TENNIS WATCH: Davis Cup Final, Federer's 100th, dope accusation & corruption

Rafael Nadal may be tired after an uncharacteristic season.

However he is still motivated to lead Spain in its attempt to win a 5th Davis Cup title against Argentina.

This time Nadal will lead a Spain team on the clay surface at Olympic Stadium which includes David Ferrer and probable doubles partners Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.

Argentina is seeking its first title in four attempts. Juan Martin del Potro and David Nalbandian could face Nadal and Ferrer in singles.

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On Sunday, Roger Federer overpowered Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win his 6th ATP finals title.

After a year that saw Federer , the Swiss star shrugged off a second-set letdown to beat Tsonga 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 for a record sixth title in the ATP World Tour Finals.

Playing in his 100th career final, Federer won 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 , sealing his 70th career title and took over the third place in the ATP rankings from Andy Murray.

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It seems like Yannick Noah refused to back down from his accusations of doping in Spanish sports.

Nadal said Noah should be banned from commenting in the media.

Until he can produce any proof, I think Noah should keep his mouth shut.

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Austrian tennis player Daniel Koellerer has appeared at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge his lifetime ban for attempting to fix matches between October 2009 and July 2010.

Koellerer was the first tennis player banned for life for attempted corruption.

His ranking peaked at No. 55 in October 2009.

(Via Yahoo News, Images via Getty Images, Sina Sports)

Australian Open 2011: Crown's Tennis Players' Party

Every year, tennis players will show up at the luxurious Crown Casino for its annual players' party prior to the Australian Open.

Among the players who turned up this year were Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Robin Soderling with girlfriend Jenni Moström and David Nalbandian.

Rafael Nadal in his Emporio Armani wear and Richard Mille watch.

Marion Bartoli seriously need a haircut.

That transparent top with inner black tube on Maria Sharapova is just so wrong...

The usual laidback David Nalbandian...

Sweet sweet Sorana Cirstea...

I admit Robin Soderling and girlfriend Jenni Moström do look lovely together.

(Images by Graham Denholm/Getty Images AsiaPac via zimbio.com)

David Nalbandian's hips don't lie

David Nalbandian may need to go under the knife to treat his injured right hip, which according to his new coach Luis Lobo said has been a issue for the past 8 months!

Earlier last week, he withdrew from the Barcelona Open, complaining of hip pain.

His physician in Europe, Angel Cotorro, told the Argentine newspaper Clarin that Nalbandian would receive three or four days of treatment including physical therapy and medication before a decision is made on surgery.

However, questions has been raised in tennis forum as to why this injury has never been been reported or discussed before.

If Nalbandian has been suffering from the hip injury like 8 months ago, when exactly was that and during which tournament?

Now he could miss Argentina’s Davis Cup quarterfinal against the Czech Republic scheduled this July.

Hopefully he'll spend lots of time in rehabilitation and recover in time for the season ending hard court tournaments.

(Image via menstennisforums.com)

Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun (盧彥勳) dumps David Nalbandian out in second round, pulls off biggest upset

I can't describe to you how happy I am when Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun (盧彥勳) shocked 10th seed David Nalbandian in the Australian Open second round today for the biggest win of his career.

Rendy thumped Nalby 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 6-2 in three hours 55 minutes.

Currently at a career-high no. 61 in the world rankings, Rendy will next meet no. 21 seed Tommy Robredo of Spain in the third round.

Robredo defeated Viktor Troicki 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 in just 82 minutes.

Here's Rendy's interview after the win from AO official website.

Q. How does it feel to make the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time?

YEN‑HSUN LU: For sure now I really happy. I was pick up the phone all the times and my friends was congratulations to me all times. Really, for me, it's big step to be the third round in a Grand Slam, because before I always only in the second round.

Today, I just step one big step to go to third round. For me it's very happy. Really I could tell my friend is really happy for me.

Q. How did you make that big step? Why were you better than Nalbandian?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Today is not ‑‑ I mean, I just nothing to lose today, because he's top 10 player. For me, I'm 61 in the world and I have no pressure. I just going on the court and play my game and it's not about who is better.

But today for sure I'm better performance than him. I think I serve also more consistent than him. After the fourth set and final set I was play more aggressive than him. So that's the key point I can take in this match today. Yes.

Q. Could they do something about the game in your country generally speaking? And how you began to play? It's very popular there where you live?

YEN‑HSUN LU: You mean the tennis?

