Sunday, August 20, 2006

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - XI

Clijsters> Hi girlsh
MHingis> Hi Kimi
Nastya> Privet
Serena> YO BEEITCH
MHingis> Serena there is no need type in all CAPS.
Serena> IZ JUSS LIKE MY GAME.... BIG!
Serena> U JUZ JEALOS
MHingis> At least I can spell.
Nastya> Russian girls unite!
Nastya> I will be leader!
Demi> Davai
NadiaP> DA!
Maria> Let's go!
Nastya> No, not you Maria. Nor your funky father!
Clijsters> Yuri gives me nightmares.
Nastya> Not only you.
MHingis> That guy is more intsense than his daughter, hes probably popped like 12 veins.
Serena> I KNOW
JCap> Hey all you know
JCap> *smacks gum*
MHingis> Hey Jennifer, how are you? Been playing much?
JCap> No, not much you know.
Serena> YO
[Serena kicked by MHingis]
Clijsters> I gotta go girlsh, its 8:30 aka my bed time. Nighty night![Clijsters kicked by JCap]
JCap> that niceness kills me you know, you know what i mean you know?MHingis> We know.
Nastya> Paka comrades. Elena leave after me followed by Nadia.
[Nastya leaves]
[Elena leaves]
[Nadia leaves]
Maria> What about me?
LindsayD> You are with Jen and Me, go USA.
Maria>AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH![Chat Server Failure]

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - X

USER KUZZY JOINED CHATROOM
Kuzzy:> OMG, I'm so tired ...
MHingis:> Tired of what?
Kuzzy:> You know ... yesterday I played a tough match and oh dear, what a pity that I lost!
MHingis:> Hey, I know, you played against me and I wiped the floor with you, maybe that's the reason you feel tired now (hahahaha)
Kuzzy:> What, really? I played against you? OMG ...
MHingis:> Kuzzy, are you ok? You don't remember who you played with yesterday? That was just yesterday!
Kuzzy:> I couldn't see anything on court because of the lights, they were shining in my eyes, it was terrible, I was blind!
MHingis:> You mean you're still blind?
Kuzzy:> You were cheating the crowd to turn on the lights, right?MHingis:>Kuzzy, calm down, you're not the only with a problem, just look at poor Kimi!
Clijsters:> Hingish, I told you not to call me thish way, yesh, I'll mish the USH Open, inshtead of it I'll drive in F1 with Kimi Raikkonen Screamapova:> Kuzzy, don't worry about the loss, I can scream for you, if it'll help you feel better!
Kuzzy:> Leave me all alone!
USER KUZZY KICKS HERSELF IMMEDIATELY (REASON - THESE ARE TRYING TO MAKE ME FOOLISH!)

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - IX

Kuzzie:> I can't believe I lost!
Martina:> I can!! HAHAHAHAHAHA
Safina:> YOU GON FACE THE SER... euhh i mean THE SAFINA SOON BEYATCH
Martina:> Bring it on, I beat you once
Safina:> I AINT EVEN PLAYED YO YET HO
Martina:> Umm, the Rome final? I won?
Safina:> OH YEAH, WELL THE SAFINA BE BACK HARDCORE!!!Administrator: USER "Safina" WITH IDENTICAL I.P. TO USER "SWILLIAMS"
Safina:> DAMN I BE DISCOVERED
Safina:> SERENA BE THE MYSTERY WILDCARD FINALIST
Safina:> I'M DISGUISING MYSELF AS SAFINA
Safina:> IT'S DAMN HOT UNDER THIS MASK WHEN PLAYIN AND ALL THIS WHITE MAKE-UP BE CLOGGIN MAH CHOCOLATE DELICOUS SKIN
Martina:> Why are you doing all this Serena?
Safina:> FO THA DRAMA, HO
Safina:> ON MATCH POINT AGAINST YOU IN THE FINAL, IM GON TAKE OFF MAH MASK, THE LIGHTS WILL BE DARKENED AND I ORDERED DRAMATIC MUSIC WITH A COMPLETE CHOIR SINGING FREAKY DEAKY SCARY MUSIC "
Martina:> Right Serena...
Safina:> THEN FIRE DANCERS GON COME OUT AND START PARADIN THEMSELVES AROUND THE COURT
Martina:> I think that's against WTA regulations
Safina:> SERENA GON DO WHAT SERENA GON DO

Maria Sharapova's official blog


Ok so frankly speaking i was unaware that Masha has a blog posted on her sponsors site Motorola!

