WTF: Day 4 - I Believe That...

WTF: Day 3 - I Believe That...

Later Edit: Roger Federer def. Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-0

WTF: Day 2 - I Believe That...

Later Edit: Robert Lindstedt/Horia Tecau def. Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes 7-6 6-1

WTF: Day 1 - I Believe That...

Later Edit : Rafael Nadal def. Mardy Fish 6-2 3-6 7-6

World Tour Finals : Hottest in the Gala

Again, I haven't written a blog post in ages. Shame on me! But the ATP World Tour Finals are here and I can not miss an event like this. The Top 8 players and teams are here, fighting for the huge year-end trophy and entertaining the whole sport-passionated world. The actual tournament has just started, but the WTF-Fever has started a long time ago. The players have had their Gala and they looked gorgeous, I must say. Here is my Top 3 of the best-looking guys at the Gala, in singles and doubles.

SINGLES

Roger Federer

No surprise here, for anyone, I'm sure about that. Roger has this native beauty, elegance and dignity. He doesn't need a suit to be like this. He only needs to be himself. But with a suit on, the effect is guaranteed.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Oh, how I've missed this hair of his! The fro is not back, but still, those few curls are so pretty and so much prettier than the rest of the year! I don't know what you think, but in my opinion, JWT is a great-looking, funny, sweet guy, with a plus: a gorgeous smile! :)

Tomas Berdych

I know this blue-eyed Czech would be in the top of many girls all-around the world. What I like about Tomas's physical appearance is that he is so tall and athletic and he's got this aura around him. When you look at him, you don't know if he's the shy, innocent guy or the notorious bad boy, and I think that makes him quiet attractive.

DOUBLES

Robert Lindstedt & Horia Tecau

This year, Robert and Horia mark their first appearance at the World Tour Finals and, hopefully, not the last. And how else could you look when you get there for the first time if not fabulous? The blond blue-eyed Swede and the tall dark-haired Romanian looked definetly better than ever and have had their lovely smiles on all the time. WIN!

Bob & Mike Bryan

Of course The Golden Twins couldn't have missed this top. Some people are truly blessed! Like being one of the best teams in the history of tennis was not enough, they are also very good-looking. Even when they are not all dressed-up and wearing only some plain shirts and caps, they make you want to have a closer look. So you can imagine what happens when they throw the caps away and put on a nice suit. ;)

Jurgen Melzer & Philipp Petzschner

My love/hate team. Both handsome, both great players, so why would there be a 'hate' part as well? They always seem to beat my favourites. Singles or doubles, Jurgen makes sure there isn't any favourite of mine left out of his 'Players I have beaten' list. But even so, I just can't not like them. They are so good, so pretty and so adorable that this thing is truly impossible.

Disappointing lose, encouraging shirt

Oh.My.God.! I haven't written a post in ages! I am very sorry for this. Many things have happened in tennis since I stopped writing. For example, the lattest thing is the Tokyo final between Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal.

I am sure the end of the match was more than unbelievable for everyone who watched. Not the fact that Murray has taken the trophy away from Nadal, because his game has been solid all the past week, he was strong and he hit the ball right everytime. But the fact that, after winning the first set (6-3), Nadal lost the second set (2-6) and the decisive set, with 0-6 (!). That was the part I could not believe. Well, it happens to the best of us, doesn't it?

What I liked a lot and felt like I had to mention it, was Rafa's shirt at the trophy presentation. "Every day is a chance for VICTORY." One of the most beautiful messages I have heard lately. Both players today had the same chance. Only one of them was able to take it. Nadal has another chance next week, at the Shanghai Masters, to take revenge, if they both get into the final. But let's not forget Andy has got the same chance. :)

Who's The Champion?

