World No. 5 Jessica Pegula and the defending champion Ons Jabeur have signed up to play the 2024 Charleston Open in South Carolina.
The Charleston Open is synonymous with being the oldest all-women's tennis tournament in the United States, having been a staple on the Wta calendar since its inception in 1973 (except 2020 due to Covid-19), the same year the women's governing body was formed.
A host of the world's greatest tennis players on the Wta tour have played and won this tournament in the past, such as Chris Evert (eight-time champion), Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, and Serena Williams.
In 2022, the tournament commemorated its 50th year of staging the event at Daniel Island by unveiling its renovated Credit One Stadium, which offered significant upgrades in seating options and enhanced hospitality experiences.
This Wta 500 event is the only clay court tournament played on North American soil. Tunisia's Ons Jabeur won...
The Charleston Open is synonymous with being the oldest all-women's tennis tournament in the United States, having been a staple on the Wta calendar since its inception in 1973 (except 2020 due to Covid-19), the same year the women's governing body was formed.
A host of the world's greatest tennis players on the Wta tour have played and won this tournament in the past, such as Chris Evert (eight-time champion), Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, and Serena Williams.
In 2022, the tournament commemorated its 50th year of staging the event at Daniel Island by unveiling its renovated Credit One Stadium, which offered significant upgrades in seating options and enhanced hospitality experiences.
This Wta 500 event is the only clay court tournament played on North American soil. Tunisia's Ons Jabeur won...
- 12/9/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek is racking up achievements by the day, and it's becoming increasingly clear that she's on a path to becoming one of the all-time greats.
Such terms have always been and always will be highly subjective, but you can't deny some of the things Swiatek has been doing. Eras are not comparable in tennis, but that shouldn't take away from any achievement a player has.
For example, Iga Swiatek did something that some other legendary players also did but at a younger age. Does that make it less impressive? Does that detract from his achievement? No, and it shouldn't because it's not something that's not easily done, at any point in tennis history.
By finishing the 2023 season as the highest-ranked player on the Wta Tour, she became the 6th youngest woman to finish back-to-back as year-end No. 1. It almost didn't happen as she needed a spectacular finish to the year to get it done,...
Such terms have always been and always will be highly subjective, but you can't deny some of the things Swiatek has been doing. Eras are not comparable in tennis, but that shouldn't take away from any achievement a player has.
For example, Iga Swiatek did something that some other legendary players also did but at a younger age. Does that make it less impressive? Does that detract from his achievement? No, and it shouldn't because it's not something that's not easily done, at any point in tennis history.
By finishing the 2023 season as the highest-ranked player on the Wta Tour, she became the 6th youngest woman to finish back-to-back as year-end No. 1. It almost didn't happen as she needed a spectacular finish to the year to get it done,...
- 11/28/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek reigned supreme as the dominant force in women's tennis for 75 weeks, but tennis generally operates in cycles, and the rest of the Wta Tour are plotting to take over.
Since Ashleigh Barty's shock retirement in the first quarter of 2022, Swiatek became the World No. 1 for the first time in early April last year and lorded that ranking over her rivals. She tallied the third-longest streak as a first-time No. 1 with 75 weeks , trailing only Steffi Graf (186) and Martina Hingis (80) in that regard.
But 12 months on from her career-best season, the Pole's title haul reduced by half, and she's been unsurped from top spot by Aryna Sabalenka. With just a few weeks of the regular tennis season remaining, Swiatek has a mountain to climb to overturn the deficit at the top.
A closer look at the Wta Race, which depicts the accurate ranking of the current year, Swiatek is...
Since Ashleigh Barty's shock retirement in the first quarter of 2022, Swiatek became the World No. 1 for the first time in early April last year and lorded that ranking over her rivals. She tallied the third-longest streak as a first-time No. 1 with 75 weeks , trailing only Steffi Graf (186) and Martina Hingis (80) in that regard.
But 12 months on from her career-best season, the Pole's title haul reduced by half, and she's been unsurped from top spot by Aryna Sabalenka. With just a few weeks of the regular tennis season remaining, Swiatek has a mountain to climb to overturn the deficit at the top.
A closer look at the Wta Race, which depicts the accurate ranking of the current year, Swiatek is...
- 9/30/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Caroline Wozniacki slammed renowned tennis journalist Jon Wertheim on X after he posted fake quotes from her.
In the age of social media reporting, quite a few things circulate quickly, and sometimes, readers don't know whether the news is true or not. Quotes are particularly troublesome as it only takes one person starting a fake quote for it to spread virally around the internet.
Obviously, sources are important, but even those 'we trust' can sometimes fall victim to fake quotes. That's what happened to renowned tennis journalist Jon Wertheim, who has since deleted the quotes in question.
Those were supposed to be quoting former Wta 's no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, and the Dane should have addressed Simona Halep's doping case , but that never happened. Wozniacki was not happy about it, and she slammed him publicly.
It’s come to my attention that @jon_wertheim posted, and since deleted, quotes and...
In the age of social media reporting, quite a few things circulate quickly, and sometimes, readers don't know whether the news is true or not. Quotes are particularly troublesome as it only takes one person starting a fake quote for it to spread virally around the internet.
Obviously, sources are important, but even those 'we trust' can sometimes fall victim to fake quotes. That's what happened to renowned tennis journalist Jon Wertheim, who has since deleted the quotes in question.
Those were supposed to be quoting former Wta 's no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, and the Dane should have addressed Simona Halep's doping case , but that never happened. Wozniacki was not happy about it, and she slammed him publicly.
It’s come to my attention that @jon_wertheim posted, and since deleted, quotes and...
- 9/21/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Tennis doping has once again entered professional and public discussion following a week of controversy surrounding Wta player Simona Halep .
After 12 months of provisional suspension, Halep was given a four-year ban from tennis for anti-doping charges. The Romanian tested positive for the banned substance, roxadustat at the 2022 US Open.
Halep's ban was enforced by the International International Tennis Integrity Agency (Itia). This is an independent organisation that oversees all cases of tennis doping cases in an attempt to ensure equality and integrity within professional tennis.
Since Halep received her extensive ban, which could signal the end of her career, players, and pundits have been divided on the sanction. Some have argued that the 31-year-old's tennis doping breaches warrant severe punishment and others believe the ruling is unfair.
Yet, Halep's case is just the latest in a long line of tennis doping scandals that have gripped the sport in recent decades.
After 12 months of provisional suspension, Halep was given a four-year ban from tennis for anti-doping charges. The Romanian tested positive for the banned substance, roxadustat at the 2022 US Open.
Halep's ban was enforced by the International International Tennis Integrity Agency (Itia). This is an independent organisation that oversees all cases of tennis doping cases in an attempt to ensure equality and integrity within professional tennis.
Since Halep received her extensive ban, which could signal the end of her career, players, and pundits have been divided on the sanction. Some have argued that the 31-year-old's tennis doping breaches warrant severe punishment and others believe the ruling is unfair.
Yet, Halep's case is just the latest in a long line of tennis doping scandals that have gripped the sport in recent decades.
