trophy watch: where ‘yee-haw’ meets ‘ole!’

There was a story on msnbc.com last week about U.S. cities and their slogans. You know, like New York is the “City that Never Sleeps” and “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas.” Our fave? That would be Eagle Pass, Texas: “Where ‘Yee haw!’ Meets ‘Ole!'” We’re feeling as though David Ferrer is channeling such a slogan, donning a sombrero after his win in Acapulco over Nicolas Almagro, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-2.

Is this a sign of the future? Oh, we were talking about the trophies. You meant the scoreline? It was 3 and 3 to Novak Djokovic over Roger Federer.

And is this growing into a rivalry? It certainly could. Vera Zvonareva won a competitive bout with Caroline Wozniacki in Doha, taking out the world no. 1, 6-4, 6-4.

gisela the hottie

Any of our Italian fans up for a bit of translation? Gisela Dulko is featured in the latest issue of SportWeek, Italy’s sports magazine. The article (as far as we can tell), focuses on Gisela and her partnership with Italian Flavia Pennetta and their victory at the Australian Open in doubles this year. Ladies look goooooooood! Above and below: Dulko.

UPDATE: Reader Palbi weighed in, giving us a synopsis: “[Gisela] says that Flavia and her are best buddies and speaks about her boyfriend Fernando Gago, from Real Madrid. He saw her on TV and asked someone to get him her number. Apparently that’s how soccer player rolls these days. In other news, she’s a Federer fan and she thinks that winning a Grand Slam in double is the same as winning one in singles.” Thanks Palbi!

(via @PennettaWebsite on Twitter)

sunday survey: things are getting (less) hairy

This Day in Bald History: how brilliant is this website? Will Andy make the cut? Get it? Cut?! Oof. (Image via TDIBH)

Remember on the podcast (you listened, right?!) when David and I were discussing Andy Roddick‘s (lack of) hair. Well, now there’s a survey for that. Vote away, TSFers. | TSF Vault: Sunday Surveys

ladies (and objects) in red

[other thread(s)]: Elle Macpherson (not pictured) stepped out for Virgin Blue, Australia’s Virgina airline last week to help the company debut the flight attendants’ sexy new red get-ups. We weren’t sure exactly what we thought about the scarves at first, but reading that these ladies are flying over Australian skies, we think the fit just right. See more shots at the Huffington Post.

How dang cool is this? We’re loving Cubicle Refugee, a blog we stumbled upon whose author says: “Each day I focus on a different tone and color that makes me smile. To see it best check out my archive.” Simply put and seriously awesome. Click the image above or here to peruse on your own.

(photo by getty images via huffpo; screen grab via cubicle refugee)

he said, he said: davydenko and the sand man

Nikolay Davydenko said nothing of importance this week, but that certainly didn’t stop us from running this brilliant picture of him and his wife Irina at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray a resort and spa located in Dubai.

It wasn’t good news leading up to the Acapulco event this last week in Mexico, after 13 people were killed by gun violence. The ATP and WTA event has gone off without a hitch, however, after the ATP released this statement earlier in the week explaining their decision to keep the tourney as is: “Following an independent security assessment and discussions with tournament organizers, we are satisfied that responsible measures are being taken, and that the event has the full support of the authorities of Acapulco, the state of Guerrero, and the Mexican federal government.” Above: some sand art on the beach that we’re definitely digging.

(getty images photos)

tsf podcast: roddick goes bald and courier a one-man davis cup team?

TSF Podcast Feb. 2011 | Nick McCarvel with David Thorpe | To download MP3 in iTunes, just click link

Our mid-winter musings: TSF Podcast Feb 2011

What fun doing a podcast with one David Thorpe is. You folks don’t want to miss this one: we talk player-name pronunciation (it’s Rah-OWE-nitch, BTW), South American cultural customs, high fashion and how Roger Federer‘s real estate savvy has helped him stay on the top of his game. Plus! Danielle Ribner of Loup joins the convo live from Delray Beach to tell us how dang hot it is down there (jealous D!) and how fricking cool her latest photo shoot was. Oh, and how could I forget? David and I talk up Jim Courier, and what an adventure he’ll have as a one-man Davis Cup team next week in Chile. Click above! | TSF Vault: Podcasts

(ap photo via forty deuce)

short balls: good bye, counselor

by Benjamin Snyder

Serena is outta the Nike exo, but staying on as a ref. Think Shino will be there to join her? (Reuters)

Forget becoming an esthetician, Serena Williams is taking on a new career as a lineswoman. The sidelined former no. 1 won’t be playing in a much-anticipated return at the Nike exhibition on March 8. Instead, she’ll be a referee. That’s tough luck for the 12,000 fans expecting to see the 13-time major champion’s form alongside Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova. Citing the foot injury that’s been kept her out since after Wimbledon, Serena released the following statement: “I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to play … as I had anticipated. I’m thrilled, however, to still be able to participate … in the exhibition as a referee during the mixed doubles.”

