Fernando Verdasco & Ana Ivanovic on a shopping spree in Madrid before Davis Cup final

Fernando Verdasco and Ana Ivanovic were caught on camera while on a shopping spree in Madrid before Davis Cup final.

Looks like the couple were at Hugo Boss getting Nando some suits to wear at the Davis Cup official dinners and receptions. Ana definitely helped pick those suits.


(Via tennisforum.com)

Davis Cup champion Spain returns to home

Spain’s winning Davis Cup team returned home on Tuesday looking worn out from a night of celebrations followed by a long flight from Argentina.

Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez, David Ferrer, Marcel Granollers and captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario (photos in sequence) arrived at Madrid’s international airport at 5 a.m. local time.

Due to the early hour, there was little fanfare to greet them.

The Davis Cup trophy wasn’t on the flight but will arrive at the Spanish tennis federation’s headquarters in Barcelona next week.

The trophy’s nationwide tour begins next year at tournaments in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia.

(Via AP; Images via sportsya.com)

If tennis players were rock stars...

Found a hilarious post on Bleacher Report called "If Tennis Players Were Rock Stars: Who Would They Be?"

Top professional tennis players are no difference from celebrities. They get 5-star treatment wherever they go. And whether it's on-court or off-court, their move are being watched constantly.

According to contributor Vinny Do, "Tennis players are a lot like rock stars. They all have a certain voice."

Here are what he thought the tennis players would be if they were rock stars.

Roger Federer: John Lennon. Just greatness all round, from songwriting to singing to leadership.

Rafael Nadal: Carlos Santana. Virtuoso skill and grit; enough vibrato to make you go wow!

Lleyton Hewitt: Bon Scott from AC/DC. Both Aussies, and wear school uniforms.

Serena Williams: Tina Turner. Simply the best, and those hmm...thunder thighs.

Marat Safin: Bon Jovi. The looks and the women.

Andy Murray: The guy from "The Darkness." Looks like him, scruffy. Slim.

Andy Roddick: Any boy band member. But he thought it's Brian from the Backstreet boys, can hit the notes, but rarely anything special (Ouch!)

John McEnroe: Bob Dylan. They are both magicians, but couldn't give a hoot what anyone else thinks.

(Via Bleacher Report)

Making money from tennis blogging

A couple of weeks ago I was surprised to receive a cheque from Cafepress.

I've created an account with them exactly a year ago but I've never hope to make money by selling tennis t-shirts online.

Well, USD$130 is nothing to shout about but the joy of receiving a cheque in the mailbox unexpectedly is simply awesome.

Because of that I've created new prints, RAFABITES and Kei's Gambatte in Japanese. But I still don't have the time to organise my shop yet. So it's a bit messy.

So, what's the joy of blogging about tennis?

Is it because of the money from selling tees, from Google Adsense and ads?

Well, honestly it's not exactly about the money.

I gain more satisfaction from reading about the latest tennis news in other blogs and forums and getting to know other tennis fans and bloggers.

Plus I get the privilege to meet my favourite tennis players and interview them when they are in town.

Now I'm considering to save up the money I make online and watch real tournaments next year. Perhaps a trip to Bangkok or Bali for Thailand Open or Bali Open would be great.