THIS GUY!!! :)

We're out of words to describe this year's Novak Djokovic. I don't know what he does, what he eats, but he's almost unbeatable. I was just reading an interview with Marian Vajda the other day. When asked if he thinks that Nole can win three Grand Slams this year, he said "Yes. He takes training very seriously, he is determined to win and his game is stronger than ever." When asked if he thinks that Nole can win all the Grand Slams this year, his answer was simple. "No." Well, the coach knows it best, no? :)

Day 6 - My Most Memorable Match

WIMBLEDON 2010, R1 : JOHN ISNER def. NICOLAS MAHUT

6-4 3-6 6-7 7-6 70-68

Probably the easiest for me to choose. This should be everyone's most memorable match. It's epic. After more than one year, I still don't have enough words to describe this incredible confrontation. I know you have heard a million times about the records these two guys have broken in those three days, so I won't mention them again. I just know that they won an ESPY Award for this match, their outfits and racquets are now at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and they have the respect of everyone in the tennis world and not only them. So please everyone, take a bow in front of John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, two REAL champions!

Day 5 - Least Favourite Women's Player

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI

Just like yesterday, it is difficult for me to choose a least favourite player. But unlike yesterday, when I didn't really have a player I didn't like, today I have more than one. The most important candidates at the title of 'My Least Favourite Women's Player' were Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki. So, I took them one by one and I thought. Maria Sharapova. An amazing player, a huge talent and a killer determination. Not very constant, but she gets over a loss easily and continues to take down important players. Petra Kvitova. A good player, very strong and determined. She went from zero to hero and positively shocked the tennis world with her Wimbledon win. Caroline Wozniacki. *silence* Well, she is the world No. 1, so she must be pretty good. Honestly, when I see her playing, I'm always wondering: how does she win matches? Her game has nothing amazing, nothing brilliant, nothing to make me say "Yes! That's the best player in the world!". If she wins a Grand Slam, I will be very surprised. And I shouldn't be surprised when it comes to the world No. 1.

Day 4 - Least Favourite Men's Player

ERNESTS GULBIS

It's very difficult to me to choose a least favourite player in men's tennis. Because I don't really have something like that. How did I decide to write about Gulbis? No idea. He is a great player and I've seen his very loved among tennis fans, but I've never really cheered for him. So yes, this would be the only reason I'm choosing him. Sorry, Ernie!

Day 3 - Favourite Doubles Team

ROBERT LINDSTEDT & HORIA TECAU

First time I saw Tecau and Lindstedt on the same court, they were playing against each other, during the Davis Cup tie between Romania and Sweden. Tecau was teaming with Hanescu, while Lindstedt's partner was Soderling. The Swedes won back then, but Robert was impressed by Horia's talent. Not long after that, he contacted the Romanian and soon enough, they became a team. One of them, older and wise. The other one, young and powerful. They won tournaments together, they defeated important names in doubles tennis and they made two Grand Slam finals. Last year, they were extremely close to qualify for the World Tour Finals. Should I go on? I think I've made my point. :)

Day 2 - Favourite Women's Player

DINARA SAFINA

If you read my blog or you follow me on Twitter, you probably know already that my favourite WTA star is clearly Dinara Safina. She has become my favourite only a few months after I said I was never going to support her. Unbelievable, but real.

Usually, when I just start to watch a sport, I am cheering for the outsider. I have always liked to see surprises in sport or even provoke them, while being a TaeKwonDo player. When I saw Dinara for the first time, she was the best player in the world and she was playing against Sabine Lisicki in Wimbledon 2009. She was playing amazingly well, to be exact. So, knowing none of them, I decided to take the outsider's side. Of course, Dinara won and I said I was not going to support her in her next matches for anything. I was basically not liking her because she was too good. However, in like two months, after seeing more of her matches, who was her biggest fan? Moi, of course. Now, it's a pity that the physical problems decided to stay in her way to success. It's too bad that she couldn't take home a Grand Slam trophy before this happened. Anyway, I can't wait her to be back and to proove everyone she is amazing. I've already seen that. :)

Davai, Dinara!

