Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Serena Williams, photo uploaded on Flickr on 31 Dec 2008.
Showing posts with label Tennis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tennis. Show all posts
Friday, May 28, 2010
Venus Williams: the first woman to reach the last 16 of French Open
Photo: Venus Williams returns the ball to Switzerland's Patty Schnyder during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on May 23, 2010.
Second seed Venus Williams was the first woman to reach the last 16 of French Open following the 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Slovakian 26th seed Dominika Cibulkova in the third round. The American will face either rising French star Aravane Rezai (15th seed) or Russian 19th seed Nadia Petrova for a quarter final berth, after their third round match was suspended because of fading light at 7-7 in the last set.
Venus Williams has beaten Patty Schnyder 6-3, 6-3 in the first round and Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2, 6-4 in the second. It is the first time since 2006 that she is past the third round at the French Open. She is joined by third seed Dane Caroline Wozniacki and 14th seed Italian Flavia Pennetta contesting for the fourth round.
Serena Williams to face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Saturday
Photo: Serena Williams (USA) and Stefanie Voegele (CH).
With the sun shining at Roland Garros, the world number one Serena Williams demolished German world number 77 Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-1 in just 55 minutes in a second round match. She will face on Saturday Russian 29th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the third round for a place in the last 16, as she bids to lift the trophy for the first time in nine years.
Earlier, at the French Open, Serena Williams defeated Stefanie Voegele 7-6(2), 6-2 in the first round. She also is playing doubles with Venus Williams as the top seeds. They are scheduled to play Daniela Hantuchova and Caroline Wozniacki in the second round.
Once known for her unusual and colorful outfits on court, Williams has also presented new designs off-court. She formerly had a special line with Puma and currently has a line with Nike. The deal, signed in April 2004 with Nike is worth $40 million, it has been reported. Since 2004, she has also been running her own line of designer apparel line, ‘Aneres’ (‘Serena’ spelled backwards). In 2009 she launched a signature collection of handbags and jewelry.
Maria Kirilenko moves on to fourth round of French Open
To move on to the fourth round for the first time Maria Kirilenko beat defending champion and fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova out of the French Open on Friday, at the third round stage. The sixth seed Kuznetsova lost (6-3, 2-6, 6-4) to 30th-seed Kirilenko.
Earler Kirilenko defeated Karolina Sprem in the first round match (7-6(5) 6-4). In the second round, she defeated Yvonne Meusburger (6-3 6-3). Kirilenko will now meet 17th seeded-Italian Francesca Schiavone for a place in the quarterfinals.
Svetlana Kuznetsova crashed out of French Open
Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova crashed out of the French Open on Friday, at the third round stage, beaten in three sets by fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko. The sixth seed Kuznetsova lost (6-3, 2-6, 6-4) to 30th-seeded Kirilenko.
"I didn't come here with my best game, but I gave my all and I fought all I could," said Kuznetsova, adding, "You cannot play great all the time. It's up and downs. I haven't been playing well this claycourt season or this season. It happens and I'll be back. It's just a matter of time."
Maria Sharapova to meet Justine Henin on Saturday
The former world number one Maria Sharapova will contest the four-time champion and 22nd seed Justine Henin for a place in the last 16 on Saturday. The 12th seed Sharapova completed a victory in straight sets in the second round over Henin's Belgian compatriot Kirsten Flipkens.
Maria Sharapova, who seems to shadow Henin's efforts for a fifth Roland Garros crown said, "I'm looking forward to it… We've had some great matches in the past. We've had some battles and I've had some tough losses and some great wins, so I look forward to this one."
The Siberian who trails Henin 6-3 in head-to-head career matches, and who last week came through five matches in Strasbourg to win her first career title on red clay, and has won a couple of rounds in the French Open, will meet the greatest dirt-baller of her generation, Justine Henin.
Sharapova is a French Open away from a full set of grand slam titles. Earlier she defeated Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens 6-3, 6-3. It will be their first meeting since Henin returned to professional tennis early this year.
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