Celebration for Chinas tennis victory

Celebration for China’s tennis victory

 

China’s Li Na and Zheng Jie pose for photos with China Tennis Assoction (CTA) chief Sun Jinfang during an event to celebrate the pair’s success in reaching the Australian Open tennis women’s singles semi-finals, in Beijing February 3, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Barbie unveils Kim Clijsters lookalike at toy fair

Barbie unveils Kim Clijsters’ lookalike at toy fair

Kim Clijsters’ lookalike sports the same tennis kit, golden hair and blue racquet as the U.S. Open champion but her backhand is somewhat stiffer.

Kim Clijsters of Belgium pauses during a press conference after she lost to Nadia Petrova of Russia in a Women’s singles third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday Jan. 22, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]
That’s because she is a doll — the first Barbie to commemorate a female athlete, unveiled at the world’s largest toy fair in the German city of Nuremberg on Wednesday.
Clijsters, 26, was hailed as the poster girl for working mums around the world last year when she became the first mother to win a grand slam singles title since Evonne Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon in 1980.
 
Mattel , the world’s No. 1 toymaker, said it also unveiled a doll of Clijsters’ daughter Jada, sporting the same outfit she wore for the U.S. Open finals.
“I am…deeply honoured and humbled as I today join the ranks of iconic women who represent Barbie’s aspirational value,” the Belgian former world number one said in a statement.
“My family means everything to me, so I was really excited when I found out that Jada would also received her very own Jada Barbie doll.”
Mattel, which last year celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Barbie doll with a string of glamorous parties, also unveiled dolls representing the heiress to Sweden’s throne, Crown Princess Victoria, and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

Murray ready to play mixed doubles event at London Olympics

Murray ready to play mixed doubles event at London Olympics

Andy Murray revealed he would like the chance to play mixed doubles with Laura Robson at the 2012 Olympics in London after playing alongside the talented teenager at the Hopman Cup in Perth.

Andy Murray of Britain poses for a photograph with the Union Jack after a practice session in Melbourne January 30, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters, File Photo)
Murray admitted his ambition after he teamed up with the 15-year-old to help Great Britain claim a closely-fought 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan in their opening tie at the mixed teams event.
The pair had never played, or even trained, alongside each other until they stepped on court at the Burswood Dome to play their mixed doubles rubber with the tie level at a match apiece.
Despite that their partnership brought immediate rewards as they edged a tense battle against Andrey Golubev and Yaroslava Svedona 6-2 5-7 (12-10) in a third-set tiebreaker.

Serena stays No. 1, Li into top 10

Serena stays No. 1, Li into top 10

Australian Open champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams will maintain their No. 1 spots when new ATP and WTA rankings are released today.
Federer, who beat Britain’s Andy Murray in the Australian Open men’s final in straight sets yesterday, will begin his 268th week as No. 1 and match Jimmy Connors, currently in third place, for total number of weeks as world No. 1.
Pete Sampras leads the career list with 286 weeks at No. 1, followed by Ivan Lendl with 270.
ATP projections have Novak Djokovic taking over No. 2, Murray third and injured Rafael Nadal dropping to No. 4. It marks the first time that Nadal will drop out of the world’s top three since his debut there in June 2005.
Nadal has been cleared of a recurrence of the knee tendinitis that sidelined him for nine weeks last year. A small muscle tear sustained at the Australian Open, where he lost in the quarterfinals to Murray, will keep him out for the next month.
There will be movement on the women’s side, with Li Na becoming the first Chinese player ever to enter the top 10 when she reaches a career-high No. 10 following her semifinal run in Melbourne.
Li said after her quarterfinal win over Venus Williams that her goal was the top 10, but she may have to revise her expectations higher. “So exciting, maybe I will have a beer tonight,” said Li, who lost in the semifinals to Serena Williams. “My goal this year was top 10, but it’s only January, and it’s come quickly.”
Justine Henin, who was unranked and playing on a wildcard entry at her first major in two years, still needs to play another tournament before she gets an official ranking.
Serena Williams, who beat Henin in Saturday’s Australian Open final, has extended her current stretch at No. 1 to 15 weeks. Projections provided by the WTA show she will begin her 88th career week as the top-ranked player.
Dinara Safina is projected to be No. 2, followed by US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki at a career-high No. 3, French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova at No. 4 and Venus Williams at No. 5. Projections also show Victoria Azarenka, who lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals, to be No. 6, followed by Elena Dementieva at 7. It’s the first time that Olympic gold medalist Dementieva has dropped out of the top 5 since September 2008.
Jelena Jankovic is projected to be No. 8 and Aznieszka Radwanska 9.

Williams beats Henin to win Australian Open

Williams beats Henin to win Australian Open

 

Serena Williams of the US poses with the champion’s trophy after defeating Belgium’s Justine Henin in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 30, 2010. [Agencies]
World No. 1 Serena Williams won her fifth Australian Open singles title after beating Belgian Justine Henin in the final on Saturday.
The American clinched it on her second match point to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 and claim her 12th grand slam singles trophy.

