HE SAID/SHE SAID: Roland Garros Day Seven

Q. I have a different question for you. Everyone in tennis loves Roger, respects Roger. He is said to be the best of all time. Yet two out of every three times you play him, you win. You've won six of the last seven times. Who's a better player?

RAFAEL NADAL: You like this. You are focused on the Roger thing, eh? (laughter.) Yesterday with the clay. Today with the if somebody says I am better than Roger, I think this person don't know nothing about tennis. That's my answer.

Q. How so?

RAFAEL NADAL: Why?

Q. Yeah.

RAFAEL NADAL: So you don't know nothing about tennis. You see the titles of him and you see the titles of me? It's no comparison. So that's the answer. Is difficult to compare Roger with me now, because he has 16 Grand Slams; I have 6. Masters 1000, yeah, I have more than him. But for the rest of the things the records of Roger is very, very almost impossible to improve.

Q. Still, it is interesting when you step out on the court...

RAFAEL NADAL: What?

Q. Still, it is interesting, Rafa, when you step out on the court...

RAFAEL NADAL: (Through translation.) Sorry, I interrupt you. What's the question? Sorry.

Q. The question is: Still, for the fans, it is interesting when you step on the court with him, you usually win.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I am No. 2 in the world for five years, so I think I am a good player, too. Sure, I can beat him. No. 2 can beat No. 1. That's the thing. It's not a lot of difference between No. 2 and No. 1 or between No. 1 and No. 10. That's the tennis, and the tennis very close, the level, all the time.

But I can beat him, yes. The same time, the thing is I beat him a lot of times on clay. I beat him on other surfaces, too. But the most of the times I beat him on clay, so I played with him more times on clay than on the rest of the surfaces.

Q. I guess players in the women's game, especially Serena and Justine in terms of mental strength, or even Maria, but how hard is it for everyone else when you know you're going up against those kind of opponents?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, well, that's why they're so good, because they can come back from the brink of defeat and win matches. So, yeah, you definitely haven't won a match until you've won the match point against any of those girls.

If anything, it's not easier, but you know that going into the match. You know you can't drop off 1%, otherwise it could swing things around. So if you know you got to stay with it the whole match, then you're ready for it and you expect it. It's just a matter of trying to do it.

Q. I guess you'd say you feel as absolutely ready as you're ever gonna be for this sort of challenge?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, why not? I'm playing well. I've had a good lead up to the French and had three good matches here. I'm gonna go into it thinking I can win no matter what the case. You're in the fourth round. You've got to believe that.

Q. Just curious, when you're in a van with Isner and Querrey [traveling to RG,] is there a lot of leg stretching going on? Do you have to get out and stop? Do you sit like that the whole time?

ROBBY GINEPRI: Their legs are about as long as me.

Q. Must be an uncomfortable journey. Were they in the passenger seat or back?

ROBBY GINEPRI: Two sitting here and two sitting here. We're all facing each other. So we kind of rotate every 30 minutes or so. I think John had to go to the bathroom with about 45 minutes left. I was a little bit upset. Could have got there 30 minutes sooner.

Q. What we saw on TV confirmed that the set ball was out with the Hawk Eye. Do you think we should put Hawk Eye on clay?

MARION BARTOLI: Well, then it reassures me. It means that I have good eyes. Maybe you should show this to the line judge. But if we use the Hawk Eye on television, why don't we use it on the courts? I mean, it would make everybody happy. Everybody would be relieved. It would avoid mistakes, especially if we don't agree on the mark, and then the mark is judged and interpreted differently according to the judge. If there is a technology available that can be shown on television to TV viewers, then why not use it on the court?

Q. You said that clay was a bigger challenge for you, but you don't seem to be the only one because there are no more French women players in the tournament now. Same question every year. How do you explain the fact that the French players do not succeed well on clay?

MARION BARTOLI: There are several explanations. There are only two seeded players, so when you only have two women players who are seeded, there are very few chances you'll find them in the second week.

And also, the second explanation is that when you grow up and you learn playing tennis, you learn to play on hardcourts more than on clay. I mean, as far as I'm concerned, all my regional championships were done on hardcourts. All the open tournaments that you play when you're 13 or 14 and you're ranked in France, less than 15, then you all play on hardcourts. The first time I played on clay was the French championship Under 16s.

