US Open quick hits: Lleyton, Tati, Fed, Rafa and some good eats

The US Open news just keeps on coming. Here are more quick hits about the final Slam:

1. Blame Hewitt's hip - Former champion Lleyton Hewitt officially withdrew today from the US Open + Davis Cup after undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery. Retirement, though, is not on table.


2. Tati takes a pass - Tatiana Golovin also withdrew today siting a naggging back injury. Tati hasn't played a match since losing in Berlin's first round back in May.
   


3. Fed's final stand? - Former Deadspinner (its founding editor, actually) peeks into the world that is Roger Federer and his final attempt to salvage, by his monstrous standards, and awful season at the US Open
   


4. Cloning Rafa - Can the USTA's new Saddlebrook-based player development program, headed by Patrick McEnroe, create an American Nadal who could actually win in New York? (Thanks NY mag + reader vs346c for the tip.)


5. Good eating at the Open - Spiaggia's Tony Mantuano is launching Wine Food Bar located at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center's South Plaza. The food will be comprised of tastes from around the Mediterranean with the spot resembling a Spanish tapas bar. Yum!

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Top ballers prepare for Wimbledon assault

Ready...set...go!

The world's top ballers have all made their way to The All England Club for the third and most prestigious Grand Slam of the year, The Championships at Wimbledon.

Current and former champions Roger Federer, Venus + Serena Williams, Maria "Shriek"apova and Lleyton Hewitt were joined by new world no. 2 Jelena Jankovic on the pristine green lawns for some practice sessions.





(images via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Top ballers hit the skids at Queen's Club

Slippin' n slidin' seemed to be the name of the game today at Queen's Club (wait isn't the clay season kaput?) Not one but three ballers hit the skids on the slick grass today but managed to dig out wins - and isn't that all that matters?

Rafael Nadal defeated Japan's rising star Kei Nishikori 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, Andy Murray avoided serious injuries to his groin and ankle defeating the talented Latvian Ernests Gulbis 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 and Lleyton Hewitt dismissed Frenchie Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-4.



(images via Getty)

THE LOW DOWN: Hewitt struggling with hip injury - could his career be in jeopardy?

Bad news for Lleyton Hewitt.

The Aussie hot head, who suffered a hip injury during last season's US hardcourt swing, may not be fully fit in time for the French Open or even Wimbledon:

The hip is starting to feel a little better, but I'm yet to fully test it out on court. The specialist did a couple more tests today but the results won't be back for a few days. Once I get those I can make a decision on the French Open and the grasscourt season.

At 27-years of age Lleyton is already on the downswing of a very good career. But a chronic hip injury in tennis usually spells curtains on a career, particularly for a baller whose movement is an integral part of their game. Gustavo Kuerten and Magnus Norman are prime examples of what a hip injury can do and now it looks like Lleyton Hewitt may soon be added to the growing list.

I'm thinking this injury will unfortunately seal the deal if it doesn't get better.

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Lleyton goes Lindsay, drags Mia into spotlight

Here's Lleyton Hewitt waving to the crowd with daughter Mia after the Aussie annihilated Kirati Siributwong of Thailand 6-0, 6-0, 6-1 during the Group 1 second round Davis Cup tie. The Australian team defeated the Thais and will now enter the play-offs in September.

For someone who's been so critical of the media attention he and his family receive, I'm surprised he'd drag his daughter into the spotlight à la Lindsay Davenport. I guess what's not good for the goose is all well and good for the gander Lleyton!

(image via Getty)

THE LOW DOWN: Hewitt tired of media scrutiny, "I'm really a shy, down-to-earth lad, " says Lleyton

PR 911: Lleyton Hewitt is getting all sensitive on us now, and he wants us to know it. The Aussie hot-head spoke out recently against the constant media spotlight surrounding his family, including wife Bec and daughter Mia. The former No. 1 told The Times newspaper,

"We are on the front cover of a certain level of magazine every week, [...] The last story was `Bec's Breakdown', full of lies and made-up quotes, but then a lot of people believe it. It's hard to deal with it all, which is why I don't like having to leave them alone. Whatever people might think, I'm really a shy, down-to-earth lad who just likes being with my mates and whose favourite way of spending a weekend is a family barbecue."

