Black Tennis Pros

Several of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's biggest stars are showcased in a fantastic new photographic book published by the International Tennis Federation to celebrate the upcoming Olympic Tennis Event in Beijing.

Entitled "Journey To Beijing – Tennis Celebrates The Olympics", the book features more than 40 of the world's leading tennis players who took part in the ITF project to help promote the prestigious event, which features its strongest fields since tennis returned as an Olympic sport in 1988.

The 140-page publication features a series of specially commissioned photographs of the game's top names dressed as athletes from other summer or winter Olympic sports. These are accompanied by interviews with the players talking about their Olympic memories and hopes for Beijing.

The photographs were taken over a six-month period by some of the world's leading tennis photographers, with photo shoots held in venues as varied as Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, Indian Wells, Los Angeles, Miami, Melbourne, Moscow, Netherlands, Palm Beach, Santiago, Shanghai and Tel Aviv.

Among the 44 players represented in the book are the two current world No.1s, Ana Ivanovic, who is shown playing beach volleyball, and Roger Federer, who poses as a fencer, both of whom were photographed in Miami. Rafael Nadal appears as a footballer on location in Shanghai, while Novak Djokovic takes advantage of Dubai's indoor ski slope.

Maria Sharapova takes time out from a photo shoot to try rhythmic gymnastics in Los Angeles, while Serena Williams demonstrates her ice skating abilities at home in Palm Beach. Olympic champions Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez become marathon runners on the streets of Santiago, while wheelchair world No.1 Esther Vergeer shows her versatility as a basketball player in the Netherlands.

The players also give an insight into the part the Olympics has played in their lives, with a series of exclusive interviews looking at their childhood memories, previous Olympic appearances and ambitions for this summer's Games.

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: "I believe the book shows how proud current tennis players are to represent their countries in the Olympic Games as well as the importance the Olympics has played in their lives. In turn, we have witnessed the continued growth, not only of the Olympic Tennis Event, but also of the international reach of our sport since tennis returned to the Olympic Games in 1988."

SINGLES

Round 1

James Blake, USA defeated Gilles Simon, FRA
6-4, 6-3

Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Donald Young, USA(WC)
6-1, 6-1


DOUBLES

Round 1

James Blake, USA and Sam Querrey, USA
defeated by
Todd Widom, USA and Michael Yani, USA
6-7(2), 6-3 [7-10]

Donald Young, USA and Jesse Levine, USA
defeated by
Robert Lindstedt (SWE) and Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)
6-7(8), 6-7(1)



SINGLES

Round 1

Ahsha Rolle, USA(Q) defeated by Alisa Kleybanova, RUS
4-6, 2-6

Jamea Jackson, USA(Q) defeated by Victoria Azarenka, BLR
1-6, 1-6


*Eliminated during singles qualifying rounds:

Angela Haynes, USA
Alexandra Stevenson, USA


DOUBLES

Round 1

Angela Haynes, USA and Liga Dekmeijere, LAT
defeated
Julie Ditty, USA and Shikha Uberoi, IND
6-1, 6-4

Alexandra Stevenson, USA and Anne Keothavong, GBR
defeated
Katie O'Brien GBR and Chanelle Scheepers, RSA
1-6, 7-5 [10-8]


SINGLES

Round 1

Nicholas Monroe, USA(WC) defeated by Yen-Hsun Lu, TPE
6-7(5), 3-6

Scoville Jenkins, USA defeated by Kyu Tae Im, KOR
5-7, 7-6(3), 3-6

Phillip Simmonds, USA vs. Noam Okun, ISR


DOUBLES

Round 1

Scoville Jenkins, USA and Brendan Evans, USA
defeated by
Frederic Niemeyer, CAN and Bobby Reynolds, USA
1-6, 4-6


SINGLES

Round 1

Todd Paul, USA defeated Austin Klores, USA
6-1, 6-2

Jarmaine Jenkins, USA defeated Lance Vodicka, USA
6-3, 4-0 Ret'd

Raven Klaasen, RSA defeated Matthew Allare, USA
4-6, 6-2, 6-1


DOUBLES

Round 1

Jarmaine Jenkins, USA and Ryan Young, USA
defeated by
Tigran Martirosyan, ARM and Daniel Yoo, KOR
6-2, 6-7(5) [6-10]

Raven Klaasen, RSA and Yuichi Ito, JPN
defeated
Sheeva Parbhu, USA and Maciek Sykut, USA
6-0, 3-6 [10-8]


SINGLES*

Round 1

Megan Moulton-Levy, USA defeated by Sofia Melikishvili, GEO
3-6, 6-3, 2-6

Ellah Nze, USA defeated Paula Zabala, COL
6-4, 6-4


DOUBLES

Round 1

Megan Moulton-Levy, USA and Zuzana Zemenova, SVK
defeated
Sarah Foster, USA and Imke Reimers GER
6-1, 6-2

Ellah Nze, USA and Alison Riske, USA
defeated
Emily Fraser, USA and Alexa Guarachi, USA
6-2, 6-2


*Eliminated during singles qualifying rounds:

Tinesta Rowe, JAM

American Ahsha Rolle has not beeen having a lot of match success as of late, but be damned if she hasn't been putting in the effort.

Along with eleven others on Saturday, Ahsha was added to the Rogers Cup main draw.

Come on Ahsha, you've got the goods girl, make it happen in Montreal!!

While in Las Vegas, Serena Williams hung out at the Zappos Headquarters with CEO Tony Hsieh. In answering some questions from Zappos Twitter readers, Serena talks Wii Sports Tennis, music, being a role model and more.

DOUBLES

Final Round

Ellah Nze, USA and Rebecca Marino, CAN WINNERS!!
defeated
Courtney B. Dolehide, USA and Kirsten Flower, USA
7-5, 6-3

Ellah Nze, USA and Rebecca Marino, CAN