Other WomenTalkSports posts of “Best of ‘09″:

• From Because I Played Sports, Best of ‘09: Forming a community, WomenTalkSports.com

• From One Sport Voice, The “Best” of 2009 and the State of Girls & Women in Sports

• From WakeGirls.com, Best of ‘09 – A Year for Women in Wake

And with her latest win, Serena has set the record for single-season prize money in women’s tennis by topping $6.5 million in 2009.

Williams broke the WTA mark of slightly under $5.5 million, earned by Justine Henin in 2007.

The American won the season-ending tour championships Sunday, beating older sister Venus in the final, to regain the No. 1 ranking. The younger Williams also won the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2009.

The Doha tournament, which featured the top eight women in the world, saw top-ranked Dinara Safina retire in her first match with a serious back injury, and No. 4 Caroline Wozniacki forced to quit in her semifinal against Serena Williams.

Earlier this year, $erena became the top earning female athlete ever,  and with these latest wins her  career prize money is now at a record $28.5 million.

Serena remembers earning her first check of $240 at Québec City in 1995 so that’s quite a pay raise!

The athlete took part in participating in the design of her wax figure by getting with the Madame Tussauds studio artists who made their way to Paris at the French Open in order to meet the star during the process.

The wax figure is wearing a replica of the Nike outfit which Williams wore during the 2004 U.S. Open. The outfit – one of Williams’ favorites – consists of a cropped black sleeveless top and denim skirt, accessorized by silver hoop earrings, a sparkling silver ring and black socks, sneakers and headband.

Williams’ figure is part of the Tussaud’s new “Sports Zone” – an interactive area dedicated to the love of sports, which is also home to wax figures of sport icons Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Florence Griffith Joyner.

On the tennis court, Williams is a legend. She is the reigning U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon singles champion and has won 22 Grand Slam titles – more than any other active female player – as well as two Olympic gold medals. Outside of tennis, Williams is known for her successful endeavors in film, television, fashion and philanthropy.

Check out this video of the unveiling of the wax figure.

One of the biggest stars in tennis, Serena Williams has succeeded on and off the court. She’s applied the same strength and determination that helped her to become a champion to successful pursuits in philanthropy, fashion, television and film.

Serena’s 2009 Australia Open championship earned her the #1 world ranking for the third time in her illustrious career – and marked only the latest exclamation point on a life lived well and purposefully.

Her accomplishments have not been without struggle: being derailed by injury, devastated by the tragic shooting of her older sister, and criticized for her unorthodox approach to tennis. Yet somehow, Serena always manages to prevail.

Learn more about this extraordinary athlete by winning a copy of her new book “On The Line.” To get your copy, you must…

• Follow @womentalksports on Twitter
• CLICK HERE to send the tweet that enters you in our contest.

Winners will be randomly drawn from the pool of entrants at midnight PST Monday, August 31st and contacted via Twitter direct message. Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win. Please no P.O. boxes.

Good Luck to all!

Nastia Liukin at the ESPYs

The hottest stars in sports, including many 2008 Olympians, converged with Hollywood last night as ESPN hosted the 2009 ESPY Awards. The 17th annual award show celebrated the best athletes and performances of the past year. Actor Samuel L. Jackson hosted the glittering show which saw some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment come together under a single roof for the gala evening.

Unlike the Oscars or the Grammys, fans vote for the awards and 13 were handed out. FYI, ESPY is short for the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly.

SPOILER ALERT: While the 2009 ESPY Awards was taped last night (July 15) fans will have to wait until Sunday, July 19 at 9 p.m. to watch it on TV. So, if you don’t want to know the winners, stop reading now!

The hometown team, Los Angeles Lakers (who play across the street from the Nokia at the Staples Center), won the ESPY for Best Team edging the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Stevie Wonder made the presentation and Kobe Bryant, surrounded by several teammates, accepted the trophy.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson won the award for the Best Coach, his third such honor.  NBA’s Best Player was the Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James.  The L.A. crowd no doubt wanted Kobe to win the NBA’s Best Player award but Lebron deserved this one as he had a monster season.

