HE SAID/SHE SAID: Oz Open Day Two

Q. Nikolay Davydenko said everyone in the draw is scared of him. Are you scared of him?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, respect the way he deserves. Yeah, sure.

Q. Not scared?

ROGER FEDERER: "Scared" is a bad word. I don't like that word. Ask a boxer if he's scared of the other guy. I don't think he's going to say yes.

Q. Do you fear him?

ROGER FEDERER: I respect him like I do over a hundred other players in the draw.

Q. Santoro said today he had the most respect for you out of the whole career. Do you have any words for him?

ROGER FEDERER: Sure, it's nice to hear. We're good friends and we get along well together. He enjoyed playing against me. Same for me. If I could pick a guy to play against, I would like to play against him. Every day I would pick him. He would try something different and I would try something different.

We would almost allow each other to do that; whereas with other players you get tangled up in the same rallies. He's not the power player and he uses a lot touch. So obviously I have a lot of respect for everything he's done in our game.


Q. I think you said on ESPN the other night you felt like the fine [for the U.S. Open outburst] was harsher on you.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I talk about that a lot. I wrote an article about it. $92,000 is a lot of money to fine someone. I always said what I did wasn't right, but I turned that around and I'm actually raising $92,000 to educate ladies, women, also for my school in Africa.

Also I'm giving some money to Haiti, as well, because just the recent things.

So, you know, I don't know whoever got fined like that. People said worse, done worse. I just thought it was a bit ‑‑ I think it was a bit much.

But that was that.

Q. Do you feel like it's a double standard that if some man had had the same reaction, they wouldn't have been fined as much?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, we live in a world that still, you know, men are, you know, just leading a lot of things, as well. In tennis I think we've been able to do really well with having fought so hard to get equal prize money. I think that's really good.

But I think we still sort of, say, live in a man's world. I'm the first to say that I like men to be strong, to be leaders. I think that's absolutely important. But I just think at the same time some incidents can bring you back to life and back into reality.


Q. Yesterday your friend Miss Kirilenko said you had urged her to make a loud noise to enter the year. She said she did that and now it was your turn.

IGOR ANDREEV: She put too much pressure on me. (Laughter.) Like after she win the match she said, Okay, now it's your turn. No, I was happy she won yesterday. She won because ‑‑ not only because she won, but she played very good match. Very good tennis.


Q. Wozniacki is No.4 in the world right now. Are you surprised that she's been able to climb up that high?

JELENA JANKOVIC: You can ask her if she's surprised or not.

Q. She is.

JELENA JANKOVIC: She is? She doesn't think she belongs there or?

Q. No. She thinks that things have been developing very fast for her.

JELENA JANKOVIC: You know, I think last year was really, you know, different year from, you know, maybe the past. Because there was a lot tournaments where a lot of seeds went out, and then some other players who were outside of the top 10, they took advantage of that. They used it.


Q. Has Del Potro taught you to play PlayStation?

NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: Yes. Like in London, everyone just start to talking about me like I'm like PlayStation player. Like if you play against me in PlayStation, the same level. I'm moving fast, play fast.

That's what is good. Everybody thinking I am very fast on the court. And I want to practicing like this. I want to keep this level, like PlayStation.

Q. Who won at PlayStation?

NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: No, like say Del Potro play against me in PlayStation. He lost in London. You understand, yeah?

Q. Since you won the Masters, are you more recognized in the street? Do you sign more autographs?

NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: I hope not. Then is not so many like say celebrity guys. I am not Paris Hilton. I don't want to be like this. I don't want to be like Nadal, Federer. These guys I never see by breakfast. They stay in the room and take room service.

For me better go downstairs, you know, take breakfast, or dinner to go somewhere, not to be so much famous.

[More quotes after the jump - click the headline]

FASHION FIX: Murray crushes Anderson in Oz, debuts adidas Competition line

Andy Murray, who is still searching for his maiden major, got off to a blistering start at the Aussie Open.

The Brit baller stomped all over South African Kevin Anderson 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in the opening round hitting 37 winners against 19 errors, 9 aces, and converting 8 of 12 break points all while throwing down a paltry 35% first serve percentage. He'll need to better than that stat when he faces either Frenchie Marc Gicquel or Simone "The Beautiful" Bolelli in the next round.


Muzz also debuted the new adidas Andy Murray Competition duds designed specifically with the fifth seed in mind. He's wearing the Traditional Polo in blue + acid buzz ($54) which features a 3-button placket collar with contrasting side panels and a mesh panel on back for ventilation.


The polo is paired with the Bermuda Shorts in white ($46) which have a mesh-lined inset and contrast markings on back.


And of course Muzz will be wearing the uber-popular Barricade V's ($110) in blue + white.


