VIDEO VAULT: Serena Williams talks and sings while Roger Federer just talks

Serena Williams loves her some karaoke. It's been well-documented, of course. But I still give her props for getting up on stage at the Delta OPEN Mic event last night in front of actual people and doing her rendition of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". Jack Sock, Orange Is The New Black’s Uzo Aduba and Laverne Cox, comedian Kathy Griffin, 30 Rock’s Katrina Bowden, Glee’s Darren Criss, and celebrity fitness trainer Shaun T joined the 17-time Grand Slammer at the party.


Roger Federer sat down with sponsor Wilson to talk about winning Cincinnati, his new racquet, and a little about his pre-match routine which includes not missing the match. His words. Swear.

VIDEO VAULT: It's a love match

Michaella Krajicek thought it was just another day on the tennis court when her boyfriend, ATP baller Martin Emmrich, appeared after she won her first round match at the Top Shelf Open. The pair had met a year ago at this tourney, which made it the perfect place for a nervous Martin to ask her to marry him.

But to do it in front of a crowd of hopeful onlookers without a guarantee of success - why it's just like playing a match! But Michaella said "yes" and all was well. PHEW.

VIDEO VAULT: The 2013 Sony Open player party red carpet

With all of the kudos showered on Indian Wells over the last two weeks, it wouldn't be a surprise to find Miami drowning its sorrows in frozen maragaritas at some bar along Ocean Drive. And, to add salt to the glass rim, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal opted out of competing.

Here's the silver lining - Miami gets the Williams sisters. You know, the ones who annually give the finger to that inconsequential tourney in the California desert. The tourney even throws their own baller party just like the one for the BNP Paribas Open - with a red carpet, media hounds, and questionable outfits to boot. No, I'm not talking about Novak Djokovic's palm tree blazer. I kinda like it. Really.

VIDEO VAULT: A Guys' Guide to Valentine's Day by Redfoo

Guys. It's Valentine's Day. Are you bombing out with a blooming bouquet of roses? Getting a sour face when you present a box of sweet treats? Here's why: IT'S BORING.

If you really want a sure fire way to touch someone's heart (and other naughty bits), take off your shirt, put on your best pink fuzzy bear head and do the Harlem Shake in your club room (you have one, right?) with your pantless clones like Redfoo did for his love thang, Victoria Azarenka. See for yourself:

And you know what? That shit WORKS. Exhibit A:

@redfoo ow.ly/i/1wA6n im sleeping on the floor tonight :) thank u ❤
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) February 14, 2013

Sloane Stephens phones it in at the Australian Open, so to speak

"DM me guuurl!"

One of the best moments from Sloane Stephens's breakthrough win over Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarterfinals was right after the pair shook hands. The 19-year old went straight for her phone to see if her mom had texted her. Probably, but she couldn't tell from the 233 messages she had waiting for her. Kids. She also said after the match, "I hope to have more Twitter followers" which she does now (43,321 and climbing). That's what it's all about, folks.

It was reminiscent of a 17-year old Maria Sharapova going for her dad's phone to call her mom after winning Wimbledon over, of course, ReRe. She famously wasn't able to grab a signal leaving everyone in giggles and securing the newly-minted star with a phone sponsor, Motorola, one of her many future sponsors (at 3:35):



I guess a teenage win over the 15-time Grand Slammer at a major is worth a phone check. And a lucrative sponsorship. Smartphone brands and carriers take note.

[Photo(s) credit: @TheJordanMiller]

VIDEO VAULT: Nadal + Ronaldo + Nike = BRILLIANT

Footennis is SO very.

[Via Nike Football]

VIDEO VAULT: It's all fun and games at Madison Square Garden

Struggling Andy Roddick STUNNED the tennis world when he shocked Dubai champ Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6 (7) in the opening, er, only round at tonight's BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden. "I feel like Jeremy Lin wanted me to win," said A-Rod afteward. No doubt.

Some other stuff happened, too, involving a dancing Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki (who lost to Shrieka 6-3, 6-4) and the Dane's boy toy, top golfer Rory McIlroy (all I have to say is "hair" and "why?"). See video.

 [Video: JOTennisVideos]

VIDEO VAULT: Three call outs from Victoria Azarenka's post-match interview

1. "Kinder"
2. "dance, dance, dance..."
3. "[the trophy] feels magical..." No, what's magical are those BOOM BOOMS. While I may not like them for you, I'm convinced they have super powers. Prepare the BOOM BOOMS's trophy case. Or get them bronzed.

