Black Tennis Pros

The New York Daily News is reporting that former tennis star Zina Garrison says she was dumped as captain of the Fed Cup team after objecting to racist comments about Venus and Serena Williams made by a top U.S. Tennis official.

Garrison made the claim in a race discrimination lawsuit filed Friday against the United States Tennis Association in Manhattan Federal Court. She also said she was paid less than her white counterpart, Patrick McEnroe, who led the men's team.

Garrison, who in 1990 became the first African-American woman to make the Wimbledon finals, was captain of the U.S. Fed Cup team, which competes against other nations' best players, for five years. In Garrison's tenure, the U.S. never made the Fed Cup final - the longest drought in the 45-year history of the competition.

"The USTA elected not to renew Garrison's Fed Cup captaincy based on her performance, and strongly denies any allegations of discrimination asserted by Ms. Garrison," said USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier.

Garrison says Fed Cup Chairwoman Sara Fornaciari once complained to her that Venus Williams hadn't called her back about playing in a tournament, saying: "Venus was like you and just like Serena; none of you people call back."

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MARSEILLE, France (AFP) — Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the French fourth seed, won the 576,000 euros ATP tournament on Sunday, defeating compatriot Michael Llodra 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) for his fourth career title which he dedicated to his sick father.

World number 12 Tsonga added the win a fortnight after his success in the South African Open, living up to his pre-match status as favourite on the heels of his fine win over top-seeded world number three Serb Novak Djokovic in the semis.

He finished Llodra off with his 11th ace before explaining his thoughts were with his father, former handballer Didier, who had surgery during the week.

"I almost didn't come here. I couldn't tell you that my father was operated on this week. Today, I dedicate this win to him," said Tsonga.

Alluding back to his fourth straight win over Djokovic, he added: "With this tournament I showed I was capable of beating one of the world's top players once again and that I was ready to make the step up to join the big guys."

Yesterday and today I've been feeling like some kind of winter bug is trying to creep through all of my Ester C, green tea and other daily germ defense mechanisms. I haven't been able to eat much of anything, and slept off and on all day yesterday.

As much as I hated to leave the comfort of my bed, I went to Panera Bread, got my favorite french onion soup, came home and got back into bed. Hopefully this is some kind of awful 24-hour bug that I will sleep off today.

MIDLAND, Mich. -- Mashona Washington, who will turn 33 in May, says she has played her last lower-level prize money USTA Pro Circuit event.


Her doubles rankings is in the 115s in the world, and she lost in the quarterfinals at the recent $75,000 Dow Corning Tennis Classic in Midland, Mich., where she lost in the final round of qualifying in singles.

USTA.com caught up with Mashona at the Childhelp Desert Classic in Rancho Mirage earlier this month after a semifinal doubles loss in the $25,000 event.

USTA.com: Do you still have the drive and desire to play high-level pro tennis?

Mashona Washington: Yeah, I do. I got off to kind of a slow start this year, but I trained real hard all of December. This is the last $25,000 I’ll ever play in my life. It’s just such a grind. The money is horrible, and the points are terrible. It’s just not worth it. I wish they would add a few more $50,000 or $75,000 events. At this point in my career, I would just as soon go train for two weeks than go out there and spend the money to make the semifinals of a doubles tournament and make $196. If I hadn’t already made some money during my career, I wouldn’t be here.

USTA.com: So hitting the top 50 in the world like you did in 2004 is the reason you’re still out here?

Mashona Washington: Yeah, I think so. I’m glad I played well when I did. I still play because I love it, and I feel I still have a lot of good tennis left in me. For me, it’s just going to be a matter of waking up and saying, “OK, I don’t want to play any more.” And that day hasn’t come yet.

USTA.com: What will you do once your pro career does end?

Mashona Washington: I have a lot of options. I have my college degree (obtained online), and I have my real estate license. I mean, I don’t want to have to get a 9 to 5 job until I have to, so why wouldn’t I travel the world and play tennis and kind of live that abnormal life as long as I can and my body and mind will let me? But I see myself maybe working my brother's (MalVai’s) foundation. Maybe doing some TV commentating or other behind-the-scenes work in tennis. I can always coach. I’ve been out here long enough where I think I can offer some valuable information to the younger players. And you never know, maybe marriage and kids are in the picture somewhere.

USTA.com: Who were your role models growing up?

Mashona Washington: I didn’t really have any growing up. My parents, I guess. My dad always told me I should be my own individual.

USTA.com: What does having Barack Obama as the new U.S. president mean to you?

Mashona Washington: It was an amazing event. I followed it since he said he was running. I voted for him and was glued to the TV. It was just an amazing thing. I guess if I had to say I looked up to anyone it would be Michelle Obama. She’s just such an awesome person. Her husband is now the commander in chief, and she has kids. He always says she’s the rock and can be a role model for a lot of people. It’s an awesome thing. I was proud to be black at that moment. But I’ve always been proud; proud of where I came from and my heritage. People like Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson paved the way for so many minorities to succeed and to just come and play this game. I look at Venus and Serena and know how important it is that they are role models to so many kids. They see them, and they know it doesn’t matter where you come from or what your background is. Hard work is going to get you there.

Photo by Mashona Washington

American Nicholas Monroe has reached the singles final of the Brownsville Men’s Futures Pro Circuit Tennis Tournament of Brownsville, Texas.

Nicholas defeated Croatian Mislav Hizak 2-6, 6-4, 5-1 Ret. to reach the final, and is scheduled to play American Michael Russell for the title.






American Ahsha Rolle, along with teammate Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, has reached the doubles final of The Sanderson Volvo Future Stars Women’s Tournament presented by the city of Surprise Community and Recreation Services Department, Surprise, Arizona.

The two defeated Argentines Mailen Auroux and Veronica Spiegel 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals. They are scheduled to play teammates Jorjelina Cravero of Argentina and Russian Ekaterina Ivanova for the title.

After winning the South African Open title earlier this month, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is right back into another final at the Open 13 Tournament in Maseille, France.

Tsonga put his big game on display once again in today's semifinal and barreled over Serbian Novak Djokovic for the fourth time. The Frenchman took the first set in just under a half hour! The win came in at 6-4, 7-6(1)

“I told myself I had to go for it,” Tsonga said in a courtside interview.

“I have played an extraordinary match. I have been heroic on every important point. I am proud of having played such a match.”

After a 6-4, 6-2 win over France's Virginie Razzano, American Venus Williams took her 40th career title and returned to the world's top five at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships today.

Venus has displayed excellent mental and physical form since hitting the courts in 2009. That same look and precision game was evident today. The match consisted of great hitting and impressive rallies. Razzano was definitely no fluke getting to the final, she put forward a very strategic defense, though it never seemed to be enough to diminish the power coming at her from the other side of the net.

Post match Venus said, "It was a great week to be able to win against the world's best player, my sister."

When asked about the possibility of getting back to world no. 1 Venus said, "well I would love to be the best in the world - and I am coming. So I am going to try."

With regard to Razzano Venus said, "I have to congratulate her, she beat some top players and played well again today."

Congrats Venus!