Ana's Wimby loss doesn't stop her Global Domination Tour

Ana Ivanovic's stay may have been short at Wimbledon but her Global Domination Tour will live on in the UK.

The FHM magazine featuring the world no. 1 on the cover was released and so were some of the inside shots of the Serbian star. But who was the stylist on this photoshoot? They need to be fired and should never style anyone ever again. I mean really, this wasn't for a cheesy lingerie catalog was it?

Ana's a true natural beauty but here she's completely over-styled and over-made up - sometimes less is more!


(images via FHM)

Hewitts expecting second child, sell story for $100K

So now I know why Bec Hewitt was looking like a schoolmarm at Wimbledon: she was hiding something under that tent.

Apparently the former Aussie soap star and her hothead hubby Lleyton Hewitt are expecting their second child and sold their story for $100,000 to gossip rag OK! magazine - pennies in this day and age:


(image via Getty, Ok)

A-Rod gives Outside magazine and inside peek, works out hairy situation

Andy Roddick, who's being supported by a fashion-y Brooklyn Decker as he defends his Queen's Club title this week, is featured on the cover of Outside magazine working his recent hairy situation out. It's amazing what hair stylists can do, right?


The mag also shot some behind-the-scenes video of the American baller and, in his usual dead-pan way, he "talks about what he would be doing if he wasn't on the pro tour and his honeymoon plans with fiancé, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker."

(via Towleroad, images via Outside + Marc Hom)

VIDEO VAULT: Verdasco gets naked for a cause

Fernando Verdasco, who I think has one of the best tennis baller bodies around, got naked for Cosmopolitan magazine. No I didn't stutter.

The Spaniard speaks about the photoshoot and reveals it's to benefit a charity that deals with prostate cancer, for which is grandfather died.

Okay - did you hear me? FERNANDO VERDASCO GETS NAKED. Fine, just watch:



(video via ATPtennis.com)

Serena goes old-school glamour for Ebony magazine, keeps marbles intact for now

Serena Williams loves to have a good time (right Party Watch?) and that's probably why Ebony magazine has put the 8-time Grand Slammer on the cover of their July "Fun" issue with an exclusive inside interview.


The mag styled ReRe in big hair, a fully made up mug, retro swimsuits, and heels - old style glamour at its best. Here's an excerpt from their exclusive interview with the tennis champ where she even mentions rumored boyfriend Common:

There’s no match for Serena Williams on or off the court. Showing off her stellar brick-house physique, the 5-foot-9 1/2-inch tennis star and Olympic gold-hopeful hung out with EBONY magazine in Malibu, Calif., in an exclusive cover shoot. To keep her body in top condition, Serena indulges in scrumptious salads, which include feta cheese, candied walnuts and strawberries. “It’s too hot in the summer to cook, so I love to grill chicken and fish,” she adds.

"I also love to grill vegetables and serve them chilled.” When asked about her rumored love interest, Common, Serena had this to say, “I think he’s a great guy. He’s obviously a great artist who is timeless and classic. You can’t beat that. But I have to focus on tennis because that’s my goal in life.”

Check out some behind the scenes video footage of the 26-year old at the photoshoot. And, no, she keeps her marbles intact, relatively speaking, unlike some other recent videos of our beloved ReRe:


(images via ebony)

Ana gives good face (and then some) for FHM August issue

Ana Ivanovic's Global Domination Tour is gearing up for an assault on the UK again. The sexed-up Serb, who fed Czech Petra Cetkovska two cold bagels for breakfast in the Roland Garros round of 16, will be giving it up for the cover of lad mag FHM's August issue.

Let the drooling begin boys + girls.

(image via anaivanovic.com)

FASHION FIX: Cornet feeling confident in game, looking confident in Lacoste

Alize Cornet is a lady in waiting. France's new teen queen had her match with Argentina's Gisela Dulko suspended due to darkness with the match tied at 3-all in the third set.

