(UPDATED) VIDEO VAULT: What did Wilson ever do to you Fed?

Roger Federer may want to retire his denial dance once and for all this season.

The 13-time Grand Slammer was all out of sorts (to say the least) and was bounced from the Sony Ericsson Open today by Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Serb will now face the winner of the Andy Murray-Juan Martin del Potro match tonight in Sunday's big final.

So how out of sorts was the supposedly serene Swiss? Well, I wouldn't ask his now-deceased Wilson stick. Just sayin'.

*blows air kisses to Maja*

UPDATE: Click here for the transcript from Fed's post-match presser - it's a MUST READ (thanks Tessa!). Someone is PISSED though I think Wilson should be more - may he rest in peace. Boo hoo.

(source)

(UPDATED) Rafa waxes philosophical, felt "emptiness and a loneliness" after Oz Open win

Big thanks to DtL reader whynotme for sending me (and translating) the link to this French interview featuring Rafael Nadal published today on L'Express.fr.

The Mallorcan Matador, who was stunned in Miami yesterday, is asked a series of questions based on the idea of "If you were...".

Check out this question and his very surprising (at least to me) answer -

Q : If you were... a person you hope to meet?

A : Roger Federer. When I was young, I always had this dream : I was at the bottom of a huge mountain and I was looking at the top. When I beat Roger Federer in January, in Melbourne, in the final of the Australian Open, I felt an animal excitement. But afterwards, I felt an emptiness and a loneliness indescribable. As if I had no more aim/no more purpose. To me, Federer is still the number 1 in the world. I want to meet him again on court. I know he can beat me.

It seems, if this interview is to be believed, he may be lacking some motivation right now since he's now dominating the baller who he considers to be the best ever. So, in his mind, what's left? Is it better to dominate your greatest rival or to be challenged, and defeated, at times along the way?? Rafa seems to lean towards the latter.

I actually find this perspective incredibly refreshing. Most athletes want to win, win, win and aim for the ultimate prize only. Rafa, though, may be looking at the battles themselves with Fed as the biggest prize of 'em all.

UPDATE: Here's the entire Q & A translated into English. Forgive the Google translation!

World No. 1 tennis player, it erodes his opponents with his shot lifts overpowering. Yet this young man of 22 years is also a model of simplicity, the disarming sweetness. Qualities that may have prompted a home fragrances begin to do so in another career: that of his new muse water toilet, Lanvin l'Homme Sport.

If you were ... A place of celebration

My island, Majorca, where I grew up. My ancestors came to settle in the fourteenth century! Always there with my family in the house where I was born. My grandparents live in the ground floor. My uncle Toni [coach] is on the second. My parents live in the third. And I share the top floor with my sister, Maria Isabel.

Flaw

My strength, I can not always control it. My grandmother watches all my games on TV with his girlfriend of 80 years. One of them told him: "He hits hard, but with great politeness."

Music

I love Spanish pop groups like La Oreja de Van Gogh and singers like Alejandro Sanz and Julio Iglesias. Before all my matches I m'isoler with my iPod. I have a ritual: before playing, it is imperative that I listen to a song from the musical Phantom of the Paradise.

A book

La Cité des dieux sauvages, Isabel Allende. I am very touched by the commitment of the writer. Since the departure of Pinochet, she returned to Chile and fight for the rights of his people.

A landscape that creates the dream

I was 4 years old when my father raised me on a fishing boat to take me to the other side of the island. The land to the sea .. There is nothing more beautiful. When I stopped tennis, I buy a boat to spend the rest of my days. This will be a motorboat. I love the speed.

A meeting that you hope

Roger Federer. Small, I was a dream: I was at the foot of a huge mountain and I looked at the top. When I beat Federer in January, in Melbourne, in the final of the Australian Open, I felt excitement animal. But then I felt an emptiness and a loneliness indescribable, as if I had no other purpose. For me Federer is still the No. 1 worldwide. I want to meet again on the court. I know it can beat me.

A word that serves as a motto

Gandhi said: "I do not like the word tolerance, but I can find no better."

A table

I have taken a passion for a painter of Majorca, Ricard Chiang. It is very strange paintings, black and silver, which are forests, crucifixes, caravels ...

A revolt

Success will not change my life. My room is still the same, my friends are guys I met at school, my girlfriend is a friend of my sister. Holidays in Monaco or St. Barth I'm not interested.

A garment that makes it beautiful

I know nothing about the fashion trends, but like all Spaniards and Italians, I choose what I wear. Holding my favorite: jeans, a white shirt, a jacket and tailored Santiage.

(image via getty)

PHOTO OP: Murray a pain in the arse for Nando

Fernando Verdasco's hopes for another Andy Murray upset were dashed in Miami last night.

