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Tag: serena williams

  • Amy Schumer Photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Semi-Nude Calendar Shot

    Amy Schumer will appear–semi-nude, nonetheless–in the 2016 Pirelli calendar. Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Schumer wears nothing but a pair of bikini briefs and high heels.

    The black and white shot features Amy Schumer seated on a stool, holding a styrofoam “to-go” cup of what one might assume is coffee.

    Schumer shared Annie Liebovitz’s masterpiece on her Instagram account.

    “Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman. Thank you Annie Leibovitz!” she captioned it.

    A photo posted by @amyschumer on

    “I felt I looked more beautiful than I’ve ever felt in my life, and I felt like it looked like me,” Amy Schumer said of the photograph for the calendar.

    Schumer’s photo will appear on the December 2016 page of the calendar. Annie Liebovitz was pleased with the end result.

    “I’m a great admirer of comedians. The Amy Schumer portrait added some fun,” she said. “It’s as if she didn’t get the memo saying that she could keep her clothes on.”

    Amy Schumer wasn’t the only celebrity to take it all–or almost–off for the calendar. Serena Williams stripped down to her underwear for the project, too.

    “This calendar is so completely different. It is a departure,” Annie Leibovitz said in a statement. “The idea was not to have any pretense in these pictures and be very straightforward.”

    Amy Schumer thrives on dropping all pretenses. That’s part of what makes her such a comedic success.

    “When Pirelli approached me, they said they wanted to make a departure from the past,” Leibovitz said. “They suggested the idea of photographing distinguished women. After we agreed on that, the goal was to be very straightforward. I wanted the pictures to show the women exactly as they are, with no pretense.”

    Okay, so Amy Schumer might not go along with that “distinguished” thing. She’s among the most self-deprecating comics around.

    Kudos to Annie Liebovitz for capturing her so perfectly for the calendar. And thanks to Amy Schumer for always keeping it real.

  • Serena Williams Is Dating Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian, Apparently

    Serena Williams Is Dating Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian, Apparently

    Serena Williams and Drake? Nah. Apparently, the tennis superstar has found love in a much more unlikely place – reddit.

    We turn to US Weekly for the exclusive report. According to the gossip mag, Serena Williams is now dating reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

    Let’s dive in:

    Although Williams, 34, was recently linked to Drake, a second source says it was simply a “flirty friendship.” Now, the tennis pro is making love part of her routine, bringing her new guy, 32, to her workout at the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics on Saturday, Oct. 24. Says an onlooker, “He called her babe and they held hands.”

    Ohanian has even been getting into her sport of choice. Says the source, “He said he’d never been into tennis until they started dating!”

    Well, they must’ve been dating for some time, US Weekly. Here’s Ohanian singing Serena Williams’ praises back in May.

    What to believe, what to believe?

  • Kim Kardashian Poses for Selfie With Courtney Love at New York Fashion Week

    Kim Kardashian posed for a selfie at New York Fashion Week Saturday with Courtney Love. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star even posted the shot of the unlikely pair to her Instagram account.

    Both Courtney Love and Kim Kardashian made picture perfect pouts for the selfie. Dressed in sexy black ensembles, both women were styling for the haute couture event.

    Kim Kardashian captioned the selfie with a simple heart emoji.

    Kim Kardashian attended New York Fashion Week along with hubby Kanye West. The two were on hand to support Kim’s younger sister Kendall Jenner.

    “Kendall really worked the runway and looked amazing,” a source told Us Weekly. “Kim and Kanye were smiling and chatting with each other and they both looked very proud of her.”

    Kim Kardashian is definitely making the New York rounds–keeping extremely busy in her pregnant state. Just days before she watched Kendall Jenner and posed for a selfie with Courtney Love, she was spotted in Queens watching Venus and Serena Williams compete against one another.

    Are you a bit shocked by the selfie of Kim Kardashian with Courtney Love? Do you suppose Kim was a diehard rocker in her younger days? Was she a Kurt Cobain fan?

    Nevertheless, both ladies looked stunning in the photo, and no doubt enjoyed meeting up with one another.

  • Caitlyn Jenner Disrespected by DL Hughley, Even As He Defends Serena Williams

    Caitlyn Jenner isn’t going to win everyone over, and she probably already knows that. Revealing herself to the world as trans, and all the recognition that comes with that, has already done much for the lives of other trans folks.

    When Caitlyn Jenner received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY Awards recently, she took the opportunity to encourage others to reach out to trans people who may be having a hard time.

