The Australian Open has arrived and big names are in the headlines! Since we last spoke, defending champion Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to her slower than expected recovery following a shoulder injury. Looks like she won’t be able to defend her 2008 title!
I will begin with updating you on various matches that have taken place thus far:
Top-rankedRafael Nadal was victorious today over Belgium’s Christophe Rochus 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round at the Open.
Andy Roddick beat out Sweden’s 31-year-old Bjorn Rehnquist,6-0, 6-2, 6-2.
Serena Williams, who is seeking her 10th Grand Slam title, beat China’s 123rd ranked Yuan Meng with a 6-3/ 6-2 win.
#6 ranked Venus Williams beat out Angelique Kerber of Germany with a 6-3/6-3 victory.
Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva beat Germany’s Kristina Barrois 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-1.
Also advancing were No. 13 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo of France and No. 22 Zheng Jie of China.
No. 9 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland became the highest seeded player to be ousted, falling to Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko.
Anyway, there was a lot more tennis…and a lot more to come. So I will keep you posted on my personal favorite matches as they occur! 
