Black Tennis Pros

American Frances Tiafoe's short run in Acapulco at the 2019 Abierto Mexicano Telcel was ended today in the second round by fellow American Mckenzie McDonald, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-3.

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American Sloane Stephens leads 2019 Abierto Mexicano Telcel draw.

ACAPULCO, Mexico - No.1 seed Sloane Stephens, who returns to action for the first time since the Australian Open, is the only former winner in this year's Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC draw, and opens her campaign against Istanbul and Québec City Champion Pauline Parmentier of France for the second year in a row.  The tournament runs Monday, February 25 through Saturday, March 2, 2019.

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To ask Venus a question, visit the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour site here.


Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Hello again!

I played my first match tonight and it went well. I had a good time on the clay. It was my first match on clay in... a while. I'm getting the feel of it again.

This afternoon I relaxed. I watched a lot of programming. I didn't better myself at all. Some Smallville... I haven't started watching Grey's yet. As a rule, I watch programming when I'm in non-English speaking countries. I like Private Practice, and I really love Superman... the cartoon :) Yes, I watch cartoons. It's a bad habit I picked up from Serena. Avatar, Justice League... My favorite person in the Justice League is Superman but if they were real people, for sure it would be The Flash. I would definitely have a crush! Children watch cartoons but cartoons really aren't childish - my mom watches them, my sister watches them... there are some good episodes! I get so caught up in some of the stories.

For dinner we just hit the buffet. Quick and easy. Nothing too special... I did eat some barbecued goat though. I have to try everything once. I felt adventurous! It was good! On another note, as I started playing my matches today, I started carbs too... I downed lots of rice and pasta before the match. It drives me nuts. Brings my happiness level down.

I'll talk to you all again tomorrow... have a good night!

Venus

Who is with you in Acapulco? Mimie
Thanks for the question. Isha is here, my assistant Jessica is here, my hitting partner Dave is here... My mom and dad aren't home. Sometimes it's nice to be on the road without a coach. Quietness in your head with no one talking on the sidelines... My mom has been threatening to come this weekend. We'll see!

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Monday, February 22, 2010

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog!

This is kinda like déjà vu... Last year I won Dubai, came to Acapulco and blogged. This year was a little better than the last because I didn't have as long a layover in New York, only two hours. The luggage took a little longer to come, though - it finally came this morning. But it didn't bother me. Until now I've never had a problem with it and everyone else has so I figured it was my turn :)

No jet lag. I'm okay. It's not a lot of time to adjust to the court surface and time zone but I feel like a pro on all grounds - not just tennis - so I have the whole schedule down, the method. I'll be strong for my first match tomorrow.

I talked about the breakfast buffet last year and I'm going to this year too. I love it! I always pile so much on my plate, even though I barely eat any of it. I started eating a little scoop of ice cream at night, too, but I had to stop. I don't really like carbs. I like meat. But a tennis player cannot live on meat alone. I've been taking a break from carbs the last few days but tomorrow I'll have to start back up. I just like meat so much, though. Steak... I like chicken, fried chicken... but overall I'm not a big eater. I'm not into the whole eating thing.

Right now I'm just winding down, it's around 10pm. All day I made sure I didn't fall asleep so I would be able to sleep at a normal time. What do I do to wind down? I'm a tennis geek, so I watch a ton of tennis. Not doing anything is so luxurious. We all know that feeling. Lying around without a care in the world until the next match or practice... I enjoy getting it done and the day being over!

I love keeping in touch with you all with the blog. I usually have more to say... Anyway, visit me on Twitter, Facebook and my website too!

Have a good night!

Venus

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I don't know what happened either Gael...

Frenchman Gael Monfils seemed a tad asleep at the wheel in last night's Abierto Mexicano Telcel. Spaniard Nicolas Almagro was only slightly more awake, although definitely more willing to pull the trigger, and thus walked away with the title. Monfils was defeated 6-4, 6-4.

Perhaps Almagro's determination resided in the need for a little payback. Monfils knocked Almagro out of the Australian Open in January in a third round straight sets win 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.

Whatever the motivation of either player, it was not the best tennis that we've seen from either. Nonetheless, as defending champion, Almagro was overjoyed.

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Got somewhere to go Venus?

