Just like old times: Pete edges Andre in Macao exo

Tennis legends Pete Sampras + Andre Agassi renewed their historic rivalry for an exhibition match in Macao this past weekend.

And it seems they picked up where the left off: Pete defeated Andre 3-6, 6-3, 10-8. Their last pro match was the 2002 US Open final when Pete grabbed his then-record setting 14th major title over his great rival.


The Las Vegas natives ball-striking ability can still impress according to the 7-time Wimbledon champion:

Andre just hits the ball so cleanly, even after being retired for three years. The pace of his shots was very heavy.

Pete's legendary skills at the net haven't seemed to dull over the years, either:

Pete's hands are the same as they've always been. He has great feel for the ball. He surprised me with the number of pickups he made out there. It was like it just came very naturally.

Last year, Pete defeated Roger Federer in Macao during the last match of their Asian exo series.

(Photos: AP)

Top lady ballers dress it up in Doha, attend draw ceremony for WTA Championships

The top eight lady ballers in the world have gathered in Doha for the 39th WTA year-end Sony Ericsson Championships.

They have been divided into two groups for the round robin format based on the colors of the Qatari flag: the White group features No.1 seed Dinara Safina, No.4 seed Caroline Wozniacki, No.6 seed Victoria Azarenka and No.8 seed Jelena Jankovic. The Maroon group is made up of No.2 seed Serena Williams, No.3 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, No.5 seed Elena Dementieva and No.7 seed Venus Williams, who is the defending champ.

Alternates Vera Zvonareva + Agnieszka Radwanska also made the trip to Doha.

Check out the official site here.

Images of the ladies going glam for the draw ceremony below. My fave? Elena. Simple elegance. My least fave? V. It's not your 1985 senior prom girl.

Dinara

ReRe

Sveta

Wozzi

Elena

Vika

V

JJ

(Photos: Getty, Reuters)

Brooklyn's got legs...and she knows how to use 'em

Here's a sneak peek from Brooklyn Decker's guest cameo on Ugly Betty next Friday, October 30.

In the episode, the gorgeous tennis WAG plays the new sexy, but incompetent, assistant to Mode EIC Daniel Meade played by Eric Mabius.



Brooklyn has some serious leg action going on here (lucky A-Rod.) And the outfit? Well, I'm getting a fashion flashback at the moment.


(Photos: Eric Liebowitz/ABC via JustJared.com)

Rafa receives giant honor but t-shirt remains questionable

The Barcelona Royal Tennis Club organizers honored Rafael Nadal today with a life size replica of the "Condo de Godo" trophy for being the only baller to win their tourney five times.

Before receiving the honor, the 6-time Grand Slammer hit some balls with a few of the kids attending the presentation.



He was also joined on stage by Spain's Davis Cup captain and former Roland Garros champ Albert Costa.


Uh, love the trophy but making Rafa wear that t-shirt of himself is a bit much, no?

(Photos: JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)

PHOTO OP: Blow job

"Just put your lips together..."

Robin Soderling is three matches away from securing a second ATP World Tour title on his home turf (Bastad '09) and fifth overall after swiping aside Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-3 in Stockholm.

The Roland Garros finalist will face Guillermo Garcia-Lopez for a spot in the final four.

Sod is also still in the running for a spot in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.

According to the ATP:

Soderling is currently ninth in the year-to-date South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings and could add to his points tally by reaching the final or better in Stockholm this week. A runner-up finish would earn the Tibro native 35 points, while his first If Stockholm Open trophy would gift him 135 points – taking him to within 65 points of eighth-placed Fernando Verdasco.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro and Andy Roddick have already secured their spots.

Could Sod actually leap frog Nando in the next few weeks? Paris-Bercy will be a doozy and not just because it's Marat "SexGawd" Safin's final tourney EVAH.

*stocks up on kleenex*

(Photo: Getty)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: WOZZI

I could possibly have finished the match, but felt there was no way I could get ready for the second round on Thursday, so I chose the sporting way and let her go through. She's also [playing] at home.

- Caroline Wozniacki's explanation to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet on her mid-match injury retirement against Anne Kremer in the first round of Luxembourg after leading 7-5, 5-0.

