Happy New Year 2017

The New Year is upon us, with tons of books to be read, and adventures to be led.
May you find fulfillment and joy this year! Happy New Year!

Serbian Ana Ivanovic Retires From Tennis

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia retired from tennis at age 29 on Wednesday December 28. 2016. This put an end to her career in which she was ranked No. 1 in 2008 but was dogged with persistent injuries that took a toll on her career.

On a Facebook live broadcast she said, "it was a difficult decision, but there is so much to celebrate." She won 15 tour titles, including the 2008 French Open, and is now ranked No. 63.

"It's been well-known that I've been hampered by injuries. ... I can only play if I can perform up to my own high standards and I can no longer do that," she said. "So it's time to move on."

Ivanovic became a UNICEF national ambassador for Serbia in 2007 and says that position will figure in her plans.

"I will become an ambassador of sport and healthy life. I will also explore opportunities in business, beauty and fashion among other endeavors," she said on her Facebook page. "I will also have more time for my philanthropic activities with my work with UNICEF. I've lived my dreams and I really hope to help others do so as well."

Merry Christmas 2016

May God bless you and your family with a joyous, loving and peaceful celebration this Christmas and all throughout the year.

Ex-Sunnyvale Tennis Instructor Accused Of Molesting 2 Girls

Sunnyvale, California - Matt Reza Montana 61, a former tennis instructor in Sunnyvale is facing 31 counts, a majority being lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 in addition to a single charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child. His victims are two underage sisters according to the city officials and prosecutors.

He appeared at the Palo Alto Courthouse on Wednesday morning December 14 and he did not enter a plea. He's scheduled to return to court on January 11, 2017 according to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Pinaki Chakravorty.

Chakravorty said that the alleged molestation by Montana was exposed when one of the victims told a friend about what happened and the friend told her own mother. The friend's mother then told the victim's mother, who decided to have her daughter see a therapist, who encouraged the victim to talk with law enforcement.

Montana gave tennis lessons to the first victim one to three times a week and was allegedly abused between 2006 and 2013, according to Chakravorty. One charge was filed on behalf of the second victim, the first victim's sister, who was allegedly abused from 2009 to 2011.

According to city officials, Montana is a registered sex offender previously convicted of sexual battery in 1996, when he was sentenced to three years of probation and a year in jail. Montana failed to inform his employer BG Tennis, Sunnyvale's contractor for its tennis programs, that he was registered as a sex offender as required by law, city officials said.

Source:
http://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Former-Sunnyvale-Tennis-Instructor-Accused-Of-10796399.php

34 People Arrested in Spain For Tennis Match-Fixing

MADRID — The Spanish police have arrested 34 people who they suspect are involved in a criminal betting organization that fixed tennis matches in tournaments held in Spain and Portugal. Those bets were usually placed on men’s matches in at least 17 tournaments and yielded profits of more than half a million euros €500,000 (£420,420), according to the police statements issued on Thursday.

The arrested include 6 tennis players, Spain's interior ministry said, but they didn't identify any those arrested. They are accused of deliberately arranging the loss of tennis games in at least 17 different events.

A police spokesperson told the AFP news agency that players were offered between €500 (£419) and €1,000 (£837) to throw matches. "Sometimes they promised €500 and in the end only paid €50. The players were above all the victims," he added.

The players involved are relatively lower-ranked - all are outside the top 800 worldwide.

Match-fixing has become a major concern in tennis, particularly at the game’s lower professional levels. Under pressure to tackle the problem more forcefully, tennis officials agreed last January to authorize an independent review of the sport’s integrity efforts and committed to adopting all of the review panel’s recommendations when they are issued next year.

Agnieszka Radwanska 2016 Amazing Shots Compilation

Agnieszka Radwanska is WTA's longtime queen of hot shots, check out her 2016 hot shots compilation, showing all her magic tricks. Watch all her best shots of the year below:

Happy Halloween 2016

On Hallowe’en the thing you must do
Is pretend that nothing can frighten you
And if somethin’ scares you and you want to run
Just let on like it’s Hallowe’en fun.

Sharapova Can Return to Tennis in 2017, Double Standards in Tennis Williams Sisters are also taking Illegal Substance

Russian tennis superstar Maria Sharapova, was given a reduce suspension after appealing her two-year suspension for a doping violation. Her suspension be reduced by 9 months, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said, ruling that the original penalty was disproportionately harsh for an infraction that Sharapova had committed unintentionally. The 29 years old five-time grand slam champion will be able to return to the sport in April 2017 after serving a 15-month suspension for testing positive for the banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open in January. She can participate in the French Open and Wimbledon by that time. Under the earlier ruling, she would have been suspended until Jan. 25, 2018 by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The panel concluded that while she did commit a doping violation, she was not an “intentional doper.”

