TennisToday

World Tennis Day at Madison Square Garden

Ok, there are 3 other people in this pic besides Serena Williams!

The two exhibition matches went as follows:

Juan Martin Del Potro d Rafael Nadal - 76(4) 64

Serena Williams d Victoria Azarenka - 64 63

Now get your butts to Indian Wells. Oh wait, not you Serena.

Rory McIlroy Steps in for Caro and Wins Point against Maria in NYC Last Night

Great fun.

Andy Roddick Apes Rafael Nadal Perfectly as He Beats Roger Federer in NYC Last Night

My shoulder hurts just looking at this.

I hope this doesn't create new injury problems.

Surprising: Andy beat Roger 75 76 - didn't see that coming.

Roger Federer is in NYC Y'all

Roger with the self-portrait! He posted this on Facebook today captioned:

Just landed in New York City from Dubai! Very excited to be in the Big Apple

For the exo tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden.

'Tis true. Roger is playing an exo match against Andy Roddick.

They've met a couple times before in NYC - both US Open wins for Rog.

Including a memorable 4-set match in the final.

But wait... it's a double bill: Caro Wozniacki vs Maria Sharapova.

Between Roger, Maria & Brooklyn I'm guessing Anna Wintour is in the chair?

Bernard Tomic Wins Kooyong Classic as Jurgen Melzer Takes 3rd Place

Kooyong Classic Exhibition

Final: Bernard Tomic d Mardy Fish - 64 36 75

3rd Place: Jurgen Melzer d Gael Monfils - 63 67(10) 62

I dunno, I kinda like the idea of playing for 3rd place.

Only at the Slams tho. It would be pretty cool as far as I'm concerned.

Hell, they play for the bronze at the Olympics don't they?

Photo: Reuters

ATP: Hope Match for Japan

17 ATP players took part in an exhibition soccer match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in an effort to raise money for Red Cross relief aid for Japan. The Strikers took the match 4-2. If I'm not mistaken both ATP gooooooaaaaaaals were netted by Marcos Baghdatis. Well done boys. Some pics:

Kei Nishikori above, Novak Djokovic below.

David Ferrer, Rafael Nadal & Fernanco Verdasco above.

Andy Murray below.

David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez & Viktor Troicki below.

Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic Play Bogota Exhibition

The day after that fun Indian Wells final that Novak won...

Team Rafa & Team Novak boarded a private jet to play an exo in Bogota.

Tho meaningless really, this time around Rafa took it 76 63.

Looks like a great time was had by the new besties of men's tennis.

I watched a little of the stream. I love that exo's are a touch more serious.

The two left for Maimi today for the 2nd Masters 1000 of the year.

With Novak moving up to #2 they can only meet in another final.

But first there is a soccer exo match to aid the Japanese tomorrow.

And there was some dancing too...

Novak will always be the bigger ham. ALWAYS:

Hey, did you hear about the exo in Oregon last night...

I played an exo in Eugene and all I got was this jersey.

In exo sets Rafa beat Roger and Victoria downed Maria.

Johnny Mac umped while Nike's Phil Knight hosted.

I don't know anything about that photo-bombing duck.

Can you imagine the decibal level on that women's match?

I sure wish Tennis Channel would have carried it.

I got the photo from ATP's Twitter page.

Pete Sampras Played an Exo in San Jose Last Night

To kick off opening night at the ATP 250 event in San Jose Pete Sampras played Frenchman Gael Monfils, currently ranked #12. And played him pretty close: 76(4) 64. Not bad for the 39-year-old former '96 & '97 champ.

After the match Pete said, "I played a little better than I did last year and held my own, but physically that's the most I've served and volley in combination of the last seven years. Not easy."

Gael tweeted: It was a great experience tonight to play with Pete Sampras.

Other players were also very excited to meet Pete, including up-and-comer Milos Raonic (below) who tweeted: Just met my idol Sampras, its really something special getting to meet the person u grew up idolizing. Lifetime memory.

Henri LeConte is Killing Ryan Harrison in Adelaide

Yea. Evidently Henri is the Jerry Lewis of the legends tour.

***

I hear young Ryan may pull from AO11 cuz his sides have split.

Photos: Getty Images

Strip Tennis Anyone?

