Black Tennis Pros

Americans Angela Haynes and Mashona Washington were not able to cap their great run at the Cellular South Cup in Memphis Tennessee with a win on Saturday. The teammates were defeated by another American pair, Lindsey Davenport and Lisa Raymond 6-3, 6-1.

Unless something miraculous occured, I knew from the onset that doubles specialist Lisa Raymond was going to give them hell to pay all by herself, and add to that mix a resurgent Lindsey Davenport, it was not an easy match up to say the least.

Lindsay Davenport won her 55th career singles title and fourth since giving birth to her son last summer. Way to go mommy.

Good job ladies, I look forward to seeing more of you on tour. Send me some pictures!

Americans Angela Haynes and Mashona Washington have teamed together to play good game at the Regions Morgan Keegen Tennis Championships in Memphis, Tennessee. The doubles team defeated American Varvara Lepchenko and Russian Evgeniya Rodina 6-3, 6-1.

Haynes and Washington have their work cut out for them tomorrow. Their opponents are none other than fellow Americans Lindsay Davenport and Lisa Raymond. Get some rest tonight ladies, you're gonna need it!

On the men's side of the same tournament, the Young one made it to the quarterfinal round, but did not pack enough punch to finish off Swede Jonas Bjorkman. Bjorkman defeated American Donald Young 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(6).

Young had match point on Bjorkman at 5-6 in the tiebreaker, but the veteran played very smart on the next few big points, and it was Young who would finish himself off by hitting a backhand into the net. Of course Young took the cause of the error out on the usual culprit, his racket.

When asked about the possibility of being in the semifinal and whether that was on his mind, Young said "I was definitely thinking about it ...... how could you not? .... But I still had to play and win the point. He wasn't going to give it to me. He took it."

That's okay Donald, you dramatically improved your match play in this tournament. Keep it going!

Thank you Spalding, or whatever is the name of the tennis God. Earlier today at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, Tennessee, American Donald Young defeated Columbian Alejandro Falla 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. Way to go Donald!

The Young one hasn't been having much success moving deep into tournaments as of late, I'm sure that he must be encouraged by this second round win, I know am.

Donald Young was originally set to play American James Blake in the first round of this tournament, however Blake had to withdraw because of a knee injury and was replaced with American Sam Warburg. When asked if he was disappointed that Blake had to withdraw, Young said, "I don't think I was disappointed at all," after his 6-4, 6-4 victory over Warburg. "James is one of the best players in the world. He's in the Top 10."

"Winning at this time is really exciting to me," said Young, who hadn't won an ATP match since the U.S. Open last August. "I'm happy I played well."




At the same tournament on the ladies side, Americans Angela Haynes and Mashona Washington defeated the doubles team of American Bethanie Mattek and Renata Voracova 6-3, 6-2.



















Much further away at the Barclay's Dubai Tennis Championships, Vladimira Uhlirova of the Czech Republic and Russian Galina Volkoboeva defeated the doubles team of Frenchwoman Stephanie Foretz and Selima Sfar of Tunisia 6-3, 2-6, 11-9.

Man! I was so thrilled to see so many female Black tennis pros back in action at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis Tennessee, but it's been a hard days night for the ladies. Venus Williams, Mashona Washington, Ahsha Rolle and Milagros Sequera all out in the first round!

Ahsha Rolle was defeated by Israeli Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-1, OUCH! However, Ahsha is just returning from being injured, she'll need a bit of time to get up to speed. Glad to see her back in play.

Milaros Sequera was defeated by Caroline Wozniacki 6-0, 6-2 OUCH again!

Of her match Venus said, "She had a good serve and she was left-handed,'' Williams said. "She mixed it up really well. I'm not happy about the result of the match, but she played well. "I just made some mistakes. I definitely had more errors than I wanted.''

Shenay Perry, Angela Haynes and Mashona Washington are still viable in doubles. Let's hope they have a better go of it.

Get it together ladies!

Today at the Regions Morgan Keegan Tennis Championships, American and defending champion Venus Williams was knocked out of round one by Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

American Donald Young prevailed in his first round match against fellow American Sam Warburg. Young defeated Warburg 6-4, 6-4.

Our resident tennis player/fashion model Dustin Brown of Jamaica is shown here, alongside other models, in a new photo shoot rockin' the fashion of Sir Benni Miles New York. We never get tired of checking Dustin out!

Round 1 - Singles

Venus Williams (Defending Champ), USA vs. Petra Kvitova, CZE

Ahsha Rolle, USA vs. Shahar Peer, ISR

Mashona Washington, USA vs. Olga Govortsova BLR*
*(Washington was defeated 6-4, 6-2)

Angela Haynes attempted to enter the singles main draw through the qualifying rounds but was defeated by Sabine Lisicki of Germany 6-3, 6-4.


Round 1 - Doubles

Angela Haynes, USA and Mashona Washington, USA*
vs.
Stephanie Dubois, CAN and Lilia Osterloh, USA
*(Haynes and Washington won 2-6, 6-2, 10/6)

Shenay Perry, USA and Carly Gullickson, USA*
vs.
Sophie LeFevre, FRA and Sunitha Rao, IND
*(Perry and Gullickson won 6-0, 6-4)



Round 1 - Doubles

Stephanie Foretz, FRA and Selima Sfar, TUN
vs.
Vladimira Uhlirova, CZE and Galina Voskoboeva, RUS