PHOTO OP: Sometimes there are one too many balls (it's the End Times)

Yen-Hsun Lu, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist this season, styles out on the August cover of Taiwanese GQ. But, wait! I'm smelling a theme here:

Ana Ivanovic - Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, February 2010

Anna Kournikova - K-Swiss ad, March 2009

It's awesome to have a boy baller finally pushed into a vat of balls while giving his best puss face (though I'm glad they passed on the tini-wini bikini.) But why do these art directors keep pushing this concept? It's a bit done now. I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm the last one to complain about lying on a bed of balls and having them shoved in your face, onto your back and up your arm pit. That's a relaxing weekend for me.

But enough is enough.

Check out more images of Rendy Lu in Taiwanese GQ over at HCFoo's Tennis Blog and thanks to Brodie over at Mind the Racket for the tip off!

[Photo(s): Sports Illustrated, K-Swiss, Taiwanese GQ cover via Tennis Connected]

HE SAID/HE SAID: Wimbledon Day Nine

Q. Roger said he had some physical problems; that his back and leg were bothering him. What did you notice and what is your reaction to him saying that?

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, I mean, I don't know if he just looking for some excuses after the match or something like that. I mean, it happened to all of us. You know, I think he's been every time when he played, he was I think hundred percent ready.

So maybe right now he's getting some more troubles with the health. But, you know, I think it just happen today. So I didn't know that. I just heard it first time like you said it right now. So, yeah, just to him hope that he's gonna get back soon and that's it what I can just wish him.

Q. He also said he was unlucky and that he definitely gave the match away. What are your thoughts about that?

TOMAS BERDYCH: I don't know in which point he was saying that he was unlucky, if any specific moment or something.

Q. He was saying generally or on big points.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Okay. I mean, yeah, maybe you can take it for both ways. You can say that he was unlucky or you can say that maybe the opponent was a little bit better and he just won the big points against him. In his position, then he lost the match.

You know, I think, yeah, he's a great player. I mean, but still, I mean, when I just read some newspapers in the morning, I was not surprised, but, you know, to heard something from him to the way that he's fine, nothing is bothering him. When we played the last match, I lost. But last time in Wimbledon, I won pretty easily. You know, stuff like that.

You know, I saw him quite first time from him the reactions like that. So whatever. I'm in different position. I'm just enjoying the win today, and this is just everything behind me.

Q. Will this [loss] make you hungrier to make you come back and show you can lift this title again?

ROGER FEDERER: Sure. God, I can't wait for Paris and Wimbledon to come around next year again, that's for sure. So, uhm, because they've been frustrating tournaments for me, even though it wasn't too bad.

Quarters is a decent result. Obviously people think quarters is shocking, but people would die to play in quarterfinal stages of Grand Slam play. It's not something I'm used to doing, losing in quarterfinals, because it's not something I've done in the last six years.

So I am winning my matches. Today was a different story than Paris. I mean, I think in Paris conditions were tough. Robin played fantastic. Today was different. You know, I was struggling with my own game and with my physique.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to a rest, and then attack again in North America.

Q. What concern do you have that the injuries will linger?

ROGER FEDERER: Not much of a concern.

Q. Do you feel you can get back to a position of domination in tennis?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I do think that. That's why I'm here.

Q. You were upset about the overrule call there. What did the chair umpire say to you? How did he explain that? You seemed to start playing very well after that. You had a run of points. What happened there?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, you know, for the umpire sometimes is not easy to make the right decision. For me today was too important point, because was 30‑All to make this drastic decision. For sure if you asking me if that ball affect me, I said yes. When the line say 'out,' I play the shot like this without.

I mean, was a mistake, but everybody can have a mistake. Yes, after that I played very good point on the breakpoint against. I was little bit lucky to do the break in the first game on his serve in the second set. After, I think I played a great match.

Q. You seemed very fired up or angry immediately after that point. Do you think it helped you, the call?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no. Was an important moment for me, because if he did the break in the first game of the second, gonna be hard to accept for me.

But anyway, I gonna fight all the match. But I saved that point, and after that change everything. I think I started to play much better. He started to do a few mistakes, because in the beginning he didn't have no one.

I'm very happy. Very difficult and very important win for me.

Q. How are the courts playing? There's been no rain at all. How are the courts playing?

RAFAEL NADAL: Perfect.

Q. Perfect?

RAFAEL NADAL: Is dry.