- 9/16/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Wta No. 1 Iga Swiatek begins her 74th week at the summit and is expected to stay there until the conclusion of the 2023 US Open .
Since she rose to become the Wta No. 1 in April 2022, no player has knocked her off that position and has spent 74 weeks there, which is the 10th most in the Wta history. The impressive thing is that this is Swiatek's first stint as the No. 1 player and she's done in consecutive weeks.
That also puts her on an exclusive list. Since 2000, only two players have tallied the most consecutive weeks while ranked number one - Serena Willaims with 186 and Ashleigh Barty with 114, both currently inactive and retired.
Swiatek broke a two-woman tie with Martina Hingis at 73 weeks and now sits in third spot alone. In the overall list, since rankings were incepted, Swiatek ranks in 12th place among players with the most consecutive weeks at No.
Since she rose to become the Wta No. 1 in April 2022, no player has knocked her off that position and has spent 74 weeks there, which is the 10th most in the Wta history. The impressive thing is that this is Swiatek's first stint as the No. 1 player and she's done in consecutive weeks.
That also puts her on an exclusive list. Since 2000, only two players have tallied the most consecutive weeks while ranked number one - Serena Willaims with 186 and Ashleigh Barty with 114, both currently inactive and retired.
Swiatek broke a two-woman tie with Martina Hingis at 73 weeks and now sits in third spot alone. In the overall list, since rankings were incepted, Swiatek ranks in 12th place among players with the most consecutive weeks at No.
- 8/28/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Cincinnati (US), Aug 17 (Ians) In a showdown between former Grand Slam champions, No.4 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan held off Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday to make the Round of 16 at the Cincinnati Masters.
Last year’s Wimbledon champion Rybakina took 2 hours and 17 minutes to pull off the come-from-behind victory on Wednesday night and edge ahead 3-2 in her head-to-head with 2017 Roland Garros titlist Ostapenko.
Rybakina will face Italian qualifier Jasmine Paolini on Thursday for a quarterfinal spot. Paolini defeated fellow qualifier Cristina Bucsa of Spain 6-1, 6-3 earlier on Wednesday.
On the other hand, World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka was also pushed to three sets in her opener, holding off No.192 Ann Li 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to advance in 2 hours and 3 minutes.
A semifinalist last year, Sabalenka struggled against Li’s all-court game before steeling herself in the third set to wrench back control of the match and get the win.
Last year’s Wimbledon champion Rybakina took 2 hours and 17 minutes to pull off the come-from-behind victory on Wednesday night and edge ahead 3-2 in her head-to-head with 2017 Roland Garros titlist Ostapenko.
Rybakina will face Italian qualifier Jasmine Paolini on Thursday for a quarterfinal spot. Paolini defeated fellow qualifier Cristina Bucsa of Spain 6-1, 6-3 earlier on Wednesday.
On the other hand, World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka was also pushed to three sets in her opener, holding off No.192 Ann Li 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to advance in 2 hours and 3 minutes.
A semifinalist last year, Sabalenka struggled against Li’s all-court game before steeling herself in the third set to wrench back control of the match and get the win.
- 8/17/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The Usta confirmed the list of wild card entrants in both men's and women's main draws for the 2023 US Open which kicks off in less than a fortnight.
The Wta list is led by the two former number one players. American Venus Williams will play in her 24th main draw at the US Open . Williams made her US Open debut in 1997 as a 17-year-old and went all the way to the final where she lost to 16-year-old Martina Hingis.
Since then Venus has only ever missed three editions of the US Open in 26 years and has won the title in back-to-back years (2001/2002). The 43-year-old icon will be joined by another Tour veteran Caroline Wozniacki who is twice a runner-up at the US Open and is embarking on her second stint as a pro after coming out of retirement .
Three of the eight wild cards have been given to American teenagers.
The Wta list is led by the two former number one players. American Venus Williams will play in her 24th main draw at the US Open . Williams made her US Open debut in 1997 as a 17-year-old and went all the way to the final where she lost to 16-year-old Martina Hingis.
Since then Venus has only ever missed three editions of the US Open in 26 years and has won the title in back-to-back years (2001/2002). The 43-year-old icon will be joined by another Tour veteran Caroline Wozniacki who is twice a runner-up at the US Open and is embarking on her second stint as a pro after coming out of retirement .
Three of the eight wild cards have been given to American teenagers.
- 8/16/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek has been the Wta 's most dominant player in the last 15 months, and she has not given the slightest hint of loosening her grip.
The Pole now begins her 70th consecutive week on top of the rankings. Swiatek captured her first career title on home soil at the weekend, crushing Germany's Laura Siegemund 6-0 6-1 in the championship match . She became the first Polish woman to win a Tour-level title in her home country - a sweet moment to savior in a chaotic week full of rain interruptions at the Poland Open .
Swiatek has spoken fondly of dealing with the relentless pressures that come with being the world's top-ranked player. But playing on home soil, the expectations went up a notch. She wasn't just the star attraction in the low-key Wta 250 event, but the colossal favorite to win her fourth title of the year.
And she duly delivered from all fronts,...
The Pole now begins her 70th consecutive week on top of the rankings. Swiatek captured her first career title on home soil at the weekend, crushing Germany's Laura Siegemund 6-0 6-1 in the championship match . She became the first Polish woman to win a Tour-level title in her home country - a sweet moment to savior in a chaotic week full of rain interruptions at the Poland Open .
Swiatek has spoken fondly of dealing with the relentless pressures that come with being the world's top-ranked player. But playing on home soil, the expectations went up a notch. She wasn't just the star attraction in the low-key Wta 250 event, but the colossal favorite to win her fourth title of the year.
And she duly delivered from all fronts,...
- 7/31/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Emma Raducanu 's unpopular coaching changes were recently discussed by former World No. 1 on the Wta Tour, Martina Hingis.
A champion's journey is a delicate dance of skill, talent, and mental strength, all of which must harmonize to achieve and maintain success. And yet, it's not just about the player. The influence of a great coach can propel a player to new heights, and their absence can cause a cascade of unforeseen consequences.
A case in point is Emma Raducanu, whose recent coaching changes have drawn the critical eye of many . Raducanu has struggled to replicate her meteoric rise after winning the 2021 US Open, which was followed by an unpopular coaching split with Andrew Richardson .
Since that pivotal decision, Raducanu has cycled through multiple coaches in quick succession, a rapid rate of change that has left her without a consistent guiding hand for extended periods. Most recently, the Brit split...
A champion's journey is a delicate dance of skill, talent, and mental strength, all of which must harmonize to achieve and maintain success. And yet, it's not just about the player. The influence of a great coach can propel a player to new heights, and their absence can cause a cascade of unforeseen consequences.
A case in point is Emma Raducanu, whose recent coaching changes have drawn the critical eye of many . Raducanu has struggled to replicate her meteoric rise after winning the 2021 US Open, which was followed by an unpopular coaching split with Andrew Richardson .
