PHOTO OP: Zvonareva gets zen-ny in Moscow, puts powers on crushing display

Vera Zvonareva was spotted meditating on a changeover during her match against slender Slovak Daniela Hantuchova today in Moscow.

She must be repeating the mantra: "You don't have to cry just focus...you don't have to cry just focus...you don't have to cry just focus..."

Well I guess it worked: she gave a total beatdown to Dani winning 6-1, 6-0 in 51 minutes. Ouch.

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Dominika gets double teamed in Moscow's Red Square

Dominika Cibulkova, who helped the continuation of Ana Ivanovic's miserable Serbian Slide down the rankings with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) defeat of the Roland Garros champ, was spotted getting double teamed by some guards in Moscow's historic Red Square.

Check out their faces. One word: creepster.

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Murray straps on bungee cord for high intensity stability workout

Andy Murray's preparation for his assault on the end of the season is still underway in Roehampton.

The Brit baller, who'll be returning at the Madrid Masters, has given us peeks into some interval training on a treadmill and his core strengthening practices. Now, we get to see some high intensity stability work with Jez Green which "improves Andy's movement, more specifically (and technically) his 'cutting.'"


A number of yellow jumps are placed evenly spaced across the floor while Andy straps on a bungee cord - he'll work on keeping his balance against the pull of the bungee cord. The 21-year old performs different variations including moving forwards, backwards, and side-to-side, singles, in threes, etc.

Great stuff Andy - now can we get a few more ballers to give us a real look into their training practices? Any takers??

(images via andymurray.com)

PHOTO OP: Super Mario looks super excited to be hitting balls again

Mario Ancic was spotted cracking an open stance forehand while defeating Olivier Rochus 7-6 (6), 6-2 in Stockholm today.

Okay people - when I saw this photo I had to do a double...no triple take on the image. I was thinking, "Super Mario looks REALLY REALLY excited to be back after getting sick again!"

And just so you know, Mario, we are too...oy...

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Top ballers hit the press line for Kremlin Cup party

Top ballers have gathered in Moscow for the Kremlin Cup and they all made their way onto the press line for the tourney's kick-off party today:

A prettied-up Svetlana Kuznetsova looks like she's trying to trash her tomboy image, going decidedly fem for her walk down the press line. I honestly didn't think it was possible but I have to say it's a nice evolution for Sveta.

Elena Dementieva looking minimalist and modern in sleek head-to-toe black (accessories included).

Former Roland Garros champ and mom Anastasia Myskina made a rare appearance on the press line with Roland Garros finalist Dinara Safina. It's great to see Anastasia out and about with the WTA lady ballers.

I don't know why Nicole Vaidisova even bothers to show up to tourneys these days. If anyone needs an extended break to get herself together it's this Czech - and I'm not just talking about her outfit either.

Just pure hotness from Marat Safin.

Alize Cornet had a short stay in Moscow already - she was narrowly beaten 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 by Amelie Mauresmo today. Get thee to a hair stylist, stat.

Speaking of Amelie, here she is looking her relaxed best in jeans, black knee-length coat, and grey silk scarf. The Frenchie seems to know what works on her best - she never looks like she's trying to hard.

Vera Zvonareva's working a peasant blouse here. It was never my fave trend but this one isn't so bad.

Potito Starace + Flavia Pennetta looked cozy taking photos on the press line. Sorry Flavia, but he's not Carlos Moya. Nice try, though.

(images via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Dementieva looks demented during Stuttgart loss - WTF?

Elena Dementieva, who was defeated 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-1 by Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in the Stuttgart quarterfinals today, looks absolutely demented here. She's going to put a serious hurting on that unsuspecting tennis ball - I'm sure of it.

I wonder who or what the Russian is thinking about right about now. Any guesses? Do tell!

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Jo-Willy stomachs another injury, retires in Tokyo

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and his game hit the skids again in Tokyo today.

The Frenchie baller, who soared to his first ATP title last weekend, came crashing down after suffering an abdominal strain while leading Serb Viktor Troicki 7-5, 1-2.

I'm not quite sure what to make of his laundry list of injuries at this point. What I do know is that it sucks for tennis to not have him around.

Be well Jo-Willy. Oh, and get yourself a traveling physio - it's done wonders for Andy Murray.