Q. Just your conditions?

RAFAEL NADAL: Lot of clay behind the baseline (smiling.) You can move well, so... Perfect conditions.

Q. Do you think Rafa is playing as well this year as anyone? How does he compare, his level, as in the French Open?

ROBIN SODERLING: Well, I think he's playing well. He's hitting the ball very well. Of course, he's moving well, as always.

But, you know, it's very difficult to compare how he's playing on grass compared to clay. But he's the world No. 1, and I think he's playing pretty solid tennis. He's got a good chance to win this one.

Q. You say he has a good chance to win the tournament?

ROBIN SODERLING: I think so, yeah. I think everybody still in has a good chance. But now that Roger lost, I'd pick him as the favorite.

Q. You looked excited by your performance today.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, it's really refreshing, you know, to perform this way I'd say after a while. You know, I was struggling with the level of my performance throughout the last five, six months. It was a lot of ups and downs.

But right now I'm playing great. It definitely makes me happy.

Q. You said the game has changed for you. You've been struggling for the last couple months. What has changed or turned the tide for you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I don't think game‑wise I was far away from my maximum and from my top game in the last couple months. It was more like a mental struggle, I guess. I wasn't finding myself on the court. I was ‑‑ uhm, had too much distractions, meaning mental discomfort on the court; wasn't feeling great; had a lot of ups and downs.

But it's a part of the sport, part of the career. You just have to accept it that way. I'm sure everybody has been through that little mini crisis if you want to call it.

But it's important to take the best out of it and continue in the right way. That's what I did. I just want to look forward now.

Q. Now you got to one Grand Slam quarterfinal. Have you got more in you?

YEN‑HSUN LU: I mean, is great. Is great for me. Now I know how I can reach the quarterfinal. Is good experience for me.

And I cannot say next time I play the US Open or next time coming back I have to be quarterfinal. But I know, and I knew, how I have to be, then I can reach the quarterfinal.

So I like to coming back here again and to play good tennis and to be ready next year. And also I hope I can play next time against Djokovic again. I mean, probably he's now happy. Today's too easy for him. I mean, I will try my best next year, yeah.

Q. What aspects of your game do you think you have to improve to compete with guys like Djokovic today?

YEN‑HSUN LU: I mean, I think of course probably I need to find some way to get the points. I think we play a little bit similar, but he's playing more fast, more aggressive than me. Also the returns, I have to bring more back to him, then I have chance to play the points.

So, I mean, everything I have, I still have space to improve. I mean, I'm not just think, Yeah, is great, is finish my career. I know I have many things to improve. Serve, you know. Physically, forehand, backhand, everything. I have to discuss my coach, conditioning trainer also, to see what we can do the next.

Q. What are your thoughts on the keys to playing well against Nadal?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, you need to serve well and you need to play great tennis. It's not, you know ‑‑ there's not one way to play against him. You don't want to leave the ball in the middle of the court to his forehand, because you'll do a lot of running.

But you've got to serve well and, you know, try and, you know, keep a good length and play well really, really, really well.

Q. How much have you seen of Nadal here this year and what have you made of him?

ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I've seen him play a little bit. Not that much. You know, we've been playing a lot of our matches ‑‑ we obviously play on the same day, and you're kind of focused on your match and obviously preparing for that.

Uhm, I saw a little bit of his match against Robin Haase and a little bit of his match against Petzschner. I followed his match with Petzschner. I saw a bit of that.

He's playing great. He's in the semifinals of a Grand Slam and he beat Soderling today, who's, well, playing the best tennis of his career. You know, he's a great player, too. So he's obviously playing very well.

Q. Do you take any sort of psychological edge after beating him in Australia?

ANDY MURRAY: No. I think, you know, he would definitely be the favorite for the match, you know, with his results here the last few years.

You know, he obviously didn't get a chance to defend his title last year, but he's played three finals in a row and now he's in the semis here.

You know, he's obviously a very tough player on any surface, but he plays great tennis here. No, I mean, psychologically I need to believe that I can win the match. That's the most important thing.

Q. Everyone in England will get excited about Murray maybe winning Wimbledon. How do you rate his chances?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, I hope is gonna be him. I told him, you know, at the net, Make me a pleasure; go all the way, you know.

Yeah, I hope he will win because it's a good player. It's never easy to play, you know, in front of his crowd. He's really strong, and I hope he will win.