My goodness! American Venus Williams took it to Italian Flavia Pennetta as if she had somewhere else important to go. The match lasted 62 minutes, but it seemed to go by much faster.

With an array of winning shots, five aces and a forehand that smacked everybody who doubts it in the face, Venus earned her 41st title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco a short while ago.

Pennetta took her bruising like a woman though. After being assaulted 6-1, 6-2, she still smiled as she spoke Spanish during the trophy presentation.


Venus said she was sorry that she couldn't speak Spanish like Pennetta, but she did say "gracias," and "I hope to be back here next year."

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ACAPULCO, México - In Dubai over the weekend, Venus Williams became the first active player to win 40 singles titles on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Now, after more than a full day of flying, she goes for No.41 in Acapulco. The picturesque Mexican city will also be the backdrop for the legend's Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Blog this week.

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Saturday, February 28, 2009

Hello one last time from Acapulco!

I had my best match of the tournament at the right time. It was tough making the transition from hard to clay so fast, but I think I've managed to do it. I had a lot of struggles and learned a lot from my other matches this week before finally playing well. I actually started feeling great in the warm-up, and in the match I was serving well, which always helps. I think she played well too but today came down to who controlled the points, and I think I did that better. Flavia and I have played some good matches back in the day though, and she definitely deserved to win the ones she did. This one was so important to me. Matches like this, in the final of a tournament, are the most important to me.

I also get to keep the hat! My dad wants the hat already. I've told him I'll give it to him, so I guess I've gotta give it up. The trophy was super cool too, but I don't get to keep it. I'm excited I got to hold it though.

I'm feeling good about the last two weeks. I've been able to win because I've been preparing better and staying healthy. Obviously the Australian Open didn't go the way I planned, but as long as I can keep my health up, I can still win like this. I learned a lot from that loss. I thought very hard about it. I went home and figured stuff out. It was annoying to me that it happened, because I worked so hard in the off-season... it just wasn't acceptable. But there's always something to make you work harder and try to do better - hopefully that's my something.

I'm going to Madison Square Garden in New York next. I was really tired before the final tonight. I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, hopefully I can get through the next few days.' But as soon as I got out there I got a lot of energy. As long as you don't think about your fatigue, it helps. And now I'm really excited and energized about Madison Square Garden. I've already made my game plan. I'm excited about the clay court season too, and that's just around the corner.

When I get back home, I'll be taking at least six days off. I'm going to try not to do any exercise! Actually, my new thing is pilates. I do some yoga too, but my favorite thing now is the pilates reformer. I never used to like working out. It used to be the bane of my existence. But I had a life change last year and started liking it, thank the Lord. We turned our library into a gym (I love to reorganize!) I'd go to practice then grind it out in the library, then grind a little more, then another workout... I was insane! Anyway, I actually want to get certified for pilates... I'm so nerdy, I can't take enough classes and get enough degrees.

Thank you all very much for your recommendations on the fantasy books. I'll let you all know next time what I ended up going with!

That's all for this week... I really enjoyed doing the blog, thank you so much for reading, I can't wait 'til next time! Hopefully next time it'll be more action-packed!

Venus

Question of the Day: What's the first thing you'll do when you finally get back home? - Logan, Canada
I really want to just lie down on my bed, but I also want to see Harold, my dog. He's a Havanese. He was an impulse buy - I was at the pet shop and he was just so cute, so I called Serena and told her about him, and she said 'I love him already!' But she hadn't even seen him yet! Of course, I got him. I don't normally care much about breeds, but I really wanted a dog who would stay small, so I could travel anywhere with him. I'm getting off subject here though. The first thing I'll do when I get home is hang out, lay down, waste time and see Harold!

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Friday, February 27, 2009

Hi guys!

It was another relaxing day today, I was basically in a coma until my match. I did receive some terrible news though: they cancelled Starter Wife. I was just talking about how it's my new favorite show, and they go and cancel it! I was thinking about this. I'm always reading so many books, and I've been watching so many of these TV shows the last few weeks that I haven't done any reading at all. TV really does neutralize you. And you'd think I'd still have more episodes to go before I'm done the series, but when you sit in your hotel room all day...