And even though she's only 18-years old Alize has made the cover of France's biggest sports mag L'Equipe this week and told the publication she knows her time at Roland Garros will come...maybe not this year but soon:

Roland Garros is winnable for me one day, but not this year. Mentally and physically, it's too soon to be able to manage a tournament like this for an 18-year-old, but I'm learning. Why not next year, or in two years? I can wait five years, 10 years, 20 years -- the important thing is to win it someday. That would be incredible.

It doesn't sound like Alize is lacking in confidence and it shows in her fashion too. She's working a youthful, flirty outfit by Lacoste which showcases her natural exuberance. And even though Gisela is wearing a similar outfit in their match, Alize's accents of red put her over. A winner for sure.

(images via Getty + AP)

Harkleroad to give it up for Playboy, tongue and all

Okay boys - Ashley Harkleroad is ready for her close-up...and I mean really close.

Pebbles, who was dismantled by Serena Williams in the French Open first round, will be the first tennis baller to give it up for Playboy magazine. She'll be appearing in the magazine's August issue and said about her decision:

There's a few reasons why I did it, but I can't really go into it right now. But like I said, I really didn't think it was that big of a deal. I'm proud of my body. I stay in shape and try to stay fit.

Love it - but let's hope it's a lot sexier than this baller's attempt.

(image via Getty)

FASHION FIX: Fun in the sun for Tipsarevic + Men's Vogue

The fashionistas are really soaking up the Serbians these days.

We all know their love for Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic and now Janko Tipsarevic has entered the glamour game. The 23-year old is featured in a June story called "Storming the Beach" for Men's Vogue.

The editorial highlights all things summer and showcases the world no. 33 in Y-3, Bottega Veneta, DKNY, Osklen, CP Company, and Prada.



(images via Men's Vogue, photographed by Matthew Brookes)

A-Rod pays tribute to Agassi for TIME's 100 most influential people

Tennis legend Andre Agassi made TIME magazine's 5th annual list of 100 of the world's most influential people this year and Andy Roddick was given the honor of writing his tribute:

Andre Agassi

By Andy Roddick

"From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life." —Arthur Ashe

Arthur could well have been talking about Andre Agassi. We are all aware of his tennis accomplishments, the brilliance and flash of his career. It's impossible to forget his epic U.S. Open victories, and also—though he might want us to forget—the mullet and acid-washed jeans. But the greater challenge for an athlete is to have a positive impact away from the cameras. I've been privileged to witness firsthand Andre, 38, do just that.

When I was 17 years old, we were on a flight together. I was very nervous, but Andre was kind and encouraged me to ask him questions. When I asked about his biggest regret, I expected some answer related to our profession. Instead he said it was not starting his charitable foundation earlier. I was shocked that a person who has set such a high bar for athletic philanthropy still felt like he could do more. But that is Andre.

There are most likely plenty of kids at Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a model K-12 charter school for disadvantaged children in Las Vegas, who have never watched a match of his. I promise you that Andre could not care less. He would rather be viewed as the man who gives them dreams and opportunities.

(image via Getty)

FASHION FIX: The men of Spain dress it up for ISport magazine

Some of Spain's biggest ballers (excluding the biggest ball of them all - Rafa) took part in a photo shoot for ISport magazine, looking sharply dressed for any off-court occasion.

Check out Juan Carlos Ferrero, Tommy Robredo, Fernando Verdasco, Nicolas Almagro, + Guillermo-Garcia Lopez getting all gussied up for fashion.



(images via atptennis.com)

Federer talks celebrity, Hamburg '02, Mirka and French Open dreams with Inside Tennis

Roger Federer gave a lengthy interview to William Simons of Inside Tennis for their May issue. Apparently, it took Simons four years and many kindly worded rejections from his better half to lock down the wily Fed:

E-mails from Federer’s companion Mirka, saying “Sorry, dearest Bill” became treasured rejection slips, which carried a certain cache.

It was worth the wait. The Swiss stylist gives great insight into the mind of an athlete who has dominated their respective sport, discussing his celebrity status, the death of his first coach + mentor Peter Carter, the importance of Hamburg '02, Mirka's role in his career, which players own the best strokes, and what he'd like first - a Roland Garros crown, Davis Cup title, or Olympic gold medal:

INSIDE TENNIS: Everybody sees the glitz of celebrity. But is there a downside, a burden to celebrity?

