Black Tennis Pros

Americans Paul Todd and Jarmere Jenkins will be playing on opposite teams in the final of the Valley Baptist Health System Harlingen Country Club $15,000 Futures, Harlingen, Texas.

Paul Todd and teammate Treat Conrad Huey of the Philippines defeated the Mexican doubles team of Luis Diaz-Barriga and Antonio Ruiz-Rosales 6-1, 6-4 to reach the final of this event.

Jarmere Jenkins and teammate Javier Herrera-Eguiluz of Mexico defeated Uladzimir Ignatik of Belarus and American Nikita Kryvonos 7-6(6) 1-6 [10-4] to reach the final.


**UPDATE**

The doubles team of American Jarmere Jenkins and Mexican Javier-Herrera Eguiluz have defeated the team of American Paul Todd and Treat Conrad Huey of the Phillippines 1-6, 6-2 [10/8] to take the Harlingen Country Club doubles title.

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.

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."

American Venus Williams won her second straight three-set match on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel. Venus defeated Agnes Szavay 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

In the semifinal round Venus will play Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic.

The White House has released the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. It was taken in the Blue Room of the White House.

Absolutely beautiful - Work it First Lady!