[Photo(s): Getty Images]

HE SAID/SHE SAID: Wimbledon Day Seven

Q. What were the emotions like for you after the match? You won, sat down in your chair. What was going through your mind after the victory?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Yeah, I mean, for me, because I really thankful for my family. Also because I'm really upset because my father's already pass away. I make this result. I'm really proud myself to share this victory with him in the sky. I hope he see this match.

So in that moment, I just sit and tell myself, I done it. I done for my father. I done for myself also. I done for all the people support me, yeah.

Q. May we ask when your father passed away?

YEN‑HSUN LU: Is 2000, when I turned professional, that year.

Q. I was reading the introduction to your book. You were talking about how you were more or less taught if you lose to put it behind you and look forward. A lot of people in your book reflect on how much they learn from losing. Can you reflect a little bit on that.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Exactly. I think as a professional tennis player, I'm in a lot of matches. The way I felt like is I hate hanging on to that feeling when you lose, so I try to put that feeling behind. Learn from the loss, but not hang on to the bad feeling of losing.

So I put that behind me, because I'm a little bit older, a little more mature. That's kind of been my motto the last few years; to learn from it but not hang on to it.

Q. It's more the feelings?

VENUS WILLIAMS: More the feelings. Like let it go, move on, you didn't win this one, you'll get the next one. Be positive, learn from it.

Q. You're a Swede in the last eight at Wimbledon. That will excite a lot of people. What are your memories of the Swedes that came before you at Wimbledon?

ROBIN SODERLING: I remember when I was a kid, you know, I was watching Edberg playing against Becker in the finals. I always loved to watch the bigger tournaments, especially Wimbledon, such an old tournament with a lot of tradition.

So it's nice to be in the eight in this one.

Q. When you were growing up, which Grand Slam did you dream of winning?

ROBIN SODERLING: All of them. (Laughter.) Many times.

No, of course I think, for me, Wimbledon is the biggest one. Even though, you know, if I had to pick one I really wanted to win, I would pick Wimbledon.

But it would be okay to win French and US Open as well.

Q. We're accustomed to having fireworks and drama when you [and Justine Henin] have met. What was different, if anything, today for you mentally as you got into the third set?

KIM CLIJSTERS: I mean, obviously you evolve in that match. Obviously, in the beginning, you know, yeah, like I said, I had to look for a detail to change it around. You try to obviously hang in there every time.

She made a couple of, you know, unforced errors, and that's what made me win a few easier service games. Automatically mentally you grow into the match.

I think it's not just one thing that makes you make that switch. It's gradually you make ‑‑ you know, you read the game better and start to feel more comfortable out there. So, yeah. I mean, I was happy to get through there in the end. I played really good tennis in that second and third set.

Q. So tomorrow when you wake up, you think you're going to be pissed off, disappointed?

ANDY RODDICK: I'm going to be thrilled. I mean, c'mon.

Q. You've been through these slams before.

ANDY RODDICK: And it never gets easier. Of course I'm going to be pissed off when I wake up tomorrow. I mean, if you got fired from your job, you probably wouldn't wake up the next day in a great mood. I mean, c'mon, let's go. We're better than those questions.

Q. Your necklace today, the pendant, is it a copy of the Rosewater Dish?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, that's what my physio asked me. Honestly, I wish I could sit here and say it's my design, but it's not.

I came here necklace‑less, if that's a word. I didn't have a necklace. I borrowed this from Venus. Seeing how many times she won Wimbledon, it probably is something about the trophy.

Q. Is it a copy of the trophy?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I have to ask her. It's not mine. It's on loan.

Q. Is it bringing you luck?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I hope so. She's always winning here. I'm serving uncharacteristically good. Maybe it has something to do with it.

Q. She's not getting it back?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I don't want to, but I hadn't planned on giving it back. Now if she reads my interview, it will be a problem (smiling).

Q. Did you have any problems from your knee? If not, what did you do after the last game to make sure it was good for today?

RAFAEL NADAL: I tried my best, no? I take antiinflammatories. I did a lot of treatment with the physio, with the doctor.

Today it was better. I didn't feel pain today, but, you know, you never know. It's there, but wasn't the problem today. Hopefully gonna be fine for the next day, too.

Q. Prior to the match, it was announced that you were fined $2,000. What is your reaction to that?

RAFAEL NADAL: What's that?