After pulling an arse muscle in the second game of the first set, the Spaniard was quickly brushed aside by the relentless Brit baller falling 6-1, 6-2 in 75 minutes. Nando had shocked Andy in the Oz Open fourth round back in January. The 21-year old will now face an upsetting Juan Martin del Potro for spot in his first Miami final.


Nando doesn't think the injury will hamper him, though, for long:

I hope not too much. I didn't push so much after I feel it, so I hope that in few days I will be fine. Anyway, I just finish the match. I decide to come to the press straightaway to then have all the time I need to make the treatment. You know, then with the doctors and the physios, they will tell me what they think I should do. But I think that in a few days if I take rest I will be fine.

Injuries in a big match are always disappointing so hopefully Nando recovers both physically and mentally from the set back. He's had some injury issues of late which makes me think he may be over doing it in Las Vegas. But big props to him for finishing the match (Nole, are you listening?).

He may want to pull back on the training now and get some match-consistency.

(image via getty)

SIGHTING: Enrique + Anna still hot, watch Serena defeat Venus in Miami

Anna Kournikova, a Miami finalist in 1998, was spotted in the stands with her sexy boy toy Enrique Iglesias watching Serena Williams defeat sister Venus 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the semifinals.

The top lady baller evened her head-to-head with V at 10-all and, more importantly, held onto the keys to the WTA Penthouse. She'll face Victoria Azarenka for a chance to earn a record-setting sixth Miami crown.

These two are still unbelievably hot together. I'd love to watch. Just once. And join in. At least once.

PS - It seems like someone else might have a Crackberry addiction. Someone page Mirka.



(image via getty)

(UPDATED) J. Martin stuns Nadal in Miami, ruffles Rafa's feathers

In one of the biggest upsets of the season so far, Juan Martin del Potro upended top baller Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3) in Miami after being down 0-3 and two breaks in the deciding set. He snapped a 4-match losing streak to the Spanish steamroller and will now face Andy Murray for a spot in Sunday's final.

In his post-match presser, Rafa admitted he wasn't at his best the entire tourney but didn't feel J. Martin played at his top level either during the match:

I think he didn't play one of his best matches, no? That's what I feel. I don't know. You can ask him later maybe. But I think he played well. His level is 7 of the world, no, so he's very good. I think he didn't play an unbelievable match, but I didn't play on my best level today.

Unsuprisingly, J. Martin took an entirely different view of the match when asked about Rafa's comments:

I played unbelievable. I beat the No. 1 of the world. If you don't play unbelievable, you cannot beat him. I'm happy, but tomorrow I will play again, so I hthink in the next match.

Hmmm - did Rafa have a bite of sour grapes here? It seems the Matador was definitely unsettled by this loss to J. Martin based on his reaction to the loss. Why would he need to make comments about the Argentine's level of play especially after losing to him? A simple, "He was the better baller today - period" would suffice.

The 22-year old, though, wasn't at his best in Miami and showed clear signs, especially in this match, of mental fatigue. The World No.1 has been playing tons this year and winning so a break is in order.

In any case, a huge congrats to J. Martin who had never even won a set off Rafa. He stayed mentally tough when down two breaks in the decider and took the match by serving big, hitting out and coming in to knock off volleys (and suprisingly well, I might add.) The Argentine giant was the better baller in the clutch and, in my opinion, played an unbelievable match.

I mean, like J. Martin said, how else does one defeat Rafa?

UPDATE: Is there personal turmoil bothering the World No.1 right now too? There are rumors surfacing that all might not be well at home. Here's what he said at the end of his presser -

Q. Are you mystified or puzzled by how you played during this tournament, or do you
understand why you didn't play well and know what to do next?

RAFAEL NADAL: Always is a reason because you are not playing at your level during the tournament. No, I am calm. I am happy about myself, about everything this year, yeah. I don't know. Always is a reason, but it's personal.

TENNIS' Peter Bodo also made reference to these rumors -

There are rumblings that there's a bit of turmoil in Nadal's life at the moment, and if you read the end of his presser closely you'll get a hint it may be true. For that reason, I'll tell you that I've heard some rumors here at Key Biscayne, but nothing I can confirm or share - other than to say the issue isn't career threatening or health-related. I don't mean to be coy, but that's all I have to say about it, and I suppose that if there's any substance to the rumors, it will be confirmed - sooner rather than later.

Stay tuned.

(images via getty)

PHOTO OP: Vika's prayers are answered, reaches first Miami final

Victoria Azarenka is making all the right moves these days.

After reaching the seminfinals at Indian Wells last week, the Belarusian lady baller went one better today in Miami upsetting 2006 champ Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to reach her first final at the Sony Ericsson Open. She'll face a very daunting task on Saturday, though, when she faces either 5-time defending champ Serena Williams or 3-time champ Venus Williams for her third, and biggest title, of her young career.

Clearly Vika has a bright future but she'll need to notch her game up a few levels to compete with either of the Williams sisters. Her serve is good but not consistent and her second delivery is attackable. More importantly, she has yet to display ownership of any effective strategic patterns she can feel confident using during a long, drawn out match.