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: More Murray fitness, focuses on core and upper body strengthening

Team Murray continues to give us a glimpse into Andy Murray's fitness sessions in Roehampton. Yesterday, the Brit baller worked the treadmill to exhaustion and today we get to see him strengthening his core.

According to his site,

In performance sport circles, core stability is seen as key to peak performance and injury avoidance. In a nutshell, it's about the strength and conditioning of the deep, underlying muscle groups that ordinary folk often neglect.

Andy's core programme sits neatly, and somewhat painfully alongside the running work. Unlike the traditional 'hard fitness', core exercises demand a high level of concentration and attention to detail: to get the most of it, you need to nail the poses.

During the session Andy starts with "the superman" (top image), a balancing practice that uses the abs to keep him steady on the ball. Next up is "plank" which may be familiar to those yoga and pilates practitioners and is held for a minute each repetition:


Andy then moves into the "roll and hold" on the ball where he rolls to one side, holds the pose, then repeats on the opposite side:


Now comes a very difficult looking practice, the "Swiss ball push up" (don't try this at home, people!):


Okay - I need to catch my breath after that one. Tthe fun doesn't stop there, however. The 21-year old ends with a workout for the arms, shoulders, and parts of the back using resistance bands:



I guess this is how someone becomes the number four baller in the world - I get it!

(images via andymurray.com)

PHOTO OP: Ana works it like Maria - well, she tries anyway

Team Ana released some images from their ballers photoshoot for the WTA Tour's "Looking for a Hero?" global marketing campaign. Now, after seeing the left image it struck me as being very familiar. What other baller on the Tour is a wannabe sexpot model? Oh right - Maria Sharapova, duh!

Look, we all get that sex sells but there's absolutely nothing sexy about the image particularly when you're working your adidas duds against a blank background. Plus, the posing + pouting don't work for you Ana - not that they work for Shrieka either.

Seriously Team Ana, do you really want your girl to go down the same road as Shrieka? I think you guys need to focus on getting Ana back on track to her winning ways or none of this will really matter anyway.

(image via anaivanovic.com)

PHOTO OP: Mardy + Stacey make it official, get married in black-tie Beverly Hills wedding

As reported yesterday in Monday's + NETCORDS, Mardy Fish married fiancée Stacey Gardner of Deal or no Deal in a lavish, black-tie wedding at The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills on Sunday.


The bride and groom were surrounded by 150 guests including groomsman James Blake, James' brother Thomas, and basketballer Kevin Garnett. Good friend Andy Roddick was not in attendance since he was a little busy winning Beijing.


Stacy had six bridesmaids all wearing black dresses and worked with wedding planner Linda Howard, from Sensational Celebrations, while Mark's Garden provided the flowers. The couple walked down a red rose petal-strewn aisle to U2's "A Beautiful Day".

Congratulations Mardy + Stacey!

(images via HCFoo's Tennis Blog)

PHOTO OP: Murray continues rigorous training regimen in Roehampton

Andy Murray, who was spotted at the National Tennis Centre planning his Fred Perry duds for 2009 recently, is still in Roehampton working on his game and fitness before returning to the ATP Tour.


The Brit baller was hoping to run a few 400 metres at Wimbledon's track (loving these black and silver Nike track trainers, btw) after a hitting session with coach Miles but with the gates locked Andy and trainer Matty Little hit the gym for some 40/20 intervals - 40 seconds on the treadmill (your choice of speed and incline) and 20 seconds rest, 15 times.

I'm out of breath just thinking about it. This training sounds really tough...and it looks like I might be right:




(image via andymurray.com)

PHOTO OP: Venus + Serena show up/double up in Stuttgart, other lady ballers beware

The Sisters Sledge, Venus + Serena Williams, played their first doubles match in Stuttgart today defeating the team of Daniela Hantuchova and Agnes Szavay 6-4, 6-1. The fourth seeds will next face either Italians Maria Elena Camerin + Flavia Pennetta or Czechs Andrea Hlavackova + Lucie Hradecka.

Color me surprised to see the Williams sisters not only playing into the fall but also continuing their gold medal-winning doubles pairing. It's one thing to be in the draw but quite another to actually show up - something they seem ready to do these days. Maybe ReRe will actually end the year living in the WTA Penthouse - who knew?

Of course, this doubles play will most likely keep their single's games and minds sharp - a very, very bad sign for the rest of the singles draw and the WTA Tour overall.

Oh well - may the better ballers win!



