Argentina believes winning its first Davis Cup is within its grasp on the eve of hosting its first semifinal at its Parque Roca Stadium fortress.If the team beats Russia this weekend, the Argentines will also host its first final against either Spain or the trophy-holding United States.The chance to make history has the Argentine team highly motivated, and even drew football great Diego Maradona to practice on Wednesday.
"The boys are really dedicated to this tournament," Argentina captain Alberto Mancini told TyC Sports television on Wednesday.
"They're pumped up by the opportunity to play another final — and at home. They have a lot of motivation, you can see it on the court."
Argentina hasn't lost at home in 10 years, winning 12 straight ties. That record made Argentina favored to win this week, said the country's greatest player, Guillermo Vilas. "Argentina has a very good record at home," Vilas told the Davis Cup Web site. "The people are very warm and passionate when the matches start, and the Argentines always seem to play at their best."
To ease the pressure on his team, Mancini on Tuesday named David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro for Friday's opening singles at the sold-out, 14,000-seat, clay-court stadium.
Diego Maradona wishing David Nalbandian success.
Guillermo Canas gets some love from the football legend.
Same goes to Juan Martin del Potro. Alberto Mancini is waiting for his turn.
(Via GMANews.TV, Images via Yahoo! Sport)
BRISBANE tennis fans may glimpse Novak Djokovic's glamour girlfriend Leryn Franco when the Serb takes to the court at the Brisbane International.
"A lot of these guys do travel with their girlfriends through to the Australian Open, so I guess there is every chance she could be here," said the tournament's director, Steve Ayles. "But I couldn't say for sure."
I can't believe this 'cheap' claims comes from the Brisbane tournament director. I mean Djokovic himself already denied the rumour at the recent U.S Open.
Another event's big drawcard, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be attending the Brisbane International too.
Ayles also confirmed that Tsonga, is desperate to check out Queensland's deep-sea fishing.
"He does love to fish so we're trying to organise a trip for him."
In the meanwhile here are some latest pictures of Djokovic at a welcoming evening at Bratislava, before the start of the Davis Cup match between Serbia and Slovakia. He was seen dancing with Slovakian singer Sisa Sklovska.
Updated: And here are more photos of Djokovic and his Serbian teammates and the Slovakian team.
Novak Djokovic leads the Serbian team.
Serbian tennis player Janko Tipsarevic is pictured at the press conference at the end of
the draw for of the Davis Cup World Group.
The Serbian tennis team (Left to right) Novak Djokovic, Bogdan Obradovic,
Janko Tipsarevic, and Viktor Troicki. 
(Left to right) Slovakia tennis team members Dominik Hrbaty, Lukas Lacko, and Milos Mecir, and Serbian tennis team players Bogdan Obradovic, Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic, Viktor Troicki, and Nenad Zimonjic.
Tennis players Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia and Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
(Via couriermail.com.au, Images via Yahoo! Sport)
Roger Federer’s part-time coach, Jose Higueras, was hired by the U.S. Tennis Association earlier this week as director of coaching for elite player development, a program that aims to identify future champions. “Jose is one of the greatest minds in coaching today,” said Patrick McEnroe, the U.S. Davis Cup captain and general manager of the development program.
“His understanding of the sport is unrivaled, and his familiarity with American tennis makes him an invaluable asset and important addition to our staff as we continue to develop the skills of the brightest young talents in tennis.”
Higueras will work at USTA training centres in California and Florida. As a coach, he helped Michael Chang and Jim Courier win Grand Slam titles, and he also worked with Pete Sampras, Jennifer Capriati, Todd Martin and Robby Ginepri.
Higueras began working off-and-on with Federer this season and was at the U.S. Open this month when the Swiss star won his 13th major singles championship.
The question now is, who is Federer's new coach?
(Via Yahoo! Sport)
Marion Bartoli, Nadia Petrova and Chuang Chia-Jung attended a sushi demonstration and tasting in Tokyo.
Chuang Chia-Jung, Marion Bartoli and Nadia Petrova learn how to make sushi from a Japanese sushi chef.
Nadia Petrova tastes her self-made sushi. 
Chuang Chia-Jung and Marion Bartoli still haven't get their sushi into their mouths. 
Chuang Chia-Jung is not even biting her sushi.
