Wta Tour

Sony Ericsson is ending its sponsorship of the WTA tour at the end of the 2012 season. Sony Ericsson became the title sponsor of the women's tennis tour in 2005 tour under a six-year, $88 million deal. Although the contract was extended through the end of 2012, the mobile phone company's name was dropped from the tour's title in 2011. The WTA said in a statement Friday that "2012 will be the eighth and final year of the partnership. They have been a great partner and we will miss them.

Sony Ericsson is ending its sponsorship of the WTA tour at the end of the 2012 season. Sony Ericsson became the title sponsor of the women's tennis tour in 2005 tour under a six-year, $88 million deal. Although the contract was extended through the end of 2012, the mobile phone company's name was dropped from the tour's title in 2011. The WTA said in a statement Friday that "2012 will be the eighth and final year of the partnership. They have been a great partner and we will miss them.

Venus Williams will make her comeback in an exhibition match against her sister Serena in Colombia on Wednesday, two months after pulling out of the U.S. Open because of an immune system disease. Venus told Thursday's Gazzetta dello Sport that she has changed her diet to increase vegetables after being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, which can cause fatigue and joint pain. After playing Serena in Medellin next week, Venus will join her sister against Italians Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta in another exhibition match Dec. 3 in Milan.

Venus Williams will make her comeback in an exhibition match against her sister Serena in Colombia on Wednesday, two months after pulling out of the U.S. Open because of an immune system disease. Venus told Thursday's Gazzetta dello Sport that she has changed her diet to increase vegetables after being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, which can cause fatigue and joint pain. After playing Serena in Medellin next week, Venus will join her sister against Italians Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta in another exhibition match Dec. 3 in Milan.

LONDON -- British tennis writer John Parsons, who covered 44 Wimbledon tournaments, died of kidney failure Monday at Mercy Hospital in Miami, Fla. He was covering the Nasdaq-100 Open in Key Biscayne when he was hospitalized last month. He was 66. Mr. Parsons, who received a kidney transplant in 1982, was the tennis correspondent for The Daily Telegraph for 23 years. "In my time here as sports editor I have never known a correspondent more conscientious, nor more knowledgeable than John Parsons," said David Welch, sports editor of the Telegraph.

Li Na’s Chinese colleagues on the WTA tour say her French Open title will bring an influx of new players from the Asian country and could have a major impact on the sport. Former Wimbledon semifinalist Zheng Jie and Peng Shuai are the only other Chinese players to have been ranked in the women’s top 20. They were full of praise for Li at this week’s Aegon Classic grass-court tournament in Birmingham, England. Zheng said “Li Na’s win is huge, it will bring a big change.’’ Peng added that “I think tennis in China now will get more and more...

LOS ANGELES — Jeanne Austin, 84, the matriarch of a tennis playing family that produced four professional players, including two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin, died Tuesday of heart failure at Torrance Memorial Hospital following a long illness, daughter Pam Austin said yesterday. From 1962 to ’77, Jeanne Austin managed the pro shop at the Jack Kramer Club in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., where her five children learned to play tennis. Besides Tracy and Pam, sons Jeff and John played on the pro circuit, with all four playing at Wimbledon, while her other son,...

MELBOURNE - Justine Henin is making her Grand Slam comeback with a new perspective on life and tennis. The seven-time Grand Slam champion stunned the tennis world in May 2008 by announcing her retirement while ranked No. 1, saying she had lost her passion for the sport. Henin says her time off gave her an improved mind-set. Add that to her explosive speed and devastating backhand. “I don’t think things are going to be the same as before because I have learned a lot in the last 18 months,’’ Henin said yesterday in a press conference before the Australian Open, the...

LONDON - As more players speak out about match-fixing in tennis, the sport's leaders are intent on keeping the game clean. Top 20 player Andy Murray told the BBC yesterday it is easy to throw a match, and the ATP Tour immediately asked him to explain himself. "It's difficult to prove if someone has tanked a match or not tried because they can try their best until the last couple of games of each set and then make some mistakes, a couple of double faults, and that's it," Murray said.

MELBOURNE - Even Serena Williams likes the story of Justine Henin’s comeback. It’s an “amazing’’ tale, Williams said. Only two tournaments into her return from a 20-month retirement, Henin has made it all the way to the Australian Open final. Her only obstacle to a happy ending is Williams, who faces Henin tomorrow. “Justine hasn’t been gone that long, but it’s still a good story,’’ said Williams. The top-ranked Williams and former No. 1 Henin have played 13 times, including six Grand Slam showdowns that only went as far as the...