Since that pivotal decision, Raducanu has cycled through multiple coaches in quick succession, a rapid rate of change that has left her without a consistent guiding hand for extended periods. Most recently, the Brit split...
- 7/12/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Mirra Andreeva has many fans among former and current players, and one of them is former number one on the Wta Tour, Martina Hingis.
Former number one Hingis knows a lot about tennis. It kind of goes with the territory of being a number one player in the world, and as you might think, she's a huge fan of Andreeva. Many people are huge fans of Andreeva, and what she was able to do this year, so that's hardly a surprise.
She went through the qualifiers to secure a spot in the main draw of Wimbledon and then went all the way to the 4th round where she got beaten by Madison Keys . Speaking about Andreeva, Hings noted that she's been familiar with her for a while as she watched her play some Itf tournaments in Switzerland.
I’ve seen a lot of her because she played a couple of Itf tournaments in Switzerland.
Former number one Hingis knows a lot about tennis. It kind of goes with the territory of being a number one player in the world, and as you might think, she's a huge fan of Andreeva. Many people are huge fans of Andreeva, and what she was able to do this year, so that's hardly a surprise.
She went through the qualifiers to secure a spot in the main draw of Wimbledon and then went all the way to the 4th round where she got beaten by Madison Keys . Speaking about Andreeva, Hings noted that she's been familiar with her for a while as she watched her play some Itf tournaments in Switzerland.
I’ve seen a lot of her because she played a couple of Itf tournaments in Switzerland.
- 7/12/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Iga Swiatek has made a name for herself by handing out bagels though it's not something she necessarily aims to do.
Swiatek is all about winning. The way she wins a match matters little to the Polish superstar but some of her wins can be brutal. She thrashed Karolina Pliskova in Rome 6-0 6-0 in the final which kind of started the legend of Iga's bakery.
She has been so dominant in the past two years that she's beating players 6-0 pretty regularly. Just recently at Roland Garros, Swiatek won four sets with the score 6-0. We saw that score in three consecutive matches in the opening three rounds which made her a bit uncomfortable .
Reporters obviously could smell the great story from miles away and they pressed her so much that she had to eventually justify why she won 6-0 6-0 against Xinyu Wang. Eventually, she shut down...
Swiatek is all about winning. The way she wins a match matters little to the Polish superstar but some of her wins can be brutal. She thrashed Karolina Pliskova in Rome 6-0 6-0 in the final which kind of started the legend of Iga's bakery.
She has been so dominant in the past two years that she's beating players 6-0 pretty regularly. Just recently at Roland Garros, Swiatek won four sets with the score 6-0. We saw that score in three consecutive matches in the opening three rounds which made her a bit uncomfortable .
Reporters obviously could smell the great story from miles away and they pressed her so much that she had to eventually justify why she won 6-0 6-0 against Xinyu Wang. Eventually, she shut down...
- 6/28/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
‘s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands), June 13 (Ians) Former World No.1 Venus Williams crashed out of the Wta Libema Open here, losing to Celine Naef in an inter-generational first-round encounter between wild cards.
Naef came back from a set and a breakdown to score a memorable win on her Wta main-draw debut, beating Venus Williams 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 in 2 hours and 18 minutes.
Williams, 42, owns seven Grand Slam singles crowns, five of which have come at Wimbledon. Naef, 17, is a former junior No.4 who had never played a tour-level match before. The Swiss teenager was born on June 25, 2005 — midway through the third of Venus’ Wimbledon title runs. In a further wrinkle, Naef’s childhood coach was Melanie Molitor, the mother of Venus’ old rival Martina Hingis, the Wta said in a report on their website.
A hamstring injury sustained in Auckland at the start of the year had sidelined Venus since January. But she came out in great form,...
Naef came back from a set and a breakdown to score a memorable win on her Wta main-draw debut, beating Venus Williams 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 in 2 hours and 18 minutes.
Williams, 42, owns seven Grand Slam singles crowns, five of which have come at Wimbledon. Naef, 17, is a former junior No.4 who had never played a tour-level match before. The Swiss teenager was born on June 25, 2005 — midway through the third of Venus’ Wimbledon title runs. In a further wrinkle, Naef’s childhood coach was Melanie Molitor, the mother of Venus’ old rival Martina Hingis, the Wta said in a report on their website.
A hamstring injury sustained in Auckland at the start of the year had sidelined Venus since January. But she came out in great form,...
- 6/13/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Novak Djokovic keeps on winning and keeps on adding to his record books as he tied another one at the 2023 Roland Garros .
Novak Djokovic proved a resilient monster once more after outlasting Carlos Alcaraz in very tricky conditions seeing the younger player struggle with cramps as he kept going. The result of all of that was a 4-set win over the Spaniard , booking the final of the 2023 Roland Garros.
By doing that Djokovic tied Chris Evert for most Grand Slam finals ever with 34. It's an impressive list of players that were able to contest 30 grand slam finals and Djokovic now sits at the top tied with Evert. Considering his grass prowess there is a chance that Djokovic will emerge on the top of that list as the sole record holder which would be very impressive.
Rewriting records books is nothing new for him as he's been doing that for much...
Novak Djokovic proved a resilient monster once more after outlasting Carlos Alcaraz in very tricky conditions seeing the younger player struggle with cramps as he kept going. The result of all of that was a 4-set win over the Spaniard , booking the final of the 2023 Roland Garros.
By doing that Djokovic tied Chris Evert for most Grand Slam finals ever with 34. It's an impressive list of players that were able to contest 30 grand slam finals and Djokovic now sits at the top tied with Evert. Considering his grass prowess there is a chance that Djokovic will emerge on the top of that list as the sole record holder which would be very impressive.
Rewriting records books is nothing new for him as he's been doing that for much...
- 6/9/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Paris, June 5 (Ians) Former World No.3 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and former Roland Garros runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals at the French Open on Sunday, scoring contrasting wins here.
Svitoline continued her remarkable run in Paris, defeating No.9 seed Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 7-5(5) to advance to the quarterfinals. The victory put the 28-year-old Ukrainian into her first Slam quarterfinal in just her fifth tour-level event since her return from maternity leave.
Pavlyuchenkova became the lowest-ranked French Open quarterfinalist in the Open Era after defeating Elise Mertens, coming back from a set and a break down.
After giving birth to her daughter Skai last October, Svitolina returned to competition earlier this spring in Charleston. After starting her season 0-3 at the tour level, Svitolina caught fire in her fourth tournament back, storming to her 17th career title in Strasbourg. By making her fourth French Open quarterfinal and first,...
Svitoline continued her remarkable run in Paris, defeating No.9 seed Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 7-5(5) to advance to the quarterfinals. The victory put the 28-year-old Ukrainian into her first Slam quarterfinal in just her fifth tour-level event since her return from maternity leave.
Pavlyuchenkova became the lowest-ranked French Open quarterfinalist in the Open Era after defeating Elise Mertens, coming back from a set and a break down.