Seriously - shy and down-to-earth? You're right, Lleyton, I can't imagine you spending a relaxing weekend BBQing with the fam. But that has nothing to do your belligerent attitude on and off the court or past racially-motivated remarks...nothing at all.

(images via AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

FASHION FIX: Lleyton Hewitt enters the fashion game, looks to build a brand

Another tennis fashionista: Could you be wearing the above image on your tennis gear? Would you want to?? Lleyton Hewitt seems to think you will. The Aussie hot-head and his management team are in the process of developing and trademarking his famous "C'mon" battle cry and a logo based on the hand signal called "the vight" for branding purposes. Lleyton told Austrailan Tennis magazine,

"It's funny — I walk down the street and everybody says 'C'mon.' They copy me for doing my signal. I'm not quite sure how to describe that signal, there's no real word for it. So we've trademarked 'C'mon.'"

But the future Lleyton Hewitt brand won't be limited to tennis clothing.

"We're going to try and push ["C'mon"] as much as possible as my brand, and get it out there in the marketplace, make shirts for kids, golf shirts and different kinds of stuff like cargo shorts."

Lleyton wasn't the first tennis player to use "the vight" hand sign, however. It was invented in the 1980's by Niclas Kroon, an obscure Swedish tour player, and later made famous by Mats Wilander. The word "vight" is loosely translated to mean "for sure".

(via TheAge.com)

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: Andy, Lleyton, James vs. Serena, Pete vs. Steffi...Team Andy criticized, Puma plays tennis and more

- Bargain basement: Dipping their toe into the tennis conversation that is equal pay for women, Sportingo asks: in their prime, who was the better bargain for tournament organizers: Steffi Graf or Pete Sampras? "Consider the following: Pete Sampras finished his career with 14 Grand Slams and Steffi Graf, his contemporary, with 22. She also has 107 titles to her name, 43 more than Sampras. Yet Sampras finished with double the prize money of Graf. The reason is simple; men get higher prize money than women. The question, however, is why?"

- James Blake and Serena Williams will headline the 5th annual Anthem LIVE! in Norfolk, Virginia, which supports cancer research. Mardy Fish and Tatiana Golovin will also be on hand to support the cause.

- The Brits are split on Andy Murray's decision to choose a team over a single coach to help build his career. The recently retired Tim Henman told The Herald, "Andy's made a decision he wants to go in a different direction, and, as your own boss, that's your prerogative. He's now going to assemble the people around him and hopefully move forward from there."

Fellow retiree Greg Rusedski, however, isn't so keen on the 20-year old's decision saying, "You need to have one coach leading the whole situation, like there was Gilbert before, [...] "It will be interesting to see who will be the main person in his camp because with all these personalities someone's got to put a programme together, whether it's a physical trainer, the mental side, and there has to be someone who oversees all those things, [...] I was a little surprised with the team of advisors route he went down, I thought he'd hire another top coach."

The Brits aren't the only ones with an opinion about Andy's decision, though. Former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich, backing Rusedski's position, thinks this decision might be based on something other than tennis saying, "...as someone who still needs to develop both his game and as a person I think it might not be helpful for Andy to have a big entourage. [...] I think it can be dangerous having a big entourage, but Andy has to find out himself. [...] He shouldn't start feeling too special about the fact that he might be able to hire five or six people, who cost a lot of money."

- Martina keeps moving: The legendary Martina Navratilova has signed on to be the new Health & Fitness Ambassador for AARP, the world’s largest advocacy organization for people over age 50, showing all of us that age is really just a number.