Its called: Motomaria!!! Maria's blog

Although its all of 5 entries from 2005, its worth a sneak!

snippets:

>>>

On Sunday night I attended a reception at the Ararat Park Hyatt where Umaturma, one of my favorite Russian pop groups, was playing. They invited me on stage to sing and I got to belt out the lyrics to one of my favorite songs, "I've Been Waiting for You, Vova."

>>>

Well, I am in school – so I find I get a lot of my homework done on the plane. It’s actually not that bad of place to focus on my studies, and catch up on all I have still to learn.

>>>

After that I headed out to California for the ESPY awards. The night before I was invited to the Playboy Mansion. I went!

>>>

And I know it might sound a little crazy, but the other thing I REALLY miss is my own bed! Am I complaining? I guess I can't, right?

>>>

I don't get out too much during Wimbledon as I eat most nights in the Players Village (they have a GREAT Thai restaurant there!) and it's really close to where I rent a house for the fortnight (wow... did I write that?).

>>>

I love catching up with my friends (my mobile phone bill is always HUGE!)

>>>

The most amazing cake had been made for me too. it was in the shape of a tennis stadium, and it took me three attempts to blow out all the candles – I guess that’s only gonna get harder as I begin to get older!

go read em here:

http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto/sharapova/US/Maria_blog_all.asp

Roger Federer: ballboy at Martina's match!

Federer was ballboy when Hingis played!
Web posted at: 8/20/2006 1:59:27
Source ::: The Peninsula


MONTREAL • Rumour has it that tennis legend Ivan Lendl was once Martina Navratilova’s ballboy. The truth in this claim is open to debate. However, there is no need to argue the authenticity of this statement — that world number one Roger Federer (pictured right) served as a ballboy in one of the matches involving Swiss great Martina Hingis many years ago!

This startling revelation came from Hingis after her match yesterday.

Hingis, who enjoys iconic status in her country following famous wins during her illustrious career, yesterday paid glowing tributes to compatriot Federer and his unchallenged supremacy on the men’s Tour, before cheekily revealing that he was her ballboy nearly a decade ago.

“We never played together during our younger days because I was always busy playing with girls and boys three years older than me when I was 14 or 15. However, I do remember that he was my ballboy at one of the Basel tournaments (laughs). That was funny,” Hingis said when asked about playing against or with Federer during their younger days.

“The only time we played together was at the Hopman Cup a few years ago. We won when we played together. He was a great partner,” the Swiss added. Hingis said she admires playing tactics of Federer – who has captured eight Grand Slam titles so far.

“I didn’t see him play against Andy Murray the other day, when he lost. But I get to see him play fairly often. Whenever I switch on the TV, you see Roger playing. I love to see him play. He’s certainly at his best and has won many tournaments in recent times,” Hingis added.

When asked about her own form in the comeback season, the former world number one said: “I am not tired at all. I came back because I was looking forward to the challenge on the court. I mean what more do you want? Having the crowd support like I had yesterday was great. The only time I felt bad this season was when I lost at Wimbledon. I felt that was an unnecessary loss.”

To a pointed query, the five-time Grand Slam winner said: “Watch out for players like (Anna) Chakvetadze (of Russia). She is the one to watch in the future. Maybe Shahar Peer (of Israel) also. These are the two players whom you will see often in the future. I feel there are a few young players who make the game exiting to watch.”

souce:

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Sports_News&subsection=Tennis&month=August2006&file=Sports_News2006082015927.xml

Friday, August 18, 2006

Iva Majoli getting married in September

thanx to Mark Spruce


from tennis-x.

