Serena Williams Interview

From The  Hindu: Serena excited about coming to India

Q: What were your expectations for the Australian Open in the beginning of the year? A: To be frank, I wanted to go out there and try my best. Every tournament I enter, I try and win every match.

Q: How are your fitness levels now when compared to last year? Are you feeling 100 per cent fit for the 2007 season? A: Yeah! I'm in good shape but can get in better shape and am feeling extremely confident heading into the '07 season. ..

Serena Gets Animation Role

And now we can't complain that her Hollywood hobby is distracting her for tennis:-)

From the AP: Tennis star Williams to voice animated queen

The Australian Open tennis champion has lent her voice to an episode of the animated children's show "Loonatics Unleashed," airing Feb. 17 on The CW network.

Williams voices Queen Athena, who presides over an island colony of beautiful, powerful women with devious plans for the planet and its men.

Serena Reflects

From The New York Times: After Times of Grief and Doubt, a Tennis Ace is Hungry Again

...Williams had not often made the most of her talent of late. “I can definitely see how some people might have said, ‘What happened to Serena Williams?’ ” she said during an interview with a small group of reporters.

“But I think some of it was that I was dealing with a lot of stuff, and I was just trying to figure out my game and trying to figure out what I wanted to do and make it work. All I wanted to do was be the best tennis player, and at the same time I wanted to be really happy and do what made me happy. The thing that makes me happiest is playing tennis. I love winning.”

Serena Williams: Australian Open Champion 2007

That was amazing - just amazing.   

From the AP: Serena Williams overpowers Sharapova for title

Serena Williams won her eighth and most improbable Grand Slam title, overwhelming top-seeded Maria Sharapova, 6-1, 6-2, in the Australian Open on Saturday...

Serena Moves on to Semifinals

From The Herald Sun: Williams KOs Peer and critics

FLAKY. Fat. Finished. There's no end to the F words used to describe Serena Williams in recent times.

Williams hit back yesterday, defeating rising Israeli star Shahar Peer in the Australian Open quarter-finals and whacking her critics.

"When you're down, sometimes people like to kick you," Williams said after the match.

"Does it make them feel good when it makes me feel bad? I guess it does...

Serena Learns Lesson from Hobart

From The Herald Sun: Serena gets hunger back

PRINCESS Mary walking the baby, yachties down at the dock and the odd touring cricket legend out at windy Bellerive Oval.

That's about as big as it gets in Hobart. Until Serena Williams decided to play in town this month.

It was big news: Williams' first outing since September's US Open. However it was still like a travelling circus had hit town. No one was taking the tennis seriously.

Williams won the first two rounds, but did little to instil confidence.

Serena Williams Modest?

From The Sydney Morning Herald: Modest? When you're this good?

IF you asked Serena Williams about modesty she would probably tell you that she is really good at it.

Among the many revealing facts listed about the American in the WTA players' guide is that she is "self-described as very humorous with a great personality".

Which you might have thought was someone from the tour media department taking the mickey until Williams was asked after her match yesterday about the comparatively poor state of American women's tennis.

"US women's tennis is struggling a little bit, I guess," she allowed. "But we have a couple solid players, namely Venus Williams and Serena Williams, and those two players are amazing. I think the best you guys have yet to see."...

Williams Defeats Petrova

From The Herald Sun: Serena Williams defies critics

SERENA Williams had intended to get a manicure on Thursday afternoon, but slotted one last practice session into her diary instead.

For so long, Williams has been criticised for putting fashion ahead of old-fashioned fight. It was time to make statement.

And it was delivered brutally in Rod Laver Arena yesterday as Williams rediscovered some grunt to dispose of No. 5 seed Nadia Petrova 1-6 7-5 6-3.

Serena Williams to Play a Limited Schedule

Same old Serena...for better or worse.

From playfuls.com: Serena Williams To Keep 2007 Schedule To A Minimum

Reluctant Serena Williams said on Wednesday that she will keep her WTA tournament commitment to a minimum, expecting to compete in a mere dozen events during 2007.

