The players partied on the helipad of the Shanghai Hilton to celebrate this week’s Masters tournament. They managed not to look too grumpy, and Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal even dressed up a little:

Marat, do you really want to wrap up your final season wearing plaid flannels? Come on now:

That’s more like it!

It’s always fun to hear what the players have to say, especially in the pressure cooker of a Grand Slam tournament like Roland Garros. Here are some of my favorite quotes so far:

Marat Safin, on being booted out of his last Roland Garros:

MARAT SAFIN: Well, as you can see, I didn’t draw the heart, and I didn’t lay down and I didn’t cry and I didn’t all those things … it’s not me

Fabrice Santoro, asked to reflect on the Greats he’s played on court:

FABRICE SANTORO: Federer is different, because when he’s playing at his best, everything is just perfect on the court, what he can do with the racquet and the ball. I remember a few matches I played against him, and I was looking at him when I was playing, saying, ‘Wow, how is it possible to play so well?’

Andy Murray begs to differ:

ANDY MURRAY: Santoro for the, I guess, different style of play and for the entertainment. Out of the top guys, Nadal, I like watching.

More from Fabrice, on his scary decision to play the French Open at age 37:

FABRICE SANTORO: Out of the 15 tournaments I have scheduled this year, Roland Garros was the one that’s most scary for me. I thought, is it reasonable at my age to play such long matches on clay? Then I thought, is it reasonable to refuse to do it?”

Fabrice waxes poetic on his own unique style of play:

FABRICE SANTORO: I use what I have. That means not a lot. Many players are 15 kilograms heavier than me, 15 centimeters taller than me, and when they hit the ball, they want to hit it strong. And I can understand that.

My game style was out of date when I arrived on the tour. I got on the tour in the ’90s, and my style dated back to the ’70s. So when I arrived, I was, you know, 20 years late already. So managing to get good performances for 20 years when you’re 20 years late, that’s difficult enough. But that was my challenge. And that’s the beauty of my career, if I may say so.

Dinara Safina, when asked if her coach was happy with her 6-1, 6-1 victory in the second round:

DINARA SAFINA: If one day he’s going to be happy, I think I’ll finish my career. He’s never happy. Even today, he’s not happy.

Fedophile Marion Bartoli, when asked in a recent interview about her dream mixed doubles partner:

MARION BARTOLI: Roger Federer. He always says hi. He’s really friendly. I love him but I would get really nervous if I had to play with him.

Some real tennis insight from Gilles Simon:

Q. When you look at Murray and Santoro, I have the impression that these players play more with their brains than their arms. What about you?

GILLES SIMON: Not necessarily. These players are players who don’t necessarily ‑‑ well, it’s different. These players don’t use their strengths. This is the difference. They’d rather use the weaknesses that the other player has. That’s why you have the impression they play differently, whereas others think it’s more reassuring to play your style whether it works or not and to do this all the time.

James Blake, after losing to Leonardo Mayer in the first round:

Q. Is that same court you played Gulbis on last year?

JAMES BLAKE: Yeah.

Q. And is that your least favorite court in all of tennis?

JAMES BLAKE: No. The court I broke my neck on was my least favorite court, I would say.

Serena Williams, on finding time for her kids:

Q. Must be kind of nice to go back to your own place [her apartment in Paris]?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I want to go home and see my kids and relax.

Q. Dogs?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Could be [said with a coy smile].

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, explaining the tie and polo combo he wore to his press conference:

Q. So the idea of the tie, where does it come from?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: In other sports when you come to a pressconference, you have to respect, to comply with a dress code, so I thought thatin tennis, too, we could show we have certain ethics. I believe it’s important. We have beautiful tournaments, and we shouldshow a bit of respect.

Q. Are you going to wear a tuxedo in the quarterfinal or in the final?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: Yes, I wanted to come with a tuxedo in thebeginning, but my equipment provider didn’t really want to. Now I found a solution.

Q. Are you going to wear a butterfly tie?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: If I win, I’ll wear whatever you want, but not a G-string.

What a tease!

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and press conference quotes via rolandgarros.com

Serena quote via tennisreporters.net

Safin quote via The Guardian

FRENCH OPEN DAY 1: The brick orange clay, the renewed fire (and fear) in the players’ eyes, new drinking games based on Brad Gilbert-isms – what’s not to love about a Sunday start at Roland Garros?

