Elena Dementieva - Photo Gallery

Russian Tennis Superstar ELENA DEMENTIEVA

Elena Dementieva - Biography

Russian Tennis Superstar ELENA DEMENTIEVA

Name:	Elena ViatcheslavovnaDementieva
Nicknames:	Elena
Sport:	Tennis
Birth Date:	15 October 1981
Country:	Russia
Birth Place:	Moscow, Russia
Residence:	Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height:	1.80 meters (5’ 11”)
Weight:	64.1 kilograms (141.0 lbs)
Plays:	Right Handed
Turned Pro:	1998
Parents:	Viatcheslav and Vera
Sibling:	Vsevolod

Injured Dementieva doubtful for Wimbledon

Russian Tennis Superstar ELENA DEMENTIEVA

Elena Dementieva could miss Wimbledon later this month after retiring from her French Open semi-final on Thursday with a calf injury.

The fifth-seeded Russian quit after losing the first set 7-6 against Italian Francesca Schiavone.

"I am not sure if I will be able to play at Wimbledon," Dementieva told reporters. "I am not going to (the WTA event in) Eastbourne because of the injury."

Dementieva said she first suffered the problem to her left calf in a second-round win over Anabel Medina

Garrigues of Spain and tried everything to recover for her meeting with Schiavone.

"It's very painful to even walk," she said. "I got it after my second match and I aggravated it."

"Today it was just a sharp pain. It was a bit too much. I couldn't really move on the court."

The Russian, beaten in the final in Paris in 2004, said it would not have made any difference had she won the first set.

"I was just going on the court trying to play, trying to fight, because it is a very special moment," she said. "So even with this pain I was trying to play but I don't think I could go longer than that."

Schiavone looked surprised when Dementieva came up to her and said she could not play on, perhaps because her opponent had not even called the trainer.

Dementieva said there was nothing anyone could have done to relieve the pain.

"With a tear you just have to try to play with this pain," she said. "I had medication, I had a painkiller, I had anti-inflammatories and all the tape I could try."

"But nothing was working at that point. So I don't think I could have been given something extra to make a magic move."

"Against Francesca you really have to move and you have to run. My biggest weapon is my footwork, my movement. With this kind of injury it was impossible to do."

Dementieva was appearing in her ninth grand-slam semi-final and said another near-miss was doubly frustrating.

"I could have had to stop in the third round and I got to the semi-final," she said. "It is disappointing to get injuries and not to use this opportunity."

"But what can I do? Injuries are part of the game and this is how it is. I cannot change anything."

Rafael Nadal - Biography

Name:	Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera
	(Catalan pronunciation: [rəfə'ɛɫ nəˈðaɫ pə'ɾeɾə]
Nicknames:	Rafa, The King of Clay, El Matador
Birth Date:	3 June 1986
Country:	Spain
Birth Place:	Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Residence:	Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Height:	1.85 meters (6’ 1”)
Weight:	85.5 kilograms (188.10 lbs)
Plays:	Left Handed
Parents:	Sebastián Nadal and Ana María Parera
Sibling:	María Isabel

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto for the second time?

After Miguel Cotto successfully defeated Yuri Foreman for the WBA Super Welterweight Championship, Bob Arum saw a little possibility that Pacquiao will face Cotto again. Yes, you read it right, if the Pacquiao versus Mayweather bout will not push through, (because of the reports that Floyd is planning to retire again, is he scared again?) Bob Arum’s plan B is a rematch between Pacquiao and Cotto. If the match will become possible, they might meet at the 154 pounds, and that might put Pacquiao on a weight disadvantage. Pacquiao’s handlers estimated that Pacquiao can only climb up to 149 pounds and a 154-pound weight is too heavy. But if Pacquiao can win on the said weight division, this will be another record-breaking performance for the Filipino Pride, imagine, eight world titles in eight different weight classes!

It's a Hollywood horror-show for Kobe Bryant as LA Lakers' finals dream falters at the hands of Boston Celtics

Will Kobe Bryant bring Lakers again to a new NBA crown?

In the end it was so quiet you could almost hear Jack Nicholson's hips click as he rose unhappily from his courtside seat.

The crowd had fled for the exits before the end and the old rogue was one of the last to leave, slowly lifting his sunglasses and rubbing his eyes after watching the LA Lakers suffer their first home play-off defeat 103 v 94 against the Boston Celtics. The seven-game series is now tied at 1-1.