ROGER FEDERER: It’s good we don’t have paparazzi in Switzerland. We don’t have people chasing you around and stuff. That’s a good thing. This is one of the reasons why I want to live there when I’m older.

IT: In your formative years, the Aussie Peter Carter was so important to you. The man was so much more than a coach to you. And then on a summer day in Canada, you got word about his sudden death in an auto accident. Soon you found yourself walking alone with your sorrow and loss in Toronto. That solitary night, a young athlete walking the streets alone with your loss was a moment of...

RF: It was difficult because of the disbelief. Until then, I didn’t have to deal much with anybody passing away who’d been close to me. It really touched me strongly because of everything Peter did for me and what he gave me as a player. At a young age, when a coach helps you, he’s more than just a coach. He’s a mentor. He’s your friend. He’s your father figure when your parents are not around. This is why it was so important to me. I wouldn’t say it woke me up, but it definitely made me work again extra hard because it just shows you how quickly it can be over.

IT: It had meaning?

RF: It did have an affect on my game, yeah.

IT: You’ve spoken about the importance of your big breakthrough on court in Hamburg in ‘02. Before that you said you were stuck outside of the top ten and you wondered what you had to do to get into the top ten. You were a struggling player within the pack — a player with great potential, but one who still remained a wannabe. Then you won and felt you were in contention to be No.1.

RF: I wasn’t playing too well. I lost in the first round in Rome the week before against [Andrea] Gaudenzi 4 and 4. I just had changed rackets, changed strings — the whole thing — to actually what I’m playing today. So six years ago almost? Before that I played with Pete’s [Wilson ProStaff] racket. I was in a transition period before that and a little bit frustrated on clay. I lost a lot of close matches, like, 7-5 in the third to [Andrei] Medvedev. Close. I was on a losing streak — my first 11 or 12 matches on clay. I knew I could play well on clay, but for some reason I started off with a terrible streak. I didn’t have the experience. I had just come through the juniors. But for me to then all of a sudden win Hamburg was a shock. And there was the way I did it, beating Guga and Safin. I beat quality players. It was just phenomenal.

T: One of the really unique things you have in your career is your relationship with Mirka. You’re so close. She, I imagine, provides so much companionship and even helps you some with your management and does some scouting.

RF: She’s been a great support, her always being there for me and being at every tournament. It’s just been good. You know, [you’re out on the circuit] having good times and bad and there’s always somebody reminding you what’s good and bad.

She’s known me since I had zero titles, and now I have 53. She hasn’t just been there since I had 20 or something. She came along with me right at the start. This is where she’s been so helpful. To clarify, people think she’s a manager or something. She’s not. She just handles a little bit of the press, but I’ve been trying to take that away a bit, because it does stress her out. I have a manager now with Tony Godsick and IMG. They handle that. She does organize flights and hotels, but...

IT: But still...

RF: She’s important. She oversees [a lot] and it’s always great to get her advice. She’s definitely one of the important persons in terms of my management, in terms of organizing everything. That’s where she really comes into play.

IT: Let me go through some strokes and off the top of your head, tell me the player who has the best stuff out there. Let’s start with the forehand.

RF: I’d have to go with Rafa [Nadal], Fernando Gonzalez or James Blake. Those are the guys with bigger forehands.

IT: First serve?

RF: You’ve got to go with Andy [Roddick] or [Ivo] Karlovic.

IT: Backhand?

RF:[David] Nalbandian.

IT: Volley?

RF: They’re not so many around anymore, unfortunately.

IT: Unfortunately, really?

RF: Fortunately.

IT: You saw a few pretty good volleys the other night from Pete [Sampras] in Madison Square Garden.

RF: Yeah. He would be No. 1 if he were still playing.

IT: If you could accomplish one more thing in your career — win the Davis Cup, take home the Olympic gold, hold that elusive Roland Garros trophy high in Paris or break Pete’s all-time record of 14 Slams — what would it be?

