TENNIS BOULEVARD: July 2012

Monday, July 30, 2012

Michelle Obama meets Serena and Venus Williams at the Olympic games

Michelle Obama hugs Venus Williams after Serena's 1st-round match

Michelle Obama has been one of the most supportive American fans in London. USA's First Lady leads the Presidential Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games in London and not only attended the Opening Ceremony but also has been attending the Olympic competitions, such as basketball, swimming and the Olympic Tennis event.

Michelle Obama is picked up by U.S. Olympic wrestler Elena Pirozhkova during a greet with Team USA Olympic athletes

Michelle Obama was at the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon to watch Serena Williams first round match against Jelena Jankovic, and met with the Williams sisters after the game.

Watching the swimming finals and medal ceremonies at the Olympic Park Aquatics Center

First Lady during a “Let’s Move! London” event for American military children and American and British students

Watching the USA-France men's basketball game

Hugging LeBron James following the USA vs. France

According to the White House official website, Michelle Obama is in London to meet and support the U.S. athletes competing in the games and will also attend several activities to encourage children to be active in their daily lives.

Photo credit: Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Tennis Olympic Draw: Can Federer and Serena repeat Wimby?

World No. 1 Roger Federer will meet Colombia’s Alejandro Falla in the first round at the London Olympic Tennis Event, which begins in a few hours. Federer, who is appearing at his fourth Olympic Games, is in the same half of the draw as fourth seed David Ferrer, reports ATP.

Second seed Novak Djokovic, the 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medalist, will challenge Fabio Fognini of Italy in the first round. The 2-ranked player is in the same half of the draw as third seed and British favourite Andy Murray, who faces Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. Fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France will meet Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci.

Learn what are the ten differences between Wimby and the Olympics at Wimbledon (Players can wear any color, for a start).

View complete men's draws: Singles - Doubles

In the Ladies tournament, world No.1 Victoria Azarenka will play in the first round with Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu. In Vika's quarter of the draw there's also former Gold Medalist and five times Wimbledon champion, Venus Williams. The other sister, Serena, has a tough match in the 1st round against Jelena Jankovic. Also on her section of the board are Caroline Wozniacki and Vera Zvonareva. Third-ranked Maria Sharapova meets Shahar Peer in the opening match and has some tougher competitors on her quarter: Ana Ivanovic, Kim Clijsters, Sam Stosur and Sabine Lisicki. Julia Goerges and Agnieszka Radwanska will play an interesting first-round match, in the fourth section that also features 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová.

Click here to read an interesting review of the Ladies Draw.

View complete women's draws: Singles - Doubles

The draw for the mixed doubles is scheduled to take place on 31 July.

Olympics 2012: Tennis stars shine at the Opening Ceremony

Maria Sharapova

Novak Djokovic

Agnieszka Radwanska

Stanislas Wawrinka

Marco Baghdatis

Horia Tecau

Stephanie Vogt

Max Mirnyi

Photos via O Globo, Reuters, Twitter and Novak Djokovic Fan Club

Friday, July 27, 2012

Tennis flag bearers at London 2012 Opening Ceremony

London 2012 Opening Ceremony begins in less than an hour (9 PM in London). 'Isles of Wonder' is the title chosen by the Artistic Director of the Opening Ceremony Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire).

The event will feature 10,000 volunteers, cast and crew and will be watched in the Olympic Stadium by the British Royal family and more than 100 World leaders. The theme, from what has been uncovered so far, will be the Industrial Revolution.

At the heart of the Ceremony is the Athletes’ Parade, a procession of the participating teams in the Stadium, nation by nation. The big finale is the entrance of the Olympic Flame into the Stadium and the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, marking the start of the Games, says the London 2012 website.

Several tennis players will feature at the Athletes' Parade as flag bearers for their countries. Here's a list of the lucky tennis stars:

Novak Djokovic - Serbia

Novak Djokovic won the bronze medal for his country in Beijing 2008. With Nadal out of the race, and following an amazing tennis season as world Nº1, the Serbian is in good condition to bring home the gold medal.

Stanislas Wawrinka - Switzerland

Roger Federer has handed the honour of carrying Switzerland's flag at tonight's opening ceremony at the Olympic Games in London to doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka. Federer, who carried the flag for his nation in Athens and Beijing, said he was happy for his gold-medal-winning doubles partner to shoulder the responsibility, reports ATP Tour. Wawrinka said on Facebook: "I am very happy and proud to be the flag bearer for Switzerland for the Olympics! I am now ready to take part in both the singles and the doubles events, I can’t wait ! Thanks to all for your great support!"

Maria Sharapova - Russia

London 2012 are Maria Sharapova first Olympic Games and she will have the honor to carry the flag of Russia. Today she had lunch at the Russian house in the Olympic village and tried out her uniform for tonight.

Agnieszka Radwanska - Poland

Radwanska will carry the flag of Poland in the best moment of her career. She is currently the world Nº 2 player and has high hopes for the Olympics. She made it to Wimbledon's final just three weeks ago...will she do it again?

Marcos Baghdatis - Cyprus

Marcos Baghdatis will lead a team of 13 athletes from his country. The 40-ranked tennis player is likely the most famous athlete in Cyprus, a nation which has never won an Olympic Medal.

Max Mirnyi - Belarus

Max Mirny is a doubles specialist and is currently the 1-ranked player in this discipline.

Stephanie Vogt - Liechtenstein

Stephanie Vogt is world number 208 in the WTA rankings.

Horia Tecau - Romania

Horia Tecau is world Nº8 player in doubles ranking.

NOTE: Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Olympics due to a knee injury, and will be replaced by Pau Gasol as Spain's flag bearer.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

London 2012 Tennis Vibe (photos)

We start the countdown to London 2012 Olympic Tennis Tournament, which will start next Saturday, with a gallery of photos from this past week...Players practicing, exchanging pins, meeting the fans. The mood at Wimbledon is summery and festive. Enjoy the vibe!