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]

HE SAID/SHE SAID: Wimbledon Day 5

Q. Do you realize your nickname here is actually Deliciano. What do you say to that nickname?

FELICIANO LOPEZ: It's coming from Andy's mother. She's so funny. It's just something that everybody knows now because somebody post it on Twitter.

Q. Do you like that nickname?

FELICIANO LOPEZ: I have to like it. It's kind of funny. I mean, it's okay.

Q. Do you get a lot of attention from female fans when you're walking around?

FELICIANO LOPEZ: Not really. Like another place, I think.

Q. You talked about learning. Could you talk about how your mental toughness has evolved over the years since you were a younger player? Is that something you've worked on?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, I think, you know, experience is a big thing. I think it's really priceless. But I don't think, you know, that calmness and that mental toughness is something that you can just go to someone and someone can teach you about it.

I think it's just how you see certain situations instead of just being too negative, even though it's something that you want to do. And of course it's so easy to get down on yourself, want to throw your racquet, complain about things. But I think positive thoughts and things just lead you to much better results.

I mean, it's something that you can definitely work on, absolutely. Yeah, it's challenging. But I think experience has really helped me.

Q. As the years go by, do you let thoughts creep in that it might never happen for you here?

ANDY RODDICK: Well, sure. You're human. I mean, of course it does. You know, you may never get your favourite job either. No offence to your current employer.

Q. I'm quite happy.

ANDY RODDICK: That's good. Me, too.

Q. My question was, it must be harder as the year goes on to think of this dream of yours.

ANDY RODDICK: It's similar to the question just asked. What do you do? You keep moving forward until you decide to stop. At this point I've not decided to stop so I'll keep moving forward.

Q. When did you first dream of being a Wimbledon champion and what were those images, if you can remember?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, I remember when I was a little girl, maybe nine years old, I said that I want to be No. 1 in the world and I want to win the Grand Slams. That's always been my goal since then.

You know, to reach one of my goals, it's incredible, especially in such a young age that I have, that it came so quickly. It's just a positive thing for me.

Q. Did you grow up watching this tournament on the TV at home?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yes. I think this is actually the first tournament I watched on TV. Definitely a special tournament for me. I enjoy playing here and being here.

Q. Do you remember which players you watched then?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I remember I watched Martina Hingis. She was my idol growing up. I watched so many of her matches.

Q. Do you still have ambitions of winning Grand Slams yourself?

RICHARD GASQUET: It's tough. It's tough, because when I was second week in Roland Garros I had to win Djokovic, then Federer, then Nadal. Even here in 2007 I won in semi-final I had to win the same: Federer and Nadal.

So even if I'm not far, you are far because you need to win the best after. So I don't know if I can, but I'll try to go farther as I can.

Q. Why don't you use Hawk Eye more? Do you forget to use it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I only use it if I think I need it. If I feel like I hit the ball out, most times you can feel on your racquet. I think usually when I'm challenging, I'm pretty right on.

Q. You use it a lot less than a lot of players.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I don't think Hawk Eye is there for like a chance kind of thing. I think you have to use it strategically.

If it's like the second point in a match, possibly maybe not a good time to use it. Hopefully the confidence is there that you can get the next point, some kind of thing like that.

Hawk Eye, for me, I'm confident I can win the next point. I don't need that call, per se.

Q. Unless you think it's way, way out, definitively the wrong call is made, you're going to move on?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I think it's important to have the Hawk Eye when it really counts. If it's 5 All and you have no challenges left, that's a problem. So it's just I think important to use it more strategically than I need it and it's there.

Q. If you get through on Monday and López keeps winning, I'm curious who you think your mum might be supporting if you meet Deliciano?

ANDY MURRAY: I think it's about time she stopped with that nonsense. Makes me want to throw up. It's disgusting. Yeah, it's disgusting.

I was practising with him before the tournament. It's quite funny because she'd been writing about it on, you know, Twitter like all the time. And I was practising with him before the tournament and my mom was on the side.

