Serena Williams meets her match at Madame Tussauds

In conjunction with the US Open, Serena Williams' wax figure was unveiled at the Madame Tussauds, in NYC yesterday.

Serena's wax figure shows her wearing a replica of the outfit which she wore during the 2004 US Open, a Nike denim tennis skirt, with a black Nike sports top and sports shoes.

Can you tell which one is really ME?

Other tennis icons who have their own wax figures include Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova.


(Images via sports.sina.com.cn)

VIDEO: Grey Goose Honey Deuce delights for a perfect weekend

If you're planning a party or gathering with friends and family over the weekend, why not serve them up with the official 2009 US Open cocktail, Grey Goose "Honey Deuce".

This is the third year that Grey Goose will partner with the USTA.

Here's the recipe for those who would like to experiment mixology at home,:

1 1/4 part Grey Goose® Original Vodka
2 parts fresh lemonade
1/2 part Chambord® raspberry liquor
Frozen honeydew melon balls

1. Fill a highball or double old-fashioned glass with crushed ice.
2. Add Grey Goose Vodka and fill the rest of the cup with lemonade to a half inch below the rim.
3. Drizzle Chambord over the top.

4. Garnish with frozen honeydew melon balls.

Cheers!

Have a good weekend & Happy Independence Day to my fellow Malaysians!

Note: HCFoo does not condone underaged drinking, excessive drinking, and drinking and driving. Non-halal.

(Via Down the Line!)

VIDEO: Andy Roddick on Late Show With David Letterman

Andy Roddick took time out from US Open practice to appear on the Late Show With David Letterman last night.

It was the second Letterman appearance for Roddick as he was a guest back in 2003.

Check out Roddick's own version of "street tennis" on the show.

Pre-US Open: Pretty practice photos

Now that the US Open draw is out, let's see who has been practicing hard on court over the week.

Here are some eye candies for your viewing pleasure...

Juicy Jo-Willy

Flawless Ferrer

Mikhail Youzhny and Andy Murray

Maria Sharapova and Jelena Jankovic


Lleyton Hewitt and James Blake

Cuddly Cilic


Mighty Monfils

Rusty Roddick

(Images via US Open official website)

The US Open Draw is out! Easy path for Federer; rocky road ahead for Murray, Nadal

Hey guys, the US Open draw is out!

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been drawn on opposite sides.

Federer could be facing Andy Roddick or Novak Djokovic in the semifinals while Nadal could meet second seed Andy Murray or Juan Martin del Potro.

Now the interesting part of the draw is that Nadal will be playing against and old friend Richard Gasquet in the first round!

Nadal's section also features Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Tomas Berdych and Fernando Gonzalez.

Lurking in Federer's section are Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake, Robin Soderling, Sam Querrey, and Nikolay Davydenko.

Andy Murray's section has some big servers: Ivo Karlovic, Marin Cilic and first-round opponent Ernests Gulbis.

The men's US Open draw can be found here.

In the women's US Open draw, comeback queen, the unseeded Kim Clijsters has ended up in a tough third quarter, which is sandwiched by names like Victoria Azarenka and Venus Williams.

Clijsters' potential second-round opponent is Marion Bartoli, whom she defeated in the first WTA match of her comeback in Cincinnati.

The winner of that section could face defending champion Serena Williams in the semifinals. That means Venus Williams will not be meeting her baby sister in the final at the US Open, if everything goes smoothly.

Dinara Safina has a tough top quarter draw which also includes Alisa Kleybanova, Ana Ivanovic, Sabine Lisicki and Jelena Jankovic.

The second quarter is highlighted by a potential third-round clash between Elena Dementieva and Maria Sharapova, with Svetlana Kuznetsova and Caroline Wozniacki also in that section.

The women's US Open draw can be found here.

(Via US Open official website, tennis.com)

TENNIS WATCH: Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, Querrey overtakes Murray, Venus accepts Americanism Award

Will Ferrell and Jordin Sparks will join Andy Roddick and other tennis stars for the 14th annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day this Saturday.

The festivities are set for August 29 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30AM - 4PM.

The tennis and music festival kicks off the 2009 US Open, which runs from August 31 - September 13.

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By defeating Bjorn Phau and reaching the quarterfinals of New Haven, Sam Querrey has overtaken Andy Murray and won the men's US Open Series.

Querrey wins the title because he has 14 match wins in series events, compared to eight for Murray.

In the women's singles, Flavia Pennetta still has a shot at winning the women's US Open Series, but needs to win the title in order to overtake Elena Dementieva.

The Series winner gets double prize money at the US Open, with one and a half times the prize money for the second place finisher and one and a quarter times for the third place finisher.

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Earlier today, the Anti Defamation League (ADL) honoured tennis star Venus WIlliams with the Americanism Award for speaking out on behalf of Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer, who was denied a visa to play in the 2009 Dubai Tennis Championship back in February.

(Via US Open official website, tennis.com)

Maria Sharapova attends cocktail-cum-birthday party in NYC

Maria Sharapova attended a cocktail party hosted by InStyle and Tiffany & Co. at the Cooper Square Hotel in New York City on Tuesday.

Apparently it was Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively birthday, so the tennis star helped celebrate Blake’s 22nd birthday and served her with some cake.

(Images by Jemal Countess/Getty Images North America)

Nike's "Game. Set. NYC" event serves up new US Open gears

To add on to the excitement of season ending grand slam, NIKE unveiled its US Open gears for Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams at a Nike-built, regulation-sized tennis court in the heart of NYC.