NHL The Kings placed All-Star defenseman Drew Doughty on the injured list yesterday because of an undisclosed upper body injury sustained Saturday in Philadelphia. Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo leveled Doughty with a shoulder-to-chest hit just 24 seconds into Los Angeles's 3-2 overtime win. After the game, the Kings said Doughty would be out at least a week. Doughty, a 2010 Norris Trophy finalist, signed an eight-year, $56 million contract last month, making him one of the NHL's highest-paid defensemen.

Li Na’s Chinese colleagues on the WTA tour say her French Open title will bring an influx of new players from the Asian country and could have a major impact on the sport. Former Wimbledon semifinalist Zheng Jie and Peng Shuai are the only other Chinese players to have been ranked in the women’s top 20. They were full of praise for Li at this week’s Aegon Classic grass-court tournament in Birmingham, England. Zheng said “Li Na’s win is huge, it will bring a big change.’’ Peng added that “I think tennis in China now will get more and more popular.’’ ...

LOS ANGELES — Jeanne Austin, 84, the matriarch of a tennis playing family that produced four professional players, including two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin, died Tuesday of heart failure at Torrance Memorial Hospital following a long illness, daughter Pam Austin said yesterday. From 1962 to ’77, Jeanne Austin managed the pro shop at the Jack Kramer Club in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., where her five children learned to play tennis. Besides Tracy and Pam, sons Jeff and John played on the pro circuit, with all four playing at Wimbledon, while her other son,...

MELBOURNE - Even Serena Williams likes the story of Justine Henin’s comeback. It’s an “amazing’’ tale, Williams said. Only two tournaments into her return from a 20-month retirement, Henin has made it all the way to the Australian Open final. Her only obstacle to a happy ending is Williams, who faces Henin tomorrow. “Justine hasn’t been gone that long, but it’s still a good story,’’ said Williams. The top-ranked Williams and former No. 1 Henin have played 13 times, including six Grand Slam showdowns that only went as far as the semifinals.

MELBOURNE - Justine Henin is making her Grand Slam comeback with a new perspective on life and tennis. The seven-time Grand Slam champion stunned the tennis world in May 2008 by announcing her retirement while ranked No. 1, saying she had lost her passion for the sport. Henin says her time off gave her an improved mind-set. Add that to her explosive speed and devastating backhand. “I don’t think things are going to be the same as before because I have learned a lot in the last 18 months,’’ Henin said yesterday in a press conference before the Australian Open, the...

LONDON - As more players speak out about match-fixing in tennis, the sport's leaders are intent on keeping the game clean. Top 20 player Andy Murray told the BBC yesterday it is easy to throw a match, and the ATP Tour immediately asked him to explain himself. "It's difficult to prove if someone has tanked a match or not tried because they can try their best until the last couple of games of each set and then make some mistakes, a couple of double faults, and that's it," Murray said.

NHL The Kings placed All-Star defenseman Drew Doughty on the injured list yesterday because of an undisclosed upper body injury sustained Saturday in Philadelphia. Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo leveled Doughty with a shoulder-to-chest hit just 24 seconds into Los Angeles's 3-2 overtime win. After the game, the Kings said Doughty would be out at least a week. Doughty, a 2010 Norris Trophy finalist, signed an eight-year, $56 million contract last month, making him one of the NHL's highest-paid defensemen.

Top-seeded Ksenia Pervak of Russia won her maiden WTA title on Saturday, beating Eva Birnerova 6-3, 6-1 in the final of the Tashkent Open. After Birnerova had rallied in the first set from 3-0 down to tie, Pervak responded by winning the next three games to take a 1-0 lead. She won four consecutive games in the second set, serving for the match at love and wrapping up the victory with an ace. The 52nd-ranked Pervak has not dropped a set on the way to her second final of the season.

LONDON -- British tennis writer John Parsons, who covered 44 Wimbledon tournaments, died of kidney failure Monday at Mercy Hospital in Miami, Fla. He was covering the Nasdaq-100 Open in Key Biscayne when he was hospitalized last month. He was 66. Mr. Parsons, who received a kidney transplant in 1982, was the tennis correspondent for The Daily Telegraph for 23 years. "In my time here as sports editor I have never known a correspondent more conscientious, nor more knowledgeable than John Parsons," said David Welch, sports editor of the Telegraph.