Black Tennis Pros

To reach the quarterfinals at the Japan Open, Venus Williams had to dismiss yet another American, Vania King, 6-0, 6-4.

King, ranked 87th, took a 2-0 lead in the second set of the match at Ariake Colosseum, but Williams broke to go up 4-3. She won the match with a crosscourt forehand to the corner that King returned into the net.

Williams, No. 8 in the WTA rankings, will face the winner of the match between Alicia Molik and Aleksandra Wozniak in the quarterfinals of the $175,000 tournament.

Flavia Pennetta has got past the first round of the AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships, a WTA tournament with 175,000 dollars in prizes underway in Tokyo, Japan. The Brindisi resident, accredited as the 8th ranked player in the series and just coming off the Seoul semi-final, beat American Ahsha Rolle with 7-5, 6-1 after an hour and a quarter.

Serena Williams blasted her way into the second round of Stuttgart's WTA tournament while France's Amelie Mauresmo became the first big-name casualty on Tuesday.

Serena opened her campaign with a rapid-fire 6-0, 6-0 win over the Czech Republic's Zuzana Ondraskova, the first lucky loser from the main draw after Williams' original opponent Elena Bobina withdrew with an ankle injury.

The 27-year-old right-hander, ranked 140th in the world, was totally outclassed by sixth-seed Williams' power game and was dumped out in just 48 relentless minutes.

"I was pleased with that," said Australian Open champion Williams, who will face Julia Vakulenko in the second round after the Ukrainian's 6-4, 6-4 win over Germany's Julia Goerges late on Tuesday night.

"That was a good start and I am looking forward to seeing how far I go here in Stuttgart."

"I haven't been in Europe in the fall for a long time and it feels really good," she told reporters Monday during the opening day of the Stuttgart Grand Prix in Germany. "It was pretty disappointing at the U.S. Open. After the tournament I started practicing because I didn't do very well."

After Stuttgart, Serena plans to stay in Europe and compete in upcoming tournaments in Moscow and Zurich. Participation will also allow Williams to earn qualifying points for a spot in the eight-player draw at the season-ending championship in Madrid next month.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Hello again everyone,

Today I played my first match of the week against Jill Craybas, and I won. I felt pretty good about the match. I had a bit of a slow start and she was playing well, hitting deep. But I just didn't want to lose. We had a close first few games, and then I really started to find my rhythm. I'm very pleased. I think my forehand in particular was working really well towards the end. Whatever it takes, you know.

Tonight I went to the player party, which was fun. I may have let myself down a little bit, because I immediately rushed to the french fries. I just went right to them. I don't really eat much, so fries count as a carbohydrate! Boiled or fried, the only thing that matters is that I'm eating. I eat to live, not live to eat. And they were so nice and salty. Okay I did have other things like fish and whatever else I had on my plate - but those fries would have gotten cold if I didn't take them - and even as they got us to do this thing where we hit a barrel with saki in it, all I could think of was the fries getting cold. I know I made the right decision.

I actually ended up sitting with the American guys at the player party (this is a combined event). Zack Fleishman, Amer Delic and a few more. But then I looked and saw all the girls sitting across the room. I thought to myself, 'Does this mean I'm one of those girls that always sits with the guys and never gets a boyfriend?' I don't know how I ended up there but I tried not to think about it too much.

I'm playing the second match after 10am tomorrow, so I figured I'd head back to the hotel relatively early. I've been doing some online shopping unfortunately - it's addictive. I was thinking of finishing that book tonight. It's just gotten crazier. Some sick things are happening in the book that just made me ill. I have never allowed a book to get to me like this. There's just no hope in it. But I am planning to finish it tonight - it just has to be done. I only have like 50 pages left. I hope SOMEBODY survives. But it seems like it's just going to end in tragedy. Usually it takes me two or three days to get through a book - I can't read slowly, I just have to know what happens. I can't not know.

I'll probably do more work on my designs tonight, as well. I'm graduating from fashion school this fall and I haven't really done anything the last two days, and that's no good. Now I'm always trying to be ahead of the game. I used to stay up so late to finish things; I remember when I first started I'd be up all night almost. One day I had just come back from a tournament in Zürich and went straight to the school, then drove home and was up until 4am or something, then I went back there for 6, crazy stuff like that. Back then I'd stay up until I felt my heart beating and knew I had to sleep, but I'd still run to Kinko's to print stuff out. I can't do that anymore. So what I try to do now is go to the school before I'm leaving on a trip and ask about the curriculum. I try to get going a few weeks before the term starts. Sometimes I finish my designs a few weeks before the deadlines. It can be stressful, but I know my boys will be beautiful!

Speaking of designs, I'm really excited about EleVen. It's not out yet, but it'll be coming out in November. I've been in school and making my own stuff for a long time but it's just too much labor; but when someone else does all of the work off your designs, it's just great! I think the summer coming up will be the best part of the collection. I think my favorite design would be this warm-up suit that has an upside down V - it's so slimming and so flattering that I wear it all the time.

Something else exciting I'd like to comment on is Lindsay's return to the Tour. I think it's just amazing, more than I would ever dream of doing myself. I mean, if I were to become a mom I'd want to be the Posh Spice mom: in my sunglasses, extra fit, jet setting without a care in the world. I can't imagine becoming a mom then coming back and doing so well so quickly. I haven't had the chance to talk to her since her return, but I'm following it and it's awesome. And she wants to play in the Olympics next year, too, so that's obviously great for the United States.