Q. After the coaching accusation with your uncle from the last match, you were fined $2,000.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah.

Q. What are your thoughts about that penalty?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, that's the rules are the rules. I gonna speak with the person that I ‑‑ well, I already spoke with the person that I had to spoke. Nothing to say here.

Q. You've done very well on grass this year so far. Why is that? What is it about your game that helps you on this surface?

NA LI: I think I do pretty good every year (laughter).

I think my game was like ‑ how you say ‑ easy can win the grass court because I was play more fast and baseline, yeah.

Q. What have you done well this week and last week and in Birmingham, do you think?

NA LI: After I win in Birmingham, I was feeling more confident, more positive thinking on the grass court. But because my coach didn't come to Birmingham, so after I meet him, he was like, Just forget Birmingham. This much different tournament.

So every time, he always talk like. Every time he talk like, Forget, forget, forget that one. I was like, Okay. I couldn't forget. I played five rounds of match, win tournament. How I can forget that? But he always like, Forget. This is much different game.

Q. How is your confidence just now?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: My confidence, I feel confident. I know I can beat everybody. So I will play my game. I will try to play, you know, relaxed and be offensive and that's it.

Q. What has made the difference this year with you feeling comfortable on grass?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: For me, there is not a lot of different than the other years. Maybe I have more experience, so maybe I'm better.

But I don't feel a lot of difference than last year and everything. But last year I change racquet just before the tournament, so it was tough for me. So this year it's better because I play with my racquet since some months now, and it's good.

Q. Can you talk about facing [Serena's] serve. She's so tough to break.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, she served extremely well, some of the best she served against me. And, yeah, I think today that was really the difference.

You know, I had a few looks at her serve. But, uhm, you know, I think even when you had a good look and the ball's coming at you in the 120s, it's pretty tough to do much with it.

But, uhm, yeah, I thought it was an all‑right performance.

Q. That's a lot of pressure on your service games.

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it does. And I think ‑‑ I mean, that's certainly how she wins a majority of her matches. By serving so well, it makes you think that you really need to hold on to your service games. You know, I did a good job of that. But, you know, just not enough.

You know, I was going for it when I had my opportunities. Just fell a little short.

Q. Could you tell us more about your stomach discomfort in the third set.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, it's just it. You know, it's just the stomach discomfort. I didn't really get a lot of oxygen because I had that. You know, when you don't get a lot of oxygen, your muscles get a bit tired, and you get slower and slower.

I wasn't feeling really great at that third set. But then the doctor helped me out and everything was well in the fourth.

Q. Was it a muscle problem?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, it was just the stomach, yeah.

Q. Is it the heat, you think, that brought it on?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know. Maybe. A lot of side factors, I guess. I just overcomed it and right now I feel good, so that's the important thing.

Q. Lleyton was asked, Could you tell there was anything wrong with him in that third set, and he said, I don't know, he's always got something. What's your reaction to that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Everybody has an opinion. I don't know why the people think that I'm always having something, which is absolutely wrong because I haven't asked for medical or physio timeout for a long time.

I mean, any time I ask, you know, somebody has to say something. So I don't really care. You know, whatever.

Q. When are you planning to shave?

ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. I haven't really thought about it, to be honest.

Q. Seems to be working for your tennis. Might you keep it on till the end of the tournament?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, maybe. Yeah, might keep it on till the end of the tournament. If I wake up tomorrow and feel like shaving, then I'll do it, just like I'm sure you do (smiling).

Q. What does it mean to have the two ladies in your box?

ANDY MURRAY: The two ladies?

Q. Yes.

ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, yeah, I like having obviously my mum around. Both my parents are here, my grandparents, my aunt and uncle are here, obviously my girlfriend. I mean, I love having my family around. I love having friends around.

Yeah, it just makes you feel more at home, more comfortable. When you're on the court, it doesn't make as much of a difference. It's more off it, just having your friends and family around. It's really nice. The rest of the year you don't really get that.

Q. Was it important to get back together with Kim?

ANDY MURRAY: I don't really want to go into that. It's been a lot longer than everybody thinks we've been back together. But I like having my girlfriend around. I like having my, yeah, family around. That's it. [Drats!]

