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Sony Ericsson Interactive Tennis Experience

Join the ‘Girls on Tour’ with Sony Ericsson Interactive Tennis Experience.New online services connect fans with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

Sony Ericsson’s sponsorship of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is bringing tennis fans closer to the stars and action as today the company launches a series of innovative, tennis-related interactive services connected to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. At the heart of these services is a new website, Girls on Tour, offering unique content and experiences, including the chance to see behind-the-scenes shots and footage of the glamour and action of women’s tennis, and the first ever personally recorded ringtones from the game’s top players. Launched to coincide with the start of the Telecom Italia Masters in Rome, Girls on Tour will be closely followed by supporting mobile services, allowing fans to feel part of the action wherever they are.

“Our sponsorship of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour allows us to make the best use of mobile and online technology to open up a world of experience for tennis fans," says Dee Dutta, Head of Marketing for Sony Ericsson. “In fact, these new services give such direct access to the game and stars that it’s easy to imagine what life is like on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour."

“This is one of the exciting new ways that Sony Ericsson’s technology and vision are helping to connect fans with our internationally-recognized players,’’ says Sophie Goldschmidt, VP Marketing and Sponsorship for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. “The integration of technology, as well as fashion, music and design, into women’s tennis is a natural fit, and this is the first of many ways that the Tour and Sony Ericsson will enhance the entertainment value of women’s tennis for our fans.’’

Girls on Tour offers unique, fresh content that involves the biggest stars in women’s tennis and is focused on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour circuit. The site contains the following three key areas and will expand during the tennis season:

Behind the Scenes – If you’ve ever wondered what happens when the world’s best tennis players walk off court, take a browse through Player Diaries, a library full of shots and video clips that players have taken with their Sony Ericsson camera phones.

Passing Shots – Professional photographers are let loose off the courts with the latest Sony Ericsson cameras phones. The results are an inspiration to anyone who wants to take great shots around the tournaments.

Downloads – Star players have for the first time recorded personal messages to create irresistible ringtones. Fans can enjoy being alerted to incoming calls by Serena and Venus Williams, Amelie Mauresmo, Alicia Molik, Anastasia Myskina and more. Star players are also featured in screen savers and wallpapers in this unique area of the site.

Also featured are the latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour news, a Tennis Challenge where visitors can show off their knowledge of the game plus opportunities to win tickets to Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments in their area.

Girls on Tour is a global site with English language content as well as additional local content in 8 languages. It can be found on www.sonyericsson.com/tennis

sharapova in Desperate Housewives

Tennis star Maria Sharapova has reportedly been offered a role on Desperate Housewives.

She was overheard at her 18th birthday party saying she had been offered a guest role on the hit series, currently airing on RTE2 here in Ireland.

    The six-foot-tall blonde Russian star last year became the second-youngest Wimbledon champion ever after defeating Serena Williams in straight sets.

    Eighteen months ago she signed a contract with IMG Models and has appeared in fashion shoots for several leading fashion and celebrity magazines.

source: xinhuanet

SVETLANA WHO?

While Sharapova has become a worldwide superstar since her Wimbledon victory, fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova has not quite had the same impact.

According to the Times newspaper, the US Open champion was almost refused entry into the Rot-Weiss Club in Berlin, which hosts the German Open.

The security guard only agreed to let the 19-year-old in when she pointed at a promotional poster with her picture on it.

Sharapova endorsing the 'Lady Speed Stick' deodorant

The good news just keeps coming for Maria Sharapova, who celebrated her 18th birthday last month with a Motorola-sponsored party in New York.

According to ESPN, the Russian has signed a three-year endorsement deal with Colgate-Palmolive worth £1m a year.

Sharapova will reportedly begin by endorsing the 'Lady Speed Stick' deodorant.

The Wimbledon champion, who is close to becoming world number one, also has deals with Tag Heuer, Canon and Motorola among others.

She has also become the first tennis player since Anna Kournikova to be named in People magazine's 50 most beautiful people.

"I have always followed the voting. It's nice to be one of the most beautiful people," she said.

