(click on the image above to watch the video)

By winning the 2011 US Open title, Samantha Stosur achieved a great thing for her career and for her home country of Australia, which is now giving back to its champion. The 27-year-old received a homecoming celebration in Gold Cost, her city of residence, and was handed keys to the city as a special honor.

Stosur used the opportunity to confirm participation at her home tournament of Brisbane International in January 2012, where she hopes to bring her US Open form. Then she will head to a quest for the Australian Open trophy.

It is a very exciting time for me and it is great to be able to come home and share what has been a huge achievement with my family and friends in Queensland. I don't get the chance to get home often so to have this time is very special.

When I posted those wonderful childhood photos of Samantha Stosur last week, reader VarmozaLinda contacted me on Twitter and referred me to super cute pictures of Italian world No.40 Sara Errani.

Can little Sara be any sweeter? Look at that face and hair, the vintage dress and socks, and not to mention the wooden racquet that Sara's father Giorgio made for his 3-year-old.

A few years later, for the first day of school, Errani was again amazingly adorable. Read more »

World No.75 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic won her first WTA title with a 4-6 6-1 6-0 victory over Marina Erakovic of New Zealand in the Bell Challenge final, in Quebec City. Strycova was once runner-up, last year at Prague, while Erakovic played her first final.

Sixth-seeded Zahlavova Strycova dropped serve in the beginning of the match and even though she soon broke back, in the ninth game Erakovic broke her again and held to win the first set. Zahlavova-Strycova then rushed to victory, winning 12 of the last 13 games.

En route to the $220,000 Bell Challenge title and a prize of $37,000, Zahlavova-Strycova defeated Zhang Shuai in the first round, Mirjana Lucic in the second, Andrea Hlavackova in the quarterfinals, Michaella Krajicek in the semis, and finally Erakovic, who had upset the tournament's top seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-4 6-4 in quarters. (source: AFP, photo: © Neal Trousdale)

World No.52 Ksenia Pervak of Russia defeated first-time finalist Eva Birnerova 6-3 6-1 in the final of the $220,000 Tashkent Open and won her maiden title on the WTA Tour. In July Pervak played a final at the Baku Cup, which she lost to Vera Zvonareva.

After making a 3-0 lead in the first set, Pervak allowed Birnerova to level at 3-3, and then won the remaining three games of the set. Pervak won the second set decisively and served for the victory at love.

In the Tashkent Open first round the 20-year-old Pervak defeated Galina Voskoboeva, Sabina Sharipova in the second, Victoria Larriere in the quarters, Urszula Radwanska in the semis and finally Birnerova in what was their first career meeting. All the matches Pervak won without dropping a set. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Top seed Ksenia Pervak of Russia advanced to the final of the Tashkent Open without losing a set all week and after trailing 4-1 in the second set against Urszula Radwanska in the semis before winning 6-2 6-4. Pervak's opponent in the title match will be first-time WTA finalist, Eva Birnerova, who had a retirement victory over Alla Kudryavtseva.

Kudryavtseva considered the Tashkent Open her lucky charm, as she won her maiden title there last year and since then she hadn't gone further than quarterfinals at any tournament until this week's Tashkent Open semis. However, her luck in Uzbekistan suffered a setback when the Russian had to withdraw from the match with a left hamstring strain during the second set even though she won the first set 6-3. Read more »

Continuing the celebration of Samantha Stosur's perfect US Open 2011 title run we are showing you these beautiful photos of the Grand Slam champion when she was a girl. Doesn't baby Sam remind you of Anna Kournikova? Both her face and long blond hair.

And here's Sam as a curly teenager with full cheeks. Read more »

Thanks to our reader, Tennis Fan, I was referred to the hindrance rule of the WTA's Rulebook and it suggests that chair umpire Eva Asderaki possibly made a wrong decision in the US Open final when she handed the point to Samantha Stosur because Serena Williams shouted "Come on" before the point was completely finished. The reasoning in favor of Williams is that she did not shout in order to distract her opponent, her reaction was unintentional.

I believe the outcome of the match would be the same anyway, and Williams was attacked by tennis community and fined $2000 because of her aggressive reaction to the disputable call (I still believe everyone should control their temper, even when faced with injustice), but let's see what the official rule for such a situations says:

26. HINDRANCE

If a player is hindered in playing the point by a deliberate act of the opponent(s), the player shall win the point. However, the point shall be replayed if a player is hindered in playing the point by either an unintentional act of the opponent(s), or something outside the player’s own control (not including a permanent fixture).

Let's put Serena's behavior aside, what to you think of Eva Asderaki's call? Was her decision right? Did Serena shout intentionally? Read more »

Rome is a bland of a truly ancient city and a modern metropolis. There is no other city in the world like the Italian capital that offers historic sights that you would need a month to visit all, great shopping, delicious food, and much more. Therefore, watch this video of Slovakian No.2 Daniela Hantuchova taking us through Rome.

Here's one interesting fact about Rome from me: Rome is the first city to reach the population of one million and it was in 133 BC!

Additional info: At the current Bell Challenge in Quebec City, Hantuchova survived the first round against Croatian world No.160 Ajla Tomljanovic 6-0 2-6 6-4.

Clothing brands like to use the opportunity of their players' triumphs to celebrate their achievements and gain extra exposure. Lacoste took out a full page in the New York Times to congratulate Samantha Stosur on her US Open title.

During the Open, the 27-year-old Stosur wore a black, purple and white Lacoste dress. Read more »

According to US Open tradition, Samantha Stosur did a photo shoot with her maiden Grand Slam trophy in Times Square, New York City. Players usually pick a glamorous look for the occasion, but Sam kept it casual and beachy in the white and red stripes of her Lacoste dress.

Stosur has realized it’s not easy being a Grand Slam champion— she had to use three alarm clocks to wake up and fulfill all the obligations to the media and reportedly slept for only an hour and a half.

The Australian’s frozen face expression and stiff smile suggest she’s still shocked by her achievement and how dominantly she won the final against Serena Williams.

Check out Sam's ankles, by the way!

Reminder: In 2009 and 2010 Kim Clijsters showed off her trophy in Times Square and Central Park and before her, in 2008, it was this year's runner-up Serena Williams in a sexy red dress. (via Down the Line, Tennis Served Fresh, Women Who Serve)