out to be more than two hours of work for the world number 1. Oops.

Everyone wanted to see either the Kuznetsova/Schiavone match or the Petkovic/A. Radwanska match, so I didn't bother to queue up there, too hot and crowded, made my way to the doubles court instead.

Marcel Granollers walked past me so I said good luck, he said thanks. So polite, he was all smiles to the group of Spaniards seated to my left who were cheering quite spiritedly. Granollers and Kubot were playing well at first against Fleming and Hutchins, but then they got broken right back and everything started falling apart from then on. Out served and out volley, it was a routine straight sets win for the doubles specialists.

Kubot and Granollers

Kiri

A quick look at the practice courts: Kiri and Richard Gasquet were practicing, but I missed Delpo. I went back to centre court, I wanted to see if Petra Kvitova brought her Hopman Cup form with her or if the fatigue has caught up.... Turns out to be a bit of both. Some good hitting and then a slew of errors. Rinse and repeat. Heard that Baggy and Dima have started over on Court 1 so I made my way there, promptly greeted by a queue. Took nearly an entire set before I got in! baggy was in total control of that one, not once did I doubt that he'd win it. Dima was trying so hard, but it was just an error filled day. Best part of this match? The umpire! Mo!!! Happy I finally got to see a match that had him on the chair.

Petra Kvitova

Baggy, Dima & Mo

I wasn't about to give up my seat, JJ and Vika were up next, so I just covered up some more and tried to bear the heat as best as I could. JJ came on court first, mum right behind her. The Fila dress was... Well, so very Fila. Totally underwhelming. With a body like JJ's, they still decided to give her a potato sack. And then there came Vika, in her gold track jacket. Ick. it was practically the same shade as Rezai's infamous gold and black kit.

JJ and ump were kept waiting by Vika, Rafa style, for the coin toss. Did I mention that I love Vika? Hehe.

JJ

 That match was a total shoot out. Loved it. Much tighter than the score    suggests, but in the end Vika just out served and out gunned JJ. Bless that finger wag celebration.

Vika

Finger Twirl

After Vika won, i was back on Rosewall where the crowds, as sparse as it was was quite energetically cheering, the Serbs higher up in the stands, Aussie supporters mostly on the side near Lleyton's box. Btw, I have never seen a more blonde entourage than Lleyton's xP.

Lleyton seemed to be on cruise control after a first set struggle vs Troicki... Until the wheels came flying off. And bad! Nothing was going in, bad serving at the worst possible times... GSM Troicki in 3.

And that was it, last day at the tennis in Sydney before the much awaited trip to Melbourne. Im keeping my fingers crossed for Vika and Delpo. JUST PLEASE DON'T BREAK THEM, SYDNEY!

Passing Shots

• Andrea Petkovic withdrew from the Australian Open with a stress fracture in her lower back. She posted on her facebook

 "Dear Petkorazzis. I am very sorry to tell you that I had to withdraw from the Australian Open with a lower back stress fracture. I'll recover now to have what you can literally call a comeback!" 

•  Wozniacki loses in Sydney. 
• USA Gymnastics will name Olympic team at Olympic Trials. This is a change of practice from team choseing procedure over the last decade. 
• Canada has qualified a full Women's Gymnastics Team at the test event.
• Spanish seeds advance in Auckland. 
• Laura Robson will face Mel Oudin in the first round of Australian Open qualifications. Here is the full draw.  
• The US Womens National Soccer team is completely at training camp after Solo, Wambach and Coach Sundhage arrived after attending the FIFA Awards. 

Passing Shots

• Jim Redmond father of 1992 Olympian Derek Redmond to carry torch. 
• Venus Williams withdraws from Australian Open. Hope to see you back on court soon! 
• Upsets aplenty for the men in Auckland. 
• The qualifying tournament is about to get underway. 
• The gymnastics test event is in full swing. Photos.
• Roger Federer and Ryan Lochte headline Gilletes Olympic marketing.
• NBC will broadcast the Olympics in 3-D.
• Granny Maria. Not really but at 24 she is one of the more experienced players on tour.   
• America kills the Petko-dance. 
• Feliciano Lopez will be head to toe in Wilson gear. 

Passing Shots

We are Tennis

• What will London's legacy be?
• Petra found out she can become number one in Sydney by reading the newspaper. 
• AOTV is back with many features including my favorite, the Open Drive. 
• No surprises in the Australian Open seedings except Nadia Petrova apparently isn't Nadia anymore. 
• It's just a drill. 
• Podium Training is underway at the Gymnastics test event. 
• Serena is in Melbourne.
• The New York City Marathon will be shown nationally on ESPN2 and ABC starting with this years race.  
• The Gymnastics test event finals will be streamed live on the FIG's youtube channel. 

Trophy Case

I present you the winners of the first events of the season.

Brisbane: 

Andy Murray defeated Alexander Dolgopolov 6-1 6-3 in the Men's Final.

Kaia Kanepi defeated Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-1 in the Women's Final.

Zheng Jie defeated Flavia Penetta 2-6 6-3 2-0 (Ret.) in the Auckland final.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Gael Monfils 7-5 6-3 in the Doha Final. 

 Milos Raonic defeated Janko Tipsarevic 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 7-6(4) in the Chennai Final. 