I said, when we were warming up, I shouted across the net, I said, Feli, if we sit down for a drink, if you could take a picture with my mom, because she thinks you're beautiful.

She went bright red. I'm not doing it. I'm not doing it. Refused to take the picture. Quite funny. Not like her.

Yeah, I hope she'll still be supporting me.

[Photo(s) credit: Getty Imagess]

PHOTO OP: Poolside play

So, can you guess the identity of the soaking wet chorizo with the chiseled abs? If you can't, don't worry. Here's a clue: He and a few of his shirtless friends took part in a fun and frolicky photoshoot for Glamour España Magazine. Still stumped? Then lick, er, click the head to see the big reveal after the jump. Oops, my bad.

PHOTO OP: His lips don't lie. Oh no.

"If I suck hard enough I just might be able to...ay, nevermind."

So Feliciano Lopez lost in his second round match at the Monte Carlo Masters. Well, more like he got destroyed by compatriot David Ferrer 6-2, 6-0. We all know it's not Feli's best surface, right?

I say we focus on the positives (see headline) and look towards Wimbledon.

[Photo(s): AFP PHOTO SEBASTIEN NOGIER]

HE SAID/SHE SAID: US Open Days Seven + Eight

DAY 7

Q. Do you think Nadal is gonna be able to figure out how to win this tournament here in New York eventually?

FELICIANO LOPEZ: I don't think it's gonna be an obsession for him at all. He just come here to play his best tennis, and as he normally does. It's not gonna be an obsession.

Of course if he wins here he will have the whole Grand Slam because he won already three of them, but I don't think he has to, you know, be focused only on that goal.

Q. You're a friend. Do you think he will figure it out? Do you think he will do it eventually?

FELICIANO LOPEZ: He will probably do it. I mean, he's still 24. A lot of years to play, so he will have the chance. I think so.

Q. Sorry about the ridiculousness of this question, but they were making a big deal on TV about you tugging at your dress. You just didn't seem comfortable out there. I know it was windy, but was the dress bothering at all?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. The only thing that bothered me was when I didn't win the point, I think. That was it.

Q. Speaking of your sequinned tennis dresses, I think they're gorgeous. It's become the talk of the Open. What color are we gonna see next?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I do have some more colors, but so far I've worn the colors I liked best. So we'll see how I feel in the next round if I just do a repeat or something new.

Obviously the dresses are super fun. It's just fun. Hopefully just as much fun as my game is, and seeing those kind of fun in big shots.

Q. What happens to the old dresses? Like do you store them somewhere? Put them on a wall? Honestly, are they just gone?

VENUS WILLIAMS: They get retired. A lot of times people ask me for them. There aren't many, so I don't really give them away. But like the Wimbledon museum asked me for one of my -- the Tina Turner dress. I think maybe the Tennis Hall of Fame maybe asked me for the can-can from the French.
So of course that's awesome when people ask me for those. But other than that, they get retired, and...

Q. Do they become rags that you use?

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, historically I've saved like one of each dress. I do a lot of the organizing at the house, so I'll save one of Serena's, too. Lately she's taken over that. But I think at the end of the day, I think, you know, to have an exhibition of all the dresses we've worn, I think that be -- it would be very interesting, I think. Hopefully that will happen one day.

Q. Nadal said on the court you had a baby.

GILLES SIMON: Yeah.

Q. Two days ago?

GILLES SIMON: Yeah. That's why I'm going to be short. (Laughter.)

Q. Boy or girl?

GILLES SIMON: Boy.

Q. Name?

GILLES SIMON: Timothy. Like Timothy in English.

Q. When is your flight home, and how eager are you to get home?

GILLES SIMON: As soon as possible. I don't know yet. But I had a great match to play this afternoon. I knew that if I lose, I will be home right after. So my coach is doing the booking. (Smiling.)

Q. Were you distracted at all by these thoughts on the court?

GILLES SIMON: A little bit. It's hard to focus for me the last three days. But I think I was playing good. The two first sets were nice. I had some problem with my return today. I missed a lot of return. And then the third set, I have to say that I was already in the plane. (Laughter.)

