So overrated...

According to AP, 'disappointed' was the word Andy Murray used over and over to describe how he felt about his exit from the US Open.

I'd say the right word should be 'overrated' :P

Coming in to Flushing Meadows as seed no.2 and one of the top contenders for the US Open title, Murray was upset by Marin Cilic 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the fourth round.

Stay tune for Day 9 wrap-up later.

US Open Day 7 Wrap-up: Lack of star power, Clijster, Pennetta steal the show

I remember very well that in the last couple of years, there were quite a number of celebrities who added glitter to the US Open every single day.

So what happen this year?

Besides Alec Baldwin, Will Ferrell, Kim Cattrall, Patrick Stewart, Jason Bateman and Jennifer Love Hewitt, I haven't really seen any hotter stars than those I just mentioned.

Celebrities aside, I think the player of the day is Kim Clijsters.

Clijsters marked her dazzling return to the grand slam by ousting Venus Williams with a wild yet weird 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 victory!

The Belgian mum will face Li Na next after the Chinese beat Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-3.

In another exciting match, Flavia Pennetta saved six match points to advance to the quarterfinal with a 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 victory over Vera Zvonareva.

Pennetta will face Serena Williams next!

In the men's singles, Andy Murray joined Juan Martin del Potro, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez to the next round.

Earlier of the day, Nadal knocked off compatriot Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

During the match, Nadal was treated for a stomach muscle problem while Almagro also received a treatment for back problem.

Nadal's next opponent is Gael Monfils who advanced when Jose Acasuso quit because of left knee pain while trailing 6-3, 6-4, 1-0.

In the last match of the day, Murray, needed only 90 minutes to sent off Taylor Dent 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and set up a fourth-round encounter with Marin Cilic.

US Open men's singles third round results from New York on Monday (prefix denotes seeding)

2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Taylor Dent (US) 6-3 6-2 6-2
6-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat Daniel Koellerer (Austria) 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-3
7-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Julien Benneteau (France) 7-6(4) 6-2 6-4
11-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) beat 17-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-4 6-4
3-Rafael Nadal (Spain) beat 32-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 7-5 6-4 6-4
24-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) beat 9-Gilles Simon (France) 1-6 6-4 7-6(5) 1-0 (Simon retired)

US Open women's singles fourth round results from New York on Monday (prefix denotes seeding)

10-Flavia Pennetta (Italy) beat 7-Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 3-6, 7-6, 6-0
Kim Clijsters (Belgium) beat 3-Venus Williams (US) 6-0 0-6 6-4
18-Li Na (China) beat 26-Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 6-2 6-3
2-Serena Williams (US) beat 22-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-2 6-0

(Via AP, Reuters, TVNZ, US Open website)

Pre-US Open: Pretty practice photos

Now that the US Open draw is out, let's see who has been practicing hard on court over the week.

Here are some eye candies for your viewing pleasure...

Juicy Jo-Willy

Flawless Ferrer

Mikhail Youzhny and Andy Murray

Maria Sharapova and Jelena Jankovic


Lleyton Hewitt and James Blake

Cuddly Cilic


Mighty Monfils

Rusty Roddick

(Images via US Open official website)

2009 Davis Cup: Croatia, Czech Republic, Spain through to the semifinals

Croatia, Czech Republic and Spain join Israel to qualify for the September's Davis Cup semifinals.

CRO-USA 3-2: The Croats remain undefeated against the Americans in Davis Cup, having now won all three meetings between the two nations.

Marin Cilic wrapped up this quarterfinal tie 3-1 by defeating James Blake 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 and setting up a meeting with the Czech Republic in September's semifinals.

CZE-ARG 3-2: Juan Martin del Potro began the day by defeating Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to put the Argentines back on level terms and send the tie to a deciding fifth rubber.

But the Czechs' decision to rest Radek Stepanek in the opening singles paid off – he clinched the tie 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-2 against Juan Monaco.

ESP-GER 3-2: The Germans pushed the tie into a deciding fifth rubber when Philipp Kohlschreiber prevailed 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6, 8-6 against Fernando Verdasco.

Later, the experienced Juan Carlos Ferrero sealed a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Andreas Beck to send the Spanish Armada into the semifinals against Israel.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

WAGs on Wimbledon Day 5

Remember this interview question?

Q. We notice today after many years Mirka wasn't in your box. Should we wait for some special announcement to be made sooner than expected, or not?

