Rafael Nadal confirms exhibition appearance

Rafael Nadal has confirmed that he will play the exhibition today at the Hurlingham Club with Lleyton Hewitt.

“It will be good to play tomorrow to get a better idea of how I feel on court, playing at a higher level than I would normally play during training.”

Nadal had another 3-hour training session at the Wimbledon Aorangi Park Club yesterday but never really reached the intense rhythm he would normally reach for a session as long as that.

“It was 3 hours, but I took it easy, I didn’t put any pressure,” said Nadal.

Still don't get enough of Nadal? Read this interesting article called "Ripped. (Or Torn Up?)" published in NY Times website.

And speaking of training session, here are some photos taken from Wimbledon Facebook.

If you haven't add Wimbledon as your friend, perhaps you should do it right after reading my blog.

(Via Rafael Nadal official website; Images via Wimbledon Facebook)

Andy Roddick not shaken by bomb threat, wins at Queen's

Queen's Club was hit with bomb scare.

The match between Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt was delayed when a note containing a bomb threat was discovered on one of the walls at the tournament.

After a search of the grounds, the match was allowed to begin, where Roddick defeated Hewitt 7-6(2), 7-6(4).

Tournament officials, who initially said the match was being delayed because of technical issues, disclosed that a spectator had discovered a bomb threat message pinned to a wall. However, a security sweep found nothing.

While waiting for about 20 minutes, the two former champions chatted at the net.

“Obviously, your concern is making sure everyone is safe,” Roddick said.

“There wasn’t really much to be done, and I know they were trying to decide what they were going to do.

“Obviously, we were hoping we were going to get a chance to stay out there and play the match, but that (bomb scare) was a first for me.”

(Via AP; Image via Yahoo! Sports)

Is Andy Murray ready to play his best tennis on grass?

Andy Murray will begin his grass season in the newly-named AEGON Championships at the Queen’s Club in London this week hoping that this will be an ideal warm-up to this year’s Wimbledon.

Without the presence of defending champion and world no.1 Rafael Nadal, who opted out of the tournament due to a knee injury, Murray gets to be the no.1 seed.

However, the British top player believes that Nadal will be back in time for Wimbledon.

“I’ve played Rafa a lot of different times on a lot of different surfaces: we’ve practised together quite a lot as well, so we know we know each other’s games well,” said Murray.

“It’s nice that I won’t have to play him here but I’m sure he’ll be back for Wimbledon, trying to defend his title there.”

The Scot also said that the pressure on him to win his first Grand Slam is just a side show.

“I had a good run at the French and feel good coming in here but I guess it’s the same for everyone," he said.

"The grass takes a few days to get used to but I’ve felt good practising on it so far.

“I think everyone hypes up the pressure around Wimbledon time, but once you step on the court, you’re just playing tennis.”

Murray has been training in London since losing in the French Open quarter-finals last week.

He has spent some time on the grass courts at Queen's, where he has practised with Lleyton Hewitt, who will be his doubles partner this week.

(Via sports.stv.tv; Image via Getty Images)

2009 French Open Day 1: This is just the beginning...

Defending champion Ana Ivanovic was made to sweat before concluded a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Italian Sara Errani to reach the second round of the French Open.

Errani was not very happy with the umpire during the match with Ivanovic.

Li Na, who missed last year's tournament due to injury, had the honour of becoming the first player to reach the second round thanks to a 6-4, 6-2 win over Marta Domachowska.

Eighteen-year-old Russian qualifier Vitalia Diatchenko, the world no.151, can't bear to see a tearful Mathilde Johansson whom she beat 2-6, 6-2, 10-8.

Diatchenko, making her Grand Slam debut, will face either world number one Dinara Safina or Britain's Anne Keothavong for a place in the third round.

Ivo Karlovic had set a record of 55 aces in a tour-level match but still he lost to former world no.1 Lleyton Hewitt who will move on to the second round after winning 6-7 (1), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3.

Marat Safin made sure there would be at least one more date on his French Open farewell tour when he eased past French wildcard Alexandre Sidorenko 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Smoking hot Fernando Verdasco had an easy first round win over Florent Serra after beating the Frenchman 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

Nicolas Almagro gave Agustin Calleri a brotherly hug after defeating the Argentine 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.

