YES, I CAN!

She had it within her for some time now, but after her miraculous run to the Wimbledon final in 2007, she just couldn't make it come across in her performances. For a while it was funny how she kept on insisting that she feels like she can be the best player in the world. With the lack of results, her attitude passed as pure arrogance and she was laugh at.
Nevertheless, recently things suffered a radical turnaround. I am not sure what caused the change, but for a couple of weeks now, we are witnessing a totally different Marion Bartoli stepping on to the court. She is more determined, she is hanging in there, she is putting on a fierce fight until the very last ball and she has even passed her tendency to retire halfway through her matches. And the results are starting to appear. After a shaky start at her Wimbledon campaign, the Frenchwoman cause a big commotion with her two sets win over two times defending champion, American Serena Williams. More impressive than the victory itself, was the manner in which she kept on battling, holding off a late comeback from her opponent. I admit I doubted she will be able to pull if off. Succumbing Serena in a Grand, even a week after an extended lay-off, is a remarkable feat.

It might have taken her longer than expected to beat Spanish Lourdes Dominguez Lino and all her inner strength to overcome Italian Flavia Pennetta 9-7 in the decider, but after an utterly convincing performance against one of the all time greatest, Bartoli reassures her credentials as one of the hottest players left in the draw.

She is not a natural born athlete, therefore she is an exotic addition to the game. She has her peculiar moves, her aching serve, her two-handed shots on both sides, her quick races in between the points, but it all comes together for her. Nonetheless, it must have taken her all the perseverance in the world to get to where she is at the moment. Additionally, lately she is complementing this with the right attiude. Whether she wins or loses, she doesn’t hold anything back, giving her all. As a result, she is rather winning than losing. Not sure how long she will be able to keep this level going, but I genuinely think that she deserves a Grand Slam. This could very well be her time, although she faces tough competition against German Sabine Lisicki.

"No matter what the result will be, I will still be proud of myself", she told journalists during the press conference after her three hours and nine minutes amazing win over Pennetta. Whether she gets hold of the Venus Rosewater Dish or not, she should apply her motto.

Bartoli stuns defending champion, American Serena Williams, 6-3,7-6 to book her place in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the second time in her career.

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Emotional Lisicki Back at Her Best

Germany's Sabine Lisicki pulled off the biggest upset of this year's Wimbledon by beating the recently crowned French Open champion in their second round clash. 

It's obvious that the young German is at ease on grass. Her best Grand Slam performance came here two years ago when she reached the quarterfinals before succumbing to then world number 1, Dinara Safina. Moreover, she recently won the title in Birmingham, ensuring the best preparation for the third Slam of the years. Nevertheless, as her current ranking is still low after struggling with an angle injury, Sabine is playing at the London Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club based on a wildcard from the organizers. The draw wasn't too kind with her though, Li being one of the toughest second round opponents one can get. The Chinese has been in cruising Grand Slam form this season, winning at Roland Garros and playing the final at the Australian Open. She raced out from the blocks the strongest, winning the first set 6-3. An unfortunate decision from the line judge played a decisive role at the end of the second set, with Li being refused a chance to level at 5 all. The point was replayed and Lisicki won it. She won the next one too and managed to force a decider. Nevertheless, it was Li who once again held the upper hand after getting the early break. She even had two match points at 5-3, 40-15 on her opponent's serve. However, some powerful serving from the German, followed by a series of unforced error from Li were all it took to get the two back on equal terms. With the Chinese fading under pressure, it was Lisicki who remained strong and focused taking her first chance and winning the battle 8-6 in the third.

After such a powerful display, the young Sabine has definitely signaled her return to top form. As she next faces Japanese Misaki Doi, she stands a great chance of advancing into the fourth round.

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The 2011 WHITE Fashion Scoop

Under the strict rules & regulations of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, the tennis elites were quick to showcase the white masterpieces they prepared for this year's edition. With their creativity being already restricted to this sole colour, the players needed to come up with something really spectacular to steal the show. In recent year, the Williams sisters own the event, both based on their on court performances, as well as their fashion choices. This time around it looks to be no exception with Venus scoring high at the fashion department once again.
Overall, we are witnessing a pretty quiet Wimbledon, no player, except for Mattek Sands and maybe Venus, going overboard. The trend is towards simplicity, especially from Nike who came with a retro collection. Adidas is back at its best with some joyful, fresh pieces. Nevertheless, I somehow miss all the glam and sophistication of previous years when Federer, Sharapova, the Williamses transformed the Centre Court into a genuine catwalk.

Venus Williams - EleVen

'Relight my fire'. Venus is back with a bang. As expected the American saved the best for London where she made headlines with her spectacular jumpsuit. Although the lacy fabric might seem a bit too precious for a tennis court, Venus's outfit landed in the fashion history of the sport as one which will probably open many doors in the future. I find it incredible how well she fulfills her designer potential by putting her brand on the map everytime she steps on the court. As she's always reinventing herself, she is so beneficial for the game and for fashion. I am glad to have her and her tricky style back.

