A couple of weeks ago I was surprised to receive a cheque from Cafepress.
I've created an account with them exactly a year ago but I've never hope to make money by selling tennis t-shirts online.
Well, USD$130 is nothing to shout about but the joy of receiving a cheque in the mailbox unexpectedly is simply awesome.
Because of that I've created new prints, RAFABITES and Kei's Gambatte in Japanese. But I still don't have the time to organise my shop yet. So it's a bit messy.
So, what's the joy of blogging about tennis?
Is it because of the money from selling tees, from Google Adsense and ads?
Well, honestly it's not exactly about the money.
I gain more satisfaction from reading about the latest tennis news in other blogs and forums and getting to know other tennis fans and bloggers.
Now I'm considering to save up the money I make online and watch real tournaments next year. Perhaps a trip to Bangkok or Bali for Thailand Open or Bali Open would be great.
A Japanese gossip weekly magazine reported that Kei Nishikori is dating Japanese table tennis star, Ai Fukuhara.
The 20-year old Fukuhara is best remembered as the flag bearer for the Japanese national team at the recent Beijing Olympics.
According to bunny from MTF, the young couple were seen holding hands in the fashionable Harajuku area in Tokyo while Kei was on holiday in Tokyo earlier this month.
Apparently, they met at the Beijing Olympics, but only started dating recently after Kei came back to Japan this time.
During the Olympics, Ai Sugiyama was sharing the same flat with Fukuhara in the athletes village, and Kei was in the same flat with table tennis player Shun Muzutani. It is said that Sugiyama was the one who introduced the younger Ai to Kei.
After the Olympics Ai was spotted at the AIG Open. According to bunny who read in Sugiyama's blog around October, Sugiyama has became good friends of Fukuhara since the Olympics.
Fukuhara is 20 and is one year older than Kei.
Fukuhara is very huge in Japan and every of her move has been followed by the press ever since she emerged as a table tennis wonder kid when she was about 10!
However, Kei's management declined the romance and has only said that they are good friends.
If the romance is indeed true then they will have to endure a long distance relationship because Kei will have to go back to the US and while Ai-chan (whom Fukuhara is affectionately called in Japan) will be in Germany to play at the German Open.
(Via menstennisforums.com; Images via sina.com, nikkansports.com )
Instead he's picking up the pieces after a terrible loss at home in the Davis Cup final last weekend.
A sullen-looking Nalbandian said he was devastated by the loss.
“Understand the pain of a player not being able to score a point in an important series,” Nalbandian said.
“Understand the anguish and unease right now.
“Things went badly, but the terrible weekend is over,” he said.
Nalbandian gave Argentina its only point in the best-of-five series, beating David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the first singles match Friday.
Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri lost the doubles Saturday to Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, which left Argentina with the nearly impossible task of winning both reverse singles Sunday to win the title.
Top player Juan Martin Del Potro was injured Friday and did not play Sunday.
Nalbandian, upset by the doubles loss, skipped the mandatory news conference after the match and was fined $5,000.
Argentina Coach Alberto Mancini said Nalbandian left the Islas Malvinas Stadium because he was not feeling well emotionally.
Nalbandian apologized to reporters for missing the Saturday news conference but accused them of spreading rumors that he argued with Calleri following the doubles loss.
“It really hurts the players when people say things that aren’t true,” Nalbandian said, sitting alone in front of a room full of reporters.
Despite his disappointment, Nalbandian questioned those who are pessimistic about Argentina’s future chances in the Davis Cup.
“We made it to two finals in three years. Why aren’t we going to continue having the possibility of reaching our goal (of winning the Davis Cup)?” he said.
Argentina reached the finals in 1981 and 2006, losing to the United States and Russia.
David Nalbandian confirmed Monday he will play for Argentina in the Davis Cup next year, setting aside the possibility he would step down following a painful loss to Spain in the final.
“It bothers me that people have questioned whether I’m continuing with the Davis Cup or not. For me, representing my country is really an honor,” Nalbandian said Monday during a televised news conference in Mar del Plata, the site of Spain’s 3-1 victory over Argentina last weekend.
“I’m going to continue — like I’ve done until this point—defending Argentina’s flag the best way possible.”
(Via AP; Images via Yahoo! Sport, menstennisforums.com)
No wonder Rafael Nadal can be so relaxed in Mauritius.
The world no. 1 knows Spain doesn't need him to win the Davis Cup.
Spain took its third Davis Cup by beating Argentina on Sunday, thanks to Fernando Verdasco’s five-set victory over Jose Acasuso.
Verdasco became an unlikely hero after successfully outlasted Acasuso 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 at Islas Malvinas Stadium.
The fans went quiet as Argentina lost at home for the first time in 10 years in Davis Cup competition.
“It’s the most exciting victory of my life,” Verdasco said.
“Playing for my country, against the best players, it’s a dream.”
Verdasco, replacing David Ferrer in the reverse singles, overcame nine double-faults to beat a shaky Acasuso in 3 hours, 56 minutes.
A Spanish supporter holds an underpants that says "Del Potro, we took your underpants off your ass" during the single match of the Davis Cup final.
The 48th-ranked Acasuso was a late replacement for Juan Martin del Potro, who lost his underpants before the match started. Well, no, JMDP was actually injured :D
The 20-year-old Del Potro, one of the hottest players on tour this year, injured his right thigh in a four-set loss to Lopez on Friday.
After winning match point, Verdasco dropped to the court in celebration and was embraced by his teammates.
“Spectacular,” Nadal said on Spanish state television.
“Sincerely, this is history.”
Nadal said he would’ve loved to have been in Argentina to celebrate with his teammates.
“Moments like these, sharing them with your teammates are unforgettable,” Nadal said.
“They played a tremendous tie—it’s time for them to enjoy it.”
Verdasco recognized the efforts of other players who helped Spain reach the final, including Nadal, Tommy Robredo and Nicolas Almagro.
“We have to thank Rafa, Tommy, Almagro,” Verdasco said.
“It is thanks to them we are here.”
Despite the support of nearly 10,000 Argentine fans, Acasuso was not able to keep up with Verdasco, who played well in the doubles win alongside Feliciano Lopez on Saturday.
“I was prepared for the match, but Verdasco played very well in the fourth and fifth sets,” Acasuso said.
“He started serving better and deserves a lot of credit for this win.”
“When you lose such an important player like Juan Martin, it opens a big hole in the team,” Argentina captain Alberto Mancini said.
“After that, things got complicated for us.”
(Via AP, Davis Cup official website; Images via Yahoo! Sport)
Well, USD$130 is nothing to shout about but the joy of receiving a cheque in the mailbox unexpectedly is simply awesome.
So, what's the joy of blogging about tennis?
