Black Tennis Pros

In the midst of writing some very beautiful thoughts about others, Jon at Chimeric Day Dreams thought that he would pass on the desire to a few of us. Namelessly, here are some thoughts about those who have inspired me recently.

1. I've been without your presence for so long now, and I've adjusted. Your appearance in my sleep on your birthday was the perfect gift for me. I am so happy to know that you are fine and surrounded by the things that you love, I can go on.

2. My heart was once so full of nothing but you and potential tomorrows. Now my head is full of the memory of you and your desire for love, family and fun, it has lifted my spirit.

3. You're a mean one "Ms. Grinch", and the only thing that you've stolen is my friendship and you're stuck with it. So stop being so mean and relax, it's all good.

4. I am so glad that you have let go of the idea of what your life should be like and see it for what it is. Your energy to do this has given me even greater courage in my own quest.

5. You are an isolated event in my life, so different from each and everyone else that I know. I like having you around and hope that the friendship grows, lasts and has reciprocal teachings.

6. I don't know anyone else with your zeal. Everyday is truly a new adventure for you and it is my pleasure to watch. Your desire for tomorrow and whatever it holds amuses me and is the foundation of my hope for you.

7. You are a particular gift. God's grace shines through your beautiful smile and beams in your gorgeous eyes, I can't live long enough to completely thank God for you. I have learned more from you in your years than I have learned in all of mine.

Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Sebastien Grosjean fought Russians Marat Safin and Dmitry Tursunov to the bitter end, but to no avail. Safin and Tursunov took the prize at 7-6(5), 6-4.

The two teams duked it out in short order, the match was over in 94 minutes.

Technorati Tags: Sports Tennis
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
ATP Masters Series Madrid Kremlin Cup Doubles

In a repeat of last year's final, James Blake once again prevails over Jarkko Nieminen of Finland. It was a tight first set today, and Nieminen came out the victor. But in the end Blake defeated the man from Finland 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 6-2.

"I don't know what it is about Stockholm, it seems to bring out the best in me," said top seed and world no. 7 Blake. "I'm so happy to stay undefeated."

Though Blake lost the first set, he managed to gain control as he broke Nieminen for 5-4 in the second set, squaring the finely- balanced contest a game later as he served it out.

Blake hit the ground running in the third set and did not look back. He served 10 aces and saved 6 of 7 break points.

Blake will face off against Swede Thomas Johansson, the last home survivor who fired 10 aces of his own to eliminate Mario Ancic 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3).

American Serena Williams showed Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic where the exit is in Moscow, on the strings of her racquet!

Just moments ago Serena defeated Nicole 6-4, 7-6(7). The world no. 7 and that mighty serve of hers pounded Nicole with 11 aces. As you can see by the score, Nicole didn't go politely. She was dead in there with Serena toe-to-toe until the very end, there are only a few points between them. Nonetheless, Serena walks away with the win and a ticket to the semifinals.

Awaiting Serena in the semifinals is Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"Tomorrow it will be a tough match," Kuznetsova said of her first Kremlin Cup semifinal match. "Williams is improving her form and is tough at the end of the season."

You've got your work cut out for you Serena!

The swift and powerful racquet of American Venus Williams blazed by Frenchwoman Camille Pin so fast that she could only hold 2 games out of 14 played. Venus body slammed Camille 6-1, 6-1 at the Bangkok Open today.

"The score looked easy but it was not. Every time I hit good shots she hit back," Williams said. "I tried not to make easy errors and make my shots." What a modest woman.

Interestingly, Camille Pin had a good serving day. She had a service rate of 87% to Venus's 58%. But it was obviously the only thing that she did right, and it was nowhere near good enough against the world no. 8 player.

Next potential victim for Venus? Flavia Penetta of Italy.

"What can I say about her, she's a great player, a champion," Pennetta said. "It's going to be a tough match," she added.

Guard your grill Flavia!

James Blake claimed his 12th straight win at the Stockholm Open today and set up a re-run of last year's final with Jarkko Nieminen in a Friday quarter-final.

Sixth seed Nieminen, twice a losing finalist at the iconic Kungligahallen, built a century ago by royalty, struck first with a 6-0, 6-4 thrashing of Australian Peter Luczak in Thursday's second round.

Blake then comfortably tamed the huge serve of FrankDancevic 6-3, 6-2 a day after the 22-year-old Canadian bomber had struck 35 aces in his previous win. The top seed, who now stands 12-0 at the venue, broke for 5-3 on the way to claiming the opening set, then repeated twice in the second to advance in less than an hour.

Nieminen lost the 2006 final to the event's reigning perfectionist with Blake boasting titles in 2005 and 2006.

Blake, ranked seventh and chasing a place in the year-end finals next month at Shanghai, is coming off a hot summer where he won 20 of 24 matches. But he needs to keep winning in Stockholm to improve his chances for a spot in the eight-man wrapup event.

I've come to know some very kind people since I began blogging. But definitely among the top is Lisa C at Lisa C Writes. She is definitely someone who should have received this award. She chose to award it to me and it has truly made my day. Thank you Lisa C!

This award was originally created by Cristy over at Writer's Reviews. She created this award with these words in mind, The Thoughtful Blogger Award: "For those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping others bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others".

I've recently met some very thoughtful bloggers, they are:

Renny at RennyBA's Terella
Manchild at When Least Expected
Parisukat at Parisukat.com
Celena at Strictly Fab Style
AJ at Over Analyze It - Let's Break This Down

Earlier today American Serena Williams advanced to the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup by beating Tatiana Perebiynis of the Ukraine 7-5, 6-4.

Perebiynis saved three match points before Williams won with a powerful backhand.

"I don't I think I've played up to my standards today but I was glad to get through," Williams said.