Russia's Tennis Player Dinara Safina snatches German Open title

[December]

It seems like the Russians totally occupied the world of tennis...
Firts Maria Sharapova wins at US and Australian Open....

:)

Sensational Sharapova wins Australian Open
Star claims third Grand Slam crown of career with 2-set win over Ivanovic
Jan. 25, 2008
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22850075/site/21683474

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44382000/jpg/_44382965_sharapova_getty416.jpg
Maria Sharapova won the third Grand Slam title of her career with a straight-sets win over Serbia's Ana Ivanovic at the Australian Open.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7210000/newsid_7210700/7210702.stm

http://media3.msnbc.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060909/060909_sharapova_vlg8p.widec.jpg

Russia's Maria Sharapova holds up the championship trophy after her straight set victory over Justine Henin-Hardene of Belgium at the U.S. Open on Saturday.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/14701106/site/21683474

[December]

And now two Russian girls compete in the final of the German Open.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/12/xin_21205051211318902131438.jpg

Safina(L) and Elena Dementieva(R) hold the trophy after the final match of the German Open in Berlin, capital of Germany May 11, 2008. Russia's Safina beat compatriot Elena Dementieva 2-1. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/12/xin_56205051209028593044415.jpg

BERLIN, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian tennis player Dinara Safina beat compatriot Elena Dementieva 2-1 to snatch the title of German Open here on Sunday.

Safina, ranked 17th in the world, won 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 and took into pocket the top prize of nearly 200,000 U.S. dollars.
Facing Russian derby on Sunday, Safina, who had ousted world number on Justine Henin and U.S. star Serena Williams on her way to the final, was too anxious to win in the first set, thus committing too many unforced errors. The 13th seed was upset with 3-6 by number seven seed Dementieva, who beat defending champion Ana Ivanovic a day earlier. In the second set, Safina became steady. Her powerful service and diversified hitting-backs earned her an equalizer 6-2. In the decisive third set, Safina continued her dominance and swept Dementieva with another 6-2. This is the first time for the 22-year old to win German Open.
With nearly 200,000 U.S. dollar prize in pocket, Safina was excited and the champion title is a special gift for "Mother's Day", which falls on May 11.
"I'll tell my mother, let her buy everything she wants," Safina said after the match.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/12/content_8148177.htm

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Dinara_Safina_and_Elena_Dementieva.jpg/800px-Dinara_Safina_and_Elena_Dementieva.jpg

[Pookie]

I was checking that out, December. I was on the tennis team in school and I still play.
These ladies are excellent! I hope they continue to do so well.
Congatulations, girls, you rock!
Purrs,
Pookie

[dgun]

Americans have dominated the tennis world for much of the last x number of years.

Funny thing is, Americans don't give a shit about tennis. The only sports Americans care less about than tennis is cycling and soccer, in that order.

[Pookie]

Aw, man, that isn't fair. Lots of us like tennis, really, we do.
Purrs,
Pookie

[lieexposer]

Congratulations to the Russian girls. And also the Russian team just won the world championships in dog agility, followed by the US and Canada. Amazing that Russians are so up in this too.

[Pookie]

Dog agility? What is that? I missed it!
Purrs,
Pookie

[December]

By the way, will US tennis palyers participate in the Istanbul Cup on May 19-24?
Russia's Elena Dementieva will:

http://eng.dementieva.ru/#

http://z.about.com/d/tennis/1/7/1/C/2006-us-open-2.jpg

http://dementieva.ru/downloads/catimages/4335_image.jpg

Elena Dementieva

[Osborn F. Enready]

Some fine looking, and quite talented ladies there December.

Congratulations to them for their achievements, and Russia for allowing them to compete and gain such national pride and recognition.

[cronic]

I love Tennis,, but I only watch womens mostly
Just like basketball..

[December]

Some fine looking, and quite talented ladies there December.

Thank you.
They are actually, typical Russian girls....



Congratulations to them for their achievements, and Russia for allowing them to compete and gain such national pride and recognition.

