August 29th, 2008

New York City, USA

Two of the better known players on the women's side were sent home today when both the third seed, Svetlana Kuznetsova and the 23rd seed, Lindsay Davenport lost their third round matches today. However for the other girls, it was just another day at the office as they moved towards the Round of 16.

Both Jelena Jankovic and Elena Dementieva enjoyed a sigh of relief today when their most dangerous Quarter-Finals opponents both lost. Dementieva was facing off againat surprise third rounder, Anne Keovathong of Great Britain. It was a routine match for the hard hitter from Russia. Dementieva never looked threatened as she defeated her younger opponent, 6-3, 6-4. Jelena Jankovic was facing off against recent Wimbledon Semi-Finalist, Jie Zheng. However there was no drama in this match as Jankovic seemed focused and wanting to win the match in straight sets. That is just what she did, winning 7-5, 7-5.

It wasn't so fortunate for Svetlana Kuznetsova who was facing off against Katarina Srebotnik. Kuznetsova lost the opening set 6-3, but came back to win an easy tiebreak, 7-6(1). This is where we thought Kuzzy would turn the match around and win but Srebotnik who also had a great win at Roland Garros in the third round over Serena Williams held her ground and never let up, winning the final set 6-3. The surprise of the day probably came when Lindsay Davenport fell to Marion Bartoli. Having a 3-1 lifetime edge over Bartoli, people expected Davenport's hard hitting and better movement to move on to the round of 16. It wasn't to happen, Davenport never settled in too well, probably the constant start and stop from the rain delays didn't help too much either.

Tomorrow the Williams sisters and Safina continue on with their march towards the Round of 16, and one step closer to an All Williams Quarter-Final.

Results:

Arthur Ashe Stadium:

(2)Jelena Jankovic d. Jie Zheng - 7-5, 7-5
(12)Marion Bartoli d. (23)Lindsay Davenport - 6-1, 7-6(3)

Louis Armstrong Stadium:

(5)Elena Dementieva d. Anne Keovathong - 6-3, 6-4
(28)Katarina Srebotnik d. (3)Svetlana Kuznetsova - 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-3

Grandstand:

(21)Caroline Wozniacki d. (14)Victoria Azarenka - 6-4, 6-4

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Lost Round 2 (Coin)
2. Jelena Jankovic - Round of 16
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Lost Round 3 (Srebotnik)
4. Serena Williams - Round 3
5. Elena Dementieva - Round of 16
6. Dinara Safina - Round 3
7. Venus Williams - Round 3
8. Vera Zvonareva - Lost Round 2 (Perebiynis)
9. Agnieszka Radwanska - Round 3
10. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round 1 (Makarova)

August 28th, 2008

New York City, USA

Day 4 of the US Open was quite the shocker on the women's side with the top seed and number one player in the world, Ana Ivanovic losing early at a Grand Slam for the second consecutive time. Ivanovic has been plagued with a thumb injury since Wimbledon and it has shown with her lackluster play over the summer. It just hasn't been the same Ana Ivanovic since her Roland Garros win in early June, perhaps the pressure has grown too great for her? Today Ivanovic experienced a lost to number 188 in the world, Julie Coin of France. Coin came out firing big serves and ground strokes, winning the first set 6-3. Ivanovic barely came back in the second set winning it 6-4. Once again in the third, Coin went up 5-2, before slightly having a mishap and after three match points closing it out 6-3 in the third. Coin moves on to face Mauresmo while Ivanovic goes home early once again to contemplate what to do for the rest of the year.

The Williams sisters had no trouble in their second round matches today. Venus was up second on Arthur Ashe Stadium against an older opponent, Rossana De Los Rios. It was a very lopsided match with Venus just overpowering and out hitting her opponent. Venus moves on with a 6-0, 6-3 victory. Serena Williams had a similar match, being very precise in her match, hitting hard and hitting less than 15 unforced errors. Serena steam rolled her way to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Elena Vesnina. Dinara Safina who is a heavy favorite now to get to the Semi-Finals also won her second round match over Roberta Vinci. Safina is looking very strong so far during this US Open.

Tomorrow third round matches begin with Jelena Jankovic, Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova back in action all trying to make the final 16.

