Mesh Tennis

This coincided with that Paris Hilton hangout session that allegedly happened:

“At the one-year-anniversary party for Tao at the Venetian Sept. 29, tennis ace Andy Roddick announced his split from Maria Sharapova and told reporters, “I’m flying solo. It’s Vegas; you don’t bring sand to the beach.” But he soon teamed up with Paris Hilton; they talked all night and eventually left together, says an onlooker.” People Magazine

What a weird thing to say anyway. Note how he isn’t quoted as directly saying anything about Sharapova at all.

Yeah, the one that got all the coverage when he won a few years ago? Competed with Baghdatis’ girl for the hottie award over the last few years? Well, she is back in the news - albeit Safin-less this time around. If you’d liek to catch up on what she has been doing since then, follow this link.

Doesn’t it seem like things are getting a little tense on the tour lately?

Tim Henman has found himself embroiled in a battle of words with David Nalbandian after his third round defeat to the Argentine. Henman led 5-3 in the final set but eventually fell 2-6 6-2 5-7 after Nalbandian had labelled him “the worst rubbish there is”.

The former British number one was serving for the match at 5-4 after Nalbandian had already questioned a number of line calls and at 5-5 words were exchanged between the players, when Henman agreed that Nalbandian’s serve was in yet refused to give him the point.

“All this selling himself as a gentleman,” Nalbandian fumed.

“He was asked by the umpire he said he didn’t see the serve but then told me it was good. He wouldn’t give it to me.”

Henman - who has expressed doubts about Nalbandian’s attitude towards winning since the Argentine lost the Wimbledon final to Lleyton Hewitt in 2000 - was left stunned that someone would question his sportsmanship.

“He started questioning my sportsmanship, no-one has ever done that before,” Henman said.

“If we’re going to go down that road, there’s only one winner in that debate.” Eurosport

Chris Evert and Andy Mill announced Friday that their marriage is over.

Through Evert’s office in Boca Raton, the couple issued a brief statement: “We are confirming that, after 18 years of marriage, we have decided to get divorced. The decision is mutual, and our main concern is for our three sons. We know we have some difficult times ahead, together and apart, and hope that our family’s privacy will be respected.” Palm Beach Post

Guess we’ll be seeing more energy thrown into Tennis magazine?

It therefore raised a few eyebrows when, after a tough first set against the rising Israeli Shahar Peer on Thursday night, Sharapova summoned her hitting partner Michael Joyce onto her bench for a consultation. When asked about this later, she said she just wanted to refresh herself about aspects of her game plan agreed with Joyce in advance.

“But you did call for him?” the questioner repeated.

“Yeah, I did,” replied Sharapova neutrally.
“But you said you’d only call for your coach in the middle of a match if you were desperate,” asked another questioner. “So were you desperate?”

“Ah, that’s a good point, you’ve caught me on that one,” admitted Sharapova, and giggled nervously. After a further consultation with Joyce in her 6-4, 6-3 quarterfinal win Friday against the 17-year-old Swiss Timea Bascinszky, she explained, “If the rule gives me a choice, I may as well use it, but if they ask me if I like it, I’d say ‘Bag it.’ I don’t support it. I haven’t from the beginning. It’s like electronic line calling – if it’s there, you may as well use it even if you don’t like it, it would be stupid not to. But personally I don’t like it.” Tennis Reporters

The 11th seeded Czech, who buried Roger Federer’s gold medal dream at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was shocked by the screaming sellout crowd which would have done anything to help their beloved “Rafa” advance on Friday.

After the tie, both men engaged in a furious war of words.

“I can understand that they want for him to win the match and win the tournament,” said Berdych, who has now beaten the world No. 2 in three consecutive meetings.

“He’s second in the world, he’s a great player.

“They have to understand that there are many, many other players that can beat him. And then when he tells me that (I’m very bad), it’s nice that a very bad player can beat him three times.”

Nadal said he had his reasons for the exchange which took place at the net as they shook hands.

“I said that because in Toronto in August I didn’t say anything, but he was constantly giving bad looks and nasty looks to the opponent,” said the world number two.

“Today it happened again constantly. He looked, and he looked at me with not a very friendly face.

“He’s a player with an irate attitude, he’s not a bad person.” Zee News

Nadal is just being a bit lame.

Australian Mark Philippoussis (pictured right) has switched coaches again in a bid to regain a top-100 tennis ranking, this time uniting with the men behind former tennis great Andre Agassi, reports said yesterday.

The new team, Australian coach Darren Cahill and American fitness trainer Gil Reyes, worked with eight-time Grand Slam champion Agassi before his retirement last month at the US Open. Peninsula

And there was talk that Hewitt would be the one to snap up Cahill. I think they have their work cut out for them - when I saw Philipoussis in Miami, he wasn’t playing so well. But the guy seemed to attract every woman in the place!

Although the second-seeded Russian will remain at number three in the rankings next week behind Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne, the win boosted her chances of ending the season as world number one.

Despite her defeat, Hantuchova’s ranking will improve next week from 22 to an expected 16. The Age

With both of the top players being injured so much, she definitely has a chance to do it. Good job to Dani for taking a set off of her.

Versaly® Entertainment, a leading mobile media and entertainment company, today announced it has entered into an agreement with Premier Alliances and the number two ranked tennis player in the world, Rafael Nadal, to develop, produce and distribute mobile wallpapers, ringtones, text messages and video of Rafael “Rafa” Nadal. Businesswire

What exactly are these ringtones going to sound like? I can’t quite imagine it. But based on some of the photo shoot video I have seen of Nadal, some good shirtless shots will go over well with the ladies.

From the USTA newsletter…

The Australian Open will follow the U.S. Open and
introduce an instant replay challenge system for
disputed line calls. The “Hawk-Eye” system will
only be used on Rod Laver Arena — the center court
at Melbourne Park — where two giant TV screens will
be installed for players, officials and spectators to
follow analysis of the disputed calls.

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