Thanks.
What do you mean by Russia for allowing them to compete?

http://www.raquetbol.cat/files/imagecache/detalle/files/fotos_noticias/logo_german_open2.jpg

Steffi-Graf-Stadium
11.30 am Double-Final - Winner: C. Black (ZIM) / L. Huber (USA)

[1] C Black (ZIM) / L Huber (USA) vs N Llagostera Vives (ESP) / M Martinez Sanchez (ESP) 3:6, 6:2, 10:2

02.00 pm Single-Final - Winner: D. Safina (Russia)

[13] D. Safina (RUS) vs [7] E Dementieva (RUS) 3:6, 6:2, 6:2

http://mirror1.german-open.net/conpresso/_data/2008_finale1.jpg


Qatar Telecom German Open 2008 - Official Website - News (http://mirror1.german-open.net/conpresso/_rubric/index.php?rubric=31)


Photogallery - Qatar Telecom German Open 2008 - Official Website - Photogallery (http://mirror1.german-open.net/conpresso/_rubric/index.php?rubric=Photogallery+%5BEN%5D)

[December]

Calf injury forces Sharapova out of Italian Open

17/ 05/ 2008


http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/sharapova_maria050513.jpg


MOSCOW, May 17 (RIA Novosti) - A calf injury has forced Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova out of Saturday's semifinal match at the Italian Open with defending champion Jelena Jankovic.
The injury happened while Sharapova was warming up for the match.
In Sunday's final, Jankovic will now meet either sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze or Frenchwoman Alize Cornet. The pair were due to play later today.
Despite her withdrawal from the Italian Open, Sharapova will become the WTA No 1 on Monday after Justine Henin's shock retirement last week.

http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080517/107639943.html



Italian Open | Rome, Italy

ATP Dates: May 5 - May 11, 2008

WTA Dates: May 12 - May 18, 2008

The Tournament

This Tennis Master Series event attracts most of the top ranked men. With a draw of 64 singles players and 32 doubles teams, you will see the world's best players compete for over $3,000,000 in prize money. Courier, Sampras, Becker, Agassi and Kuerten are just a few Italian Open winners and finalists during the past few years.
Played on red clay against the background of ancient Rome, the Italian Open is a grueling test of tennis skill and endurance. When you are not watching tennis, you can view the remains of over 2,000 years of civilization, shop in chic boutiques on the Via Condotti, explore the cuisine of Rome at neighborhood trattorias and sip espresso at a sidewalk cafe.

http://www.grandslamtennistours.com/italian_open.html



http://www.grandslamtennistours.com/?gclid=CLzbhcilrpMCFQS7sgodJ3PSnw



http://img.rian.ru/images/9825/61/98256149.jpg

http://asapblogs.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/01/sharapova_91.jpg

http://media4.msnbc.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070901/070901_sharapova_vmed_6p.widec.jpg

[December]

..........Update...

Serbia's Jelena Jankovic wins the Italian Open (http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Sports/2008/05/18/jankovic_wins_the_italian_open/5108/)


Slavic girls rule!!!!!
The German Open was won by a Slavic girl, and now Italian open has been won by a Serbian (Slavic) girl.

Quote: "The Serbian beat Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5 6-1 in last season's final."

Wow.... Even the final was all-Slavic. Cool.

[December]

May 19, 2008

Russia's Sharapova ranked world number one

http://russiatoday.com/media/news/e/4831b75beb3c4.jpg

Russian tennis star, Maria Sharapova has moved to the top of the WTA rankings. The 21-year-old Russian is the only player with more than 4.000 points.

Sharapova rose to the top of the list, after former world number one Justine Henin announced her retirement.

Three more Russians are also in the Top 10. Svetlana Kuznetsova is fourth, while Anna Chakvetadze is up to sixth position. Elena Dementieva occupied the seventh spot.

http://russiatoday.com/sports/news/24958

[Pookie]

I'm sorry she got hurt. I hope she'll be back real quick.
Purrs,
Pookie

[preservanation]

You convinced me Dec.
Russians are the new master-race!
Fire up the eugenics lab...

