QUOTE OF THE DAY: SAMPRAS

Anything is possible, but it's not probable. The French is a big one and he's going to have to defend that against all these Nadals and Verdascos. Things need to fall into place — a great draw and great weather — but it's a tough hurdle. Wimbledon will be tough too, but Roger's a freak of nature.

- Pete Sampras on Roger Federer's chances of completing the Calendar Slam this season

Out of all those "Nadals and Verdascos" the only real worry for the Swiss on clay is the real Rafa. Fed has been the second best clay courter for a few years before making good so it's plausible he'll defend his Roland Garros title if Rafa comes in rusty or, worse, bruised up.

I think the biggest obstacle, in terms of majors, to a Calendar Slam this year could be the U.S. Open. It's a more even playing field and gives a number of ballers a chance to get inside matches with the 16-time Grand Slammer. It's still a tough prospect even on his bad days and their good ones but as Juan Martin del Potro showed last season it's possible. You just better be ready to seal the deal, and probably over five sets. But it's possible.

[Photo(s): Getty]

Just like old times: Pete edges Andre in Macao exo

Tennis legends Pete Sampras + Andre Agassi renewed their historic rivalry for an exhibition match in Macao this past weekend.

And it seems they picked up where the left off: Pete defeated Andre 3-6, 6-3, 10-8. Their last pro match was the 2002 US Open final when Pete grabbed his then-record setting 14th major title over his great rival.


The Las Vegas natives ball-striking ability can still impress according to the 7-time Wimbledon champion:

Andre just hits the ball so cleanly, even after being retired for three years. The pace of his shots was very heavy.

Pete's legendary skills at the net haven't seemed to dull over the years, either:

Pete's hands are the same as they've always been. He has great feel for the ball. He surprised me with the number of pickups he made out there. It was like it just came very naturally.

Last year, Pete defeated Roger Federer in Macao during the last match of their Asian exo series.

(Photos: AP)

PHOTO OP: Even tennis legends can harbor hairy situations - right Pete?

All-time major title holder Pete Sampras, who defeated John McEnroe 6-3, 6-4 at the BlackRock Tour of Champions in London, was spotted at the pre-event presser working the hairiest of situations.

Egads man! What are you (not) doing? Seriously, just shave the shit off. Or, if you're that attached to your receding hairline, steal some hair from those bushy brows (or face) and paste it to your forehead.

ANYTHING but that.


(images via Getty)

VIDEO VAULT: Fed, Maria, Pete + Johnny Mac show "Courage" in new Nike spot

Nike just released a new commercial as part of their global "Courage" campaign which is associated with the Beijing Olympics.

The spot combines the Human Race running event for August 31, the new Hyperdunk sneaker, and 20 years of the iconic "Just Do It" campaign. The Killers track "All These Things I've Done" serves as the anthem for this commercial - nice.

Tennis superstars Roger Federer + Maria Sharapova make appearances along with classic clips of legends Pete Sampras + John McEnroe.

Doesn't get better than this - check it:

NetJets Showdown: Roger defeats Pete, but tennis wins in the end

Still in awe: To say last night's event was an exciting, memorable one would be an understatement. For a tennis fanatic, the NetJets Showdown featuring Roger Federer and Pete Sampras was a sight to behold. The crowd of 19,000 created an electric atmosphere and the players fed off the energy, playing a thrilling, high-quality match that went to a third set tiebreak won by Fed - what more could you ask for?


As I mentioned at the end of my live blogging from the match, it was truly a privilege to watch these two greats of the game play each other.

TENNIS was the big winner last night!

Roger vs. Pete: Live blogging from the historic NetJets Showdown!

Witnessing history: I'm super excited to say that I'll be one of the 19,000 tennis fanatics attending the historic NetJets Showdown tonight at Madison Square Garden featuring tennis greats Roger Federer + Pete Sampras.

In addition, I'm going to attempt to bring you guys a personal, inside look at the event by live blogging throughout the evening - keep your fingers, toes, and everything else crossed that it works out!

As we all wait for the showdown to start, take a look at a rundown of the event by The New York Times' Play magazine called "They Cannot be Serious!" and the promo video by producer StarGames.

(image via smh.com)

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: Andy, Lleyton, James vs. Serena, Pete vs. Steffi...Team Andy criticized, Puma plays tennis and more

- Bargain basement: Dipping their toe into the tennis conversation that is equal pay for women, Sportingo asks: in their prime, who was the better bargain for tournament organizers: Steffi Graf or Pete Sampras? "Consider the following: Pete Sampras finished his career with 14 Grand Slams and Steffi Graf, his contemporary, with 22. She also has 107 titles to her name, 43 more than Sampras. Yet Sampras finished with double the prize money of Graf. The reason is simple; men get higher prize money than women. The question, however, is why?"