That being said, Vika can smack the felt off the ball. Plus, her fight + determination, which I think were the keys to getting past Sveta today, seem to be a natural part of her personality. She'll need every ounce of those qualities, and then some, to beat whomever she faces on Saturday.

(image via getty)

Venus sets up Serena showdown, charms with "super-sexy voice" in post-match presser

Venus Williams' post-match presser after defeating Iveta Benesova 6-1, 6-4 in the Miami quarterfinals last night was a great mix of interesting commentary on WTA tennis and moments of pure humor. (Seriously, I need to sneak my arse into these media moments.)

She'll face lil' sister ReRe in a blockbuster semifinal bout for a spot in Saturday's final. A win by V would also knock the current top lady baller from the WTA Penthouse.

In the meantime, check out these choice quotes from her presser:

Q. Did you watch Serena struggle at all today?

VW: You know, it wasn't on TV, so I just, you know, could only watch the score. I didn't get to see the match.

Like last year, I love how the ballers can't even watch the actual matches because they aren't even being broadcast in Miami. That's more than super sad.

Q. Do you have a cold or something?

VW: No. It's just a super-sexy voice. Gotta get used to this. I don't know.

LOVE. Now all V needs to do is change all her voice mails using this scratchy yet sultry voice. Not that I've ever done that - pinky swear.

Q. Do you feel like when you and Serena are playing at your best and are sharp, do you feel that you two are the best in the world?

VW: Yes, on the women's tour I believe we are the best in the world. We work hard at it, so...

At the moment my ranking doesn't reflect that I'm at No. 1 or No. 2, but I'm working on it.

Like, duh.

Q. Do you feel like the ranking system is not reflective of the reality of the tour?

VW: Well, the ranking system this year is new, so we'll have to see how it works. The tournaments are weighted according to how you do in the big events, so playing well at the big events important. I think it should be that way.

Q. Is there something wrong [with the ranking system], though? A lot of people are going to No. 1 and they haven't even won a Grand Slam title. That's the big prize.

VW: Well, I mean, Serena has played fantastic.

Q. Well, she's won.

VW: It's strange. It is a little strange that she's having to fight so hard to keep her ranking. Regardless of if she's No. 1 or not, I don't think the person who might take over her place or persons, whoever are up to that -- whoever, I don't know the numbers.

But I don't think that that'll feel that they are the true No. 1. I think Serena right now is the true No. 1.

So true and everyone knows it (and some have said it), including the pretenders who are shooting to take the keys away. If ReRe loses to V, she'll have to pony up her set to Dinara Safina.

I laugh HEARTILY at that prospect. Puh-lease.

(image via getty)

VIDEO VAULT: Nole's TMI moment - where's Tipsy when you need him?

Thanks to DtL reader Sara for alerting me to this video of Novak Djokovic!

The Serb, who got a little match-y with Jo-Willy yesterday, was interviewed by three kids called the Sports Brothers and they asked him all sorts of on and off-court questions.

Too Much Information Alert: Pay attention to his most embarrassing moment in the beginning of the clip. Maybe he can borrow some adult diapers from Tipsy. They really ARE all the rage, huh?

CHECK IT:



(video via sports brothers)

PHOTO OP: Blowing mid-match air kisses doesn't usually work A-Rod

Andy Roddick came this close to defeating Roger Federer again.

In front of an electrified, raucous crowd the American baller suffered his 17th loss to the Swiss stylist falling 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in a thrilling Miami quarterfinal match. A-Rod gained his second career win over the 13-time Grand Slammer at the same point in last year's Sony Ericsson Open.

A-Rod managed to stay close throughout the entire match but fell victim to a few unfortunately timed let cords that fell Fed's way (on a third set break point against the Swiss and one to set up match point) and his own questionable decision-making.

RIDDLE ME THIS: Why did A-Rod constantly approach to Fed's ferocious forehand only to get passed time and time and time again? Does he heart embarrassment or was it simply his own insanity??

It was like being on auto-pilot and knowing you're about to crash. Jesus, take the wheel.

(image via getty)

PHOTO OP: Why wear matching colored shirts when you can wear none at all?

Novak Djokovic finally got the better end of nemesis Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Miami today (watch it.)

The Serb managed to snap a 4-match losing streak to his Frenchie foe defeating him 6-3, 6-4 in quarterfinals. He'll next face either Roger Federer or Andy Roddick for a spot in the final.


I love seeing Nole shirtless any day, any time. And today would've been a great day for him to wear nothing on top since both ballers were working the same pool colored adidas shirt though the styles were different (Nole = Edge Polo Falcon line, Jo-Willy = French Open Competition Tee).

I REPEAT: anyone for a "shirts vs. skins" rule to resolve these situations? For the lady ballers too??

(image via getty)