Russian WTA players received well-deserved awards from their home country. Dinara Safina, Elena Demetieva, Anna Chakvetadze, Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova were present at the event. Read more »

Maria Sharapova attended the 5th Anniversary of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund at Skylight Studios in New York City. It took place on Monday, November 17th.

Sharapova had been spotted once more during her stay in New York, shopping in Midtown. (via Maria Sharapova's website)

Lindsay Davenport is thinking about a second retirement, and will soon make a decision about her future plans.

The 32-year-old American, who returned to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in 2007 after giving birth to son Jagger, will need to decide by December 1st whether she’ll play the 2009 tennis season.

"Nothing is in stone yet," Davenport said in comments published by The Maui News. The tennis star was in Maui last week participating in the Wailea Fantasy Camp.

"I really just tried to enjoy this fall, be a mom, be at home. This is actually my first time on the court in 10 weeks. When I get home from here I will have to sit down more seriously and look at what I want to do in the future. Right now, I am just going with it. For sure by December 1st – I need to be practicing by then if I am going to go to Australia and really compete, so I have a few more weeks." (via On the Baseline, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Maria Sharapova is still enjoying her time off, and as I have noticed, one of her favorite ways of spending free time is shopping. The Russian tennis star was last seen in New York City, joined by her handlers as she made her way to Barneys in Midtown. Read more »

We have been sure Serena Williams and rapper common are dating, but look, they are denying it again.

So now, you’re dating Serena Williams?

Common: [Laughs] Nah man, I’m dating hip-hop.

I don’t know man, I saw you on a surfboard in Hawaii with her…

Common: That was my first time surfing, and I had an incredible time. I’ve been on vacations with groups of friends, but of course they’re going to keep me in the pictures with Serena. They’re not going to film one of my boys, or one of my homies, like they would Serena and I.

So you’re saying you’re not dating?

Common: Nah, I’m dating hip-hop. My love is hip-hop.

So is Serena your best girl-friend?

Common: Ha, nah man. My best girl-friend is hip-hop. I’m a single man.

Oh, you can say you’re not in a relationship with Serena, but how can you say your girlfriend is hip-hop? Maybe he's taking revenge on Serena who said that tennis was her primary interest. (via All Things Serena Williams)

We have recently featured childhood photos of Dinara Safina with her family in our series of young pictures of tennis players, but here’s a super adorable addition – the current world No.3's first steps in tennis. It’s a must watch.

(via Forty Deuce)

World No.1 Jelena Jankovic is currently in her home Serbia, and has been kept busy with off-court activities. Let’s see what she’s been doing these days.

On November 12th Jelena attended the premiere of Jelena's World. As I’m reading over at Tennis Forum, more tickets were sold for Jelena's World than for the latest James Bond movie. Unbelievable! There are even plans for making an English version.

In addition, Jelena hit the runway during her stay in Serbia, modeling new Mona’s clothing line called The One, which the tennis star helped to design. Jelena modeled three new creations.

Here you can watch a short video from the show.

Moreover, Jelena’s Aqua Viva Hydroactive commercial is out. We’ve already talked about it on Women’s Tennis Blog, but now you can see the end result.

Additional info: Jelena Jankovic is meeting Serbian president Boris Tadic today.

Lindsay Davenport may skip the 2009 Australian Open, being troubled by a knee injury. The former world No.1 has not competed since the 2008 US Open and may even not play again professionally.

The news is according to Linda Pearce from The Age:

Lindsay Davenport is not expected to contest January's Australian Open. Still troubled by a knee injury, the 2000 champion at Melbourne Park is considered unlikely to play at tour-level again, having made a comeback in 2007 following the birth of her first child, Jagger.

Davenport gave retirement hints last year, while withdrawing from Wimbledon with the knee injury.

The American has won four singles titles since returning to tennis in 2007. She was awarded Comeback Player of the Year by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in March. (via On the Baseline)

Tennis icon Venus Williams and Grammy Award-winner Wyclef Jean are featured in this week's episode of Iconoclasts, which airs Thursday, November 13th on Sundance Channel.

Here are some preview clips that give a sneak peek of Venus’ and Wyclef’s fun together. Also, you can see how skillful Venus is outside of tennis, how she is playing piano and guitar, for example.

Read more »

No matter how cute Dominika Cibulkova is, and how great her love photos from exotic Maldives are, the combination of Ana Ivanovic and Fernando Verdasco is definitely the hottest off-court tennis story. Read more »