SIGHTINGS: Around the grounds of Indian Wells with Nole

Gettin' some Guga: Novak Djokovic was spotted getting his practice on with the beloved Gustavo Kuerten at Indian Wells this week. The Brazilian announced he'll retire from the tour after this year's French Open, where he won the crown in 1997, 2000, and 2001.


Apparently, Guga wasn't the only one getting in on the Nole action: fellow Aussie Open champ Maria "Shriek"apova conveniently booked a practice court next to the Serb:


Hmmm - after sharing the court at the recent Desert Smash Charity Celebrity Tennis event, the two seem to be enjoying each other's company again (remember those pesky romance rumors after last season's US Open?).

I wonder what his girlfriend Jelena thinks about their friendship....

(images via novak-djokovic.com)

+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Roger, Dmitry, Marat, the fighting Hewitts...2008 Olympics news, David Beckham undresses and more

(image via smwarnke4)

- 2008 Olympics update: The surface for the '08 Olympics has been chosen - DecoTurf - which is the same surface used at the US Open. We know one player who is probably very happy about this decision: US Open champion Roger Federer who, surprisingly enough, has yet to sport the gold medal.

- Go vintage Borg in this reissued Matchday Jacket by Fila

- Meet DJ Dmi: Apparently Dmitry Tursonov can spin more than a tennis ball. The eccentric Russian is also a DJ and has posted his own mixes on his website. Check them out here!

- Should the tennis schedule revolve around having a "season" similar to baseball, football, or...football (soccer for our US readers)? ESPN.com ponders this question.

- Ain't no mountain high enough: Marat Safin is putting his tennis aside for another challenge. The 2-time Grand Slam winner is part of a Russian expedition team scheduled to climb Cho Oyu, the 8,201-meter (26,906 ft) mountain on the Nepal-Tibet border.

- We'll be sad to see you go, Guga, if you decide to hang up the rackets...

- The Hewitts are fighting: Never a dull moment in the Hewitt household, is there? The famous Aussie couple are being accused by Channel 7 program, Today Tonight, about failing to fulfill their commitment to building an orphanage in Cambodia.

- Are you suffering from having excess balls? Here are 17 innovate things you can do with the balls you've used and abused.

- Jon Wertheim is certainly making a name for himself. Not only does he cover tennis in-depth, the Sports Illustrated writer is interviewed here about his book on pool entitled "Running the Table".

- Mind over matter: Peter Bodo delves into the mind of Roger Federer to explore his uncanny ability to focus so intensely in the moment...very interesting.

- OFF TOPIC ALERT: Becks releases 2008 calendar, undresses for you

+ MONDAY NETCORDS: Roger, Anna K., Justine vs. Steffi...Guga designs, ITF and more

- Check out the website for Roger Federer's biography "The Roger Federer Story: The Quest for Perfection". The site includes reviews, player quotes about Roger, an amazing timeline of his many historical moments, and a very blond Fed.

- We're dying: Current World No. 1 Justine Henin will play a mouth-watering exhibition match on clay against her childhood idol, the legendary Steffi Graf, on October 27 as part of a children’s festival hosted by Children for Tomorrow, a charity founded and chaired by Graf. These two great players own a combined 10 French Opens. How much are tickets to Mannheim, Germany these days?

- The ITF is keeping busy these days. The tennis organization has launched iCoach, an instructional tennis site that features advice, tips, and articles about our favorite sport. Best part: 1,000 sequence photographs of the best players in the world hitting every stroke imaginable in both matches and practice sessions. In addition, the ITF has launched the "Tennis...Stay and Play" campaign which follows an innovative approach to the game: the game is scaled down for starter players with a smaller court, lighter balls and different sized racquets appropriated for the size or age of players.

- New low: Tennis stage parents publicizing their 5 year old as a future tennis champion. Get a grip.

- Guga, the designer? 3-time French Open champion Guga Kuerten is apparently multi-talented. He has his own clothing line and it's super cute - for real. Check it out at Tennis Served Fresh.

- Want to be a professional tennis player? Read this first.

- Adelaide, Australia is replacing the Australian Men's Hardcourt Championships, which is moving to Brisbane, with The World Tennis Challenge Adelaide in 2009. The tournament will involve four countries playing each other, over three nights.

- Remember Alexandra Stevenson? Exactly.

- Do you know what car Anna Kournikova drives around Miami in? Do you care?? Well we do - and it's a Cadillac Escalade EXT, courtesy of Celebrity Rides. Geez, there really is a blog for everything.

(image courtesy of danwashburn)