RF: I don’t know. I guess as a selfish individual player I’d have to pick the French Open. I would almost have beaten Pete’s record. I’d be just one short but would have won all four majors. The thing I’m really gunning for is to have all of them by the time I retire. Winning the French is very, very high in my rankings, because I’ve already achieved so much. I think how nice it would be to win the Olympic Games, the Davis Cup, because I love the team and our coach. It would be such a great feeling as a team to go so far, and try to chase all of them down. Hopefully, I can achieve all them.

IT: Twenty-five or 30 years from now, when players gather around, what do you want them to say about what Roger Federer brought to this sport?

RF: I hope they still remember me, because sometimes players don’t recall history very well. What’s important to every player is that you’re remembered in a good way. I hope I’m going to finish my career in a good way. I’d like to be remembered for my charity work, my results, my sportsmanship.

To read the full interview, click here.

(image via Getty)

Fashion coverage seemingly more vital to ESPN The Magazine than tennis coverage

WTF: So did you hear the rumor floating around the blogosphere that ESPN The Magazine is ratcheting up its fashion coverage? Yay!

But, do you think this means an increase in tennis coverage, the most fashion-conscious sport on the planet? Probably not - because in the words of Steven Binder, VP of magazine sales at the sports mag, "People want to know what athletes are wearing to and from the ballpark."

Right - it's called a uniform, duh.

(image via jossip)

Maria Sharapova becomes Ocean Drive magazine's latest cover girl

Model impression: Maria "Shriek"apova, who was spotted looking stylish on the red carpet at the 10,000 BC premiere this week, is the cover story for the latest issue of Ocean Drive. The Aussie Open champ does her best supermodel impression, though we all know her best work is done on the tennis court.


Unfortunately, the interview is choppy and leaves much to be desired (no, she hasn't won the French Open yet.) But Maria does reveal she plans to play for the next 5 years, which only makes her 25-years old. Isn't that prime playing time for a tennis baller?

Here are the highlights:

Which players do you admire?
It’s hard to admire other players because you have to go out there and play against them. You hope that you beat them. I’ve never been a person who had heroes or people to look up to. I’ve never thought that anyone was perfect, including myself. Everybody has flaws. I appreciate people’s talent and ability. I try to pick up on the good things they do. But I never wanted to play the same way someone played or be like someone else.

What is your biggest indulgence?
I’m really into modern art. I hope I can buy an Ed Moses this year. That is my latest obsession.

Who are your favorite designers?
Chanel, Vera Wang and Tom Ford. I love fashion. I would love to incorporate my ideas into fashion—after tennis, of course.

Is it hard for you to date with your schedule?
It’s more difficult versus living in one place. Any relationship that I have is long-distance because of the amount of travel. That makes it tough.

Are you dating anyone?
I don’t talk about that.

What type of music do you listen to? Who are your favorite artists?
Dave Matthews, David Gray and Amy Winehouse. I can listen to hip-hop and then I can easily go into something slower like Counting Crows.

How long will you play tennis?
Until the day I have no interest in going to the practice court. Or when I don’t feel like getting better. I will be playing for the next five years.

And what about life after tennis?
I don’t see myself coaching. One of my goals is to open a small tennis academy back in Russia for young kids. They need a good indoor center. One of the reasons I left Russia is that they don’t have too many good indoor centers, and the ones they had were pretty expensive. They were more for the rich than young kids growing up.

(images via OceanDrive.com)

TENNIS mag's ill-fated attempt at relevancy, boots sports labels for fashion brands

Fat of the land: March is an important month for lifestyle mags - usually the major pubs ship out their "Spring Preview" issues, fat with fashion pages and, hopefully, advertisers with product to show and money to burn. The archaic TENNIS magazine makes sure it doesn't miss that boat and attempts to stay relevant with this editorial featuring major fashion labels Shipley & Halmos, Trovata, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Band of Outsiders, Y-3, American Apparel, + Superga.

While the images are beautiful and the clothing stylish, where are the true sports labels? Is Marc Jacobs or Trovata, for that matter, advertising with the magazine?? It seems pretty ballsy for TENNIS magazine to completely ignore real sports brands in a feature editorial at a time when ad dollars are few and far between these days. Plus, who exactly does TENNIS mag think it's readers are when they feature this type of spread?

