Singapore Women’s Tennis Exhibition 2011: Stosur, Radwanska, Pennetta, Hantuchova among to play this December

Singapore Women’s Tennis Exhibition (SWTE) is set to bring 6 WTA tennis players for an exciting 3-day knock-out tournament, on 16th to 18th December 2011.



They are US Open Women’s Single Champion Samantha Stosur, world no. 8 Agnieszka Radwanska, Italian favourite Flavia Pennetta, hottie Daniela Hantuchova, Spanish player Anabel Medina Garrigues and Asia’s Peng Shuai.

The tickets are available for purchase from SISTIC.

The last time Singapore organised a women's tennis exhibition was back in 2007 that featured Maria Sharapova and Anna Chakvetadze.

Anna Chakvetadze named sexiest woman in Russian politics

Recently Russian netizens took part in a poll for the sexiest woman in Russian politics.

Unexpectedly the honour went to former tennis player Anna Chakvetadze.

Chakvetadze who turned to politics after her tennis career was threatened by health problems will run for election in December for the lower house of the Russian state parliament with the Right Cause Party.

She reached her career-high professional singles ranking of world no. 5 in 2007 and have won 8 WTA titles.

VIDEO: FHM 'behind the scene' photoshoot with Cibulkova, Azarenka, Bondarenko, Chakvetadze

We have seen them here before, now let's go behind the scene of the photoshoot.

Victoria Azarenka (in the B&W picture), Alona Bondarenko, Anna Chakvetadze and Dominika Cibulkova will all feature in the August issue of FHM – on shelves July 2, 2009. So don't miss it!

Victoria Azarenka and Anna Chakvetadze

Alona Bondarenko and Dominika Cibulkova

(Image via gototennisblog, fortydeuce)

What did The Sunday Times have done to the Russian girls?!

Dinara 'Tennis Goddess' Safina at work.

Safina can't win the Wimbledon Grand Slam with those stilettos...

I think Vera Zvonavera's ankle is not fully healed.

Adidas Stella McCartney has killed Maria Kirilenko. So did the photographer.

Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova and Anna Chakvetadze are also featured in this special edition of Spectrum, The Sunday Times newspaper.

I have the feelings that those pictures won't be any better than these.

I'll post them here if I can find them.

(Images via Forty Deuce, tennisforum.com)

Tennis chicks in bikinis: Cibulkova, Azarenka, Bondarenko, Chakvetadze in FHM mag

I totally missed this one out until I read it at GTT.

Perhaps in conjunction with the French Open, Dominika Cibulkova, Victoria Azarenka, Alona Bondarenko, and Anna Chakvetadze agreed to pose in June's French edition of FHM, one of men's best lifestyle magazine.

I'm telling you, I totally dig Cibulkova here!


(Via gototennisblog)

Desert Fashions by FILA and Trina Turk

Fila-sponsored tennis players including Marin Cilic, Caroline Wozniacki, Anna Chakvetadze, Agnes Szavay, Taylor Dent and Andreas Seppi hit the runway at a private fashion show that includes the latest Trina Turk styles.

Check out these photos. The guys look awesome!

Taylor Dent

Andreas Seppi

Anna Chakvetadze

Caroline Wozniacki

Agnes Szavay

Behind the scene photos of Caroline Wozniacki and Anna Chakvetadze.


(Images by Getty Images via BNP Paribas Open)

Venus Williams leads team America to victory in Hong Kong

Venus Williams defeated Vera Zvonareva in straight sets to seal victory for the Americas over Russia in the Hong Kong JB Group Classic World Team Challenge yesterday.

Williams wins 6-2, 6-2 to give her team a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five gold group final.

It followed a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win for Gisela Dulko over Anna Chakvetadze after the Americas and Russia were tied at 1-1 overnight.

Williams, who struck 10 winners and six aces, looks in great shape for this month's Australian Open, which she has never won.

Earlier in the tournament she crashed world number one Jelena Jankovic by the same scoreline.

"I've been here so many years and this is the perfect way for me to prepare for the Australian Open," Williams said after her team's win.

Referring to her victories over Jankovic and Zvonareva, Williams said: "(They are) very accomplished players and experienced and both of them played great last year so it's definitely a great way to start the year with wins against such talented players."

In the final match of the exhibition tournament, Williams and Coco Vandeweghe beat Chakvetadze and Alexandra Panova 6-4, 6-1 in doubles to seal a 4-1 victory for the Americas.

On Friday, Williams beat Chakvetadze 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 to give the Americas the lead but Russia hit back through Zvonareva, who beat Dulko 6-4, 0-6, 6-3.

