Each year, March of Dimes honors the outstanding achievements of men and women in the sports industry. Past tennis recipients include Billie Jean King, Andre Agassi and Arthur Ashe.

Williams, perennially one of the top ranked women’s tennis players in the world, holds 41 WTA titles including seven Grand Slam (five coming at Wimbledon) singles titles. Difficult to beat when playing solo, Venus has combined with sister Serena for 10 Grand Slam Doubles Championships, most recently at the 2009 U.S. Open.

The duo also won their second gold medal during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, giving Venus her third Olympic gold. Venus has recently transferred her prowess off the court and onto the fashion runway as the topic of a recent photo book, “Venus”. Always the entrepreneur, Williams has also started her own interior design firm, V Starr Interiors.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. This year’s event was held on Wednesday, December 2 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

What are the women planning to do over the next seven weeks? For many of them, their holiday plans include everything—-except play tennis.

Caroline Wozniacki
“Now that the year is finally over, I have decided that I will take a 10-day vacation with 3 of my girlfriends to Mauritius. We are super-excited for all the things we will do: hanging at the beach, snorkeling, receiving spa treatments. Basically, I am excited to think about anything but tennis during my holiday. This will be great for me to recover and recharge, both mentally and physically.

Venus Williams
“I am so happy for a rest and do some living away from the court! I am going to try to rest mentally too.”

Samantha Stosur
“I’m really looking forward to getting back, to see my friends and just be home. Don’t have any plans but I do want to go for a ride on my bike … Poor Scotty hasn’t been ridden all year and now that I’m living in a different area it will be more interesting to go for a ride. I call him Scotty cause it’s a Scott mountain bike!”

Jelena Jankovic
“It is nice to be home, again, in Belgrade, especially during the winter when snow falls. I like it because most of the time of year I’m in warmer parts of the world, and I don’t have much possibilities to enjoy winter magic. In the morning, when I wake up it is unusual not to have a schedule I must fullfil, which is my routine during the season. Now I am free to do what I want during a day, but I am still not aware of that. So, when I open my eyes in the morning I start to think how I should have to go to practice.”

Serena Williams
“I am happy to finally have a bit of a break for now . . . I look forward to not worrying about having to practice in the morning.”

For the eleventh time in their careers, Venus and Serena Williams will compete against one another for a singles title.

Serena advanced to the final round in Doha, Qatar after her opponent Caroline Wozniacki retired early in the second set of their semifinal because of a left abdominal strain.

Venus Williams defeated Jelena Jankovic earlier on Saturday in three sets 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Although they have only met in a final eleven times, overall the two sisters have played each other twenty-two times over the years. Serena leads their head-to-head record 12-10.

I’m not one to sugarcoat things, so I’ll just go ahead and declare it. Venus Williams, one of the all-time greats on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, is struggling with her game.

It’s as simple as that.

Since her fairytale run to the final of the US Open a decade ago, I have admired the elder Williams sister for her pride, poise and sportsmanship. Her commitment to the world of tennis has been commendable – she’s outlasted many of her peers who have sashayed in and out of retirement.

But worrying patterns of defeat have blighted her 2009 season, and I’ve seen nothing like it during her glittering career.

Last year was a tour de force of success for Venus, who captured her fifth Wimbledon crown and won back-to-back hardcourt titles at Zurich and Doha. In the latter event, she outfoxed the crème of the crop, including sister Serena and the top ranked Jelena Jankovic.

Early this year, Venus appeared to be in pole position to finally win an Australian Open.

But fate had other plans, as the iconic American veteran slumped to a 2nd round defeat at the hands of an unseeded Spaniard.

Her opponent was hitting close to the lines with nothing to lose, so I assured myself that it was just an unlucky loss. Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, would no doubt emerge fighting fit in her next tournament.

Sure enough, the 28-year-old did bounce back into top gear the following month, besting sister Serena in a thrilling semifinal en route to a championship victory amongst the Dubai dunes.

The following week, she trekked to Acapulco, winning her first clay court event since Istanbul in 2005. This meant that Venus had won four of her last five events. The demure Compton native appeared to be in the prime of her career.

But I couldn’t shake the memories of her Australian Open loss. Was her defeat in Melbourne an ominous sign of things to come?

The downward spiral of a tennis wonder

Despite her phenomenal run to the final of Wimbledon, Venus has been one of this season’s biggest underachievers.

She staved off match points against Lucie Safarova at the French Open, only to be conquered by Agnes Szavay in a 60 64 routing in her following match.