One streak came to an end at the ESPY’s last night, the five year reign for Tiger Woods as the Best Male Athlete Award. Coming off a historic Olympics at the 2008 Beijing Games, Michael Phelps edged Tiger this year to win the prestigious award. Actress Demi Moore presented the trophy to Phelps. The Olympic swimmer who won eight gold medals in the pool also swam away with the ESPY for Best U.S. Olympian and the Best Championship Performance.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice presented the award for best female athlete to Olympic all-around gold medalist Nastia Liukin, who was a bit little shocked to have beaten out Serena Williams. Swimmer Dara Torres won the ESPY for the Best Comeback.

The Best Female College Athlete was given to Connecticut basketball player Maya Moore who also led her team to a National Championship.

The ESPY for the Best WNBA Player went to Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks. Tiger Woods was not surprisingly voted the Best Male Golfer and Lorena Ochoa won the ESPY for the Best Female Golfer.

Serena Williams took the award for Best Female Tennis Player. This is the first ESPY Award that Williams has received since 2003, when she won the Best Female Athlete award.

At the ceremony the Williams sisters presented former South African president Nelson Mandela the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Mandela’s daughter Zindzi Mandela and grandson Zondwa Mandela accepted the award, which is presented annually to individuals whose contributions transcend sports.

Erin Popovich emerged as a ray of hope for all humanity as she was named Best Athlete with a Disability while the Best Female Action Sports Athlete was awarded to big wave surfer Maya Gabeira.

Complete list of winners:
Special Awards
Arthur Ashe Courage Award: President Nelson Mandela
Jimmy V Award For Perseverance: Don Meyer, Northern State University coach
Best Comeback: Dara Torres, Olympic swimmer.

Best in Sport
Best Female Athlete: Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
Best Male Athlete: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Moment: US Swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay
Best Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Best Coach/Manager: Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Best Game: Steelers vs. Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
Best Championship Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Play: Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD
Best Upset: US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Best Record Breaking Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Sports Movie: The Express: The Ernie Davis Story
Best Male College Athlete: Tim Tebow, Florida Football
Best Female College Athlete: Maya Moore, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Best Male Athlete with a Disability: Jason Lester, Ironman Triathlete
Best Female Athlete with a Disability: Erin Popovich, Swimming
Best International Male Athlete: Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Sprinter)
Best International Female Athlete: Lorena Ochoa (Mexico, Golf)

Individual Sports
Best Baseball Player: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Best NBA Player: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Best WNBA Player: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
Best NFL Player: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Best NHL Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Best MLS Player: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Best Male Action Sports Athlete: Shaun White, Skateboarding/Snowboarding
Best Female Action Sports Athlete: Maya Gabeira, Surfing
Best Bowler: Norm Duke
Best Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Best Fighter: Manny Pacquiao, Boxing
Best Male Golfer: Tiger Woods
Best Female Golfer: Lorena Ochoa
Best Jockey: Calvin Borel

The world top four players have all won their quarter-final matches setting the stage for a possible all Williams final.

First, Venus Williams dismantled 20-year-old Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in 1 hour 8 minutes. Then there was a short break and then Serena Williams, on Centre Court, made it two sisters in the semifinals.

With Venus watching, number two seed Serena took out Victoria Azarenka, the 19-year-old from Belarus, 6-2, 6-3.

Serena will play Elena Dementieva after the Russian fourth seed came through 6-2, 6-2 against Francesca Schiavone of Italy.

Top seed Dinara Safina will face the defending champion Venus.

With Serena’s  10 Grand Slam victories to Venus’s 7, could it be another Venus vs. Serena final? It’s looking that way.

The birthday girl’s resume off the court is nearly as impressive as her on court accomplishments. She’s launched her own line of clothing, founded an interior design company and has been named one of America’s most powerful women by Ladies Home Journal

Venus Williams was born June 17, 1980, in Lynwood, Calif., to Richard and Oracene Williams. Growing up in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles, Venus and her younger sister Serena displayed talent as they “practiced with dead balls on cracked courts,” wrote Sports Illustrated.

