Swedish police detained two tennis players before the Stockholm Open on Sunday for allegedly soliciting prostitutes (via AP):
The two men were identified only as foreign citizens. Investigation leader Jonas Trolle told The Associated Press on Monday that they were detained as they entered a hotel in Stockholm early Sunday with their escorts. He said both [...]

Day 3 at the LA Tennis Open was a potpourri of tennis surprises. John Isner rolled his ankle at 10-all in a 2nd set tie-break against Marcos Baghdatis – and won. (He has a day to rest.) Marat Safin played Ernests Gulbis in a see-saw match with eight breaks of serve – and won. And [...]

Yeah, taking photos hunky players at an ATP tournament is not a challenge. Talk about point and shoot! Make sure to check out the gallery to find your favorites. (And our apologies for not getting everyone!)
Hot Potito! Yeah, I was surprised, too. Potito Starache was until recently a UHO – Unidentified Hunky Object – until [...]

Hi all! We’ve arrived in the land of golf visors and prime rib specials and are looking forward to a spectacular day of tennis at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Which means that we won’t be watching Federer vs. Giquel in the vertigo-inducing main stadium, but hanging out at the side courts watching the supporting [...]

So I had picked Ernests Gulbis as my surprise finalist of the Australian Open. I thought he’d built up enough mojo and momentum to pull off the Tsonga/Gonzalez/Baghdatis role to make it to the title match next Sunday. Of course, my prediction’s gone to sh*t now that the curly haired Latvian’s lost to Igor Andreev, [...]

Oh, yes, things are really heating up in anticipation of the Australian Open – especially in the wild world of sports betting. Most of us Statesiders don’t participate in the cash transactions, but it’s still telling that the bookmakers abroad have made Murray the favorite for the title.
This from OLBG Sports:
Murray successfully defended his Qatar [...]

It always amazes me that Rafael Nadal loves Roger Federer so damn much. More than I do! Here’s what he had to say about the World No. 2 this week in Doha (Rafa got bumped out of the tournament today by Gael Monfils – Fed plays Murray in the semis tomorrow):
“According to me, (Roger [...]

The Australian Open draw doesn’t come out until next Friday, so why not indulge in some fantasy finals predictions? We can worry later about who’s playing Karlovic in the third round.
Here goes nothing:Men’s final: Andy Murray vs. Ernests Gulbis
This would be a thrilling clash of on-the-cusp superstar versus baby-faced supertalent (a la last year’s Djokovic [...]

First tennis viewing of the season! I’m feeling so fan-fresh and tennis-hungry that I watched the Meghann Shaunghnessy vs. Sabine Lisicki Hopman Cup match with nary a touch of the DVR’s fast forward button. It was worth it – I found my first hot prospect of 2009. The German girl may do some damage this [...]

Wow, what a crazy year 2008 has been! Really, I’ve found it overwhelming.
Here are some things I’m remembering, obsessing over and looking forward to at the tail end of this dramatic (and LONG!) 2008 tennis season. (And of course there’s more drama to come as a Nadal-less Spain takes on David Nalbandian, del Potro and [...]

Someone asked me to check out Kei Nishikori before we left the Open today. He and del Potro played the last day session match in Louis Armstrong. This was my first time seeing him live. The things about him that stood out the most to me: he already has a legion [...]

I hate predicting the outcome of a Grand Slam draw, but I think knowing your way around it makes the entire tournament more enjoyable – more meaningful, even.
More after the jump…
The shortcut version: Federer and Djokovic are in the same half.
Still feel like exploring? Come with me on a stroll through the boulevards and byways [...]