“I knew this was never the way I going to finish my career and I was going to do it on my terms… I never doubted that,” Sharapova told CNN.

There's a double standards in sports since Serena and Venus Williams were never banned or given suspension for doping and taking illegal substance. They even got a free pass, World Anti-Doping Agency allowed US tennis players Serena and Venus Williams to take banned substances because they are representing the U.S. No. 1 tennis player Serena Williams was allowed to take banned substances such as oxycodone, hydromorphone, prednisone and methylprednisolone in 2010, 2014 and 2015 which are can really give an athlete a huge advantage against their opponents.

Serena Williams Done in the Rio Olympics

Serena Williams is out of the 2016 Rio Olympics after getting trounced in third round by Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. The top-seeded Williams lost in straight sets to Svitolina in the third round of the singles tournament at the 2016 Olympics on Tuesday.

Williams lost 6-4, 6-3 to Svitolina, who is ranked 20th in the world.

She was aiming to become the first female tennis player to win two gold medals in singles at the Olympics. She won gold in both singles and doubles at the 2012 Olympics in Beijing. Serena is now done with the Rio Olympics altogether, after also losing in the first round in doubles with her sister Venus Williams. The sisters won gold in doubles in 2000, 2008 and 2012.

Her sister Venus also lost in the first round in singles, meaning both Williams sisters are out in the Rio Olympics. Venus fell to 62nd-ranked Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium.

Tennis Olympic doubles match: Serena and Venus Williams Defeated by Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova

Serena and Venus Williams lost their first-ever Olympic doubles match in the 1st round at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The three-time Olympic champions were shocked by Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova handing them defeat in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. 

Serena Williams still has the singles tournament in the Rio Olympics.

@NBCOlympics shut up this breaking my heart :(

— #1 perfect stan (@bibicarabeem) August 7, 2016

Wawrinka Won't Play in Rio Olympics

Fourth ranked Stan Wawrinka will not be able to play in the Rio Olympics he withdrew on Tuesday because of a bad back. This will be another blow to the tennis tournament in the Rio Olympics which has been hit by numerous high-profile pull-outs.

Wawrinka 31, from Switzerland join Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic who also removed themselves from the event because of injury.

“I am very sad,” said Wawrinka, the former French and Australian Open champion.

“Going to Rio was close to my heart. After Beijing (2008) and London (2012), I wanted to live these Games in Brazil.

“Sadly, it’s not possible. I wish good luck to all the Swiss athletes who will go to Rio and I will support them from distance.”

Wawrinka aggravated his back injury in Toronto last week where he reached the semi-finals.

He won the Olympic doubles gold medal with Federer at the 2008 Games but lost in the first round of the singles in London to eventual champion Andy Murray.

Big-serving Australian Sam Groth was lined up to replace Wawrinka in the draw.

“Late call-up to join the @AUSOlympicTeam in Rio. Couldn’t be more pumped,” Groth tweeted.

World number 3 Roger Federer opted out of the Games last week and shut down his 2016 season to rest a knee injury. Belinda Bencic, ranked 19, withdrew due to a wrist injury.

The tennis Olympic tournament, which starts on Saturday, has been hit by a number of pull-outs over injury, fears of the Zika virus or scheduling complaints.

Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych, Dominic Thiem, Richard Gasquet, John Isner, Feliciano Lopez and Nick Kyrgios are not playing.

In the women’s singles high profile players like Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka (pregnant), Bencic and Karolina Pliskova won't be playing. While Maria Sharapova, silver medalist behind Serena Williams in 2012, is serving a two-year doping ban.

The men’s doubles was also tainted when defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan opted out, insisting “our family’s health is now our top priority”.

Later Tuesday, Rafael Nadal will decide what events he will play in Rio as he makes a return from a wrist injury which has kept him off tour for two months.

Wimbledon 2016 Results

 

Serena Williams defeated Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 to win Wimbledon 2016 title. Her win on Centre Court means she moves level with Steffi Graf's Open-era record 22 major triumphs and just two short of Margaret Court's all-time best 24.

For the men's single Andy Murray claims his second Wimbledon crown. He won his second Wimbledon crown and third major championship overall as he defeated Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2).

