Vera Zvonareva in ESPN's "The Body Issue"

Vera Zvonareva is one of over 20 athletes letting it (mostly) hang out in ESPN's 2011 "The Body Issue."  In the magazine, which is on stands now, she talks about....wait for it.......her body!  Check it out:

Have you ever felt self-conscious about your physique?

No. It wasn't something I ever thought much about. I was always involved in sports, even when I was in school, so I was always quite fit. Really, I don't remember a single day as a kid when I didn't play some kind of sport. Even if I wasn't playing tennis, I was going outdoors to rollerblade with my friends. If I had a day off, I would not think about going to the museum or staying inside.

Click to read more ...

Photos: BNP Paribas Open Players Party

Nole, always the Djoker.

Ana looks stunning even with her farmer's tan.

Kim is rocking the mom look.

Vera looks sweet.

Andy doesn't.

Rafa looks very European.

Li Na accessorized her beautiful purple dress with knee tape.

And then there is always the WTF outfits:

Better luck next time girls.

Photos:  Getty Images

Weekend Wrap Up: Third Time, Second Time, And Not In A Long Time

Ok, first off, my title isn't that great.  I know it, I couldn't think of anything else, I'm moving on...

Third Time:  Novak Djokovic won the Dubai Duty Free Championships in straight sets over Roger Federer, 6-3, 6-3.  He has now won this title for the 3rd time in a row, joining Roger as the only other man to complete the hat trick.  He is 12 - 0 in 2011, and I really think he has a great shot at winning at least another Major this year if he continues this form.

Second Time:  David Ferrer won the Mexican Open for the 2nd year in a row defeating compatriot Nicolas Almagro in 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-2.  This is Ferrer's 2nd ATP title this year.

Photo via Mexican Open website

Not in a long time:  Vera Zvonareva hadn't won a title in over a year until this weekend when she defeated number 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-4 at the Qatar Ladie's Open.  This is her 11th WTA title.

 And last but not least...

I can comfortably say that Juan Martin del Potro is officially back.  Today he won his first ATP title since 2009, taking out Janko Tipsaravic at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships 6-4, 6-4.  I'll be honest, I was rooting for Tipsy to win this because it would have been his first ATP title and also because my title would have been better:  First Time, Second Time, Third Time, and Not in a Long Time.   Oh well.  It's good to see Delpo back.  Although he doesn't seem so happy in this picture.

 

Update on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 9:03PM by [OnTheGoTennis]

I completely forgot Gisela Dulko! (Sorry girl).  She won her 4th WTA title at the Mexican Open.  Doesn't she look cute in her sombrero!!

Video: Ana Ivanovic, Maria Kirilenko and Vera Zvonareva arrive at Pattaya Open

A little video of Ana Ivanovic, Maria Kirilenko and Vera Zvonareva arrving at the Pattaya Open. Maria and Ana look casually cute, but Vera looked like she was paying tribute to 80's fashion with her faded denim outfit + denim bag.  All she needs are leg warmers and feathered bangs to complete the look.  Enjoy!

The Business End: Women's Semi-Finals

Tonight is the Women's Semi-finals, and I think IF everyone plays their A games, we are going to see some DOOZIES!

The first match is between #1 seed Caroline Wozniacki and #9 seed Li Na (or Na Li, however you want to say it).  Li Na is undefeated in 2011 and when you watch her she looks like she is in the ZONE, and Caroline needs bullshit MTOs (Medical Time Outs) to win against exhausted players.

Winner:  Li Na in 3 (and don't be pullin' a MTO on her Caro, she'll cut a bitch.)

The second match is between the #2 seed Vera Zvonareva and #3 seed Kim Clijsters. This is a rematch of the 2010 US Open Finals where Kim clobbered Vera, but Bepa (Vera)  says she's learned a lot since that match, and she has been looking great here, so I think it is payback time.  

Winner:  Vera in 3 (revenge is so sweet)

Women's Australian Open Draw and Predictions

Photo:  Ben Solomon 

I admit that recently I have not been following the women's game as closely as the men's, and because there has been lack of consistency in the women's game, it is hard for me to make predictions, so this will be short and sweet.  

Top Half of the Draw:

First let's talk Caroline Wozniacki.   She just changed her racquet this year going from a Babolat to a Yonex, which is actually a fairly big deal.  I think if she can make it past her first round match against Gisela Dulko, she should be able cruise to the 4th round where she'll get another test against Marion Bartoli.  If she gets past this (which she should) then she has to face either Justine Henin, Sveltana Kuznetsova, or Francesca Schiavone in the quarter-finals, and I think her AO bid will end here.   If she gets to the semi-finals, she will face a match-up with either Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka or Li Na (probably Williams). I realize that there are a lot of "ifs" here.  It's a tough draw, what can I say.