    “Sometimes it gets overwhelming, but with attention comes responsibility,” Caitlyn Jenner said. “As a group, as athletes, how you conduct your lives, what you say, what you do is observed by millions of people, especially young people.”

    “My plea to you tonight is to join me,” Jenner told the crowd. “Trans people deserve something. They deserve your respect. And from that respect comes a more compassionate country, a more empathetic society and a better world for all of us.”

    “All across this country, at this very moment there are young people coming to terms with being trans. They are getting bullied. They are getting beat up. They are getting murdered, and they are committing suicide. … If you want to call me names, make jokes, doubt my intentions, go ahead. The truth is I can take it. But for the kids out there coming to terms with being true with who they are, they shouldn’t have to take it.”

    “We have come a long way,” Caitlyn said. “But we have a lot of work to do.”

    While there were many snide remarks about whether Jenner should be given the Arthur Ashe award, most seemed to die down once the award was actually given. But D.L. Hughley couldn’t let it go.

    Hughley probably thought he had a reasoned approach to his opposition to Jenner’s receiving the award, but his words betray the very insensitivity that Caitlyn decried in her speech.

    Hughley said that Arthur Ashe thrived in “a very segregated profession, he fought AIDS with dignity and honor, and Caitlyn Jenner put on a dress. I don’t think it’s the same thing.”

    “I think Arthur Ashe and Caitlyn Jenner have very little in common,” Hughley argued.

    Hughley used the recent occasion of Serena Williams’ appearance being mocked to somehow justify mocking Caitlyn Jenner’s appearance, referring to her as “Bruce” again.

    “In the last month, we had the media telling us that Caitlyn Jenner was beautiful and that Serena Williams looks like a man,” Hughley said. “That was a little weird to me. The man looks like a woman, but the woman looks like a man. That’s ridiculous. Serena Williams is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen on a tennis court, and Bruce Jenner looks like every P.E. teacher I ever had.”

    He then posted a meme comparing Caitlyn Jenner’s looks to Mrs. Doubtfire.

    Ok.

    D.L. Hughley … you are wrong.

  • J.K. Rowling Calls Out ‘Idiot’ on Twitter for Serena Williams Diss

    J.K. Rowling Calls Out ‘Idiot’ on Twitter for Serena Williams Diss

    J.K. Rowling is a tennis fan. When the famed author of “Harry Potter” took to Twitter on Saturday to express her love for Serena Williams, many agreed with her.

    Rowling tweeted:

    #SerenaSlam! I love her. What an athlete, what a role model, what a woman!

    While there were some on Twitter who were not quite as effusive in their praise of Serena Williams, there was a generally civil discussion of her merits.

    But the headline-grabbing moment came when one user, based in the UK, challenged Rowling’s opinion of Williams.

    Rowling’s retribution was swift.

    Fans of J.K. Rowling and Serena Williams alike took to their own Twitter handles to excoriate the fellow.

    In the hours since, the fellow has spat comebacks on his own Twitter account.

    The fellow, whose identity we will not go into digging up, may be enjoying his 15 minutes of reflected fame, or he may wish he had kept his mouth shut. One thing is for sure, it is tough to express oneself eloquently in a few characters and without much aforethought.

    This little tempest in a teapot is happening in an atmosphere in which women are speaking out about the unfairness of being judged primarily on looks.

    Amy Schumer recently remarked, “For women, we’re taught to eat less until we disappear. And trained to believe that if you don’t look like everyone else, then you’re unlovable. And men are not trained that way. Men can look like whatever and still date a supermodel.”

    And Jane Fonda also observed, “The perception of men as they get older is vastly different from women. Men are seen as becoming elegant and more desirable, whereas women are seen as having lost their beauty and attractiveness. It’s as if we become devalued because only our beauty defines us.”

    Even if this fellow meant something other than was received by most observers, it’s a bad time to throw thoughtless comments. Women have put up with thoughtless comments and outright discrimination for too long.

  • Gwyneth Paltrow and Son Moses Hang With Taylor Swift After Concert

    Gwyneth Paltrow took her nine-year-old son Moses to see Taylor Swift in London’s Hyde Park on Saturday, and wound up hanging out with the ‘Bad Blood’ singer after the show. This was the same night that Taylor Swift brought six celebrity guests up on stage with her as she sang her hit song, ‘Style.’ Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt and even tennis superstar Serena Williams strutted their stuff on the stage as Swift sang.

