Black Tennis Pros

Top seed Olivia Sanchez fell at the first hurdle in ladies' qualifying in a day of extraordinary results. Sanchez lost in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-1 to Kathrin Woerle from Germany.

Wimbledon doubles semi-finalist and number seven seed Alicia Molik was another shock loser as Tatiana Poutchek, from Belarus, held her nerve 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3.

Michelle Larcher de Brito, the 15-year-old prodigee from the Nick Bollettieri Academy, lost a three set arm wrestle to Stephanie Foretz 6-0, 2-6, 6-4.

Mashona Washington, the younger sister of 1996 Men’s Singles' finalist Malivai, was defeated in a three set tussle by Poland’s Anna Korzeniak this afternoon. Korzeniak won the closely fought contest 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

While two British wild cards - Amanda Eilliot and Anna Smith - will fly the flag for local tennis after winning their first round matches.

They will be joined in the second round by 1999 Wimbledon semi-finalist Alexandra Stevenson, three-time Junior Grand Slam winner Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Wimbledon 2006 quarter-finalist Severine Bremond.

The second round will begin on Wednesday.

Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Alexandra Stevenson's hopes of emulating her 1999 success began in earnest today when she defeated Neuza Silva in a tough three-set encounter.

The American, who nine years ago became the first female qualifier in Wimbledon history to reach the semi-finals, overcame blustery conditions to dispose of her 199th ranked opponent 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

The match was always going to be a close encounter with Stevenson ranked just 20 places below her Portugese contender, and the first set was by no means short of rallies.

A largely baseline affair, both women exuded power, agility and there were plenty of winners hit from both sides. But it was the 27-year-old American that secured an early break and, serving at 5-4, played an aggressive game to take the first set 6-4.

Windy conditions dominated the second set which saw more mistakes and less winners, but a gritty performance by 25-year-old Silva helped her even up the match to a set apiece.

Come the decider, the grunting became louder and strokes more aggressive as both women charged the net in a bid to finish off points. But it was to be Stevenson's day as she powered her way into the second round.

Speaking after the match, the American, who was watched by her mother, had a message for the tennis pundits that had written her off.

"I'm planning on qualifying," she said. "In the tennis world they write you off if you are injured. I'm saying I'm ready but taking one match at a time."

Stevenson added that the conditions were really "windy and swirly" and said it was a battle on the courts because they are not "pristine" like Wimbledon.

"It's a large park, everything is going on, you've got aircraft noise, but it's qualifying and you know you are going to have tough conditions. I love the grass, I think there should be more grass court tournaments," she smiled.

French Open semi-finalist Gael Monfils is through to the second round of The Slazenger Open after a straight sets victory over Australia’s Chris Guccione on Tuesday.

Frenchman Monfils, ranked 32 in the world, wrapped up his first match at Nottingham 7-6 6-4. The 21-year-old had to save three break points in the opening set before taking the tiebreak 7-4.

A single break in the second set saw him safely into the second round. He now faces fellow Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the second round. Joining them in the second round is another Frenchman, Gilles Simon, who beat Donald Young of the USA 6-1 6-4.

"Build Muscle, Burn Fat and Lose Weight at My Fitness Hut, Her Fitness Hut and Sports Fitness Hut!"

As you all know, Mark Dilworth previously brought us the eBook "Strength and Power Training For Athletes." Well Mark is back with two new eBooks.

First up, My Fitness Hut's eBook, "Blast the Fat, Have a Lean Body for Life!" Learn why fat loss is more important than weight loss. You will also learn how to keep the fat off for good!

Next up is Her Fitness Hut's free eBook "Her Fitness Hut's Fat Blaster Guide For Women."

Tools To Help You With Fitness:

• Get Your "Rear In Gear" - Everyone wants a firm bum! Learn how.
• Her Fitness Hut Fat Blaster iPod Workouts - See workouts exhibits while you jam.
• Nutrition Generator - Stay on track with your nutrition goals.
• You Tube - Learn how to achieve permanent fat loss and weight loss.
• Fitness Calculator - See where you are on the fitness scale.

SINGLES
Round 1

Gael Monfils, FRA vs. Chris Guccione, AUS


DOUBLES
Round 1

Gael Monfils, FRA and Gilles Simon, FRA
defeated by
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, ESP and Fernando Verdasco, ESP
2-6, 6-4, 10/4

Jeff Coetzee, RSA and Jamie Murray, GBR
vs.
Eric Butorac, USA and Bobby Reynolds, USA


SINGLES
Round 1

Alexis Gordon, USA defeated by Marina Erakovic
1-6, 1-6


SINGLES
Round 1

Marcus Fugate, USA vs. Daniel Danilovic, MNE

Phillip Simmonds, USA vs. Luigi D'Agord, ITA


DOUBLES
Round 1

Marcus Fugate, USA and Joel Kielbowicz, USA
vs.
Adam El Mihdawy, USA and Sunil-Kumar Sipaeya, USA

Phillip Simmonds, USA and Travis Rettenmaier, USA
vs.
Ricky Flach, USA and Hyung-Kwon Kim, KOR


SINGLES
Round 1

Ellah Nze, USA vs. Mami Inoue, USA


DOUBLES
Round 1

Tiya Rolle, USA and Nathalia Rossi, BRA
vs.
Lauren Herring, USA and Whitney Jones, USA

The Wednesday Coaches Corner will have an opportunity to be read by a new audience this weekend. Both the June 12 article profiling Harvard Head Coach Traci Green and a previous Followup Q&A are appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Check it out:

Traci Green
Followup Q&A

SjP at Sojourner's Place has started my weekend in the most thoughtful way, she has given me the "Sharing The Love" award.

Thank you so much SjP, the spirit and meaning behind this award are truly beautiful.

The "Sharing The Love "Award, was created by Blogger Crystal at "Memoirs Of A Mommy" blog, in honor of donor who saved her one month old's life a year ago. Crystal's son Noah celebrated his first birthday this week thanks to someone you final gift was the gift of life.

In Crystal's own words, here are the rules of the Share the Love Award:

I received this award amidst this wonderful group:

From My Brown Eyed View
New Black Woman
Modern Musings
Don't Color Me
Coffee Stained News
Black Perspective.net
Beautiful, Also, Are the Souls of Black Sisters
Black Tennis Pros
Black Women Blow the Trumpet
Hagar's Daughters

HALLE, Germany, June 13 (UPI) -- No. 2 seed James Blake needed a pair of tiebreaker wins Friday to move into the semifinals of the $1.12 million Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Germany.

The decision moved Blake into Saturday's semifinals against Philipp Kohlschreiber while the other semifinal features world No. 1 Roger Federer playing local favorite Nicolas Kiefer.

Blake played the tightest quarterfinal of the day Friday, winning 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) over Andreas Beck while Kohlschreiber advanced to the Weber semifinals for the second straight year with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) decision over Robin Soderling.