There was a big women’s tennis exhibition event in Singapore during the weekend, and elsewhere in Asia there was more relaxed tennis going on – the reigning Roland Garros champion Li Na welcomed fellow WTA star Sabine Lisicki and men’s tennis greats Pete Sampras and Carlos Moya in her hometown of Wuhan, China, for an exhibition tournament.

On Saturday, Li avenged her Wimbledon loss to Lisicki, by defeating the German 6-3 7-6(3) at Wuhan Sports Center. The 1998 Roland Garros winner Moya and 14-times Grand Slam champion Sampras played a men’s singles match on Sunday and the fantastic foursome also paired for some doubles entertainment.

Additional info: Talking about exhibitions, have you heard that players will be fined for playing the Hopman Cup in January? It is believed that the ITF will cover the fines, amounting to $375,000. The reason for the fines is that big WTA Tour events should of course be of primary importance for the players, and not exhibition events, and in 2012 the mixed doubles exhibition Hopman Cup will clash with the upgraded Brisbane International. Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova, Li Na, Marion Bartoli, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Jarmila Gajdosova, Tsvetana Pironkova and Bethanie Mattek Sands will play the December 31-January 7 Hopman Cup, i.e. four Top 10 WTA players. (source: WTA Tour)

MARIJA: What will you remember the 2011 season for?

BETHANIE MATTEK SANDS: Even though my 2011 season ended early due to injury I was able to reach a career high ranking and still get some of my best wins to date. The win at Hopman Cup with my partner John Isner was an amazing start to my season and I really felt I was able to gain some momentum and confidence. Off the court I have to say the Wimbledon Player Party will always be memorable as I got to rock a custom Alex Noble dress on the red carpet.

MARIJA: How is your shoulder injury now? Will you be perfectly healthy for the start of the new season and the Hopman Cup?

BETHANIE MATTEK SANDS: I'm happy to say my shoulder has come along way from where it was. I've been able to practice the last couple weeks but the time off and rehab I was able to take really helped it heal up. I'm excited to be going back to Perth for Hopman Cup at the end of December. If it wasn't such a far flight I would be "down under" more often!

MARIJA: What was your favorite activity you had more time for during the rehabilitation process? I read that you enjoyed cooking?

BETHANIE MATTEK SANDS: I recently bought a beach cruiser and I'll take my doggy Ruger out for a bike ride with me. He's normally really good at running next to me, until he sees a rabbit! Besides that I've been able to do a little baking in the kitchen and right now my two favorites are Paula Deen's monster Cookies and my own Sweet potato Pie. I'm always very health conscience when I eat but I'll never skimp out on the good ingredients in my desserts!

MARIJA: You have a unique style, so I would like to ask you which WTA player would you point out as interesting fashion-wise? I’m asking this because on your website I read your statement saying:

"Yeah, I was watching a match – two girls dressed head-to- toe in the same thing, blonde hair, ponytail – and I didn’t even know who was who, and I play with them!"

BETHANIE MATTEK SANDS: I think so many players have a great sense of style off the court. On court attire can be tough because a lot of the girls are told what to wear by their sponsor. I think Venus has had some really stand out outfits this year, my favorites was her colorful dress at Australian Open and her Wimbledon white skort outfit. Whats cool about her wardrobe is she actually draws up her own ideas… I'm jealous! I really need to work on my drawing skills before I can start doing that.

MARIJA: Your cooperation with Lady Gaga’s designer Alex Noble for your Wimbledon clothes will be remembered for years to come. Will you work with him again?

BETHANIE MATTEK SANDS: I loved meeting and getting to know Alex Noble this year. I think he is so creative and it was a blast to get to pick his brain and see a little bit of his design process. I hope to work with him again for another event this upcoming year!

MARIJA: What do you think of WTA’s recent promo activities such as Xperia Hot Shots and the Strong is Beautiful campaign?

BETHANIE MATTEK SANDS: I think the WTA's "Strong is Beautiful" campaigned turned out amazing. I love photo shoots… It's always fun to get your hair and makeup done and take some fun pictures that turn out pretty.  As much as we love training, practicing and working hard, our action shots aren't always the most flattering!

Bethanie, thank you for taking your time to answer my questions. I wish you a successful 2012 season and a lot of fashion fun! By the way, why am I not surprised that Bethanie admires Venus' style? (photos: © Neal Trousdale)

The 2011 season has not even started and we have players withdrawing from the tournaments in the year to come. The Hyundai Hopman Cup, mixed doubles event to take place in Perth in January, will most probably not have Serena Williams in the field because of her well-known foot injury which has been preventing her from playing tournaments ever since Wimbledon.

Here’s what I read at Sportsnewsfirst.com.au:

Sportsnewsfirst.com.au understands Williams has told organisers she will not be attending the mixed team event because of injury, and they are now scrambling to find a replacement.

The American, who has fallen from No.1 to No.4 in the rankings during her time off, was seen last week in Miami on crutches, and with her right foot in big plaster. Though, she did recently take a photo of herself exercising in the gym (just days before Miami). (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Russia had been the favorites to win the mixed team event since world No.3 Dinara Safina and No.29 Marat Safin were ranked much higher than their respective singles opponents. However, not everything goes in accordance with the ranking.

World number 19 Cibulkova beat Safina 6-7(3) 6-1 6-4 for the first time, while world number 250 Hrbaty edged out the two-time Grand Slam champion Safin 6-7(5) 7-5 7-6(3).

The Slovak Republic have won their third Hopman Cup title. (sources: Reuters, Hompan Cup)

According to Hopman Cup organizers, the American injured her hamstring during the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, which forced her to leave the season-ending tournament during the round-robin phase.

Serena Williams will be replaced at the January 3-9 tournament by American countrywoman Meghann Shaughnessy, who is expected to partner with James Blake. (source: On the Baseline, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Injured Jankovic played mixed doubles against France with compatriot Novak Djokovic, and the two won the match giving Serbia a 2-1 win against France. Then they played Argentina. Jankovic had to retire in the second set against Gisela Dulko, but then, together with Djokovic she struggled but defeated the team of Gisela Dulko and Juan Ignacio Chela to take Serbia to the Friday’s final against the United States represented by Serena Williams and Mardy Fish.

It’s so sweet of Jelena to want that victory so much, she’s so nice, and I’m so sad she started the new season with such injury. In the mixed doubled match against Argentina, Jelena could barely move! And on top of that, she looked as if she had a flu, her eyes were half-closed, and she looked exhausted. And now I’m reading what Jankovic told the crowd after the mixed doubles victory over Argentina:

"I shouldn't be here, I am really risking my career [...] It's a bit worse today and I shouldn't be playing but I love playing for my country and I will just try the best I can [...] I don't know why I am still here, I really don't, but I want Serbia to win."

Dear Jelena, I wish you all the best. I really hope you’ll recover, and show what you’ve got at the Australian Open. (photo via Getty Images)

Despite injury, Jankovic continued her participation in the Hopman Cup. With taped thigh and restricted movement she even managed to score a mixed doubles victory with compatriot Novak Djokovic, and in that way give Serbia a 2-1 win against France. However, as the mixed doubles match progressed Jankovic dealt with more and more pain. Therefore, the world No.3 might give up Hopman Cup for the sake of her health, and we will be informed about her decision on Thursday.

Even though Jankovic felt "like somebody put a knife in her glute" when she suffered the thigh injury, the good news is that the scan showed that her muscle isn’t torn. Still, she doesn’t feel prepared and ready for intense competitions, and in the upcoming period she’ll need to work a lot on her form.

You can see how Jankovic got hurt in this video. (source: Reuters)