   Deducting the four Grand Slams, that sparse scheduling leaves the former world number 1 with a self-proclaimed commitment of less than one tournament per month for the 10-month season.

Serena Looks Rusty Says Her Mom

From The Sydney Morning Herald: Serena's break: plenty of court time, not much practice

Even her mum admits the former No.1 is a long-shot, writes Christopher Clarey.

IT WAS another long and eventful off-season for Serena Williams, who made her first visits to Africa and a Florida courtroom.

But she insists she still wants to be a tennis player. On Saturday, with a warm wind swirling and the stands in Margaret Court Arena nearly empty, Williams grunted and threw her heavy frame into forehands and backhands, trying to make up for lost months and matches before the Australian Open begins today. There is much work to be done.

Serena Will Never Be No. 1 Again: Pat Cash

Pat Cash, shy as always.

From The Times: Williams is lost cause

For all her talk, Serena Williams will never return to the top again

IF ANYBODY is qualified to make deluded statements about tennis, it is a former world No 1 and winner of seven Grand Slam titles. But when Serena Williams arrives in Australia on her first foreign playing trip in a year and announces that it is only a matter of time before she is again dominating the sport, it’s time to tell her to get real.

Tennis is unforgiving. You can’t let it slide down the list of priorities, only to realise suddenly that playing the sport was what you wanted to do all along...

Serena Williams Wins Tight Three-Setter

From The Herald Sun: Williams in a thriller

SERENA Williams won a three-set thriller yesterday to advance to the quarter-finals of the Hobart International, despite receiving misleading pre-match information from her sister Venus...

Serena, 25, had never played Czech Lucie Safarova, so she called on Venus's experience with the athletic left-hander.

Williams won a tight contest 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5), but it was no thanks to her older sister.

Serena Williams Confident

From the AP: Serena Williams confident she'll return to no. 1

Serena Williams says she can be No. 1 in women's tennis again.

Williams, who begins her Australian Open preparations at the Hobart International starting Monday, on Saturday said she was more than capable of returning to the type of form which saw her claim seven Grand Slam titles and the world No. 1 ranking.

"Absolutely. There's no doubt about it," said the 25-year-old Williams. "It's just a matter of time. I'm definitely on my way."...

Serena Williams Set to Arrive in Australia

From The Age: Hobart joy at arrival of Williams

SHE hasn't won a title in more than a year, but the arrival of former world No. 1 Serena Williams in Tasmania this week has local tennis fans scrambling for tickets.

The glamorous star, a seven-time grand slam winner, will arrive in Hobart on Friday for next week's Moorilla Hobart International, and tournament director Michael Roberts can hardly believe his luck...

Venus and Serena Williams Talk to High School Kids

There's the Venus and Serena Williams you see through the lens of the tennis media (distant), and then there's the Venus and Serena you see when they're not around (fun-loving).  This article is full of the second.

From ESPN: Tennis titans show they're just regular folks

It wasn't supposed to be this way for Venus and Serena Williams. After all, two poor, black sisters growing up in Compton, Calif., aren't supposed to become world-champion tennis players, much less role models.

But here they stood in front of an auditorium brimming with students from Vance High School, doling out advice about life. For 20 minutes, they told their story and answered questions. The high school teens and eighth-graders in the crowd listened and learned...

More Testimony Against Williamses

I wonder if all of this is distracting Venus and Serena Williams from their Australian Open preparations? 

From The Sun-Sentinel: Authority of tennis stars' dad detailed in document

Lawyers for promoters suing tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams and their father produced an 11th-hour witness Tuesday bearing documents purportedly showing Richard Williams signed agreements on his daughters' behalf and had a strict protocol for anyone wanting to do business with the family.

Williams Sisters and Bryant McKinnie

Once again Venus and Serena Williams make the papers for something other than their tennis, but in this case it wasn't their fault. 

Minnesota football player Bryant McKinnie, an apparent friend of theirs, decided to tease the local media about whether he was dating one of them...or both of them.

