Andy Roddick leads the NAB Taste of Tennis Australia event

Andy Roddick joined by fellow American Justin Gimelstob in tasting the oyster cocktails of the Press Club restaurant's George Calombaris.

The dry ice cocktail made him breathe smoke out of his nose and mouth.

Gimelstob was quick to publicly point out the aphrodisiac properties of the shelled treats to Roddick whose fiancee Brooklyn Decker, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, arrived in town on the weekend.

Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo, Andre Sa and Aleksandra Wonziak also joined the fun at the inaugural Australian Open tasting, which has become a regular event at the US Open in New York blending tennis aces with super chefs.

Looks like they are now bringing the fun to Australia.


(Via news.com.au; Images by Luis Ascui/Getty Images for AYS Sports Marketing)

Oi Oi Oi Year of Ox: HCFoo's Australian Open predictions based on Chinese zodiac (Women's Singles)

In this second part, we'll take a look at the women players and see who has the luck to prevail at this year's Australian Open.

But before that, check out Andy Murray's tape job on his right knee. Perhaps you want to start believing in my prediction and why he is not my favourite to win at the Australian Open?

Image via downthelinetennis.com

Now click here for ththe women's singles draw. Who do you think is the favourite to win?

Let's start with Ana Ivanovic the runner-up last year.

Women's Single

Rabbit
Ana Ivanovic - November 6, 1987
The year of the Ox is well suited to the rabbit nature. The slower pace of this year will see you spending more time with friends and family. A good year to upgrade your home, or for buying or selling a house.
AO Prediction: Just like Nole and Murray, this could be a slower pace for Ana too compare to the last year or so. Perhaps she should consider getting another multi-million dollar villa? Although Ana is a runner up here last year and now back working together with her former coach Sven Groenefeld before she finds a replacement, I still don't think Ana is a favourite to win here.

Ox
Jelena Jankovic - February 28, 1985
This is not a year to be outrageous. A slow but steady year. This Ox year will bring stability and growth where patience and diligence pays off.
AO Prediction: Perhaps the Ox year offers stability for JJ in terms of $$$. She could have signed off a lucrative deal with ANTA. She will win lotsa tournaments this year but what about a Grand Slam? I think it will take more than hard work. She needs the extra edge and luck to win at this level of the game.

Rooster
Serena Williams - September 26, 1981
Elena Dementieva - October 15, 1981
Great opportunities for rooster this year. A good time to recoup losses. You will make great progress at work, reaping rewards of your labor. Emotional ties bring joy. Your prestige and reputation increase.
AO Prediction: Looks like we have a potential final match between the players. Elena has proved her presence for the past 2 weeks, in Auckland and Sydney. And Serena still proves she can still create magic on hardcourt at a high level tounament like this.

Monkey
Venus Williams - June 17, 1980
This is a year of moderate progress for monkeys. Work will slow down this year allowing the monkey more personal time. It also allows for quality time with friends and family.
AO Prediction: I don't think we'll see much progress from Venus just yet. Not until the Wimbledon, which seems to her favourite tournament.

Tiger
Dinara Safina - April 27, 1986
This is the year for keeping a low profile, tiger. Because of the slow pace of the Ox year, it will be a frustrating time for you. You like things to be move quicker, you will need to show restraint.
AO Prediction: Last year we've seen tremendous progress from Safina but this year, she has to slow down a bit. I don't think she dominates at the recent Hopman Cup and she failed to overcome Elena in Sydney. I guess she will not be ready for the Grand Slam yet. Perhaps in a year or 2 she will.

The year of Ox could see either
Elena or Serena in the final!

That's it for my prediction. AO will start tomorrow. So stay tune for more updates.

Click here if you haven't check out the men's singles predictions.

*'Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi', also spelt 'Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie, Oy Oy Oy', is a cheer or chant often performed at Australian sport events.

(Original prediction via earthyfamily.com)

So Jelena Jankovic signs with ANTA, a leading Chinese sports brand

The speculation is finally over.