    After the show, Taylor hung out with her friend of almost five years and her son.

    Gwyneth Paltrow and Taylor Swift met when Paltrow hosted a dinner party for the ‘Blank Space’ singer and her boyfriend at that time–Jake Gyllenhaal. Paltrow was still married to Coldplay front man Chris Martin then. He is now connected to Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence.

    Gwyneth Paltrow took to social media to thank Taylor Swift for a fantastic evening.

    “#taylorswift thanks for giving me and my little man our best date night ever. #hydepark,” she captioned her post.

    When Taylor Swift and Gwyneth Paltrow parted company, Taylor spent the rest of her weekend in the company of boyfriend Calvin Harris, along with Gigi Hadid and her boyfriend Joe Jonas. BFF Karlie Kloss joined the two couples and served as their London tour guide.

    “Little known fact: Karlie is secretly an unofficial historian/London tour guide. Kind of,” Swift captioned an Instagram photo of the five friends together.

    A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on

    Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris, Gigi Hadid, Joe Jonas, and Karlie Kloss all appear to be good friends, and they spend time together back in the U.S. as well as in London. Do you expect the same can be said for Taylor Swift and Gwyneth Paltrow? Do you think their friendship is the kind where they call each other to just say ‘hi,’ or is it more of a ‘friendship’ of opportunity?

    What’s your take?

  • Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner, and More Join Taylor Swift on Stage in London

    Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt, Karlie Kloss, and even Serena Williams joined Taylor Swift on stage in London on Saturday night. During her smash hit single ‘Style,’ the ladies were all brought out on stage to strut their stuff in front of a sold-out audience.

    Taylor Swift brought a special guest on stage during ‘Style’ at a recent show in Philadelphia. The audience went wild when Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay appeared on stage. Imagine the excitement of that London crowd when not one–but six–of Taylor Swift’s friends took to the stage.

    Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt, and Karlie Kloss are all fashion models, so walking the stage was likely no big deal to them. But how do you suppose Serena Williams felt?

    The tennis superstar actually shared her excitement over the fun she had on stage with Taylor Swift via social media.

    “Cool down after the @taylorswift concert with my bff @carowozniacki,” she captioned the photo.

    Cara Delevingne made news recently for being romantically involved with singer St. Vincent.

    “I think that being in love with my girlfriend is a big part of why I’m feeling so happy with who I am these days,” Delevingne said in the July issue of Vogue. “And for those words to come out of my mouth is actually a miracle.”

    On Saturday night, however, Cara Delevingne was in full model mode–with a side of Taylor Swift tunes–as she entertained the audience during ‘Style.’

    The audience no doubt loved seeing Kendall Jenner on stage with Taylor Swift. Where else can they see a superstar singer, fashion models, and a Keeping Up With the Kardashians star–all at the same time?

    Taylor Swift certainly entertains with these surprise guests during her concerts.

    Who do you suppose she might bring out on stage with her next?

  • Serena Williams Recovers From ‘Viral Illness’, Will Defend Swedish Open Title

    After retiring at Wimbledon from her doubles match with sister Venus Williams, Serena Williams is now doing well and will be returning to the court to defend her Swedish Open title on July 14. Tournament director Nina Wennerstrom confirmed Williams’ participation through an email sent to ESPN.

    Before retiring from last Wednesday’s game, Williams looked disoriented and had trouble catching tennis balls from the ball girls. Williams withdrew from the game because of a viral illness. In a statement Williams said, “I am heartbroken I’m not able to continue in the tournament. I thought I could rally this morning, because I really wanted to compete, but this bug just got the best of me.”

    On Friday, the 32-year-old tennis star posted a picture of herself on Instagram where she was lying under a blanket. According to her agent Jill Smoller, she is now getting better.

    Amidst the rumors surrounding Williams’ withdrawal, nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova expressed her own opinion about the incident. “I find it distressing. I think virus, whatever they’re saying it was, I don’t think that was it. I think it’s clear that’s not the case. I don’t know what it is, but I hope Serena will be OK,” she told ESPNW in an interview.

    When the incident happened, Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou said that he had not seen Williams for two days. “How can you be a coach and not know anything? That’s wrong,” continued Navratilova.

    Whatever the reason for Williams’ withdrawal, Navratilova is sure that a virus was not the cause.

    Former No. 1 Andy Roddick, who is a close friend of Williams, texted the tennis champ after hearing of the incident. On his Fox Sports Radio show, he read her reply: “Andy, I’m just not well.”

