Hantuchova wins Pattaya Open
Slovakia s third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova successfully defended her Pattaya Open title on Sunday, beating fourth seed Russian Maria Kirilenko in a marathon three hour 14-minute battle.
The three sets victory 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-3 was Hantuchova s fifth career title, and means the world number 20 is now unbeaten in 10 matches at the Thai resort, where her victory this year brings her $37,000.
“It feels great,” said Hantuchova. “I thought it was an incredible match. Maria was playing really well and we were fighting for every single point.
“Even though I lost the first set very closely I just kept going and didn t really look back and always just tried to focus on the next point. That was the key.”
Her Russian opponent and world number 26 Kirilenko was playing in her 10th career final, and hoping to win her first title since she beat Samantha Stosur in Seoul in 2008.
In a match contested largely from the baseline, Hantuchova struggled at first to find her rhythm and dropped her serve with a double-fault in the opening game.
In the second set, both players held break points, but it was Hantuchova who broke in the first and final games.
The final set began with both players dropping their serve to love.
Hantuchova then held off a break point at 1-1, failed to convert three break points for a 3-1 lead and another to lead 4-2, but safely served out the match after her opponent had produced her seventh double-fault.
“I m disappointed to lose in the final,” said Kirilenko. “But if I look back I almost lost the first match so I m trying take the positive things from the tournament.
“After the Australian Open I didn t play for nine days because I was injured, and today I was in the final so I think it s a good result still.”
Salman misses Rohit Dhawans wedding in Goa
The one thing that can safely be said about the mercurial Salman Khan is that he is a yaaron ka yaar. Having done a number of very successful films with David Dhawan including the career-defining Judwaa and Biwi No. 1, Salman has over the years, become so close to Dhawan that it’s generally a toss-up as to who’s a closer to David: Govinda or Salman.
Govinda was in Goa for David’s son Rohit’s wedding yesterday (Friday). Salman, alas, couldn’t make it. Shooting in far-off Cuba for Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger, Salman actually planned to travel back to Goa for a day and attend the wedding before flying back.
Says a source close to David, “David was very keen to have Salman over. He spoke to Salman and Salman spoke to Kabir to be allowed to fly back. But the travel plan from Havana to Goa sounded too gruelling. At the moment with Salman’s neurological condition, he’s been advised to cut down on his travel. Also, Kabir’s unit is working on a very tight schedule. And since Salman and Katrina are doing intricate action sequences, stopping the shooting for four days would have meant huge losses for Yash Raj.”
Apparently, David told Salman to let it go. Salman agreed. But on condition that his brother Sohail reach the Goan venue for the wedding well in advance to represent bade bhaiyya Salman.
Speaking from Goa, David says affectionately, “Yes, Salman really wanted to join us here in Goa. He’s part of my family. But it was impossible for him to travel. Salman’s entire family Arbaaz, Sohail, Baby (sister Alvira) are here. Sohail arrived a day in advance to lend a helping hand.”
Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh and Ranbir Kapoor arrived on Friday morning. The Kapoor family had just returned from Delhi after attending a wedding in Rishi’s daughter’s sasuraal.
Says David, “I feel blessed. I haven’t made so much money in my career. But I’ve earned this goodwill that’s reflected in the guest list for the first wedding in my family. All the people, whom I’ve been associated with professionally and personally, are here for my son’s wedding. Sanjay Dutt and Govinda who have been with me from the start of my career, Rishi and Ranbir, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Lolo (Karisma Kapoor), Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, producer Vashu Bhagnani…they are all here.”
Earlier David planned a very private family wedding for his son. “But a small wedding was impossible. All these are stars are not just my actors, they’re part of my family.”
Ironically, David’s younger son Varun couldn’t get to Goa in advance. He reached on Friday.
Explains David, “Varun was shooting with Karan Johar for Student Of The Year. Much as we wanted him here in Goa in advance, he couldn’t join us. But that’s okay. My wife has taken care of every detail. My sons and I only had to attend. Biwi ho to aisi. I am a lucky man.”
O P Dutta passes away
Veteran director, writer and producer O.P. Dutta expired late last night. The filmmaker was ill and admitted at the Kokilaben hospital at 7 pm yesterday and breathed his last around post 12 a.m. with the cremation scheduled today at Shivaji Park.
The filmmaker who began his career in 1948 as a director with Pyaar Ki Jeet, slowly transitioned into writing films like Border and Refugee which were directed by his son J P Dutta.
News Trends sends out heartfelt condolences to the filmmaker’s family and friends.
