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2013 Qatar Total Open Day 1 WTA Highlights

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:14:41 GMT

]]> Watch Monday's highlights from the Qatar Total Open, featuring Ana Ivanovic defeating Tamira Paszek 61 62, Anastasia Rodionova defeating Zheng Jie 62 63, Caroline Wozniacki defeating Mervana Jugic-Salkic 61 62 and Svetlana Kuznetsova defeating Bethanie Mattek-Sands 76(1) 64.

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Nadal Surprised in Chile, Serena Rising to No. 1 Status?

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:04:10 GMT

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Nadal’s Post-Comeback Interview and App, Plus the Wozzilroy Love Nest

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:46:26 GMT

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Top Tennis Career Comebacks

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:57:12 GMT

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Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:28:36 GMT

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Novak meets Norm... again: Australian Open 2013

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:12:49 GMT

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Nadal Ready For Action in Chile, CZE vs SUI Longest Davis Cup Match Ever

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:11:06 GMT

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:41:05 GMT

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Tennis Now’s Blair Henley details Andy Murray’s tense win over Roger Federer in the Australian Open semifinals. Also, learn what got Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in some hot water with the ladies, and give us your opinion on the Azarenka “medical timeout” controversy.

The Best Racquet Smashes of Australian Open 2013

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:33:01 GMT

]]> Tennis is a high-pressure game. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, players need to vent - and it's their racquets feel the brunt.

Happy Holidays from WTA Stars

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:44:52 GMT

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Happy Holidays from WTA stars Victoria Azarenka, Aga Radwanska, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki, Sara Errani, Roberta Vinci, Maria Kirilenko, Nadia Petrova, Alize Cornet, Sofia Arvidsson, and Tsvetana Pironkova.

Santa Talks Tennis, Federer, Nadal, and More! - Tennis Now Santa Tracker

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:11:21 GMT

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What did Roger Federer ask for this Christmas (hint: it's not world domination)? What about Rafa Nadal? Will David Nalbandian and Bernard Tomic get coal in their stockings? Where does tennis rank on the list of Reindeer Games? Are there courts in the North Pole? Tennis Now's Blair Henley reports live from Santa's lap with these answers and many more. Get in the holiday spirit (and get a good laugh) with this fun interview.

Wozniacki’s Serena Imitation Racist?

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:44:11 GMT

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Roger's Exo Earnings + Vika's Singledom?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:57:33 GMT

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By Blair Henley

(December 10, 2012) -- On Sunday Roger Federer wrapped up the Brazilian leg of his ten-day tour of South America, going 2-1 with a loss to Thomaz Bellucci and wins over Tommy Haas and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Next, he’s on to Argentina where he will play Juan Martin del Potro twice in a 20,000-seat stadium built specially for the event. Federer will then wrap up the tour in Colombia with one more showdown against Tsonga. If a trip to South America isn’t in your budget, make sure to tune into Federer’s newly launched YouTube Channel for live streaming.

And consider this: Federer is reportedly earning $12 million for the six-match tour, which is nearly $3 million more than he earned in prize money over the course of the entire year. Federer isn’t the only one raking it in thanks to the offseason exhibition circuit. Kim Clijsters is extending her farewell tour with a match against Venus Williams in Antwerp, Belgium. Clijsters will also be joined by Amelie Mauresmo and Kirsten Flipkens.

Clay specialist Juan Ignacio Chela retired last week at the age of 33. Also known as "El Flaco," meaning “the Skinny One,” Chela won six singles titles all on clay. His career earnings totaled over $6.5 million.

Remember Roger Federer’s 3-6, 7-6, 19-17 win over Juan Martin del Potro at the Olympics? Well, we may not get a chance to see a marathon thriller like that again, as ITF officials are considering adding a third-set tiebreak for Olympic play in 2016. They’re also discussing the possibility of eliminating the bronze medal match, awarding the third place prize to both semifinal losers. (What do you think about this? Leave us a comment below.)

With her quarterfinal run at the Orange Bowl in Florida, 16-year-old Taylor Townsend became the first American junior in 30 years to clinch the ITF’s year-end No. 1 ranking. It’s been a whirlwind week for Townsend who announced her decision to turn pro in 2013, and subsequently signed with sports agency Lagardere International.

Italian Flavia Pennetta has made an unusual pick to replace her longtime doubles partner, Gisela Dulko, who retired from the tour several weeks ago. She will reportedly be teaming up with Svetlana Kuznetsova, who had a rough year on the singles court in 2012. Both players have won the Australian Open doubles title, so we’ll see what happens with those two next year.

The Women’s Tennis Blog is reporting that Victoria Azarenka has broken up with her tennis player boyfriend Sergei Bubka Jr. who, you may remember, took a three-story tumble from a Paris apartment back in November. While it’s not clear if Azarenka broke up with Bubka Jr. before or after his injury, we hear that Vika is enjoying the single life. As for Bubka Jr., he’s back on his feet after sustaining multiple fractures. No word on his return to tennis.

