Anna Kournikova plays exhibition at Mercedes Cup

Rafael Nadal might give the Mercedes Cup a miss but not former Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova. She and Henri Leconte from France were playing at an exhibition match at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany.

(Images by AP Photo/Daniel Maurer)

Nadal arrives home as hero, aiming to be the world #1

After a successful run at the Wimbledon Championships, Rafael Nadal arrived to a hero's welcome in his home town of Manacor on the Spanish island of Majorca, and declared that the number one spot in world tennis is now his goal.

"Now it has become a little objective," Nadal said.

Nadal has long been world number two, behind five-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer of Switzerland.

However, Nadal admitted that things have changed after beating Federer in Sunday's historic final.

Federer continues to lead the way in the ATP ranking with 6,600 points, followed by Nadal on 6,055. This is the closest gap for them.

Nadal acknowledged that he has "good options" to reach the top spot in the upcoming North American tour, when he plays the Masters Series tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati.

He was acclaimed by hundreds of fans - including Balearic Islands regional president Francesc Antich and Manacor Mayor Antoni Pastor - as he waved to them from the balcony of the Manacor town hall.

Nadal, 22, said he stands a chance of becoming world number one provided he maintains his current level of play and keeps "working with the same humility," while he again praised Federer as "the best player in history."

I think he made the right decision by pulling out from the Mercedes Cup due to fatigue and to prevent further injury to his knee.

(Images by JAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images)
(Most of the text via bangkokpost.com)

2008 Wimbledon Champions Dinner

The newly crowned Wimbledon men's singles champion, Rafael Nadal, arrives at the dinner.

Wimbledon women's singles champion, the undisputed grass court queen, Venus Williams.

Rafael Nadal, the Wimbledon men's singles champion and Venus WIlliams, the Wimbledon women's singles champion arrive at the 2008 Wimbledon Champions Dinner last night at the Hotel Intercontinental Hyde Park Corner in London, England.

Tell you what, I'm still awed by last night's battle between Nadal and Federer.

(Images by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani: Roger Federer's BFF @ Wimbledon final

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani spent another day at the Centre Court cheering for Roger Federer.

The couple sat next to Federer's girlfriend, Mirka Vavrinec throughout the 4 hours 48 minutes match, the longest in the history of Wimbledon final.


Throughout the tense final, it seems that the heavily pregnant Gwen Stefani is merely accompanying her husband. She looked bored, what more had to put up with the match suspensions due to rain.

However it's totally different for Gavin who, just like Mirka, seems to show a lot of emotions during the match.

Stefani is expected to remain in London until she gives birth to her second baby.

(Via dailymail.co.uk)