England footballer David Beckham is the only other sportsperson on the list.

Sharapova Named One of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People"

Maria Sharapova has been named one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in a special issue that hits newsstands on Friday. Sharapova joins English soccer star David Beckham as the only athletes named to this year's list.

The magazine, which features Julia Roberts on its cover, includes Sharapova along with Hollywood stars like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jamie Foxx and Hilary Swank.

Others named to the list include Misha Barton, Eva Longoria, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Usher, Seal, Heidi Klum, Penelope Cruz, Matthew McConaughey, Jude Law and Sienna Miller.

This year's list was put together based on results from an online poll that triggered more than 500,000 votes.

The current world No.2 isn't the first Russian tennis star to be featured in the popular issue of People. In 1998, Anna Kournikova was named one of the magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People".

maria celebrates her 18th birthday

She served up her birthday party invitations on three pink tennis balls. Russian-born Maria Sharapova, who took the Wimbledon title last year, has been celebrating her 18th birthday in style.

Although the big day isn't until April 19 - when she plans to have a small party for family and friends back home in Florida - the tennis ace enjoyed a first round of festivities at the weekend, taking over the ballroom at New York's Maritime Hotel for the occasion.

And the youngster, who is ranked third in the world, made good use of her visit to the Big Apple, enjoying a stroll round her favourite boutiques on the day before the party.

Perhaps she was still looking for something to wear: the new face of Motorola says she plans her on-court ensembles weeks in advance, but only decided on her Nicole Miller party dress on the night itself.

Sharapova's mission to get one up on Kournikova

MARIA SHARAPOVA turned 18 last week and although she probably came of age competitively while winning Wimbledon last year, she has a chance of creating a timely celebration in the next few days.

That's because Sharapova has not only followed fellow Russian Anna Kournikova as the world's most sought-after sportswoman, but she has surpassed her Florida-based neighbour by moving as close to the top of the rankings as she is to her endorsement earnings.

Sharapova will become world No.1 if she wins the $US1.3 million ($2m) German Open starting today, and the way she has been growing stronger and trying to add facets to her game nobody should rule it out.

"My aim is to keep improving, to get my schedule right and keep playing well – and the ranking can take care of itself," Sharapova said.

Now that she has turned 18 and can play in as many tournaments as she wants, Sharapova can pick up ranking points at events in which she has none to defend.

Golovin hot stuff on and off court

And still Tatiana Golovin waits for some sort of response from Buckingham Palace.

It was last summer that she informed Prince William through the morning prints that she wanted to look up from the Centre Court at Wimbledon and see him waving back at her from the Royal Box. "I'll be waiting for him," the would-be princess had purred.

This cheeky approach to the princes was typical of her. Golovin is no joyless tennis machine, more like a Frenchwoman who simply adores all the glitz, glamour, occasional hilarity and the hipster hotpants of being a tennis player.

She has already attracted plenty of attention for her flamboyant, at times risqué, wardrobe. Her version of demure in the Miami players' lounge was a blood-red top and low-slung, hot pink tracksuit bottoms. During her junior days she was known to take a pair of scissors to her skirts to make them more revealing.

Golovin's ice hockey coach father moved the family from Moscow to France when she was just eight months old. She speaks French as her first language, English as if she is in the smart set at an American high school, and Russian at home with her parents. She can be funny, feisty and disarming in all three languages; there is plenty of personality to go with the shots and the frocks.

Kournikova was instrumental in Golovin boarding at the Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida from the age of seven. "Dad was watching a video of the players at Bollettieri and he saw Anna on it and said that we should definitely try it out with Bollettieri. So Anna was a big help with my tennis. And my parents and her parents became good friends when they met in Florida," Golovin said. She seems genuinely thankful for what Kournikova has done for her.

She has recently bought a luxury flat in Florida so will be able to go on more shopping trips with Kournikova, who has not played on the tour for close to two years and lives in Miami.

Another inspiration has been Maria Sharapova, the Wimbledon champion and a contemporary from the Bollettieri days, "but we're not so much friends any more".

original article: daily telegraph