Sharapova’s Shopping, Roddick and Rafa’s Return, Australian Hotties

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:41:17 GMT

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(Monday, December 3, 2012) -- The case against the former U.S. Open official was thrown out by a judge Friday, with prosecutors claiming they did not have sufficient evidence to prove Lois Goodman did, in fact, bludgeon her 80-year-old husband to death with a coffee mug. The 70-year-old grandmother made an appearance on the Today show Monday, telling Matt Lauer that the whole thing was just a tragic accident.

Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic teamed up in an exhibition against WTA Doubles Team of the Year Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani in Milan. The match drew a whopping 11,000 fans. Hometown favorites Vinci and Errani won the doubles portion, but lost their respective singles matches against Sharapova and Ivanovic.

Later Maria enjoyed some retail therapy on the streets of Milan, even getting to visit the home of Giorgio Armani. Clearly in the holiday spirit, Sharapova sat on Giorgio’s lap and told him which fashions she was hoping to receive on Christmas morning.

Nicolas Almagro won the Miami Tennis Cup over the weekend, topping Andy Roddick in the final. The exhibition tournament also included Andy Murray, Juan Carlos Ferrero, John Isner, and Alejandro Falla. Roddick took out Murray en-route to the final in a match that featured plenty of joking around.

"If we had gone three sets I would've had a full body cramp, and it would've been awkward for all of you," Roddick said to the crowd.

The recently retired American star admitted he’s gained four pounds since playing his last tour match at the US Open, and he also made it clear there would be no comeback a la Agassi or Clijsters. Golf has reportedly become his latest obsession.

News that the ATP Board voted down the proposition to increase Indian Wells prize money by $800,000 was met with a big, fat "huh?" from players and fans alike. The ATP claims the move was a result of the tournament’s refusal to follow rules regarding money distribution throughout the draw. Players, on the other hand, are crying foul, saying that the decision was made because of the ATP’s close ties to IMG. That would be the same IMG that owns the Sony Open as well as the Madrid Masters. Apparently IMG bigwigs don’t want their tournaments overshadowed by Indian Wells chief Larry Ellison’s big bank account.

Tour player Mike Russell is not so pleased with the development. "This is another example where a players’ union is needed in tennis. The system currently in place is flawed. The players have little or no influence in prize money distribution.”

Meanwhile in London, Novak Djokovic sealed his place in the ATP World Tour semifinals with a 6-2, 7-6(3) win over Tomas Berdych. As usual, Djokovic made things exciting by saving two set points before closing it out in the second. Andy Murray followed that up with a win against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga by the same score, making his case to join the Djoker in the semis. Roger Federer is still perfect in Group B, looking to clinch his spot in the semis with a win over Juan Martin del Potro tomorrow.

Federer also said this week that he misses players like Andy Roddick and Juan Carlos Ferrero who have recently retired.

"I do feel sad not seeing them so often anymore on tour because I like those two guys, or other guys that came from my generation as well, who have marked the sport, motivated me, admired me, crushed some dreams of mine.”

Andre Agassi and his long time trainer Gil Reyes have released their own workout system called BILT with Agassi and Reyes. There are 12 different machines in total, and they don’t run cheap. Some are selling at upwards of $6,000, but really, can you put a price on the opportunity to train like Andre Agassi? Probably not.

Citizen has become the latest watch line to jump on the tennis player bandwagon, coming out with an

ad featuring a fierce-looking Victoria Azarenka. The world no. 1 is repping Citizen’s Eco-Drive line that is light powered and economically friendly.

Patty Schnyder was convinced by her coach that it would help her game to drink three liters of orange juice a day, and to become a vegan. Schnyder had 17-year career so maybe there was something to all that vitamin C.

Ever since Venus Williams discovered she was suffering from the autoimmune disease Sjögren's syndrome, Williams has become a vegan. “I changed my diet completely, so lots of vegetables. I altered my mind frame completely because I used to be a person who always ate their steak first and their salad second.” Williams also drinks a lot of juices now for energy boosts.

When practicing as a child, every time Marion Bartoli hit a target, her father would reward her with candy. Since then Bartoli has developed a big sweet tooth, and indulges her candy cravings every now and then.

On her arrival in the United States, Martina Navratilova fell in love with the American fast-food chains that she put on a great deal of weight. “Yes, I Big Mac’d across America,” Navratilova has recalled of those days, though she soon banned cheeseburgers and binged instead on steamed vegetables.

During changeovers, you can occasionally catch Maria Sharapova snacking on a banana, and at the 2006 US Open the banana lover sparked an illegal coaching controversy after her father looked over at his daughter and held up a banana reminding her to eat. “If someone tells me to eat a banana, do you think that’s the reason why I’m going to win a match? This is great advice, we should tell all the junior players to, you know, have a banana, and they’re all going to win. Great.”

In 2010, Mardy Fish cut out the junk food to lose thirty pounds in three months. “You see a lot of guys go downhill as they get older, but I’m going the other way, and that’s mostly because of diet,” Fish has said. Fish cut out food like pizzas and cheeseburgers.

The young Canadian Milos Raonic enjoys his red meat! Raonic likes to enjoy a medium rare steak that’s a little bloody the night before his matches.

