(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: Sveta *smile* spam

"OK, who cut it?"

Svetlana Kuznetsova was cuttin' it up big time during a presser in Belgrade for this weekend's FED CUP tie versus Serbia. Doesn't it kinda make you wish you were there? I'm cracking up just looking at her crack up.

Anyway, it's good to see Sveta so relaxed, and her laugh and smile are infectious even through these pics. Now if she could only be this relaxed on court...

"It was you."

"Y'all think it was me?"

"BUSTED - I cut it! BWAHAHAHA!!"

[Photo(s): Reuters]

UPDATE: After some JJ-style drama the Serb has decided to play this tie over the weekend. Thanks vw!

VIDEO VAULT: Serena hits the talk shows, Nole + NaturAna climb the Avala TV Tower

Serena Williams hopped onto the post-Aussie Open media tour making stops at Jimmy Kimmel to discuss the win, the fine and the Prince...




...and the Ellen Degeneres Show where she smashed plates. I'm more impressed with Ellen's power moves - nice.



Novak Djokovic + Ana Ivanovic visited the restored Avala TV Tower in Belgrade where they left behind hand prints. The pair also played an exo here 5 years ago won by NaturAna.

I have no idea what they're saying but these two are giving full-on hawtness.

(Edit: So reader Sara wondered whether NaturAna's man hands are bigger than Nole's. Any guesses? I know those bitches are bigger than my mitts but that's not saying much.)

PHOTO OP: Vika the tease

Victoria Azarenka tweeted this pic taken while shopping for mangoes in Oz.

I'd like to say I feel the same way about my mangoes but I'd be lying.

*blushes*

Clijsters gets "Barbied" with Jada, becomes first female athlete to receive likeness

Kim Clijsters has become the first female athlete to be immortalized by Barbie, the internationally recognized doll with the impossible proportions.

Her likeness was unveiled at the largest toy fair in Nuremburg, Germany along with a mini-Barbie of daughter Jada.

Kimmie expressed her excitement about the dolls saying,

"When I was a young girl I played with my Barbie dolls all the time and took them with me everywhere I went. I am therefore deeply honoured and humbled as I today join the ranks of iconic women who represent Barbie's aspirational values.

"My family means everything to me, so I was really excited when I found out that Jada would also receive her very own "Jada" Barbie doll. This is something that is very special to me and my family and we will cherish it for life."

She joins Oprah Winfrey, Sally Ride, Melinda Gates, Angela Merkel, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe as famous women who've been "Barbied."

Honestly, the only likeness of the U.S. Open champ I see is the blond hair and Fila duds. Nice stems though.

Jada actually looks more spot-on than Kimmie especially the bushy hair, round face and striped sweater. Cute.

[Via: KimClijsters.be]

(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: X marks Verdasco's spot for Calvin Klein

Here's a first look at Fernando Verdasco in Calvin Klein's ad campaign for his new X Underwear collection. He's joined in the spots by Twilight's Kellan Lutz, True Blood's Mechad Brooks and Japanese footballer Hidetoshi Nakata.

The campaign will feature behind-the-scenes videos and interviews with the boys, as well as innovative 3D-effect versions of the adverts.

Seriously, Nando's bulge in 3-D? Now there's a fun Friday night.

UPDATE: More 2-D chorizo...




[Photo(s): Calvin Klein, socialitelife.com]

VIDEO VAULT: Sharapova laces up in NIKE(RED) to fight HIV/AIDS

Maria Sharapova is co-starring in Nike's LACE UP, SAVE LIVES campaign which I mentioned on World AIDS Day last December.

She joins Didier Drogba, Andrei Arshavin, Clint Dempsey, Denilson, Marco Materazzi, Javier Mascherano, Fabio Cannavaro and Kobe Bryant in wearing NIKE(RED) laces in this video to help bring awareness to the epidemic and raise funds to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The sports giant is donating 100% of the profits from the sale of the NIKE(RED) laces to the Global Fund, which helps fund HIV/AIDS programs that support purchasing Antiretroviral medications and other necessities, and football-based programs that help fight AIDS in Africa.

Wanna do your part? Visit the website by clicking here to find out how.

[via WomensTennisBlog]

Djokovic as new World No.2 and other ranking moves

Not that this picture I chose has ANYTHING to do with rankings but it's Monday after a major final weekend so a pick-me-up was in order...

Novak Djokovic had another disappointing end at the Aussie Open falling to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals while feeling all kinds of bad. Last season, the sexy Serb (and defending champ) retired from his match at the same hurdle due to heat-related illness.

But he's feeling pretty good today after waking up as the new World No. 2, his highest career ranking, in the ATP World Tour rankings according to his website:

"I am happy to go one more step in my career and get even closer to one of my life time goals which is to become #1. This career high ranking is important for the moment since I had been close before. It was unfortunate for me this Australian Open, a tournament that really got me to one of my peaks so far, but that's how the competition is. I am now back at home and soon resuming practice so I can compete."

Other Top Ten movers this week include Andy Murray climbing back up to the third spot on the heels of his finals appearance in Oz; Rafael Nadal falling two spots to fourth after retiring in the quarters due to injury (his first time out of the Top 3 since June 2005); Jo-Wilfried Tsonga inching up one to grab the 9th spot; and Marin Cilic making his debut in the Top Ten based on his first appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal.

Fernando Verdasco took a big hit falling out of the Top Ten to No. 12 after getting knocked out of the Aussie Open in the fourth round. Last year the Spanish chorizo made a surprise run to the semifinals losing to Rafa in an epic 5-set marathon.

1 Federer, Roger (SUI) 11,350
2 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 8,310
3 Murray, Andy (GBR) 7,800
4 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 7,670
5 Del Potro, Juan Martin (ARG) 6,400
6 Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS) 5,290
7 Roddick, Andy (USA) 4,150
8 Soderling, Robin (SWE) 3,375
9 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA) 3,235
10 Cilic, Marin (CRO) 2,970


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

QUOTE OF THE DAY: FEDERER

...when I came on tour, matches were played very differently. It was more of a bluff game, guys serving well, but there was always a weakness you could go to. Today that doesn't exist anymore. I think that's also thanks to guys like Murray. They've made me a better player, because I think this has been one of my finest performances, you know, in a long time, or maybe forever.

- Roger Federer after defeating Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11) to win his fourth Aussie Open crown and 16th major title.

The Swiss won the battle of court positioning in this match by stepping inside the court to attack any balls left hanging by Muzz. You knew the Brit baller was in trouble when Fed managed to stay steady and patient in the cross-court backhand rallies before finding his favored forehand drive.

This loss will be a tough one for Muzz after having chances in the first and letting go of leads in the third set and in the final tiebreak. Let's hope the next time he comes onto the court ready to play a Grand Slam final he'll be more relaxed and find a more effective balance between steady groundstroking and calculated shot-making. He didn't take his opportunities to be more aggressive and paid the price.

[Photo(s): Getty]