Notebook: Sasha, Masha and Miss Fabulous

SASHA AND MASHA: NBAer Sasha Vujacic was on hand to watch his girlfriend Maria Sharapova during a recent World TeamTennis showdown in Newport Beach, Calif.  But according to observers, his head wasn’t in the match.  Wrote the Daily Pilot’s David Carrillo Penaloza, Vujacic “seemed too busy looking into the stands, wishing someone would notice he [...]

A Date With Destiny

Date Krumm Takes Down Former No. 1 Safina at RG 3-6, 6-4, 7-5

PARIS — You’d think a match between a 23-year-old in the prime of her years and a 39-year-old has-been would have a single storyline. The youngster — wide-eyed and hopeful — would presumably be rising to embrace a bright new world of triumph. While the veteran would probably be set on just wrapping it all [...]

Notebook: Nothing Quite Like a Moroccan Pizza

DINARA DONE?: Dinara Safina, who hasn’t played since the Aussie Open but is the No. 2 seed in Stuttgart, says the back injury that forced her to retire in the fourth round in Melbourne could eventually put an end to her career. “My back injury is the worst you can get, because if things go [...]

Drama Queens: Safina Survives, Ivanovic’s Slam Season Ends in Tears in Loss to Bondarenko

Other Winners: Sharapova, Tsonga, Murray

FROM THE US OPEN, TUESDAY, SEPT 1. – The US Open kicked into full survival mode on Tuesday, with Dinara Safina nearly falling into her own rattlesnake pit before avoiding the death bites in a 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 win over Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska. There were a number of thrillers, including Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko fighting [...]

The Girl Who Almost Made History

Rogowska Nearly Dusts No. 1 Safina

WHAT A TEASE: Olga Rogowska, the young, almost innocent Aussie of Polish heritage, came within a couple of games of pulling off one of the great shock wins in the storied history of this game. But the Tennis Gods seemed to say sorry, kid, not on this day, not on this stage, the biggest in [...]

The Buzz – August Edition

The Taj Mahal’s Been Painted Blue, the Pyramids Are Square, the Leaning Tower is Straight and Wimbledon Has a Roof

I’LL TWITTER,YOU GET YOUR PHD: Serena said Venus “is really artsy and into smart things like…learning languages and getting degrees. I’m into Twitter.” THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST: Despite beating Elena Dementieva, Serena said, “My forehand didn’t show up. I think she went to Hawaii.”

Russians Dream About Conquering Mt. Williams

Safina to Face Venus; Dementieva to Confront Serena

TUESDAY, JUNE 30- Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva arrived at Wimbledon in much the same place, coming off tremendously disappointing losses at Roland Garros and looking like their seasons were about to skid off the rails.

Wimbledon and the Art of Delayed Gratification

This year, Wimbledon has been an exercise in delayed gratification.  It’s as if the Wimbledon referee’s office issued some secret edict: “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!  Hold your fire during the first week!” The big stories of Wimbledon’s first week were soft, off-court affairs: Rafa will not defend his title. [...]

Russian Roulette: Kuznetsova to Meet Safina in Final

ROLAND GARROS, JUNE 4–  It’s been five years since the summer of the Russian women, and finally, two of them have showed up again in a Slam final, one with load of experience and the other one chock full of ability.

What’s Russian and American, with a Period in Between?

FRENCH FED FRENZY: Federer said that when he walks the streets of Paris “everybody is, like, ‘This is your year. You’ve got to do it.’ They’re screaming from their scooters and out of the car. They even get out at the red lights and want me to sign an autograph or take a picture. It’s [...]