(Tennis related question - what are the odds that both Williams sisters make it down to Australia healthy for the Open?)

From The Star Tribune: Courting a Williams sister or playing the field?  A newly demure Bryant McKinnie isn't saying

Vikings bad boy Bryant McKinnie wasn't exactly shedding much light on the subject of what's going on, if anything, between him and Venus or Serena Williams.

Serena Williams Testifies

So now Serena Williams testifies that she was present at a meeting where the disputed "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition was discussed, but claims amnesia about the actual contents of the meeting.

I don't get the impression there was any deliberate attempt to defraud anyone by the Williamses, but what a mess they made!  Just simple business naivite at the time I guess.  And the plaintiffs did lose a lot of money because of the family's misrepresentations, so who knows what a fair resolution is.

From the Sun-Sentinel: Serena Williams hazy on meetin that discussed Battle of the Sexes exhibition

Tennis champion Serena Williams acknowledged she attended a New York City meeting in August 2000 at which a Battle of the Sexes tennis exhibition was discussed, but testified Tuesday that she has no recollection of it.

"I might have been there physically, but I must not have been there mentally," Williams testified...

Williams' Dad Takes Stand in Trial

Another off-season, another trial to attend for Venus and Serena Williams.  I feel bad for them...whatever their dad may or may not have done in this case it doesn't seem like they had anything to do with it.

From The South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Tennis stars' father: I lied...

Richard Williams, father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, testified Monday that he lied to a would-be promoter about his daughters' knowledge of a 2001 Battle of the Sexes tournament.

The patriarch of the family also denied ever acting as his daughters' manager despite three years worth of tax returns that indicate he was paid nearly $2 million in management fees for the girls.

US Open 2nd Tuesday

Well, yesterday was just balls out tennis, folks. Mauresmo's incredible comeback after losing the 2nd set to Serena 0-6; Tommy Haas' marathon win over Robby Ginepri (whose ranking will now take a steep tumble into oblivion); the resurrection of Marat Safin, as well as Lleyton Hewitt prevailing over Richie Gasquet in a 5-setter that seems to be an instant classic (I wouldn't know, of course. Silly me fell asleep at 3-1 in the 5th and missed the 2 matchpoints Gasquet saved that seem to have converted all of NYC into Francophiles. Damn. It.). Also Kuznetsova falling to the charismatic primadonna Jelena Jankovic, Davenport squashing Schnyder, and Justine Henin-Hardenne making a bid for her own Federer-like H-H Express with a comprehensive beatdown of Shahar Pe'er. Who can stop that train?

Hmm, that's all yesterday stuff, isn't it. On to tuesday, which should be another stellar day of match play:

How much fun will Tommy Haas v. Marat Safin be? I mean, these guys can turn up the court crazy like nobody else. The two of them together? I'll need to take a valium just to sit through it. I'm picking Safin over Haas, mostly because I want a few more press conferences from the gloomy and ever quotable Russian.

I'm going to pick Blake over Berdych in the trickiest 4th round match; Murray over Davydenko in a very very tight one, Federer over Giquel (duh). I think Jankovic is ready for her close up and will upset Dementieva; and sorry, Lindsay, but Justine's unstoppable. Just like the Citizen Eco-Drive watch and the people who wear it. Unstoppable.

Players' Thoughts on On-Court Coaching

The reactions to on-court coaching in this article sort of sum up the going books on these stars' personalities:

Maria Sharapova: "It will be funny when you see an opponent calling for a coach because you’ll just want to laugh, they’ll be in trouble. ... I usually play on instinct and don’t like to be told what to do, so calling for someone will be very rare.”

Elena Dementieva: “I think it will be interesting to see the coaches come down and see what they say, but I don’t think I will have my mother come. I’m already with her 24/7 and it’s the only time I get a break from her.” That's my girl, Lena!

Serena Williams: “I don’t like it. I think it takes away from tennis. When I’m out there, I’ve done all the hard work. It takes away from the integrity of the sport."

