VIDEO VAULT: Del Potro back hitting backhands, Raonic practicing with Serena and Nestor

There were a couple of videos that made the rounds today and they were pretty noteworthy. The first one shows Juan Martin del Potro hitting backhands. He's basically pushing the ball to protect his surgically repaired left wrist. It's a start. I, personally, can't wait for the BIG LUG to return. #biglugluv y'all.

Milos Raonic was practicing today in Toronto and brought along a couple of friends...Serena Williams and Daniel Nestor.

ReRe tweeted about the practice session afterwards:

Had a fun hit with Daniel Nestor and @milosraonic today. I tried to hang in there. Hope I did ok! 👍
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 24, 2014

[Photo credit: Milos Raonic Facebook page]

FASHION FIX: It's a tee off!

Even though I'd prefer to have my ballers shirtless during their practice sessions, there is one reason to have them clothed: THE PRACTICE TEE.

Shots of Ana Ivanovic, Gilles Simon, Rafael Nadal, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova and Stanislas Wawrinka in their baller best at Roland Garros after the jump - click the head.

PHOTO OP: The shoes (un)make the man

"Those shoes. Here. Really?!"

Based on my in-depth analysis with Twitter friend and uber-knowledgeable tennis fiend @Ataraxis00, I've come to the conclusion that this image of Rafael Nadal and Tio Toni has everything to do with shoes. More specifically, the ones Tio is wearing. I'm with Rafa. What are they and why is hear wearing them at all???

What do you guys think is happening in this shot? Feel free to let your thoughts be known in the DtL Peanut Gallery.

More shots of Rafa practicing at Roland Garros after the jump. You know what to do.

VIDEO VAULT: Rafael Nadal draws a crowd wherever he goes

Over the weekend Rafael Nadal took part in the draw ceremony for the Rogers Cup in Toronto. The world's top baller rode an elevator to the top of the CN Tower to participate in the event which was broadcast live on LoveMeansNothing.ca, the new online home for Tennis Canada. He answered questions from the media about his game and his season so far.



Afterward the Mallorcan Matador was flown via helicopter to the Rexall Center where he took in a late hit with German baller Michael Berrer.



And, of course, the HAWTNESS factor at the Rogers Cup was taken to its ultimate limit with the highly-anticipated doubles pairing of the Rafa + Novak Djokovic aka Rafole. The two met up on the practice court over the weekend for some footie fun in front of fans. It's the first time the World's No.1 + No. 2 ranked ballers have come together for doubs duty since then top-ranked Jimmy Connors paired with second-ranked Arthur Ashe 34 years ago.

I wonder if Rafole's worked out a post-point celebratory dance a la the Bryan Brothers. If not, no worries. I've got a few body bumps they could use during their matches. But I'll need to teach them myself. Privately, of course.

[via RafaelNadal.com]

PHOTO OP: Fernando Verdasco is shirtless again and we're all better for it

 

"I am chorizo, hear me roar."

Big ups to @julesdc for taking these glorious photos of shirtless brigade senior member Fernando Verdasco practicing for the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. You wanna know how sweet she is? @julesdc told me via Twitter that she thought of me, yes ME, while sneaking to his practice court and grabbing these shots of a sweaty, swarthy and unsuspecting Fer getting his hit on. I couldn't have taught her any better myself about fangirl stalking. She's truly a woman after my own heart. *sigh*

Anyway, according to his tweets, the Spanish chorizo and his fam have been taking in the sites around the U.S. capital including the Art Museum of the Americas where they visited the House of the Americas Turns 100: Paul Philippe Cret and the Architecture of Dialogue exhibition and the International Spy Museum. They also paid a visit to Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão where he got my juices going (and a few other things) by announcing to the Twitterverse:

Yes, I'm pervish. And four. He also had dinner with superstar Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz (who's awesome btw) before taking in his concert the following day. I'm thinking he got front row and backstage. Duh.

So enjoy these pics of Fer. But, no worries, there's more where these came from. Oh yeah, @julesdc also shot some other ballers wearing more clothes and playing matches. *yawn*

Check 'em out here.

[Photo(s): @julesdc] 

PHOTO OP: Rafa resumes training, ranking battle royale to come?

Rafael Nadal returned to training with a light practice today in Manacor after being sidelined with tendinitis in his knees. His first tourney is scheduled to be the Montreal Masters which begins on August 8th...tick tock tick tock Rafanatics.

