Tennis News

Billie Jean King was an honored guest at the National Football League’s Women’s Summit ahead of Super Bowl 50.

The Summit, entitled, “In the Huddle to Advance Women in Sport” comes just one day after King’s own initative through her Women’s Sports Foundation, the National Girls and Women in Sports Day; both aim to recognize and encourage young women to succeed in sports and all aspects of life.

King was joined by former Secretary of State and keynote speaker Condoleezza Rice, former LPGA superstar Annika Sorenstam, and All-American softballer Jessica Mendoza.

Learn more about the Summit here, and check out some of the best tweets from the event:

Breakfast at @NFL #inthehuddle @BillieJeanKing pic.twitter.com/SkYiHGx1co

— Annika Sorenstam (@ANNIKA59) February 4, 2016

“Dream your dream and go for it.” -@BillieJeanKing #InTheHuddle pic.twitter.com/jCAeEGGSKa

— Super Bowl (@SuperBowl) February 4, 2016

Honored to meet #nfl pioneer @jwelter47 and thrilled to learn she played tennis as a child. #inthehuddle pic.twitter.com/0IUhU9Zb7u

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) February 4, 2016

.@BillieJeanKing calls for same investment, effort, and enthusiasm to encourage girl participation in sports #InTheHuddle @NFL

— MAKERS (@MAKERSwomen) February 4, 2016

#inthehuddle with @nflcommish and Sarah Thomas at NFL Women's Summit pic.twitter.com/4vEJkM2MXr

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) February 4, 2016

Goodell said he's trying to get his daughters interested in flag football but they want to play tennis. Billie Jean King is in the audience.

— Jane McManus (@janesports) February 4, 2016

Rice pauses to tell Billie Jean King that she is one of her heroes. Room applauds. BJK is a hero for a lot of women in the room.

— Jane McManus (@janesports) February 4, 2016

CINCINNATI, OH, USA – The quicker conditions at the Western & Southern Open tripped up a few of the returning Olympians arriving from Rio de Janeiro, but women’s doubles Bronze medalist Barbora Strycova had no such problems, overcoming a maddening number of rain delays – and a most dangerous qualifier in former World No.5 Eugenie Bouchard – to advance into the second round in straight sets.

Karolina Pliskova missed the Olympic tennis event, opting to spend the time gearing up for the final stretch of the season, one that had been particularly successful for her in 2015 when she won the Emirates Airlines US Open Series.

WTA Insider caught up with both Czech starlets in the second Daily Dispatch from Cincinnati:

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CHARLESTON, SC, USA – Petra Kvitova will take to the green clay of Charleston for the first time as the Volvo Car Open announced that she’s adding the tournament to her 2017 schedule.

“I’m very excited to play in the Volvo Car Open for the first time,” Kvitova said. “I’ve heard what a wonderful city Charleston is and the Volvo Car Open is a great tournament, so of course I’m looking forward to April.”

Can't wait to finally play at this great tournament! https://t.co/mwUJgzfee7

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) 13 de diciembre de 2016

“We have been pursuing Petra to enter Charleston for more than four years,” said Eleanor Adams, Tournament Manager. “To say we are excited is an understatement! Petra’s left-handed game and serve are perfectly suited for our courts. The fans will be amazed by her talent, fierceness and gracious personality – we can hardly wait!”

The two-time Wimbledon champion will be in good company on the green clay, joining Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Madison Keys, Johanna Konta, Sloane Stephens, Monica Puig and Elena Vesnina at the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America.

Click here to visit the tournament’s official website for more information and tickets options.

21-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams has hardly taken a vacation after making a run to her seventh Australian Open final. Following a three-set defeat to Angelique Kerber, Williams joined Billie Jean King and Condoleezza Rice at last weekend’s NFL Women’s Summit.

Speaking with Robin Roberts, the American spoke of the pressure of being one of the top female athletes in the world, but ultimate how she hoped to use her influence to impact the greater good.

“I don’t play tennis for recognition; being recognized is not important,” she said. “What matters is how I can help people.”

True to her word, Williams is helping people in a big way this week, flying down to Jamaica to help build the Salt Marsh Primary School. With the aid of Helping Hands Jamaica and her own foundation, the World No.1got her hands dirty along with volunteers, proving that “with great power indeed comes great responsibility” – to borrow a Spiderman reference Williams herself used in her conversation with Roberts.

DOHA, Qatar – World No.6 and two-time Doha champion Maria Sharapova announced her withdrawal from the Qatar Total Open due to the left forearm injury she has struggled with since the beginning of the season,

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to play the Qatar Total Open because of my left forearm injury,” Sharapova said in a statement. “I would like to wish the tournament and all the great fans in Doha a great week of tennis and I hope to see them next year.”

The Russian was forced to pull out of the Brisbane International back in January due to this same injury, but appeared to rebound in Melbourne, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open before falling to World No.1, Serena Williams.

“I’m going to go and take care of my forearm first,” Sharapova said after the loss, aware of the importance this season – being an Olympic year – presents. “I think that’s really important. I think this will be a time to just get myself ready for a long year.

“I don’t see myself playing anything before Indian Wells.”