Kimmie shocks no one, officially announces return to tennis action

Amidst weeks of swirling rumors, Kim Clijsters officially announced her return to the WTA Tour today in Bree, Belgium after nearly two years away.

The former top lady baller told the press she's ready for what lies ahead:

The hunger is back. I look forward to the challenge. I want to be back at my peak as soon as possible, but I know that is not logical to ask that. I will have to take it match by match.

She also revealed how the idea of a full-time return came about:

It all started with preparing for the gala match at Wimbledon. It was all pretty laid back. But I liked it so much I was onto my training schedule from my pro days, and then the hunger for more came automatically.

But Kimmie's not calling it a comeback saying, "I look at this as a second career, not as a comeback, as I am now in a situation where not everything revolves around tennis 24 hours a day. We'll see how I, Jada and the others in my environment can handle this."

The Belgian baller won the U.S. Open, her only Grand Slam, in 2005 before retiring in 2007 due to injury and her desire to begin a family with husband Brian Lynch. The couple had a daughter, Jade Ellie, in 2008.

Her schedule this year includes:

May 17 - A Centre Court Celebration (Wimbledon)
(exhibition singles match against Steffi Graf, then exhibition mixed doubles match partnering Tim Henman against Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi)

June 14 - Ordina Open ('s-Hertogenbosch)

(exhibition singles match against Michaella Krajicek)

July 21-22 - WorldTeamTennis (with St. Louis Aces)

August 10 - Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open (Cincinnati)

August 17 - Rogers Cup (Toronto)

August 31 - US Open (New York)

December 10-13 - Diamond Games, Antwerp (exhibition)

I'm sure Kimmie looked at the state of the WTA Tour (read: lame) and figured she could come back, eat up some titles and make some cash with little resistance. But no pressure - it's just good to have her back!

(image via getty)

PHOTO OP: Fed flashes his MBB in Miami

Roger Federer was spotted flashing his Mustached Belly Bump during a practice session at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne for the Sony Ericsson Open. It seems Svetlana Kuznetsova joined the former No.1 during the session (couldn't hurt faltering game I suppose.)

Okay, not usually a fan of MBB's but at least Fed's doesn't make me want to throw up chunks like David Nalbandian's or Vince Spadea's. I mean, theirs even smiled back. GROSS.

See more images below + here.

PS - Thanks to LynnLovesTennis!




(images via justjared.com)

PHOTO OP: Screw tennis, shop accessories with Serena

Serena Williams was spotted at her Miami pre-tourney presser pimping out her new Signature Statement line of accessories today.

Note to ReRe: This is a press conference for the Sony Ericsson Open, not the Home Shopping Network. I know it's confusing but trust me.

I guess a girl's gotta eat, though.

(image via getty)

PHOTO OP: Whose situation is hairier?

Andy Roddick was spotted at his Macy's Dadeland meet-and-greet at the Lacoste shop yesterday working another, albeit old-school, hairy situation.

It so reminded me of the hideousness that is Fernando Verdasco's hairstyle right now.

So whose situation is hairier: A-Rod or Nando?

DO TELL!

(images via getty, pacific coast news)

VANtage Point: Indian Wells flashback, Miami up next

Missed the Point? Well, you know what? It missed you, too! VANtage Point is back at Down the Line! after skipping a week due to the length of the BNP Paribas Open. The same is probably going to happen for the Sony Ericsson Open, which is kicking off today. But we’ll worry about all that later; right now it’s VP time!

A Look Back: Who wudda thunk it, Vera Zvonareva taking a big title? I’m glad to see her pull it off, even if she had to take out my pick, Ana Ivanovic, to do it. On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal beat Andy Murray easily. Both of those guys took out my picks for the finals, Andy Roddick and Roger Federer, respectively, in the semis. All in all, I’m not too disappointed with my tournament calls: Six out of eight possible semifinalists is all right (plus the Victoria Azarenka over Dinara Safina pick), but I have to get some champs right before I get put on notice here!

This Week’s Spotlight: While it was tempting to break down the draw at the men’s Challenger in Khorat, Thailand, I can’t ignore the “Fifth Slam” taking place in Miami, the Sony Ericsson Open (I’m so old school, I still think of this as the Lipton). The defending champs are Nikolay Davydenko, who’s still laid up with injury, and Serena Williams, who owns this event. The gangs are pretty much all here with Nadal and Williams leading the way as the top seeds.


