TennisToday

Anastasia Myskina on Russian Dancing with the Stars

Um, chick-chickee-wow.

Thanks to Matt Cronin for tweeting this classic.

Fernando Verdasco on El Hormiguero (10/19/10)

Syringes. Vodka. Spanking. Fern. Prime-time. Fun.

Ah, but is he wearing Calvin's?

Photo: El Hormiguero

Serena Williams Takes on Oprah's Feet

I haven't found an embed code for the video yet but you can watch it HERE.

Serena was on Oprah today to discuss her passion for nails.

She has gone to nail school & gave Oprah a pedicure on her show today.

Memorables:

Oprah: I can't believe Serena Williams is actually filing my big toe.

Serena: And wait, I'm having the time of my life...

***

Oprah: What have you learned about love?

Serena: I've learned that love sucks.

DVR ALERT: Serena Williams is on Oprah Monday

Serena tweeted this photo today with the caption:

The answer to who's pedicure I am about to do is: Oprah!!

Make sure u watch the Oprah Show this Monday to see!!

My DVR says it's an episode focusing on celebrities dream jobs.

Oh Serena! You're already living the dream.

But you know I think there's an opening at the nail shop down the street.

Hey Tennis Channel, I Love You - BUT...

There are four teams battling in Davis Cup play for two spots in the final - you know to actually win the actual 2010 Davis Cup trophy, actually. Why then am I watching Mardy Fish trying to win a regulation match just to get in the hunt to win the title in 2011? Your priorities on this one are whack. This is like showing a minor league match as opposed to the World Series playoffs - well hyperbole sure but you get the picture. Yes, I know you will play the Monfils/Nalbandian match some time today but guys, that's the one that should have been LIVE. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. I expect this from ESPN but TC, you're better than this.

Oh and while I'm at it - please stop talking ad naueum about Fish and his weight loss and new fitness blah blah blah. That got really old way back in Cincinnati.

DVR ALERT: ESPN's 30 for 30 'Unmatched' Airs Tonight

Just when you thought the tennis was over for now...

This film documents the Chris Evert/Martina Navratilova rivalry.

Nothing in individual sport touches this rivalry as they played 80 times.

Not to be missed. Here is a little peak:

 

DVR Alert - - -> MARTINA: My Toughest Opponent

This CNN special feature will air beginning Aug 7. Not to be missed.

From CNN's press release: In 'Martina: My Toughest Opponent' CNN chronicles Martina’s journey of balancing treatments, tennis, and everything in between. Narrated by CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, this half-hour special gives viewers an intimate look at Martina’s personal battle with breast cancer.

Here is a preview:

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

I've heard there are a lot of bugs in Atlanta but...

This wasp popped up during the Isner/Russell match a few minutes ago.

I guess it wanted a closer look at what that Wimbledon fuss was all about.

I'm surprised the cameraman didn't shriek. I would have.

Photo: ESPN2 on my TV

Roger Federer: "Don't try this at home...."

The Olympus US Open Series creators have outdone themselves this year.

Loving (and missing) the 'fun' Roger...

Brooklyn Decker at the ESPY's: Va-Va-Va-Voom!

I have long considered her to be the lucky one in that marriage.

Not after last night. Zounds! What mounds!

Hubby Andy Roddick couldn't attend the event...

So tennis buddy Justin Gimelstob filled in - he Tweeted:

AND, I adhered 2 almost every rule of Andy Roddick,

1 time there was some incidental contact,

but 99% of the time I kept the 2 feet cushion!

Photo: AP

Rafael Nadal Shares His Recipe For...

Pasta & gambas.

The US Open Series ads seem to get better every year.

Hey, what ever happened to Andy's mojo? Never mind, that was AmEx.

Andy Murray on James Corden's World Cup Live

There are bits in this video that are pretty darn funny.

One word: autograph!

John Isner's Top Ten List on Late Show with David Letterman

#6 is my favorite.

ESPN Promises to Carry ALL Wimbledon Matches LIVE

This from ESPN's VP of Programming Len DeLuca, "Tennis fans demand Wimbledon and all the Grand Slams live, and when anyone tries not to deliver the action live and hold it back for whatever business reasons, it's a disservice to the fans and definitely not 21st century tennis."

Well, that's great. But the bigger problem is NBC. Can someone bitch-slap the decision makers over there? It's already been posted that the semifinals for both the women and the men will be tape delayed in the west.