This isn't the first time I've kept some sort of blog or diary online before - on my website I used to have one. I was also on MySpace for a minute but I was under an alias. I'd go on there to complain - it was a venting ground for me. Everybody was there to make friends and I was there to vent. At the time I was injured, and because I wasn't playing I had so much time to do so many other things such as going out and going on life adventures and I always had crazy stuff happening to me. If I made a fool out of myself I'd go on there to confess; if I had a falling out I'd go on there to talk about it. But in the end I just quit. Serena got an official MySpace and linked me as a friend, and people started going to my page and figuring out who it was even though I was under an alias. I'm probably still there. Well, the alias is probably still on there. But she's BAD. Last I heard, she got into a situation she couldn't get out of, so she passed away.

Speaking of Serena, we've been keeping in touch, of course, even though she's in Stuttgart this week. We always keep each other posted on gossip and drama. We laugh and laugh. She'll tell me about guy stuff then I'll say I know all about it, and we'll keep going. Right now I'm playing the part of the wise, older sister.

I'm playing another American, Vania King, in the second round on Wednesday. We've never played on the Tour before but we have played on the same team in Fed Cup. I think it'll be interesting playing my Fed Cup teammate. It's a bit early tomorrow but it doesn't matter - I just want to get right into the grind this week.

Talk to you all tomorrow,

xxx

Venus

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France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced to Round 2 of the Open de Moselle in Metz, France by overcoming Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. Tsonga won five games in a row in the third set to accomplish the win.

Venus Williams thought she'd take her free week and get some R&R in Thailand, but the AIG Japan Tennis Open called and asked her to join the tournament. "I had a free week," said Williams. "I was going to go to Thailand, but when the tournament asked me to come I decided to because I love Tokyo."

Williams needed just 58 minutes on the hardcourt surface at Ariake Colosseum to record a win over her fellow American. "I like the surface here," said Williams, making her first appearance in the Japan Open. "I love to play fast and faster, it excites me so this is a great surface for my game."

After winning the first set Tuesday, Williams broke Craybas twice in the second set before finishing with a backhand down the line.

The arrival of Williams was a relief for tournament organizers after world No. 1 Roger Federer pulled out because he needs to rest after the U.S. Open and Davis Cup.

It looks like Venus is going to treat us to her thoughts while she's in Japan. This is her first blog entry for the week:

Monday, October 1, 2007

Hey everyone, and welcome to my blog!

I loved Seoul - it was actually sad to leave. I felt like I made friends there. It was a great week. Obviously, winning titles is always fun, and it's a great feeling to add another one to my name. But the overall experience was really a great one. I'd have to say the highlight of my week was the final; it was just a great final, so intense - but the most interesting part was probably getting coerced into eating tongue at this Korean barbecue last night. I almost lost it - twice. Don't get me wrong, I loved the food all week, and I ate lots. But the restaurant owner brought us some delicacies and of course, there was cow tongue. He told me to dip it in the sauce, which was vinegar, and I really don't like vinegar at all. It was just miserable! But I made it through.

Afterwards, we stayed up pretty late last night singing karaoke. I'm traveling with my mom and my sister, Isha; we've been having so much fun, and last night was no exception. We sang until our throats got sore. We may have rocked out a little too hard. Actually, my neck was sore too, and on the plane here we were really tired. They were with me all week in Seoul, and they'll be in Tokyo with me too, motivating me to do my best - I hope we can stay away from the karaoke joints.

I really love the dress they gave me after the final in Seoul. I was thinking about when I'd have another chance to wear it - but I don't know if I can even get it back on! The reality is probably I can't wear it again, but it was mine to keep, so I have it with me. They fitted it for me too, which was great, but with that in mind, I don't know if any other woman can wear it!

This is actually my second time in Tokyo. I played the Pan Pacific a few years ago, and I really like it here. Last time I was in Tokyo, I went to the temple and bought some kimonos. I also ate a lot of donuts... I remember being thoroughly disgusted with myself. Oh and a lot of fried chicken too. I just couldn't stop, it was pretty bad. I'll definitely have to improve my eating habits this time...

Right now I'm actually reading this miserable book - it's so depressing, scary and hopeless - and it's making me depressed! It's called "The Ruins" by Scott Smith. I am really just trying to finish it so I can move on. It's about these kids who go into the Mexican jungle but they don't bring water or anything and they get stuck. I don't know how they're gonna get out of it. And these plants keep creeping up on them too, it's just horrible. It really made me ill. I like to keep busy, but I just want to get through this book so I can maybe get to some designs tonight. I've been working hard on my portfolio. Right now I'm working hard on my line and technical drawings on the computer, which is maybe the worst part about fashion design. I like doing board layouts and textiles, but I hate technical drawings. So I'm gonna hammer those out first and get them over with! It's a daily routine. It passes the time and I like challenges. I'm working on swimwear now, and in the next few days I'll be starting some children's wear...

I'm really looking forward to my match tomorrow. This is so fast-paced; I just got here and I'm already playing tomorrow. It's funny, I'm all the way here in Japan but tomorrow I'm playing an American, Jill Craybas. It happened in Seoul too, that my first match was against an American. I guess it's the luck of the draw. But no match is easy and I'm going to have to keep my focus and play my game.

Talk to you all tomorrow,

xxx

Venus

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After the U. S. Open, and as the year begins to come to a close, tennis action begins to dwindle. But it's not too bad this week:

In action at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany is Serena Williams:








Round 1

Serena Williams, USA vs. Elena Bovina, RUS


In action at the Open de Moselle in Metz, France is Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: