Black Tennis Pros

Serena Williams says her father and one of her doctors have advised against playing because of her injured left knee, but she still wants to go forward with the East West Bank Classic at Carson.

Williams said she had an MRI afterward [Bank of the West Classic] and it showed an inflamed joint as a result of overwork, and she acknowledged that her father Richard and one of her doctors did not want her playing on it.

"He's always really passive and I'm more aggressive," Williams said of her father's approach to injuries. Both her older sister, Venus, and Lindsay Davenport withdrew from the Carson tournament on Friday because of injured right knees.

"It's the first time all year I pulled out with a knee injury and I've been doing really well all year," she said. "Maybe it's just saying, 'Serena, take a three-day vacation.' "

When that knee talks, it's good to listen, based on history.

Because Williams has a first-round bye at Carson she can give the knee an extra day of rest and start Wednesday.

Injuries and outside interests have cut into her tournament play over the years, and interestingly, the light playing schedule could extend the careers of Venus and Serena.

Serena, at least on this day, was sounding more committed than she has in some time, looking to add to her eight Grand Slam singles titles.

"I don't feel like I'm making up for lost time," she said. "I just feel like this is what I want to do. What I want to do is play tennis and just play tournaments for this year and several years."

Despite the specter of suspensions and fines, this is a sport of diplomacy. In this case, a player can mitigate the penalty by doing half a day of promotional activity within 125 miles from the tournament site and has a year to fulfill the obligation.

"I think it's good because it works all the way around, if you can't go to another tournament because of an injury," Williams said.

Said the WTA's Chief Executive Larry Scott: "We have to have a rule that applies to all players and all tournaments. But at the same time, we need to think about all types of circumstances. One of the positive things is that we're getting out of the business of trying to decide what's a legitimate injury and a legitimate reason. Because it's very difficult.

"Trying to determine when a player could have played . . . you play God. No one can do that fairly."

SINGLES

Round 1

James Blake, USA vs. BYE

Gael Monfils, FRA vs. Igor Andreev, RUS

Donald Young, USA(Q) vs. Gilles Simon, FRA


SINGLES*

Round 1

Serena Williams, USA vs. BYE

Angela Haynes, USA(Q) vs. Vania King, USA

Ahsha Rolle, USA(Q) defeated by Sybil Bammer, AUT
6-0, 6-4

Jamea Jackson, USA(WC) vs. Akqul Amanmuradova, UZB


*Injury:

Venus Williams - Right knee
Lindsay Davenport - Right knee


Week 3 of the Olympus U.S. Open Series:



MEN'S SINGLES*

Round 1

Scoville Jenkins, USA vs. Xavier Malisse, BEL


*Eliminated during qualifying singles rounds:

Todd Paul, USA
Phillip Simmonds, USA
Jarmere Jenkins, USA
Marcus Fugate


MEN'S DOUBLES

Round 1

Marcus Fugate, USA and Bryan Koniecko, USA
defeated by
Sanchai Ratiwatana, THA and Sonchai Ratiwatana, THA
6-3, 6-1

Scoville Jenkins, USA and Colt Gaston, USA
vs.
Ryler DeHeart, USA and Rajeev Ram, USA

Todd Paul, USA and Stephen Bass, USA
vs.
Brad Pomeroy, USA and Jose (Rubin) Statham, NZL


WOMEN'S SINGLES*

*Eliminated during qualifying singles rounds:

Sloane A. Stephens, USA
Whitney Jones, USA


WOMEN'S DOUBLES

Round 1

Tiya Rolle, USA and Whitney Jones, USA
vs.
Kristy Frilling, USA and Alexandra Mueller, USA


DOUBLES

Round 1

John Hoyes, USA and Austin Klores, USA
vs.
Daniel Garza, MEX and Nicolas Santos BRA


SINGLES*

Round 1

Ellah Nze, USA vs. Emily Fraser, USA


*Eliminated during singles qualifying rounds:

Tinesta Rowe


DOUBLES

Round 1

Ellah Nze, USA and Rebecca Marino, CAN
vs.
Tinesta Rowe, JAM and Phoebe Di Leo, USA