After giving birth to her daughter Skai last October, Svitolina returned to competition earlier this spring in Charleston. After starting her season 0-3 at the tour level, Svitolina caught fire in her fourth tournament back, storming to her 17th career title in Strasbourg. By making her fourth French Open quarterfinal and first,...
- 6/4/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Iga Swiatek will be playing in the 2023 Indian Wells quarterfinals, and although it seemed that in-form Emma Raducanu could stop her, she couldn't.
The 2021 US Open champion was arriving to the clash with the world no. 1 after playing very good three matches in the Californian desert. In her last match, Raducanu defeated the 13th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia and she wanted to take it another step further against the fellow US Open champion.
On the other hand, Swiatek was in superb form ahead of this match. In the second round, she thrashed Claire Liu, before defeating yet another fellow US Open champion, Bianca Andreescu in the third round.
Raducanu, who admitted after her latest win that she hasn't really practiced before the event, started the fourth-round match well. She could go ahead in the third game, but the world no. 1 doesn't give up points easily and the Brit felt that.
On the other hand,...
The 2021 US Open champion was arriving to the clash with the world no. 1 after playing very good three matches in the Californian desert. In her last match, Raducanu defeated the 13th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia and she wanted to take it another step further against the fellow US Open champion.
On the other hand, Swiatek was in superb form ahead of this match. In the second round, she thrashed Claire Liu, before defeating yet another fellow US Open champion, Bianca Andreescu in the third round.
Raducanu, who admitted after her latest win that she hasn't really practiced before the event, started the fourth-round match well. She could go ahead in the third game, but the world no. 1 doesn't give up points easily and the Brit felt that.
On the other hand,...
- 3/15/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza on Tuesday ended her magnificent 20-year-long career with a defeat in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The 36-year-old India legend lost in straight sets along with American partner Madison Keys in women’s doubles tie. The pair went 4-6 0-6 down to Russian pair of Veronika Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova in one hour long battle.
A mother to 4-year-old boy Izhaan, Mirza, who had turned pro back in 2003, ended her glorious career with six Grand Slam trophies.
Three of those came in women’s doubles with Swiss great Martina Hingis. The other three were in mixed doubles, two of which were with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi – 2009 Australian Open and 2012 French Open – while the other one was a US Open trophy with Bruno Soares.
Earlier last month, Sania was denied a fairytale ending to her Grand Slam career after she lost in...
A mother to 4-year-old boy Izhaan, Mirza, who had turned pro back in 2003, ended her glorious career with six Grand Slam trophies.
Three of those came in women’s doubles with Swiss great Martina Hingis. The other three were in mixed doubles, two of which were with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi – 2009 Australian Open and 2012 French Open – while the other one was a US Open trophy with Bruno Soares.
Earlier last month, Sania was denied a fairytale ending to her Grand Slam career after she lost in...
- 2/21/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Melbourne, Jan 27 (Ians) India tennis star Sania Mirza on Friday wrapped up her legendary Grand slam career as Australian Open mixed doubles runner-up. The Indian ace and partner Rohan Bopanna lost to the all-Brazilian pair Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the mixed doubles final here at Melbourne Park.
Sania and Bopanna were beaten 7-6(2), 6-2 by Brazilians Stefani and Matos, who were playing in their first-ever Grand Slam final.
In her final major, the 36-year-old Sania admitted her emotions almost boiled over after the Indians stunned third seeds and reigning Wimbledon champions Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski in the semifinals. There was no holding them back after her final match at Melbourne Park, 22 years after she first teamed with Bopanna.
Interestingly, Sania claimed her first major in 2009 at Melbourne Park, when she paired up with Mahesh Bhupathi. And she ended her illustrious Grand Slam career here.
Melbourne Park has...
Sania and Bopanna were beaten 7-6(2), 6-2 by Brazilians Stefani and Matos, who were playing in their first-ever Grand Slam final.
In her final major, the 36-year-old Sania admitted her emotions almost boiled over after the Indians stunned third seeds and reigning Wimbledon champions Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski in the semifinals. There was no holding them back after her final match at Melbourne Park, 22 years after she first teamed with Bopanna.
Interestingly, Sania claimed her first major in 2009 at Melbourne Park, when she paired up with Mahesh Bhupathi. And she ended her illustrious Grand Slam career here.
Melbourne Park has...
- 1/27/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Melbourne, Jan 26 (Ians) Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, who is playing the last Grand Slam of her career, admitted that her mixed doubles final run in Australian Open is “so emotional” adding that there’s a lot of nerves playing her last major.
The 36-year-old Sania and partner Rohan Bopanna cruised past third seeds and the reigning Wimbledon mixed doubles champions Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski 7-6(5) 6-7(5) (10-6) to reach the Australian Open final.
“We were playing one of the best mixed doubles teams on tour and we knew we had to come up with the best – I’m glad we were able to do that. It was an amazing match, obviously there’s a lot of nerves playing my last Slam and it’s so special to play with Rohan,” Sania said.
“Rohan was my first-ever mixed doubles partner when I was 14 years old … we’re so excited...
The 36-year-old Sania and partner Rohan Bopanna cruised past third seeds and the reigning Wimbledon mixed doubles champions Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski 7-6(5) 6-7(5) (10-6) to reach the Australian Open final.
“We were playing one of the best mixed doubles teams on tour and we knew we had to come up with the best – I’m glad we were able to do that. It was an amazing match, obviously there’s a lot of nerves playing my last Slam and it’s so special to play with Rohan,” Sania said.
“Rohan was my first-ever mixed doubles partner when I was 14 years old … we’re so excited...
- 1/26/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Melbourne, Jan 19 (Ians) Playing in her last Grand Slam tournament, India’s ace tennis player Sania Mirza started her Australian Open campaign with a women’s doubles first-round win, partnering with Kazakhstan’s Anna Danilina here on Thursday.
The Indo-Kazakh pair defeated Ukrainian-Belgian pair Anhelina Kalinina and Alison Van Uytvanck 6-2, 7-5. Sania and Anna will face the Ukrainian-Belgian duo of Anhelina Kalinina and Alison Van Uytvanck in the second round on Friday.
The former world No. 1 women’s doubles player had earlier this month announced that she will retire from professional tennis at Dubai Tennis Championships, a Wta 1000 event, which begins on February 19.
Sania has six major titles — three in doubles and three in mixed doubles — with her maiden triumph coming in 2009 when she partnered Mahesh Bhupathi to clinch the Australian Open mixed doubles title.
In 2015, she paired up with Swiss legend Martina Hingis, with whom she won three...
The Indo-Kazakh pair defeated Ukrainian-Belgian pair Anhelina Kalinina and Alison Van Uytvanck 6-2, 7-5. Sania and Anna will face the Ukrainian-Belgian duo of Anhelina Kalinina and Alison Van Uytvanck in the second round on Friday.
The former world No. 1 women’s doubles player had earlier this month announced that she will retire from professional tennis at Dubai Tennis Championships, a Wta 1000 event, which begins on February 19.