"Former Roland Garros champ Iva Majoli will be married in Zagreb on the day of the US Open women's final. Jennifer Capriati and Monica Seles are planning on attending"

"More on the Iva Maojli wedding, which will be held on the last Saturday of the US Open: Jennifer Capriati and Mary Pierce will be bridesmaids (if Pierce doesn't reach the Open final) and Goran Ivanisevic will also attend. Majoli will give birth to a baby girl in November..."

Monica Seles looking great!!!


Akinom scan from Hola mag. Monica Seles in Spain 2006.

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - VIII

USER MHingis alone in the chatroom
USER CLIJSTERS HAS JOINED THE ROOM
USER JUSTINE HAS JOINED THE ROOM
USER SCREAMAPOVA HAS JOINED THE ROOM
USER MelanieM HAS JOINED THE ROOM
MHingis:> Screamapova, do you know anything about that syndrome "Sharadick"?
MelanieM:>Marti, dear, switch off from here, you must practice more before the battle with Kimi
Clijsters:>Huh, your mummy ish very worried about your shuccessh thish evening, Hingish!
USER MELANIE WAS KICKED BY MHingis (Ok, mom, I'll come in 5 hours time)
Screamapova:> What is this "Sharadick"?
Justine:> It's a combination between brood-hen and deaf guy.
Screamapova:> That must be interesting, I'll try it someday.
MHingis:> You don't need any trial, it's all in your genes, they must be kinda spoiled ...
Clijsters:>Haha, yesh, it's sho shtrange, isn't it Maria?
Screamapova:>My scream manager sent me sms!
Mhingis:>And what did he wrote?
Screamapova:>MARIA, OUT, NOW, IMMEDIATELY, YOUR VOICE MUST BE IMPROVED, OR WE WILL KICK YOUR ASS FROM HERE!Mhingis:>OMG, you're in huge troubles, Screamy
USER SCREAMAPOVA KICKED HERSELF FROM THE ROOM

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - VII

SWILLIAMS HAS JOINED THE ROOM
SWilliams:>What's up, room, What's up, windows, what's up roof, what's up, door! Yo, yo anybody?
SWilliams:> I'm looking for a sweet cute dolls, who would like to know what it feels like when someone has just weeped the floor himself several times
Amelie:> Yeah, what a great idea, I'm a volunteer
SWilliams:>I'm afraid I changed my decision, anyway, I haven't said nothing.
Clijsters: Where ish your shishter?
SWilliams:>Currently damn it busy playing rugby with the guys outside. She's improving a lot yo!
MHingis:> Screamapova, how was your today screaming session?Screamapova:>Oh, brilliant, fantastic, terrific, wonderful, beautiful ...
Justine:>Stop swaggering, Screamy, it won't help you any way, you'll be a hollow forever and after
Screamapova:> ####### #### ## ########
USER SCREAMAPOVA WAS KICKED BY MHingis (Bye bye, dear, and don't forget to drink up your bottle of milk in the morning )
USER SWILLIAMS HAS LEFT THE ROOM (CONNECTION RESET BY PEER
TRYING TO JOIN AGAIN - BANNED

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - VI

Screamapova:> BAD NEWS EVERYONE!
Screamapova:> I just grew even TALLER
MHingis:> How tall?
Screamapova:> Well... I'm pretty much eye to eye with the ref... when he's in his chair
MHingis:> WTF? What do you eat for breakfast?
Screamapova:> Nothing strange.. just the tablets my dad gives me with milk
Screamapova:> OMG! It must be because I switched to soy milk!!MHingis:> Everyone's taller than us Justine
Justine:> Don't worry Martina, we are having the brains!
MHingis:> True
Hantuchova:> I'm so hungry!
Clijsters:> Eat shomthing Daniela, you're shkin and bonesh
Hantuchova:> No, i'm trying to lose weight, I want to win an open
Clijsters:> But you need strength
Hantuchova:> No, I'm going to be Maria's new raquet
SWILLIAMS:> GURFREN GOT BOOTY ITS WHERE I STORE MY TALENT!!