Asia-Pacific won the silver group final 3-0 against Europe.

(Via AFP; Images via Yahoo! Sport)

Maria Sharapova not ready for Hong Kong exhibition match

Happy New Year!!!

Finally I'm in the mood to blog again! My resolution this year is to focus more on the Asian tournaments as well as the players in this region.

So let's kick off the new year with news from the women's tennis players.

Recently the Hong Kong Tennis Patrons’ Association announced the withdrawal of Maria Sharapova from the Hong Kong event.

I'm not sure about you but I'm so eager to see Sharapova back in the court again.

She was reportedly said to be reluctant to withdraw from the exho.

A full recovery from a shoulder injury has allowed her to only start hitting balls just over two weeks ago. She's playing but has not had sufficient training to compete at the high level that Hong Kong demands.

Sharapova announced:

"It's with much disappointment that I have to withdraw from Hong Kong. I've been using this event for the last five years to get match fit and ready for the new season, in fact Hong Kong has been successful in preparing me for the Australian Open.

I am very sorry I won't be competing, and I deeply apologise to my fans and the sponsors that they won't see me there this year.

I'm just not ready to play against the top class competition in Hong Kong, although I remain hopeful for Australia where I'm the defending champion.

Believe me, it's been a very difficult decision, but I only started practicing 16 days ago. I love playing in Hong Kong, and the Organisers attract a world class field."

Max Eisenbud, Maria's agent at IMG commented:

"I know how difficult this decision has been for Maria. Hong Kong is a special event for her, she's been competing there since she was 15 years old and the event staff and team are like family, and there has been no better place to prepare for a Grand Slam. Maria needs to get "tennis fit" now and she's working hard."

Co-Tournament Director in Hong Kong, Mr. Terry Catton said:

"We're hugely disappointed, who wouldn't be, but we've known Maria for over five years and we know what a tough competitor she is. She wouldn't give up her spot in Hong Kong lightly and we are terribly sad for her.

We're particularly disappointed for our sponsors, our fans and all our different partners but we welcome Maria's comments about Hong Kong, we wish her well for the season and look forward to welcoming her back another year. Tennis needs a fit and competitive Maria."

The Tennis Patrons’ Association will replace her with world class Russian, Anna Chakvetadze who is currently the world no. 18.

Anna's presence will continue to make Team Russia a powerful contender for the JB Gold Group crown. Replacing Maria as Team Russia’s Captain will be World No. 7, Vera Zvonareva.

The JB Group Classic is a world team event featuring Europe, Russia, Team Americas and Asia Pacific.

Heading up these teams are World No 1 Jelena Jankovic, Wimbledon Champion Venus Williams and crowd favourite Zheng Jie from China.

Organisers also revealed that they were in discussions with Martina Hingis, former World No. 1 in both Singles and Doubles, to come to the JB Group Classic to compete in the Doubles Event for Team Europe.

A total of 12 players make up a star-studded field.

(Via JB Group Classic, Image via womenstennisblog.com)

Photo updates at the Zurich Open 2008

The Zurich Open tennis tournament which started on October 11, has a 28-player draw that includes the four top seeds – Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, Venus Williams and Vera Zvonareva.

As usual, here are some of the photos to check out what the girls are doing.

World no. 1 Jelena Jankovic in Zurich.

Flavia Pennetta, Anna Chakvetadze, Rennae Stubbs and Stefania Boffa
taking part in the Pink Ribbon Charity Walk of Women.

Patty Schnyder and Venus Williams.

Ana Ivanovic at the Zurich Open Kids Day.

Swiss Timea Bacsinszky with the kids.

(Images via Zurich Open website, Jelena Jankovic official website)

2008 Kremlin Cup Players Party

Here are some great photos at the Kremlin Cup players party at the Europe Club, Moscow, Russia last night. Enjoy!

There are a few performances from boy bands and all-girl bands including this group called "Blondies". I thought I saw Maria Sharapova in this picture.

Jamie Murray (with the lame 'peace' sign) and Ross Hutchins.

Anastasia Myskina and the cute looking Dinara Safina.

Starace Potito and Flavia Pennetta.

The forever-hot-looking Marat Safin.

Victor Hanescu

Gosh, Robby Ginepri, you seriously need to get a haircut!

The adorable Elena Vesnina.

Elena 'hot-looking blond in leather' Dementieva.

Nicole Vaidisova in a 'Wilma Flintstone' dress.

