(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: Sexy Spanish MF's (well, mostly)

"I'm sexy too, no?"

The champion Davis Cup team along with compatriot Tommy Robredo grabbed a gussied up photo op with Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and the cup during an official reception at the Moncloa presidential palace in Madrid today.

Oh PM how jelly I am of your position in that photo. I'd gladly be sandwiched between all that pretty chorizo.

So who's bringing the most HAWTNESS here peeps? I, for one, am loving Tommy's suit + scarf moment. But as always, there's too much clothing in the way for my tastes.

UPDATE: Ooh, better pic here including coach Albert Costa and the epically drool-worthy Juan Carlos Ferrero.


[Photo(s): AP]

WEEKEND WINNERS: JJ, Wozzi, Lleyton, JC

Jelena Jankovic - Marbella

JJ finally earned her first title of the season and 10th of her career after defeating Carlos Suarez Navarro 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the inaugural Marbella tourney. The former top lady baller had lost her opening round matches at Indian Wells + Miami and struggled through her matches at the Andalucia Tennis Experience but still managed to grab the title.

It seems the clay-court is where JJ can get her confidence as was the case in 2006 when she lost 10-straight matches before making the quarterfinals in Rome. I'd say her season has just begun. But question: is that trophy melting?

Caroline Wozniacki - Ponte Vedra

The Danish teenager also grabbed her first title of the season and fourth of her career by crushing Canada's Aleksandra Wozniack 6-1, 6-2 at the former Amelia Island tourney. And Wozzi gets a glass jar. WTF is up with these trophies?

Lleyton Hewitt - Houston

The Aussie hothead defeated American Wayne Odesnik 6-2, 7-5 to win his first title in two years and first clay-court championship in ten years. After undergoing hip surgery last season, I thought he'd struggle to even win matches never mind the entire tourney so this is a good sign. Granted, Lleyton didn't face any of the big boys but winning is winning and can only help his confidence. Plus, he gets a real trophy unlike some others we won't mention.

Juan Carlos Ferrero - Casablanca

In another surprise, JC won his first title since October 2003 when he defeated Florent Serra 6-4, 7-5 in Casablanca. It was his first trip back to the tourney since his debut as a 19-year old and he made it a good one. Okay JC - can we stop the retirement talk now? Nice trophy too, BTW. Ah, I see - I guess the boys get the good ones while the ladies get screwed. Sweet.

(images via WTA, ATP, andalucia tennis experience, getty)

JC contemplating retirement, Marat to blame

Color me sad today.

Word comes from TENNIS.com's ticker that Juan Carlos Ferrero is contemplating retirement at the end of this season:

Juan Carlos Ferrero says Marat Safin's impending retirement has prompted him to think along the same lines. "The motivation is not there after 11 years," said Ferrero, adding that he will make a decision at the end of the year about whether to play for another season.

The former French Open champ, currently ranked No. 115, returned to the tour in Casablanca this week after an abductor problem kept him sidelined during March. Ferrero is 29, the same age as Safin.

Ferrero said that when he does retire, he would like to help train young players and become more involved in his hometown tournament in Valencia, as well as the hotel he owns there.

Damn you Marat - first you break our hearts with your retirement talk and now you've got another cutie thinking along the same lines.

My weekend's ruined before it even began. Happy Friday. Blech.

*head hits keyboard*

(image via getty)

PHOTO OP: Ferrero and his facial fur advance in Auckland, bottle blonde no more

Juan Carlo Ferrero was spotted working some new facial fur during his match in Auckland today. The former Roland Garros champ advanced to the second round when his opponent, Kei Nishikori, retired from their match with a right forearm injury while trailing 3-5 in the first set.

I've always thought JC was a cutie but in a pretty boy kinda way. This facial fur, though, gives him a rougher edge which I def like on him more and his hair looks closer to its natural color (remember this? Eww.) I may have to check to see if the curtains match the drapes just to be EXTRA sure.

In the meantime, what do you think of The Mosquito's latest look?

DO TELL!

(images via Getty)

FASHION FIX: The men of Spain dress it up for ISport magazine

Some of Spain's biggest ballers (excluding the biggest ball of them all - Rafa) took part in a photo shoot for ISport magazine, looking sharply dressed for any off-court occasion.

Check out Juan Carlos Ferrero, Tommy Robredo, Fernando Verdasco, Nicolas Almagro, + Guillermo-Garcia Lopez getting all gussied up for fashion.



(images via atptennis.com)

Juan Carlos Ferrero talks hotels and interior design

The new digital version of Deuce magazine just launched it's first run of editorials. One of the features from this premiere issue is a profile of Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero and his lastest investment, a high-end boutique hotel aptly named Hotel Ferrero. Located in the Valencia municipal of Bocairente, the former French Open champion bought the land four years ago after visiting his coach Antonio Martinez in the summer. Here's some of what J.C. had to say:

On the inspiration behind opening the hotel:

“My coach and I were thinking of doing something important after tennis so we started to think about hotels [...] We wanted something close to the [Juan Carlos Ferrero] academy. We looked for a long time and finally found an old house about 15 minutes away from the academy. It was perfect."

On the interior design for the hotel:

“It was impossible to use my experiences of staying in a lot of hotels during my tennis career,” [...] “It is a small hotel, but there were thousands of things to decorate. I decided on some things of course… little things!”

On his life after tennnis:

“I think the career of a tennis player is very short and of course we have to think in the future,” he wisely commented. “I don’t know what is next. My tournament in Valencia is very important to me – that is where I was born – and is also one of the important businesses I want to develop in the future. [...] We are thinking of new projects, new business. Just thinking. Maybe we’ll plan for a big gym in Valencia, but we’ll see.”

(images via Deuce)

+ Netcords

- Starting in 2008 the season-ending WTAChampionships will be held in October, giving the players 2 extra weeks of vacation. Next locale: Qatar.

- Controversy is brewing again for the doubles pairing of Israel's Shahar Peer and India's Sania Mirza, a Muslim.

- On a personal note: my darkhorse, James Blake, went down to J.C. Ferrero in another disappointing showing at The All England Club. Oh well, Nikki Vaidisova, my darkhorse from the women's draw is alive and hitting.