Serena Williams - NIKE

Serena Williams barely escaped being one of the block by wearing this personalized retro cardigan. I am into this kind of sweaters, so I applaude her choice. Plus it's something she never wore in the past.

Julia Goerges - NIKE

Petra Kvitova - NIKE

Julia Goerges and Petra Kvitova also wore the Nike retro collection. Really simple, all white outfits, just some black lines here and there to emphasize some key parts.

Roger Federer - NIKE 'Roger Federer' 

Without his personalized blazers, Federer looks to have lost his aura when he stepped on Center Court. I hope the Swiss Master will turn the tables on his main rivals and recaptures his Wimbledon credentials by claiming a seventh crown.

Maria Sharapova - NIKE 'Maria Sharapova' Group

Maria Sharapova opted for a rather sophisticated London look. Her sheer 'Maria Sharapova' Nike dress had an interesting contruction, the waist being market by a golden encrusted 'corset'.

Victoria Azarenka - NIKE

Na Li - NIKE

Both Victoria Azarenka and French Open champion, Na Li, opted for rather simple Nike attires. However, if Li's garment was dull and did not stand out from the crowd, Azarenka's was pretty cool. It was actually one of my favorite garments at this year's championships. While the Chinese's shaky on court performance saw her exit the tournament in the second round, I hope the Belorussian will be more fortunate. It really is time she takes that ultimate step towards Grand Slam glory.

Kimiko Date-Krumm - AdiPure

Maria Kirilenko - AdiPure

Kimiko Date Krumm and Maria Kirilenko look fresh and cool in these Adidas outfits. While the Russian would look good no matter what she wears, the 40 years old Japanese manages to turn back time, proving tough competition for her younger rivals when it comes to on-court looks also.

Caroline Wozniacki - Adidas by Stella McCartney

'The Queen of Raffles'. World number 1 Caroline Wozniacki insists on bringing her Stella McCartney 'raffles' to the court wearing the white version of the dress she showcased earlier this year at Indian Wells or Roland Garros. Besides not liking it, there is not much more to say.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands - UnderArmour

'Lady Fucking NOT Gaga'. Although she lost in the first round, Bethanie Mattek-Sands made headlines at this year's Wimbledon after teaming up with one of Lady Gaga's designer, Alex Noble. After the disaster she wore at the pre-party, the American showed another monstrosity when she stepped on court. I guess that not everything that is Lady Gaga connected has to be a success. Moreover, not anyone can be Lady Gaga. Some, i.e. Bethanie, can only dream about it though. This is just another example of her sick passion for pushing the fashion boundaries in the most hideous way. I hope she'll take a break soon.

Gael Monfils - K-Swiss

'The Most Athletic of Them All'. I might have said it before, but once more I am a fan of Gael Monfils' K-SWISS attire. The athletic French looks utterly fit in the sleeveless T-shirt and sporty shorts. He is one of the few men players who managed not to look dull at this year's championship.

Jelena Jankovic - ANTA

'One day only'. Jankovic might have opted for a rather decent dress (i.e. for her standards), but by failing in her first round match to Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, she ended her London adventure quicker than expected. No chance to get a second look at her apparel.

The 'Godmother' Aravane Rezai looked like she was about to fulfill her role at a cheap wedding. She was building on the heavy criticism she received for her over the top, hideous outfits, but it appears like success is eluding her. She failed one more both on court and fashion wise.

Nadia Petrova - Ellesse

photos (top-down / left-right):   GETTY IMAGES (x2), EPA;GETTY IMAGES (x21), AP (x2), GETTY IMAGES, MurraySanders, GETTY IMAGES (x7)

