One Less Grunt at Wimbledon

....simply because Sharapova is OUT. She got ousted today by Gisela Dulko in the third set. The thing is, I'm wondering if anyone is going to miss Maria's high pitched grunts and screams, which punctuate each and every stroke she hits. That girl really lays it on thick! Now, I know she's not the only one, but she's definitely the grunting QUEEN of tennis. Just listen to these sound effects:




Hell, football players don't even make that much noise, and they're out there getting smashed into, run over and HURT! lol
I play tennis also, but don't recall ever making this much noise. Then again, I'm not out here competing for Grand Slams. Or even amateur titles. Maybe I'm doing it all wrong! ;)

But for all you grunt and moan tennis fans, Serena is still in it to win it, and we all know that she can grunt and growl with the best of them.
Question: why don't the male tennis players grunt and groan with this much fervor? I know there are one or two who do, but I swear, they just cannot even compare to the ladies!
Tomorrow I will be on the courts working on my grunt. Maybe that's the one vital element missing from my game! Keep ya posted!;)

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How Novak Djokovic Let Bitterness Defeat Him

I love Novak Djokovic. Don't get me wrong. LOVE him. Love his personality, his style, his tennis game. From the moment he began to gain prominence on the tennis circuit, I've been on his team. He's likable as hell. Well...at least, he used to be.

Flash forward to the 2008 season, and I can't help but to notice that that effervescent, engaging, entertaining, completely appreciative personality of his has changed a bit.

Some might speculate that it's due to injuries and physical ailments that plague him on the long, grueling tennis tour that these guys do year in and year out. Maybe that's so. All I know is that the Novak Djokovic that I personally have gotten to know and love was not the one that showed up at the US Open this year.

Novak has been gaining a reputation of crying wolf when it comes to ailments during tennis matches. Whether it's legit, or not, only Nole knows....

Andy Roddick made light of all these illness claims at a press conference, and in a quite entertaining way. Hell, even I had to chuckle, although it's really not good sportsmanship to joke about someone's injuries. Wasn't the best moment for Andy Roddick, really. Funny? Yeah, it kinda was. Should he have said what he said? No. But ya know what? It worked. Those words had Djokovic steaming during that entire match they played.


Novak allowed Roddick's snarky little comments to get to him. He got angry about it. Put a huge chip on his shoulder about it. And that, in my humble opinion, is why he didn't beat Federer in the semis the following match. He let these emotions get to him and it messed with his head completely. He then wanted to win for spite, it seemed, instead of for the joy of just being the best, like he used to. It made him lose concentration and focus. You are never at your best when you're angry.

As we all know, trash talking is part and parcel of any and every sport. A true champion knows how to roll with the punches and allow the BS to roll off his/her shoulders. As far as I can see, Djokovic has yet to develop this skill. If he ever really intends to become the #1 tennis player in the world, he had better develop a slightly thicker skin, and quickly.

In everyone's life, a little negativity will fall. It's how you let it affect you (or not) that counts more. You can either let it defeat you, like it did Djokovic, or you can use it to your advantage. Let it spur you on to be even more successful.
Better. Fiercer. Stronger.
And that, is the absolute BEST way to win.

by The Fitness Diva

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Serena Williams Poised to Take 3rd US Open Title

This Saturday evening, under the bright lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Serena Williams will be going up against Yelena Jankovic for what will be her 3rd US Open title, if she wins it.
Having beaten her sister, Venus in the quarterfinal, and dispatching Dinar Safina in the semis, Serena won some tough battles against some of the top players on the circuit this year, while making it look easy. Having missed singles gold at the Olympics, and also failing to claim any of the 4 major titles (yet) this year, here's hoping that she wins the big one in Flushing Meadows!

Yelena Jankovic is playing her very best tennis lately, matching her opponents stroke for power stroke in her matches. Her game is really starting to mature and improve, so Saturday's match promises to be a great contest. Serena had better be bringing her A game. Judging by the way she's been playing the past two weeks, I'm not doubting that she will. If she wins this, it will be her 9th Grand Slam title.

You all know that I am such a Serena Williams fan. I cannot help but to root for her! Good luck on Saturday, Serena! I will be watching! :)

Update: Due to torrential rains, the US Open Women's Final has been moved to Sunday, Sept 7th at 9pm EST.

I personally think that this is great! With one more day to rest up, these ladies will definitely be coming out and putting their absolute best tennis on the court!

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Venus and Serena Make Wimbledon History!

The phenomenon known as the Williams sisters not only made it to both the women's singles AND women's doubles finals this week, but will also go down in history as the first and only sisters to ever do so for the THIRD time. Watching these two slice through opponent after opponent this past couple weeks has been an awesome sight to behold! There is nothing and no one better than Venus and Serena Williams when they are on their A game! They are absolutely unbeatable when they pull it all together, and now that both they and their respective games have definitely matured, every one else in the field had better look out!

