VIDEO VAULT: The secret to Maria Sharapova's (recent) success

So I've found the reason why Maria Sharapova's been playing some inspired tennis of late. Is he available for my matches? Shirt not required. Or shorts.

[Video: WTA]

VIDEO VAULT: Juan Monaco talks Tandil, finding your footwork with ATP Uncovered

Wonder why a small city like Tandil, Argentina (population 101, 010) has produced a few of the current top ballers in the world including U.S. Open champ Juan Martin del Potro? Juan Monaco isn't so sure about the answer either. My guess? Winning breeds winning.



Modern tennis isn't a hitting game - it's a running game. So check out this video featuring some footwork + balance training techniques you could do at home starring former baller Justin Gimelstob.

[Videos: ATP World Tour]

PHOTO OP: Fernando Verdasco sends his shirtless love from Las Vegas

 

"So I'm bronzed + beautiful. And?"

Happy Monday! Just a couple of shots of a shirtless, glistening-in-the-sun Fernando Verdasco during a recent training stint with Gil Reyes in Las Vegas to kick-start your week and mine. I'll be joining my LP Kalil, who's flying down to Miami for work, later in the week and these pics are getting me in the right mood for a number of things having to do with sunbathing by the pool and, er, near-nekkidness.

You can find more Nando porn at his Twitter account @FerVerdasco83. You won't be sorry, obvs.

[Photo(s): Fernando Verdasco Twitter] 

GBA Tennis launches first-ever video tennis instructional for iPhone + iPod touch

Neil Parker, who pens the excellent tennis instructional blog GBA Tennis - The Game Based Approach, has created the first beginner video tennis lesson for the iPhone/iPod touch called iTennisPro.

Using the teaching method called 'progressive tennis' the program instructs ballers of all ages on the basics of the game including groundies, volleys, serve, scoring, and even on-court etiquette (and we all know THAT'S needed!)

Other lessons include...

The Grips


How to rally using groundstokes with:

- The Impact Point


- Preparation


- The hitting zone using the wrist

How to volley with:

- A catching feeling


How to start the point using a serve with:

- Preparation


- The impact point


- A throwing feeling


How to keep score

As we all know beginner tennis lessons can become monotonous and frustrating at times. These video lessons demonstrate some fun, unique ways of learning the basics of the game and could give you a way of mixing things up as you develop your game. Plus, Neil's delivery and explanations are clear and easy to understand.

To learn more visit the iTennisPro site by clicking here.

[Photo(s): iTennisPro.net]

PHOTO OP: A wet Miles is still a hot Miles

Team Muzz, which still includes Alex Corretja, have been in Miami training Andy Murray for his return to the ATP World Tour next week in Montreal (color me SO excited for this tourney.)

It's steaming hot in the South Florida city at the moment so what does sexy coach Miles Maclagan have to do to stay cool? GET ALL WET of course and make sure to have the cameras going for our viewing pleasure.

Drool on.

See more of Muzz's Miami training sessions over at AndyMurray.com!



(images via andymurray.com)

VIDEO VAULT: RafaPorn, Segunda Parte

Not satisfied with the first sampling of RafaPorn? Well you're in luck. Here's part two.

Enjoy pervs.

(via Nadal News)

VIDEO VAULT: Spanish shorty-shorts + crotch touching aka RafaPorn

Thanks to DtL reader B2012 for tipping me off to this video of Rafael Nadal working shorty-shorts (yay!) while showing us some of his off-court training (yay-yay!).

I suppose this is the closest thing the Rafanatics will get to RafaPorn (I mean, he kinda touches his goodies) so I say enjoy. Just clean up afterwards.

PS - Who knew elite baller training practices could be inspired by this transvestite and his/her freaky friends? Ca-razy.

PHOTO OP: Murr gets in more training, still tries to out-arse Rafa (no chance)

Team Murray is at it again getting in more clay-specific training and fitness work at Roehampton during their week off from tourney play. Incidentally, Murr has already made his way to Madrid via his Tweet last night:


So the top photo shows Jez Green and the soon-to-be World No.3 practicing what they're calling Sumo squats but what I usually call a first date. BTW, I'm thinking (or hoping?) Murr's holding a dumbbell between those thighs. Either that or Little Murr got burnt somehow. *scratches head*


Here the 21-year old performs a plyometric exercise to help build lower body strength and fast, powerful movements. No comment (fine - this comes in handy on the second date.)