In mixed doubles Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen wins the crown defeating Cololmbian Robert Farah and Anna-Lena Gronefeld of Germany 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. Heather Watson became the fourth British player to secure a title on Wimbledon's final day.

Agnieszka Radwanska Nearly Beaten by Konjuh

 

A valiant effort from 18-year-old Konjuh, who limps off after rolling her ankle and pushing Radwanska to the limit https://t.co/bQvBulrLVA

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2016

No.3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska scrape a win against 18-year-old Ana Konjuh of Croatia, 6-2, 4-6, 9-7. 103rd ranked Konjuh, had three match points and with the game is at 7-7 and 40-15 on Radwanska’s serve, she accidentally stepped on a ball she was chasing down and rolled her right ankle, collapsing at the chairs in tears. Despite the pain she surprisingly continued after lengthy medical treatment, but was clearly limited in her movement and Radwanska capitalized to bag the game. Agnieszka Radwanska moved into the third round of Wimbledon.

No.2 seed Garbiñe Muguruza suffered a second-round upset against unheralded Slovak qualifier Jana Cepelova. British No.1 Johanna Konta lose against the resurgent Eugenie Bouchard and Belinda Bencic retire earlier in the day.

Nike Recalls Tennis Dress That's Too Light and Airy Players Get Exposed Too much

The Wimbledon tournament has controversy regarding the players dress. Nike-sponsored female players competing at Wimbledon complained that dresses designed by the company are too short and airy. It is above the waistline and hamper their play. The Nike tennis dress is too light that exposed players when they jump or run and can result to wardrobe malfunctions.

Nike has reportedly asked 20 of its sponsored players at the tournament to return a particular style of tennis dress for alterations after some complaints about it design. It have been compared to nighties.

Nike said: "We need to a make small change to your dresses per Wimbledon rules. Could you please bring them by the Nike Wimbledon House. This is VERY important."

The dress in question is the NikeCourt Premier Slam Women's Tennis Dress which is described on Nike's website as "ideal for layering over shorts or tights" with "an elongated back hem" that "provides more coverage." It also said that it is "agile, flexible and built to increase speed."

Product photos of the white dress are about as tame as its description, showing a high-cut neck, a racer back and a flowy, pleated body.

Canadian Eugenie Bouchard is one of the more than 20 female tennis stars sponsored by Nike at Wimbledon. She's also among the athletes expected to have the dress lengthened.

"I tried on the dress months ago, so for me, I love it. It is nice and short so you can move around and be free with your movements. I think it's funny that people paid a lot of attention to it, but I think it's really nice", Bouchard said.

The NikeCourt Premier Slam tennis dress retails for US$100.

Garbine Muguruza Defeated Serena Williams to win French Open

Garbine Muguruza earn her 1st grand slam title at the age of 22 last Saturday June 4, 2016 she said that this is "For Spain and for me, this is amazing." Garbine Muguruza won the 2016 French Open against Serena Williams.

The world No. 4 defeated rank 1 Williams 7-5, 6-4 to capture her first Grand Slam title. She is the first Spanish woman to win a major title since 1998.

Muguruza was tough and she match the intensity of the defending champion, she also traded power hits and dictate play. Williams, who is clearly against a young and powerful opponent that is 12 years her junior, struggled with her movement.

After being presented with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, Muguruza, 22, said: "I can't explain with words what his day means to me. You work all your life to get here.

"I want to really congratulate Serena because she's one of the best players.

"Of course I want to say thank you to my team, my coach, everyone there [in the players' box], my family, for sure.

"I've grown up playing on clay, so for Spain and for me this is just amazing."

French Open: Crazy Both Women On the Ground But Still Playing

Polish Agnieszka Radwanska (rank 2nd) and Czech Barbora Strycova (rank 30) was engage in the wildest play in the French Open on Friday. While they were in the middle of an exchange, Strycova slipped on the clay going near the sidelines to return a shot. Radwanska fired back but also slipped on her knees.

Strycova stand back up but slipped again and she incredibly able to twist her body and send it back. Radwanska struggled to her feet, ran to the net, and sent it back. Strycova got up, ran close to the net and strike the ball far away from     Radwanska for the point.

Watch the wild play below:

WUT just happened?! Ninjas unite on Lenglen. #RG16 https://t.co/X0WTf1a3NA

— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2016

Radwanska did end up winning, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-2.


