Pink clay on Court 1 at Roland Garros

In conjunction with the Women's Day celebration, Court 1 at Roland Garros received a makeover.

The clay court turned pink for a day! Isn't that a bright idea?

(Image via @carole_bouchard)

The WAGs are here but where is the fiancé?

Tennis WAGs Xisca Perello and Kim Sears were spotted at the French Open quarterfinal matches yesterday.

Xisca at Rafael Nadal's match

Kim Sears watching Andy Murray's match

However I've been questioning the presence of Maria Sharapova's fiancé Sasha Vujacic who is missing from the Roland Garros this year.

There were talks about them getting married in November. The "rumour" was started by the Turkish media who mentioned that the nuptial will take place at Istanbul, where Vujacic is currently based.

Sharapova and Vujacic in Paris last year

Perhaps he has a busy schedule with his club, Anadolu Efes. However to miss the semifinal or even the final match where Sharapova could be playing would be devastating.

No doubt that Sharapova is at the top of her game right now and winning the French Open (and becoming the new world no.1) is highly possible. So, getting married at the peak of her career?   I have doubt until the marriage really take place.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Rafael Nadal visits Babolat's staff and fans at Roland Garros

Rafael Nadal used his off day yesterday to meet Babolat's staff and fans at the sponsor's space at Roland Garros.

Also present at the event was Carlos Moya.

Today, he will play against fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro to determine a place in the semifinals.

(Images via Babolat's Facebook fan page)

Dominika Cibulkova: Sam Stosur played like a man

Dominika Cibulkova who was beaten 6-4, 6-1 by Sam Stosur in the quarterfinals at the French Open says that facing the Australian is like playing against a man.

"Her topspin and her serve, I mean, she played like a man, and it's really hard to play against a man," Cibulkova said. "It was driving me crazy on the court today. So it was really, really hard."

I totally understand her frustration especially after beaten the world no.1 Victoria Azarenka but only to fall easily after that. However, by passing that kind of remark is just cheap, bitch!

Go win that title, Sam!

(Images via Sina tennis)

Sam Stosur is not much of a party goer

Reading Sam Stosur's interview is fun although the questions are very ordinary ones.

Besides saying that she would like to have Rafael Nadal's tenacity in the latest interview on the Roland Garros' official website, Stosur revealed that she's not a party goer as she doesn't hangout late at night.

The Australian also mentioned that she has a Swiss yodelling song, which she sang awfully to with the members of the Fed Cup team after a win.

(Image via French Open's official website)

Dominika Cibulkova would choose Scarlett Johansson or Jessica Alba to play her on big screen

When asked which actress would she pick to play her on the big screen, Dominika Cibulkova has no doubt that it's Scarlett Johansson or Jessica Alba. Good pick, isn't it?

In the interview published on the French Open official website, Cibulkova also said that she will never have enough of handbags.

Currently, Cibulkova is having an amazing run at the French Open pulling off a major upset against the world no. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round.

(Image via French Open official website)

Rafael Nadal's 26th birthday celebration

Rafael Nadal turns 26 today!

However, just like every other year, it falls on the French Open tournament week and he has little time to celebrate.

"I'd like to focus for the round of 16, and I'll practice, as usual. I will have my treatment, as usual," Nadal said. If "something has been prepared for me, a cake or a very quick celebration ... If this is the case, I'll be very happy."

(Images via Sina tennis)

Who's in for an ice bath?

Someone in the tournament has been going around taking half naked pictures of players taking ice baths. The quality of the pictures are bad but we still appreciate them.

It is believed that ice bath helps reduce fatigue and speed up physical recovery.

Arnaud Clement

Fabio Fognini

Tomas Berdych

(Images via menstennisforums.com)

Fernando Verdasco fascinated with the falcons

This year, Roland Garros no longer has the pigeon pest problem. They have hired eight falcons to keep away the pigeons.

Players are quite fascinated with the creatures. Svetlana Kuznetsova has taken a picture exactly at this area where Fernando Verdasco took this morning.

(Image via Fernando Verdasco's Twitter page)

Maria Sharapova photo shoot in Paris by Richard Schroeder

Maria Sharapova took some time off for a photo shoot by renowned French photographer Richard Schroeder.

The photo shoot took place at the hotel where she's currently staying during the French Open, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome hotel.

(Images via vettri.net)

Tomas Berdych's girlfriend Ester Satorova at the French Open

 

Since I've started blogging again and I've never mentioned about Tomas Berdych's current girlfriend Ester Satorova before, I think I'll just make a short post about her.