Is something sketchy going on here? Columnist Greg Crouch thinks so. Taking her place on court is Victoria Azarenka. With Masha and Vika both on court, make sure to bring the ear plugs, Eugene.

Pakistani dubs expert Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi is flashing his pearly whites (and wavy locks) in a recent ad with CloseUp toothpaste. Seriously, Rafa and Fernando, this dude is nipping at your modeling heels. He’s just going for a – er – cleaner approach.

He’s not just a hot head, he’s also an art aficionado. Getting a custom-made sculpture in the process, tennis legend and New York City art collector John McEnroe took to the streets of Delray Beach against Mats Wilander in a game of street tennis as part of the “On the Ave” exo. Although Mayor Woodie McDuffie served as the chair umpire, it didn’t make Johnny Mac bite his tongue or keep the snide remarks at bay. He called Mayor McDuffie’s math “fuzzy” on his way to winning the TB 13-11. “I was down 2-1, and now I’m up 3-1; I like that. Is that how they count in Florida?” McEnroe quipped.

After being honored with work from artists of the Milagro Youth Center, McEnroe said, “This is definitely unique. Anybody that knows about me knows that I’m a big fan of the arts. I’ve been a collector for 30 years since I first made money playing the sport I love… The greatest compliment I’ve received as a player was that I was an artist on the court.” But seriously, what is hanging over his headboard? Oh the things we wonder.

Caroline Wozniacki has reclaimed the world’s no. 1 ranking after winning in Dubai over Svetlana Kuznetsova. Kim Clijsters nabbed the distinction from Caro for just one week ago. Kamakshi Tandon and Steve Stignor volleyed back and forth on their thoughts of the flip flop. Whether the system’s flawed or not, expect much more of the Caro-Kim ranking fight in the coming months, especially with Serena playing referee.

Splitsville: “Super Mario” Ancic has called it quits on his ten-year career due to a severe back injury. According to the 2004 Wimbledon semifinalist and former world no. 7, “It was one of the toughest decisions I ever had to make. I’m only 26 but my body said I would not be able to continue on a high level.” Although he’ll be missed on the tennis courts, expect him to put his energy into a different type of court. The University of Split law grad now plans on pursuing a career as a lawyer. So long, counselor. | TSF Vault: Mario Ancic

(serena and ancic photos by reuters)

loup gives VolleyGirls a new look

The VolleyGirls of the Delray Beach ITC have become a staple of the SoFla event. TSF nabbed designer Danielle Ribner of Loup, to chat about the NYC-based chic clothing co dressing the ladies this year. -NM

TSF: Tell us about the partnership between Loup and the Delray Beach tourney? How did it come about? Danielle Ribner, Loup: The director of the Volley Girls at the Delray Beach ITC contacted me a while ago to ask if Loup would consider sponsoring the girls and dressing them for events during and leading up to the tournament. They seemed to really support independent designers and partneringwith up and comers which seemed ideal to me.

TSF: What are the Volley Girls? What are their history?
DR: The VolleyGirls are a team of about 15 women, some of them professional dancers, that promote and energize the tournament.They’ve been around since 2007 and every year they seem to get more popular.

TSF: When you went about this project, how did you pick the right clothes for the girls to wear? Especially thinking about Delray and the flavor/ style of the tournament.
DR: I wanted to make sure the girls had outfits that would stand out, but also feel very relaxed and stylish. Instead of looking like uniforms, I wanted to give them clothes that made them feel like cool girls hanging around the tournament so that their personality could shine through.

TSF Vault: Loup’s always turning our  head

TSF: When you look at a tournament like Delray Beach, do you get excited about the partnerships and the way that tennis can branch out from mainstream traditions?
DR: Yes, definitely! I love that this tournament feels like it’s taken its own path and makes sure to involve the community as much as possible. As a smaller company, it’s important to maintain our identity as we evolve, and I think the Delray Beach ITC believes in that too. | More VolleyGirls pics

More of Danielle (and Loup) after the cut.

nymag re-imagined: maria’s ‘mashion’ cover

Seriously, it should have been Masha. “Worth more on the court or the runway?” (Illustration by Troy Venechanos)

fan reports: from iw and miami. you got ’em? we’ll take ’em

CLASSIFIEDS:

BFFs (Blog For Fans) — Well-known tennis blog (that’s us!) seeks fan(s) (you??) to contribute photos, writing, musings and more from Indian Wells and/ or Miami. Yes! We love shirtless photos (of the players, not you, silly). No! We don’t care about the score of a third-round match on Court 7 (unless it involves Lynn Welch). In all seriousness, we welcome: behind-the-scenes gossip from from around the grounds, a shirtless practice pic (did we already mention this?!) and whether you like your lemonade slurpees with or without vodka (guess how we prefer ours?). 

