Tennis Betting

Apparently even before it was announced that she would be gracing the cover of the 2010 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, most internet types knew who Brooklyn Decker was, and that she’s married to tennis player Andy Roddick.

Me, I first heard her name over the weekend and just learned she’s married to Roddick and I find it enthralling and fascinating.

Here’s what I’ve found: Roddick is 27 and Decker is 22.  They met when Roddick saw her in the 2007 swimsuit issue and had his agent contact her.  That’s really romantic.  Well, actually it’s kind of weird, but as long as they’re happy.

Roddick has won only one Grand Slam title, the 2003 U.S. Open.  He’s also lost in four other Grand Slam finals to some guy named Federer.  Federer is married to a former women’s player who is not Stefi Graf.

Serena Williams received 66 of 158 editor votes this Tuesday, becoming the Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year. Though 66 tallies may not seem like a lot, it was actually a landslide since no other candidate got more than 18 votes.

Re-establishing herself as one of the best female tennis players in the world, Williams played hard through 2009 and was just as emotionally-invested as she was physically. For example, a tirade aimed at a line judge after a foot-fault call at the tail end of her U.S. Open semifinal loss in September cost her $82,500. Luckily, that episode takes nothing away from her talent and if anything, shows how passionate she is about the game.

“I’m just happy and blessed to even be playing seven years later. All this is a bonus, really,” she said. “In 2002, I just was really dominant, and I think in 2009, I just brought that back. I kind of became that player again.”

Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 on Monday for her U.S. Open outburst, and could be facing a suspension from the tournament if she flips out at any Grand Slam in the next two years.

So what did she do? The 11-time Grand Slam singles champ went nuts on a lineswoman after a foot-fault call (a call rarely made at the end of such an important match) during her semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open in September. The call resulted in a double-fault for Williams, moving Clijsters one point from victory. Serena stopped, grabbed a ball to serve again and then paused. She moved toward the official and started hollering, cussing and shaking the ball at her. She was penalized a point on the spot – during match point –  to end the semifinal with Clijsters ahead 6-4, 7-5.