    Whether her withdrawal was from a viral illness or something else, Williams seems to be doing well enough to play tennis again.

     Image via YouTube

  • Serena Williams to Play Swedish Open After Wimbledon Early Exit

    Serena Williams has confirmed that she will play the Swedish Open, according to tournament director Nina Wennerstrom.

    On Tuesday Williams exited her doubles match at Wimbledon mid-match due to a viral illness that left her shaky and feeling faint.

    In what was widely referred to as a “strange” scene, Williams appeared to be disoriented during warm-ups, having difficulty picking up, tossing, and hitting balls.

    After sitting on the sideline with her sister Venus, with whom she was to play the doubles match, and Wimbledon personnel, Williams began the match but withdrew following the third game.

    “I am heartbroken I’m not able to continue in the tournament. I thought I could rally this morning because I really wanted to compete, but this bug just got the best of me,” she said in a statement later that day.

    Williams says she’s getting better, albeit slowly:

    The Collector Swedish Open opens July 14 in Bastad, Sweden.

    Williams will be defending her title in the upcoming tournament. Last July she defeated Sweden’s tennis darling Johanna Larsson in the final round, marking her first international-level title.

    Following her 2013 win, Williams said:

    “It’s been such a great experience here … when I wake up I see the ocean – it reminds me a little bit of home … it’s just a really, really good feeling to have such a great city at your fingertips, and everything a player could possibly need is at your fingertips as well.”

    Bastad is located on the southwest coast of Sweden near the straits of Kattegat, midway between the cities of Halmstad and Helsingborg.

    Indeed Williams is no stranger to coastal towns. When she was an infant her family moved from her birthplace of Saginaw, MI to Compton, CA which is located just south of Los Angeles. When she was nine-years-old they relocated to West Palm Beach, FL.

    Image via YouTube, Tennis World

  • Serena Williams Exits Doubles Match At Wimbledon Due To Ailment

    Serena Williams was out of her game on Saturday. During the warm up for her doubles match against Kristina Barrois and Stefanie Vögele, she looked disoriented and had trouble picking up the tennis balls.

    On Saturday, Williams said that she did not know what she did wrong, referring to her loss to Alize Cornet. “Usually I do. Usually I know I did this, this and that.” Lindsey Davenport told BBC that talks in the locker room are different now. “The general consensus in the locker room is they have a chance now, and it wasn’t like that a few years ago,” she said.

    Serena Williams seemed wobbly and disoriented on the court.

    Soon after the warm-up, doctors visited Williams on the court to check her blood pressure. A shaky and teary-eyed Williams said that she felt faint. Her sister Venus was by her side looking concerned. Despite her condition, Williams decided to play. In the middle of the match, however, an announcement came saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately, Miss Williams has to retire.”

    According to the referee’s office, William’s reason for withdrawal was a viral illness. In a statement, Williams said, “I am heartbroken I’m not able to continue in the tournament. I thought I could rally this morning because I really wanted to compete, but this bug just got the best of me.”

    Williams also thanked her fans for the support they gave her despite her withdrawal. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of the fans for their cheers and understanding. I look forward to returning to Wimbledon next year,” she said.

    Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou said that he did not know what Williams’ ailment was and he said that he had not seen her for two days before she entered the court.

    Nearly two hours after her withdrawal, Williams was seen walking to a tournament van with Mouratoglou.

    Image via YouTube

  • Agnieszka Radwanska Defeated at French Open

    When the No. 2 ranked women’s tennis player in the world, Li Na, lost in the third round at the French Open to 21-year-old Kristina Mladenovic on Tuesday, the world saw the occasion as simply a routine upset which occurs at every major event. When No. 1 ranked Serena Williams lost to 20-year-old Garbiñe Muguruza, the world took note. And when No. 3 ranked Agnieszka Radwanska lost to No. 72 ranked, 21-year-old Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday, the world was aghast.

    Never before has the tennis world seen such a sight – the top three women in tennis have all exited the stage before the fourth round of the French Open, something which has not happened since tennis became a professional sport in 1968.

    After both Williams and Na were defeated early on, many thought that this year’s French Open was Radwanska’s to lose. The 25-year-old Pole did not see things in the same light, however: “It doesn’t mean if the first and second seeds lost, it doesn’t mean the third one is going to win… It’s stupid to say that. It doesn’t matter who is in the draw, if you play good then you’re going to win. I just didn’t play good enough today to win the match.”

