Hewitt's a Dad Again!

Congratulations are in order for Lleyton Hewitt. He and his wife Bec, welcomed their 2nd child on December 11th, a boy named Cruz.

Hewitt and his wife already have a three-year-old daughter named Mia.

(Photo via AFP)

Jimmy Connors Arrested!

BREAKING NEWS

Eight-time Grand Slam champ Jimmy Connors was arrested and taken into custody Friday outside the UC Santa Barbara campus after refusing to comply with an order to leave an area following a confrontation.

Complete story here.

Buzz on the Courts - Week Ending 11-16-08

- Novak Djokovic crushed Nikolay Daveydenko 6-1,
7-5 to take Masters Cup singles title.

- Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic defeat the
Bryan Brothers to capture the Masters Cup doubles title and claim the year end #1 ranking.

- Jonas Bjorkman calls it quits after 17 years on tour. Story here.

- Serbia to host ATP event in 2009. Read more.

Nadal Pulls Out

Rafael Nadal pulled out of the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, citing fatigue and the need to prepare for the Davis Cup final. The world’s top-ranked player made the announcement on his Web site, describing his withdrawal as “one of the most difficult decisions in my career.”

Here's what he said:
“It has been a long and difficult year where I managed to obtain great results, both on a professional and on a personal level,” he said. “I have mentioned on various occasions that the tennis calendar has been extremely hard with practically all weeks playing and where it forces players to compete week in, week out, making it impossible for a top level player to be 100 percent” for each event.

Big Willie Seals the Deal

I didn't think either one of these guys would end up in the finals, nor did I think the final four would be Tsonga, Davydenko, Blake and Murray - granted injuries occured. Still, it was actually nice to see someone other than the top 4 win a title.

Jo Willie Tsonga defeated David Nalbanian 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the BNP Paribas Masters final. Willie started out on fire, breaking Nalbandian in the first game of set #1 and stayed strong to take the first set.

Jo Willie petered out a bit in the 2nd set, committing 3 times as many errors as Nalbandian and Nalbandian was able to break at 4-5 to take it.

Onto the 3rd we go. Tsonga broke early go up. Nalbandian put up a great fight but was never able to get back in the match. By winning his first Master's shield, Tsonga also earns the final spot in the Tennis Master's Cup in Shaghai. He joins Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Davydenko, Roddick and Del Potro.

Murray e-Murr-ges Victorious!

Andy Murray celebrates winning the Madrid Masters title with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Gilles Simon. This is Murray's 4th title of 2008 and 2nd Masters shield.

The most exciting part of this tournament was definately the semifinal matches where we saw each player add some much needed depth to the men's game and lay the foundation for an exciting 2009 season.

(Image via Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images)

Bite Me!



























Here goes Raphael Nadal biting another trophy. This one symbolizes his ranking as World No. 1 since August 18, 2008 and was presented at a ceremony celebrated during the Masters Series of Madrid.

I know it's his "thing" but does anyone else out there secretly wish one of these trophies would break off and start choking this guy. Sinister, I know.

Buzz on the Courts - Week Ending 10-05-08

- Tomas Berdych thrashes Juan Martin Del Potro 6-1, 6-4 to take the Japan Open.

- German Mischa Zverev and Mikhail Youzhny of Russia capture the Japan Open doubles title.

- Dmitry Tursunov defeats Paul Henri Mathieu to take L'Open de Moselle 7-6, 1-6, 6-4.

On court this week: Kremlin Cup, Stockholm Open, TennisTrophy Austria

Is Patrick McEnroe the Ryan Seacrest of Tennis?

Ryan Seacrest is the hardest working man in show-business, but is Patrick McEnroe the hardest working man in tennis?

Let’s Review:

Ryan Seacrest is the host of American Idol

Patrick McEnroe is General Manager of elite player development for the USTA

Ryan Seacrest is the host of his own radio show

Patrick McEnroe is commentator for ESPN’s and CBS’s tennis coverage

Ryan Seacrest is host of E! News

Patrick McEnroe is coach of US Men’s Davis Cup

Ryan Seacrest is fill in host of Dick Clark’s New Year Rockin Eve

Patrick McEnroe is fill in coach for Andy Roddick

Ryan Seacrest guest hosts for Larry King

Patrick McEnroe guest hosts for the ESPN program "Pardon the Interruption"

Wow, this is just crazy! Leave your comments below.

