HOW NOT TO BE A GRACIOUS LOSER--JUST A LOSER--BY FABIO FOGNINI

Here's a story for all of you up-and-coming ballers out there that I'd like you to hear.

You're a veteran on the ATP tour (Fabio Fognini) and you come up against a wild card ranked 553 in the world (Wang Chuhan), who is playing his first match on said tour in front of his country people in Shanghai. The match also happens to be the first round of a Masters 1000, a pretty big stage. Shockingly, he beats you 7-6 (5), 6-4 and is understandably ecstatic while you're understandably disappointed. So how do you react to this moment?

CHOICE A: Purposefully bump into your conqueror



CHOICE B: Flip off the crowd



CHOICE C: All of the above because I'm a total ass hat.

CHOICE D: None of the above. I'm bummed but he earned it. Kudos!

Sadly, this veteran baller chose C. You would hope these professionals would know how to act because, well, they're professionals. Not this baller. 

The moral of this story? DON'T BE AN ASS HAT KIDS.

[Photo credit: Getty Images]

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]

In tennis, size doesn't always matter

Genuine happiness and props go out to Ana Ivanovic, who ended a two year title drought by coming full circle and beating (well, more like annihilating) Patty Schnyder 6-1, 6-2 in Linz, the site of her last title.

It may be a small, International-level tourney but she probably wouldn't have made it past her first round a year ago. NaturAna came in as a wild card after Serena Williams' late injury withdrawal, though, and swept the field without losing a set. And based on the scoreline and the 47 minutes it took to seal the deal, the Serb wasn't taking any chances and came into the match focused and ready to win. How badly do you think she wanted it? Poor Patty had to bear the brunt of that pent up frustration. Ah, well.

Andy Murray also came good comprehensively outplaying Roger Federer 6-3, 6-2 in the Shanghai final and picking up his second title of the year. Even though this tourney is larger, more prestigious and holds more weight for the boys than Linz does for the ladies there was something about this win that left me feeling a little bit empty. Sure, it's another Masters 1000 and Muzz's second consecutive win over the Swiss increasing his lead in their H2H to 8-5.

But maybe that's just it: He can keep getting it up for these matches at this level but once he gets to a Grand Slam Lil' Muzz goes limp. Yup, that would make anyone feel empty. Get thee some Cialis.

Oh, and lest I forget, Tammy got win, too.

[Photo(s): Getty Images]

PHOTO OP: Show me your teeth

"You've been a very, very bad ball."

That might work in Frenchie land, but where I'm from you'd be asked to pick up your panties and leave. Trust.

[Photo(s): Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images]

Taking it to the limit

Jurgen Melzer is having a career year already.

The Austrian can claim a semifinal appearance at Roland Garros and fourth rounders at Wimbledon and the US Open as proof. He also reached a career-high No. 12 in the ATP World Tour rankings on the backs of those Grand Slam efforts and put himself within striking distance of the eighth spot for the Barclays ATP World Tour Final. So no one in their right mind would blame the 29-year old for taking it easy during the fall and quietly setting off on a well-earned vacay.

But today Melz made it known that he's ready to mix it up with the big boys in London when he upset World No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the third round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, the first time this year the 9-time Grand Slammer has failed to reach the quarterfinals. The veteran was the aggressor dictating with flat, penetrating shots and keeping the Spaniard on the defense throughout. Rafa was admittedly not at his best after contesting his third consecutive tourney but the Austrian should be given full credit for closing him out especially after having lost their three previous matches in straights.

Afterward he sounded like a man on a certain mission:

To be honest, I could live with that, having busy days in London. But it's a long way there. I'm in the quarter-finals. I have a good chance to reach the semis. I'm almost 900 points off the eighth player. This is a very long way. If it somehow happens, I'll be there, I'll be happy, and I'll be hopefully performing well.

Melz isn't ready to call it a wrap just yet. And with the way he's playing, why should he?

London. So close yet, well, you know the rest.

[Photo(s): Getty]