So the first time you set foot on a clay surface you're 15, and all the Spanish players, all the foreign players training in Spain play all night, day in and day out on clay. It's very difficult to be competitive. So it's not just the surface. It's due to the fact that today there were only two players, Aravane and myself, seeded. If you take the number of Russian seeded players or American seeded players, I mean, Serena, Venus is a case by herself, but otherwise they have a greater chance of being there in the second week.

Q. Can you tell us how the 2010 Aravane is superior to the Aravane in Roland Garros 2009, even though last year you were at the last 16? Could you tell us more about this?

ARAVANE REZAI: Well, it's been a year. For a year I've been the challenger. I've been playing women at a very high level for a year now, and these matches are very hard against different players. Physically I prepared myself. Mentally, as well. I worked on my tennis. Physically I've lost weight. This is very important, physically speaking. Mentally it's about trust. I have confidence, and confidence comes with the matches you win. Also I'm more mature, I think, in all respects. I have a good team around me, people I can trust.

I know I'm going to move forward. For the time being, last year's player and this year's player are different. I've made considerable progress, a leap forward, I think. That's all. I don't really think about this.

Your questions are too hard for me. I don't want to think about the past. I want to think about the future. I want to move forward, what's up for me next. I have so much to learn, to do and to prove. This is it. It's happiness, only happiness and positive. I have everything to win.

Q. I wanted to ask about the XO in Dallas that's coming up in July. Any thoughts? Is it sort of a kick to play in that stadium? Do you have a relationship with Jones?

ANDY RODDICK: I don't. I haven't met Old Jerry. For me, it's easy. I can drive there, and I think just I think tennis getting into kind of mainstream venues like that more often is a good thing, you know. Selfishly, I like it. My friends, they don't watch me play too much, my friends from home, so we might just make a weekend of it and have some fun. I think it will be cool. I don't know if we're going to fill it, but... (laughter.)

Q. Good morning. Did you think at one stage that [Serena] might quit the match?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: (In English.) No, I mean, I really wished so. I was like, Please. No, I'm just kidding, of course. It's the French Open, and everyone sees that. I knew that she's quite motivated for this tournament. She hasn't won it so many times like Australian Open or US Open, for example.

Well, she was maybe a little bit dizzy, but she was still walking and feeling okay physically. So I didn't think so. She was one set up and just second set, doesn't mean we still had third set ahead. So, well, it was stupid to think like this.

Q. What did you say to each other at the end of the match?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: (In English) She said, Thanks Anastasia, thanks very much. I don't remember exactly, actually. I wasn't listening to her (laughing.) For sure she said, Thanks Anastasia for a good match. I asked her how she felt, if she was dizzy and everything. I said I hope she gets better and good luck. I mean, after she beat me she has to win the tournament. I really hope so.

[Photo(s): Getty Images]

PHOTO OP: The universal sign for "WTF"

"You really don't want me to translate this, do you?"

Semifinals of Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid. Finals of Rome. Third round of Roland Garros. Which one of these kids doesn't belong?

David Ferrer will rue his chances in his quarter of the draw after getting fed a bagel while being upset by Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 6-0, 7-6 (1). The Austrian was clearly the aggressor in the match hitting 34 winners to 24 errors compared to the 23 winners and 24 winners by Ferru.

His quarter also saw Andy Roddick go down meekly to qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Novak Djokovic is still very much alive in this quarter though he was given a brief scare by Victor Hanescu before closing out a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win.

I don't know if it was a matter of overplaying on the lead up to Roland Garros but he was a shadow of himself out there. He had a great chance of equaling his best effort here and reaching the quarterfinals since his opponent in the Round of 16 was to be Gabash. And, he surely had a fighting chance of surpassing that mark with a potential Nole showdown lurking in the quarterfinals.

Oh well. It's in the can now Ferru.

[Photo(s): Reuters]

FASHION FIX: Berdych gives Isner the beatdown, hits high style note in Nike

Tomas Berdych equaled his best performance at Roland Garros when he absolutely dominated the towering John Isner 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the fourth round. He crushed 43 winners against only 10 errors, threw down 9 aces, made 12 of 13 net approaches and won 28 of 30 points when landing his first serve. Gawdy stuff if you ask me.

Pretty Boy Berd is also working what I think is the best boy's outfit of the tourney. Here's a rundown of his latest Nike kit:

Men's Classic Back Spin Net Polo in white + flat pewter ($60)

Men's Summer Back Spin Woven Short in dark obsidian navy + white ($50)

Zoom Breathe 2K10 in black + yellow ($100)

Home and Away Reversible Doublewide Wristbands in yellow + midnight navy ($8)

At quick glance this outfit comes across as pretty straightforward. But I think the pairing of the side stripe on the shorts with the window pane design on the polo is a more successful and smart use of pattern mixing than what Nike tried with Rafael Nadal this season. Plus the pops of yellow on the Zooms and wristbands gets me all giddy inside. Classic with a tennis twist.

