Dominika Cibulkova: Sam Stosur played like a man

Dominika Cibulkova who was beaten 6-4, 6-1 by Sam Stosur in the quarterfinals at the French Open says that facing the Australian is like playing against a man.

"Her topspin and her serve, I mean, she played like a man, and it's really hard to play against a man," Cibulkova said. "It was driving me crazy on the court today. So it was really, really hard."

I totally understand her frustration especially after beaten the world no.1 Victoria Azarenka but only to fall easily after that. However, by passing that kind of remark is just cheap, bitch!

Go win that title, Sam!

(Images via Sina tennis)

Sam Stosur is not much of a party goer

Reading Sam Stosur's interview is fun although the questions are very ordinary ones.

Besides saying that she would like to have Rafael Nadal's tenacity in the latest interview on the Roland Garros' official website, Stosur revealed that she's not a party goer as she doesn't hangout late at night.

The Australian also mentioned that she has a Swiss yodelling song, which she sang awfully to with the members of the Fed Cup team after a win.

(Image via French Open's official website)

Sam Stosur rides the bike after bad experiences with taxis

Sam Stosur posted a picture of herself riding a bike in Paris on her fan page.

In that post, she mentioned that she has too many bad experiences with taxis. Not sure if she specifically pointed that to the Parisian taxi service or just a random statement.

(Image via Sam Stosur's Facebook page)

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.

HCFoo loves Sam Stosur!

"I guess a lot of people have changed their idea about what kind of tennis player I am recently. I guess that's a good thing."
~ Samantha Stosur who beats Justine Henin in the fourth round at Roland Garros yesterday.

She's right!

Earlier this year, I've told tennis pal Esther that I'm going to make Samantha Stosur my idol. I had enough of Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Sharapova and their inconsistency.

(Image via Yahoo! Sports)

Federer & Friends stage fundraiser for Haiti victims

Roger Federer is the one who initiated the fundraiser for the earthquake victims in Haiti last Sunday.

Dubbed "Hit For Haiti", the event raised more than $185k on the eve of the Australian Open.

In this event, Federer teamed up with Serena Williams, Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur.

Their opponents were Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters.

In the end, Federer’s so-called Red Team beat the rival Blue Team 7-6 in their one-set match that lasted an hour and a half.

The teams were named according to the colours of Haiti’s flag.

(Via AP; Image by William West/AFP/Getty Images)

Video: Russians celebrate X'mas on Jan 7!

In this video, Samantha Stosur, Vera Zvonareva, Svetlana Kuznesova and Jelena Jankovic shared what they'll be planning for the holiday seasons.

Sorry for my ignorance but I just got to know that the Russians don't celebrate X'mas on December 25!

Updates: Orthodox Christians including the Russians and Serbians celebrate X'mas on January 7.

Weekend winners: Davydenko, Stosur, Wickmayer

Sorry for the lack of post recently. I was enjoying my break from tennis blogging and twittering :P

Thanks to Astro, I did not miss a single night match of the Shanghai Masters.

It was a bit frustrating because I really thought Rafael Nadal could have clinched his 4th Masters title this year in Shanghai.

Nevermind, let's wait for Paris in early November.

After winning the Malaysian Open earlier this month, Nikolay Davydenko is taking home yet another trophy.

This time he upset Nadal 7-6 (3), 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters for his fourth title of the year.

A kiss from wifey Irina.

In the men's doubles Frenchmen Julien Benneteau and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga surprised us by defeating Poles Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-2, 6-4.

In Osaka, Samantha Stosur finally earned her first WTA singles title with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Francesca Schiavone at the Japan Women’s Open.

In the women's doubles final, Chuang Chia-Jung and Lisa Raymond win their first doubles title together after defeated Chanelle Scheepers and Abigail Spears 6-2, 6-4.

Somewhere far from Asia, Yanina Wickmayer won her second career WTA Tour title, defeating Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-4 in the Generali Ladies final in Linz, Austria.

Meanwhile Katarina Srebotnik and Anna-Lena Groenefeld won the women's doubles title by overcoming Meghann Shaughnessy and Roberta Vinci 6-1, 3-6, 14-12.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Serena Williams: Cocky and every reason to be

Serena Williams won a double Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon yesterday, just like her big sister Venus did last year.

Serena added the women’s doubles title to her singles title after teaming up with Venus to beat Australians Rennae Stubbs and Samantha Stosur 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Earlier Serena defeated Venus 7-6 (3), 6-2 in singles to win her third Wimbledon title.

Serena was asked a series of questions at the press conference about being ranked number two in the world behind Dinara Safina, a player who has never won a Grand Slam.

Q. How much of a motivation is it for you to try and regain the world No. 1 ranking?

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I'm not super motivated. I think if you hold three Grand Slam titles maybe you should be No. 1, but not on the WTA Tour obviously, so...

