Martina Hingis Photos

Martina Hingis at a practice session in Indian Wells 2006 (Photo from Akademan):

 

With Anna Kournikova Анна Сергеевна Ку́рникова at the 2002 Sydney WTA tournament (Photo from TwoWings):

The comebacking Hingis at the 2006 Australian Open. (Photos from pfctdayelise and "Graffiti By Numbers' Flickr account):

Sabine Lisicki Action Shots

Here are some photos of my favorite tennis player, Sabine Lisicki!

At the BNP Paribas Open 2012 (photos from Christian Mesiano):

   

At the Texas Tennis Open 2011 (photo from R. Hensley):

At the 2010 U.S. Open (photos from Christian Mesiano):

 

At the 2011 U.S. Open (photos from Charlie Cowins):

 

Sabine Lisicki - I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing

I'm still gutted at Sabine Lisicki's Wimbledon quarter-finals loss to compatriot Angelique Kerber. It was a gallant stand for my favorite tennis player. I know you'll bounce back!

On a lighter note:

Photo from  blog.sportscape.tv

Can Sabine actually sing this song?

Wimbledon News Flash: Lisicki beats Sharapova!

Sabine Lisicki defeats World No. 1 Maria Sharapova!

With Sabine's win, she now enters the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. Coming from an ankle injury sustained last March, Lisicki's performance was undeniably superb!

Congratulations, Sabine!

Maria Kirilenko Мари́я Кириле́нко (RUS, Tennis)

Maria Kirilenko Мари́я Кириле́нко is part of the formidable array of Russian tennis players. Kirilenko turned professional in 2001. Since then, she has collected around $4.8 million in prize money, on top of her modelling and endorsements. 

Kirilenko at the 2009 U.S. Open. (Photo from Charlie Cowin)

With her tennis talent and good looks, Maria has the potential to follow the footsteps of the other, more illustrious Maria in the circuit.

To date, she has triumphed in five WTA tournaments and three ITF competitions. The right-handed Kirilenko reached her highest ever ranking of No. 15 at the WTA tour last May. She is currently the World No. 19. Maria won her first WTA crown in 2002, a year after turning pro. 

Her best ever finish in a Grand Slam tournament was the Australian Open quarter finals in 2010. She dueled against good friend Maria Sharapova in the second round and won 7–6(4), 3–6, 6–4. Kirelenko has also reached the fourth rounds of the French Open (2010 and 2011) and U.S Open (2011), and the third round in Wimbledon (2010, 2011, 2012).

Source:
Wikipedia Profile

Yaroslava Shvedova Яросла́ва Шве́дова (KAZ, Tennis)

The display of raw emotion punctuates the pursuit of sport. I admire athletes who do not shirk away from their emotions, and instead display what they are feeling in a bluntly, honest way. Yaroslava Shvedova Яросла́ва Шве́дова is one of those athletes.

Shvedova at the Citi Open Tennis tournament. (Photo from Keith Allison)

After an injury-plagued 2011 season, the Russian-born Kazakh barged into the quarter-finals of the French Open. When she defeated Carla Suárez Navarro in the third round, Shvedova shed tears of joy. In a post-match WTA interview, she explained her reaction: "It has been so tough to come back after losing everything. I was so happy to achieve the same results as I did in my peak in 2010. I cried because it has been very hard work, but this makes all the hard work worthwhile."

The Kazakh went on to beat defending champion Li Na, but faltered against Petro Kvitova in the quarterfinals. 

Since turning professional in 2002, Shvedova has won one WTA and three ITF titles. In 2010, her ranking rose to as high as 29th, but fell after she succumbed to injury. She is currently ranked 65th overall, after her quarterfinals run in Roland Garros.

Sources:

Wikipedia

WTA interview

Angelique Kerber (GER, Tennis)

Angelique Kerber is a top-ranked, German tennis player. The 24-year old turned professional in 2003, and has won 2 WTA and 11 ITF titles. 

Kerber at the 2011 U.S. Open. (Photo from robbiesaurus)

She is currently ranked 8th in the world, the highest in her career. In Grand Slam tournaments, Kerber has performed best on the hard court and clay, having reached as far as the quarterfinals at the French Open and the semifinals at the U.S. Open.

She barged into the top 100 the same year she turned pro. It took some time, however, for Kerber to hoist a WTA crown. In 2010, she battled Mariana Duque Mariño at the 2010 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, but faltered in straight sets. 

The German's robust global ranking is a sign that she is nearing the peak of her game. True enough, she has proved her mettle, notching victories over 2011 French Open Champion Li Na, former top-ranked player Jelena Jankovic, and Caroline Wozniacki. Angelique finally triumphed at a WTA tour event this year. Despite being seeded ninth, Kerber took out the experienced Marion Bartoli in a three-set nail-biter. 

Source:

Wikipedia

Additional Link:

Kerber's WTA Profile

Christina McHale (USA, Tennis)

The young Christina McHale could be the United States' next big tennis star.

Christina McHale at a USTA event. (Photo from Charlie Cowins)

McHale is ranked 32nd in the WTA list, but has claimed the scalps of several illustrious names since turning professional in 2009. Christina had beated former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki twice, the most recent coming in Eastbourne this year. She had also triumphed against Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2011 Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova, Daniela Hantuchová, and Marion Bartoli.

