Sharapova's dress for first Grand Slam of 2009 unveiled

Maria Sharapova is expected to defend her Australian Open title in the Nike dress shown in the first picture. The asymmetrical white outfit is what the Russian is supposed to wear after the 2009 Australian Open.

Ivanovic purchases 4.5 million euro villa in Mallorca, Spain

Ana Ivanovic has officially purchased a 4.5 million euro villa in Mallorca, Spain. It contains 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.

Ivanovic, as the winner of the French Open and chosen the most beautiful sportsman of the year, obviously can afford such a property, which covers 5900 square meters.

The property includes a project to a spa and a house east of additional guests, who can add other 750 m2 to the surface and habitable. The villa has two levels: the ground floor consists of a room of about 130 m2, open kitchen with breakfast area, master bedroom with dressing room and bathroom. On the first floor are 4 bedrooms with terrace and three bathrooms, two of which are en suite. It also includes a separate staff apartment with bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen. Ever since last summer Ana Ivanovic was a few weeks on holiday in Majorca, the Serbian tennis player fell in love with the island and searched a house to buy. During that first visit, Ivanovic made a choice to purchase a villa, also in Son Vida, through the real estate Kühn & Partner, but negotiations not fruitful. On this occasion, the tennis player has done the operation with another real estate agent.

Sharapova is ready for 2009, agent says

Maria Sharapova has had a hard time with injuries in 2008, but her agent, Max Eisenbud, says that everything is going well and on track, as Sharapova will start the season off with an exibition tournament.

“She’s doing good,” Eisenbud said in a telephone interview. “Everything’s on track.”

Sharapova has not played on the tour since pulling out of Montreal in late July after winning a match which lasted nearly three hours and in which Sharapova made 17 double faults.

Medical tests later found that the Russian had a torn rotator cuff tendon.

The injury forced Sharapova to miss the Beijing Olympics and the US Open, breaking her streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam appearences since Australian Open 2003.

The injury also meant that the 21-year-old would slide in rankings, as she finished the year at No. 9.

How the stars shined in the rankings in 2008

Players showed the most of 2008, flying from being Top 40 and 30 to become Top 20 and even 10. These are just part of a list of the ones who did it.

Dinara Safina: from No. 15 to No. 3

Before 2008, the Russian had three Top 20 year finishes under her belt, and she was destined for even more, as she began her breakthrough after beating Justine Henin in Berlin and winning her first Tier I tournament there. Everyone was also surprised to see her competing in the final of the French Open with eventual champion Ana Ivanovic. Her fire didn't burn out on that spot, as she went on to win two Olympus US Open Series tournaments, which gave a a special bonus prize money reward. The 22-year-old also achieved a Silver Medal at the Olympics in Bejing, and although she failed to win a single round robin match in the year ending Championships in Doha, she still is and will be a great player in the name of history.

Elena Dementieva: from No. 11 to No. 4

Dementieva has had a great 2008 season, and having achieved a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics and being included in the Top 20 at the end of the year ever since, she didn't fail to do the same this year, making an even better result at the Olympics, and finishing in the Top 10. Some people say that her best year was in 2004, when she reached both the French Open and the US Open finals and finished the year at No. 6, but some say that her best days are over. Although this year, she proved people wrong, as she won the Olympics and at Luxembourg later in the year, and also got to her first ever Sony Ericsson Championships semifinal ever. For the first time in her career, the Russian said she feels sorry that the seaon is over.

Vera Zvonareva: from No. 23 to No. 7

Zvonareva's first entry into the Top 10 came in 2004, when she won her first ever career title and reached the round of 16 in three of four Grand Slams. Even though an injury kept the Russian away from the tour in 2005 and landed her on the No. 42 spot at the end of the year, Vera still didn't give up to reach the Top 20 and even 10, as she was picking up her form and confidence in the past two years to be where she is now. Her signs of revival came in Autumn of 2007 and at the start of 2008, when she reached the final of Hobart, which was her highest result in that tournament. Though she was forced to retire due to a ankle injury sustained when practicing, tournament wins were still to come at Prague and Guangzhou, where she was top seed in both tournaments. A Bronze Medal awaited the 24-year-old at the Olympics, and she also reached big finals in Doha, Charleston, Moscow and Linz. If she can keeps up her confidence and form in the approaching time, her future will certainly be bright.