WTA News and Gossip 2014

[GameSetAndMath]

Maria Sharapova was awarded her fifth career Best Female Tennis Player ESPY at Wednesday night's annual ESPN ESPYS award show.The award recognizes achievements in the calender year preceding the awards ceremony.After missing the last four months of the 2013 season,Sharapova has had a tremendous first half of 2014,dominating the clay court season-she won three of the four tournaments she played,in Stuggart,Madrid and the French Open-and she's No 1 on the Road To Singapore leaderboard.

It was Sharapova's fifth time winning the ESPY award for Best Female Tennis Player (2005,2007,2008,2012 and now 2014).Only Serena Williams has more with six (2003,2004,2009,2010,2011 and 2013).

Sharapova was also a presenter alongside champion boxer Floyd Mayweather.

who got it 06

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Maria Sharapova was awarded her fifth career Best Female Tennis Player ESPY at Wednesday night's annual ESPN ESPYS award show.The award recognizes achievements in the calender year preceding the awards ceremony.After missing the last four months of the 2013 season,Sharapova has had a tremendous first half of 2014,dominating the clay court season-she won three of the four tournaments she played,in Stuggart,Madrid and the French Open-and she's No 1 on the Road To Singapore leaderboard.

It was Sharapova's fifth time winning the ESPY award for Best Female Tennis Player (2005,2007,2008,2012 and now 2014).Only Serena Williams has more with six (2003,2004,2009,2010,2011 and 2013).

Sharapova was also a presenter alongside champion boxer Floyd Mayweather.

who got it 06

Venus Williams

 

[Si Si Simona]

shouldn't this go to serena or halep. they led the tour in titles won last year.

Dont make me laugh. Halep is not a blonde and she is only "almost white". You should know western world priorities better and reality has got nothing to do with it.
They probably "forgot" that Masha lost to Serena in Miami on hard court and to Kerber in Wimbeldon on grass.
Halep was better this year both on HC and on grass.
I know its just sports but when the mess is started by someone, then dont be surprised if the mess will turn on towards the opposite direction... its just the way it is and not just in sports.
Its a cynical little world out there, created by the "amazing" human race.
We are all living in our own little bubble hoping for only our best

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ The nominee's for "Best Female Tennis Player"
were Serena Williams,Maria Sharapova,Li Na and Agnieszka Radwanska.

From their inception to 2004,ESPY award winners were chosen through voting by fans.Since 2004,sportswriters,broadcasters,sports executives and sportspersons,collectively experts;or ESPN personalities also vote.Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively through online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates selected by the Select Nominating Committee.

 

[Si Si Simona]

^ The nominee's for "Best Female Tennis Player"
were Serena Williams,Maria Sharapova,Li Na and Agnieszka Radwanska.

From their inception to 2004,ESPY award winners were chosen through voting by fans.Since 2004,sportswriters,broadcasters,sports executives and sportspersons,collectively experts;or ESPN personalities also vote.Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively through online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates selected by the Select Nominating Committee.

In other words, the 4 names above were the only names to vote for. That makes ESPN and their pundits even more stupid than what I thought they are.
In other words, Li and Aga deserved that more than Halep in 2014 according to ESPN "experts".
Halep is ranked 2ND in 2014 and only the clay court puts Masha above her, but Halep was much better in 2013 and deserves it more. But to put Li and Aga above Halep is just plain stupid.
Do those ESPN "experts" have ANY CLUE about Tennis?

P.S. - I dont give an F if some of them are called Davenport or Mcnroe. They need their heads fixed and their meditation taken daily.

THANK YOU

P.S.#2 - American tennis is just a joke these days. No wonder you are in such a bad shape in men and only Serena keeps the flag high. You lost touch with reality. You think that sports is a Holywood movie. You need a slap or maybe more to wake up. You are soft in the head.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

You are being harsh Si!

Don't forget the top ranked player is an American.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ana Ivanovic appoints new coach Dejan Petrovic.....report from Courtney Nguyen SI.Com...Saturday 19th July.

