'AIG SUNDAY' packed with 10,000 tennis fans

The pre-tournament event at the AIG Sunday saw an attendance of about 10,000 tennis fans.

The event saw the practice sessions of Kei Nishikori (錦織 圭) vs Go Soeda and Kimiko Date vs Ayumi Morita as well as exhibition doubles match between Takao Suzuki/Satoshi Iwabuchi vs David Ferrer/Tommy Robredo.

The exhibition match between world No. 1 wheelchair tennis player (also Paralympic gold medallist) Shingo Kunieda and Satoshi Saida was also on schedule but it was canceled at the last minute due to Kunieda's elbow injury.

Here are some photos from the event.

Kei Nishikori and Go Soeda

Kimiko Date is still very much popular with the tennis fans

(From left to right) David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Satoshi Iwabuchi and Takao Suzuki

Kei Nisihikori with Paralympic gold medallist, Shingo Kunieda

(Via jta.blog.so-net.ne.jp)

Rafael Nadal LIVE in Beijing Olympic Village

Here are some pictures of Rafael Nadal, the unofficial world no.1 player in the world for you. As you know, Nadal has already arrived in Beijing, chasing his first Olympic gold medal.

Rafael Nadal was spotted in Beijing Olympic village talking to other Spanish sportsmen. Here he posed with Spain's female hockey players. He is obviously in a good vibe with smile and confidence on his face. Also with him is fellow Spaniard tennis player, Tommy Robredo.

He was also seen practicing on the court, and showing off some ball balancing skill.

(Images via Great Tennis Photos and BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)

Dress up in Munich, strip off in Barcelona

Gael Monfils and Fernando Gonzalez are not only making their debuts in the BMW Open at Munich this week but it is also their first time dressed up in lederhosen (leather trousers) and a full traditional Bavarian costume.
They took time out to visit Munich’s world famous restaurant and brewery ‘Hofbräuhaus’.

However, in Barcelona where Rafael Nadal is also playing, another player Fernando Verdasco is not interested in dressing up. He followed compatriot Tommy Robredo's footsteps as he posed in the buff for UK Cosmopolitan magazine's Everyman campaign.

Verdasco felt that entire Barcelona could see him naked during the rooftop shoot (click here to see Verdasco's version here). He is scheduled to appear in the July edition of the magazine.

(Images from Thomas Exler/ATP)

Rafael Nadal the King of Clay in Monte Carlo, again

"Maybe I didn't play my best for sure. But it's tough against him and he deserves to win in the end... because he's a hell of a clay court player" - Roger Federer

Rafael is definitely the best clay court specialist in the Open Era. He has just made a historic win last night at Monte Carlo by winning 4 consecutive titles in a row. What more he won the doubles final on the same night together with Tommy Robredo!

I was worrying in the second set when Federer lead by 4-0. Who knows Nadal will fight back and win the second set 7-5. That's exactly the same Rafael Nadal and his fighting spirit when I first saw him play at the Australian Open against Lleyton Hewitt in the quarterfinal.

Now, Rafael Nadal, the undisputed claycourt king, will be out to maintain his dominance when he chases a record fourth consecutive title at the Barcelona Open, which starts today.

(Photo by Claude Paris/Michael Steele/Getty Images)