You know, my motivation is maybe just to win another Grand Slam and stay No. 2, I guess (laughter).

Q. Does that disappoint you?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. If it did, I would go crazy just thinking about it. I think anyone really could. That's just shocking. But whatever. It is what it is. I'd rather definitely be No. 2 and hold three Grand Slams in the past year than be No. 1 and not have any.

Q. Do you see yourself as No. 1?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I see myself as No. 2. That's where I am. I think Dinara did a great job to get to No. 1. She won Rome and Madrid (laughter).

Q. How satisfying is it to have played as much as you've played this year, perhaps more than other years, and here you are sitting holding three Grand Slams? It's kind of annoying for the other girls, isn't it really?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I feel like I've played a lot this year, and I've really been paying the price. For several years now, at least three or four years, I just really wanted to focus on tennis, and I've really been doing that. I feel like, you know, this is where I want to be, and this is my chance to capitalize on everything.

I really enjoy it. I even started playing more doubles because I enjoy being out on the court so much. I think it's pretty much all paying off.

Q. We all know the slams are the key events in our sport. Do you think someone somewhere should sit down and maybe tweak the ranking system a little bit so we don't have this problem?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I mean, maybe if I'd have done better at the French Open, like got to the semifinals, maybe things would have been different. But, uhm, honestly, I'm not picking on anybody. Everyone works hard.

I think the girl, Dinara, who is No. 1, you can clearly see by her physique how hard she works. You can't get anywhere by not doing the best and not working your hardest.

So, you know, I'm happy for her. I'm really excited that I won Wimbledon, though, because, like I said, I'd rather win that than not win the Championships.

Q. With all due respect, we're just talking about the system on paper the way the computer works. Do you think that should be changed?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't know what can be changed. I feel like I've had a pretty consistent year, though, you know. I haven't lost too early. I got a little injured, but I fought through it. So it's been pretty consistent reaching at least the further rounds of different events.

But I don't know what to do to be No. 1. I don't even care anymore. I'm just happy to be here.

Personally I don't understand why some people regard her statements as cocky, and even if she does, Serena has every reason to be.

Regarding about the Nike t-shirt she was wearing at the press conference, here's what Serena said.

Q. May you tell us a little bit more about that shirt. Did they prepare it before and then you choose it, or they tell you afterwards and you say you like it or I don't like it? If you had lost, was there another shirt, or that was for your sister?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, this shirt is available in Nike stores, if you guys want to go (smiling). If you want to go get one, everyone can have it. I've been wearing it a little bit this week. I thought last night when I was getting my stuff together, I thought, Well, if I win, I'll wear this 'cause I'll have 11 titles, and I wouldn't know if you guys were looking at my titles or my Gatorade bottle.

And there was ‑‑ yes, there was another shirt if I didn't win.

Q. Which would have said what?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It was just a Nike shirt.

(Images by Getty Images)

Zheng Jie reaches last 16, Peng Shuai ousted from Aussie Open

Wimbledon semifinalist Zheng Jie beat Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2, 6-2 to continue her best-ever Australian Open.

The 22nd seed only 69 minutes to send Bondarenko packing in the third round encounter.

"I feel I play good for today, because before the match I do much homework to study my opponent. I know how to play this match," said Zheng, who never reached second round or beyond in previous Australian Open.

"It's a little surprised that I can win the match so easily, because I know she plays aggressive tennis. So at the beginning I go to the court and play more aggressive than her."

Earlier, China's Peng Shuai was dumped out of the event, losing to Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4.

"I think it's really good experience for me. It's my first time to play her," said Peng.

"The first set, I was a bit nervous, and then a little bit too tight. But after the start of the second set, I feel much better."

"I was up and I get little bit chances, but didn't take that. I learn from her and just keep going."

Serena will face rising teen star Victoria Azarenka, who ended Amelie Mauresmo's AO campaign 6-4, 6-2.

"It was definitely a lot better than my second round. But, you know, I'm still trying to work on some things and hoping they'll come together," Serena said.

"I'm feeling a little rusty, for whatever reason. I'm hoping my next round I'll be a little better."

She added that her sister's shock upset in the second round had given her extra motivation to win here.

"It obviously increases my motivation and my desire to win and hopefully do better."

Elena Dementieva, whom I predicted going to have a great run in AO together with Serena, defeated Aussie Samantha Stosur 7-6, 6-4.

The fourth round of AO will continue today.

(Via xinhuanet, Images via Yahoo! Sports, sports.sina.com.cn)

Maria Kirilenko beats Samantha Stosur for Korea Open title; lost in doubles final

Russia's Maria Kirilenko has won the 2008 Hansol Korea Open.

