Of course! The 2011 switch from adidas to the whites and reds of Uniqlo meant that Kei Nishikori needed to re-accessorize; the blue candy just wasn’t going to cut it. Instead, he’s been wearing an orange/red Baby-G.
The top Japanese ATPer got bounced out of the third round by Feli Lopez this week’s Barcelona Open. Lopez plays Dodig in the quarters and is in the same half as Rafa. (Draw: Barcelona Open singles [pdf])
Buy: Casio Baby-G BG 2000-4, $79, casio.com.
(image via Getty Images)
For our readers in Los Angeles: if you warming up your shoulders to hurl tomatoes at Obama as his motorcade cuts through the Westside this afternoon — the traffic will. be. a. disaster. — consider this: his fundraiser at Tavern in Brentwood is co-chaired by Tennis Channel CEO Ken Solomon. Now all we need is the first family watching a match at the U.S. Open…
BTW: The cost to attend tonight’s party? $35,800 per person. Schnikes.
Can you convict her of a fashion crime if she’s already in prison stripes? Sneaky, Jelena!
We’ve already pointed out a few highlights from this past weekend’s Fed Cup ties, including Yanina Wickmayer‘s parade and the ladies with their patriotic manicures. Below’s what’s left, including Jankovic in Anta, Sabine Lisicki in geometric Under Armour, and Aravane Rezai toning down but spicing up where it counts: there’s a flirty lace hem on her black skirt!
Photos: after the cut…
Consolation prize: As sad as it is that Pico peaced out early at this week’s Barcelona Open, TSF found the silver lining: an inner-arm tat on Italian Simone Vagnozzi, who upset 16th seed Monaco 6-3, 6-2 in the second round. Vagnozzi fell in the subsequent round to Juan Carlos Ferrero. (Archives: TSF Tattoo Watch)
If anyone out there has a better pic, we’d love to see it!
Read up: Vagnozzi’s page on the ATP site.
(src)
Yep, we’re pretty much just as bored about Nikolay Davydenko as he looks in that picture. Powder couldn’t capitalize on that Qatar final appearance to start of the year. He’s languished since then, stringing no more than two victories back-to-back in eight consecutive tourneys. At this week’s Barcelona Open, Powder got bounced by Nicolas Almagro in the third round; Nico will play fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarters. Humpty Dumpty: This is JCF’s first tourney since undergoing left knee and right wrist surgeries in October 2010. It’s good to have him back on the tour! (Draw: Barcelona Men’s Singles)
Buy: This red polo’s not for sale on the Dunlop site, but you can check out the rest of the goods here.
(image via Getty Images)
By Lindsay Sakraida
Lindsay Sakraida is a freelance writer who, in addition to tennis, has covered fashion, film, photography, shopping, and music. Check out her musings on Twitter at @LinTENNIS (tennis-related) or @LinSakraida (generally non-tennis related, but sometimes she can’t help herself).
As eloquent as he is, we’re thinking Rog is going to have trouble with this whole 100-words-or-less thing. (Super Stock photo)
The write choice? We here at TSF are devout fans of the upcoming Madrid Open’s aggressive cultivation of a sleek and modern brand, and if you’re likewise moved by the tournament’ s vivid colors, style, and daring innovations, then be sure to check out the latest competition in coordination with ellesse. The equally-chic Italian label has designed uniforms for the ball kids, and to celebrate the relationship, ellesse is giving away an all-access trip to the contestant who can best wax poetic (in 100 words or less) about why he or she should win. Flex a creative muscle (preferably in a Rafa-esque fashion), and you and a friend could each snag a flight from anywhere in the world, hotel accommodations for eight nights, an invite to the opening party and a bit of spending cash. Hurry, though: the competition ends at 5 am ET on April 22.
By the way, we’ re serious about that “ flex a creative muscle” thing; the winner of this competition will also have to detail the Madrid experience by keeping a daily diary. We can see it now: Dear Diary – I think Feliciano winked at me during his practice session today. Do you think he has a girlfriend? Or a second baby mama? Or maybe he just got a little clay in his eye??
Click the link above or the image below to visit the contest entrance page.
David Ferrer has had a great year so far, being in an elite group of four guys who’ve won more than one singles title in 2011 — Nole has four, Soderling has three, and Ferrer and Almagro each have two.
