Andy Murray beats James Blake to win Queen’s Club final

Andy Murray fulfilled his duty to end a seven-decade victory drought for home players to become the first Briton to win the Queen's club title since Bunny Austin in 1938.

Murray defeated James Blake 7-5, 6-4.

"It was a good match, even if there weren't so many rallies," Murray said.

"James is tough and since I'd only played him once, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm very glad to win."

The world no.3 will now face huge pressure with Wimbledon starting a week from Monday.

The last Briton who lift the Wimbledon title was Fred Perry which dated back in 1936.

"I played well all week and when I had chances I managed to take them," Murray said.

"But I was nervous before the match."

"I guess the only thing now is to try and win a Grand Slam hopefully in a few weeks."

In the meanwhile, it wasn't a bad result for Blake.

Perhaps he can celebrate by getting a clean shave before the Wimbledon starts.

(Via news.com.au; Images by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

Why I think Tommy Haas' win is better than Andy Murray's

Andy Murray got a kiss from mommy Judy.

Tommy Haas got a kiss from girlfriend Sara Foster, an American actress.

(Images by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images, Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Andy Roddick retires; James Blake to meet Andy Murray in final at Queen's

Andy Roddick suffered a huge blow after he was forced to retire with an ankle injury during the first set of his Queen's Club semifinal against compatriot James Blake.

He called for treatment three games into the match and resumed after having his ankle and foot heavily bandaged.

However, Roddick was clearly still in some discomfort as he served in the next game and decided to take the safety-first option with Wimbledon starting in just nine days.

Blake, who was a finalist here back in the 2006, admitted he did not take much pleasure from this victory.

"It was unfortunate but Andy is such a great player and he doesn't want to endanger the injury anymore," Blake said.

"He normally moves so well and you could tell this wasn't the same Andy Roddick."

The American will now try to stop Andy Murray who is bidding to become the first Briton to win the pre-Wimbledon warm-up event since 1938.

Earlier, Murray completed a ruthless 6-2, 6-4 win over Juan Carlos Ferrero.

"I felt it was a good match. I started well but the second set was very close," Murray said.

"I'm obviously happy to win in two sets. I was very happy with the way I played all round."

"I didn't have the easiest draw so it's been a good week all around and hopefully I can finish it off on Sunday."

(Via cnn.com; Images by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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)

Feliciano Lopez: Best looking player on grass

I'm not sure about you but I thought Feliciano Lopez is the best looking player on grass court tournament now.

As a bonus, here's another picture of Feliciano.

I have no idea why his face and his hand grabbing the two balls fascinates me.


(Images by Hamish Blair/Getty)

Rafael Nadal to give 200% to get ready for Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal held a press conference earlier today to announce his hope to defend his Wimbledon title.

Nadal will travel to London next Tuesday despite his knee injury.

The top-ranked Spaniard said after two days of medical tests in Barcelona he has decided to try physical therapy to prepare for the tournament, which starts June 22.

“I am going to give my 200 percent to be ready for the most important tournament in the world,” Nadal said.

“I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100 percent ready to play."

“I have two difficult weeks ahead of me, especially because I won’t be doing what I like doing most, which is to play tennis.”

“I have been playing with pain on my knees for some months now and I simply can’t go on like this."

“The pain was limiting certain movements in my body, which affected me mentally as well.”

Spanish Tennis Federation physician Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro said Nadal has tendinitis in both knees.

“His treatment will involve oral anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy, as well as muscular exercises for both quadriceps,” Ruiz-Cotorro said.

Nadal withdrew from the grass court warm-up event at Queen’s Club this week. He was the champion here last year.

Let's see in a week or two whether Nadal will confirmed his participation at this year's Wimbledon.

(Via AP)

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)

Rafael Nadal congrats Roger Federer; 'rehabilitates' in Majorca with Xisca

In his official website, Rafael Nadal congratulates Roger Federer for his amazing win at the French Open.

Nadal had a brief chat with the media and said he wanted to ‘text’ Roger and congratulate him for his win, “only not now because he will have 300 messages waiting for him for sure.”

Even during his last press conference in Paris, Nadal showed his support and admiration for Federer saying that he would like to see him win Roland Garros and become a legend in the sport’s history, because to him, he “is the one who deserves it most."

In the meanwhile, back in Majorca, Nadal enjoyed a day of messing about on a jet ski with girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello.

It is believed that the silver and black Seadog was a gift for Nadal who celebrated his birthday last Wednesday.

The pair then donned matching black life jackets before taking to the sea for an exhilarating high-speed ride.

After going for a spin, the pair were joined by two male friends, who were keen to try out Rafael's new toy.

In the latest development, Uncle Toni Nadal said that his nephew could miss this year's Wimbledon after withdrawing from next week's tournament at Queen's Club - seen as a warm-up to the main event - due to a persistent knee injury.

(Images by Splash via dailymail.co.uk)

Rafael Nadal out of Queen's Club, in doubt for Wimbledon

Too bad, Nadal will not defend that huge Aegon Championships trophy this year.

Spanish sports newspaper 'Marca reported that Rafael Nadal could miss Wimbledon because of a knee injury.

Toni Nadal, the reigning Wimbledon champion's uncle and coach, said the 23-year-old had a damaged right knee and was doubtful for the Grand Slam which starts on June 22.

"We have taken him out of the Queen's tournament (June 8-14) and will do everything possible to get him there, but this is subject to medical tests," Toni Nadal said.

"There is something wrong with his knee but right now we are uncertain what the problem is," he added.

The latest injury scare is said not connected with the persistent tendonitis suffered by the player.

Nadal is currently resting at his home town of Manacor on the island of Mallorca and will undergo detailed medical tests from Monday.

(Via AFP)

From the grass court @ the Queen's Club

This is a brief and random post as I have tonnes of work to catch up. Will be starting a new job next week. Supposed I'm working on contract basis in this current company for 3 months but I end up being working here for a year now.

With the petrol hike and increase in cost of living, I think it's a perfect time for me to move on and out of my comfort zone a bit and strive for more money and perks in Kuala Lumpur. Believe it or not, this is my first time working out from Petaling Jaya.

Enough said about me, let's talk about tennis. You know, Wimbledon is just 2 weeks away. Nothing gets me more excited than Rafael Nadal on grass court. But with that weird looking white T-shirt? Eeewww... wouldn't you just want to rip it off?

Hey, I have a photo for you. Guess who is the player in this photo. No prize for today. Give you a clue, the girl in the next picture is his girlfriend.


Pretty, eh? That is model Brooklyn Decker. Yeps, she's Andy Roddick's fiancee. Besides the girlfriend, guess who is also watching (or should I say spying on) Andy Roddick?

Seems like Nadal has already started working for his first Wimbledon already. Perhaps Roddick is the best person to learn something from about grass surface. After all Roddick is the defending champion here at the Queen's Club and now bidding for a record of 5th Artois Championships.

(Images by IAN KINGTONIAN KINGTON/Julian Finney/AFP/Getty Images)