Hopefully some of you guys read the announcement earlier and headed to the event located at 23rd Street and Broadway earlier today.

Except for Sharapova, those who joined Federer, Nadal, Serena at the event were John McEnroe, Victoria Azarenka, Gael Monfils and Li Na.

According to NIKE, Federer's shirt was inspired by the subway signs of NYC, Serena's by cocktail party attire and Nadal's by the streets of NYC and its’ signature yellow taxi cabs!

To read more about the event, go to Down The Line! as he provides his take on the event.

More pictures:

(Images via NIKE, Bryan Bedder/Getty Images North America)

Oh, no! Svetlana Kuznetsova teaches kids about fashion!

We know Svetlana Kuznetsova has shown some great improvement in recent photo shoot.

But that doesn't mean her fashion sense has improved too.

Worse thing, she has committed an ultimate fashion crime by teaching the kids to accessorise like her (and proud of it)!

Kuznetsova was at the Girl Scout Night, a Sony Erricsson WTA Tour's Pilot Pen Tennis promotional event.

(Images by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Andy Murray: Standing tall

Earlier today, Andy Murray unveiled his new Fred Perry blue shirt he will wear for the US Open.

Being seeded no. 2 for the first time in New York, it could make his task slightly easier as he will not be facing Roger Federer until the final.

Not only that, it also mean he has a 50-50 chance to set up a potential clash with Rafael Nadal in the semifinals.

The Scot has express countless times that the US Open is his favourite tournament. This is his best bet to earn his first Grand Slam.

(Images by Fred Perry)

Miami Dolphins' deal with Williams sisters announced

Serena and Venus Williams are the first female African-Americans to hold an ownership stake in an NFL franchise.

Their ownership stake with the Miami Dolphins was officially announced earlier today.

The sisters paid their first visit to the Dolphins' complex, watched some practice, checked out the weight room and chatted with several players.

At the press conference the sisters posed for photographers holding team jerseys — no. 11 for Venus and no. 89 for Serena (EleVen is Venus' clothing line; 8-9 is the birthdate of their half sister, Yetunde Price, who died in a 2003 shooting).

(Via AP; Image via Yahoo! Sports)

TENNIS WATCH: Meet Gonzo in NYC, Sharapova's bling bling earrings, Navratilova's engaged, Hingis lines up on dance reality show

If you're a Fernando Gonzalez fan, head to Mason's Tennis Mart in Manhattan, this Saturday, on August 29, 2009 at 4.30PM as he'll be meeting fans to promote the new Babolat Pure Storm line of racquets.

Where: 56 East 53rd Street (between Madison and Park Avenues)

Gonzalez will sign autographs and free gifts will be presented to patrons who attend while supplies last.

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Maria Sharapova never failed to showcase her Tiffany earrings at Grand Slams.

Designed by Frank Gehry, this latest sterling silver and diamond earrings were created especially for Sharapova to wear at the US Open.

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Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, 52, is engaged with Julia Lemigova, 36.

The couple were spotted walking together in Saint-Tropez.

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Former world no.1, Martina Hingis, who is banned from tennis for cocaine abuse, has been revealed as a contestant in this year's BBC-produced Strictly Come Dancing.

This is Hingis' second foray into British reality TV after taking part in Beat the Star earlier this year.

(Via tennisweek.com, wtawomenstennis.co.cc, tennisforum.com)

VIDEO: Caroline Wozniacki, Flavia Pennetta play on 'world's largest grass court ' at Yale Bowl

As part of a promotional event for Pilot Pen Tennis tournament, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour transformed the football field at Yale into a ridiculously over-sized tennis court.

After taking the street in Toronto last week, Caroline Wozniacki conquer the massive 'grass court' with Flavia Pennetta.

It was a pity as no fans were invited to the exhibition.

(Images via tennisforum.com)

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams & John McEnroe: NYC Nike fan challenge, set to unveil 2009 US Open looks

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and John McEnroe will gather on August 26, in the heart of New York City to challenge local youth tennis players and the general public to try their hand at experiencing what it’s like to return a pro serve.

So, if you're in NYC on Wednesday, you can drop by at the Nike-built regulation tennis court on 23rd Street and Broadway New York, NY.

10:15AM – 10:45AM Roger Federer Appearance

1:30 PM – 2:00PM Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal Appearance

In addition to that, Nike, for the first time will also unveil the players look for the 2009 U.S. Open.

TENNIS WATCH: Kid's Day, Minar denies doping, Agassi opens up, Srichaphan's adult product

James Blake and Mardy Fish attended Kid's Day at the Pilot Pen tennis tournament in New Haven yesterday.

Blake, however chose not to enter the tournament in order to prepare for the US Open.

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Czech tennis player Ivo Minar was tested positive for a banned substance after a Davis Cup quarterfinal victory over Argentine on July 10-12.

Minar was said to have taken an unspecified supplement that apparently contained a derivative of the banned stimulant pseudoephedrine.

Currently ranked at no. 66, he denied he had never 'consciously' taken a banned substance.

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Andre Agassi’s autobiography, OPEN, is heading to book stores in November.

In the book, Agassi discusses his start in tennis as a child, his relationship with his father and his failed marriage to Brooke Shields.

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Is Paradorn Srichaphan selling adult product?

According to Srichaphan, he hoped his latest business, a herbal-product company called Magic Thaiherbs, will not tarnish his image as a national hero.

"Unlike Viagra, my product is more like a tonic which is good for men's bodies. When men are happy and healthy, they make married life better,'' said the former Thai no.1.