+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Meet Monica...Getting inside Nicole's noggin...Ana is China's No. 1

(Juan Martin del Potro, Basel)

LINKS

Sveta searches [ESPN]
Monica Niculescu who? [WTA]
Vaidisova is vexing [TENNIS]


BLOG TALK

Again: where does Rafa find the time?! [double bagel]
Those were the days Ana [Women's Tennis Blog]

(image via Getty)

(UPDATED) FASHION FIX: Rafa becomes tennis' latest fickle fashionista, birthday suit and all

After yesterday's press conference for the 2008 Prince of Asturias Awards a dapper Rafael Nadal made his way to the official ceremony, with mom Ana María Parera in tow, at the Hotel Reconquista today.


The sexy Spaniard has become the master of wardrobe changes lately and seemingly handles it all with ease: Rafa in his trademark sleeveless Nike, Rafa in green Nike golf wear, Rafa as Roger Federer, Rafa in his birthday suit!

And, thanks to DtL readers Barcelona2012 + Sonja we have motorcross Rafa from yesterday's press conference:


Phew. I'm completely out of breath just blogging about it - how does he do it?

PS - The hair hasn't been so bad lately either. Some guys have all the luck - double drats!

UPDATE: Here's video of a clearly humbled Rafa accepting the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports today in a totally different outfit. So I guess the suit in the very top image was his "arrival" outfit?

Boy, he's even got Shrieka beat now - geesh.



(images via Getty, RafaelNadal.com, ATP Tennis Blog)

PHOTO OP: Shrieka gets furry for Russian Vogue - is Dolce in danger?

Maria Sharapova's attempt at becoming a high-fashion supermodel continues in this month's Russian Vogue.

The 3-time Grand Slammer was shot working a couple of fur coats and a strange triple-tiered fur skirt thing. Ick.

Oh boy Shrieka. Granted its Russian Vogue and maybe the world won't catch on, but if the fur is real you better watch your back for raining red paint.

And word to her furry doggie Dolce: you may want to watch yours too...



(image via mariasharapova.com)

Amelie actually has personality and a sense of humor, unleashes them on the world

As you may have noticed or not, I don't cover Amelie Mauresmo very much on DtL. Now, it's nothing personal against the Frenchie baller or her game (even though her world-renowned penchant for mental meltdowns drives me batty) but, frankly, she usually doesn't do or say anything that's remotely interesting...until now!

The 2-time Grand Slammer is blogging from Luxembourg for the WTA and in her latest post had some fun musings for her fans after defeating German Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals:

I did win my match today, but I'm sorry to say my day started pretty badly. I called my two dogs this morning and they wouldn't talk to me! I was a little bit upset. Here I am, desperate to talk to them, and they wouldn't even pick up the phone. It was really difficult for me. On a happy note, I later found out they're running out of credit on their mobiles, so I'm hoping that was the reason they didn't pick up! I'll have to get them some more when I'm back. I've attached a picture of what they were doing when I was calling them.

After the match, the tournament gave me a bottle of wine - this blog is working well for me now, because I was saying how much I liked Bordeaux wine and now they got me some! Maybe I should start saying how much I like Ferraris...

Phone-talking dogs? Ferraris?? C-r-a-z-y Amelie! Color me shocked that I'm rolling on the floor laughing my arse off right now - you're killing me!

What was I thinking not covering you? My mind has SO been changed.

(image via Getty, SonyEricssonWTATour.com)

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: Get to know Anastasia...Pick your favorite fashion fiend...Cutting the USTA fat

(Mikhail Youzhny, St. Petersburg)

LINKS

Ravi's power play [ESPN]
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who? [WTA]
Whose fashion are you feeling? [Tennis Channel]


BLOG TALK

Patrick cleaning USTA house [Doug's Sports Dish]

(image via AP)

VIDEO VAULT: Rafa arrives for Prince of Asturias Award ceremony, works (familiar) super cute striped moment

Here's video of Rafael Nadal arriving in Oviedo, Spain for the Prince of Asturias awards.