Q. I assume you grew up on a clay courts at home. How did you get so good on a hardcourt?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I think I have physically the possibility because I am fast. And also to keep going, to mix this kind of shot, that is my quality. Is not easy to play on hardcourt, so I think I put some problems to the players to play so different.

Q. With your spin?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: For sure on the clay I have more time, so I can take you and go 10 shots, 20 shots, 30 shots. Here is not like this. But in the same way, I can do serve and volley, I can play faster, I can play slow and back. Is a mix. It's like Capricciosa pizza. I don't give you margherita, I give you Capricciosa, different kind of ingredient.

Q. There was a report this afternoon that the other day you didn't want to take one of the transportation vans that had a picture of Roger. Can you describe what happened?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, well, if you know me, you know that I not gonna do. This is very stupid thing. I was in a van of the picture of Roger, both sides of the van, like 15 times these two weeks. (Smiling). So that's very stupid thing. That's never happen.

Speaking seriously, is better the other side. I want this car because is bigger, and I am more comfortable with this car than with the others. You can see the car of Roger's photo is there, is outside, is a van. So is much bigger than the other ones.

Roy know, the manager of the transportation, that I always want this car. So it was good.

Q. Did you get out of that car that had his picture or you stayed in it?

RAFAEL NADAL: I thought my English was better. (Laughter.) I said I went with this car 15 times.

DAY 8

Q. Did you have confidence in that third set when you were down a break that maybe you might not have had if you were down a break in the first set just because you had seen [Gasquet] be kind of shaky to that point?

GAËL MONFILS: Yeah, I was still confident. I won't lie, on that one set point, I had like to hit backhand passing shot. It was tough. But then when you save it, you know, for sure I knew if it was my set point and miss it like this, I knew like I will be thinking or this or that. Just try to be solid, put pressure for him. And also, Richard, he doesn't really like pressure. He love like good play, not play. He don't like a lot of crowd around, the crowd involved. He don't like see the opponent like show emotions. Just play with that, play a bit with his mind, and that was it.

Q. You won in three straight sets. Do you feel like it could have gone either way?

GAËL MONFILS: Yeah, it could have gone -- I mean, I could have got two sets down, for sure. Two sets down. But like I told you, I mean, my mentality today was to push him like hard in head and hard in physically and try to break him physically and break him in the head. That was my plan.

Q. You held your serve pretty easily at 3 2. The next two, three games you lost your range. Did the wind pick up?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Which set?

Q. The second set.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, yeah. But you could say that about so many different areas in the game today. Like I said, I played two good points and then made two return errors. It wasn't like she was hitting 120 serves out there. You know, in those situations, I didn't really give her a chance to play. I felt like I was just giving it out there.

Q. What are your thoughts on the state of your game now, your return from the shoulder problems, what you foresee down the road?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, I think it just needs to be more stable and not so up and down, especially against an opponent like her. Uhm, you know, I need to string a few more things together than I did. It's all really capitalizing on what you have. You work hard for something, and then you let it slip away. I think I've just got to capitalize on that. Obviously, a bit unfortunate in the Grand Slams. I had my fair share of chances and didn't take them throughout this whole year in the big events. Uhm, you know, that's just the way it's gone. But keep moving forward, keep working hard.

Q. When we think back three years ago when you were the sensational finalist and the joker on the court, don't get me wrong, but it seemed easy came for you, a, of things. Is that right, or maybe a wrong...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, depends really, because at that time I was a 19 , 20 year old kid who just didn't care much about pressure or anything and didn't know what's pressure and expectations. Just hitting the ball, being very aggressive and open minded and just playing great game. I think a lot of us wish to have this kind of attitude on the court and not thinking about some things, some side factors that can affect your game, which in this present moment is something I have to deal with. But on the other hand, the positives of me as a player today is that I have more experience, I'm stronger, I just played so many matches on the big stage. I still enjoy. I still enjoy even though I'm not doing my impersonations on the court or after, but I still very much enjoy what I do.