[Via: AustralianOpenTV]

VIDEO VAULT: Thank you, Wilson

Most tennis commercials for pretty much anything make me want to turn the channel. Actually, they work pretty well as white noise for bedtime (counting sheep just doesn't cut it anymore - boo). They bore me to whatever is worse than tears.

But after catching these commercials by Wilson for their Juice & Steam racquets--in particular this one starring first-time major quarterfinalist Kei Nishikori--during some of Tennis Channel's Australian Open coverage, I felt a strange sensation building inside my belly. No, not gas. It was a giggle. A loud and true giggle.

I cracked up at a tennis commercial. Miracles really do happen kids.

[Via: Wilson]

(UPDATED) VIDEO VAULT: Serena Williams' post-tennis career is set

Wanna know what Serena Williams does in her off-court time? Well, she loves karaoke. And, she apparently loves to dance. Like, booty dance. And other parts.



UPDATE: Thanks to GOTOTENNIS we'll always have Bootyrena. Always + 4EVR.

UPDATE #2: Serena's lawyers aren't happy with me for posting that screen shot so it's gone. Thanks for the memories Bootyrena. You'll always live on in our heads and some other places (you know who you are).

[Via: WorldStarHipHop]

(UPDATED) MEDIA MASHUP: Serena Williams sounds off. Again.

"Double OMG, Eva. I'm totes getting déjà vu!"

You would think Serena Williams would be tired of these controversies at the US Open but sometimes a girl just can't help herself.

Two years and a round later, ReRe got all in an uproar with chair umpire Eva Asderaki after getting penalized a point and going down a break for yelling out during play. She thought she hit a forehand winner and screamed "C'mon! but Sam Stosur got a piece of her racquet on the ball. Eva gave the point to the Aussie under the hindrance rule. ReRe was less than happy. Ok, she was fucking pissed.

In the end, the incident was more of an annoyance and did nothing to shake Sammy's focus. But it was like raw meat to the media sharks who couldn't wait to get right into it:

Q. Regardless of whether you thought it was right or wrong, the decision, do you think it's fair on the official to berate her like that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Excuse me? To berate?

Q. Do you think it's fair on the official?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think everyone is so intense out there. I was really intense, and everyone just wants to do great. I know I did. Um, yeah, just try my best, you know? It's like giving it 100%.

Q. What is your history with that chair umpire, and what episodes might you have had with her in the past?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, I don't know. I don't know. I just was out there trying to fight against a great player who played really, really well. I don't know.

Q. But between games, you referred to something that happened in the past with her. What were you referring to?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I can't think off the top of my head, actually.

Q. A match in Doha maybe where you were called for a similar penalty?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I promise you if I knew I would tell you, but I don't know off the top of my head.

Q. According to the ITF, a chair umpire has latitude in assessing a point or in replaying the point if the action was not deliberate. Did you deliberately hinder your opponent?

SERENA WILLIAMS: (Laughter.) No. I mean, I didn't, but I can't even -- you know, I think my opponent played really well. I actually thought it was a winner, but she did really good to even put her like racquet on it. I thought it was a clear winner. I thought it was the hat drop rule, where if you drop a hat you kind of replay the point. I don't know. I think for the most part it was just -- I don't know, I tried my best. As always, I gave my 100%.

Q. Do you regret at all what you said to the chair umpire?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I just am really excited to be here really and to have gotten so far. To get here has been a really great experience for me. I regret losing, but I think there was nothing I could do today. I think Sam played really, really well.

Q. Why would you not regret saying things like...

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't even remember what I said. It was just so intense out there. It's the final for me, and I was just -- I have to go -- I guess I'll see it on YouTube. I don't know (Laughter.) I don't know. I was just in the zone. I think everyone, when they play, they kind of zone out kinda thing. I don't know, I'll see it later, I'm sure.

Q. Was there a part of you that said, I can't believe this is sort of happening again, this scene?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, not at all. That is definitely different moments. So, no, not at all.

Q. You're one of our greatest champions and an elite athlete, a real role model. Do you think it's important for top level athletes, even in tremendous heat of the moment, to treat refs and officials with respect?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Um, I don't know. I think that, you know, when you're an athlete, whether you're looking at a basketball player or football player or tennis players, these athletes, we train all our lives since I was three -- and I lie about my age a lot, but I'm 29. (Smiling). You know, we live for these moments, you know. Everyone lives to be, you know, in the final of Wimbledon or the final at the US Open. Whatever happens in that moment, you live for them and we breathe for them, and hopefully I'll be back for them.

