Isn't that my No. 2 and No. 3 hottest male tennis players of all time -- all grown up? We’re just missing Patrick Rafter and I’d be set ...
Looks like some kind of exhibition with new Hall of Famer Goran Ivanisevic and Lleyton Hewitt, who has suddenly become a hot daddy. (Yes, I know Safin left tennis to join Putin's anti-gay brigade. Russians are horrible.)
P.S. Suffice to say, I'm thrilled Novak Djokovic is through to the Aussie Open final. Was also impressed that Dominic Thiem was able to conquer Rafael Nadal in a major. (Now will he be able to beat Zverev, or will he crap out like he did in the Masters final?) Sofia Kenin was very impressive in her win over Ash Barty. And what a thrill to see Garbine Muguruza playing well again.
Novak Djokovic announced on Instagram that former player Radek Stepanek has joined his coaching squad for the next season. The Czech, who might be more famous for his tennis-playing girlfriends than his results on the court, will work alongside Andre Agassi, who has been part of the Serbian's team for about a year. Stepanek is slated to begin working with Djokovic in the following days in Monte Carlo, as Novak prepares for the next season and upcoming tournaments, after the break due to the elbow injury.
“Radek is one of my very close friends on the tour and I was always impressed with his level of determination, passion and love for the sport. The fact that he just recently retired at the age of 37 speaks volumes of his love for the game. He has lot of experience and knowledge, and he has played on a high level for many years. I am excited to join our forces together and cannot wait to compete again having a new team to back me up,” said Novak.
Novak with Jose ‘Pepe’ Imaz Ruiz
Good to see that Novak hasn't given up. But I'd have been more optimistic if he'd announced a divorce from that cult leader he's been hanging out with in recent years.
Backhand Boys: I finally got around to listening to Grigor Dimitrov, Tommy Haas and Roger Federer give their rendition of Chicago's "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" during the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Accompanied by the song's co-writer and producer, David Foster -- who is also Tommy's father-in-law -- I couldn't help but wonder if they were lip-syncing heavily touched-up vocals after hearing Grigor's solo effort in London! (And who remembers the original take?!)
Stevie Johnson and some fish cleaned up nicely for some charity event ...
Chris Evert made an appearance in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for the 11th annual "Little Mo" Internationals, featuring boys and girls age 8-12 from 50 countries.
Ironic that the most visually appealing and unappealing tennis players of all time would get the nod at the same time.
Justine Henin, whose one-handed backhand was as beautiful as her personality was ugly, won seven Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal and helped Belgium win its first Fed Cup championship. She spent 117 weeks ranked No. 1 and finished the 2003, 2006 and 2007 seasons in the top spot. She won four French Opens, two U.S. Opens and one Australian Open despite her small frame in a game increasingly dominated by "Big Babe" tennis. Marat Safin, one of the hottest men and biggest whack-jobs to ever play the game, won two major titles -- the 2000 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian Open -- and briefly reached No. 1. He is the first Russian elected to the Hall of Fame. These days he's a member of Russian Parliament helping to abuse gay people as a member of Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party. (Sigh.)
Justine Henin:
"It's a big honor. I was five years old when I started playing tennis and my dream was to become a champion. All of the things that then happened- all the dreams that came true, all the victories and Grand Slams, and every emotion that I lived in my tennis career remains something very important in my life today. Being part of the Hall of Fame says that it will remain something forever, and that is very special. I am really honored."
Marat Safin:
"I'm very happy to be inducted to the Hall of Fame. I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me and supported me throughout my tennis career. To be part of a Hall of Fame is every athlete's dream. I am really honored to be inducted and proud to represent Russian tennis alongside the greatest champions of tennis history."
In celebration of the 100th edition of the German Open in Hamburg, Marat Safin of Russia and native son Tommy Haas played a nostalgic exhibition match on Sunday, on an idyllic grass court near the Hamburger Aussenalster. Outfitted with wooden rackets and authentic outfits, they re-lived the atmosphere of the times during the turn of the century.
Related: You may recall this is not the first time these boys have had fun together, although it looked a lot different last time. (Via TennisServedFresh)
If I were to do it all over again, my blog would be devoted to monitoring the tattoos of professional men's tennis players. Lucky for you, TennisServedFresh is on the case, with MaratSafin (alongside shirtless buddy Tommy Haas) as its star topic ...
1. Patrick Rafter: Always the most likable and lickable player on the circuit, it only makes me want to be this Aussie...
Fake Jan Alert
My blog is featured in Susan Olsen's tell-all about the ill-fated "Brady Bunch Variety Hour"!
Little Kenny
Growing up in Madison Heights, Mich.
Back to the Old House
The Web leads to an unexpected return to a house I grew up in.
Oceans 11
Carlsbad, Calif. (2008)
1983
Go Behind the Music of my high-school band, A La Plage
A Death in the Family
Little Larry left us too soon.
Once I Had a Love
With Debbie Harry
'Jungle' Fever
With Robert Buckley
Roger & Me
With Roger Federer
Step Brother McMullen
With Ed Burns
Headline News
With Thomas Roberts
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