Props for Serena's balance of style, tennis, grace

I'll admit to it. I just love to watch Serena Williams. She is fierce in every sense of the word, bringing fashion to the court and transcending race, ethnic, and gender stereotypes in American sports culture and abroad. She amazes me with her tremendous athletic ability and intense poise. I could obviously filibuster for awhile.

Serena Williams will advance to the Bank of the West
Classic final. She's been successful since Wimbledon.

But really, who else can rout the world's No. 5, Maria Sharapova, in straight sets with a blinged-out heart necklace banging against her chest and massive studded hoops swinging from her ears?

Even the anchors on ESPN's set covering the Bank of the West Classic asked Williams in her post-match interview: What's up with that No. 169 WTA international ranking?

Williams has been hot since Wimbledon, where she exited early in attempt to defend her single's title after coming back from a serious foot injury. In the Bank of the West Classic semifinals, she'll next face Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova, who's currently ranked No. 19 by the WTA.

You'd better believe I'll be watching -- for the sake of her ensemble and her play.