Biting the hand that feeds - now that's a great marketing strategy!

(via TSF, images courtesy of Williams + Hirakawa)

Tennis Week now hiring obscure, but pretty, former tennis ballers for writing gigs

Beautiful former top-30 tennis baller and apparent renaissance woman Angelica Gavaldon has recently been pulled from the depths of obscurity by Tennis Week to pen some musings about ballers and the superstitions they keep safe in their racquet bags. But Angelica, who included the large-scale glamour shot above with her in-depth piece, makes sure we know it's all about her.

We get to read Angelica wax poetic about her superstitious early days - loaning a "lucky" shirt to then unknown junior baller Monica Seles at a tournament actually called Sport Goofy, getting high marks from Anna Kournikova for warming up the Russian beauty before a match that she actually won, and her own superstitious doodlings from her old playing days:

"I had a different routine at the Grand Slams:

• At the Australian Open, I would eat a chocolate chip cookie everyday.
• At Wimbledon, I made sure to eat corn on the cob.
• At Roland Garros, I really didn’t have any kind of a ritual or superstition, but maybe I should have, since the furthest I advanced in the tournament was the second round.
• At the U.S. Open, I ate plain pasta before every match."

Eating a chocolate chip cookie everyday? Now there's a fool-proof method of winning!

Angelica even attempts to explain superstitions by speaking with Marc Sagal, a psychologist and managing partner at a company that helps overachievers strive for their personal best. Sagal gave his insight into superstitious behavior saying, "We all make connections between what we do and what happens — and, we often believe that because something has happened before, it will happen again." Very logical, indeed.

Nevertheless, the article regains focus on our 2-time Aussie Open quarterfinalist and ends with a link to her sports apparel line called, of course, Angalo (play on her name maybe?) We immediately jumped on over to her website and were greeted by these images:


Wow - she models too! Is there anything this woman can't do? Smart choice, Tennis Week...smart choice.

(images via tennisweek.com + angalo.com)

Serena Williams featured in Monarch Magazine, "I can [play tennis] for another eight years," says Serena

The camera-loving Serena "ReRe" Williams, who showed a shyer side on a recent night out with rumored boyfriend Common, is featured in the newest issue of Monarch Magazine. Essentially, the publication pens a love letter to the 8-time Grand Slam champion, discussing her humble beginnings, domination of the tennis world stage, and funding of a future academic school for children in Senegal.

Here's a highlight from a Q & A with ReRe feature at the end of the article:

Being an African American in this sport, how do you think your success has changed the view of life for young African Americans who follow your career? It's been great. When I was growing up, there weren't many African American tennis players that I could look up to out there, except for Zena Garrison. She had such an impact on my life. I hope that I might have that same impact on others some day. Then I would know that everything I've done would have been worthwile.

Out of all the success you have had at this game, what has it taught you personally? I think it's just to always be true to who I am, and humble at the same time. That is my life lesson. In this business one day your in and one day you could be out. I just want to enjoy success while I can.

How long do you think you can keep playing this game professionally? Well, I'm enjoying it so much. The energy and excitement is always there. I can do it for another eight years.

Another eight years? We've never heard ReRe say she'd continue to play this long - she'd be 34 by this point. With her talent, she certainly could though we're not sure her body will hold up that long. Interesting statement, nonetheless.

(images via monarchmagazine.com)

Ana Ivanovic continues Global Domination Tour, conquers the UK

Cover girl: Ana Ivanovic has continued her Global Domination Tour into 2008. Her latest stop on the Tour was London where she trained for a week in December. It seems the sexy Serb has become the UK's adopted tennis daughter of sorts (they could certainly use one), making two magazine covers this week alone.

We posted about the World No. 4's interview with The Observer Sport Monthly on Monday, and now the latest interview comes courtesy of London free weekly, Sport magazine. In our favorite exchange, Ana reveals a tennis trade secret only the ladies would understand:

Ah, the Press. Have you ever told them something you shouldn’t?
“A few times. Once they asked me how much tennis players follow the fashion and I said a lot. What I wanted to say was “a little bit”. But it’s difficult when English is not your first language because sometimes you say something you don’t mean.”

