Sania Mirza is officially engaged to Sohrab Mirza!

Amid tight security (due to a series of drama prior to the engagement party), Indian tennis star Sania Mirza is officially (and safely) engaged to childhood friend Mohammed Sohrab Mirza, 23 at the Hotel Taj Krishna, Hyderabad on Friday.

In an exclusive, by-invitation only function which was attended by close to 300 special and close invitees, the evening’s celebrations were kicked off with a ceremonial exchange of rings.

Sohrab, the son of local businessman Adil Mirza, put an exquisite diamond ring - worth $205,000 - onto Sania's ring finger and also offered her family jewellery as a mark of his affection.

Sania, 23, was dressed in a dazzling Shantanu & Nikhil, Swarovski-studded ghagra bought by the groom's family.

According to Sania's family, the actual wedding date is not scheduled to be held in the near future, as the tennis diva is not quitting tennis now.

(Via International Business Times)

Ana Ivanovic's fashion disaster on Day 2 at Barclays Scottish Open

I'm not a fashion expert but I do know what Ana Ivanovic was wearing at the Barclays Scottish Open on Day 2 was wrong!

Bring back those Burberry fashion (which apparently also loved by Adam Scott) on to the green!

By the way, guess what Ivanovic was holding under that jacket? Nope, it's not a gun.

It's just a banana ;)


(Images by Reuters via tennisforums.com)

Novak Djokovic, Jelena Ristic on a honeymoon: From Italy out to the sea

Could Novak Djokovic and Jelena Ristic already be married?

Right after his loss to Tommy Haas at the Wimbledon recently, Djokovic was spotted on a vacation with girlfriend Jelena in Portofino, Italy.

Here are some sweet photos of the young couple in Italy.

Next, the couple is set to embark on a month-long journey aboard a luxury “Manhattan 60” Sunseeker yacht on July 10, which is today.

They will leave from Monaco, Djokovic current resident, to see the coasts of Spain, Italy, France, and Croatia.

Djokovic plans to spend the longest period of time in Croatia in Umag, where he will play a doubles match with his brother Marko.

Following the month long journey, Djokovic will take part in the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Canada, starting on the August 8.

Djokovic ordered the luxury yacht “Manhattan 60” about a year ago.

It was reportedly cost about 2.5 million dollars and hosts four cabins, a salon, kitchen, bathroom (with a shower and jacuzzi) and a speedboat.

Other amenities include several wide plasma screens, an excellent sound system, and a mini-bar.

(Via Blic Online; Images via menstennisforums.com)

Ana Ivanovic accompanies Adam Scott at Barclays Scottish Open

Ana Ivanovic was spotted accompanying golfer Adam Scott at the Scottish Open, Loch Lomond Golf Club this week!

Although she looked like fish out of water on the green but at least she was doing something sweet for Scott who was at the Wimbledon tournament recently for some of her matches.

The beautiful couple has been going out together since January but remain tight-lipped about their relationship.

Now I guess they are ready to tell the world.

(Images by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Europe)

2009 Davis Cup Quarterfinals: More pictures...

Here are more pictures from the various press conferences took place prior to the quarterfinal clashes over the next three days.

Croatia 1 - USA 0

Check that out...

Why do I keep thinking there are similarities between JMDP and Mr Bean?

The single ones always laugh louder and harder.

More team pictures here:

Team Argentina

Team Czech Republic

Team Israel

(Images via Getty Images)

Brydan Klein suspended, fined for racial abuse

Australian Brydan Klein has been suspended from ATP World Tour and Challenger events for six months and fined a second time for making a racial slur during a qualifying match against South Africa’s Raven Klaasen on June 13 in Eastbourne, England.

The 19-year-old Klein has been fined an additional $10,000 on top of the $14,000 fine he received on site.

Klein who has apologised and expressed his embarassment and regret is considering whether to appeal, or to accept a reduced penalty by completing a racial sensitivity training course.

(Via AP)

Sania Mirza stalkers arrested... that's 2 men in 2 days

Police in Hyderabad, India have arrested two men for stalking tennis player Sania Mirza.

According to AP, police nabbed Ajay Singh Yadav today as he tried to barge into the tennis star’s house apparently to profess his love and seeking to marry Sania a day before she is to be engaged to Sohrab Mirza.

Police took the engineering student into custody when he refused to leave.

The arrest came a day after another engineering student, Mohammad Ashraf, was arrested when he tried to enter Sania’s house.

The student threatened to commit suicide if Sania’s engagement ceremony was not cancelled.

The first stalker, Ashraf.

Mohammad Ashraf told Sania's father, Imran, that the tennis star could not marry anyone else as she "was born for him".

He also demanded that her engagement with Sohrab, scheduled this Friday, to be cancelled.

An alarmed Imran called the police who have taken him into custody. He has been produced in court and remanded for a fortnight.

In his complaint to the police, Sania's dad says Ashraf claims to have been in love with the tennis star ever since he saw her playing a match in Bangalore two years ago.

Sania's dad has also complained that the man had been sending text messages and making threatening calls to his daughter for some time.

However, there's no explanation as to how the man got their contact numbers.

Sania is never lack of controversies.

Just last month, a state government found out that a man had secured a white ration card showing Sania Mirza as his wife.

The ration card which is meant for people living below the poverty line carried a photo of the Sania!

(Via BBC News)

2009 Davis Cup Group II Asia/Oceania: Malaysia vs Kuwait in relegation play-off

The national tennis players in my country are going to have a tough job this weekend.

Team Malaysia will have to be at their best to remain in Group II, Asia/Oceania Zone when they meet Team Kuwait in a relegation play-off for the next 3 days.

