Maria Sharapova reveals part of her 2010 calendar

Maria SharapovaMaria Sharapova has announced which tournaments she's planning to play in 2010, up until Wimbledon.

Her preparations for the Australian Open will be no WTA tournaments, but two exhibition events in Thailand and Hong Kong.

After the first Grand Slam of the season, Sharapova will travel to the United States and participate in the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships & the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, while the rest of the top players will probably be in Dubai. The Russian three-time Grand Slam champion will then participate in Indian Wells, California, before a mandatory stop in Miami, Florida.

The next tournaments in her schedule are Charleston and Madrid, which should warm her up for the French Open. Then, as usual, Sharapova will play Birmingham ahead of the grass-court Grand Slam Wimbledon. (photo: Stephane Martinache)

Don't miss free Wilson racquet with Justine Henin's autograph

Win Wilson racquet with Justine Henin autographYou have just 24 hours left to join our contest and win a Wilson racquet and a case signed by Justine Henin, one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Why miss your chance, it's so simple!

Just subscribe to Women's Tennis Blog via e-mail (of course, it's free), and then leave a comment (giving the same e-mail address) with an answer to the question "How will the comeback of Justine Henin change/affect the women's tennis scene in 2010?".

Please read more detailed instructions on how to enter the contest here. If you still have some questions, just ask me here in the comments or via the contact form.

I'm wishing you all the luck and I hope you have been enjoying the contest! :)

Marija

Vera Zvonareva preparing for 2010 at IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy

World No.9 Vera Zvonareva ended the 2009 season with a right ankle injury and a surgical procedure, but the Russian is getting back into form at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, preparing for the next year.

Zvonareva had a great start of 2009. She reached Australian Open semifinals, and won titles at Pattaya City and Indian Wells. Then she sustained the ankle injury at Charleston in April, which put her away from competition until June. At the end of the season, she withdrew from the Sony Ericsson Championships with the same injury.

(source: Nick's Picks via Ehm Seeker)

Yanina Wickmayer free to compete

Yanina Wickmayer

I think this complicated case is finally over – Yanina Wickmayer’s ban was suspended by a Belgian court on Monday and now the International Tennis Federation, having consulted the World Anti-Doping Agency, has confirmed that Wickmayer is eligible to start competing.

The world No.16 has a wildcard for ASB Classic in Auckland, and is hoping to get a wildcard to play in the Australian Open. (via Women Who Serve, photo: emmett.hume)

Ana Ivanovic buys luxurious apartment in Belgrade

Ana Ivanovic buys luxurious apartment in Belgrade

Serbian Ana Ivanovic has recently bought a 100 m2 deluxe apartment in her hometown of Belgrade, in an exclusive complex called Savograd that is still under construction.

Ana's building will include reception, security and 24/7 video surveillance, and each lavishly equipped apartment will have a few parking spots.

The construction of the building is in last phase, and Ana's parents have already started designing the interior of the apartment. I almost forgot to mention, the apartment cost €400,000.

Remember, last year Ana bought a luxurious €4.5 million villa in Mallorca, Spain. (source in Serbian: Blic)

Yanina Wickmayer still not allowed to compete

Yanina Wickmayer

Yanina Wickmayer’s doping ban was suspended on Monday, but the Belgian is not eligible to enter tournaments yet.

The International Tennis Federation still considers the ban active, and it will be so until they "receive further communication to suggest otherwise". They are waiting for an official correspondence from the Belgian anti-doping authorities.

All I can say, too complicated… But I hope everything will be resolved in due time and Wickmayer will be able to make use of her ASB Classic wildcard and compete at the start of the new season. (source: BBC, photo: emmett.hume)

Daniela Hantuchova's Australian Open 2010 adidas outfit

Daniela Hantuchova's Australian Open 2010 adidas outfit

We have already shown some sneak previews of players' outfits for the upcoming season, and now we have nice new pics of Daniela Hantuchova as an addition. The Slovakian is supposed to wear this yellow and black adidas outfit at the 2010 Australian Open.

Daniela Hantuchova's Australian Open 2010 adidas outfit

As you can notice, the colors are the same as Ana Ivanovic's new adidas dress. I like the collections adidas has prepared for 2010. (source: WTA Women's Tennis)

Justine Henin continues successful warm-up in exhibitions

Justine Henin

Justine Henin won a match in Cairo, Egypt, one more successful exhibition ahead of her eagerly-anticipated comeback in January.

In an exo just about a week ago, Henin had beaten world No.12 Flavia Pennetta, and now her latest victim was world No.20 Nadia Petrova. Final score in the Cairo exhibition event held over the weekend was 7-6 6-2.

Additional info: Serena Williams was defeated by Melanie Oudin 7-5 in an exhibition match in Athens, Georgia. (sources: CCTV, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Doping ban suspended for Yanina Wickmayer

Yanina Wickmayer

Yanina Wickmayer has had her one-year ban suspended by a Belgian court and her lawyers hope she will be back competing as soon as possible. The world No.16 hopes to receive a wildcard for the 2010 Australian Open.

Wickmayer has, however, already been offered a wildcard for the January 5-10 ASB Classic in New Zealand.

"As our entries have closed the only way she could enter would be via wildcard, and the indication is she wants to play and now we just have to wait for officials to confirm she is allowed to," said ASB Classic tournament director Brenda Perry.

The 20-year-old Wickmayer was suspended in November, for failing to report her whereabouts three times, and thus breaking World Anti-Doping Agency rules. (source: ESPN, photo: emmett.hume)

Caroline Wozniacki's looks in 2009: adidas Adilibria and Stella McCartney

Thanks to Lilly who asked me to feature Caroline Wozniacki, the 19-year-old Dane is making her debut in our well-known retrospections of players’ outfits.

Wozniacki’s style is especially interesting for reviewing because this year, at the time of the US Open, she made a switch from adidas Adilibria line to adidas by Stella McCartney.

I’m a huge fan of Stella’s designs and Caroline is very pretty, but she is yet to impress me in her new sportswear. From the little we’ve seen so far, Stella’s dresses just don’t feel right on Wozniacki, for some reason. However, I’m sure the future will bring a lot of good things.

What's your favorite Wozniacki's on-court look in 2009? Do you like her in Stella McCartney?

It may be somewhat of a surprise, but my absolute favorite Wozniacki's outfit is the Wimbledon one. It's so sporty and simple, and it makes Wozniacki look powerful.

Have you noticed, Wozniacki sported very few outfits during the 2009 season, and she played a lot of tournaments? (photos: Jean & Nathalie, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Women Who Serve, Not enough megapixels, jc_nyc)


Page 2 of 3«123»