PAYMENT:

Money is so 2010. We pay in beautifully crafted one-paragraph bios, linkage to your requested destination (blog/ web site/ flickr stream) and the utmost satisfaction that you’re saving the world, one tennis/ fashion blog post at a time. Click here to submit.

(illustration by nelsonrico via flickr/ nelsonrico.com)

 

trophy watch: hold up that boo-boo, boo

We know, we’ve been a little Andy-crazy the last 24 hours, but really y’all, the dude is holding this boring trophy, looking so dang proud of himself and flashing a battle wound. That. Is. So. Cool. Seriousssssssssly. (AP photo)

Oh right, the ladies were playing in Memphis, too. At left, winner Magdalena Rybarikova beat Canadian Rebecca Marino. (Getty Images)

Is it just us, or is Nicolas Almagro getting cuter? The Spaniard won in Brazil for his second-straight ATP title in two weeks.  (AP photo) More trophies (and their holders) after the cut.

andy’s dive

It was worth it, wasn’t it? Andy Roddick threw his body on the ground – perhaps symbolic of the way he’s played tennis during the Rafa-Roger dominance – to win in Memphis yesterday, 7-5 in the third set over red-hot Milos Raonic. Click image to watch a thrilling championship point.

More: Roddick pulls out of Delray Beach with flu-like symptoms | Raonic the new Dancevic?

(screengrab via atp web site)

spotted in the city: brooklyn, “working”

Above: an advertisement in Soho. This isn’t last year’s cover. This isn’t this year’s cover. We may have no interest in the swimsuit edition, but we understand that much. (TSF photo)

OK, we’ll admit it: Brooklyn Decker is gorgeous. But what is the deal with straight guys and blondes with big breasts? We don’t try to understand, but we do understand that this is Brooklyn’s career. And she’s pretty good at her job. That would mean she’s a model, not an actress. If you would like to fight such a claim, just read the reviews (of her debut in Just Go With It).

Brooklyn graced the cover of Sports Illustrated for last year’s swimsuit edition. This year, Irina Shayk (Cristiano Ronaldo‘s GF) got the nod.

We’re wondering: What’s the deal with Brooklyn’s Conan outfit?! | Brooklyn on TSF

sunday survey: the week’s big story

Look, Andy, we promise this won’t be painful. We’re just curious: which story was the big talker this week? Click one of the choices below. And if you feel so compelled, defend your choice (or lack of choice) in the comments section. (AP photo)

WANT: tickets and (jessica’s) hair

Don’t you want tickets to the BNP Paribas Showdown at the Madison Square Garden in less than 10 days’ time. We sure do. I mean, come on: John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi? There is going to be more drama and cat fighting on this night in New York than even Jelena Jankovic could handle. | Buy here | Watch on ESPN

Jessica Simpson looks way to cool on the cover of New York Magazine right now. Seriously? We want that hair. At least to see it on… say, Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Let’s see if BMS is into such a suggestion, k? And if you’re wondering how JSimp got her hair so big, just read the article. It’s where she keeps all her money.

(bnpps msg screengrab; simpson photo by ruven afanador via nymag)

the raonic-dancevic equation

by Benjamin Snyder

IS MILOS RAONIC THE READ DEAL? OR FRANK DANCEVIC, VERSION 2.0? Move aside Greg Rusedski, there’s a new (and real) Canadian hotshot in town. No, not you Frank Dancevic. You’ve already had your fifteen minutes. Well, okay, try most of 2007. But, apparently there’s only room enough for one top Canuck at a time. Now, we’re talking the big-serving, big-sized, giant-killer Milos Raonic, whose recent charge through the top-tier of the ATP tour has many talking, including Greg on his Twitter :

But before we get all hot and bothered by Milos the Great, let’s not forget Dancevic’s 15 minutes of fame. Is Raonic bound for a similar destiny? To find out, here’s a breakdown of the games, the fashions, and the Canadian quirks of the two.

Similarity number one: both Frank and Milos have failed to pass the first round at the U.S. Open. While Frank has lost in the qualifying the last couple years, Milos succumbed to Carsten Ball in 2010’s first round. Of course, with the way Milos is playing, that dismal record should soon be a thing of the past. For Frank: not so much.

