Fernando Verdasco: You've gotta love him!

Recently while in Barcelona for the Banco Sabadell Barcelona Open, Fernando Verdasco did a photo shoot for the Fundación Talita, an organisation dedicated to serving children affected by Down Syndrome.

Verdasco took part in Fundación Talita's annually published Solidarity Campaign, where celebrities are photographed with children helped by the foundation.

Photographed by Paco Berdmar, Verdasco posed with his young fan, Elena.

They will appear in Talita 2010, the eighth consecutive edition of a popular almanac that has become one of the most waited for Christmas presents in Spain.

For further reading, click here or here for the Spanish version.

(Via ohnotheydidnt; Image via La Wed del Tenis)

Serena Williams gets a big boo hoo, Dinara Safina gets down and dirty

While world no.2 Serena Williams was stunned by Patty Schnyder in the second round of the WTA Rome claycourt International, Dinara Safina got down and dirty to prove she deserves to be the no.1 player in the world.

Safina defeated Virginie Razzano 7-6, 6-1, but was really unhappy with tournament organisers for making her play in what she felt were dangerous conditions.

"I was just so angry because you can get injured," said Safina, who fell over twice during the match.

"I mean, it's not funny. They tell us go and play because they think the court is fine but they are not playing on that court."

"Thank God I didn't break anything but if I broke something, I mean, so many players get injured."

"Then what should I say to the tournament? I (should) say thanks for pushing us to play?"

"I mean, they would say: Oh, we are sorry. But it's my career, it's three months off court (if you're injured)."

"So they have to have a little bit of respect for us as players."

I bet Safina feels a whole lot better today.

(Images via Sky Sports)

Janko Tipsarevic to meet tournament owner Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic, whose family helped bring Serbia Open to Belgrade this year after buying the license to the ABN Amro Open, will play against his fellow countryman Janko Tipsarevic in the second round.

Tipsarevic beat Sergio Roitman 7-5, 6-2 in a delayed match due to the rain.

He will set up a meeting with home favourite and top seed Djokovic, who had a first-round bye, in the country’s first ATP Tour tournament.

Tipsarevic said he doesn't like to play against a friend and hoped for equal support from the homecrowd.

(Image by Andrej Isakovic/AFP/Getty Images)

Sometimes you shouldn't be over confident...

This is really funny!

On Monday, Serena Williams insisted that she's no. 1 in the world even though the women’s tennis rankings indicate otherwise.

“We all know who the real No. 1 is,” Serena said.

“Quite frankly, I’m the best in the world.”

Dinara Safina, who has never won a Grand Slam title, overtook Williams in the rankings two weeks ago.

Just one day after that statement, Patty Schnyder proved Serena wrong by defeating her in the world no.2 Rome opener!

Serena lost 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

I think Serena must have forgotten that she's playing on clay at the Foro Italico.

(Images via Yahoo Sports)