    “I don’t think it was my day today,” Radwanska concluded.

    On the converse, however, it was one hell of a day for Tomljanovic.

    Coming into Friday’s contest against Radwanska, Tomljanovic had little evidence to support a bid for an upset. She was ranked No. 72 in the world, she had never advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam event, and she had never beaten anyone ranked in the top 30. Friday was a day of firsts, to say the least.

    While no one would have picked Tomljanovic to defeat Radwanska, the Pole had much confidence coming into the match: “After seeing the two first seeds go out, you kind of feel you can do this, too.I grew up with these girls who are beating them.”

    Tomljanovic used the confidence derived from the losses of both Na and Williams to propel herself to the win. “I went into the stadium for the first time, and she [Radwanska] kind of feels like home there, because she’s been there a lot more than I have… I went out there, and inside I really thought I could win. I think that showed and it is why I won.”

    Up next for Tomljanovic is No. 14 Carla Suarez Navarro. While she may be at a rank-disadvantage once again, Tomljanovic’s confidence is not shaken.

    “I definitely think the tournament is not over for me,” proclaimed Tomljanovic.

    Image via Facebook

  • Serena Williams Demolished At French Open

    Serena Williams Demolished At French Open

    On Wednesday, Serena and Venus Williams both lost in the second round. They were looking forward to playing with each other, but it seems that they will both be going home early. Had they won against their opponents, they would have met at the third round.

    Garbiñe Muguruza is a 20-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan tennis player. She beat Serena with a score of 6-2, 6-2, which is one of the worst single losses the tennis champ has experienced. It is the earliest that Serena had to go home since losing in the first round at Roland Garros 2 years ago.

    Serena Williams vs. Garbiñe Muguruza: match highlights


    “It was one of those days. You can’t be on every day, and, gosh I hate to be off during a Grand Slam. It happens, you know. It’s not the end of the world. It’s what it is.”

    Serena Williams’ post match interview

    Venus was defeated by Anna Schmiedlova from Slovakia with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

    Muguruza has been a fan of the Williams sisters for quite a while. As a child, she studied tennis matches and aspired to play against Serena on the court. On Wednesday, her wish came true when she beat Serena. “So when you watch someone play, you know exactly what you need to do to defeat her,” Muguruza said.

    Muguruza said that it was difficult for her to go against Serena, as she is a big fan. “It was really difficult to be able to, O.K., be calm and say, ‘It’s another player,’” she said.

    It is only Muguruza’s second time at the French Open. Last year, she was eliminated in the second round. However, she was able to reach the third round at last year’s Australian Open.

    “It’s very difficult, because since I was a child when I turn on the TV, I see her play. Everything, when I’m practicing, okay, how Serena serves, how she plays a backend. I saw like 100 videos of her,” Muguruza said.

    Image via YouTube

  • Caroline Wozniacki Dumped By Rory McIlroy

    Caroline Wozniacki Dumped By Rory McIlroy

    The wedding of tennis star Caroline Wozniacki was called off yesterday only days after wedding invitations were sent, announced by her former fiance Rory McIlroy at a press conference.

    “The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realize that I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails” said McIlroy. While the couple maintain the split was “mutual and amicable and we both thought it was the best for us,” McIlroy also stated, “The problem is all mine.”

    The couple, who have been together for two years and were officially engaged on New Year’s Day, demonstrated no signs of a split before their shocking announcement. In fact, Wozniacki made her plans to have children with McIlroy public only last month.

    When interviewed for Danish magazine Lime, Wozniacki stated “I want to be a relatively young mother, and I do not see it as being too far in the future. I have always been like that. I would want to bring up my children. Therefore, I have no dream to make my mark. Instead, I enjoy economic freedom my hard work has given me. It means that I can give my children the best start in life.”

    This past Sunday McIlroy posted a photo of the pair having dinner at Nobu Monte Carlo, his public display of affection for Wozniacki only adding to the abrupt feel of the breakup.

    The wedding, set for November 8th, was rumored to include high-profile athletes and celebrities, including former United States President Bill Clinton and most likely fellow tennis star Serena Williams, who tweeted her support for Wozniacki this morning.

    While the two likely have many difficult and emotional days ahead of them, it seems Wozniacki will face them with a sense of humor. She managed to get a little dig in to McIlroy on Saturday, when she tweeted support for Liverpool. McIlroy is a very ardent and public Manchester United fan. That’ll sure show ’em, Wozniacki. Good move.