Ana Ivanovic has hired former ATP pro Dejan Petrovic as her new coach.The former No 1 split with her coach of one-year Nemanja Kontic after Wimbledon.

Ivanovic will be the third Serbian No 1 Petrovic has coached.The 36-year-old,who owns his own academy in Serbia,served as Novak Djokovic's first tourning coach in 2004 and worked with Jelena Jankovic a year later.Petrovic was the No 1 Australian junior before moving back to Serbia and taking citizenship in 2003.He reached a career-high singles ranking of No 157 and played for Serbia and Montenegro in the Davis Cup,partnering Nenad Zimonjic in doubles.

That Ivanovic has again hired a lower-profile Serbian coach in Petrovic is no surprise.After a string of high-profile coaching partnerships that ultimately failed,Ivanovic's decision to hire the lesser-known Kontic last year led to a career resurgence.She won three titles during their 12-month and partnership and now,ranked No 11,she is on the verge of getting back into the top ten for the first time since 2009.Their partnership was successful in large part,Ivanovic said,because of the shared Serbian heritage which facilitated communication and understanding.

Ivanovic's next tournament is the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford which begins on July 28th.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Report from Courtney Nguyen SI.Com.............Sunday July 20th.

The WTA has made no secret of its desire to get a firm foothold in China by adding a new Premier 5 tournament Wuhan this fall.The tournament has announced that No 1 Serena Williams has signed onto the tournament,which begins two weeks after the U.S.Open on September 21st.The tournament has also received confirmation from all three of this year's Slam champions- No 2 Li Na,No 5 Petra Kvitova and No 6 Maria Sharapova.The event marks the first time Li will be able to play a WTA- level event in her hometown.

The Wuhan Open will replace the Tokyo Open as the sole Premier 5 tournament in Asia,joining,the mandatory China Open in Beijing as the two biggest WTA tournament's on the continent.It also extends the tennis season in China to four weeks,starting with the WTA event in Guangzhou and ending with the ATP's Shanghai Masters.

The fall Asian swing also expands this year with Singapore hosting this year the season- ending WTA Championships for the first time.

 

[colleen66]

Serena Williams made page three of the New York Daily news in a bikini with a very handsome man. She was smiling and looked as if she made a full recovery of whatever was wrong with her. The article did speculate about Patrick's whereabouts.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Kirilenko,Ovechkin No Longer Engaged....report from Kamakshi Tandon....Monday 21st July.

Maria Kirilenko and NHL Hockey player Alexander Ovechkin are no longer engaged,Kirilenko has told Russian media.

"I have made decision to break up our engagement,"Kirilenko said in an R-Sport interview."There are a lot of reasons,but I wouldn't want to go in detail.I'll say just that our relationship is over,but I respect Sasha as a person and an athlete".She added that she wanted the three-time NHL MVP for the Washington Capitols to have more "athletic success in the future".

The two met in 2011 and were engaged in 2012.Kirilenko had previously been in a long-term relationship with another tennis player,Igor Andreev.

Kirilenko,whose season has been interrupted by injury,also said,"I'm currently concentrating on preparing for my tennis tournaments and I hope that soon I'll be able to please my fans with news about my success as an athlete and not just my personal life".

 

[the AntiPusher]

Kirilenko,Ovechkin No Longer Engaged....report from Kamakshi Tandon....Monday 21st July.

Maria Kirilenko and NHL Hockey player Alexander Ovechkin are no longer engaged,Kirilenko has told Russian media.

"I have made decision to break up our engagement,"Kirilenko said in an R-Sport interview."There are a lot of reasons,but I wouldn't want to go in detail.I'll say just that our relationship is over,but I respect Sasha as a person and an athlete".She added that she wanted the three-time NHL MVP for the Washington Capitols to have more "athletic success in the future".

The two met in 2011 and were engaged in 2012.Kirilenko had previously been in a long-term relationship with another tennis player,Igor Andreev.