Oh Berdy, you're just so easy on the eyes - in all ways.

[Photo(s): Getty Images]

HE SAID/SHE SAID: Roland Garros Day Six

Q. I remember you talking about Australia, about the last time you had played Maria, which was Australian Open. That was one of the matches when you knew maybe you don't have the motivation to continue anymore. So can you talk about your form now and how you're feeling now versus that time?

JUSTINE HENIN: Yeah, it seems so far away. I mean, even seems like it never existed, that moment. I didn't want to be on the court anymore at that time, and now I have a lot of motivation to be out there and to fight and try to keep winning.

So the situations are very different, of course. But we had a lot of good matches in the past. I played her here at the French in 2005, I think in the quarterfinals. Yeah, I hope we can play a good match. That's for sure.

Q. Justine said that the match you played in Australia seems very distant to her, very far away. Obviously she retired and came back since then. A lot has happened to you, as well. You've had some involuntary time off. Does it also seem distant to you, that whole Australian Open run?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Actually feels like we never left, or it was just yesterday. (laughter.) That's so funny. It was a couple of years ago, and, you know, here we are. We're back. It's a different Slam, but, you know, it's the same drill. We're waiting before matches. It's as if, you know, things haven't really changed much.

But obviously you think back to the last few years, and both of us have been in different paths and different times in our lives. But here we are going to face each other tomorrow.

Q. I don't know if you saw this video, a video concerning karaoke here in Roland Garros which is a parody of Shakira and Nadal.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Oh, yes. I heard about it. I don't know why. Why do you always ask me to answer these questions about these things? Yes, the karaoke. We did one last year, as well. Novak always wants to be the funniest, the star, but he loves this. He loves being a showman. He likes it.

So you should ask Rafa if he enjoyed this imitation or not. But to tell you the truth, I don't really know how Rafa took this, but I know Rafa. I don't think he really very much liked the video. But anyway, who knows? Maybe he enjoyed it.

Q. Roger recently said that on clay you don't need a volley or serve. You just need legs, an incredible forehand, and backhand. You can be competitive even with a very incomplete game. What are your thoughts on that?

RAFAEL NADAL: Everybody has his every guy's free to have his own opinion. No, I think probably a lot of years ago when you play with the slower balls, with the slower racquets, you know, with the small racquets and you can't have a winner, was very difficult to have a winner, probably.

But in my opinion now, in the sport is important to think how to win the match. Probably in very fast surfaces that's not happen, because you can have one serve and one forehand. That's the only that's the only way for the moment, one serve or one volley, only one serve.

Here you can play with more tactics. You can change your style. You can play attacking; you can play defending; you can go to the volley; you can play with the baseline.

So you have many options to do, and I think that's nice for the sport, too. I think every surface has difficult things. But sure, have a good forehand, good backhand, good legs and good movements, that's not an easy thing.

Q. The only way for journalists to stop telling you about Roger Federer would be for you to defeat him.

STANISLAS WAWRINKA: Well, I defeated him last year in Monte Carlo, and people kept talking about it. He's the greatest player ever. And playing tennis at a fairly good level in the same country means that we play together Davis Cup, Olympic Games. He's like me. He's very discreet, and people keep asking me questions about him. It's part of my job.

Q. Is it difficult to be compared with Roger Federer?

STANISLAS WAWRINKA: I think I set the record straight last year. I said I would never answer questions about him and his private life. Now, it's obvious today you're asking questions about him because he's going to be my next opponent. Otherwise, I haven't had problems with that recently.

Q. Who's the tennis player that you like to watch best?

STANISLAS WAWRINKA: David Nalbandian and James Blake.

Q. You felt quite a lot of emotion at the end of the match. Is there any particular reason? Is it a special game for you? Special match for you.

JO WILFRIED TSONGA: Emotion, yes, because I suffered a lot during this match. It was hard. All along the match I was trying to think about something else than the pain I was feeling. So that's why.

Q. How can you play beyond the pain?

JO WILFRIED TSONGA: Well, by telling yourself it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt. Every 10 seconds you go, It doesn't hurt. I'll go for it. It doesn't hurt. I knew this was something that couldn't go worse, so there was no reason for me to quit. But it was painful, and it was difficult when I had to change direction, when he was getting me wrong footed. When I had to move from one side to the other I had difficulties especially on my forehand.