After coming so close to winning Monte Carlo, Ferrer’s vying for his second clay title of the year in Barcelona. He opened with a quick match against Carlos Berlocq and will face Hanescu in the third round. He could meet Melzer in the quarters after that. Draw: See how all the guys are doing at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
Lotto: After playing with yellow and color blocking to start out the year, Lotto’s moved on to showcasing the chest by adding lines and patterns to polos and crews. They used orange (“Fanta”) during Ferrer’s swing through Indian Wells and Miami, and have gone back to teal for his clay run. Buy: Shirts available at Pro-Direct Tennis.
(images via Getty Images)
WTAers wore patriotism on their nails at this past weekend’s Fed Cup ties. Sabine Lisicki contributed one point in Germany’s sweep of the US in the World Group Playoffs by beating Christina McHale in straight sets — all while painted in black, red, and yellow. In Melbourne, the green and yellow fingertips on Australian Anastasia Rodionova contributed to three defeats in the hands of of a Ukranian team anchored by Olga Savchuk and Lesia Tsurenko. As for Vika Azarenka, her outfit matched that of the Belarus flag (red up top, green down below) so the blue manicure must’ve just been for show.
(images via Fed Cup)
Fed Cup fashions: Belgian Yanina Wickmayer had outfit changes as she fought alongside Kirsten Flipkens against the Czech Republic at this past weekend’s Fed Cup World Group semis. For her match against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova — which Yanina won 6-4, 6-4 — she brought out a black Erke bubble skirt to help play the pink accessories. She lost her reverse singles rubber (to Kvitova in three sets) wearing a grey tank and a white skirt. The pink drop earrings from her hardcourt run were replaced with purple hearts.
More info: The Czechs won 3-2 (details) and will play Team Russia in the November final.
(images via Getty Images)
Slow day over here. Thank god, otherwise I’d never’ve gotten around to linking to these pics of Grigor Dimitrov from 2010 in Bangkok, where he went on a tear and ended up with back-to-back titles. (Photos: Enjoy!)
2011: Grigor’s won a Challenger (Cherbourg) and last month reached a career-high No. 70 in the ATP rankings. He entered this week’s Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and immediately lost 4-6, 1-6 to Juan Monaco (after being up 4-1 in that first set). Draw: Here’s how the rest of the guys are doing. (The field includes Nadal, Soderling, Ferrer, Melzer, Monfils, and Almagro.)
(image via modetopia)
Commemorative merch is always tricky (“…and all I got was this lousy t-shirt!”) but this week we’re willing to make an exception: Oregonian bagmaker Will Leather Goods has whipped up special versions of its canvas totes and carryalls in conjunction with the two-week Tribeca Film Festival, happening now in NYC. FYI, Buy: Will Leather Goods tote ($195) and TFFxWILL carryall (pictured above, $46) available on-site and online. Watch: Aside from Renee, here’s a list of must-see TFF flicks, via DailyCandy.)
Whale of a shirt: Lots of nautical-themed pieces over at NY-based CXXVI, but our fave — were you surprised? — involved an animal. Buy: Heather fleece sweatshirt with a whale applique, $88, CXXVI.
Around the world all over my neck: Yeah, it’s not quite to scale, but we’re still ready to show off (or cover!) some decolletage with this necklace of the world, dreamed up by Kegan Fisher and Liz Kinnmark of Design Glut. Buy: World Links Necklace, $60, in gold or silver, aplusrstore.com
Grinning, giddily: It’s hard to imagine a bigger smile from Rafa. Are we noticing a pattern? The year starts, we doubt Nadal a little, and then he hits his stride and, well, smiles. His seventh straight title in Monte Carlo inspired this toothy grin, a 6-4, 7-5 victory over countryman David Ferrer the final notch in his flawless belt.
One more shot of Rafa, his grin and (seemingly) heart-shaped trophy after the cut. More: Weigh in on Rafa’s clay dominance.
With the Tribeca Film Festival kicking off this week, TSF is looking forward to no film more than Renee, a documentary about famed tennis player Renee Richards and her controversial decision to play on the women’s tennis tour after going through sexual reassignment surgery in the 1970s. We got the chance to chat with Eric Drath, the director of the film, to talk about Renee, the project and his thoughts about transexuals in sports. -NM
TSF: Your documentary “Life Caught in the Ring” was set in the boxing world. Do you see similarities in the boxing and tennis worlds?