In 2010, Novak Djokovic adopted the diet that changed tennis. His team discovered Djokovic is allergic to gluten, and after adjusting his diet, he lost weight and began moving better. Before the diet Djokovic had to regularly deal with allergies and breathing difficulties, and since the diet change, Djokovic has won 5 grand slams. “We established I am allergic to some food ingredients like gluten -- it means I can’t eat stuff like pizza, pastas and bread.”

No one loves sushi as much as Andy Murray does. Andy’s record is about 50 pieces of sushi in one sitting. And like Djokovic, Murray has adopted a gluten-free diet. “The diet has given me more energy. I miss being able to pick up a menu and order what I want, or to eat what I want -- like bread when you’re waiting for your food to come in a restaurant. It can be quite frustrating when everyone else is dunking their bread in olive oil or smearing it with butter. It’s also a bit of pain not being able to eat a regular yogurt, but it’s been worth it."

'Because Dreams Matter' with Dominika Cibulkova

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:18:00 GMT

]]> Dominika Cibulkova on being an underdog, future tennis dreams and the challenges of being away from home while on tour... Because Dreams Matter. What is your dream?

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WTA on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WTA

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Tennis Names Pronunciation Challenge

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:19:17 GMT

]]> Submit your best attempt to pronounce these five names in a video response for a shot at being featured in a Tennis Now highlight video! ]]>

Submit your best attempt to pronounce these five names in a video response for a shot at being featured in a Tennis Now highlight video!

To create a video response you will need to click into the comment post box below the video. A link titled "Create a video response" will appear next to the post button. Click the link to be forwarded to a new page where you will have the option to choose or upload a video from your computer.

For more info about YouTube video formats, click here.

Dancing Tennis Players: From Gangnam Style to Crip Walk

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:24:45 GMT

Roger Federer's Death Threat in Shanghai, Williams Sisters’ Baby Brother

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:19:27 GMT

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(October 5, 2012) -- Coming off his break, Roger Federer headed to Shanghai for the Shanghai Masters next week. Upon Federer’s arrival a death threat was posted on a popular Chinese website targeting him. Police and other government agencies have been contacted to increase security during the tournament. The threat read:

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:56:58 GMT

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The Asian hard court season is in full swing, and in Tokyo Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Angelique Kerber in straight sets to set up the finals match with Nadia Petrova, after Petrova defeated Sam Stosur in straight sets. Radwanska holds the head to head 3-1 and we predict her to take this title over Petrova even the one win Petrova has over Radwanska was in Tokyo in 2008.

The mens semifinals are set! In Kuala Lumpur, the beasty David Ferrer will take on Julien Bennateau while Japan’s rising star Kei Nishikori takes on Juan Monaco. In Thailand, Canadian Milos Raonic will face Richard Gasquet and Janko Tipsarevic will play Gilles Simon.

While enjoying a nice break from tennis, the World No. 1 Roger Federer did a little posing earlier this week for “The Gillette Federer Tour”, which will make stops in Brazil, Columbia, and São Paulo. The series of exhibition events will mark the first time Federer has played in South America.

Our congratulations go out to Liezel Huber and her husband Tony, who adopted their new son Joshua Jacob Huber yesterday. Joshua weighed in at 9 pound, 5 ounces and was 21 inches long. A pretty good start for future tennis prodigy!

Archives: TennisNow TV News

WTA Stars in Tokyo

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:39:01 GMT

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Federer Plays Volleyball & Tipsarevic Post In His Underwear!

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:14:37 GMT

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See all the top posts from the top tennis players floating around the internet: Roger in sports gear (and it's not tennis!), Janko Tipsarevic in his undies, Raonic throwing a punch, and a few others. The tweet from Caroline Wozniacki is our favorite!

Should Top Juniors Turn Pro or Head to College?

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:57:33 GMT

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Tennis Now’s Blair Henley and Ted LePak debate whether or not the best junior tennis players should give college a go before heading to the pro tour.

Pro Tennis Player Look-Alikes

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:47:15 GMT

]]>Have you ever watched Roger Federer play a tennis match and thought, "Hmmm, he reminds me of someone." Well, you're not alone. We found Federer's look-alike and many others for your viewing pleasure.]]>
LOOK-ALIKES: Have you ever watched Roger Federer play a tennis match and thought, "Hmmm, he reminds me of someone." Well, you're not alone. We found Federer's look-alike and many others for your viewing pleasure.

Did you agree with our list? Did we miss any look-alikes? Let us know!

Sharapova, Wozniacki Get Watches, Kerber Gets Ice Cream

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:47:12 GMT

]]>Tennis Now’s Blair Henley reviews Sharapova and Wozniacki’s extravagant sponsor gifts, Angelique Kerber’s training motivation, and the ubiquity of LMFAO frontman, Redfoo. Also learn more about the dispute between Tennis South Africa and player Kevin Anderson as well as the latest ATP rules change.]]>

(September 24, 2012) -- While Maria Sharapova was having diamond encrusted watches delivered to her door, we were busy putting together the latest and greatest stories from around the tennis world.

Hey Tennis Fans, I’m Blair Henley and welcome to the Tennis Now News Update!

Yes, Maria Sharapova received a pretty amazing gift last week as she was packing her bags for Tokyo. She explained on her Facebook page that she opened her door to a special delivery from her sponsor TAG Heuer. Not only was the watch drizzled in diamonds, but it also had all four of Maria’s Grand Slam wins engraved on the back.