By age 10, Venus was winning tournaments, and in 1991, the Williams clan relocated to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where the young phenoms began training full-time. The sisters’ careers were carefully managed by Richard and Venus turned pro at age 14.

Venus played her first full season on the WTA Tour in 1997 and won her first pro tournament a year later.  The following year won two grand slams. She and Serena became two of the tour’s top players, and also formed one of the best doubles teams. In 2002, Venus became the No. 1 ranked women’s player in the world, the first African-American to achieve that status.

Williams has thus far won seven grand slam tournaments: two U.S. Open titles and five Wimbledon titles. At 29, she remains one of the best players on the women’s tour.

Off the court, Venus Williams studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. In November 2007, she launched a line of sporty clothing and accessories, including footwear, called EleVen.

She and Serena founded the Venus and Serena Williams Tutorial/Tennis Academy in Los Angeles, providing tennis lessons to inner-city children. The academy provides not only on-court instruction, but also tutoring and assistance in applying to colleges.

Venus, who is one of the best paid athletes in the world,  has one the fastest serve in the women’s game – 129 mph. She  also stars in Virtua Tennis, a popular video game.

Happy Birthday Venus!! Hope the day is as special as you are!!

Profile

The “Serena’s Song” contest is a nationwide songwriting competition inviting independent musicians, songwriters, producers, rappers and singers to submit original music inspired by and about Serena Williams. Serena  will select her personal favorite songs as Finalists, and the winner will be chosen by the online fan communities at WeMix.com and serenawilliams.com.

The musician with the winning song will be taken into the studio to professionally record what will become Serena’s official theme music. The winner will then go to the premiere of the song at the Bank of the West Classic, in Stanford, CA., in late July. The new theme song will be used at tennis matches, public appearances and a variety of other outlets by Serena.

The sports star can’t wait to hear the new tune that will help her dominate the court. “Sports and music have such a powerful connection,” says Williams. “I always see athletes including myself listening to music, while they’re getting ready for or decompressing after a match, or a race, or a game, whichever the sport.” 

WeMix was founded in 2008 by Grammy Award-winning artist Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and veteran media executive Matthew Apfel. Its corporate mission is to re-invent how popular music is sourced, filtered, produced, and marketed. The “Serena’s Song” contest is the latest example of how WeMix.com helps new artists break through, fast track their careers, and share in the profits.

Beginning March 3, 2009, artists interested in submitting an original Serena Williams theme song to the “Serena’s Song” contest can visit WeMix.com. Finalists will be chosen in early May. Complete contest rules and details can be found on www.wemix.com.

Do you have a fave song that pumps you up? What’s your personal theme song?

The victory gave Venus her 40th career singles title and was the seventh triumph in her last eight finals. Her last title came at the WTA Championships in Doha in November.

A day earlier, Venus upset sister Serena 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 to reach the final while the unseeded Razzano  put out 16th seed Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-1, 6-2 to move on to the title match.

Venus will return to the Top 5 from sixth for the first time since the week of August 25, 2003.

When questioned if she might also replace her younger sibling at the top of the rankings, Venus said “Well I would love to be the best in the world – and I am coming. So I am going to try.”

So how does Venus prep to become one of the best tennis players in the world? Well one thing she does is balance her intense training by getting in touch with her girly side. Check out this photo shoot she recently did with Marie Claire.  Maybe the underwater glamour tennis shots are a cross-training secret that will help put her on top.

The self-described “odd girl” (seems she only wins the Open in odd years), Serena talked about the insufferable Aussie heat, her doubles win with Venus, and some gametime rituals.

Not surprisingly, Serena appeared incredibly happy. Guess that’s how you feel when you’re the top earning female athlete ever!

Serena Williams

“I actually forgot until the end when I was saying hi to my box. They’re like, ‘Hey, you’re No. 1.’ I was like, ‘Oh, yeah,’” she said.

Not that a number means everything.

“I always believe I’m the best, whether I’m No. 1 or 100,” she said. “Just having that extra bonus is pretty cool.”

