Champion’s Return

I think its time that we start taking Lindsay Davenport’s comeback a little bit more seriously. With her convincing 6-4, 6-2, victory over world No. 2, Ana Ivanovic, it seems like she can truly be a contender in the top of women’s tennis again. Davenport was returning Ivanovic’s serve with a vengence, breaking her five times. As for Ivanovic, she is going to need to learn to compete with the big girls before she’s going to get that elusive first slam. Oh and I hate to say it but, I told you so.

Filed under: Davenport, Ivanovic, Davenport, Ivanovic, sports, Tennis, upset

Back from the Brink

Jelena Jankovic won an epic second round encounter with Sofia Arvidsson during the Saturday night session at the Sony Ericsson Open. Jankovic lost the first set in a tiebreak, 6-7 (7), but rallied in the second, winning it, 6-2. Jelena then found herself in a 5-1 deficit in the 3rd set before battling all the way back and winning it in a tiebreak, 7-6 (9), saving 5 match points in the process.

Filed under: Jankovic, arvidsson, comeback, Jankovic, miami, sony ericsson open, sports, Tennis

Sharapova, Good on the Tennis Court. Bad at Recognizing Medical Conditions

Maria Sharapova and girlfriend girl friend, Camilla Belle, paid a visit to Baptists Children’s Hospital in Miami recently. But the pair do not seem to be doing any kind of humanitarian work in this picture. That guy looks pretty bad. He seems like he needs a nurse or something. Maria and Camilla, however, are totally unaware of the situation. Note to Maria’s agent, take hospital visits off any future agenda.

Filed under: Sharapova, camilla belle, do-gooders, hospitals, humanitarianism, Sharapova

What’s the Deal With Nicole Vaidisova?

Is this chick married, engaged, what is it? Nicole was seen at the Sony Ericsson Open Kickoff Party with a large rock on her ring finger. (Note: It’s eastern European tradition to wear wedding bands on their right hands). There was a rumour floating around that Vaidisova applied for a marriage liscence with Radek Stepanek, but neither would comment on the issue. Maybe this is the reason for her crappy play of late.

Filed under: Stepanek, Vaidisova, crazy, marriage, sports, Stepanek, Tennis, Vaidisova

Spotted: Ivanovic at Davenport Match

Ana Ivanovic was spotted at Lindsay Davenport’s second round match against Camille Pin on Saturday. The two are scheduled to meet in the third round, providing Ana wins her second round encounter with Emilie Loit. This shows that Ana might be just a teensy bit nervous about that potential matchup and we all know what happens when Ana gets nervous (2007 French Open final anyone?). So if you’re looking for an upset, this might be your match.

Filed under: Davenport, Ivanovic, Davenport, Ivanovic, sports, Tennis, upset

The Phenom Has Arrived

This 5’4″, 15 year-old tennis phenom could be the future of the women’s game and showed it Friday at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Michelle Larcher de Brito upset the 17 seed, Agneiszka Radwanska, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. This is her first of her sure to be many top 20 wins in her career. This Portugal native lives and trains at Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy, the birthplace of the careers of Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic, Nicole Vaidisova, and many others. Nick Bollettieri projects Michelle to be “one of his best”. Her progress may be happening a little sooner than we all thought.

Filed under: Larcher de Brito, Larcher de Brito, radwanska, Sharapova, sports, Tennis

Bagel Watch!

Svetlana Kuznetsova served up a puzzling 3rd set bagel to Yang-Jan Chan in her first match at the Sony Ericsson Open on Friday. Svetlana won the match 6-1, 3-6, 6-0.

Filed under: Bagel Watch!, Kuznetsova, bagel, chan, Kuznetsova, sports, Tennis

Down to Earth

Defending champion, Novak Djokovic, was ousted from the Sony Ericsson Open on Friday by South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, 6-7 (1), 6-3, 4-6. Its about time Novak had one of these losses. His head was inflated to the size of the whale of his Indian Wells trophy. I mean, he wrote a memoir of his first grand slam. Roger Federer won 12 grand slams and doesn’t have a memoir. Rafa Nadal is undefeated at Roland Garros and still no memoir. All I’m saying is Novak needed a serious reality check and thats what he got.

Filed under: Djokovic, anderson, Djokovic, loss, sports, Tennis

Ashley Harkleroad, Where Have You Been?

Ashley Harklroad has recently decided to live up to her potential and play some good tennis, for once. After years of bagels and first road losses, Ashley seems as if shes shown up to play for 2008. First, her heroics in Fed Cup led the U.S. team to a 4-1 victory over Germany. At Indian Wells she made it to the 4th round, taking out Lucie Safarova and Dinara Safina in the process. Now today in Miami she upset the 23 seed, Virginie Razzano, in straight sets. Maybe Ashley will finally deliver the long-awaited spark in American women’s tennis that many thought she would give years ago.

Filed under: Harkleroad, disappointment, Harkleroad, sports, Tennis

Trophy Case

The Serbian Sensations, Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic, swept Indian Wells this past weekend. Djokovic beat surprise finalist, Mardy Fish, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Ivanovic defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-4, 6-3.

Filed under: Djokovic, Ivanovic, Trophy Case, Djokovic, Ivanovic, sports, Tennis, trophy