Black Tennis Pros

To most people, Venus Williams is the Amazonian tennis player, who has won Wimbledon four times, with a whomping serve and muscle-bound limbs that go on for ever. Yet, as a new book of photographs shows, she also has an astonishing elegance and beauty.

The book, Venus Williams, is a collaboration between the tennis player and South African-born photographer Koto Bolofo. The two first met four years ago when he spotted her walking down the street in London.

“I turned a corner in Covent Garden and there was this tall, beautiful black woman,” remembers Bolofo, “and I thought, ‘I fancy her!’ I’d never seen such a graceful woman. She was wearing a bright fluorescent pink raincoat and stood out like a sore thumb.” Bolofo contacted her agent, suggesting the project. He had wanted to photograph her ever since he watched her win Wimbledon on the TV. “There was such a strength of woman in her,” he says. “I had never seen anyone like this. She was like a gazelle, so pure. But I wanted to photograph her my way – not as a sports star with lots of muscles, but as a woman.”

“He wanted to work with me, a lowly tennis player!” is Williams’s self-mocking take on the matter. “He saw something in me that no one else has ever seen, the side that’s classic tennis player, with elegance and grace.”

The two became friends and did a few magazine shoots together, including one for Italian Vogue. But Bolofo wanted more: he wanted to do a book. He had “a vision”, Williams says, of doing a chronicle of her life.

Over the next three years, while Williams, now 27, toured the world, Bolofo tailed her, popping up in London, Istanbul, Paris and New York with photographic suggestions, a small team of helpers and a rack of clothes. He took inspiration from the Jacques Henri Lartigue photographs of junior tennis champion Suzanne Lenglen in 1915: the shot of Williams dancing round the court in a ball dress was one of the first they collaborated on. “Lartigue captured that sense of social class with a spontaneity and energy,” says Bolofo. “That was the foundation of the book.”

I'm usually a bit let down after my guy is defeated in a tournament. However, "La Monf" has put forth such a galliant effort in this tournament that his loss was not very painful on Friday.

Although Gael was not able to prevail against world no. 1 Roger Federer, he got the job done just the same. Gael injected some much need hype into the second half of Roland Garros this year and gave us some very unexpected excitement.

Federer defeated Gael 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.

It is definitely worth mentioning that the Frenchman had some ocular issues.

"This morning I already had a pain in my eye and I think I broke my contact lens," said Monfils following his defeat.

"I couldn't see well, so I tried to put some eye drops in at the beginning of the match. Then it didn't work, so I asked the doctor to come on the court. That didn't work.

"I think part of my contact lens stayed, remained in my eye. I managed to take the other part out, but there was one part left."

"I am not trying to find any excuses, but it didn't help," said the 59th-ranked Monfils. "Each time I was trying to serve it was annoying me."

It's all good Gael, we're just glad to see you in this very positive finish. Keep it up!

I spotted this on Serena's official site today, you've just gotta love it! Too cute.

Although spring sprung rumors that Serena Williams and the rapper Common were an item, the tennis champ plays it coy when pressed for comment on the relationship.

"I think he's a great guy," Williams, 26, tells Ebony for its July issue.

"He's obviously a great artist who is timeless and classic. You can't beat that. But I have to focus on tennis because that's my goal in life."

Due to compete this summer in the Beijing Olympics, where she hopes to reclaim her title as the world's No. 1-ranked female player with the upcoming Grand Slam events – the French Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon tournaments – Williams has also bought a home in Paris and is trying to learn French.

Beyond that, she says, her hot-weather plans include seeing the screen drama Wanted, based on the comic book and starring Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and Common – whose very name brings a smile to Williams's face.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing that film," she says.

Where is Ricky Martin and "The Cup Of Life" when you need him?

Here we go!
Allez, allez, allez!
Go, go, go!
Allez, allez, allez!

I would never have imagined that by Wednesday of this week my whole focus would have changed this dramatically with Roland Garros, but I am so glad that it has.

Twenty-one year old Frenchman Gael Monfils has stepped up to the plate in a most fabulous way and has injected new life into Roland Garros. I don't know where it's going or how long it's going to last, but I'M HAPPY!

Spaniard David Ferrer was downed by Monfils 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a most wonderful effort. It was a pleasure to watch.