Q. Wouldn't that be the moment to be most respectful of all at that moment?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I honestly don't know the answer. Everyone, we athletes, give 2,000%. I know I do every time.

Nice try, press. It may be bait but she ain't biting.

UPDATE: She was fined $2K for verbally abusing the chair ump but won't face a suspension as it was not deemed a "major offense" said the USTA. Bigger question right now: What the hell did Mike Bryan do to deserve a $10K fine???

[Video via: OzBroadcasting]

VIDEO VAULT: Stosur might still be stunned

Sam Stosur needed to play the match of her life and she did just that, upending Serena Williams 6-2, 6-3 to win the US Open and her first major title. The way she owned the court against the 13-time Grand Slammer was pretty impressive. But that's the only way a lady baller is going to beat ReRe in a major final and she was on point from start to finish.

Sammy's power and serve were in full effect and her strategy of hitting and serving right at ReRe to take away angles and draw attackable balls was uber-smart. ReRe is fast but not necessarily quick to get out of her own way when a ball is screaming towards her. Other lady ballers take note.

It must feel incredibly satisfying to be able to execute your A-game at the highest level under the greatest pressure with only two sets and a living legend separating you from your lifelong dream. So cheers to you Sammy. Can't wait for the Australian Open (no pressure, really).

[Video: US Open]

VIDEO VAULT: Djokovic's sick match point save

In case you missed it. Ballsy, jaw-dropping stuff.

[Via: Diegoamuy]

VIDEO VAULT: She who laughs last has the last laugh (duh)

I was reading all day about this supposedly awful, tasteless, no good, desperate attempt by Caroline Wozniacki to grab more attention during her post-match presser last night. She made fun of Rafael Nadal's recent cramping conference by imitating his now-infamous slide down his chair all the while giggling and showing off her full set of teeth and gums (more gum than teeth actually).

Boy, what a dumb fucking move. I don't say that because I think what she did was awful, tasteless, no good or desperate. In fact, I may have snickered a little a bit with her (besides who am I to talk after what I posted - we should all be relieved she didn't imitate THAT). No, it's dumb because she just incurred the wrath of the Rafanatics. They are a fiercely loyal group who take offense when anyone dare poke fun at their boy. Doesn't she know they'll burn her in effigy and sacrifice her first born son to the tennis gods? I guess she does now:

Sorry, sweets. Ain't nothin' gonna get you back in their good graces. Save it for someone who cares. 

You know, Wozzi's usual attempts at humor (think: rooooo) are awkward at best and her make out sessions border on the bizarre. But this one made me chuckle. Well, more like chuck. Get it? That's, like, half-a-laug...ah, nevermind.

VIDEO VAULT: What happens under the table stays under the table

No pervs. It's not what you think. Rafael Nadal is cramping. He would never do THAT in public (I'm not completely convinced.)

[Via: NadalNews]

VIDEO VAULT: Djokopova

Need I say more?

[Via: HEAD ]

VIDEO VAULT: Nothing gets between Nadal and his Armanis (you wish)

Here's some behind-the-scenes footage of Rafael Nadal shooting another ad campaign for Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans Fall Winter 2011 and 2012 collections.

So I guess the ad has something to do with Rafa running in a full tux while being chased (by some rabid Rafanatics, no doubt) followed by a strip down to - what else? - his Armanis. And there's some other stuff I couldn't be bothered to figure out. I mean, HE STRIPS DOWN TO HIS UNDIES. That really is all.

[Via: RafaUpdates]

(UPDATED) VIDEO VAULT: See Djokovic dance

Serbian style, of course.

UPDATE: "Maybe you can, you know, take the stamp and lick me and put me wherever you like..." Why yes. Yes I can. 



[Via: NBC ]

VIDEO VAULT: Sharapova loves HEAD

You gotta give it up for Maria Sharapova. She's a much better actress than she's EVAH been as you can see in this new promo for her new HEAD Instinct racquet. Need proof? Well, let me take you down memory lane, back to a time when the Russian blondezilla was just ending her long injury layoff and hair wings were all the rage. They were all the rage, right?

[Via: HEAD]

VIDEO VAULT: Djokovic does his rock star thang

Now THIS is what I call a Fourth of July celebration. Go get it Serbians. Your boy deserves it.

[Via: ytubejj]