Birthday Week

Maria Sharapova has been tweeting about her pre birthday celebrations all week and with her birthday tomorrow now is a good time to recap the festivities.

My birthday celebrations have officially started. Not by choice though! Thanks Soph! @susiecakes #cupcakes twitter.com/MariaSharapova…
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) April 13, 2013

First who doesn't love cupcakes?

This day has been full of the best early birthday surprises! #lucky #spoiled #sohappy
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) April 15, 2013

@mariasharapova: Birthday dinner with @tommyhaas13 and @saramfoster... twitter.com/MariaSharapova…
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) April 15, 2013

Birthday Dinner. Hi Tommy! Also you are so adorable tweeting your'e self Maria. #drunk?

@chelseahandler Did this really happen the other night?! #birthday twitter.com/MariaSharapova…
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) April 17, 2013

More Birthday dinner frivolity


Also since Pova's birthday is such a big deal the tennis gods gifted us all with a glorious match up on the eyes.

Rafa vs Grigor in Monte Carlo seems like the perfect way to celebrate. No?

Highlight Reel

Grigor uses all his assets to play defense in his first top 10 win.


This was nice to see.



Rafa has a nice reply to this volley.

What I noticed: Day 1

• Vika lost the first game of her match she didn't lose another to open up play on Rod Laver Arena against Heather Watson.
• Fernando "the highlighter" Verdasco shirt was bright the match was one of few highlights as he lost the plot being up 2 sets to love to lose to Tomic. 
• John Isner looks cute in a Lacoste polo. 
• It was French Open Champions Day on Hisense as Na Li, Fran Schiavone and Rafa Nadal all came away straight set winners. 
• Things I didn't watch I wish I did. Dimtrov vs Chardy, Pico Monaco. Both matches went five sets, Dimtrov won. Pico lost.
• The Jr. Wimbledon Champions Robson and Barty both lost their first round matches in straight sets. 
• Flavia Pennetta is the highest seed to lose on day one. 
• Remember when Andy Murray injured himself in his sleep. Well it seems Rafa has one upped him by "having the worst pain ever" in his knee sitting down. The full story sound so bizarre. 
• Fed got asked if he would coach the Twins at tennis if they played. His response was cute he said Mirka would do it. He won in striaght sets. 

What I Am Watching.

With the OOP released here are the matches I am planning on watching on day 1. The first day of a Slam is always my favorite so much to watch wish I had a second set of eyes.


Rod Laver Arena 11 am:

Match 1: Women's Singles - 1st Round
Victoria Azarenka(BLR)[3] vs. Heather Watson(GBR)

Match 2: Men's Singles - 1st Round
 Bernard Tomic(AUS) vs. Fernando Verdasco(ESP)[22]

Match 3: Women's Singles - 1st Round
 Kim Clijsters(BEL)[11] vs. Maria Joao Koehler(POR)

Hisense Arena 11 am:

Match 3: Women's Singles - 1st Round
 Francesca Schiavone(ITA)[10] vs. Laura Pous-Tio(ESP)

Match 4: Men's Singles - 1st Round
 Alex Kuznetsov(USA) vs. Rafael Nadal(ESP)[2]


Margaret Court Arena 11 am

Match 4: Women's Singles - 1st Round
Laura Robson(GBR) vs. Jelena Jankovic(SRB)[13]

Show Court 2 11 am

Match 4: Women's Singles - 1st Round
Ashleigh Barty(AUS) vs. Anna Tatishvili(GEO)

Court 6 11am

Match 2: Men's Singles - 1st Round
Philipp Kohlschreiber(GER) vs. Juan Monaco(ARG)[25]


Other matches of interest that won't be watchable from 11 am.


Court 7: Match 2: Women's Singles - 1st Round
Polona Hercog(SLO) vs. Julia Goerges(GER)[22]

Court 8: Match 3: Men's Singles - 1st Round
Jeremy Chardy(FRA) vs. Grigor Dimitrov(BUL)

Court 15: Match 1 Men's Singles - 1st Round
Leonardo Mayer(ARG) vs. Feliciano Lopez(ESP)[18]


Court 19: Match 3: Women's Singles - 1st Round
Lucie Safarova(CZE)[24] vs. Christina McHale(USA)

On Site: Sydney

Chel you can follow her on twitter and tumblr went to Sydney qualifying on Sunday here is a recap of her day:

I was surprised by the number of people in attendance at the tennis centre for qualies, nice to know I wasn't the only one who'd rather spend a hot summer's day at the tennis than at the beach.

Before I head towards the match courts, a quick peek at  the practice courts first.

Of course, quick is a relative term. I ended up spending 2 hours there, most of it at the court where Andrea Petkovic was practicing with Feliciano Lopez.  It was... Eye candy for all. I'm not ashamed to admit I was the only person there taking pics on my phone and immediately uploading to twitter. isn't that every fan's duty? I wouldn't want my card revoked hehe.

More pictures here

It got incredibly hot towards noon so I sought some shade... And found Ana Ivanovic practicing with Jelena Dokic. Ana was not happy with her toss, Jelena was all focus. Sat on the shade next to Ana's mum, she was all smiles when people came and went, taking pics of Ana.

After some lunch by the far match courts, I went to Mahut's match. It was horrid. Nicolas lost in straight sets. Next up, Kiri! I had my fingers crossed for her, she barely scraped by with the win in her first qualifying match. A couple of bad line calls had Kiri protesting "are you joking??!" and smacking a ball out of the court in disgust. No warning though. I guess the ump didn't want any more drama. After the meltdown, it was all downhill, towardsa a bagel in the second. Ouch. Bye kiri. I'll see you in Melbourne!

Sam Stosur was practicing on centre court with Peng Shuai when I went there to seek some shade. Cameras everywhere Sam goes. Comes with being Australia's darling. We wuv you, Sammy!

Went for another peek at the practice courts cos I haven't seen (or heard! LOL) Vika all day. No blonde Belarussian princess in sight. Sadz. I had a sneaking suspicion that she was on to my sta-- um, observation at a polite distance plans, practicing really early in the morning. I was right, I heard people discussing she practiced early. Boo.