To date, she has won just one ITF title in the singles and three in the doubles. She has yet to hoist a WTA crown. The 20-year old represented the United States at the Pan-American Games last year, taking home silver and bronze medals in the doubles and singles, respectively. In Grand Slam tournaments, the New Jersey-born right hander has taken part in three (US Open, Wimbledon, and the French Open). Her best finish was a third round appearance at SW19 last year. 

With her strong showing against Wozniacki, McHale might just spring a surprise in 2012.

Source:
Wikipedia

Additional Link:
WTA Profile

Zheng Jie 鄭潔 (CHN, Tennis)

Zheng Jie 鄭潔, together with Li Na 李娜, are the pioneers of women's professional tennis in China. Zheng is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist. 

Zheng at the 2010 U.S. Open. (Photo from Robbie Mendelson)

As an unseeded entry in 2008, Zheng made it as far as the last four in Wimbledon, becoming the first wild card to achieve the feat in the Ladies' Competition. En route to her breakout performance, Zheng had beaten 2006 French Open Champion Ana Ivanovic and the talented Nicole Vaidisova. She eventually crashed out of the competition, losing to Serena Williams. 

At the 2010 Australian Open, the mouth-watering prospect of an all-Chinese final was in the books, as both Zheng and Li Na made it as far as the semifinals. Zheng and Li, however, lost against Justin Henin and Serena Williams, respectively.

Zheng is currently ranked 27th in the world. Her highest ever placing was 15th back in 2009. To date, the Chinese tennis player has amassed 341 singles victories, 4 WTA titles, and 4 ITF crowns.

Source:

Wikipedia

Ana Ivanovic Ана Ивановић (SRB, Tennis)

Ana Ivanovic Ана Ивановић caught my fancy at the 2006 French Open. She was an exquisite beauty that stood out amongst a sea of lovely faces. Even if she crashed out in the 3rd round, against hometown bet Amélie Mauresmo, I've found my new tennis crush!

 

 

Photos from Wikimedia

Ana finally won Roland Garros in 2008, claiming the scalps of Petra Cetkovská, Patty Schnyder, and compatriot Jelena Janković (who was then the world no.3). The Serb brought down Russian Dinara Safina in straight sets at the French Open final. 

Prior to her Roland Garros victory, Ivanovic made it as far as the Wimbledon semifinals in 2007. The 2008 French Open was the culmination of her gradual ascent to the summit of women's tennis. She could not seem to replicate her form in the coming years. A slew of early Grand Slam exits marred her career. 

Ivanovic has regained a semblance of her old self in 2012, as she barged into the world top 15 rankings for the first time in three years. She had notched victories over former world no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and 2010 French Open Champion Francesca Schiavone.

As the festivities in Roland Garros unfold, I wish the best for Ana Ivanovic!

Sources: 
Wikipedia
Ana's WTA Profile

Additional link:
Ana's Official Website

Sabine Lisicki (GER, Tennis Beauty)

Sabine Lisicki made waves around the tennis world a few days back, as she shocked French Open Champion Li Na 李娜 at the Second Round of Wimbledon. Lisicki, a wild card entry, utilized her booming serves and fancy forehand to eke out a well-earned win over Li, 3-6, 6-4, 8-6.

Read The Guardian report on Lisicki's win here

Lisicki in action (Photo from Christian Mesiano)

Prior to the aforesaid match, Lisicki had reached the 2009 quarterfinals of Wimbledon. An ankle injury cut short her breakout season, where she ranked as high as No. 22. As she recuperated from her injury, her WTA ranking fell "outside 200."

With Lisicki's groundbreaking win over Li and her recovery from the injuries of the years past, Lisicki is on target to at least match her 2009 record at the All-England Club.

Additional links:

Sabine Lisicki's Official Site

Sabine's Facebook Fan Page

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN, Tennis Beauty)

Caroline Wozniacki is at the top of Women's professional tennis. The 20-year old Dane, as of October 2010, has been on top of the WTA world rankings and is a sure cinch to cap her breakout 2010 season as the World No. 1.

Photos from Wikipedia

Wozniacki's list of accolades is dazzling, despite her young age. Wozniacki, born of Polish parents, had won a total of 12 WTA and 4 ITF titles since turning professional in 2005. In Grand Slam events, the powerfully-built netter highest finish is second at the 2009 U.S. Open, losing out to eventual champion Kim Clijsters (7-5, 6-3). Wozniacki followed this up the next year with credible performances, reaching the 4th rounds of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, the Quarter-finals of the French Open and the Semi-finals of the U.S. Open.

Wozniacki, with her good looks and solid game, is poised to become the next best thing in Women's tennis. At the tender age of 20, she already has several big name endorsements from Adidas and Sony-Ericcson. More importantly, it is only a matter of time before the World No. 1 wins her first Grand Slam title.

Aravane Rezaï (FRA, Tennis Beauty)

Aravane Rezaï is one of professional tennis' rising stars. The French No. 2 senior Grand Slam debut came in 2006, where she bombed out of the qualifying round of the Australian. Rezaï, who traces her roots from Iran, fared a lot better in Roland Garros, reaching the 3rd round. The 23-year old had also reached the third round in Wimbledon (2007) and the Australian Open (2008).

Photos from stuff.co.nz and y.caradec

To date, Rezaï had won a total of 4 WTA titles and 7 ITF crowns. Her world ranking has risen gradually through the years, reaching a high of 15th overall in October 2010. The past season saw the emergent Rezaï upsetting big names like Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki - a strong sign of her true potential.