Hasta la Vista

















Rafael Nadal guaranteed Spain’s berth in its sixth Davis Cup final, crushing Andy Roddick in a 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 ass-kicking for an unbeatable 3-1 lead over the 2007 champion United States. Nuff' said.

Spain will play either Argentina or Russia.
(AFP/Getty Images)

All Bets are Off!



























Nikolay Davydenko was cleared by the ATP of all wrongdoing on charges related to suspicious betting patterns related to a match he was accused of throwing over a year ago.

C'mon, it took this long to figure this crap out. The OJ trial took less time and there was no black glove. I'm just sayin.

I've got $100 on Daveydenko's next match!

(AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

Lucky 13!



















Finally! What has been a disappointing season by Roger Federer's standards, comes to a great end with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 victory over #6 seed Andy Murray.

Federer is one away from tying Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles and becomes the first man since 1924 to win 5 straight US Opens.
Congrats Roger!
(Getty Images)

Great Scot!






















Personally, I didn't think Andy would pull this one off. I fully expected Nadal, being the human backboard that he is, to come out guns-a-blazin and take it in 5. Murray's trying to become the first British man to win a major tennis championship since Fred Perry at the 1936 U.S. Open. He'll move to #4 in the rankings this week.

Look for Federer to win his 13th Grand Slam title tomorrow. Murray will be too overwhelmed on this occasion. Agree? Disagree? Leave your comments below and set your DVRs.

(AFP/Timothy A. Clary)

Adios Djokovic! Hola Rain!



























Roger Federer showed tons of emotion today in his 4 set win against #3 seed, Novak Djokovic.

Federer will play either Raphael Nadal or Andy Murray. Murray is up 2 sets to love and a break down in the 3rd against a struggling Nadal. However play has been suspended for the day due to rain. Good news for Nadal.

(AFP/Getty Images)

Wonder Twin Powers Activate!

















Form of a Grand Slam Champion!

Sorry, couldn't resist the Super Friends reference. Bob and Mike Bryan won their 2nd US Open title and 6th Grand Slam overall yesterday with a 7-6, 7-6 win over Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy.

The Bryans next head to Spain to help the US defend their Davis Cup title.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The Fed raises his game



























Roger Federer dominated Gilles Muller today with a 7-6, 6-4, 7-6 win, advancing him to his 18th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final.

Let's see how it all went down:

1st Set - Federer wins tiebreak when Muller nets backhand. Crowd goes wild!
2nd Set - Fed breaks at 4-4 and then serves out the set. Crowd goes wild!
3rd Set - Another breaker. Muller nets it. Federer goes wild!

Does Federer still have it in him? Tune in to find out.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The Spaniard vs. The Scot

Semi Final #1 is set!

#1 Rafa Nadal takes on #6 Andy Murray, who ended Juan Martin del Potro's 23 match win streak. This should be a good matchup – both guys are playing the best tennis of their careers right now.

As for Del Potro, who's coming off four consecutive title wins, he will certainly move up in the rankings and has a bright future in the Men’s game.

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Bryans advance to Finals

Bob and Mike Bryan advanced to the finals with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Tommy Robredo and Sergio Roitman in less than an hour. The Bryans are 31-12 at the Open and captured the title in 2005.

The twins face Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy, winners over Maximo Gonzalez and Juan Monaco, who advance to their first Grand Slam final.

Chest bumps all around!
(Image via Getty)

Battle of the 5 Setters




















Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic both struggled today in 5 set matches against Igor Andreev and Tommy Robredo. Federer was royally pissed off but showed lots of fight in the 5th. He needs to keep it up if he wants to win another slam.

Up next for Federer is the talented Gilles Muller who defeated Nikolay Davydenko in 4 sets.

(Images via Getty)