FASHION FIX: First look at Sania Mirza's new adidas tennis gear

Fashion first: Here's a first look at Sania Mirza in her new adidas gear playing at the Hopman Cup. The Indian sensation, who announced her new partnership with the global sports brand this week, took on Meghan Shaughnessy of the US who was filling in for a tardy Serena Williams and lost 6-3 4-6 6-3.

It looks like Sania is continuing her red + white fashion moment from last season's Japan Open, but our favorite is still the stylish green + white Lotto gear she wore during her successful US summer run.

(images via AFP/Tony Ashby)

SIGHTING: Maria Sharapova takes in Singapore, will take on Chakvetadze

Maria "Shriek"apova has made her first trip to Singapore to play an exhibition match on December 30 against compatriot Anna Chakvetadze, who was recently a victim of a home invasion at her family's country house. The Russian stopped to take some photos on the roof of the Fullerton Hotel, where she'll be staying in the presidential suite. The suite usually runs a cool $4,745 per night, but it'll cost a bit more after Maria's done with it. Why? Because the Singapore officials will be selling every single item from the hotel room for charity - everything except the toilet seat.

We were worried, but it's good to know the officials have their limits, too.

(image via ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Sania Mirza signs multi-year partnership with adidas

Sania Mirza is the latest tennis player to be signed to the adidas brand. The Indian sensation, who was formerly sponsored by Lotto, had a very successful 2007 US summer hardcourt run in which she reached a career high No. 27 after reaching the final of Stanford, a Tier II tournament. Sania had this to say about her new partnership with adidas:

"I am extremely happy to be part of such a distinguished family of players and brand ambassadors. I have been associated with the brand as a junior and I believe adidas` experience and expertise will be a key part of my on-court performance. I am really looking forward to wearing the stylish 3-Stripes for many years to come."

(via women's tennis blog, image via AP Photo)

THE LOW DOWN: Andy Roddick slams media for choosing Simpson over substance

Andy Roddick has a bone to pick with the media (does that mean us, too?) On his blog, the former US Open champion accuses journalists of not covering the good work that tennis ballers do, including himself, and only reporting on negativity and gossip. He even references B-list celeb Jessica Simpson's ill-fated PR stunt of attending a Dallas Cowboys football game in which boyfriend and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had the worst game of his career.

According to A-Rod,

"I have been on the go since Davis Cup. I have played in a bunch of charity events and am convinced that tennis is an amazing sport. You hear so much about pro athletes being spoiled and getting arrested and that sort of thing….unfortunately, the media chooses those stories over the good ones that are out there. So many tennis players use the little off-season they have to raise money for charitable causes of their choice. It’s a really great thing. I wish there was a way to get these kinds of things as much attention as what hot chick is wearing whose jersey at a football game and who’s pissed about it or whatever…."

No worries A-Rod, we're up in ALL of your business. We've written about both your charity work and your love life. It's much more fun for us, really.

(image via wireimage.com)

VIDEO VAULT: Maria Sharapova brings new look, and ping pong skills, to The Ellen Degeneres Show

Maria "Shriek"apova spent part of her pre-holiday celebrations visiting The Ellen Degeneres Show, working the new bangs we wrote about last week. Wow - Maria is a giant next to Ellen (of course the fashionista is wearing about 3" stilletos on her 6' 2" frame) and she can TALK. But in all fairness Maria seemed genuinely nervous and excited. The former Wimbledon champ even took on Ellen in a game of ping pong - we won't say who won. You'll have to see for yourself...

Letter to our readers: Happy Holidays!

Hello readers,

We'll be posting sporadically over the next week as we'll be getting our party on for the holidays. We'll still be monitoring the tennis news so if anything extraordinary happens, we'll be there.

In the meantime, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the support over the last 7 months since we started this blog and for believing we actually had something interesting to say about the sport we love - tennis. We look forward to continuing to bring our brand of tennis coverage the best way we know how - Down the Line!

Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year!

- Rich

+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Roger, Justine, Amelie, Steffi vs. Andy...Alicia defends Mark, Maria is most spankable and more

- No AP love: So the tennis dynamic duo of Roger Federer & Justine Henin have won virtually every tennis accolade imaginable, including ITF and TENNIS magazine honors, this year. But today both World No. 1's are playing second fiddle in the AP's Athlete of the Year honors. Fed lost out to New England Patriot's pretty boy Tom Brady while Justine saw golfer Lorena Ochoa grab the most votes. Fed, who yet again lost the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year honor to another footballer, is most likely the greatest player the sport of tennis will ever see, while Justine had the best, and most dominant, year of her career. Bullshit - that's all we have to say.

