Tennisfeeds

• Robby Ginepri has a case of the disappearing hair.
• Maria Sharapova keeps busy offcourt with charity.
• So does Ana Ivanovic who, again like Maria, is always offcourt.
• Mardy Fish ties the knot.
• Jelena Jankovic is back as Queen Bee of the WTA.

Trophy case: October 5, 2008

Thomas Berdych racked up two good wins in a row over Andy Roddick in the SF and Juan Martin del Potro in the finals to win the Japan Open in Tokyo. Thomas put a stop to Juan Martin’s winning streak-that upset stomach did it’s part as well-and beat him 6-1 6-4. This is Thomas’ 1st title of the year and 4th of his career.

The battle of the teenagers, Sorana Cirstea won her first WTA title at the Tashkent Open in Uzbekistan after she beat Sabine Lisicki 2-6 6-4 7-6.

Jelena Jankovic returns to the top of the WTA ranking in winning form. She beat Nadia Petrova 6-4 6-2 to take the Stuttgart Grand Prix title. Jelena had a good tournament beating Vera Zvonareva and Venus Williams along the way. This is Jelena’s 3rd title of the year and 8th of her career.

My other favorite Russian, Dmitry Tursunov won his 2nd title of the year and 5th of his career after he beat Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6 1-6 6-4 at the Open de Moselle in France.

Caroline Wozniacki won her 3rd title of the year and 3rd of her career after she beat Kaia Kanepi 6-2 3-6 6-1 at the Japan Open in Tokyo. Caroline is having her breakout year having the 3 titles and beating the likes of Marion Bartoli, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Daniela Hantuchova and Anna Chakvetadze. Look for her to take out some more solid names in the near future.

Del Potro stuns Ferrer

Juan Martin del Potro continued to show impressive form at the Japan Open earlier and nabbed a very convincing 6-1 7-5 win over World #5, David Ferrer.

“I tried a lot things,” Ferrer said. “But Juan Martin is very confident. He’s been winning a lot of matches lately and played very well today.”

Source

Del Potro is currently riding on a 28-1 winning streak which includes titles at Kitzbuhel, Stuttgart, Washington, DC and Los Angeles and a spot at the Davis Cup finals tie. Saying it’s a great run is an understatement. Watch for him to crack the Top 10 very soon.

Image via Getty.

Tsonga-Roddick match up is a no go

I was looking forward to a match up between last week’s winners, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Roddick at the AIG Open in Japan. Andy hasn’t really played exceptionally well even though he won in China and Jo-Wilfried would have given it to him. I wanted to see how Andy would hold up. Unfortunately, Jo-Wilfried had to widthraw from his 3rd round match against Viktor Troicki with abdominal strain while leading 7-5 1-2. So, it’s Viktor and Andy in the quarters. Bummer.

Image via Getty.

S. Williams, Jankovic switch rooms

Serena Williams fell to Li Na earlier at Stuttgart 0-6 6-1 6-4 and will lose her top spot on the SEWTA rankings. Jelena Jankovic will take over once again and hopefully stays there for more than a second. Seriously ladies, is it really that difficult up there?

Image via AP.

Maria Sharapova & Charlie Ebersol?

Well, well.. Maria Sharapova is reportedly dating NBC Sports Chairman and President Dick Ebersol’s son, Charlie Ebersol. I googled him instantly and found out he produced a documentary about South African kids called Ithuteng (Never Stop Learning), went to Notre Dame and survived a plane crash with his father but lost his brother. That’s all for now but I say it’s..

Game. Set. Match. Sharapova.

Trophy case: September 28, 2008

Oh my babies, what a pretty week.

Jelena Jankovic won her 2nd title of the year and 7th of her career at the China Open. She beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-2 in the finals and is now only 21 point behind Serena Williams at the top spot of the rankings.

Andy Roddick won his 3rd title of the year and 26th (!) of his career. Andy needed 3 sets to defeat World #92 Dudi Sela in the finals 6-4 6-7(6) 6-3.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga avenged his Australian Open loss to Novak Djokovic earlier this year and won his 1st career title at the Thailand Open. Jo-Wilfried defeated Novak (yay!) 7-6(4) 6-4.

Maria Kirilenko won her 3rd title of the year and 5th of her career at the Korea Open. Maria had to rally back a set down against Samantha Stosur and prevailed 2-6 6-1 6-4 in the finals.

Congrats BBs!

Maria Sharapova is officially dunzo for 2008

Maria Sharapova confirmed on her website that she is shutting it down for the year. Good move, Masha. Although Arizona is making her a very boring person, her latest blog lacked the usual humor usually present, the rehab on her ailing shoulder is progressing well.

I’ve been progressing really well but its taking a lot longer than I had selfishly planned. Therefore my team and I decided to ’shut it down’ for the season. The clinic and team in Phoenix has been incredibly nice and supportive.

Looking forward to your “comeback”, kid!

Ana and Fernando, Andy and David?

Fernando Verdasco and Ana Ivanovic got lost in translation, in a good way (duh), at the China Open opening party. Both were all smiles and Fernando looked rather comfortable whispering sweet nothings into Ana’s ear. Maybe Fernando is the reason why Ana’s game has been on a steady decline? I mean, I would rather spend my time cozying it up to this too than running around all day in a tennis court. The sexy Spaniard (oh, aren’t they all?) was also spotted checking out Ana with her mom during practice before she lost to Jie Zheng. You’re distracting her, Nando. I’m telling ya!

From one sexy Spaniard to another, this one seems to have taken on a bizarre liking towards Andy Roddick. David Ferrer shook Andy’s hand thumb and you know he fondled with it a bit before letting go during their Davis Cup tie last week. During the China Open opening party, David was clinging on every word that came out of Andy’s mouth and laughed at his jokes the hardest.

I wouldn’t have guessed you swing that way, David, but Andy’s engaged. Maybe you can give Richard Gasquet a call. Just a thought.

Jankovic, Hantuchova bundle up in China

Jelena Jankovic and Daniela Hantuchova wore a lot of sleeves in rainy Beijing while playing their 2nd round matches at The China Open. Jelena Jankovic downed Aleksandra Wozniak 6-3 7-5 and Daniela Hantuchova defeated veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1 0-6 7-5.