PHOTO OP: Battle of the Lovely Locks takes Miami - who wins?

Roger Federer + Simone "The Beautiful" Bolelli were spotted together during a practice session in Miami.

I wonder what they're discussing - hair care? They sure do have lovely locks though Simone is just plain "lovely". Oy.

*drools on keyboard*

More images of the session below + here.

PS - I wonder what Fed's record is for the most wardrobe changes in a single practice session? Inquiring minds need to know.



(images via GOTOTENNIS)

Serena scrapes by Zheng in Miami, cuts up in post-match presser (poor Dinara)

Serena Williams really should teach a master class to the WTA Tour on gutting out matches.

The top lady baller was at her stubborn best in her fourth round match in Miami coming back from a break down in the final set to defeat feisty Jie Zheng 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 and earn her 50th career match win at the Sony Ericsson Open. She'll have a chance to face sister Venus in the semifinals if she gets past her third consecutive Chinese baller, Li Na, in the next round.

ReRe was asked about her current stint in the WTA Penthouse after the match and she had some biting, albeit hilarious, commentary on the Tour's ranking system:

Q. Do you enjoy being in a position of being No. 1? Does that in any way help you, or do you...
SERENA WILLIAMS: Most of all I enjoy winning slams and the big tournaments. I obviously do enjoy being No. 1. I think it's great. I think it's they epitome of a great athlete.

At the end of the day, I've been No. 1 and I'll be No. 1. It seems like I'll be remembered more for how many Grand Slams I'll win.

But No. 1 I think is also equally as important.

Q. You won't be No. 1 unless you make the finals here, you know that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I mean, I don't put pressure on myself, so we'll see. If I make it, I make it; if not, oh, well. It will be kind of weird to be No. 2 to -- because I think the girl that would take over would be like -- lost early here and hasn't really, whatever.

So it's like whatever. I don't really care.

Q. You said you wanted to be remembered for winning the slams. But in terms of holding on to the ranking, you've come a long way to get back to the top.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. But, I mean, at this point doesn't matter how many Grand Slams you win, can't be number one. Even if you get to the finals of Wimbledon and win the US Open and Australia, that's not what the No. 1 player gets. It is what it is. It's like, whatever.

You have to like, I don't know, win all the smaller tournaments to be No. 1.

Q. Would you prefer they change the system to make it a little bit more weighted so the Grand Slams did matter more? Those are the tournaments every player wants to win.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I don't really care one way or the other. Like I'm not -- my whole goal in life isn't to be No. 1. Yeah, I want to be No. 1, but I feel better about winning Australia or US Open or winning the French Open or anything like that. I think I feel better with that.

Or winning here. Just winning titles. Obviously winning titles doesn't make you No. 1 on this tour anymore.

Let's finish ReRe's sentence here: "...the girl that would take over would be like -- lost early here and hasn't really..." won a damn thing that would truly earn DINARA the keys to the WTA Penthouse. Ouch - the truth hurts sometimes.

And note to WTA Tour officials: when your top baller essentially calls your ranking system a big, fat stinking pile of crap something needs to be addressed and changed. Seriously.

(image via getty)

Sharapova Inc. raking in bigger bucks, animated "Super Shrieka" in the works

Thanks to DtL reader Maja for sending me over this SportsBusiness Journal article about the state of the juggernaut that is "Sharapova Inc." (read: it's raining even more CASH.)

Check out a few of the very interesting tidbits from Daniel Kaplan's piece...

On her her most recent marketing campaigns:

Three of her sponsors — Tag Heuer, Cole Haan and Sony Ericsson — unveiled in recent weeks marketing campaigns around Sharapova, notwithstanding the decline in the luxury goods market. Sharapova also just signed a new, $2.5 million-a-year deal with a shampoo maker.