Day 1 - Favourite Men's Player

ROBIN SODERLING

Many people's least favourite becomes my biggest favourite. I have discovered tennis very late, unfortunately. The first match I have ever seen was the 2009 Roland Garros final between Robin Soderling and Roger Federer. To be honest, in that very first match, hearing the commentators praising Federer and mentioning all his incredible results, I started to admire him and I supported him. I have always liked to watch Robin's matches, but I don't know exactly when he has become my biggest favourite. All I know is that slowly, but surely, he grew in my top higher than Federer, Nadal, even Djokovic.

In fewer words, he is a strong player, a great fighter and he seems a very nice person. Yes, I mean it! His interviews are so sweet and adorable and he always manages to put a smile on my face. Now, I support him in everything (even in his small matches against Nadal). :) I wish him lots of luck in the rest of the year and I'm hoping for a French Open title, after those two beautiful finals! ;)

30 Days of Tennis Challenge

You have probably read some of these on blogs already. I have and I found the idea really interesting, so here I am. I read this for the first time at Let, Second Serve. It's a great blog, so go read it as well!

30 Days of Tennis Challenge

1. Favourite men’s player
2. Favourite women’s player
3. Favourite doubles team
4. Least favourite men’s player
5. Least favourite women’s player
6. Your most memorable match
7. First player you became a fan of
8. Earliest tennis memory
9. Favourite retired men’s player
10. Favourite retired women’s player
11. A player that no one would expect you to love
12. A player that you aren’t a fan of but you respect
13. Favourite Grand Slam tournament
14. Favourite Non Grand Slam tournament
15. Most attractive women’s player
16. Most attractive men’s player
17. Favourite women’s tennis outfit
18. Favourite men’s tennis outfit
19. Which men’s and women’s player was world no. 1 on the day you were born
20. Favourite men’s slam champion
21. Favourite women’s slam champion
22. Favourite umpire
23. Favourite mixed doubles team
24. Favourite tennis couple
25. Favourite tennis wag
26. A match that makes you happy
27. A match that makes you sad
28. The Grand Slam you would most like to go to
29. What’s your favourite tennis surface
30. Post your fave tennis related gif or picture

Two Romanians, two Grand Slam champions out

Even though Victor Hanescu, Irina Begu and Sorana Cirstea lost, I can say it's been a nice start for the Romanians at US Open. Why am I saying that? Well, mostly because this year's female Grand Slam champions, other than Kim (who unfortunately is injured and unable to defend her title), have been sent home in the first round by two unexpected Romanian girls.

First of all, right in the first day of the prestigious tournament held at Flushing Meadows, Alexandra Dulgheru was the one to cause the surprise of the tournament. She defeated none other than Petra Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon champion. Helped by a strong mental, a killer determination and Kvitova's huge number of unforced errors, Alex was able to close the match after only two sets, 7-6, 6-3. Her next opponent will be countrywoman Monica Niculescu, who beat Patricia Mayr to qualify in the second round.

The other big surprise, maybe even bigger than the first one, despite the rankings, was the lovely nineteen year-old Simona Halep defeating 2011 French Open champion, Na Li. She's from my hometown! :) (I had to mention it.) This was a huge surprise for me, as the Chinese seemed in a great shape lately. When I made my US Open predictions, I had to choose between her and another player for the women's title. Now I'm glad I chose the other player... However, I am impressed by Simona's constant results this year. She has made a second-round appearance or better at every Grand Slam tournament, a quarterfinal in Auckland and a final in Fes. She started to win matches over Top 20 players and Grand Slam champions, as Svetlana Kuznetsova at the beginning of the month, at Toronto, and now, of course, Top 10 player Na Li. For her performance here, Simona Halep was named 'Player of the Day' on the official US Open site.

“It's not easy to play against one Grand Slam champ because it's very top level,” Halep said. “I had emotion. I was nervous before the match. But I wanted just to enjoy the match, to feel the ball good, and to play my best. And it was good.”