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - V

MHingis:> Justine, did I hear correctly? You got an offer for the Italian soccer team?
Justine:> Yes, tis is true. It tis because I am so good at faking injuries
MHingis:> Good luck
USER WILLIAMS HAS LOGGED IN
Williams:> Hi room!
Williams:> Guess which Williams I am!!
MHingis:> Ooh, we can do a test!
MHingis:> Hey, Patti!
Patti:> Yes Martina?
MHingis:> Serena sucks
Williams:> DON'T SAY THAT ABOUT MY SISTER!
MHingis:> HAH! You're Serena!!! Everyone knows Serena's heart is made of concrete, she would NEVER defend her sister!
Williams:>...
Williams:>...
Williams:>...
Williams:>...
Williams:> SERENA GON BRING IT IN THE US OPEN!!!
USER WILLIAMS HAS BEEN MUTED
Screamapova:> ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Justine:> OMG are you ok Maria?
Clijsters:> Did shomeone SHTAB you like poor Monica?
NadsPetrova:> Did you injure your foot again?
MHingis:> Did Svetlana put up a profile pic?
Screamapova:> Nah.. I was just hitting a tennis ball
AnnaK:> You'll never out-sponsor me, Maria!
Screamapova:> Oh yeah, well I just funded the new Sharapoverty Shelters
AnnaK:> Well I just started a new Russian dance festival, Kournival
Dementieva:> Well I just won a tournament!
AnnaK:> Loser, just because no one liked your idea of The Demento Dementieva Variety Hour
Dementieva:> IT HAD POTENTIAL! I CAN JUGGLE!
USER DEMENTIEVA TIMED OUT
ATTEMPT 1 TO RE-CONNECT: FAILED
ATTEMPT 2 TO RE-CONNECT: FAILED

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - IV

Navratalova:> Amelie, private chat
SWILLIAMS HAS ENTERED CHAT ROOM "TOP 20 PLAYERS"
SWILLIAMS:> ###### BE BACK HOEZ
SWILLIAMS:> YALL CANT BEAT THE SERENA
SWILLIAMS:> SHE GON CRUSH YO FOREIGN ASSESSSS
SWILLIAMS:> SERENA COMING AT YALL 2006 STYLE
User MHingis has voted to mute SWILLIAMS
User Justine has voted to mute SWILLIAMS
User VWILLIAMS has voted to mute SWILLIAMS
SWILLIAMS has been muted
Screamapova:> Martina, you're so bad at tennis
Screamapova:> You keep moving inside the baseline
Screamapova:> Everyone knows the rule of tennis that you can't ever enter the court
MHingis:> Screamapova, it's called net-play
Screamapova:> No, you're cheating and the ref never notices!
USER DEMENTIEVA HAS TRIED TO LOG IN: ATTEMPT 1
ATTEMPT FAILED
USER DEMENTIEVA HAS TRIED TO LOG IN: ATTEMPT 2
ATTEMPT FAILED
Clijsters:> We all know which Belgium ish better, grand slam wins mean nothing
Justine:> At least, i'm married, looking at your failed relationships
Clijsters:> CMON!!!!!
SWILLIAMS has been unmuted
SWILLIAMS: YALL HOEZ SAY NOTHIN CUZ YOU BE SCARED
SWILLIAMS: THE SERENA GOT GAME!!
USER NAVRATALOVA HAS LEFT THE ROOM
USER AMELIE HAS LEFT THE ROOM

