PHOTO OP: Italians do it better...

...without pants.

[Photo(s) credit: Flavia Pennetta tweet]

PHOTO OP: Tale of the tape

"Who needs support when you've got this?"

Varvara Lepchenko may have been partially mummified during her first round match at Roland Garros but it didn't stop the 25-year old from pulling an opening day upset. The American defeated 18th seed Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 needing five match points to close it out. Unfortunately for the U.S., she faces off against Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who also went the distance against Arantxa Parra Santonja, in the second round.

Unluck of the draw, I suppose.

[Photo(s): AFP PHOTO / JACQUES DEMARTHON]

Rafa, Kimmie, and Flavia overcome obstacles and injury to advance at UpSet Open

Rafael Nadal made his way into the US Open fourth round after defeating compatriot Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-4, 6-4. But the bigger news was the re-aggravation of the stomach muscle injury he showed up with in Cincinnati. He and Nico both received treatment during the third set but The Matador was quick to dismiss any talk of injury in his post-match presser:

Q. What did the doctor say about your injury? Are you worried for the next matches?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don't want to talk about injuries. Sorry. No, no, I am a little bit tired to talk about injuries. I am here to try my best every day.
I won the match in three sets, so happy for that. I'm going to try my best next round. That's all.

Q. You said you didn't want to talk about injuries. Was that your knee or the abdominal situation?
RAFAEL NADAL: I said I don't want to talk about injuries (laughter).

Q. Can you at least talk about how you felt after you got the treatment for the rest of the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: I won 6 4, so you can see I didn't serve very fast. But I think I played better from the baseline than before.

Q. We are used to see you much more cheerful, especially after a win. Today you answer as if you're not happy.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, but I know I came here and I know everybody want to talk about the injury. I really don't want to talk about that. That's the thing.

The stomach muscle issue seemed to hinder him a bit on his serve so it'll be interesting to see how this situation develops. The injury will most likely be tested when Rafa faces the Gael Monfils in a match sure to be athletic and acrobatic.


Kim Clijsters put a stamp on her return to the WTA tour when she ousted third seed Venus Williams 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 in a strange but emotional fourth round match. In 2005, the Belgian defeated the 2-time champ on her way to her first, and only, Grand Slam title so could it happen again? Like duh, of course! She's facing Na Li and holds a 3-1 lead in their H2H with a potential blockbuster Serena Williams semifinal lurking ahead.

On a side note, V's loss means ReRe is the only Top 5 seed left in the draw as well as being only 1 of 4 Top 10 seeds still alive after four rounds. Stunning.


Watch out for Flavia Pennetta who saved 6 match points in her 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-0 upset of seventh seed Vera Zvonareva. See what a little confidence can do for your game? And Flavia will need every bit of that confidence intact when she faces defending champ ReRe, who crushed a helpless Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-0, in the quarterfinals.

(Photos: Getty, AP)

VANtage Point: Buh-bye Dubai, hello Acapulco!

What a week that was in Dubai, huh? I can’t remember the last time a tournament was caught up in so much controversy. But the organizers brought it upon themselves and hopefully have learned better from it. We are in the 21st century after all! Now it’s the guys’ turn over there, at least those who are showing up. (Hats off to you, A-Rod!) But like Rafa + Roger, VANtage Point is bailing on the tournament and looking elsewhere.

A Look Back: Venus Williams was back at in Dubai, picking up her 40th career crown by taking out surprise finalist Virginie Razzano. I have to tell you, I really didn’t see V's win coming! One of these days I’ll learn to always pick at least one of the Williams sisters when both of them are in the draw.

This Week’s Spotlight: I’m actually giving you twice the Point this week, all for the low-low price of "FREE", by taking a look at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, a co-ed event in sunny Acapulco (let’s just call it my recession special!). This is the last stop on the early-season Latin American clay-court swing, and both the men's and women's draws have some pretty decent names amongst them. David Nalbandian + Gael Monfils are the top two seeds on the men’s side, while the women’s field has none other than Venus Williams leading the way.

Players to Watch: For the men’s side, I’m going with the hottest player on the planet right now, Tommy Robredo, who is coming in with a 10-match winning streak. He could meet up with Juan Monaco in the second round, who he just squeaked out a win against in the finals in Buenos Aires. And, I’m announcing it here on the Point first: Watch out for Tommy at this year's French Open!