And of course, no Team Murray training session would be complete without their trademark ice bath orgy. According to his site, one of these boys had to do the deed sans knickers. I have no idea who that person might be in full monty mode but question: where is Treacle's right hand and why is he smiling so?


(images via andymurray.com)

PHOTO OP: Four men in a tub - but where's Ross (double drats)?

Team Murray, minus Rossie Hutchins, spent part of their week off in between tourneys sharing stories (read: getting naked and scrubbing each other off) in an ice bath during a recent training session.

Ahhh - just another weekend at my place. Any takers???

(image via andymurray.com)

MEDIA MASHUP: Rafa + Murray take their hard shoes off, put their clay feet on

Rafael Nadal, who was spotted putting around Mallorca yesterday, has begun his clay-court preparations with Monte Carlo beginning next week. The world's top baller is the 4-time defending champ at the tourney.

After the practice session, Rafa sat down with IB3 to discuss his results so far and his prospects for the clay season. Here's some of what he had to say according to his site:

About the beginning of the season:

I’m very happy with my results so far as they give me some kind of peace inside; however, it’s only the start of the year.

About the first clay-court tournament of the year:

I can only try to do the best I can in Monte Carlo and try to play at my highest level. That’s the only way I can have good results. The last 4 times there I won, there is something about that tournament that just fits with my game but you never know of course.

About Barcelona…

Barcelona is one of the best clay court tournaments, it’s good history and it’s special to me. I’m playing there for a special reason…I don’t get points or a title, so instead I’m playing there because some of the best players in history have played there.

Andy Murray also hit the red clay for the first time this season in Roehampton. He only went for a light hit since he's still recovering from his triumphant run in Miami and the long trip back home.





So, Andy maybe inching closer to Rafa in terms of his game and his recent results but his arse? Not so much. Nice try though.


(images via andymurray.com)

VIDEO VAULT: Behind-the-scenes of adidas' baller development program, moobs and all

Thanks to DtL reader Sara for sending me the link to this video about adidas' baller development program. Yay!

It's pretty interesting to hear about the program in more detail from Gil Reyes, Sven Groenefeld, and a few of the adidas execs. WTA CEO Larry Scott and ex-ATP CEO Etienne de Villiers also make appearances.

Ana Ivanovic, Fernando Verdasco, Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Querry, Sania Mirza + Grigor Dimitrov are all interviewed in the video and discuss their experiences and the great benefits of working with the coaches and trainers. Note to Nando: you don't have to work the faux-hawk when you're lifting too. Put the gel down. Just sayin'.

PS - Sara was right about Gil's moobs being straight up boobs. Ana's got nothing on him nor do most of the lady ballers, although he and ReRe could probably share sports bras.

PHOTO OP: JJ + Lefty get a workout, Righty still flabby (maybe)

TENNIS.com is giving us a look into some of Jelena Jankovic's workouts with famed strength + conditioning coach Pat Etcheberry.

Though JJ's recent off-season training intensive has many wondering if she's been overcooked (hence the shaky results recently), it can never hurt to be in the best shape possible for the long tennis season. Plus, you can't argue with THAT bod. Damn.

But one question: did poor, neglected Right Side get as much workout as Left Side even though we can't see it? Maybe she's secretly lopsided. So many theories, so little time...





(images via tennis.com courtesy of Manuela Davies/doublexposure))

THE LOW DOWN: Fed not injured says fitness trainer, working on preventative practices in Dubai

Roger Federer's fitness trainer + conditioning coach, Pierre Paganini, sat down for a Q & A with Blick to discuss the Swiss' recent fitness issues which forced him out of Dubai + Davis Cup.

The pair are currently in Dubai, where Fed owns a home, for the next two weeks working on preventative practices. Pierre reiterates the former No.1 is not injured:

- Mr. Paganini, what’s going on with Federer? What is he doing?

Paganini: At the moment we give him some time to recover. We intensified the work with his physio therapist. But to make it clear once and for all: Federer is not injured. What we are doing is pure prophylaxis. We are working for the next two weeks in Dubai. Roger also flew in two sparring partners to be able two work on the court.

-Was Federer a 100% fit in Melbourne?