Kirilenko,whose season has been interrupted by injury,also said,"I'm currently concentrating on preparing for my tennis tournaments and I hope that soon I'll be able to please my fans with news about my success as an athlete and not just my personal life".

This is usually when Stepanek "the Worm" swoops in and makes the female tennis player forget about the hockey player

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

There was a rumor about Ovechkin and a Russian Gymnast player that got Maria upset.
see more here:
http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2014/07/21/the-first-time-ive-ever-seen-alex-ovechkin-dive-gif/

 

[rubydo]

Kirilenko,Ovechkin No Longer Engaged....report from Kamakshi Tandon....Monday 21st July.

Maria Kirilenko and NHL Hockey player Alexander Ovechkin are no longer engaged,Kirilenko has told Russian media.

"I have made decision to break up our engagement,"Kirilenko said in an R-Sport interview."There are a lot of reasons,but I wouldn't want to go in detail.I'll say just that our relationship is over,but I respect Sasha as a person and an athlete".She added that she wanted the three-time NHL MVP for the Washington Capitols to have more "athletic success in the future".

The two met in 2011 and were engaged in 2012.Kirilenko had previously been in a long-term relationship with another tennis player,Igor Andreev.

Kirilenko,whose season has been interrupted by injury,also said,"I'm currently concentrating on preparing for my tennis tournaments and I hope that soon I'll be able to please my fans with news about my success as an athlete and not just my personal life".

Not surprised about this at all. I of course follow ice hockey very closely as well as tennis, having interviewed Maria last year. I think Maria was very humble in her comments about Alex, there is a lot more to this than meets the eye. Alex and a Russian gymnast is a report that has surfaced. I can only wish Maria the very best in her quest to regain that great form she showed in the first half of 2013, when she got to number 10 in the world.

 

[Hoergren]

I think we all know tha Eugenie Bouchard has it - now she's on the frontpage of ELLE:

Nice - keep'm coming:clap

And Aga shows another side of herself

 

[Front242]

As predicted since divorcing Stepanek, Nicole Vaidisova is now planning a comeback. Though she denied it at first many people didn't think she meant it and seems she didn't. Hope she makes a good comeback if/when she does.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sloane Stephens splits with coach Paul Annacone....report from Courtney Nguyen SI.Com.Wednesday July 23rd.

Sloane Stephens and Paul Annacone have decided to end their coaching relationship after eight months.Stephens,21,hired Annacone,the former coach of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras,at the start of the season in January.She will reportedly work within an unnamed coach on a trial basis during next week's Citi Open in Washington D.C.

"Based on conversations Paul and I had after Wimbledon,we both feel like it would be a good idea for me to have a fresh start leading into the summer hard court swing", said Stephens in a statement from her management company."I've learned a lot over our eight months together and now just need to meld them into my long term plan.Paul is one of the top coaches in the world and will remain a close friend and confident.I can't thank him enough for his time and continued support".

Said Annacone via statement: "Sloane and I had a lot of good things happen but just couldn't get the desired consistency.And since we argreed that our situation was causing doubt and confusion in Sloane's mind,I really wanted her to find clarity leading into the U.S.Open.This is why change at this juncture made sense.There is absolutely no doubt Sloane is one of the more talented players on the tour and I look forward to watching her have a great deal of success over the course her career".

The Stephens-Annacone partnership never seemed to click.Stephens,who began the season at No 12 in the WTA rankings,has fallen to No 22 after seeing her results fall short of her breakthrough 2013 season.Stephens has yet to win a WTA title (or make a final) this year,and her streak of making fourth round or better at six consecutive Grand Slams ended last month at Wimbledon,where she lost in straight sets to Maria Kirilenko in the first round.

While Stephens has struggled to find her rhythm this season,her peers seem to have passed her by.Eugenie Bouchard,20,cracked the top 10 after winning her first WTA title and making her first major final at Wimbledon.Other younger players like Madison Keys,Monica Puig and Donna Vekic have broken through this year to win their first titles.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I thought Aga has shown all sides already.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Sloane Stephens splits with coach Paul Annacone....report from Courtney Nguyen SI.Com.Wednesday July 23rd.