[December]

Watch Maria's 21 birthday party video here - MariaSharapova.com (http://www.mariasharapova.com/Splash.sps)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/64785279.7xFdDbri.jpg

[December]

Russia's Sharapova ranked world number one

http://russiatoday.com/sports/news/24958

Maria Sharapova Official Site - http://www.mariasharapova.com

http://fespn.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/sharapova.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1062/924cf42d1715cb9645259b1ey5.jpg

[December]

Russian girls contunue to conquer the world.

Iran' PRESSTV reports:

Russia's Kuznetsova in French Open semis

Wed, 04 Jun 2008


http://ruvr.ru/files/Image/RUSSIA/sports-in-Russia/svetlana-kuznetsova2.jpg

World number four, Svetlana Kuznetsova


Fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia beats Kaia Kanepi to end the Estonian's dream of reaching the top four in the French Open.
Kuznetsova sealed a 7-5, 6-2 victory over 49th seed Kanepi to reach the French Open semi-finals for the second time in three years.
Kanepi, the first Estonian to reach the last eight of a grand slam event, led 4-2 in the first set but Kuznetsova hit back to win the set and then eased through the second set.

The 2006 French Open runner-up Kuznetsova will play the winner of the all-Russian match between world number seven Elena Dementieva and 13th seed Dinara Safina.

World number two Ana Ivanovic defeated 10th seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland on Tuesday to face fellow Serb and third seed Jelena Jankovic in the semi-finals.

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=58686&sectionid=3510211

[Pookie]

Great! Now what have the Russian boys/men done lately?
Purrs,
Pookie

[December]

Great! Now what have the Russian boys/men done lately?
Purrs,
Pookie

They are playing too, Pookie. :)

...............BREAKING NEWS..................

June 5, 2008

Safina defeats Kuznetsova to make French Open final

http://img.rian.ru/images/10932/69/109326964.jpg

http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/nav/top/rg_nt_0000g3.gif

http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/flags/RUS_h.gif

Dinara Safina

Russia

http://www.rolandgarros.com/images/players/wta190950.jpg

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/bios/overview/wta190950.html




MOSCOW, June 5 (RIA Novosti) - Dinara Safina progressed to the French Open final by beating her compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday.

The final will be her first in a major tournament.
"I feel amazing. I didn't expect that I could get to the final," the 22-year-old said after the game.
The No 13 seed will face the winner of the second semifinal between two Serbs - No. 2-seeded Ana Ivanovic and No. 3 Jelena Jankovic. The final is to be played on Saturday.
Safina beat fellow Russians No 1 seed Maria Sharapova and No. 7-seeded Yelena Dementyeva in the fourth round and the quarterfinals respectively.

http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080605/109331473.html

[December]

All Slavic final at French Open. Congratulations to our friends in Serbia!

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:_YDDoly_LR9OgM:http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~infinite/PeacePath_Flags_Data/SerbiaF.gif_______________________________________ _____________ http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:bvU-hVj48RD4mM:http://www.fieldhockey.ca/e/nationalteams/women/SA%2520Tour%2520Feb%252008/images/russian_flag.gif

Ivanovic beats Russia's Safina to take French Open title
07/ 06/ 2008

http://img.rian.ru/images/10950/52/109505219.jpg


MOSCOW, June 7 (RIA Novosti) - Serbia's Ana Ivanovic beat Russia's Dinara Safina in the French Open women's final on Saturday to win her first grand slam title.

Second-seeded Ivanovic, 20, outplayed 22-year-old Safina (13) to clinch the match in straight sets 6:4, 6:3.

Safina, the younger sister of Russia's former world No 1, Marat Safin, was playing in her first grand slam final after ousting three of her higher-ranked compatriots, including top seed, Maria Sharapova, Yelena Dementyeva (7) and Svetlana Kuznetsova (4).

http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080607/109507923.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShNX5qCKlPg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpCtX94g8xQ