PUT A CAP ON IT: Reeshard

After resolving his recent off-court issues Richard Gasquet is one win away from capturing his first title in over 2 years - allez! He'll face a resurgent Marcos Baghdatis who edged out Mardy Fish 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(5) in the final.

So I don't know if Reeshard is in pain, in need of a bathroom break, or is in pain because he needs to use the bathroom like REALLY badly.

WTH is going on here?!

[Photo(s): AP]

PHOTO OP: She totally deserves this win

"...but I AM happy for her. I'm smiling. See?"

Once again, Elena Dementieva got the best of Serena Williams in Sydney. Could it be a good sign for next week's Australian Open? Well, not exactly.

The Russian knocked the apparently injured top seed all around the court grabbing a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win ahead of the year's first major. Last season, after winning in Auckland a week earlier Elena crushed ReRe 6-3, 6-1 in the final four here and entered Oz as one of the faves to take the title. Unfortunately she get her arse spanked by the 11-time Grand Slammer 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals of Melbourne ending her hopes of a first major championship.

For her part, the world's top lady baller preferred to blame the loss not on the injury to her left knee but on her unforced errors...oh, and Elena's good play of course.

“I made about a thousand and two unforced errors … it’s better now than later, I guess. I was struggling a little bit, but, you know, I hate to make any excuse. I think she definitely deserves all the credit for what she did.”

Classic. I wonder how severe this injury is to her surgically repaired knee, though. It's certainly not the way she wants to go into the defense of her title. Elena, however, has other things to worry about Down Under besides ReRe - like a possible showdown with Justine Henin in Round 2.

[Photo(s): GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images]

FASHION FIX: Really A-Rez, REALLY?

Question: Is Aravave Rezai reacting this way because of the outfit she chose to wear this week in Sydney or her collapse against Serena Williams in the semifinals today?

Answer: Please let it be a little bit of both.

The Frenchie held a set and a 5-2 lead over the world's top lady baller before feeling her own nerves and ReRe's better play, going down 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Oops. The American will face Elena Dementieva, who crushed Victoria Azarenka, in tomorrow's final.

They both seemed to downplay the match with some interesting tidbits from the post-match pressers:

“For me, she was not too impressive,” Rezai said. “Of course she’s a good player, of course I respect her. But I could have won today. I wasn’t impressed. Probably it was more difficult for her to play against me. I know she’s a fighter but I am also a fighter."

"Today I lost. Probably next time I will win.”

Uh, OKAY.

"Was I down that far? I didn’t even realize,” Williams said. “I don’t think she lost her way at all. I felt like I literally lifted my game at that point, because I knew I was going to be headed to Melbourne if I didn’t. I kept thinking, ‘I want to get a little more practice, and I’d hate for it to end now.”’

It must be nice to know that while you're fighting for an important tourney win and a victory over a future Hall of Famer, she's looking at you as just another nameless, faceless practice partner.

But you have other things to be sad about A-Rez like this outfit. I mean, what is with this get up? After staring at it for a while (fine, 5 seconds is all it took) in disbelief, her cocktail number from last season has me wishing for more of that thing.

Word of advice Frenchie: it's never good to use hand-me-down material from other lady baller outfits espesh ones worn by Bethanie Mattek-Sands. TRUST.

[Photo(s): AP]

WEEKEND WINNERS: Fed, Nalby, J.Martin, Elena, Petra

Roger Federer completed his preparation for next's Aussie Open by comprehensively crushing doubles partner, good friend and potential quarterfinal foe Stanislas Wawrinka 6-1, 6-3 in 57 minutes to earn his second Kooyong title.

No real surprise here but it's still a good confidence win for Fed before the year's first major. But the big question is: when did Stan leave adidas and join Lacoste?


Fed's longtime nemesis David Nalbandian is up to his usual tricks again. After a relatively non-existent 2008, the enigmatic Argentine stormed back to take the Sydney title by defeating Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-7(9), 6-2 for his 10th career title. Regal Rog owns a 10-8 lead in their head-to-head and the pair, who sit in the same half of the draw, could meet in the semifinals.


Speaking of Argentines, Juan Martin del Potro has picked up where he left off last season when he won his first four titles consecutively and reached a major quarterfinal for the first time at the US Open. The 20-year old defeated American Sam Querry 6-4, 6-4 to capture the Auckland title and is the eighth seed next week. He sits in the bottom quarter of the draw that features Fed + Stan, Marin Cilic, Marat Safin, and controversial Aussie prodigy Bernard Tomic.


In a rematch of the Beijing Olympics gold medal round, Elena Dementieva won again and evened her head-to-head series with Dinara Safina to 5-all by pulling out a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 over her compatriot in Sydney and earning her second title in as many weeks (Auckland). She's the form lady baller going into Melbourne and if her legs stay under her, watch out.


