VIDEO VAULT: Full steam ahead for the Indo-Pak Express

India's Rohan Bopanna + Pakistan's Aisam Qureshi are playing for peace. They're also playing some pretty good doubs, too. Learn it.

[Via: ATP World Tour]

PHOTO OP: Serena goes to Washington

Serena Williams visited the White House this week as a guest of President Obama and she met the entire family including First Lady Michelle, daughters Sasha + Malia, and pooch Bo.

She discussed the visit before her WTT match saying,

It was amazing, I love President Obama; he has such an unbelievable presence, and he seems to be so normal -- and he noticed my shoes. I think that was the highlight of the whole day, was he liked my shoes.

He asked me, 'Should I be wearing high heels?' So I thought that was kind of funny because he may have been right. Because it is a job hazard for me, but I insist on wearing them.

I didn't know [Michelle] had such an amazing personality. She had me cracking up and laughing. I knew she was a great person, but now I really understand how important this first family is to the United States. And the kids were just so cute and sweet, and the dog was nice.

How exciting for ReRe! She sure looks good for the visit as well.

But is it me or does she always seem to shrink all in her presence?

*shudders*

(image via talkradionews)

THE LOW DOWN: Shahar subject to possible protest threats in Auckland, extra security on hand

The controversy surrounding the Israeli's invasion of Gaza is being felt in the tennis world as well.

Israeli baller Shahar Peer, who has extra security with her this week, was asked via correspondence by a New Zealand protest group, Peace and Justice Auckland, to withdraw from this week's ASB Classic as a comprehensive sports boycott of Israel. When no reply was received, the group said it would protest outside the venue on Thursday when Shahar was scheduled to play her quarterfinal match.

The 21-year old, whose brother is a military-reservist and was called up, responded by saying,

I have nothing to do with this. I'm Shahar Peer. I came here to play tennis. I know I'm from Israel and I'm proud of my country and that playing tennis is what I'm going to do tomorrow.

Two days ago, I was crying a bit, actually more than a bit, so it was a hard time for me. I hope as soon as possible it will end and we will all be happy, because no one wants to be in a war.

Sports + politics is such a tricky combination. Some athletes confront these situations head-on while others choose to avoid political issues altogether. Ultimately, it's a personal decision whether to engage the discussions or not.

But in any case, it must be a tough situation for Shahar and I think she made the right decision to play on. She's in Auckland to play tennis, not to be political.

Let's hope she stays safe over there.

(image via AP)

Venus + Serena get political, speak out on Obama's inspiring victory

Although most athletes tend to avoid political discussion, Barack Obama's incredibly inspiring presidential campaign victory on Tuesday didn't go unnoticed in the tennis world.

The Sisters Sledge, Venus + Serena, were moved by the Chicago senator's win even though they don't vote because of religious reasons.

As someone who famously spoke out on equal pay for lady ballers, V discussed what President-elect Obama's victory would mean for minorities in the US saying,

America is a wonderful place. I love my country, I love living there and I love my passport.

But also it's a country that since its beginning - especially as it is supposed to be a place where people were escaping intolerance - it became a country which was intolerant of different minorities and skin colours.

It's interesting because just my parents - my dad grew up in Louisiana in a place where he was called `boy' and shown no respect, where he couldn't say anything, and his mother was a poor shear cropper. So I am very close to things like in the past.

So I think it's amazing that America has an opportunity to have someone who is from a minority or mixed race, or whatever you want to call him.

And, hopefully, it will just get more people opportunities and more people to work harder and say 'yes I can do my best whatever my background is'.

ReRe remembered the pioneers who helped pave the way for the sisters,

When I think of everything Afro-Americans have been through, 40 and 30 years ago, and even today you read of ridiculous things which have happened in America.

People see the importance of change and supporting someone who believes in change. Just to see Obama with his wife and kids, and how they are going to be the first Afro-American family (in the White House). It takes words away. I choked up.

I think of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X an Althea Gibson - she's why I am playing tennis today - all those people. And Arthur Ashe, who also led the way."

It's a great time to be black now in the USA. I did feel my shoulders were (back) and my chest stuck out a little more. In the back of my mind was, although this is a huge tournament, that there are so many big things going in in my home country and I would love to be there. But work beckons.

THE LOW DOWN: Nole returns to homeland, visits Kosovo

Novak Djokovic had some unexpected free time after falling in his opening round at the Miami Masters.

So the Aussie Open champ packed his racquet bags and returned to his homeland to visit the ethnically divided town of Kosovska Mitrovica in Kosovo where he was greeted by throngs of supporters. Nole made his views known recently when he released a YouTube video supporting a unified Serbia.

UPDATE: Here's what Nole told the crowd who gathered to greet him:

All my wins are your wins too.

This place is really deep, deep in my heart, and I’ll come back here always, whenever I can and give support to people that need it

There are some moments in life when everything in your mind just stops. This is one of those moments for me and my family, for everyone who came today

It’s really hard to find enough time because of all the commitments I have as a professional tennis player, but I’m really happy that I managed to come here, because I know this is my homeland, my family descend from here, my father, uncle, aunt. My grandfather lived here for 30 years.

(images via ohlalamag.com)

THE LOW DOWN: Federer + Blake step out of the political closet

There are some ballers who feel comfortable going political, like A-Rod, Venus + Serena, and Nole and some who don't. Now we can add Roger Federer and James Blake to the former category.

The top-ranked Swiss made it known that he's been following the long-winded US presidential race, though he refused to acknowledge which candidate he might be supporting:

I was following it more actually when I was in Switzerland and not playing [...] Now, in America, I don’t know, it’s almost too much of it.

