Kei Nishikori pulls out of French Open

Kei Nishikori who went back to court for practices earlier this month after a series of injury.

However the latest updates confirmed that Kei is pulling out from the French Open next week due to an injured right elbow.

Kei has not played since losing in the first round at Indian Wells in March.

Once ranked as high as No. 56, Kei is currently 117th.

(Via AP; Image by IMG via keinishikori.com)

Roger Federer & Mirka at Lenny Kravitz concert in Madrid

These are unseen before photos of Roger Federer and Mirka who attended Lenny Kravitz concert in Madrid recently.

Isn't she lovely?

Someone in the forum suggested that she still has strong legs especially for a heavily pregnant woman.

(Images via menstennisforums.com)

Wimbledon unveils Centre Court roof in grand opening

It was a perfect day to showcase the new retractable roof at Wimbledon's Center Court yesterday.

The roof was closed when it started to rain.

The event kicked off with the performance by British crossover opera singers Faryl Smith and Katherine Jenkins who sang “Amazing Grace” in the center of the court.

Katherine Jenkins with 13-year old Faryl Smith.

Katherine Jenkins making the O face.

Il Divo wannabe, Blake.

A crowd of 15,000 spectators were watching Andre Agassi, his wife Steffi Graf, Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters play mixed doubles and singles matches.

The players praised the new retractable roof.

“The conditions were really good,” Clijsters said.

“And I love the sound. Wimbledon already had that, where you feel like when (the crowd is) really into the match, the sound really comes down to the players."

“And now even more so with the roof. For the players, it just feels like they’re right there next to you.”

Agassi also said the closed surrounding will take the atmosphere to a new level.

“The sound was magnificent,” he said.

“I think when you get two people out there who can really play, and move and hit the ball, I think you’re going to feel a level of titanic battle that you haven’t seen yet. … That’s an environment that lends itself to some spectacular tennis.”

The roof was built to limit the frequent rain delays that occur at the Wimbledon Championships each season.

Steffi Graf should keep that at home.

The crowd was entertained by the husband and wife team, Graf, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, who returned to the Centre Court for the first time in 10 years, and Agassi who won his first Grand Slam title here in 1992.

The couple drew a large cheer by exchanging a good-luck kiss on the court before the doubles match.

Kim Clijsters can consider a career change to a footballer if tennis doesn't work for her anymore.

Everybody's a winner.

Henman and Clijsters won the one-set match 7-6 (6).

Agassi then beat Henman 6-4 in singles and Clijsters defeated Graf by the same score.

Andy Murray and girlfriend Kim Sears.

Andy Murray who attended the event with his girlfriend also praised the new structure.

“It’s beautiful,” said Andy Murray, who hopes to become the first Briton since Fred Perry in 1936 to win Wimbledon.

“It looks very nice, compared to most roofs.”

The roof takes about 10 minutes to close, and the Centre Court’s ventilation system then needs about 30 minutes to get moisture out of the air and create the right conditions.

During short rain showers, organizers still plan on using the traditional covers on the court to create shorter breaks. Once the roof is up, it will not open up until a match is over.

(Via AP, operachic; Images by Hamish Blair/Neal Simpson/AFP/Getty Images)

Roger Federer & Dinara Safina win at Madrid Open

Roger Federer finally got his confidence boost ahead of the French Open, beating clay favourite Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4 yesterday to win his first title of the season at the Madrid Open.

This is Roger second victory against Nadal on clay, with the other coming at the Hamburg final two years ago.

The win also ended Federer’s five-match losing streak to Nadal, a stretch that included losses in the finals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Australia.

Federer called his first win over Nadal since the 2007 Masters Cup “very satisfying".

Federer and Nadal were chatty and joked after receiving their trophies in a scene that contrasted with the one in Melbourne when Federer was in tears after losing to Nadal in the Australian Open final.

Earlier, WTA world no.1 Dinara Safina won her second straight title on clay by beating Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-4 in the women’s final.

“Since I became no. 1 I’m playing better and better,” the 23-year-old said.

Wozniacki will become the first Dane to crack the top-10 in next week’s rankings after reaching her third final of the season.

Safina is 14-1 on clay this season and will go into Roland Garros with the hope to earn her first Grand Slam.

In the men's doubles final, Nenad Zimonjic and Daniel Nestor clinched their fifth ATP World Tour title of the season with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Simon Aspelin and Wesley Moodie.

The women's doubles final was won by Cara Black and Liezel Huber who beat Kveta Peschke and Lisa Raymond 4-6, 6-3, 10-6.

Here are more photos at the Madrid finals.

What rivalry? The top two players in the world are chatty and happy.

Not no.1 in the world but first title this season.

What is Hilary Swank doing in Madrid Open?

Safina is admiring the no.1 player in the world because others don't.

Real Madrid stars like Raul and Arjen Robben appreciate tennis too.

I would like to file an official complaint against Madrid Open because of the lack of hot ball girls compare to previous years.

(Via AP; Images by Predo Armestre/Jasper Juinen/Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)