On her current deal with Nike and its effect on Serena Williams:

The company spends so much money around Sharapova, sources said, it’s one of the reasons why Serena Williams, currently the world’s top-ranked player and whom Sharapova upset to claim her landmark 2004 Wimbledon win, has not found a suitable renewal offer for her own deal with the sneaker power. Nike declined to make an official available for comment.


On how agent Max Eisenbud manages all of her commitments and her upcoming schedule:

Eisenbud copiously schedules each year down to the hour, parsing the 14 to 16 days Sharapova commits to her sponsors. For appearances at sponsor parties, he bestows each company a single hour annually with her before one of the four Grand Slams. Photo shoots are limited to Saturdays between 1 and 8 p.m. in the offseason, four days next week following the Sony Ericsson Open, two days after Wimbledon and one day after the U.S. Open.

Beginning April 6 in Los Angeles, Sharapova will cram in photo shoots for Nike, its subsidiary Cole Haan, Canon, the shampoo company (whose identity could not be determined) and the cover of ESPN The Magazine. She returns to her home in Florida after April 10 to resume training, and leaves April 30 to compete in Rome.

On her popularity and reasons behind it:

Davie Brown, the Omnicom unit that ranks celebrities, places Sharapova’s popularity in the United States in line with “A-list Hollywood ‘It’ girls, including Keira Knightley and Rihanna,” according to a February study. That report does not track overseas, though, where Sharapova is arguably a far-greater celebrity.

To many, the reason for Sharapova’s popularity is obvious. Even her agent doesn’t discount that a good measure of her fame boils down to the fact that she is a pretty blonde from Russia’s Siberia.

But winning Grand Slam events and playing with a ferocious on-court style are also pluses, and U.S. residency allows her to straddle cultures. Her life story of emigrating impoverished to Florida at age 7 with her father, Yuri, gaining entry to the Bollettieri Tennis Academy at age 9, and winning Wimbledon eight years later is the fairy tale marketers clamor for.

On her upcoming projects including a possible animated series:

Still only 21, Sharapova now is branching into other endeavors. She will serve as the executive producer of a weekly drama series loosely based on her life that MTV has agreed to run. Eisenbud is also planning an animation series portraying her as a tennis player by day and a spy/superhero by night who uses the global tennis tour as a cover. Sharapova plans to do voice-overs for both series.


Okay there's TONS of nitty-gritty stuff here to dissect and still more in the article so take a moment to read it Shrieka (and non-Shrieka) fans. Here are the most intriguing points to me:

1. Is the 3-time Grand Slammer's deal really hurting ReRe's chances for a renewal contract with Nike? There had been murmurs Nike might be cutting the World No.1 loose last summer since she was getting towards the end of her career. But now that she's won two straight majors and moved back into the WTA Penthouse, I'd be surprised if they couldn't work something out. According to the article, however, ReRe is currently without a shoe or apparel contract which could mean she hasn't signed up for a renewal just yet. Stay tuned.

2. Sharapova Inc. is a well-oiled, well-managed machine that's continuing to rake in more cash even though she hasn't played singles since last August. I'm sure Eisenbud is making a good living doing this job (and seemingly well, I might add.)

3. The fact her popularity measured in February ranks with Keira Knightly + Rihanna blows my mind. Again - she's not even playing!!!

4. It all seems like a PR ploy to let marketers know the Russian's still a valuable prospect even though she's been injured.

4. An animated, super Shrieka??! HELL FRIGGIN' NO.

(images via mariasharapova.com)

(UPDATED) SIGHTING: Shakira scopes out Rafa in Miami (watch it)

Rafanatic Shakira was spotted in the front row watching the world's top baller get pushed by Federico Gil in Miami today.

The Portuguese qualifier managed to break Rafa twice but the Spaniard's quality came through, grabbing his 10th consecutive match with a 7-5, 6-3 scoreline. He'll face either Igor Andreev or Stanislas Wawrinka for a spot in the quarterfinals.

This isn't the first time this season the Colombian Grammy Award-winning singer has been spotted rooting on Rafa. She was also spotted giving him a hand in Abu Dhabi back in January.

