And in non-Australian Open news...whatever happened to Paradorn Srichiphan's tennis game?
From Reuters: Thai tennis ace dating ex-Miss Universe
Thai tennis star Paradorn "Ball" Srichaphan, the first Asian to make it into the Top Ten world rankings, is dating Russian-Canadian former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova, his father said on Thursday...
Paradorn Srichaphan (News/Posts) and Cincinnati defending champ Patty Schnyder (News/Posts) have picked up the keyboard this week for the ATP and WTA. So far neither one can touch Tursunov.
Paradorn's Blog / Patty's Blog.
Lynn at Off the Baseline has a hilarious post about Patty, the Crazy she brings, and her blog.
21st seed Gael Monfils was ousted by Russian Igor Kunitsyn in 4 sets.
Augustin Calleri, the hotheaded (and adorable) Argentine who almost came to blows after a match over a mistranslation, took out 29th seed Paradorn Srichaphan on his favorite surface.
Mark Philippoussis took out 32nd seed Paul-Henri Mathieu in a 4th set tiebreak 14-12. How'd he do it? In style, with over 35 aces.
Veteran Jonas Bjorkman took out close friend and 12th seed Thomas Johansson, who's still on the comeback trail from a freak eye injury.
20th seed Dominik Hrbaty, he of the questionable vented pink shirt, fell to Italian Daniele Braccialli 2, 4 and 4.
ETA: Australian Open Venus-Slayer Tzvetana Pironkova took out seed 13th seed Anna-Lena Groenfeld in 6-1 in the third.
17th seed Maria Kirilenko ousted by Japanese veterna Shinobu Asagoe 6-2, 7-6(1).
Wonder who else will fall today...
Well, this should be an interesting set of quarterfinals. I'm going to say that revenge takes the day and Henman, Blake and 3-time Queen's champion Hewitt win. What do you think? Does Nadal have a chance?
Also: Roddick over Srichaphan in a straight sets after a tiebreak first set, and Monfils upset Ljubicic. Up next, Roddick's got this week's ATP blogger, super-friendly Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.
Don't forget to check out the video highlights from the Queen's website.
It's Paradorn Srichaphan's turn to answer fan questions for the BBC: Srichaphan Q & A
You often struggle on clay, yet you are a baseline player. How difficult is clay to master if you've not grown up on the surface?
Andy Stevenson, UKI didn't play on a clay court until I was 17 which was pretty late. If I'd grown up playing on clay I'd be a lot better. I grew up on hard courts so that's my best surface.
Rafael Nadal is back, he's not feeling any foot pain and isn't planning to ease up in his playing style, but he's still working on perfecting that new tennis shoe with the orthotics. Let's hope they figure in out before he gets injured again.
From Reuters: Nadal practices patience in cautious recovery
World number two Rafael Nadal is prepared to be patient in only his second tournament since recovering from a career-threatening foot injury...
Nadal acknowledges it may be some time before he can return to the level he reached last year when he won 11 titles including the French Open.
"I don't feel at my best level yet, but that's normal after not playing for three months," he said.
Continue reading "Nadal Not Expecting to Return to Last Year's Form Immediately" »
We've got everything else on tour, so why not a monk too?
From the AP: Paradorn uses time off to visit Buddhist temple, adopts name
Answering the call to alms is something Paradorn Srichaphan thinks will help him on and off the tennis court.
Asia's leading player spent time as a Buddhist monk last month, adopting the Buddhist name Mahaviro, which means "great and brave," for his seven days in a temple outside Bangkok.
He had his head shaved in a traditional ceremony prior to donning the monk's saffron-colored robes, and still has short-cropped hair.
"It was pretty interesting for me that week, my time away from tennis," Paradorn said. "It was a really calm week. Everything I have -- the phone, the family -- I just cut it, left it behind, walked into the temple and became a monk.
"It feels good after that."
It is customary for Thai men to serve in the monkhood for at least one period in their lives as a way of showing their religious devotion.