Q. Yes.

YEN‑HSUN LU: It's very popular now. It's not the first sport in my country. It's probably three or four. The baseball is my country's sport. I'm happy because I did a match that they show in Taiwan, and I really happy I can tell them the tennis is going on in Taiwan. I hope they can more support the Taiwan players.

Q. You said your friends. Were they watching you back in Taiwan?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Yes, I think they show sports on ESPN.

Q. Is this win better than the win over Andy Murray at the Olympics?

YEN‑HSUN LU: I think it's different meanings for me, because Olympic is play for my country. But here is, I mean, it's different than Olympic because it's Grand Slam. I think for me it's most biggest of the tennis events. So it's two different events. I couldn't compete which one is better.

These two victories for me is really good memory and really good experience for me. So, yeah, I really happy about these two wins.

Q. The last game of the match was very long. How important was it for you to win that even though you had the extra break? Did you feel you had to win then?

YEN‑HSUN LU: I didn't think I have to win, but I just worry about my body. Because I really struggling with my body, and my legs start to have some problem. I really tell myself I need to close this game, because I don't want to like have problem to serving to 5‑4.

So really, even he has a breakpoint, I tried to get a point back and get a point back. So I'm happy I done for this. I just go for it these last games, yes.

Q. You served very well with the breakpoints down in the last game. You served very well then.

YEN‑HSUN LU: I mean, because everybody thinks Nalbandian is the best backhand players. Because I just guess he's ready for his forehand returns, so I just change my mind and say, Okay, then I go his backhand all the time.

So I was serving six times in his backhand in the breakpoint and I win all the points. I really betting I win this game. I betting to win this game, yeah.

Q. Are you the best player ever in Taiwan, or are there some others stronger than you as far as you know? What's the history of tennis in Taiwan? Why did you start playing tennis instead of another sport?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Right now I'm the first one in the top 100 players. Before they have other one to go in be top 100, but now he's out.

We are the first two in top 100 in our country.

Q. What was his name?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Mr. Wang, W‑a‑n‑g. How I choose tennis is my father loved to watch tennis match in Taiwan. My father just think if I have one day to play in Grand Slam then he is happy.

I have a chance and my school wants to make a new team. So I just join the team and start to play. I really enjoy to build on my tennis. Until the juniors I have some sponsor, and I deal with my father and my family until then.

I really want to try the professional tennis, so we started to...

Q. Is your father playing tennis, too?

YEN‑HSUN LU: No.

Q. And your family is rich? Could he afford to pay your expenses?

YEN‑HSUN LU: No. Because we not rich, but we just average. I'm lucky, because in the juniors I was traveling with ITF teams and they was paying all the cost so I save a lot money.

The reason is I got a sponsor after the juniors, so we start to decide to play the professional.

Otherwise if we have no sponsor then maybe we will not try to play the professional tennis. Yeah.

Q. Taipei had has some really excellent little league baseball teams. Anybody try to recruit you for those little league teams?

YEN‑HSUN LU: I don't think so. I don't know. I'm not sure. But I just know our national team will come to Australia to make a preparation for the World Cup in the States. So they're going to play some friendly matches against Australia teams.

But I don't know. I love to watch the baseball, but we have no really contact. Yeah, the players, but my trainers come from the baseball, so I know many story from them. Yeah.

Q. Were your teachers all from Taipei? Did you learn to play tennis with some international coach? How many coaches were in Taipei where you were playing?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Right now I was practice in Germany with Rainier Schuettler's coach, Dirk Hordorff. He also help me a lot when I was playing professional tennis in 2003. I always practice with him, and if he has time he coach me and teach me how I improve.

Today in the match he also was sitting outside and watch I play. We discuss after the match. And yeah, he's help me a lot right now. Yes.

Q. Was there a player you liked watching growing up?

YEN‑HSUN LU: I follow a lot. I follow Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang. These guys really famous in Taiwan when they play.

But I don't know if I want to become them, but I really want to become myself, to go in a Grand Slam to play the match. Yeah.

Q. Was Chang more popular than anybody else in Taipei?

YEN‑HSUN LU: He's the one Chinese player to make top 5 and win a Grand Slam, so everybody know him. I know his first sponsor also is from some newspaper company from Taiwan, so many people was looking for him, or follow him many times.

Q. Have you met him? Did you ever talk to him?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Actually, I meet him one time in the challengers, yeah. We just have one, two conversations. But I was talking to his father. Yeah, his father is nice.

So we're just talking how we going to play, how we should do the practice. Yeah, he give me some ideas.