Not to be outdone, Rolex recently gifted world No. 11 Caroline Wozniacki with an amazingly bedazzled watch just for fun. Perhaps the timepiece inspired the Dane, who won her first title of 2012 in Seoul over the weekend after routing Kaia Kanepi 6-1, 6-0 in the final. But even after a win, the former number one still faced questions about her lack of ranking points this year. Needless to say, she didn’t take kindly to the criticism.

“I think that's offending for the other players. I think the other players should be offended by that comment, because if I don't have a lot of points, than what about the other thousand girls who can't get that high?”

As you think back on this year’s U.S. Open, you might remember afro-ed LMFAO frontman, Redfoo. The guy was everywhere! Not only did he seem to be BFF’s with the WTA players, but more than one of them performed the Party Rock shuffle on court after a win. In addition to sponsoring his own women’s ITF event called – what else – the Party Rock Open, he is also rumored to be coaching a 17-year-old Japanese player named Ayaka Okuno. And no, we have absolutely no idea if he has prior coaching or playing experience.

As reported by Tennis Now, Angelique Kerber trains with a clear goal in mind, and no, it’s not a Grand Slam title. According to a post on her Twitter page, the world No. 6 earns ice cream for her efforts.

Starting next year, the ATP will be experimenting with the elimination of service lets. The rule change will be given a three months test run on the Challenger Tour before it is determined whether or not to make the change permanent.

And Tennis South Africa is telling their side of the story after 35th-ranked Kevin Anderson criticized his country for failing to pay him to play Davis Cup matches. Anderson said it costs a minimum of $250,000 to support himself, his coach, and his physio on the ATP Tour, and he won’t risk injury at Davis Cup for nothing. Tennis South Africa said they paid Anderson handsomely to play last year, but the cash-strapped country didn’t have the funds this time around.

This week, play starts in Tokyo for the women and Thailand and Malaysia for the men.

That’s all for today’s Tennis Now News Update! Let us know your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter or in the comments section below. Also, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest news.

We’ll see you next time, here on Tennis Now.

Agnieszka Radwanska qualifies for 2012 TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:26:32 GMT

]]>Agnieszka Radwanska has officially qualified for the 2012 TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships - Istanbul starting October 23, 2012. This is Radwanska's second straight year qualifying for the WTA Championships. The world's Top 4-ranked players -- Azarenka, Sharapova, Radwanska, and Serena Williams -- headline WTA's crown jewel event.]]>

(September 24, 2012) The WTA announced today that Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska has qualified for this year’s TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships, which will be staged at the Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. The WTA’s year-end finale, to be held from October 23-28, will feature the world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams, competing for the coveted title and a share of $4.9 million in prize money.

"Agnieszka is having the best year of her career by winning three WTA titles and earning a spot in the Wimbledon final," said Stacey Allaster, WTA Chairman and CEO. "In addition to being an admirable and inspiring champion, Aga is an amazing ambassador for women's tennis and it comes as no surprise that she was voted as Fan Favorite last year."

Radwanska commented, "I am looking forward to returning to Istanbul for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships this year. This is a goal for every player at the start of the season and I’m so happy to have made it. The Championships is the biggest WTA event of the year and I look forward to playing against the best in the world."

The 23-year-old has reached the quarterfinals or better 13 times in 19 events, highlighted by three titles -- the Dubai Duty Free Championships, Sony Open Tennis (Miami), and Brussels Open. Earlier this year at Wimbledon, Radwanska became the first Polish woman since 1939 to reach the final at a Grand Slam. It was her best career Grand Slam result having previously advanced to the quarterfinals five times. Throughout her career, Radwanska has won 10 singles titles.

Currently ranked world No.3, Radwanska has qualified for the year-end Championships for the second consecutive year. She also competed at the event as an alternate in 2009. Radwanska joins Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams in the singles competition with the final four positions to be determined in the upcoming weeks.

For Laura Robson, No Relief Under Pressure & Other Stories from the Week in Tennis

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:17:25 GMT

]]>Tennis Now's Blair Henley covers the latest in the tennis umpire murder trial, the return of Gael Monfils, and why Venus and Serena have withdrawn support for a new documentary on the sisters. Also, learn about Rafael Nadal's latest honor, the latest Indian tennis drama, and Laura Robson's unfortunate drug testing snafu.]]>

Hey Tennis Fans, I’m Blair Henley and welcome to the Tennis Now News update.

The tennis umpire accused of bludgeoning her 80-year-old husband with a coffee mug is back in the news again after her lawyers attempted to block the prosecution’s request for a DNA sample. Lois Goodman’s attorneys said her DNA would be useless since she freely admits gathering up the mug shards in question after her husband’s death. Goodman offered them to police, but claims they told her the evidence was unnecessary. Whoops!

Former world No. 7 Gael Monfils is making his grand return to the ATP Tour this week in after a four-month injury layoff. He’s currently ranked 44th, but his semifinal run at the Moselle Open in France bodes well for the success of his comeback.

