Black Tennis Pros

American Serena Williams couldn't seem to keep up the powerful momentum she had been building in the Australian Open Series Medibank International. After her elongated quarterfinal match against Caroline Wozniacki, there just wasn't much left in the tank

World no. 12 Russian Elena Dementieva was up to the challenge and engaged Serena in a number of power rallies that at least made some of the match worthy of watching. Dementieva defeated Serena 6-3, 6-1. Ouuuuuch.

"I gave it away more than anything. I made a lot of errors and made her look like a champ, really. I just pretty much gave her the match," said Serena.

"It was good to have a few matches under my belt getting ready for Melbourne." I feel like I'm going play a lot better than what I did this week. My main goal, obviously, is to go to Melbourne and do the best that I can do."

'What I Want for You — and Every Child
in America'

By President-elect Barack Obama

Publication Date: 01/14/2009


Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.


Love, Dad

Last Spring Jasmyne Cannick began the hard work of developing her tennis game, from scratch. Less than a year later she is preparing for her first tournament - not bad. I recently viewed her latest video and saw a woman who is really putting in the effort.

Jasmyne is always looking for existing players or those who would like to learn to play tennis to join her as she continually improves her game. In the L.A. or D.C. area? Contact Jasmyne and give her a run for her money.


Watch My Tennis Update - January 2009 in Sports Online | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Round 1

Alexandra Stevenson, USA vs. Stephanie Foretz, FRA


MEN'S SINGLES

Round 1

Josselin Ouanna, FRA defeated Kevin Kim, USA
7-6, 2-6, 6-3

Scoville Jenkins, USA vs. Marco Chiudin Elli, SUI


The singles main draw will be released on Friday, January 16. The doubles draw will be released the week of January 19.

SINGLES

Round 1

Serena Williams, USA defeated Samantha Stosur, AUS
6-3, 6-7(4), 7-5

Round 2

Serena Williams, USA defeated Sara Errani, ITA
6-1, 6-2

Quarterfinal Round

Serena Williams defeated Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
6-7(6), 6-3, 7-6(3)


DOUBLES

Round 1

Racquel Kops-Jones, USA and Vladimira Uhlirova, CZE
defeated by
Jill Craybas, USA and Galina Voskoboeva, KAZ
4-6, 6-2, [10/4]


SINGLES

Round 1

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA vs. BYE


DOUBLES

Round 1

Jeff Coetzee, RSA vs. Rohan Bopanna, IND
defeated by
Nicolas Almagro, ESP and Ivan Navarro, ESP
3-6, 6-3, [10/6]




WOMEN'S SINGLES

Round 1

Angela Haynes, USA vs. Ajla Tomljanovic, CRO

Ahsha Rolle, USA vs. Alexandra Anghelescu, USA


WOMEN'S DOUBLES

Round 1

Ahsha Rolle, USA and Tiya Rolle, USA
defeated
Sabrina Capannolo, USA and Christian Thompson, USA
2-6, 6-4, [10/8]

Mashona Washington, USA and Maria-Fernanda Alves, BRA
defeated
Simona Dobra, CZE and Monika Kochanova, SVK
6-4, 6-1

Angela Haynes, USA and Christina Fusano, USA
defeated
Alexandra Anghelescu, USA and Hsu Chieh-Yu, USA
6-1, 6-0


Eliminated during singles qualifying rounds:

Tiya Rolle, USA
Whitney Jones, USA
Jennifer Elie, USA


MEN'S SINGLES

Round 1

Nicholas Monroe, USA defeated by Michael McClune, USA
0-6, 6-3, 7-6(6)

Phillip Simmonds, USA vs. Todd Paul, USA


DOUBLES

Round 1

Nicholas Monroe, USA and Phillip Simmonds, USA
defeated by
Uladzimir Ignatik, BLR and Tigran Martirosyan, ARM
3-6, 6-4, [10/3]

Paul Todd, USA vs. Gregory Ouellette, USA
defeated
Rhyne Williams, USA vs. Dennis Zivkovic, USA
1-6, 6-4 [11/9]

Marcus Fugate, USA and Andreas Siljestrom, SWE
defeated by
Tihomir Grozdanov, BUL and Simeon Ivanov, BUL
1-6, 6-3, [10/8]

Eliminated during singles qualifying rounds:

Marcus Fugate, USA

London, UK - The ATP, governing body of the men's professional tennis circuit, today announces the appointment of Adam Helfant as ATP Executive Chairman and President. Mr Helfant, 44, will begin his role with the ATP immediately and will be based in London. Mr. Helfant, an MIT and Harvard Law graduate, brings a wealth of global sports, business and legal experience following 12 years as a senior executive with NIKE, three years with the National Hockey League (NHL) as an attorney and four years as an associate at the international law firm Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. Most recently he served as NIKE’s corporate Vice President, Global Sports Marketing a role in which he was responsible for NIKE’s relationships and contracts with athletes, clubs, teams, universities and sports governing bodies throughout the world. Previous to that, he held a number of senior roles at NIKE including Director of Global Sports Marketing and Vice President of U.S. Sports Marketing.

Adam Helfant, ATP Executive Chairman and President, said:
“There is no doubt that men’s professional tennis is one of the world’s most popular sports and, as a lifelong fan, it is a great honour to have been given the opportunity to take the helm at such an exciting time for the ATP. The ATP World Tour is a truly global sporting event, featuring some of the world’s best athletes and followed by millions of the most dedicated sports fans and I could not be more excited about being its new Executive Chairman.”


Source