On a side note, the ATP's numbers nerd Greg Sharko contemplates in his "Shark Bites" column the possibility of Andy Murray eventually breaking the almost 4-year stranglehold Fedal has had on the top two ranking spots by the end of the U.S. Open.


Even Rafa isn't feeling so great about the rest of his season after coming back from about a month away, though he's probably being cautious by playing his chances down more than anything else.

Via TENNIS' ticker:

What's left of the season is going to be difficult," he said. "After stopping for a month -- almost two -- you lose your rhythm while others carry on competing."

Now, what was I saying about Muzz's chances way back when?

More images from Rafa's practice below...





(image via JAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images)

VIDEO VAULT: Oh NaturAna, this explains A LOT

Ana Ivanovic was spotted on the big lawn getting her practice on with a football during some off-court time.

Let's just say she needs more...of something...like eye-hand coordination. Actually, just coordination period.

(via Tennishead)

Practice makes perfect: Taking a peek around the grounds at Indian Wells

(Hey y'all - I'm thrilled to add FreakyFrites of GOTOTENNIS to the DtL contributor list this year. I love her perspective on the game and her site's pretty great too - a must read especially for all you Fedophiles out there. FF visited Indian Wells this weekend and came back with some on-the-ground views of the action for our reading pleasure.

Also if you're ever interested in writing something for DtL drop me a line at DownTheLineTennis@Gmail.com. I'm always looking for new voices + views on the sport we all love. So without futher ado here's FreakyFrites!)


The highlight of my visit to Indian Wells (a.k.a. the BNP Paribas Open) this weekend was hanging out at the practice courts. Where else could a mere mortal like myself stand within arm’s length of Rafael Nadal while he soaked through his Nike t-shirt? And when Rafa, Roger or another one of my fave Top 5 players wasn’t hitting, I had fun cruising the rows of unobstructed practice courts in pursuit of quirky hitting partner combos, e.g., Simon/Isner, Safin/Tipsarevic and Haas/Stepanek.


Of course, the real thrill was catching Federer and Nadal’s practice sessions, which generated almost as much buzz as their matches. The two had vastly different routines – Rafa pounded balls for an hour or two while Roger barely got around to unzipping his RF warm up jacket - but both players attracted hoards of fans. We’re talking six-person deep crowds lining the court, kids climbing on top of trashcans for a better view and hundreds of faces peering down from the upper reaches of the main stadium.

The amateur sociologist in me enjoyed observing the true Rafanatics and Fedophiles in their natural habitats. Fed fans brought banners (“Federer is Better-er than Chocolate”) and Rafanatics brought their libidos (lots of décolletage and lip licking.) Both groups shun irony.


And then there was the grassy practice field, my favorite spot for witnessing chance encounters between the players. A typical scene: Nalbandian and Del Potro horse around with an Australian rules football while Daniela Hantuchova does jumping jacks in the background. Gasquet saunters between the Argentines, and a game of monkey-in-the-middle ensues. Then Gisela Dulko jogs by in her short shorts, distracting David. I also caught Rafa exchanging (air) kisses with a mystery WTA blonde and Tsonga switching places with his trainer to get a better view of Maria Kirilenko’s stretching routine. It was like watching the Real World: Tennis Tour!

When I needed a break from the excitement of all this practicing, I lounged on the main lawn with a beer or browsed the tennis gear for sale in the retail tents. I even watched an actual tennis match or two. But after being within sniffing distance of Rafa’s back sweat and Roger’s deluxe hair care products, everything else kind of faded in comparison.

FreakyFrites writes the blog GOTOTENNIS

(images via GOTOTENNNIS, photos courtesy of J. Nguyen)

PHOTO OP: Rog looking relaxed, gets in more practice at Indian Wells

Here are some images of Roger Federer practicing at Indian Wells courtesy of GOTOTENNISBLOG.

It's amazing to see someone who's been so under the media microscope this week look this relaxed, even during training. This has got me thinking he could be a good boss and I could SO be RoKa's manny - just me and Baby Mango basking (or baking?) under the warm desert sun, sitting on the sidelines watching Fed's sweet swingin' ways.

*smiles at fat wallet*

Fed's redheaded evil twin? You decide...