- James Blake and Serena Williams will headline the 5th annual Anthem LIVE! in Norfolk, Virginia, which supports cancer research. Mardy Fish and Tatiana Golovin will also be on hand to support the cause.

- The Brits are split on Andy Murray's decision to choose a team over a single coach to help build his career. The recently retired Tim Henman told The Herald, "Andy's made a decision he wants to go in a different direction, and, as your own boss, that's your prerogative. He's now going to assemble the people around him and hopefully move forward from there."

Fellow retiree Greg Rusedski, however, isn't so keen on the 20-year old's decision saying, "You need to have one coach leading the whole situation, like there was Gilbert before, [...] "It will be interesting to see who will be the main person in his camp because with all these personalities someone's got to put a programme together, whether it's a physical trainer, the mental side, and there has to be someone who oversees all those things, [...] I was a little surprised with the team of advisors route he went down, I thought he'd hire another top coach."

The Brits aren't the only ones with an opinion about Andy's decision, though. Former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich, backing Rusedski's position, thinks this decision might be based on something other than tennis saying, "...as someone who still needs to develop both his game and as a person I think it might not be helpful for Andy to have a big entourage. [...] I think it can be dangerous having a big entourage, but Andy has to find out himself. [...] He shouldn't start feeling too special about the fact that he might be able to hire five or six people, who cost a lot of money."

- Martina keeps moving: The legendary Martina Navratilova has signed on to be the new Health & Fitness Ambassador for AARP, the world’s largest advocacy organization for people over age 50, showing all of us that age is really just a number.

- Lleyton in waiting: Aussie hot-head Lleyton Hewitt is preparing for his full assault on his country's Grand Slam with a rigorous training regimen with coach Tony Roche. The former World No. 1 told Adelaide Now, "I'm hitting every day with Rochey for three hours, [...] I'd be spending about the same time in the gym each day. [...] By the time the Australian Open comes around, I'd be fitter than I ever have been going into it." Lleyton believes this could give him the edge he needs over the top players, including Roger Federer, saying "I'm going to be a lot fresher than Federer, [...] Even when you look at (Novak) Djokovic, (Rafael) Nadal ... (Nikolai) Davydenko were getting tired at the Masters Cup so I'm going to be a lot fresher than those guys but I've just got to try and get some matches under my belt."

- Shopping for a tennis fashionista this holiday season? Puma has just released the Lydia Holiday Tennis Bag in black-dazzling blue, made from eco-friendly materials and featuring a pocket for your 'racquet' - though this is more fashion than function, of course.

- Getting to know Davis Cup champion Andy Roddick. Most revealing moment: "Favorite TV Shows: 'Lost. My Name Is Earl. I love My Name Is Earl. Don't know if it's because I get the trailer park humor since my parents lived in one before they got married, but I think the show is hilarious.'"

- Sentimental for Seles: The Daily Forehand runs down their list of Monica Seles' top-5 clashes. No. 1? The classic battle between Seles and Graf in the 1992 French Open final.

- Mats Wilander, who recently worked with Tatiana Golovin before parting ways with the Frenchwoman has signed on to co-coach another Frenchie: headcase Paul-Henri Mathieu

(images via TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images, puma.com)

+ WEDNESDAY NETCORDS: Venus, Justine, Igor, Roger vs. Pete...Tommy talks racquets, Davis Cup doodles and more

- Tommy time: When Tommy Haas isn't battling foes on the tennis court or crying "poison!", the German star hangs with girlfriend Sarah Foster and Kate Hudson, plays basketball with Xavier Malisse and Taylor Dent, and stays clear of suicidal tennis racquets. According to a recent Q & A with DEUCE magazine, he rarely breaks tennis strings but "[n]ormally if a string breaks it's at 3 in the morning and it scares the hell out of me. I string my racquets tight so they can break by themselves in my racquet bag. It's loud enough to wake me up, which is annoying, so I usually try to put the bag in a corner of the room."

- Davis Cup doodles: Captain Patrick McEnroe has found his own voice, even in the shadow of his legendary loud-mouth brother, John...the four amigos of the US Davis Cup team genuinely enjoy each other's camaraderie, which they believe should help them bring home the trophy...no Safin surprise for the US. "These guys [on the Russian Davis Cup team] are playing better than Marat, he's not going to be here," says Russian coach Shamil Tarpishchev...Tennis Served Fresh finds the Bryan Brothers Blogging

- Did Roger Federer throw Pete Sampras a bone in the final match in their exhibition tour? Tennis-X thinks so. Is Sampras a current day top-5 player? Federer thinks so.

