Rafael Nadal at the Prince of Asturias Awards ceremony

Finally the prestigious award has arrived.

Prince Asturias awards ceremony was held today at Hotel Reconquista in Oviedo.

Besides Rafael Nadal, other winners of the awards include one half of the Google guy Larry Page and Ingrid Betancourt.

Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain were present and received in audience guests of the Prince of Asturias Awards.

Watch the youtube video below. Certainly Nadal's (and fans) proudest moment!

Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia.

Rafael Nadal looking good in suits.

Rafael Nadal and mom Ana Maria Parera.

Larry Page, founder of Google.

(Images by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images Europe)

Rendy Lu's updates at Seoul Challenger

I think I should spend some time to blog a bit about Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun (盧彥勳) who is having a great run at the Seoul Challenger this week.

Despite suffering from a jet lag and rain delay during the tournament, Rendy is doing everything he can to repeat his feat at Tashkent Challenger last week.

By the way, the new ATP ranking reveals a better position for Rendy; at no. 65, he is right behind Kei Nishikori.

Well, Kei is already out for the season due to a right knee injury. Here's a chance for Rendy to redeem himself and snatch back his position as the top Asian male player.

Today, Rendy who is the 2nd seed beat Bjorn Phau in the third round 7-6 (6), 7-5. He will play home boy Lee Hyung-Taik in the semifinal tomorrow.

In another semifinal match, Ivo Minar will face off with Thailand no. 1 Danai Udomchoke.

Click here for the main draw singles and here for the main draw doubles.

I'll leave you with some pictures of Rendy Lu at the Seoul Challenger forwarded by Esther via Rendy's brother, Thomas. The second picture below was taken earlier this week with Takao Suzuki.


Rendy, 加油 (Jia you in Mandarin means C'mon) and good luck for the weekend!

(Via Rendy's website)

Maria Sharapova in Russian Vogue: Is she fashionably fury or sorry?

Maria Sharapova is in the new Russian Vogue for November 2008 issue.

No, the cover isn't her but the gorgeous Alana Zimmer photographed by Tom Munro.

Sharapova only has a few pictures in that fashion magazine along with other familiar names like Linda Evangelista, Lauren Bacall and Olga Kurylenko.

Sharapova looks great in the photos below but I don't think the people at PETA are going to be impressed.

Hope those are fake fur.

Госпожа Подача [Madam Serve]
Photography: KT Auleta


(Via tennisforum.com, thefashionspot.com)

Rafael Nadal appearance at the Laboral Theatre, ready to accept the Prince of Asturias Sports award

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal attended an event at the Laboral Theatre, Gijon yesterday.

Doesn't he look good in that leather jacket?

In the event, Nadal was interviewed by a Spanish television journalist Maria Escario. No further information that I've heard of about the event yet.

Nadal will be awarded with the 2008 Prince of Asturias Sports award at a traditional ceremony today in the Asturian capital.

The Prince of Asturias Awards are held annually since 1981 to reward scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work done by individuals, work teams and institutions.



(Images via Flynet Pictures, Reuters/Felix Ordonez)