PHOTO OP: ITF hosts World Champions Dinner, honors Federer + Henin

The ITF hosted the World Champions Dinner at the Pavillon d’Armenonville in Paris and celebrated the achievements of the 2007 ITF World Champions.

Roger Federer accepted the award for Men's Singles and an absent Justine Henin was given the Women's Singles Award.

Additional awards included the Men's Doubles given to Bob and Mike Bryan and the Women's Doubles Award given to Cara Black and Liezel Huber. Both teams are pictured here with ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti.



(images via Getty)

FASHION FIX: Davenport wins Comeback Award, glows in graphic print dress

Motherhood has clearly been great for Lindsay Davenport. Not only did the 3-time Grand Slam champ win the WTA Comeback Player of the Year Award for her stunning return to the tour in 2007 after giving birth to son Jagger, but Lindsay continues to glow.

I love this dress for her - the former No. 1 is usually much more understated and subdued with her on-court tennis fashion but this graphic-print tank dress is fun + vibrant.

Anyone know who designed this dress?

(image via Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic earns first Laureus nomination, joins Federer + Henin for prestigious Award

A star on the rise: New Aussie Open champ Novak Djokovic has earned his first Laureus World Sports Award nomination for Breakthrough of the Year. The Serbian tennis star earned the prestigious nomination after a stand-out 2007 where he won 5 titles, was runner-up at the US Open, made the semifinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and reached No. 3 in the world.


According to the Award's site,

"The 20-year-old Serbian made a major impact on the men’s game in 2007, winning five tournaments, though his most significant achievement was probably finishing as runner-up at the US Open, where he lost in the final to Roger Federer. He also reached the semi-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon. His victories included two Masters series events in Miami and Montreal. He reached World No 3 ranking in July 2007. In the Davis Cup, by winning all of his three matches, Djokovic played a key role in the win over Australia, promoting Serbia to the World Group."

Nole is in stellar company as he joins World No. 1's Roger Federer (Sportsman of the Year, 3-time winner) and Justine Henin (Sportswoman of the Year) as nominees for a 2008 Laureus Award.

The Awards will be handed out on February 18 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

(image via laureus.com + AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

SIGHTING: Seles, Davenport, and King gather for March of Dimes award luncheon

Three of tennis' greatest champions attended the March of Dimes 24th Annual Sports Luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Monica Seles was on hand to present The Corporate Leadership Award to Chairman and CEO of IMG Ted Forstmann.


Lindsay Davenport was the recipient of The Sportswoman of the Year Award (strange since she only officially returned to tennis action this fall, but okay) and grabbed a photo-op with the legendary Billie Jean King.


(images via WaldorfAstoria.com, wireimage)

PHOTO OP: Another 'one' in the books for Roger Federer

Roger Federer celebrated another year clinching the No. 1 ranking with a trophy presentation during this week's Masters Cup. He finished in the No. 1 position for the 4th straight year, joining fellow legends Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, and John McEnroe as the only other players since 1973 to accomplish this feat.

Moments from Madrid: Justine Henin discusses her year, match-fixing and Martina Hingis

Defending champion Justine Henin arrived in Madrid this week for the Sony Ericsson WTA Championships and received a trophy from WTA CEO Larry Scott to commemorate her year-end No. 1 ranking. The World No. 1 spoke with the press about her incredible year and her views on the match-fixing and doping clouds hovering over tennis these days.

On her most challenging but successful year to date:

"I keep coming back to this unbelievable story that impossible is nothing and I proved it again this year. It's been a difficult year, [...] When I came back to competition in February in Paris it was like I had to start (over) again. I really grew up a lot, [...] I have no problem to say it's been the best season of my career so far."

On the recent match-fixing allegations:

"On match-fixing the only thing I can say is that I've never been approached by anyone about anything and I've never heard about anything like it."

On the doping news including Martina Hingis' revelation:

"For doping it is the same. I don't want to make any comment about Martina's situation but the thing is we want to keep a clean sport and a healthy sport because we all give our best when we play. [...] "I have been tested around 10 times this year but that is no problem for me. I'm all in favor of it as long as the authorities respect the private life of the athletes."