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - III

USER CLIJSTERS HAS ENTERED THE ROOM
Clijsters:> Puppy, shweety, are you there?
Amelie:> Who? Me? Yes, I'm here!
Clijsters:No, not you, I'm sheeking my little shweet doggy, and I thought it may be shomewhere here? Haven't you seen it?
Amelie: Oh, I thought you are calling me, anyway, what the ****? Why are all these girls messaging me? I'm so bored
MHingis:>Screamapova, are you always putting right your hair, while sleeping, as like you prepair to serve on a match?
Screamapova:>Oh yes, of course, I won't be so beautiful in my dreams then Amelie:> OMG, I'm so tired of being world number one for more than 25 weeks ...somebody wants to substitute me?
MHingis:>Why not, I would be glad to sit on a queenseat for another 209 weeks, I won't have to trouble anymore.
Clijsters:>Shut up, Hingish! I've shmashed you 3 timesh in a row thish year, so I have more rights to be number 1 again.
Screamapova:> Girls, and boys, I have to go now, I have another advertising session with my new screaming business company, my voice is too low, how would I scream today?
USER jUSTINE IS TRYING TO ENTER THE ROOM - SERVER SAYS - GIVE IT UP, I'M NOT IN, YOU'VE BUMPED YOUR HEAD YEASTERDAY, SO STAY IN BED AND BE A GOOD GIRL!

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - II

Amelie:>Wow, what a sweetheart, cutie cutie. But why they seek a man and call me?
Screamapova:>I think I'll retire from tennis. I've just found a new fantastic job.
Clijsters:> What ish it?
Screamapova:>I signed a ten year contract with screaming business company. What do you think?
Clijsters:> Wow, that's great, wish you all the best, but before that pleashe bring back all the money you've earned from WTA (thinking - Now get out of the room, I can't hear the shpeakers!)
VENUS WILLIAMS TRYING TO JOIN THE CHATROOM - SERVER SAYS - YOU DON'T HAVE A PERMISSION TO ENTER THIS CHAT, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT TOP 20 SEEDED PLAYER IN WTA RANKING ( OMG, daddy, where are you? Please do something!)
MHingis:> I'm not afraid of testing, but they can at least respect my private hours, spending here in chatroom!
MHingis:>Kimi? Kimi? Are you there? Who's knocking on the chatroom's door?
Clijsters: >Shtop calling me Kimi, I'm not Kimi Raikkonen!

Welcome to the WTA chatroom - I

These are creating quite a lot of waves on hingis.org and i am now putting these on here. They are not only hilarious but aptly also 'scandalous'.


MHingis:> Hey room? How r u?
Screamapova:> I have to wake up early tomorrow, there's a square metre of pavement I need to endorse
MHingis:> You know, Maria, you may be spreading yourself too thin
YURIY HAS ENTERED CHAT ROOM
Yuriy:> MARIA! GET TO BED!
YURIY HAS EXITED CHAT ROOM
Petrova:> Maria, do you actually speak Russian?
Screamapova:> Yes
Petrova:> Историческая грамматика русского языка
Screamapova:> Yes
USER MARIA HAS DROPPED OUT: (Reason: SERVER FATIGUE.. hehe that'll fool 'em)
Justine:> Hi
Amelie:> HOT GIRLS MSG AMELIE
Justine:> Anyone wanting to play some good pong?
Justine:> I am warning you that my computer will be getting a virus if am losing
Clijters:> Yesh, letsh play shome good tennish
Justine:> I will be being good tomorrow but i'm going to be miss my good English lesson. Today we will be supposed to learning about good "gerunds"
MHingis:> You half-men don't stand a chance, you know, against Hingis 2.0
Clijsters:> I shweeped the floor with you three timesh Hingish!
Ivanovic:> :)
MHingis:> Pardon? I couldn't hear you over, you know, the noise of 209 WEEKS AT #1!
USER LINDSAY ENTERS CHAT ROOM
LINDSAY CAN'T FIND PORT, CANNOT CONNECT

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Books & Authors tennis stars read.

TENNIS PROS STAR IN LITERACY CAMPAIGN

By Rosamond Hutt, Community Newswire

EDUCATION Literacy, 07 Jul 2006 - 16:58

Tennis pros are the stars of a charity campaign encouraging children to read more books, it was revealed today.

