+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Fed setting the stage...Doug takes on Doha...Bodo dissects Venus vs. Serena

(Vera Zvonareva, Doha)

LINKS

Fed's final push [ESPN]
Qatar keeps a-changing [Tennishead]


BLOG TALK

Doha run down [Doug's Sports Dish]
V's tortoise to ReRe's hare - who wins? [Peter Bodo's Tennisworld]

(image via MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images)

THE LOW DOWN: Serena + Ana continue worrying trend, withdraw from WTA Championships with injury and illness

Serena Williams + Ana Ivanovic have both withdrawn from the WTA Championships today complaining of injury and illness, ending their Grand Slam-winning seasons on a sour note.

A day after being left in tears after her 7-5, 1-6, 0-6 loss to older sister Venus, the self-described "junior" baller champ cited a stomach muscle pull for withdrawing from her round robin, sudden death match against Elena Dementieva (who qualified for the semifinals with the walkover) saying,

I did feel pain last night. I was still in pain just getting out of bed.

Birthday girl Ana had been dealing with a pesky virus all week and ended her misery by defaulting from her dead rubber match against Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Serb said,

It's obviously very hard for me. Yesterday I didn't feel good and today, even worse.

She'll be replace by alternate Agnieszka Radwanska.

Oh boy. The WTA Championships was already struggling for attention after its monetarily-motivated move to Doha. And, Jelena Jankovic's confirmation as the year-end No.1 a few weeks ago all but killed any anticipation and buzz for the tourney. But this is certainly NOT the kind of attention they were hoping for.

These withdrawals have become common place on the tour but to have two of their top lady ballers quit during the big year-end Championships has to hurt, especially for the tourney directors who've shoveled out obviously large amounts of cash for this event. Now, I'm not saying their issues aren't serious, but the trend of injury and illness withdrawals and trainer calls mid-match for seemingly non-serious issues is a continuing problem.

Will the new Roadmap 2010's scheduling changes, including a shorter season and longer breaks between tourneys, help curb these injury issues and therefore these troublesome withdrawals? It remains to be seen.

(images via Getty)

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: ATP schedule breakdown...Wertheim mailbag...Billie Jean still fighting

(Dinara Safina, Doha)

LINKS

Tandon takes on ATP calendar [ESPN]
Jon Wertheim, you've got mail [SI]
Billie Jean's gender equality fight continues [Tennishead]


BLOG TALK

Van vexed by Vera [Tennis Talk, Anyone?]

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Ana celebrates 21st birthday with high-voltage cake, avoids third degree burns

Ana Ivanovic hasn't come close to sniffing a win at this year's WTA Championships but it isn't all bad for the Roland Garros champ this week.

She celebrated her 21st birthday today and was presented with a cake shaped like a tennis racquet (shocking!) made by Le Notre Paris at the VIP Village of the Khalifa International Tennis Complex. The Serb was joined by Sony Ericsson WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott, Tournament Director Karim Alami and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Staff.

I wonder what Fernando is giving her? Hopefully something big, shiny, and hard...like a diamond ring, silly!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANA!



(images via Great Tennis Photos)

Quote of the Day: Borg on Murray

I feel sure he will win one of the majors next year, and eventually become the No1.

- Bjorn Borg on Andy Murray

Pretty big endorsement, eh? But just remember, this is the guy that picked Roger Federer to win Roland Garros on the eve of this year's final then said it "wouldn't surprise" him if the Swiss retired next year after making the 5-time defending champ his third pick at Wimbledon.

A tennis legend does not a fortune teller make. Believe at your own risk.

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: JJ enjoys soothing massage during defeat of Sveta in Doha

Jelena Jankovic was spotted getting treatment on her back during her match against Svetlana Kuznetsova at the WTA Championships in Doha. The top lady baller defeated her Russian foe 7-6 (6), 6-4 to go 2-0 in round robin play and reach the semifinals.

JJ sure looks like she's in excruciating pain here - I can see why she called the trainer. It must be tough.

I'd love to tally the number of injury time outs JJ has taken this year. Any guesses? Do tell!

(image via Getty)

Venus + Serena get political, speak out on Obama's inspiring victory

Although most athletes tend to avoid political discussion, Barack Obama's incredibly inspiring presidential campaign victory on Tuesday didn't go unnoticed in the tennis world.

The Sisters Sledge, Venus + Serena, were moved by the Chicago senator's win even though they don't vote because of religious reasons.

As someone who famously spoke out on equal pay for lady ballers, V discussed what President-elect Obama's victory would mean for minorities in the US saying,

America is a wonderful place. I love my country, I love living there and I love my passport.

But also it's a country that since its beginning - especially as it is supposed to be a place where people were escaping intolerance - it became a country which was intolerant of different minorities and skin colours.

It's interesting because just my parents - my dad grew up in Louisiana in a place where he was called `boy' and shown no respect, where he couldn't say anything, and his mother was a poor shear cropper. So I am very close to things like in the past.

So I think it's amazing that America has an opportunity to have someone who is from a minority or mixed race, or whatever you want to call him.

And, hopefully, it will just get more people opportunities and more people to work harder and say 'yes I can do my best whatever my background is'.

ReRe remembered the pioneers who helped pave the way for the sisters,

When I think of everything Afro-Americans have been through, 40 and 30 years ago, and even today you read of ridiculous things which have happened in America.

People see the importance of change and supporting someone who believes in change. Just to see Obama with his wife and kids, and how they are going to be the first Afro-American family (in the White House). It takes words away. I choked up.

I think of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X an Althea Gibson - she's why I am playing tennis today - all those people. And Arthur Ashe, who also led the way."

It's a great time to be black now in the USA. I did feel my shoulders were (back) and my chest stuck out a little more. In the back of my mind was, although this is a huge tournament, that there are so many big things going in in my home country and I would love to be there. But work beckons.

FASHION FIX: Serena defeats Dinara, works classic Nike stylings

Serena Williams finally made her debut at the WTA Championships in Doha. The 9-time Grand Slammer wasted Russian Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-1 in her opening Maroon group match and will face sister Venus next.

ReRe also debuted a new Nike style during her match - she's working the Court Tank and the Court Skirt both in aqua grey from their Holiday collection. It's a classic look paired with the layered mesh ruffles on the skirt and black accents on the straps and the ruffling to give it texture.

I'm not blown away here, but ReRe always look best when she let's her tennis do the talking and not her fashion.

Good choice.

(images via Getty)

+ TUESDAY NETCORDS: Mac vs. Murray...Flink is feeling Jo-Willy...adidas goes for the gold

(Venus Williams, Doha)

LINKS

ATP CEO faces tough challenges [ESPN]
Mac on Murray [Eurosport]

Torturous times for Andy [Sporting Life]

Flink thinks Jo-Willy's got it [Tennis Channel]

BLOG TALK

adidas' golden touch [Daily Racquet]

La Monf joins Prince [What's All the Racquet]

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: JJ receives year-end trophy, finds new uses for denim in Doha

Jelena Jankovic and her bangs were spotted receiving the year-end No.1 trophy today in Doha.

I'm almost speechless so I can still say the striped halter dress is bad but the denim vest is absolutely cringe-worthy. 

Hey JJ - Elena Dementieva called and she wants the missing piece from her Yonex mess back.

Ugh.

(image via Getty)