SIGHTING: JT + Chace check out Wimby action

Pop singer Justin Timberlake and Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford were both spotted at The All England Club today taking in some Grand Slam tennis.

I'm thinking JT came to check out Andy Roddick's dance moves though there's someone else on the lookout for the former N'Syncer:


(images via getty)

JJ shocked by Melanie, complains of "woman problems" in loss

Is there actually an American non-Williams lady baller still in the draw? Pinch me...I must be dreaming.

Melanie Oudin, a qualifier playing her first Wimbledon, pulled a huge upset today in the third round knocking out former top lady baller and sixth seed Jelena Jankovic 6-7 (10), 7-5, 6-2 who called the trainer out a couple of times mid-match after struggling with a myriad of issues including supposed "woman problems" according to a Wimby tweet:


Does she mean her makeup got runny?


Anyway, GREAT win for the American teen who at only 17-years old showed a lot of courage and fight to close out the win against a struggling and experienced opponent. She'll face either Na Li or Agnieszka Radwanska for a spot in the quarterfinals.

As for JJ, I hope everything is fine with her health because her game is teetering. She's at a definitive crossroads and with her confidence shaken she could take a major tumble. The move to the hardcourts could turn things around - and she'll need it since she has a runner-up appearance at Flushing Meadow to defend.

Tough times indeed.

(image via getty)

PHOTO OP: Reveling in Ross, loses out in both men's + mixed doubles

Well, well look who we have here: it's Ross Hutchins!

Ah, how nice to see the Brit baller doing what he does best - doubles. It'd be nice to see him shirtless on a beach in Miami again but the green grass of Wimbledon will have to do.



Oh yeah, Rossy was paired up with compatriot Anne Keothavong and they lost their first round match to the duo of Bruno Soares and Alisa Kleybanova. Unfortunately, he also lost in the first round of men's doubles with partner Stephen Huss so we won't be seeing anymore of him this fortnight. Double drats.

I'm thinking someone needs to pick better doubles partners in the future. Or is HE the weakest link?


(images via getty)

(UPDATED) Serena remembers Michael Jackson, "Words can't express my shock..." says Williams

After her third round 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Italian Roberta Vinci at Wimbledon today Serena Williams was asked about the sudden death of Michael Jackson, someone she had met numerous times and knew:

Q. What did Michael Jackson mean to you personally? Would you think about dedicating today's victory perhaps?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I mean, he was a great guy, a complete icon. Words can't express my shock and horror, you know, just thoughts and prayers that go out to him and his family and just everything. It's just terrible, terrible, terrible thing.

Q. Did you listen to his music much? Were you a fan?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think Michael Jackson, everyone listens to his music. It's like you think of the Beatles, you think of Elvis Presley, you think of Michael Jackson, those are just lifetime icons that I've never forgotten. The things that he did was beyond iconic.

Q. Did you know Michael Jackson at all? Ever meet him?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I've met him a few times. I was honored to meet him. You know, everything. He had such a great heart and wonderful kids. You know, it's just really a shame.

Q. It happened quite late last night. Did you get the news last night or was it this morning?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I mean, I'm always online. I'm always looking at the latest news up until I fall asleep, so I saw it fairly early.

Q. Michael Jackson obviously is one of the greatest celebrities in the world culture. Can you talk about the whole phenomena of celebrity, living your life as a celebrity? Is it all upside and glamour? Are there downsides? How do you deal with that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think he was an ultimate celebrity. I think any celebrity who met Michael Jackson was completely awe. I know I was. I kept thinking, Oh, my God, oh, my God. It's him, it's him. So for me he was the celebrity of all celebrities. To be in that position, I can't imagine. Since he was a child, he has always been Michael Jackson. He's always been famous and he's always been, you know, a celebrity. And he's never really had a different life.

Q. Are there parallels between that and you and your sister at all, in the fact that you started so young?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, uhm, I wouldn't even mention my name and his in the same sentence at all.

Q. Are you a little bit in shock of the news?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, like I said, I'm always online. I've been following him. He's really not been well from what I read. He's been in and out of the hospital. So I wasn't super shocked. But, I mean, it's Michael Jackson. He's just the greatest entertainer for me of all time.

Q. What do you think the one quality he had that just projected him to this great stardom?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Innovation. He did things that no one else did. Like Thriller is the best video ever made still to this day. The videos that he did for his songs, no one had ever even went that far. And he started a whole new trend with that. Dances, singing, beats, you know, everything.

Q. Can you moonwalk?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, not at all.

Q. When you were talking about Michael Jackson, his iconic status, is that a status within the black community, or is that beyond that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, I mean, Michael Jackson goes way beyond the black community. I mean, everyone of every color, every nation, every race, you know, is Michael Jackson fans. The guy literally couldn't walk the streets. Even though I met him, knew him, if I would have saw him on the streets, I still would have been like, AHHH. He is just iconic on all levels.