Sania has six major titles — three in doubles and three in mixed doubles — with her maiden triumph coming in 2009 when she partnered Mahesh Bhupathi to clinch the Australian Open mixed doubles title.
In 2015, she paired up with Swiss legend Martina Hingis, with whom she won three...
- 1/19/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Melbourne, Jan 18 (Ians) World No 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland has soared into the third round of the Australian Open, overcoming a pair of late-set stumbles here at Rod Laver Arena to dismiss Colombian Camila Osorio.
Swiatek closed out a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Osorio in 84 minutes to win her 12th straight second-round match at a major. The Pole star hasn’t lost before the third round of a major since the 2019 US Open.
Swiatek has now won 53 of her first 65 main-draw Grand Slam singles matches. In the Open Era, only six players had more such wins after their first 65 matches in majors: Margaret Court (61), Monica Seles (60), Chris Evert (57), Martina Hingis (56), Billie Jean King (56) and Tracy Austin (54).
Osorio’s abilities to hyperextend rallies and change the direction of the ball down the line at a moment’s notice allowed her to hang with the World No.1 in a number of close games.
Swiatek closed out a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Osorio in 84 minutes to win her 12th straight second-round match at a major. The Pole star hasn’t lost before the third round of a major since the 2019 US Open.
Swiatek has now won 53 of her first 65 main-draw Grand Slam singles matches. In the Open Era, only six players had more such wins after their first 65 matches in majors: Margaret Court (61), Monica Seles (60), Chris Evert (57), Martina Hingis (56), Billie Jean King (56) and Tracy Austin (54).
Osorio’s abilities to hyperextend rallies and change the direction of the ball down the line at a moment’s notice allowed her to hang with the World No.1 in a number of close games.
- 1/18/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Click here to read the full article.
Nick Bollettieri, the Hall of Fame tennis coach who worked with some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Andre Agassi and Monica Seles, and founded an academy that revolutionized the development of young athletes, has died. He was 91.
Bollettieri died Sunday night at home in Florida after a series of health issues, his manager, Steve Shulla, said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press on Monday.
“When he became sick, he got so many wonderful messages from former students and players and coaches. Many came to visit him. He got videos from others,” Shulla said. “It was wonderful. He touched so many lives and he had a great send-off.”
Known for his gravelly voice, leathery skin and wraparound sunglasses — and a man who called himself the “Michelangelo of Tennis” despite never playing professionally — Bollettieri helped no fewer than 10 players who went on to be No.
Nick Bollettieri, the Hall of Fame tennis coach who worked with some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Andre Agassi and Monica Seles, and founded an academy that revolutionized the development of young athletes, has died. He was 91.
Bollettieri died Sunday night at home in Florida after a series of health issues, his manager, Steve Shulla, said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press on Monday.
“When he became sick, he got so many wonderful messages from former students and players and coaches. Many came to visit him. He got videos from others,” Shulla said. “It was wonderful. He touched so many lives and he had a great send-off.”
Known for his gravelly voice, leathery skin and wraparound sunglasses — and a man who called himself the “Michelangelo of Tennis” despite never playing professionally — Bollettieri helped no fewer than 10 players who went on to be No.
- 12/5/2022
- by Associated Press
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York, Sep 11 (Ians) Polish tennis star and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek added a third Grand Slam singles trophy to her cupboard, defeating Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6 (5) to win the US Open crown for the first time on Sunday (Ist).
Following Ashleigh Barty’s surprise retirement in March this year, Swiatek was thrust into the role of No.1 at the age of 20 then, but she has since handled the pressure very well, proceeding to win 37 straight matches, including the French Open.
On Sunday at the Flushing Meadows, rather than being intimidated by the No.1 ranking, the Polish tennis ace — now 21 years old — seemed quite inspired.
“I needed to stay composed and focus on the goals,” Swiatek was quoted as saying by Wta. “It’s New York — it’s so loud, it’s so crazy. It’s really mind-blowing for me. I’m really proud I could handle it mentally.
Following Ashleigh Barty’s surprise retirement in March this year, Swiatek was thrust into the role of No.1 at the age of 20 then, but she has since handled the pressure very well, proceeding to win 37 straight matches, including the French Open.
On Sunday at the Flushing Meadows, rather than being intimidated by the No.1 ranking, the Polish tennis ace — now 21 years old — seemed quite inspired.
“I needed to stay composed and focus on the goals,” Swiatek was quoted as saying by Wta. “It’s New York — it’s so loud, it’s so crazy. It’s really mind-blowing for me. I’m really proud I could handle it mentally.
- 9/11/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Toronto (Canada), Aug 15 (Ians) Romanian star Simona Halep rode her recent superb form that won her second Wta Tour title of the season at Toronto this weekend, has moved into the top 10, climbing to the No. 6 spot in the latest Wta Rankings released on Monday.
Halep, who has won two Grand Slam titles — French Open 2018 and Wimbledon 2019, was placed No.27 till the week of February 28. But a rich vein of form that has seen her reach the semifinals at seven of her 13 tournaments this season, including four of her past five outings, helped her move to No. 15 before the Toronto Open.
With the title in Toronto, Halep moved up nine spots to No.6, her highest ranking since the week of June 28, 2021.
Iga Swiatek of Poland remained on top of the rankings with Anett Kontaveit of Estonia at No. 2 while Greece’s Maria Sakkari moved one place to No. 3 and Paula...
Halep, who has won two Grand Slam titles — French Open 2018 and Wimbledon 2019, was placed No.27 till the week of February 28. But a rich vein of form that has seen her reach the semifinals at seven of her 13 tournaments this season, including four of her past five outings, helped her move to No. 15 before the Toronto Open.
With the title in Toronto, Halep moved up nine spots to No.6, her highest ranking since the week of June 28, 2021.
Iga Swiatek of Poland remained on top of the rankings with Anett Kontaveit of Estonia at No. 2 while Greece’s Maria Sakkari moved one place to No. 3 and Paula...
- 8/15/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Mumbai, Sep 23 (Ians) Former Swiss tennis ace Martina Hingis has shared her views on Mahesh Bhupathi-Leander Paes’ partnership in the upcoming documentary series ‘Break Point’. The series also features other tennis players such as Hingis, Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna among others who share their views on Bhupathi and Paes, their relationship which made them […]...
- 9/23/2021
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Exclusive: Amazon Prime Video has struck a deal with Kaleidoscope for tennis documentary Unraveling Athena for UK, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands.
Directed by Francis Amat over four years, the film explores the lives and experiences of some of tennis’s most decorated women players, including twenty former number ones.
Contributors include Billie Jean King, Martina Hingis, Tracy Austin, Evonne Goolagong, Kim Clijsters, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka.
The film reveals their perseverance, trials, and, tribulations and achievements, offering insight into the mind of the pro athlete and what it takes to make a champion.
Prime Video will release the film in their territories on July 13 of this year. North American distribution rights were recently picked up by La-based Shout! Studios, which plans to launch the film later this year.
Amat also produced...
Directed by Francis Amat over four years, the film explores the lives and experiences of some of tennis’s most decorated women players, including twenty former number ones.
