Ana Ivanovic in Australia

Ana’s back to the Sunshine Coast again before playing in Brisbane. But with Adam Scott this time. No doubt he has lots of advice on looking great while just falling short of being a champion. Meanwhile idiot Australians want to adopt her.

Players are now arriving in Brisbane to avoid learning Novak Djokovic’s lesson. But Brisbane’s currently drowning in rain so coming early to acclimatise yourself won’t necessarily help with the heat that’s certain to arrive soon… Molik, Dellacqua and a certain Henin got the women’s wildcards while local boy John Millman is the only man named so far. Presumedly Tomic can have one if he wants but maybe they’re waiting to see if some big name gets bored in Abu Dhabi or wherever.

Meanwhile Jelena Dokic’s practising in Melbourne (before flying up to Brisbane), well at least she’s practising.

Sandra Zahlavova finally enters the top 100 with a bullet

After years of trying and falling short, Sandra Zahlavova finally enters the top 100 with a bullet. At the Dubai 75K, Sandra Zahlavova ran thorough to the final without dropping a set, including thrashing Nicole Vaidisova and the promising Stefanie Voegele.

Although she lost the final to Regina Kulikova, she is now ranked 89 and will play the Australian Open without having to qualify. This has been her most consistent year with 2 Challenger titles and a further 5 finals. Attempting to qualify for Brisbane will be her first task for 2010.

At the Ukraine hit and giggle, Caroline Wozniacki beat Victoria Azarenka, Anna Kournikova (remember her?) and David Ferrer beat Victoria Azarenka and Tommy Robredo in mixed dubs and Andrei Medvedev and Yevgeny Kafelnikov played too.

More boxing for Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki in fur

Hot or not? 66% of Danes don’t like Wozniacki’s mink coat.

Memorable quotes

And more Serena and Safin quotes

Olivia Rogowska chokes to lose to Casey Dellacqua

Lindahl outlasted (A)Tomic and Dellacqua showed Rogowska another lesson in closing out matches to both win Aus Open WC spots. Tomic and Rogowska should still get a free ride after last year’s efforts but WC spots are fading fast. Molik has been all but guaranteed one for the women leaving precisely two places, after the French, USA, Asian and Henin, for Rogowska, Wejnert, Peers and others to fight for. Hopefully Groth doesn’t need one... and sorry Yanina Wickmayer – they’ve already used up their allotment of Belgian WCs.

For the mens’ WC’s: French, USA, Asian, Lindahl, presumably Tomic, likely Klein, maybe Millman or Ebden. Ball or Guccione if fit, outside chance for Groth and does Philippoussis still have his hand up? Probably should give Jason Kubler one on potential. And seriously Wickmayer too.

In Malaysia, Dementieva & Kirilenko beat Zheng & Mirza in a hit and giggle also Dementieva beat Mirza and Kirilenko accounted for Zheng as expected. Russia over Asia 3-0. Does anyone care?

Justine Henin has a new website http://www.justine-henin.be/en.php

Anastasia Myskina photoshoot

Anastasia Myskina may be gone but she refuses to go away. The 2004 French Open champ, who retired in 2007 after her mother's illness and a subsequent lack of motivation, still dances around the edges of stardom with typical cheeky behaviour.

Last year she had a baby boy (called Zhenya), was seen kissing a woman in public and did some tennis reporting. No real signs of a comeback though, in this age of comebacks. She still likes the limelight though... then again she always did.

In October 2002, Myskina had some photos taken for GQ magazine, in which one approved photo of her fully clothed was published. After she won the French Open in 2004, some topless photographs from the shoot were published in the July/August 2004 issue of the Russian magazine Medved (Bear). In August 2004, she filed an $8 million lawsuit against the GQ for allowing her topless photographs to appear in the Russian magazine without her consent. In June 2005, the US District Court ruled that Myskina could not stop the distribution of the topless photos, because she had signed a release although Myskina had claimed that she did not understand the photo release form and that she was not fluent in English at the time.

It's worth noting that while she was playing she was the Queen (Tzarina?) of the Russians, totally dominating all the others. She had a winning record with every other Russian player including 3–2 vs. Maria Sharapova, 3–2 against Nadia Petrova. 9–6 vs. Elena Dementieva, 3–1 vs. Zvonareva, 5–3 vs. Likhovtseva, 1–0 vs. Kournikova, and 4–2 vs. Kuznetsova. She was tied 1–1 with Anna Chakvetadze. There hasn't been a Russian like her since.