It's been duly noted, Shakira. We're watching. Closely.

UPDATE: Thanks to Johanne for sending over this video link (read: evidence) of Shakira's behind-the-scenes meet up with a few ballers including Rafa. He gives her a shirt, she offers singing lessons, and she calls him an "animal". Say what?! We're still watching. Closely. CHECK IT -



(image via getty, video courtesy of merikob)

FASHION FIX: Fila returns to its roots with the Heritage collection

Dmitry Tursunov - Men's Heritage Stripe Polo

Though their ballers didn't fare so well in Miami, Fila's fashion game turn returned to its winning ways.

The sports apparel brand went back into their archives to launch the Fila Heritage line at this week's Sony Ericsson Open. This line comes courtesy of the Spring 2009 collection and harks back to the heydays of the 1970's when Bjorn Borg's iconic look (LOVE), which featured signature Italian styling, brought the brand some of its greatest popularity. This time, however, the gear gets the 21st century treatment with state of the art performance fabrications.


Each piece features the F-Box Heritage patch logo and the quintessential Fila colors of red, white, and blue.

The men's Heritage Stripe Polo details include a self fabric collar, 4-button placket and side vents, a snap contrast placket and contrast piping. The collection also includes 8 ½ ” inseam shorts, jacket and warm-up pants and was worn by Dmitry Tursunov (top).

Anna Chakvetadze - Cami Tank

Anna Chakvetadze wore her fave cami-tank from the Women's Heritage collection during her matches in Miami. Details on this piece include ruching on the center front and contrast twist back straps. Chaky also showed up to the Fila Friday Night Q & A host by Cliff Drysdale working the Heritage Jacket.

Anna Chakvetadze - Heritage Jacket

For more information on the line visit Fila.com and check out Svetlana Kuznetsova + Janko Tipsarevic in the Heritage Collection (note to Tipsy: go with this look next time. Just sayin'.)

And a big shout out to the Fila PR team for all the info!

Svetlana Kuznetsova

Janko Tipsarevic

Agnes Szavay

(images via fila, getty)

PHOTO OP: Fashion or fetish? You decide.

Janko Tipsarevic was spotted at a Miami practice session by miri of Nadal News working some kinda craziness.

Who knew adult diapers were all the rage. Go figure.

(image via nadal news)

NaturAna + Dinara beat themselves up, expect great results (wrong-o)

Take a moment to check out these quotes by Ana Ivanovic + Dinara Safina who lost to Agnes Szavay 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 and Samantha Stosur 6-1, 6-4, respectively, in the Miami third round this weekend (BTW - so did Vera Zvonareva but she won in Indian Wells and gets a mini-pass this week):

Dinara: ...I just can say it was sad the way I played today. Just basically I wasn't playing. I go to the court, and I don't even fight for it. So it's just bad behavior from my side. The champions, they don't do this. It's a good punishment for myself.

NaturAna: I always was missing by a little bit, and got really down on myself. It was kind of hard to pick up from there. I think [the reason was] I sort of expected some things would come easier today on the court than they actually did. It was tougher than I expected.

So let's remember the formula for failing in a match: make a few easy mistakes, beat yourself up, make more mistakes, give up mentally, stop fighting, make more mistakes, lose the match, beat yourself up to a pulp. Ahhh - feeling good yet?

When are these lady ballers, including Jelena Jankovic, going to learn to scratch, scrape, and claw their way to a win when their game isn't on point? I give the Williams sisters, especially ReRe, full credit here. She may walk onto the court with all kinds of ideas in her head - fashion, screenplays, some tennis - but when the going gets tough she'll take off the earrings, put the screenplay to pasture, and get down the dirty business of winning matches. It's time to get gritty ladies.

NaturAna, Dinara, and JJ should know by now they wear targets on their backs and their opponents will bring A-games when playing them. Get used to it.

