In an emotional announcement, Amélie Mauresmo has retired from competitive tennis. Ms Mauresmo indicated that the demands of professional tennis were arduous:

“… “I don’t want to train anymore,” Mauresmo said in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, after shedding tears about the decision. “I had to make a decision, which became evident in the last few months and weeks. When you grew older, it’s more difficult to stay at the top.”

link to the article from The Associated Press

additional link:  Mauresmo bows out after rising above jibes

[Photo by Corinne Dubreuil/Cameleon/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom]

The verbal outburst by Serena Williams at the 2009 U.S. Open may be settled finally. She will be fined:

“Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 for her U.S. Open tirade and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another “major offense” at any Grand Slam in the next two years.

Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock’s ruling was released Monday, and he said Williams faces a “probationary period” at tennis’ four major championships in 2010 and 2011. If she has another “major offense” at a Grand Slam tournament in that time, the fine would increase to $175,000 and she would be barred from the following U.S. Open.”

link to the article by Howard Fendrich

[Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]

Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse have been banned from professional tennis for one year. They have not complied with the “whereabouts rule” and both are protesting:

“Suspended Belgian tennis players Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse are launching appeals with European authorities challenging the legality of the whereabouts rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Victory at the European Commission in Brussels and the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights could force WADA to change its rules on when and where athletes can be tested out of competition.”

link to the article by Raf Casert for The Citizen

[UPI/John Angelillo Photo via Newscom]

Yanina Wickmayer has been issued a year ban from tennis for breaking the drug test rules. In her first public statement after the ban was issued, Yanina Wickmayer offers her side of the story:

“… Yanina Wickmayer says she was never properly informed of the online reporting requirements for drug-testing that led to her one-year ban from the sport.

At a tearful news conference Thursday, the 20-year-old U.S. Open semifinalist accused the World Anti-Doping Agency and Belgian sports authorities of treating her unfairly and ruining her career.”

link to the article by The Associated Press

[Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]

Some tennis players are protesting the rule that resulted in bans for Xavier Malisse and Yanina Wickmayer. The rule in question is that the players must let officials know their location in order to take a drug test:

“… But players at the Fed Cup final said the rules are unfair on players.

“Well, it’s not easy, because we have to fill in a form during the year where they have to know exactly where we are every day,” said Italian Flavia Pennetta, the world number 11.”

link: Players call for dope test changes

Ms Pennetta indeed has a point. Nevertheless, the timing is questionable. The testing protocols and availability are stated clearly. If the players had issue with the regulations, it might have been expressed prior to bans begin issued.

Catherine Forsythe

The consequences for her vocal outburst at the 2009 U.S. Open has not been determined yet. Serena Williams is unlikely to receive a sanction which bans her from any play:

“… “I don’t think (an Australian Open ban) would make much sense, because it would penalize the people handing out the punishment,” Francesco Ricci Bitti told The Associated Press on Saturday. “For the Grand Slam committee to exclude her from a Grand Slam doesn’t seem likely.”

The Grand Slam committee is composed of Ricci Bitti and the four Grand Slam presidents.”

link to the article by Andrew Dampf for The Associated Press

[Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]

One of the rising, young stars of the professional women’s tennis tour faces a one year ban. Yanina Wickmayer has been cited for breaking the drug regulations, which carries a stiff penalty:

“… World number 18 Wickmayer was suspended by the Flemish Doping Tribunal (VDT) after falling foul of the “whereabouts rule” which states that players must notify their national doping agency of where they can be reached on a daily basis.”

link to the report from Reuters

[Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]

Combine one the top women tennis players and the defending NBA champions and the results will be banner headlines. There are reports that Maria Sharapova is dating Lakers’ guard, Sasha Vujacic:

“…  Sasha Vujacic’s ongoing slump has drawn the ire of Lakers fans — Sunday night he hit his first shot in a game since the conference semi-finals last June against Denver.

But off the court, his game is in top form.”

link: Lakers’ Sasha Vujacic Dating Maria Sharapova

additional link:  Vujacic skirts direct Sharapova question…

The Lakers just make being a basketball reporter so easy. The stories (and the puns) almost are too easy to write.

Catherine Forsythe

[Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images]

Controversy may have plagued Serena Williams at the U.S. Open. However, this has been a very successful season for her. She ended the season with the Number One ranking in women’s tennis. She also set a record for her tennis earnings:

“Serena Williams has set a single-season prize money record on the women’s tour by earning $6,545,586 in 2009, according to the Women’s Tennis Association.

The 11-times grand slam champion and world number one now has career earnings approaching $30 million.”

link:  Serena sets WTA single-season prize money record

The six and a half million figure is from prize money. In addition, there are endorsements and other earnings. The tennis earning may be considered as a base income. There is more… much much more.

Catherine Forsythe

[Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]

The sponsorship problems with the LPGA have received wide publicity. A recent example is Samsung discontinuing its long relationship with the professional women’s golf tour. In a harsh economy, the professional women’s tennis tour is having similar sponsorship stresses:

“The Women’s WTA Tour could be looking for a new sponsor after Sony Ericsson confirmed on Sunday that they had still not decided to extend their current commitment past 2010.

Sony Ericsson, the mobile phone company, has sponsored the women’s Tour since agreeing a six-year deal worth $88 million in 2005 but the deadline for renewing its partnership is rapidly approaching and no agreement has been reached.”

link to the article by Martyn Herman for Reuters

[Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]