Tuesday, August 5, 2008
+ TUESDAY NETCORDS: Dani, Rafa, Elena...Bryans blog, Olympics TV coverage and more
LINKS
Bryans' Olympic blog [ATP]
Olympic tennis as team sport [ESPN]
Harry Cicma gives himself props [NBC Sports]
Dani gives good face - so what's new? [WTA]
Changing of the guard complete says Tignor [TENNIS]
BLOG TALK
More Rafa in the Village [Great Tennis Photos]
Full TV schedule for Olympics coverage [On the Baseline]
Nike gets graphic [Tennis Served Fresh]
Top 10 dreamin', ladies edition [Tennis Talk, Anyone?]
Dementieva in denim - WTF? [Throw Up the Deuce]
Wilson repositions for '09 [What's All the Racquet?]
Fernando + Gisela make their entrance [WTA Tennis Blog]
(image via Getty)
Labels: media, tennis, tennis blogs
Quote of the Day: Murray on Olympic Village digs
- Andy Murray on staying at the Olympic Village
Exactly - staying at a luxury, 18-star hotel and separating yourself from the rest of the athletes is lame.
Labels: 2008 Olympics, Andy Murray, player quotes, tennis
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:
PHOTO OP: Rafa gets some practice swallowing the ball in Beijing

Rafael Nadal, who survived the media maelstrom at the Beijing International Airport yesterday, keeps his eyes and mouth (apparently) on the ball at the Olympic Green Tennis Center today.
It looks like it might fit, strangely enough. No wait - that's Nole with the big mouth, right?
(images via Getty)
Labels: 2008 Olympics, photo op, Rafael Nadal, tennis
SIGHTING: Fed takes the practice court - so what's with the agitation?
An agitated-looking Roger Federer, who opted out of staying in the Olympic Village this time, took to the practice court at the Olympic Green Tennis Center in Beijing. Could the infamous pollution be getting to him here?
Anyway, the soon-to-be world no. 2 will be carrying the flag for the Swiss delegation during the opening ceremonies which also coincides with his 27th birthday. And, according to Olympic tradition "whenever it's an athlete's birthday, a simple birthday party will always be thrown and a special present given to the birthday man/woman."
So, will Fed at least grace the Olympic Village with his presence for this celebration? Swiss delegation head Werner Augsburger wouldn't comment.
Strange doings all around...
(images via Getty)
Labels: 2008 Olympics, Roger Federer, tennis
SIGHTING (updated): Ana arrives in Beijing, no fanfare to be found yet
Ana Ivanovic, who made the decision to compete at the Olympics with a sore thumb, arrived at Beijing International Airport today.
The top-ranked baller seems to have experienced nothing like Rafa's media madness - she navigated through the empty airport and was greeted by a lone Serbian fan.
Where's the crowd people? It's Ana - geesh!
Updated: Thanks to an anonymous reader who sent in a link to this image of the media getting their frenzy on over Ana - now that's what I'm talking about!
(images via Getty)
Labels: 2008 Olympics, Ana Ivanovic, tennis
Monday, August 4, 2008
+ MONDAY NETCORDS: Andy, Fed, JJ...Nole gets some love, Ana still Beijing-bound and more
LINKS
Out with the old, in with the new [ESPN]
Fed's top tennis moments in pictures [SI]
Murray's moxy [Tennis Channel]
Speak Arlen, speak! [tennis week]
BLOG TALK
Melanie Oudin who? [Drop Shots]
Grab your gas masks people - we're going to Beijing! [Forty Deuce]
Ed McGrogan's love letter to Fed [Gasquet & Racquet]
Freaky Frites goes all CIA at Countrywide [GOTOTENNIS]
Ana still Beijing bound, sore thumb and all [Great Tennis Photos]
Nole scores a new fan [Tennis Diary]
Top 10 dreamin' [Tennis Talk, Anyone?]
JJ's saves (fully made-up) face [Throw Up the Deuce]
(image via Beijing 2008)
Labels: media, tennis, tennis blogs
SIGHTING: Rafa greeted by media circus in Beijing airport

The ballers have begun making their long journeys to Beijing for the opening of the Olympic Games this week.
Soon-to-be world no. 1 Rafael Nadal arrived in the Chinese capital from LA working a pink shadow-striped Nike polo and surrounded by throngs of media, fans and of course the ever-present stalkeratti (most likely hoping for a Rafisca sighting.)
He was joined by his doubles partner Tommy Robredo on this trip. The pair will also be staying in the Olympic Village unlike some other ballers.
Click here for video of their arrival - it's nuts!
(image via ATP Tennis Blog courtesy of Getty)
Labels: 2008 Olympics, Rafael Nadal, tennis
BALLER BLOGS: Rest and relaxation for Venus, restrooms for Serena

