TENNIS BOULEVARD: 2012

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Murray wins first Grand Slam ever, Serena Williams gets her 15th

Andy Murray wins his first Grand Slam title at the US Open, while Serena Williams achieves her record 15th Grand Slam victory.

Images via US Open Facebook page

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Maria Sharapova launches Sugarpova in NYC

Maria Sharapova's Sugarpova premium candy line will be launched Monday in New York. For those in the NY area who would like to meet the tennis star and buy some candies, the event will start at 11am EST at the Henri Bendel store on 5th Avenue. Everyone else can watch the launch live at http://new.livestream.com/Sharapova/sugarpova.

Sugarpova will be sold at Henri Bendel, Sugarpova website and It Sugar's stores and website.

Images via Maria Sharapova's Facebook page and It Sugar.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Olympic Gold: The "biggest win" for Andy Murray

‎It seemed like he would never get his moment. Andy Murray, world No 4, was chasing a major victory for years. He had several chances to achieve glory but he had some mighty fellows such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in his way. On Sunday, in the grass at Wimbledon, during the London Olympics, and with the crowd again on his side, Andy Murray got the "number one", the "biggest win" of his life, as he described it. The Brit crushed Roger Federer (tired from the longest match in Olympic history from the day before) in three straight sets 6-1 6-2 6-4. He also become the first British male in 104 years to win an Olympic singles gold medal.

The bronze medal went to Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated Novak Djokovic in two-straight sets.

Silver Fed, Golden Murray and Bronze del Potro

To complete a remarkable Olympic event, Murray played also on Sunday the mixed doubles final with partner Laura Robson against team Belarus, formed by 1-ranked tennis woman Victoria Azarenka and 1-ranked in men's doubles Max Mirnyi. Belarus got the Gold with a victory by 2-6 6-3 10-8. Vika and Max become the first tennis players ever to win a Gold Medal for Belarus, and Myrnyi, at age 35, sets the record as the oldest man to win an Olympic medal since 1988. In the mixed doubles competition, the bronze was awarded to Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond from the USA.

Mixed doubles medalists: Great Britain, Belarus and USA

Golden Sisters!

In the women's doubles competition, the Williams sisters tasted the victory once again and become the first four-time Gold medallists in tennis history. Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka from Czech Republic won the silver medal and Russia's Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova the bronze medal.

Photos via ITF, WTA and Roland Garros's Facebook Pages

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Golden Serena!

Serena Williams is the first tennis player in history to achieve a career Golden Slam (all four majors and an Olympic Gold Medal) both in singles and doubles (Steffi Graf was the first woman to complete a career Golden Slam in Seoul 1988). At age 31, Serena needed just 62 minutes to pulverize Maria Sharapova - 6-0 6-1 - in the final of women's singles at the London Olympics on Saturday.
"I didn't expect this. I can't even... oh my gosh. I have a gold medal in singles, oh my gosh. I got the gold. I'm just so happy. I don't know what to do. I just feel good about my game. I've practiced so hard. It was time", Williams said in an interview after the game, quoted by the WTA website.

For the Bronze Medal, Victoria Azarenka beat Maria Kirilenko 6-3 6-4, and got Belarus its first tennis Olympic medal.

Silver Masha, Golden Serena and Bronze Vika

USA had more to celebrate on Saturday. Doubles champions Bryan Brothers got their first Olympic gold medal in men's doubles (they won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics) after defeating France's Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 7-6. On Facebook, Bob wrote a few hours after the match: "Wow, what can I say? To wear this gold medal around my neck is the greatest thing that has ever happened or will happen to me in my sporting lifetime. We have reached the pinnacle of our careers and there is no way we could have done it without the love and support from the people around us. This includes all of our fans and friends here on Facebook. Thanks so much for the messages! We love you!"

Men's Doubles Bronze match was a victory for France's Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau over Spain's David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez.

Bryan Brothers first Gold Medal

The French: Gasquet and Benneteau with the Bronze Medal; Tsonga and Llodra won silver

Photos via WTA, Roland Garros, FFT and Bryan Brothers's Facebook Pages

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!