Kim Clijsters: “I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this but it’s a rule I’m absolutely against. Part of being a tennis player is being able to solve things yourself.” Of course you can say it, Kim!

Read 'WTA experiment stirs controversy'

No Battle of the Divas in LA

It's sort of a shame, but not terribly surprising. Sharapova's had 2 weeks straight of tennis and it was bound to catch up with her body eventually; and Serena's still rusty. Sharapova looked really all over the place out there, with 40+ unforced errors in the end; and Serena overhit too much.

Well, Jankovic v. Dementieva. I'm going with Lena, but Jankovic has looked sharp out there.

Read 'Unlikely matchup in final'  for match reviews and a description of the possible gamesmanship re: Jankovic-Williams. Here are post-match video interviews with Dementieva and Sharapova.

Serena on Video: 'Hantuchova's Sour Grapes'

Serena Williams took an injury timeout after slipping and rolling her ankle late in the first set--and losing that set 6-1; Hantuchova wasn't buying it and basically accused Serena of gamesmanship.

Here's Serena's response in the press conference (on video): Part 1 and Part 2.

(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

JPMorgan Chase Video Interviews

FYI, Tennis.com has an archive of these. Here's the link. Lindsay, Serena, and Sharapova so far.

Lindsay and Serena On Their Comebacks

Read 'Davenport, Serena Williams each hope to get game on track'

Srebotnik or Zvonareva?

Serena was spraying balls all over the place and basically handed Vera Zvonareva a ticket into the finals; Patty Schnyder went out in 3 sets to Katarina Srebotnik, on a double fault. The Cincinnati tournament directors must be gutted to have a starless final, though some of Vera's legendary meltdowns are Oscar-worthy. Here's a look at both matches.

Roddick's Revenge and More Tournament Updates

Andy Roddick took out Gilles Muller, the guy that killed his mojo in the 1st round of the U.S. Open last year, in straight sets. Can killing your mojo-killer get you your mojo back? Hmm.

Andy's set up an all-American clash in the RCA semis with defending champ Robby Ginepri, who's had a seriously crap year until now. Roddick's also made the doubles final with Bobby Reynolds.

James Blake and Serena Williams also did their parts to stem criticism of recently much shat upon American tennis. Blake will face Xavier Malisse (who upset Fernando Gonzalez) for a place in the final; and Serena's got Vera Zvonareva, who took out Jelena Jankovic in Cincinnati.

Novak Djokovic, best known for delusions of grandeur, will face Olympic gold winner Nicolas Massu for the Dutch Open title. This is Novak's first ATP final.

In Stuttgart, it'll be David Ferrer (who beat Tomas Berdych in the semis) vs. Argentine Jose Acasuso for the title tomorrow.

In Palermo, it's Lucie Safarova v. Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tathiana Garbin v. Roberta Vinci.

Serena Blitzes Myskina

6-2 6-2 in 57 minutes. I think they call it a beatdown. Here's a match review and a wrap of today's matches in Cincinnati.

ETA: Video wrap up of the match.

Serena or Myskina?

Serena Williams and Anastasia Myskina face off today in Cincinnati. Though Myskina's been playing well, I'm going with Serena in 3 sets.

According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, Serena seems to be "in reasonably good shape." Read 'Serena seizes spotlight even for practice session.'

But if Myskina wins, I'll be curious to hear what she has to say. I'm still LOL re: her bitchy post-Jankovic comments at Wimbledon.

Photo © Rita May

Serena Boosts Cincinnati

Nice look at how a star player can elevate a small event. Also, an indirect defense of Serena's outside interests. Choice quote:

In the five days following the announcement that Williams would play Tuesday night, single-session ticket sales for that session rose 616 percent.

In part, it's because Williams, like her sister and Sharapova, are recognizable beyond the tennis court. They've been involved in multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns, and star power shoots off them like 120 mph serves.

"It's definitely her personality," said Evan Levy, one of Serena Williams' agents. "People relate to her more than other great athletes, because she's so outspoken with her other interests. ..."

