If you have seen Serena Williams’ match against Jelena Jankovic (3-6, 4-6) , you already know that something was wrong with Serena. She didn’t move well, looked tired, frustrated, uninspired, and erratic. No fist pumping or “Serena-style-fired-up-staring” at the opponent. What was wrong with Serena? Was it mental? Was it physical? Both? During the match, the ESPN commentator Pam Shriver ran (literally) to talk to Serena’s camp to get some update on what’s happening. She was told Serena did have treatment to her right quad before the match, but nothing was serious. Serena’s explanation at the press conference, didn’t shed much light either as to what her problem was. But she was obviously not 100%. However, after reading her interview, it seemed to me the explanation was obvious.

You were quite listless in the first set there. Wasn’t an injury or a problem with movement?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I was having some issues, but I don’t like to make excuses. We won’t discuss those.

Read more »

Nicole Vaidisova has denied reports of her alleged engagement and upcoming marriage to Radek Stepanek. Speaking with Chris Fowler on ESPN2, Vaidisova called the item a “rumor.” Mary Jo Fernangez also told on air that the Stepanek/Vaidisova marriage license application was a prank, though they are dating.

Nicole dear, it is not a rumor when Bradenton Herald reports that you have filed papers for a marriage license with Radek Stepanek, according to information received from the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court. Prank, maybe, but a misguided one.

It continuously amazes me how celebrities sometimes think they can be invisible in this information age. Once the information is out, it is OUT. Take Serena Williams’ breakup blog post. She pours out her heart on the breakup of her relationship with her recent beau, and then deletes the post secretly hoping that it will magically disappear. You might think that when a person has been in a public eye for so many years, would have learned the rules of the game. Unfortunately or fortunately, there is no UNDO in cyberspace.

It is all about me, reads Serena Williams‘ bikini. Defending Australian Open champion shows off her trim and toned look in Perth. Six kilograms lighter thanks to a rigorous off-season training regime, Serena Williams is in her finest shape of recent memory. Physically, at least! As to her emotional state, Serena has reveled in her blog that she is nursing a broken heart and has found solace in a book called “Who Moved My Cheese.” Serena has previously been linked to director Brett Ratner, rapper Common and an actor named Jackie Long.

She writes in part:

You just start dating a guy. He likes you, you like him. You guys want to spend every second together. Read more »

Forbes has just released the list of top-earning celebrities under 25. The top four slots of the 20 Under 25 list went to athletes. Basketball superstar LeBron James landed at #1 ($27 million), followed by NFL rookie Reggie Bush ($24 million), Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova ($23 million) and golf prodigy Michelle Wie (19 million). The rest of the list was dominated by actors and entertainers.

According to Forbes, the 20 Under 25 list of the Top-Earning Young Superstars examined earnings from June 2006 to June 2007. They included salaries, winnings, endorsement deals and royalties.

Sharapova, Serena Among “Most Searched” on Yahoo!

According to Yahoo!, Sharapova is not only rich but also “most searched.” Yahoo! has announced the Top Trends in Search of 2007 based on the billions of searches conducted by millions of Yahoo! searchers around the world. Top sport-related searches show that Maria Sharapova was very hot this year, and Serena Williams’ win at the Australian open, after a series of injuries, also made her a favorite of Yahoo! searchers. Maria took the second spot (after NASCAR:-), and Serena was the fifth. GO GIRLS!

Visit Maria Sharapova’s section on the site to see all the other TOP lists that Masha made. Has anyone seen Sharapova’s Pepsi commercial in the U.S. or Europe? Is it for Japan-only?

Gossip sites are reporting that U.S. tennis star Serena Williams is dating rapper and actor Common (real name is Lonnie Rashid Jr.). The new couple was spotted at Venus Williams’ new EleVen fashion line launch party.

The 35-year-old Common, who was linked to singer Alicia Keys, hit the charts on the number 1 spot earlier this year in the American music charts with his CD “Finding Forever.” You can currently see Common in the movie thriller American Gangster. You can check out Common’s new video “I want you” on YouTube. The video also features Alicia Keys and Kanye West.

The world’s highest-paid female athlete Maria Sharapova keeps her schedule busy without playing tennis. According to Variety Magazine, the Russian tennis star, who is still recovering from shoulder injury, is aiming at adding “television producer” to her resume.

“Sharapova has partnered with writer Jacob Epstein to lob a sports-themed drama toward the CW net. Project will be set inside the world of professional women’s tennis — a topic Sharapova, currently ranked fifth among the world’s female players, knows a thing or two about.”

An interesting thing to look out for in the new drama is the guest star appearances. For example, Serena Williams has done some TV acting, and Andy Roddick has hosted the Saturday Night Live. Would be fun to watch!

Technorati Tags: Maria Sharapova, Russian Tennis Player

(Via Eurosport) - The world number seven Russian Anna Chakvetadze has booked the sixth place in the season ending WTA Tour Championships.

“I’m so excited to play in my first Sony Ericsson Championships. 2007 has been an amazing year for me, having reached the Top 5 in the world, and I am looking forward to finishing strongly in Madrid,” said the 20-year-old Russian.

Chakvetadze joins Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic and Serena Williams in the season-ending tournament in Madrid, which takes place from November 6-11.

With two places remaining Australian Open finalist Maria Sharapova and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams are clinging to the seventh and eighth places in the WTA Race.

For Anna Chahkvetadze’s complete profile visit WTA site.

Not a “fan-favorite” day in Zurich Open.

French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo, who I like very much, was upset by unseeded Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko in the second round of the Zurich Open.

World number four Ana Ivanovic also suffered a shock 6-3 6-1 defeat to Tatiana Golovin from France.

Another fan favorite Jelena Jankovic, seeded third in Zurich, was defeated in straight sets 6-4 6-4 by Czech Nicole Vaidisova.

Recent Kremlin Cup champion Elena Dementieva forced to retire with an injured left thigh after trailing Italian Francesca Schiavone. Dementieva’s withdrawal ended any chance the Russian had of qualifying for the season-ending WTA Championship in Madrid, Spain.

On Tuesday Serena Williams retired with a right adductor injury after losing the first nine games to Swiss Patty Schnyder.

Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic and Serena Williams have qualified for the WTA tournament on Nov. 6-11. Five other players are still eligible for the remaining three spots.

(Source: Reuters, Zurich Open)

I came across this photo on Vtoraya Podacha. It was taken at the Kremlin Cup party. Serena and Kuzy look very lovely, but some of you might wonder who that dude is:-) That dude, with a “new Russian,” look is Yevgeny Kafelnikov–a former world number one tennis player from Russia. Where is Kafelnikov (or Kalashnokov as he was known among reporters) now? Without officially declaring his retirement, this “stubborn Russian nut,” the assessment of his former coach, has given up tennis to become a professional poker player.

If you want to learn more about Kafelnikov, check out this story published by The Independent. It is a little bit old, but still an interesting read. It is expected that Yevgeny will officially announce his retirement at the next Kremlin Cup.

P.S. What’s up with that Gladiator haircut? Why is it so popular in Russia?:-)

(Via On the Baseline) - Now you know who is more intense.

Elena Dementieva of Russia rallied from a set down to beat Serena Williams on Sunday for the title at the Kremlin Cup. Dementieva played exceptionally well (even Serena admitted it) and managed to get away with only six double-faults, a low number for a three-set match and for Elena particularly. Dementieva’s win will bring her back to top 10. Great present on her birthday. Elena is turning 26 on Monday.

Happy birthday!

Technorati Tags: Elena Dementieva, Serena Williams, Kremlin Cup