We’re featuring one more retrospection of WTA players’ yearly outfits, especially compiled for our readers Nacho, Kristine and Michael who wanted to see all the outfits Reebok-clad Jelena Jankovic sported during 2008.

It’s interesting to have a look at what world No.1 Jankovic wore during 2008, as she’s known for loving fashion. Remember? Jelena hit the runway modeling a collection of one Serbian clothing line. She was even included in the designing of some items for the collection.

As you can see the very beginning of 2008 wasn't really fashionable in Jelena's case, but things got better as the year proceeded. Read more »

How does Serena Williams have the body she can show off in h magazine? Well, she’s punching her friend in the stomach – that’s the latest of Serena’s weird training techniques. Just kidding, Serena’s shared with us her fun times.

The tennis star also asks the viewers what they think of the jab. I can say it’s not a bad entertainment method if you’re really bored. Thanks for the hint, Serena!

Serena Williams did a photo shoot for this month’s h magazine. The pictures are accompanied by a conversation with Serena in which she discusses opening the school in Kenya, her 2008 tennis season, as well as her plans for the future.

Serena also mentioned her new fashion project: "I’m really excited to feature my new collection, Signature Statement, on the Home Shopping Network." (via Tennis Served Fresh)

Jelena Dokic has been given a wildcard to the Brisbane International which starts January 4, as a reward for her current good form and support for her comeback.

Former Top 5 player Dokic earned a wildcard into the Australian Open last weekend, after playing six matches in seven days at Melbourne Park.

"Dokic showed she still has what it takes last week at the Australian Open playoff," Brisbane International tournament director Steve Ayles said on Tuesday.

"She is hitting the ball crisply and is regaining form and will be a real contender at the Brisbane International."

World No.178 Dokic spent most of 2008 regaining form on the second tier circuit. (source: The Age, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Disappointed with the 2008 tennis season, Israel’s Shahar Peer is training with her new coach Pablo Giacopelli, hoping for better results in 2009.

"If I am not mistaken, this is the first year in my life from the perspective of tennis (and ranking) that I did not advance and I even went backwards, even though I do not have a doubt that it will only motivate me," said the 21-year-old Peer in her blog.

She spent one month training in South Africa, and is now back in her home country where she is participating in the Israel Championship.

"I don't feel that number 38 in the world is my true position. I won't remain there for long. I feel that I'm playing much better than that," said the Israeli world No.1.

"I don't think I want to erase and forget all about 2008. You can't always be on top and win every match. I think there's much to learn from this year. I matured in 2008 and learned a lot about myself. I learned how to deal with difficulties and how to recover from them."

Peer had been in Top 20 every week between first cracking it on November 13, 2006 until after this year’s Roland Garros. (source: The Jerusalem Post, photo: AnalogKid203)

Here’s the overview of all Daniela Hantuchova's 2008 Nike tennis outfits, at request of out reader Jacob, who also helped us in the making of this retrospection. Previously we featured Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Kirilenko, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.

In terms of fashion, 2008 didn’t start well for Hantuchova. In Sydney she wore Nike Sharapova Australian Open Flora dress and got us totally confused. Plus, the dress didn't really look good on the Slovak. In the end it turned out Maria Sharapova didn’t wear that same brown dress, but a white version of it.

Read more »

World number one Jelena Jankovic has been named the female athlete of the year in her home country of Serbia. It’s her second successive such award.

The ceremony was organized by the Serbian Olympic Committee (SOC), and took place in Belgrade on Saturday.

Jankovic couldn’t come to Belgrade to receive the award in person, training in the United States for the upcoming season.

And talking of Jelena’s training, here’s an interesting video insight into her recent preparations in Mexico. Watch Jelena getting sick of running, and don't miss the short interview towards the end of the video.

[The video is no longer available]

Thank you AJ for letting me know about the video!

Former world No.4 and Wimbledon semifinalist Jelena Dokic won a wildcard into the main draw of the 2009 Australian Open beating Monica Wejnert 6-7(3) 7-5 6-3 in a play-off on Sunday.

Wejnert was the only player Dokic fell to during the play-off, it was in the round-robin phase, but the 25-year-old Dokic learned her lesson and didn’t let that happen one more time.

The Serbian-born Australian, ranked 179th in the world, will now attempt to qualify for tune-up tournaments in Brisbane and Hobart before taking her place in the main draw of the Australian Open which starts January 19. (source: International Herlad Tribune, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Nadia Petrova who was hospitalized with viral meningitis which forced her to withdraw from the ASB Classic in New Zealand is not in hospital any more, as her mother told Russian publication Sport-Express.

Petrova was diagnosed with viral meningitis when she fell ill while training in Buenos Aires. (Tennis.com via On the Baseline, photo: Nadia Petrova's website)

Jelena Dokic is now only one step away from attaining a spot in the Australian Open's main draw.

The former world number four beat Tamworth's Emelyn Starr 6-1 6-1 on Saturday to reach the final of the Australian Open wildcard play-off.

"If I can win here it would be a huge step for me, just considering the confidence that you gain," said the 2000 Wimbledon semifinalist about her next match.

The final should be an interesting one, since the 25-year-old Dokic will face teenager Monica Wejnert, the player who beat Dokic in three sets in the round-robin phase of the Australian Open wildcard play-off. That was the sole loss Dokic suffered during her fight for the Australian Open wildcard.

Wejnert advanced to the final with a straight set victory too, scoring a 6-3 6-4 win over Isabella Holland. (source: The Sydney Morning Herald, photo: Ralf Reinecke)