Williams set aside a stylish black top to wear for the big occasion this time. In between the match, doping tests and media commitments, she changed into it.

“I always bring an outfit for the championships,” she said. “I always try to think positive, and I think it helps me be able to win.”

Good strategy Serena – congrats on #10!

Interview

Serena Williams just became the all-time career earnings leader in all of women’s sports by reaching the Aussie Open final and winning the doubles crown with sister Venus.

Williams’ not only eclipses Lindsay Davenport as the all-time prize money leader in women’s tennis, but also overtakes the LPGA’s Annika Sorenstam as the all-time prize money leader in women’s sports. Her career prize money earnings will total $22,753,575, surpassing Davenport by $608,840 and Sorenstam by $180,383.

“I’m thrilled with the news! I remember earning my first cheque of $240 at Québec City in 1995 and while I knew that I could have a great career in tennis, I could not have imagined or dreamed of all of this,” Williams said.

Williams turned professional at the age of 14 and since that first check has won 32 singles titles, including nine Grand Slams en route to her nearly $23 million payday. 

Tennis anyone?

But the real story of the 2009 Australian Open is Jelena Dokic. The 25-year-old Dokic’s dream run was cut short by No. 3 Safina but her epic bid to become an unlikely grand slam winner still reads like a fairytale.

When Jelena Dokic arrived in Melbourne Park a couple weeks ago, she was a wildcard entry seeded 187th. Nine days later, she strode out of the complex an Australian Open quarterfinalist ranked among the world’s top players. Dokic did not even have a racquet sponsor before the tournament, let alone anyone to dress her. She left with a A$182,500 check and sponsors falling at her feet.

Dokic hadn’t played on the tour at this level in many years, and she hadn’t played in a major for 5 1/2 years. Yet she became the first woman in history to play five consecutive three-set matches at the Australian Open. Dokic may have lost to Russia’s Safina, but she left her mark on the tournament and the women’s tour.

That Dokic could become the first Australian woman to win the Australian Open since Chris O’Neil in 1978 captured the imagination of an Australian public desperate for home success.

But more than national pride, the personal fortitude that Dokic exhibited during the tournament gained her legions of new fans.

Dokic first came to prominence when she knocked Martina Hingis out of Wimbledon 10 years ago. She rose to world No. 4 but then seemingly disappeared. After battling her way into this year’s Australian Open as a wildcard Dokic went public with her personal story. She poured out her heart describing her fight against depression and the break-up of her family brought on by the bizarre and volatile behaviour of her domineering father, Damir, who also served as her coach.

While Dokic always considered her mental toughness her greatest strength, she says her struggles with depression had transformed her into a cold-blooded tennis assassin.

Dokic senses she may now be better placed to fulfill her rich potential. Anyone who watched her at the Australian Open – including her highly ranked victims Caroline Wozniacki and Anna Chakvetadze as well as Safina – knows there’s little doubt Dokic will return next year an even more formidable opponent.

It certainly looks like happier days are ahead for Dokic and we can look forward to more tournaments where she can build on the progress established in Melbourne. The Cinderella story continues…

This Spanish surprise had Venus squandering a match point in the 10th game of the final set before losing 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena.

Suarez Navarro, ranked 46th in the world and a French Open quarterfinalist last year, is making her tournament debut, while Williams suffered her second- earliest exit in 10 appearances.

Interviews with both Venus Williams and Suarez Navarro can be found on the Australian Open website.

In other AO news,

Serena Williams produced a characteristic fightback to advance to the third round after a 6-3 7-5 victory over Argentina’s Gisela Dulko in 110 minutes.

Also, Jelena Dokic of Austrialia defeated Russian Anna Chakvetadze 6-4,  6-7, 6-3 on Night 3 while Serbian Ana Ivanovic rallied past Italian Alberta Brianti 6-3,  6-2.

Also through to the third round are Jelena Jankovic, Elena Dementieva, Amelie Mauresmo and Jie Zheng.

