Russia’s Vera Zvonareva has been named a “Promoter of Gender Equality” by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Zvonareva, who will take part in women’s leadership programmes through the UNESCO-Sony Ericsson WTA Tour partnership, has joined Venus Williams, Tatiana Golovin, Zheng Jie as well as Tour founder Billie Jean King as the fifth United Nations ambassador. Vera is also enrolled in the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she is studying for a graduate diploma in International Relations and Economics. She also blogs for a Russian sports site.

In extremely windy conditions, 24-year-old Russian  Vera Zvonareva defeated defending champion Ana Ivanovic 7-6 (5), 6-2 in the BNP Paribas title match.  No. 6 Zvonareva added the crown to the doubles title she won the previous day with teammate Victoria Azarenka. Bonnie D. Ford has recently written a good profile of Vera Zvonareva.

The latest cover girls here and here.

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev met yesterday with Russian national tennis team and their captain Shamil Tarpischev in Kremlin. This year’s Beijing Olympics champion Elena Dementieva has given her Olympic “gold” racket to President Medvedev as a gift. Would you give your Olympic racket to your President?

Elena Vesnina blogs about the experience.  According to her, all the players were very nervous initially but thanks to Marat Safin who told a couple of jokes to break the ice, they relaxed and greatly enjoyed the experience. They drank some tea, and the President thanked them for all their achievements.

Dinara Safina looks gorgeous. I am not saying anything about her brother

Dementieva thinking: “Just don’t sell it on Ebay, please.”

Medvedev thinking: “What the hell is this?”

Russia’s tennis boss Shamil Tarpischev has announced his team  for the upcoming Fed Cup final tie against Spain. Though traditionally Russia has the best selection pool when it comes to Fed Cup, it seems Russia’s captain had to be satisfied with a second-string team. World number 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova will lead the team comprised of world number 10 and Beijing bronze medalist Vera Zvonareva, 56th-ranked Ekaterina Makarova and number 71 Elena Vesnina.

Elena Dementieva, and Dinara Safina are somewhat exhausted after their recent sucesses in Olympics and US Open, Anna Chakvetadze can’t find her form after the horrific robbery attack, and Maria Sharapova is out with a shoulder injury.

“This is the best team we could assemble at the moment. Dementieva and Safina have a real chance to become world number one so we have to give them a break,” Tarpischev said.

Russians dominate.

WTA Top 10 Rankings (August 25, 2008)

1. Ana Ivanovic - Serbia - 3612

2. Jelena Jankovic - Serbia - 3515

3. Serena Williams - United States - 3341

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Russia - 3181

5. Maria Sharapova - Russia - 3131

6. Elena Dementieva - Russia - 3070

7. Dinara Safina - Russia - 3047

8. Venus Williams - United States - 2586

9. Anna Chakvetadze - Russia - 2230

10. Vera Zvonareva - Russia - 2117

Russian women tennis players made a history today in Beijing by sweeping medals in women’s singles. The victory made Russia the first nation to win all medals in one tennis event since Britain did a hundred years ago in women’s singles. Elena Dementieva won the gold medal in women’s singles by beating fellow Russian Dinara Safina 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Vera Zvonareva beat Li Na of China 6-0, 7-5 to win the bronze.

Russian tennis player Elena Vesnina (ranked 53rd) has joined her countrywoman Vera Zvonareva and blogs for Russian sport site Championat.ru. She talks about everything–Fed Cup, partying in Miami, playing doubles, and even taking a shower under flashlight due to a power outage in Amelia Island, and more. Check out Elena’s Google-translated blog here.

Maria Sharapova avenged her loss to Agnieszka Radwanska at the U.S. Open by defeating her 6-4, 6-3 and setting up an all-Russian final at the Qatar Open. She will play Vera Zvonareva in the final Sunday who rallied to defeat China’s Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinal. Zvonareva has been out much of 2007 with injuries but has managed to enroll in the Russian Diplomatic Academy majoring in World Economics. Vera blogs for Russian sports site Championat.ru. Read more »