Anna Chakvetadze isn’t satisfied with her 2008 tennis season. The 21-year-old won one singles title, in Paris that was, and had one runner-up finish, at New Haven (Chakvetadze was 7-0 lifetime in Tour singles finals before New Haven).

In 2007, however, the Russian won four singles titles and finished the year ranked sixth in the world, while now she’s 18th. Still, Chakvetadze is staying strong, looking forward to the new tennis season.

I know 2008 has been a tough year for me, tennis wise. But I just have to learn from it and look forward to a better 2009. I also know for a fact that all athletes, including myself, goes through tough times in there career. Loosing is tough but it’s not the end of the world. You win some, you lose some. As I’ve said "Looking forward to a fresher and better 2009 season : )."

In Chakvetadze’s latest diary entry you can also read in detail about her new look, how she has bangs for the first time in years and what were the reactions of people.

Hopefully with this new fresher look comes with a new fierce attitude and confidence. I already started training again. I tell you it’s not easy. My body is aching and I feel very tired. But it’s all good. No pain, No gain. I pray that my luck will come sooner than I expected.

(photo: annachakvetadze.com)

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 »

Russian Anna Chakvetadze fell out of the Top 10 in the summer and had lost six of her last seven matches coming into the FORTIS Championships Luxembourg.

Second seed Chakvetadze finally scored victory, defeating world No.83 Mathilde Johansson 64 76(4) in the first round of the Luxembourg event.

Since losing in the final of New Haven in August, the 12th-ranked Chakvetadze has had a string of early losses, four times in the first round (US Open, Tokyo, Moscow and Zürich) and once in the second round (Beijing).

Chakvetadze will next face either 14-year-old British prodigy Laura Robson or Iveta Benesova against whom she scored the before-mentioned first-round win in Beijing. (via WTA Tour)

Seventh seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia was upset in the first round of the Tennis.com Zurich Open by Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu 3-6 6-3 6-2. Sixth seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland lost to qualifier Petra Kvitova 6-4 3-6 6-4.

The world No.66 Niculescu won 10 of the final 13 games with her left thigh heavily strapped.

Chakvetadze was the second seeded player to lose at the Tennis.com Zurich Open as eighth seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia fell to Maria Kirilenko of Russia on Monday.

Later on Tuesday, Schnyder was upset by the world No.57 Kvitova of the Czech Republic, in three sets like Chakvetadze.

Other today’s results: Italy’s Francesca Schiavone beat Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 7-6(3) 6-2, and Marion Bartoli of France defeated Hungarian Agnes Szavay 6-4 6-0. (via IHT)

Carlos Rodriguez, best-known as the former coach of once dominant women’s tennis player Justine Henin, was interviewed by Matt Cronin for FOXSports.com and gave harsh reviews of some currently top WTA players.

Ok, the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova can be satisfied, but Jelena Jankovic could feel more than offended. However, we can’t blame Carlos for being honest; I doubt he wanted to insult anyone. Read more »