Read 'Serena a treat for fans'

Serena's 'Mental Break'

"I honestly just needed a mental break. I was going through a lot of stuff in my life, besides surgery and including surgery," Williams said Thursday, without going into specifics. "It was a lot — a lot that not everyone will understand or ever know."

Read 'Serena Williams Returns after 'Mental Break'

Serena's Back on Tuesday in Cincinnati

Serena Williams is back in action next week in Cincinnati and will play her first match Tuesday night. She'll be ranked 140 in the world.  I hope she's fit and that her injuries are healed.

McEnroe Backs the Women's Campaign; talks Serena's Acting

McEnroe Supports the Ladies, Makes Carillo Cry

Also, McEnroe on the Williams Sisters and Serena's acting, allegations of domestic abuse, and anger management.

Venus: 'If Serena Retires, So Will I'

I've always gotten irritated when tennis folk talk about the Williams Sisters as if they were one and the same, when they are very different individuals and players in style as well as substance. But then I read something like this:

Venus revealed at Wimbledon yesterday: "I'm going to retire when Serena retires. I don't want to ride solo without her."

I'm all for sisterly love, but this is bordering on co-dependency. Read the article

Venus on Serena, Wimbledon and Tennis

Nice piece from the Financial Times: 'We really believe in what we're doing'

I'm here to question her motivation. The word in tennis circles is that Venus and her sister Serena don't care any more. Having dominated the women's game, they now seldom even show up on tour. They nurse injuries, write books, appear on their reality television show, study fashion and so on. Read the article

Sharapova, Venus and Serena on Forbes' Most Powerful Celebs List

Maria's 63, Serena's 87, and Venus is 90. I must be feeling particularly anti-capitalist today, or maybe it's just the news about Bill Gates becoming a full-time philanthropist, because the idea of this list feels sort of gross to me right now.

Serena Williams Back in Cincinnati

Serena Williams, currently 104th in the rankings, will be on the comeback trail in July. I've missed Serena's fierce competitive spirit and her return will add a(nother) great storyline to the scattered women's game.

I must say that I prefer the precise and focused rivalry of Fedal to the California gold rush state of the women's game.

Venus is USA's Favorite Female Athlete

Venus beat out her sister Serena (No. 2) and the over-endorsed Maria Sharapova (no. 8) as the U.S.' favorite female athlete. The poll also breaks down favorites by generation, gender and region. Women's tennis won these categories:

Men: Serena
Women: Venus
Gen X: Serena
Baby Boomers:  Venus   
South & West: Venus

In case you were wondering, no, Federer didn't make the men's list, lol. The Harris Interactive Poll

Serena to Work with Bolletieri?

Serena Williams will this week turn to Nick Bollettieri in an attempt to salvage her ailing career, according to an informed source close to the former world No 1 and seven-times Grand Slam singles champion.

It is understood that the 24-year-old, whose ranking has plummeted to No 108 and who announced on Friday that she will not play at Wimbledon this summer because of a knee injury, will travel to Bollettieri's Florida academy tomorrow to seek advice from the veteran coach. Read On...

No Clear Favorite Among the Women

At Roland Garros, Women's Tennis Searches for a Leader

Almost halfway through 2006, women's tennis remains upsidedown.

So far this year, three different women have held the no. 1 ranking. Amelie Mauresmo, the current no.1,won her first major title in Australia after Justine Henin-Hardenne retired with what was officially scored as a "gastrointestinal illness." Nadia Petrova, who dumped her coach in Australia because he was not "tough" enough, is now ranked no. 3 and has the most wins on the tour in 2006. Maria Sharapova is the second-best Russian, while Serena Williams, the most talented woman in the world, is the 14th-best American, ranked a lowly no. 108. And Martina Hingis has returned from a three-year retirement and moved quickly into the top 15. Read On...

Wilson Announces New Williams Sisters-Inspired Rackets

So someone still believes in Venus and Serena Williams' tennis careers.

