Danai Udomchoke invites you to his home in Pattaya

Here's an interesting peek into Danai Udomchoke's home in Pattaya.

It was built and renovated last year and the Thailand no.1 player should have moved into the new house by now.


(Images via Danai Udomchoke's official website)

Maria Sharapova: It's not a pretty come back

Urghh... Sharapova looks terrible in these photos.

I don't know why but she keeps reminding me of Charlize Theron's character in that award winning movie Monster.

I guess Sharapova is a little disappointed after losing 6-1, 4-6, 10-7 in her first-round doubles match with partner Elena Vesnina against Ekaterina Makarova and Tatiana Poutchek, at Indian Wells.

Vesvina was the defending champion here last year with Dinara Safina.

“It feels very good to be back,” Sharapova said.

“I just wanted to test (the shoulder) out. I started training a couple of months ago. I just wanted to … test it out in a match situation and get a little different scenery than the practice court and play in front of the crowd, so that was exciting."

"The main goal for here was just to get out there and be in that atmosphere again."

“The hump I’ve got to get through right now is to put together two weeks of coming out to the court and playing two or three sets every day, and doing that for seven or eight days in a row. … Right now I’m able to do maybe three days or four days and then I have to take it easy on the fifth."

Even Sharapova herself wasn't sure where or when she would play again.

Now here are some prettier sights of Sharapova on court.

I miss her a lot! Hopefully she'll recover completely soon.


(Via AP, Images by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Roger Federer says girlfriend Mirka is pregnant!

Yay! Roger Federer is going to be a daddy soon!

Federer said in a message on his web site yesterday that his girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec is pregnant with the couple’s first child.

The baby is due in the summer.

Dear Fans

I arrived in Indian Wells earlier this week and I am eager to get back out on court. My back is feeling much better and I am ready to go.

I also have some really awesome news to share with all of you: Mirka and I are excited to let you know that we will be parents this summer! Mirka is pregnant and we are so happy to be starting a family together. This is a dream come true for us. We love children and we are looking forward to being parents for the first time. Mirka is feeling great and everything is going well.

Speak soon and thanks for all your continued support!

Roger

Federer met Mirka back in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics.

Hopefully we'll be hearing the wedding bells soon ;-)

Currently the world no. 2 is in Indian Wells, California for the ATP masters 1000 event.

Federer is seeded second behind Nadal at Indian Wells and he will open against Marc Gicquel or Simone Bolelli.

(Via AP)

Will Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun pull off another upset at Indian Wells?

Finally I've gotten over Rendy's devastating defeat to Somdev Devvarman.

But there's one thing I would like to express here.

This is for Rendy's brother and manager, Thomas.

Thomas, please stop apologizing on the website whenever Rendy lost in a match or tournament!

You and Rendy don't owe anyone any apology or explanation!

Now on a lighter note, Rendy recently reunited with his little nephew, Xiao An An during his stay in Taiwan.

Rendy is back in practice court at Indian Wells and could meet Gilles Simon in the second round. That's a tough draw!


(Images via Great Tennis Photos, Rendy Lu's official site)

Darren Cahill chooses family over Roger Federer

Roger Federer is coach-less again at Indian Wells.

Based in Las Vegas, Darren Cahill was widely seen as the perfect solution to Federer's coaching dilemma.

"It (the nine-day trial) was a test," Federer explained.

"We said 'Let's see how it goes first and then go back and let's think about it'."

"He went back (to the US). He told me it was tough for him to do the travelling with his kids and everything."

"The weeks required, he couldn't really do so we never really got to the point where I had to go and think about it and take a decision on my own."

"He took the decision for me and it's all right. We had a good time, we worked hard, we spoke a lot."

Last month, Cahill resigned as coach of the Australian Davis Cup team after two years in the job, citing business and personal reasons.

So Federer will continue to work with Severin Luthi, Switzerland's Davis Cup captain, on a part-time basis.