- Lleyton in waiting: Aussie hot-head Lleyton Hewitt is preparing for his full assault on his country's Grand Slam with a rigorous training regimen with coach Tony Roche. The former World No. 1 told Adelaide Now, "I'm hitting every day with Rochey for three hours, [...] I'd be spending about the same time in the gym each day. [...] By the time the Australian Open comes around, I'd be fitter than I ever have been going into it." Lleyton believes this could give him the edge he needs over the top players, including Roger Federer, saying "I'm going to be a lot fresher than Federer, [...] Even when you look at (Novak) Djokovic, (Rafael) Nadal ... (Nikolai) Davydenko were getting tired at the Masters Cup so I'm going to be a lot fresher than those guys but I've just got to try and get some matches under my belt."

- Shopping for a tennis fashionista this holiday season? Puma has just released the Lydia Holiday Tennis Bag in black-dazzling blue, made from eco-friendly materials and featuring a pocket for your 'racquet' - though this is more fashion than function, of course.

- Getting to know Davis Cup champion Andy Roddick. Most revealing moment: "Favorite TV Shows: 'Lost. My Name Is Earl. I love My Name Is Earl. Don't know if it's because I get the trailer park humor since my parents lived in one before they got married, but I think the show is hilarious.'"

- Sentimental for Seles: The Daily Forehand runs down their list of Monica Seles' top-5 clashes. No. 1? The classic battle between Seles and Graf in the 1992 French Open final.

- Mats Wilander, who recently worked with Tatiana Golovin before parting ways with the Frenchwoman has signed on to co-coach another Frenchie: headcase Paul-Henri Mathieu

(images via TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images, puma.com)

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: Roger, Andy vs. Brad II, Ana vs. Jelena ...Venus and Serena double up, Bec cries and more

(image courtesy of nbawant2b)

- So why did Andy Murray really dump Brad Gilbert? This is London claims his large entourage is to blame - more specifically, the presence of Mamma Murray aka Judy. According to their report, "A brilliant coach in her own right who has come up with more active title-winning players in her own family than the combined efforts of the Lawn Tennis Association put together, [Judy] still very much directs the traffic. Nobody knows the parts of her son's expansive game, or his complex psyche, better than she does. Since Murray came back from injury she has been present at the bigger events, such as the U.S. Open, the Davis Cup and the Madrid and Paris Masters." We bet the very vocal Gilbert wasn't thrilled to take the coaching back seat to Mamma Murray. Another coaching guru, Nick Bollettieri, doesn't believe one coach is sufficient in today's complex game. He tells The Independent, "I could envisage a team of three: a physical trainer, someone to work on his technique and someone to motivate him," said Bollettieri. Are you sure that's enough coach? We need that many just to get to our desk job everyday.

- Insider information: Listen in as Roger Federer quizzes Bjorn Borg on how to win the French Open, John McEnroe about his greatest tennis regrets, and then takes the hotseat as Borg and McEnroe ask the World No. 1 questions in the next Blackrock Champions podcast on Tuesday, Nov. 20th. To subscribe, click here.

- Serbian showdown: Top-5 players Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic will compete in an exhibition match in their home country at the Belgrade Arena on December 7th. The event called NAJJ Srbije will also feature Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic.

- The Sisters Sledge, Venus & Serena, will play doubles at the Aussie Open in 2008. Okay tournament officials, all together now, "CHA-CHING!"

- Young gun: 11-year-old Teertha Iska, India's No. 3 tennis player in the under-12 category and disciple of guru Nick Bollettieri, received her first corporate sponsor. Ah, to be 11 and loaded - those were the days...

- Rumors of pregnancy are swirling around Bec Hewitt, wife of Aussie hot-head Lleyton Hewitt, after the former actress broke down in tears giving a speech during her first official gig as ambassador of the Children's Hospital Westmead. We see the connection, really.

- Psych out: Anna Chakvetadze likes to play mind games on the court - with herself. The Russian top-tenner says, "I studied psychology at university, although I've not yet finished. [...] It helps you prepare properly for the match and when I'm playing I try to think about the next point and not the last one. I also make a point of fighting all the time as it puts pressure on your opponent when they see you don't want to give them any free points."

