ROUND ROBIN: News from around the grounds - with Body Bonus!

- Alla Vadimirovna Kournikova, mother to former Top tenner and global celebrity Anna Kournikova, was arrested on charges of child neglect after her 5-year old son jumped out a second-story window. A passerby saw the boy and called the police. Alla claims she left him behind because he didn't want to go on an errand run with her. The boy was not injured in the jump.

- Australian Open officials cleared Marcos Daniel of any wrong doing in an alleged incident involving Colombian fans after his first round loss to Alejandro Falla.

- If you've ever fought the call of nature and lost, you'll appreciate this.

- Anti-Israeli protesters are no-show for Shahar Peer's match. Phew.

- VIDEO VAULT: Oracene wears her sunglasses at night and she has her reasons. A-Rod threw verbal vomit at the ump and regretted it. Mostly.

- BODY BONUS: Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro, James Blake

[Photo(s): Reuters]

PHOTO OP: HUNGRY EYES

"You're so pretty. I should be asking YOU questions."

Justine Henin jumped an enormous hurdle by the name of Elena Dementieva in Melbourne today on her quest for an second Aussie Open crown and eighth major title.

Fortunately for the fans and viewers the pair played a spirited match featuring high quality shot-making in an almost 3 hour second round battle making it feel more like a semifinal or final match. Unfortunately for Elena she ended up on the losing side of things falling 7-5, 7-6(6). JuJu will face off against a second consecutive Russian, Alisa Kleybanova, for a spot in the Round of 16.

The Belgian has to be feeling pretty confident about her chances after beating the World No. 5 this early in a Slam in only her second tourney back. And, after watching her compete in this match it seems JuJu really hasn't lost a step after being out 20 months, but may in fact have added a few more.

She really could win this whole damn thing, huh?

[PHOTO: AP]

PHOTO OP: Delpo + Blake share intimate MOMA after 5-set thriller in Oz

Juan Martin del Potro + James Blake shared some heart felt MOMA at the net after throwing down an epic 6-4, 6-7(3), 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 second round match won by the Argentine. The pair combined for a total of 150 winners against 120 errors and 35 aces in the 4 hour and 17 minute match. The US Open champ will face Germany' Florian Mayer for a spot in the Round of 16.


The American was still feeling the sting of another opportunity snuffed out in the stretch in his post-match presser:

"It’s tough to rank the [five set losses] but right now it hurts pretty bad,” said Blake. “I had plenty of messages from people back home who were up until 5am watching me, and I don’t even want to respond to many. I just feel bad that they were up watching and are probably going to sleep a little disappointed. Luckily for me they will all be my friends tomorrow, which will help me get through after I stop beating myself up for a few hours or few days.”

Delpo showed real grit and supreme mental strength in gutting out this win even with a sore wrist (which he says still has "a little bit" of pain.) But you gotta feel for James who plays these classic matches only to be the one on the losing side of the stick (think '05 U.S. Open quarterfinal defeat to Andre Agassi.)

It seems he's never had the ability to raise his game in the clutch and, at this point in his career, he probably never will.



[PHOTOS: Getty, Reuters]

PHOTO OP: Join the club

LMAO at the guy holding the sign. If only THAT were true.

[PHOTO: AP]

HE SAID/SHE SAID: Oz Open Day Three

Q. Davydenko told us yesterday he never wants to be really famous like Federer or you. How do you feel about being so famous?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think you are or you are not. You want or you don't want, that's not an answer, no? You are or you are not. That's it, no?

I feel okay, no? I like my life. I'm feel very lucky to be where I am. And, sure, I work in my hobby. So not everybody can say the same. So I feel very lucky person.


Q. Talking about little bit of confidence. Don't you have much now?

JUSTINE HENIN: Well, now, of course, it's great feeling. It's magical to win this kind of match in this kind of atmosphere. Yeah, I'm concerned about tomorrow, when I'm going to wake up, how I'm going to feel. I said the other day I wasn't feeling old. Well, I'll see tomorrow morning (smiling).


Q. I didn't see the end of your match, but did you have some sort of problem?

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, there was just a disagreement about a rule I guess on a continuation of a call. To be fair, I watched ‑‑ I didn't come in here till I watched the video of it. I was more wrong than I thought I was out on court.

That being said, it was very close. To take away a match point at that juncture in a match, it's a big call.

Q. Is there any element of you enjoying the dialogue with the umpire? You seem to be a little chattier than other players.

ANDY RODDICK: That was a nice way of putting that question (smiling).

Q. It's very entertaining. People enjoy it.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't do it for entertainment. I do it because I strongly believe what I feel. That's not just on the court. I think if I believe in something strongly enough, I'm pretty outspoken about it. I don't think that has to do with me enjoying it. That probably goes back to, you know, childhood issues, which would be a longer conversation (smiling).


Q. Did you feel like you had a point to prove, given that the tournament organizers wouldn't give you a wild card, they made you play qualifiers?

YANINA WICKMAYER: No, not really. I don't think I have to prove to anyone anything.

