Earlier this month, Venus and Serena Williams took part in an exhibition in Milan. They were playing against the two top players from Italy, Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta.
Everything was going smoothly at the event, but something eventually happened during Venus’s match with Pennetta. It was a point like any other and Venus was stretching out wide to get to the ball. However, as she was returning to the ready position, her dress strap just snapped causing her to almost have a “Janet Jackson” moment.
It’s definitely not the first time Venus had experienced problems concerning her court outfits, but at least she was able to avoid unnecessary exposure. The incident definitely caused a buzz in the stadium and the players were just as amused by the scene.
Here is a great video from the Rogers Cup in Toronto. They caught up with the top female players in the world to see how they have been preparing for the event and how their holidays have been.
Players in the video: Francesca Schiavone, Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova & Li Na.
Flavia Pennetta has breezed past Anastassia Grymalska 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the Palermo Open yesterday.
Pennetta is the second top Italian player at the moment behind Francesca Schiavone. Pennetta won this clay-court tournament in 2009 is a two-time runner-up.
Expect her to be back in the running for the title come the weekend.
CCTV networks has reported that over 116 million viewers in China watched Li Na win the French Open Ladies Singles final a few weeks ago.
This years French Open final attracted nearly twice as many viewers in China as the Australian Open final between Li Na and Kim Clijsters (60 million).
On average across the tournament only 35 million viewers in China watched the coverage everyday.
“The viewership numbers for Li Na’s historic Roland Garros win are a fantastic sign for the continued growth potential of women’s tennis in China,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the WTA.
167 million Chinese tuned in to watch the tennis competition during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The 2011 French Open final has officially become the single most watched tennis match in China’s history.
Li Na has become the first Chinese Grand Slam champion in tennis history, after she bested Italian defending champion Francesca Schiavone in straight sets to capture the French Open title.
Na defeated Schiavone with a tough score of 6-4 7-6(0). Schiavone hit a backhand long to give Na the victory that would put her name into history.
“Today is the dream come true,” Li said shortly after the trophy presentation. “Like I was a young player, I want be the Grand Slam champion. But today. . . Someone saying I’m getting old. So, you know, the old woman like the dream come true. Not easy.”
Roger Federer played some amazing tennis yet again. Federer defeated Gael Monfils in straight sets 6-4 6-3 7-6. It is really seeming like it will be a three horse race between Federer, Djokovic and Nadal.
In a late fourth round match Andy Murray was two sets to love down and 5-2 down in the final set, to come back and win 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5 over Viktor Troicki. Murray still has the ankle injury that he sustained in the third round and it doesnt seem like it is going away.
Womens Singles:
Marion Bartoli continued her amazing run in front of her home fans with a straight sets win over Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 6-4. The crowd were behind her and she played some of the best tennis of her life.
In the other quarterfinal Francesca Schiavone defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three though sets 1-6 7-5 7-5. Schiavone just seems to love the clay in Paris and it looks like she the favourite for the title yet again.
In the first match Roger Federer was up against Stanislas Wawrinka and it was anticipated to be a close encounter. However, Roger had other things on his mind and swept aside Wawrinka in straight sets 6-3 6-2 7-5.
Novak Djokovic extended his amazing run with a straight sets win over Richard Gasquet. It was amazing to see Djokovic make Gasquet look like an average player. Djokovic won 6-4 6-4 6-2 and keeps his amazing 2011 run going.
In the last match it was Fabio Fognini against Albert Montanes. Both players are well known clay court player and Fognini prevailed in an amazing five set match 4-6 6-4 3-6 6-3 11-9.
Womens Singles:
Marion Bartoli continued her great form with a win over Gisela Dulko. Dulko unfortunately had to retire at the start of the second set. Bartoli was leading 7-5 1-0 at the time.
In the other match Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated Vera Zvonareva 7-6 2-6 6-2, Francesca Schiavone defeated Jelena Jankovic 6-3 2-6 6-4, and Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Daniela Hantuchova 6-7 6-3 6-2.
Well the French Open 2011 Day 2 had a great deal of expectations, with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in action. Federer and Djokovic didn’t disappoint.
Roger Federer had a tough first round match against Feliciano Lopez and it seemed that Federer was always up for the challenge. Roger played very solid and it seemed like Lopez couldnt really handle the pressure. Roger won in a very close straight set match 6-3 6-4 7-6.
It was a very similar story for Novak Djokovic. Djokovic is on an amazing run in 2011 and is still undefeated. Novak was up against Thiemo De Bakker a young Dutch player who seemed a little to eratic on the clay. Novak won the match 6-2 6-1 6-3.
In most of the other mens singles matches today the favoured players got through, apart from Tomas Berdych (6) who fell to Stephane Robert of France in an amazing five set match. 3-6 3-6 6-2 6-2 9-7.
Womens Singles:
On the womens side there were a lot of strong performances from the top players. Caroline Wozniacki, Marion Bartoli, Francesca Schiavone, Vera Zvonareva and Petra Kvitova all won.
The only upset of the day was Nadia Petrova (26) who lost in three tough sets, 6-7 6-3 6-4.
Overall:
It was a great day for all the main seeds as a whole they performed very well. The outstanding players of the day Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Francesca Schiavone.
Schiavone looked very strong in her match today. She didnt play amazingly well, but she played very solid on the clay and looked at home. If I was a betting man I would pop a few quid on Schiavone to get back to back titles.
Francesca Schiavone was lucky enough to meet Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is probably one of the most powerful people in the world, and definitely Italy! The two met at the Palazzo Chigi in Rome to celebrate Francesca’s stunning win at Roland Garros.
Mens Singles:
