Novak Djokovic: From impersonator to imposter

Hey, check out who was the "journalist" in sports gear sitting at the back during Ana Ivanovic's press conference at Roland Garros?

It appeared to be prankster, Novak Djokovic!

The funny part was when Djokvic pretended to be a "journalist" and started asking Ivanovic about her "love and private life"!

Of course everyone turned around and discovered it was Djokovic who sneaked into the press conference as it was his turn to be interviewed next.

Everyone had a good laugh.

Too bad Ivanovic refused to give her answer and only shaked Djokovic's hand on her way out.

(Via tennisforum.com)

French Open 2009: Great coverage on Astro

First of all, I would like to say that I'm not the one who complained to Astro about the sudden commercial break during when Andre Agassi walked out to the centre court for prize-giving ceremony.

However, I would have complained if it's Rafael Nadal's 5th consecutive Roland Garros win though... hehe...

Thanks to Astro for doing such a tremendous job in covering the recent French Open 2009, where Roger Federer won his historic Grand Slam title.

Through the exclusive channel on Astro SuperSport+ (channel 816), Malaysian tennis fans were given the opportunity to watch incredible tennis matches through multiple screenings, both LIVE and repeat.

When Federer’s semifinal match was not even shown LIVE in the USA, Malaysians have the privilege to watch it in the comfort of their own homes.

So, thanks again and we're looking forward for more excitement in this month's Wimbledon.

Roger Federer: Netjets congratulatory commercial

This commercial was shown shortly after Roger Federer won the French Open and his 14th Grand Slam title.

Netjets congratulated Federer on his historic victory.

Perhaps that commercial was filmed before the Australian Open?

Rafael Nadal congrats Roger Federer; 'rehabilitates' in Majorca with Xisca

In his official website, Rafael Nadal congratulates Roger Federer for his amazing win at the French Open.

Nadal had a brief chat with the media and said he wanted to ‘text’ Roger and congratulate him for his win, “only not now because he will have 300 messages waiting for him for sure.”

Even during his last press conference in Paris, Nadal showed his support and admiration for Federer saying that he would like to see him win Roland Garros and become a legend in the sport’s history, because to him, he “is the one who deserves it most."

In the meanwhile, back in Majorca, Nadal enjoyed a day of messing about on a jet ski with girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello.

It is believed that the silver and black Seadog was a gift for Nadal who celebrated his birthday last Wednesday.

The pair then donned matching black life jackets before taking to the sea for an exhilarating high-speed ride.

After going for a spin, the pair were joined by two male friends, who were keen to try out Rafael's new toy.

In the latest development, Uncle Toni Nadal said that his nephew could miss this year's Wimbledon after withdrawing from next week's tournament at Queen's Club - seen as a warm-up to the main event - due to a persistent knee injury.

(Images by Splash via dailymail.co.uk)

Finally Roger Federer wins French Open, ties Pete Sampras’ record

On his fourth try at Roland Garros, Federer finally won the French Open to become the sixth man to win all four Grand Slam championships.

Federer beat surprise finalist Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 on Sunday to complete a career Grand Slam and win his 14th major title, matching Pete Sampras’ record.

Something bizarre happened during the match when a spectator waving a flag climbed through the photographer’s pit and onto Federer’s side of the court.

That crazy fan caught up with Federer and tried to put a hat on Federer’s head.

The security was just as poor as the Australian Open. Security personnel reaction was too slow before they chased the man to the other side of the court and brought him down and out of the court.

Coming back to Federer, after hitting a service winner on championship point, he fell on his knees to the clay that had vexed him for so long, screamed and briefly buried his face in his hands.

He was teary by the time he met Soderling at the net, and the crowd gave Federer a standing ovation as he raised his arms in triumph.

From left to right: Wimbledon 2003, Australian Open 2004, Wimbledon 2004, US Open 2004, Wimbledon 2005, US Open 2005, Australian Open 2006, Wimbledon 2006, US Open 2006, Australian Open 2007, Wimbledon 2007, US Open 2007, 2008 and French Open 2009.

Federer won his 14th Grand Slam championship at age 27.

Sampras, who never reached a French Open final, was 31 when he won his last major title.

Federer will try for no.15 beginning in two weeks at Wimbledon, which he has won five times.

(Via AP; Images by AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

Leander Paes, Lukas Dlouhy win French Open men's doubles

Leander Paes celebrated his ninth Grand Slam doubles! Seems like this guy never slow down!

Paes teamed with Lukas Dlouhy to capture the French Open title with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman.

It was 35-year-old Paes's fifth men's doubles Grand Slam. He has also won four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, including the 2003 Wimbledon and Australian Open trophies with Martina Navratilova.

Navratilova was spotted at the stand sitting next to Bill Gates.

"Martina has been a soulmate for many years. We've been through a lot in life, especially me in the last eight years. She's been along with me, supporting me, guiding me at times," said Paes.

"When I was diagnosed with cancer and I couldn't play, she basically stayed away from the game and didn't play mixed doubles until I came back."

"Whenever I look at a person like Navratilova, she gives me a lot of inspiration. It was strange that just at the end of the second set when we were getting a bit nervous and a bit edgy, she came out there and was just making eye contact."

"Lukas served three doubles faults early in the third set. I told him at one point, Martina is out there. Come on. Have a look at her. She's inspiring us."

Paes and Dlouhy first teamed up at Roland Garros last year, losing in the last 16 to eventual champions Pablo Cuevas and Luis Horna.

They then finished runners-up to Mike and Bob Bryan in the 2008 US Open final.

"We started playing together at Roland Garros last year. We lost then to the champions so we made it a point that we would come back and try and win it this year," added Paes.

Judging from the way they celebrated their win by hugging and hoisting each other into the air, they'll probably stick around for more Grand Slam moments like this.

In the women's doubles, Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual won their second consecutive French Open women's doubles title by beating Victoria Azarenka and Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-1 on Friday.


(Via AP; Images by Patrick Kovarik/Matthew Stockman/AFP/Getty Images)

Svetlana Kuznetsova wins French Open title‎

World no.1 and no.1 seed Dinara Safina could be a heavy favourite to win at Roland Garros final but Svetlana Kuznetsova has the experience when it comes to winning a Grand Slam.

Kuznetsova had waited nearly five years to win her second major tennis championship.

She captured the 2004 U.S. Open championship at the age of 19 after beating Elena Dementieva.

Last night, also against her fellow compatriot, Kuznetsova defeated Safina 6-4, 6-2 in just 74 minutes without breaking a sweat!

“I have been waiting for this moment for a long time, losing to the winners,” Kuznetsova, a 23-year-old from St. Petersburg, said in her bubbly English on Philippe Chatrier court when accepting the trophy.

“I had been playing many matches, and this time it happened. Really, I didn’t expect it to happen this year."

Steffi Graf, a six-time French Open champion, was on hand to present Kuznetstova the trophy on court.

After thanking the crowd and her family, Kuznetsova praised her fellow countrywoman, Safina, and said that one day she would get that first major championship.

“I guess today I played a little better,” she said.

“I am sorry for that.”

(Via nytimes.com; Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Dinara Safina needs a Grand Slam title to justify no.1 rank

Dinara Safina, who is scheduled to meet fellow compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova at the French Open final, has barely done justice to herself in her two previous appearances in a Grand Slam final.

The world no.1 was defeated by Ana Ivanovic here last year and was crushed in less than an hour by Serena Williams at this year's Australian Open.

Kuznetsova, who won the 2004 US Open, last beat Safina in the current clay-court season, winning the final in Stuttgart.

However, Safina has won eight of their 13 meetings, including five of the last six.

''She's no.1,'' Kuznetsova said.

''She has to win it, not me. I just want to go out there and enjoy it.''

The two players, both 23, have been friends and rivals since they were juniors.

''She was a funny girl,'' Safina recalled.

''I remember her coming to the match with a two-litre Pepsi. You would look at her and think: 'No way can she win a Grand Slam one day'."

"But then she moved to Spain and changed completely. She became much more professional.''

(Via ESPN; Image via BBC Sport/AP)

Roger Federer on the verge of becoming the GOAT

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."

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Bob Bryan finds new joy with new partner Liezel Huber

Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan beat Vania King and Marcelo Melo 5-7, 7-6 (5), 10-7 to win the French Open mixed doubles championship.

Look at Huber's face. Haha... she doesn't look so comfortable in the beginning...

The title is Bryan’s second consecutive in mixed doubles at the French Open and his sixth Grand Slam mixed doubles title overall—each with a different partner.

“It’s gotten better and better each time,” he said.

But she began to feel comfortable and they started teasing each other...

... then she touched his face...

Bryan also has won seven men’s doubles major championships with twin brother Mike. They lost in the semifinals at Roland Garros earlier Thursday to Wesley Moodie of South Africa and Dick Norman of Belgium.

“This was a way for me to feel good, you know, to leave here with a win, leave here with a trophy, big title and a Grand Slam,” Bryan said.

... and as they walked, he put his arm on her shoulder...

... all's well ends well, and it ended with a kiss.

For Huber, it’s her first mixed doubles Grand Slam title. She has won four women’s doubles major championships.

“I’m so grateful for playing with Bob,” she said.

“I truly think we wouldn’t have won this title without him.”

(Via AP, Images by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

I would love him to win but...

Who will play in the French Open final?

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."

(Image via BBC Sport/Getty Images)

Dominika Cibulkova dominates Maria Sharapova to reach French semis

Playing in her first quarterfinal match after a layoff of nearly 10 months, Maria Sharapova struggled through the entire match trying to win a game.

Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova dominated Sharapova to win 6-0, 6-2 and grabbed a spot in the semifinal against top-ranked Dinara Safina, who rallied to beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Just like Juan Martin del Potro, Cibulkova was also featured on Rolandgarros.com.

I'm reposting the Q&A here:

When did you last crack up laughing?
After the match point against Agnes Szavay (6-2 6-4). I felt like laughing and crying at the same time. It was probably just nerves.

Tell us a good film you’ve seen recently.
Benjamin Button with Brad Pitt.

Which actress would you choose to play you on screen?
Scarlett Johansson.

Who is your sporting idol?
Lance Armstrong.

What’s your favourite sport outside tennis?
Skiing and waterskiing.

What’s your favourite thing for breakfast?
Slovakian sausages. Unfortunately I have to make myself eat healthier things, like muesli.

What’s your least favourite training exercise?
Talking tactics. It drives me mad!

Which part of your game would you like to improve?
My nerves at important points. I’d like to be more relaxed and calm when finishing off matches.

What’s your favourite website?
Facebook, to keep in touch with my friends.

What’s the last thing you do before going to sleep?
I send some text messages to my friends.

What puts you in a bad mood?
Negative people.

Do you have any diva-like demands?
No, I’ve never acted like a diva. I’m too grounded for that.

What do you have on your iPod?
Kanye West and a lot of hip hop music.

What’s your favourite song right now?
Let it Rock by Kevin Rudolf and Lil Wayne.

Who’s your ideal mixed doubles partner?
Gael Monfils because I really enjoyed playing with him in last year’s Roland Garros. But my most memorable mixed doubles experience was with Dominik Hrbatý when we won the Hopman Cup for Slovakia.

What’s the worst thing that could happen to you before a match?
That I leave my rackets at the hotel or get some bad news about my family.

When was your first kiss?
I must have been 14 and it was at a tennis tournament in Slovakia. I can’t remember his name though.

Oh yes, we know Cibulkova loves Facebook.

But I don't think she will accept fans request into her personal Facebook account anymore after these photos last year.

(Via rolandgarros.com)

Juan Martin del Potro: Getting to know the future no.1

Many people thought it's too much for me to label Juan Martin del Potro as the future world no.1.

But why not?

Perhaps del Potro is the most underrated world no.5 player in the world.

There are so much quietness, calmness and most importantly consistency in this 20-year-old Argentine which I don't see in other players, not even Andy Murray.

So when Rolandgarros.com posted a Q&A on him, I just want to repost it back here.

I think we should get to know more about del Potro, whom I thought look like Star Trek/Heroes star Zachary Quinto.

So here you go:

What’s your favourite website?
Hotmail.

Which part of your game would you like to improve?
I’d love to have Federer’s attacking game.

What’s the last thing you do before going to sleep?
I turn off my mobile phones.

What puts you in a bad mood in the morning?
Being woken up by people shouting.

What’s your favourite thing for breakfast?
Pastries, toast with jam and Nesquik.

Who’s your favourite comedy actor?
Jim Carrey and Guillermo Francella (an Argentinean comedian).

What would be a luxury for you?
Living in Tandil, surrounded by my friends and family.

What do you have on your iPod?
Maná, Shakira, U2 and Coldplay.

What’s your song favourite song right now?
“Mando una señal" by Maná.

Who’s your ideal mixed doubles partner?
Gabriela Sabatini.

What’s the worst thing that could happen to you before a match?
I can’t stand it when people touch my rackets.

Who was your first love?
My best female friend, when I was 16.

When did you last crack up laughing?
Yesterday, with my fitness coach.

When did you last get angry?
When River Plate equalised against Boca Juniors, in the last derby.

What’s your favourite film?
I really like series, such as Prison Break.

Which actor would you choose to play you on screen?
Brad Pitt.

Who’s the nicest guy on tour?
Zabaleta.

And the nastiest?
I can’t answer that – they’d kill me [laughs]!

What’s the best concert you’ve seen?
Maná and Madonna.

Who’s your sporting idol?
Michael Jordan.

What’s your favourite sport outside tennis?
Football.

What’s your least favourite training exercise?
Jogging.

Could someone please tell del Potro the existence of Gmail?

And by the way, here's a bonus picture of del Potro (via Forty Deuce). Now don't tell me you don't find him cute.


(Via rolandgarros.com)

Serena Williams thinks WTA is better & 'cattier'

"Clearly, women's tennis is better than men's tennis. There's no comparison. I mean, I'm on the tour. We have great personalities like Jelena (Jankovic) on the tour. I mean, it's way cattier, so it's way more exciting to watch."
~ Serena Williams defended women's tennis.

Earlier this week, Jankovic confessed that she paid more attention to men's tennis.

"To be honest, I'm watching only men's tennis on TV," Jankovic said earlier this week.

"I don't really watch too much women's."

"That's why many times when I play against them, you know, many times I don't know my opponent."

"I think men's tennis is much more advanced than women's, and if I can try to learn some things and try to add that to my game would be a good advantage."

Toni Nadal calls French crowd 'stupid' after shock defeat‎

"The Parisian crowd is pretty stupid. The French resent the success of a Spaniard... To celebrate others' defeats seems like a bad philosophy."
~ Toni Nadal

Uncle Toni criticized the attitude of the French crowds, which cheered heavily for Robin Soderling instead of his nephew, Rafael Nadal the four-time defending champion at the French Open.

I guess the French people never like Spaniards since what... Napoleon Bonaparte's time?

I don't think I want to dig deep to trace the history to find out why.

Anyway, despite that comment, Uncle Toni still remain a nice guy.

2009 French Open: Monday mourning cheer up

Let's put French Open disappointments aside and cheer up a bit.

Rafael Nadal finally decided to let his hair down and head for early vacation.

Roger Federer, the man to watch at Roland Garros... and I don't mean his hairy chest.

Fernando Verdasco should know that losing and that face aren't sexy.

Age is catching up with Andy Murray... according to the top players' standard, he should have at least a Grand Slam by now.

Nicolas Almagro shows he can spit better than any footballers.

The French Open should be made indoor. Go tell the Australians.

Portable milking machine for hardcore tennis moms.

For more photos go to menstennisforums.com under the thread "Funny Photos".

Rafael Nadal: It's not a tragedy

Many Rafael Nadal fans watched in horror as their tennis star defeated by Robin Soderling in the fourth round today.

Nadal’s unbeaten run at the French Open is finally over.

The four-time defending champion lost to Soderling 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (2), ending his record 31-match winning streak at Roland Garros.

In the post-match press conference, Nadal said, "He didn't surprise me, because I know how he play, how dangerous he can be."

"I didn't play my best tennis. I didn't attack in not one moment. I play very short, and I make him very easy to play at this level."

"So when one player [is] bad, must lose. That's what happened today. I have to accept with the same calm when I win than when I lose."

"This is not a tragedy, losing here in Paris. It had to happen one day, and this is an excellent season for me."

On the crowd rooting for Soderling: "It's a shame. I mean, this tournament is so important, such a beautiful tournament for me. Well, that's the way it is. Maybe at one stage they supported Soderling more than me, and that was a bit sad."

"But I wish when I'm back they can support me a bit more in key moments."

On who might win the tournament now: "I don't know. Davydenko or Verdasco is there. Del Potro I think is there. We will see. Federer is the favorite, in my opinion."

Here's the video of Nadal at the press conference. For the complete transcript, read it here.

As for Soderling, I'm not going to comment about his devilish crap here in my blog. And for god sake, I've removed his picture.

(Via tennis.com; Images by Reuters, Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images)