So you said... what, exactly?
“I said that a lot of players pay attention to the way they look and they put on a lot of make-up when they go on court. Maybe it’s not a nice thing to say, but it’s true. There are a few of them.”

In the top 10?
“Yes. When you are on court you don’t want to be worrying that your mascara is running, but there are some players who really do. I’ll give you a tip so you can tell who is using make-up. When they take a towel, the girls who are wearing make-up go like this (dabs face delicately), they never rub, so that it doesn’t smudge. So you can tell just by watching.”

We certainly will be...

To read the full interview, click here.

An additional, exclusive Q & A from Sport with Ana is available here.

(image via myfreesport.co.uk)

The Observer Sport Monthly gets cheeky with tennis' sexiest Serbs

That's how you do it: We give huge props to the UK's The Observer Sport Monthly for its cheeky interviews with the Serbian duo of Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic (who made the cover.) The reporters, Emma John and Adrian Deevoy, get inside their personalities by managing to avoid the droll questions most news outlets ask athletes and opting for hilarious, off-color questions for two of tennis' brightest stars.

Emma John gets her shot at Nole, and gets the sexy Serb to talk Maria "Shriek"apova and who has the best body on the ATP Tour.

On playing European football:
"Is he any good [at European football]? 'Yeah!' What kind of player? 'Attacking. I like to score.' This makes sense: given his propensity to strip off his shirt for tennis fans, he would particularly enjoy the celebrations."

On which male tennis baller has the best body:

"Anyway, who has the best body in the men's dressing room? He pauses to consider this quite seriously. 'Oh. Whooh. I would say, for sure, Paradorn Srichaphan. He has not been playing and I haven't seen him for a while. But he still has the best body in men's tennis.' Better than Rafa? 'Rafa? No, no... I don't like bodies like Rafa's.'"

On the rumors about Maria "Shriek"apova:

"...what is the deal with him and Sharapova? 'There is no deal,' [...] 'Obviously when you see her sitting there in the final of the US Open cheering for me you think, 'What's going on?' But it's just a nice friendship.'"

Adrian Deevoy gets the tough task of interviewing the stunning Ana Ivanovic about whether she's ever cheated in a match, playing drunk tennis, and being hit on by women.

On whether she's ever cheated in a match:

"No. Actually, I did once. I was a junior and there was no referee and I played against this Russian girl and she cheated so badly. She was calling balls out that were a metre inside the line. I was so angry, I thought: 'Every time she cheats, I'm going to cheat her back.' So I did."

On who Ana thinks is the most attractive woman on tour:

"It's hard to say for a girl but... [Maria] Kirilenko. She's quite attractive."

On being hit on by women:

"Oh my God, I've had a few uncomfortable experiences but I'm so allergic to that. I just can't... even now when I see my friends and they just want to kiss the cheek. I prefer men."

On playing tennis drunk:

"No, I've never done anything drunk. I'm an in-control person. I was tipsy a few times but I can't drink. I told you, I'm a real party-pooper."

On what Ana would do to win Wimbledon:

"Oh, I'd do so much that you can't imagine - as long as it wasn't really bad. Sell your soul? No, I need that. Your grandparents? I love, love, love my grandparents. Eat a dog? Eat a dog?! No, nothing that crazy.

(images via novak-djokovic.com & anaivanovic.com)

Venus Williams chosen by Vogue magazine as one of the best dressed for 2007

Venus in vogue: Venus "V"Williams, our TENNIS 2007 Award winner for Style Maven of the Year, has picked up another important fashion accolade. The 6-time Grand Slam champion has been chosen as one of the best dressed women of 2007 by Vogue. She tells the magazine,

"Whether I’m on a best or worst-dressed list, if I’m creative, step out a bit, take a chance, at least I know I’ve done something different.”

V joins Kate Bosworth, Kathryn Neale, Astrid Munoz, Georgina Chapman, Kelly Wearstler, Amy Greenspon, Caroline Sieber, Huma Abedin and Agyness Deyn on the elite list.

(via tennisweek.com)