2009 Davis Cup Quarterfinals: More pictures...

Here are more pictures from the various press conferences took place prior to the quarterfinal clashes over the next three days.

Croatia 1 - USA 0

Check that out...

Why do I keep thinking there are similarities between JMDP and Mr Bean?

The single ones always laugh louder and harder.

More team pictures here:

Team Argentina

Team Czech Republic

Team Israel

(Images via Getty Images)

Brydan Klein suspended, fined for racial abuse

Australian Brydan Klein has been suspended from ATP World Tour and Challenger events for six months and fined a second time for making a racial slur during a qualifying match against South Africa’s Raven Klaasen on June 13 in Eastbourne, England.

The 19-year-old Klein has been fined an additional $10,000 on top of the $14,000 fine he received on site.

Klein who has apologised and expressed his embarassment and regret is considering whether to appeal, or to accept a reduced penalty by completing a racial sensitivity training course.

(Via AP)

Sania Mirza stalkers arrested... that's 2 men in 2 days

Police in Hyderabad, India have arrested two men for stalking tennis player Sania Mirza.

According to AP, police nabbed Ajay Singh Yadav today as he tried to barge into the tennis star’s house apparently to profess his love and seeking to marry Sania a day before she is to be engaged to Sohrab Mirza.

Police took the engineering student into custody when he refused to leave.

The arrest came a day after another engineering student, Mohammad Ashraf, was arrested when he tried to enter Sania’s house.

The student threatened to commit suicide if Sania’s engagement ceremony was not cancelled.

The first stalker, Ashraf.

Mohammad Ashraf told Sania's father, Imran, that the tennis star could not marry anyone else as she "was born for him".

He also demanded that her engagement with Sohrab, scheduled this Friday, to be cancelled.

An alarmed Imran called the police who have taken him into custody. He has been produced in court and remanded for a fortnight.

In his complaint to the police, Sania's dad says Ashraf claims to have been in love with the tennis star ever since he saw her playing a match in Bangalore two years ago.

Sania's dad has also complained that the man had been sending text messages and making threatening calls to his daughter for some time.

However, there's no explanation as to how the man got their contact numbers.

Sania is never lack of controversies.

Just last month, a state government found out that a man had secured a white ration card showing Sania Mirza as his wife.

The ration card which is meant for people living below the poverty line carried a photo of the Sania!

(Via BBC News)

2009 Davis Cup Group II Asia/Oceania: Malaysia vs Kuwait in relegation play-off

The national tennis players in my country are going to have a tough job this weekend.

Team Malaysia will have to be at their best to remain in Group II, Asia/Oceania Zone when they meet Team Kuwait in a relegation play-off for the next 3 days.

Since the country's no. 2 Adam Jaya has injured himself during the recent Malaysia Futures tournament, 40-year old V. Selvam is chosen to join his younger team mates in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie.

If you are free and have nothing better to do from Friday to Sunday, please head to the National Tennis Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Matches start from 4 p.m. except on Saturday. Admission is free.

Check out the OOP below:

1st day, 10 July 2009 Friday, 4pm
First Singles Match
Si Yew Meng, MAS VS Ahmad Rabeeca Muhammad, KUW

Second Singles Match
Razlan Rawi, MAS VS Mohammed Ghareeb, KUW

2nd Day, 11 July 2009 Saturday, 5pm
Doubles Match
V.Selvam & Si Yew Meng, MAS VS Mohammed Ghareeb & Ahmad Rabeeca Muhammad, KUW

3rd Day, 12 July 2009 Sunday, 4pm
First Singles Match
Si Yew Meng, MAS VS Mohammed Ghareeb, KUW

Second Singles Match
Razlan Rawi, MAS VS Ahmad Rabeeca Muhammad, KUW

Team Kuwait: Mohammad Ghareeb, Hassan Al Mousa, Musaad Al Jazzaf, Ahmad Rabeea Muhammad, Khaled Al Foudari (Captain)

Team Malaysia: Yew-Ming Si, Selvam Veerasingam, Razlan Rawi, Abd-Hazli Bin Zainuddin, Singaram Selvarajoo (Captain)

(Images by LTAM)