4 days in the desert

I was in Indian Wells this year shooting for Tennis Panorama. (Thanks, Karen!) Four days in the desert with the two loves of my life, photography and tennis, I had a grand time. Obvs.

Laura Robson vs Sofia Arvidsson was the first match I went to. Laura ran across my frame and I caught this shot 3 minutes in. Not bad. Laura had a pretty good start, too, until…

Oh, well, next time.

Unhappy Pico. Maybe it was because the Argentine fans were on the wrong side of the court.

Rafa is totes judging.

It was great to see Petko back on a tennis court!

You know who else was great to see?

Clueless Pablo is the best Pablo, K?

YOU’RE WELCOME.

BYE.

Okay, Ivo, let’s refocus.

I’m pretty happy about this shot.

Rafa is late.

Masha showing off her shirt that says eternity, time with a circle and a line.
Is that, like, Geometry or what?!

ANYWAY. Some sort of Geometry obviously went into the making of this.

Totes.

Nole being Nole rolling around the grass for no reason.

Sveta being Sveta.

Benoit! Fans!

Petra’s not happy.

Muzz was not happy here either but he was using #sarcasmfont.

GUISE, WHY YOU ALL MAD?

Night time closing in during Masha’s match. She’s ready to sleep.

Rafa under the watchful eye of Mr. Ellison.

Empty practice courts at 11:00PM.

And that’s all I got from IW. I am quite pleased about how Finals Sunday unfolded in the desert. Let’s do it again next year!

Top 12 Style Moments of 2012

Leave your tennis shorts at home. It’s time for some tailored suits, couture dresses and, heck, even intimates! A look back at 12 of my favorite style moments (with a mishap or two) from 2012.

#12 A “good look” doesn’t always require clothes

Feli dares you to disagree.

#11 This is her.

More on clothes being optional in looking good, Caro also showed off her great bod when she modeled her new underwear line. Weeeell, atleast this was different from her off-court staple, Herve Leger, which I’m sure she wore on her way to the shoot.

#10 Nole goes tie-less

What’s so special about Nole wearing a suit? I’m not sure but for whatever reason he looks damn good in this one. Plus, I’m a total sucker for the glasses. And… well, yeah, it’s mostly the glasses.

#9 Kickin’ it in some Air Yeezy IIs

Everybody knows that Roger always looks great in a suit (see Suiterer link above) so seeing him walk around in these Kanye West-designed Air Yeezy IIs (with some non-blue jeans!) was a nice surprise. You gained some extra cool points with me on that one, Mr. RF. 

#8 Some chiffon lace and tape?

Masha’s the best dressed female athlete 90% of the time. This is Exhibit A of that other 10%. I gotta give her props for keeping it together the entire night  because that Alexander McQueen was begging for a malfunction.

#7 Bogo didn’t get the memo

Well, Bogo does seem like a jeans and sneakers kinda guy so why force him into some wool? Either that or nobody bothered to tell him that he was supposed to show up in atleast a two-piece. Whoops.

 #6 Milos does prep

I normally don’t care for the preppy look. (It reminds me of A&F and I’m not that brand’s biggest fan.) But it’s Milos! Not in a hoodie! But in a cardi! Looking adorbs!

#5 Love Him 2 Times

Rafa’s a hipster? The low v-neck graphic tee, red shorts and undone hair totally says so. Who knew?! Hipster!Rafa just might be my favorite off-court style Rafa.

#4 Winning looks good on you

Vika looked great in this little ensemble she wore for her official Australian Open trophy pictures. She looked fresh and young and the blue/green combo worked well with that new, large, shiny accessory.

#3 The wig that shook the tennis world

The amount of buzz this wig generated was ridiculous. I wish the actual photoshoot it was used for was talked about as much because it’s a great spread. There was some really bold styling and we’ve never seen Masha in anything like it before. (Menswear on a woman? Where do I sign up?)

#2 Serena covers US Vogue

Serena’s the first tennis player to ever grace the cover of US Vogue. She often talks about her love for fashion so I can only imagine how excited she was to be on the cover of the biggest fashion magazine in the world. This is only the second time US Vogue has featured athletes on the cover. I may have fist pumped for Serena when this came out.

#1 Wintour throws RF a birthday party

Being on the cover of Vogue is pretty hard to top but Roger, style maestro of the entire tennis world, can do it. How? By being thrown a birthday soiree by US Vogue’s editor-in-chief and tennis fan, Anna Wintour, herself. Some of the guests were the who’s who of the fashion world—Diane von Furstenberg, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang and David Lauren.

Was there ever a doubt that Roger would be at the top of this list? I think not. I’m sure I missed a look or 10 here and there. Feel free to refresh my memory.

via Just Jared, freshness, The Slice, More Than Stats, 10sworld, Guest of a Guest

IIWAPE

Let us (me) play a game called: If I Were A Photo Editor. Here are some of the photos I’d use to wrap the London 2012 Games.

A typical tennis audience size. Juuuuuuuust kidding.

Pins are apparently all the craze at the Olympics. I’m assuming Vee received the coveted RF pin.

A glitch in the system! This rare hair moment during the semifinals should have set off alarms that things were going to be very messy.

See photo. Use photo.

“Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka shared a laugh together.” Nobody would have believed me if there wasn’t photographic evidence.

Sisters.

My new life goal is to smack an Olympic gold medalist’s face with a flag. Because why not?

Goodnight.

Images via AP, Getty

Weekend Warriors

© Gastein Ladies

Alize Cornet won her first title in FOUR years at the NÜRNBERGER Gastein Ladies in Austria. Alize didn’t drop a set all tournament long but dropped almost to her knees after claiming the title. (Har har.) I might not agree with her playing on clay when Roland Garros is already over and Wimbledon is only a few days away but this title run could help her always-shaky confidence. Maybe.

© Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Now should we Believe? No, I’m never going to stop using believe when it comes to Mels. Ever. Almost 3 yeas after that miraculous run to the US Open quarterfinals, Melanie finally wins her first WTA career title at the AEGON Classic in Birmingham. She defeated the 2007 champ, Jelena Jankovic, in the finals. It was a fantastic week for the young American who battled through qualifying and, with this win, rose from No. 208 to No. 122 in the world rankings.

In other news, WHY IS THAT SANTA HAT?!

© Thomas Starke/Bongarts/Getty Images

For Tommy, there’s something about… Halle. The old guy upset Tomas Berdych and, fellow oldie, Roger Federer en route to his 13th ATP career title. This is his second Gerry Weber Open trophy; he also won it back in 2009 over Novak Djokovic in the finals.

“[Winning] my thirteenth title was a goal of mine to maybe achieve in the next coming months, years or however long I am going to play. To have somebody across the net like Roger is a real honour for me. To have that picture with the winning trophy and Roger next to me is something really special, something I’ll obviously never forget. I’m just really happy and proud.”

Tommy also made headlines earlier in the week when he criticized Andy Murray’s rope-a-dope tactics. In thr article, you’ll also find Muzz’s (kind of) response to the comments but basically said that he doesn’t care for Tommy’s opinions. ATP dramz is cute. #duncurr

© Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Marin won his 7th ATP career title and first ever on grass at the AEGON Championships in London after his opponent, David Nalbandian, was defaulted for injuring a linesperson during the final. I’m sure it wasn’t the way Marin wanted to win a title but his opponent’s reckless behavior had no place in that championship match. Plus, it wasn’t like he magically made it to the finals so he deserved the trophy for getting to that stage and being the only responsible sportsman on court.

Indian Wells Outtakes

I was looking at my Indian Wells gallery last night before I archived them and found a few gems that I somehow missed the first time.

Tell your friends to calm down, Richie.

Naaah. I’m pretty sure I’m watching you.

#faces

“Giiiiiiiiirl.”

Vika1 and RF win Indian Wells

© ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

How do you solve a problem like Victoria? There is a certain tall, blonde Russian who would like to know.

Vika extended her winning streak to 23 yesterday and snatched her 4th title of the year at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. She defeated—sorry, waxed—Maria Sharapova in the finals. Again.

“She’s extremely solid, and, you know, she makes you work for every point,” Masha said after the match.

Extremely solid seems to be everyone’s description of how Vika is playing this year. As much as I hate agreeing with everyone, there really isn’t any other way to call it. She doesn’t play high risk tennis and won’t make the mistake during a rally but, unlike defensive players like Caro or Aga, can pull the trigger when given an opening.

Why don’t all the ladies play like Vika then? Well… I don’t know. But not a lot can move around the court and put pace on defensive shots like she does. Plus, her confidence (even though it’s overrated) is something that no one else has at this moment. It allows her to just relax and trust that her game can overcome anything or anyone that’s put in front of her.

© Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Since his shocking Davis Cup loss in Switzerland over a month ago, Roger Federer has been a man on a mission. He has won every single match that he’s played since and bagged 3 titles with it, the most of anyone on the ATP Tour this year.

RF’s latest trophy came yesterday in Indian Wells after he defeated the man who beat him in Switzerland, John Isner. En route to the title, he also defeated his biggest foe, The Rafa, in the semifinals. (A little revenge week for you, eh, Fed?) Although one can argue that the conditions during the semis was less than ideal, both of the players had to deal with it and RF was the one who handled it better. He deserved that victory, no asterisk necessary.

© ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Despite losing in the finals, John’s run to championship day deserves a lot of praise. He notched the biggest win of his career, and he’s had plenty of dramatic big wins, over Nole in the semifinals. With this run, John joins the Top 10 for the first time ever.

Federer, Ferrer make it two in a row

This post wast supposed to go up yesterday but I was busy in Indian Wells.

© KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images

Roger Federer won his second consecutive title after he defeated Andy Murray 7-5, 6-4 in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships finals. Fed has won 10 straight matches and is in great form heading into the Indian Wells and Miami Masters 1000 double. I wouldn’t bet against him snagging one of those titles from Nole.

© ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images

David Ferrer nabbed his second straight title in as many weeks at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco. He delivered a 6-1, 6-2 drubbing of fellow Spaniard, Fernando Verdasco, in the finals to make it three in a row in Acapulco. With this title, Daveed regains the No. 5 spot from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who borrowed it from him briefly.

In the last two years, after winning Acapulco, Daveed gone on to lose his opening round matches in Indian Wells. Obviously, it’s great to win tournaments but I’ve always found it odd when top players play on clay in the middle of a hardcourt season and with two big hardcourt tournaments ahead. Has Daveed conceded that he’ll never win Masters 1000s on hard? His finalist result in Shanghai at the end of last year suggest otherwise.

© CameraSport

Kevin Anderson won his second career title after defeating Marinko Matosevic in the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships finals 6-4, 7-6(2). Kevin had a big week with wins over Andy Roddick (saved a match point along the way) and John Isner. This title run has him back up to his career high ranking of No. 30.

Elsewhere

Su-Wei Hseih won her first ever WTA Tour title at the BMW Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. Hseih came all the way from qualifying rounds to defeating the tournament’s 5th seed Petra Martic in the finals 2-6, 7-5, 4-1 ret. to lift her first trophy.

Sara Errani sweeps the Abierto Mexicano Telcel tournament by winning both the singles and doubles titles. She defeated fellow Italian, Flavia Pennetta, in the singles finals 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-0 and won the doubles title with another Italian, Roberta Vinci.