- Should Israeli players compete in Muslim countries? ESPN.com's Bonnie D. Ford investigates.

+ WEDNESDAY NETCORDS: Lindsay, Kim, Nole vs. Andy, Lleyton bags season...Mario returns, Roger dreams of gold and more

(image courtesy of The Red Joke)

- Boneheaded or brilliant? Former tennis player and coach Ion Tiriac is pushing to make Madrid the location of a 5th Grand Slam tournament.

- Super Mario: Croatia's Mario Ancic is finally making strides on the ATP Tour again after sitting out 6 months with mononucleosis and then recently with a shoulder injury. "Playing matches, waiting for matches to start, warming up for matches, it's new for me this year," said the former top-10 player. "I haven't done much of that at all. You can work as much as you want, but when you come to a tournament, it's a new world."

- Closing shop: Aussie hothead Lleyton Hewitt has ended his '07 campaign early. The former World No. 1 is nursing a chronic ankle issue which he re-injured while preparing for Davis Cup duty last month. Lleyton's manager, David Drysdale, said, "It's not something that we think is going to be an issue in the future. The advice we were given by the specialists was to give him three or four weeks off and then allow another three or four weeks to recuperate, so that's pretty much what we're doing."

- Speaking of the Hewitts, sister Jaslyn has traded in her tennis racquets for dumbells and competitive bodybuilding. According to a recent interview she didn't want to "bulk up like a she-man. I like the athletic feminine look," said Jaslyn. Check out her new look here. We're thinking she's a card-carrying dude now, but that's just our humble opinion. (via TSF)

- Another former World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport is singing a different tune than Lleyton and discussing the beginning of her full assault on the tennis world. In an interviw with RadioTennis.com, Lindsay discussed her initial 2008 plans saying, "Right now the plan is to leave for Australia after the first of the year, play a warm-up tournament prior to the Australian Open, then play the Australian Open and then possibly play Fed Cup."

- Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray: how do the old friends stack up against each other?

- The currently retired, but very pregnant, Kim Clijsters can still hit a big ball - baby bump and all. No, seriously....check it out here!

- Roger Federer likes his chances to win the Australian and French Opens next year, but what about the "Golden Slam"? "The Olympic Games is a special year and honestly I don't envision the Golden Slam, but if it's there to take I'll try, but it's a tough schedule," [...] "It's hard to do, almost impossible."

- Sign o' the times: Which astrological sign is the most populated by tennis players? Tennis Diary knows...and they're telling.

The players get their party on at the Japan Open

Players party: A few of the notable men and women from the tennis tours took time out from the Japan Open this week to get their party on. Those in attendance included Ai Sugiyama, Venus Williams, Tomas Berdych, Richard Gasquet, David Ferrer, Sania Mirza, and Lleyton Hewitt.

Call us crazy but this doesn't look like much of a party. And, aren't they missing part of their kimono?

+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Roger, Dmitry, Marat, the fighting Hewitts...2008 Olympics news, David Beckham undresses and more

(image via smwarnke4)

- 2008 Olympics update: The surface for the '08 Olympics has been chosen - DecoTurf - which is the same surface used at the US Open. We know one player who is probably very happy about this decision: US Open champion Roger Federer who, surprisingly enough, has yet to sport the gold medal.

- Go vintage Borg in this reissued Matchday Jacket by Fila

- Meet DJ Dmi: Apparently Dmitry Tursonov can spin more than a tennis ball. The eccentric Russian is also a DJ and has posted his own mixes on his website. Check them out here!

- Should the tennis schedule revolve around having a "season" similar to baseball, football, or...football (soccer for our US readers)? ESPN.com ponders this question.

- Ain't no mountain high enough: Marat Safin is putting his tennis aside for another challenge. The 2-time Grand Slam winner is part of a Russian expedition team scheduled to climb Cho Oyu, the 8,201-meter (26,906 ft) mountain on the Nepal-Tibet border.