Most recently, Venus was bungled out of Beijing in the 2nd round. Let’s not forget her third round losses in Charleston and Cincinnati, and the times she was sent packing in her maiden matches at Madrid, Toronto and Tokyo.

She managed to struggle through three matches at the US Open, only to lose to eventual champion Kim Clijsters in a puzzling performance punctuated by momentum swings and missed opportunities.

Williams’ recent form in Premiere tournaments has been most disturbing however, with two successive losses to unheralded teen Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the span of a week.

Since SW19 in July, where she sported a heavily-strapped left knee, Venus has stumbled to a 9-6 win-loss record. She also faces a rankings freefall if she can’t defend her Tour Championships title next month.

In fact, this former world number one could be out of the top ten early next year.

With her athleticism and self-belief, Venus Ebony Starr Williams has changed the face of the tennis landscape forever.

She’s stated that she will “win it all” in 2010, and I for one hope Venus can re-summon her demonic serve, and again dominate her foes with unplayable finesse.

But what if she can’t?

Robert Edward Smith is a freelance writer from Melbourne, Australia.

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced Friday that Venus Williams and Victoria Azarenka have qualified for the tournament in Doha, Qatar.

“I am pleased to have qualified for the Sony Ericsson Championships and I look forward to defending my title,” said Venus Williams. “Qualifying for the year-end tournament is always a goal I set for myself at the beginning of the season and I am excited to have an opportunity yet again to compete with the best players in the world.”

Defending champion Williams, qualifying for the ninth time in her career, and first time qualifier Azarenka, will join Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Elena Dementieva, Caroline Wozniacki, Svetlana Kuznetsova and the doubles teams of Cara Black/Liezel Huber, Venus Williams/Serena Williams and Nuria Llagostera Vives/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, all of whom have previously qualified and are headed to Doha.

“I am thrilled to have an opportunity to go to Doha for the Sony Ericsson Championships,” said Azarenka. “Winning my first Tour title and reaching the Top 10 for the first time in my career has really made my year and I couldn’t think of a better place to finish it than in Doha. Having an opportunity to travel to the year-end Championships is an accomplishment I am very proud of.”

The world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams from the 2009 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season will compete for the coveted Sony Ericsson Championships title and a share of the record Championships prize money of $4.55 million.

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced Tuesday that for the first time in their doubles career, the Williams sisters have qualified for the doubles event at the Sony Ericsson Championships

The tournament is set to take place for the second year in a row at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, from October 27-November 1, 2009.

The team of Venus Williams/Serena Williams is the second to qualify for the Championships and will join Cara Black/Liezel Huber, along with singles competitors Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Elena Dementieva, and Caroline Wozniacki, all of whom have previously qualified and are headed to Doha.

“We are thrilled to be heading to Doha for the Sony Ericsson Championships,” said Serena Williams. “I love playing doubles with Venus as we have so much fun on the court. This year, we actually decided to put more emphasis on our doubles careers and going to Doha has been on our mind all season. I am thrilled to have an opportunity to compete at the Sony Ericsson Championships in both singles and doubles.”

“It’s been extremely rewarding to win a number of big doubles titles with Serena this year,” said Venus Williams. “While playing doubles with my sister is one of the best experiences for me, qualifying for the Sony Ericsson Championships as a team is a great accomplishment and we can’t wait to get to Doha and take on the best doubles teams in the world.”

Venus and Serena Williams’ 2009 season includes victories at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, in addition to winning a title at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford. Venus and Serena Williams, along with Lisa Raymond, are the only active players to have completed the career doubles Grand Slam (2001/2003/2009 Australian Open, 1999 Roland Garros, 2000/2002/2008/2009 Wimbledon, 1999/2009 US Open). Overall, Venus and Serena have won 10 Grand Slam doubles titles and hold a perfect 10-0 record in Grand Slam finals.

The world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams from the 2009 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season will compete for the coveted Sony Ericsson Championships title and a share of the record Championships prize money of $4.55 million.

The fourth-seeded sisters’ 6-2, 6-2 win over Cara Black and Liezel Huber ends two fantastic weeks of tennis at Flushing Meadows.

It was a straightforward victory over the top seeds and co-ranked world number ones. Black especially struggled with her serve and the Williamses closed out the match handily after just eighty-nine minutes of play.

The women’s doubles final concludes a fortnight of tennis that will go down as one of the most memorable, if not highly controversial Grand Slams in recent years.