Sloane Stephens and Paul Annacone have decided to end their coaching relationship after eight months.Stephens,21,hired Annacone,the former coach of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras,at the start of the season in January.She will reportedly work within an unnamed coach on a trial basis during next week's Citi Open in Washington D.C.

"Based on conversations Paul and I had after Wimbledon,we both feel like it would be a good idea for me to have a fresh start leading into the summer hard court swing", said Stephens in a statement from her management company."I've learned a lot over our eight months together and now just need to meld them into my long term plan.Paul is one of the top coaches in the world and will remain a close friend and confident.I can't thank him enough for his time and continued support".

Said Annacone via statement: "Sloane and I had a lot of good things happen but just couldn't get the desired consistency.And since we argreed that our situation was causing doubt and confusion in Sloane's mind,I really wanted her to find clarity leading into the U.S.Open.This is why change at this juncture made sense.There is absolutely no doubt Sloane is one of the more talented players on the tour and I look forward to watching her have a great deal of success over the course her career".

The Stephens-Annacone partnership never seemed to click.Stephens,who began the season at No 12 in the WTA rankings,has fallen to No 22 after seeing her results fall short of her breakthrough 2013 season.Stephens has yet to win a WTA title (or make a final) this year,and her streak of making fourth round or better at six consecutive Grand Slams ended last month at Wimbledon,where she lost in straight sets to Maria Kirilenko in the first round.

While Stephens has struggled to find her rhythm this season,her peers seem to have passed her by.Eugenie Bouchard,20,cracked the top 10 after winning her first WTA title and making her first major final at Wimbledon.Other younger players like Madison Keys,Monica Puig and Donna Vekic have broken through this year to win their first titles.

Could we now expext Andy Murray to fire Amelie Mauresmo and hire Paul Annacone?
I wouldn't be surprised if that happens before Toronto begins.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sloane Stephens splits with coach Paul Annacone....report from Courtney Nguyen SI.Com.Wednesday July 23rd.

Sloane Stephens and Paul Annacone have decided to end their coaching relationship after eight months.Stephens,21,hired Annacone,the former coach of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras,at the start of the season in January.She will reportedly work within an unnamed coach on a trial basis during next week's Citi Open in Washington D.C.

"Based on conversations Paul and I had after Wimbledon,we both feel like it would be a good idea for me to have a fresh start leading into the summer hard court swing", said Stephens in a statement from her management company."I've learned a lot over our eight months together and now just need to meld them into my long term plan.Paul is one of the top coaches in the world and will remain a close friend and confident.I can't thank him enough for his time and continued support".

Said Annacone via statement: "Sloane and I had a lot of good things happen but just couldn't get the desired consistency.And since we argreed that our situation was causing doubt and confusion in Sloane's mind,I really wanted her to find clarity leading into the U.S.Open.This is why change at this juncture made sense.There is absolutely no doubt Sloane is one of the more talented players on the tour and I look forward to watching her have a great deal of success over the course her career".

The Stephens-Annacone partnership never seemed to click.Stephens,who began the season at No 12 in the WTA rankings,has fallen to No 22 after seeing her results fall short of her breakthrough 2013 season.Stephens has yet to win a WTA title (or make a final) this year,and her streak of making fourth round or better at six consecutive Grand Slams ended last month at Wimbledon,where she lost in straight sets to Maria Kirilenko in the first round.

While Stephens has struggled to find her rhythm this season,her peers seem to have passed her by.Eugenie Bouchard,20,cracked the top 10 after winning her first WTA title and making her first major final at Wimbledon.Other younger players like Madison Keys,Monica Puig and Donna Vekic have broken through this year to win their first titles.

Could we now expext Andy Murray to fire Amelie Mauresmo and hire Paul Annacone?
I wouldn't be surprised if that happens before Toronto begins.

Well the thought did cross my mind...Annacone with Murray,I think he would be a good fit for Murray...we shall see.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Word is that Murray is actually about to confirm his long term partnership with Mauresmo.