- We'll be sad to see you go, Guga, if you decide to hang up the rackets...

- The Hewitts are fighting: Never a dull moment in the Hewitt household, is there? The famous Aussie couple are being accused by Channel 7 program, Today Tonight, about failing to fulfill their commitment to building an orphanage in Cambodia.

- Are you suffering from having excess balls? Here are 17 innovate things you can do with the balls you've used and abused.

- Jon Wertheim is certainly making a name for himself. Not only does he cover tennis in-depth, the Sports Illustrated writer is interviewed here about his book on pool entitled "Running the Table".

- Mind over matter: Peter Bodo delves into the mind of Roger Federer to explore his uncanny ability to focus so intensely in the moment...very interesting.

- OFF TOPIC ALERT: Becks releases 2008 calendar, undresses for you

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: Fed, Nole, Alona, Martina the black widow...Rafa's injuries worry, Lleyton is ready and more

- Pulling a fast one: Is the hardcourt surface at the US Open faster than the Wimbledon grass? The debate rages on...

- Far and Wide, an AP news blog, reports on the gender-biased fashion news coverage from the AP's reporting on the US Open. Mentions: Women -1077, Men - 0. Clearly they need to start tracking Down the Line's! consistent coverage of the Open...we LOVE the men over here.

- Is Rafa's playing style catching up to him? Bonnie D.(esimone) Ford of ESPN opens up the conversation.

- Ready to go: Darren "Killer" Cahill, part-time ESPN broadcaster and Lleyton Hewitt's fill-in coach at the US Open, says the Aussie's game is in good form and he's up to challenging the top players - namely Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer. "...his game at the moment is in terrific form. His practice sessions have been great leading into the US Open. He's been working hard the last six or seven months and obviously his form in the last three months is getting back to where he's challenging the top players in the world."

- Notorious NY gossiper Page Six has called out TENNIS magazine for labeling Martina Hingis a "black widow" after injuries plagued past boyfriends including Radek Stepanek, Magnus Norman, and Justin Gimelstob. Conspiracy or coincidence???

- Get to know Alona Bondarenko

- More Borg-inspired trainers: check out these kicks from Diadora

SIGHTING: The boys of the ATP get cookin' for charity

Continuing the media merry-go-round before the US Open, a few of the boys from the ATP tour put down their tennis rackets and picked up a spatula for charity. Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, and Lleyton Hewitt joined chef Todd Mark Miller to prepare food at the 8th annual 'Dacor Taste Of Tennis' charity event at the W Hotel in New York City.

A-Rod looked his typical jovial self while Rafa won the award for "Hottest Tennis Player in an Apron." But could Hewitt look any more disinterested? He should get some pointers on how to fake it for the camera from his wife, Aussie actress Bec Hewitt. It's for charity, man!

The ATP's hairy situation grows...

The hairy situation on the men's tennis tour continues with the latest offender: Aussie Lleyton Hewitt. Back when he was World No. 1 and winning Wimbledon, he sported the crop-top which was our fave look for him.

C'mon Lleyton, cut that shag!

ROUND ROBIN: Andy feels the pressure, Roger takes his time, Justine wants revenge

A-Rod still believes: With Novak Djokovic's extraordinary win and performance at last week's Rogers Cup, Andy Roddick was definitively bumped to No. 4 in the world. However, A-Rod believes the hardcourts of the US, where he's had his best results, will reward his big game. "I still feel like I have at least another Grand Slam title in me," said A-Rod. But, he also knows time is running out. "It's getting to the point where you want to make that happen sooner rather than later," said the American. "This is probably the first year where you reflect back and say it's gone by too fast," [...] "You have to re-evaluate at some point. And pushing toward another Slam is the prominent goal." (via Courier News Online)

