One Day at the Bank of the West Classic

After 9 days of scorching hot temperatues at the men's  Atlanta Tennis Championships, it was off to one day at the Bank of the West Classic for some women's tennis action.  Let's just say the temps were more bearable.

Highs of 80 and lows in the 50's call for you to bring a jacket or sweatshirt for the night matches. 

Pictures from a full day of tennis.

Serena WilliamsChristina McHale dives for a ballMarion BartoliRebecca MarinoAgnieszka RadwanskaMaria Sharapova warms upThe Stanford Tennis Center

Photos From Thursday's Action at the USTA Atlanta Pro Circuit Event

Play began promptly at 9am with four round of 16 matches on the tennis courts of The Falls at Autrey Mill.

The Norman Wilkerson Memorial Tournament is a 10K USTA Women's Pro Circuit Event held each year in the Atlanta area.  It features women's players ranked #400-1000 in the world, top college players and juniors that are testing the professional waters.

Results to come, here are images from today.

Top junior Hannah King who is from the Atlanta area

Hannah KingHannah KingAngelina GabuevaFederica GraziosoFormer NCAA champ from Georgia Tech, Amanda McDowell

Top junior Taylor Townsend of Georgia

Taylor TownsendUniversity of Florida player Lauren Embree

Lauren EmbreeMai Minokoshi of Japan

Mai MinokoshiPlay continues through Sunday.

Opening Round Images from USTA Atlanta Women's Pro Circuit

Tuesday saw the opening round start at the Norman Wilkerson Memorial USTA Pro Circuit Event outside of Atlanta.  The temps started out hot early in the day and then cloud cover took hold, but humidity was still around 100%.

Players were commenting that this is most brutal weather they had ever played in.

Lauen Embree in actionNew Zealand's Diane HollandsBrook Bolender and Denise Muresan as a doubles teamUniversity of Florida player Alexandra CerconeAnnie MulhollandTop seed, Lauren DavisLauren Davis working on her serveThe tennis playing Ellison Sisters

For my interview with the Ellison Sisters check out The Daily Forehand 

http://www.thedailyforehand.com/2011/7/12/2272801/the-ellison-sisters-are-the-real-tennis-players-of-orange-county

The hot and humid temperatures are supposed to stick around all week.

Photos from USTA Women's Circuit Event in Atlanta

The heat is on in Atlanta and on the tennis courts of the Norman Wilkerson Memorial Tournament women's event held all this week outside of Atlanta at The Falls of Autrey Mill.

A lot of young players on hand and the action will be intense.

Here's a sample:

Caroline Price, the daughter of former NBA All-Star sharp-shooter Mark Price.

Caroline Price is heading to UNC this fallJunior player Peyton GollhoferMichaela KissellOne of the Ellison Sisters, Roxanne, who plays for San Diego St.Joanna MatherCC Sardinha of Oklahoma St.Skylar Kuykendall won a 3 hour + marathon todayPlay will continue all week with American player Lauren Davis as the top seed.

Iveta Benesova's Low Cut Top Rivals Kvitova's

Back at the Australian Open this year, ESPN had to adjust the angles of their camera when Petra Kvitova was serving and returning because her neckline was so low on her outfit.

This year, NBC stopped showing Iveta Benesova returning serve in the mixed doubles final.  When she assumed the ready position she was about to come out of her top.

We'll see what outfits and wardrobe malfunctions come to New York for the U.S. Open in August.

Click here for the pictures and story on Kvitova's outfit at the Aussie Open:  http://ricklimpert.squarespace.com/journal/2011/1/28/espn-relieved-petra-kvitova-not-in-aussie-finals.html