Future Tennis Stars

In an odd twist, Shahar Peer was accused of unsportsmanlike conduct in the Fed Cup tie between Israel and Russia.

In a story posted on ESPN.com, Peer is said to have encouraged the crowd to unsettle Maria Sharapova, Dinara Safina and Anna Chakvetadze in last weekend’s tie.

Alex Gilady, an IOC member, said the crowd, some of whom had mimicked Australian Open champion Sharapova’s grunting sounds as she hit the ball when she played Tzipi Obziler, had portrayed a “primitive” image of the country.

The Israel Tennis Association said in a statement that it did not accept Gilady’s criticism of Peer, although it asked spectators to behave in an acceptable manner.

I call this odd because it doesn’t seem like something Shahar Peer would do, but stranger things have happened.

Maria Kirilenko finall broke through at a Grand Slam with a 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-2 win over sixth seeded Anna Chakvetadze.

Man, if we were tired of Maria Kirilenko always losing in the first or second round of a Grand Slam, imagine how she felt.

“Usually I’m losing like every time in the first round in a Grand Slam” said Kirilenko after her 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-2 win over Anna Chakvetadze who trained at the same club in Moscow as Kirilenko when they were both juniors.

This has been a long time coming for Kirilenko who has had some success on the WTA Tour especially at the end of last year winning the title in India and losing a three set match to Venus Williams in Seoul.

Kirilenko will next face either Virginia Ruano Pascual or Daniela Hantuchova.

Anna Chakvetdze was tied up and robbed at her home outside of Moscow. The thieves broke in just before dawn on Tuesday and stole about $106,000 in money and $200,000 in jewelery and other items. The report says that Chakvetadze was tied up for around 30 minutes. The attackers gained access by attacking a maid in another building who handed over the remote to the garage through which they got into Anna’s house.

Read the article on ESPN’s website.

The good news for Ana Ivanovic? She did better today than the last time she faced Justine Henin in a 6-1, 6-2 loss in the French Open finals. The bad news? She still lost.

Justine Henin beat Ivanovic 6-4, 6-4 to move into Sunday’s final against Maria Sharapova. Sharapova routed Anna Chakvetadze 6-2, 6-2 in the first semifinal. Henin and Sharapova have not played since the semifinals of last year’s season ending Championships where Henin won 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

A win on Sunday would give Henin her 25th win in a row, matching a run made by Steffi Graf in 1989. Henin could also win her 10th title of the year. No player has won 10 or more titles in a year since Martina Hingis did it in 1997.

Once again, Justine Henin beat Jelena Jankovic and this time, it wasn’t close. Henin beat Jankovic 6-2, 6-2 and it puts Henin up 2-0 in round robin play and puts Jankovic in a hole 0-1. Jankovic should cheer up though as she will have to play Williams and Chakvetadze (who are playing now and Chakvetadze took the first set 6-4) and Jankovic is capable of beating both which is exactly what she will need to do. Another loss and Jankovic could be out.