- Tennis gives back: Another player known for her dominance, Steffi Graf, and her Children for Tomorrow foundation are building a medical centre in the German city of Hamburg to counsel children who have been traumatized by war or losing their homes. In other philanthropic news, The Andy Roddick Foundation is working on building an $8.2 million tennis complex called Andy Roddick Foundation International Tennis Center in Austin, TX. The center will serve as a training ground for the Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program, which gives at-risk youth the opportunity to learn the game and compete.

- A brand new day: After a career-making 2006 led to a disappointing 2007, former World No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo is determined to make a brilliant start to her 2008 in Oz. The 2-time Grand Slam champ told the Herald Sun, "Even as a veteran of 11 years in pro tennis, I still have a great passion for the game and I must say that there is less pressure being ranked lower,[...] I am doing everything I can to make that (winning the Australian Open) happen. Australia has always meant something special to me."

-Naughty or nice: Maria "Shriek"apova was voted Most Spankable Sportswoman, beating out Tatiana Golovin, Martina Hingis, and the Williams sisters. The Lifetime Achievement Award for Most Spankable went to Chris Evert. Really? Well, we suppose she deserves a few spanks after her latest romantic drama.

- Playing defense: Aussie Alicia Molik has come to the defense of her compatriot Mark Philippoussis. The 'Scud', who tore cartiledge in his right knee during qualies for the Australian Open and is now considering retirement, has been the subject of severe criticism in his home country. "I think it's a shame that all the public feel like they need to get so involved and so critical and criticise so much, because I just don't think it's fair. Let him be, let every sportsperson in Australia be — and yeah, there's a lot to deal with obviously for him, on the court, to not to have to worry about what's said and what's written. Let him go about his business. He's still playing tennis," said Alicia.

- ESPN.com's Bonnie D. Ford puts her hat in the ring with the best and worst of 2007.

- WTF moment: It's good to know even rich and famous tennis players can take a step down and join the common people. Stepping out of your comfort zone - we applaud you!

- What was 2007 like for Sania Mirza? How is she preparing for 2008 and her first event, the Hopman Cup?? We'll let the Indian sensation tell you herself.

- On the Baseline has 10 questions for Marion Bartoli and up-and-coming player Tamira Paszek, while FOXSports.com has 10 questions for the ladie's 2008 season - sense a trend?

- Changing of the guard: Congrats go out to Mary Jo Fernandez for her new role as FED CUP captain, replacing Zina Garrison who will step down at the end of 2008. “I am thrilled to be part of the U.S. Fed Cup team once again, [...] Fed Cup was one of the most important and memorable times of my career. I am excited to be working with Zina in 2008, and then taking on the Captain’s role in 2009,” said Mary Jo.

(image via AP Photo)

PHOTO OP: Rafa gets a helping hand from Real Madrid's Fabio Cannavaro

Here's a lucky Rafael Nadal getting a friendly helping hand from Real Madrid uber-hottie Fabio Cannavaro during the "Friends of Iker vs Friends of Rafa" soccer match in Spain yesterday.

Seriously, Cannavaro could give us a helping hand anytime....ouch...

(images via Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Venus Williams chosen by Vogue magazine as one of the best dressed for 2007

Venus in vogue: Venus "V"Williams, our TENNIS 2007 Award winner for Style Maven of the Year, has picked up another important fashion accolade. The 6-time Grand Slam champion has been chosen as one of the best dressed women of 2007 by Vogue. She tells the magazine,

"Whether I’m on a best or worst-dressed list, if I’m creative, step out a bit, take a chance, at least I know I’ve done something different.”

V joins Kate Bosworth, Kathryn Neale, Astrid Munoz, Georgina Chapman, Kelly Wearstler, Amy Greenspon, Caroline Sieber, Huma Abedin and Agyness Deyn on the elite list.

(via tennisweek.com)

THE LOW DOWN: Will Rafael Nadal be buzzing off his lovely locks?

Will Rafael Nadal be hacking off his trademark hair? That's the rumor we've been hearing around the tennis forums today. Apparently, in an attempt to clean up his supposed "bad boy" image, the Spaniard will be changing his look - adding sleeves to his sleeveless, raising the hemline on his pirate pants, and shaving off his cascading locks prior to Wimbledon. Clearly this makeover won't be happening at the Australian Open if he's really wearing the rumored Nike outfit we wrote about last week.

Okay everyone - a collective "NO!" We're hoping the rumor is just a rumor. We like the fact that Rafa stands out from the crowd and follows his own style. A bad boy he's not, but his looks gives him that edge, plus he's never had a hairy situation like some other players on the ATP Tour.

We guess we'll just have to wait and see...

(image via southernsalestt.com)