La Caja Magica in Madrid

This pictures doesn't require any comments. Just have a look at where the players will have a privilage to play this year.

~shaw

Bye Bye El Mago

Guillermo Coria from Argentina has announced his retirement. "I didn't feel like competing anymore" he said. "I'm very happy with the decision I've taken since I have new projects and I will be able to spend more time with my family."


Between 2003 and 2004, the Argentine won 48 out 50 matches on clay, including two titles in Hamburg and one in Monte Carlo, as well as Sttutgart, Kitzbuhel and Sopot back-to-back in the summer of 2003.

Despite his claycourt supreme, "El Mago" never managed to capture the French Open. He held two matchpoints against Gaston Gaudio in French Open final in 2004, but he eventually lost it in five set drama.

"In 2005 I began to feel less and less like competing" he said. "My passion just wasn't the same and it's impossible to do things well when it's like that. In this sport, you have to be at 100 percent."

~shaw

Tribute to Federico Luzzi

Some great players gathered yesterday in Rome during Internazionali BNL d'Italia ATP World Tour Masters 1000to pay a tribute to a former player Federico Luzzi, who died of the disease last year aged 28.

Among those who played this charity match was: Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Tommy Robredo, Marat Safin, Potito Starace, Andreas Seppi, Simone Bolelli and Filippo Volandri.

“It was a nice match for me to play, knowing that Federico is up above watching us, having his parents here.” said Federer.

Djokovic, who wore a shirt with an image of Luzzi, said: “We played in his honour and for the foundation that his family has created to fight against leukemia. It was very emotional for all of us who knew him. He was a very positive guy and I always remember him with a smile on his face.”

~shaw

Nasty Agassi and Graf caught in sex shop

Spotted.
Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi buying some stuff in sex shop Love Jones. It looks like their life is even more interesting now than it was during their tennis careers.

~shaw

Hot Spaniards in Elle

The Elle magazine may have made some woman hearts beat quicker, as they have published pictures of four Spanish tennis players. Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez posed shirtless.

~jachal

Busy Nadal making promo stuff in Barcelona

On the second day of ATP World Tour 500 Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell 2009 Rafael Nadal met together with Manolo Santana to promote his foundation. Former tennis great Santana and Rafa hold a racket used by Santana in the year he won the Wimbledon Championships.

A day before Nadal attended the presentation of the book "Play, set and game" inspired by his life and written by Jordi Sierra.

~shaw

Murray and Beckham launch "Malaria No More"

Current world nr. 4, Andy Murray together with football star David Beckham and Olympic heptathlete Denise Lewis helped to launch charity program "Malaria No More". The three met together with British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street in London. The UK government will provide 20 million bed nets to Afirca by the end of 2010.

“This is the first global charity I’ve been involved with in this capacity and it was an easy decision. Malaria is completely preventable and stoppable but yet it still kills more children in Africa than any other single disease." said Andy Murray.

~shaw

How do I look?

Last week ARGWUS informed you that two tennis stars got married. Now we have some pictures for you from this unforgetable moments for both Roger Federer and Andy Roddick.

Mr. & Mrs. Federer

Mr. & Mrs. Roddick

~shaw

Uncle Toni asks for more from Rafa

"He played a good third set, but it's obvious he must play better than this week. He was missing a little confidence in his game and you could see that his serve was incredibly weak. But it's the first tournament on clay this season for him and I hope that with some more matches, it'll get better. We know that there's a lot of work to do before Roland Garros."

- Toni Nadal on his nephew's play in Monte Carlo.

~shaw

Rafael Nadal receives 2008 ATP Player of the Year Award

ATP board member Zeljko Franulovic presented Rafael Nadal with the 2008 ATP Player of the Year Award. The ceremony took place during La Grande Nuit du Tennis of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Friday night.


In 2008 Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon, French Open and Gold Medal at the Olympics in Bejing.

~shaw

Gem, Set and Marriage

Bad news for the ladies! Andy Roddick has married Brooklyn Decker. It was an evening ceremony held in the American's home in Austin, Texas.

Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi were guests at the wedding, while Elton John performed. The wedding was followed by a dinner at Roddick's country club.


Roddick and 21-year-old Decker will be honeymooning in Costa Rica.
We would like to congratulate and wish all the best to this nice couple ;)

~jachal

Tipsarevic's got a girlfriend

Janko Tipsarevic is no longer a single man. His girlfriend's name is Biljana Sesevic and she's a former TV presenter, who is now a boat dealer.


Finally Janko stopped reading his books and found something more interesting to do.

~jachal

No Pepsi for Sharapova

Former world No.1 Maria Sharapova is starting to feel, that not playing tennis, ain't good for her. A shoulder injury has put her out of contention since August last year. She's now only No.53 in the rankings and this may be the reason, why Pepsi decided not to extend the contract with the Russian.


“There is no particular reason other than that the contract has ended, with both parties mutually deciding to go their own way.” - said a spokesman for Pepsi.

In 2007 Sharapova signed a deal with PepsiCo's Gatorade and Tropicana brands. It was worth a reported $1 Million. What's significant, Gatorade, a Pepsi brand, struck a deal last year with tennis rival Serena Williams, who joined Tiger Woods and retired basketball star Michael Jordan to endorse its products.



But she wouldn't be herself, had she not a back-up plan. Maria signed a deal with Unilever. She will now advertize for dandruff shampoo - Clear.

It seems like Maria has a Clear plan...

~jachal

Bepa falls badly

Vera Zvonareva enjoyed an amazing start to the 2009 season. She made her first Grand Slam semifinal appearance and won already two titles. The Indian Wells title was her first at such high level. The Russian was starting to look like she's a contender for the top spot in woman's rankings, until Charleston came...


Bepa was last year's finalist at this event, which is held in South Carolina. She lost to Serena Williams in three sets. This year, seeded at No.3, with no Serena Williams in sight, she could have been seen as the favourite (Lying at No.2 in the Race Rankings).


Unfortunatelly for Zvonareva, she rolled her right ankle in her 3rd round match against Virginie Razzano. The accident looked very bad. She was being carted of the court. The sprained ankle will put her out of contention for an unknown time. Let's just hope it won't be for too long, coz it's looking like the injuries are the story of her life :(

Get well, Bepa!

~jachal