Chance to lick Serbian tennis stars

The Serbs are taking their participation very seriously in the tennis event at the Beijing Olympics. I would say that they do stand a better chance to win gold medals compare to any other countries.

To kick off the Olympics campaign, top tennis players Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic have received the honor to be featured on first day covers and stamps as well as their male colleagues which include Novak Djokovic, world No.41 Janko Tipsarevic, and world No.6 doubles player and Australian Open mixed doubles champion Nenad Zimonjic.

Ana Ivanovic

Novak Djokovic

Janko Tipsarevic

Nenad Zimonjic

The images for these five stamps were created by academic painter Marina Kalezic.

Surprisingly, I couldn't find Jelena's first day cover on the Internet at all.

(Pictures from anaivanovic.com and ebay)

What are the men tennis players' nicknames?

Esther, the biggest tennis fan, loves to refer ATP players by their nicknames. Like in the previous post, she refers MIkhail Youzhny as Misha. I believe some of you knows that Roger Referer is famously known as Fedex and Novak Djokovic is known as Nole or Djoker.

Here's a list of tennis players and their nicknames. The next time you read a tennis post or article, you know who the writer is referring to.

Almagro, Nicolás - Nico

Ančić, Mario - Super Mario, Baby Goran

Baghdatis, Marcos - Baghs, Baghster, Baggy, Bagman, Baghdaddy

Cañas, Guillermo - Willy, Giant Killer

Davydenko, Nikolay - Kolya

Djokovic, Novak - Nole, NoDjoke, Djoker, Djokster; Nokia; Nox

Federer, Roger - Rog, The Federer Express (FedEx), (The) Fed, Captain Wasabi, Darth Federer

Ferrer, David - Ferru

Ferrero, Juan Carlos - Juan Carlos Ferrero Donat, Juanqui, (el) Mosquito; Chavalito; JCF

Gasquet, Richard - Richie; Baby Fed

González, Fernando - Gonzo, Speedy González; El Bombardero de la Reina; Mano de Piedra

Grosjean, Sébastien - Sebie, Big John

Haas, Tommy - Hasi; Tommy Boy

Henman,Tim - Tiger Tim; Henners; Timmy

Hewitt, Lleyton - Rusty

Hrbatý,Dominik - The Dominator

Johansson, Thomas - Tompa, ThoJo

Ljubičić, Ivan - Ljubo

Malisse, Xavier - X-Man

Massú, Nicolás - Nico; Vampiro

Moyà, Carlos - Charlie, Carlito(s)

Murray, Andy - Muzzah, Muzcat

Nadal, Rafael - Rafa, Jetboy, Pirate boy,The Boy, King of Clay

Nieminen, Jarkko - Jakke, Shark, Flying Finn

Robredo, Tommy - Tomito; Disco Tommy

Roddick, Andy - A-Rod, Duckman

Safin, Marat - The Safinator

Srichaphan, Paradorn - Ball

Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried - Jo, Baby Ali, Jo-Jo; Jo-Willy

Youzhny, Mikhail - Misha

For the complete list of nicknames, click here.

When tennis turns bloody: Mikhail Youzhny's racquet self-abuse

I hate seeing blood. When I first saw this video, it freaks me out.

Mikhail Youzhny gets too emotional by his poor play against Nicolas Almagro at the Miami tennis tournament, he smacked his head three times enough to draw blood running down his face.

(Picture via Tennis Served Fresh)

Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams play tennis on water

Nevermind Rafael Nadal lost at Indiana Wells last week.

To kick off the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Miami, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams played a spirited in water game of tennis in the 110-foot long, 43,000-gallon swimming pool at the Gansevoort South Hotel.

Balanced on acrylic, invisible platforms at either end of the Bisazza-glass tiled infinity edge pool for the players to stand, the water-covered court took seven days to build.

"This was a once in a lifetime chance to play tennis on water," says Serena Williams, the defending Sony Ericsson champ. "And it was a new challenge to play against Rafael. Especially since he volunteered to play at the deep end!"

(Pictures from Getty Images)