Venus and Serena Williams recently withdrew their support for a documentary about their rise to tennis stardom. Part of the lineup at the Toronto Film Festival, the sisters felt it negatively portrayed their father and former coach, Richard. The film followed Venus and Serena throughout a turbulent two years that saw Serena’s hospitalization for a pulmonary embolism and Venus’s autoimmune disease diagnosis. So far, reviews for the movie have been positive.

Mahesh Bhupathi is now threatening legal action after the All India Tennis Association banned him from playing Davis Cup for India over the next two years. The ban comes after Bhupathi refused to team up with his former doubles partner, Leander Paes for the Olympics in July. Bhupathi gets the award for dramatic quote of the day when he said this about AITA president Anil Khanna: “He has used Leander’s shoulder to fire the gun against me multiple times.” -- We’ll let you know how this one plays out.

Rafael Nadal hasn’t played a match since losing to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon, but he was still named Spanish Vanity Fair’s Male Personality of the Year in an event for the mag in Madrid this week. In an interview on the red carpet, Rafa admitted he didn’t know how much longer he would play professionally. Nadal has been active on social media during his recovery, even posting this recent photo playing the OTHER country club sport.

Great Britain’s Laura Robson followed up her stunning run at the U.S. Open by reaching her first WTA final in Guangzhou this week. But according to her Twitter page, she faced some serious hurdles en-route to the championship match. That brings us to our quotes of the week: “Have been in the doping control room for nearly four hours. Can’t pee under pressure.”

Robson followed that up with this gem: “For those suggesting I should drink some water, that’s a great idea…I’ll be sure to try that. #SarcasticTweet." While there’s no way to know for sure, we’ll assume everything came out all right in the end. Pun definitely intended.

That’s all for today’s Tennis Now News Update. What are your thoughts on Rafa, Robson, and the renegade tennis referee? Let us know in the comment section below or on Facebook and Twitter. Also, remember to sign up for our Youtube channel to get all the latest updates. We’ll see you next time, here on Tennis Now.

Can Roger Federer Win Another Grand Slam Title in 2013?

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:52:10 GMT

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Czech Republic & Spain Set Up Davis Cup Finals Clash

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:25:37 GMT

]]>Tennis Now's Ted LePak reviews the Davis Cup Semifinals. Spain schooled the US while Argentina fell to the Czech Republic. A legendary twice-retired Belgian WTA tennis player announced that she is having a baby.]]>

Good day tennis fans and welcome to Tennis Now’s twice-weekly news update show. This weekend we saw a lot of action in the Davis Cup semifinals.

Tomas Berdych punched the ticket for the Czech's trip to the Davis Cup finals with a straight sets victory over Carlos Berlocq after Berlocq was substituted for Juan Martin Del Potro who suffered some wrist inflammation.

Despite the Bryan Brothers win to keep the American from getting swept, David Ferrer finished off the U.S. with a four-set win over John Isner in Gijon, Spain. Setting up Spain’s finals match against the Czech Republic.

The Americans, road warriors for all of 2012, have only played one home tie in their last eight and will await their fate when next year’s World Group draw is made in on September 19th in London.

A legendary twice-retired Belgian WTA tennis player announced that she is having a baby! Nope it’s not Kim Clijsters; mother-to-be Justine Henin and partner Benoit Bertuzzo made an announcement on Justine's Facebook that the couple is expecting a child in the spring of 2013.

Oh and happy birthday to Tomas Berdych who turns 27 today! (Check out the other September birthdays.)

Check out our latest magazine on tennisnow.com and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates, and subscribe to our Youtube channel so you can see when we post new content.

We’ll see you next time, here, on Tennis Now.

Headed to Hollywood: Top 10 Tennis Pros with Star Power

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:02:15 GMT

]]>The individual nature of tennis creates the perfect atmosphere for stars to be born. Tennis Now's Blair Henley counts down the top 10 tennis players with Hollywood potential.
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Hey, Tennis Fans and welcome to the Tennis Now Top 10. Today we’re going to be counting down the current players we think have a future in showbiz.

#10: Janko Tiparevic may take a back seat to fellow Serbian Novak Djokovic on the court, but the tattooed top ten player has some star power of his own. With a distinct sense of style and a knack for attracting controversy, we think he’d fit right in in Hollywood.

#9: The current WTA rankings show Ana Ivanovic, Dominika Cibulkova, and Maria Kirilenko at 12, 13 and 14 respectively. Known as much for their looks as for their play, we’re thinking they would be the perfect candidates to star in the WTA version of Charlie’s Angels.

#8: Tomas Berdych does such a good job of playing the bad guy on the tennis court that we think he could easily make the transition to the big screen. With his angular cheekbones and slicked back blonde hair, we think he could easily play the role of antagonist.

#7: The breakout star of the WTA tour in 2012, smiley Sloane Stephens positively oozes personality. And if the 19-year-old is even half as comfortable in front of the camera as she is in front of the media, then she’ll make a perfect actress.

#6: After recently glimpsing a photo of Andrea Petkovic’s abs, we’ve decided that she would be the perfect choice for an action film. With several YouTube videos to her name, she already has plenty of practice in front of the camera.