Papa Piotr also discussed the incident with the paper, which occurred during a live mic on-court coaching session, and told them "I said to her,'Caroline, whether it is 5-0, 4-1 or 3-2 at the next change of ends, you have to decide if you will be able to play the next match. Then make the right decision." The move has prompted the WTA to review a tape of the match after reports surfaced the conversation was posted online leading some bets to possibly be put on the homegirl.

I do think Wozzi was being a good sport knowing she would most likely not be able to play her next match due to the leg injury. But this incident does highlight the fact that the on-court coaching discussions can be easily heard by anyone and used for any purpose, including betting.

(Photo: Reuters)

(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: Rafa trades racquets for clubs in Castellon de la Plana

"Don't judge a man by the size of his overbite but by the length of his club."

Rafael Nadal grabbed for the Pro - Am of the Castello Masters Costa Azahar at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo in Castellon de la Plana, Spain.

The Spaniard, who opted for bright blue over last year's pale green, was again joined by compatriot Sergio Garcia for the tourney.


UPDATE: More pics of Rafa's Pro-Am fun over at his Facebook page.

(Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Europe)

Letter to DtL readers: California, Jan-Michael and the flu

Hey y'all!

Phew - I'm back. It was a much needed vacation as I mentioned and the time away from LIFE was great. Well, up until I got sick.

If you were following my updates on Twitter you would've seen that Kalil + I were innocently enjoying our trip out west with my fam to visit my dad's fam when a nasty virus arrived on the scene (I won't mention the names of those who brought it because we're related - for now.) Despite all the Airbourne, hand scrubbing and other preventative measures we took, it was all in vain: we both caught the flu. And NO, we didn't get our shots and YES we should've just done it. Lazy asses.

Anyway, before being struck down by illness we happened to be scouting out some good Columbus Day deals at the Banana Republic outlet in Vacaville, CA when I eye-spied a noticeably tall, blond and broad boy (I'm partnered, not dead people.) And what to my wondering eyes should appear but the used-to-be-retired-now-making-a-returnament JAN-MICHAEL GAMBILL!

After some discussion with Kalil and my brother, I shamelessly ambushed the baller. I walked up to JMG, introduced myself and told him I had read about his "comeback" to tennis which he said was true. In fact, he was on his way up to a Challenger-level event but decided to stop for some shopping. I asked if I could take a picture with him (above) and wished him luck. Afterwards, we both returned to our shopping ways.

He's quite tall, toned and broader than he appears on TV. Plus, his tan was beyond and his personality sweet. Total randomness.

The rest of the trip was spent coming down with the flu as we made our way to LA, lying in bed while in LA and then flying out of LA somewhat recovered. Although I love vacays, I hate getting sick while traveling and wanted nothing more to be in my own bed. And now I am.

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes both here and on Twitter. It feels good to be back!

RiCH

(Photo: DtL)

THE LOW DOWN: Pim Pim outs Curlbis as "john" in Stockholm

Is Ernests Gulbis one of the two ballers who was detained over the weekend for soliciting sex from prostitutes in Stockholm, Sweden?

According to HCFoo, Joachim "Pim Pim" Johansson revealed in his blog that the Latvian lad had "already acknowledged" his involvement:

Monaco found out last night that he was accused in the Argentine press of being the player who bought sex during the weekend while Gulbis already acknowledged. He will probably have a difficult time before the match on Wednesday. I'll try to take advantage of it early in the match ...

No word yet on whether Pico has been confirmed as the other baller.

I guess boys will be boys. But why pay for it? I could point out a number of DtL readers (and one blogger) who'd probably give it up to them for free. They'd just have to pay for travel, hotel and expenses. Wait - is that still considered "whorish?"

(Photo: Zimbio)

VIDEO VAULT: Shrieka has CGI hair - and so can you!

Maria Sharapova is starring in a new commercial for Clear Shampoo as part of the $2.5 million deal she signed earlier this year.

This product must be some strong stuff. It's turned Shrieka's hair into liquid gold and did something funny to her voice.

BUYER BEWARE.

Thanks Maja!