My match tonight was well contested - I know the score was 60 63, but it took 90 minutes, which is pretty long for that score. It really takes more work on the clay. The first set was obviously great. The second set was a little tougher, but there was nothing I wasn't prepared to do. And I felt like whenever the big points came up, I came up with the goods, especially on my serve. I find a way.

The last time I did the blog, I was reading the book The Ruins. That story was so depressing, and it has become a movie since then. Now, I only read fantasy. I was waiting for the new Paolini book Brisingr to come out, but Serena has been holding me off on reading it, and I'm also trying to keep it for a long trip. For example, the one from Dubai to Acapulco... (I forgot to bring it!) It'll have to wait until later this year. I know once I start it I'll finish it so quickly, and then I'll be sad because there's nothing left to read! Anyway, I'm constantly looking for new fantasy books to read. I'm taking recommendations, if you guys have any?

I haven't really been to the restaurants here, but I like the food. Tacos make me happy. I'm getting tired of all the eating though! I have breakfast, then half my lunch before practice and the other half before I play, then some more food after the match. It's a little bit hard eating this much. I'll be happy to have a break from it next week! And if you're wondering about the pancakes and syrup I was talking about earlier in the week... I've had the pancakes, but I had them plain :(

This has been an early night compared to the other nights! It's about 1am... now I don't know what to do with myself! Maybe I'll call some of the other players' rooms and see if they'd like to play...

Venus

P.S. I've put a picture up of me and my friend and personal assistant Jessica...

Question of the Day: How do you get past those days when you wake up and don't feel like training? - Johnson, New Zealand
I call it the battle with the bed. Actually, Serena made that up. It's when you just don't want to get up. I'm much better than what I used to be: I would just sleep in and not care, and then my whole day would be wrecked. I'd be so behind in everything and would get so stressed. Now I can take a few days off, but if I take too many days off I start getting anxious, because I know I'm not paying the price. I feel comfortable when I do pay the price. When Serena and I would be losing the battle with the bed, we'd text each other. From across the house. I know, it's just ridiculous. I'd say 'I'm losing,' and she'd say 'Oh no, really? I am too!' We'd basically be laying down doing nothing and texting each other.

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Hey everyone!

After getting a little bit of ice at the physio and some food at the hotel, I was able to get to bed right away last night. It was a tough night though, because I'd lost my phone and kept dreaming about it. I kept waking up wondering where it was then trying to go back to sleep, but finally I just woke up and tried to figure out where it was. It was actually in the locker room! I was so happy it hadn't been thrown out with the towels. I really thought I'd lost it. Thankfully, I got it back.

I didn't do much differently during the day today, as I had to rest up then get ready for my match. I managed to watch a few episodes of The Starter Wife, my new thing now. I looked around to find things to do but when you're playing later in the day and have to wait around, it's important to rest most of the time.

I can't believe I finished before midnight tonight! It was another three-setter and my opponent played well. I had to take it to another level. I was aggressive and just didn't have any of the issues I had last night. I'm getting more comfortable with the courts here, and I've reached my first goal of getting to the semifinals.

They asked me about my dress, the Goddess Dress, in the press conference after the match. It's actually going to be retiring after this tournament :( It debuted last year at Wimbledon and had more life at the US Open and at the Australian Open. This is its last tournament though. It might be hard to say goodbye! But I'll be unveiling a new dress at my next event. I need to be as fashionable as possible!

I've been taking pictures with my new Sony Ericsson phone this week. I've put another one up in the gallery (and it's here in the blog too), of me gearing up for my match. As you can see from this picture and the others the hotel is really, really nice. And it's nice hanging out here. It's like I'm on vacation, even though I'm not. But, I guess I can look at other people vacationing.

I'm going to go back to the hotel and lay down now, maybe catch an episode of Starter Wife before I go to sleep. I'll write again tomorrow, maybe even earlier!

Venus

Question of the Day: As a fellow Grey's fan, are you a McDreamy or a McSteamy girl? - Bobby, USA

I like McSteamy. I don't know why, I just like him better. McDreamy's good, but he's constantly lost. McSteamy knows what he's going for and just does it.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

It was another late night tonight. I don't even know if Greta and I got on the court before 10 o'clock, it was maybe 9:30, or something really late! I lost serve in the first game, which wasn't a great start, but I got going pretty good the rest of the first set. Then in the second set, she changed her game plan completely and started lobbing. I haven't seen that game since the juniors! I wasn't prepared emotionally and mentally for it, especially emotionally. I made a lot of errors. She made a lot of good shots too, some crowd-pleasing shots, but I'm happy I was able to win in the end.