From Tennis Week: Wilson Launches New Williams Sisters Rackets

Venus Williams is now Divine and Serena Williams will take up with a tennis Gypsy. Wilson announced today it is expanding its exclusive W line of women’s high performance racquets with two new models " created and inspired by Venus and Serena Williams."

Venus unveiled her new racquet, the "W5 Divine Iris" in Warsaw last week. Serena, who has not played a match since falling to Daniela Hantuchova at the Australian Open in January, is expected to introduce the "W3 Gypsy Rose" in tournament play prior to the start of the U.S. Open in August — if Serena does in fact fulfill her announced plans to return to tournament tennis "by the end of the summer." ...

More Serena Williams Speculation

The Serena Williams statement doesn't seem to have put an end to all the gossip about her career.

Matthew Cronin has some info from "two of her friends".

From Tennisreporters.net: Serena bows out for summer

I want to repeat a couple of important things that I have heard from two of her friends over the past couple of months:

1. She's refuses to have her left knee operated again because she's scared to. She believes that the doctors botched her Augusts 2003 knee surgery, which is why she has played so inconsistently since then. She thinks that maybe she should have never had the surgery in the first place and doesn't want to risk another one, although she's been told to.

2. She's not sure when she wants to come back and isn't motivated to at this time. Even if you concede her a chronic injury (which I do), there's no reason in the world why she has been unable to play more than once in the past eight months other than the fact that she has let herself get terribly out of shape.

She hasn't given any indication to anyone involved in tennis that she seriously committed to returning, which is why the WTA has all but wiped their hands clear of her. Even if you are the most ardent Serena fan, there is no way you can be convinced that she's strident about returning this summer when every time you see a picture of her, she's at some party carrying an extra 30 pounds.

Enough said.

Serena Speaks

Serena Williams, finally, has seemingly tired of all the idle speculation about her career intentions and issued a public statement.

From Monsters and Critics: Serena puts career on hold; promises late-summer comeback

As speculation about her intentions of playing tennis increases, former world number 1 Serena Williams said Wednesday she will be taking time away from the game before making a return this summer.

Serena Williams Will Probably Miss French Open and Wimbledon

From the Washington Post: S. Williams likely to miss French, Wimbledon

Serena Williams , who's battling questions about her commitment to tennis, probably will miss the French Open and Wimbledon because of knee and ankle injuries, the head of the women's professional tour said yesterday...

"There was no timetable she shared with me at the moment" on a comeback, Larry Scott , chief executive of the WTA Tour, said in an interview after speaking with Williams last month. "But I don't expect it to be within the next couple of months."

Another View on Evert's Open Letter to Serena

From Black Athlete Sports Network: You Go Girl: Why Chris Evert Is Right On The Mark

...However, being a huge tennis follower, who has routinely watched the sport’s biggest and brightest stars for the past three decades, I was intrigued and delighted by the fact that former tennis great, Chris Evert, now the publisher of Tennis Magazine, called out current player, Serena Williams on her lack of commitment to the sport that has allowed her to make millions of dollars and open numerous doors that have, in turn, allowed Williams to pursue various other ventures that have absolutely nothing at all to do with tennis.

Ironically, when I recently wrote a column titled, “The greatest female athletes of all-time,” one of the things I wrote about Williams, and the reason I had her sister Venus ranked higher, was the fact that as talented as Williams was, she seemed to take her incredible athletic gifts for granted...

Serena Williams' Agent Says She Will Play

If Serena Williams is giving up on tennis for the rest of 2006 as The Guardian reported yesterday, her agent doesn't know a thing about it.

From the Miami Herald: Serena Williams denies she won't play tennis in '06

Serena Williams' agent denied published reports Tuesday that the former world No. 1 is not playing anymore this year.

Williams, winner of seven Grand Slam titles, dropped to No. 07 in the latest rankings and hasn't played since January. She has been slowed by chronic knee injuries and lack of fitness, and some say her outside interests have taken a toll on her once-powerful game. In the past few months, she has been photographed at Oscars parties, South Beach clubs and The Bernie Mac Show. She has insisted she remains dedicated to tennis but has been physically unable to perform.