Eric Drath: Although it was a boxing movie, it really was a story of redemption and coming to terms with the decision that somebody made so long ago … a relatively bad decision. This movie is not really a tennis movie, it’s a story about a person. It’s a story about a life, about someone who complete courage to be the person that they feel that they are. Even though it’s set in the environment of tennis it transcends the sport and reaches a bunch of bigger topics and universal themes.
TSF: For this film, dealing with something so controversial – especially for its time frame – how hard was it to find distribution? Were you nervous that it might not have an appeal? That it might be considered a big risk?
ED: Yeah. You really never know what you’re getting into when you start a project like this. I started the project knowing that it was a great story that a new generation should be told. I didn’t know where it was going to wind up or if it was going to be too controversial, but I knew I had an important story and a story that transcends the sport of tennis. This is a story of perseverance, courage and the ability to be true to yourself.
TSF: You’re talking about a new generation. Have you been surprised by the reaction from people in your personal life that you’ve talked to about this of people not knowing this story?
ED: That’s what’s incredible: I think that most people don’t know this story. Most people my age – I’m 40 – have probably heard of it. But there’s a whole generation that doesn’t know and it’s more timely than ever with what’s going on with Kyle Allums and what’s going on in other sports. This is a question that is not going to go away. Where do people who are transsexual should be allowed to play? In what age groups and divisions? These are important subjects and they haven’t gone away. There hasn’t been a final determination on it. It’s very timely now, just as it was front page news back when it was happening.
TSF: Have you got a common response from people who hadn’t heard of the controversy and/or Renee? Are they surprised by what she did?
ED: People can’t believe that this really happened. This wasn’t in the day of the Internet and the 24-hour news cycle. But this still became worldwide news. How many people live a life the way Renee has? She’s had so many lives. When I tell people this story, they’re floored that this could actually happen. People are like, ‘what? That really happened?!’ They’re very surprised.
TSF:What about getting pro players to talk on camera about their experience/opinion regarding Renee?
ED: Well it was interesting because we reached out to a lot of players who were overwhelming supportive back then and we also reached out to players who had walked off the court and were not [supportive]. The common demonator was that all of them had ultimate respect for Renee as a person. The question of whether it was fair or not, I thought [the response] was divided. But the question about Renee was overwhelmingly that she is an incredible person and commands incredible respect.
I talked to what seems like the “old guard,” the royalty of tennis: Martina, Billie Jean, Mary Carillo, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Ilie Nastase.
TSF: Does Renee keep close, personal relationships within the tennis world? Or has she sort of removed herself from it?
ED: She’s very welcomed in the tennis community. There was an outpouring of help from the tennis community and she’s still connected to [it]. She still teaches some youths, she still visits the US Open. She’s not a pariah in any sense. Although, she’s definitely still the most controversial female player to ever play the sport.
TSF: How long did this process take from idea to final product?
ED: Two years, almost to the day from when I picked up the phone and called her.
Click here for the rest of our interview with Drath. (more…)
We think he’s … excited. (AP photo)
Streakin’ seven: Rafael Nadal won his seventh consecutive title at the Monte Carlo Masters event today, downing fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 6-4, 7-5. It was a big W for Nadal after losing three final appearances in the last five month (World Tour Finals, Indian Wells and Miami) and his first title since October. Will Rafa’s dominance on clay end anytime soon? Weigh in below.
Not a fluke: Roger‘s likely as tired as we are to see this spun as Fed’s downward spiral. How about applauding Austrian Jurgen Melzer — a defending Roland Garros semifinalist — for the 6-4, 6-4 upset in the first major clay event of the year? (Flashback: This isn’t the first time Melzer’s served up a doozy.)
Draw: The other men through to the semis: Nadal (d. Ljubicic) faces Murray (d. Gil) and Melzer takes on Ferrer (who took out Troicki). More: Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters website.
Buy: Nike Men’s Roger Federer Trophy Tennis Top, in Concord (blue) or Tech Grey, $70.
Nole‘s had more glamour shots pop up in the last few days, but we’re content with seeing these — the rest of the pap pics from his trip to Malibu right before the 2011 BNP Paribas Open.