Anastasia Rodionova now officially an Aussie

Anastasia Rodionova will officially be granted Australian citizenship today at a special conferral ceremony in Melbourne.

The former Russian bad girl of tennis is happy to finally become an Aussie after four years of waiting.

“I am so excited and proud to be an Aussie!” “I have always loved Australia since I first competed here in 2002, and gaining citizenship of this great country makes me feel like my adopted home is now finally my true home,” she said.

Rodionova has lived in Melbourne since 2005 with her long-time partner, Lorne Padman.

Rodionova, currently ranked world No.96, will become Australia’s No.3 ranked female tennis player after a solid 2009 season. Her best result for the year was reaching the third round of the US Open after coming back from major hip surgery in September 2008. She is currently in pre-season training at Melbourne Park and is looking forward to representing her adopted homeland in international competition.

Tennis Australia’s Director of Tennis, Craig Tiley said, “Anastasia has long based herself in Australia so we are delighted she is now able to fulfil her dream of becoming an Australian citizen. I know Australian tennis fans will continue to make her very welcome."

“I’d like to thank the Australian Government and every one at Tennis Australia & Hamilton Watts Immigration Services for helping me for all of these years to achieve this amazing result. I am very honoured to represent Australia at every single tournament I play and I hope to make our nation proud,“ Rodionova said.

Anastasia Rodionova will make her Australian debut on the WTA Tour at the Brisbane International in January.

Spain again!

Spain, Spain, Spain. Shall we just award them the cup for the next few years? Nobody has come close to them and it certainly means a lot to them to win it. Let's rename it the Spanish Cup (as the America's Cup was in sailing) and withdraw in awe from their mighty presence.

Caroline Wozniacki’s on Twitter http://twitter.com/carowozniacki

Flo Lo’s cut his hair, Vaidisova dyed hers brown.

Molik took the 25K Bendigo, De los Rios the 25K Buenos Aires, Feuerstein won the 25K Prerov and Dasha Gavrilova won Eddie Herr tournament.

A certain Justine Henin beat Flipkens and Pennetta at the Charleroi hit and giggle. Pennetta beat Cornet earlier. Henin plays Petrova in another exhib next.

It’s Christina McHale vs CoCo Vandeweghe for USTA Aus Open Wildcard spot and Jesse Levine vs Ryan Harrison in the men’s.

Bye bye Amelie

Amelie Mauresmo retired – will we miss her?

Molik beat Erakovic at the 25K Bendigo, Rogowska lost to 17 year old Richel Hogenkamp who then beat Elie and will now take on the winner of Molik / Wejnert.

16 year old up and coming qualifier Maryna Zanevska beat Halep at 25K Prevov and Piter and Zahlavova both lost.

Anastasia Rodionova will officially become an Aussie thanks to Kevin Rudd. This increases the number of Australian women in the top 100 by 50%. No doubt all proud Ozzie sports fans are today cheering as opposed to mourning the fall of a once great Australian sport. Meanwhile Mark Philippoussis still believes...

Andy Murray dumps girlfriend for playstation

Andy Murray prefers his playstation to his girlfriend, Kim Sears, who has left him because of this. However since he plays computer games for seven hours a day he probably hasn’t noticed yet.

Marina Erakovic crossed the sea to Oz and thrashed some poor girl in the 25K Bendigo. Welcome back Marina. Both Kichenoks lost in 25K Prerov qualifying. Piter made the main draw which includes Halep, Bovina, one Pliskova and the newly top 100 Zahlavova.

Victoria Azarenka is on Twitter http://twitter.com/vika7

Amelie Mauresmo may be retiring.

Serena will play Aus Open as expected

Serena Williams was fined but wisely avoided suspension as expected. Then she set a record for earnings ($6mil) just to show how little the fine will mean. Bring on Australia.

Wejnert and Peers won in 25K Bendigo. One Kichenok down in 25K Prerov qualifying.

Tennis Gifts to Avoid This Holiday Season.

Serena Williams beat Wozniacki in Barbados but loses to gravity.