FASHION FIX: Nike bores to tears, Winter Global Power Sleeveless in blue needs to go

End of our rope: Believe us, we like this Nike shirt. We think the colors are great and it shows off the player's sexy guns. But we're through and bored, frankly. We've seen our fill of the Winter Global Power Sleeveless Top in crystal blue at this week's Madrid Masters. The Spanish trio - Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya, Feliciano Lopez - and the fiery Austrian Stefan Koubek have all sported it during their matches here and elsewhere, sometimes at the same time.


Hello - the shirt also comes in 2 other great colors, people. We're beating an already dead horse, but tour stylist anyone?!!

Ana Ivanovic talks shopping with Teen Vogue, becomes fashion victim

Though she endured a humbling loss to Frenchie Tatiana Golovin at the Zurich Open this week, Ana Ivanovic is continuing her Global Domination Tour in the media. The World No. 4's most recent stop was the US offices of Teen Vogue, baby sister to the Anna Wintour-helmed Vogue.

According to the "Beauty Blogger" feature, tennis matches aren't the only things the Serbian beauty is losing these days:

"The world is Ana Ivanovic’s oyster...She loves to shop, even if her last spree literally made her a fashion victim. 'I bought a Louis Vuitton dress with some of my winnings [from the French Open] — it got stolen a week later on a trip to Barcelona!!' she says."

Now that's not very nice. A girl's gotta have her LV moment - damn you thieves! (via anaivanovic.com)

Moments from Madrid: Federer returns, media frenzy follows

The media & fan frenzy never stops when Roger Federer is around. After taking over a month off after winning his 12th Grand Slam and playing for Switzerland in the Davis Cup, the World No. 1 returned to tournament action at this week's Madrid Masters. And so did the media madness...

Photo op: Fed made sure to greet his terracotta twin at a pre-tournament press conference and take some photos with his alter ego, Warrior Federer.

Tennis tour: Next he toured Madrid and visited the construction site of one of the four new skyscrapers currently being built in the Spanish city. We think he looks cool and casual in the brown bomber jacket, black shirt, and jeans - though we'd move him away from boot cut denim (very 2005).

Game on: Oh, let's not forget Fed actually played some tennis this week. Today he met his recent nemesis, Guillermo Canas, who had bested the Swiss stylist in consecutive Masters Series this past spring - Indian Wells & the Sony Ericsson Open. Clearly, Fed had a different idea in mind today and was at his brilliant best, demolishing the Argentinian 6-0, 6-3.

Finally, Fed received the Marca Award from ATP Masters tennis tournament Madrid director Manolo Sants and the director of daily sportsnewspaper Marca Eduardo Inda after his win against Canas. All in a day's work for the World No. 1.

(images courtesy of AP Photo)

Andy Murray's Spanish memories, misses siestas

The Spanish do it better: Like many modern players such as Marat Safin, Ana Ivanovic, and Svetlana Kuznetsova, Andy Murray moved to Spain to train at the country's premiere tennis facilities and hone his game...or so we thought. What was it about the country that the Scot really enjoyed?

"I enjoy the way Spain works – going to sleep late, waking up late, eating late, sleeping during the day," [...] "I did quite a lot of that when I was training here."

We don't doubt it, nor do we blame him. We could do with a siesta right about now...

(source)

+ WEDNESDAY NETCORDS: Lindsay, Kim, Nole vs. Andy, Lleyton bags season...Mario returns, Roger dreams of gold and more

(image courtesy of The Red Joke)

- Boneheaded or brilliant? Former tennis player and coach Ion Tiriac is pushing to make Madrid the location of a 5th Grand Slam tournament.

- Super Mario: Croatia's Mario Ancic is finally making strides on the ATP Tour again after sitting out 6 months with mononucleosis and then recently with a shoulder injury. "Playing matches, waiting for matches to start, warming up for matches, it's new for me this year," said the former top-10 player. "I haven't done much of that at all. You can work as much as you want, but when you come to a tournament, it's a new world."

- Closing shop: Aussie hothead Lleyton Hewitt has ended his '07 campaign early. The former World No. 1 is nursing a chronic ankle issue which he re-injured while preparing for Davis Cup duty last month. Lleyton's manager, David Drysdale, said, "It's not something that we think is going to be an issue in the future. The advice we were given by the specialists was to give him three or four weeks off and then allow another three or four weeks to recuperate, so that's pretty much what we're doing."

