Nike looks for Wimbledon 2013

Roger Federer

Serena Williams

Maria Sharapova

Rafa Nadal

Li Na

Juan Martin Del Potro

Photo Credit: Nike Tennis (more info about the looks here)

Roland Garros 2013 outfits by Nike

Roger Federer

Serena Williams

Rafael Nadal

Victoria Azarenka

Maria Sharapova

Li Na 

Juan Martin Del Potro

Images by Nike Tennis

More information about the gears at Nike's website

Del Potro's dream of meeting Pope Francis comes true

At last, Juan Martin Del Potro met His Holiness Pope Francis, the first Pope from South America and a fellow Argentine, after attending Mass at the Vatican on Wednesday.

Image © ATP World Tour

"It was an incredible experience with Pope Francis, something that I'll never forget,” said del Potro according to an ATP Tour press-release. “It was a dream come true for a guy like me. It was an unforgettable moment. I was very nervous before meeting him, to be able to congratulate him and talk with him. He was nice. Everybody knows he is very humble. Today was a day that I'll remember for ever." Del Potro was thrilled with the Pope's nomination back in March and was planning to meet His Holiness in Rome during the Masters. 

And to his surprise, Del Potro was recognised today by the Pope in the crowd after the Mass. "He told me that he knew I was playing at the tournament in Rome, he blessed me and wished me the best. I congratulated him and thanked him for the opportunity to talk to him." The World Nº7 gave the Pope a racquet used during his 2009 US Open final victory over Roger Federer.

Del Potro hopes to meet new Pope in Rome

Pope Francis (on the left), image by Vatican/ Del Potro (right side), image by Roland Garros

Juan Martin Del Portro hopes to meet his fellow Argentine and new Pope Francis in Rome during the Masters 1000 that will take place in May.

According to Argentine newspaper Clarín, Del Potro was overwhelmed with emotion when he heard that Buenos Aires's Bishop Jorge Bergoglio was chosen to suceed Pope Benedict XVI. "We are all proud of him, I wish him the best and I believe he will do a perfect job", said the tennis player about Pope Francis. I really hope to meet the Pope in May when I play the Masters in Rome, added Del Potro.

The number 7 player in the world confesses he is a devout Catholic and believes this nomination is very important for Argentina and the Argentine people.

Olympic Gold: The "biggest win" for Andy Murray

‎It seemed like he would never get his moment. Andy Murray, world No 4, was chasing a major victory for years. He had several chances to achieve glory but he had some mighty fellows such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in his way. On Sunday, in the grass at Wimbledon, during the London Olympics, and with the crowd again on his side, Andy Murray got the "number one", the "biggest win" of his life, as he described it. The Brit crushed Roger Federer (tired from the longest match in Olympic history from the day before) in three straight sets 6-1 6-2 6-4. He also become the first British male in 104 years to win an Olympic singles gold medal. 

The bronze medal went to Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated Novak Djokovic in two-straight sets.

Silver Fed, Golden Murray and Bronze del Potro

To complete a remarkable Olympic event, Murray played also on Sunday the mixed doubles final with partner Laura Robson against team Belarus, formed by 1-ranked tennis woman Victoria Azarenka and 1-ranked in men's doubles Max Mirnyi. Belarus got the Gold with a victory by 2-6 6-3 10-8. Vika and Max become the first tennis players ever to win a Gold Medal for Belarus, and Myrnyi, at age 35, sets the record as the oldest man to win an Olympic medal since 1988. In the mixed doubles competition, the bronze was awarded to Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond from the USA.

Mixed doubles medalists: Great Britain, Belarus and USA

Golden Sisters!

In the women's doubles competition, the Williams sisters tasted the victory once again and become the first four-time Gold medallists in tennis history. Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka from Czech Republic won the silver medal and Russia's Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova the bronze medal.

Photos via ITF, WTA and Roland Garros's Facebook Pages

Federer loses his cool and yells "shut up" to French Open crowd

Roger Federer is know as one of the classier and more genteel players in tennis. But in the quarter-final match against Juan Martin Del Potro at Roland Garros, he lost his temper and yelled "shut up" to the French Open crowd.

In a rare display of emotion, the superstar tennis player reacted to a shout coming from the stands during a crucial point in the 2nd set tiebreaker. Federer lost the opening sets, but staged a comeback and moved on to the semifinal.

Videos and gif images of Federer losing his cool are going viral on the Internet. We've picked up this gif from Roger Federer Fans website (Image source: @mbthecool19).

Let's hope this doesn't mean the end of French crowd's love-affair with Roger...but we don't think so! :) Watch the point on You Tube.

Federer-Djokovic semifinal rematch at Roland Garros

Roger Federer will stand in the way of Novak Djokovic's chance of completing the "Novak Slam" (consecutive four Grand Slam) or even the Golden Slam. It's a rematch of their semifinal at Roland Garros last year, when Federer ended the Serbian's 43-match winning streak.

1-ranked Novak Djokovic showed once again why he is on top. In another epic contest at the Court Philippe Chatrier, the Serbian had everyone and everything against him, but manage to save four match points in the 4th set. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had the all crowd on his side and was really close to the victory but wasn't able to shake the pressure of his shoulders. Djokovic did what he does best to get the 6-1 5-7 5-7 7-6 (6) 6-1 win. He gives his opponent the advantage and then crushes him to a point that there is no turning back. The Serbian resilience and mental toughness is remarkable. Tsonga ended the match in tears.

Djokovic saved 4 match points! (Image: FFT/Roland Garros FB)

But "Nole" is more vulnerable than in 2011. He had to play five-sets in the last two games to overcome his opponents. He is missing a lot of backhands and forehands, and seems to be slower on the court. To defeat Federer or Nadal he will have to be in his best form. 

On the other hand, Roger Federer cruised to win Juan Martin Del Potro after dropping opening two sets. The men’s No. 3 seed was playing on Court Suzanne Lenglen at the same time as Djokovic, and had less trouble to defeat the Argentinian by 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-0, 6-3.

Djokovic is on his way to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four Grand Slam tennis titles at the same time. Don Budge and Rod Laver are the only players in history who accomplished the feat.

In the women's quarterfinals, Samantha Stosur and Sara Errani rallied for a win over Dominika Cibulkova  (6-4 6-1) and Angelique Kerber (6-1 7-6). The Australian and the Italian will now meet in the semis at Roland Garros. 

Roland Garros: Excitement grows as players practice in Paris

Roland Garros 2012 is just around the corner, and the word in Paris is practice, practice, practice. The motivation and excitement around the second Grand Slam of the year is so high, making us believe that players DO know the meaning of the Nike ad, which says: "Think training's hard? Try losing."

Yep, nobody wants to lose and the competition is tight! Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka are battling for the top positions in the WTA ranking. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have a competition of their own for the Tennis nº 2 ATP position, even if their goal actually is to leapfrog Novak Djokovic. On the other hand, the Serbian is competing with himself for the "Novak Slam". He could become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four consecutive slams in a row, if he takes the title at Roland Garros. 

The stakes are high but everyone is having fun, as you can see from the photos and videos shot in the lovely city of Paris (Credits: All by FFT/Roland Garros, except for Federer's photo with the poster, which is from his FB page).