The top-ranked baller will be receiving the prestigious 2008 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports which "will be bestowed upon the individual, group or institution whose lives are not only examples to others, but who have also reached new heights in mankind's struggle for excellence, and who have contributed by their efforts to perfecting, nurturing, promoting and disseminating sport."


Rafa was excited to be receiving the honor saying

It’s an incredible honour for me to receive the ‘Principe de Asturias Sport Award’. I’m extremely grateful to the jury and everyone else who chose me as it’s an achievement greater than usual, it makes me feel proud.

Not only does this represent great sport values but also, and most importantly, good human values. This award is one of the best things that could happen to me outside of the tennis court because it says to me I’m doing this right when it comes to human values.

I always try to do the right thing inside and outside of the tennis courts no matter what. This award represents something different to a sports award and the fact that it’s been given to me means it’s not only thanks to my hard work but also because of those around me, specially my family.

To be given an award like this in what has been a very special year for Spain’s sport makes it even that much more special.

All nominees are of an extremely high level and the simple fact that I was considered amongst this group of people is satisfactory enough, even if I had not won the award.

Congrats to Rafa for the big honor and for the super cute outfit, particularly the striped grey sweater, even though it kinda reminds me of a certain someone else:


(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Has Nadia finally lost her marbles? You be the judge.

Like Ana Ivanovic, Nadia Petrova was spotted in another traditional Austrian dress at the Linz baller party recently.

I'm sorry but Nads looks straight up looney here and must be thinking (with a Russian accent of course), "Don't you like my pretty dress? And my pretty hair?? I'm so pretty, right mommy???"

So scary. What could the Russian but thinking here? Do tell!

(image via tennisforum.com)

+ WEDNESDAY NETCORDS: Dokic is determined...Jon's mailbag...Did Dominika dump Gael?

(James Blake, Basel)

LINKS

Rafa vs. JJ [ESPN]
Dokic digging deep [Eurosport]
Jon Wertheim, you've got mail [SI]
Michael marries Amber [Tennisreporters.net]


BLOG TALK

Dominika moves on to Melzer [Women's Tennis Blog]

(image via Getty)

Quote of the Day: Uncle Toni on Rafa

I try always to explain to him, things that happen in life, everything has a positive and a negative. When you shoot a gun, it give you a kick in the shoulder, right? Same thing. There’s more pressure when you’re at the top, so that’s the kick back from being no. 1. A lot of people have it worse than him, they have to work much harder than him, for less, and they do it.

- Uncle Toni on the pressures of being in Rafa's position

Who's the zen master now Babs?

(image via daylife.com)

PHOTO OP: Rafa in green hits the green for pro-am Castello Masters Costa Azahar

Like any 22-year old who just grabbed the year-end no. 1 ranking (you know those guys) Rafael Nadal, working a pale green Nike polo and matching golf shoes, took time out of his incredibly intense schedule to compete in the pro-am of the Castello Masters Costa Azahar at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo in Castello, Spain.

He was joined by Spanish golfer (and Martina Hingis ex) Sergio Garcia, who's competing in the pro tourney, and the country's top bull fighter Enrique Ponce.


The sexy Spaniard was asked to compare tennis + golf during this year's Indian Wells tourney:

Difficult to compare, no? But I always say the same. Mentally I think both are very tough, because in golf you can't have any mistake. But in golf you play very good shot you are going go birdie, no?

In tennis you do very good shot and you can lose the point. So I think on golf you play against yourself. In tennis you play little bit against yourself, but especially against opponent, so that's difficult to compare for that reason. I prefer play golf, no, because all the time depends on you, no?

And what are Rafa's strengths in golf?

Depends at the moment. Sometimes the drive. Sometimes the irons.

Something tells me if he puts his mind to it, he might do alright in this sport too...




(images via Getty)