Q. Have you got one favorite song?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I do. I don't remember the name of it, though. It's a slower one. It's a slower one. It's a duet with someone. I don't remember.

Whatever you thought about his personal life and controversies, one thing is for sure: he was a musical pioneer, and his songs and performances had an indelible impact on pop culture and people's lives, including my own.

RIP MJ.

UPDATE: Roger Federer was also asked about his thoughts on the passing of MJ:

Q. Where were you and what were your immediate thoughts when you heard the news that Michael Jackson had died?

ROGER FEDERER: I was at the house late last night. Obviously, you know, I love his music. It wasn't clear, you know, what had happened, you know. So I waited for sort of to see what's gonna happen and the confirmation.

Sure, a very sad moment I think in the music world. You know, he touched many people. Same for me. But I'll obviously still listen to his music for many more years to come.

Q. What do you consider the aspect that you appreciate the most of his performances?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I remember, I don't know, back maybe in '88 or '89, he came to Basel. I was outside of the stadium, because there was such excitement that he would come. I was still very young. I think I went there with my sister, and we just listened from the outside, you know.

Yeah, always listened to his music. And, yeah, it's sad. You know, it really is.

(image via getty)

Broddick's public war of words, A-Rod hearts Astley

Me thinks Broddick needs their own Twitter reality show.

The couple have been having a public "war of words" about a few of their musical guilty pleasures after A-Rod outed Brooklyn's penchant for bubble gum pop:


She, of course, retaliated by defending her questionable tastes while exposing A-Rod's love of a certain 80's crooner and some boy band dance moves:


When asked about the war of words with his wife in his post-match presser, A-Rod responded by saying,

What do you want me to say? I said I wasn't proud, but I'm not going to lie to anybody. I busted my wife on some of her ... music. She brought up Rick Astley. I can't deny it. It's in my iPod. I bet it's in your iPod, too, so shut up.

*throws iPod in garbage*

I have NOTHING like that on my iPod. Pinky swear.

On a side note, I'd die to see A-Rod pull a Justin Timberlake. But does JT pull at his junk too?

(image via aceshowbiz.com)

Hayden hits Parisian red clay for Lacoste ad campaign

Star Wars actor and tennis freak Hayden Christiansen is starring in the new ad campaign for Lacoste's latest men's fragrance Lacoste Challenge which was shot at the Tennis Club de Paris near Roland Garros. Hayden was joined on-court by tennis legend Mats Wilander for the shoot.


The fragrance's bottle features a tennis racquet design while the cologne is colored yellow to represent a tennis ball.

Images of the bottle and another from the ad campaign below!



(image via Lacoste, kennethinthe212)

PHOTO OP: She looks like an ass and doesn't care who knows it

This hat accessory on a fan at Wimbledon has to be the absolute worst fucking thing I've EVER seen.

Wait, scratch that. I guess it could work if she sat directly in front of me and I could place my beer on her. Or three.

Good lookin' out then!

(image via getty)

VIDEO VAULT: Vika, Chaky, Alona, and Domi flash flesh for FHM

Victoria Azarenka, Anna Chakvetadze, Alona Bondarenko, and Dominika Cibulkova will be appearing in the August issue of lad rag FHM and here's some behind-the-scenes footage of the shoots.

Nice spreads ladies. But questions: what's up with Chaky's bangs? You could sweep a floor with them. And obvs, this is a boy's mag and all but don't Vika + Chaky look like they're about to swap spit?



(via HCFoo)

PHOTO OP: Delpo surfs the net

Juan Martin del Potro was given a lesson on grass-court tennis at Wimbledon today.

The towering Argentine was upset by 2002 champ Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in the tourney's second round. The Aussie had the steadier game overall hitting 43 winners to only 14 errors, 14 aces, 23 of 28 net approaches, and converting 4 of 9 break chances. He'll next face Germany's Philipp Petzschner for a spot in the Round of 16.

Delpo can be a threat on the grass eventually but he'll need to learn how to use his weapons more often and more strategically, especially his incredibly wide wing span at the net. He has the groundies to get him there so it's just a matter of time.

Oh, and that forehand? Step into it more, not back!

(image via getty)

Serena still threatening the world with her dramedy

Not only is Serena Williams still discussing "Foodgate" in her post-match presser but it seems she's still working on that TV dramedy she threatened us with back at the Oz Open.

The 10-time Grand Slammer, who crushed Aussie Jarmila Groth 6-2, 6-1 in 58 minutes, even gives us an idea of the forthcoming show's subject matter:

Q. I've read that Venus has given you a book on script writing. Will you be at the Emmys or Oscars next year?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm writing my script. You'll be excited to know I wrote three parts already. I call it 'my treatment,' so I'm working on my treatment now.