- The notoriously private Justine Henin has in fact been providing us a version of her own reality TV show, argues Tennis Diary. Nina Rota writes, "Tennis has been the substitute for some of Justine’s life outside of tennis and now that the outside world is creeping back into her life, her tennis is secure enough that it enhances her game. Most people need their personal lives in order to perform well in their career. Some people do it the other way around. Success in their career gives them the confidence to open their hearts to those in their personal lives. Justine doesn’t need a reality TV show, we’ve been watching it all along." Interesting perspective, we think.

- Kamakshi Tandon for TENNIS.com believes players should be given unlimited challenges per match. We don't agree - limited challenges force players to strategize about how and when to use them, which we think adds more excitement and intrigue in a match. Discussss...

- Lacoste and innovators Kidrobot have released their holiday collaboration featuring 3 styles - Missouri 85, and the Revan 2 & 3 - each complete with your own PEECOL toy. But move fast: only 500 pairs total were produced.

- Black Enterprise magazine named Venus Williams one of America's Most Powerful Players Under 40. We're thinking they don't mean tennis when they reference 'players'...

- Getting to know Igor Andreev. Funniest moment: "Well, once when I was 17 I went to practice with Kournikova, me and another guy (Pavel Ivanov), in Miami, tournament before the Orange Bowl. It was Sunshine Cup. We were making sparring to her and when we were at the volley, she hit the ball so hard — and it close to hit my balls so... So that happens, but, it was very close, fun moment. I don't know if it's fun but for me it wasn't fun but for them it was fun [smiles]."

- Tennis Planet holds the blueprint for Novak Djokovic's quest for World No. 1.

Federer wins first match against Sampras, players hit in traditional Korean garb

The first battle of the tennis titans, also known as the Hyundai Card Super Match, was played out between 14-time Grand Slam champ Pete Sampras and his heir apparent Roger Federer in Seoul, Korea. After working the press room the day before, the legends began match day giving a tennis clinic to some extremely lucky (not jealous, really) amateurs, working on serves, groundies, volleys while pocketing some uber-valuable autographs.


The clinic was followed by their highly-anticipated exhibition match. The World No. 1, as expected, pulled out an easy win over Sampras 6-4, 6-3 in 61 minutes. The win wasn't a total whitewash, however. "It was a little tricky situation. I'd been playing well and Pete's been retired for five years," Federer said. "I expected myself to win tonight. "I am very happy with my performance but I think Pete's still playing very, very well. [...] "When I found my range, Pete missed a few too many shots, [...] I was maybe lucky to win the first set. Then I got on a roll and started to relax. I enjoyed the match very much." For his part, Sampras said, "I feel a little disappointed, [...] But I made Roger sweat a little bit tonight. "I can still serve quite well but the hardest thing for me is movement,[...] I was a little careless up on the net and missed a few easy balls. But I think I will play well in the next match."


They ended the first match by donning traditional Korean clothing to thank the fans, even managing to swat some balls in the gowns. Now that's what we call tennis fashion.

(images via AP Photo)

Sampras and Federer come together in Seoul, Korea for exhibition tour launch

Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, two of tennis' greatest men's champions, met up in Seoul, Korea for the first of three exhibition matches - known as the Hyundai Card Super Match VI - in Asia. Together they own an astounding 26 Grand Slam titles. Following Seoul, the two legends will hit up Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 22 and then the November 23 meeting in Macao, China.

Sampras and Federer showcased their framed hand prints for the media.

(images via AP Photo)

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

(image courtesy of J R E Y)

- On top of the world: A huge "congrats!" to World No. 1 Justine Henin for clinching the year-end No. 1 ranking (for the third time in her illustrious career) and winning the United States Sports Academy’s Female Athlete of the Month for September. Plus, she's an astonishing 54-4 this season.

- All bets are off? The tennis gods are gathering in London this Friday to hash out all this match-fixing business. In addition Tennis Diary has reported that players' cell phones may be banned from the locker rooms to avoid inside information from leaking to betters. And, Hall-of-Famer Pam Shriver has some choice words for those prone to betting. Can it be stopped? Stay tuned...

- New chief in town: Arlen Kantarian has been newly named CEO, Professional Tennis for the USTA. What does this mean exactly? As part of his new duties, Arlen will oversee the development of a new USTA elite player development program, focused on identifying and developing the next generation of American champions. He will still lead the USTA's Professional Tennis operations, and serve as the lead executive overseeing the USTA's involvement in the professional sport, including the US Open, US Open Series, USTA Pro Tour events, U.S. Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and Olympic teams, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

- Music superstar Sir Elton John and long-time friend Billie Jean King will host the 15th annual Advanta WTT Smash Hits, a special night of tennis featuring superstars including Andy Roddick, Lindsay Davenport and Anna Kournikova. The event, which benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the local charity ActionAIDS, will be held in Philadelphia on Oct. 10. Visit Ticketmaster to purchase tickets to this event and to support AIDS research and charities.

