+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Happy Halloween!

In celebration of Halloween today, I won't be posting the usual +NETCORDS but instead this absolutely terrifying video to get you in the mood.

WARNING: Those of you with a fear of clowns, clowns who dance, or clowns who dance while playing with balloons may not want to watch the following clip.

Boo ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Check it:

SIGHTING: Tati's career in shreads but she can still enjoy a good smoke

Thanks to an anonymous reader for tipping me off to these photos of Tatiana Golovin doing her best impression of a chimney.

Listen - I understand a baller's personal time is their time and they can do whatever the hell they want to do. But if you've been struggling with injuries on the tour after being touted as a possible future champion with serious talent, you'd think you'd want to focus in and get yourself better physically. You know, fulfill the whole "potential" thing and all.


Based on these images, I'd say the Frenchie baller is LEAGUES away from getting better. Sorry Tati fans!

Oh and note to Loic Courteau: if you haven't yet settled on who your latest charge will be, you may want to cross Tati off your list. Unless she drops the smokes, that is.


(images via tatiana-golovin.net)

SIGHTING: Shrieka back in Arizona, talks with Steve Nash at Phoenix Suns game

Maria Sharapova was spotted getting in some time with the Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash before his team's home game against the New Orleans Hornets last night. The 21-year old baller, of course, has been traveling to Arizona here and there performing questionable rehab practices.

Wow - Shrieka and the 6' 3" Nash look to be almost the same height (and she's most likely wearing her fave ballerina flats.) If this tennis thing didn't work out for the towering Russian she'd definitely have a career in the WNBA, no problem.

She's, like, HUGE.

(image via The Big Lead)

(UPDATED) Rafa + Fed share injury woes, withdraw from Paris Masters

In one of the strangest turn of events in recent memory, both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer withdrew from the Paris Masters today with injury.

Rafa, who lost the first set 1-6 in his match against Nikolay Davydenko, called it quits after getting treatment on his injured right thigh and losing the set. He complained of a knee injury during his post-match presser:

I had some pain in the knee yesterday. I felt the pain a lot when I woke up this morning. When I push (on my right knee) I feel a sharp pain.

Fed was scheduled to play James Blake later in the day but withdrew sighting back stiffness according to his website:

Dear Fans,

Due to a stiff back, I have decided to pull out of my match against James Blake tonight. My back has been stiff for the last couple of days and I woke up this morning and it did not respond to the treatment I had last night. As a precaution and because I would be unable to play at 100% tonight, I have unfortunately had to take the difficult decision not to play. I thank the tournament and French fans for their understanding and support.

All the best,

Roger

Tough break for the Paris Masters officials and fans. It's unusual to see either of these ballers withdraw from any tourney with injuries, nevermind at the same time (is this the first time ever? someone please confirm!). But after all the recent reader bickering comparing Rafa + Fed's physical fitness it's clear they're both fatigued and need a long-ass break.

Unfortunately for them, the season's not over...yet.

UPDATE - Rafa's appearance at the Masters Cup is not 100% certain after today's injury withdrawal according to the AP:

Nadal said he has never had a similar injury and that he needs further tests before he decides whether to play the season-ending Masters Cup, which begins Nov. 9 in Shanghai.

"We are going to have the tests and everything," Nadal said. "Hopefully it's going to be fine for Shanghai, but you never know."

(images via Getty)

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: A-Rod's in...Kantarian's out...Murray's a man

(Rafael Nadal, Paris)

LINKS

A-Rod books trip to Shanghai [ATP]
More love for JJ [ESPN]
Kantarian calls it quits [SI]


BLOG TALK

Oh Canada! [Tennis Talk, Anyone?]
Not a boy, not yet a man? [Top Spin Tennis Blog]
Wishful thinking Maria K [WTA Tennis Blog]

(image via HC Foo via MTF)

Quote of the Day: Seal on Fed

Roger Federer has been teaching the kids too. That's one of the joys of being connected in the showbiz industry. It's nice knowing these people.

- Grammy Award winning singer Seal on getting Fed to teach his kids tennis

You betcha Seal! *wink*

(image via Getty)

THE LOW DOWN: Nole's game continues to falter during the fall - what's the deal?

The fall indoor season continues to be a thorn in the side of Novak Djokovic.