This was meant to be the Hollywood house where Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant reigned supreme. But Ray Allen showed no respect for Boston's status as guests. He didn't just make himself at home at LA's Staples Arena, the accomplished guard emptied the drinks cabinet, raided the fridge and slapped his muddy feet on the coffee table.

Allen scored 27 points in a blistering first half, 32 in all, firing effortlessly from long range like a machine, over and over again.

Throughout the entire game one the Celtics collectively managed to score a solitary three point basket. During game two, Allen claimed a record-breaking eight three-pointers all by himself with a performance that turned the series on its head.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Bryant had been billed as the heir apparent to Michael Jordan's crown in all the pre-finals hype. But as Allen struck with unerring accuracy, he was the player being compared to the legend, with shooting that echoed Jordan's celebrated display in the 1992 finals against Portland.

On that night, Jordan famously shrugged as he claimed 35 points in one half. This time, Allen, smiled wryly, as if the 27 point blitz was what he expected to do all along.

'We needed points and Ray gave them to us,' said Boston coach Doc Rivers. 'Was he hot? Well, I've not seen him much warmer than that.'

Allen knew the significance of the result, if not his achievement. 'This is definitely our time,' he said. 'There's no better place, moment or time to win a game in that fashion. I wasn't aware of the record, but it's great to be able to look back one day and say "I did that".'

Read more at  MAIL ONLINE

Michael Phelps to swim in Paris Open next month

Will he be able to make a new splashing record this time?

PARIS (AP)—Michael Phelps will swim at the Paris Open next month, the first time he has competed in France in nearly a decade.

Organizers confirmed on their website that the 14-time Olympic gold medalist has entered the June 26-27 meet. Also taking part are two-time world champion Cesar Cielo of Brazil and Olympic 100-meter champion Alain Bernard of France.

Phelps swam in a short-course World Cup meet in France in January 2001.

World Cup 2010: Carlos Queiroz calls Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal's 'Superman'

 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal's 'Superman'

Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz has labelled Cristiano Ronaldo as his side’s "Superman" and believes the winger can inspire his team-mates to World Cup success.

Ronaldo has failed to transfer his superb club performances into the international arena in recent years, and is currently enduring a barren spell for Portugal, which has seen him score just one goal in the past two years.

This dry patch has coincided with a dip in form for Portugal, who limped through qualifying – scoring just 17 goals and requiring a play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina to make the finals.

However, Queiroz believes that the 25-year-old’s troubles in the national colours are behind him and is backing his captain to shine in South Africa.

"Cristiano is a champion and, as a player, is Superman," Queiroz said. "In terms of his mental approach to the game, he is so strong and so confident.

"It has always been this way since I first started working with him as an 18-year-old. He has a champion mind. He is someone who has always been able to perform above the demands of the game.

"It is fantastic to work with a really special player in our squad, who has shown the world that he is a winner even before the tournament begins.

"And this also makes it easy to ensure his spirit and attitude rubs off on the rest of the Portugal players."

Portugal have been drawn in Group G alongside Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea, and Queiroz insists Portugal will need to be at their best to progress to the knockout stages.

But the former Manchester United coach is bullish about his side’s chances, confident they will not only advance from the group, but win the whole tournament.

"I am sure Ivory Coast will be fearing Portugal," Queiroz said. "As a national team and in a one-against-one situation, Portugal can beat any side at this World Cup.

"Our approach is to play the first game, then the second and so on. Firstly, we have to get through to the second round.

“Then our aim will be to run and run on the outside – and to be in a position where we have the opportunity to compete with the very best in the world."

Nadal takes fifth French Open title

(Paris, Sunday, June 6, 2010) Rafael Nadal posted one of the best defensive performances of this year’s tournament to claim his fifth French Open title with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Robin Soderling. The Spaniard needed just two hours and 18 minutes to repel a shot-making onslaught by the Swede and reclaim his Roland Garros crown.

The result makes Nadal just the second man in history (behind Bjorn Borg) to win five or more French Open titles (Borg won six) and lands him the unique ‘Red Slam’ – the trio of ATP Masters 1000 clay court titles at Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid, topped off by victory at Roland Garros.