As for the women, I think you have to watch Venus. Like me, are you asking yourself "What is she doing here, flying from Dubai to Mexico, going from hard court to clay?" There's a lot going on here but I do hope she plays well, more so for the fans’ sake. Watch her while you can, though, because if she does play, I think she'll fall to Lucie Safarova in the quarters.

The Final Fours: Nicolas Almagro over David Nalbandian and Tommy over Thomaz Belluci. For the women, I’m going with Gisela Dulko beating Lucie Safarova and Flavia Pennetta over Tathiana Garbin.

And the Winners Are: Tommy, who keeps it rollin’ with his third title in a row, and Flavia, who owns this tournament.

Van Sias writes the blog Tennis Talk, Anyone?

(images via Getty)

The FED CUP Chronicles: Flavia's "Fingergate" highlights opening weekend

The quarterfinal round in FED CUP action took place this weekend with the following results in the World Group Play0ffs:

US 3, Argentina 2

France 0, Italy 5

Czech Republic 4, Spain 1

Russia 5, China 0

The biggest news coming out of this weekend's ties was "Fingergate", an incident that occurred during Flavia Pennetta's match against Amelie Mauresmo. The Italian baller became irate and flipped off Chair Umpire Louise Engzell after she overruled an in-call during the tense second set tie-break; she received a warning for her bhavior.

The overrule gave Amelie a match point but the Frenchie, who was clearly still feeling the effects of the moment, double-faulted and proceeded to lose the match 2-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4. Suffice it to say the 2-time Grand Slammer was not pleased with Flavia's behavior or Engzell's reaction to the incident:

At that moment, I didn't really see and cotton on. She gave the finger - she should have been removed right away.

There are rules and the rules need to be applied. When Zidane head butted in the World Cup final he was thrown out of the match, the same thing should have been done here.

The French team submitted a complaint to the FED CUP committee but ITF Executive Vice President Juan Margets made it known they will choose whether or not to receive it, but the "chances of the score being reversed is pretty unlikely."

I'm not clear on the exact wording of the rules here so I won't speculate, but what seems obvious is Amelie should have closed out this match, regardless of the questionable decision-making by the chair. But it's not surprising - it's just an another unfortunate moment for her during a very unfortunate turn-of-events.

(image via AFP)

Reason for Carlos + Flavia breakup revealed, doggie door installed in Verbier digs

So it seems even when Carlos Moya + Flavia Pennetta were together on-court (like in this picture from the '06 Aussie Open) the sexy Spaniard had a wandering eye. No wonder why their 3-year relationship ended so harshly.

According to an interview with Chris Bowers for Tennisreporters.net Flavia, who defeated Katarina Srebotnik 7-5, 6-2 to reach the Zurich semifinals, made a surprise trip in 2007 to visit Carlos in Bastad where he was competing in the Swedish Open. But it was the Italian who was in for a surprise: she discovered the strapping Spaniard with another woman. Suffice it to say, Flavia kept the couple's shared digs in Verbier, Switzerland after the breakup.

Wow - who knew? It's good Flavia got to keep the pad at the very least and it's probably no coincidence she's having a late-career surge. Forget what I said about Potito Starace Flav.

And to Carlos: "woof woof" to you doggie.

(image via Getty)

FASHION FIX: Pennetta goes periwinkle in Acapulco, Tacchini teases with style

Pennetta pulls it off: I've never thought of Flavia Pennetta as a tennis fashionista, but she's beginning to make a believer out of me this week. The Italian is the top seed at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico and reached the quarterfinals yesterday with a 6-2, 6-3 win over German Julia Schruff.

These tennis duds by Flavia's sponsor Sergio Tacchini, who also gave yellow fever to Russian Vera Dushevina in Dubai, are impressive for their color, subtle design elements and sexiness. High marks go to the fitted periwinkle blue polo-style sleeveless shirt with white piping around the collar. The shirt also hints at a wrap-style design, which continues with the white wrap-skirt, revealing just enough leg at the slit. Love it.

Who knew Flavia could be such a tease?

(images via ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)