New Six Year Partnership Set to Significantly Elevate US Open Series and the US Open

New Agreement is the Most Comprehensive Sponsorship Partnership in the Company’s History

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., January 14, 2008 – The USTA and Olympus America Inc. today jointly announced the signing of a landmark multiyear deal, which makes Olympus the first-time worldwide title sponsor of the US Open Series, and a US Open Corporate Champion. The six-year deal represents the most comprehensive sponsorship partnership in the company’s history and associates one of the fastest-growing precision technology companies with two of tennis’ fastest-growing brands - - the US Open and the US Open Series.

As a cornerstone of the expanded relationship, Olympus will become the first title sponsor of the US Open Series -- the eight-week North American summer season linking 10 tournaments to the US Open. Since its launch four years ago, the Series has doubled television viewership, and continues to bring new sponsors and more fans to the sport.

Under the deal, Olympus will be integrated into all television broadcasts of the Olympus US Open Series and will receive prominent on-court presence at all Series events as well as at the US Open. The Series currently receives more than 75 hours of live national television on ESPN, CBS and NBC, with additional coverage on Tennis Channel.

“This new partnership represents another milestone for the US Open Series and the sport of tennis in North America,” said Arlen Kantarian, CEO, Professional Tennis, USTA. “Olympus is a blue chip brand indigenous to our sport, with a strong commitment to growing the game. This partnership further validates that the US Open Series concept of packaging a summer season of tournaments linked to the US Open, continues to generate new enthusiasm, bringing new sponsors and broadcasters to the sport.”

“For the last five years, Olympus has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the USTA, the US Open and millions of tennis fans around the country and beyond. As a major sponsor of the US Open and now the premier sponsor of the Olympus US Open Series, we have witnessed first-hand the passion and participation of these millions of fans,” said F. Mark Gumz, President and Chief Operating Officer, Olympus America Inc. “Further, we have seen that both photography and active healthy lifestyles are important to them, so the connections between this audience and what the Olympus brand stands for are very strong.”

"The US Open Series has contributed to the growth of the game,” said Andy Roddick, a two-time USOS men’s champion. “It’s been great for the players, but more importantly, it has made it easier for fans to follow the road to the Open on television and really create a summer season. I think it’s huge that Olympus has stepped up to contribute to the game.”

“I’ve been a fan of the US Open Series since it started and have marveled at its growth” said Lindsay Davenport, who won the inaugural USOS women’s title in 2004. “The elevation of Olympus to title sponsor is great news which should help the Series continue to grow the popularity of the game.”

As part of the landmark partnership, the US Open Series Bonus Challenge, which tracks the weekly standings of players in the race to qualify for bonus prize money at the US Open, will be renamed the “Olympus US Open Series Challenge.” Since its launch in 2004, the US Open Series has paid out an additional $4.4 million to players in US Open bonus prize money.

Olympus will use its broader relationship with the summer tennis season in North America to feature the E-System, its Digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera platform, designed with revolutionary features that expand the frontiers of digital photography.

The Olympus US Open Series brings together the 10 summer tournaments in North America, three television networks, tennis’ sanctioning bodies and top corporate sponsors during the summer tennis season. In 2007 the Series continued its enhancements to the sport, including more national TV hours, live back-to-back Finals every Sunday, bonus prize money at the US Open, new court colors, and a significant national marketing campaign.

# # #
ABOUT OLYMPUS
Olympus is a precision technology leader, creating innovative opto-digital solutions in healthcare, life science and consumer electronics products. Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its affiliates worldwide to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:

• Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
• Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
• Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents;
• Digital cameras and voice recorders.

Olympus serves healthcare and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers to efficiently, reliably and more easily achieve exceptional results. Olympus develops breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality for the consumer and professional photography markets, and also is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.

Yesterday I watched the World Team Tennis Springfield Lasers play the Newport Beach Breakers in Newport Beach, California. Of course Lindsay Davenport was the star amongst these pro league players, but it was American Shenay Perry that caught my attention. In both Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles she looked really good.