Federers Haiti charity match raises $600,000

Federer’s Haiti charity match raises $600,000

More than just a champion, Roger Federer was recognized Sunday as a humanitarian.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer reacts during a news conference after winning his men’s singles final match against Andy Murray of Britain at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 31, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]
A charity match initiated by Federer to raise money for Haiti earthquake victims has raised more than $600,000, said Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard.
The January 12 earthquake that has killed at least 150,000 in Haiti struck three days before the start of the Australian Open.
Federer organized a mixed-doubles fundraiser on the eve of the Open that featured some of tennis’ top stars, wearing microphones on court and providing comedic commentary as they played.
Among them were Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt.
The match at the Rod Laver Arena raised about $125,000, with seats priced to sell at just under $10.
Donations poured in after that: the ATP Tour, the WTA Tour and the International Tennis Federation contributed a combined $265,000; the Grand Slam Committee gave $177,000, Pollard told the crowd on center court after Federer won his 16th Grand Slam final.
Federer beat Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11), to win his 16th Grand Slam title and his fourth Australian Open.
Players have also donated rackets that are being auctioned on eBay and have raised almost $40,000.
“Haiti is a tragedy that has touched the hearts of the world,” Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood said in the statement. “The tennis community just wanted to help.”
TOO MUCH INFORMATION: Andy Murray was asked why he kept touching his left hip during the championship match.
“It’s not really a problem. It’s not really my left hip. It’s quite hard to explain,” said Murray, who then went on to explain.
“I wear cycling shorts, and sometimes they’re quite tight. So you need to _ you know, Roddick does it a lot, it’s kind of what Rafa does on his other side,” he said.
Andy Roddick is known to tug at the front of his shorts and Rafael Nadal regularly pulls at the back of his shorts.
“I don’t really know what I’m trying to say, but basically my hip is fine,” Murray said, smiling. “It was just the cycling shorts were tight.”
NOW FOR THE NUMBERS: A record number of fans attended the Australian Open this year, where players ordered more than 2,000 pasta dishes and vendors sold 110,000 ice creams every day.
The two-week figure for crowd attendance was 653,860, up by nearly 50,000 from the previous record, organizers said in a statement.
China’s Li Na and Zheng Jie created history when they became the first two Chinese players to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, drawing a record number of Chinese journalists _ who were among the 1,500 media covering the event, the statement said.
British media also attended in record numbers to cover Andy Murray’s attempt to end a 74-year Grand Slam drought for British men.
The fastest serves of the tournament were recorded by Americans Taylor Dent (144 mph, or 231 kph) and Venus Williams (125 mph, or 201 kph).
A team of racket stringers strung 3,297 rackets, using close to 24 miles (40 kilometers) of string.
The Australian Open Facebook page drew 56,696 fans and nearly 10,000 followers on Twitter.

Federer sends out Murray warning

Federer sends out Murray warning

Roger Federer downplayed his destruction of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to reach the Australian Open final as “not exceptional”, then cheekily reminded Andy Murray of the weight of British expectation ahead of their title bout.
“I’m happy. I played solid. I didn’t play exceptional. I did enough and I’m through. It’s nice,” the world No. 1 said after obliterating the Frenchman 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in just 88 minutes. “No wasted energy that’s for sure … I’m very surprised at how the match went. I expected differently.
“Perhaps today was one of those days when he needed that first set. When I got it maybe his head went down.”
The 15-time grand slam champion’s masterclass to dispatch 10th-ranked Tsonga carried Federer into his 22nd major final and his eighth in a row. It was also the perfect reply to Murray’s dazzling semifinal win over Croatian Marin Cilic, which has raised Britain’s hopes of ending a 74-year wait for a men’s grand slam champion.
Federer, who shed bitter tears after his loss to arch-rival Rafa Nadal in last year’s final, was all smiles when asked to look ahead to Sunday’s showdown against the 22-year-old Scot.
“I know he’d like to win the first for British tennis in … what is it? Like 150,000 years?” he joked. “The poor guy has to go through those moments over and over again. He’s done tremendously. We match up well. I’m looking forward to the final.”
Federer has already won the Australian Open three times, while Murray has one grand slam final appearance to his name — a straight-sets humbling to the Swiss maestro at Flushing Meadows in 2008.
Murray will need little reminding of the disparity, but Federer was happy to oblige.
“Look, he’s in his second grand slam final now,” he said. “I think the first one’s always a bit tougher than the second. But now that he didn’t win the first one, I think doesn’t help for the second one around.
“Plus he’s playing me, who’s won many grand slams prior to that, been able to win here three times so I know what it takes and how to do it, which is definitely an advantage.
“I don’t feel like the pressure’s really on me having to do it again, because I did it before. I think he really needs it more than I do, you know.”
Federer did pause briefly, however, when reminded of his 4-6 win-loss record against Murray.
“First of all, he’s a good player,” said the 28-year-old, who has won the last two outings against the Scot. “But, no, without taking anything away from him, I think a few times he played me I wasn’t at my very, very best.”
Earlier, Serena and Venus Williams won their fourth Australian Open doubles title, beating Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-4, 6-3.
The sisters won the Australian title for the first time in 2001 and added championships in 2003 and last year. Serena has 11 singles majors and is hoping for a 12th today against Justine Henin.