    Image via YouTube

  • Serena Williams Wins Italian Open

    Serena Williams Wins Italian Open

    Serena Williams said “ciao” to the Italian Open title Sunday for the third time in her career.

    The decorated pro defeated the tenth-seeded Italian fan favorite Sara Errani for the win. Despite the crowd’s constant chanting of “Sara, Sara” and the singing of the Italian anthem, Williams was able to put the distractions behind her and defeat Errani, who was hoping to become the first Italian to win the title in over 30 years.

    Williams started out strong, jumping to a quick 3-0 lead, namely due to her overpowering serve – she had seven aces to Errani’s none – and attacking game. The pro eventually won with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over the Italian, who felt she let her fans down by the loss.

    “I’m sorry,” Errani told fans during the victory ceremony with tears in her eyes. “You were unbelievable all week. I tried to do my best and stayed on the court only for you.”

    Errani left the match for an injury timeout after trailing behind Williams 5-3 and came back with her left thigh bandaged. It was obvious Errani wasn’t feeling her best when she let a shot from Williams pass her by without even attempting to stop it.

    When former Italian player Lea Pericoli asked Errani during the trophy presentation if she was disappointed with her performance, she was answered by whistles and boos from the crowd. She then stated the player’s appearance in the match was an accomplishment in itself.

    Watch Williams win the match:

    Williams had a left thigh problem herself, which prompted her to withdraw before her quarterfinal match at the Madrid Open, but her recent showing proves she is more than capable to perform, and will continue to show her skills at the French Open next week.

    “I’m not 100 percent but I’m just kind of going on adrenaline,” the star said.

    Williams won the Rome title in 2002 and again last year. She went on to capture the French Open after both wins. This recent victory is the 60th title of her career.

    Image via YouTube

  • Christiano Ronaldo on TIME’s ‘Most Influential’ List

    FIFA soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo is featured this year in TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and joins other influentials like Pope Francis, Barack Obama and pop icon Beyoncé on this year’s list.

    There were only five other sports dignitaries noted on the magazine’s 2014 list. They were Brooklyn Nets star Jason Collins, Seattle Seahawks SuperBowl champion Richard Sherman, Tennis virtuoso Serena Williams and golf pro Lydia Ko.

    Brazilian soccer legend Pele heralded his fellow ‘futball’ star on the magazine page featuring the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013 winner.

    “Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most influential athletes in sports today. I greatly respect his competitive mind-set on the field, and it’s no surprise that he is currently considered the best soccer player in the world. He reminds me a bit of my late friend and Portuguese soccer legend Eusebio,” said Pele.

    “I had the opportunity to share his joy onstage at this year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich. Cristiano never ceases to give his best for his national team. He reminds me a bit of my late friend and Portuguese soccer legend Eusébio. They have the same elegance and creativity,” said Pele.

    “Back when I played, I would have loved having a teammate like Cristiano to play with up front. I would like to encourage him to keep up the hard work and to continue to fuel the passion for the sport among today’s youth.”

    The Portuguese native is the only Real Madrid player in history to have scored more than 30 goals in four consecutive seasons and the fastest player to have reached 100 goals.

    Image via YouTube

  • Maria Sharapova Hopes to Continue Success in Germany

    Maria Sharapova, currently ranked No. 9 in the world, last saw Grand Slam success at the French Open in 2013, reaching the finals of said event after easily defeating China’s Li Na. Sharapova would finish as the runner-up, though, after losing to the most dominant player in tennis currently, Serena Williams. Luckily for Sharapova, she will not have to face Williams as she gears up for the 2014 French Open at this week’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.

    Whether the participating of Serena WIlliams would have had an impact on Sharapova’s performance or not is perhaps a superfluous question considering the success Sharapova has experienced at Stuttgart in the past. “I’ve competed here for the last two years and won both times, so I have only positive memories… I don’t want to miss out on an experience like this.”

    When asked if she was excited at the prospect of competing at the event without having to worry about the presence of Serena Williams, Sharapova replied, “I am a person who loves the challenges and I don’t go out of my way to avoid anyone… Serena has been playing her most successful tennis in recent years and my aim must be to learn from the defeats against her and work to get to her level.”

