SEPARATED AT BIRTH: Dani vs. Kristy Lee Cook

Tennis twosome: Slender Slovak Daniela Hantuchova is a dead ringer for current American Idol wannabe Kristy Lee Cook. Separated at birth?

(images via ricky.org + tenisportal.org)

SIGHTING: First image of Clijsters + baby Jada leaving hospital

Family fulfilled: Currently retired tennis baller Kim Clijsters is pictured here leaving Vesalius hospital in Tongeren, Belgium on Thursday carrying newborn daughter Jada with husband Brian Lynch not far behind. The former No. 1 gave birth to her first child on Wednesday, nine months after retiring from the sport.

(image via MICHEL KRAKOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Alona Bondarenko keeps it pure with K-Swiss, or so they think

Alona as Anna: K-Swiss is getting their sex on, and it's not with Anna Kournikova. Recent hairy situation perpetrator Alona Bondarenko joins Anna, Tommy Haas, and Mardy Fish in the brand's tennis stable and is featured in a new ad for the sports label with the tag line "KEEP IT PURE".

Do they mean a purely obvious attempt at irony?

(via adpulp.com)

FASHION FIX: Ivanovic wins with coral-pink adidas dress but loses in Dubai

Change up: Ana Ivanovic, playing at the Dubai Duty Free Open this week, changed up her adidas Winter Edge Dress by switching out the turquoise colorway for a coral-pink jewel tone. Though I still think the turquoise complements the Serbian's dark features and olive skin better than the coral-pink, it's a good move especially if she's going to wear the same style dress.

Unfortunately, the new tennis gear didn't help her game today as the World No. 2 was taken down by a resurgent Elena Dementieva 7-5, 3-6, 3-6. Could the ankle injury she suffered in Doha still be effecting her game?

(images via HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images)

FASHION FIX: Pennetta goes periwinkle in Acapulco, Tacchini teases with style

Pennetta pulls it off: I've never thought of Flavia Pennetta as a tennis fashionista, but she's beginning to make a believer out of me this week. The Italian is the top seed at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico and reached the quarterfinals yesterday with a 6-2, 6-3 win over German Julia Schruff.

These tennis duds by Flavia's sponsor Sergio Tacchini, who also gave yellow fever to Russian Vera Dushevina in Dubai, are impressive for their color, subtle design elements and sexiness. High marks go to the fitted periwinkle blue polo-style sleeveless shirt with white piping around the collar. The shirt also hints at a wrap-style design, which continues with the white wrap-skirt, revealing just enough leg at the slit. Love it.

Who knew Flavia could be such a tease?

(images via ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)

Quote of the Day: Sharapova on sexy golfer Adam Scott

"Night match please?"

- Maria "Shriek"apova on when she'd prefer to take on golf uber-hottie Adam Scott

(images via turnersurveys.com + golf.com)

Does the dominant hand know what the non-dom hand's doing?

For all recreational tennis ballers: Have you ever wondered, like me, what your non-dominant hand is doing when you're hitting your forehand (okay, I'm neurotic)? At all levels most players' non-dom hands are usually doing some variety of the action above and saying, "What the *uck is going on with my forehand now?!"

But not Sania Mirza. Her forehand is bad-ass, and her non-dom hand let's you know it:


(image via getty)

A hairy situation solved! Murray goes under the scissors for cleaned-up style

Situation solved: One of the ATP's hairiest situations has been solved! Andy Murray, who shamelessly sported pop-up hair around the globe, went under the scissors and took control of the situation. The British baller even documented the transformation:

Now here's the new-and-improved Andy:

Voila! A clean, simple, low-maintenance style - love it. Once it grows out a bit it'll be just right.

Let's hope the other perpetrators are taking note (are you listening brother Jamie?)

(images via andymurray.com)

PHOTO OP: Jankovic + falconer friend hit up Dubai player party

Not so odd pairing: Serbian baller Jelena Jankovic was spotted at the Dubai Duty Free Open player party this week accompanied by falconer friend. The World No. 4 struggled against a game Sania Mirza but reached the quarterfinals of the tourney with 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over her Indian opponent.

Question: Why does this whole image seem so "Jelena" to me?

(image via Getty)

FASHION FIX: Yellow fever hits Dubai, could spring be next?

With the winter doldrums hitting hard here in NYC, it's been refreshing to see the burst of yellow fever happening at this week's Dubai Duty Free Women's Open. Russians Vera Dushevina in Sergio Tacchini and Maria "Shriek"apova (who pulled out with viral infection) and Japan's Akiko Morigami in Fila were all spotted working this spring hue.

I say "bring it" and not just because it's one of my fave colors (see blog header). Will winter never end?

(images via getty)

THE LOW DOWN: Fatalistic A-Rod accepts Memphis wildcard, preparing for Dubai challenge?

Change isn't the only constant: In yesterday's + NETCORDS I mentioned Matt Cronin's article for FOXSports.com in which he wonders aloud whether Andy Roddick's missing mojo will be helped by his "maturity" (read: old age + experience) and will benefit the former US Open champion in the latter half of his underwhelming career (and I reiterated an overwhelming "No" to his query.)