ROGER FEDERER: No, no, not really. She's just not feeling, you know, a hundred percent. She only felt 95%, so we decided it's better if she takes it easy instead of sitting in the sun maybe, feeling worse the next day.

It's important for her to rest. She's already feeling better, which is good.

Apparently Mirka is still hanging around at Federer's box.

So, no special announcement from Federer yet as Mirka was seen at her husband's match against Philipp Kohlschreiber yesterday.

Federer dropped the third set but went on to win 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-1.

Tommy Haas' actress girlfriend Sara Foster was also spotted at the Wimbledon.

The 90210 star showing off her Blackberry and pouty lips.

The match against Marin Cilic continued on the 6th day and Haas eventually won 7-5, 7-5, 1-6, 6-7, 10-8.

I think we'll be seeing a lot more of Foster.

(Images by AP Photo)

Wimbledon Day One wrap

The 2009 Wimbledon Grand Slam Tennis doesn't belong to Roger Federer alone. There are many other players in the tournament too.

So, let's take a look at some of the happenings on Day 1 yesterday.

First of all, I was really, really upset with ESPN Star Sports yesterday because they failed to show Federer making his Centre Court appearance.

Don't they already know all the hype about Federer's Wimbledon jacket?

Instead they showed Sania Mirza's match!

Besides, as an Asian-based sports broadcaster, how can Star Sports not show Asia's no.1 men's player, Rendy Lu Yen-hsun against the unofficial-GOAT from the beginning?

I supposed Star Sports worried that Rendy may be bageled thrice by Federer? You know what, they only start to show the match after convinced that Rendy can actually play!

And by the way I have nothing against Sania. Just like Vijay Amritraj, I admire Sania too. I'm just as happy when I saw Sania beat Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.

No.4 seed Novak Djokovic came from a set down to defeat Julien Benneteau 6-7(8-10), 7-6(7-1), 6-2, 6-4.

During the match, Benneteau had a couple of painful moments. First, he slipped and hurt his knee earlier in the match before inflicting further damage to himself when he crashed into the screen at the back of the court trying to reach a Djokovic lob! Ouchh!

Robin Soderling continues his Grand Slam run to the second round after rallying to beat Gilles Muller 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.

Thai Danai Udomchoke received a late call-up to the tournament on Monday as a 'lucky loser' after Ivan Ljubicic pulled out with an ankle injury.

Danai could hardly have been any less prepared for the demands of a Grand Slam clash and he never threatened to spring a surprise as American Sam Querrey cruised through with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win.

Another American James Blake however suffered a setback when he was beaten 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (5) by 50th-ranked Andreas Seppi. I'm speechless... disappointed.

British wildcard entrant Jamie Ward suffered a straight-sets defeat on his Grand Slam debut against Fernando "Mohawk-No-More" Verdasco.

Verdasco who spotted a new hairdo wrapped up a comfortable 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 victory in a little over an hour and a half.

Pretty boy Feliciano Lopez joined Blake to become another seeded player to lose on Day 1. Feliciano lost to Slovakian Karol Beck 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 in nearly four hours on Court 18.

Marin Cilic became the last man through to the second round before bad light halted play. Cilic defeated Spaniard Alberto Martin 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Maria Sharapova, who also paraded her military-themed jacket earlier, had a tough Day 1 at Wimbledon on Monday, rallying from 4-1 down in the first set to overcome Ukrainian Viktoriya Kutuzova, the top seed in qualifying, 7-5, 6-4.

Serena Williams decided to go 'all English' this year.

And despite the warm weather the American insisted on wearing her coat as she practised with Neuza Silva before the match began.

Serena easily cruised to the next round after winning 6-1, 7-5.

Michelle Larcher de Brito toned down her grunts yesterday but still able to win against Klara Zakapalova 6-2, 7-5.

Last year's semifinalist, Zheng Jie reached the second round after beating Kristina Barrois of 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4). Zheng, the 16th seed, will take on Daniela Hantuchova in the second round.

To check out other results, click here.

(Images by Getty Images)

Let's celebrate brotherhood!

Either you hate it or embrace it.

If you don't get it, let's just say that these are just funny photos ;-)

Andy Murray in pink.

Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon.

Marin Cilic and Mario Ancic.

Dmitry Tursunov and Grigor Dimitrov.

Marc Gicquel riding on Gilles Simon.

(All images via menstennisforums.com)