(all images by X17 Online)
By Benjamin Snyder
Basically Jimmy: Prepare for Jimmy 2.0, or rather “Jimmy Connors 109,” as the retired tennis champ’s newly released app is called, reports Tennis.com. USA Today initially broke the story, writing, “Part tutorial and part anecdotes, the video app showcases Connors to a whole new generation, while at the same time appealing to fans who watched him become one of the best and most popular players in the 1970s and ’80s.” In Connors’ own words, “I go back to basics, which is how I learned to play. I really believe simpler is better, and as I’m describing a shot or a grip, I’m showing you exactly how I did it.”
Roger Federer 007: Need a paparazzi decoy? Don’t ask Mirka, that just means she’ll wear sweat pants to dinner. Instead, Fed is your man, as he was the other night when out with BFF (Best Fashion Friend) Anna Wintour (oh yeah, and Mirka came too, yaaaaawn). According to the New York Post article, Federer helped Wintour escape from the paparazzi after the meal concluded. The article cites a spy (Mirka?!): “He and the group exited the side door carrying presents. The photographers ran to the side, but the queen of Vogue was nowhere to be found. One yelled, ‘Where’s Anna?’ Federer took his time loading the car, smiled and went on his way. Anna walked out the front door unnoticed.” As the article states, “chivalry still rules for Federer,” and it seems to be nowhere near dead. At the same time, how did Mirka feel about Federer’s kind acts for Wintour on her b-day? Can’t wait for that story line to develop!
Lisa’s lines: The wheels are turning for Lisa Raymond‘s WTA blog, “Lisa’s Spin.” In a recent post, the dubs specialist talks about country music (!??!???!), cupcakes, her doubles “break-up” and more. Let us repeat again: she talks about her doubles drama. Read it. Plus, what is a day without some life coaching from one, LaRa? Raymond says, “And like any relationship, the forming of a doubles partnership is a bit like dating – you seem interested in someone, you confirm they are single and/or on the market, ask them out, and hope you live happily ever after or something like that! 
” Did she really just ??? We can’t with the emoticons.
Loud-mouth Johnny: As loud as John McEnroe is on court, he’s able to spit out the decibels in public places, too. Apparently, he’s just as “obnoxious” off the court, a blurb in the New York Post recounted. It says he “annoyed fellow diners at Recipe, on the Upper West Side recently by loudly recounting tales of his tennis glory days. The court legend entertained his wife and two friends with stories of “beating Bjorn Borg and other victories.”
Chris Chase of Yahoo! Sports is having none of it: “It’d be bigger news if McEnroe went to a restaurant and didn’t talk loudly about Bjorn Borg. What’s most surprising is that the old tennis champ wasn’t boasting about that time he partied with The Rolling Stones.”
The next loud-mouth superstar? Speaking (yelling?) of Johnny Mac, his protege, Ingrid Neel continues to make waves in the tennis world — the boys’ tennis world. The 12-year-old from Minnesota is playing tennis with the boys – and only the boys. Her hometown coach Mike Cartwright to the Minnesota Star Tribune has this to say about the pint-sized puncher playing with the fellas: “It will be interesting. It’s going to be hard for some guys, wondering how the heck they are losing to a seventh-grade girl. But she’s just really talented.”
Time to go? David Ferrer‘s recent ad campaign for Bovet watches in Spanish Revolution magazine. He’s rocking the sepia tones and the specs. Looking good (???), David! And… sort of like an Avatar.
(Connors image by ICN via USA Today; Ferrer image via Spanish Revolution)
Re: the blogger vs. journo debate, what’s left to say, right? I’ll let Craig and CNote speak for us. Bloggers aren’t going anywhere, so we might as well get seats at the adult table. We know what we’re doing! And it’s not like we’re just putzing around — even the stuff that’s you may think is fluff takes work to put together.
xoxoxo TSF
…the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters is definitely on our tennis bucket list.
This year’s quarterfinal match-ups are now set, with the top four seeds — that’s Nadal, Federer, Murray, and Ferrer — making their way through along with Ljubicic (who upset fifth seed Berdych), Melzer, Frederico Gil, and Troicki (Robredo retired with a left adductor injury while up a set).
Tomorrow, Troicki plays Ferrer, Melzer goes up against Federer, then it’s Nadal vs. Ljubicic and Murray vs. Gil. FYI, Nadal is gunning for his seventh straight title in Monte Carlo.
More: Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters website.
(image via Getty Images)