Federer to face Isner in Davis Cup singles
Roger Federer will face John Isner in the second singles match Friday when Switzerland takes on the United States in the first round of the Davis Cup.
Switzerland s 28th-ranked Stanislas Wawrinka opens the series against eighth-ranked Mardy Fish on the indoor clay courts at 7,000-capacity Fribourg Forum.
Isner lost both matches he played Federer, each time on hard courts, and said he aims to serve well and play quick points.
“I don t want to be getting in 15-ball rallies with Roger from the baseline cause that probably won t bode well for me,” the 17th-ranked Isner said. “I m going to need to play aggressive, play-first strike tennis and see how it goes.”
Fish, who has a 2-0 career record against Wawrinka, is satisfied to be opening the series.
“I would prefer to play first. On a team note, I would like to try to get the team off to a good start,” Fish said.
In Sunday s scheduled reverse singles, the third-ranked Federer is set to face Fish, followed by Wawrinka against Isner.
U.S. captain Jim Courier will give 19-year-old Ryan Harrison a Davis Cup debut on Saturday, partnering Mike Bryan in doubles against Federer and Wawrinka, who won Olympic gold in doubles in Beijing.
Still, that plan could alter depending how deep Fish and Isner go in their singles matches.
“We ll see as we go,” Courier said. “That s the team we are nominating now, but certainly things can change given whatever happens (Friday).”
Bryan s twin brother, Bob, is unavailable after his first child was born last week.
The U.S. has a 2-1 edge on Switzerland in Davis Cup encounters, though each series went with home advantage on hard courts.
The Americans dream team of Courier, Andre Aggasi, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras won the 1992 final played at Fort Worth, Texas, and a first-round series when Federer was unavailable in 2009 at Birmingham, Alabama.
A 19-year-old Federer won all three of his rubbers to lead the Swiss to victory in a 2001 first-round match in his home city Basel.
Researchers probe 200-year-old shipwreck off US
Researchers from the U.S. Navy and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are looking for clues to the identity of a 200-year-old shipwreck lying just off the Rhode Island coast.
The two recreational divers who found the wreck are confident that the ship is the USS Revenge, commanded by navy hero Oliver Hazard Perry. The Revenge sank in 1811 after striking a reef.
Researchers are using a torpedo-shaped robot to survey the wreck. They hope to use the data to locate artifacts that could confirm the ship s identity.
Rhode Island native Perry was cleared of responsibility for the loss of the Revenge. But his career stalled until he was sent to the Great Lakes, where he commanded U.S. forces to victory over the British navy in the War of 1812.
Oscars: Can George Clooney upset Jean Dujardin in the Best Actor category? – AWARDS ALLEY
By Sean O’Connell
TrendPK.com: With the Oscars on the horizon, only a handful of races remain up in the air … at least, if you pay attention to the “experts.”
Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Artist” appears to be this year’s Best Picture frontrunner, with momentum still swinging between “The Descendants” and “The Help.” Martin Scorsese could steal a few key votes away from Hazanavicius in the Best Director race. And if you put your ear to the ground, you’ll hear more than a few people asking if George Clooney can prevail over Jean Dujardin in the Best Actor category.
Why not? Clooney is beloved, and few are better on the Oscar campaign trail than the endlessly charming actor. He’s also won a few choice awards along the way, from the Critics Choice Movie Awards for Best Actor to a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. Tide seems to be sweeping up Dujardin as “The Artist” marches to the podium, and Dujardin – as well as his winning co-star Berenice Bejo – are working the circuit. Hard. So anything’s possible.
Clooney’s performance in Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” has stood above the fray from the minute this rewarding drama world premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in September.
“There’s plenty to chew on regarding family connections, heritage, loyalty to one’s location in life, the cycles we go through when confronting death, and the challenge of being a stable force during trying times,” I wrote from the Toronto International Film Festival after seeing Payne’s film. “But Clooney’s an outstanding guide on this journey, and I’m confident we’ll see his name in the Best Actor race as the marathon continues.”
“The Descendants” is a special film. An honest film. It addresses personal issues, and offsets them with Payne’s quirky humor. And it boasts a jaw-dropping performance by Clooney, who somehow ignores every trick in his acting arsenal yet still wins our heart with a vulnerable side that solidifies him as one of our strongest working actors.
If you ask him, though, he’s just lucky.
That was Clooney’s message when he accepted the Hollywood Actor Award for his “Descendants” performance in October. It’s an extremely humble speech, one laced with wit and self-awareness. Just like the man, himself.
Here’s exclusive video of Clooney from that gala, as his latest film, “The Descendants,” competes for the Oscar.
