PHOTO OP: Stonefaced Murray

"Ummm...thanks?"

The art of the non-reaction. Good idea, Muzz.

So let's just say, hypothetically speaking, Andy Murray continues this tremendous run-of-form, wins either Shanghai or Paris, the season-ending Masters Cup in London and his first Slam in Oz. I think we'll look back at his demolition of Rafael Nadal in the last two sets of the Tokyo final as the big turning point. To be more specific, we can pinpoint the three consecutive bombs he threw down to save break points in the second set after earning the break over Rafa as the moment Muzz's balls finally dropped.

From that point on, he never looked back. He also never looked like the Muzz we've come to know. The one who, when things get tight, he gets defensive and even a bit edgy. This Muzz took it to the Spaniard and looked like he meant it. Not hypothetically, of course, but FOR REALS.

[Photo(s) credit: Getty Images]

PHOTO OP: Zvonareva drops trou (and then some)

Following Serena Williams's + Esther Vergeer's naked footsteps, most of Vera Zvonareva is appearing in the latest installment of ESPN the Magazine "The Body Issue". I'm a little surprised to see her flashing her half moon since, to me, she's the intellectual one of the bunch. But there's more than meets the eye (especially here) with Bepa. Just look at her game. How else do you explain reaching two major finals and the second spot in the world rankings with a game, while solid, isn't brutally powerful, sexy or flashy?

Well, I guess a girl needs to get it out somehow. Cheek-y.

[Photo(s) credit: ESPN magazine]

FASHION FIX: Nike puts Nadal in bold berry

I haven't really liked much of what Nike has given Rafael Nadal this season. It's not that any of it was full-on fug or anything. The duds just didn't make an impression. This week in Tokyo, the Spaniard broke out the Men's Winter Rafa Ace Masters Crew ($65) in bold berry that features a funky graphic on the bottom front and back. While it's still pretty basic I'm LOVING this color - it's deep, rich and looks really good against his skin tone. Plus, it feels fresh next to all the red that's been littering the ATP World Tour - major points.

[Photo(s) credit: Getty Images]

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Li Na

I have just lost all confidence. On the court, I don't know what I can do. It was tough even winning one point. 

- Li Na after losing in the first round of Beijing to Monica Niculescu 6-4, 6-0

 I wonder what it must be like to be riding the ultimate high of winning your first major and making history for your country and then hitting the skids and taking a nosedive all in a span of months. The shock of winning a Slam just evolves into another kind of shock, one that has to do with having no control over your game. How could that winning game just suddenly disappear?

Because it's an individual sport a baller's success is always teetering on the edge. A career-making win can free up someone so much their game hits extraordinary heights while for others it can have the opposite effect. As we've seen, the former is probably more the exception while the latter is more the rule. Pressure comes in many forms as do ballers' personalities, and when the two collide it can be inspiring to watch or down right awkward.

A hit to the confidence can snowball, build up speed and knock them back down especially for a new major winner. Every experience becomes a new one because you're now a Grand Slam champion. There's a reason why it takes most multiple Slam winners a while, sometimes years, to snatch that second title. Talk about a blessing and a curse, though it's a curse most ballers wouldn't mind having.

[Photo(s) credit: Feng Li/Getty Images]

Winning a title feels pretty good to Tipsarevic

He really does have his big boy panties on now.

Janko Tipsarevic finally found out what it was like to be the last one doing whatever he's doing in that pic after winning his very first ATP World Tour title. After a slow start he defeated Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 7-5 in the final of the Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur.

Here's what Tipsy said after the win:

"It feels great. I think I deserved it. I’m so happy that it came in a good place, at a tournament that is really, really nice, and against a good player. Marcos Baghdatis has played in 11 finals and was a former Top 10 player, a Grand Slam finalist. So I feel happy that I won against a great player in a final that I hope kept the fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. I could not be happier."

So about this winning titles is "overrated" thing, Tipsy. Good to see you haven't changed your mind or anything.

PHOTO OP: Wozzilreally?

Check out what Rory McIlroy gifted girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki. She tweeted the pic saying, "Here is my new club @McilroyRory made for me." Wozzilroy???

Everyone keeps comparing it to "Brangelina" and "Bennifer" which makes sense because it's a mashup of their names. Duh. Here's the big difference: I don't remember either of those couples actually coming up with the mashup themselves and celebrating it by putting it on shit. They own that Velveeta.

I suppose it's better than those "I'm with him--->/<---I'm with her" t-shirts. Uh-oh. I better not give them any ideas.

[Photo(s) credit: Caroline Wozniacki's tweet]

PHOTO OP: Tipsarevic takes it off for Extreme Intimo

Can you believe Janko Tipsarevic of all ballers is following in Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco's foot steps and stripping down to his skivvies for Extreme Intimo? Let me be the first to say HE'S COME A LONG WAY.

More images from the ad campaign and behind-the-scenes video after the jump - click the header.

SIGHTING: Andy Murray + Kim Sears at Burberry

Andy Murray and the WAGilicious Kim Sears were spotted at the Burberry Spring/Summer 2012 Womenswear Show at Kensington Gardens today in London. As he did last year, Muzz took his spot in the front row with Kim next to famed photog Mario Testino, who shot the Brit baller for Vogue, and model-actress Rosie Huntington Whiteley.

Muzz also made another bit of news today when he told the BBC that the ATPers were ready to do what was necessary to get the schedule changed, including the possibility of some sort of strike. Right now, it would take years to get anything done according to Muzz, but the current ballers want something done sooner rather than later. They plan to meet up in Shanghai next month to discuss their options, including a strike. Via BBC:

"It's a possibility. I know from speaking to some players they're not afraid of doing that [striking].

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that but I'm sure the players will consider it."

Asked whether the subject of a strike or boycott will be mentioned during the meeting in China, he continued: "Yes I think so.

"If we come up with a list of things we want changed - and everyone is in agreement but they don't happen - then we need to have some say in what goes on in our sport. At the moment we don't.

"We'll sit down, talk about it with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and International Tennis Federation (ITF), see if they will come to a compromise and, if not, we'll go from there.

"We just want things to change, really small things. Two or three weeks during the year, a few less tournaments each year, which I don't think is unreasonable."

Tennis is made up of so many disparate parts with competing agendas and bottom lines that need to be fed. I think having the ballers convene and come up with their demands is one way to get the officials to listen. As much as I wouldn't want to see a strike it's a pretty remarkable to think they would actually band together push back that way. We'll see if they do.

[Photo(s) credit: Getty Images]

PHOTO OP: Spanish boys in their own words (not really)

Rafa: "It is true. I was not with colm in the final. But I will fight for the win next time and the next time and the next time...and the next time. It's a beautiful challenge."

Fer: "Uh, yeah. Sure."

Ferru: "My shorts are short. Heh."

 Feli: "Judy. Ju. Dy. Señora Lopez. Ooooh yeah."

[Photo(s) credit: AFP PHOTO / CRISTINA QUICLER]

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Serena Williams

My emotions did get the best of me this past weekend when I disagreed with the umpire. It has been a long road to get back to the US Open this year, and I am thankful to have had such a great two weeks in New York. 

- Serena Williams' tweet about her tirade in the US Open final

It's sort of like an apology, right? RIGHT? Whatever. I'd prefer to talk about Bootyrena anyway. She's more entertaining. I mean, all she wants is a pole to ride. Er, that came out wrong.

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