For me it’s hard to compare, because until now I didn’t really follow it [...] So this is the first year, and so I just want to see how it really works.

I couldn’t believe that it takes that long, you know. There’s so much talk about it for like a year in advance, which is tough for the president, it seems. But, look, it’s the way it is. People are really into it. Seems like the younger generation is more into it. I think that’s key to this race.

James, who has already made public his support for Barack Obama, expressed his views on the upcoming Beijing Olympics and the rumblings of a potential boycott by some athletes over China's crackdown on Tibet:

If they tell me it's the right thing to do to go over there, I'll go over there. If they tell me it's the right thing to do to stay home, then I'll stay home. I would be disappointed, because I want to compete in the Olympics and I want to be there.

I don't feel like it's my decision to go and say, 'I know what's best for the entire country of China, I know what's best for the entire Olympic team'. I think it should be a joint decision, kind of all-for-one decision, whether every Olympic team boycotts or we all go and we represent our country with pride.

It's totally up to them [to boycott.] If they feel the need to express themselves that way, then more power to them. I'm proud of them for taking a stance, but it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be the way I do it.

Agreed - it's great when athletes take a stand. It's not like they stop being human when they pick up their racquets...well, at least some of them.

(images via AP)

Quote of the Day: Richard Williams on racism in tennis

"Tennis is a prejudice game. Well, I’m black and I’m prejudiced, very prejudiced. I’ll be always prejudiced as the white man. The white man hated me all my life and I hate him. That’s no secret. I’m not even an American, it just so happens that I was born in America. People are prejudiced in tennis. I don’t think Venus or Serena was ever accepted by tennis. They never will be. But if you get some little white no-good trasher in America like Tracy Austin or Chris Evert who cannot hit the ball, they will claim this is great…I think [Venus and Serena] can easily be No. 1 in women’s tennis. They have speed, they have power. Right now, they are more interested in learning to develop more businesses."

- Richard Williams on racism in tennis

I think he and Barack Obama would have a very interesting conversation after the presidential hopeful's speech on race yesterday.

(image via Getty)

THE LOW DOWN: Worldly Venus + Serena talk politics at Bangalore Open

Speaking up: Andy Roddick isn't the only tennis baller feeling all political these days. The 'Sisters Sledge' - Venus + Serena Williams - threw their racquets in the ring and spoke out on the emergence of minorities, more specifically African-Americans, in tennis and in the US at this week's Bangalore Open where they're playing singles and teaming up for doubles.

Eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena said, "Each year when I go on tour and at the US Open I see another black face. It just makes my heart smile." However, she emphasized the limited access to the sport for some saying, "Maybe sometime if you want to talk economics, then maybe it (tennis) might not be affordable for some black people. Traditionally you look at tennis, you see in the past, 50 years, maybe one black player there. Tennis is an expensive sport."

Older sister Venus, who is widely recognized as a catalyst for getting women equal prize money at Wimbledon, commented on the current U.S. presidential race saying, "It is good that minorities are coming to the fore, (Barack) Obama is an example." She was quick, though, to point out she's "equally happy" for Hillary Clinton though "it is tough for Afro-Americans in US."

Good for them. If only more athletes were as brave, worldly, and aware...

(image via AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

THE LOW DOWN: A-Rod leans left, steps out of political closet

Sporting political muscle: Though most athletes tend to either shy away from political speak to focus "on their games", some do actually embrace the moment. The most recent example was, of course, the out-spoken Novak Djokovic and his video support for Serbian unity.

Now, Andy Roddick has cracked open his political closet door - well, almost. In his latest blog entry the former US Open champ, who reached the second round at the Dubai Tennis Championships this week, teases us with left-leaning talk by saying,

The Democratic election has been a lot of fun to follow…. regardless of who one votes for it has been a blast to read about and follow… I am hoping the actual presidential election will be just as much fun!

Frankly, I'm loving the political speak...and the gratuitous belly shot!

(image via HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images)

THE LOW DOWN: Nole gets political + wants the clothes stealing to stop!

No country for old men: Novak Djokovic is speaking out about the political unrest in his home country of Serbia, and even TIME magazine is taking notice. The Ausssie Open champ sent a videotaped message to his country, supporting a Serbian Kosovo and not the growing independence movement (in Serbian, translation below):

Hello to all of Serbia and all who are with us
This is the toughest of times in the history of Serbia
and I want to thank eveyone who has come here to this meeting
and to show the world that we are not small and weak,
that we are united and willing to defend what is ours
I am sad I can not be with you physically right now
and I want eveyone to know that my family and myself are with kosovo always
entire situation is very hard on me as entire history of serbian nation is stemming from kosovo
kosovo is serbian and shall remain so forever.

In other Nole news: Apparently, Team Djokovic is pissed that Nole's "official sports outfit" is being sold globally on certain websites. His website is featuring this image and the following message for the public and possible perpetrators:

In the last couple of months, the sale of Novak Djokovic’s official sports outfit has been wide spread through Online shops of certain internet sites.

We inform home and world public that the authorised seller of Novak’s outfit and other products is D.O.O. ‘Family Sport’ from Belgrade, and that in the following month, the Online shop of Novak’s official site will start selling them, too.

We point out that this kind of sales through unauthorised sites is offence, and legal proceedings will be instituted against perpetrators unless they stop this kind of illegal activity that directly violates rights of D.O.O. ‘Family Sport’, that doesn’t have authorised distributors.

Huh? I thought his "official sports outfit" was provided by adidas which is sold legally pretty much everywhere. Are they talking about the clothing in the image (which doesn't look very official to me) or the stank shirt from his Aussie Open run?

Confusion abounds!

(image via novak-djokovic.com)