    Sharapova has been battling a recurring shoulder injury since August 2013. In her first competition in 2014, Sharapova advanced to the semifinals before losing to Serena Williams. Going into the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, however, Sharapova feels as good as ever: “I was out of action for four months and hardly played after last year’s French Open. But I’m back to 100 percent now and I want to win in Stuttgart.”

    Sharapova is also riding the success of her most recent candy launch. In celebration of her 27th birthday, Sharapova announced the production of the newest candy from her premium candy brand, Sugarpova.

    The resemblance of the candy to the shape of a Porsche 911 is no coincidence. One year ago, Porsche named Sharapova its first global ambassador.

    “As an ambassador of the brand, it’s thrilling for me to combine my passions in such a totally unexpected and exciting way. The 911 is my favourite Porsche because its shape is so perfect,” stated Sharapova.

    WIth all of her connections to Porsche, it’s no wonder Sharapova has had so much success at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix at Stuttgart. With Serena Williams out of the mix this year, it looks as if that success will remain.

    Image via YouTube

  • Serena Williams Won’t Play In This Year’s Fed Cup

    If you’re planning to watch Serena Williams play in this year’s Fed Cup against France, you’ll be disappointed, because her body and her mind are way too spent to compete.

    That’s what the captain of the U.S. team Mary Joe Fernandez said. Due to the constant playing and practicing, Serena really needs to take some time off.

    “She is mentally and physically exhausted and needs a break,” said Fernandez. “So bad time for us, but that happens sometimes. She’s been going hard the past couple of years and needs to get refreshed.”

    As for Serena’s sister Venus, she won’t be attending the Fed Cup either due to a schedule conflict. Accidentally, Venus signed up for two different tournaments that happen to take place on the same week.

    Additionally, Fernandez said after Serena played in a Charleston S.C. tournament, it pushed her to the point of extreme fatigue, but the U.S. captain is still confident this year’s team will still be a powerhouse.

    “Unfortunately, I guess Serena hit the wall after Charleston,” said Fernandez. “Serena and Venus both wanted to play, and I was looking forward to having them….It’s difficult for them because the priorities are the big tournaments. Hopefully we can get a [Fed Cup tournament] that’s convenient [in terms of] timing and geographically.”

    In a recent interview with Fitness magazine, Williams said people shouldn’t confuse her on-the-court persona with the way she is off the court, because if she’s not training or playing in a tournament, she’s usually the silliest and most approachable person in the room.

    “I think of myself as two different people,” stated Williams, who’s currently ranked the No.1 player in the world.

    “There’s the Serena Williams that everyone knows: Shes crazy…She can’t make a mistake, and she’s angry and just not nice, to be honest. I’m only that person for three hours a day when I’m on the court. The rest of the time I’m just Serena. I’m a class clown.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Maria Sharapova Advances at Sony Open

    Maria Sharapova won a 3-hour tennis match on Saturday at the Sony Open. Her opponent? The very capable Lucie Safarova of Serbia.

    ”She kept hitting unbelievable shots,” Sharapova said. ”One more. One more. I said, ‘How many chances are you going to get?’ I thought our level was quite high in the end.”

    The crowd was worked up toward the end of the long battle and endured an extensive and adrenaline fueled duel for the last point. Finally, Safarova wearily drove the ball into the net, ending the match and declaring victory for Sharapova. It was bittersweet, ending with the scores at 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-2 in favor of Sharapova, according to AP.

    ”After a match like that, it’s tough to have only one winner,” Sharapova said, ”because both players give a lot and both want to win so much.”

    The two ended the match with a hug of mutual respect reserved for those who have challenged each other and just truly enjoyed the battle.

    Serena Williams also had a dramatic return to the court after a month-long hiatus. That long break might explain 41 unforced errors, including seven double-faults and her self-described “amateur” performance. She made a spectacle with lots of grunting, flailing, and cursing herself.

    However, the tennis legend still managed to pull it out at the end against 20-year-old Caroline Garcia after a 2 1/2 hour match with scores of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

    ”I can play a hundred times better,” Williams said. ”I really gave myself a tremendous amount of trouble out there. Granted she played great, but I made so many errors … 40-something errors. It’s not the way to play professional tennis. Maybe amateur.”

    Garcia was just happy to play Williams. This time. ”It’s always nice to play against a big player,” she said. ”You are working and practicing to play this match, because it’s in this kind of match you can learn more. But next time I prefer to win.”