Firstly, let me say I really miss him in Fred Perry. Their designs were so beautifully classic and helped Muzz stand out from the crowd of techno fibers and glaring color choices. I particularly loved when they took vintage looks and styles and gave them a modern twist for his matches.

That being said I like the use of acid buzz to help these pieces pop against the blue courts, even though I don't find the actual design compelling (or the roomy fit for that matter.)

But kudos to adidas for giving the 22-year old his own special gear to wear. Let's hope he makes it worth their while.

[Photo(s): Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]

FASHION FIX: Anything you can wear I can wear...worse?

Seriously Sesil.

If you're going to pick a knock off to wear at the Oz Open, why pick Wozzi's adidas by Stella McCartney dust mop from last season?

The real version was questionable at best but this no name version is full-on fug. Plus, it's doing strange things to your skin tone. Yikes.

[Photo(s): TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images]

FASHION FIX: Nadal downs Luczak but goes over-the-top in Nike

Rafael Nadal got through a tough first set then found a better rhythm in the last two taking down homeboy Peter Luczak 7-6 (0), 6-1, 6-4 in the Oz Open first round. The defending champ will take on either Lukas Lacko or Leonardo Mayer for a spot in the third.


While I really like the striped Nike Spring Rush and Crush Crew ($60) Rafa's been wearing lately - the pink and orange combo in particular, I'm absolutely confused as to why the sports brand would want to pair it with the Spring Rush and Crush Short ($60) featuring a loud diagonal pattern. There's way too much going on. The Nike gear from his winning run here last year was my fave outfit of the entire season. Yes, there were contrasting patterns with the stripes in the shirt mixing with the windowpane of the shorts but at least the windowpane design was subtle and complimentary. In this outfit, it's all competing with each other - and losing.

It seems the designers have been trying hard to make his outfits too eclectic and stand out recently ("jumping the shark" comes to mind) by over-mixing patterns and colors. His game really does speak for itself.

[Photo(s): WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images]

PHOTO OP: Fans get their fill of A-Rod

Some Oz Open fans were spotted getting giddy after getting an up close and personal peek at Andy Roddick, who defeated Thiemo de Bakker to reach the second round.

Can you match the following reaction to the right fan?

1) "HAWT!"

2) "Double OMG. Total sex."

3) *dirty thoughts*

4) "Hmmmm...well...maybe...."

[Photo(s): Reuters]

HE SAID/SHE SAID: Oz Open Day One

Q. You seem a bit slimmer than last year, a bit lighter.

RAFAEL NADAL: Can we bring scales tomorrow? Everybody ask me the same. If we bring something here, I gonna put... I have the same weight than last year. I weigh the same five years ago. I didn't change.


Q. Is it hard as a returner to know what to expect with Maria's serve?

MARIA KIRILENKO: I mean, yes, her serve ‑‑ she didn't do too much double‑fault actually today. I expected to get more (laughter).


Q. Who takes care of your dog when you're away?

ANDY RODDICK: Who takes care of my dog when I'm away? Questions I didn't think I was going to get today.

Q. You tweet about your dog.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, my dog is at the in‑law's right now. Sometimes when I leave, the dog wants to stay in Austin, because it just tells us, and my friend Neal Boban, who graduated from Dartmouth, takes care of it, takes it out thrice daily, emails us updates (laughter).


Q. What do you think about the comeback of Justine Henin? You were the one who beat her, and now she's come back.

DINARA SAFINA: I think it's great for her that she's back.

Q. And for women's tennis?

DINARA SAFINA: I guess so.


Q. Having changed your buildup to this Open, starting with a new sponsor, does it feel different this year in any particular way?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, a lot of things have changed, you know, especially in the buildup to the event. Obviously I got here a lot earlier. Today was the first, you know, match on the tour, I guess, after quite a long break.

So that changes things a little bit, whereas I've come in the last years having played a lot of matches in Doha. Obviously, play with new clothes and changed the weight and stuff of my racquet a little bit at the end of the year. Less people with me this year. So changed quite a few things up. [Hmmm, talking about Kim perhaps?]


Q. Did you think it was wrong you had to play qualifying?

YANINA WICKMAYER: Well, I'm 16 in the world, so I think I should be main draw. I mean, I've asked myself that question a lot of times. I knew I was going to have to play quallies. I knew it a couple of weeks before, so I could prepare myself for the qualifying matches, which was, in a way, positive. I knew I was gonna play them and I could prepare myself mentally.


Q. But you are playing well, too, now.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You're asking me or you're telling me?

Q. Telling you or asking you. Whatever.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Telling me. Thank you (laughter.)

[Photo(s): AP, Getty]

PHOTO OP: If looks could kill...you'd be DEAD

"@$#%$^&#%#..."

Last year Jelena Dokic was the feelgood story of the entire Oz Open making a successful, enthralling comeback to the Grand Slam stage after years of personal struggle and turmoil. So much for that.