Q. Do you have any relation with the girl tennis player, Chinese of the other China who won the Olympics?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Yeah, we know each other. We always have like Taiwan, the girls, we have the dinner sometimes. If we meet each other, like we talk natural like friends.

So it's not ‑‑ we don't have a distance, so it's not a problem. Yeah.

Q. You talked about your coach. Do you work only on private, or do you work also with the Federation?

YEN‑HSUN LU: I work private. Yeah, because the first point is Taiwan ‑‑ I tell you like I tell you before, we are the first one to be top 100, so they have really no experience, like how we should do in the professional tennis.

So then we always looking for coach with more experience and can bring us up. I'm not saying Taiwan coach is bad, but they need sometime to get experience and start to travel with juniors or lower players and get more experience.

So you, I working with private coach.

Q. If you had to play doubles with the Chinese players, the Chinese would allow that?

YEN‑HSUN LU: It's not a big deal. You think it's a...

Q. I'm asking if there is a political issue why they can or cannot play together?

YEN‑HSUN LU: No. This time, like many girls' teams mixed, like Taiwan and China. I think it's no problem, like because you play yourself. It's not a Grand Slam.

But if you are play for country then it's different. But in a Grand Slam and professional tennis...

Q. I mean, in doubles you can play together?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Yeah, no problem.

Q. Why do they call you Randy? You were baptized at a second name as Randy?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Because same problem with you cannot pronounce my first name. Then I choose because I have ‑‑ I been English class, and the teacher say we need to make some English name, so I choose this time name, and I use, use.

Also my coach, he think Randy is easier. So now is more people call me Randy.

Q. So they call you Randy?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Yes.

Hey AO, his name should be spelled as R-E-N-D-Y :P

And here are more photos exclusively taken by Zahirah (Photo credit should read and link back to Zahirah). Click on the photos to enlarge. You may also want to read Rendy's pre-AO interview last week done by Zahirah.

Australian Open: IMG Players Party

Some of the tennis stars were at Breezes in Crown Entertainment Complex for the annual Crown IMG Baller Party celebrating the start of this year's Aussie Open.

Check out these photos.

Rafael Nadal who is not feeling the pressure to win the AO, posing
with sisters Melinda and Victoria Petrolo.

Jelena Jankovic is wearing a Wayne Cooper dress and Louis Vuitton bag and shoes.

Roger Federer is Mr Suave no. 1.

James Blake is Mr Suave no. 2.

Carlos Moya is Mr Suave no. 3.

Feliciano Lopez spoilt the party with a cheap homemade t-shirt.

David Nalbandian shares a laugh with Channel Seven's Mia Grieves.

Radek Stepanek looks as if he owns Nicole Vaidisova. Well, literally he is.
And his girl looks kinda intimidated.

Australian wild card Monika Wegnert, 16.

(Images by Fiona Hamilton via news.com.au)

Is David Nalbandian eyeing a switch to motorsport?

Nah, not yet. The tennis player who would consider such a career change would be Paradorn Srichaphan.

David Nalbandian took time out from his practice for the Medibank International, an ATP World Tour 250 tennis tournament in Sydney, by satisfying his need for speed.

The 27-year-old, whose hobbies include fishing and watching rally races, travelled to Eastern Creek - the home of Australian Motorsport - on Sydney’s outskirts to compete in a go-karting session.


(Via Medibank Sydney website)

David Nalbandian devastated by Davis Cup loss

Guess what David Nalbandian's doing?

No, he's not picking his nose.


Instead he's picking up the pieces after a terrible loss at home in the Davis Cup final last weekend.

A sullen-looking Nalbandian said he was devastated by the loss.

“Understand the pain of a player not being able to score a point in an important series,” Nalbandian said.

“Understand the anguish and unease right now.

“Things went badly, but the terrible weekend is over,” he said.

Nalbandian gave Argentina its only point in the best-of-five series, beating David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the first singles match Friday.

Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri lost the doubles Saturday to Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, which left Argentina with the nearly impossible task of winning both reverse singles Sunday to win the title.

Top player Juan Martin Del Potro was injured Friday and did not play Sunday.

Nalbandian, upset by the doubles loss, skipped the mandatory news conference after the match and was fined $5,000.

Argentina Coach Alberto Mancini said Nalbandian left the Islas Malvinas Stadium because he was not feeling well emotionally.

Nalbandian apologized to reporters for missing the Saturday news conference but accused them of spreading rumors that he argued with Calleri following the doubles loss.

“It really hurts the players when people say things that aren’t true,” Nalbandian said, sitting alone in front of a room full of reporters.