Contributors include Billie Jean King, Martina Hingis, Tracy Austin, Evonne Goolagong, Kim Clijsters, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka.
The film reveals their perseverance, trials, and, tribulations and achievements, offering insight into the mind of the pro athlete and what it takes to make a champion.
Prime Video will release the film in their territories on July 13 of this year. North American distribution rights were recently picked up by La-based Shout! Studios, which plans to launch the film later this year.
Amat also produced...
- 6/15/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Shout! Studios has acquired North American rights across several platforms to Unraveling Athena: The Champions of Women’s Tennis, the feature documentary directed by Francis Amat that chronicles the lives and drives of the sport’s most iconic stars past and present. The label is eyeing a multi-platform bow later this year.
The inspirational doc features interviews with the likes of Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong, Pam Shriver, Martina Hingis, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Victoria Azarenka, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Sania Mirza, Dinara Safina, and Tracy Austin. It reveals their perseverance, trials, and, tribulations and achievements, offering insight into the mind of the pro athlete and what it takes to make a champion.
Amat also produced along with Paloma Gongora from Zatopeka Films and Kaleidoscope Film Distribution Limited.
“Unraveling Athena delivers a long overdue and immensely entertaining celebration...
The inspirational doc features interviews with the likes of Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong, Pam Shriver, Martina Hingis, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Victoria Azarenka, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Sania Mirza, Dinara Safina, and Tracy Austin. It reveals their perseverance, trials, and, tribulations and achievements, offering insight into the mind of the pro athlete and what it takes to make a champion.
Amat also produced along with Paloma Gongora from Zatopeka Films and Kaleidoscope Film Distribution Limited.
“Unraveling Athena delivers a long overdue and immensely entertaining celebration...
- 6/1/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Erwin Chargaff of Genetics
Lisa Leslie(4-time Olympic Baseball Gold Medal Winner) “Iam strong, I’m not tender, my eyeliner is still worn by me.” In the beginning, when girls began taking part in the Olympics, their numbers were very low. But today, women take part in nearly every activity. Also, afew activities were revised so as to suit the fairer sexnetball and softball, variations of basketball and hockey, for example. Let’s take a look at-all these activities, in no particular purchase, by which girls don’t merely engage, but also have created a title for themselves. Baseball Baseball is one particular few activities that both men and women began experimenting the same time. To be correct, women’s basketball were only available in the season 1892 in america, in Johnson University in Ma. Throughout the United States, its popularity spread using this beginning that was simple, and finally all over the globe.
Lisa Leslie(4-time Olympic Baseball Gold Medal Winner) “Iam strong, I’m not tender, my eyeliner is still worn by me.” In the beginning, when girls began taking part in the Olympics, their numbers were very low. But today, women take part in nearly every activity. Also, afew activities were revised so as to suit the fairer sexnetball and softball, variations of basketball and hockey, for example. Let’s take a look at-all these activities, in no particular purchase, by which girls don’t merely engage, but also have created a title for themselves. Baseball Baseball is one particular few activities that both men and women began experimenting the same time. To be correct, women’s basketball were only available in the season 1892 in america, in Johnson University in Ma. Throughout the United States, its popularity spread using this beginning that was simple, and finally all over the globe.
- 4/1/2016
- by toga
- Scott Feinberg
In search of the weirdest story of the day? Well, look no further.
Former world No. 1 tennis star Martina Hingis has been accused of attacking her estranged husband Thibault Hutin with the aid of her mother and her mother's boyfriend.
Hingis and her family gang apparently went to Hutin's apartment and beat him up on Monday (Sept. 23) night, with the attack ending once the mom's boyfriend hit Hutin over the head with a DVD player, Guyism.com reports from a translated report on Swedish news site Blick.
The direct Google translation reads as broken English, but the gist of the story is that Hingis, Melanie Molitor (her mother) and Mario Widmer (Molitor's boyfriend) attacked the man before throwing him out of the window headfirst. After returning to his house to find his passport and credit cards missing, Hutin immediately went to the police. The cops returned to the house, where...
Former world No. 1 tennis star Martina Hingis has been accused of attacking her estranged husband Thibault Hutin with the aid of her mother and her mother's boyfriend.
Hingis and her family gang apparently went to Hutin's apartment and beat him up on Monday (Sept. 23) night, with the attack ending once the mom's boyfriend hit Hutin over the head with a DVD player, Guyism.com reports from a translated report on Swedish news site Blick.
The direct Google translation reads as broken English, but the gist of the story is that Hingis, Melanie Molitor (her mother) and Mario Widmer (Molitor's boyfriend) attacked the man before throwing him out of the window headfirst. After returning to his house to find his passport and credit cards missing, Hutin immediately went to the police. The cops returned to the house, where...
- 9/25/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Whippersnappers not allowed
Despite its outward civility, Professional Tennis can be a brutal sport for the players, and the sell by date for most is around age 30, give or take a couple of years. So it takes a dedicated athlete to carry on in the face of Father Time, lingering injuries, and young phenoms nipping at your Nike's.
In the past couple of years we've paid tribute to the Atp Top Twenty Players and the Hottest Players Outside The Top 20, and as this year's Australian Open commences, we're going to look at all of the players in the Top 100 who have crossed the "30" milestone mark.
They may be the tennis equivalent of Methuselah, but they can still teach the young guns a thing or two!
Roger Federer - 31
Ranked #2, Roger is still going strong long after most pundits had written him off. Last year he won his seventh Wimbledon title and regained the #1 ranking,...
Despite its outward civility, Professional Tennis can be a brutal sport for the players, and the sell by date for most is around age 30, give or take a couple of years. So it takes a dedicated athlete to carry on in the face of Father Time, lingering injuries, and young phenoms nipping at your Nike's.
In the past couple of years we've paid tribute to the Atp Top Twenty Players and the Hottest Players Outside The Top 20, and as this year's Australian Open commences, we're going to look at all of the players in the Top 100 who have crossed the "30" milestone mark.
They may be the tennis equivalent of Methuselah, but they can still teach the young guns a thing or two!
Roger Federer - 31
Ranked #2, Roger is still going strong long after most pundits had written him off. Last year he won his seventh Wimbledon title and regained the #1 ranking,...
- 1/15/2013
- by snicks
- The Backlot
Graham Denholm/Getty
Lindsay Davenport is set to hear the pitter-patter of more little feet around the net: the tennis pro is expecting her third child — a girl — with husband Jonathan Leach.
The new addition will join siblings Jagger Jonathan, 4, and Lauren Andrus, 2.
Davenport, 35, was forced to withdraw from the World Team Tennis Pro League after experiencing complications.
“Dr. put me on rest,” she Tweeted earlier this month. “I feel so bad about … having this happen at last minute, but have to listen to my Dr. and do what’s best for baby.”
Thankfully, “things are better and looks like another girl,...
Lindsay Davenport is set to hear the pitter-patter of more little feet around the net: the tennis pro is expecting her third child — a girl — with husband Jonathan Leach.