[Photo(s): Getty Images]

Roddick + Wozniacki take a tumble out of Wimbledon

Andy Roddick won't be making a return to the men's final this year after getting stunned by unheralded and unseeded Yen-Hsun Lu 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 9-7 in the Wimbledon fourth round. He becomes the first Asian man to reach the quarterfinals at a major in 15 years *clap, clap*

Rendy hit 83 winners/34 UEs, 22 aces, 60% first serve and converted 1 of 2 break points - that being in the final game of the match. He'll face Novak Djokovic, who defeated an in-form Lleyton Hewitt, for a spot in the semifinals.

The Taiwanese baller played the match of his life holding his ground on the baseline against A-Rod's blasts and pushing the American back seemingly near the stands in a defensive stance. Rendy also served well in the key moments which he believes was the difference in the match:

Q. You played him twice before. What was the difference?

YEN‑HSUN LU: I think for me I know he's very tough on grass because he has big serve. And I don't think I'm doing different than last time. But I just show my serve when I was in trouble or when I in tough situation, I don't overplay.

So I have to stay with him because last two match, sometimes in the pressure, I overplay because I want to make a winner.

But today I just take a time, serve regular, and stay with him, try to find a chance and to win the set, set by set, set by set, until end, I shaking hand and I win. Yeah, I just don't think.

While Rendy's serving was solid the fourth seed's return of serve was abysmal only breaking his opponent once - in the opening set of the match. He was asked about it in his post-match presser:

Q. There were patches in the match where you felt like he was reading your serve pretty well? You hit a lot of aces.

ANDY RODDICK: I didn't get broken for five sets. It wasn't my serve. It wasn't my service games. It was my returning. That was crap. It was really bad.

I haven't been broken since the first set against Llodra. So I don't think it was my serve.

Q. Back to the returning. Were you not reading him the way you wanted to or the ball wasn't coming off the racquet?

ANDY RODDICK: It wasn't coming off the right way. I was fighting it all day. You know, seemed like games where I got good swings on it, he was playing from ahead. He did a good job, as well. I don't know.

I had I think one second serve on a breakpoint. That was there in the fifth when I hit a decent return. He cold‑cocked one, came in, hit an inside‑out stick volley. That was a pretty impressive volley at that point.

You know, I just wasn't doing a good job of converting.

By the looks of it A-Rod has a really good cry in the locker room before sitting down with the press. And it's understandable: he waited a whole year to get another chance at converting match point in the final on Sunday. Plus, every year his chances get slimmer and slimmer to hoist the trophy. It's too bad he didn't play like any of either of those things mattered today.


Caroline Wozniacki had been playing some of the best tennis on the ladies side until she met up with Petra Kvitova today.

The unseeded Czech baller dismantled the third seed 6-2, 6-0 in a brisk 46 minutes to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. She hit 23 winners/11 UEs, 5 aces, 62% first serve, won 10 of 13 second serve points and made 7 of 8 net approaches. She'll face qualifier Kaia Kanepi, who defeated Klara Zakopalova, for a spot in the final four.

The post-match analysis is pretty straightforward: the Dane was absolutely overwhelmed by the power hitting of Petra, plain and simple. Hopefully Wozzi can take some time off and get rested. She has a tendency to overplay at times so maybe it's a blessing in disguise for the upcoming hard court season where she has tons of points to defend.

There was one mild upset: unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova bested '07 finalist and 11th seed Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-4. She'll face Venus Williams in a rematch of their '06 Oz Open first round meeting when she ousted the American in a huge surprise.

On a side note: JJ went down literally and in the tournament to Vera Zvonareva after retiring with a back injury in the second set of their match.

[Photo(s): Reuters, Getty Images]

Yen-Hsun shocks Nalby in Melbourne, continues giant-killing ways

Yen-Hsun Lu "the giant killer"? It seems so.

The baller from Chinese Taipei grabbed a huge win at the Aussie Open today when he knocked out Sydney champ David Nalbandian 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a messy second round match featuring a combined 121 unforced errors against only 88 winners. Ick. He'll face Spain's Tommy Robredo for a spot in the Round of 16.

It's not the first time Yen-Hsun has served a big-name baller an upset special: Yen-Hsun also shocked Brit baller Andy Murray at the Beijing Olympics last summer.

As for Nalby, well, I can't say that I'm really THAT surprised. He's like the guy who tells you he'll call you but never does because he's just not that into you.

*has dating flashbacks, sobs uncontrollably*

But even though he lost early here, I still say he shouldn't quit his day job.

P-P-P-Please!

(image via Getty)