#5: I’m going to suggest that the top Spaniards star in a movie together. Rafael Nadal could be the ringleader of a street gang with David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, and Feliciano Lopez playing his faithful sidekicks. With that kind of all star-cast, we’re pretty sure the plotline would be irrelevant.

#4: Maria Sharapova didn’t become the highest paid female athlete in history for nothing. She possesses an undeniable star quality that could easily translate into a big screen role. She would make a great evil ice queen…and we mean that in the nicest possible way.

#3: Novak Djokovic’s recently filmed scenes for the Expendables 2 were unfortunately left on the cutting room floor, but based on Nole’s uncanny Maria Sharapova impressions, we think it’s only a matter of time before he makes his mark as a movie star.

#2: We’re assuming Serena Williams is just biding her time before she lands a starring movie role. She’s appeared in several TV shows already and is currently producing and voicing a role in the tennis-themed animated project WimbleToad. Serena seems destined to make her mark on the court and off.

#1: With unflappable chocolate brown hair and an apparent lack of sweat glands, Roger Federer resembles royalty before AND after a five set match. More famous than most movie stars, Federer’s steely gaze and international appeal could virtually guarantee box office success.

Thanks so much for joining us for the edition of the Tennis Now Top Ten. Who makes your list? Let us know in the comment section below or on Facebook and Twitter. We’ll see you next time, here on Tennis Now.

Serena Williams Qualifies for the 2012 TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:30:54 GMT

]]>Serena Williams has officially qualified for the 2012 TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships.

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Serena Williams has officially qualified for the 2012 TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships Istanbul after her US Open Grand Slam title win on September 9, 2012. Williams has qualified for the WTA Championships on nine occasions during her career, and is set to compete for the first time since 2009.

Website: http://www.wtachampionships.com

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Follow WTA on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/wta (#WTAChamps)

(Video courtesy of the WTA)

The Most Exciting Women's Final This Year

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 19:45:21 GMT

]]>Tennis Now's Ted LePak brings you the results from the Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer semifinal match and the results from Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka's finals match. Venus Williams also has a new boyfriend! Who is this mystery man?]]>

Welcome back to Tennis Now’s news update show! Today we had a very interesting day of tennis at the U.S. Open as David Ferrer and Novak Djokovic finished their semifinal match that was held over from yesterday and the Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka duked it out for the women’s title.

In the day match Djokovic and Ferrer picked up where they left off yesterday with Ferrer leading the first set 5-2. Djokovic had a rough time dealing with the intense wind yesterday and Ferrer’s consistency, but today Djokovic performance was astounding as he took down the little beast Ferrer in four sets.

The women’s finals match was the women’s final we’ve witnessed in a long time, and it showcased the best of both Serena and Azarenka. Serena came out swinging and took the first set with ease. But Victoria Azarenka didn’t go down without a fight and dug in to take the second set right back, the third set was a battle all the way to the end but Serena proved to be too much for Azarenka as she took the match 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

Tomorrow Djokovic will face Andy Murray in the men’s final. This will mark their fifth meeting overall this year with each man having won two matches apiece. It will mark the second time they will play in a Grand Slam final with Djokovic having won the Australian Open title over Murray last year.

In some off court news Venus Williams appears to have a new boyfriend! For the full scoop check us out tennisnow.com.

BE sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for up to the minute updates and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you can see when we post new content.

We’ll see you tomorrow after the men’s final, here, on Tennis Now!

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with LMFAO's RedFoo - 2012 US Open

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 18:30:57 GMT

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This video is courtesy of the WTA

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Bryan Brothers Judge a Karaoke Contest

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 13:31:18 GMT

]]>Esurance, the official car insurance sponsor of the US Open, hosted a karaoke contest on the eve of the tournament. Mike and Bob Bryan were judges.]]>
Esurance, the official car insurance sponsor of the US Open, hosted a karaoke contest at the Electric Room (in Dream New York Hotel) for a few guests, who had a chance to win 2 U.S. Open tickets and a $1,000 donation in their names to USTA Serves, the national charitable foundation of the USTA.

In the end, one of them had to win (spoiler: it was NOT that rendition of "I Will Survive" by the ladies); Bob and Mike Bryan, along with Murphy Jensen, where on land to judge the performances.

The Olympic medalists (and now 2012 U.S. Open doubles titleists) also helped Esurance raise $50,000 for USTA Serves in a charitable Facebook campaign that runs through the end of the tournament.

More: USTA Serves website

Roddick Retires, Janko's Big Mouth, and a Lifetime Tennis Ban

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:25:05 GMT

]]>Tennis Now’s Blair Henley talks Jimmy Connor’s goodbye to Andy Roddick, Janko Tipsarevic’s insistence that men get paid more than women, and the Serbian player banned for life for match fixing. Also, learn about Sara Errani’s connection to Lance Armstrong.]]>

While Andy Roddick was busy enjoying his first days of retirement, we were compiling the latest and greatest stories from around the tennis world.

Hey, Tennis Fans! I’m Blair Henley and welcome to the Tennis Now News Update.

Yes, it’s true. Andy Roddick’s retirement became official Thursday after his round-of-16 loss to Juan Martin Del Potro. Perhaps Jimmy Connors said his goodbye best on Twitter:

“Andy, my friend—you’re a winner. Life goes on. Live it to the fullest.”

