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)

Angelique Kerber gets tattoo advice from Janko Tipsarevic

German Angelique Kerber who won her first round match against Zhang Shuai at the French Open posted a cute picture of her and Janko Tipsarevic on Twitter.

I don't really think it's a good idea to get tattoo advice from Tipsarevic. Maybe she should try asking Agnieszka Radwanska or Li Na.

(Image via Angelique Kerber's Twitter page)

Juan Martin Del Potro thinks Lionel Messi's achievement is greater than Novak Djokovic

When asked which one was more impressive - Novak Djokovic’s 40 consecutive victories last year or Lionel Messi’s 73 goals this season, Juan Martin Del Potro thought Messi's achievement is greater.

Del Potro, a football fan said no one will ever be able to repeat or surpass Messi's number of goals.

(Via French Open website)

Rafael Nadal on sushi diet prior to his debut at Roland Garros

Rafael Nadal was spotted having some sushi for dinner yesterday along with fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers and some friends.

Nadal will kick off his French Open campaign today in his bid for an historic seventh title!

(Image via Rafael Nadal's Facebook Fan page)

Svetlana Kuznetsova dreamt of kissing Marat Safin

In one of the interview questions posted on Roland Garros official website, Svetlana Kuznetsova confessed that she dreamt of kissing Marat Safin. And he knows that.

She also mentioned that she hated the nickname "Kutzy" (which most of us often call her that) although she's used to it now.

I also noticed there are some suspicious questions about 'boys' and 'lies'. Are they trying to dig into her sexual orientation?

(Images via Tennisforum.com)

Maria Kirilenko and NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin in the city of love

NHL star Alex Ovechkin is never afraid to display his affection on Twitter. Recently he posted a sweet picture with girlfriend Maria Kirilenko and the Arc de Triomphe in the background.

Currently he's accompanying Kirilenko in Paris for the French Open.

(Images via Alex Ovechkin's Twitter page)

Maria Sharapova at Nike fan feedback session

Last week, Maria Sharapova met up with 40 young fans in Paris to discuss her Nike collection and Roland Garros.

You can check out the video below.

(Via Maria Sharapova's official website)