The new addition will join siblings Jagger Jonathan, 4, and Lauren Andrus, 2.
Davenport, 35, was forced to withdraw from the World Team Tennis Pro League after experiencing complications.
“Dr. put me on rest,” she Tweeted earlier this month. “I feel so bad about … having this happen at last minute, but have to listen to my Dr. and do what’s best for baby.”
Thankfully, “things are better and looks like another girl,...
- 7/26/2011
- by Sarah
- People - CelebrityBabies
Russian-born tennis player Anna Kournikova is joining the U.S. television weight loss contest "The Biggest Loser" as a trainer, NBC television said on Wednesday. Kournikova, 29, who became a sensation on and off the courts despite never winning a major singles tennis title, will join the show in September. Born in Moscow and now an American citizen living in Miami, Florida, Kournikova said she had long been a fan of the TV show, in which overweight contestants attempt to lose the most weight through diet and rigorous exercise programs for a cash prize. "As a former professional tennis player and certified trainer, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to share my enthusiasm for staying fit across America's homes," she said in a statement. NBC reality show chief Paul Telegdy said the network was "confident that she will be a powerful motivator to contestants to get fit and healthy." Kournikova...
- 5/25/2011
- Filmicafe
Retired tennis star Martina Hingis has wed a French showjumper in Paris following a whirlwind romance. The sportswoman, 30, began dating Thibault Hutarlier earlier this year and they exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in the French capital on Friday, December 10.
Hingis tells Swiss magazine Schweizer Illustrierte, "Our wedding came as a surprise for many, but it has been in planning long in advance." She also revealed the happy couple has delayed a celebration wedding feast - they will be holding the get-together for family and friends next summer.
Martina Hingis was not the only celeb who tied the knot this month. Nicole Richie and Good Charlotte's member Joel Madden walked down the aisle. Their wedding ceremony was witnessed by family and friends including Benji Madden, Gwen Stefani, Ashlee Simpson and Kris Jenner.
Hingis tells Swiss magazine Schweizer Illustrierte, "Our wedding came as a surprise for many, but it has been in planning long in advance." She also revealed the happy couple has delayed a celebration wedding feast - they will be holding the get-together for family and friends next summer.
Martina Hingis was not the only celeb who tied the knot this month. Nicole Richie and Good Charlotte's member Joel Madden walked down the aisle. Their wedding ceremony was witnessed by family and friends including Benji Madden, Gwen Stefani, Ashlee Simpson and Kris Jenner.
- 12/14/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Martina Hingis, the retired Swiss tennis player who won five Grand Slam singles titles in her career, is now playing doubles. Hingis, 30, the world's former No. 1 player, married French show jumper Thibault Hutin on Friday in a private civil ceremony in Paris, according to Swiss newspaper Sonntags Blick. "Our wedding may take some by surprise," the paper quotes the bride as saying of the couple's ceremony, "but it has all been planned for some time." Photos: Stars Say I Do! The Year in Celebrity WeddingsThe ceremony took place at city hall in the Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, according to the Swiss magazine Schweizer-Illustrierte,...
- 12/13/2010
- by Peter Mikelbank
- PEOPLE.com
Retired tennis star Martina Hingis has wed a French showjumper in Paris following a whirlwind romance.
The sportswoman, 30, began dating Thibault Hutarlier earlier this year and they exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in the French capital on Friday.
Hingis tells Swiss magazine Schweizer Illustrierte, "Our wedding came as a surprise for many, but it has been in planning long in advance."
She also revealed the happy couple has delayed a celebration wedding feast - they will be holding the get-together for family and friends next summer.
The sportswoman, 30, began dating Thibault Hutarlier earlier this year and they exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in the French capital on Friday.
Hingis tells Swiss magazine Schweizer Illustrierte, "Our wedding came as a surprise for many, but it has been in planning long in advance."
She also revealed the happy couple has delayed a celebration wedding feast - they will be holding the get-together for family and friends next summer.
- 12/13/2010
- WENN
In our annual Visibility Awards, we formally recognize the people who have positively or negatively impacted lesbian and bi visibility in American entertainment during the year. (See previous years here: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004.)
From Best Movie to Worst Song to Lesbian/Bi Woman of the Year, these awards recognize the television shows, movies, music, books and people who entertained, inspired, or disappointed us in 2009.
Last year, some of the category winners were chosen by both the AfterEllen.com staff and AfterEllen.com readers. This year, AfterEllen.com staff and contributing writers chose the winners for each category, as readers will be given the opportunity to vote on a wider range of topics and categories in our first annual Lesbian/Bi Women's Choice Awards in January.
Once again this year, we've included international people, shows and movies as a reflection of the increasing awareness of lesbian and bisexual visibility around the world made possible by the Internet.
From Best Movie to Worst Song to Lesbian/Bi Woman of the Year, these awards recognize the television shows, movies, music, books and people who entertained, inspired, or disappointed us in 2009.
Last year, some of the category winners were chosen by both the AfterEllen.com staff and AfterEllen.com readers. This year, AfterEllen.com staff and contributing writers chose the winners for each category, as readers will be given the opportunity to vote on a wider range of topics and categories in our first annual Lesbian/Bi Women's Choice Awards in January.
Once again this year, we've included international people, shows and movies as a reflection of the increasing awareness of lesbian and bisexual visibility around the world made possible by the Internet.
- 12/21/2009
- by afterellenstaff
- AfterEllen.com
It was game, set and match for Martina Hingis in Week One, and Richard Dunwoody fell at the first hurdle last week, but which celebrity will be joining them on the sidelines tonight? All 14 remaining contestants will perform a dramatic Paso Doble or a energetic Quick-step tonight. Keep up to date with all the action here on Digital Spy, where we'll be bringing you live score updates and commentary throughout the evening. 19:00: The Toughest Strictly Ever! Back solely on Saturdays, where it belongs. Ready for the TV marathon? We've got 14 couples, plenty of Brucie gags, 136 hours of waffle in between... or something like that. 19:07: First up, we've got some "mild flirting" from Hollyoaks 'babe' Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna. They are apparently romancing, if you believe the tabloids... which I don't. 19:09: We've got Quick-steps and Paso (more)...
- 10/3/2009
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Martina Hingis has admitted that she thought she was safe in Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing dance-off. The former Wimbledon champion, who became the first celebrity to be voted off the show at the weekend, said that she thought her superior points tally to Rav Wilding in both the Latin and Ballroom would see her through to the next round. Hingis and partner Matthew Cutler found themselves in the bottom two alongside Wilding and Aliona Vilani, despite not being among the lowest scorers with the judges. "I am quite a disappointed because we put so much work into it and I don't get to dance anymore," she told It Takes Two. "Our group got along really well and before going live on the show Alioni, who ended up in the bottom two with us, she actually gave me loads of tips and help." She added: "We had better scores from the...