The emotion dispute boy jumps into the river

Last evening 5:40, in the Benxi road Jiangpu street intersection, a 18-year-old boy jumped into the river, when to today deadline for acceptance of drafts had not been salvaged to come ashore.

The eyewitness said that at that time this boy and a girl spoke on the Benxi highway bridge, the words were intense. The girl turns around to get out of the way, the boy crawls to the bridge approach parapet on. The girl hurries to beckon with the hand to urge the boy do not make the piffle, the boy actually shouts wildly one, jumps to plunge into the river. The girl frightens to shout “saving a life”, after the passer-by rushes, discovered that the rivers are very anxious did not see the boy trace.

Boy’s mother receives the notice to rush to bridge, looks at 56 meters wide rivers to wail to cry. It is known that the boy was reading high two, estimated that jumped into the river concerns with the emotion dispute.

Authors: The slaughter Shi ultra king is diligent and thrifty

(Origin: Xinmin Evening News)

(This article originates: Xinmin Evening News)

Shanghai many places supposes calorie Zha Fanhu passenger train eight provinces and cities to guarantee jointly the spring festival transportation receives the official safely

The Year of the Tiger spring festival transportation welcomes after the holiday last wave return trip passenger flow. Shanghai and other provinces and cities transportation law-enforcing departments launch the fourth pan-long wedge-shaped land district highway spring festival transportation major inspection today jointly. Last night this morning, the Shanghai aspect in various roads road junction, the interprovincial key communication line and important street intersection strictly observes the checkpoint, stopped the coach bus to draw in customers and to fling the guest illegally and does not have the card and overload transport business and so on serious disruption spring festival transportation security, to violate the passenger benefit the behavior.

The vehicle does not enter the station twice flings the guest

In Cao Ann road’s Anting road junction, a vehicle number the Shanghai Soviet intersection point’s remote path stops for Henan Q50770 bus on, the driver wants on the vehicle the passenger to get out, passenger is very discontented. After Anting Police answer alarm, under orders the passenger train driver to arrive the guest according to the stipulation; Unexpectedly the driver complies in public but opposes in private, to go two degrees flings the guest to Jiading Huangdu Town, insisted that wants the passenger to get out, to guard receives a telegram after the Jiading District G2 high-speed road junction’s transportation law enforcement unit tenth crew, immediately rushes to the Huangdu scene. After looking up, this is one after approving transport business procedure, started work arbitrarily the Anhui bus. After the drivers from Henan Zhumadian pull a vehicle labor has ridden the passenger transportation to Shanghai, fears is investigated, does not dare to press again left for the Pudong passenger depot to passenger’s commitment. The transportation law enforcement officials seize and hold in custody this vehicle immediately legally, the arrangement passenger train delivers separate to the passenger destination.

Last night, a vehicle number for Shanghai B79373 traveling passenger train, the non-class line transport business intelligence, in Jiangsu some through the ox group guest, pulled Man Che the labor passenger to enter Shanghai, is ferreted out in the fine loose north road by the transportation law enforcement officials. From the Anhui Susong’s 51 buses, carries 69 people unexpectedly, is investigated by the transportation law enforcement with the Jiading public security personnels.

Stringent law enforcement warm service

From 11:00 pm last night to this morning 9:00, this city transportation law enforcement agency altogether set out 370 transportation law enforcement officials, distributed more than 40 important passes, altogether inspection transport business vehicles 1210, and unified to enforce the law with other 7 province transportation law-enforcing departments, strengthens the communication, to echo mutually, and helped people overcome their difficulties for the return trip labor passenger with every effort. 7:00 am, 3 outside areas girls in returning to Shanghai, are not on the way ripe because of the geographical position, with the relative who coming to attach does not relate, saw the done an inspection law enforcement vehicle, the loud call seeks help, had found the relative under the law enforcement officials help.

Authors: Zhang Xinping Wu Runyuan

(Origin: Xinmin Evening News)

(This article originates: Xinmin Evening News)

Shanghai Travel agency issues spring the tour information

World abundant travel and Bund new scenery and low-carbon travel, is the city travel agency issued yesterday 2010 “four seasons Shanghai” spring travel consumption information three big key words, will take the world abundant concept spring to travel the thrust new landscape as core Shanghai and new line.

This year is the world abundant traveling year, the spring travel consumption information which the city travel agency issued yesterday demonstrated that this spring most what is worth paying attention to and anticipation is takes “Bund” as core world Bo Xinjing the group, after transformation Bund is Shanghai metropolis traveling new and old Shanghai unfolds strongly and most classical region.

Authors: Shen Min Lan

(Origin: Xinmin Evening News)

(This article originates: Xinmin Evening News)