Turning Heads Down Under

WTA #22 ranked Russian tennis player Ekaterina Makarova is making waves at the 2014 Australian Open. Makarova began the tournament by rubbing out Venus Williams in three sets (2-6, 6-4, 6-4) in a minor upset. Makarova advanced to the third round yesterday by eliminating American Irina Falconi is straight sets (6-2, 7-5).

Her reward? A match with #64 ranked upstart Romanian Monica Niculesua, who knocked off #15 ranked German Sabine Lisicki in three sets (2-6, 6-2, 6-2). Ms. Makarova is also the subject of today's Chick Pic.

How do you climb the WTA ranks? Hustle! 1

Unwinding after a match? 2

I doubt this is how she rests up before the next match. 3

I doubt this is her getting ready for the next set, either. 4

The scene before a different kind of one-on-one matchup. 5

Keep knockin' 'em dead, Ekaterina! 6

1) Image from http://frontera17.mforos.com
2, 3) Image from http://m.sports.ru
4) Image from www.zimbio.com
5) Image from http://forum.byw.ru
6) Image from http://dailymail.co.uk

Giant Slayer

Sabine Lisicki was the lady of the hour at Wimbledon earlier today, eliminating 2012 Wimbledon Ladies' Draw champion and #1 ranked Serena Williams. Lisicki snapped a string of 34 consecutive matches won by Williams. She now advances to the quarterfinal round against 46th ranked Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.

Lisicki is the subject of today's Chick Pic.

The first thing that jumps out to me is that this woman is a flat-out athlete. That jump is vertical, not lateral. 1

She isn't hard on the eyes, either. 2

The cover of her aerobic workout video.... 3

She wears the red carpet well. 4

And the red dress.... 5

Bravo, young lady! You just joined two elite groups: Wimbledon quarter-finalists and people who beat Serena Williams. 6

1) Image from www.fanshare.com
2) Image from http://sportssuper-star.blogspot.com
3, 5) Image from www.zimbio.com
4) Image from http://bankokbobbysports.wordpress.com
6) Image from www.dailymail.co.uk

Retweet of the Day - July 1, 2013

Wimbledon 2013 has been a strange one. Top seeds have gone down in flames throughout the tournament. First Rafael Nadal was rubbed out by unknown Belgian Steve Darcis. In the second round, third ranked Swiss superstar Roger Federer was knocked off by 116th ranked Ukranian Sergiy Stakhovsky in just four sets.

But wait! There's more!!

Fifth ranked Italian Sara Errani (who also had an early exit at the French Open) was knocked off in straight sets by unheard of, 65th ranked, 19-year-old Monica Puig of Puerto Rico. Second ranked Victoria Azarenka withdrew in the second round due to a knee injury suffered in a fall in the first round. Number three ranked Maria Sharapova was stunned in straight sets by 131st ranked Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal.

However, the whopper upset at Wimbledon came earlier today when 23rd ranked Sabine Lisicki of Germany dethroned the defending Wimbledon Ladies' Draw champion and #1 ranked WTA player in the world, American Serena Williams in three sets (6-2, 1-6, 6-4). Williams' unseating was significant for a number of reasons. The upset was not as colossal as some of the aforementioned, as the 23-year-old Lisicki is an up-and-coming player in her own right. But it also snapped the 34-match winning streak of the five time Wimbledon champ, including three of the last four.

Today's retweet, from Talon (‏@This_is_Talon)  makes a great suggestion for some alternate Wimbledon theme music:

"@KimBru49 I think they need to make the Wimbledon's theme song Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust!" :)"

She's taking it all in stride.

Image from www.thestar.com