Windy Brilliance From Bartoli

What a week this has been for Marion Bartoli! Back on her beloved grass, the 2007 Wimbledon finalist finally put together a winning display, capturing her sixth WTA title, the first since Stanford in 2009.
Marion was riding on an impressive record at Eastbourne, having reached the semifinals in the last four seasons. However, with 7 top ten players in the draw, plus the return of the Williams sisters, the chances of her finally making the ultimate step this year looked weak. Moreover, being 3-5 in the decider against Lucie Safarova in her first round clash definitely didn't make the situation look too promising. Somehow though, she found it in her to fight back, to hang out in there when times got tough and to prove she has what it takes to be a champion. And all it took was a day of utter brilliance.
Having survived the Safarova scare, Bartoli ensured a safer passage through to the semifinals, disposing of Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez before benefiting from Azarenka's withdrawal while being 6-2, 2-0 up in their quarterfinal tie. With heavy rain halting the play on Friday, organizers decided to squeeze both the semis and the final on Saturday. In the gustiest of winds, Marion took the court in the morning aiming at reversing a 1-2 deficit in her head-to-head with Samantha Stosur. She did just that, mastering the extremely tough conditions to win the match 6-3,6-1. Having made the big step, she wasn't about to give up the title without a fight. A couple of hours later, she was back on court facing Czech Petra Kvitova in the championship clash. Having made friends with the wind, Bartoli was unreachable for a set and a half, quickly building a 6-1,3-1 advantage. Kvitova is not one to give up easily though and she managed to fight back, levelling the match at one set a piece. As in many other moments of her career, this was the time when the Frenchwoman sustained an injury. She took a medical time-out and I was sure we will witness the history repeating, as she is notorious on tour for retiring during important matches. Having withdrawn in two of her last three finals, Marion decided it was time to hang in there and fight. To my surprise, it was she who came out on top after a fierce battle, winning the decider 7-5.
With this result, the funny Bartoli proved she can win the big matches. After her wins over Justine Henin at Wimbledon in 2007 and Venus Williams in the final of Stanford in 2009, this is probably her biggest achievement. With a title, a final and a Grand Slam semifinals in her last three events, she is playing the best tennis of her life. She will definitely be one to watch out for during the Wimbledon fortnight.

photo: Reuters

Tennis Moods Style: Dressed for Grand Slam Success

With Wimbledon just around the corner, the elite of the WTA tour gathered for the pre-party held on at the Roof Gardens, Kensington on June 16, 2011 in London.

 Maria Sharapova is one who takes fashion very seriously. The Russian was at her utmost best, stealing the show in this stunning red Alexander McQueen dress. This was my favourite outfit of the night.

Andrea Petkovic caused a pleasant surprise showing a young, fresh look. She wore Richard Nicoll. A plus for the vivid shoes in combination with the nude dress. It was my second pick of the night.

Not one to bother much about fashion, Schiavone looked effortless chic in this monochrome ensemble.
 

Media darling Ana Ivanovic resembles an Oriental princess in this Matthew Williamson dress. However, this is definitely not my favourite Ivanovic look.

 

Sorana Cirstea proved she is one of the young fashionistas.

Serena signaled her return in this emerald Burberry gown which perfectly emphasizes her curvy figure.

I am not a fan of Jelena Jankovic's style, but I must admit the Serbian looked decent in this Vivienne Westwood dress.

 Sania Mirza ended up on the worst dressed list with this strange, shapeless pink dress.

Fashion fiasco Bethanie Mattek Sands did it again. Teaming up with one of Lady Gaga's designers, Alex Noble, the American put together this 'tennis ball' dress. Although she hoped to wow the audience, the eccentric Bethanie managed to make a fool of herself yet again, looking like the clown of the party. Really, didn't she learn anything by now?!

Caroline Wozniacki looks rather dull in her Stella McCartney one shoulder dress. For a reigning world number 1, this look is way too boring. She could've saved the dress by having a more voluminous hairdo and a more aggressive make-up.

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BIG MAMMA Set To Regain Her Throne

Last time she played, Serena Williams was on top of the tennis world. She had just defeated Vera Zvonareva in the Wimbledon final to win her 13th Grand Slam title, strengthening her position as the world's number 1. Soon after, she injured her foot by accidentally stepping on broken glass, spending most of last season fighting this recurring problem. Her plans of making a return for the Australian Open suffered a major setback when she was diagnosed with a life threatening pulmonary embolism. After having undergone surgery to remove the blood clot from her lungs, she postponed her comeback, spending time recovery both mentally and physically.

She finally felt ready to play again in Eastbourne, where she her first round opponent was Bulgarian Tsvetlana Pironkova. Serena was rusty in the beginning, losing the first set 6-1. She gradually regained her confidence though, finding her range and managing to turn things around and ensure a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win. Pironkova, a semifinalist at Wimbledon the last season, was a tough opponent for the American, but the biggest test was to follow. Although she failed it, going out 6-3, 6-7, 7-5 to top-seeded Zvonareva, Serena achieved a decent result this week. Building on this, the two times defending champion looks determined not to lose her title without putting in a fierce battle.