But then I fought, and at the end of the day, it made the difference because I think he also had difficult matches before. He had slightly less experience, and I think, well, he couldn't make it at the end.

Q....[W]ere you a little bit surprised by all the attention, all the fuss [about your fashion?] Did you get a little bit of a chuckle out of it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I can feel the attention around me. I don't, like, read anything on the Internet. I don't expose myself to any of that, but I can definitely see, you know, from, you know, friends and family and obviously being in here, e mailing me.

All I can say is that I mean, I think maybe after this tournament, illusion may be retired, because it's not really the point of it all. The point was the illusion of having, you know it just has gone past the point, so I feel that unfortunately I may have to retire it.

Q. So it's gonna be back to reality?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I may be wearing all the same boring underclothes as the other people. I mean, as great as the design is, I really want the focus to be on the tennis. So obviously wearing lace on the court will still be an amazing innovation, but I'll have to find a way to try to make it a little less noteworthy, possibly, is the best word.

Q. With your Michael Jackson impersonation having been on French TV, what sort of feedback have you had from your mates back home who have seen you on the Internet?

ANDY MURRAY: I actually haven't had any feedback from it at all, no, but I kind of made up my own mind what it was like. I saw the video. They replayed it after I did it, so I know what to expect.

Q. Is it something you'd maybe like to see in England? Obviously this thing happens in France every year where fans are able to see another side of players. Do you think...

ANDY MURRAY: I'd rather they didn't see that side of us, to be honest. (laughter.)
No, I mean, it's fun. Like I said yesterday, I mean, all the players, they're totally normal, cool, nice guys. It's just you know, it can be difficult, because, you know, you only really see us when we're on the court, and, you know, you're answering, you know, questions about the matches all the time.

Yeah, I think those sort of things are good for the sport, you know, good for the players to do. Yeah, if it makes it if the fans enjoy it and they like watching it, then why not?

Q. I don't know whether you've been asked, but have you seen the Nike commercial for the World Cup which you are sort of premier in that, just like Kobe Bryant?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I'm a Ping Pong player. Normally I'm a tennis player, but we did Ping Pong.

Q. Was it fun shooting it?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it was good fun. It was unusual, you know. It was different. They were in Switzerland a few months ago, and obviously it's nice being in a World Cup commercial. It's obviously the biggest thing for Nike this year, soccer being such a huge sport. And doing something fun with Wayne Rooney like that was...

Q. Did you shoot it together?

ROGER FEDERER: Didn't shoot it together, but we're seen together. It's extreme what we can do these days. It was fun. I think it turned out great.

Q. You change clothes during workouts and practices, and sometimes even during matches. How much laundry do you generate that you then submit at the end of the day?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: That's the first time I got this question. Interesting.

Q. That's good.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: In the juniors I used to wash the laundry by myself, with my hands. Then, you know, every Euro meant a lot, so I didn't want to spend too much on that. But right now, since we have good conditions, good organizations with the tournaments, so they organize the laundry service for us. We do give them our laundry and we have to wait two days.

But, yeah, we have well, we change a lot of shirts. I guess I get at least, in average, three shirts a day.

Q. So do you ever try to sneak stuff in to have maybe your friends' shirts or maybe some other clothes done while you're here?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I don't want to be fined or punished by the tournament, because it's not allowed. I think it's only players. But I do sneak in sometimes.

Q. You're the youngest man left in the draw, or you were. Why aren't we seeing more young guys playing deeper in the majors, do you think?

KEI NISHIKORI: Um yeah, it's tough question. There is many, many guys good that's my age, like Donald Young. He was top couple years ago. He's still one hundred something.

But, um, I don't know. It's tough question.

Q. We saw Rafa win here at 18, and Becker won Wimbledon at 17. Now we don't see guys that are teenagers winning tournaments anymore, or doing so well.

KEI NISHIKORI: No, these guys are getting better and stronger. It's just tough for us young guys. It's tough to play against these guys.

Q. Physically?

KEI NISHIKORI: Both physically and technique, I think.

Q. Nice win today. You and of course your sister are camped out at No. 1 and 2, but there's a big gap after that. Melanie has been struggling some. What are your thoughts about women's tennis in the U.S. and the future?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think we have a lot of potential. Melanie has been struggling, but, you know, that's part of creating a champion is to win some and to lose some. You can't win them all. She's clearly a good player. So we have her. We're in the finals of Fed Cup without Venus and I, so, you know, obviously doing something right.