ANTA a leading Chinese sportswear announced on Sunday a landmark deal in women's tennis with the signing of world no. 1 player Jelena Jankovic.

However it is not revealed the details of the three-year-contract with Jankovic, who will wear ANTA sports apparel, shoes and accessories worldwide. But I assume it to be a lucrative one.

The ANTA design team from the United States and Japan has worked closely with Jankovic to develop a Jelena Jankovic range of sports products under the JJ brand.

Jankovic said, "The recent success of the Beijing Olympics has firmly established China's reputation as a world power in sport."

"I feel very honored to be forming a partnership with the leading Chinese sports brand ANTA. I look forward to working with ANTA to promote the development of tennis world-wide."

Jankovic will be showcasing the JJ range of ANTA sportswear at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, which starts tomorrow.

(Via montrealgazette)

Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun 2009 Pre-Australian Open Interview

Through Esther, we managed to arrange for Zara who runs Ernests Gulbis' blog to meet up with Asia no. 2 Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun on Friday evening for a pre-Australian Open interview.

Thank you girls for the transcript and practice photos!

1) Your current ranking at #61 is your personal best so far, so what's next? What is your goal for year 2009?
I don’t set a specific ranking for me to reach. Of course I want to be ranked higher – Top 50, Top 35 – but my goal is to play all the big tournaments like the ATP 1000’s (he actually said ‘Super 9’) and Grand Slams. That means I need to be in the Top 50.

Before this, I’ve only ever played 3-4 ATP 1000’s per year, but this year I hope I can compete in all of them.

I don’t know what ranking number I want to reach but I hope I can play all the big tournaments.

2) How will your performance in Heineken Open,NZL and Hopman Cup influence your game in AO? How much did those matches with Safin, Simon and Almagro give you confidence for AO?
It was a very good experience and preparation for the Australian Open. I really enjoyed myself there. There were a lot of spectators and good facilities, also the fact that the Hopman Cup is a different kind of tournament from an ATP event. You just have to play well and hope that you could win some points. I feel happy that I’ve been there.

3) Do you feel like you could have done anything better against the top players?
Of course, after the match I always think about where you conceded something and where you should have changed anything. I had chances to win a set, or even a match. I always try to find reasons to improve.

4) Your best results in Grand Slams is the 2nd round. Do you think you can break that barrier and go further than that?
I’m going to focus on winning the first match. For me, there’s no pressure but I am motivated and I intend to win the first match, and not only that but also the matches beyond it.

5) Do you think Asian players, such as Kei Nishikori, Somdev Devvarman (who was knocked out in qualifying round), Hsieh Su-wei, Sun Tiantian, and Zheng Jie, can grab some attention from the AO this year?
Right now we have several players still in the qualifying – I hope they can win the last match tomorrow.

It’s good for us that many Asian players are starting to play in Grand Slams. If one of us can reach the third or fourth round – then we all can do the same thing, you know.
We are competitors, so when we look at the other person – if I can do well, that means they also can do well. It’s a good example for other Asian players.

6) Are you looking forward to team up with Yang Tsung-hua in the coming Davis Cup in Taipei? Do you have a chance to meet up with your Davis Cup teammates to discuss strategies to take on Kazakhstan?
Of course, it’s really close after the Australian Open but we have already started preparations since last year. It’s really special for me, but I try not to think too much about it now and just try to focus (on the Australian Open.) When the time comes then I will worry about it (laughs).

7) How does it feel to be an uncle? Will you encourage him to play professional tennis one day?
At the beginning, it was strange (laughs). Very strange. But now it is interesting, because when I go home there is something different. Before this when I go home I just lie down and watch the TV, but now when I go home there is something to think about – what is my nephew doing, things like that. I want to see him and play with him – it’s something new.

I don’t know if I want the baby to play tennis when he grows up – not right now (laughs).


Photos and interview by Zahirah Fairuz Zahari, Melbourne Park.