AO Results Women’s Singles

The spot features Serena Williams, Misty May Treanor & Kerri Walsh, Candace Parker,  the legendary Muhammad Ali, and a bevy of other celebrity-athletes. It’s pretty cool though you’d never know they were selling a sports drink.

This latest comes shortly after Gatorade scored with the amazing ball girl video, easily the best viral marketing campaign of 2008.

In other beverage news, Gatorade is expanding into action sports  and has announced the addition of 17-year-old snowboarder Ellery Hollingsworth to their elite team roster.

What do you think of the latest spot?

December 23, 2008

Fab Serena just returned from Africa with news of her charitable work with B.A.S. (Build African Schools). Together they opened a secondary school named after her in the village of Matooni, about 70 miles southeast of Nairobi, Kenya, with state-of-the-art solar panels for power and computers donated from Hewlett-Packard. Her credo? ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ Good for you, girl.  Can’t wait to see what 2009 brings (besides your memoir).

(via Tennis Served Fresh & Women’s Tennis Blog)

December 9, 2008

Polls are now open for the 2008 United States Sports Academy (USSA) Athletes of the Year awards presented by USAToday and NBC Sports. The USSA Athlete of the Year ballot is the culmination of the Academy’s year long Athlete of the Month program, which recognizes the accomplishments of men and women in any sport around the globe.

Who’s on the ballot this year?

Rebecca Adlington (United Kingdom – Swimming)
Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe – Swimming)
Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia – Track and Field)
Yalena Isinbayeva (Russian Federation – Track and Field)
Guo Jingjing (China – Diving)
Nastia Liukin (United States – Gymnastics)
Lorena Ochoa (Mexico – Golf)
Candace Parker (United States – Basketball)
Paula Radcliffe (United Kingdom – Marathon)
Lindsey Vonn (United States – Skiing)
Chrissie Wellington (United Kingdom – Triathlon)
Serena Williams(United States – Tennis)

Cast your ballot at http://vote.ussa.edu/aoy.

December 8, 2008

In particular, check out Part 4 on Annika Sorenstam:

In May, Annika Sorenstam announced that 2008 would be her last year on the LPGA Tour. One of the most dominant athletes of the past decade had decided to disappear. She had known she would retire since the previous winter, when she peeked at her watch on the driving range and wondered if it was time to go home. “I stopped and thought, Wait a minute, I used to love this,” she said. “All of a sudden, I’m watching the clock. That’s when I knew this would be my last year.”

And Part 6 on Venus and Serena Williams:

Of all the great stories of this year, the resurgence of Venus and Serena Williams was the most overlooked. After their domination at the All England Club—the first time they had met in a Grand Slam final since 2003 and the fifth time Venus had won Wimbledon—they snagged doubles gold together in Beijing. Serena then went to New York and won the U.S. Open without losing a set. (Her toughest opponent was Venus in the quarters.) After being ranked as low as 140 two years ago, Serena was once again the best women’s player on the planet. In almost any other year, the Williams sisters might have basked in a long glow. Instead, even for them, 2008 was a flash that was doused too soon.

Tennis:
Serena Williams withdraws from Australia’s Hopman Cup with hamstring injury

Soccer:
UNC soccer team wins Women’s College Cup adding to dynasty

The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team captured the 2008 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 victory against Korea DPR.

Golf:
Michelle Wie earns LPGA card as Lewis wins Q-School

Hoops:
Connecticut remains atop AP poll. North Carolina is second followed by Stanford, Texas A&M, OU and Texas.

TCU shocks California and ends school-record winning streak

No. 8 Notre Dame stays perfect, knocks off No. 20 Purdue 62-51

No. 9 Texas knocks Ole Miss from unbeaten ranks

The #1 girls high school team in the country is upset

Volleyball:
Penn State sweeps Yale, advances to regional semis

Swimming:
Dagny Knutson breaks American Record at 2008 USA Swimming Short Course Nats
Mary DeScenza wins twice at USA Swimming Short Course Nationals

Worth reading:
Michael Wilbon on the end of the Houston Comets