So why even bother NBC? A crazed tennis fan (like myself) is just going to stream it and not watch the broadcast anyway. Why doesn't NBC just let ESPN air it live until the finals weekend and then they can have their annual Breakfast at Wimbledon? How hard is that to figure out? This way you won't upset tennis fans and Martha-Bonnie-Ellen fans all at the same time.

Lookie here, I'm already pissed & the semis are still two weeks off.

How come the Tennis Channel can't show tennis?

I pay a little extra on my cable bill for a channel they call Tennis. And they aren't showing any tennis. The grass court season got underway yesterday with the men playing in London and in Halle and the women in Birmingham. But you wouldn't know it if you tuned into tennis' very own network.

TC will show the event in London, historically known as Queen's Club starting with the quarterfinals on Friday. But why such shoddy coverage? And it's like this for the 250 events most of the year - little or no coverage. Hell, Queens Club is loaded with top players as it's commonly known as the mini-Wimbledon.

When I first heard that the Tennis Channel was coming I imagined I'd be able to watch non-stop tennis. Wall-to-wall from the smallest of 250's to the Slams. But that doesn't happen. I'm kind of tired of Tennis Destination already.

I mean, I would have loved to have seen Nikolay Davydenko and Nicolas Keifer's wins today in Halle after a long injury layoffs. Or Andy Murray who is about to take the court in London. And I'd love to see Roger Federer play today in his opening match on grass.

Don't get me wrong - I love the Tennis Channel. (I'm guessing I watch it more than any other channel.) It allows me more tennis veiwing than I ever ever ever had before but it's kind of a bummer that today it left me wanting.

Rafael Nadal: Back to the Roland Garros Final

2 Rafael Nadal d 22 Jurgen Melzer - 62 63 76(6)

Rafa's 2010 clay season is now 21-0. While his RG record improves to 37-1.

He will play the man responsible for that 1 loss, Robin Soderling in the final.

Rafa moves into his 5th RG final - he is undefeated 4-0.

I bitched about NBC not airing this match live in the west so I streamed it.

What a pleasure. I watched the Euro Sport feed - what a breath of fresh air.

Don't know who I was listening to but it was a vast improvement to the US.

As Rafa went out to serve for the match in the 3rd set at 5-4...

The commentators mentioned that he'd only lost 2 points on serve in set 3.

Of course that was the ol' commentator jinx.

Jurgen came up with some millionaire shots & suddenly we're in a tie-break.

Rafa played a very shaky TB but advanced still having not dropped a set.

The final should be interesting - Rafa will certainly have revenge on his mind.

Photo: Getty Images

ESPN's French Open Tennis Coverage SUCKS

So ESPN2 goes on the air at 9am (I'm in L.A.) with French Open coverage.

In doing so they make Tennis Channel sign off mid-day in Paris.

So what does ESPN2 show us? The Serena match that ended HOURS AGO.

Ok, I get that. But if you're gonna do that then why oh why oh why oh why -

CAN'T THEY JUST LET THE TENNIS CHANNEL KEEP GOING????

There are great matches being played RIGHT NOW.

Yes stupid people at ESPN2 I would like to see Tsonga/De Bakker.

ESPN SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS.

Rafael Nadal: CNN's Interview and Glowing Expose

You Rafanatics will certainly enjoy this piece.

It also features a nice (short) history of Spanish tennis.

(Thanks Tennis-x)

Alfred Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a Train'

The other evening I watched one of Alfred Hitchcock's classics, Strangers on a Train, on TCM. I was surprised how quickly and thoroughly I found myself wrapped-up in this thriller. Robert Walker is a wickedly fun villain to Farley Granger's 'backed-into-a-corner' leading man. Though Hitchcock is well-known for some heavy-hitters (Vertigo, Rear Window, North by Norhtwest, Psycho) this film stands just as tall. As well as the harsh test of time.

Why is this on a tennis blog? Granger's character is a tennis pro and Hitchcock famously lensed a few scenes of him playing at the historic West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills where the US Open was played from 1915-1977. In fact, The climax of this thriller is a race against time as Granger must win his match before it gets too dark so he can foil a sinister plot to frame him. Except for the last two Wimbledon finals never has a tennis match been so suspenseful. NetFlix this gem - it's all aces.

Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova has Breast Cancer

This requires my stock response: FUCK CANCER.