Q. So you described how there was no pressure then. What's the pressure like now, and how are you dealing with it?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you know, once you get mature, then you experience some things in your life, and, you know, you get to the stage when you're one of the best players in the world. Then you're not coming in Grand Slams anymore as somebody who is young and kind of the first 30, 20 in the world and not expected to go far and you don't have that amount of expectations on your back. On the other hand now, you know, you're getting into the tournaments and matches as somebody who is expected to win most of his matches he's playing on, and getting to the late stage of the second week. So that's something you have to deal with, and everybody deals with it. It's a challenge you have to overcome, and it makes you mentally stronger. So right now I learned over this year and a half how to deal with it and just happy with the process.

Q. How important is it to look good on the court for you?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, I'm so lucky that I am the face of adidas and Stella McCartney and I have my own special line that no one else is wearing. I think that's really nice. For me it's important to feel good on court and of course to look good. Then I can focus on my tennis at 100%.

Q. In this case, don't you think it's a bit short, your dress?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I think it's nice. I definitely am sure I'll get a lot of male fans now (laughter).

[Photo(s): Getty Images]

(UPDATED) + WEDNESDAY NETCORDS: Quick hits from around the grounds

- Novak Djokovic + Gael Monfils guest star in DJ Martin Solveig's new video for his single 'Hello' which was partly shot in Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros. Fantastic Frenchie record producer and DJ Bob Sinclar also makes an appearance as Solveig's opponent.

- “Now I have to run around and be nice to everybody," said Marat Safin about his current role as a Russian tennis official. He also had some words for his sister, Dinara, who's been troubled by a herniated disc in her back. "I think she needs to rest six months and think about the future," SexGawd says of his sister. “Don’t play two weeks here and two weeks there and get [re-]injured.”

- Steve Tignor offer his thoughts on the Fedal dominance at the Slams and wonders aloud how many more each baller will win - and who will end up with the most when all is said and done. 

- Janko Tipsarevic and the very posey Biljana Šešević were married late last week and Serbian mag Story got the exclusive photos. I wonder if she forgot this photoshoot was actually for her wedding pictures?

- Enough with the injury talk and just play ball says Peter Bodo.

- Fierce Tennis gave me serious lulz with its fantastic take on Maria Sharapova's decision to play doubles with Yanina Wickmayer at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford. Angry grrrls.

- With all the talk of Fernando Verdasco + Feliciano Lopez's boat and beach bromance, it's strange to see Nando going it alone. Trouble in paradise, perhaps? But no worries, his better half was 'uncovered' by the ATP though not in the way you would really like. Ah, well.

- Juan Martin del Potro purchased a road in his hometown of Tandil connecting two recently purchased lands, which caused a rift with some of the town's residents. The U.S. Open champ, who's at the Mayo Clinic getting a check up on his wrist, confirmed the news via Twitter but said the move will keep the tourists away from his home.

- TOT: Nike released this t-shirt to celebrate Spain's first EVAH World Cup win!

UPDATE - I thought this piece of news would be an interesting tidbit to pass along: Stanislas Wawrinka will now be coached by Peter Lundgren. His past pupils include, of course, Roger Federer and most recently Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. His reason for taking on the veteran Swiss? "When I asked what he wanted help with, he said he wants to return to the top 10," said Peter. "It's what you want to hear as a coach."

PHOTO OP: Feli's faces of porn

I'm not sure the Aussie Open has witnessed anything quite like Feliciano Lopez giving sex face over four tough sets. But I bet we're all glad he did.

Anyway, make sure to enjoy these pix and always remember to clean up afterwards. That goes for you too Feli.






[Photo(s): Reuters, Getty]

(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: Sexy Spanish MF's (well, mostly)

"I'm sexy too, no?"

The champion Davis Cup team along with compatriot Tommy Robredo grabbed a gussied up photo op with Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and the cup during an official reception at the Moncloa presidential palace in Madrid today.