This is Kirilenko third singles title of the year, having also won Tier IV titles during the clay court season in Estoril and Barcelona.

The no.1 seed who was runner-up last year to Venus Williams improved on that result Sunday afternoon against Australia's Samantha Stosur.

"I think this year, I’m a much better player, and I also had more difficult wins than last year," Kirilenko said during the press conference after her win.

"From the, I don’t know, the first round, I didn’t know the girl with whom I played, but anyway, she played quite good. And then from the second round to the final, I had very good players. And I’m really happy that I beat all of them. I feel that I’m improving, you know."

Kirilenko rallied from a set down to claim the Tier IV title with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

However, Kirilenko who was back on Centre Court for the doubles final with her partner Vera Dushevina lost to defending champions Chuang Chia-Jung and Hsieh Su-Wei.

(Image by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)

Dinara Safina beats Svetlana Kuznetsova to win Pan Pacific Open, moves up to no. 3

Dinara Safina will move up to No. 3 in the world rankings after dominating Russian compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 6-3 Sunday to win the Pan Pacific Open.

The victory gave the fourth-seeded Safina her fourth WTA singles title this season, tying her with No. 1 Serena Williams for the most this year.

“I’ve played the best tennis this week I’ve ever played,” Safina said.

“It’s always nice to move up in the rankings and hopefully I can keep improving.”

Safina broke with a cross-court forehand from the baseline to go up 3-2 in the second set, and then broke for the third time in the final game, winning the match when the fifth-seeded Kuznetsova sent a forehand volley wide.

Safina has also won this year in Los Angeles, Montreal and Berlin.

She said pressuring Kuznetsova was the key on Sunday.

“I knew I had to keep the pressure on her from the start,” said Safina, who had seven aces.

“She is a good player and can put pressure on you so it was important for me to take my chances early.”

It was the 10th meeting between the two Russians, with Safina having won six of them.

Kuznetsova, a former U.S. Open champion, was bidding for her first title in 2008.

“It’s disappointing but I’ll try to be honest and positive,” Kuznetsova said.

“I came here after the clay court Fed Cup and really didn’t expect to get to the final so this isn’t a bad result for me.”

Kuznetsova said Safina can become the world’s top player.

“She has a chance to reach No. 1,” Kuznetsova said.

“She works hard and has a lot of energy. She has a bigger stroke than Jelena (Jankovic), and Serena (Williams) doesn’t play in that many tournaments these days.”

The doubles final, which followed after the singles final, pitted No.2-seeded duo Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur against unseeded team Petrova and Vania King.

And it was the underdog pairing of King and Petrova that prevailed, beating the two-time Grand Slam-winning team of Raymond and Stosur in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.

King and Petrova won their first title as a team; it was King's fifth individual Tour doubles title and Petrova's 14th.

(Images by Yahoo! Sports, Sony Ericsson WTA website)

More photos from the Beijing Olympics training session

Many tennis players are already in Beijing practising at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre.

Samantha Stosur (Australia), Roger Federer (Switzerland), Ana Ivanovic (Serbia), Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden), Rafael Nadal (Spain), Fernando Gonzalez (Chile), Zheng Jie (China) and Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) are among the players spotted here. All pictures are in sequence. Latest updates: Andy Murray.

Here's a bonus picture; Nadal shirtless!


(Images by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Venus Williams: The Queen of Wimbledon

Now, my chance to win a trip to London under the ESPNStar.com's Thai Airways contest is brighter as I've predicted Venus Williams win at the Wimbledon women singles.

Venus proves she is really comfortable playing on grass court by winning her 5th Wimbledon women singles trophy! Not only that, it's a double celebration for Venus as she also won the women's doubles title!

“I’m definitely more in tune with my sister’s feelings because one of us has to win and one of us has to lose,” the No. 7-seeded Venus said. “You could never detract from winning a Wimbledon, so of course it doesn’t detract from that. But I’m definitely thinking about how my sister’s feeling.”

I think it's bullshit when people said the sisters will sit down together with their parents and discuss who's going to win at Wimbledon. Serena lost to her big sister Venus 5-7, 4-6, as though she had just finished losing to a stranger.

“It’s definitely not any easier,” Serena said. “I just look at her as another opponent at the end of the day.”

About 3.5 hours after the women singles final ended, the sisters returned to the same court, except now they were playing on the same side of the net, and they beat Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-2 to win the women’s doubles title.

On the men's doubles final, Daniel Nestor celebrates with Nenad Zimonjic after winning 7-6 (14-12), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-3, in a match that lasted 2 hours, 39 minutes against Kevin Ullyett and Jonas Bjorkman.

(Images by AFP/POOL/Glyn Kirk/Ian Walton/Julian Finney/Getty Images)