Here comes sexy Tsonga!

Andy Murray said Jonas Bjorkman catwalk was hysterically funny.

And I say Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is hysterically sexy! Don't you just love his pouty lips?

To watch the video of the catwalk, click here.


(Images via andymurray.com, fft.fr, zimbio.com, Tennis Masters Cup official website)

Juan Martin Del Potro dressed up as John Travolta at Tennis Masters Cup Opening Ceremony

They are turning Juan Martin Del Potro into John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever! I mean the hair and suit (collar outside the jacket) are so 70s!

But I'm totally happy seeing him strutting down the catwalk for the first time at Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai. Good looking, huh?

And for the first time we can see Andy Roddick in Shanghai. Here are the rest of the photos at the opening ceremony, for both singles and doubles players.



(Via Osport.cn)

Novak Djokovic at tennis clinic for kids in Shanghai

For a player who is well-known for his 'over-inflated ego', it's very heartwarming to see Novak Djokovic conducting a tennis clinic surrounded by kids in Shanghai in these pictures.

This event is sponsored by Wilson.


(Images via Osports.cn)

Roger Federer shaves for Gillette at Shanghai

While in Shanghai for Tennis Masters Cup, Roger Federer makes some money by squeezing in a Gillette promotional campaign in between his training.

This event named Boys To Men were attended by a thousand of university students. Check out the youtube posted by The Star Online at the end of this post.

Roger Federer competes in a shaving competition.

"What was that?"

Couldn't be bothered, Mirka finds something to do to kill her time.

I guess Federer lost in the competition. He haven't finish the other half of his face.

A token of appreciation for Federer.

(Images via sina.com)

Random pictures at the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai

Everyone already know why Rafael Nadal is not in Shanghai for Tennis Masters Cup.

But I don't see Andy Roddick and Nikolay Davydenko either. I've been surfing some of the popular Chinese websites trying to dig some photos of the two but to no avail.

However here are the rest of the guys. But before that look at the robin group allocations below (numeric prefix denotes seeding)

Red group
1. Roger Federer (SUI)
3. Andy Murray (GBR)
5. Andy Roddick (USA)
8. Gilles Simon (FRA)

Gold group
2. Novak Djokovic (SER)
4. Nikolay Dawydenko (RUS)
6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
7. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)

The lovely Mirka and Roger Federer. You know what? I'm actually rooting Federer to win here.

Novak Djokovic has not been his usual self lately. Either the US Open impacted his

confidence or he has been partying really hard.

Andy Murray is a hot favourite but let's rewind back to the recent Olympic Games, he was beaten
by Rendy Lu in the first round. China has been quite tough on Murray, so he's not really my pick to win here.

Murray took part in the Tennis Masters Cup draw ceremony at the Hilton Shanghai on
Wednesday. The names of the players were inside traditional Chinese fortune cookies.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, fresh from winning the Paris Masters looks confident and ready
to win again.

The Chinese people believe that number 8 is a lucky number. Gilles Simon believes it too.

Frenchmen Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga practice together.

Juan Martin del Potro looks yummilicious here.

Thanks to anon, now we can finally see Nikolay Davydenko in Shanghai!

(Via sina.com, fft.fr)

Rafael Nadal pulls out of Masters Cup; Gilles Simon is going to Shanghai

Whoever booed Rafael Nadal for retiring during the match against Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinal match at Paris Masters last Friday, or doesn't believe he is really injured, please give yourself a slap.

In these pictures, Nadal did seem a little annoyed upon returning to his hotel after announcing he has pulled out of the Paris Masters tournament with a knee injury.

And now it's even worse news.

Yesterday Rafael Nadal announced he had to pull out of the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, citing fatigue after a long season and the need to prepare for the Davis Cup final.

He made the announcement on his website, describing his withdrawal as 'one of the most difficult decisions in his career'.

“It has been a long and difficult year where I managed to obtain great results, both on a professional and on a personal level,” he said.

“I have mentioned on various occasions that the tennis calendar has been extremely hard with practically all weeks playing and where it forces players to compete week in, week out, making it impossible for a top level player to be 100% for each event."

“On a personal level I had as one of my goals to become No. 1 during this year and competing at so many events might have harmed, especially at the end of the season, my physical condition, taking away the freshness needed to play at the top level of the game in these last events,” Nadal said.

Nadal also said he hoped that his absence would buy him time for the Davis Cup final against host Argentina from Nov. 21-23.

“I want to recover and be ready for the important Davis Cup final with my country that will be played in Mar del Plata, Argentina. That is also another reason for not coming to Shanghai,” Nadal added.

Nadal will be replaced in Wednesday’s draw in Shanghai by Frenchman Gilles Simon.

(Images by Flynet Pictures)

Have a good weekend!

I'll be going back to hometown tonight. So, no blogging during this weekend.

Before I knock off for my weekend rest, here's a picture (or two) of Nicolas Kiefer. Finally he got himself a haircut (and clean shaven)! Look so much better now.

Handsome and confident (Sorry but he's out from Gstaad Open anyway due to foot problem).

Ugly and depressing, eh? No more.

And lastly, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have confirmed their place at the prestigious Tennis Masters Cup, to be held for the fourth year at Shanghai’s Qi Zhong Stadium from November 9-16.

(Images by Getty Images/AFP/File/Glyn Kirk)