Sake barrel cracking ceremony without the REAL Samurai

It only takes one player to complete this group.

The REAL Samurai, Sam Querrey!

However the rising son of America has been sidelined for four-to-six weeks after injuring his right forearm in a freak accident in Bangkok.

He could have joined Gael Monfils, Kimiko Date Krumm, Ayumi Morita, Juan Martin Del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, to crack the sake barrels during a welcome reception on Day 2 of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis tournament at Hotel Grand Pacific Le Daiba yesterday.


(Images by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)

Kei Nishikori fit to play Wii but not Japan Open

Kei Nishikori, who recently underwent a small microscopic surgery to remove a minor bone spur, was at the EA booth at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championship yesterday.

Sporting a wavy new hairdo, Nishikori was there to promote EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis, developed specifically for the Wii.

Nishikori is one of the characters featured in the popular game (Asian edition).


(Images via game.watch.impress.co.jp)

Serena Williams (almost) bare it all in ESPN 'The Body' Issue

A fully nude Serena Williams gets the cover on ESPN The Magazine's upcoming ‘The Body’ Issue.

Serena is one of six athletes who will debut on newsstand on October 18, 2009.

Nice try ESPN but Sport Illustrated’s popular swimsuit issue is still the winner.

(Image via tennisforum.com)

Ivo Karlovic and Adam Levine: Separated at birth?

I hope you can tell the difference between Ivo Karlovic and Adam Levine (Maroon 5).

With his famous 'spank that ace' dance at Wimbledon and collaboration with Novak Djokovic on a rap song, Dr Ivo is fast becoming the rock star of tennis.

(Via safinafan at menstennisforums.com)