The best of the best come to play every year at the prestigious US Open in Flushing, NY. Also attracted to the event are a host of elite celebrities. From rock stars to actors, they all joined in on the cheering and nail-biting. Come take my quiz to see if you can guess who showed up to root on their favorite tennis pros.
To celebrate the ongoing US Open, I'm rounding up the first round thing to come to mind . . . tennis balls, obviously.
While I already shared a pricey bed, most of you opted to pass for that tennis creation but still want to let pets have a ball! North loves the extra small Air Kong versions 'cause they're super squeaky and fit him perfectly. (He usually tears all the fabric off a normal doggy tennis ball to use the frays to fetch 'em since they don't fit in his mouth.) Since he's pretty darn destructive, I'm shocked how long it takes him to kill the squeakers in this version — they sometimes last a couple of months, which is an eternity in his chompers.
I've gathered up some extraordinary tennis balls for doggies and kitties so check 'em out in the widget below.
Gwen Stefan and Gavin Rossdale were front and center in Queens, NY last night cheering on Roger Federer as he defeated Austria’s Jurgen Melzer advancing to the quarterfinals of the US Open. Gavin spent the afternoon in Manhattan with Roger before his match then caught up with Gwen and the boys for an afternoon of face painting and family time in the Big Apple. Gwen's relaxing and enjoying time with her family before she switches into full on fashion mode. On Friday she's debuting her new scent, Wicked Style, at Fashion's Night Out. Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz enjoyed date night at yesterday's big game and it turns out she'll also be involved with NYC Spring Fashion Week supporting her sister and she'll even be modeling some of the items from the Jessica Simpson Collection later today.
Alex Rodriguez watched the match from the front row while his girlfriend Cameron Diaz kept her distance. The two were spotted out celebrating her 38th birthday earlier in the week but aren't yet ready to go fully public with their relationship. A-Rod isn't the only Yankees tennis fan, as his teammate Derek Jeter took in the action on Saturday with his lady Minka Kelly.
To see more photos of Gwen, Gavin, Ashlee, Cameron, and more, just read more
If you're looking for inspiration to get your buns in gear, look no further than the women serving away at the US Open. Read my candid interviews with the amazingly athletic Venus Williams and you will see, the tennis pros know how to bring their A-game to the center court with style, grace, and a few She-Ra roars that would make even the Hulk blush. Check out some of my favorite, "I am woman, hear me roar" moments from this weekend's US Open coverage.
Andy Roddick had the support of lots of celebrity fans despite being knocked out of the US Open in the second round during an upset loss to Janko Tipsarevic yesterday. Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens was shocked to watch Andy's defeat, but he still got to go home with his gorgeous wife and bikini bracket runner-up, Brooklyn Decker, who chatted with John Legend before the match. Kanye West shared a laugh and a few drinks with Selita Ebanks, while right behind them Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr cuddled close. The on-again, off-again Gossip Girl couple are apparently still back together, stealing kisses between shots. Legend also shared romantic PDA with his lady love when he wasn't chatting it up with Usher. The tennis tournament is usually a star-studded affair, so we expect to see more famous faces in the stands as a very stylish crowd flocks to the city for NYFW.
To see more of the stars at the US Open, just read more
Venus Williams easily defeated her first opponent of this year's US Open. Having been sidelined over the last couple of months, many fans were checking out both her form and her face — for indications of pain. The New York Times reported that she winced at least once but only needed an hour and 14 minutes to defeat Roberta Vinci of Italy, 6-4, 6-1.
Last week the third seeded player of the grand slam event took time out of her busy schedule to chat with me about her love of the game.
FitSugar: Do you do different kinds of prep when gearing up for different surfaces: grass vs. clay/hard court?
Venus Williams: On grass I am looking for shorter points. On clay you have to get into the mentality of playing longer points, so you really have to be fit and have your legs strong. Really be ready to go the distance cardiovascularly. You have to push yourself even more for a clay court match.
FS: Do you prefer one surface more than the other?
VS: I love playing on all of them. I am an aggressive player and I do enjoy a quicker, more aggressive point. To be honest, I just like to play tennis.
To learn how Venus's relationship to the game has changed over the past 15 years, just read more
The first fuzzy tennis ball of the 2010 US Open will be tossed and served in New York tomorrow. But as the pros prepare to rally for that sexy singles trophy, let's test your knowledge of winners past. Find out how much you know about the US Open singles champs with my quiz.
Having just turned 30, Venus Williams has been playing tennis professionally for half of her life. She is one busy athlete: gearing up for the US Open, teaching tennis clinics, selling her EleVen designs on Gilt, and promoting her new book Come to Win. Yet when I spoke with Venus recently, she seemed more like her sister's namesake, serene. Easy to laugh while maintaining a thoughtful focus, Venus and I chatted about fitness, fashion, and football.
FitSugar: Describe a typical day of training for you.
Venus Williams: I get up in the morning and I go to the court for about two hours or three hours and then I go to the gym for another two hours or three hours. A lot of time I will stretch and do rehab for an hour. It’s kind of a nine to five thing with a full day of working out. I do anything like ride the bike, the elliptical, swimming, or sprinting things like that. And I do arms, legs, and core.
FS: So what’s your fave core exercise?
VW: (chuckles) I don’t know if I have a favorite core exercise.
FS: Well then is there an exercise you love to hate.
VW: I don’t like prone holds. Do you know what that is . . . it's an elbow plank. I don’t like planks. I don’t like slow and tedious exercise. Ones that you have to do on both sides. Those really get me down.
FS: How do you feel about running?
VW: Running is OK. I like swimming a lot. Swimming is my favorite cardiovascular activity. Lately I have been swimming in the ocean too. The water has been real calm in Florida this Summer and it’s real flat. I call it lake Atlantic . . . get in and go for a swim.
Learn how Venus feels about food when you read more
Aside from being ranked number four in the world of women's tennis, designing her own fabulous tennis dresses, and collaborating on some recent designs with Ralph Lauren, Venus Williams wants to help us all improve our game. The busy tennis star took some time out of her schedule and sat down with me recently to discuss a wide range of topics from fitness to fashion, from keeping her courtly design clean with Tide plus Febreze Freshness Sport, to her upcoming tennis clinic.
Tomorrow, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. EST, Venus will be offering tennis tips, complete with demonstrations, as part of the Legends Clinic II. Because we live in a high-tech world, the event will be streaming live on the Ralph Lauren website. The longtime pro will be covering tips for players of all levels. She explained the outline of the event like this: "For beginners you really talk about the basics. Preparation and the correct grip. Intermediate how to control ball. How to put the ball where you want to make the point. Advanced level talk more about strategy. How to play that game and make the plays. Lots of different people to reach and lots of different things to cover." I know my backhand grip has become a bit rusty, so I will definitely be tuning in.
Stay tuned for more of my interview with Venus and learn her fashion inspirations and her go-to cardio.
This weekend, we heard the shocking news that Serena Williams will not play in this year's US Open as she recovers from surgery on her foot. The star, who won her 13th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, injured her appendage on broken glass at a restaurant.
Interestingly, Serena was fined at last year's US Open for unsportsmanlike conduct, and she could have been banned from playing this year if she had incurred another "major offense" in a Grand Slam tourney. Though she is eligible to play, Serena says her doctor is advising her to sit this one out. We'll miss seeing all the Williams sisters' wild tennis outfits, but sister Venus will be there to represent the superstar siblings.
The qualifying matches start tomorrow, and the real US Open action begins next Monday. I've got some suggestions to get you warmed up, so read more