Players including Tim Henman, Venus Williams and Lleyton Hewitt are the latest in a line of sporting celebrities to promote reading.

They have joined cricketers, rugby players, footballers, wrestlers and a basketball star to discuss their favourite books for the National Literary Trust's Reading Champions campaign.

The trust is hoping children will be persuaded to get into the habit of reading for pleasure by their sporting role models.

Tim Henman said he often reads to his daughters, Lleyton Hewitt's favourite children's title is an Australian book called "Possum Magic" by Mem Fox, while Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis nominated the Harry Potter series.

Ivan Ljubicic named Croatian author Ivan Kusan as his favourite children's writer.

Maria Sharapova, Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis all enjoyed best-selling author Dan Brown's thrillers "Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons".

Venus Williams, who chose "Charm School" by Susan Wiggs as her preferred read, said: "Reading is very important. I always have a book with me. It opens my mind, it strengthens my vocabulary, it's fun. You read about things that don't happen in real life."

Katy Hamlin, manager of the trust's Study Support Centre, said: "We're thrilled that such elite players value reading and have taken time to support this scheme.

"Having reading role models is really important for young people and it's so encouraging to know that our pupils may be motivated to pick up a new book and share the reading experience of a world-class tennis player."

Neil McClelland, the trust's director, said: "Sports stars can have a tremendous influence on people's attitudes.

"By encouraging young people to view reading as a champion's pastime, these players are helping to inspire young people to become readers."

The National Literacy Trust is the only organisation concerned with raising literacy standards for all age groups throughout the UK. For more information visit www.literacytrust.org.uk

source:

http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=489501

Lots of Martina Photos

http://www.sportfiles.com/photogallery/showphotos.asp?player=hingis&submit=Go

All copyrighted images but none the less worth many visits. :)

'Spellbound'

Just dug into my archives and found this:

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

if you can read the above paragragh, this theory is really true!!

--------------------That is true because i understood every word

Or should i say,

Taht is ture becusae i udnerstood evrey wrod!?

Hmm The Romance Trail

So visitors seem to not have enough of the Radek-Martina romance as evident from visit statistics!

Just to keep those 'taste buds' nibbling. :P

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The big shot

Radek Štěpánek is first Czech in three years to enter top 10 after quarterfinal run at Wimbledon

By František Bouc
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
July 19, 2006

Before starting his sixth season on the ATP Tour in January, Radek Štěpánek had two goals: to win his first tournament and to make it into the top 10 of the tour's rankings.

Seven months later, he's accomplished both.

The 27-year-old from Karviná, north Moravia, met his first goal by winning an indoor tournament in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in February. A quarterfinal run at Wimbledon in July took Štěpánek, nicknamed 'Steps,' to eighth place on the ATP rankings.

"The work has been done, I can start improvising now," Štěpánek joked.
Štěpánek is the first Czech tennis player to reach the top 10 of the ATP Tour in three years and is emerging as the answer to the question: "Whatever happened to Czech tennis?"

And while he is by no means satisfied with meeting this year's goals — Štěpánek wants to keep moving up the rankings — he also knows there's a lot of work left to do.

"I'd like to explore my limits," he said. "I know that I've still got lots of things to improve in my game."

One of those things is certainly his composure during pivotal moments in matches.

In his quarterfinal match at Wimbledon against Swedish veteran player Jonas Björkman, Štěpánek was up two sets to one and serving for the match at 5–4, but he shocked the crowd with three double faults in that game. He never recovered.

"I just choked at the crucial moment," Štěpánek said after the match. The idea of "advancing to the semifinals at Wimbledon was overwhelming."

Slow starter

Štěpánek's career has been something of a slow burner. He made his debut on the ATP Tour in 1998 but didn't appear in a Grand Slam event until 2002. He played in 18 Grand Slams since but, until this year, never made it past the third round.

