Black Tennis Pros

American James Blake continued to roll over his opponent with power and excellent shot making. Today he victimized fellow American Michael Russell. Initially it appeared that the match might be competitive as Russell broke Blake's serve. But midway through the first set Blake turned the beat around and never looked back. I hate to see a fellow American take a beat down, but that's the name of the game! Russell's beat down came in at 6-3, 6-2, 6-2......Yeowches!

Next up for Blake is Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.





Earlier American Venus Williams defeated Camille Pin of France 7-5, 6-4. Venus still isn't showing that totally fabulous game of hers yet. Pin was able to break her serve several times. Hopefully these are just some early hiccups and we'll see her game evolve into the wonder that it usually is.

Next up for Venus is India's Sania Mirza.

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has come to Australia to play! Tsonga fired off 14 aces, as he moved through round 2 with ease and flair while defeating American Sam Warburg 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. There hasn't been much commentary about Tsonga going into the Australian Open, but he just may be the second week surprise this year.

Tsonga will meet Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in round 3.

Tsonga spent some time off court with members of the Australian Kangaroos Football team.








American Serena Williams had her hands full with Meng Yuan of China. That modest sized woman can with every intention of moving on to the third round. Yuan came through the qualifying rounds, but you would never have known it. Yuan played as well as any of the seeded players that we've seen thus far, and had she not have been playing someone with the skills of Serena Williams, we'd be seeing her in round 3. Unfortunately for her, she did run into Serena and was defeated 6-3, 6-1. That score may sound like it was a walk in the park for Serena, but it wasn't, she had to break out the big guns to take Yaun out. But post match she said "it was fun!"

Serena will meet Victoria Azarenka for her round 3 opponent.

Women's Doubles Teams

Stephanie Foretz, France and Selima Sfar, Tunisia
(Won 1st round)

Venus Williams, USA and Serena Williams
(have not played yet)

Men's Doubles Team

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France and Sebastien Grosjean, France
(have not played yet)

Jeff Coetzee, South Africa and Wesley Moodie, South Africa

Venus Williams had a few hiccups in her first round match with China's Zi Yan, but they were minor. Yan played a very competitive match and gave Venus almost as good as she got. But Yan was no match for the power of Venus, which is what eventually overwhelmed her. Venus defeated Yan 6-2, 7-5.

For her second round match Venus will meet Frenchwoman Camille Pin.

During the match commentary Pam Shriver, Mary Joe Fernandez and Chris Fowler all had some funky remarks regarding the length of Venus' shorts, which they thought were too short. Chris Fowler stated (alluding to Venus' 'EleVen' line of clothing) "well what do you expect for $20?" And of course that got a nice bit of laughter. What they should do is stop at a store that carries the 'EleVen' line and pick up a few pieces, it looks far better than anything I've ever seen them in.

American James Blake came out tonight on FIRRRRREE!! Blake treated Nicolas Massu of Chile like he stole something from him. It was ugly. Especially since Blake had not previously even taken a set off of Massu in two previous meetings. Mind you, Massu wasn't sitting back just taking this beating, he was whipping shots all over the place similar to Blakes. Unfortunately for him, Blake just had it all tonight, serve, return, fierce scowl and well shaved head. Blake brought the match in at 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

American Donald Young was dismissed so unceremoniously that I forgot to mention it yesterday! It didn't appear that Donald was really ready. He was competitive, but it was never enough to overcome German Michael Berrer's game. Berrer defeated Young 6-7(7/5), 7-6(7/4), 6-3, 7-6(7/5)

Courtesy of Black Tennis Pro's reader Marc Guillaume of France, I can now include eleven existing ATP Tour players and three WTA Tour players that I was not familiar with......thanks Marc!

The first player is 22-year-old Frenchman Josselin Ouanna, he is currently listed at #274.























The next player is 20-year-old Frenchman Boris Obama, he is currently listed at #1391.
















Next up is 23-year-old Jamaican Dustin Brown, who is currently listed at #456 singles and #445 doubles.





















Next up is 19-year-old Frenchman Alain Ntamag. He is currently listed at #1022.





















Next up is Valentin Sanon of the Ivory Coast. He is 27 years old and listed at #623 singles and #847 doubles.










Next up is 26-year-old Stephanie Foretz of France. She is currently listed at #129 singles and #64 doubles.























Next up is 28-year-old Julio Silva of Brazil. He is currently listed at #193 singles and #333 doubles.



Next up is 30- year-old Jeff Coetzee of South Africa. He is currently listed at #29 doubles.












Next up is 23-year-old Togolese Komlavi Loglo. He is currently listed at #345 singles and 429 doubles.






















Next up is 30-year old Dally Radriantefy of Madagascar.










Next up is Raven Klaasen of South Africa. He is currently listed at #717 singles and #863 doubles.











Next up is Phillip Simmonds of the USA. He is currently listed at #472 singles and #350 doubles.























Next up is Henry Adjei-Darko of Ghana. He is currently listed at #660 singles and #1211 doubles.








Last, but not least is Milagros Sequera of Venezuela. She is currently listed at #77 singles and #245 doubles.

World No. 38 Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has cast the first big blow in the men's singles draw. Tsonga has dispatched world no. 9 Brit Andy Murray from the 2008 Australian Open in the first round, Ouch!

Tsonga and his powerful shots won the first two sets 7-5, 6-4. At the beginning of the third set it appeared that he was having some sort of foot problem. Murray was able to capitalize on whatever the problem was and took the set 6-0. This obviously appeared as if the rest of the match was going to be a wash for Tsonga. Not so. It was a back and forth match for both of the players and Tsonga continued to hobble around. In the end, Tsonga took the fourth set 7-5 It was great!

Tsonga may still be riding high on that doubles win that he and fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet recently had over Bob and Mike Bryan. The French pair defeated the world no. 1 American twin brothers 4-6, 6-4, 11-9.

If the last couple of matches are any indication of Tsonga's season for 2008, it appears he'll have a pretty sweet year!