I was going to do it yesterday, but I started watching Dexter and I got a little sidetracked. You know what, today's a good day. I can write. I was really in the mood yesterday. For me it's really about being in the mood and how I'm feeling.

Q. What's the subject? Is it for TV or a movie?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's definitely for TV. I don't know how good I would be at writing a movie. But I just love to write. Hopefully it will be good.

Q. If you were writing a movie on Serena Williams, what would be the opening scene of that movie?

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, there are definitely so many options. I don't know. You know, I think I would open a scene, you know, holding a championship, and then I would rewind time. I think those stories are told well.

Q. What is the subject matter of the TV script that you're writing?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, it's a mixture between some of my favorite shows, like Desperate Housewives, and Sex and the City, and actually Family Guy. It's kind of those put together in one, if you can imagine.

Uh no, I absolutely can't imagine that ReRe. In fact it sounds disturbing. Very disturbing.

(image via getty)

(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: But are my goods okay?

Michael Llodra was forced to retire from his second round match against Tommy Haas down 3-4 with an abdominal injury.

The Frenchie baller was running for a short shot at 3-all and collided into the umpire stand, a trash bin, and an innocent bystanding ball girl. It seemed all was okay afterwards although by the looks of Michael's face above he may have some personal issues to attend to tonight.

More images from the incident in question below.







UPDATE: Some images and video of Tommy Haas who gets big kudos for hitting with a truly lucky ballgirl after Michael's retirement to the crowd's amusement and appreciation. Hitting with Hot Haas at Wimbledon??? Getting him shirtless would've been PERFECTION but I'd still hit it. I mean, hit with him. Duh.

(And, you're welcome natch + maja!)

(image via ap, getty)

Shrieka booted from Wimbledon second round, serve and nerve still shaky

Maria Sharapova’s road to recovery hit a major speed bump as she was knocked out of Wimbledon’s second round today.

The 24th seeded Russian glamazon, who lost out in the same round last year, was defeated by Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 and was the victim of 9 double faults, 27 errors, and a determined opponent. Shrieka had her chances but was only able to convert on 4 of 11 break chances. In any case, a great win for Gisela who will now face Nadia Petrova for a spot in the Round of 16.


Even though she’s only two months into her return after a 10-month shoulder injury absence, this loss will be a tough pill to swallow for the 2004 champion who considers grass her best surface. In fact, she performed better at Roland Garros making the quarterfinals on her least favorite surface. But she's still lacking match toughness and still seems to be getting comfortable with her shortened service motion, as evidenced by her DF count and low MPH on the delivery.

Shrieka revealed she still thinks about the injury during practices and matches in her post-match presser:

It's tough to put it out of your mind completely. I sometimes do, you know, find myself in the middle of the match, even sometimes in practice, just, you know, just before a return or before a serve thinking, Wow, it's amazing what I've been through. Here I am playing a match. I sometime have to knock it out of myself a little bit.

But that will go away in a while. I think there was such a big change in my life, such a big layoff, that it's hard.

Clearly, it'll take some time but she'll need to get her serve in gear. I mean, let’s face it: an ill-serving Shrieka is no Shrieka at all.

(images via getty)

FASHION FIX: A closer look at NaturAna's adidas style - with Booty Bonus!

Alright already. If you guessed the hidden headcase as Ana Ivanovic you're correct! And you get to keep your tennis fan card. For now.

The former top lady baller did struggle mightily with all the usual issues in this match - wayward ball toss, unforced errors, fist pump fatigue (well, that would be for us watching this mess) - but she looked great doing it.

NaturAna was working the adidas Adilibria Ivanovic Wimbledon dress I previewed last week. It has beautifully tiered gauzy layers that billow when she moves - similar in concept to Shrieka's Roland Garros dress but supremely executed in this case. Plus it has a great fit and the proportions look spot on.

Best ladies' dress.

BOOTY BONUS: For all you AnaFans out there, this one's for you...


(images via getty)

PHOTO OP: Guess the head(case)!

This headcase narrowly escaped another embarrassing defeat at a Grand Slam but a netcord came to her rescue - AGAIN.

She won 5-7, 6-2, 8-6 and will play Italian Sara Errani in the next round. Who is she?

PS - If you fail here your tennis fan card will need to be returned. Stat.

(image via getty)

FASHION FIX: Andy begins Wimby campaign in high style

Andy Murray made his first foray onto the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon's Centre Court as he begins his campaign for a first Grand Slam title.

The Brit baller struggled early on against Robert Kendrick and dropped the second set in a tiebreaker. However, he closed the last two sets out more easily completing a 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 win over the American. Stats: 58% first serve, 20 aces, 52 winners against 19 errors, and 19 of 22 net approaches.