Despite his disappointment, Nalbandian questioned those who are pessimistic about Argentina’s future chances in the Davis Cup.

“We made it to two finals in three years. Why aren’t we going to continue having the possibility of reaching our goal (of winning the Davis Cup)?” he said.

Argentina reached the finals in 1981 and 2006, losing to the United States and Russia.

David Nalbandian confirmed Monday he will play for Argentina in the Davis Cup next year, setting aside the possibility he would step down following a painful loss to Spain in the final.

“It bothers me that people have questioned whether I’m continuing with the Davis Cup or not. For me, representing my country is really an honor,” Nalbandian said Monday during a televised news conference in Mar del Plata, the site of Spain’s 3-1 victory over Argentina last weekend.

“I’m going to continue — like I’ve done until this point—defending Argentina’s flag the best way possible.”

(Via AP; Images via Yahoo! Sport, menstennisforums.com)

Veteran players roll on without Novak Djokovic

Nole continues to party hard and Muzza will take over his no. 3 position very soon.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer rolled into the Paris Masters quarterfinals but this time without Novak Djokovic.

Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, defending champion David Nalbandian and amazingly Nikolay Davydenko also made the last eight.

Rafa has bigger biceps than Monfils.

Nadal beat Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2, Federer defeated Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-4, while Djokovic lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

“I’m not playing my best level, but I’m not playing badly,” Nadal said.

“If I can improve a bit for tomorrow and for Shanghai I think I can finish the year playing well.”

Nadal will play Davydenko, who crushed 2005 champion Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-1.

Even though Nadal was guaranteed to start 2009 ahead of Federer in the rankings, he feels like he’s still behind him.

“Roger had four or five years with the No. 1, winning two, three Grand Slams a year,” Nadal said.

“So for that reason I think everybody says Federer is the best.”

Federer sets his eyes on his first semifinals at the Bercy Indoor Arena but he has to go through James Blake first, who defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-4, 6-4.

“I prefer to come back to a place where I had success in the past. This is not the case here,” Federer.

Federer is 8-1 against Blake, with the Swiss star’s only loss in the quarterfinals at the Beijing Olympics in August.

“I’m not the revengeful type, but I would be pleased to beat him,” Federer said.

Djokovic beat Tsonga in the Australian Open final for his first major title, but has lost to the Frenchman in successive matches since then including the recent Thailand Open.

“I just don’t feel quite comfortable on the court,” the Serb said.

“When you play indoors, points get quicker. (Tsonga) was serving really well.”

Tsonga will next meet Roddick for the first time in nearly two years.

“If I manage to stay in shape physically, I will go from strength to strength in this tournament,” Tsonga said.

Gilles 'Crybaby' Simon

The seventh-seeded Roddick overcame 10th-seeded Gilles Simon 6-3, 7-5 on his fifth match point.

“It wasn’t going to do me any good to play patty-cake back and forth with him today,” Roddick said.

“I’m not as quick as he is and I’m not as consistent as he is. It actually made for a pretty simple game plan.”

Murray topped Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (6) for his 14th straight win, staying on track for a third straight Masters title.

Fat Dave shows del Potro he's still the big brother of Argentina tennis.

Murray will face Nalbandian in the quarterfinals, after the Argentine defeated countryman del Potro 6-4, 6-0.

“His results have been pretty special the last couple of years. Should be a great match,” Murray said of Nalbandian.

“He picks his schedule very well and is fresher than the other players toward the end of the year.”

After victories at Cincinnati and Madrid, Murray hopes to become the only player to win three straight Masters titles.

(Via AP, Images via Yahoo! Sport, zimbio.com)

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic advances at Madrid Masters; Nikolay Davydenko stumbles

I'm not sure if it's only me. I thought Roger Federer look pale. Hope he's not sick or experiencing fatigue still.

Last night, Federer returned from a 5-week break to beat Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the second round of the Madrid Masters.

“Happy to be back on tour,” Federer said.

“Happy with this first round. it was always going to be tough against Radek and he played a great second set.”

Federer, playing his first ATP event since winning the U.S. Open last month, will face Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

“I’m excited. He’s had a rocky season with injuries this year, so I feel for the guy,” Federer said of his French opponent.

“He’s probably one of the guys you wanna be playing out there.”

In an earlier match, Novak Djokovic advanced after Victor Hanescu retired because of an apparent groin injury while trailing 6-7 (8), 7-6 (8), 3-1.

“It’s a big relief to win … this is a big boost up for upcoming matches,” Djokovic said.