You know I 100% love that kooky Michael Llodra! Like, big time.

Looks like Henri Leconte has watched in a lot of Jerry Lewis over the years.

And poor Ryan, doesn't quite know how to play along.

Two Frenchmen & a New Yorker - its bound to get a little crazy.

Smile Showdown: Fernando Verdasco vs Tomas Berdych

Wow, how bored am I?

Fern & Tomas are playing the Kooyong Classic this week.

Remember, Fern won this exo title last year.

Both boys finished 2010 in the top 10 - Tomas at #6, Fern at #9.

They both enjoyed a very strong 1st 6 months of 2010 then they tapered.

In fact, in Fern's last 6 tournies he's won only 2 matches.

But in this showdown of smiles I'll go with Fern all day long.

I SAID I WAS BORED.

Photos: Getty Images from Kooyong presser today.

Novak Djokovic & Ana Ivanovic Ring in New Year Together in Perth

I've said it a thousand times but Novak just seems like a whole ton of fun.

D'uh.

Novak & Ana are in Perth playing Hopman Cup - as the top seeded team.

BTW, Novak's little brother Marko won his 1st tour level match today...

A first round tangle in the qualifying tournament at Doha.

A Djokovic Dynasty in the offing?

Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer to Meet in Abu Dhabi Final

WELL HAPPY NEW YEAR TENNIS FANS!

Sadly, I'll be sleeping one off and won't be able to watch.

Today's Semifinal results:

Roger Federer d Robin Soderling - 67(3) 63 63

Rafael Nadal d Tomas Berdych - 64 64

A pair of fun looking scores that ultimately led to the inevitable:

A Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer popcorn match in the UAE.

They also have the chance to meet twice more in January...

As both are playing next week in Doha and later at the Aussie Open.

Do you see anyone really ready to step up and dethrone them?

Yea, me either.

Semifinals All Set at Abu Dhabi Exihibition

Today matches looked to be entertaining and went like this:

Tomas Berdych d Marcos Baghdatis - 63 36 75

Robin Soderling d Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 64 67(5) 61

***

So the semifinals tomorrow look mouthwateringly like this:

Rafael Nadal vs Tomas Berdych

Roger Federer vs Robin Soderling

***

Yea, Rafa and Roger will surely give us a Happy New Year!

Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer sure seem to be besties these days, no?

The two giants of our sport participated in a kids event in Abu Dhabi today.

Damn, lucky kids.

We may just start this New Year off right Saturday - with a Rafa/Roger final.

If so, lucky us.

Roger Federer Updates Facebook from Abu Dhabi

Roger updated his Facebook page with this photo he captioned:

Starting the year tomorrow with my first match in Abu Dhabi.

Spent some of the day doing a kids clinic and signing autographs.

Roger Federer gets Downright Goofy as Rafael Nadal gets Completely Ducked

Loved the 2 exo's but the wins were obvs pre-determined.

I think they should play a 'for real' 3rd charity match on neutral territory.

Berlin could use some Rafa/Roger love, no?

Just a thought.

Rafael Nadal Beats Roger Federer at the Exo in Madrid

Match for Africa, Part 2 - Madrid

Rafael Nadal d Roger Federer - 76(3) 46 61

Well, duh.

Lovely couple of matches tho. Thanks guys.

All told they were raised about 5 million for their charities in 2 matches.

Roger after the match: Whenever he needs me I'll be there for him.

Sweet.

See you again in a couple weeks.

 

Watch the last couple of games:

Roger Federer Beats Rafael Nadal at Exo in Zurich

Exhibition - Match for Africa in Zurich

Roger Federer d Rafael Nadal - 46 63 63

This was not your normal exo folks. This was all business. Thank you.

The match raised 2.5 million Swiss Francs for the Roger Federer Foundation.

***

Roger: This is a special match for me, which I will remember forever.

I'm just so proud and so happy that we all made it work.

At the end of the day the outcome is so not important ...

This money is going to go to a really good cause!

***

Question to Rafa: Roger's beaten you twice in a row. Do you still like him?

Rafa's answer: A little bit less.

***

Ok boys, have fun in Madrid tomorrow for part two.

Wanna revisit a few great points of the match:

Photos: Reuters/Getty Images