Archive for: December 2008

It is official – Jelena Jankovic will not play the Sydney warm-up tournament in January, nor any tournaments before the Australian Open.

In this photo, she could well be saying, “Just try to make me play!”

Officials had said she would need a wildcard to get into the Sydney International tournament since she had not finalized her 2009 playing schedule in time. I guess she decided she didn’t need a wildcard. In fact, she has decided she doesn’t need the Sydney tournament at all. Now they can run their tournament without the world’s No. 1! That will teach them.

Happy birthday to Swiss tennis cutie pie, Patty Schnyder, who was born Dec. 14, 1978 in Basel, Switzerland. That means she is turning the big 30!

Schnyder ended the year ranked # 14 in singles, and 50 in doubles. She had one Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title and one doubles title in 2008. That brings her career total to eleven singles and five doubles titles, with earnings at about $7.5 million. If no one is throwing her a 30th birthday party, she should be able to afford to go out and celebrate with her family.

Russian cutie pie, Maria Sharapova, had the highest winning percentage on tour this year at 89%.

Sharapova went 32-4 through the year. She started out well, winning the first 18 matches she played this season. She played great at the Australian Open winning her 3rd Grand Slam. It certainly looked like it would be Sharapova’s year.

Unfortunately, in March she strained her shoulder playing at Indian Wells. Then in the French Open she struggled, losing in the fourth round. At Wimbledon she was defeated in the 2nd round.

Aaress Lawless posted an excellent article Dec. 5, 2008 at On The Baseline entitled “My Christmas Wish List for 2009.” It is well worth a couple of minutes to read it.

He mentions wishes for Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, ESPN, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova, Rivalries, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Live Streaming. The article is entertaining and insightful. It is my recommendation for a good tennis Christmas reading.

Jelena Jankovic is currently ranked No. 1 in the world! Yet officials say she will have to request a wildcard to play in the Sydney International tournament which begins Jan. 11. It is a lead-up tournament to the Australian Open.

The tournament director, Craig Watson, claims it is because Jankovic has not yet finalized her 2009 playing schedule. I don’t get it. Wouldn’t you want the world No. 1 playing in your tournament regardless of whether or not she has told you what she plans to do the rest of the year? Jankovic has already played in this tournament four times. Yet Watson said, “If Jelena does decide that she would like to play in Sydney, then we would certainly consider her for a wildcard.”

Russian tennis cutie pie, Maria Sharapova, has had her life threatened, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Now, does Sharapova look like anyone who needs to be threatened? Kissed, maybe, but not threatened!

Reportedly, former Wisconsin football player Leonard Taylor has also been charged with threatening his former coach, Barry Alvarez. The complaint said Taylor left a total of 29 messages threatening Alvarez and Sharapova in a two-day span on Nov. 24-25.

The Journal-Sentinel also reported that Taylor’s father told police that Taylor has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, but reports indicate Taylor hasn’t taken his medication for three months. It seems he better get back on his medication!

Serena Williams is one of the tennis players who will be featured at this year’s charitable Rock’n Racquets Tour. Unfortunately, this photo does not show Serena’s tennis outfit for the Tour match. You might have to catch her pool-side after the match if you want to see her dressed like this. It looks like it would be worth the wait.

Also featured at the Rock’n Racquets Tour will be Andy Rodick, Caroline Wozniacki and John Isner. The Tour will be in Louisville on Dec. 12th, Columbus S.C. on Dec. 13th, and Knoxville on Dec. 14th. The emcee for these events is Wayne Bryan, the famous Bryan Bros. Dad, and he will make sure you are entertained. There will be men’s and lady’s singles matches and a mixed doubles event.