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)
Eight players already announced their commitment to join the Malaysian Open scheduled this September - (pictures in sequence) Lleyton Hewitt, Robin Soderling, David Ferrer, Fernando Gonzalez, Nikolay Davydenko, Gael Monfils, Kei Nishikori and Fernando Verdasco.
Malaysia is located near to the equator, so it's extremely hot and humid throughout the year.
Although the tournament is going to be held indoor, there's still high possibility that you'll see the players shirtless on and off court especially during practice, jogging and changovers.
Here's a preview of what you'll most likely see (I mean hot bods!) between September 26 to October 4, 2009.
On Friday, I had the opportunity to attend a media launch organised by IMG at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
I did not know it was the launch of an ATP 250 event as the invitation only stated 'a major annual sports and entertainment event for Malaysia'.
But I sort of know that it was a tennis event - or else why would they want to invite me.
As soon as I registered myself as a tennis blogger (the Media Director was a bit surprised), I took my 'goodie bag' (still not knowing it was the launch of the Malaysian Open) and searched for a place to check out the 'freebies' in the bag.
In the 'goodie bag' - An official guide to pro tennis 2009, ATP World Tour 2009 season book and a ATP 250 Malaysian Open notebook.
Now I bet you can imagine how happy I was when I finally saw the ATP 250 and Malaysian Open logos on the bag!
Then I met up with loose cannon who introduced to me the reporters and people from the press like the Malay Mail and NST.
Being kiasu, I quickly went into the conference room and grabbed the front seat so that I can get a good view to record some footage.
While most people from the media were still outside, I wassitting inside enjoying the slide show - I couldn't believe my eyes that Kei Nishikori, Fernando Verdasco, Fernando Gonzalez, David Ferrer, Gael Monfils and Nikolay Davydenko were some of the players who will be here in September!
With a James Blunt's song in the background, I got goosebumps and a chill running down my spine. I can't remember how many tweets and text messages I've sent out sharing the great news.
So, Kuala Lumpur won the right to host the prestigious ATP World Tour 250 for a period of five years from this year until 2013.
The Malaysian Open, to be organised by IMG, a world leader in sports and lifestyle marketing, will carry a total prize money of USD947,750, more than the amount offered at Thailand Open which is to be held on the same week.
This event will be held at the 16,000-capacity indoor Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from Sept 26 till Oct 4. Very, very near to my house indeed!
The Malaysian Open joins the Thailand Open, China Open, Japan Open and Shanghai Masters as Asian events on the ATP Tour schedule.
"There is great demand for cities to host ATP World Tour events and in particular within the Asian region," said Brad Drewett, CEO of ATP International.
"Kuala Lumpur presented a very strong application to become part of the ATP World Tour."
Here's the launch video which I want to share with you.
Tournament director Nick Freyer, who is also IMG Senior Vice-President and Head of Tennis for Asia, confirmed the participation of the 6 players mentioned earlier in this post.
If you haven't watch the welcome messages in my previous blog post, here we go again:
Freyer who received a 'special phone call' in the middle of his speech, later invited the Prime Minister to announce the participation of another player, who turned out to be 2009 French Open runner-up Robin Soderling.
Initially I thought that gimmick 'phone call' came from Roger Federer!
Now during the Q&A session, I managed to ask a question. I was glad when the tournament director assured that wildcards will be given based on merits. I'll be disappointed if wildcards will be given to local players whom I believe not ready to play at this level yet.
The event ended on high note when the Prime Minister officially launched the event and the official website (www.MalaysianOpenTennis.com).
Right after the event, I quickly dashed to the registration counter, got myself the press kit and an extra 'goodie bag' for Esther.
Before I end this post, let me share with you some information which I've got regarding the Malaysian Open. I bet you want to know things like the schedule of event, ticket price, venue and facilities, etc.
After months of speculation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is confirmed the latest stop on the ATP World Tour!
At HCFoo's Tennis Blog, we promise to bring you both on-court and off-court coverage of the ATP 250 Malaysian Open between September 26 to October 4, 2009!
Before I share with you my experience at the press conference today, let me share with you the messages from the players - David Ferrer, Nikolay Davydenko, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils and Kei Nishikori are some of the big names who will be playing in Kuala Lumpur!
The other players who have confirmed their participations are Robin Soderling and Fernando Gonzalez.
For more info regarding about the tournament, visit the Malaysian Open official website.
Can he become the greatest player in the Open era?
Roger Federer stayed on course for a first French Open title, and a 14th Grand Slam trophy, with a thrilling recovery to beat Juan Martin Del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the semifinals.
JMDP was frustrated with the outcome but he also told Roger, "Everybody wants you to lift the trophy.”
Roger will now face Roland Garros sensation Robin Soderling in Sunday's final. Victory there will take Federer level with Pete Sampras's mark of 14 majors and make him only the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.
Federer will go into his fourth Roland Garros final with an advantage of 9-0 career record over Soderling.
Soderling is aiming for a Swede success.
Soderling, the shock conqueror of four-time champion Rafael Nadal, also needed five sets to reach his maiden Grand Slam final with a 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Fernando Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was down and out of the French Open.
Federer however will not underestimate Soderling in the final.
"Soderling deserves to be there because he also beat Nadal and he was the man to beat in this tournament."
I'm kind of bored (not sick yet though) with all these talks about Roger Federer achieving a career Grand Slam, tying Pete Sampras all-time record of 14 major titles and being the people's choice.
"I feel it since a few years now, to be honest with you," Federer said.
"But this year even more extreme."
"When I walk on the streets or drive in the transportation or I go for dinner, everybody is like, 'This is your year. You've got to do it.' They're screaming from their scooters and out of the car. They even get out at the red lights and want me to sign an autograph or take a picture."
"It's quite incredible this last couple of weeks."
Alright maybe I'm saying that because I'm a Rafatard.
Or maybe I just want people to stop talking about it.
We all know very well that Federer has his best ever chance of winning the French Open, the only Grand Slam which is missing from his resume.
Hopefully Juan Martin del Potro will surprise us tomorrow, or at least put up a good fight against his idol.
In another semifinal, Fernando Gonzalez will face off with Robin Soderling,
I'm glad that Gonzalez is confident about his chance in the final.
He said, "This is a big moment in my career and I want to make the most of it. I want to think I'm a favourite because I feel fit to win my next match, and that is what I want to focus on."
Fernando Gonzalez, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Nenad Zimonjic were at the Miami Seaquarium earlier today prior to the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida.
(Images by Marc Serota/Getty Images for Sony Ericsson)
Fernando Gonzalez took time out to play a didgeridoo by the banks of the Yarra River during day one of the 2009 Australian Open.
Gonzo is scheduled to take on homeboy Lleyton Hewitt tomorrow.
Whether Hewitt will make it to the next round or not, I don't think it's a big deal for Australia anymore because the Aussies have found Hewitt's successor in atomic boy, Bernard Tomic.
Quoting from Forty Deuce, this 16 year-old boy wonder's future is so bright that he has to wear shades.
Tomic defeated Starace Potito 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 7-6 and will be facing an exhausted Gilles Muller in the second round.
Poor Muller had to overcome Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 4-6, 16-14 in a 4-hour, 23-minute match.
While Gael Monfils took a trip to the zoo, Fernando Gonzalez took time out from the Bank Austria-Tennis Trophy in Vienna yesterday to visit the Spanish Riding School, which is home to 73 Lipizzan stallions.
The 28-year-old visited the stables to meet a 15-year-old Lipizzan stallion called Conversano Tiberia. Afterwards he watched the morning practice show at Vienna's Imperial Hofburg Palace.
Gonzalez said: “It was very nice. The horses are really taken care of perfectly. I’ve never seen this many white horses at once!”
“My sister loves horses and has taught me a lot about them. I’ve been riding a few times and it’s really fun. I have to be careful though because it can be dangerous for my career but in the future I’m going to ride more for sure.”
“The buildings here are unbelievable. There is a lot of tradition here dating back to the 16th century.”
The Spanish Riding School is the only institution in the world that continues to cultivate classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the haute école.
The Lipizzans are Europe's oldest breed of horses, with their origins dating back to the 16th century.
Gonzalez is scheduled to meet Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals today.
Updates: While Monfils and Gonzalez were doing something educational, Feliciano Lopez (look at those electrifying eyes!) and Juan Martin del Potro were partying at the players party at Passage that features DJ Manfredo & DJ Mosaken.
(Images via Bank Austria-Tennis Trophy official website)
If you have been following my blog for awhile, you'll know I love Feliciano Lopez for his good looks. But I have to give him the thumbs down here for his, er, retarded look (sorry!).
Not everyone can look good wearing baseball cap backward. But Nicolas Lapentti can make it look so hot!
Fernando Gonzalez has quite a hairy situation here. But Juan Martin del Potro's is pretty decent and good enough.
I don't know why Dinara Safina keeps reminding me of the wicked witch in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Drawfs. If only the aspiring world no. 1 soften her facial expression a bit like Ana Ivanovic.
Silver medallist Fernando Gonzalez (L) of Chile, gold medallist Rafael Nadal (C) of Spain and bronze medallist Noval Djokovic (R) of Serbia pose together on the podium during the awards ceremony following Nadal's victory over Gonzalez in their men's singles gold medal final tennis match during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Sunday.
Today, Rafael Nadal is the official ATP world no.1 tennis player in the world! Vamos Rafa!!!!!!!!!!!! (By the way this is my 100 posts for Nadal, the first one way back in 2005!)
Back to the Olympic final, Rafael Nadal who owns the night stood in front of the medal podium, his nation’s flag draped across his back like a cape, he looked like a Spanish Superman. At least in tennis, he is the superhero to many fans.