Awards Alley brings you the best Oscar coverage. Click below to read our exclusive interviews with:
– Harvey Weinstein
– The cast of “The Artist.”
– Kenneth Branagh for “My Week With Marilyn.”
– Bennett Miller talks “Moneyball.”
– Producer Jim Burke for “The Descendants.”
– Sir Ben Kingsley and Chloe Grace Moretz for “Hugo.”
– Tilda Swinton for “We Need to Talk About Kevin.”
– David Fincher, Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara on “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”
– Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer for “The Help.”
– Tate Taylor for “The Help.”
– Woody Harrelson for “Rampart.”
– Gavin O’Connor for “Warrior.”
– Gary Oldman and Colin Firth for “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.”
– Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody for “Young Adult.”
– Steve McQueen for “Shame.”
– Glenn Close for “Albert Nobbs.”
– Seth Rogen and Will Reiser for “50/50.”
– Producer Grant Heslov for “The Ides of March.”
For complete Oscar and Film Festival coverage, visit our Awards Alley for the latest news items, reviews and interviews all season long.
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Kendall Jenner wants to follow in Kim Kardashian’s footsteps
TrendPK.com: Kendall Jenner is already becoming a rising star like her older sister, Kim Kardashian, but now she wants to tackle a new project just like Kim.
Kendall recently revealed that she’d love to try acting, especially something like ‘Disaster Movie’ which Kim was a part of, states E! News. “I would love to be in a horror movie or a horse movie. Or you know the ‘Disaster Movie’ that Kim was in? That seems like so much fun,” Kendall commented.
Do you think she’d be any good in a movie?
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Katy Perry reportedly avoiding media for now
TrendPK.com: Katy Perry recently performed at a pre-Super Bowl party, but one thing she isn’t going to be doing yet is talking to the media.
Perry is reportedly being very careful about avoiding the media as she just isn’t ready to discuss her split with Russell Brand, states Hollyscoop. Perry is getting back to work, but knows that the media will only want to talk about the divorce filing.
So, for now, Perry is reportedly doing what she can to get back out there without having conversations about Brand.
When do you think she will open up about it?
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Pippa Middleton apparently not dating George Percy
TrendPK.com: It seems that Pippa Middleton is not moving forward with her love life as it is now rumored that she is not dating her good friend, George Percy.
While the two were recently linked together as a possible couple, they are apparently keeping things simple by staying friends for now, states UsMagazine.com. They are reportedly not only friends, but have more of a brother and sister relationship.
Percy is reportedly the future Duke of Northumberland.
Who do you think Pippa should date?
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Abhishek Bachchan in Prakash Jhas next titled Chakravyuha
Prakash Jha’s next film is about the Naxalite movement. But it is not a remake of K.V. Anand’s Tamil political film Ko.
Exasperated beyond belief, Prakash says, “I don’t know where this rumour started. And now the newspapers are reporting it. My new film is about the Naxal movement. But my film has got absolutely nothing to do with Ko. It’s an original subject. In fact I’m away from Mumbai right now writing the film.”
In Prakash Jha’s Chakravyuha, which the director starts shooting in a month, Abhishek Bachchan is cast as a Naxalite. It’s the biggest challenge of the young actor’s career and one for which he has started preparing. Jha has recommended Naxal literature to Abhishek. This is probably the first film since Mani Ratnam’s Guru for which Abhishek has undertaken extensive research.
The shooting will take place in Prakash’s patent location Bhopal, and in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh.
The director was actually supposed to start a film Satyagrah with Abhishek’s father and the director’s favourite actor Ajay Devgn in January. Apparently, that film was postponed to the second-half of 2012 because of the unavailability of Devgn’s dates.
Protests Prakash, “In fact I had Ajay’s dates from July since he finishes Son Of Sardar by then. But my film can’t be shot in the rains. I’ve to shoot Satyagrah in winter, so we’re shooting it in November and December 2012.”
This is the first year in his career when Prakash Jha would be directing two films. “And both are tough to shoot, not because of the big cast but because the films take up issues that need very careful handling,” says Jha.
While Chakravyuha is about the Naxalite movement, Satyagrah deals with politics and corruption.
Prakash Jha was aware that Basu Chatterjee had made a film called Chakravyuha back in 1978. He recently met Basu-da who in his habitually affable way said, ‘Han han le lo le lo’. But Prakash was taken aback when he got to know another producer had registered the title Ek Aur Chakravyuha.”
Says Prakash, “Chakravyuha is the best and only appropriate title for my film. I can’t think of calling it by any other name. Fortunately we have the title now.”