I think Justine Henin has a great chance of getting to the semi-finals.  Along the way she'll have to defeat Kuznetsova in the 3rd round, and Schiavone in the 4th round, then face Wozniacki in the quarter-finals. I think all matches are going to be tough but doable for the Belgium. 

Venus Williams will be smooth sailing until the 4th round where she'll potentially battle Maria Sharapova. (Can't wait) After that she'll face either Victoria Azarenka or Li Na in the quarter-finals. Her potential semi-finals match-ups could be Wozniacki, Henin, Kuznetsova or Schiavone.

While we are talking about Schiavone.......she will cruise until the 4th round where she'll meet the winner of the Henin/Kuznetsova match.  I'd be shocked if she moved forward from there.

All in all,  this is a pretty tough 1/2 of the draw.  I'll put myself out there and say that we'll see Wozniacki vs Henin and Williams vs Azarenka in the quarter-finals, Williams vs Henin in the semi-finals with Henin making it to the finals.  

Bottom half of the draw:

Vera Zvonareva should easily get to the quarter-finals where she'll likely play Samantha Stosur, and if Stosur brings her A-game here, I think Stosur will have the edge.  If she makes it to the semi-finals she'll likely have a repeat of the US Open finals and face Kim Clijsters and we know how that ended......

In order for Kim Clijsters to get to the quarter-finals, she'll have to get past Ana Ivanovic in the 4th round. Recently Ana has been playing extremely well, but unfortunately in Hopman Cup she suffered an abdominal tear, therefore she won't be in top form and Kim should be able to pull this one out.  In the quarter-finals she'll have a repeat of her recent Sydney semi-final match-up against Alisa Kleybanova.  They both played some amazing tennis in that match, with Kim taking it in 3 sets.  In the semi-finals she would face either Stosur or Zvonereva.  

Sam Stosur should cruise to quarter-finals, where she will likely face Zvonareva.  For her semi-final match she'll face either Clijsters or Kleybanova.

And last we have Jelena Jankovic who I don't think will make it past the 4th round where she will play Kleybanova.  The end.

So, I think in this 1/2 of the draw we'll see Kleybanova vs Clijsters and Stosur vs Zvonareva in the quarter-finals, Clijsters vs Stosur in the semi-finals, and Stosur going all the way.

That was neither short nor sweet, but there it is: Stosur vs Henin in the finals and the hometown girl getting her first slam, hence the above picture.  I think I might be pretty off in this one, but here's to hoping!

Update on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 12:06AM by [OnTheGoTennis]

I forgot to mention that Kim Clijsters has to face Dinara Safina in the 1st round!  I think Clijsters will definitely advance, but it should be a great match!

Franny Brings the Zexy and Elena Has Sweaty Pits

Hold the press.  Is that really Francesa Schiavone, because she looks HOT! I've never seen Franny look like this before, but since she IS Italian I should have known she had the Zexy hiding in there somewhere.  The combination of the fab makeup and the earth tones in her dress complimenting her tanned skin.........Best Dressed, if for nothing else, shock value.  Now if she could just do this more often.  She usually comes dressed in something like this:

Here are all the pics of the ladies (minus Victoria) dressed to impress for the finals in Doha.  This is probably the only thing I was looking forward to in Doha, since the 8  ladies are a little (yawn) boring without the Williams sisters and Justine. Let me bust out my inner Joan Rivers and break these girls down.

Caroline has been looking pretty good in all of her latest appearances on and off the court (I happen to be one of the few that like her Stella McCartney "is it a dress, is it a shirt?" tennis "outfit"), and this night was no different.  If I had to say anything, it would be that I don't like her hair with this dress because the dress is too structured to have loose windswept hair, and unfortunately when you catch the dress at the wrong angle, it looks like it's engulfed her boobs and trying to eat her neck.  See pic below.

And now to Elena.  I gotta ask, were you nervous bb? Because those sweaty pits are NO JOKE.   Hey, a lot of us have hyperhidrosis (flashing my medical knowledge) from time to time, but the key is to wear dresses that DON'T show the sweat (solid, light colors are a no, no), OR maybe you should have used some Secret Clinical Protection?  It's too bad because the dress was working but the sweat is just to much of a distraction for me. 

I don't have much to say about the other women, except that Sammy, does clean up nicely, but girl you got to learn how to sit with a dress! I guess I'll give her a pass this time because she doesn't where them that often.

And there you have it, the 8 top (not really) women this year in the WTA.  2011 couldn't get here soon enough.

Photos:  Getty Images