Black Tennis Pros

At the BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, California last week, Donald Young marked the biggest win of his professional career, achieving his first top ten defeat over Britain's Andy Murray. This week at the Sony Ericsson Open, Miami, Florida, Donald has once again successfully come through the qualifying rounds after defeating Frenchman Arnaud Clement 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and Canadian Frank Dancevic 6-1, 1-6, 7-5.

Donald will face Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in round one of the main draw.

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MIAMI, Fla. (www.sonyericssonopen.com) – The 2011 Sony Ericsson Open announced its wildcard entries and this year it features former World No. 4 James Blake and former World No. 1 Dinara Safina. A total of five wildcard slots were granted to the men’s draw and also include Jack Sock, Ryan Harrison, Milos Raonic, and Bernard Tomic. While six were given on the women’s side which feature Heather Watson, Sorana Cirstea, Sabine Lisicki, Madison Keys, and Coco Vandeweghe.

Women’s main draw begins on Tuesday, March 22, while the men’s main draw kicks off the following day on Wednesday, March 23. The qualifying rounds will be held Monday and Tuesday, March 21 and 22.

Tickets to the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open are on sale now and can be purchased by phone (305-442-3367) or via internet at www.sonyericssonopen.com. An electrifying two weeks of tennis conclude with the women’s final on Saturday, April 2 and the men’s final on Sunday, April 3.

Blake will make his return to Miami, hoping to improve on his career-best quarterfinal showings in 2006 and 2008. Safina made her last appearance on the purple courts in 2009 as the No. 2 seeded player advancing to the third round. She recorded her career-best finish in 2008 when she advanced to the quarterfinals.

Blake, always a fan favorite, earned his first ATP win in 2002 becoming the fourth African American to win an ATP title in the Open Era. In 2005, Blake grabbed the national spotlight at the U.S. Open when he played a thrilling five-set match in the quarter finals against his idol, Andre Agassi. From there, Blake’s career blossomed tremendously as he reached his career-high of No. 4 in the world in 2006 becoming the first African American to crack the top-10 since his role model, Arthur Ashe.

Safina made her professional debut in 2002. The Russian star recorded a breakout season in 2008 winning a career-best four singles titles. In 2008, she was awarded the WTA Most Improved Player, and was the first player in history to defeat three reigning World No. 1s in the same season (Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, and Jelena Jankovic). Safina reached a career-high rank of No. 1 in the world in 2009, and joined her brother Marat Safin as the first brother-sister combo to both achieve World No. 1 rankings.

In addition to Blake and Safina the tournament wildcards include many of the Tour’s next generation of tennis stars.

Men’s Main Draw Wildcards
James Blake
Jack Sock
Ryan Harrison
Milos Raonic
Bernard Tomic

Men’s Qualifying Wildcards
Gastao Elias
Filip Krajinovic

Women’s Main Draw Wildcards
Dinara Safina
Heather Watson
Madison Keys
Sabine Lisicki
Coco Vandeweghe
Sorana Cirstea

Women’s Qualifying Draw Wildcards
Michelle Larcher de Brito
Lauren Davis
Carina Witthoeft
Aleksandra Wozniak
Beatrice Capra
Sloane Stevens

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DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — The Williams sisters stood at the edge of the Miami Dolphins' practice field, easy to spot in elegant, color-coordinated beige dresses and high heels that dug into the turf.

The team's workout had ended, and it was time for introductions. Joey Porter, meet Serena Williams. Jason Taylor, meet Venus Williams.

The NFL and the best of women's tennis converged Tuesday when the Williamses paid a visit to the Dolphins' complex as the latest celebrities to buy a small stake in the franchise. Their deal with owner Stephen Ross, first reported last week, was confirmed at a news conference overlooking the field.

Venus and Serena live in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., about an hour's drive from the Dolphins' stadium.

"To have this opportunity is really where our heart is," Venus said. "We're South Florida girls. When we get off the road, this is where we come home to. When we come home to Dolphins games, it's going to be exciting."

Venus said she and Serena have been to "a few games." Serena dated former NFL players LaVar Arrington and Keyshawn Johnson, but the sisters said the Dolphins have long been their favorite team.