(images via GOTOTENNIS, courtesy of J. Nguyen)

PHOTO OP: On the ground, on the practice court with Rafa

FreakyFrites over at GOTOTENNISBLOG spent the weekend over at Indian Wells and will providing some on-the-ground coverage for DtL a little later today - yay!

In the meantime Rafanatics, here are some great photos they took of your boy during his practice session to tide you over. No worries Fedophiles - they took cool shots of Roger Federer and I'll post some of those too.

Enjoy guys - and I have a feeling you will. Just make sure to provide the details...in the comments section only....sillies.

"Ay, where's the mark? If only this were clay..."

"Fore!"

Blake: "What's it like being No.1?"
Rafa: "It's super cool - still have to carry my own racquets, though. Toni's rules. I know, I know - yawn."

BOOTY BONUS: Self-explanatory, no?

(via GOTOTENNIS, images courtesy of J. Nguyen)

PHOTO OP: Nole flashes treasure trail for Indian Wells fans

Novak Djokovic was spotted working some different kind of balls during a practice session at Indian Wells.

The defending champ shook off some rust during his 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello and will be looking to get his game in second gear when he faces Tommy Haas for a spot in the fourth round.

I guess some practice is in order. Just make it shirtless next time Nole. Pretty please?

I think Viktor Troicki sees something he REALLY likes on Tipsy...wonder what could it be?

(images via novakdjokovic.rs courtesy of Jason Summers)

VIDEO VAULT: More Shrieka practicing at Nick Bollettieri's, comeback in full force

Maria Sharapova, or her publicists, want to make sure we know she's taking her comeback very seriously.

After being filmed on Valentine's Day hitting actual tennis balls at Nick Bollettieri's, the Russian glamazon was spotted again at the Academy getting in more practice. She's even seen hitting a few slices in a row - crazy!

It's always good to add some new wrinkles to the game Shrieka.





(via Maria Sharapova Blog)

VIDEO VAULT: Shrieka shows up at Bollettieri's in actual tennis gear, hits actual tennis ball

Maria Sharapova fans rejoice!

After all the injury talk, your girl Shrieka was actually spotted at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy on Valentine's Day not shopping, dating, posing, or pouting (well maybe a little bit) but actually hitting a fuzzy, yellow tennis ball.

Now, do you think her people put this video out to prove that point? Me thinks maybe!

(via the double bagel)

PHOTO OP: Rafa gets in some practice, gives behind-the-scenes interview at Nike shoot

Thanks to DtL reader CJ for these great practice photos of Rafael Nadal at Melbourne Park!

The Mallorcan Matador has been cruising through his matches losing a total of 19 games in three matches and not even coming close to sniffing a fourth set at the Aussie Open this week. He subdued tricky veteran Tommy Haas in the third round today 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 and will face an intimacy-loving Fernando Gonzalez for a spot in the quarterfinals.



Color me so jealous of all those fans there who got to watch Rafa get his practice on under the watchful eye of coach Uncle Toni. Apparently the Spaniard was open to requests, gladly handing over autographed balls and towels to eager fans. On second thought maybe it's better I'm NOT there...

Click here to see more of CJ's Rafashots.


Also, thanks to rabid Rafanatic Johanne for tipping me off to this behind-the-scenes video and interview (in Spanish) of the 5-time Grand Slammer getting powdered + pretty at his recent Nike photoshoot for the Eugene Track Jacket.

*still drooling*

PS - Feel free to leave the translation of Rafa's interview in the comments section!

(images via CJ, rafaelnadal.com)

SIGHTING: The ladies of the WTA Tour are gettin' their game on

Practice makes perfect: The ladies of the WTA Tour are practicing hard, hoping to get their tennis A-game on for the next week's Australian Open. We spotted Maria "Shriek"apova, Daniela Hantuchova, Serena Williams, Amelie Mauresmo, Anna Chakvetadze, and Shahar Peer honing their technique, sharpening their movement, and building confidence with the hopes of taking home the first Grand Slam of the year.

The ladies' seedings were announced recently, with the potential for a second round Marquee Matchup: Maria versus a resurgent, but unseeded, Lindsay Davenport. Who could forget Lindsay's 6-0, 6-0 drubbing of the Russian fashionista at Indian Wells in 2005?

We're sure Maria has forgiven, but not forgotten....

(images via Getty)