Rafael Nadal News

It rained confetti at the trophy presentation for the 100th Australian Open. Rafael Nadal stood next to Novak Djokovic .

PHUKET: Grab your balls, bats and rackets for another nosedive into this week’s world of local and international sports events with the Phuket Gazette .

THE pressure was on Elena Baltacha to haul Great Britain back into contention in their Fed Cup group last night after Anne Keothavong lost to Bibiane Schoofs of the Netherlands in the opening singles rubber in Eilat, Israel.

He was joined by wife Sheree Murphy and the couple’s three children for a family stroll in the sunshine.

You don’t. Andy Roddick still says his layout last February was the best shot he has ever hit under the circumstances.

Also advancing to the quarters were top-seeded Tomas Berdych, Jarkko Nieminen and Nicolas Mahut.

Rafael Nadal issued a statement on Thursday saying he had met all his fiscal obligations after a Spanish website published details about several companies linked to the world No 2 it said had been set up to drastically trim his tax bill.

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will not play in Serbia’s Davis Cup match against Sweden this month.

Men’s professional tennis has never been played at a higher level than during the last three Australian Open matches.

Thoughts for a midweek morning: — In the season premiere of “Justified,” a raw and compelling show on F/X about law enforcement in rural Kentucky, the town sheriff pays a visit to a villainous, satanic character who blows him off, wisecracking, “I’d love to be of more help, but I gotta get back to watching women’s tennis.” That’s cold.

In sports, the past is often revered more than the present. In men’s tennis, that should not be the case.

What was your reaction to Novak Djokovic’s shirtless flexing after he beat Rafael Nadal? In our household we went from thinking “classy, instant classic” to “what a self-centered tool.” Was there any ripple in the media? This guy is funny at times.

Via video from the Melbourne airport, Rafael Nadal announced that his next tournament will be Indian Wells in March.

Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic said he decided to let the top-ranked Djokovic rest after he beat Rafael Nadal in a grueling five-set final in Melbourne.

On serve and when whipping his forehand, Novak Djokovic’s grunt is that of a bullfrog, ” WooooAH-UH .” Rafael Nadal goes for a throatier, ” AAArrgggHH .” Occasionally, Andy Murray offers up a more hushed, constricted, ” Eeeeeehhh .” From Roger Federer , of course, we tend to get the sound of silence.