TENNIS WATCH: First post of 2010

Here's some brief updates on what had happened recently.

• Rafael Nadal kicked off the new year by beating his has defeated Robin Soderling 7-6(2), 6-4 to win the Abu Dhabi exhibition.

• Maria Sharapova outplayed Venus Williams to take a 6-3, 6-4 victory in an exhibition match in Hua Hin, Thailand last Saturday.

• The Auckland Tennis centre, hosting the WTA Tour's Auckland Classic, was evacuated today after a security scare over an unattended bag.
  
  Police said the bomb scare was not linked to the public street protest held outside the tennis centre against Shahar Peer.

"It's the second year in a row I have a demonstration against me. They shouted "shahar pe'er go away," she wrote on her Twitter account. "[I]t's a shame!!!"

• Still on Peer, the WTA has confirmed that the Israeli will receive a visa to play in Dubai this year.

• In Doha, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal play a unique game of tennis on a magic carpet in the Souq Waqif to kick off the 2010 ATP World Tour season at the Qatar Open. Check out this video:
  

  
  
  

Paradorn Srichaphan's mohawk defeats Thailand's tallest prang

I'll have to give Paradorn Srichaphan's mohawk a pass.

Together with current Thai no.1 tennis player Danai Udomchoke, the boys were promoting Hua Hin Centennial Invitation exhibition match earlier this week.

They will set to play in a one-set mixed doubles match with Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova at 2.30PM on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at the brand new centennial Park, InterContinental Hua Hin Resort.

You can get the tickets from ThaiTicketmajor.com or at the hotel.

For fans who want to welcome Sharapova and Venus at the Suvarnabhumi airport, here's a huge tip: the girls will be arriving at 6.30AM on Friday, January 1, 2010. Send me an email if you want further details.

Thanks for BEC-Tero Entertainment for the info.

Bon Nadal! Merry X'mas!

Bon Nadal is 'Merry X'mas in Catalan. Happy Holidays peeps and see you guys next year!

(Image by Yuen Foo)

Holiday Greetings From the Federer Family

Roger Federer wishes everyone a happy holiday and posted a long awaited, updated family photo in his Facebook Fan Page today.

Although we still have no idea which baby is Myla Rose or Charlene Riva, you can actually see that there's a significant difference between the 5-month old twin sisters.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all tennis fans and friends a Merry X'mas and Happy New Year!

(Image via Roger Federer's Facebook Fan Page)