Queen of Sports

Athlete Sighting: Rafael Nadal At Charity Event

Rafael Nadal and his foundation along with the SOS Aldeas Infantiles organization hosted a presentation of the project ‘Integration and Sport’ in Barcelona last night. The project aims to provide a better future for young children in Barcelona and Granada. The gala last night was held to raise funds for the project.

Nadal was joined by his girlfriend, Xisca Perello. Other celebrities who attended the event included actresses Paz Vega and Nastassja Kinski.

Photo: G Tres / Splash News

Venus And Serena Williams Present ‘Great Challenge’ In Milan

Venus and Serena Williams were in Milan, Italy to present the “Great Challenge,” an exhibition tournament focusing on the sisters competing in a doubles match against Italy’s top two female tennis players- Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta.

During the press conference promoting the event, the Williams sisters were seen laughing with one another while answering questions from Italian journalists. The event is taking place tomorrow in Milan.

Photo: Nick Zonna / Splash News

Rafael Nadal Opening The Davis Cup Final

In the opening singles of the Davis Cup final, Rafael Nadal will represent Spain against Argentina’s Juan Monaco. Second-ranked Nadal, who helped Spain win the title in 2004, will face 26th-ranked Monaco in the best-of-five series. Spain’s fifth-ranked David Ferrer will take on Argentina’s Juan Martin del Porto.

Nadal and del Porto posed for a picture in the draw for the Davis Cup last night. The tournament begins tomorrow in Seville, Spain.

Photo: G Tres / Splash News

Athlete Sightings At Footwear News Achievement Awards

NFL free agent Eric Johnson joined his very pregnant fiance, Jessica Simpson at the 25th Annual Footwear News Achievement Awards at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City last night. Simpson wore a red Donna Karan dress that showed off her baby bump.  Simpson’s footwear brand was honored at the event, along with other legends in the business including Manolo Blahnik who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tennis star and designer Serena Williams sported a saucy red dress with some sky-high slingback gold heels with a bow at the peep-toe.

Other famous designers at the event included Betsey Johnson, Steve Madden, (wearing an Occupy Wall Street hat) Vince Camuto, Carolina Herrera, Rachel Zoe, Brian Atwood,  Nicholas Kirkwood, Patricia Field, and Kenneth Cole.

Photos: Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Athlete Sighting: Serena Williams

Serena Williams was spotted on the pink carpet at last night’s launch party for Google Music which will be available for T-Mobile customers with Android phones.

The event was held at Mr. Brainwash Studios in LA, which was the scene of the Oscar nominated documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop.

A host of celebrities and musicians came out, including Drake and Adam Levine from Maroon 5, whose music will be available on Google Music for free through the end of the year.

Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com

Celeb Sightings At The Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic

Christian Slater was among the celebrities in attendance at the Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic in Delray Beach, Florida.

The tennis classic is part of a 3-day charity event hosted by former tennis pro Chris Evert.

The events raise money for an ongoing campaign against drug abuse and child neglect in Florida.

Tennis star John McEnroe, pictured above, also came out to show support for Chris Evert’s cause. Actors Scott Foley and Kevin McKidd were some of the other celebrities who participated as well.

Photo: Wenn.com

Andy Roddick Selling Calendars To Benefit His Foundation

Tennis star and hottie Andy Roddick is selling calendars for the 2012 year, with all proceeds benefitting his foundation which seeks to “serve children today for tomorrow.”

The calendar features pictures of Andy on and off the court, and fans who pre-order it will receive an ‘archived calendar’ with even more pictures of Roddick.

This would make a great gift for Andy Roddick fan. It’s never too early to start shopping for the holidays!

Athlete Sighting: Serena Williams

Tennis star Serena Williams was spotted at the Burberry Body Launch Party in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night. The tennis player looked lovely!

Photo: Splash News

Athlete Sighting: Maria Sharapova

Before the start of the BNP Paribas WTA Championship in Istanbul, tennis star Maria Sharapova took the time to support her fiance. Sharapova caught an Anadolu Efes game yesterday, the team her fiance Sasha Vujacic signed a one-year deal with in July.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit the eastern part of Turkey yesterday. Vujacic and Sharapova were fine, as Istanbul is located in the northwestern part of the country. Vujacic said via Facebook,

“We won our game last night but our good spirits were soon shattered with the news of the 7.2 earthquake in southeast Turkey.. It’s moments like these that make one realize that nothing should be taken for granted because it could be gone in any moment.. Those affected are in my prayers..”

New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams also signed a deal with a Turkish team. Williams signed with the other Istanbul-based team, Beskitas. He announced via Twitter that he is OK.

Photo: Seskim / WENN.com

Athletes Attend Annual Salute To Women In Sports

The Womens Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King (pictured above),  held their annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Gala at Cipriani in New York City last night.

The Womens Sports Foundation “is dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.”

Among those in attendance: tennis star Venus Williams (above), and Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, (pictured in the last photo). Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach from the women’s U.S. soccer team, as well as WNBA player Maya Moore, boxer and WSF President Laila Ali, and golfer Annika Sorenstam were just some of the many faces on the red carpet.

The U.S. Women’s Ski Jumping team received the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award for their “perservance and courage in fighting to gain equality in, and acceptance into, the Olympic Games.”

U.S. Women’s soccer goalie Abby Wombach was named the team sport’s Sportswoman of the Year, and LPGA golfer Yani Tseng was named the individual sport’s Sportswoman of the Year.

Twelve-year-old triathlete Winter Vinecki was the winner of the 2011 ANNIKA Inspiration Award. Winter founded Team Winter, a non-profit to benefit prostate cancer research and awareness, in honor of her late father.

Photos: Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com and PR Newswire