“He used his biggest weapon which was his serve. I couldn’t find any rhythm in return, so he used that wisely.”

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal pulled out of doubles with Carlos Moya on Tuesday because of a slight upper leg injury.

“Every match is important, including doubles, but I’ve got priorities,” said Nadal, who will face Richard Gasquet of France in singles tonight.

“You can’t win everything.”

American qualifier Robby Ginepri had the biggest upset of the day, beating fifth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Andy Roddick had little trouble getting past Spain’s Tommy Robredo, 6-3, 6-4.

The 8th-ranked American’s booming serve was never seriously challenged by Robredo and Roddick used breaks in each of the sets to pace out his win.

David Nalbandian won his sixth straight match by defeating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-1.

Updates:
6th seed Ferrer suffered a shock defeat to fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in straight sets, recording a 6-4 7-6 triumph.

There will be an all-Argentinean clash in the next round when Nalbandian will meet his Davis Cup team-mate Juan Martin del Potro, who was 6-4 6-2 ahead when his Finnish opponent, Jarrko Nieminen, retired.

(Via AP, Images via Yahoo! Sport)

David Nalbandian wins Stockholm Open; Jonas Bjorkman & Kevin Ullyett take dubs title

Top-seeded David Nalbandian posted a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling to win the Stockholm Open final on Sunday.

“I think I played a very solid match today,” said Nalbandian.

“Robin is a tough opponent. All our matches are very tight and this time it wasn’t different. He hits the ball very hard all the time so I had to play my best to beat him.”

Nalbandian now has a 9-8 record in ATP finals by claiming his second title this year after clinching the Buenos Aires trophy in February. He also finished runner-up at Acapulco the following week.

Nalbandian, who claimed the $156,000 first prize, then held at love to lead 5-3 and wrapped up the match with another break after Soderling double-faulted on match point.

“Overall I’m happy with my performance this week,” said Nalbandian who claimed the $156,000 first prize.

“I think I’ve played well every time I stepped in the court and this gives me some confidence going into Madrid.”

In men's doubles, top seeds Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Zimbabwean Kevin Ullyett clinched their first team ATP title at the If Stockholm Open, after defeating Swedish wild cards Johan Brunstrom and Michael Ryderstedt 6-1, 6-3 in the dubs final, which lasted 55 minutes.

It was Bjorkman’s 700th doubles match win (700-302 lifetime). He was being carried around Centre Court in a wheelchair by Stockholm tournament staff.

"This is a perfect ending for me to win the doubles title in Stockholm, in my last match in Sweden, with my family and friends, old coaches, watching me. The only person was missing today was my son Max who is back at Monte-Carlo in school."

"We didn't want to ruin Jonas' farewell match in Sweden so we let them win [laughs]," said Ullyett the 23-year-old Stockholm resident Ryderstedt, who was appearing in the first doubles final of his career.

"They played incredible tennis and were just too good for us today."

Bjorkman and Ullyett, who started the week at No. 6 in the ATP 2008 Race with 386 points, collected €37,500 in prize money, while Brunstrom and Ryderstedt will split €22,300.

(Images via Yahoo! Sport, expressen.se)

Argentines feel Davis Cup within grasp; Football legend, Diego Maradona at the practice

Argentina believes winning its first Davis Cup is within its grasp on the eve of hosting its first semifinal at its Parque Roca Stadium fortress.

If the team beats Russia this weekend, the Argentines will also host its first final against either Spain or the trophy-holding United States.

The chance to make history has the Argentine team highly motivated, and even drew football great Diego Maradona to practice on Wednesday.

"The boys are really dedicated to this tournament," Argentina captain Alberto Mancini told TyC Sports television on Wednesday.

"They're pumped up by the opportunity to play another final — and at home. They have a lot of motivation, you can see it on the court."

Argentina hasn't lost at home in 10 years, winning 12 straight ties. That record made Argentina favored to win this week, said the country's greatest player, Guillermo Vilas.

"Argentina has a very good record at home," Vilas told the Davis Cup Web site. "The people are very warm and passionate when the matches start, and the Argentines always seem to play at their best."

To ease the pressure on his team, Mancini on Tuesday named David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro for Friday's opening singles at the sold-out, 14,000-seat, clay-court stadium.

Diego Maradona wishing David Nalbandian success.

Guillermo Canas gets some love from the football legend.

Same goes to Juan Martin del Potro. Alberto Mancini is waiting for his turn.

(Via GMANews.TV, Images via Yahoo! Sport)