I saw a link posted by @Mikomonstr on Twitter that brought me to this website with quite a number of pictures of the Czech fashion model at the French Open.

There are some "older" pictures too like this one.

(Images via isport.blesk.cz)

Roland Garros bids farewell to Arnaud Clement

 

Roland Garros bade farewell to 34-year-old Frenchman Arnaud Clement, who is set to retire at the end of the season.

The oldest player in the tournament, Clement lost 3-6, 7-6, 0-6, 6-2, 6-1 in his 15th appearance at the French Open to Belgian qualifier David Goffin in the second round.

A special ceremony was held after the match with the presence of the President of French Tennis Federation Jean Gachassin and former tennis player Guy Forget.

(Images via Yahoo! Tennis)

Fabio Fognini: More than just a pretty face

 

I'm not interested to cover tennis matches here on my blog because you can read them everywhere.

However I just can't resist to talk a little bit about the match that caught my attention today - Fabio Fognini versus Viktor Troicki.

Not only that it was the battle between the two supposedly "cocky" or "cool" players in the ATP but the fact is they are also good looking.

It's amazing how the Italian Fognini managed to save two match points to beat world no. 28 Troicki in a five-setter. The final score is 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 8-6 completed in three hours and 30 minutes.

The match actually started on Wednesday but was postponed due to rain. His next opponent is Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Fognini is quite active on the social media. Recently he posted a picture together with Juan Carlos Ferrero and with his Bulgarian model girlfriend Svetoslava Simeonova at the Arc de Triomphe in another picture.

Fognini is featured in this month's DEUCE on the ATP website. You don't want to miss the article which reveals the "warmer" side of him.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports, Fabio Fognini's Twitter page)

Novak Djokovic covers Men's Health France June 2012

Novak Djokovic takes the cover of Men’s Health‘s (France) June issue.

Last year, it was Rafael Nadal. Click here to see Nadal's cover.

(Via Men's Health magazine)

Janko Tipsarevic thinks Feliciano Lopez would be a good sidekick to pick up girls

Janko Tipsarevic is married and totally off the market but if he were to choose a tennis player to pick up girls with, he would choose Feliciano Lopez as his sidekick.

Read the rest of the interview where he gave his pick of players for some off-court activities.

(Image via French Open official website)

Behind the scenes: Nike players receive their gears

Nike is a little behind when it comes to posting photos of their players getting their gears compared to Wilson and Adidas.

Nevertheless, it's nice to see the happy faces on their sponsored players.

These are just a few selected ones. You can get to see more on their Facebook page. Surprisingly Rafael Nadal is not in the album.

Roger Federer

Li Na

Juan Martin Del Potro

Sabine Lisicki

Grigor Dimitrov

(Image via Nike Tennis's Facebook page)

French Open interviewer doesn't know Petra Kvitova is dating young boyfriend Adam Pavlasek

The interview with Petra Kvitova on the French Open website is quite bland.

I guess the interviewer doesn't know much about her. The silliest question would be whether it is easy for the Czech player to pick up boys since she is a top tennis player.

Kvitova said she met her boyfriend (Adam Pavlasek is 5 years younger) before her breakthrough season last year.

Petra Kvitova and Adam Pavlasek attended the awards ceremony for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2011 last year.

(Images via French Open official website, zimbio.com)

Sam Stosur cruises on the streets of Paris and on clay

Sam Stosur thinks that cruising on a bicycle is the best way to relax especially after a win in the second round at the French Open against American Irina Falconi.

(Image via Sam Stosur's Facebook fan page)

Viktor Troicki not proud to say he admired Britney Spears

Viktor Troicki said he wasn't proud to admit he used to dream of kissing Britney Spears during an informal interview published on the French Open official website.

He also mentioned how he found love at the French Open four years ago, using his star status to get special treatment and spending on crazy nights out.

(Image via French Open official website)

Sharapova, Isner, Raonic, Lu: Walkabout in Paris

It's always nice to see players outside the tennis courts.

Let's take a look at what some of the players do when they are not playing or practicing.

Maria Sharapova wears sweatpants and tennis shoes as she arrives back to the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome hotel.

John Isner enjoys a day off with a visit to the Eiffel Tower.

Milos Raonic found the Canadian consulate in Paris.

 

Rendy Lu Yen-hsun was at the Japanese street in Paris.

(Images via Facebook pages, Zimbio.com)