Rafael Nadal, Juan Monaco: Winners for best bromance and in doubles match

Rafael Nadal and Juan Monaco are best friends. Last night, they were not only the winners for best bromance on the ATP but also on clay court.

Their mutual understanding for each other gave them the first doubles match win at the VTR Open. They won easily in just over an hour defeating the Czech pair of Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Dlouhy 6-3 6-2.

This is Nadal's first win and appearance in a tournament since June 28 when he was upset in the second round of Wimbledon by qualifier Lukas Rosol.

Nadal will kick off his singles campaign on Thursday against Argentine Federico Delbonis.

(Images via Juan Monaco's Facebook page, Sina Sports)

Malaysian Open, PTT Thailand Open named their marquee players

I'm all excited because the Malaysian Open has named Juan Monaco as one of the four marquee players for this year's tournament. The Argentinian who is a fresh face to the tournament just won the Hamburg title on Sunday and enters the top 10  for the first time today.

The other three marquee players are David Ferrer, Kei Nishikori and Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Meanwhile, PTT Thailand Open who will be celebrating its 10th anniversary has named their marquee players as well. They are Janko Tipsarevic, Gilles Simon, Fernando Verdasco, Richard Gasquet, Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils and Bernard Tomic.

(Images via Malaysian Open and PTT Thailand Open's Facebook fan pages)

Juan Monaco's mini travelogue

After his third round loss to Viktor Troicki at Wimbledon last week, Juan Monaco has travelled to Spain for a mini vacation.

Monaco is one of the very few players who diligently posts pictures of his off court life on the social network.

Bbq on Euro Cup final day

At a festival where David Guetta was playing

On the way to Formentera

Relaxing before the Stuttgart tournament kicks off 

(Images via Juan Monaco's Facebook fan page)

Juan Monaco celebrates first round win with Rafael Nadal

Argentinian Juan Monaco secured a spot in the second round at SW19 after a  64 76 76 victory over fellow countryman Leonardo Mayer.

He celebrated the win with good friend Rafael Nadal, as posted on his Facebook page.

(Image via Juan Monaco's Facebook fan page)

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)

Weekend winners: Jeremy Chardy, Robin Soderling, Sybille Bammer, Flavia Pennetta

Frenchman Jeremy Chardy won his first career ATP Tour title on Sunday, beating Victor Hanescu 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Mercedes Cup final in Stuttgart, Germany.

Chardy swigged down a bottle of champagne at the victory ceremony and then took a brief spin behind the wheel of a new Mercedes E350, a prize given by the sponsor.

It was Chardy’s second career final. He finished as runner-up in Johannesburg in February.

In Bastad, Sweden, Robin Soderling beat Juan Monaco 6-3, 7-6 (4) to win the Swedish Open for his fourth ATP Tour title and first on clay.

The second-seeded Soderling became the first Swedish winner of the tournament since 2000 when his coach, Magnus Norman, won the title.

Austrian Sybille Bammer has beaten top-seeded Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (4), 6-2 to win the Prague Open in Czech Republic.

Flavia Pennetta routed Sara Errani 6-1, 6-2 to win the Palermo Open in an all-Italian final.

It was Pennetta’s seventh career title, with six of the seven having come on clay.

(Via AP; Images Yahoo! Sports)

More Roland Garros practice photos

It's less than 1 day before the 2009 French Open starts.

Here are more photos of the players practicing and adjusting to the red clay at Roland Garros.

Maria Sharapova heading to the court for some practice.

Novak Djokovic taps his happy feet.

Andy Murray

James Blake

Dinara Safina

Juan Monaco

Rafael Nadal

Andy Roddick

Fernando Verdasco

(Images via Yahoo! Sports, zimbio.com)

David Nalbandian is in Beijing but could miss the Olympics

David Nalbandian has arrived in Beijing together with other Argentine Olympic tennis players including Augustin Calleri and Juan Monaco.

However, the current world no. 7 player could miss the big event as he is still affected by muscular injuries and remains a doubt for both Beijing and the Davis Cup semi-final against Russia in September.

Nalbandian's physio Diego Rodriguez told Ole newspaper "David is going through a recovery program. He hasn't played tennis for two weeks and has done some work in the swimming pool and on the bicycle."

He added: "He will compete again when he is in good shape."

However, Rodriguez did not rule out the option of surgery if the recovery programme does not prove successful.

(Via The Press Association; Image via REUTERS/Tim Wimborne)