Knock knock, are you there? It's drug tester! Open up!

More and more players are complaining about the new antidoping rules. The ideas of controlling players every day seems to be ridiculous. Players have to be at home when drug testers arrive, otherwise it may cause anti-doping violation.

The first one to oppose was current world nr 1, Rafael Nadal:

"It is intolerable harassment. To have to send a message or be concerned all day long if there is a last-minute change seems to me be totally excessive."

Just few days later another player complained. In his interview Andy Murray said:

"These new rules are so draconian that it makes it almost impossible to live a normal life. I got a visit at 7 a.m one morning at my home right after I had travelled home from Australia. I woke up not really knowing where I was and suffering badly from jet lag. It seemed ridiculous to me as I’d been tested just four days earlier, straight after the match I had lost in the Australian Open.
The official who came to my home wanted me to produce identification to prove who I was. He insisted on watching me provide a sample, literally with my trousers round my ankles, and then insisted that I wrote down my own address, even though he was at my private home at 7 a.m."

However, there is one player who doesn't object. It is former nr 1, Roger Federer. He may hate Hawk Eye, but he actually likes more strict anti- doping controls.

"It's a tough system, no doubt. It's a significant change to what we were used to before, so I think it takes some time getting used to it.
But at the same time, I feel like this is how you're going to catch them, right? You're not going to catch them ringing them up and saying, Look, I would like to test you maybe in two days... It's an hour a day. I know it's a pain, but I would like it to be a clean sport, and that's why I'm okay with it."

Yeah, Roger, like always you have different opinion. No surprise.

~shaw

Football, basketball, but no tennis

Serbian star Ana Ivanovic attended the Basketball Euroleague match between Partizan Belgrade and Lottomatica Roma in Belgrad on Wednasday. She is preparing in capital of Serbia for Fed Cup encounter against Japan.

We could see her few weeks ago at Real Madrid's match with Fernando Verdasco, but this time she was alone.

Maybe her recent form could be better, but look at her. She looks gorgeous. Sometimes it is enough ;)

~shaw

From Melbourne to... Kiev

One of the hottest players on the tour, Fernando Verdasco made a stop durring his flight back from Melbourne in Kiev. He had press conference there and spend some time on court with young kids from Ukraine.

It's good Nando, that after huge success in Australia you can still stay humble. That's why we like you so much.

~shaw

Obama is good, no?

The only thing I can say is that he seems to be the president of the world, that it will probably be an important change. Among all the disasters that surround us, all the wars, the violence and the misfortunes in the world, he seems to be a great hope. The world needed him. A hope, a new image that apparently can solve everything. He probably won’t be able to do it because it is impossible to solve all the evil already done. Surely things will get better. I trust, but this man has a lot of pressure: all the expectations created around him... That’s partly good, but partly it isn’t. No matter how well he does it, it will never seem to be enough. He will have a complicated life, but ... he is welcome.
- thoughts of Rafael Nadal about President Obama.

Rafa, yours english is getting better and better, no?

~shaw

First time in South Africa

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis were invited to spend some time off court durring SA Tennis Open in Johanesburg.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has visited Arthur Ashe Tennis Center in Soweto. He met and coached some township's kids.

Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis visited the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg to learn about history of South Africa and the legacy created by Nelson Mandela.

~shaw

Ferru, you tiger, you....

David Ferrer may not have shown any mercy for his rival, Dudi Sela, in South Africa, as he destroyed his opponent 6/2 6/0, but the Spaniard made a good impression by playing with tiny tigers.

Women's hearts must be melting seeing those incredible pics of Ferru. Sooo cuuuute!!!

~jachal

The Snowman returns

Andy Murray proved not to be devastated after his 4th round loss to Fernando Verdasco at this year's Australian Open. The Brit showed his offcourt skills, we weren't really aware of...

~jachal

Change for better?

Maria Kirilenko, world nr 37, decided to end her work with Eric van Harpen. Her new coach will be her father, Yuri Kirilenko.

"It’s like in the life, sometimes you feel you need to change something. Especially in sport, when something doesn’t work. Eric helped me a lot, I learned a lot of new things thanks to him. We are still good friends with him and his daughter Laura."

Maria Kirilenko, who managed to get to the 18th position in WTA ranking in July 2008 can't be satisfied with her recent results. After some strange public coments from her coach about her tactics she decided to end this relationship.

Maria, we hope that you will finally prove us that you can play as good as you look.

~shaw

Guess who's back?

According to Belgian newspaper Kim Clijsters will be back to professional tour. Since her father's death, Kim started to train again with sparring partner, Wim Fissette, a Belgian retired player. The article says that she might be back at the ITF $100,000 in Torhout in April this year. Clijsters played in January a match against Kirsten Flipkens (WTA 94) and won it 6/4.

Will it be another fairy tale like the one Lindsay Davenport had? We wish you all the best.

~shaw

Rafa rocks Melbourne

On the 15th day of Australian Open usually there is only one player left in Melbourne. It is the Men's Singles champion. This year it is the current world number one, Rafael Nadal. After tremendous effort durring this year's Aussie, Rafa took his trophy on a tour of Melbourne.

~shaw

Pathetic, says Navratilova

"One has to wonder who is around who might challenge Serena - and her sister Venus - in the other three grand-slam events this year. Maria Sharapova's right shoulder cannot heal quickly enough, Elena Dementieva has to show her pedigree finally at this level and Jelena Jankovic must start to play in these championships as she does in the lesser events. " said Martina Navratilova.

Asked about Australian Open women's final Martina Navratilova just responded: "Pathetic".

Yeah, just to compare, it took Serena Williams only 59 minutes to win the final and earn $ 1.3 mln while Rafael Nadal had to spend more than four hours to win the same money against Roger Federer. Not to mention Rafa's epic semifinal match against Fernando Verdasco which lasted 5 h 14 min.

Yes. Something is definitely wrong with women's tennis. Martina, maybe you should consider another comeback to professional tennis?

~shaw

Nando in Men's Health

Fernando Verdasco is on everyone's mouth this year. He's enjoying the best time of his career on court. He made the semis at this year's Australian Open. Nando made also headline's this year when his relationship with Ana Ivanovic ended. Now the sexy Spaniard is featured on the Men's Health cover.

Nando is now getting close to Andy Roddick as the greatest womanizer in the top 10, but in comparison to the American, Verdasco didn't need his arms to be muscled up...

~jachal

Champions come back home

Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi from India, who won their first Mixed Doubles Grand Slam title in Melbourne arrived this morning at the Mumbai Airport. They were welcomed as national heroes.


"It's a great way to come back, especially what happened in the last six-seven months," said Sania after landing in Mumbai with Bhupathi. She is the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam title.

India was even happier when Yuki Bhambri won Boys Singles Championship title. Unfortunately Bahmbri couldn't celebrate with Bhupathi and Mirza because he landed in New Delhi.

It looks like India has a present stars as well as a future star.

~shaw

Rafa > Roger

"I don't know. I mean, I'm really a big fan of both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. So I don't know. I don't know who to say and who to pick." - Serena Williams asked about the outcome of men's final.

I would love to see Rafa do well because I just ‑ I don't think he's won this tournament. But, uhm, you know, I just ‑you know, I'm just a big fan of both of them. I think I want their autographs."
Isn't she sweet?

~shaw