Serena Williams Drops Out of Top 100

Serena Williams no longer guaranteed direct entry into Grand Slams - how bizarre.

From The Herald Sun: Serena powerless in rankings slump

HOW the mighty has fallen.

Serena Williams, one of the most dominant figures in professional tennis, has tumbled out of the top 100.

Plagued by poor fitness, chronic knee problems and waning motivation, the winner of seven majors has plummeted to 106th.

No longer guaranteed direct entry to the majors -- events she once presided over ruthlessly -- Williams is in the territory of fringe dwellers.

Serena Williams to Take the Rest of the Year Off?

The Guardian says Serena Williams is expected to announce soon that she won't play tennis again for the rest of this season.

If this is true, it's wise.  Serena is taking a beating in the press with all of her last minute pre-tournament withdrawals (Not entirely her fault - sometimes the tour requires her to enter even if she knows she can't play.)

This would put an end to that.  And if she's healthy enough or motivated enough to play before the end of the year, she can always announce an early comeback a la Alicia Molik.

Williamses Medically Cleared to Practice

Finally some good tennis news on the Venus and Serena Williams front, albeit a bit cryptic.

From the Sun-Sentinel: Venus, Serena are cleared to resume practicing

Doctors have given medical clearances for Venus and Serena Williams to resume practicing, according to a source.

The sisters are expected to return to the court in the next two or three days and are hopeful of rejoining the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour for the Family Circle Cup April 10-16.

Chris Evert Takes on Serena Williams

Serena Williams had better come out of tennis hiding soon or there will be no one left in the tennis establishment to defend her. 

The latest to turn on her is Chris Evert who has written an open letter to Serena in the May issue of Tennis Magazine "advising" her to rethink what she's doing with her tennis career.

From Tennis Magazine:

Dear Serena,

I’ve been thinking about your career, and something is troubling me. I appreciate that becoming a well-rounded person is important to you, as you’ve made that desire very clear. Still, a question lingers—do you ever consider your place in history? Is it something you care about? In the short term you may be happy with the various things going on in your life, but I wonder whether 20 years from now you might reflect on your career and regret not putting 100 percent of yourself into tennis. Because whether you want to admit it or not, these distractions are tarnishing your legacy.

Serena Williams to Guest on Bernie Mac Show

I won't beat a dead horse.  But three cheers for Venus Williams for making it to the tennis courts in Miami.

From Fox Broadcasting: Serena Williams lobs advice on "Bernie Mac Show"

Tennis great Serena Williams guest-stars with Bernie Mac in his confessional on THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, offering him advice on the delicate relationship between sisters Friday, April 7 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. 

Why Serena Isn't Playing

A very blunt look at the state of Serena Williams' tennis career in the following article. 

The other half of her career seems still to be going strong.  She was on Oprah this Monday along with Venus (something about saving teenage girls I hear).

Also this week came a press release announcing that she and Venus will be featured during the first week of a new show "ESPN Hollywood" set to debut in August of this year.  The premise of the show - a focus on the off-court, entertainment-related lives of athletes. 

From Tennis Reporters: Serena's Pull Out

It’s gotten to the point where it’s become incredibly boring announcing Serena Williams’ withdrawals. This time, it’s Miami, but it’s the same reason: She’s out of shape because she’s not committed enough to rehab her chronically sore knee.

If she was committed, like she was at the turn of last year when she won the Aussie Open, she could rehab, but she’s not. It’s the least well kept secret in the sport that she's found plenty of time to hit the New York and LA party circuit, but has devoted little time to get in shape and practice her sport.

Serena Williams Withdraws From Nasdaq

No doubt about it.  Serena Williams has finally grasped the reality of her situation.  I wonder when...if we'll see her compete on the tennis court again.

From Reuters: Serena Williams withdraws from Miami

Serena Williams pulled out of next week's Nasdaq Open in Miami on Friday, citing a knee injury and lack of training.

Williams, who has not played since losing in the Australian Open third round in January, has been fined heavily