Players party in Miami ahead of Sony Open Tennis tournament

These photos just came in...live from Miami. Images are from Sony Open Tennis Official Twitter (sorry for the quality).

Agnieszska Radwanska

Dominika Cibulkova

Caroline Wozniacki and boyfriend Rory Mcilroy

Daniela Hantuchova

Janko Tipsarevic and wife

Jelena Jankovic

Nicolas Almagro

David Ferrer and girlfriend

Nole wearing an "into Miami mood" jacket

Lucie Safarova

Maria Sharapova

Novak Djokovic and girlfriend Jelena (photo from Nole's Twitter account)

Andreas Seppi

Sloane Stephens

Victoria Azarenka

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.

Novak Djokovic's belly dancing - Not as good as his gangnam style

Someone should ask Novak Djokovic to be a guest at the Dancing with the Stars TV show. He's got the moves like Jagger. :) This happened at the players party in Dubai. Take a look!

Nole is already in Los Angeles preparing for the upcoming Indian Wells Masters 1000. Yesterday, he had the time of his life meeting some of the LA Lakers stars such as Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant.

The world No. 1 was at the Staples Center watching a LA Lakers-Atlanta Hawks game, which was won by the home team.

Australian Open 2013: Azarenka and Djokovic do it again!

Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka are once again the Australian Open winners, repeating their victories of 2012.

The Serbian win his third consecutive title at Melbourne with a victory over Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2. Belarus's Vika retained her title by overcoming China's Li Na 4-6 6-4 6-3. 

Images via Australian Open Official Facebook Page

Murray wins first Grand Slam ever, Serena Williams gets her 15th

Andy Murray wins his first Grand Slam title at  the US Open, while Serena Williams achieves her record 15th Grand Slam victory.

Images via US Open Facebook page

Maria Sharapova launches Sugarpova in NYC

Maria Sharapova's Sugarpova premium candy line will be launched Monday in New York. For those in the NY area who would like to meet the tennis star and buy some candies, the event will start at 11am EST at the Henri Bendel store on 5th Avenue. Everyone else can watch the launch live at http://new.livestream.com/Sharapova/sugarpova.

Sugarpova will be sold at Henri Bendel, Sugarpova website and It Sugar's stores and website.

Images via Maria Sharapova's Facebook page and It Sugar.

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

Golden Serena!

Serena Williams is the first tennis player in history to achieve a career Golden Slam (all four majors and an Olympic Gold Medal) both in singles and doubles (Steffi Graf was the first woman to complete a career Golden Slam in Seoul 1988). At age 31, Serena needed just 62 minutes to pulverize Maria Sharapova - 6-0 6-1 - in the final of women's singles at the London Olympics on Saturday.
"I didn't expect this. I can't even... oh my gosh. I have a gold medal in singles, oh my gosh. I got the gold. I'm just so happy. I don't know what to do. I just feel good about my game. I've practiced so hard. It was time", Williams said in an interview after the game, quoted by the WTA website.

For the Bronze Medal, Victoria Azarenka beat Maria Kirilenko 6-3 6-4, and got Belarus its first tennis Olympic medal. 

Silver Masha, Golden Serena and Bronze Vika

USA had more to celebrate on Saturday. Doubles champions Bryan Brothers got their first Olympic gold medal in men's doubles (they won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics) after defeating France's Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 7-6. On Facebook, Bob wrote a few hours after the match: "Wow, what can I say? To wear this gold medal around my neck is the greatest thing that has ever happened or will happen to me in my sporting lifetime. We have reached the pinnacle of our careers and there is no way we could have done it without the love and support from the people around us. This includes all of our fans and friends here on Facebook. Thanks so much for the messages! We love you!"

Men's Doubles Bronze match was a victory for France's Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau over Spain's David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez. 

Bryan Brothers first Gold Medal

The French: Gasquet and Benneteau with the Bronze Medal; Tsonga and Llodra won silver

Photos via WTA, Roland Garros, FFT and Bryan Brothers's Facebook Pages

Michelle Obama meets Serena and Venus Williams at the Olympic games

Michelle Obama hugs Venus Williams after Serena's 1st-round match

Michelle Obama has been one of the most supportive American fans in London. USA's First Lady leads the Presidential Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games in London and not only attended the Opening Ceremony but also has been attending the Olympic competitions, such as basketball, swimming and the Olympic Tennis event.

Michelle Obama is picked up by U.S. Olympic wrestler Elena Pirozhkova during a greet with Team USA Olympic athletes 

Michelle Obama was at the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon to watch Serena Williams first round match against Jelena Jankovic, and met with the Williams sisters after the game.

Watching the swimming finals and medal ceremonies at the Olympic Park Aquatics Center 

First Lady during a “Let’s Move! London” event for American military children and American and British students 

Watching the USA-France men's basketball game

Hugging LeBron James following the USA vs. France

According to the White House official website, Michelle Obama is in London to meet and support the U.S. athletes competing in the games and will also attend several activities to encourage children to be active in their daily lives.

Photo credit: Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert

Tennis Olympic Draw: Can Federer and Serena repeat Wimby?

World No. 1 Roger Federer will meet Colombia’s Alejandro Falla in the first round at the London Olympic Tennis Event, which begins in a few hours. Federer, who is appearing at his fourth Olympic Games, is in the same half of the draw as fourth seed David Ferrer, reports ATP.  

Second seed Novak Djokovic, the 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medalist, will challenge Fabio Fognini of Italy in the first round. The 2-ranked player is in the same half of the draw as third seed and British favourite Andy Murray, who faces Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. Fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France will meet Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci.

Learn what are the ten differences between Wimby and the Olympics at Wimbledon (Players can wear any color, for a start).

View complete men's draws: Singles - Doubles 

In the Ladies tournament, world No.1 Victoria Azarenka will play in the first round with Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu. In Vika's quarter of the draw there's also former Gold Medalist and five times Wimbledon champion, Venus Williams. The other sister, Serena, has a tough match in the 1st round against Jelena Jankovic. Also on her section of the board are Caroline Wozniacki and Vera Zvonareva. Third-ranked Maria Sharapova meets Shahar Peer in the opening match and has some tougher competitors on her quarter: Ana Ivanovic, Kim Clijsters, Sam Stosur and Sabine Lisicki. Julia Goerges and Agnieszka Radwanska will play an interesting first-round match, in the fourth section that also features 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová.

Click here to read an interesting review of the Ladies Draw. 

View complete women's draws: Singles - Doubles 

The draw for the mixed doubles is scheduled to take place on 31 July.

Olympics 2012: Tennis stars shine at the Opening Ceremony

Maria Sharapova 

Novak Djokovic 

Agnieszka Radwanska

Stanislas Wawrinka 

Marco Baghdatis

Horia Tecau

Stephanie Vogt

Max Mirnyi

Photos via O Globo, Reuters, Twitter and Novak Djokovic Fan Club