    All in all, a pretty exciting day at the Sony Open for some of Tennis’ biggest stars.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams Fight to Advance

    In front of a capacity crowd brimming with excitement, it took Maria Sharapova three hours, 228 total points and nine match points to defeat the 26-seeded Czech Republic leftie Lucie Safarova last night in the third round at the Sony Open in Key Biscayne, Florida. The No. 4 ranked player had her chances, but the stubborn Safarova refused to go down without a fight.

    The Russian player said of Safarova’s play, ”She kept hitting unbelievable shots. One more. One more. I said, ‘How many chances are you going to get?’ I thought our level was quite high in the end.”

    The final score of the match was 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-2. Sharapova was gracious in victory, pointing out how hard defeat can be in such a grueling battle. “After a match like that, it’s tough to have only one winner, because both players give a lot and both want to win so much.”

    Also advancing in the tournament was the No. 1 ranked Serena Williams, who also had a long, tough fight against French player Caroline Garcia (No. 74) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. This was Williams’ first tournament in a month and the rust certainly showed. Williams committed seven double-faults and recorded 41 unforced errors. She said of her game, “I can play a hundred times better. I really gave myself a tremendous amount of trouble out there. Granted she played great, but I made so many errors … 40-something errors. It’s not the way to play professional tennis. Maybe amateur.”

    Third round action continues at the Sony Open today. Serena’s sister Venus is set to square off this evening at 5 pm ET against Casey Dellacqua from Australia.

    Also advancing to the fourth round are Angelique Kerber, Petra Kvitova, Ekaterina Makarova, Kristen Flipkens and the former No. 1 ranked Ana Ivanovic.

    Image via Maria Sharapova, Twitter

  • Eugenie Bouchard: Now Serving at the Adult Table

    Eugenie Bouchard, the 19-year-old tennis sensation hailing from Westmount, Quebec has a great chance of reaching the Australian Open Semifinals if she defeats Ana Ivanovic.

    This is record-breaking stuff for Canada; Patricia Hy-Boulais has been the only other Canadian able to make it into a Grand Slam Tournament, and that was way back in 1992. In Bouchard’s lifetime, she’d be the only Canadian to accomplish this feat in the professional women’s realm. Bouchard has already won the status as the first Canadian to win a Junior Grand Slam in singles at Wimbledon, and has proven herself to be a dominant youth player. Now it’s time to prove once and for all that she can run just as well with the big dogs.

    It won’t be easy running– although she’s fortunately been able to sidestep the most dominant player in the league right now in Serena Williams, she now has the task of taking down the victor of that intense match. Ana Ivanovic is obviously on a roll with the epic triumph under her belt, so Ivanovic will undoubtedly serve up some work for Bouchard– even though she has already decimated Ivanvoic in straight sets at the Wimbledon just last summer.

    A lot can change in a year, however, and Bouchard is not taking this upcoming match lightly. She also has to forgo resting up for the match– she has a doubles round with Vera Dushevin on Monday.

    Although Bouchard tells a Canadian newspaper that “she’s just happy to be playing,” we can be sure that the gravity of her appearing in the Grand Slam tournament is not lost on her. It is a sure bet that Bouchard will take advantage of the injury issues that likely slowed Serena Williams down to cause her defeat, allowing Bouchard to sidestep the number one tennis player in the world.

    Be sure to check your local listings to see when the Monday match airs on your network. You can also read about her bathroom struggles,

    her New Year greeting gripes

    and more by following her Twitter.

    Image via Twitter

  • Ana Ivanovic Defeats Venus Williams in ASB Classic

    Associated Press told us of how Venus and Serena made a pact to both bring home trophies tonight, but Venus was unable to keep up her end of the bargain after a loss against number two seed Ana Ivanovic in the ASB finals today.

    Venus Williams formerly held an 8-1 record against Ivanovic, but has since dropped to a 47th ranking as she battled injuries and the extremely progression-halting Sjogren’s syndrome. This is Williams’ first final since October 2012 in Luxembourg.

    Both known for their aggressive style of play, the Ivanovic- Williams match was entertaining for all. Ivanovic set the standard by winning the first set in 35 minutes and assured the win with a tiebreaker despite a valiant effort from Williams.

    The Switzerland-born tennis player turned pro in 2003, and has experienced considerable success. Ivanovic hit a rough spot since winning the French Open in 2008, but is back on the winning track with the dominating win against one of the biggest names of women’s tennis.

    Serena successfully brought home her end of the bargain earlier today with her win against Victoria Azarenka at the Brisbane International.

    Image via Twitter