"We're just 'Go Fins!'-type people," Serena said.

"It's great going to the games for us," Venus said. "When we play tennis, you're so focused you don't really get to feel that atmosphere. When we go to a Dolphins game, we get to soak in the atmosphere and we realize, 'Oh my God, we do this too.'"

The sisters are the first female African-Americans to hold an ownership stake in an NFL franchise, the Dolphins said. The league has no African-American majority owner.

"We're really honored," Serena said. "Venus and I in tennis have tried to do so much for the sport. We're really excited to even have this opportunity."

Ross, a New York real estate billionaire, has brought six celebrities into the fold since completing his purchase of the Dolphins from Wayne Huizenga in January. The first partnership was with singer Jimmy Buffett; musicians Gloria and Emilio Estefan and Marc Anthony subsequently bought small shares of the team.

The Estefans are the first Cuban-Americans to hold an ownership stake in an NFL team, while Anthony is a New York native of Puerto Rican descent.

"We are thrilled to have Venus and Serena join the Dolphins as limited partners," Ross said. "They are among the most admired athletes in the world and have become global ambassadors for the game of tennis. Their addition to our ownership group further reflects our commitment to connect with aggressively and embrace the great diversity that makes South Florida a multicultural gem."


Making their first visit to the Dolphins' complex, the sisters watched a little practice, checked out the weight room and chatted with several players. Their favorite is running back Ronnie Brown, a friend through mutual acquaintances.

Brown envisions the sisters broadening the NFL's reach.

"It's exciting," he said. "I hope they can draw a different crowd to the sport. Hopefully we get some of their fans to be Dolphins fans."

The sisters posed for photographers holding team jerseys — No. 11 for Venus, No. 89 for Serena. EleVen is Venus' clothing line; 8-9 is the birthdate of their half sister, Yetunde Price, who died in a 2003 shooting.

The Dolphins' negotiations with the sisters were initiated by former U.S. Tennis Association CEO Arlen Kantarian, an adviser to Ross. He introduced the Williamses to Ross shortly after Serena beat Venus in the Wimbledon final, and the sisters needed time to embrace the offer to buy part of the team.

"One or two days after you win Wimbledon, you get hit with about 25 different opportunities," Kantarian said. "Athletes are used to taking money in, not giving money out. This was a little bit different. But they were very excited."

The sisters saw a marketing opportunity, Kantarian said, but also a chance to extend their reach in the community. They want to help with the growth of the Dolphins' charity foundation.

They also say they'll attend as many games as their schedules permit. Now that they're on board, do the sisters have any suggestions for Ross?

"Don't draft us," Venus said.

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LONDON (AP) — Richard Gasquet escaped a lengthy doping ban Wednesday when the International Tennis Federation ruled that he inadvertently took cocaine.

The 23-year-old Frenchman, who was cleared to resume playing after completing a 2 1/2-month ban Wednesday, convinced an independent anti-doping tribunal that he ingested cocaine by kissing a woman he met at a nightclub in Miami.

The tribunal panel of three lawyers said Gasquet consumed no more than "a grain of salt" of the drug, and a long ban would be an injustice in a case which was "unusual to the point of being probably unique."

"We have found the player to be a person who is shy and reserved, honest and truthful, and a man of integrity and good character," the tribunal said in its ruling.

The ITF, which had sought a two-year ban under the terms of the World Anti-Doping Agency's code, was told to impose a retroactive ban of two months, 15 days. The ban ended Wednesday morning, clearing 32nd-ranked Gasquet to resume playing.

Gasquet tested positive in a urine sample in March after he pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, with a shoulder injury.

After deciding to withdraw from the tournament he went to a nightclub with friends to see a French DJ perform at a Miami dance music festival, which the tribunal noted was "notoriously associated with use of illegal recreational drugs including cocaine."

Gasquet told the tribunal hearing held in London last month that he kissed a woman, identified in the ruling only as "Pamela."

The tribunal said it was likely she had consumed cocaine during the night, though it had no direct evidence.

Gasquet was "on the balance of probability, contaminated with cocaine by Pamela" and, therefore, not significantly at fault for the doping offense, the ruling said.