Results:

Arthur Ashe Stadium:

(6)Dinara Safina d. Roberta Vinci - 6-4, 6-3
(7)Venus Williams d. Rossana De Los Rios - 6-0, 6-3
Julie Coin d. (1)Ana Ivanovic - 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
(4)Serena Williams d. Elena Vesnina - 6-1, 6-1

Grandstand:

(17)Alize Cornet d. Bethanie Mattek - 7-6(5), 6-1
(32)Amelie Mauresmo d. Kaia Kanepi - 2-6, 6-4, 6-0

Court 4:

(27)Alona Bondarenko d. Sabine Lisicki - 6-4, 1-6. 6-4

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Lost Round 2 (Coin)
2. Jelena Jankovic - Round 3
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Round 3
4. Serena Williams - Round 3
5. Elena Dementieva - Round 3
6. Dinara Safina - Round 3
7. Venus Williams - Round 3
8. Vera Zvonareva - Lost Round 2 (Perebiynis)
9. Agnieszka Radwanksa - Round 3
10. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round 1 (Makarova)

There hasn't been much to tickle my fancy recently, but it has been summer after all. The coming autumn releases heading into Christmas sounds more promising. The only new stuff that I have been listening to of note has been the Sneaky Sound System single Pictures, which is a great slice of dance pop. Great to see some good pop come out of Australia as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWVDRMGkkMc

Also started to listen to Neon Neon, which Simon has been going on about for a while. The new single, I told her on Alderaan has a great Richard X mix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LadgANhOhiI

Also like the new Bloc Party single Mercury. It's great to see the guys evolving their sound and moving a little more electronic, which was hinted at on their last single Flux.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYdyExUfIbI

After all of the hoo-haa, I decided to check out the Solange single, I Decided. Not sure that I like it very much- maybe it'll be a grower.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD8wzrBLrLI

Finally, I'm very excited about the prospect of new Grace Jones material. The first single, Corporate Cannibal, is fantastic. You still got it Grace!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgMn2OJmx3w

Finally, here's a funny little blast from the past I found when rooting around on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52fv7F-JCHU

I'm off to Tokyo for 2 weeks- can't wait, as it's the first proper holiday for 12 months ( a visit to Australia doesn't count!)

Here's a nice little Q&A re: Mica Paris that appeared in the Guardian recently. It's great to hear that there might be a new album out later this year.

Question time

Mica Paris on the trials of teenage fame and how she overcame bankruptcy, paranoia and a damaging cycle of yo-yo dieting

· Audio: Hannah Pool speaks to Mica Paris

• <LI id=contrib-shift>
  • <LI class=byline>Interview by Hannah Pool
  • The Guardian,
  • Thursday August 28 2008
  • Article history

Mica Paris. Photograph: Sarah Lee

You're taking part in a new reality show called CelebAir, in which famous people work for an airline. Why?
It appealed to the little girl in me that had always wanted to be an air steward.
Did they give you lots of cash?
[Laughs] No. It's good money but it's not about the money. It's the fact that the people doing the show are lovely. I'm not just saying that. If people were full of shit you'd be the first to know.
You've also done Strictly Come Dancing and Come Dine With Me. That's quite a few reality shows.
I've been offered many others. I didn't do them because I don't want to be sitting on a sofa doing nothing, talking about how great I was. I'm a working-class girl. I'm a grafter, and I liked the concept of this. Celebrity has changed. You no longer go on Top of the Pops or Wogan to promote yourself. It has to be some form of reality. I'm just as sceptical as everyone else is about reality shows. But you still don't know everything about me because I won't allow you to.
You were signed at 17, became very successful, then by 30 you were bankrupt. What happened?
The first five years were fantastic and the last 15 have been a nightmare. I've had a difficult time finding great writers and producers. I've had problems with labels. And then because I started so young in the industry I had people doing everything for me. Artists got massive advances then. My spending spree was legendary, but it went on for too long. But I'm not insecure about the bankruptcy because I believe that if you've been made bankrupt it just means that you made a lot of money once.
That's an astonishingly positive attitude to bankruptcy
It's true! It's almost like having a nervous breakdown. I've had two of those - you're destroyed, but after it's like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Do you wish you'd been older when you were famous?
Sometimes. I found fame in my teens really hard. When you see what's happening with the Britneys and Amys, you have to understand the dynamic of being normal, then having everybody around you treat you like an alien. You start feeling like you're not like everyone else, and then the paranoia sets in. You don't know who to trust, who's your mate and who's not, because
everyone's saying you're great. Then the loneliness starts. And these girls are much bigger than me; these girls have got global fame. It's frightening.
You had a reputation for being difficult.
I always followed my heart. If I don't feel something, I don't do it, and if that makes me a diva, cool. But I'm nice to everybody. No one can say that I'm rude. I'm very fussy but not demanding. I don't suffer fools, either. I'm a black British woman and I have to
represent, to let people know we are not stupid. The minute I look like I'm selling out, or I'm not correct in what I'm doing, I've got a lot of backlash coming. I'm very conscious of that, and if that makes me difficult, fine.
Did the critics' focus on body image get to you?
You can say what you want to say. But I've never felt like I was fat. I know that I'm a real, curvaceous woman. I work out, and I know I'm really gorgeous. That pisses some people off.
You've talked before about yo-yo dieting.
When I made my first album I was a stick insect, because I was 17. By the time I made my second album I'd just had my first kid and I'd put on weight. I was a size 14, which isn't that big, and people in the record industry said: "You look like two people in one body." I was devastated. After that, whenever I had a new album, I'd diet. I was doing that for 10 years, and it is really bad for you.
You've got an album out later this year. Are you worried that music has moved on since you last had a successful record?
No. It's cyclical. We're back where people want great songs, so I'm in my element. I think I've made a great record and I hope that people will love it.