Andy Murray is another player who had an easy win. He defeated Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.

Gilles Simon survived a five-setter against American Wayne Odesnik. Simon was forced to work hard before winning 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

Hottie Robert Kendrick also survived a five set match after beating Daniel Brands 6-7 (7), 7-5, 7-6 (13), 4-6, 6-3.

For further results, click here.

TV is not showing Ernests Gulbis vs Sam Querrey match. I better go catch my beauty sleep now. Good night!

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

India could be the best in Asia

I'm still saddened by Rendy Lu's lost to Somdev Devvarman in the fourth rubber in last weekend's Davis Cup tie between Taiwan and India.

His fluctuating performance is probably one of the reasons why I don't blog for days.

But to be fair to Rendy, India already knew from the start that they had the extra edge over Taiwan.

With Grand Slam doubles specialists like Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, and upcoming tennis star like Somdev Devvarman, they look like a tough team to beat.

Kudos to the Indian Davis Cup team for making it to the third round where they will be meeting Australia who narrowly beat Thailand.

However congrats to Thai no. 1 Danai Udomchoke for his perfect performance in the second and fourth rubbers which saw him beating Australian teenage player Brydan Klein and former world no. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.

The other two countries who made it to the third round tie of the Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1 are Japan and Uzbekistan lead by Kei Nishikori and Denis Istomin respectively.

For complete results, click here.

(Images via udn.com, hindu.com, zimbio.com)

One million baht carrot for Thai Davis Cup team

The Thai Davis Cup team will earn a million baht bonus if they beat Australia in this weekend's Asia/Oceania Zone Group I clash.

The Thai team will be led by Danai Udomchoke with Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana, Kittipong Vachiramanowong and Peerakiat Siriruethaiwattana.

Thanakorn Srichaphan is the team captain while his brother Paradorn, who cannot play because of an injured wrist, will be the assistant coach.

The Australian team is led by Lleyton Hewitt supported by Carsten Ball, Chris Guccione and Brydan Klein.

The winning team will meet either India or Taiwan in May.

Thai team manager Atat Nana said the players were looking forward to the event, especially as doubles pair Sonchat and Sanchai won a doubles title in Australia last week.

The match will be held at the National Tennis Development Centre, Muang Thong Thani from Friday until Sunday.

Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand (LTAT) offers 1,500 free tickets for fans on their website.

(Via Bangkok Post; Image via LTAT website)

Rendy Lu Yen-hsun knocks out birthday boy Lleyton Hewitt at Delray Beach

Esther, thank you for waking me up in the wee hours of the morning with your text message informing me about Rendy Lu's first round victory!

Fans were dying to see Rendy wins again after last month's victory against David Nalbandian at the Australian Open.

So when Rendy defeated former world no. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in three sets, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, we're the happiest bunch on earth!

“I never thought I would win today,” said Rendy.

“I did just a little better in the wind than Hewitt. I felt no pressure today at all, because I knew I was playing one of the best players in the world.”

Well, Rendy you better start believing that you can win no matter who your opponents are!

Birthday boy Hewitt, who planned to have a birthday cake on court if he won the match, was probably tired after the semifinal match at Memphis last week.

Here's a bit of the match report provided by the friendly media people at yellowtennisball.com.

The first set was close as both Rendy and Hewitt focused on keeping the ball in play due to the windy conditions. Serving at 5-6, Hewitt double faulted at set point for Rendy. In the second set the Australian took an early lead by breaking Rendy at 1-1 and breaking again at 4-2. Hewitt seized the opportunity to serve for the set, which he took with a crosscourt forehand winner. An early break in the third gave Rendy a 3-0 lead, but after a long fifth game at 1-3, Hewitt broke back. A quick re-break by Rendy brought the score to 4-2. Rendy was able to hold his serve and after an unforced error, broke Hewitt who was playing on a wild card.

Rendy will play Stefan Koubek next. So stay tune.

In the meanwhile, here are more photos of Rendy at Delray Beach.