Andy also debuted the Fred Perry outfit he revealed last week in London. However, instead of the cream tennis sweater the third seed was donning a crisp looking cream warm up jacket:


I thought the only bonus we'd get from this great FP gear would be a little more leg with the shorter shorts (and we still do - thankfully) but I was wrong. I HEART this jacket in a major way.

*dies*

IMO, best boy's outfit this year. Period.

PS - I vote for "Murray's Mound" instead of "Mt. Murray". Anyone wanna join me?!

(images: getty)

Nike Tennis launches new Fed-centric site, fangirls (and boys) rejoice

Nike LOVES them some Roger Federer, though you wouldn't know it by the way they dressed him at Wimbledon this year. Anyway...

On June 24 the brand is launching a special Nike Tennis website to commemorate the Swiss' 14 major titles and his attempt at a record-breaking 15th at The All England Club over the coming fortnight. The site includes interactive, historical information on each of his 14 wins.

Fans, especially those infamous Fed fangirls/boys out there, can also leave him personal messages through the site, via Twitter by including #goroger in the tweet, or through Facebook Connect.

More screen captures below. Visit the site at http://niketennis.com/rf.



(images via nike tennis)

THE LOW DOWN: A new coach for JJ at Wimbledon?

Remember when Jelena Jankovic was asked about a possible coaching switch after her lost to Sorana Cirstea at Roland Garros?

Well, it seems she may have dumped Ricardo Sanchez. The boys on ESPN - Chris Fowler + Darren Cahill - mentioned she arrived to The All England Club with Chip Hooper, an apparently well-known coach from back in the day who teaches unorthodox methods including something called "karate tennis". WTF?!

It seems strange but somehow very fitting for JJ.

Anyone have any more info?

(image via getty)

FASHION FIX: Shrieka defeats Viktoriya, goes ultra minimal in Nike

She's all business this year.

Maria Sharapova dropped her shorty-shorts and other fashion foibles from last year's disastrous Wimbledon and has gone decidedly demure in her attempt at a second title at The All England Club.

The 2004 champ went down in more ways than one - two double breaks in the first set and two awkward slips on the slick stuff - to Viktoriya Kutuzova but managed to eek out a 7-5, 6-4 win. She'll next face Gisela Dulko for a spot in the third round.


So there's not much to say about the white Nike tank dress Shrieka's working her besides the subtle gold trimming that zig-zags around the dress - pretty. However the "warm up jacket", like Fed's, looks military inspired though she looks more like a drum majorette - not pretty.

I have to say I'm really liking her Nike satchel actually. It has an interesting graphic and adds some punch to an otherwise "meh" outfit.


I can't believe I'm saying it but I want those shorty-shorts back...and not for me, silly.

(images via getty)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Britters

'Cause I haven't read one article where people say, She beat No. 15 in the world at Roland Garros on her way to the third round. Nobody realizes that, because the only thing they're really focusing on is my grunting.

So it's been a bit unfair.

- Michelle Larcher de Brito at her post-match presser after defeating Klara Zakopalova in the first round

Uh, check it Britters. Now, what were you saying again?

(image via getty)

PHOTO OP: Farewell faux-hawk!

You always hope someone FINALLY gets some sense but you never really know.

Fernando Verdasco did himself and the world a HUGE favor by retiring his fave faux-hawk. The Spanish baller showcased this softer side (and some thick + wavy locks) during his dismantling of homeboy James Ward 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round Wimbledon.

It feels like the first time all over again, Nando.

(image via ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

FASHION FIX: Fed feeling good, goes tailored military in opening match

Roger Federer made his Wimbledon Centre Court debut today in his usual flair (couldn't Nike get him a better bag this year?) for his match against Chinese Taipei's Yen-Hsun Lu and his quest for a sixth Championship and record-breaking 15th major.

The 5-time champ was in solid form today disposing of his foe 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 while hitting 10 aces, 42 winners against only 10 errors, making 19 of 23 net approaches, and connecting on 71% of his first serve deliveries. Nice moves. He'll face Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the next round.

Fed also debuted the Nike gear I previewed last week but it's what was covering those duds that made the story. He came out working a military style jacket featuring patch pockets on the front and white warm up pants while underneath he wore a sneaky white vest with gold piping:


Good thing for the RF's every-friggin-where or he might have been mistaken for staff at The All England Club. Phew.

All in all, it's very "Fed at Wimbledon" though the military themed jacket paired with a tailored vest is a strange combo.

Here's a closer look at the Nike Zoom Vapor VI Tour Men's Tennis Shoe featuring the "5" for his five Wimbledon titles.

Hmmm - it seems Jude Law likes what he sees...

(images: getty)