She arrived to Melbourne this season under a veil of more controversy and now has suffered a first round 6-1, 7-5 defeat to Alisa Kleybanova who she defeated during that inspired run to the quarterfinals.

Ugh. JD never got to build on her run last year after suffering with injuries and sickness. I hope she can turn things around or, at the very least, steer clear of any more controversies.

[Photo(s): WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images]

A tale of two Marias: Kiri shocks Shrieka in Australian Open first round

It's probably not the way Maria Sharapova wanted to kick off her 2010 season. Just a guess.

The 3-time Grand Slammer was shell-shocked at the Australian Open, falling 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 to compatriot and good friend Maria Kirilenko in the tourney's first round. But if you look at the stat sheet it was littered with reasons: 45 winners against 77 errors, 11 double faults and 31% conversion on break points (5 of 16.) It was Shrieka's first opening round loss at a major since falling in the same rounds as a qualifier at Roland Garros in 2003.

Kiri will now face Austrian Yvonne Meusbuger for a spot in the third round.


The former No. 1 was questioned about her confidence at the moment in her post-match presser:

Q. In Grand Slams, you've always given the impression of knowing exactly where the ball is going. Have you lost a little bit of the belief that where you hit it is where it's going to land?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I wouldn't say it's 'belief.' I think 'belief' is either something you have or you don't have. Whether it's just a little bit of, uhm, you know, maybe confidence, uhm, obviously it's the first tournament of the year and, you know, I just came up against somebody that just played really good tennis. That's just the way it goes.

Q. How would you describe your sense of confidence right now?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, well, I'm leaving on Monday of the first week, so that explains a lot.

As for Kiri, it was probably the biggest win of her career - first round of a Grand Slam, taking down a former Oz Open champ and No.1. So why tell her box to shut their pie holes after taking the big match?

Q. You put your fingers to your lips late in the match. Was that to get the crowd to quieten down?

MARIA KIRILENKO: It's unbelievable. I got so many questions in the locker room, in the players' lounge. What did you do? What does it mean? I don't know. Everyone can think what does that mean.

Normally, it was for me actually, that everything is calm, you know. Because, you know, of course it's a great win, but it's only the first round I pass. It's nothing big happens actually.

Q. Do you know that usually [Andrei] Arshavin does the same when he kicks the goal?

MARIA KIRILENKO: Yeah, that's true. That's what Kuznetsova just told me. Because she thinking that I was watching Arshavin before the match.

But that's not it. I said, No, I didn't watch.

BIG props to Kiri for not getting down when she lost the second set. She kept fighting and stuck to her game plan which was to be the steadier one on the court and move Shrieka around. As we've all seen, it's not easy playing someone so familiar and she did a great job of leaving their friendship on the sidelines - they way her more accomplished friend does so well.

Shrieka will be disappointed not just for the obvious reasons but because she was in the softest part of the draw littered with mental midgets i.e. Dinara Safina, Jelena Jankovic. She was the fave to get through this section and now it's been blown wide open. She hasn't played much since the U.S. Open (playing two tourneys and one exo, winning one title in Tokyo) so I do think she'll get better as the season progresses. But this one will definitely hurt.

[Photo(s): Lucas Dawson/Getty Images]

(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: Hit for Haiti a huge success

The charity exhibition Hit for Haiti, which was formed by Roger Federer to raise funds for the earthquake-ravaged country, was held today at Rod Laver Arena and turned out to be a tremendous success.

The sold-out event raised $159,000 from ticket sales and public donations while Maria Sharapova donated $10,000 to support the efforts. Tournament organizers expect the total to increase.

Congrats to all involved - good fun, great cause!

More images from the exo below. Click here to watch some of the play.










UPDATE: It looks like the amount raised by the event has increased to $185,000!

[Photo(s): Getty, AP, Reuters]

PHOTO OP: Ballers get their party on to celebrate start of Australian Open

Roger Federer

A number of big names hit the annual Australian Open Baller Party held at Breezes at the Crown Entertainment Complex including Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, and Jelena Jankovic. Up-and-comer Anastasia Pivovarova, who will be wearing the newly launched Maria Sharapova Collection this season, also joined in the festivities.

For once I can actually say most of them looked pretty stellar. Note to Nadal: Seriously?! Please hire a stylist STAT. You're off-court get up is all kinds of wrong, as usual.

Another baller party was held at the Long Room in Melbourne’s CBD. Nikolay Davydenko, Tommy Robredo, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Jarko Nieminen, and Agnieszka Radwanska made appearances at the event. Click here for images.

Maria Sharapova

Rafael Nadal

Jelena Jankovic

Anastasia Pivovarova

[Photo(s): Scott Barbour/Getty Images]