Rendy's victory made the headlines at ATP and Delray Beach tourney websites. Here are the screen caps. You can click to enlarge.


(Via yellowtennisball.com; Images by CameraSport, Cecil Wise)

Fernando Gonzalez is ready to blow Lleyton Hewitt away

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.

(Images by zimbio.com)

Hewitt-Bec's newest addition, baby Cruz

Australia's former tennis world number one Lleyton Hewitt has become a father for the second time, following the birth of his son Cruz.

Hewitt said his wife Bec, a former star on the long-running soap opera "Home and Away" with whom he already has a three-year-old daughter named Mia, gave birth to the boy at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital on December 11.

"All are doing well and are very excited about the new addition to the family," he said on his website.

Cruz will make his public debut in an upcoming issue of OK! magazine.

By the way, the Beckhams also have a son named Cruz.

If tennis players were rock stars...

Found a hilarious post on Bleacher Report called "If Tennis Players Were Rock Stars: Who Would They Be?"

Top professional tennis players are no difference from celebrities. They get 5-star treatment wherever they go. And whether it's on-court or off-court, their move are being watched constantly.

According to contributor Vinny Do, "Tennis players are a lot like rock stars. They all have a certain voice."

Here are what he thought the tennis players would be if they were rock stars.

Roger Federer: John Lennon. Just greatness all round, from songwriting to singing to leadership.

Rafael Nadal: Carlos Santana. Virtuoso skill and grit; enough vibrato to make you go wow!

Lleyton Hewitt: Bon Scott from AC/DC. Both Aussies, and wear school uniforms.

Serena Williams: Tina Turner. Simply the best, and those hmm...thunder thighs.

Marat Safin: Bon Jovi. The looks and the women.

Andy Murray: The guy from "The Darkness." Looks like him, scruffy. Slim.

Andy Roddick: Any boy band member. But he thought it's Brian from the Backstreet boys, can hit the notes, but rarely anything special (Ouch!)

John McEnroe: Bob Dylan. They are both magicians, but couldn't give a hoot what anyone else thinks.

(Via Bleacher Report)

Miss Universe Australia is big fan of Bec, not Lleyton Hewitt

Now don't worry about Laura Dundovic's arm over Lleyton Hewitt's shoulder.

The 2008 Miss Universe Australia said she's a fan of Hewitt's wife, Bec instead of the tennis player.

"When I was in primary school (Bec) went to the school around the corner from me and one day I chased her down for an autograph because I absolutely loved her and Home and Away," said Dundovic.

Dundovic and Hewitt were at the launch of his fundraising auction site eSwap in aid of Cure Out Kids, a children's cancer charity, at Travelscene yesterday in Sydney, Australia.

Although Bec wasn't fronting the cameras for the fundraiser, Hewitt said his wife - who is 6 months pregnant with their second child - is the brains behind Cure Our Kids.

Items being auctioned on the website include the tennis racquet used by world No.1 Rafael Nadal (notice the racquet held by Dundovic) when he beat Roger Federer in this year's Wimbledon final, Ana Ivanovic's pink tennis dress from her French Open win, as well as items from celebrities including Russell Crowe, Andre Agassi, Gwen Stefani, Toni Collette and Hugh Jackman.

"We've got a signed shirt from Federer that he actually gave me after he beat me, which is the last thing you want to see from someone who has beaten you in the locker room," Hewitt said.

By the way, Miss Dundovic also offered a date with her gorgeous self to the highest bidder.


(Via news.com.au, heraldsun.com.au, Images via Gaye Gerard/Getty Images AsiaPac, Women's Weekly)

Shirtless tennis players: It's hot right here in Beijing!

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.

(Images by BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)

More photos from the Beijing Olympics training session

Many tennis players are already in Beijing practising at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre.

Samantha Stosur (Australia), Roger Federer (Switzerland), Ana Ivanovic (Serbia), Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden), Rafael Nadal (Spain), Fernando Gonzalez (Chile), Zheng Jie (China) and Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) are among the players spotted here. All pictures are in sequence. Latest updates: Andy Murray.

Here's a bonus picture; Nadal shirtless!


(Images by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)