- Getting to know: Stefan Koubek

- If it ain't broke...: In the "What were they thinking?" file, the ATP announced it's 2009 schedule to include the new format of giving tournaments ranking points to determine they're importance (1000 = Master Series level, 500 = Tier II). Is that even correct? We're confused just writing about it...oy...

- Think pink: Daily Racquet has been supporting October's Breast Cancer Awareness month by posting on all things pink and tennis. Check it out!

- Wanna know more about the history of the Lacoste brand? Click here.

- Video vault: Reminisce about the good ol' days of tennis with this great, classic Nike commercial featuring legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi playing an improptu set of tennis in a New York City intersection.

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

COURTSIDE

India's girl has style
Venus blogs and eats tongue
Separated at birth?
Australia gets the blues
Players party in Japan
Where in the world is Serena and how is she looking?
Stefan gets the boot
The year according to Lacoste

Anna works a bikini

+ NETCORDS

WEDNESDAY: Rafa, Andy, Pete vs. Roger...ATP gets dumped, Serbia's rise and more

SIGHTING: Roger Federer visits Times Square, talks to media

US Open champion Roger Federer began the media merry-go-round today after winning his 12th Grand Slam title, only 2 behind Pete Sampras' record 14 major titles. Here is the dominant Swiss talking and posing for reporters at the "Crossroads of the World" known as Times Square, NYC.

(images via AP Photo)

+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Roger vs. Pete, Maria vs. Rafa...Annie Leibovitz shoots the Grafassi's, 2008 Olympics and more

- Catching up with the Grafassi's: Here are some active retirees. Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are keeping busy these days. The tennis power couple are planning to build a $600 million dollar Fairmont resort hotel in Idaho, equipped with a rock-climbing wall, a machine that simulates kayaking, and a bowling alley, too. As if that weren't enough to keep the mulitple Grand Slammers busy, their mugs will be featured in an upcoming advertising campaign for Parisian fashion label Louis Vuitton along with former Soviet Union president Mikhail S. Gorbachev and shot by famed photog Annie Leibovitz.

- Tennis Diary says "B" girls (that's B-level players) need love too and can play some A-level tennis...what says you?

- John McEnroe and Maria "Shriek"apova were on hand to close out the Newport Beach Breakers tournament. Wanna see them play some doubles? Click here.

- 2008 Olympics update: The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has agreed to allow players to accrue ranking points at the Olympics, and the total number of participants from a single country has been raised from 4 to 6 (a country can nominate 4 singles players and a separate doubles team if they choose.)

- On a break during the Bank of the West Classic this week Daniela Hantuchova played tennis, both real and the Playstation variety, with race car driver Bruno Junqueira, who is in town to compete in Sunday's third annual San Jose Grand Prix. Was a love connection made?

- Tennis tips from mom: Tennis mom Judy Murray, momma of both Andy and Jamie, explains hardcourt tennis, from how the court effects the ball to winning strategies on this unforgiving surface

- This weekend catch the ending of the World Team Tennis season, featuring the championship match between the Sacramento Capitals against the Springfield Lasers, on RadioTennis.com

- Rafael Nadal vs. Maria "Shriek"apova? It could happen at the inaugural Merdeka Tennis Challenge at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam on Nov 18-25. Roger Federer and Pete Sampras are scheduled to play a match, with Rafa's opponent being either Maria or Marcos Baghdatis, both of whom are expected to play exhibition matches.

- Peter Bodo wants to know which men's players you think are "Hott". Submit your list, in order of hottness, now...

(image courtesy of victoriax21)

Pete's 2 Cents

It looked tough playing Nadal, he's pretty aggressive, and he's one of those guys who grew up using the big racquet. Together with the new strings, it adds up to a very heavy ball he hits. That puts a lot of pressure on you, especially on holding serve. So if you're not right on top of things, you can find yourself in a pretty big hole, pretty fast. And before you know it, you're pressing, and that's never a comfortable position. Nadal is going to win that tournament a few more times, for sure. I still think Roger can win there (Paris). The guy grew up playing on clay, so that's not an issue. Oddly enough, I used to think that the place where Roger might struggle some is at Wimbledon, because he was never really an aggressive, attacking player, even though he had all the tools.

- Pete Sampras on the challenges of playing Rafa (courtesy of Peter Bodo)


I agree. Rafa possesses a very different game, with awkward spins born from his awkward technique. So cut Fed some slack people!

Now can someone comment on why Rafa picks at his butt every service point? Someone get this kid the right size undies, puleez.