August 27th, 2008

New York City, USA

The third day of the US Open kicked off today with a few Russians in action while American Lindsay Davenport was to play during the night session. Sveltana Kuznetsova had a tough start to her second round match being taken to a tiebreak by her opponent, Sorana Cirstea. The second set was more to Kuznetsova's liking as she took the match 7-6(3), 6-1. Elena Dementieva was also in action and had a pretty easy time against Pauline Parmentier, 6-2, 6-1. Demetieva is looking to make it deep into this draw. The only large upset of the day came when the Bronze medalist from the Beijing Olympics went out in the second round, 6-3, 6-3 to Tatiana Perebiynis.

Lindsay Davenport had a tough second round encounter as well. Playing off against a hard hitting opponent in Alisa Kleybanova, Davenport was leading in the first set by a break but couldn't put it away until her second oppurtunity. The second set was just as slow as the first but Davenport was a bit stronger taking the match, 7-5, 6-3. This is the first time this year Davenport has reached the third round of a major after losing to Sharapova in Australia and retiring at Wimbledon. Jelena Jankovic had a very tough time earlier in the day, almost losing her match up. Struggling with nerves and rusty match play, the number 2 player had to go the distance to close out her match against Sofia Arvidsson. Jankovic usually struggles to get better at the majors.

Tomorrow Ana Ivanovic, and the Williams Sisters come back for their second round matches. Each are looking to progress towards the weekend.

Results:

Arthur Ashe Stadium:

(3)Svetlana Kuznetsova d. Sorana Cirstea - 7-6(3), 6-1
(2)Jelena Jankovic d. Sofia Arvidsson - 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-5
(23)Lindsay Davenport d. Alisa Kleybanova - 7-5, 6-3

Louis Armstrong Stadium:

(5)Elena Dementieva d. Pauline Parmentier - 6-2, 6-1

Grandstand:

(15)Patty Schnyder d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - 6-3, 6-3
(21)Caroline Wozniacki d. Maria Elena Camerin - 6-1, 6-2

Court 4:

(28)Katarina Srebotnik d. Yvonne Meusburger - 6-1, 6-3
(14)Victoria Azarenka d. Iveta Benesova - 6-2, 6-3

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Round 2
2. Jelena Jankovic - Round 3
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Round 3
4. Serena Williams - Round 2
5. Elena Dementieva - Round 3
6. Dinara Safina - Round 2
7. Venus Williams - Round 2
8. Vera Zvonareva - Lost Round 2 (Perebiynis)
9. Agnieszka Radwanksa - Round 2
10. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round 1 (Makarova)

August 26th, 2008

New York City, USA

Day 2 of the US Open kicked off today with the number 1 player in the world, Ana Ivanovic starting on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Recently Ivanovic had to pull out of the Olympics because of a sore thumb which has been bothering her since Wimbledon. No one was sure how the top seed would be playing but after being up in the match a set and a break, it seemed Ivanovic was playing well and was going to soar through. Quickly after however her opponent, Vera Dushevina had other plans. Getting back into the match, the Russian was playing well and forced Ivanovic into a third set. Ivanovic's more steady game helped her overcome a rocky start to the last slam of the season with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory.

