Everything is going smooth for world No.1 Dinara Safina at the Banka Koper Slovenia Open and it will be a surprise if she doesn't add $37,000 to her bank account.

The Russian has lost just ten games on her way to the semifinals, and her last victim was Maria Elena Camerin of Italy whom she defeated 6-3 6-0.

Safina’s next opponent will be Italian Alberta Brianti, ranked 106th in the world.

The only seed left in the draw, besides Safina of course, is fifth seed Sara Errani who progressed to the semifinals by beating Petra Martic 6-1 6-1. (photo: Tennis Channel)

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has launched a new campaign called Heroes Among Us, which is meant to recognize parents, teachers, coaches and community leaders who have encouraged young women to pursue their dream.

Fans can submit their nominations, by September 18, using the online nomination form. Judges will then select five finalists who best represent the program’s criteria. Voting for the annual program winner, among these five finalists, will take place between September 28 and October 4.

The winner will be announced in mid-October and will receive two tickets to the final match of the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, Qatar, as well as the roundtrip airfare, accommodation, transportation, behind-the-scenes access at the tournament and tickets to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Year-End Party.

Now you have a chance to honor someone who has made a difference in your life and the lives of young women in your community.

Former world No.1 Maria Sharapova, now ranked 61st, declared that her troubled shoulder had fully healed and that she was ready to play competitively for the first time since her second-round loss at Wimbledon.

"I am a hundred percent," Sharapova said Wednesday night before making an appearance for the Newport Beach Breakers in their World Team Tennis match against Kansas City.

"I mean, if I wasn't at that point, I certainly wouldn't be playing. That's why I took my time and gave myself a chance to really go out there and to feel like I didn't have any excuses."

Despite the favorable outcome of the recovery from the career-threatening injury, Sharapova’s shoulder will continue to demand extra attention.

"It's not something you just stop when it feels good," said the Russian. "You have to keep working on it. You have to keep getting it stronger.

"For the rest of my career I'll be doing shoulder exercises. It won't be as fun as I want it to be. It's all a routine. But everyone has to do it. Everyone has injuries. It's part of the game."

Sharapova is scheduled to play the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, followed by the tournament in Los Angeles and the US Open. (source: ESPN, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Caroline Wozniacki, 19, one of the most attractive women's tennis players of today (not that we need a proof but Stella McCartney wouldn’t have signed her for nothing), had enough courage to make a television appearance and have a look at her interview when she was a 13-year-old with a mouth full, and I mean full, of braces.

I’m sure you know how tough it can be to watch your past photos and videos. Congrats to Caroline, she’s sending a good message to the kids.

And all of you avoiding braces, if Caroline didn't convince you that your image won't be ruined forever, this video of another tennis beauty Ana Ivanovic will do the trick.

World No.1 Dinara Safina cruised into the quarterfinals of the Banka Koper Slovenia Open by beating qualifier Ksenia Pervak 6-1 6-2 in one hour and 17 minutes.

The 157th-ranked Pervak converted only one of her six break points, while Safina broke her fellow Russian five times in seven chances at the International-level event.

Safina will next face either Marina Elena Camerin or seventh-seeded Vera Dushevina, who are at the moment playing the deciding set.

Speaking about Safina, I would like to mention it here too (yesterday I pointed it out on my Twitter profile), that Dinara Safina, according to some a non-deserving top-ranked player, is leading world No.2 Serena Williams by 2012 ranking points, and world No.3 Venus Williams by 3904. It’s a very significant lead, you have to admit! (photo: Stephane Martinache)

After becoming pregnant, France's Nathalie Dechy has retired from tennis at the age of 30 in order to dedicate herself to family life.

In her 15-year-long career Dechy won one WTA singles title, Gold Coast in 2003, and three Grand Slam doubles titles: 2006 US Open with Vera Zvonareva, 2007 US Open with Dinara Safina, and mixed doubles with Andy Ram at the 2007 French Open.

Dechy’s best showing in Grand Slam singles was a semifinal at the 2005 Australian Open.

Dechy's her highest career ranking in singles came in January 2006 when she was 11th, while in doubles she was ranked as high as No.8 in May 2007. (source: Reuters, photo: pato_garza)

World No.1 Dinara Safina was playing on the first day of the Banka Koper Slovenia Open in Portoroz and beat young Slovenian hope Tadeja Majeric 6-0 6-4 in the first round.

Before the tournament started, top seed Safina, the only Top 20 player in the draw besides Anabel Medina Garrigues, had been accompanied by Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik for a cruise on the Adriatic Sea, and later they played an exhibition match in the Tartini Square in Piran, a historic coastal town. After the exo, Safina and Srebotnik visited the city hall where they were greeted by Tomaz Ganter, the Mayor of Piran Municipality.

The $220,000 Banka Koper Slovenia Open is giving Safina an early opportunity to adjust to the last major surface change of calendar in Europe, before heading to the States where she will play in Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Toronto before heading to New York. (source: Slovenia Open)

Italian Flavia Penetta defeated compatriot Sara Errani 6-1 6-2 in an all-local final of the Internazionali Femminili di Tennis di Palermo to win her seventh Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title.

The top-seeded Pennetta dethroned Errani, the winner in Palermo last year, and avenged her defeat to Errani in the 2008 Palermo semifinals.

The world No.15 Pennetta, who hasn’t lost a set all week, has now won six titles on red clay. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Sybille Bammer won her second career WTA Tour singles title, and first since 2007, by beating Francesca Schiavone 7-6(4) 6-2 in the final of the ECM Prague Open.

The second-seeded Bammer was close to defeat twice at the tournament, once in the first round when she was 6-2 5-2 down against Tsvetana Pironkova, and the second time when she edged No.7 seed Lucie Hradecka 7-5 5-7 7-5 in the quarterfinals. In other matches Bammer didn’t drop a set, including the Sunday’s final against top seed Schiavone.

The victory in Prague is a great improvement for Bammer, who had only once since last year’s US Open won back-to-back matches.

The Bondarenko sisters took the doubles title, their third, beating top seeds Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1 6-2. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

Tennis stars Zheng Jie and Jelena Jankovic are appearing in this TV commercial for the Chinese brand of ANTA, which they have been promoting this year.

I have to notice, of what use is the slogan "Keep moving" when Jelena Jankovic’s feet are melting and hurting in ANTA shoes, which are badly affecting her performance.