Here are some random musings from the debut day on Paris clay:

1.  Sad face: 2004 champ Gaston Gaudio lost to Radek Stepanek. There goes my dream Gaudio/Nadal semi!

2. Sadder face: Amelie Mauremo was bounced out in straights against German Anna-Lena Groenefeld. But don’t worry, Amelie fans, she’s still hopeful for Wimbledon (via L’Equipe):

“It’s not terrible. It should not be exaggerated, there are things much worse. This is not pleasant. Simple as that. . . . Life goes on, the circuit continues and we will digest it quietly with a few days of rest. Then I’ll go to conditions that I like more.”

3. Ana Ivanovic beat Sara Errani in straight sets: 7-6 (3), 6-3 but the match could have been a three set scrapper for all the confidence it inspired. Her forehand’s working but her ball toss weaves and bobs like a drunk at a wedding reception.

4. When the World No. 3 beats someone ranked 180 places below him, does the win really qualify as a “tour de force“? The Times, U.K. thinks so.

5. Then what do you call it when a scrappy American like Wayne Odesnik (#87) takes a top-ranked Frenchman like Gilles Simon (#7) to a fifth set on Court Philippe Chatrier? A “tour de balls“?

6. Happy face: Darren Cahill is convinced that Marat Safin won’t retire in 2009. Super Coach said on ESPN today that he thinks Marat is working way too hard off-court to be seriously considering leaving the sport.

7. Speaking of Darren Cahill, how is he going to man both the ESPN booth and the players’ box during the same tournament? His charge, Fernando Verdasco, will be keeping him busy. The Spaniard beat Florent Serra today in straights.

8. Fernando Verdasco is hot:

9. Roger Federer’s hotter:

10. Ivan Ljubicic answers the ultimate tennis-geek question, “who is the best chair umpire?”: “Mohamed Lahyani. You either love him or you hate him.”

Put me in the love column! And be sure to check out more from the discerning Ljuby on the RG website (click here).

11. Rafael Nadal is blogging again at the Times U.K. (click here). His first Roland Garros post promises. . .not very much:

“I hope what I say is not taken too serious or too not serious. I am someone who doesn’t go too deep to talk about things openly. I can be very open with my team, with my family these weeks, but kind of reserved with the rest of the World.”

Here’s Rafa vs. the rest of the World:

12. Gael Monfils is fit to play the French Open, says his coach Roger Rasheed. As if we needed confirmation after seeing this photo from Saturday’s exhibition event:

13. Advantage, Tennis Channel! I can’t get it in HD, and I’m not a huge fan of its second tier commentators, but TC scores big with Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe. Also, love that the channel shows the action live and unabridged (ESPN comes on later and about half its broadcast is on tape.)

14: Speaking of watching tennis, here’s what’s on for Day 2: Safina, Nadal and Federer (in that order) in the main stadium and Venus Williams and Andy Roddick on Lenglen. Sharapova will play her first rounder in the Bullring. Interesting Day 2 matches include: Safarova vs. Lisicki, Bolelli vs. Berdych, Cibulkova vs. A. Bondarenko.

15. The full Day 1 results: Sunday, May 24, 2009

ATP – Singles – First Round
Andrey Golubev (KAZ)def Denis Gremelmayr (GER) 6-3 6-3 6-2
Mathieu Montcourt (FRA)def Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE)6-2 Ret.
Dudi Sela (ISR)def Jean-Rene Lisnard (MON) 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-3
Marat Safin (RUS)[20]def Alexandre Sidorenko (FRA) 6-4 6-4 6-4
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)[8] def Florent Serra (FRA) 6-2 6-1 6-4
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def Ivo Karlovic (CRO)[26] 6-7(1) 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 6-4 6-3
Nicolas Almagro (ESP)[31] def Agustin Calleri (ARG)6-4 6-1 6-3
Marin Cilic (CRO)[13] def Jan Hernych (CZE)6-0 6-4 6-3
Josselin Ouanna (FRA) def Marcel Granollers (ESP) 7-5 2-6 3-6 7-6(2) 6-1
Gilles Simon (FRA)[7] def Wayne Odesnik (USA) 3-6 7-5 6-2 4-6 6-3
Andy Murray (GBR)[3] def Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 6-2 6-2 6-1
Radek  Stepanek (CZE)[18] def Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 6-3 6-4 6-1
David Ferrer (ESP)[14] def Frederico Gil (POR) 6-2 6-4 6-4
Robert Kendrick (USA) def Daniel Brands (GER) 6-7(7) 7-5 7-6(11) 4-6 6-3
Philipp Petzschner (GER) def Peter Polansky (CAN) 5-7 6-2 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3

