WTA Tour Budapest Players' Party

Check out what the WTA players' were up to while "partying" on a cruise ship in Budapest in conjunction with the GDF Suez Grand Prix recently.

Click here for more pictures.

(Via WTA Tour Budapest official website)

Alize Cornet pays tribute to Mathieu Montcourt

French no.1 Alize Cornet was seen wearing a patch with Mathieu Montcourt's name on it yesterday.

Obviously Cornet is still mourning the loss of her friend and fellow compatriot.

A defending champion last year, Cornet gave in to Shahar Peer losing 2-6, 0-6 in the second round of the Budapest Grand Prix.

Updates:
Here's a message (in French) from Cornet on her website:

"Je suis extrêmement choquée et émue par la disparition de Mathieu. A vrai dire, je n’arrive toujours pas à réaliser qu’il n’est plus parmi nous, que je ne croiserai plus ce garçon si gentil que j’avais l’habitude de côtoyer sur certains tournois.

Je voudrais témoigner tout mon soutien pour cette terrible épreuve a sa famille et ses proches. J’essayerai de lui rendre hommage tout a l’heure sur le terrain en portant un badge à son nom, pour que personne n’oublie a quel point son décès est déchirant pour moi et pour le monde du tennis en général, que l’on ait connu Mathieu de prés ou de loin.Repose en paix cher Mathieu, et courage a ceux qui restent."

(Image by Getty Images)

Pre-Valentine's Day post: Jelena Jankovic and boyfriend Mladjan Janovic say Hello!

I think it never really crossed our minds that Jelena Jankovic and boyfriend Mladjan Janovic would do a photo shoot together for a magazine.

The couple is featured on the cover of the latest Serbia's Hello magazine.

Aren't they match made in heaven? Now bring on the wedding!


Now back on court news, I've just finished watching the match between JJ and Li Na on Eurosport.

I can't believe JJ needed 3 sets to beat Li Na 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the Paris Open quarterfinals!

JJ will have a tough match against French player Alize Cornet next.

Updated: Gosh, I can't believe I ended this post in such an unromantic note.

(Images via tennisforum.com, Serbia's Hello! magazin)

Alize Cornet celebrates her 19th birthday

It was a piece of cake when Alize Cornet defeated Andrea Petkovic 6-1, 6-0 in the second round yesterday at the Australian Open.

She's scheduled to meet Daniela Hantucova tomorrow in the third round.

But that, she wants to celebrate her birthday today with a real cake.

Can't believe she just turned 19, huh?

Now don't you guys wish you were the cake :P


(Images by Fiona Hamilton/AFP/Getty Images)

Gilles Simon & Alize Cornet too hot for Rendy Lu & Hsieh Su-wei to handle

I watched the Hopman Cup, the match between France and Taiwan today. I honestly thought Taiwan had a chance. Well, I hope but it didn't happen.

It was a disappointing lost for Taiwan who can't handlehot favourite, France.

Alize Cornet beat Hsieh Su-wei 6-4, 6-4 and Gilles Simon defeated Rendy Lu Yen-hsun 6-3, 7-6 (8).

Rendy should have lend his shirt to Gilles.

The pair then combined to beat Hsieh and Rendy 6-4, 7-6 (9) in mixed doubles to complete France’s 3-0 win, saving five set points in the tiebreaker.

The duo will play Italy's Flavia Pennetta and Simone Bolelli next up on Tuesday.

(Images via Yahoo! Sport)

Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis begins this week

The women tennis players were at the main draw and did a press conference for the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis 2008 held at Hotel Grand Pacific Le Daiba on September 15, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan.


The main draw of the tournament is to be held at Ariake Colosseum from September 16 to September 21.

Here are some pretty pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Left to right: Amelie Mauresmo, Daniela Hantuchova, Ai Sugiyama and Ana Ivanovic.

Ana Ivanovic, Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva.

Jelena Jankovic and Dominika Cibulkova

Alize Cornet works her locks.

Elena Dementieva can work it better and sexier.

But Daniela Hantucova is the most natural among the girls.

(Images via www.toray-ppo.co.jp, zimbio.com)

Who else are here for Beijing Olympics 2008?

In less than 24 hours, we'll be witnessing the Opening Ceremony of Beijing Olympics 2008. Many top players are already here in Beijing.

We'll have a quick look at who has arrived yesterday. So far I've not seen Cincinnati Masters champion, Andy Murray yet.

And too bad, many high profile players such as Marcos Baghdatis, Andy Roddick, Richard Gasquet, Nikolay Davydenko as well as Mario Sharapova are not here to add glitter to this event. Shame on them.

Elena Dementieva (Russia)

Venus Williams (USA)

Lindsay Davenport (USA)

Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)

Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

And hey, the French tennis Olympic's team players (from left) Paul-Henry Mathieu, Youlia Fedossova, Alize Cornet, Gael Monfils, coach George Goven and former player Cedric Pioline pose at the "Club France".

And here's the bonus; as soon as Djokovic arrived he was seen shirtless and signing autograph after a training session at the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Centre.


(Images via Great Tennis Photos, GABRIEL BOUYS/CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Michael Steele/Getty Images)