Simona's next opponent will be Carla Suarez Navarro from Spain. Hai, fetele! :)

S vs. S

And guess who won. The Romanian, young and more unexperienced Simona Halep. In front of none other than two-times Grand Slam winner Sveta Kuznetsova! This is the most important victory in Simona's career until now.

Halep was down a set and a break. Knowing she had nothing to lose, she kept calm and won four consecutive games. The second set's score, 6-4. The decisive set started with three consecutive breaks, the Romanian being the first one able to win on her serve. At 5-3 in Simona's favour, Svetlana served to stay in the match, but the Romanian finished it with a break.

Simona will face in the second round Lucie Safarova, who won yesterday against Polona Hercog.

XoXo. Gossip Girl.

...in the tennis world! Gossips fly as Caroline Wozniacki was spotted in a bar with golfer Rory McIlroy. Mardy and Feli seem interested. :)

Serena.Is.Back!.

Oh God, I haven't written a blog post since forever!... Mostly because I haven't followed much tennis lately. But I just have to write a few things about this!

Our super-lovely, super-strong, super-beautiful, super-everything Serena Williams is back, as everyone knows. And the most interesting part, she is back to winning. In the quarterfinals of Stanford, she defeated Maria Sharapova, 6-1, 6-3! Masha, who is definetly not in a bad shape. After that, the American defeated Sabine Lisicki, to reach her first final since Wimbledon 2010.

Can we hope for a comeback in the top of the rankings? I think we can. I mean, we're talking about Serena, no? :)

Alisa, nu uita, ne-ai promis victoria!...

...Which means 'Alisa, don't forget, you promised us the victory!'. Alisa Kleybanova, the young Russian player who amazed tennis fans, tennis journalists and tennis players is fighting right now the biggest and the most important battle of her life: she has cancer. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma.
As we have seen during her matches, she is strong, she is powerful and determined to win. 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,' they say. She became stronger with every match. And after this battle, a battle I know she will win, she will become even stronger, more powerful and more determined.

Today is her birthday. She turns 22. She is young and she has a bright future ahead her. Happy birthday, Alisa, and good luck! Good luck in everything!

Guess who's going to be a bride this weekend...

...It's Lena Dementieva! She is getting married on Saturday with ice hockey player Maxim Afinogenov.

Lots of happiness, luck and all their wishes come true! I hope to see a Lena Jr. running on the tennis court and a Maxim Jr. on ice soon!

Spain wins, Feli dances (Video)

As you already know, Spain defeated USA in the Davis Cup quarter, 3-1, in Andy Roddick's hometown, Austin, Texas. After Ferru won the third match for the European team, look what happened.

Shake it, guys!

Wimbledon trophies!

Wimbledon is over, everyone! And also the grass season. Sad, I know. Here are the winners and the finalists!

Petra Kvitova def. Maria Sharapova in two. And this way, Masha has just wasted the last chance of me supporting her for a title.

Novak has never looked better than now, kissing the trophy. And the trophy has never looked better than now, kissed by Novak. The new world No.1 prooved, once again, his value, won his first Wimbledon and ate the grass on Centre Court.

No really, ate it!

Looks like a copy of last year's Wimbledon. Only with different opponents. Bob and Mike Bryan def. Horia Tecau and Brad Lindstedt in three. First of all, Horia and Robert are awesome for being in the final. And then, the third time is lucky, guys!

On the other hand, congratulations to the magical twins!!!

A trophy for prettiness, please? Petkorazzi and Deliciano were definetly the most discussed and the most appreciated mixed doubles team at Wimbledon this year.

Here we are... Semifinals/finals at Wimbledon

Only three days and Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the year will be over too. It's been a Wimbledon filled with surprises, rain, drooling over players, if you know what I mean (I know you know what I mean).

The ladies' singles final will feature three-times Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova and new star Petra Kvitova. Since I like none of them, I will not watch and I will not support anyone. Here.

In the gentlemen's competition, three of the first four seeds qualified in the semifinals. The biggest (and only, actually) surprise was Tsonga beating Federer in three, after Roger had a two sets lead. Good for you, Jo!

