Singapore F1 night race: Rafael Nadal on the celebrity invite list?

At the Paddock Club within the F1 venue last Saturday night at around 10pm, he was said to have caused a commotion as he and Spanish world No. 1 tennis star Rafael Nadal apparently turned up before being ushered into a VIP suite. The only problem: No one was able to snap a picture as evidence (darn!).The F1 (Formula 1) show rolls into its newest town this week for the first ever night race in the late-season fight for the championship, in Singapore.

To heighten the excitement, it is rumored that Rafael Nadal and David Beckham are on the celebrity invite list.

Hollywood and high fashion sees no boundaries too and star-studded invite list include Star Wars director George Lucas, supermodel Naomi Campbell, socialite Paris Hilton, action star Jackie Chan, actress Michelle Yeoh and singer Nicole Scherzinger.

This impressive line up of world celebrities gives a whole new meaning to Formula One Grand Prix indeed.

When it was first announced, teams had questions about the lighting, the potential glare off the surface if it rained, and the wisdom of combining the night race novelty with a newly constructed track that none of the drivers had seen, let alone driven on.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was not worried about competing at night.

"It doesn't seem to be a problem in other sports and there have been huge preparations for this, so it will be great," the McLaren driver said.

Defending champion Kimi Raikkonen has not won a race since April said,

"I enjoy evenings and night time more anyhow."

"I like to sleep until noon every day so for me this seems the perfect venue. I am more awake in the evenings than in the mornings."

Do catch this race on TV. You certainly don't want to miss this.

Updates: Well, there's no evidence shown that Nadal and Beckham attended the F1 night race. I guess it's a rumour that remains a rumour. It's funny because asiaone.com still haven't given up. Read the excerpt from their article.

THE biggest celebrity touted to be in town for F1 was football superstar David Beckham.

At the Paddock Club within the F1 venue last Saturday night at around 10pm, he was said to have caused a commotion as he and Spanish world No. 1 tennis star Rafael Nadal apparently turned up before being ushered into a VIP suite. The only problem: No one was able to snap a picture as evidence (darn!).

(Via businessfast4ward.com, asiaone.com; Image via cnn.com)

Kei Nishikori's homecoming; ready for AIG Japan Open

Kei Nishikori (錦織圭) is finally back home in Japan.

Nishikori currently ranked No. 85 in the world will play in the AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships 2008 to be held at the Ariake Colosseum and Ariake Tennis Forest Park's courts in Koto Ward, Tokyo, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5.

According to Nishikori, Japan is a significant place to play.

"The AIG Open is the most important tournament of the year for me because it is extraordinary for me to play in Japan," he said recently in an interview.

"If I can attain good results [in the upcoming tournament], this year will be a really good season for me."

Nishikori, 18, became the first Japanese to advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 71 years beating David Ferrer along the way.

Ferrer, who is the defending champion here at the AIG Open, will also be joining in by other top players like Richard Gasquet, Juan Martin del Potro, Fernando Gonzalez, Gael Monfils and Tommy Robredo.

Arriving at the Narita International Airport in the afternoon, Nishikori were flocked and welcomed by a large group of journalists and paparazzi.


(Images via nickstennispicks.com, sankei.jp.msn.com, AIG Open website)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga does a Thai version of Muhammad Ali

Finally we get to see Jo-Wilfried Tsonga doing something we all wanted to see! Yes it's boxing! Only that this is the Thai version. (Updates: Apparently Tsonga went into the boxing ring before back in May during the Hamburg Masters Series. Check out Lana's Great Tennis Photos.)

He was practicing during a Thai boxing demonstration to promote the ATP Thailand tennis Open 2008 in Bangkok.

Don't we all just love seeing the Muhammad Ali lookalike in shorts, half naked and delivering some punches here?

These photos are priceless!

Tsonga had a chance to learn some tips from Somluck Khamsing, a former Olympic boxing gold medalist. He even managed to land a left on the Olympian.

By the way Tsonga just defeated Lukas Dlouhy in the second round 7-6, 3-6, 7-6. Pretty nerve wreaking, huh?

(Images by PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images)

Philipp Petzschner knocked out Marat Safin; can do kickboxing too

German tennis player Philipp Petzschner who beat Marat Safin in the first round at the Thailand Open 2008 was seen practicing Thai boxing during a Thai boxing demonstration to promote the ATP Tier II tournament in Bangkok today.


(Images by Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP/Getty Images)