Nadal was the more nervous of the two players in the early stages of the match, Soderling’s heavily top-spun forehand causing him all kinds of trouble on his backhand. Accordingly, the first test of the match came against Nadal’s serve after 13 minutes of play, the world No.2 over-hitting a regulation drive off that wing. Nadal fought off the resulting break point with a heavy drive into the Swede’s backhand corner, drawing an error and pegging the game back to deuce before weathering the storm two points later, consecutive errors from the Soderling racquet handing Nadal the game.

The Majorcan earned a break point of his own in the very next game of the set. Soderling was brave in defence but no match for Nadal’s nose for a passing shot. The No.2 seed claimed the vital opening break with a laser-like backhand cross-court winner which Soderling left and watched as it dipped into court at the very last minute, handing Nadal a 3-2 lead.

That break galvanised the Spaniard, who raced through his next service game for the loss of one point to extend his lead to 4-2. One break of serve appeared insufficient for the suddenly motivated Nadal, and he set after his opponent’s serve once again in the seventh game of the opener, forcing the Swede to 0-40. No.5 seed Soderling pinned the game back to deuce and fought off a fourth and a fifth break point before out-rallying Nadal to eke out an important hold of service for 3-4.

Nadal was forced to fight off a break point at 30-40 in eighth game, a Soderling forehand drive sliding beyond the Spaniard’s baseline. Then it was Nadal’s turn to draw a forehand wide, handing Soderling a second chance to equalise. The No.5 seed failed to execute however, gesturing in frustration after a simple backhand return error. Another missed backhand by Soderling handed Nadal game point and the Spaniard hung tough in a long rally to move within a game of claiming the first set after another long forehand from Soderling.

The Spaniard powered his way to three set points on Soderling’s next service game but the Swede brought his two favourite weapons – his 225 kph-plus service and his venomous off-forehand – to bear, and pegged the Spaniard back to deuce. Another big forehand, followed by a fourth ace, and the No.5 seed kept a toehold in the first set.

Nadal’s fourth set point opportunity came after 52 minutes and the 24-year-old left-hander finally claimed the opener courtesy of a 20th unforced error by his opponent. The Spaniard’s desire to clinch his seventh Grand Slam title was there for all to see, clenching both fists and roaring to the heavens on conclusion of the set point.

Soderling bounced back for an easy hold in the opening service game of the second set, throwing the pressure straight back onto Nadal who then had to fight off four break points in his opening service game to level the second set at a game apiece.

Nadal’s next service game, the fourth of the match, was interrupted with the Spaniard leading 15-0 as stewards attended to an unwell spectator in the stands. The delay had little effect on the No.2 seed who closed out to love for 2-2.

Nadal turned defence into attack in the fifth game of the set, tearing into a 0-40 lead on the Soderling serve and claiming the critical break to lead 3-2 when a Soderling off-forehand veered wide of the line.

That little milestone negotiated, Nadal reeled off his next service game to lead 4-2, then earned more break points when Soderling double-faulted for the third time in the match when at 30-30. The Swede averted that danger with a sweeping clean forehand winner down Nadal’s backhand line but was soon staring down another break point, which he conceded with a netted backhand drive to hand Nadal a 5-2 lead.

The 24-year-old world No.2 closed his next service game out for the loss of one point to stand at two sets to love in this, the 43rd Roland Garros final of the Open era.

Nadal broke Soderling for the third time early in the final set to lead 2-0 and earned a point for a double break in the seventh game of the set when Soderling double-faulted for the fourth time in the match. The Swede saved it with a clean forehand winner, backed it up with a hefty cross-court backhand that Nadal framed into the stands, then fired a big serve onto the Nadal backhand to force a return error and hold service for 3-4.

The Spaniard held to 15 to take a 5-3 lead, watched Soderling nail some big services to hold to love then stepped up to serve out and take his fifth French Open title. As if to put an exclamation point on an extraordinary tournament in which he did not lose a set, Nadal held to love, Soderling pitching a backhand drive into the net as the champion slid seamlessly onto his back to adopt his favourite celebratory pose.

The victory, Nadal’s 38th in a season that has seen him concede defeat just four times, earned him €120,000 in prize money, the world No.1 ranking when the ATP World Tour list is released on Monday, and of course, the Coupe des Mousquetaires which he had been forced to relinquish 12 months earlier after four years of dominance on the Paris clay.