Not much else happened today. I just rested during the day because I wasn't playing until night. Nothing too cool was going on!

It's almost 2am now, and I'm just going to go back to the hotel and go to bed. Last night I said I might have trouble convincing myself to go to sleep, but tonight I'll definitely be able to calm down. My legs are weak. I'm so sleepy...

Tomorrow I'm playing earlier. I'll talk to you all again after my match!

Venus

Question of the Day: Did you bring your Yorkshire Terrier to Acapulco with you? - Jane, USA
Noooo :( Harold isn't here. He couldn't come because the airline wouldn't let me bring him on the plane with me. I miss the little guy. I had everything all ready for him here in the hotel, but I didn't know he wouldn't be allowed on the plane. He's at a daycare right now, poor little guy. He'll be on the next trip for sure.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Hello again everyone!

So Isha and I did end up going around Acapulco last night. We didn't drive around too much though, because I think I almost fell into a coma, I was ready to just give up and go to sleep! But I stayed out long enough to do a bit of shopping: I got a necklace, it has silver and opal on it. It's pretty cool.

Today went really well. I woke up in the morning and went to practice, and I was having so much fun that the hour went by so fast. In the afternoon I spent some time catching up on my e-mail and watching TV shows. I've been downloading TV shows from iTunes... like Grey's Anatomy (my favorite show), The Starter Wife and The Practice. It was a slow, slow afternoon!

Later on I went out and warmed up, hit some balls and ate, the typical routine for an athlete. I'm feeling confident about my game, so nothing too much.

I had a tough start to my match tonight. She was playing well and aggressively. I wish I could have gotten more serves in. I got through it though, and I'm just looking forward to my next match tomorrow night. I don't mind playing at night, I just play when the tournament tells me to!

Well it's midnight now, I've got to calm down and try to go to bed. I can't stay up reading or watching TV shows. I love to multitask. I have a fear of missing out. It sounds childish, I know, but I really have to convince myself to go to sleep.

I'll talk to you all again after my match tomorrow night!

Venus

Question of the Day: What do you always keep with you during your travels around the world? - Magdas, The Netherlands
I always have my bible with me when I travel. I read from it every day. When I don't, I feel like I'm going feral. I don't know if that makes any sense.

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Monday, February 23, 2009

Hello again everyone! I'm excited to be blogging again, this time from Acapulco!

The trip here from Dubai... oh my gosh, it was long. I didn't realize it would be that long. It took 30 hours to get here, which was my longest trip ever! But I was mentally prepared for it. I was strategic: I only slept on the first flight, and after I landed in New York, I didn't sleep until I got here. It was a winning game plan. I got a full night's sleep last night and woke up happy.

I got to Acapulco around 10 last night, opened the windows and the sea was right there. I was SO happy! Then I went to the player party, it was a White Party. But I was wearing my black warm-up suit! With a green stripe... Anyway, the party was really nice. The chicken was great - I really love meat, I just had to try it.

This morning it got even better. I went down for breakfast and I just knew it was American breakfast, I could just smell it! I smelled the pancakes and syrup. I was way too happy about it. I even took a picture of myself at breakfast - it was just ridiculous. The strange thing is, I usually can't stand breakfast! I never eat it. But I was just so happy to smell the syrup. I think it was the feeling of smelling something from back home. It was a long way from Dubai and there were so many hardships along the way, I didn't think I'd ever make it here. But I kept a positive attitude on the trip. I took it one mile at a time.

I was very busy today. I practiced first thing in the morning and had my workout, then spent the afternoon in interviews and meetings. Now I have a little free time. I'm trying not to fall asleep - that would undermine my whole success so far! I'm about to go to the training room and then I'm planning on just relaxing. I'll be playing matches every day starting tomorrow, so I'm hoping I can get into a car and just have a look around Acapulco tonight. Then I'm going to settle in here and hopefully start winning matches!

So, nothing too interesting yet, just living the dream in Acapulco!

Venus

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