Štěpánek insists his recent rise is the result of surrounding himself with what he calls "the right people."

In 2001, Štěpánek was wallowing below 500 in the rankings, and many people wrote him off. But not Petr Korda, who won the 1998 Australian Open and is the country's last Grand Slam champion.

At the time, "He told me that I had the potential to be ranked in the top 10, and I told him that he was crazy. ...Well, after four and a half years of working with him, he turned out to be right," Štěpánek said.

Korda is now Štěpánek's mentor. Though Korda doesn't tour with Štěpánek, the two often talk on the phone during tournaments.

"I practice with him occasionally, and I frequently call him for advice. ... He was a champion player; his advice is priceless," Štěpánek said.

Another person who helped Štěpánek is Czech-born Swiss tennis star Martina Hingis. The couple has lived together for around six months, and Štěpánek credits much of his recent success to their relationship.

"I'm happy outside the court, so it makes life on the court easier, too," he said.

(the interesting bit)

Bart Simpson of the court

Štěpánek's success is rejuvenating Czech tennis, which has gone downhill since the heydays of Martina Navrátilová and Ivan Lendl. Not only is Štěpánek the first Czech man in three years to make it into the top 10, he is only the sixth to do so.

His success comes at just the right time, said professional coach Zdeněk Žofka.

"Tennis here is recovering, and Štěpánek's example shows young players that Czech players can still succeed," he said.

Štěpánek is nevertheless not the perfect role model. Last year, he left the Czech Davis Cup team to focus on the tour and said he won't return.

"The Davis Cup looks like a closed chapter for me," he said.

His on-court behavior is also often controversial. Štěpánek's antics inspired The Daily Telegraph to describe him as the Bart Simpson of the tennis court.

Štěpánek isn't very concerned about this, though.

"I don't think that I've changed for the worse, but I had to change my approach to improve my game," he said. "I had to become more of an introvert. I can't keep joking around like I used to."


source:

http://praguepost.com/P03/2006/TT/0720/tt1.php


And to round it off a nice picture of Martina from aluytenuk's Gallery on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aluytenuk/182772650/

Bi-Weekly Quotes: 15/08/06

Lol instead of bi-weekly this would seem more like monthly as my last post on this topic was last month on the 15th!

anyways sorry for the delays dudes & dudettes. So without wasting any time here goes...

~~~
Quotes on specific subjects:

Achievement
The only way around is through.
Frost, Robert - 1875-1963, American Poet

Business
Business is more exciting than any game.
Beaverbrook, Lord - British Minister

Character
Character in a saint means the disposition of Jesus Christ persistently manifested.
Chambers, Oswald - 1874-1917 Scottish Preacher, Author

Dreams
Castles in the air - -they are so easy to take refuge in. And so easy to build as well.
Ibsen, Henrik - 1828-1906, Norwegian Dramatist

Effort
Infatuated, half through conceit, half through love of my art, I achieve the impossible working as no one else ever works.
Dumas, Alexandre - 1802-1870, French Novelist

Faith
Faith moves mountains, but you have to keep pushing while you are praying.
Cooley, Mason

Food & Eating
Eating is touch carried to the bitter end.
Butler, Samuel - 1612-1680, British Poet, Satirist

Ideas
The wise only possess ideas; the greater part of mankind are possessed by them.
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor - 1772-1834, British Poet

Music
Music is the fourth great material want, first food, then clothes, then shelter, then music.
Bovee, Christian Nevell - 1820-1904, American Author

Politicians
I am invariably of the politics of the people at whose table I sit, or beneath whose roof I sleep.
Borrow, George - 1803-1881, British Author

Absence from blogger

hey there!

In case anyone was wondering where i was. The answers are:

Firstly blogger was blocked by the gov. of India.

Then when it came on i was BUSY!!!

Lastly my net connection it self was down! :(

So what was i upto during these days. Well currently i am writing my 'Char Dham Trip' description which i will post as soon as i finish it. :)