WTA – Singles – First Round
(8) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Sara Errani (ITA) 76(3) 63
(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Roberta Vinci (ITA) 64 62
(11) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (WC) Lauren Embree (USA) 61 62
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) d. (16) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) 64 63
(Q) Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. (19) Kaia Kanepi (EST) 76(2) 36 62
(25) Li Na (CHN) d. Marta Domachowska (POL) 64 62
(27) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Ioana Raluca Olaru (ROU) 63 62
(32) Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. Julia Goerges (GER) 75 41 ret. (heat illness)
Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Tamira Paszek (AUT) 61 63
Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Severine Bremond Beltrame (FRA) 63 63
Julie Coin (FRA) d. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 75 62
Kristina Barrois (GER) d. Maria Emilia Salerni (ARG) 36 61 62
Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) d. Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 63 63
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. (WC) Emilie Loit (FRA) 46 64 61
(Q) Arantxa Rus (NED) d. (WC) Olivia Sanchez (FRA) 61 61
(Q) Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) d. Mathilde Johansson (FRA) 26 62 108

Amelie photo by REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel (FRANCE SPORT TENNIS IMAGES OF THE DAY) via Daylife

Fernando “hot sauce” Verdasco by AP Photo/Laurent Baheux via Daylife

Roger “hot man” Federer photo by REUTERS/Benoit Tessier (FRANCE SPORT TENNIS) via Daylife

Rafa vs. World photo by AP Photo/Laurent Rebours via Daylife

Results via Great Tennis Photos.

Monfils tests his knee photo by CYRIL CADET/AFP/Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports

A quick detour onto grass while we wait for the Roland Garros draw to come out later today. (You can catch it live, at 11:30am, Paris time, at rolandgarros.com (anyone else relieved to be done with that awful Madrid Masters website?)

The following video is an ode to Rafael Nadal disguised as a promotional video for Queen’s Club, the pre-Wimbledon grass court tournament in London.  Coach Larry Stefanki is the highlight, although Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt are featured, too:

I never thought of Stefanki as the kind of person who describes the vaginal canal as a “shooter,” but heck, I learn something new everyday. Also, love how Roddick gets his Roger reference in – I’m starting to think we have a late-blooming Fedophile on our hands. Wonder if coach and pupil have an ongoing Rafa vs. Roger debate they hash out on international flights.

Gilles Simon will also be playing Queen’s Club and did an interview for the tournament. He shares his own theory on why his play is so up and down. Love his confidence when it comes to beating the top guys:

Now back to the clay. . . I’m twiddling my thumbs until that draw comes out. Dying to see which side Djokovic is on.

Tell me fellow book worms, did this edition of the ATPs “Favorite Things” depress you at all? Because besides a Dan Brown novel every now and then, most of our favorite tennis players don’t read anything but draw sheets (no, wait, that’s what their coaches are for.)  At least the Eastern Europeans are keeping literature alive on tour (Ljubicic, Andreev and I could form a book club!):

Notice that Andy Murray went all Victoria Beckham on us. He could have lied and said he’d read his  own autobiography! And I’m really starting to wonder about Gilles Simon – his favorite food is McDonald’s and he doesn’t read books. Next he’s going to say his favorite music is smooth jazz (oh wait, it is!)

I’m going to go sit in a corner and read now. If you’re interested in that book club, Ljuby, I’m reading The Painted Veil right now. . ..

Roger Federer’s been keeping a low profile since he and his bride, Mirka, arrived in Monte Carlo on Sunday, reportedly skipping a press roundtable on Monday and generally ignoring the ATP’s calls. (Come on, Roger, don’t you want to swim with dolphins? Or visit a casino with Nole? How ’bout Flamenco dancing?)

Federer may be keeping mum, but that won’t stop everybody else from gossiping about him (thank God!):

Stan Wawrinka on the wedding announcement: “I was as surprised as everyone else. But I’m happy for Roger and hope this and the birth of his baby helps him.” (via The Star)

One of Roger’s “closest associates”:  “I had no idea (the wedding) was happening. I texted him as soon as I heard. He texted back to say he was over the moon and that it was the best day of his life.” (via The Independent)

I don’t know who the above unnamed “associate” is. (lame!) It could be Wawrinka, Gavin R., Anna W. or even Mirka, herself (the girl does love to text!)

Since Roger was a no-show, the press asked the other top players to talk about him (Click here for more from Reuters):

Gael Monfils: “We must not forget who he is. He will be out for revenge.”