While sidelined, Serena enjoyed life to the fullest. The lack of her regular intensive trainings took its toll and, as portrayed in a series of unflattering bikini pictures that circled on the internet, her body was beginning to look rather grotesque. She struggled with her weight throughout her career, but she always managed to come back fitter than ever. The most amazing story happened at the 2007 Australian Open, when a rather fat Williams defy the odds, the mockery and her opponents to win her third crowd. Therefore, I was really curious to see if the American can pull it off again this time. Surprisingly, she did, looking as fit as before, showing no signs of her extended lay off. She may be chubbier than most of the players, but she's always been like this, especially in the last couple of seasons.
Also, her fashion credentials were back to their usual high with her nice Nike outfit. The simple pink dress (pink being one of those colours she always comes back) did the trick once again, perfectly emphasizing her curvy body.

photos:  GETTY IMAGES (x2), Socialitelife (x3)

The Williamses Stir No Waters On Return

Having been off for almost a year now, the Williams sisters made a long-awaited return to action at this week’s tournament in Eastbourne. Unlike previous years, the duo decided to play a preparatory event before heading for Wimbledon, probably wanting to shake off the dust and to better assess their current levels. Although not needed in the past, the lengthy absence required a break in their routine, as having some matches under their belts could help them hit the ultimate form in due time for their favourite Grand Slam. The two have won 9 of the last 11 singles Wimbledon crowns (i.e. has Venus 5 and Serena 4).

Both Serena and Venus were off to a promising start to the week, passing their first tests. Nevertheless, the Americans ride didn’t last, both succumbing relatively early. If Serena lost in her second match to Russian Vera Zvonareva, Venus bowed out a round later, in the quarterfinals, to in-form Daniela Hantuchova.

Although their comeback created media frenzy and the two achieved decent results under the circumstances, I somehow felt they failed to attract the same magnitude as before. I was expecting them to pull something up their sleeves and to make a spectacular entrance as before. Something was missing. There was no controversy, no scandalous fashion choices, no spectacular results, no nothing. It might be a strategy though, enabling them to keep the goodies for Wimbledon. I find it hard to believe that the Williamses, two of the most assiduous coverage seekers of all time, didn’t cook up anything juicy in the time they spent off the courts. With the women's tour becoming duller by the day, I am counting on the them to bring some much needed spice. However, we still need to wait a couple of days before finding the answer to this question.

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The Blonde or the Brunette?

In today's Birmingham semifinals, the two tennis darlings Ana Ivanovic and Daniela Hantuchova squared off for a place in the first grasscourt final of the year. Both have been in cruising form this week, advancing to this stage without losing a set. While Daniela comes after destroying top seeded Wozniacki in the third round of the French Open, Ivanovic has been struggling to recapture the form that took her to number 1 in the world in 2008. Having beaten the Slovak in four of their five previous meetings, this was Serbian's chance to climb up the ranking and to gain some momentum before Wimbledon. Having failed miserably in the two previous Slam, she definitely needs a good result there.

Showing they are loving the UK grass courts, the blonde Hantuchova and the brunette Ivanovic were up for a fierce battle. After a topsy-turvy first set claimed by the Serb on a tie-break, Daniela fought right back. Dismissing several break points, the Slovak was able to capitalize on a sole occasion in the eighth game, when an erratic Ana handed her the decisive break. She went on to win the set 6-3. As the match progressed there was little to separate the two. Tall, long-legged and long-haired players, they were even wearing the same Adidas outfit. At one set a piece, the only thing differentiating them was the colour of their hair. At that stage a quick summer rain set in, forcing the two off the court. When the play resumed, it was Daniela who came out the strongest. Having saved another bunch of break points, she broke Ivanovic's serve in the sixth game and was unstoppable afterwards. There must be something with the blondes, as is yet another war in which they came out on top.
After a solid display, Hantuchova is set to meet German Sabine Lisicki in tomorrow's final, hoping to collect her second title of the year (i.e. she won the Pattaya trophy in February). On the other side, Ivanovic shows just why she isn't the player she once was. Although the shots are there, there's something that just isn't working. She just can't seem to put it all together for more than a set, a set and a half. I really hope she will regain her momentum as the young Serbian is by far the most exciting player to watch.

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Exuberant Tsonga Brings Nadal Down To Earth

After Rafael Nadal's success at Roland Garros, I would get to cheer any defeat of the Spaniard. I honestly believe that Federer should have won that match, as he genuinely deserved the title. Anyway, Nadal won once again and that's that. 

While Federer decided in the last minute to skip Halle, taking time off to fully recover after the Parisian fortnight, Nadal chose to play in Queen's. Like last year, the Spaniard was shaky in making the transition from clay, but, unlike 2010, he managed to avoid an early defeat. Although he struggled to get passed Czech Radek Stepanek, Nadal got himself into huge trouble when facing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals. The exuberant Frenchman knows how to put on a show and this time was no exception. After losing the first set on a tie-break, Tsonga fought his way back into the match, winning a fairly disputed second set 6-4. Having leveled the match at one set a piece, the Frenchman unleashed a ruthless display in the decider, winning it 6-1. Although Nadal appeared tired and out of sorts in the end, this was a fine performance from Tsonga. It might mark his return to form after a rather dark period marred by injuries. From Rafael, I would expect more such loses, as I really don't like how he gets away with playing a mediocre tennis. It's very frustrating knowing he isn't playing at his best yet he is still winning important tournaments.

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