Andre, what did you do?

Roger Federer: "It was a shock when I heard the news. I am disappointed and I hope there are no more such cases in future... He has done a lot for tennis, both as a player and as a human being. Today, he raises millions of dollars for his foundation for children."

Rafael Nadal: "If the ATP covered for Agassi then I think that's terrible... The only thing I can say is that if they covered at that moment for the player and punished others for doing the same kind of thing then that would seem to me to be a lack of respect for all sportsmen... Now that he is retired [he] comes out and says this -- it's a senseless way of damaging the sport."

Andy Roddick: "Andre is and always will be my idol. i will judge him on how he's treated me, and how he has changed the world for better... if anything we [top players] are subjected to way more testing and attention.. thats just a fact.. and to be fair when andre wrote the reported letter, he was well outside the top 100 and widely viewed as on the way out."

~shaw

Dancing queens: Radwanska sisters

Just look how this two can enjoy themselves. They look so happy.

~shaw

Feli, it's all about your outlook

"I was losing so much that I just had to do something about it. I didn't know what else, so I cut my hair. All of a sudden I started to win, so I don't want to change a thing now."

- Feliciano Lopez on the reason why he suddenly started playing well.

~shaw

Not so fast! Santoro wants to play more!

Fabrice Santoro, who will turn 37 in December, admitted in a press conference in Lyon that he is considering playing Australian Open 2010. Season 2009 was supossed to be the last one for Fabrice.

"Since a Canadian reporter told me I would be the first to achieve such a feat, I keep on saying to myself that it would be nice, it would be an unusual record." he said in Lyon.

"But if I want to be able to play five-set matches in Melbourne, I must not go skiing in December. I won't make that decision thoughtlessly."

Well, we love you so much Fabrice, that we would be thrilled to see you in Melbourne.

~shaw

WTA stars gather in Doha

We've got some great pics for you from the draw ceremony in Doha that took place yestarday. Sony Ericsson WTA Championship begins tomorrow.

~shaw

Djokovic full of respect

"When I get frustrated I throw my racket. Then I look at Todd and I'm kind of scared about what his reaction might be, what he's going to say."

- Novak Djokovic on his attitude to his new coach Todd Martin.

~shaw

Please Roger, don't play!

Roger Federer was sent more than 500 letters asking him not to participate in his hometown event in Basel. The tournament is sponsored by tobacco brand Davidoff.

Controversy over Basel's sponsorship has arisen in past years as well. Switzerland still allows tobacco signage at sporting events while the EU has banned such advertising.

~shaw

Baghdatis shows good form and positive mood

"When you wake up in the morning and you don't feel any pain, it's easier to play good tennis. I'm having a good run now and enjoying myself on the court. I'm hungry to do well and I want to come back stronger than before."


We think that you already managed to comeback Marcos, considering the fact that few months ago you were about 150 and now you are 41 in the ATP ranking. We are more than happy for you.

~shaw

Sampras beats Agassi in Macau exhibition

Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi at an exhibition match in Macau 3-6 6-3 10-8. This was the first time that Sampras and Agassi played each other in seven years.

"Andre just hits the ball so cleanly even after being retired for three years. The pace of his shots is just very heavy. Today he was serving great, I think he even out-aced me. It was a pleasure playing him, he is a great player with a great return of serve" said Sampras.

"Thanks for the exercise" Agassi responded to Sampras after the match.

~shaw

Wozniacki & Betfair - a couple?

Did the good girl gone bad? Caroline Wozniacki's good name may suffer a little in the next few days, as the Dane is linked to a betting scandal. The World No.5 has decided to retire in the most peculiar time in a match - while leading Anne Kremer 7/5 5/0. But it wasn't only the retirement, that made the people want to have a look at this match again. Piotr Wozniacki, the father and coach of Caroline, told her to stop the match after two games no matter what the score, would be.


Wozniacki, playing the 25th event of the year (most of all the top 10 players), recieved a treatment for a hamstring strain during a match. Though limping in between the points, she was moving pretty good, while playing.

"I could possibly have finished the match, but felt there was no way I could get ready for the second round on Thursday, so I chose the sporting way and let her go through. She's also [playing] at home," - Wozniacki told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

Anne Kremer, who got into the main draw, as a lucky loser after Melanie Oudin withdrew with a gastro-intestinal illness, could once again speak of big luck, as she now will face Katarina Srebotnik for a place in the quarterfinals. But was it really luck, or maybe a planned move from the Wozniacki family. There have been voices raised, that the match was being fixed.


Piotr Wozniacki, who during a changeover told Caroline to stop playing was surprised, by the whole situation.

"I said to her, 'Caroline, whether it is 5-0, 4-1 or 3-2 at the next change of ends, you have to decide if you will be able to play the next match. Then make the right decision. I have spoken to the tournament director, who spoke to the WTA, who was also at the match. They all said Caroline showed a lot of sportsmanship." - he explained to Ekstra Bladet.

About $2.5 million was wagered on Wozniacki on Betfair, according to Danish reports. Accounts also indicated that Piotr's conversation with Caroline was quickly posted online and may have prompted some to put money on Kremer towards the end of the match.

The match will be reviewed by the WTA.

~jachal

Whirlpool cakes

It seems like Whirlpool is not about cooking. Neither are the WTA Players - Agnieszka Radwańska and Elena Vesnina...


Funny how the better player on court (Radwańska that is) is also the better cook... Elena, as much as we love you - please, don't try being creative!

~jachal

Kolya on fire & in love

Nikolay Davydenko proved once again to his doubters, that he ain't over til it's over. He won the Masters Series event in Shanghai, by beating Novak Djokovic in teh semis and Rafael Nadal in the final. And while he achieved one of his greatest succeses on Tour, he won also a few hearts...


Especially the one of his wife :)

~jachal

Stalking Roddick winning bets, not matches

World No.6 Andy Roddick proved he's a champion after he won $150 bet with Virgin heir Sam Branson - by playing with his left hand. The former No. 1 was vacationing on Richard Branson's Necker Island when Sam challenged him to a set with a condition that right-handed Roddick had to play as a leftie.



"Even with the handicap, the result was a convincing win for Roddick. He thrashed Branson 6-0" - the New York Post quoted a source as saying.

Roddick's wife Brooklyn Decker had recently revealed that her husband ''stalked'' her. The model caught Roddick's attention when he saw her in a magazine. "He was the first to admit that he kind of stalked me," she said. "But his line was, 'It's only stalking if the other person doesn't like it'," she added.

~The Times of India

Safin says goodbye to China and slams Berdych

"Just come on, just grow up a little bit. You are 26 years old, just deal with that. If you're losing, just be a man, be a man and lose as a man."

"Don't pretend that you are injured and then you start running around and start to hit winners and then all of a sudden you pull the hands up in the air after winning the match? Of course he will find 10,000 excuses. Still, it's not enough. You're playing or you're not playing. If you're playing, so just shut...up and play."

~shaw