Will Rafael Nadal miss Thailand Open for the 3rd time?

Rafael Nadal wonders if he will miss Thailand Open again this year.

Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand (LTAT) confirmed last week that Rafael Nadal will make his debut at the Thailand Open this September.

The sporting body said Nadal would be joined by reigning tournament champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga competing for the top prize of $608,500.

"I am very pleased to finally be able to come and compete at the PTT Thailand Open."

"I look forward to playing some great tennis for all the Thai fans," Nadal said in a press release.

LTAT president Suwat Lipatapanlop said he hoped Nadal's fame would help bring attention to the Thai competition and boost the country's ailing economy.

Nadal missed the tournament in 2006 and 2007 due to knee injury.

Hopefully he'll make it to the tournament this time.

The Thailand Open will be held from September 26 until October 4 in the suburbs of Bangkok.

Remaining players for the 32-player draw will be announced in the next couple of months, the LTAT said.

(Via AFP; Image by Ryan Pierse/ Getty Images)

Comedian Will 'King of Clay' Ferrell vs Mats Wilander

Probably you have seen comedian Will Ferrell as a figure skater, basketball player and even a racecar driver.

But you definitely have not seen him as a tennis player.

Last weekend, Ferrell, dubbed as the 'King of Clay" (yea, right) joined Swedish tennis champion, Mats Wilander, as well as Rainn Wilson and Justin Gimelstob for the K-Swiss Global Tennis Showdown.

The tennis match was a fundraiser benefitting the Swedish School of LA and The Sweden House.

Thanks to Zach of Prince Sports for the info and images)

(Images by Prince Sports, guillermoquezada)

Andy Murray to rise to no.3

After Novak Djokovic failed to retain his title at Rome, this means he will lose the world no.3 spot to Andy Murray on May 11.

Murray is set to become the highest ever ranked British player since the computerised rankings system was introduced in 1973.

Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski - have held the no. 4 spot, but none have gone higher than that.

Here's Murray's journey to no.3:

July, 2003 Andy Murray’s first ranking was No 774. He ended the year ranked No 539. Won US Open Junior Championship in September 2004 at No 479. Ended the year ranked No 449.

2005 Climbed to No 65 as he won first ATP Tour match at Queen's Club in June. Won two challenger titles in the United States in the summer and reached second round of US Open.

2006 Won his first ATP Tour title in San Jose in February, ranked No 42. Reached Wimbledon and US Open fourth rounds to become No 16 in September. Ended year on the same mark.

2007 Reached the top ten in April after semi- finals in Indian Wells and Miami Masters. In June, reached No 8 but had three months out with wrist injury and ended the year at No 11.

2008 Won five ATP titles, his first Masters title in Cincinnati when ranked No 6, reaching a career-high No 4 after reaching the final of the US Open. Won Masters Series event in Madrid and reached Masters Cup Final in Shanghai. Has been No 4 ever since.

2009 Reached Australian Open fourth round, won titles in Doha, Rotterdam and the Masters in Miami. Reached semi-finals in Monte Carlo in April.

(Via Times Online)

Rome-ancing the clay court season

If Rafael Nadal wins his fifth consecutive French Open later this month, probably 2009 will be the best clay court season he ever had.

Fresh from winning his fourth Rome Masters title on Sunday, beating reigning champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 in the final, Nadal looks confident for Madrid Masters and the French Open.

Now Nadal owns 15th Masters Series title and only Andre Agassi has won more with a whopping 17 titles!

"I would love to have more than 17."

"Right now I have 15, I'm very happy for that (but) I'm going to try my best in the next tournaments," said Nadal.

In the men's doubles final, Nenad Zimonjic and Daniel Nestor continued their European clay court domination by defeating defending champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan 7-6(5), 6-3.

While in Stuttgart, Germany, Svetlana Kuznetsova stunned world no.1 Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-3 to win the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Sunday.

American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Russian Nadia Petrova won the doubles title with a 5-7, 6-3, 10-7 victory over Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta.

(Images Ryan Pierse/Julian Finney/Getty Images)