He is seen here practicing for ATP Indian Wells masters 1000.


(Via news.com.au; Images by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal toughen up for Indian Wells

Roger Federer must be very keen in renewing his rivalry with Rafael Nadal at the ATP Indian Wells masters 1000.

Nadal knows that all he has to do is toughen up for the challenge... and smells good at the same time. But not with the help of his signature Lanvin perfume though.


(Images via sports.sina.com.cn)

Sania Mirza's athleticism impresses Gil Reyes

Earlier this week, Gil Reyes praised Sania Mirza's 'athleticism' after a one-week stint with the Indian tennis star.

Sania trained with Reyes, who has worked with top stars like Ana Ivanovic and Fernando Verdasco, at his Las Vegas centre.

Sania's coach Sven Groeneveld was also there with her during the training.

"I have enjoyed the training sessions with Sania."

"I am truly impressed with her athleticism. She has natural athletic ability and has been well coached," Reyes said.

"Professional tennis has become quite physical and will continue to do so."

"Adding a strength and power to a natural athlete like Sania could certainly improve her tennis game, specially speed, movement and court coverage," he said.

The Spanish trainer said the kind of injury Sania picked up recently, she should be given adequate time to recover.

"It is important to respect Sania's recent wrist injury and not force the issue."

"However, she has been training her lower body with great focus and intensity."

"I can understand the enthusiasm about Sania's future and I share the enthusiasm," Reyes said.

Reyes also expressed his willingness to work with Sania again.

"I hope that her schedule will include many training days at my training center in Las Vegas because I believe that by adding greater physical capabilities to her abundant tennis talent, Sania will enjoy a very successful career as a professional athlete."

How much Sania has benefited from this training, we will know soon as she will kick off her campaign at Indian Wells tennis tournament against Ukrainian Mariya Koryttseva this week.

(Via hindu.com, Image via saniamirza.net.in)

Let's celebrate brotherhood!

Either you hate it or embrace it.

If you don't get it, let's just say that these are just funny photos ;-)

Andy Murray in pink.

Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon.

Marin Cilic and Mario Ancic.

Dmitry Tursunov and Grigor Dimitrov.

Marc Gicquel riding on Gilles Simon.

(All images via menstennisforums.com)

Why won't Common hold Serena Williams' hand?

Serena Williams and boyfriend rapper-turned-actor Common was spotted strolling through New York City on a shopping trip.

Too bad you don't get to see them holding hands in these photos. Perhaps it has something to do with Common's finger injury.


(Images by cfp.cn via sports.sina.com)

India could be the best in Asia

I'm still saddened by Rendy Lu's lost to Somdev Devvarman in the fourth rubber in last weekend's Davis Cup tie between Taiwan and India.

His fluctuating performance is probably one of the reasons why I don't blog for days.

But to be fair to Rendy, India already knew from the start that they had the extra edge over Taiwan.

With Grand Slam doubles specialists like Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, and upcoming tennis star like Somdev Devvarman, they look like a tough team to beat.

Kudos to the Indian Davis Cup team for making it to the third round where they will be meeting Australia who narrowly beat Thailand.

However congrats to Thai no. 1 Danai Udomchoke for his perfect performance in the second and fourth rubbers which saw him beating Australian teenage player Brydan Klein and former world no. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.

The other two countries who made it to the third round tie of the Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1 are Japan and Uzbekistan lead by Kei Nishikori and Denis Istomin respectively.

For complete results, click here.

(Images via udn.com, hindu.com, zimbio.com)

Pepper and her favourite tennis balls

Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun's girlfriend spotted!

Finally we saw Rendy's Lu's girlfriend on Friday's Davis Cup tie between Taiwan and India.

We're still finding out her name.

The only clue we have now is her mom's a famous legislator in Taiwan.

Anyone any tips?

Sitting next to her is Rendy's brother, Thomas.