Since the country's no. 2 Adam Jaya has injured himself during the recent Malaysia Futures tournament, 40-year old V. Selvam is chosen to join his younger team mates in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie.

If you are free and have nothing better to do from Friday to Sunday, please head to the National Tennis Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Matches start from 4 p.m. except on Saturday. Admission is free.

Check out the OOP below:

1st day, 10 July 2009 Friday, 4pm
First Singles Match
Si Yew Meng, MAS VS Ahmad Rabeeca Muhammad, KUW

Second Singles Match
Razlan Rawi, MAS VS Mohammed Ghareeb, KUW

2nd Day, 11 July 2009 Saturday, 5pm
Doubles Match
V.Selvam & Si Yew Meng, MAS VS Mohammed Ghareeb & Ahmad Rabeeca Muhammad, KUW

3rd Day, 12 July 2009 Sunday, 4pm
First Singles Match
Si Yew Meng, MAS VS Mohammed Ghareeb, KUW

Second Singles Match
Razlan Rawi, MAS VS Ahmad Rabeeca Muhammad, KUW

Team Kuwait: Mohammad Ghareeb, Hassan Al Mousa, Musaad Al Jazzaf, Ahmad Rabeea Muhammad, Khaled Al Foudari (Captain)

Team Malaysia: Yew-Ming Si, Selvam Veerasingam, Razlan Rawi, Abd-Hazli Bin Zainuddin, Singaram Selvarajoo (Captain)

(Images by LTAM)

Alize Cornet pays tribute to Mathieu Montcourt

French no.1 Alize Cornet was seen wearing a patch with Mathieu Montcourt's name on it yesterday.

Obviously Cornet is still mourning the loss of her friend and fellow compatriot.

A defending champion last year, Cornet gave in to Shahar Peer losing 2-6, 0-6 in the second round of the Budapest Grand Prix.

Updates:
Here's a message (in French) from Cornet on her website:

"Je suis extrêmement choquée et émue par la disparition de Mathieu. A vrai dire, je n’arrive toujours pas à réaliser qu’il n’est plus parmi nous, que je ne croiserai plus ce garçon si gentil que j’avais l’habitude de côtoyer sur certains tournois.

Je voudrais témoigner tout mon soutien pour cette terrible épreuve a sa famille et ses proches. J’essayerai de lui rendre hommage tout a l’heure sur le terrain en portant un badge à son nom, pour que personne n’oublie a quel point son décès est déchirant pour moi et pour le monde du tennis en général, que l’on ait connu Mathieu de prés ou de loin.Repose en paix cher Mathieu, et courage a ceux qui restent."

(Image by Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal chills while Roger Federer makes history

While Roger Federer was celebrating the best moment of his life, Rafael Nadal was enjoying a quiet moment at a yacht club near his home in Palma De Mallorca, Spain on Monday.

Sporting the famous "RAFA" t-shirt from the Australian Open and a pair of red shorts, he looked rather relaxed as he prepared to do some sailing.

Nadal who lost his number one ATP ranking to Federer is targeting his return to tennis at the Montreal Masters in August.

(Images via celebrity-gossip.net)

2009 Davis Cup Quarterfinals matchups

As usual I'm not too keen about Davis Cup.

That simply because I don't get to watch the events LIVE on TV in my country.

Besides with Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Andy Roddick out of this team competition, it just gives me more reasons not to watch it on live stream.

If you can't watch it on TV in your country, you can always count on atdhe.net.

Anyway here are the matchups and photos (can't find Team Argentina, Team Israel and Team Czech Republic photos yet).

The Davis Cup world group quarterfinal ties beginning Friday (all times GMT).

CROATIA v UNITED STATES
Venue: Sportska Dvorana, Porec, Croatia
Surface: Indoor clay
Times: Friday (1400), Saturday (1330), Sunday (1400)
Head-to-head: Croatia lead 2-0

CZECH REPUBLIC v ARGENTINA
Venue: Cez Arena, Ostrava
Surface: Indoor hard courts
Times: Friday (1300), Saturday (1200), Sunday (1100)
Head-to-head: Czech Republic lead 2-1

ISRAEL v RUSSIA
Venue: Sport Palaces, Tel Aviv
Surface: Indoor hard court
Times: Friday (1000), Saturday (1200), Sunday (1200)
Head-to-head: Russia lead 1-0

SPAIN v GERMANY
Venue: Plaza de Toros de Puerto Banus, Marbella
Surface: Outdoor clay
Times: Friday (1100), Saturday (1400), Sunday (1100)
Head-to-head: Germany lead 9-5

SPAIN team: Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Feliciano Lopez; Captain: Albert Costa

GERMANY team: Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nicolas Kiefer, Mischa Zverev, Andreas Beck; Captain: Patrik Kuhnen

RUSSIA team: Igor Kunitsyn, Marat Safin, Igor Andreev, Mikhail Youzhny; Captain: Shamil Tarpischev

UNITED STATES team: Mardy Fish, James Blake, Mike Bryan, Bob Bryan; Captain: Patrick McEnroe

The other members of the following teams are:

CROATIA: Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic, Roko Karanusic, Lovro Zovko; Captain: Goran Prpic

CZECH REPUBLIC: Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Ivo Minar, Lukas Dlouhy; Captain: Jaroslav Navratil

ARGENTINA: Juan Martin del Potro, Jose Acasuso, Leonardo Mayer, Juan Monaco; Captain: Tito Vasquez

ISRAEL: Dudi Sela, Harel Levy, Jonathan Erlich, Andy Ram; Captain: Eyal Ran

(Images via Getty Images)