(pics Getty, AP)

Passing Shots

• Raonic wins Chennai in a tiebreaker fest. 
• Ana thinks that everyone has a chance to win in Melbourne. 
• You might have you eye on the wrong thing Caro. 
• How will Scotland benefit from the Olympics?
• Possible Denver 2022 Winter Olympics bid has a very large price tag. 

Passing Shots

Laura Robson wants you to watch the Australian Open qualifying tournament starts Jan. 10. 

• Federer gives Tsonga a walk-over in the semifinals of Doha with a back issue. Monfils upsets Nadal for a spot in the final as well. 
• Clijsters retires from her semifinal in Brisbane with a hip injury against Hantuchova. While Kanepi continues her solid run upsetting Schiavone for a spot in the final.  
• Pennetta and Zheng are to meet in the Auckland final. Flavia will also be in the doubles final with Julia Goerges. 
• More ticket sale issues for London organizers. Ticket resale had to be suspended today. 
• The Roland Garros facebook wants you to play Guess Who. 

Rodhawk

Andy Roddick is in Melbourne. He seems to have a mohawk. Brooklyn did warn us.

More pictures on the Australian Open's Facebook. 

Quoteable

The reason Rafa is rolling. 

Q.  You came on court with a suitcase on wheels.  Was it for protecting the shoulder?  What was it?  Is it new?

RAFAEL NADAL:  You want the true? 

Q.  Yeah, please. 
RAFAEL NADAL:  (Smiling.)  Seriously, I forgot my bag at home.
Q.  At the hotel?
RAFAEL NADAL:  At the hotel, no.  I went on court yesterday ‑‑Majorca, the Hotel of Majorca, at home (smiling.)
So that's the bag that I bring all the, you know, computer, Play Station, everything there, all the cables, and I pulled out everything and I put the clothes there.
Another thing that's true, my pain in the shoulder is really on the top, so when I put something here is bothering me a lot.  But that's not the reason, but that's the true.  I cannot, for example, when I am having the bag on the shoulder, I cannot put one and one and put the racquet back like this, because that's bothering me a lot.
So anyway, even if I want to have the normal bag like I used today, I will do it.  Just to go on court for 50 meters, that not gonna happen, nothing, but, no, that's the new style.
Do you like, by the way (smiling)? 

He rolls on to court third after 3:30 local time in Doha Thursday for his quarterfinal against Mikhail Youzhny.

HIghlight Reel

Andy Murray advanced to the quarterfinals in Brisbane after defeating Gilles Muller 4-6 7-6 6-0.

Iveta Benesova upset Sam Stosur 6-4 6-2 in Brisbane to advance to the quarterfinals. 

Serena Williams defeated Bojana Jovanovski 6-2 6-4. But do to the ankle injury she sustained in the second set she withdrew from the tournament granting Daniella Hantuchova a walkover to the semifinals.

Serena Press Conference

Passing Shots

• Sycronized Swimming tickets were double sold for  London. Yikes. 
• The number one British Elena Baltatcha women does not think that tennis at the Olympics will suffer because of its close proximity in the calendar to Wimbledon. Neither do I even the Wimbledon Finalists will have two entire weeks in between events. 
• Andy Murray did it the hard way again defeating Gilles Muller in 3 sets. 
• Serena won her match. But as she was serving for the match she sprained her ankle and had to withdrawal from the tournament. Hope she heals up and is ready to go in Melbourne. 
• Seeds fall in Auckland but top-seed Lisicki advances to the Quarterfinals.
• A torch used in the 1996 Atlanta Games was stolen the sold to a pawn shop. 

Sammy... Sammy... Sammy...Oye Oye Oye Vey

Home towngirl Sam Stosur was upset in the second round of Brisbane by Iveta Benesova 6-4 6-2. 

Better luck in Sydney Sam. 

Switching it Up

For some player's the new season means a new look. 


Tsvetana Pironkova has gone from Lotto...

to Nike which she debuted this week at Hopman Cup.

US Open Champion Sam Stosur has gone from the classic Lacoste...

to the sporty Asics she unveiled in Brisbane. 

Jelena Jankovic moved from Anita...

to Fila

Julia Gorges and Jarmila Gajdosova go from Wilson...

to Babolat.

Highlight Reel

Andy Murray came back from a set down to defeat Mikhail Kukushkin 5-7 6-3 6-2 in the first round of  Brisbane.

Andrea Petkovic defeated Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-6 6-0 in the second round of Brisbane.

Kim Clijsters defeated Ana Ivanovic in 3-sets 6-1 1-6 6-3 in the second round of Brisbane. 

Nadal got his season off to a winning start in Doha with a 6-3 6-7 6-2.

Passing Shots

Maria Sharapova and her lime shoe laces get first dips at Rod Laver Arena

• Serena's comments about how she doesn't love tennis made Sports Center today. Brad Gilbert gives his opinion on it. 
• Andy Murray opened his season in dramatic fashion with a come from behind 3-set victory in Brisbane. 
• Judy Murray names her first Fed Cup team for Great Britan. Which will be Elena Baltacha ,Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson. The tie is in February in Israel. 
• The Spanish team of Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues is one win away from the Hopman Cup Final. 
• Check out the ITF's Olympic Tennis page. 
• The International Olympic Committee Olympic Athlete Hub. Every Olympic Athlete ever. 
• Serena dropping a perspective bomb on twitter.
• How Sabine Lisicki's comeback is still ongoing. 
• Fed & his zit, Rafa and Tsonga all advanced to the second round in Doha.