- 9/22/2009
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Martina Hingis has become the first contestant to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing. The tennis player, who was paired with professional dancer Matthew Cutler, found herself in the bottom two alongside Rav Wilding and Aliona Vilani. After the dance-off, judges Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli had to decide which couple to eliminate. The panel opted to save Rav and Aliona, leaving (more)...
- 9/19/2009
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
AFI Fest
This Canadian documentary goes behind the scenes of the women's tennis tour, offering an insider's view of the most lucrative sport for female athletes. Helmers Bobbi Jo Krals and Abbey Jack Neidik wisely focus on Sonya Jeyaseelan, an articulate 25-year-old who's struggling through a difficult tour, but their film also offers testimony from such superstars as Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati as well as the insights of former champ Billie Jean King. The picture that emerges is that of an insular and grueling traveling circus of highly competitive athletes and the media who follow them.
"She Got Game" is a perceptive, if hardly earth-shattering, commentary on such themes as celebrity, competition and identity. It's a sure fit for sports- and docu-themed cable channels, and DVD potential is strong given the 100-plus hours of footage the filmmakers gathered for their 78-minute film. Editor Howard Goldberg has done a stellar job of interweaving the dozens of interviews and other material.
Ranked 47th in the world when the film begins, Jeyaseelan has devoted her life to tennis, as is the case with most of the girls on the tour. Childhood is an abstraction for athletes who start training as young as 4, and few of them graduate high school. As numerous sports journalists, coaches and players note, for those who don't make it into the high-stakes elite, there's little glamour in the 30 weeks a year spent on the road, battling injuries and mental fatigue and never quite experiencing life outside the bubble. When Jeyaseelan finally takes time off, her revelation of life without tennis is like that of someone letting herself out of prison.
The docu examines the celebrity status of such players as The Williams Sisters and Anna Kournikova and the showbiz edge that corporate sponsorships bring to the game, just as they do for men's professional sports. That such star packaging is often more about sex than athletic accomplishment will come as no surprise to anyone, but without being heavy-handed, the film makes its points regarding the role models these players are to countless young girls.
This Canadian documentary goes behind the scenes of the women's tennis tour, offering an insider's view of the most lucrative sport for female athletes. Helmers Bobbi Jo Krals and Abbey Jack Neidik wisely focus on Sonya Jeyaseelan, an articulate 25-year-old who's struggling through a difficult tour, but their film also offers testimony from such superstars as Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati as well as the insights of former champ Billie Jean King. The picture that emerges is that of an insular and grueling traveling circus of highly competitive athletes and the media who follow them.
"She Got Game" is a perceptive, if hardly earth-shattering, commentary on such themes as celebrity, competition and identity. It's a sure fit for sports- and docu-themed cable channels, and DVD potential is strong given the 100-plus hours of footage the filmmakers gathered for their 78-minute film. Editor Howard Goldberg has done a stellar job of interweaving the dozens of interviews and other material.
Ranked 47th in the world when the film begins, Jeyaseelan has devoted her life to tennis, as is the case with most of the girls on the tour. Childhood is an abstraction for athletes who start training as young as 4, and few of them graduate high school. As numerous sports journalists, coaches and players note, for those who don't make it into the high-stakes elite, there's little glamour in the 30 weeks a year spent on the road, battling injuries and mental fatigue and never quite experiencing life outside the bubble. When Jeyaseelan finally takes time off, her revelation of life without tennis is like that of someone letting herself out of prison.
The docu examines the celebrity status of such players as The Williams Sisters and Anna Kournikova and the showbiz edge that corporate sponsorships bring to the game, just as they do for men's professional sports. That such star packaging is often more about sex than athletic accomplishment will come as no surprise to anyone, but without being heavy-handed, the film makes its points regarding the role models these players are to countless young girls.
AFI Fest
This Canadian documentary goes behind the scenes of the women's tennis tour, offering an insider's view of the most lucrative sport for female athletes. Helmers Bobbi Jo Krals and Abbey Jack Neidik wisely focus on Sonya Jeyaseelan, an articulate 25-year-old who's struggling through a difficult tour, but their film also offers testimony from such superstars as Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati as well as the insights of former champ Billie Jean King. The picture that emerges is that of an insular and grueling traveling circus of highly competitive athletes and the media who follow them.
"She Got Game" is a perceptive, if hardly earth-shattering, commentary on such themes as celebrity, competition and identity. It's a sure fit for sports- and docu-themed cable channels, and DVD potential is strong given the 100-plus hours of footage the filmmakers gathered for their 78-minute film. Editor Howard Goldberg has done a stellar job of interweaving the dozens of interviews and other material.
Ranked 47th in the world when the film begins, Jeyaseelan has devoted her life to tennis, as is the case with most of the girls on the tour. Childhood is an abstraction for athletes who start training as young as 4, and few of them graduate high school. As numerous sports journalists, coaches and players note, for those who don't make it into the high-stakes elite, there's little glamour in the 30 weeks a year spent on the road, battling injuries and mental fatigue and never quite experiencing life outside the bubble. When Jeyaseelan finally takes time off, her revelation of life without tennis is like that of someone letting herself out of prison.
The docu examines the celebrity status of such players as The Williams Sisters and Anna Kournikova and the showbiz edge that corporate sponsorships bring to the game, just as they do for men's professional sports. That such star packaging is often more about sex than athletic accomplishment will come as no surprise to anyone, but without being heavy-handed, the film makes its points regarding the role models these players are to countless young girls.
This Canadian documentary goes behind the scenes of the women's tennis tour, offering an insider's view of the most lucrative sport for female athletes. Helmers Bobbi Jo Krals and Abbey Jack Neidik wisely focus on Sonya Jeyaseelan, an articulate 25-year-old who's struggling through a difficult tour, but their film also offers testimony from such superstars as Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati as well as the insights of former champ Billie Jean King. The picture that emerges is that of an insular and grueling traveling circus of highly competitive athletes and the media who follow them.
"She Got Game" is a perceptive, if hardly earth-shattering, commentary on such themes as celebrity, competition and identity. It's a sure fit for sports- and docu-themed cable channels, and DVD potential is strong given the 100-plus hours of footage the filmmakers gathered for their 78-minute film. Editor Howard Goldberg has done a stellar job of interweaving the dozens of interviews and other material.
Ranked 47th in the world when the film begins, Jeyaseelan has devoted her life to tennis, as is the case with most of the girls on the tour. Childhood is an abstraction for athletes who start training as young as 4, and few of them graduate high school. As numerous sports journalists, coaches and players note, for those who don't make it into the high-stakes elite, there's little glamour in the 30 weeks a year spent on the road, battling injuries and mental fatigue and never quite experiencing life outside the bubble. When Jeyaseelan finally takes time off, her revelation of life without tennis is like that of someone letting herself out of prison.
The docu examines the celebrity status of such players as The Williams Sisters and Anna Kournikova and the showbiz edge that corporate sponsorships bring to the game, just as they do for men's professional sports. That such star packaging is often more about sex than athletic accomplishment will come as no surprise to anyone, but without being heavy-handed, the film makes its points regarding the role models these players are to countless young girls.
- 11/11/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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