On the Baseline Tennis News

Aces

The Australian Open women’s qualifying event begins today in Melbourne. (Australian Open)

The International Tennis Federation announced on Wednesday that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld a decision to suspend Spain’s Laura Pous Tio for doping.

The former Top 75 tennis player will continue to serve a two-year suspension back-dated to October 2007.

Top seed Serena Williams battled into the semifinals of the Medibank International after beating eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(3).

Top doubles seeds Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko reached the semifinals of the Moorilla Hobart International on Wednesday.

Former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova could soon join her countrywoman Maria Sharapova on the sidelines of the Australian Open.

The fifth seeded Russian pulled out of the Medibank International in Sydney on Wednesday because of an abdominal strain.

The ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour today launched TennisTV.com, an all new revolutionary broadband TV console for tennis fans around the world.

World No. 2 Serena Williams and World No. 7 Vera Zvonareva have officially entered the 2009 Family Circle Cup.

Williams and Zvonareva are set to headline the Family Circle Cup, a Premier Event on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, scheduled April 11-19, 2009 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, SC.

After narrowly winning her opening match in Sydney, top seed Serena Williams stormed into the third round on Tuesday with a solid 6-1, 6-2 win over Sara Errani.

Top seed Flavia Pennetta was upset in the second round of the Moorilla Hobart International on Tuesday by Magdalena Rybarikova.

Maria Sharapova received $1.37 million dollars for winning the Australian Open in 2008, but her successor will be noticeably richer.

Tennis Australia has increased the overall prize money for the Australian Open by twelve percent for the 2009 Grand Slam.

Fila announced on Monday that it has signed an endorsement agreement with Sony Ericsson WTA Tour player Anna Chakvetadze.

Anna will debut Fila’s Baseline Apparel Collection and the Fila Alfa shoe at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Jelena Jankovic remained atop the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings when the latest edition was released on Monday.

Victoria Azarenkva returned to her career high of No. 14 after winning the Brisbane International.

The 2009 Australian Open will be aired live in the United States on ESPN2 and Tennis Channel.

Tennis Channel is slated to air 30 live or first-run hours during the two-week major, while ESPN2 is scheduled to broadcast nearly 100 hours of primetime and overnight coverage.

Aces

China’s Sun Tiantian is blogging for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour this week from Sydney. (Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

It was a mixed day for seeded players on Monday at the Moorilla Hobart International. No. 3 Anna Chakvetadze, No. 5 Agnes Szavay and No. 6 Aleksandra Wozniak were upset in the first round.