Now to be fair, neither NaturAna nor Dinara has ever done particularly well in Miami (quaterfinals for both) but in tennis it's all about a positive state-of-mind, desire, competitiveness, and heart - something they have yet to find.

(images via getty)

PHOTO OP: You think JJ's at least doing this well?

Jelena Jankovic's nasty Serbian Slide hit hyperdrive when the she was shocked by Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-4, 7-6 (5) in Miami after leading 5-2 in the second set and holding 3 set points and then 5-2 in the tie-break. It's her second consecutive loss after failing to get past her opening round in Indian Wells last week losing to a fresh-faced, snake-wearing Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

What's most disturbing aren't necessarily the losses (though they are troubling, no doubt) but HOW she's losing them: straight sets, losing big leads. It seems JJ's missing the fight and desire to dig her ANTA heels in and grind out a match - "winning ugly" as they say though her version seems more like "whining ugly" these days.

(image via getty)

FASHION FIX: Serena grounds Alexa, goes overkill with orange

Serena Williams is trying to make history again here in Miami and the defending champ got off to a fine start.

The top lady baller, who will hold the record for the most Sony Ericsson Open titles by winning for the sixth time here, defeated teenage compatriot Alexa Glatch 6-2, 6-3 in a 63-minute mismatch. She'll face China's Shuai Peng in the next round.

ReRe debuted some new Nike duds as well in her first match. She was working the Serena Dri-FIT Sony Ericsson Women's Tennis Tank Top in orange paired with what looks like Nike Woven Pleated Tennis Skirt in orange (can someone confirm?). ReRe also busted out a colorful, iridescent-looking satchel on-court:


I'm really not into the whole matchy moment here. I mean, this orange is a great color when used as an accent here 'n there to add pop but now she looks like a walking, ground-stroke slapping popsicle. That being said, the bright orange does play well against her darker complexion and the brightness fits Miami.

Now this shade of orange doesn't work on everybody, but ReRe can def pull it off. Just don't wear it head to toe people. I BEG of you.

(images via getty)

(UPDATED) FASHION FIX: Rafa crushes Teimuraz, goes back to polo-wearing ways (WTF?)

Rafael Nadal made a solid start to his campaign towards his first Sony Ericsson Open title and another shot at the Indian Wells-Miami double last night.

The world's top baller swept aside Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-2, 6-2 in the second round and only dropped five points on his first serve. Gawdy much? Up next: Portuguese qualifier Federico Gil.

So it seems Rafa has returned to his much-maligned polo shirt wearing ways in Miami and I'm sure the Rafanatics will have a few things to say about it (like, duh.) Take thee to the comments section!

In the meantime, let's get back to his on-court fashion: the 6-time Grand Slammer is working the Nike Dri-FIT Sunny Men's Tennis Polo Shirt in white/yellow/mint green and the Dri-FIT Bold Open Men's Tennis Shorts in white tied together with mint green head and wrist bands.

I deflove this color combo but I'm not sure moving Rafa towards a buttoned-up polo look is the way to go without adding more punch and Raflair with bolder graphics or designs. The color-block short-sleeve shirts he's been wearing lately were a good compromise but this style is moving him towards *cough* Swiss territory. Egads!

BONUS: In addition to the Bold Open Men's Tennis Shorts in white he's wearing now, check out the rest of the duds the World No.1 will be sporting as he goes for a fifth consecutive Roland Garros crown including the Nadal French Open Men's Tennis Polo Shirt in white + grey, Nike Reversible Men's Tennis Hoody, and the Bold Open Men's Tennis Shorts in black!

LOVE IT or LEAVE IT?!

UPDATE: Lots o' questions in the comments on this pink colorway of the polo Rafa was supposed to be wearing at Roland Garros. There's always a chance for a last minute switch-a-roo (wouldn't be the first time, huh?).

Let's keep everything crossed it makes it into his kit and I'll post if it gets confirmed. Thanks to an anonymous reader for the images!

(image via getty, nike.com, prodirecttennis.com)