Serena and Venus Williams both were in action today. Serena was up during the day session against Kateryna Bondarenko. Serena came out strong and precise winning the first set 6-1. The second set was a bit more tight, Williams made a little more errors but quickly calmed down and ended the match with a nervous looking rally. Williams won 6-4. Venus came out at night to play against always dangers Samantha Stosur. It was a hard hitting match but Stosur made too many errors and Venus was just too strong. Not able to capitalize on her break in the second set, Stosur quickly faltered and Venus moved on with a 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Daniela Hantuchova lost her opening round match today. Having been plagued since early spring with a heel problem, Hantuchova just hasn't found her form. Safina who is possibly the most in form player here at the US Open won comfortably in her 1st Round match. Tomorrow Jankovic and Kuznestova will return to play their 2nd Round matches as well as Linsday Davenport who plays at night.

Results:

Arthur Ashe Stadium:

(1)Ana Ivanovic d. Vera Dushevina - 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
(4)Serena Williams d. Kateryna Bondarenko - 6-1, 6-4
(7)Venus Williams d. Samantha Stosur - 6-2, 6-3

Louis Armstrong Stadium:

(6)Dinara Safina d. Kristie Ahn - 6-3, 6-4
Nathalie Dechy vs. (32)Amelie Mauresmo - TBD

Grandstand:

Anna-Lena Groenefeld d. (11)Daniela Hantuchova - 6-4, 6-2
Bethanie Mattek d. Marta Domachowska - 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4

Court 4:

(19)Nadia Petrova d. Olivia Sanchez - 6-2, 6-4

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Round 2
2. Jelena Jankovic - Round 2
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Round 2
4. Serena Williams - Round 2
5. Elena Dementieva - Round 2
6. Dinara Safina - Round 2
7. Venus Williams - Round 2
8. Vera Zvonareva - Round 2
9. Agnieszka Radwanska - Round 2
10. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round 1 (Makarova)

August 25th, 2008

New York City, USA

The year's last Grand Slam began today in Flushing Meadows, New York City. In action was American hopeful Lindsay Davenport as well as the number 2 player in the world, Jelena Jankovic. Recent Pilot Pen Title winner, Caroline Wozniacki was also out on the courts as was Gold Medalist Elena Dementieva.

Dementieva started the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium and was up against a powerful but slow, Akgul Amanmuradova. Dementieva looked a little sluggish, most likely due to jet lag coming back from the Olympics only a week earlier. Struggling a bit, the Russian was more consistent than her opponent which allowed her to win with a 6-4, 7-5 scoreline. Lindsay Davenport was up next and was facing against Canadian and Bank of the West Classic winner, Aleksandra Wozniack. Davenport who has only played one match since April also looked a bit sluggish in her opening round, but eventually after 5 match points the American won, 6-4, 6-2.

The big upset of the day came when Anna Chakvetadze who has been having a slow and lackluster year faltered and fell in the first round. A year ago, she reached the US Open Semi-Finals and usually is comfortable on the hardcourts at the Open. Never getting into steady play, her Russian opponent, Ekaterina Makarova defeated her 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. Svetlana Kuznetsova, the winner in 2004 and finalist last year won comfortably over Shaui Zhang, 6-4, 6-2. Caroline Wozniacki also won, over Ahsha Rolle 6-2, 6-1. In the Night Match, Jelena Jankovic defeated hard hitting 16 year old, Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-1.

Tomorrow Ana Ivanovic and the Williams Sisters take to the court where they will all be trying to start their quest for yet another Grand Slam to add to their resumes.

Results:

Arthur Ashe Stadium:

(5)Elena Dementieva d. Akgul Amanmuradova - 6-4, 7-5
(23)Lindsay Davenport d. Aleksandra Wozniack - 6-4, 6-2
(2)Jelena Jankovic d. Coco Vandeweghe - 6-3, 6-1

Louis Armstrong Stadium:

(3)Sveltana Kuznetsova d. Shaui Zhang - 6-4, 6-2
Ekaterina Makarova d. (10)Anna Chakvetadze - 1-6, 6-2, 6-3

Grandstand:

Na Li d. (24)Shahar Peer - 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
(21)Caroline Wozniacki d. Ahsha Rolle - 6-2, 6-1

Court 4:

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova d. Vania King - 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Virginia Ruano Pascual d. Petra Kvitova - 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Round 1
2. Jelena Jankovic - Round 2
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Round 2
4. Serena Williams - Round 1
5. Elena Dementieva - Round 2
6. Dinara Safina - Round 1
7. Venus Williams - Round 1
8. Vera Zvonareva - Round 2
9. Agnieszka Radwanska - Round 1
10. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round 1 (Makarova)

The GB Olympic team, how great are they? :bowdown:

Derby County, how shit are they? :lol:

August 23rd, 2008

New Haven, USA and Forest Hills, USA

One week before the last Grand Slam of the season, the US Open begins play, competitors were trying to get in the last bits of practice and match play that they could in preparation for the big New York City event.