(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Nole's arms are doing their own thing - and he's worried

Uh-oh. Novak Djokovic, who made the quarterfinals in Bangkok by crushing Germany's Simon Stadler 6-1, 6-3, looks like might have busted something in his Serbian body here.

I'm thinking Nole's saying to himself, "Oh shit. I think my arms might detach right now. Is that possible?" Ouch, ouch, ouch.

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Top ballers take the stage (and drums) for China Open party

The top ballers competing at the China Open this week donned traditional Chinese garb and hit the drums as they took part in the official opening party for the tourney.

However, some of them seemed to be a little distracted...

What could Ana + Fernando be talking about? Another trip to Spain for the Serb?? Poor Sveta got the shaft though - oh well...

Thanks for the tip B2012!

(images via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Rafa zones and J. Martin goes shirtless, will meet in Davis Cup final

Argentina will host Spain in November's Davis Cup final after both countries won their respective semifinal bouts this weekend.

Rafael Nadal put the final smackdown on the defending US team, crushing Andy Roddick in the fourth rubber 6-4, 6-0, 6-4. A-Rod was more than aggressive but nothing was going to stop a streaking Rafa, who hit an astounding 60 winners even with a reported strain in his much admired ass-et.

The Spanish steamroller sounded a bit like Roger Federer after the match saying,

Today I play an almost perfect match and it is very, very exciting. Today I played very well. I shocked myself with some of the winners I played... was near perfect tennis.

Juan Martin del Potro became the hero in Argentina's defeat of Russia when he clinched the fifth and deciding rubber stomping all over Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 6-1. The Argentines will be going for their very first Davis Cup championship in the final.

The weekend couldn't have gone better for the up-and-coming J. Martin:

It’s a dream for sure. Last night I couldn't sleep and now I'm living the dream for sure. On Friday I won my first match here in Buenos Aires, now I've won my second and we're in the final. I want to treasure this moment because I don't know if it will happen again.

So how did the soon-to-be 20-year old celebrate his big win? By joining the shirtless brigade and showering in champagne of course. Welcome J. Martin!




(images via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Is Fernando's body carpet a true hairy situation?

Fernando Gonzalez was spotted changing his t-shirt while working a super hairy torso in Antofagasta, Chile. The Chileans will battle the Australians in the Davis Cup play-offs this weekend.

I don't mind some body hair but his carpet seems like too much for me. I guess I need your help on this one people: is this a classic hairy situation or should we just let this slide since we're talking body hair?

Do tell!

(image via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Brooklyn, you've been warned again

Ah-ha! Now that "handshake" between Andy Roddick and David Ferrer makes total sense.

A-Rod: you were soooo asking for it. What a tease.

(image via AP)

PHOTO OP: A-Rod's got sore knees and a warm thumb

Andy Roddick was spotted getting his knees iced in Madrid as he prepared for the US' semifinal battle versus Spain in Davis Cup this weekend.

Hmmm - when did his knees start acting up? I'm thinking he and Rafa should go out and get matching tape jobs for the weekend. In any case it's a very worrying sign for the US team's already bleak chances against the Spaniards on red clay. Strange happenings indeed.

What's also strange? A-Rod's "handshake" with David Ferrer in their Davis Cup presser:

Note to Brooklyn: you've been warned...

(images via Getty)

PHOTO OP: Majorcan Matador gets bullring for Davis Cup fight

The Davis Cup semifinal between Spain and the US will taking place at Madrid's spectacular Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, a stadium usually reserved for bullfighting.


Oh how fitting for the Majorcan Matador to be battling his foes in this beautiful venue. In fact, Rafa sounded inspired when he spoke about this weekend's spectacle during an apparently awe-inspiring Davis Cup presser:

It is going to be an unforgettable experience to play in an arena like Las Ventas. It is special to play at home and more so in a place like this.

I'm thinking the defending champion US team, sans James Blake + Bob Bryan, will be doomed on the slow red clay of Las Ventas against the Matador...doomed I say!

(images via AP)

PHOTO OP: Rafa completely captivated by Davis Cup media moment

Rafael Nadal was spotted looking attentive and interested during a presser for this weekend's Davis Cup semifinal versus the US in Madrid, Spain.

Ahhh - at least the Majorcan Matador is consistent with his boredom during these media moments though I fear he may be completely A.D.H.D.

What the hell is going through Rafa's head people? Do tell!

(images via AP)