On the Baseline’s live coverage of the 2009 US Open is brought to you by Grand Slam Tennis Tours.

Aaress Lawless previews the upcoming action at Flushing Meadows and takes a first look at the players to watch during the 2009 US Open.

The Contenders

Serena Williams (2)
Serena Williams has already bagged two of the three majors this year and is rolling into Flushing Meadows rested and ready. She posted a few mediocre results during the US Open Series, but it will not surprise anyone if she saved her best tennis for when it matters most.

Serena, along with her sister Venus, is in the second half of the draw, and on paper, it looks like the weakest. That being said, Serena’s biggest competition might be her big sister. At Wimbledon, Serena dethroned Venus as the queen of the grass, and Venus just might return the favor by beating Serena on her own best surface for a shot at the title.
Prediction: Semifinalist

Venus Williams (3)
Since she won back-to-back titles eight years ago in Flushing Meadows, Venus has never won another hard-court major title.

The road back to the US Open final might take her in the path of Kim Clijsters, another woman who has tasted victory in Flushing Meadows. Kim and Venus are old friends and rivals, and ironically, Kim defeated Venus in the quarterfinals during her last appearance along the way to victory.

If both Williamses reach the semifinals, it will be winner take all. If Venus gets past a rejuvenated and still dangerous Kim Clijsters, and possibly Victoria Azarenka in the quarters, I like her chances of bringing home her first non-Wimbledon major trophy since 2001.
Prediction: Champion

Elena Dementieva (4)
Does Elena Dementieva have a Grand Slam title buried deep within her? I believe that the Olympic gold medalist has everything in her arsenal for a major title pursuit. Will it happen this year?

Elena will likely get another shot at a major final, but is she playing well enough to beat Venus or Serena in a Grand Slam final? That has not been done since Maria Sharapova beat Serena in the final of Wimbledon in 2004.
Prediction: Runner-Up

Jelena Jankovic (5)
The New York crowd fell in love with Jelena last year and the congenial Serbian is quickly charming her way into the hearts of Americans.

Her performance both during—and after—the final last year won her a new host of fans, and Jankovic is currently playing well enough to post another solid finish at the tournament. I’m not convinced she’ll go all the way to the final again, but she’ll likely reach the semifinals.
Prediction: Semifinalist

Other Players to Watch

Dinara Safina (1)
It is not often that you would give the world number one an outside chance to win, but that is exactly the position Dinara Safina is in right now. The headlines have been unmerciful to the top seed, one even declaring her as “desperate” to win a major.

While I do not think she is ready to be classified as desperate, I do think her chances are getting fewer. The Williams sisters are back playing their best tennis, Kim Clijsters could be a major factor next season, not to mention that the Belgian press is reporting that Justine Henin is rethinking her retirement decision.

Safina’s draw is not impossible, but it is going to be difficult. Alisa Kleybanova reached the semifinals last week in Toronto and could easily threaten Safina with a third round upset. If Dinara makes it to the quarters, she could set herself up with a rematch against Jelena Jankovic, who beat her only weeks ago in the Cincinnati final.

Svetlana Kuznetsova (6)
It has been a solid season for Svetlana Kuznetsova as she won her second career Grand Slam title in June at the French Open.

Kuznetsova won her first title on the courts of Flushing Meadows and I like her chances of having another good run this season. With the one-slam-wonder monkey off her back, one hopes Sveta can begin playing with more confidence and consistency—two things sadly in short supply before Paris.

Victoria Azarenka (8)
If the Williams sisters tumble early, look for Victoria Azarenka to make the most of the opportunity and play her way into the semifinals—-or beyond.

Azarenka has been biding her time for a big breakthrough at a major and don’t forget, she did beat Serena earlier this year in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Maria Sharapova (29)
Maria managed to get a coveted seeding position in the draw, but that still did not save her from the possibility of facing Dementieva in the third round. Sharapova has had a long road to recovery, but must have been pleased with her finalist finish at the Rogers Cup where she lost to Dementieva in two sets.

One thing I noticed during the final was that although Sharapova’s old shot-making skills have returned, her physical stamina is still missing. She looked tired and sluggish against Dementieva, something that we never saw before her shoulder surgery. Fortunately, at Flushing Meadows, unlike at Premier tournaments, Sharapova should have a day off to rest her shoulder after each match.

Kim Clijsters
The feel good story of the year has arrived in New York City. Kim Clijsters was a fan favorite during the first part of her career, and now with her one year-old baby girl in her arms and two years of absence, Clijsters is even more beloved.