The Tier IV Forest Hills event which is played where the US Open used to be played and not far from where the US Open will be played had quite a big name in the finals, Lucie Safarova who is probably best known for sending Amelie Mauresmo packing last year at both the Australian and French Opens. Safarova has been experiencing a horrendous year and was looking to try and up her game at the right time, and she did. Safarova claimed the Forest Hills Tier IV title with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Peng Shaui of China. It would be Safarova's 4th WTA Tour Title.

In New Haven, more noticeable names such as Amelie Mauresmo, and Anna Chakvetadze were in action. The pair met in the Semi-Finals with the Russian moving on to the finals. Caroline Wozniacki would be the woman who she would meet and the Danish player was confident after winning her first title two week before in Stockholm. Wozniacki played a compact and powerful game which definitely will give her confidence heading to New York next week. Wozniacki clinched her second and biggest career title with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory. Wozniacki now moves into the Top 20 for the first time in her career.

Next week the US Open kicks off for two weeks of exciting tennis. The Williams sisters have been drawn to face each other in the Quarter-Finals if all holds up. The top is very heavy with Ana Ivanovic also in the mix. Either way the US Open is always exciting and it should be once again this year. Look for day to day coverage as have the other Slams been.

August 17th, 2008

Beijing, China and Cincinnati, USA

It was a week of complete domination on all sides by the Russian women, in both the Olympics and the Tier III Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. Nadia Petrova who wasn't chosen to be on the Olympic team because of poor results throughout the year didn't bother shedding a tear. Instead she took her powerful game to Ohio and blasted through the field and dominated her finals opponent, Nathalie Dechy, 6-2, 6-1. It was Petrova's first tournament victory of the year.

In Beijing, many of the games top stars came out to play, and in many ways it was a lackluster field. Ana Ivanovic arrived in Beijing, only to pull out. Jankovic, and the Williams sisters all lost before medal contention. Na Li of China tried her best to secure a medal but it wasn't to be as she lost in the Bronze Medal match to Vera Zvonereva. It was Elena Dementieva, who won the silver medal in Sydney in 2000 who captured the Gold Medal this time around and in form Dinara Safina took the Silver Medal. It has been a dream summer for Safina as she continues her dominating hard court play into the US Open in 2 weeks time. Dementieva defeated Safina, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

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have some time off and thought i could write something, but not thing is really coming to mind.

it's been also almost a year since i've been away from home, which has made think about time, so i googled some time related quotes and these are the ones that i liked the most :)

Time is the longest distance between two places. ~Tennessee Williams

Time is what we want most, but... what we use worst. ~Willaim Penn

Maria will unveil her limited edition Canon PowerShot Diamond Collection at New York's South Street Seaport on Wednesday, August 20th. The five PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH cameras, designed in conjunction with Amosu, are encrusted with 88 white diamonds totaling 2.22 carats, valued at approximately $10,000 and will be awarded to five lucky consumers via a nationwide sweepstakes.

The tennis great will also preview her latest TV spot titled, “ Fans,” which is set to break on the first day of the U.S. Open. This will mark the sixth execution in the very successful PowerShot ad campaign. As illustrated in each of the commercials, Maria has a true passion for photography and will share that passion with New Yorkers through Canon Center Court, an interactive multimedia experience housed within an eye-catching 50-foot dome. Those visiting Canon Center Court on Wednesday, August 20 (10:00 am - 4:00 pm) or Thursday, August 21 (10:00 am - 8:00 pm) will have the opportunity to pose for photos with Maria look-alikes, play tennis against the phenom in a game of Nintendo Wii Top Spin 3, try the latest in Canon technology and enter to win one of Maria's Diamond Collection cameras.

Those interested in entering the sweepstakes and learning more about Canon Center Court can visit www.powershot.com

Resources : www.mariasharapova.com

For more information please visit: http://www.mariasharapovabio.com/

OR

http://mariasharapova.webng.com/


Link= http://mariasharapova.webng.com/

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