Black Tennis Pros

In what turned out to be a really nice event, American Serena Williams had to take down big sister Venus to earn the first Billie Jean King Cup title.

The entire event appeared to be planned, organized and promoted wonderfully. The celebration of legend Billie Jean King with a tournament named for her, broadcast on HBO and contested by four of the world's top players, it just could not have been done any better.

Venus and Serena Williams and Serbians Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic went head to head. The single-set semifinal no-ad format was do or die. It wasn't a matter of it suiting any of the players well, it was a matter of who was willing to go for it all. In the first semifinal Venus and Jelena seemed to start out on equal footing, but Venus managed to break Jelena's serve at the all to crucial 4-4 point of their match. She then served for and won that semifinal 6-4.

Serena and Ana's semifinal wasn't quite as even handed. While Ana did get in a few memorable shots, Serena was never in any danger. She defeated Ana 6-3 setting up the all-Williams final.

The maiden contesting of a tournament could not get any better than an all-Williams final. While it wasn't the most memorable match, the ladies played well and provided a match worthy of a final. After two weeks of winning tournaments back to back, Venus appeared to run out of gas... who wouldn't.

Nevertheless, the first Billie Jean King Cup was definitely a night to remember.


Event Photos

Venus Williams has taken the first round/match 6-4 over Jelena Jankovic.

Serena wins the second round 6-3 over Ana Ivanovic setting up yet another all-Williams final.

Serena takes out Venus 6-4, 6-3 to win the first BNP Paribas Billie Jean King Cup.


Event Photos

Americans Paul Todd and Jarmere Jenkins will be playing on opposite teams in the final of the Valley Baptist Health System Harlingen Country Club $15,000 Futures, Harlingen, Texas.

Paul Todd and teammate Treat Conrad Huey of the Philippines defeated the Mexican doubles team of Luis Diaz-Barriga and Antonio Ruiz-Rosales 6-1, 6-4 to reach the final of this event.

Jarmere Jenkins and teammate Javier Herrera-Eguiluz of Mexico defeated Uladzimir Ignatik of Belarus and American Nikita Kryvonos 7-6(6) 1-6 [10-4] to reach the final.


**UPDATE**

The doubles team of American Jarmere Jenkins and Mexican Javier-Herrera Eguiluz have defeated the team of American Paul Todd and Treat Conrad Huey of the Phillippines 1-6, 6-2 [10/8] to take the Harlingen Country Club doubles title.

I don't know what happened either Gael...

Frenchman Gael Monfils seemed a tad asleep at the wheel in last night's Abierto Mexicano Telcel. Spaniard Nicolas Almagro was only slightly more awake, although definitely more willing to pull the trigger, and thus walked away with the title. Monfils was defeated 6-4, 6-4.

Perhaps Almagro's determination resided in the need for a little payback. Monfils knocked Almagro out of the Australian Open in January in a third round straight sets win 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.

Whatever the motivation of either player, it was not the best tennis that we've seen from either. Nonetheless, as defending champion, Almagro was overjoyed.

Got somewhere to go Venus?

My goodness! American Venus Williams took it to Italian Flavia Pennetta as if she had somewhere else important to go. The match lasted 62 minutes, but it seemed to go by much faster.

With an array of winning shots, five aces and a forehand that smacked everybody who doubts it in the face, Venus earned her 41st title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco a short while ago.

Pennetta took her bruising like a woman though. After being assaulted 6-1, 6-2, she still smiled as she spoke Spanish during the trophy presentation.


Venus said she was sorry that she couldn't speak Spanish like Pennetta, but she did say "gracias," and "I hope to be back here next year."

American Venus Williams won her second straight three-set match on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel. Venus defeated Agnes Szavay 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

In the semifinal round Venus will play Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic.

The White House has released the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. It was taken in the Blue Room of the White House.

Absolutely beautiful - Work it First Lady!