Gilles Simon: “Why does he lose his temper on the court? Because he did not need to before as he used to slaughter everyone. . .To me, on a good day, he still is the best player in the world. He had already broken rackets before, now he is frustrated so he does it again.”

Fernando Verdasco: “Two years ago he was winning everything. Now, since the beginning of the year, he has been beaten by Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. I think mentally it is not easy to handle.”

Novak Djokovic: “I found it strange he broke his racket in Miami, he who always keeps calm. But these things happen when you are frustrated on the court. . . Federer won everything for four years and now he starts losing against some players but you cannot say he is in crisis.”

No. 1 Fedophile, Rafael Nadal, was the most upbeat: “He has played a grand slam final and two Masters Series semi-finals, these are very good results. Everybody talks about the racket he smashed in Miami but that’s nothing. It happens to everyone. He just needs a title to confirm his good start to the season.”

Roger Federer plays Italian Andreas Seppi in his first match on the Monte Carlo clay.

Federer photo: AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau via Daylife

It was rough out on the courts this weekend at the Sony Ericsson Open. Maybe it’s good that Fox Sports Network aired BMX world, instead. Yikes!

The wreckage on the WTA side was especially graphic:

Jelena Jankovic crashed out to Gisela Dulko (who then went out to Benesova)
Dinara Safina was crushed 6-1, 6-4 by Sam Stosur in what she memorably called a “disaster match.” (And due to WTA insanity – or is is inanity – Dinara could still make it to No. 1 at the end of the tournament! Don’t ask me to do the math, but it’s true.)
9th seed Nadia Petrova out to Makarova
Cibulkova out to Medina Garrigues (Dominika retired with muscle cramps)
Cornet destroyed by Jie Zheng, 6-4, 6-0
Dokic out to Wozniacki (not quite an upset, but too bad.)

The Indian Wells hangover:

Ana Ivanovic (IW runner up) went out in three to Agnes Szavay, 6-4,4-6,6-1.
Vera Zvonareva (IW champ) was ousted to Na Li
Victoria Azarenka (IW semifinalist) was the lone survivor of the four IW semifinalists after beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (IW semifinalist) and then Chakvetadze (not really an upset, but impressive considering the fate of her desert cohorts.)

Joining Azarenka in the second week are both Williams sisters, Dementieva, Kuznetsova and Amelie Mauresmo (over Pennetta!) So not all is lost.

On the ATP side it was the B and C list Americans who suffered en masse:

Blake is not really B list, but went out to Berdych
Kendrick out to Tsonga (Allez!!)
Isner out to Ferrer
Delic out to Cilic
Reynolds out to Stepanek
Fish out to Massu
Querrey out to Feliciano Lopez
The good news for team USA: Qualifier Taylor Dent made up for his countrymen’s disappointing results by defeating two seeded players this weekend: Robredo (15) and Almagro (19). But can he keep the upset mojo going against Federer in the fourth round?

And some minor issues on the men’s side:

Richard Gasquet withdrew from the tournament – blahhhhh – I’m so over him, anyway.
Andy Murray almost got upset by hottie Juan Monaco – hope we see more of Juan on clay
As a Safin fan, I’m sad he didn’t get past Monfils, especially considering he had two match points. It’s also too bad (but typical) that Nalbandian went out Troicki 6-3, 6-1.
Hewitt’s gotta be “this” much closer to retirement after going out 6-1, 6-2 to Simon

When you see the results laid out like this in one big, bloody pile, you realize how brutal our sport really is. MMA has nothing on tennis!

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

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 these photos pulled him out of obscurity. A GTT exclusive!

David Ferrer – modestly hot.

Gonzo – he looks sweet and hot! Like a freshly fried doughnut. Yum.

A hottie Hall of Famer.

 

Fellow bloggers: Thanks to everyone who asked to use our photos! Please feel free to use them – we would appreciate a link back to our post, if you do.

Davis Cup is all about the thrill of VICTORY and the agony of DEFEAT, as this photo essay demonstrates. (I think you’ll agree that Gilles Simon suffered more than any one tennis player should have to bear.)

Spain over Serbia: 4 – 1

This video basically sums it up.

VICTORY! I bet Rafa wakes up every morning in this pose.

DEFEAT! (Or is Novak just relieved to be put out of his misery?)

Then Rafa holds his signature post-match therapy session. . .

and his teammates give him a good rub for good luck!