The Sisters Sledge have been preparing for their journeys to Beijing for this week's Olympic Games. But before they took off today, Venus + Serena made sure to blog about their recent activities including training, off-court activities and, for ReRe, more personal "issues."
V has been resting + relaxing at home after suffering a "minor knee injury" that forced her out of the summer US hardcourt swing, but she's eager to get to the Chinese city:
The last two weeks have been very simple: I’ve just been taking care of my body, resting away from the court for a few days and then preparing myself for the weeks ahead. I had a minor knee issue that made this time off even more critical and I am doing much better now. It was a fast two weeks but I am looking forward to going to Beijing.
The Olympics is one of those experiences that every athlete lives for. It is also great to be there with Serena and the other American players that I have gotten to know over the years. In past years, I have traded pins, hung out in the Olympic Village and really immersed myself in the Olympic spirit and I’m sure I will do some of that again this year. But I’m feeling like somewhat of an Olympic veteran - its hard to believe this will be my third Olympics! Anyways, I’m off..wish me luck.The Wimbledon champ did, however, have some time to shoot an episode of the show "Iconoclasts" for the Sundance Channel with music artist Wyclef Jean, trading tennis lessons for some on his:
I filmed an episode for the Sundance Channel Show, “Iconoclasts”, with Wyclef Jean. He is really a great guy and we had a ball hanging out together for the day. He gave me a guitar lesson and I gave him a tennis lesson. I don’t know what he will say about my guitar-playing ability, but for a guy who had never picked up a tennis racquet before, I was very impressed with his tennis! We did the guitar lesson at one of the popular LA music studios. It was not overly elaborate but you could tell this is the place where artists come to focus and get the job done. During my guitar lesson, TI walked into the studio and it turns out he was recording with Justin Timberlake in the room next door. In an ironic way, this felt like the music equivalent of the practice courts at a major tournament.Sister ReRe has been leaning more towards beach time with some training thrown in for good measure. But all did not go as planned for the former no. 1 on a recent trip to the beach:
For an embarrassing story the day I did go to the beach I had to go to the bathroom really bad, and I ran to the bathroom forgetting that my phone was in my back pocket, well needless to say it fell in the toilet, and I did not see it until… well lets just say I was really relieved that I did not have to do the number two!!!!! OMG I was so embarrassed and not only that, they always tell you to back up your info, and back up your contacts on your compuer, and I actually DID back up my contacts on the computer. BUT I backed them up in MAY. So for the past 3 months I did not back anything up, and all the extra contacts, ( all the “summer” contacts) were lost.Okay TMI. But I'm confused - if she's at the beach then presumably she's wearing a bikini. So either the bikini has back pockets (weird) or she's sticking the phone somewhere else less comfortable. Either way, that's gross - her writing included.
(image via Getty)
Labels: media, player blogs, Serena Williams, tennis, Venus Williams
WEEKEND WINNERS: Andy, Dinara, Caroline

Andy Murray - Cincinnati
The Other Andy made a major career breakthrough this weekend earning his first Masters Series shield by defeating Novak Djokovic 7-6(4), 7-6(5) for the second time in as many matches. He becomes the first Brit baller to win in Cincinnati and will move up to a career high no. 6 in the ATP rankings. If I were a betting man (and I'm not - I swear!) I'd put Andy on the short list of faves for the US Open.
Dinara Safina - Montreal
Dinara continued her recent dominating play at the Rogers Cup grabbing her second consecutive title by crushing diminutive Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-1. The big-balling Russian had an outstanding week in which she came back from a set and a break down to oust Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals and dismissed Victoria Azarenka in the semis. Her first Grand Slam title is within her reach - can she stay consistent and seal the deal in New York?
Caroline Wozniacki - Stockholm
Caroline made history earning her first career title and becoming the first Dane to win a tournament on the WTA Tour when she claimed the Nordic Light Open championship. The 18-year old needed to play two matches on Sunday to win the title after play was suspended on Saturday due to rain. She defeated top seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals then obliterated Vera Dushevina 6-0, 6-2 in the final.
(images via Getty)
Labels: Andy Murray, Caroline Wozniacki, Dinara Safina, tennis