Fairly safe bet that Paradorn Srichaphan is the only ATP player spending his off-season this way.
From The Nation: Paradorn to get ordained Saturday
Tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan exchanges his racquet for an alms bowl as he begins a seven-day period as a monk Saturday morning at the Thung Sethi Temple.
Hundreds of well-wishers - including relatives, neighbours, fans and friends as well as his sweetheart, top model Odette Henriette Jacqmin - attended Paradorn's "hair shaving" ceremony, a traditional pre-ordination rite, held at his home in Prawet Friday.
Thailand's tennis ace has adopted the name "Maha Viro" ("the great brave") for the week of soliciting alms around the temple in accordance with the monkish vow.
"I will spend the next seven days practising monkhood, especially meditation, which is something I can make use of when I return to tennis,'' Paradorn said.
After the hair-shaving ceremony, the Srichaphan family threw a celebratory feast featuring 100 tables laden with Chinese dishes. Soap opera actor Chaiya Mitchai and his ensemble provided the live entertainment.
No matter how badly he plays, Paradorn Srichaphan doesn't need to worry about losing his appeal among Thai fans. After all, it's not like there are any other top Thai players to take his place. But it's definitely a sign of how much he's struggled since his breakthrough season of 2003 when the local paper refers to how Srichaphan "has performed dismally this season" in a piece that's meant to be positive.
From The Nation: Paradorn remains popular
Although Paradorn Srichaphan has performed dismally this season, the fans are still avid in their support of Thailand’s most celebrated sports figure who’s starring in the US$550,000 Thailand Open. As rain fell, long queues formed at the bus stop to catch buses to the Muang Thong Thani arena, while those with private cars have come from all over the country even petrol is almost Bt30 a litre. Then there’s the cost of the tickets - they start at Bt500, but that doesn’t seem to be deterring people.
It’s not uncommon to chat with someone who has quietly slipped away from work for a few hours, or students who find studying Paradorn’s form is more interesting. At the front gate, spectators who weren’t able to get tickets watch the televised game on a big screen positioned in front of the stadium.
In Thailand it's traditional for young men to become monks for a short time. Who knew?
From The Nation: Paradorn to become a monk
Thai tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan will leave his sport cars parked at home and forget about going out on dates at the end of the year when he becomes a Buddhist monk, a local tradition of gratitude to his parents. A tight competition schedule has kept “Super Ball” away from the temple for several years, but in November his time will come.
“It’s been my intention to be ordained. My schedule is fine this year so I plan to do it for one week at the Thung Setthi Temple, which is near my place,” Paradorn said. Most Thai men, before the age of 25, become monks for a brief period, which is seen as lucky for their families. But one big question remains - during the traditional parade around the chapel, one of the ordination rituals, which lucky girl will be selected to carry a pillow for the tennis star? According to tradition, the woman given the duty is considered the future wife of the ordained man.
From the Bangkok Post: Injured Paradorn withdraws from doubles
Thailand tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan has withdrawn from the doubles in the China Open and returned home due to a heel injury...
"Paradorn has got a heel injury but it is not too serious," said Thanakorn. "We just don't want to take any risks, especially with the Thailand Open coming up."
Thanakorn said that Paradorn desperately wanted to play in the Thailand Open. "If he takes a fews days' rest, I think he will be okay," he said.
It's a safe bet that even if Srichaphan has to play on one foot, he'll play the Thailand Open.
This week's play of the week on the ATP site has a point between Paradorn Srichaphan and Cyril Saulnier from their first round match in Monte Carlo. Nice point for Srichaphan but considering the way he plays on clay, it might be the highlight of his clay-court season. As it was, Saulnier won the match 6-2, 6-4. Also, note the empty stands - too bad. Saulnier's no exciting up-and-comer, but he is French. You'd think someone in Monte Carlo would want to see him play. Maybe Gasquet or Monfils were playing at the same time.