(source 1 & 2)

SIGHTING: Boris Becker attends MTV Europe Awards, visits with Nelson Mandela

Tennis champion Boris Becker and his current girlfriend Sharlely Kersenberg are never ones to shy away from the spotlight - whether showing PDA on a beach or giving it up for charity. The duo attended the MTV Europe Music Video Awards in Munich, Germany where tennis star was a presenter.

Earlier in the week the former World No. 1 posed with South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela and some of the local musical talent who will be performing at the 46664 AIDS benefit concert on December 1st. The performance line up also includes Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, Corinne Briley Rae, Razorlight, Ludacris, and the Goo Goo Dolls.

Moments from Madrid: Federer returns, media frenzy follows

The media & fan frenzy never stops when Roger Federer is around. After taking over a month off after winning his 12th Grand Slam and playing for Switzerland in the Davis Cup, the World No. 1 returned to tournament action at this week's Madrid Masters. And so did the media madness...

Photo op: Fed made sure to greet his terracotta twin at a pre-tournament press conference and take some photos with his alter ego, Warrior Federer.

Tennis tour: Next he toured Madrid and visited the construction site of one of the four new skyscrapers currently being built in the Spanish city. We think he looks cool and casual in the brown bomber jacket, black shirt, and jeans - though we'd move him away from boot cut denim (very 2005).

Game on: Oh, let's not forget Fed actually played some tennis this week. Today he met his recent nemesis, Guillermo Canas, who had bested the Swiss stylist in consecutive Masters Series this past spring - Indian Wells & the Sony Ericsson Open. Clearly, Fed had a different idea in mind today and was at his brilliant best, demolishing the Argentinian 6-0, 6-3.

Finally, Fed received the Marca Award from ATP Masters tennis tournament Madrid director Manolo Sants and the director of daily sportsnewspaper Marca Eduardo Inda after his win against Canas. All in a day's work for the World No. 1.

(images courtesy of AP Photo)

The Women's Sports Foundation hosts 28th Annual Salute to Women in Sports

Last night The Women's Sports Foundation hosted the 28th Annual Salute to Women in Sports in New York City. Founded by philanthropist, activist, and tennis legend Billie Jean King the awards celebrate the achievement of female athletes across all sports. Another tennis legend, Monica Seles, made a special appearance at the ceremony to present the 2007 Sportswomen of the Year Award to softball player Monica Abbott and golfer Lorena Ochoa.

Ice skating champion Michelle Kwan accepted the Billie Jean King Contribution Award for her contributions and commitment to the development of women's sports, and the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team received the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award for exhibiting extraordinary courage, surmountsing adversity, and meaningfully contributing to sports and inspiring others.

Michelle Kwan & Monica Abbott

Other luminaries were on hand to lend their support: singer Sheryl Crow, actress Holly Hunter, and boxer Leila Ali.

Andre Agassi becomes Ambassador of Elegance for Longines

Tennis' favorite philanthropist Andre Agassi, honored with the Eugene L. Scott Award at this past weekend's Legends Ball, is the new ambassador for Longines, a high-end Swiss watch company. Andre will be the "worldwide Ambassador of Elegance" for the watch company; the watch maker will provide support to The Andre Agassi Foundation, beginning at the Grand Slam for Children gala in Las Vegas this October, and will continue throughout the coming year.

Longines' contributions will also include the creation of special limited-edition sport timepieces to benefit The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation.

(via MarketingDaily)

Andre Agassi honored with Eugene L. Scott Award at Legends Ball

Andre Agassi was given the Eugene L. Scott Award during last night's Legends Ball held at Cipriani in New York City. Looking dapper in his all-black suit, the legendary Agassi was presented the award for embodying Scott’s commitment to communicating honestly and critically about the game, and significantly impacting the tennis world. Scott founded Tennis Week magazine and wrote the most widely read and well-respected column about the sport, “Vantage Point.” Last year, John McEnroe received the inaugural award.

Other tennis luminaries in attendance: Stan Smith and Guillermo Vilas

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Pam Shriver, and Jim Courier

(images via Getty Images and Cipriani.com)