Photos: Getty/Sergio Carmona

United States over Switzerland: 4 – 1

VICTORY was a team effort for Team U.S.A. in Birmingham.

While Stan Wawrinka faced the pain of DEFEAT without Roger.

U.S.A. photos: Getty/Stan photo: AP

Russia over Romania: 4 – 1

Any excuse for a Safin photo or two.

Marat, doing a Greek God VICTORY pose with a racquet for a thunderbolt.

DEFEAT? Here’s what I love about Marat – even when he wins in straights, it still looks like he’s losing.

Czech Republic over France: 3 – 2

HEARTBREAK ALERT!

Radek Stepanek’s VICTORY worm dance. . .

. . .should be against the Geneva conventions. DEFEAT never hurt  so bad for poor Gilly!

There’s just no consoling him after that.

Worm photo: Antoine Couvercelle/Simon photos: Getty

Israel over Sweden: 3-2

I wonder if Malmo officials regret their decision to keep fans out of the Davis Cup stadium? The Swedish could have used some home advantage when Swede Vinciguerra took on Israel’s Levy in the live fifth rubber, which Levy won 8-6 in the fifth.

But the lack of a cheering section didn’t dampen the thrill of VICTORY for Israel.

There were about 6,000 demonstrators outside – mostly peaceful but with about 200 bad apples making things ugly. Was this a VICTORY for democracy, a DEFEAT of common decency, or both?

Click here for video from the protests.

Team Israel photo: Arne Forsell

Argentina over the Netherlands: 5 – 0

VICTORY for cutie-pie Juan Monaco! His fans feel warm and fuzzy. . .

. . .until Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands rouses their dormant Mommy-reflexes. Don’t cry, Thiemo!

Photographer: Sergio Llamera

Germany over Austria: 3 – 2

“Bloody knees? What bloody knees?” Kiefer says VICTORY hurts so good.

DEFEAT. I know I’ve made this same “D’oh!” face Jurgen Melzer’s wearing quite often – like today after I forgot to TIVO Mad Men.

Photographer: GEPA

Croatia over Chile: 5 – 0

Cilic and Ancic celebrate Croatia’s VICTORY, big time.

While a DEFEATED Paul Capdeville of Chile questions his career choices.

Photographer: Paul Zimmer

NEXT UP AND WHERE (DC Quarterfinals from 10 – 12 of July):

Argentina at Czech Republic
U.S.A. at Croatia
Russia at Israel
Germany at Spain

Well, it’s as should be expected, considering the depleted field. Top seed Novak Djokovic will meet fourth seed (and world No. 14) David Ferrer in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday evening.

I watched Novak beat third-seed Gilles Simon today in three tight sets and boy, was it crap-tastic. For much of the match, Novak was spraying forehands wide, or worse, hitting them into the net – sometimes the ball would even bounce once on his side of the court before slamming into the net like a puck into a goal. The bum forehands and a few gym class overheads made the whole thing painful to watch. And of course there was the requisite complaining to the ump about his own fans, mumbling to his coach, staring at his HEAD racquet in disgust, etc. I half expected him to smash his stick to pieces during a changeover and pull out an old Wilson frame – I’m sure he wanted to. That said, Novak still found a way to win in the heat of the afternoon against a supremely dogged opponent, which has to count as a major physical victory for him (it was his first daytime match of the tournament.)

David Ferrer, on the other hand, easily beat Richard Gasquet, 6-2, 6-2 in the other semi of the day, and he seems to be playing close to his top form, ca. 2007.  He’s exactly the kind of player that a depleted Djokovic does not want to face tomorrow – Iron Man fit, consistent as a ball machine and feeling confident.

Here are some highlights from today’s matches:

It’s going to be an interesting final – it’s the first of the year for both players and I think it’s a MUST WIN match for Nole. He’s had such a disappointing year so far for a No. 3 ranked player – that retirement to Andy Roddick in the quarters Down Under was the low point, and taking that fourth-consecutive loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last week in Marseille couldn’t have done much for his confidence. Now he’s the lone big dog left in Dubai, which has been depleted by the withdrawals of Federer and Nadal and now yesterday’s retirement by Andy Murray, and he has to show the rest of the field that he’s still the guy to beat. It will be fun to see how he handles the pressure, especially if David Ferrer can make it a match. (I’m keeping an eye on Novak’s racquet for signs of a paint job.)

Click here for this weekend’s TV schedule, including Dubai, Acapulco and Delray.

Novak Photos: MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images