But I think it's good for myself to prove myself I'm worth being in main draw and winning matches in main draw. That's the main thing. I'm really glad the way I handled the quallies, how strong I was on court. Yeah, I'm really happy the way I'm playing now. I'm really glad about my two matches already.

No, I don't feel any revenge to anyone.


Q. Are you looking forward to the clash in Fed Cup, which is next weekend, in Poland?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Are you Polish?

Q. Yes.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes, I am (laughter).

Q. That's why I was crying when you gave the prize money. That's how Polish people are.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Did you want me to give it to you?

Q. No. There's sensitive people in the world.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah.


Q. How do you rate your form at the moment? You went out early in Auckland, but you looked pretty good out there today. How are you feeling about yourself.

NA LI: Yeah, after bungy jump feeling much better, yeah. (Laughter.) Yeah.


Q. I noticed you did a bit of juggling on the court during the match. Have you ever considered and alternative career in soccer?

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: No, I don't do today my best today yet. I can do better (smiling.)

No, just distracts me and it's better for me. Leaves the tension away. Also I entertain people. It's also nice.

I'm just enjoying. You know, I'm just being myself, being creative, doing things I have to do, and enjoying it.


Q. How well do you think you're serving at the moment? Took you to deuce a couple of times.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, how terrible. (Smiling)

I mean, this is the highest level of the sport. That's gonna happen. But I played two matches and got broken twice, you know, once in each match. So reasonably happy with that.

Served better today than I did the first day. I'm sure I'll serve better in the next round than I did today.

[Photos: AP, Getty]

FASHION FIX: Serena steamrolls Zula, brings Nike sunburst to Oz

Serena Williams may have walked onto Rod Laver Arena seemingly wounded with heavy strapping on her right thigh but she sure didn't play that way. At all.

The 4-time defending champ crushed Urszula Radwanska 6-1, 6-2 in the Aussie Open first round with classic ReRe plays: big serves, crushing groundies and quick visits to the net. She hit 26 winners against 27 errors, 3 aces and made 16 of 19 net approaches. Next up: Czech Petra Kvitova.


The top seed broke out her new Nike dress for the year's first major: the Women's Sunburst Love Game Dress ($90) in sunburst + white made from Dri-FIT technology and featuring a built in shelf bra, a fully covered back and decorative seams.


It's refreshing (and a relief to some - HELLO Tin) to see a nice pop of yellow amidst the sea of blue on the courts and in the fashions this year. Other lady ballers working this hue for their Oz Open campaigns include older sis Venus Williams, former finalist Ana Ivanovic, NaturAna's first victim Shenay Perry and Francesca Schiavone.

[Photo(s): Getty, TennisWarehouse.com]

FASHION FIX: Jankovic downs Niculescu, debuts latest ANTA party piñata

Jelena Jankovic made a strong start to her campaign for a first Aussie Open crown and maiden major title.

The former No. 1 faced a tough opening set against Monica Niculescu but served the Romanian a bagel for brunch reaching the second round with a 6-4, 6-0 victory. She'll face Brit lady baller Katie O'Brien for a spot in the third round.

Well, what more can I say about JJ's piñata tendencies when it comes to her ANTA fashion? She debuted another gem in this series of party pieces, though this blue tank dress featuring front ribbing and a multi-colored triple-tiered skirt isn't SO frightening (if you need a reminder of 'frightening' click here - you've been warned.) It's too bad the designers couldn't find a way to make the unfortunate sweat marks a little less conspicuous as well.

BTW, if anyone's interested I think I found the designer's inspiration.

[Photo(s): Getty]

FASHION FIX: Dark+Dreamy vs. Nice Nole - which would you like?

Novak Djokovic debuted his gear from new sponsor Sergio Tacchini gear for the Oz Open (left, worn with the adidas CC Genius II White/Black) during his 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver. He'll face Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli for a spot in the third round.

I was pretty surprised to see the outfit the Italian brand chose for Nole. It's completely different from their traditionally classic stylings though the fit is still spot on and the design is typically minimal. Perhaps he'll be "Dark+Dreamy" Nole for the night matches only. We'll see.

For my tastes, the duds he wore at the Kooyong exo last week (right) were my fave. Preppy, for sure, but super cute.

I'm sure some of us will disagree on which Nole we like better here, but I bet we can all agree on which way we'd always like him.

Even better...

[Photo(s): AP, Getty]

MEDIA MASHUP: "My angel is the centerfold..."

"Give us 'sexy'. We need more 'sexy' for this shot."

Richard Gasquet struck a most provocative pose while choking on a 2 set-to-1 lead and two match points, falling 6-7(9) 4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 6-4 in an epic 4 hour 53 minute opening round match against a cramping Mikhail Youzhny. OUCH, that's gotta hurt and I'm not talking about his modeling moment.


Hey fangirls: Reeshard needs your help lifting his spirits after this most disappointing loss. So make him feel good, k?

Here we go. One...two...three...hit it!



[Photo(s): PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images]

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]