For some reason we can’t quite understand, Janko Tipsarevic keeps bringing up the fact he thinks men should get paid more than women. Before his riveting five set match loss to David Ferrer Thursday, Tipsy took to his Twitter page to say, “I really wouldn’t care at all if girls earned the same as guys if the same amount of effort is applied. Or do we have idiots here that don’t think so? Please stand up and say your name loud and clear.” The Twitter conversation he seemed to be having with himself continued for several more posts before he gave us this gem: “Love you all! Please unfollow if you think I’m a…well you’ll have to check out his twitter page to read the rest.”

Also Thursday, U.S. Open fans were treated to quite the exhibition match. John McEnroe and Adam Sandler (friends since McEnroe made a cameo in Sandler’s movie Mr. Deeds) took on Kevin James and Jim Courier. While we’re sure fans were entertained, we’re also guessing they were relieved when Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro took the court.

U.S. Open semifinalist, Sara Errani’s English may have a ways to go, but she was crystal clear about the fact that she’s decided to cut ties with her former doctor, Luis Garcia Del Moral. Del Moral was handed a lifetime ban by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after he was accused of a doping conspiracy as part of Lance Armstrong’s medical staff.

The Tennis Integrity Unit handed down a lifetime ban to Serbian player, David Savic, after he was accused of inviting other players to fix match outcomes. Savic, who reached a career high ranking of 363, claims he was set up by an “as yet unnamed” top player on the tour.

Leave it to the U.S. Open to find yet another way to make money. Officials have begun selling used match balls for around $60 a pop. If a ball is deemed precious, it goes to auction where prices can soar even higher. Of course, all of this occurs after balls have been certified and authenticated to guard against ball fraud.

The U.S. Open has also successfully hopped on the “green” bandwagon, collecting an impressive 100 tons of compostable waste during the tournament.

If you watched Andy Roddick’s last match this week, you undoubtedly saw his wife Brooklyn in the stands wearing a vintage-inspired shirt with the letters ARF emblazoned on the front. We assumed it stood for Andy Roddick Forever, but found out later that the shirt is actually a special edition tee made to raise money for the Andy Roddick Foundation. You can get one of your own at AndyRoddick.com.

Finally, the stars will be out for the 32nd annual Legends Ball at Cipriani 42nd street in New York City. The event benefits the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum. The Legends Ball will pay tribute to Guga Kuerten and Jennifer Capriati among others.

That’s all for today’s Tennis Now News Update! Let us know your US Open thoughts in the comment section below or on Facebook and Twitter. Also don’t forget to head to our Facebook page for a chance to win a $250 tennis gear shopping spree. We’ll see you next time, here on Tennis Now.

Ana Ivanovic Tribute Photo Video

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:25:38 GMT

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Who are the Best and Worst Commentators?

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:04:41 GMT

]]>During the around the clock television coverage of any Grand Slam, you're bound to gravitate more toward some commentators than others. Watch to see our best and worst commentator picks, then tell us yours!

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Top US Open Meltdowns - Tennis Now Countdown Show

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:03:26 GMT

]]>Tennis Now’s Blair Henley counts down best of the worst tennis tantrums, meltdowns, and emotional malfunctions at the U.S. Open.
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Hey Tennis Fans and welcome to this week’s Tennis Now Countdown show where we’re listing the top U.S. Open tantrums.

#1: First up? Andy Roddick. Not one to shy away from controversy, Roddick laid into a lineswoman when, after correctly making a foot fault call, she claimed the offending foot was Roddick’s right -- an impossibility with his service motion. Roddick then proceeded to embarrass her in front of the U.S. Open crowd before going ahead with his second serve.

#2: It’s safe to say Serena Williams hasn’t had the best relationship with U.S. Open officials. And her 2011 final confirmed as much when she was docked a point for screaming “Come On!’ before her opponent, Sam Stosur, had a chance to hit the ball. Serena went on to call the chair umpire a “hater” and “very unattractive inside” before going on to lose the match 6-2, 6-3.

#3: At the 1991 US Open, Jimmy Connors made history by making it to the semis as a 39-year-old. But his trip to the final four was not without drama. In his fourth round match against Aaron Krickstein, Connors hit an overhead to the far sideline that was originally called in, but then was overruled by the chair umpire. Needless to say, Connors wasn’t thrilled.

#4: It’s likely that 22-year-old umpire Richard Ings knew what he was getting himself into when he chaired John McEnroe’s third round match at the 1987 US Open. McEnroe went down two sets to one against Slobodan Zivojinovic after Ings charged him with a game penalty for verbal abuse. Despite winning the match in five sets, McEnroe received a two month suspension and a $7500 fine. Though we don’t have video of the incident, we assume it looked something like this.

Olympics Kickoff - Tennis Now News Update Show

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:41:15 GMT

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Venus and Serena's Top 10 Outrageous Outfits - Countdown Show

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:51:21 GMT

]]>With the Summer Olympics upon us, many of the top female players are debuting patriotic styles for the competition. Venus Williams will be wearing a limited edition design from her Eleven clothing line, and we’ll admit, we like it! The classic red, white, and blue dress is quite a departure from some of her more “unique” dress designs in years past. So in honor of Venus and Serena’s Olympic doubles partnership, we decided to countdown the William’s sisters most memorable fashion moments.