In the piece, Cronin highlights a hopeful sign in the 25-year old's '08 schedule and remarks,

Roddick has made one significant change to his winter and spring schedule this year. He decided to skip next week's tournament in Memphis so he can get on the plane and go to Dubai, where he will face off against the world's best in Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, instead of trying to beat up on his U.S. buddies in Tennessee once again, which he doesn't think has a lot of value anymore.

A-Rod is even quoted as saying,

If I'm going to get a crack at those guys, sometimes that means you have to chase them around, and if that means going to Dubai, that means going to Dubai, [...] The field is just so strong there and I feel like you have to go after it sometimes, and that's what I feel I have to do.

If he was being sincere with his feelings, why did he just take a wildcard into Memphis this week? Is it because he gets a top seed confidence boost at the tourney with the next highest seed being a recovering, World No. 26 Tommy Haas (James Blake was the No. 2 seed but pulled out with an injury)??

Sorry, but deciding to enter a draw that he "doesn't think has a lot of value anymore" and not taking time to prepare won't help his long-term prospects - which are getting shorter by the day.

(image via espn.com)

+ MONDAY NETCORDS: Serena, the Grafassi's, see Maria ride it...Matt vs. A-Rod, Wii goes Oscar and more

- For the (straight) boys: Career-killer Maria "Shriek"apova not only won the Qatar Open this weekend, continuing her undefeated play this year. The Russian also picked up a slick motorcycle for coming out on top. Insert fantasy caption below:

"Maria "Shriek"apova on a motorcycle makes me _________ ."

- ReRe on the run: Would you like to take Serena Williams with you on your next run? Well now you can with her two new Nike Sport Music Workouts - Interval Run and Spontaneous Speed - which mix some of ReRe's fave tunes, including tracks by Fergie, Timbaland, and Mary J. Blige, with coaching tips from the former No. 1.

- Tennis made its debut at the Oscars last night - well, Wii Tennis that is. Missed it? Check it out:



- Tantric tennis: Two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter is feeling all zen these days. The Catholic-raised and former born-again Christian has retired his crucifix for some mala beads. In fact, one of the reasons the Hall of Famer gave up his tennis career was his spirtuality. "I was looking at the big scheme of things. Why are we here? Tennis didn't really fit in that well," he said.

- Matt Cronin for FOXSports.com asks, "Will Roddick's maturity mean better results?" Hmmm. Is that Cronin's nice way of asking, "Will Roddick start winning real titles now that he's old but experienced? No - just keeping it simple.

- Sour deal: The Tamarack Resort in Idaho where the Grafassi's, Andre + Steffi, had invested $600 million to develop a Fairmont hotel has filed for Chapter 11. How do you play that one?

Sharapova ruining careers, nine-year old banned for excessive shrieking

Bemoaning a ban: Maria "Shriek"apova is ruining young tennis careers before they even begin. Lauryn Edwards, a 9-year old baller from Australia who admires the Russian star, has been banned from her local tennis club for over-grunting. The Mt. Carmel Tennis Club in Sunbury received a complaint about her shrieking from an opposing player and told Lauryn's parents that she would no longer be allowed to play if the noise continued. In response to the ban, her father Duncan said,

They told me to guarantee she won't grunt or she can't play. How can I guarantee that? She's been doing it since she was really little. She's her own person. What do they want me to do? Put Band-Aids over her mouth? They made her cry on the court when they told her.

Nice - making a 9-year old cry. That'll teach her not to enjoy her tennis anymore!

(image via news.com.au)

A newfound hairy situation grows, facial fuzz takes over the ATP Tour

Feeling the fuzz: So, I touched on (or is it up?) Fabio Fognini's "Best 'Brows" moment last week and now I've stumbled upon a new kind of hairy situation on the ATP Tour - facial hair. Maybe I'm noticing the trend because I grew out my own facial fuzz recently, but there seems to be an affinity towards furry faces on our tennis ballers - goatees, beards, and everything in between.

The perpetrators include, beginning at left, previous hairy situation offender Jose Acasuso (still working the mullet) Dmitry Tursunov and Rotterdam titlist Michael Llodra.

Dmitry pulls off the sexy + masculine facial fuzz the best while Michael goes the clean-cut route. But, don't ask what's going on with Jose's - at least he's consistently bad, though.

(images via AP + Getty)

INSTANT REPLAY: a look back at the week's top tennis plays

COURTSIDE

Maria arrives in style
Shoot-out at the oh-Kei corral
Tennis' top ballers win Laureus awards
Qatar stays cold despite controversy
Fed gives good quote
TENNIS mag's fashion faux pas
Lleyton loves to hate
Nadal's Nike blues
DtL's shameless self-promotional moment
The best 'brows by far
Nole in the news
The second coming? I think not.
Curtain call for Amelie


+ NETCORDS

TUESDAY: Monica dances, Boris vs. Andy...Pete embarrasses Tommy, Ballers Gone Wild!, baby Mia and more