The Serb started the year by earning his maiden Grand Slam in Melbourne and winning Indian Wells and Rome but his results have suffered since. Today Nole was defeated 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 at the Paris Masters today by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, his second consecutive loss to the Frenchie baller after defeating him for the Aussie Open crown. A couple of weeks ago, Nole fell in straight sets to Ivo Karlovic in Madrid's third round and before that lost to Jo-Willy in the Bangkok final.

Last season, the 21-year old won Vienna but fell off in a big way taking a semifinal loss in Madrid, a second round loss in Paris, a went 0-3 in the Masters Cup round robin play. Could it be that he peaks during the first half of the season but lacks the physical fitness to end the season strongly? Or is it something about indoor play that bothers him?? I believe it's the former.

Rafael Nadal used to face similar criticism (and, to some extent, still does) - his grinding style and emphasis on the clay-court season left nothing in the reserves for the fall. Nole is a grinder as well - he plays a good share of defensive tennis, prefers long rallies in long matches, and doesn't possess a "kill" shot to close out points quickly. He's certainly gotten better at playing shorter matches at the start of tourneys, but not consistently enough and it's caught up to him again. Over time, this style takes its toll and it seems to be doing the same to Nole as he even admitted recently.

This week he strangely arrived to his opening match wearing a black mask. It seems Nole may have been hoping he could be anyone else right about now.

(image via Getty)

Sanjaya wannabe wins WTA's "Challenge Your Hero" contest, will bring drag show to Doha

Drag queens rejoice!

The winner of the WTA's Challenge Your Hero contest has been announced and his/her name is Yodhi Soemardjan from Singapore.

Yodhi's video, entitled "The Routine Hero" shows the Sanjaya wannabe going through daily routines all the while battling Ana Ivanovic with anything he/she can get his/her hands on: a plate, a broom stick, butcher knife, a table tennis paddle all while donning a creepy looking sailor-esque suit. 

Yodhi gets to bring this drag schtick on the road with a trip to next week's WTA Championships in Doha.

PS - love the reverse, open-stance forehand towards the end. Nice touch like the wig...or is it???

Check it:

ESPN's Tandon provides "WTA's Roadmap 2010 Guide for Dummies", a tool for confused tennis fans everywhere

Kamakshi Tandon is on it. The ESPN scribe, who is following the controversy surrounding WTA Tour's Roadmap 2010, has made a valiant attempt to break down the supremely confusing Roadmap into 10 major highlights - a "WTA's Roapmap 2010 Guide for Dummies" which is something I can understand, at least I think so.

Most of the Top 10 is pretty understandable: No. 4 - a longer off-season! No. 5 - more prize money!! No. 9 - Bye bye to first round byes!!!

But here's where the confusion and controversy lie:

1. Premier tournaments

The WTA tournaments below the Grand Slams are currently divided into four groups: Tier I, Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV. Officially, there will be just two next year -- premier and international events.

Unofficially, however, the premier events will consist of four distinct types: mandatory (all eligible players must play), premier five (seven of the top 10), premier (two to three of the top six marquee players), and open (no minimum or maximum commitment because the events are a week before a Grand Slam or the year-end championships -- expect a feast-or-famine situation).

Mandatory events: Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing
Premier five: Dubai, Rome, Canada, Cincinnati and Tokyo
Premier: Paris indoors, Charleston, Stuttgart, Stanford, Los Angeles and Tokyo
Premier open: Sydney, Berlin, Eastbourne, New Haven and Moscow

2. International tournaments

These will be a minor league of sorts for the tour, as only one of the top 20 will be allowed to participate in each event. Top players will be able to play only one international tournament during each half of the season. This would allow a player like Radwanska to play her home event in Warsaw but would limit her to premier events for the rest of the summer and fall.

There also will be a year-end event in Bali for the top eight performers in international events -- a poor woman's Sony Ericsson championships, as it were.

Essentially, the WTA Tour is being split into two tribes: the big ballers vs. the baby ballers and rarely the twain shall meet.

So a top-20 lady baller is only allowed to play one "international" minor league tourney huh? I guess the days of entering these lower-tier tourneys to grab confidence-building wins and quick cash for gracing the masses with their appearance are over.

(image via Getty)

+ WEDNESDAY NETCORDS: Cilic on the go...A-Rod the overachiever...Wertheim's mailbag

(Gilles Simon, Paris)

LINKS

VIDEO: Marin takes Paris [ATP]
Has A-Rod overachieved? [ESPN]
Jon Wertheim, you've got mail [SI]


BLOG TALK

Yanina joins IMG [Nick's Picks]

(image via Getty)