Going along with Milos’ big results, we have our first key difference: the young Canadian gun has actually won an ATP title. Taking out Fernando Verdasco at the SAP Open, he got what eluded Dancevic on two separate occasions: a tour victory. Take that, Anna Kournikova! Not to mention there’s that surprise run to the Aussie Open fourth round versus Dancevic’s second round in ’07. Another difference: Milos is set to crack the top 50 after a recent semifinal showing at Memphis, besting Frankie’s career-high of 65 from 2007.

Read more on Milos and Frank (and see Frank flexing some bicep) after the cut.

he said, he said: delray tourney director & andre agassi

Above, a previously unshared photo of Douglas Hoekzema‘s work at the Delray Beach ITC. Check out that wall, y’all. (photo by Peter Vahan via primaryflight.com)

“We do this to embrace community and show off the talent this town has. It’s the smallest city of any on the ATP Tour, but has the most flavor block for block for sure. It’s all about creating a lasting positive memory that people can leave with whether they’re a core tennis fan or someone seeing our space and athletes for the first time. Amazing art, VolleyGirls, killer local bands, on-court seats, convertible Porsches on-court that fans watch matches in… it’s all groovy at ‘the beach.'” –John Butler, Executive Director of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships

Agassi arrives yesterday in DC to shoot a USTA promo with First Lady Michelle Obama. (Max Blodgett)

Andre Agassi today gave a teleconference in preparation for the BNP Paribas Showdown. When asked about Pete Sampras and the two stars’ awkward moment at last year’s Hit for Haiti, Andre had this to say: “Our relationship is strictly platonic, I’ll say that.” [Laughter] “Hit for Haiti was an unfortunate night that was of my doing. I had a microphone at my mouth for too long… I just called him and apologized. No one regretted it more than me.”

she said, he said: petko & j-willy

On Monday, the folks of the WTA asked players in Dubai what a good Valentine’s Day date would be. Leave it to one Andrea Petkovic to have the best answer. By light years. “Well first of all I have to say I hate Valentine’s Day. I don’t know why… but, it’s too pink-y girly for me. My perfect date would go to a concert and jump around a little bit. And then go and have a beer.”

We grabbed this image from Petko’s rockin’ web site, which you should definitely check out if you haven’t already. The photo was taken by famed German photog Markus Hintzen for Der Spiegel.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga really doesn’t have to say anything. Just shake those hips, brother.

(tsonga photo via atp by yohan brandt)

short balls: ladies in wanting

Aussie Open contributor Benjamin Snyder is back for more. Taking on the longest of tasks: short balls.

Back in the habit: Vera – circa USO 2009 – got the meltdown bug again last week in Thailand. (Getty Images)

Well, it looks like we’re back to some shaky form for the top women — and, man, you girls were all looking so sharp in Australia, according to Tennis.com’s Tom Perrotta. Check out how world no. 3 Vera Zvonareva allowed a line call and a swearing violation get the best of her big game. She lost it versus Daniela Hantuchova in the Pattaya Open semis, prompting this charged statement: “There is a big difference between being mentally tough and being emotional. It’s a huge difference. I will always be emotional. As long as I use those emotions to my advantage, that’s only a plus to me. If I need to break the racquet to pump myself up, then I will break the racquet. I don’t care.” | Watch the drama

At least Vera stayed on her feet. This week in Dubai, Anna Chakvetadze collapsed due to a stomach bug against Caroline Wozniacki. Déja vu? Good thing she chopped her pony or she really could have hurt herself.

Before you call Petra Kvitova the next big thing, waiting for her to win everything, Federer-style, get this: she choked in her first-round match in Dubai.

Speaking out. Former world no. 1 Amelie Mauresmo isn’t scared to voice her opinion, especially when it relates to her home Slam at Roland Garros. She recently lowered the boom on French officials who bid to keep the clay-court major in Paris. “We are the smallest of the four grand slams and I think it is important to have the chance to grow, and for the public to have more room,” she said.

Ana Ivanovic split with coach Antonio van Grichen (just what we were thinking… who?!) last week, saying she plans to keep the solo mojo going for longer. Maybe that’s not working too well, Ana. The ’08 FO champ lost to veteran Patty Schnyder in the first round of Dubai, just three short months after snacking on her in the final of Linz.

delray does art, once again

Once again the brilliant folks at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (aka the ITC) are at it again, paying homage to good art on the tennis court. This year, the painting is the work of local artist Douglas Hoekzema. Need we say more? Images of the artwork are by Peter Vahan, who offers a full selection here. Find them below and after the cut. TSF Vault: ITC art 2009 | 2008