To coach or not to coach: Roger Federer recently let go of Aussie legend Tony Roche as his coach (he now coaches fellow Aussie Lleyton Hewitt.) Though he's gone successfully without coaching before (2004 = 3 Grand Slams) he's taking the decision to bring on someone new very seriously. "Do I want a coach? If so, do I want a guy to pick up balls or someone to travel with me all the time?" asked the dominant Swiss. "I'm world number one and I don't want to take chances. Everything I decide has to be thought out. I have to take all of my decisions wisely and slowly." He is sure of one thing: the 2012 Olympics. "I admire the way that (Andre) Agasssi (sic) played through three tennis generations," [...] "I know I want to play the 2012 London Olympics, when I will almost 31." (via Yahoo! Eurosport UK)

Justine's hangover: Justine Henin is still caught up in her Wimbledon misery. Playing in this week's Rogers Cup, the World No. 1 says she wants vindication for that loss. "Wimbledon, it seems far away from me now, but it's true that I have also a feeling that I need a little bit of revenge from that," said Henin. "I could be very calm and understand what did happen. It's tough, you need a lot of humility." (via CBS Sportsline)

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: Jelena vs. Maria, Patrick on Lleyton...Brett remembers Serena, Martina debates and more

(image courtesy of intensity)

- Trouble brewing: World No. 3 Jelena Jankovic has called out Maria "Shriek"apova saying, "She's still the No. 2 player in the world, and only winning one title is not something I think you should see from the No. 2 player in the world." (women's tennis blog)

- 2 time Grand Slam champion Patrick Rafter doesn't believe fellow Aussie Lleyton Hewitt will reach No. 1 again, but Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj believes his countrywoman, the red-hot Sania Mirza, has top 10 game in her.

- Serena Williams, who hasn't played since her quarterfinal loss to Justine Henin at Wimbledon, has entered the Pilot Pen tournament. Meanwhile, her former boyfriend, director Brett Ratner, remembers Serena telling him, "Brett, I want to be honest with you, OK? There’s nothing I hate more in life than playing tennis with you."

- Greg Garber asks: Is gamemanship just part of the sport?

- Legendary Martina Navratilova, holder of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, gives her thoughts on tonight's "gay debate" between Democratic contenders for the US presidency.

- Apparently shorty-shorts look good on someone: New York City men

- PHOTO OP: Happy 26th birthday, Roger!

ROUND ROBIN: Jennifer returns, Lleyton opens up, Daniela hits the clubs

A champion's return: 3-time Grand Slam champion Jennifer Capriati made a special appearance this past weekend at the Tier I Acura Classic. Though she recently discussed her struggles with depression, J-Cap was all smiles this day, looking summery in her boho-chic moment. Could this be a sign of her return back to the tennis court?

A kindler, gentler Lleyton: Lleyton Hewitt, who has teamed up with World No. 2 Rafael Nadal for doubles at this week's Rogers Cup, seems to be in a better place these days as well. Now managed by trusted former Tennis Australia administrator David Drysdale and coached by Tony Roche, who most recently worked with Roger Federer, the Aussie is reportedly more open and approachable. Could this transformation be much deeper than just a marketing ploy? (via adelaidenow)

Clubbing it: When shorts-loving Slovak Daniela Hantuchova isn't powering groundies, she enjoys hitting something else: the golf course. Though not anywhere near as capable on the green as she is on the tennis court, she has had some success. "I've got a hole-in-one at the Hopman Cup in Australia," said the World No. 10 from the East West Bank Classic. "I loved it right from the start. For me, it's a great way to relax and get away from everything." (via LA Daily News, image courtesy of AP Photos)

+ MONDAY NETCORDS: Ana, Lindsay, the Grafassi's pay up...US Open Series sleeps, Bec designs, Nicolay denies and more

(image courtesy of Katie Tegtmeyer)

- Yawnsville: We agree with Tennis-X - the US Open Series has been in a slumber even though it's hitting the FOURTH week. The action heats up on the men's side, though, with The Rogers Cup in Montreal - anyone want to pick against a Federer