Paganini: Well we have to go further back for this. Roger got injured last November. His injury is cured. Everything was ok in Melbourne. But with so many matches it is not easy to recover 100%. He wasn’t impeded in his game. But it meant a lot of stress, the journey, the pressure, etc., so the body’s reaction in a stressfull situation and during a normal traning is not the same. He felt it, and that’s why we have decided to take a break in order to prevent other injuries from occuring [sic].

-What did you learn from it? Do you have to change something?

Paganini: Well we understood that we have to spend even more time doing physical preparation. This is the priority between the tournaments. Roger wants to pay attention to his body in order to be able to manage those stressfull situations.
- Does that mean that he is going to play fewer tournaments?

Paganini: No, it simplyn [sic] means to plan in a different way, manage the time differently. We have to organise ourselves even better in order to be able to do a proper physical education wherever Roger is.

- Roger is not going to play the Davis Cup. As a Swiss man it must hurt you, but as a fitness coach you must think that it is right.

Paganini: As a fitness coach I always should be against it whenever it concerns the body. You have to recognize that if he would be playing Davis Cup he’d be playing as the team leader. He’d play Friday, Saturday and Sunday non stop. That’s just a lot for your body. Roger is like a jewel. And he knows that it would just be too risky.

It's interesting that Pierre describes Fed as "a jewel" - solid, precious, luxurious but requiring much care and maintenance.

Anyway, it sounds like the 13-time Grand Slammer is having a more difficult time these days recovering from long matches and tourneys. Clearly it's a product of age but also he may have a harder time, mentally, recovering from these losses when he's so close to making history.

It's a tough cycle: Fed's body naturally begins to give so he puts in tons of effort in preparation for the majors. But when he loses it's a big fall tinged with all kinds of disappointment. So the questions for him become "When does all this physical preparation become too much preparation?" and "How do you recover the mental aspect from the tough loss?" I'm not sure he's had many opportunities in his career to ponder these questions until now. New turf me thinks.

I'd say the next couple of Grand Slams, where he'll be looking to surpass Pete Sampras' record 14, will be the toughest of his career and may likely take him longer to achieve then we could even imagine.

Thanks to Tennis Times for the translation!

(image via Blick.com)

PHOTO OP: Andy in training, practices new abdominal strengthening exercises

Andy Murray is back to his training ways at the National Tennis Center in Roehampton.

The Brit baller is continuing to strengthen those sick abs of his before getting back to the ATP World Tour. He's practicing some oldies but goodies (like the Superman above) but also including some new ones courtesy of Strength & Conditioning Coach Matty "Treacle" Little.

In this exercise, Andy begins in a kneeling position with his arms resting on the ball in front. He slowly begins to straighten out his body until it's completely flat, engaging all the vital core muscles then rolls back for the next repetition:


Treacle continues to up the ante with this exercise. Andy begins completely horizontal on his back and, using his core muscles, begins lifting his lower body through 45 degress until he's completely vertical. Phew! *completely out of breath*



The last core strengthening practice begins with Andy horizontally on his side, bottom arm stretched out holding a dumb-bell. He slowly rolls the dumb-bell towards himself using his abdominals to lift his body to about 45 degrees then proceeds to roll back down slowly - ouch.


Okay these are some serious exercises but I can so appreciate his commitment to continuing the strength and fitness work.

(image via andymurray.com)

Nando credits adidas for development + support, reveals more about Agassi sit down

Fernando Verdasco reached his first Grand Slam semifinal when he defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the Aussie Open. He faces his top seeded compatriot Rafael Nadal for a spot in Sunday's final.

In his post-match presser, the 25-year old gave credit to sponsor adidas for their unrelenting support including the opportunity to train in Las Vegas with Gil Reyes:

I need to say thanks because I didn't say before to adidas. Is because of my brand, no, that I had this chance to be with Gil in Las Vegas. You know, there is a development program for the players of adidas, you know, with Gil Reyes. They help us so much.

Some players, they don't like maybe or they don't want to do it. But me, because I don't have coach, you know, I decide to go there. Also because Agassi was my idol when I was young, I decide that it was, for sure, a good experience, that I will learn so much. So I took that decision.

Right now I'm feeling much better than before. They help me so much. They treat me unbelievable there. You know, I can't wait to go again there to start practicing again.