Radwanska vs Strycova

Andy Murray Win Against Novak Djokovic in Italian Open final on His Birthday

Andy Murray gave himself the perfect gift for his birthday he beat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the Italian Open final Sunday May 15, 2016. This is his first win over Djokovic on clay and only the second time Murray has tasted victory against his rival in their previous 14 encounters. On his 29th birthday, Murray was able to break Djokovic in the first set and twice in the second to win the game 6-3 6-3.

Best. Match point. Ever? Take a bow, @andy_murray! https://t.co/mt75bVjvyH

— Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia) May 15, 2016

Tennis: Internazionali BNL d'Italia

Internazionali BNL d'Italia the second most prestigious clay event after Roland Garros, the Premier tournament's roll of champions will start on May 09 to May 15.  Maria Sharapova the 2015 champion won't be able to defend her title because of the doping scandal.

The World No.1 Serena Williams will be heading the tournament. She has won Rome 3 times in her career 2002, 2013, and 2014. Injuries has bugged her all season and she's still searching for her first title of this year. However, it will be tough she'll need to go through No.6 seed Simona Halep and No.4 seed Victoria Azarenka. 

However, Victoria Azarenka’s status is in some doubt following a back injury that caused her to withdraw from Madrid mid-tournament.

Caroline Wozniacki, who hurt her ankle in practice following Miami, will not be playing.

Monte-Carlo 2016 Rolex Masters

The top 9 in the Emirates ATP Rankings will slug it out in the Monte-Carlo 2016 Rolex Masters. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal look to continue the Big Four's dominance of Masters 1000 events in Monte-Carlo. Djokovic will be in the same half of the draw as Roger Federer, Djokovic want to retain his title and clinch a third crown at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. While Roger Federer return with a healthy body. Federer warns his fellow players that he will not be a pushover despite three months out due to injury. Federer returns to the court next week following knee surgery that keeps him from his dominant form.

The 34-year-old Swiss did not push through his planned comeback in the Miami Open last month because of a stomach virus.

Federer will start vs Thomaz Bellucci or Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, with the possibility of Roberto Bautista Agut in the 3rd round. Both 8th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and 9th seed Richard Gasquet could pose a threat to Federer in the quarter-finals.

2nd seed Andy Murray, 8th time champion Rafael Nadal, 2014 winner Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych headline the bottom half of the draw.

The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round.

    1.   Serbia Novak Djokovic
    2.   United Kingdom Andy Murray
    3.   Switzerland Roger Federer
    4.   Switzerland Stan Wawrinka
    5.   Spain Rafael Nadal
    6.   Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych
    7.   Spain David Ferrer
    8.   France Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
    9.   France Richard Gasquet
    10.   Canada Milos Raonic
    11.   Belgium David Goffin
    12.   Austria Dominic Thiem
    13.   France Gaël Monfils
    14.   Spain Roberto Bautista Agut
    15.   France Gilles Simon
    16.   France Benoît Paire

Maria Sharapova Enjoying her Vacation in a Skimpy Bikini

Maria Sharapova enjoying her vacation in Mexico amid the drug scandal. The 28-year-old tennis star looked relaxed while having fun dancing her troubles away with good friend Chelsea Handler last Monday.

The Russian tennis star has been suspended after taking a banned substance meldonium. She looked sensational in a red bikini, her friend Chelsea, 41, is in a black two-piece bikini.

Zeraca Women's Tie Side Bottom Triangle Bikini Swimsuits (L14, Dark Red) $13.99  

Victoria Azarenka is Back, Crushes Serena Williams to Win the Title

Former number 1 Victoria Azarenka from Belarus is back in her deadly form securing straight-sets victory over world number one Serena Williams to claim the BNP Paribas Open title 6-4 6-4.

This is her first title since the 2013 Australian Open at the Brisbane International in January, and added a second in 2016 with a dominant display, consigning a frustrated Williams who also lost to Angelique Kerber in Melbourne in January. This is Williams consecutive final losses for the first time since 2004.

Azarenka got an early lead of 2-0 displaying her intelligence and skills producing a brilliant ace to make up for a double-fault in her first service game. Williams was able to pull off a run to come back to 3-2, but she paid the price for a number of unforced errors 33 in total.

The Belarusian did not let up and took a 3-0 lead in the second set, with Williams' frustration evident as she subsequently smashed two racquets at a change of ends to earn a points penalty.

Williams displayed her power and determination to rally back from 5-1 and gain two break points for the opportunity to draw level in the second set. But Azarenka has another thing in her mind she recovered to serve out the match and secure a return to the top 10 in the world rankings, regaining the title she last won in 2012.