Serena afraid of being Santorized - join the club!

Serena Williams isn't afraid of anyone on the tennis court - any woman, that is.

The 8-time Grand Slammer, who's the No. 5 seed at this week's Family Circle Cup, was asked whether she was disappointed that Justine Henin withdrew from the tourney. In typical ReRe fashion she responded,

Well I didn’t even know she wasn’t here until you told me, so no, I guess not. Honestly, I don’t get concerned about who I’m going to play. I’ll go up against anybody.

But, as if realizing the sweeping statement she just make, ReRe quickly modified her response:

Except Federer or Nadal. Or Santoro. Anybody but them. Especially Santoro.

Wow - even ReRe's afraid of being "Santorized". He must be a nightmare to play against!

(image via Getty)

Federer defeats Rochus in 3 sets, but what's on his face?

Roger Federer struggled to beat Olivier Rochus in the first round of Estoril, needing 3 sets to put away the diminutive Belgian.

But what is the large bump on the side of Fed's face? It looks pretty swollen, like a bee sting or something.

Strange...

(images via AP)

Quote of the Day: Anna K. on marriage

I'm never getting married. Everything is good.

- Anna Kournikova on her relationship with latin crooner Enrique Iglesias

I guess that gives all the guys out there some hope...but not much.

(image via kournikova.com)

Fifteen-year old Harrison defeats Cuevas at Houston, wins first ATP-level match

We have a new American star on the rise - well, maybe.

Fifteen-year old qualifier Ryan Harrison won his first round match against Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 6-3 at the U.S. Clay Court Championship on Monday. Ryan becomes only the third player this decade to win an ATP tour-level match before his 16th birthday, following Rafael Nadal's win at Mallorca and Richard Gasquet's win at Monte Carlo, both in 2002.

Pretty good company, huh?

(images via AP)

PHOTO OP: Lleyton goes Lindsay, drags Mia into spotlight

Here's Lleyton Hewitt waving to the crowd with daughter Mia after the Aussie annihilated Kirati Siributwong of Thailand 6-0, 6-0, 6-1 during the Group 1 second round Davis Cup tie. The Australian team defeated the Thais and will now enter the play-offs in September.

For someone who's been so critical of the media attention he and his family receive, I'm surprised he'd drag his daughter into the spotlight à la Lindsay Davenport. I guess what's not good for the goose is all well and good for the gander Lleyton!

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Federer + Higueras practice partnership

Here's a first glimpse of Roger Federer and Jose Higueras getting in some practice on the clay in Estoril.

The top-ranked baller announced via his website that he would be working with the Higueras this week saying,

I am also excited as I have asked Jose Higueras, one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the world of tennis, to join me. Jose has coached many of the games great players including former #1 Jim Courier and Michael Chang. We are going to spend the week together to see if we could make a good team.

(images via FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images)

Davis Cup Chronicles: A look back at the weekend's most manly moments

Of course, man-on-man action is only seen in tennis during Davis Cup play. So I think the best way to look back at this weekend's ties is with some of the ballers' most "manly moments":






(images via AP + Getty)

Anna shoots new K-Swiss ad, brings fans behind-the-scenes

Anna Kournikova may not be playing professionally anymore, but that doesn't mean the original tennis glamourpuss is just sitting pretty.


The Russian is one of K-Swiss's prized personalities and the former top-tenner just shot a new ad for the sports brand and will be taking part in a triathalon in Miami. Anna blogged about her latest activities and included some behind-the-scenes action saying,

Hi guys -

Here's a quick update on what has been going on this week. On Tuesday I had to get up really early to go to the CBS4 studio and do their morning show to promote the Nautica South Beach Triathlon, which I'll be running in on Sunday. From there, we went straight to the first location and started shooting a new ad for K-Swiss, lots of behind the scenes pictures included for you here! We shot all day until 8pm but got sidetracked by lots of rain, so we had to go back on Wednesday to finish 2 shots, they both ended up great!

Don't forget about the Triathlon on Sunday in South Beach and next week I'll be going to Tijuana, Mexico to open a Boys and Girls Club there, I'm really looking forward to it!!

I wonder what she thinks of Alona as the new Anna?





(images via kournikova.com)

THE LOW DOWN: Venus blogs + clears air about "hiatus"

Venus Williams wants to set the record straight.

It was reported last week that the 6-time Grand Slammer was taking an indefinite hiatus from tennis due to an undisclosed medical reason. But V, who was spotted looking healthy + relaxed with boyfriend Hank Kuehne at the Masters, wants us to know that an over-zealous reporter at Amelia Island took a different spin to her news:

Hello everyone,

I am sure over the past few days you have heard some reports about me taking a “hiatus” from tennis. This could not be further from the truth and I just wanted to provide an update to those of you who are concerned.

The last few months have included a great deal of travel (5 continents in 2 months) and a lot of matches. I am not experiencing an injury (thank goodness) but after the Miami tournament my physio and I agreed that this was a smart time to have some preventative checkups on everything from my knees to my shoulder to my wrist to make sure that everything is in order. This is in preparation for a long summer that begins next month with the pre-French Open events in Europe and will last through the US Open in September. I have learned that caution is key and my goal is to do everything I can to put myself in the best position to do well during this next stretch.

The speculation that arose last week is an unfortunate example of one writer incorrectly spinning a story that took on a life of its own. I agreed to visit the Amelia Island tournament (Bausch and Lomb Championships) last week after my withdrawal to offer my support to the tournament and the WTA(and will do the same in Charleston this week). During my visit, I met with sponsors and fans and participated in a media session. From the media session somehow one of the writers translated my statement that I intend to return to competitive play next month for the French Open as an “indefinite leave of absence”??? While it was great to hear from a lot of old friends that wanted to make sure I was ok, this headline was wrong. To be very clear, I am healthy, I am not on an indefinite leave of absence and I will be back on Tour next month beginning in Rome (May 12).

I love playing tennis more and more each day and have no intentions of sitting on the sidelines and watching on TV!

The upcoming weeks will include my visit to Charleston and the Family Circle Cup tournament for a few days this week. I’ll watch Serena play on Tues night and then back to Florida for practice and training. It will be nice to spend a little time at home and catch up on a variety of things including quality time with my friends and family and of course working on new designs for Eleven spring 09 in fact). Thank you for the support. ttyl, vee

Great news! Why can't more athletes be as proactive and direct as V in their responses? She continues to set the standard for the rest.

(image via Getty)

INSTANT REPLAY: a look back at the week's top tennis plays

COURTSIDE

Wrapping up the boys
Celebs take in tennis then take out Jelena
Tim + the torch
Jelena gives good quote
Behind-the-scenes with Fed + Maria
Rafa gets mad about March
ReRe talks more drama
First look: US Olympic fashion
Anna loves her some Fed
Martina's media merry-go-round
V on hiatus, goes golfing
Where in the world is Andy Murray?
Davis Cup Chronicles '08 begin
Eyeing Robin
Nicole rebuilding
A-Rod's hairy situation
Maria mystery almost solved while romance rumors grow
ReRe + bikini hit the beach

+ NETCORDS

THURSDAY: Serena, Nikolay, Tim...French Davis Cup team implodes, Tennis Channel Open to Tampa and more

(image via VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images)