The Mo and The Ro

If you are interested in watching any of the matches from the Australian Open Wildcard Playoff’s you can do so by clicking on the link below!

http://showdown.tennis.com.au/

A live stream is offered by Tennis Australia!

The winners of this week’s men’s and women’s events will gain direct entry to January’s Open.

Injury and illness forced Molik to retire briefly last year, but she says that is all behind her now.

“I’ve been feeling great – that’s something that I have worked on, strength, is to make sure my body holds up,” she said.

“I’ve really worked hard and lifted a lot of weights and doing plenty of running and I think that’s helped with my movement too.

“It’s not just a matter of being quick but recovering back to the centre of the court.”

MOLI MOLI MOLI………..OY OY OY!!!!

Questions have been raised over Dinara Safina’s Australian Open availability after the Russian world No.2 withdrew from January’s Brisbane international with a back injury.

Fears first emerged for Safina when she left courtside in tears after being forced to withdraw from her first match at last month’s WTA Championships at Doha due to the complaint. Safina later revealed she had been battling the problem for three months. Brisbane International organisers were still hopeful Safina would be fit, announcing her arrival a day after the Russian told reporters in Doha that she may not play on the Australian summer circuit at all.

Tournament director Steve Ayles confirmed on Friday that Safina had simply run out of time to be fit for the January 3-10 tournament.

“Safina was very much looking forward to starting her year in Brisbane and it is a real shame that she will not be fit in time to attend,” Ayles said.

Get well soon Dinara!

My heart is breaking right now!

Former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, Amelie Mauresmo, announced her retirement from professional tennis today.

“I came here to announce the end of my career. I made this decision after careful consideration,” the 30-year-old Frenchwoman told a news conference before bursting into tears.

“It was becoming tough mentally. What happened is I simply did not want to go training any more. My tennis life lasted 25 years, there were extraordinary things and tough moments.”

“I had three main goals in my career, becoming world number one, claiming a grand slam title and a Fed Cup. I achieved all of them,” said Mauresmo.

“When I look back I have no regret and great pride.”

Amelie collected 25 singles titles including the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon titles, and won Fed Cup with France in 2003.

While I am saddened by her decision, (Momo still has plenty of game people!), I want to wish her nothing but the best for the future!

Former Australian Open winner Amelie Mauresmo is expected to announce whether or not she will continue her tennis career at a scheduled press conference on Thursday.

Mauresmo announced in October she was skipping her final two tournaments of the season, and rumours have swirled since that she is considering hanging up her racquet for good. The Frenchwoman got off to a good start early in the season, winning the Paris Indoor Open, but struggled to maintain her form.

Stay with us Momo! I know you can regain the Number 1 ranking! You still have game, girl!

World No.1 Serena Williams has been fined $175,000 and put on probation for 2 years after her outburst at the U.S Open earlier this year by the Grand Slam Committee. The committee said a further major offense at a grand slam in the next two years would see her suspended from the U.S. Open in 2010, 2011 or 2012. The fine will be reduced to $82,500 if she commits no further major offense through 2011.

The committee, who are responsible for organizing the four grand slam events, met on Saturday at the World Tour Finals in London to discuss administrator Bill Babcock’s recommended punishment.

Williams’ outburst was prompted by an incident in her semi-final against eventual champion Kim Clijsters at Flushing Meadow in September trailing 4-6 5-6 15-30, Williams launched into a second serve but the line judge called her for a foot-fault, meaning the American had served a double-fault to go match point down.

Astounded by the verdict, Williams launched into an expletive-laced rant at the official. She waved her racket in the lineswoman’s direction and then shook a ball in her clenched fist as she threatened to “shove it down” her throat.

This decision is clearly a HUGE double standard. It’s a commonplace occurrence that the men swear at lines people, and nothing is ever done about it. It is always put down to “the heat of the battle.” Why then must it be different for the women? Is it because of the perceived threat of violence? Who knows?

Tell us what you think.

"Are You For Real?"

Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko stunned Roger Federer to reach the final of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-2 4-6 7-5 victory over the world No.1 on Saturday. Federer had never lost to Davydenko in 12 previous meetings, but the Wimbledon and French Open champion was unable to extend that run in the semi-finals at London’s O2 Arena.

Davydenko, who will face Argentine (and my boyfriend……….shhhhhh…..he doesn’t know yet!),  Juan Martin Del Potro in Sunday’s final, had only qualified for the last four late on Friday and he was back on court just 14 hours later. Fifth seed Del Potro meanwhile overcame Swedish eighth seed Robin Soderling 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in an equally tight second semi to earn his place in the trophy match despite his rival firing down 16 aces.

Former world No. 4 Jelena Dokic (Jellybean!) has signed on for the Hobart International tournament which is played in the weeks leading up to the Australian Open in January.

Dokic will join another high profile Aussie, Alicia Molik (on the comeback trail…….YAY!), in the field.

Jellybean has a lot of points to defend at next years Australian Open, after a disappointing year fending off injury after illness after injury, she has been playing great these last few weeks in the Challenger circuit!

Good Luck guys!

Jellybean!

Alicia Molik

Roger Feder came romping home after an early fright in his opening Round Robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals yesterday. Andy murray also won through a tough 3 setter against  Juan Martin del Potro! Federer, looking to regain the year-end top ranking after being overthrown by Rafael Nadal last year, dug himself out of trouble to win 4-6 7-5 6-1. The start to Group A has been a great one!

Group B action opens on Monday when Rafael Nadal, who can still beat Federer to the year-end world number one ranking, faces Swede Robin Soderling and (my boyfriend) Novak Djokovic takes on Nikolay Davydenko.