Black Tennis Pros

I have seen and heard some juvenile behavior in my lifetime, but some Republicans not voting for the 'Bailout Bill' because Nancy Pelosi gave a speech that offended twelve of their members is beyond laughable. Not voting because you don't agree with the bill, or you'd like to see another type of bill, that would make sense. But not providing support because of hurt feelings? Sheeesh!

I love Barney Frank's offer to soothe their wounded egos:

"Give me those twelve people's names, and I will go talk uncharacteristically nicely to them, and tell them what wonderful people they are, and maybe they'll think about the country."

My children have acted with more sophistication when they were two and three years old whining for their juice cups! I cannot believe that grown men actually stood up on national television and uttered those words.

In the immortal words of Charlie Brown, "Good Grief."

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Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has roared back and secured his first tour title today in Bangkok, Thailand by defeating Serbian Novak Djokovic 7-6, 6-4. In a rematch of the 2008 Australian Open final, 23-year-old Tsonga turned the tables and took the trophy.

"It came down to maybe a couple of points. The last game was very hard and I was just saying in my head “Go On! Do It!” so it was incredible. I was not nervous, I was just a little bit nervous about Novak because he has played just unbelievably and, for me, it’s difficult to play against him because I have a really good serve and I think one of the best parts of his game is the return."


After spending the summer recooperating from knee surgery, Tsonga has blasted back onto the tour with an obvious determination. He could very well play his way into qualifying for the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai for the first time.

"I feel great, it’s got to be one of the best moments of my life," said Tsonga. "I just played unbelievable tennis against Novak and it was just my dream so I’m really happy."


“This win is very special, I’ve wanted this since I was young,” Tsonga told reporters. “This is a dream come true. I’m happy to win, Novak is a great player.

“In tennis, you have to enjoy the moment. It’s great to win at last and I want to win more and more.”

Way to Go Tsonga!!

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American sisters Venus and World No. 1 Serena Williams have arrived in Stuttgard, Germany and are scheduled to play the the Porche Tennis Grand Prix this week, September 27 through October 5, 2008 . The ladies will play both singles and doubles.

This will be the first tournament that the sisters have played since the U.S. Open.

The tier II tournament will take place in the Porsche Arena, which is an indoor hard surface. The prize money at this tournament is $650,000, the singles winner can potentially collect $98,500. The winner can also snag the very elite and stylish Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabrio. The choice between the prize money or the Porsche sports car belongs to the winner. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

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BANGKOK, Thailand (AP)—Top-seeded Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga set up a rematch of their Australian Open final by winning semifinals Saturday at the Thailand Open.

Djokovic beat Thomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-1, while the second-seeded Tsonga ousted fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-0, 6-3.

The third-ranked Djokovic won the first set when his shot tapped the net and fell into his opponent’s side. Berdych then double-faulted to lose his first service game of the second set, while a backhand error saw him go down 5-1. Djokovic closed the game out with a volley on his second match point.

“I felt as if I woke up from the dream in the second set. I felt sleepy in the first set,” the Serbian said. “But in the second set I broke him twice. He had bad service games and I took the opportunities.”

Tsonga benefited from a string of unforced errors by Monfils to race to a 4-0 lead. He faced a break point in the next game, but his powerful serve bailed him out and he went up 5-0. Tsonga set up a set point with a forehand down the line and took the set after Monfils’s forehand landed in the net.

Monfils hit an ace to level the second set at 1-1, but the more aggressive Tsonga broke again for a 4-2 lead with a passing shot. He sealed the victory with a service winner to wrap up the match in just 52 minutes.

“I hit the ball very well, but didn’t move well today,” Tsonga said. “I just hope to move better tomorrow.”

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Oprah Winfrey has joined the voice cast of the upcoming Disney animated film "The Princess and the Frog." She will voice the mother of the princess.

At a Disney presentation in Hollywood on Wednesday, John Lasseter, the chief creative office at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, said that Winfrey will play the character of Eudora, the mother of the main character Princess Tiana, voiced by Anika Noni Rose.

The film, set for release in late 2009, is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Winfrey has lent her vocal talents to several other animated and fantasy films in the past: Most recently, she played Judge Bumbleton in "Bee Movie," and she also provided dialogue for Gussy the Goose in the live-action "Charlotte's Web."

Randy Newman has written six new songs for the film, it was also announced. One of the songs, "Down in New Orleans," was performed at the presentation by Dr. John.

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On Friday Oprah Winfrey explained her decision not to have Sarah Palin on her show. Despite a public endorsement of Obama off of the show, she has never discussed it on her show. She reminded viewers that she has always said she would not use her show as a platform, and that the last time she interviewed Obama on air was 2006, before he declared himself as a candidate for president.

On a panel that was discussing current world events, Oprah chatted with best friend Gayle King, Ali Wentworth (tv personality and wife of George Stephanopoulos) and Mark Consuelos (an actor married to Kelly Ripa) and pointedly said they would not be discussing the election.

Oprah also says how, after Michelle Obama's DNC speech, she was encouraged by staff to invite her on the show. She refused. Oprah also agreed that if she had conducted the same interview as Katie Couric, she would have been hammered.

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I'm looking forward to this!!

Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils will go toe-to-toe in the semifinals of the Thailand Open in Bangkok. Tsonga and Monfils last met in France five years ago.

"I'm happy to be in the semifinals playing against my friend Gael," said Tsonga.

"I think it will be a good show! It's a very good feeling to be back. It was a lot of work to come back from injury."

World No. 20 Tsonga hit 13 aces and won 81 per cent of service points to beat No. 8 seed Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-3, 6-2 in just 61 minutes. The La Rippe, Switzerland resident, who improved to 21-9 on the season, takes his place in a fourth semifinal (or better).

"I was focused and I played very good tennis today."

World No. 30 Monfils earned a gutsy 7-6(6), 6-4 victory over Philipp Petzschner of Germany to take a place in his third ATP semifinal this year.

"It's great to be in the semifinals, it gives me confidence. I'm playing consistently, which makes me feel good."

The 22-year-old Nyon, Switzerland resident has a 1-4 record in ATP finals, highlighted by a title-winning run at Sopot (defeated Mayer) in August 2005. He reached his last ATP final at Poertschach (lost to Monaco) in May 2007.

Photos Getty Images

Source

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