Black Tennis Pros

Entry #1 - Thursday, April 17
Entry #2 - Wedneday, April 23
Entry #3 - Thursday, April 24

I thought we had a great practice today. It has been good that the Future Fed Cuppers, Alison and Coco, have been able to really mix in and play with the team. Liezel has been teaching them about doubles and Vania and Ahsha also had great practices today.

I’m still trying to figure out what lineup the Russians will announce at the official draw ceremony tomorrow. Dinara Safina is on the list (of players) but we have not seen her yet. Vera Zvonareva is here (as well as Elena Vesnina) though so we are trying to figure out who will play. However, I’m pretty sure that they will still have Kuznetsova and Chakvetadze in No. 1 and No. 2 singles.

Vania played Chakvetadze last year in the semifinals in Vermont. Chakvetadze won that match and I know Vania is a true competitor and would like to bounce back strong.

And I am saying to each one of the girls that you go out there and give it your best and above all, you have to believe in yourself.

Entry #1 - Thursday, April 17
Entry #2 - Wednesday, April 23

Since we arrived in Russia, I think our team has had some of the best practices since I have been U.S. Fed Cup Captain in the respect that our “Future Fed Cuppers”, Coco Vandeweghe and Alison Riske, are also practicing with the players.

Liezel Huber has been amazing. Besides being a great player, she is like a coach on the court at the same time. Ahsha Rolle and Vania King have also had very good practices and it has been a really great team atmosphere. I think it helps that a lot of girls are the same age or around the same age and know each other.

My lineup for this weekend is pretty much set already. It's going to be Vania and Ahsha in singles and Vania and Liezel in doubles. Madison has already had a lot of great practices but Ahsha has more experience and Madison is still a little young. And I like the fact that I have made a decision on the lineup ahead of time.

Tomorrow we are practicing in the morning at the Luzhniki Sport Arena and then Liezel and Vania will play doubles in the afternoon. We will also play some singles and then we have the official dinner at night.

Frenchman Gael Monfils did not concede one ace against 6' 10'' Ivo Karlovic in a 7-6(8), 6-1 win over the Croatian. It was the first time in Karlovic's 225-match ATP career that he had failed to serve an ace in a match.

Monfils, who has not won a tournament since his first ATP title in Sopot almost three years ago, had won just two matches this season before arriving in Monte Carlo.

"I was stressed about Karlovic's game because I wanted to make him play as many balls as possible because I know he's not so good at that. But thinking about that stressed me, and I played too short."

I am truly touched. In my usual night owl surfing, I visited SjP at Sojourner's Place, and to my surprise she had passed on The Red Rose Award that she received from Ms. Marvalus at Opinionated Black Woman.

Thank you very much for thinking of me SjP. This single red rose serves its purpose in lifting my spirit.

Along with me, SjP passed The Red Rose Award to Coffee Stained News, Tinneka at 360 Degrees of Diversity, Mary at The Black Factor and Vanessa at Vanessa: Unplugged.

Cheers ladies!

I'm going to share this rose with Ada at Scramories, 2SweetNSaxy at Down Around L.A., and Celena at Strictly Fabulous Style.

Monte Carlo Masters Series

Round 2 - Singles

Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Ivo Karlovic, CRO
7-6(8), 6-1


Round 1 - Doubles

Jeff Coetzee, RSA and Wesley Moodie, RSA
defeated
Jose Acasuso, ARG and David Ferrer, ESP
6-3, 6-4


Baton Rouge Pro Tennis Classic, Baton Rouge, LA

Round 1 - Singles

Josselin Ouanna, FRA defeated Tim Smyczek, USA
1-6, 6-3, 6-4

Round 1 - Doubles

Phillip Simmonds, USA and Tim Smyczek, USA
defeated
Josselin Ouanna, FRA and Gary Lugassy, FRA
6-3, 7-5

Scoville Jenkins, USA and Colt Gaston, USA
defeated
Amer Delic, USA and Ryan Sweeting, USA
6-4, 7-5


Movie Gallery Pro Classic 2008

Round 1 - Singles

Alexandra Stevenson, USA defeated Maria-Fernanda Alves, BRA
6-1, 5-7, 6-1

Asia Muhammad, USA defeated Raquel Kops-Jones, USA
6-2, 6-2

Jamea Jackson, USA defeated Maria Torres-Sandoval, MEX
6-1, 6-2

Angela Haynes,USA defeated Kimberly Couts, USA
6-2, 6-3


Round 1 - Doubles

Shenay Perry, USA and Carly Gullickson, USA
defeated
Alexa Glatch, USA and Varvara Lepchenko
6-4, 6-3

Mashona Washington, USA and Angela Haynes, USA
defeated by
Courtney Nagle, USA and Robin Stephenson, USA
3-6, 6-2, 10/4

Asia Muhammad, USA and Julia Boserup, USA
defeated by
Tetiana Luzhanska, UKR and Michaela Pastikova, CZE
7-6(5), 5-7, 10/8

Raquel Kops-Jones, USA and Abigail Spears, USA
defeated by
Monique Adamczak and Chanelle Scheepers
6-2, 6-3

I have been tagged by Iriegal at Darkchild, to name 6 quirks I have. For those I tag or who want to join in just copy the rules below and leave a comment in the person you tag post.

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules in your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag any amount following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.

Round 1 - Singles

Gael Monfils, FRA vs. Fernando Verdasco, ESP*
*Monfils defeated Verdasco 7-5, 6-4


Round 1 - Doubles

Jeff Coetzee, RSA and Wesley Moodie, RSA
vs.
Jose Acasuso, ARG and David Ferrer, ESP






























Baton Rouge Pro Tennis Classic, Baton Rouge, LA

Round 1 - Singles

Scoville Jenkins, USA vs. Kevin Kim, USA*
*Jenkins defeated by Kim 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 4-1 Retired

Josselin Ouanna, FRA vs. Tim Smyczek, USA


Round 1 - Doubles

Phillip Simmonds, USA and Tim Smyczek, USA
vs.
Josselin Ouanna, FRA and Gary Lugassy, FRA