Q. And your thinking on Fed Cup? Is that a matter of scheduling? Do you feel that you have any responsibility to the country in terms of getting into the championships? What are your thoughts on that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my only responsibility is my two dogs. So I have to make sure they're okay and that I can afford to take care of them. That's the only real responsibility I have.

Obviously I want to do well and want Fed Cup to win. Schedule didn't work out for me. I took like, I don't know, eight, ten weeks off. It was impossible for me to play in February, or the other one, so hopefully I'll be healthy.

It's all about health and me being healthy.

[Photo(s): Reuters ]

SIGHTING: Momo + scrunchee

Two-time Grand Slammer Amelie Mauresmo was spotted taking in Maria Kirilenko's upset of Svetlana Kuznetsova today.

I never pictured Momo as a scrunchee kind of girl. But I'm not disappointed. Much.

[Photo(s): Reuters]

Kirilenko upsets defending champ Kuznetsova in Roland Garros third round

(Just a quick note: It's Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S. so posting may be sporadic over the next few days; regular posting will resume on Monday. I'll make sure to have an extra beer for each and every one of you to make up for it. You're welcome.)


Maria Kirilenko continued her Grand Slam giant-killing ways ousting defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the third round of Roland Garros today. The 30th seed began the season by knocking out Maria Sharapova in the first round of the Australian Open back in January.

Although on paper it goes down as an upset, Sveta's form has been less than stellar winning a total of one match in the lead up to Paris (d. Srebotnik, Stuttgart.) Actually, I thought she might go out in her first round match against Sorana Cirstea, a quarterfinalist last year, but managed an easy win. This was also her second consecutive loss to Kiri having just lost to her in Rome in the opening round.

With this loss the 2-time Grand Slammer will fall out of the Top 10 for the first time in four years. Ouch.


As for Kiri she next faces Francesca Schiavone, the crafty Italian veteran who's been playing well and who Van Sias bravely picked to get far in his VANtage Point bracket breakdown (ok, I thought it was a long shot too - what the hell do I know?) It's a winnable match for her though the victor will face either Flavia Pennetta or Caroline Wozniacki, a tough prospect either way.

But confidence is a funny thing and a big win in a Grand Slam over the defending champion could be just what Kiri needs.

[Photo(s): Reuters]

Ivanovic + Jankovic letting the cattiness out of the bag

NaturAna + JJ in happier times...or were they???

So yesterday we got the Rezzie/Bart blowup and today we're treated to Ana Ivanovic + Jelena Jankovic being asked to revisit the leaked Madrid scene from "WTA Girls Behaving Badly." And, boy, are they EVAH right now. The WTA rocks!

CHECK IT:

Q. This is going back a little bit, but you lost to Jelena in Madrid. I was wondering when you heard about that fist pump imitation she did after the match and just what your reaction was.

ANA IVANOVIC: You know, it's very, very hard for me to comment on that, you know. You know how they say: Sport doesn't build character. It shows it. Yeah, it's very hard for me to say.

------------------------------------------------

Q. So apparently Ana was talking about what happened in Madrid after the match with you and the fist pump. You want to talk about, you know, your version of that? I know it was a big win for you, but why you decided...

JELENA JANKOVIC: What was her version?

Q. Well, she basically said that, you know, sports reveals character. That's what she was saying.

JELENA JANKOVIC: For me, you know, I don't need really to comment on that, you know. I don't think it's a right time to comment on this kind of thing.

But for me, as a player, it's ‑‑ every player has their way of, you know, motivating themselves and pumping themselves up, you know, if you win a point or you didn't win a point. But I don't think it's nice to put it, you know, the fist in their face. That's what can be a little irritating. That's the only ‑‑ but all the players, they do, you know, different kind of gestures, you know, with their hands.

But, you know, it's a little bit ‑‑ when you do that in the player's face, and especially after not winning a point after your opponent missed an easy ball, I don't think it's ‑‑ I don't think that's fair play.

That's just my opinion, and that's what I, as a player, don't like to do to other players. If I'm ‑‑ if I win a point or something, I do it, but I don't go like that in your face (holds up fist). That was only ‑‑ and especially when it comes to maybe me and Ana, we are two girls from the same country, and it's nice to have a nice relationship and play a normal match. Somebody has to win, and that's normal.

