Black Tennis Pros

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is truly becoming a fan favorite at this Australian Open. He's come out the last three rounds with guns blazin' and is taking no prisoners. Tsonga defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to move into round 4. Way to go Tsonga!

It is really going to be interesting to see just how far this young Frenchman can go. Who knows, perhaps this is his Marcos Baghdatis Australian Open, we'll see. In the meantime I'm just going to enjoy the show, and very affable personality of Tsonga.

Next up for Tsonga, compatriot Richard Gasquet......this is gonna be good!

American Serena Williams had a bit of a battle with her opponent Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Of course Serena defeated Azarenka 6-3, 6-4, but Azarenka definitely had some competitive moments. Nonetheless, Serena is moving on to round 4.

Next up for Serena, Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic.

Doubles Scores

• American sisters Venus and Serena Williams were back on the doubles court today. The powerful duo defeated the doubles team of Ai Sugiyama of Japan and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 6-2, 7-6(7/2).
• Frenchwoman Stephanie Foretz and her doubles partner Selima Sfar of Tunisia were defeated 6-2, 6-3, by the doubles team of Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic and Galina Voskoboeva of Russia.

American sisters Venus and Serena Williams doubled the trouble for the Australian doubles team of Monique Adamczak and Christina Wheeler defeating them in the first round of doubles 7-5, 6-1.

The sisters powered their way through the match with their usual big serves and fierce net action. A couple of times Adamczak and Wheeler looked as if they were playing dodge ball, HA! No one was injured, so I'll enjoy the humor in it. The Aussie crowd didn't think that it was so funny though. They booed the sisters every time one of their shots almost hit the Australian pair.

The other action during the match occurred when Venus and Serena disagreed with a line call and couldn't get a reasonable explanation from the umpire. She caught an earful from the sisters. At one point Venus asked her "then what are you out here for?" Things eventually settled down and the sisters did what they came to do, kick butt!

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)