Players to Watch: Let’s start with the women. I think you have to take a look at the Williams sisters first of all. Skipping Indian Wells hasn’t hurt Serena and Venus here in the past, and I think they’re capable of big runs. Then there’s a group of three players I’m going to lump together: Safina, Elena Dementieva and Jelena Jankovic. For some reason or another, they haven’t maintained their high level of play that they had over the past six months. I can see all of them falling fairly early. And will Ivanovic and Zvonareva’s good form continue? As far as lower-seeded players go, watch out for Dominika Cibulkova.

For the men, I just want to say this first: I picked him to make the semis last week in Indian Wells and he fell early, but if Jo-Wilfried Tsonga doesn’t do that this week, then I’d say he’s slumping. The highest-ranked player he’d have to face is Novak Djokovic, who he seems to own now. And I think you have to have your eye on Roger Federer. Provided he gets by Roddick in the quarters, he should have a good shot to the finals.

The Final Fours: For the women, I’m taking Serena over Venus and Ivanovic over Svetlana Kuznetsova (remember her?) As far as the guys go, you’d think these guys should only meet in finals now, but I like Nadal over Murray, and in the other half, Federer over Tsonga.

And the Winners Are: Everything goes right for Serena here and there’s no reason it shouldn’t continue. On the men’s side, I’m taking Nadal over Federer. Again, there’s no VANtage Point next week, but it’ll be back just in time for the clay-court season to really kick off!

Van Sias writes the blog Tennis Talk, Anyone?

(images via getty)

+ TUESDAY NETCORDS: Vince has nothing on Nalby's mustached belly bump - or does he?

* Bobby Reynolds gives us the low down on the un-glamorous life of a lower-ranked baller including having to fly around the world in coach. Egads - coach?! Talk about slumming. Good thing I chose blogging. [NY Times]

* Kamakshi Tandon takes a gander at the ladies' Miami draw and she thinks the usual suspects will reign [ESPN]

* Tennis is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. among traditional sports. *faints* [USTA]

* Which rising lady baller said the following: If people spend some time with me they call me crazy, but in a good way. I paint my nails every three days. I have my nail polish with me – about 20 bottles of nail polish. I like shopping also. [Tennishead]

(image via getty)

(UPDATED) BREAKING: Larry Scott to resign

According to TENNIS' ticker:

WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott is resigning in order to become commisoner of the Pac-10 Conference, Pete Bodo has learned. An official announcement is expected this evening.

After the flak over the Shahar Peer situation amongst others, this is welcome news....

UPDATE: More news about Scott's departure -

WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott has announced that he will leave his post on July 1 order to become commissioner of the NCAA's Pac-10 Conference.

"With women’s professional tennis more popular than ever, the Tour in the strongest business position in its history and a fantastic senior management team in place, now is the right time for me to embrace a new challenge consistent with my family and personal goals, and leave room for the next generation of Tour leadership to take on new responsibilities,” said Scott in a statement.

The WTA said its Board of Directors will "determine selection process for next Chairman and CEO in due course" and "Scott will work with the Tour Board on the selection process."

PHOTO OP: Rafa + Ana putts around Crandon Golf

Rafael Nadal + Ana Ivanovic were spotted putting on the 11th green at Crandon Golf in Key Biscayne today as part of another promo for the Sony Ericsson Open.

Anyone else think Rafa would kill to have Ana's outfit on right about now? Oh the memories...



(image via Marc Serota/Getty Images for Sony Ericsson)

FASHION FIX: Venus joins Andy for car top SEO promo, debuts tie-dye mess

Venus Williams debuted a new EleVen dress during a photo call for the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami today.

The 7-time Grand Slammer was joined by Indian Wells finalist Andy Murray and the pair displayed their skills while standing on the hoods of two cars. No, seriously.

Anyway, back to the dress. While I'm absolutely thrilled the Goddess Dress has been put to pasture, this dress is horrid. V gets points for trying something different with the tie-dye moment but what's up with the strange triple-tiering? It looks like she took leftover materials for another dress and stapled them on. Plus, the area where her boobs should be is all mushy and looks like it's stuffed with beanie babies. Not flattering.

Check out more pics from the photo call below.






(images via getty)

Kimmie to hold press conference in Bree, will discuss 2009 schedule

Kim Clijsters is reportedly holding a press conference in her hometown of Bree on March 26 to give further details on her 2009 schedule.

Her management team has also been in contact with U.S. Open organizers while Kimmie's training has continued with her former practice partner Wim Fissette and physical coach Sam Verslegers.

It's just a matter of time people...tick tock tick tock.

(image via getty)