Both Venus and Serena have given us some unforgettable fashion moments, and we hope they keep things interesting in the style department for year to come.

What do you think of our list? Let us know in the comments section below or on Facebook and Twitter (@tennis_now).
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With the Summer Olympics upon us, many of the top female players are debuting patriotic styles for the competition. Venus Williams will be wearing a limited edition design from her Eleven clothing line, and we’ll admit, we like it! The classic red, white, and blue dress is quite a departure from some of her more “unique” dress designs in years past. So in honor of Venus and Serena’s Olympic doubles partnership, we decided to countdown the William’s sisters most memorable fashion moments.

10. Serena - 2009 Wimbledon. There’s only so much you can do with an all-white wardrobe, but in 2009 Serena managed to spice things up during her championship Wimbledon run with this white Nike trench coat. While it looks heavy and uncomfortable, we found out in 2011 that things could have been worse -- much worse.

9. Venus - 2011 Wimbledon. Not to be outdone in the creativity department, Venus wore an ill-fitting lace romper during her 2011 Wimbledon campaign. She ended up falling in the fourth round to Tsvetana Pironkova, but this poorly executed style will live on forever.

8. Serena - 2011 Practice Courts. After being hospitalized for a hematoma, doctors told Serena William’s to keep her stomach warm. While there are many ways to accomplish that, like a wearing a sweatshirt, Serena went the pink bodysuit route and posted the photo to twitter. We’re forever grateful.

7. Venus - 2010 Miami. The Sony Ericsson Open in Miami is known for its sizzling temperatures, but in 2010 Venus brought another kind of sizzle in a red, satin, negligee-inspired tennis dress (nightgown?). She wore it proudly to the final where she lost to Kim Clijsters.

6. Serena - 2007 Miami. Once upon a time, Serena Williams wore Puma clothing. And they created a curve-hugging, headline-making bodysuit for the star’s title run at the 2002 U.S. Open. Nike then followed suit -- no pun intended -- with a revealing pink number at the 2007 Sony Ericsson Open. Which do like best?

5. Venus - 2010 U.S. Open. Venus’s fireworks-inspired 2010 U.S. Open dress made sense in theory. It was sparkly, you know, like the New York skyline. But what the dress had in creativity, it lacked in functionality, riding up during points only to reveal similarly bedazzled nude undergarments.

4. Serena - 2005 Australian Open. When you think about summer heat at the Australian Open, you probably don’t imagine the need for a jacket and leg warmers -- unless you’re Serena Williams. She donned a futuristic Nike dress with extreme slits and an unusual bib-like accent back in 2005.

3. Serena - 2004 U.S. Open. Not since Andre Agassi’s infamous jean shorts has denim made as much of a splash on the court as it did at the 2004 U.S. Open. Serena’s midriff-baring top, pleated jean skirt, bedazzled spandex, and pleather leg warmers has since been immortalized in tennis fashion history.

2. Venus - 2010 French Open. When Venus stepped on court at the 2010 French Open, jaws around the world collectively dropped. The lacy, corset inspired number flared out at every move, again revealing flesh-toned undies. She explained she was going for an illusion motif, to which we say, mission accomplished.

1. Venus - 2011 Ausralian Open. At the 2011 Australian Open, Venus debuted a dress that I cannot even attempt to explain in words. She claims it was Alice and Wonderland inspired, and given Lewis Carroll was rumored to be tripping on acid when he wrote the book, her explanation makes perfect sense. Of course, Venus paired the dress with, you guessed it, nude spandex.

Both Venus and Serena have given us some unforgettable fashion moments, and we hope they keep things interesting in the style department for year to come.

What do you think of our list? Let us know in the comments section below or on Facebook and Twitter (@tennis_now).

Should Bartoli Dump Dad to Play for Team France? - Point/Counterpoint Show

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:10:02 GMT

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Content Under Developement

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:07:09 GMT

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Barclays Faces $7.1 Billion In Lawsuits & Monaco Jumps Into Top 10

]]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Tennis Now’s Blair Henley covers the men’s semifinal matches at Roland Garros. Women’s singles finalist Sara Errani wins her second Grand Slam doubles title of the year, and retired player Ivan Ljubicic enters tennis politics.

Tennis Now's Roland Garros Preview is now available! View the magazine here: http://www.tennisnow.com/Magazine.aspx

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French Open Day 12 - So Long Stosur

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:01:48 GMT

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Tennis Now’s Ted LePak covers the women’s matches and previews the men’s. John and Patrick McEnroe reunite to take Paris and the US Olympics Coaches are announced.

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The 2012 French Open - Tennis Now Point/Counterpoint Show

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:05:36 GMT

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Should Hawkeye be used at the French Open?
Is it acceptable to say Stosur "plays like a man"?
Should Roger Federer show more flare?
Will Sharapova take the finals of Roland Garros?
Is Nadal a shoe in for the title?

Share your thoughts below.

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French Open Day 11 - Nadal Near Perfect and Federer Flustered

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:56:10 GMT