- Speaking of the Hewitts, sister Jaslyn has traded in her tennis racquets for dumbells and competitive bodybuilding. According to a recent interview she didn't want to "bulk up like a she-man. I like the athletic feminine look," said Jaslyn. Check out her new look here. We're thinking she's a card-carrying dude now, but that's just our humble opinion. (via TSF)

- Another former World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport is singing a different tune than Lleyton and discussing the beginning of her full assault on the tennis world. In an interviw with RadioTennis.com, Lindsay discussed her initial 2008 plans saying, "Right now the plan is to leave for Australia after the first of the year, play a warm-up tournament prior to the Australian Open, then play the Australian Open and then possibly play Fed Cup."

- Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray: how do the old friends stack up against each other?

- The currently retired, but very pregnant, Kim Clijsters can still hit a big ball - baby bump and all. No, seriously....check it out here!

- Roger Federer likes his chances to win the Australian and French Opens next year, but what about the "Golden Slam"? "The Olympic Games is a special year and honestly I don't envision the Golden Slam, but if it's there to take I'll try, but it's a tough schedule," [...] "It's hard to do, almost impossible."

- Sign o' the times: Which astrological sign is the most populated by tennis players? Tennis Diary knows...and they're telling.

JUSTINE HENIN: A stellar year for the World No. 1

Justine Henin has been the most dominant female tennis player this year, and the most consistent the last few years. She impressively won her seventh Grand Slam at the US Open without losing a set and defeating both Serena and Venus Williams consecutively. Justine has already secured the year-end No. 1 ranking and holds a gawdy 54-4 record this season.

Steely and determined, the mighty Belgian has begun showing her 'softer side' and allowing the world to peer into her inner-workings. Competing at the Zurich Open this week, the World No. 1 met with the press to discuss her incredible year, the state of her health, and the inevitable comparisons to her male counterpart, Roger Federer.

On her standout 2007 season:

"I'll have played just 14 tournaments but I'm almost at 60 matches now, with exceptional results. So far 12 tournaments, eight victories. I can't ask for much more." [...] "I want to end the season on a high, I still want to take one or two titles more."

On the state of her health:

"It'll be the first time in several years that I can complete my season," [...] "That's my other big victory this year."

On emulating the careers of legends including Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf :

"When you see what the greatest girls in the sport, like Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf, have achieved then you have to think that nobody is going to do that again in the women's game," [...] "It's a great feeling to be winning a lot of Grand Slams but my motivation is just that I love so much being on the court and competing at the highest level."

On the prospect of winning the "Golden Slam" (all 4 Grand Slams and the Olympic gold) in 2008:

"That's a tough, tough goal, so let's go one step at a time,"[...] "I will definitely be at the Olympic Games which is one of my main goals for sure. My win in Athens was the most beautiful experience of my career. As for Wimbledon, I will do everything I can to win there. For a little girl who dreamed of winning Grand Slams it would be a great achievement if I could win the lot. But if I don't do it, I won't feel any less of a champion because there are a lot of great players who never managed to win all four."

On comparisons to World No. 1 Roger Federer:

"It's an honour to hear those kind of compliments," [...] "But I never like to compare myself to anyone because I just like to do my job the best I can. I do it for myself, the people I love, my fans - but I don't really run after being part of the history of the sport."

(images via AP Photo, source 1 & 2)

THE LOW DOWN: Is Andy Murray pulling a PR stunt? Yes, says Nikolay Davydenko

Nikolay Davydenko has become relentless in his criticism of Andy Murray and his remarks about match-fixing. During a press conference at the Madrid Masters, the Russian not only announced he was pulling out of the tournament due to an elbow injury but also added on to his recent stinging comments about the Scot:

"I don't know why he (Murray) is talking about this. A guy talking about this is trying to be more famous than he is on the tour, because if he tells something then he knows. We need questions from the ATP why he knows this or what he does know. That is why from him it is stupid to say something like that, this is something that normally nobody knows."

"I don't know how Murray's got this information. For me it's surprising. How does he know everything about gambling? He just says 'I know', ask him how he knows. For me that's the interesting thing - why he knows and from who he knows."

We think the Russian doth protest too much. Could Niko be trying to move the attention away from his own match-fixing moment by pushing it towards Andy? We're intrigued. But, he needs to get his own insult - Rafa owns Andy on the 'stupidness' point.