Vera Dushevina, Anna Chakvetadze , Elena Dementieva, Elena Vesnina

Dinara Safina's pretty good in PR.

Don't you think Svetlana Kuznetsova's getting slimmer and prettier these days?

(Images via zimbio.com, kremlin cup official site)

Caroline Wozniacki, Marin Cilic win Pilot Pen titles

Unseeded Caroline Wozniacki won the women’s Pilot Pen title, her second career victory, beating top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

She won her first WTA Tour win in Stockholm, then reached the third round at the Olympics, where she lost to eventual gold-medalist Elena Dementieva.

“Stockholm was in Scandinavia, it was my first tournament and it was smaller than this,” she said. “Here, it’s the tournament before the U.S. Open, and it’s a really big tournament. You know, I have beaten some really great players on my way to win this tournament.”

Wozniacki has moved up from No. 64 in January to No. 22, and is expected to break into the top 20 for the first time.

The teenager still has a year of high school left, and said until recently, she considered her biggest tennis achievement beating her older brother.

In the men's singles, Marin Cilic, world ranked no. 31, won his first ATP Tour event in front of the American crowd, beating local Mardy Fish 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

The 19-year-old Croat, seeded sixth, made a tough stand all week to emerge as a possible threat at the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year, which starts next Monday in New York.

"I'm unbelievably excited," Cilic said. "I was a little bit nervous in the beginning of the third set. I got my rhythm back. I was really pumped up when I had to be. Really enjoyed the moment in the end."

The 6-foot-6 Croat has now compiled a 31-21 on the season (18-12 on hard courts). He is the second Croat after Ivo Karlovic to capture an ATP title this season.

(Images by Elsa/Getty Images)

Tennis players are NOT boring

Well, you might not be a tennis fan simply because you judge the sports as boring. Here's what you might missed on the court (or on sports channel) at the 2008 Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic was demanded by the spectators to impersonate Maria Sharapova. He is more likely to kick ass(es) rather than being kicked at the Australian Open.

Jelena Jankovic is a charismatic player on court and off court. No wonder everyone wants to take a peep into her life right now.

Venus Williams is concentrating on the Grand Slam to fall on her laps.

Anna Chakvetadze might not be able to match Maria Sharapova's popularity when they came to Singapore recently, but trust me, many fans would love to know what's behind the towel.

Justine Henin might have a failed marriage but I'm sure she's balancing well between her personal life and tennis.

Well, that's all for today. Hope there will be more interesting photos to be shared here. All pictures are from Getty Images.

Maria Sharapova and Anna Chakvetadze will be playing an exhibition match in Singapore

It seems that the top tennis players starts coming in to Southeast Asia for exhibition match. Besides the Bangkok Open (men players) and the CommonwealthBank Tennis Classic (women players) in Bali, as well as the exhibition matches recently in Kuala Lumpur, Southeast Asia is definitely not a favourite place for tennis sports.

And guess what? The hottest woman tennis player, Maria Sharapova will be heading to Singapore late December this year for a Challenge Match against world no. 5 ranked player, Anna Chakvetadze. Not only that, you'll be able to meet Maria Sharapova at various functions!

The following is the general schedule for what promises to be one of the highlights of Asia’s sporting year:

• Saturday December 29 (afternoon): ‘An Afternoon with Maria Sharapova’ event
• Saturday December 29 (evening): ‘Maria Sharapova Live Celebrity Night’ event (promises to be one of the highlights of Asia’s social calendar)
• Sunday December 30 (8:00pm): Maria Sharapova vs Anna Chakvetaze at Singapore Indoor Stadium

If you are a fan of the world women tennis, chances are you love the sports because of Maria Sharapova. Admit it, okay. So this event will be a good chance for you Sharapova fanatics to get close with Maria Sharapova and Anna Chakvetadze. You might want to check out my tips on how to meet up with the players.

Another option if to get your tickets and watch the girls play. To watch these top players play, man, it's priceless.

To download the VIP Champions Club Seat (Premium Seat) booking form, click here.

For exclusive VIP Champion Club Passes, please contact the organizer at (852) 2834 0060 or (662) 651 9499 or (65) 6735 4101. For general admission tickets, please call SISTIC at (65) 6348 5555 or go to this website. Ticket price is range from SIN$80 to SIN$280 (approx. USD54 to USD190).

Don't miss this exciting Event in Singapore on December 30, 2007! You don't often get a chance to see two top women players play here. And they are hot Russian women players too.

For more information, go to www.entertainment-group-ltd.com or www.mariasharapovalive.sg