As I wrote about previously, the adidas-sponsored trip to Las Vegas also allowed Nando to spend some time learning from his childhood idol Andre Agassi:

[We spoke] about a lot of things. It was about the tournaments, how I should organize my year of tournaments. You know, I was asking him, you know, "This tournament, you think I need to play, I don't need to play, I need to practice these weeks, this week no. He was just giving me advices about, you know, what he thinks about all this, about what tournaments I need to play or which weeks I need to practice and be ready for the big tournaments. Also, after, about tactics, no, and about my game, how he thinks that I should play more and take more advantage of my game.

You know, we was speaking for two hours, so we spoke a lot. But he really help me so much. I'm so happy to had that conversation with him.

I guess if you're going to learn about winning, especially in Oz, you might as well speak with a 4-time champ like AA.

I'd be curious to know more about adidas' development program, how it works, and what they offer in terms of support for their ballers and, also, why more of their ballers don't take advantage of it. I bet there are requirements and stipulations that may be viewed as restrictive.

But based on Nando's recent results, I'd say their other ballers should think about jumping onto this bandwagon.

(image via AP)

(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: Take a picture, it lasts longer

"If it wasn't for the on-court security, I might just jump your bones Nole."

Novak Djokovic was spotted signing autographs for some obviously eager fans after getting in a practice session at the Queensland Tennis Centre for the Brisbane International. The sexy Serb is the top seed at the tourney and could meet current nemesis Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final, a rematch of last year's Aussie Open final won by the World No.3.

Nole is also working the new metallic silver adidas Edge ClimaCool trainers I previewed late last year. Still loving 'em!

More pics of his training below; click here for the Brisbane draws.



UPDATE: DtL reader Maja noted "I probably lived under a rock but when did he leave Wilson and headed (ha!) to head? Is it for the money or does he really think Head makes the better racquets?"

Anyone have any info on whether the switch is permanent or if it's just a trial run with Head?

(images via Getty)

SIGHTING: Ana flying solo in Australia, actually training and probably sweating

Could it be Ana Ivanovic has actually been spotted training and working out? Do my eyes deceive me??

Color me shocked, but relieved, to see the Roland Garros champ in Australia getting in some real training with trainer Scott Byrnes in Noosa National Park, acclimating to the heat Down Under, and looking fit and sexy I might add.

No Anando, no posing, and def no cheese. Now this is what I'm talking about!




(images via Women's Tennis Photos)

PHOTO OP: Day 10 of Murray's off-season training intensive - it's the Winter Olympics in Miami!

Andy Murray, who recently confirmed his sponsorship with Fred Perry for 2009, continued his off-season training intensive in Miami with the team's self-styled Winter Olympics.

DAY 10

The Olympics begin with the 100 metres which gave hottie Ross Hutchins the early lead. The 400 metre, won handily by Andy, followed and seemed to knock a few members of Team Murray off their blocks.



Then, the high-jump came next with Andy taking this event as well. The bench press was supposed to be next, but the team hit the courts for some tennis practice and vowed to complete the Winter Olympics today.

PS - Check out the last pic: Andy's getting pretty freakin' strong. Beware ballers!



(image via andymurray.com)

PHOTO OP: Day 9 of Murray's off-season training intensive, half-day is a good day

After yesterday's brutal track work, Day 9 of Team Murray's off-season training intensive promised to be tough but shorter and a bit less grueling.

DAY 9

Today's half-day of training involved the team working on movement, balance, and speed as Strength + Conditioning coach Jez Green introduced bungee cord and jumps practices.


The court was eventually inundated with Brit ballers including lanky-looking junior Liam Broady who hit a few balls with Jez.



The whole team eventually engaged in a hitting session for a few hours followed by a 1.5 hour Bikram Yoga class.

Team Murray's self-styled "Winter Olympics" begin today - stay tuned!

(image via andymurray.com)

SIGHTING: JJ leaves Mexico, returns to Nick Bollettieri's for more off-season prep

Jelena Jankovic, who has been training hard in San Luis, Mexico, returned to her former homebase at The Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida to continue her preparations for the 2009 season.

It seems clear the slidin' Serb is intent on getting physically fitter and stronger but she's also looking to add more variety to her game which can only help, I say:





JJ is def looking bulkier for sure (I mean check out that shelf) - must be all those workouts in the sand down in Mexico. She also seems truly focused on winning that maiden Slam and keeping the keys to the WTA Penthouse.

Could it be there's actually a lady baller who wants to be world no.1 and is willing to do the hard work to stay there? How novel!

Check out Nick's Flickr page for more JJ shots.

(images via nickstennispicks.com)