Congrats to Petra Kvitova who defeated her Czech compatriot Iveta Benesova 7-5, 6-1 to win her maiden WTA title in Hobart. She sits in the bottom quarter of the draw that features 9-time Grand Slammer Serena Williams.

(images via Getty)

Quote of the Day: Serena on Sydney loss

I gave it away more than anything. I made a lot of errors and made her look like a champ, really. I just pretty much gave her the match.

- Serena Williams on her loss to Elena Dementieva in Sydney today

A few of you guys were NOT pleased with this quote from ReRe. Fine - it's bad sportsmanship and typical of her when she gets handed a tough loss (anyone remember when she ate sour grapes at the 2007 US Open?

I don't know why but like the other lady ballers, including big sis' V, I'm pretty numb to these ridiculous statements at this point. We all know that a bad loss = temper tantrum with her.

So next time ReRe's words get on your nerves try putting her in a mental time-out. Or call the Super Nanny.

But either way, do yourself a favor and move on.

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Jo-Willy may have waved "buh-bye" to Aussie Open chances

Here we go again.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was forced to withdraw prior to his quarterfinal match in Sydney against the Flying Finn, Jarkko Nieminen, with another back injury.

The Frenchie, whose litany of injuries havs been well-documented including his back, was unsure about his prospects ahead of the Aussie Open where he made a surprise run to the finals last year:

I hope it will not affect me for the Australian Open but I don't know. I had a problem with my disc a long time ago and sometimes it happens. I just have to wait and come back on the court when I feel better. I can't do anything for the next two days. I will stay maybe in my bed and hope I will be better.

Ay, yay, yay. Why can't you stay healthy for any significant length of time, Jo-Willy? I mean, look at the results you had last fall when your health was intact (2 titles including Paris Masters).


You look to be a big, strapping boy so I'm think there's something funky about your technique somewhere.

I won't, I can't, I WILL NOT hide my disappointment Jo-Willy. No, not this time...

*screams to the heavens, throws fist in the air*

(image via GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

PHOTO OP: Serena gets pummeled by Elena in Sydney, looks down but not out

An out-of-sorts Serena Williams paid the price for her heroics this week in Sydney.

The 9-time Grand Slammer, who saved a total of 7 match points in her matches against Samantha Stosur + Caroline Wozniacki, got absolutely pummeled in the semifinals by Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-1 in 68 minutes, her second consecutive loss to the Russian (Moscow, Beijing Olympics). It will be an all-Russian final (and Olympics final rematch won by Elena) when she battles Dinara Safina for the title.

I never worry about ReRe's bad losses or form prior to majors, especially the Aussie Open where she's 3-time champ. She could come in with one leg and one hitting arm and still at least make the final.

So no worries ReRe. Little do they know you've got them right where you want them.

(image via Getty)

Quote of the Day: Dinara on Dinara

I don't like the way I'm playing. Just totally bad.

- Dinara Safina after her 6-3, 6-4 win over Frenchie Alize Cornet in Sydney

Hmph. The scoreline doesn't look so terrible but, then, you never really can tell from that. I'll take your word for it D: you didn't win it, Corney blew it.

But don't be so hard on yourself and def don't let the pressure start to get to you. You have the game and you know what it takes to get to a major final.

Try not to get in your own way, though. Just sayin'.

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Shocked Richard upsets Sneaky Simon, puts hand to mouth

Richard Gasquet looked absolutely stunned during his second round match against compatriot Gilles Simon today in Sydney. The Frenchie headcase upset Sneaky Simon 6-4, 6-4 and will meet meet another Frenchie, Jeremy Chardy, for a spot in the final four.

I wonder why Richard's so shocked. Could it be the current World No.24 can't believe he actually beat another top-tenner or that Sneaky Simon actually hit 10 double faults in the match?

I'm feeling a combo platter here.

(image via GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

PHOTO OP: The X-Man's got a new 'do - and it sure ain't pretty

Remember Xavier Malisse?

The Belgian has been traveling between the ATP World Tour and Challenger circuit ever since injuring his wrist in 2007. He currently sits at No.185 in the rankings but was as high as No.19 back in 2002.

Anyway, The X-Man was spotted at the Sydney qualifiers today working one of the hairiest situations I've seen in a while. WTF?!


He did so well moving away from that spindly ponytail to a more cleaned up, albeit spikey, look. I just don't get it and I definitely don't get the skinny headband.

Maybe it's bothering me because The X Man's making me nostalgic for another baller (and not doing her justice I might add):


Yeah - definitely one of Marty's classic looks. Nice win too.

(images via Getty, ViewImages)