We're both professionals. We want to do our best on the court, and I think we should play fair. That's just my opinion. I have nothing, you know, against her or fist pumps or whatever. I play my game. I have my personality. I'm myself, and it's none of my business what Ana does or all these other girls on the court. But for me, I prefer to this kind of way like I already explained.

The competition between lady ballers from the same country is fierce right now, eh? Plus I love how JJ says she won't comment and then gives a huge diatribe about the incident. Hilarious. The fist pumping does get fatiguing I must say espesh after every. single. point. FPF isn't something I enjoying feeling during my tennis viewing time.

Anyway, the fourth seed was also asked about the other leaked scene from the hit reality show this time involving something Serena Williams whispered to her at the net in Rome:

Q. One more question: You had that great win over Serena in Rome, and then at the end there was the whole thing about the hand. Then she came up to you at net and appeared to apologize in some way, saying she wasn't trying to stop it? Did she say, I'm not Justine, or I'm not like Justine? What do you remember?

JELENA JANKOVIC: I don't want to comment on that, because that's between me and Serena, and, you know, she said that I have a nice dress and a nice size, you know, after the match. (laughter.)

So I don't really want to comment on whatever she said. It doesn't really matter for the public. It's ‑‑ you know, we are ‑‑ we played a tough match. It was a great match. We played good tennis, and that's what matters.

Sometimes there are gonna be some weird moments, but because we're very competitive, we want to ‑‑ we want to win. I mean, it's not like we are having a picnic out there or a charity match. This is a professional sport. We want to ‑‑ I mean, both of us want to win, and that's actually ‑‑ it's a big battle, and sometimes things happen, but sometimes you don't mean it, and you're under this atmosphere whereas sometimes you cannot control your emotions and that can be difficult.

Overall, you know, it was a good match. That's what I want to remember it as, and I won both ‑‑ I won against both Williams sisters in less than 24 hours, so it was a pretty good tournament for me, and, you know, it was really good for my confidence.

I got two wins against No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, so that means something.

Oh JJ, you are SO in your element. And loving it I bet.

[Photo(s): tennisplanet.com]

FASHION FIX: Fila debuts Center Court and Collezione styles for Roland Garros

If you follow me on Twitter you'd know I made a visit to the Fila offices in Midtown Manhattan, NYC earlier this month to view the collections for this year's majors. I had a great time and plenty of laughs with the team over there while also talking tennis, fashion and other fun nuggets. So here's a little overview of what the Italian sports apparel brand is showcasing at this year's Roland Garros!

The men, including Marin Cilic, Janko Tipseravic and Fabio Fognini, will be debuting the Center Court collection which features a bold color story and fabrications that provide ultimate breathability.

(L) Center Court Color Blocked Crew - $45
(C) Center Court Polo - $60
(R) Center Court Printed Crew - $50

Center Court Short - $45

The ladies of Fila, including defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, Agnes Szavay and Anna Chakvetadze, are showcasing the Collezione group which features timeless fashion and a sophisticated blend of style and comfort.

Collezione Dress - $65

(L) Collezione Cap Sleeve - $48
(C) Collezione Sleeveless Tank - $45
(R) Collezione Racerback Tank - $50

Collezione Skort - $45

Visit Fila.com for more information.

[Photo(s): Fila]

VIDEO VAULT: Two boys, one room and lots of toys

Best of the Roland Garros karaoke vids by far because it features a hilarious MOMA moment courtesy of Novak Djokovic + Viktor Troicki doing a remake of Shakira's "Gypsy" co-starring Rafael Nadal.

As I tweeted earlier, my suspicions (read: outrageous fantasizing) about Nole have been confirmed and I'll be the next one spanking his athletic arse in a locked karaoke room. Wigs optional. Shirtless not.

PHOTO OP: More like "Don't Don't"

Thanks to an anonymous reader for tipping me off to Venus Williams doing what showgirls do best. It really is the Moulin Rouge on clay!

[Photo(s): imageshack.com]

Serena + Common reportedly split - again

A bit of off-court news to pass the rain delay at Roland Garros: Serena Williams and boyfriend of two years, Common, reportedly have ended their relationship according to the New York Post via tabloid In Touch Weekly.

The last time they appeared together publicly was at the April premiere of the Tina Fey and Steve Carell comedy "Date Night." However, at the May 4 premiere of his new film "Just Wright" co-starring Queen Latifah the rapper attended the event with his mother.

Neither ReRe's nor Common's reps have confirmed the split as of yet.

Ah well, we've been here before with these two and were wrong. So fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? Shame on me.

Learn it.

[Photo(s): eonline.com]