"We take into account that the amount of cocaine in the player's body was so small that if he had been tested only a few hours later, his test result would be likely to have been negative," the tribunal stated.

Gasquet also argued at the hearing that his positive test was given after he had pulled out of the Key Biscayne tournament. Cocaine is a banned drug for athletes in competition.

The tribunal said Gasquet's rights to practice his profession would be infringed by a one-year suspension, though it was required to find that a doping offense was committed.

It also noted that Gasquet would be banned for life if he tested positive for a banned drug a second time.

The ruling allowed the Frenchman to keep the ranking points and prize money he gained at tournaments in April.

The ITF provisionally suspended Gasquet when the test result was announced in May and he was forced to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. His ranking has since dropped nine places.

The ruling can be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within three weeks.

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The always heavily gunned Frenchman Gael Monfils pulled out a well contested match against American qualifier Michael Russell at the Sony Ericsson Open on Friday. Monfils rode nine aces, along with six double faults, to a 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 victory.

Fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made quick work of his opponent Argentine Agustin Calleri. In just under an hour Tsonga defeated Calleri 6-1, 6-1.

Keeping the numbers even in just over an hour, American James Blake defeated Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-4.

The three gentlemen advanced to the third round where Monfils will face Russian Marat Safin, Tsonga will oppose American Robert Kendrick and Blake's opponent will be Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.

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WTA

SINGLES

Round 1

Serena Williams, USA vs. BYE

Venus Williams, USA vs. BYE


Round 2

Serena Williams, USA defeated (WC) Alexa Glatch, USA
6-2, 6-3

Venus Williams, USA defeated Shahar Peer, ISR
6-3, 6-3


Round 3

Serena Williams, USA defeated Shuai Peng, CHN
7-5, 6-2

Venus Williams, USA defeated Anna-Lena Groenefeld, GER
7-5, 6-3


Round 4

Serena Williams, USA defeated Jie Zheng, CHN
7-5, 5-7, 6-3

Venus Williams, USA defeated Agnieska Radwanska, POL
4-6, 6-1, 6-4


Quarterfinal Round

Serena Williams, USA defeated Na Li, CHN
4-6, 7-6(1), 6-2

Venus Williams defeated Iveta Benesova, CZE
6-1, 6-4


Semifinal Round

Serena Williams, USA defeated Venus Williams, USA
6-4, 3-6, 6-3


Championship Round

Serena Williams, USA defeated by Victoria Azarenka, BEL
3-6, 1-6



DOUBLES

Round 1

Sloane Stephens, USA and Christina McHale, USA
defeated by
Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA and Nadia Petrova, RUS
2-6, 6-2, [10/2]

Raquel Kops-Jones, USA and Abigail Spears, USA
defeated
Klaudia Jans, POL and Alicja Rosolska, POL
6-4, 6-4


Round 2

Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears, USA
defeated
Alona Bondarenko, UKR and Kateryna Bondarenko, UKR
6-4, 6-4


Quarterfinal Round

Racquel Kops-Jones, USA and Abigail Spears, USA
defeated by
Kveta Peschke, CZE and Lisa Raymond, USA
6-3, 6-2



ATP

SINGLES

Round 1

Gael Monfils, FRA vs. BYE

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA vs. BYE

James Blake, USA vs. BYE


Round 2

Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Michael Russell
6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA defeated Agustin Calleri, ARG
6-1, 6-1

James Blake, USA defeated Julien Benneteau, FRA
6-4, 6-4


Round 3

Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Marat Safin, RUS
5-7, 7-5, 7-6(3)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA defeated Robert Kendrick, USA
7-5, 6-4

James Blake, USA defeated by Tomas Berdych, CZE
4-6, 7-6(3), 3-6


Round 4

Gael Monfils, FRA defeated by Andy Roddick, USA
6-7(2), 4-6

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA defeated Gilles Simon, FRA
6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2


Quarterfinal Round

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA defeated by Novak Djokovic, SER
3-6, 4-6

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ATP SINGLES - QUALIFYING

Round 1

Donald Young, USA defeated by Robert Kendrick, USA
2-6, 4-6

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