Rafael Nadal's sweet smell of success; signed for Lanvin scents

Rafael Nadal becomes the latest tennis player to join Serena and Venus Williams, Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick off the court and in beauty and fragrance industry.

The world no. 1 tennis player has signed a deal with Paris-based Inter Parfums to be global ambassador for its Lanvin line of fragrances.

Nadal will help develop a new Lanvin fragrance which is set for a summer 2009 launch.

The positioning of the new fragrance line, which is to be called Lanvin L'Homme Sport, will be built around Nadal's image.

A range of products will be aimed at a younger market than is usual for the Lanvin brand.

Inter Parfums is planning to launch the brand throughout Europe and the US.

Inter Parfums creates and manufactures several brands of fragrances and cosmetics under license, including Burberry, Paul Smith, Christian Lacroix and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Updates:
Someone in the menstennisforums.com wonders what fragrance Nadal is using in this picture. Is it an advertisement or something? Any idea?


(Image via New York Magazine, im-net.hu)

Serena Williams stunned in Stuttgart by Li Na; drops no. 1 ranking

Serena Williams bagels Li Na in the first set. However her game collapsed right after that.

With the results 0-6, 6-1, 6-4, the loss to the China player costs Serena her no. 1 ranking.

By dropping the second-round match at the Porsche Grand Prix, Serena will be overtaken by Jelena Jankovic in Monday’s new rankings, the WTA said.

Serena gained the top spot when she beat Jankovic in the U.S. Open final three weeks ago for her ninth Grand Slam title.

Jankovic will play her first match in the tournament today against Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine.

“Obviously, I want to be No. 1 but I am not focusing on that. I am focusing on winning titles and that goes hand in hand (with getting No. 1),” Serena said.

“I am not worried. It will come again if I win tournaments. I play to win titles and Grand Slams, although obviously the No. 1 is also on my mind.”

Williams was playing her first match since the U.S. Open, getting a first-round bye in Stuttgart.

“I started making a lot of errors and I just gave it to her,” she said.

“Maybe I started doubting myself.”

Li, ranked No. 30, said she was so nervous at the start of the match her hands were cold.

“I didn’t have a chance in the first set,” Li said.

“But I looked at the clock and I saw it was only 20 minutes (into the match) so I told myself I could be winning in an hour. I knew I just had to hang in there.”

Serena's sister, Venus Williams is still in the Stuttgart tournament and watched Serena’s defeat.

Li Na at an autograph session earlier this week.

Li who missed 11 months with a rib fracture last year and right-knee surgery in March said, “I believe I can go into the top 10 if I stay healthy."

(Images via Yahoo! Sport, sonyericssonwtatour.com)

Jelena Jankovic impersonates Rafael Nadal; aiming for #1

In her blog, Jelena Jankovic posted some pictures from Stuttgart of her celebrating the China Open win with her parents Snezana and Veselin Jankovic.

There are champagne, strawberries, chocolates and lots of love!

This is a crucial week for the Serbian sensation.

Not only that a luxury Porsche is at stake, but this Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will determine who's the world no. 1; Jankovic or Serena Williams.

If one of the two loses second round and the other goes further, the one who goes further will be No.1; if they both lose in the second round, Jankovic will be No.1.

If Williams wins her second round match, Jankovic's chances of becoming No.1 diminish significantly - Jankovic would have to do two wins better than Williams, so she would have to be either runner-up (with Williams losing in the quarters) or champion (with Williams losing in the semis).

If Williams reaches the final, No.1 is safe, win or lose.

(Via www.jj-jelenajankovic.com)

Kei Nishikori's ramen endorsement deal

Kei joined other players to crack the Sake barrels to wish for the happiness and the success of the tournament at a party during the AIG Japan Open Tennis Championship 2008 at Ariake Colosseum yesterday in Tokyo, Japan.

Kei Nishikori has signed an endorsement and patch contract with Nissin Food Product Co.

Nishikori will wear the "Cup Noodles" logo on his Adidas shirt at the AIG Open at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan.

Nissin manufacturers the popular Ramen instant noodle mix.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"I am glad to announce that I have signed a contract with Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd., Japan’s most famous food manufacturer," Nishikori said in a statement.

"I have loved Ramen since I was a little boy."

Here's Kei when he was that little boy!

"Even now that my life is based out of the United States I continue to spend a lot of time traveling around the world and often enjoy Nissin Noodles."

"Instant noodles is a food culture that Nissin Food Product Co., Ltd. has spread all over the world and always reminds me of Japan."

"Diet is a very important aspect of my life as a professional athlete and will be a key factor to my success as a tennis player. Through my relationship with Nissin Food Product Co., Ltd., I will be able to receive great nutritional advice and strong support regarding my diet."

Well said, Kei! Nissin definitely has picked up the right man to sell their noodles. This endorsement deal comes 4 months after Nishikori signed a three-year global sponsorship pact with Sony.

Things is certainly looking bright for Nishikori.

In the meanwhile, at the AIG Japan Open, Nishikori beat Robert Kendrick in the first round to win 7-6, 6-7, 6-2.

(Via tennisweek.com; Image via Yahoo! Sport, JTA Tennis Online)