World number five Svetlana Kuznetsova has pulled out of the August 3-9 LA Women’s Tennis Championships presented by Herbalife due to a foot injury.

Kuznetsova hasn't played WTA tournaments since losing in the third round of Wimbledon. In addition, she missed the LA event last year as well.

The LA Women’s Tennis Championships has attracted 10 of the world's leading 15 players, including world number one and defending champion Dinara Safina. (photo: Jacob)

Beauty of a player is among the things taken into consideration when deciding on the court selection at Wimbledon and it has been confirmed by All England Club spokesperson Johnny Perkins.

"Good looks are a factor," said Perkins, and added that court selection is "a great big mixture of where the players are in the draw, who they're playing, what their ranking is".

Svetlana Kuznetsova was among those bewildered by the situation:

It's weird. If you look at the schedule, it's not only about me. It's about Dinara on Court No 2, Venus (Williams) on Court No 1 and the girls who are not very highly seeded they play on Centre. I respect them. They're great players for sure. But this is what's weird for me; what's their strategy, what's their plan of making the schedule?

Kuzzy, I’m illustrating this article with your photo!

Despite the frustrations of the supposedly less-pretty top players, BBC is benefiting from Wimbledon’s scheduling policy.

A BBC source said:

No one has heard of many of the women now, so if they are pretty it definitely gives them an edge. Our preference would always be a Brit or a babe as this always delivers high viewing figures.

(source Daily Mail via Down the Line, photo courtesy of Life)

Fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova did not let sixth seed Jelena Jankovic hold the title of the biggest upset in the first week of Wimbledon for long, as she quickly followed her out by losing to Sabine Lisicki 6-2 7-5.

The world No.41 Lisicki won the first set in 37 minutes and established a 5-2 lead in the second. Kuznetsova then fought back and even served at 5-6, 40-love for the tiebreak, but Lisicki broke Kuznetsova and finished the match on her fifth match point.

Unseeded Lisicki reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time by beating Kuznetsova, who has today turned 24.

In the fourth round Lisicki will play ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki, who easily defeated 20th-seeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-2 6-2. (photo courtesy of our reader Jacob)

The 2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova revealed in an interview for sovsport.ru what she will spend her prize of €1 060 000 on. The Russian is planning to buy an accommodation in Moscow and a luxurious watch, while the most part she will donate to church.

Here’s what Kuznetsova said:

I am planning to buy an accommodation in Moscow, I am still renting an apartment. Also, I have promised to myself to buy a good expensive watch. The majority of the money I am going to donate to my church. There the director of orthodox temple is my spiritual father. I try to be there as often as possible, to think about something personal, something eternal. But I have a very busy schedule. Occasionally, the father himself visits me. No matter how strange it sounds, I am a very religious person and I try to attend church even in other countries.

Considering the prices of apartments in Moscow, I keep wondering how it's possible that she will give a majority of the money to church. However, all the respect for Kuznetsova, honorable move. (source: Tennis Info Blog, photo: Stephane Martinache)

Some of the WTA Tour players dressed elegantly last night for the annual Ralph Lauren Sony Ericsson Pre-Wimbledon Party hosted by Richard Branson at The Roof Gardens.

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