PHOTO OP: Feliciano and Rafael share a tender moment, give their fans hope

We knew Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Rafael Nadal were best friends, but are they sharing more than friendship here? They're even wearing matching outfits.

Maybe the conversation went something like this:

Rafa: "But, I want to wear the blue headwrap, Feli!"

Feliciano: "Fine Rafa, you can wear the blue one and I'll wear the white one. But I'm not happy about it."

One can dream...

Return to Oz: Jelena Dokic accepts aid from Tennis Australia

Back in July we reported on former top-10 player Jelena Dokic's decision not to accept help from Tennis Australia to get her career back on track. Well it seems Jelena has had a change of heart. Reports have surfaced today that the World No. 9,999 will be returning to her former homeland (though Serbian by birth) and has accepted financial aid from the Australian federation.

According to Tennis Australian officials, "Jelena has decided to come back to Melbourne to prepare herself for a return to competitive tennis," [...] "Tennis Australia will help facilitate access to coaching, courts and hitting partners. At this stage it is too early to speculate on when she will resume playing. We believe she deserves this opportunity to realise her potential."

Jelena's last match was a Challenger loss seven months ago in Rome. The 24-year-old has since been plagued with a wrist injury. She owns 5 career singles titles.

(source)

The Women's Sports Foundation hosts 28th Annual Salute to Women in Sports

Last night The Women's Sports Foundation hosted the 28th Annual Salute to Women in Sports in New York City. Founded by philanthropist, activist, and tennis legend Billie Jean King the awards celebrate the achievement of female athletes across all sports. Another tennis legend, Monica Seles, made a special appearance at the ceremony to present the 2007 Sportswomen of the Year Award to softball player Monica Abbott and golfer Lorena Ochoa.

Ice skating champion Michelle Kwan accepted the Billie Jean King Contribution Award for her contributions and commitment to the development of women's sports, and the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team received the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award for exhibiting extraordinary courage, surmountsing adversity, and meaningfully contributing to sports and inspiring others.

Michelle Kwan & Monica Abbott

Other luminaries were on hand to lend their support: singer Sheryl Crow, actress Holly Hunter, and boxer Leila Ali.

THE LOW DOWN: Andy Murray enters Madrid Masters with tail between his legs

Call me 'stupid': Andy Murray is trying to calm the waters after being severely criticized for his match-fixing comments by numerous top players on the ATP Tour, most notably Rafael Nadal. As a result, the Scot retracted his remarks via his website saying they "were taken out of context."

Both players are competing at this week's Madrid Masters, and this provided an opportunity for Andy to speak with Rafa directly. Here's what he had to say:

"I spoke to Rafa," [...] We were joking about it. I explained the whole situation. He understands. He has been around the press a long time and it's easy for them to change words and not report the questions that have been put to you and just put the answers in. He thought that maybe I was annoyed with him because he had called me 'stupid', but it's fine."

Really? It's fine?? We suppose Andy has that British stiff upper lip down pat - because letting someone call you stupid is, uh, stupid.

Moments from Madrid: Masters Series underway, Rafa returns

Return to action: After pulling out of the Bangkok Open to rest his aching knees, Rafael Nadal returns to action this week at the Madrid Masters, a title he won in 2005. Prior to the start of the tournament, Rafa was awarded Madrid's Medal of Gold by the mayor of Madrid Alberto Ruiz Gallardon.

And how is Rafa doing these days? Well, the World No. 2 said via his website:

"I've done all I can to ensure I'm in top shape, but I've had a month and a half when I haven't been able to do anything, and it's here in Madrid where I will be able to see whether or not I'm in condition to compete at 100 percent."

Army of (terracotta) soldiers: The terracotta statues of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic were unveiled during the Madrid Masters draw ceremony. All three players are competing in this Masters Series event.

INSTANT REPLAY: a look back at this week's top tennis plays

COURTSIDE

A legend builds his legacy
Venus gives good hair
Maria and Serena's last stand
Are 4 eyes better than 2?
Venus travels the world in style
Nike dooms Maria
Clean & classic, just the way we like it...
Rafa vs. Andy
A champions body betrays her
Doo-ing it all wrong
HOT or NOT
Talk the talk, walk the walk
Fed speaks up
Boys makes passes at guys who wear glasses

ROUND ROBIN

Catching up with A-Rod n' Serena, Nole, & Andy

+ NETCORDS

WEDNESDAY: Justine, Andy, Lindsay, Billie and Elton...Pete vs. Andre, match-fixing update and more