Oh PM how jelly I am of your position in that photo. I'd gladly be sandwiched between all that pretty chorizo.

So who's bringing the most HAWTNESS here peeps? I, for one, am loving Tommy's suit + scarf moment. But as always, there's too much clothing in the way for my tastes.

UPDATE: Ooh, better pic here including coach Albert Costa and the epically drool-worthy Juan Carlos Ferrero.


[Photo(s): AP]

(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: Raising the cup to victory

"Rafa, let's prepare your shelf for the cup, k?"

A big congrats to the Spanish Armada for defending their Davis Cup championship after defeating the Czech Republic!

Rafael Nadal started things off in spectacular style dismantling Tomas Berdych in the opening rubber. The second rubber saw David Ferrer furiously fight back from a 2-set deficit to upend Radek Stepanek 1-6,  2-6,  6-4,  6-4,  8-6. And the doubles pairing of Feliciano Lopez + Fernando Verdasco clinched an unbeatable 3-0 lead after defeating The Berd + The Worm 7-6(7), 7-5, 6-2. It's the country's fourth title in Davis Cup play.

I'm sure this win will help Rafa + Nando heal the sting of going a combined 0-6 at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals last week. It's always great for the confidence to end the season on such a high note.

I mean, even Rafa's infamous ass-ets seem perkier than usual. DAYUM.

UPDATE: So Spain completed the absolute beatdown of the Czech Republic and went 5-0 with Rafa scoring a 6-3 6-4 win over Jan Hajek and Ferru grabbing a 6-4 6-2 decision over Lukas Dlouhy. Ya think they wanted this DC?


[Photo(s): VamosRafa]

PHOTO OP: Boys do LOVE their toys

Gilles Simon, Nicolas Almagro, Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco visited the Wii Fit station before the start of the Valencia Open and tried their hand at some other sports besides tennis.

I do HEART watching boys play with their toys, especially when it's like this. *faints*





(images via valenciaopen500.com)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: FELI

I was losing so much that I just had to do something about it. I didn't know what else, so I cut my hair. All of a sudden I started to win, so I don't want to change a thing now.

- Feliciano Lopez on cutting his lovely locks

Ah-ha! You see? Only good things can come from resolving a hairy situation even if it means growing it on your mug instead.

Lesson learned.

(Photo: Getty)

PHOTO OP: Enjoying some Spanish chorizo on Miami Beach

The Spanish chorizos (minus the biggest chorizo of 'em all) took part in a sexy photoshoot in Miami last month for Elle Spain.

Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez, Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer, and Nicolas Almagro hit the beach and got all shirtless for our viewing pleasure.

Check out more images from the shoot below and more here.

A big thanks again to Lana over at Great Tennis Photos and DtL reader Narik!








(Photos by Bernardo Doral via abc.es, elle.es)

PHOTO OP: The baller boys go casual chic for Monte-Carlo launch party

A few of the top baller boys joined host Prince Albert II of Monaco for the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 1000 launch party at the Grimaldi Forum last night.

It seems the mood was most definitely casual chic as most of the boys mixed tailored pieces like blazers, jackets, and button-down shirts with sportswear such as jeans, zipper-front sweatshirts, and cardigans. Check it out.

Rafael Nadal: Much improved from his Miami disaster. See what a little effort can do Rafa?

Fernando Verdasco: DITTO. Cheeseball no more (at least for now.) But could Nando look more constipated?

Jelena Ristic + Novak Djokovic: So good to see Jelena out with Nole again - still going strong I suppose. But do you think Rafa + Nole discussed their outfits before showing up? Maybe they should have.

Andy Murray: I love mixing sportswear and a blazer but I would've preferred the zipper-front sweatshirt in a more high-end fabrication and a bit more fitted while the jean a little darker for the occasion.

Feliciano Lopez: First - deflove the cardigan geek-chic moment. But the necklace, interlocking G belt, and whitewashed jeans are a bit cheese. Now, the jawline - TO DIE.

(images via getty)