Maria Sharapova celebrates victory at Juan Carlos Ferrero's Equelite tennis academy in Villena

Instead of moving on straight to the grass court after her triumph at the French Open, Maria Sharapova spent some time at Juan Carlos Ferrero's Equelite tennis academy in Villena and stayed at Ferrero's luxury hotel in Bocairente.

The academy organised a dinner specially for her. Juan Carlos Ferrero and Nicolas Almagro also attended the event.

According to the academy's website, Sharapova has been training there since young and last year has trained under the guidance of Antonio Martínez Cascales, Juan Carlos Ferrero's coach.

In case you want to know, there was a rumour between Sharapova and Ferrero dated back in 2005 but it didn't get anywhere because Ferrero had a girlfriend back then.

Sharapova is heading to London to prepare for the next Grand Slam, the Wimbledon.

In another news, Sharapova has been chosen to be Russia's flag bearer at the opening of next month's London Olympics, she announced on Facebook.

(Via Equelite.com)

Rafael Nadal’s $370,000 watch goes missing in Paris

Updates: The watch was found in the surbubs of Paris today. The thief (hotel employee) has been arrested.

Rafael Nadal's luxury Richard Mille watch worth $370,000 has disappeared from the hotel room in Paris sometime on Monday night or early Tuesday, according to Reuters report.

The watch was last seen during the winner photo session

Nadal was seen wearing the Richard Mille watch after the rain-delayed French Open men’s final and winner photo session but couldn’t find it when he woke up on Tuesday, Nadal’s family told police.

Nadal was spotted wearing a different watch in Halle yesterday

“Nobody broke into the hotel room,” a police source told Reuters.

The watch is a special, limited edition. Richard Mille had lent Nadal the watch for the tournament.

However the good news is Nadal can afford a replacement as Nadal pocketed $1.6 million in prize money on Monday.

(Via Reuters UK; Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Andy Murray becomes Rado ambassador

I just realised I have not post anything about Andy Murray after coming back from a long blogging break.

Recently announced as the official timekeeper for the Aegon Queens tennis tournament, Swiss watch brand Rado also revealed that Murray is their newest ambassador.

Murray said, “I’m really excited about joining the Rado team. The brand is all about edgy style and performance. Timing, precision and accuracy are vitally important for me, whether that relates to fitness drills, measuring my performance or striking a tennis ball.”

(Image via Andy Murray's Facebook page)

Rafael Nadal arrives in Halle

Gerry Weber tournament director Ralf Weber welcomes Rafael Nadal to the tournament with a cake at the hotel where he will be staying for the week.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Roger Federer unveils street sign with his name in Halle

Roger Federer was presented with a street sign reading his name near the Gerry Weber Stadium in the city of Halle western Germany yesterday.

Federer will be participating in the Gerry Weber Open here, where he has won the tournament five times!

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Rafael Nadal: Photo session in Paris, no Disneyland this year

After capturing his seventh French Open and 11th Grand Slam title, Rafael Nadal celebrated his historical win in a simple yet classy way - with the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop.

Last year celebrated his win at Disneyland Paris.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Rafael Nadal clinches 7th French Open title

Vamos to all Rafael Nadal fans!

After the match was halted the night before because of rain, Nadal didn't want to delay the match further. He defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 when the Serbian and world no.1 double-faulted.

Nadal now goes into the history books by becoming the first man ever to win seven French Open titles, surpasses Bjorn Borg's record.

Nadal also moved level with Borg and Rod Laver on 11 Grand Slam titles.

"It's an honour but the most important thing is this tournament. It's unforgettable, one of the most special moments in my career," he said of overtaking the great Swede.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Andrea Petkovic sported a new look

Andrea Petkovic sported a new bang and fringe when she met up with German rapper Casper at the You FM Night in Wetzlar, Germany yesterday.

Petkovic pulled out from the French Open recently due to an ankle injury.

(Image via Andrea Petkovic's Facebook fan page)

Fernando Verdasco buys dad a bike for birthday

Fernando Verdasco has been spending a lot of quality time with his family, girlfriend Jarah Mariano and friends lately.

Yesterday Verdasco celebrated his dad Jose's birthday by getting him a bike.

The Spaniard has yet to kick off his grass court season as he has withdrawn from Halle, where Roger Federer is going to play this week.

(Images via Fernando Verdasco's Twitter page)

LA Lakers' Pau Gasol shows up to support Rafael Nadal

Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol is one of Rafael Nadal's good friends who always shows up at important tennis tournaments.

While Nadal's other Spanish friends were playing the Euro cup against the Italians last night, Gasol was at the French Open final to give his support. Both of them met up after the match was suspended due to heavy rain. 

(Image via Rafael Nadal's Facebook fan page)

Rain god delays French Open final

After three hours of brutal tennis combined with bad weather, heavy balls and slow decision making by the tournament officials, Rafael Nadal has plentiful of reasons to be angry as he walked out of Court Philippe Chatrier.

The French Open men's singles final was suspended due to heavy rain which Nadal said should have been stopped an hour earlier. Nadal holds the last game at 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2.

The match will resume today on Monday at 7.00PM (GMT+8).

Carlos Moya and his girlfriend Carolina Cerezuela

Serena Williams who lost in the first round at the French Open this year also spotted watching the final

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic not missing the Euro Cup despite crucial French Open final

The French Open men's final is just hours away but it doesn't mean the finalists Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are not allowed to catch up on the Euro cup matches.

Nadal is just one victory away from becoming the only man to win seven titles at Roland Garros. Meanwhile Djokovic will be chasing for a career Grand Slam.

The final match will kick off at 9PM (GMT +8) tonight.

(Images via Rafael Nadal's and Novak Djokovic's Facebook fan pages)

Juan Monaco gets a haircut with no shirt on

Haircuts can be sexy. Somehow the process is kicked up a notch when it's Juan Monaco and he is doing it shirtless.

(Image via Juan Monaco's Twitter page)

Maria Sharapova: Post-match celebration, photo session in Paris

Every one was waiting for Maria Sharapova at the players' lounge for celebration after she won the French Open women's final match against Sara Errani.

As soon she has created a personal history for achieving a career Grand Slam, Sharapova was scheduled for a winner photo session, with the Eiffel Tower and Seine river in the background.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Maria Sharapova wins French Open, completes career Grand Slam

Newly crowned world no.1 Maria Sharapova defeated Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 to win her first French Open title and become the 10th woman to complete a career Grand Slam. 

She won the Wimbledon title in 2004, the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)