MEDIA MASHUP: Serena + Martina like it was yesteryear (not)

It was all laughs and back slapping between Serena Williams + Martina Hingis at last night's World Team Tennis event at Randall's Island. ReRe beat Chucky in the women's singles 5-3.

That's really sweet but it doesn't compare to the trash talk and bitch slapping from the old days. Who could forget THIS classic. I mean, can't we all just not get along:



Ah, those were the days. I miss thee. *sniffles*

[Photo(s) credit: AP]

PHOTO OP: This can't be good for the ol' shoulder Shrieka

Maria Sharapova got her World Team Tennis on last night with the Newport Beach Breakers and was in splendid form.

According to the double bagel (who was in attendance at the match):

Masha played all the events she could at last night’s match; women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles and won all of them. She looked super solid last night, accurately hit lines, winners (her BH down the line is kind of perfect, yo), pounded on second serves and only committed one double fault the entire match. Seemed to me like she’s adjusted quite well now on that new abbreviated service motion.

Even Shrieka thought so telling the press afterwards, "I am a hundred percent."


Good news. But let's not get all crazy and start pushing toddlers around in sports cars, girl. It's cute and all but really? Proceed with caution.

See more pics of Shrieka over at the double bagel!

PHOTO OP: Anna K. bites her tongue, avoids Gimelstob's prying eyes

Can somebody say A-W-K-W-A-R-D?!

St. Louis Ace's Anna Kournikova and the Washington Kastles' Justin Gimelstob finally faced each other (well, Gimel faced Anna - she's not even trying to sniff in his stanky direction) in DC at their World Team Tennis match last night. It was their first interaction since he made degrading and rude comments directed at the original Russian glamourpuss.


A couple of observations here:

- Isn't it creepy that Gimel has a wry smile on his face while he eyeballs Anna's goods? I thought he said he had "no attraction to her"? Douchebag.

- What the hell is Anna chewing on? Could she be biting her tongue?? She really should've laid into him - like a backhand to the head or somewhere less empty.

Who knew the WTT was where all the gritty action is these days? Billie Jean's always ahead of the curve...

(images via AP)

+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Roger vs. Pete, Maria vs. Rafa...Annie Leibovitz shoots the Grafassi's, 2008 Olympics and more

- Catching up with the Grafassi's: Here are some active retirees. Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are keeping busy these days. The tennis power couple are planning to build a $600 million dollar Fairmont resort hotel in Idaho, equipped with a rock-climbing wall, a machine that simulates kayaking, and a bowling alley, too. As if that weren't enough to keep the mulitple Grand Slammers busy, their mugs will be featured in an upcoming advertising campaign for Parisian fashion label Louis Vuitton along with former Soviet Union president Mikhail S. Gorbachev and shot by famed photog Annie Leibovitz.

- Tennis Diary says "B" girls (that's B-level players) need love too and can play some A-level tennis...what says you?

- John McEnroe and Maria "Shriek"apova were on hand to close out the Newport Beach Breakers tournament. Wanna see them play some doubles? Click here.

- 2008 Olympics update: The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has agreed to allow players to accrue ranking points at the Olympics, and the total number of participants from a single country has been raised from 4 to 6 (a country can nominate 4 singles players and a separate doubles team if they choose.)

- On a break during the Bank of the West Classic this week Daniela Hantuchova played tennis, both real and the Playstation variety, with race car driver Bruno Junqueira, who is in town to compete in Sunday's third annual San Jose Grand Prix. Was a love connection made?

- Tennis tips from mom: Tennis mom Judy Murray, momma of both Andy and Jamie, explains hardcourt tennis, from how the court effects the ball to winning strategies on this unforgiving surface

- This weekend catch the ending of the World Team Tennis season, featuring the championship match between the Sacramento Capitals against the Springfield Lasers, on RadioTennis.com

- Rafael Nadal vs. Maria "Shriek"apova? It could happen at the inaugural Merdeka Tennis Challenge at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam on Nov 18-25. Roger Federer and Pete Sampras are scheduled to play a match, with Rafa's opponent being either Maria or Marcos Baghdatis, both of whom are expected to play exhibition matches.

- Peter Bodo wants to know which men's players you think are "Hott". Submit your list, in order of hottness, now...

(image courtesy of victoriax21)