Expect Kim to relish the feeling of being back under the lights of the Open, and I would not be surprised to see her reach the second week. Her US Open Series results were very promising, and if she does decide to stick around for 2010, she could be a legitimate threat in Australia.

On the Baseline’s live coverage of the 2009 US Open presented by Grand Slam Tennis Tours will begin on Monday, August 31!

The US Open gives one final opportunity to achieve greatness, but who needs to step up their game the most for a chance to win?

Ana Ivanovic

Ivanovic’s game has been trapped on a rollercoaster ever since she reached the summit of the sport last June in Roland Garros. She peaked with her first major and the No. 1 ranking, and now just over a year later, Ana’s trying to claw her way back into the top 10.

The US Open hasn’t been the site of her best results over the years, but Ivanovic can still redeem her disappointing season with a solid finish. But if she does not get a much needed shot of confidence in her forehand, she’ll exit before the first week is out.

Venus Williams

Venus, we know you are one-half of the most dynamic duo in tennis, but it is time for you to show us that you can win big on a surface other than grass.

I hesitate to label Venus’ season as mediocre as she did reach the final at Wimbledon, but one would expect the world No. 3 to win more titles than a Premier in Dubai (where she only played two top 10 players), and Acapulco, where the best player she faced was Flavia Pennetta.

Victoria Azarenka

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t think there is anyone hungrier in tennis than Victoria Azarenka. Her drive and passion for winning is unrivaled by anyone, not even Serena Williams.

But for all young Vika’s hunger, she still has an Achilles heel that is costing her in the sport—-her temperament. When things don’t go your way, you can’t crater and choke the match away, or surrender it in tears like she did against Kim Clijsters last week in Toronto. Once Victoria learns to get a grip on her emotions, we’ll see her start gripping major titles.

Nicole Vaidisova

The sad saga of Nicole Vaidisova continues this week as instead of seeing the former it-girl of tennis warming up in New Haven or on the pre-US Open sponsor appearance circuit, fans can receive free tickets to watch Vaidisova play in the US Open qualifying tournament.

Vaidisova’s career has turned into a cautionary morality tale for young players, but fortunately, it’s not too late. If she can qualify and get a few wins on her card, she might be able to pick up the pieces on her nearly shattered tennis career.

Dinara Safina

My colleague Paula Vergara and I were talking the other day about the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s world number one and we both agreed on one thing: Safina needs to add a therapist to her entourage. She has all the goods to win a major—and even dominate the sport—but her mental game is making her a perennial bridesmaid.

Safina plays her heart out to reach a final, but then her brain gets in the way of her instincts. Fear overtakes her game and once she gets terrified of losing, she can’t find a way to win. Dinara, we’d like to see you work to surmount that mental hurdle because that is the one thing keeping you from taking the No. 1 ranking in a choke-hold and shutting up your critics for good.

Jelena Jankovic

Does anybody love playing under the lights for a New York crowd more than Jelena Jankovic? America has embraced the Serbian trio (Ana, Jelena, and Novak) with welcome arms, especially at the US Open.

Last year, Jankovic nearly stole all the spotlights from Serena Williams, and I’m certain that since she reached the championship match, she has longed for a chance to repeat it. Her season has not been quite as disappointing as Ivanovic, but JJ hasn’t exactly shined this year either.

She picked up a big win two weeks ago in Cincinnati over a nervous-wreck Safina, so it will be interesting to see if that momentum carries over to Flushing Meadows.

The Frenchwoman must have paid close attention to her notes because she played textbook tennis on Sunday in Stanford.

Bartoli, the eighth seed at the 2009 Bank of the West Classic, upset second seed Venus Williams 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 today to win the singles title in California.

“The only chance to win that was to take my chances, because otherwise Venus wouldn’t give me anything,” Marion said after the final. “I gave everything I had today.”

This was their first meeting since Venus defeated Bartoli two years ago to win her fourth Wimbledon championship.

Bartoli, who lost in the final last year to Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak, put pressure on Venus’ serve from the opening game of the match and converted eight of her fourteen break points.

“”Marion played really well today,” Williams said. “I have to give her credit for playing so well.”

After the singles final, Serena and Venus Williams beat Chan Yung-Jan and Monica Niculescu 6-4, 6-1 for their third doubles title of the year, after the Australian Open and Wimbledon (their eighth and ninth Grand Slams). The win represents the first non-Grand Slam doubles title for the pair since Hannover in 1999.