Already assured of the No. 1 ranking, Nadal was No. 1 at the Olympics. He won a gold medal Sunday, overcoming two set points in the second set and holding every service game to beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
The gold medal was the first ever for Spain in Olympic tennis, and another milestone in an astounding summer surge by Nadal, who will officially end Roger Federer’s 41/2-year reign atop the rankings Monday.
Nadal has won 38 of his past 39 matches, including victories over Federer in the finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
“Nowhere in my best dreams I can imagine something like what I did this year,” Nadal said. “I know how difficult it is to win these things, and especially here, because you only have one chance every four years.”
It wasn't a dream final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. But it's okay as long as Nadal goes into the final on Sunday.
Last night's semifinal was a nail-biting match between the soon-to-be world no. 1 and world no. 3 Novak Djokovic that ended with the result 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 and I'm glad that it is Nadal who won in the end.
Let me tell you, last night's match was a torture, seeing how agressive Djokovic was and how biased the commentator was who clearly sided Djokovic (and wanted Nadal to lose). Nadal who will be crowned the world no. 1 on Monday and world number 15 Fernando Gonzalez will meet in the men's singles final in the Beiing Olympic tennis event after two blockbuster semifinals yesterday.
Djokovic, the world number three hit a smash long to give the 22-year-old the first win on hard surface this season after battling for two hours and 10 minutes. And yes, Djokovic cried and only have himself to blame for his own mistake.
With the victory, Nadal now leads 10-4 over Djokovic in career.
American James Blake and Chilean Gonzalez joined to produce a thrilling yet controversial game where a point in the third set apparently distracted the American's mind. I missed this match but still managed to check out the live score on ITF website. Blake lost his concentration towards the end of the match when the umpire missed that Gonzalez's racquet touched a Blake backhand that went long and should have put the American 15-0 up on Gonzelez's serve in the 18th game of the third set.
And in the post-match press conference, the eighth seed hit hard at Gonzalez's sportsmanship.
"Yeah, hit a shot that hit Fernando's racquet and then went out. The umpire didn't see that it hit his racquet," said Blake.
"Playing in the Olympics, in what's supposed to be considered a gentleman's sport, that's a time to call it on yourself."
"Fernando looked me square in the eye and didn't call it," said a disappointed Blake.
After the incident, Gonzalez positioned himself to win the match when he broke the American's serve on a second break point in the 19th game, when the American hit a forehand approach long.
Blake fought hard to prevent his demise by saving four match points in the final game but made two forehand errors to lose the match from deuce.
"I've spoken all week about how much I've enjoyed the Olympic experience, how much I love the spirit of it, how much I love the other athletes, what they've sacrificed, and you appreciate that. And the guys go out and compete their hardest, win fair and square, lose fair and square," said the 28-year-old Blake.
"That's a disappointing way to exit the tournament when you not only lose the match, but you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor."
"I know him very well. I've played him many times on tour. He does everything in his power to win. Usually it's in the rules, sometimes it's bordering on gamesmanship. Whatever, that happens out there all the time."
"But he's too good of a player to do something like that and to act like that. That's why it's disappointing, because he is a great player. I can't take away anything from the fact he won the match. Came from back from three match points down, served really well, hung in the whole time. I'm not going to take anything away from the kind of tennis he can play, but there's still a level of disappointment in him."
It's okay, Blake. Nadal will beat Gonzalez for you.
(Images via AP Photo/Charles Krupa/Elise Amendola) (Some text via xinhuanet)
While some tennis players have their personal views and issues (such as injury) that keep them from taking part in this world's biggest games, most of them including tennis star players join their compatriots for a historical moment at the Opening Ceremony, in the National Stadium or better known as the Bird's Nest.
Flag bearers including Roger Federer (Switzerland) and Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) certainly made tennis and their countries proud. Other tennis players spotted are Rafael Nadal (Spain), Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Andy Murray (UK), Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) and Lindsay Davenport (USA). There also a picture of Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) taking picture of his tennis player girlfriend Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic). Their pictures are in sequence.
Lindsay Davenport, however, pulls out from the women's single draw due to knee injury. However she will still be playing doubles with partner Liezel Huber.
And by the way, Jelena Jankovic skips the Opening Ceremony cited injury she got during Friday's training session.
I missed the front part of the Opening Ceremony. Hope to catch the rerun of the event later. (Images via Yahoo! Sports, ATP and Getty Images)
The Olympics 2008 will start in less than 12 hours! But before that...
It was hazy and it was definitely hot in Beijing yesterday!
With that kind of weather, there's only one things for the ladies, shirtless players. Novak Djokovic, Guillermo Canas, Nicolas Massu, Fernando Gonzalez, Jonas Bjorkman, Lleyton Hewitt and Rafael Nadal (pictures all in sequence) sure couldn't stand the heat and took their shirts off. Nadal's picture is a repeat from this post.
UPDATES: Checking the latest weather report, it's raining now in Beijing, which is good for the Opening Ceremony tonight.
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.
Designed by Frank Gehry, this latest sterling silver and diamond earrings were created especially for Sharapova to wear at the US Open.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, 52, is engaged with Julia Lemigova, 36. 
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.