Perry has been sidelined by knee surgery that she underwent last year. I was just beginning to enjoy seeing her play when all of a sudden she was gone. According to commentator Corina Morariu, Perry anticipates playing singles again later in the year.

I'm just glad to see her back in the mix, and hope to see a lot more of her!

Last evening at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships presented by Lilly, part of the Olympus U.S. Open Series, Russian Dmitry Tursunov held on to his existing title for this tournament a little longer by defeating American James Blake in the semifinal round. Tursunov won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Blake made some wonderful shots and won the first set as Tursunov moped around. Tursunov made some wonderful shots and won the second set as Blake moped around. The third set was more weird, although it contained more great shot making; Blake seemed to mentally spaz out to somewhere else, Tursunov didn't and won.

Alrighty then, that's about what I saw. What did you see?

This afternoon at the Olympus U. S. Open Series, Bank of the West Classic Tournament on the Stanford University campus, American Serena Williams had to withdraw from her semifinal match against Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak with a knee injury. The score at her retirement was 6-1, 3-1.

Serena was obviously not at her best from point one. Her movement was very poor, she was over hitting the ball and quite frankly, did not seem in the best of moods. After a short while of play, the reason became apparent; she was being bothered by a bad knee. The injury appears to be to the same knee [left] on which she had surgery in 2003.

As it should be, Wozniak was really not concerned about Serena's knee, she was playing as if Serena was firing on all cylinders. It was actually kind of amusing to watch. Wozniak took nothing for granted about a potentially injured Serena, she took advantage of the situation and played her game. I don't blame her! Taking it to Serena Williams is not an opportunity that other players often get, seize the moment.

Hopefully this is a small kink and Serena will be able to get healthy in short order and get back on the court.

Get well soon Serena!

Top seed and 2006 champion James Blake moved into the quarterfinals at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships presented by Lilly with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Korean qualifier Woong-Sun Jun on Thursday night.

The No. 2 American (behind Andy Roddick) reached the quarterfinals (or better) in Indianapolis for the third straight year after going winless in his first three tournament appearances. The 28-year-old Tampa, Florida resident also improved to 33-15 on the season by advancing to the quarterfinals for the ninth time in 14 tournaments.

Blake went up 5-3 when he capitalized on his fifth break point in the opening set. He then saved a break point in the next game before holding to close out the 35-minute set.

In the second set, Blake broke in the first game but then lost serve in the fourth game. Blake saved two set points at 4-5 before holding. He then broke Jun at 15-40 before serving out the one hour and 12 minute match.

Blake will take on Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals on Friday. Lu beat American wild card Rajeev Ram 6-1, 7-6(1).

While Big sister Venus was all glammed up and attending the ESPY Awards last night, American Serena Williams was busy toiling away at the Bank Of The West Classic at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California last night.

Top seed Williams played the feature night match and picked up right where she left off during her run to the final of Wimbledon, beating qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The 15-year-old Larcher de Brito came out on fire, hitting her big ground strokes to perfection in building a 6-4 2-0 lead; the more experienced Williams was far from finished in her career debut at the Bank of the West Classic, however, rallying to win in three sets under the lights.

"I never underestimate anyone, especially when they play me, because they'll always bring out their best game," Williams said. "In a way it was surprising, but you've just got to deal with it. I had a plan and I started playing better, and it's encouraging for me to bounce back after losing the first set."

"I started off really well; I slowed down a little bit, but overall I was playing well the whole match," Larcher de Brito said. "Obviously she played such a great game. She's Serena Williams. I didn't have anything to lose and I gave it my all.

"I was getting close to an upset, but now I have a lot of things to work on, and a lot of years ahead of me."

Although Serena Williams is playing the Bank of the West Classic for the first time, the Williams brand has done very well at the Tier II stop in the past. Venus made the final in six of seven trips to Stanford, winning the title twice, in 2000 (beating Lindsay Davenport in the final) and 2002 (beating Kim Clijsters).

"I've never been able to make it here," Williams added. "I'm happy that I'm here. There's a nice atmosphere and it feels good to play in Stanford."