When they won the women's doubles semifinal this morning to make it to the final, it brought a tear to my eye. I love these girls, and have followed them since day one. I'm not only proud to see how they've developed as tennis players, but also as people. They are strong, intelligent, talented young women, and are still taking the world by storm! I love it! It's too bad we can't clone them! I'd love to see more role models and champions like Venus and Serena these days. They carry it all so well.
Saturday will see me screaming at my tv "go Serena!" "go Venus!!" every other minute. It will be so hard to choose who I want to win!! Too crazy! Go, ladies, GO! I'm always cheering for you both! Here's to knocking 'em dead at Wimbledon! :)

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The Sexiest Man in Tennis

Ok...I had to wipe my chin of drool. I'm okay now. Anyone that follows tennis knows the incredible, jaw dropping hotness that is MARAT SAFIN. Jesus....how could one man be blessed with so much beauty? He not only is the greatest looking thing to ever hit the tennis circuit (move over, Kournikova!), but he also has a smouldering quality about him, and from what they say, is also quite charming. Imagine that! ;) All I know is I definitely enjoy watching Marat play!

The good news for Safin fans is that he's still in the running at this year's Wimbledon, having just dispatched Lopez in 3 sets to make it to the quarterfinals (for the second time ever). Heck, I'd like to see him go all the way, wouldn't you? Let's just hope Marat makes it through the next round. Just another big reason to keep on tuning in to Wimbledon 2008 on ESPN! Go, Marat!

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The King is Toppled From His Throne...

Well, 3 months into the new season, and it's official. The dominant reign of Roger Federer in men's tennis is over. Or at least at a pause. It's shocking how quickly this has happened. Just last year, R Fed was his usual excellent self, assassinating opponents left and right, instilling fear in all from the locker room on. At one time he really was unbeatable. Now, the list of guys achieving that on the circuit is growing. It's actually becoming its own new club.


He's now being beaten by not only the top seeds, but surprisingly this weekend he also got wiped out by 98th ranked American Mardy Fish (in straight sets!!!). I'm sure we all fell off our collective chairs the moment THAT match ended! What the hell is happening here?

Whatever it is, I hope he shakes it off soon, and gets back to being the Roger Federer we all know and were in awe of. No man on the tennis circuit has ever exhibited such a fierce and complete arsenal of weapons and talent on the court. Even though I love Novak Djokovic as heir apparent, I still want to see Roger Federer give all these guys a real run for the money for at least a few more years to come.
Is it over already? Say it ain't so, Roger!

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Rock it Like Federer....

....That's my new catch phrase. You know, as in "Bend it like Beckham"? After watching Roger Federer wipe pretty much everyone else in sight off the court with such precision, mastery, and at times, effortlessness, I have now dubbed the word 'Federer' an adjective (and a verb!). Who better to deserve this honor?

Here is the complete definition:

fed*er*er 1. strong, dominant, masterful

fed*er*ate 1. to demolish, conquer or annihilate

fed*er*ize 1. to endow a person, place or thing with superior quality or ability

fed*er*es*sence 1. complete dominance and mastery of a situation
2. flawless precision


Just as with Spanish and Italian verbs, you drop the er (r/re) suffix to conjugate.

Ok. I think that sums it up! Let's use each of them in a sentence!


Dude, I'm about to go completely Federer on this project pitch. We are going to GET that client!

My abs are killing me today! I totally federated my entire body during that last workout!


My apartment layout sucks! I'm going to rip out that wall, hit Home Depot, and absolutely federize this place!


She handled that entire situation with complete federessence. I had no idea she had such cojones!


To federate, federize or 'be federer' about something is to completely annihilate it, knock it out, rock it....be it a task, an opponent (in any circumstance), a concept...whatever. I think it works!

Now, try out a few sentences of your own. You might even be able to come up with better ones than I have!


Now, do NOT make the mistake of slipping up and saying "Federline" instead of "Federer". That, will unfortunately, bring up a completely opposite list of definitions! Always be sure to carefully differentiate the two!


My prediction for the winner of the 2007 US Open men's final? You know who. Of course, you do! Federer is gonna get out there and Rock it like Roger. Tennis at its awesome best, and I will be there watching, admiring, and wondering how anyone can be THAT damn good!

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Congratulations, Venus!!

MY girl! The Williams sisters are SO inspiring, and in my opinion, prove that will, self determination and unstoppable confidence are key in achieving your goals. For the past couple years, people have been saying they're washed up, Serena's out of shape, their dominant run is over, etc...la la la. Come again??

After recovering from injuries, this year Serena's been decimating opponents left and right, and if not for her sudden calf injury in the quarterfinals, we'd have had a Williams vs Williams final. I'da bet the house on it! ;)

After it was all said and done, Venus won her fourth Wimbledon championship!


I was hoping for Serena to complete her vicious and stellar comeback after winning the Australian and jumping back up in rank, but seeing Venus make it all the way back is just as good! Well done, ladies! Keep up the inspiring work!


I am now on my way out the door to hit the tennis courts...:).
Yeah, I've been working on my game this summer, just like the last. It's getting good.
Those girls aren't the only ones with Grand Slam aspirations.... ;)

See you on the courts!

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