In the first semifinal, we will see Andy Murray fighting for a place in the final of his home-tournament against defending champion Rafa Nadal. It might seem like Mission:Impossible, but "Impossible is Nothing", no?

In the second semifinal, we will have the chance to watch the coolest people around, Jo-Willy Tsonga and Nole Djokovic. For me, this is the hardest one to choose a favourite. If Novak wins today, he finally becomes No.1 for the first time in his career! And he would be the single world No.1 since 2004, other than Nadal and Federer. So this is huge! And I strongly believe he deserves it.

Our boy Horia Tecau and our... adopted boy Robert Lindstedt, as I like to call them, are shining again on the British grass from Wimbledon. After making history for Romania last year (first Romanian to play in a Wimbledon final in the past 37 years), Horia and his partner Brad equaled their performance this year. "We hope to win one more match than last year," Horia said before the tournament. Well, you have your chance. But it won't be easy.

Brad and Horia's opponents in the final will be either the magical twins Bob and Mike Bryan, 'cause I can't find any other words to describe their careers, either Zimo and Mika Llodra. All four of them, specialists in doubles. As for me, I have always wanted to see a match between Lindstedt/Tecau and Bob and Mike. But I would have prefered it to be in a small tournament, not a Grand Slam final.

Well, that's it for today. Make sure you watch all the interesting matches! You don't want to lose anything. :)

Beauties into Round 2/Round 3 (WTA)

Here I am, with a new 'Beauties' post, the girls this time, as some guys told me they don't really have interest in...guys. Well, here it is. Enjoy!

Julia Goerges def. Mathilde Johansson, 7-6 6-2.

Maria Sharapova def. Anna Chakvetadze, 6-2 6-1.

Ana Ivanovic def. Eleni Daniilidou, 6-3 6-0.

Yes, I know she lost yesterday, but she is too lovely not to be here. Simona Halep def. Bojana Jovanovski, 6-1 6-2. In Round 2, she was defeated by Serena Williams, 6-3 2-6 1-6.

The one and only. The gorgeous, the perfect Andrea Petkovic def. Stephanie Dubois, 6-4 4-6 6-3.

Vika Azarenka, a.k.a The Hula Hoop Queen, def. Iveta Benesova, 6-0 6-3.

Vera Zvonareva def. Elena Vesnina, 6-1 7-6.

Well, that's it. For the 'Beauties into Round 2/Round 3 (ATP)' post, click here. :)

Rain? No problem for Petko, Nole and Vika! (Video)

Because they are cool like that.



Shake it, Nole!! :)

Beauties into Round 2/Round 3 (ATP)

A post I just HAVE to write, about my favourite beauties getting into Round 2 or 3.

Because a post having 'beauty' in its title can't start with anyone else. Feli Lopez def. Rainer Schuettler, 7-6 6-7 6-2 6-2.

Andy Roddick def. (unfortunately) Victor Hanescu, 6-4 6-3 6-4, and will face Feli Lopez in Round 3.

Rafa Nadal def. (of course) Ryan Sweeting, 6-3 6-2 6-4.

Grisha is a nice guy and thinks about his fans (mostly fangirls). He didn't want to let them have a day without him. Grigor Dimitrov def. Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, 7-5 7-5 7-6, in two days.

Roger Federer def. Mikhail Kukushkin, 7-6 6-4 6-2.

Robin Soderling def. Philipp Petzschner, 6-4 6-4 2-6 7-6.

Lleyton Hewitt def. Kei Nishikori, 6-1 7-6 6-7 6-3.

I can't believe it, but yes, he is here. Jurgen Melzer def. Alejandro Falla, 3-6 7-6 6-2 6-2.

Novak Djokovic def. Jeremy Chardy, 6-4 6-1 6-1.

And the one and only! Dima Tursunov def. Ernests Gulbis, 6-3 3-6 7-6 7-6.