Tennis Random, Random

[Ti-Amie]

According to @DRossingh Djokovic deal is for five years with no buy out clause.

@DRossingh
BREAKING: Djokovic signs 5-yr deal with Uniqlo, will help design sports/casual wear, no buyout clause, source tells Bloomberg.

[Ti-Amie]

Today at a presser unveiling the new kit.

[Ti-Amie]

Roger Federer has spoken out against the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) decision to ramp up the Olympic qualifying criteria.

Under the current rules, a player must be available to play a Davis Cup or Fed Cup tie twice in an Olympic cycle, but ahead of the 2016 Games in Rio, that obligation will increase to four.

The world No. 3 will be approaching his 35th birthday when the Olympics begin in Brazil, and although the 16-time grand slam champion expects to be involved, he is not impressed with the amount of Davis Cup tennis he will have to play in order to qualify.

As the ATP Player Council president, Federer was furious when he was informed of the decision by ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti, claiming players were not consulted in the decision process.

"I disagree with this completely," Federer told The Times. "I was in the room [in Miami] when the ITF presented this to us, I was not asked about it before the decision was made. They might as well have just sent us a letter.

"The ITF makes it seem as if playing in the Davis Cup is the only place in tennis where you represent your country. That isn't right at all. They are forcing people to play, almost, and that is not a good vibe. Ricci Bitti knows where I stand on this and all the others at the ITF do as well.

"I will have to see what happens. I am focused on this year and I will make sure that whatever schedule I have for next year best suits me."

http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/152048.html

[Drop-shot]

I get it, but really, that gives him 4 years to play four matches. One per year. Hell, do that when you're playing at home and you can even eliminate the travel. Is it really that much to ask?

[owendonovan]

I get it, but really, that gives him 4 years to play four matches. One per year. Hell, do that when you're playing at home and you can even eliminate the travel. Is it really that much to ask?

I think it was that the players weren't allowed any input is what has rankled Fed.

[omess]

Well yes it is not a lot but I think they(Sharapova , WTA for ex ) are against it because it nearly makes Davis Cup/Fed Cup participation mandatory.

[Moose]

One tennis player made this year's Maxim 100 - at #86, Carolyn Wozniacki.

Maxim's description:

86. Caroline Wozniaki
Yummier than the kind of Danish you'd get at your local bakery, this former number one player of the Women's Tennis Association is only 21 and makes on-court grunting an art form

http://www.maxim.com/slideshow/hot-100/43451?slide=14#

I'd use the "roll eyes" smilie, but that would not come close to summing up my feelings about the description.

[JTContinental]

I think it was that the players weren't allowed any input is what has rankled Fed.

Quite frankly, there seems to be little that doesn't rankle at least one of the top 3 these days. It seems to be getting a little prissy up there.

[MJ2004]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/24/sp...-it-shows.html

[shtexas]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/24/sp...-it-shows.html

Nice story.

[skatingfan]

I think the thing to keep in mind with regards to the ITF requirements is that the players don't actually have to play - they just have to make themselves available. It would seem to me that the tennis federations in each country would want their top players at the Olympics and could make agreements (sort of wink-wink) that the player 'made themselves available'.

[Charlie02123]

Quite frankly, there seems to be little that doesn't rankle at least one of the top 3 these days. It seems to be getting a little prissy up there.

Someone in Madrid was asking me how the blue clay was. I said the top 3 were enraged, but they tend to get that way about any change whatsoever, so I tend to ignore them. When other people complain, I´ll believe it.

[Ti-Amie]

Russian junior Yulia Putintseva will compete for Kazakhstan.

Link is not in English.

http://sportlive.kz/news/30987-ofici...utincevoy.html

[Ti-Amie]

After defeating Argentine Carlos Berlocq today Tomas Berdych posted "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" on his Facebook page. Apparently the totally negative reaction caused him to take it down shortly thereafter.

You really want to tick off Argentine tennis fans Tomas?

[owendonovan]

After defeating Argentine Carlos Berlocq today Tomas Berdych posted "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" on his Facebook page. Apparently the totally negative reaction caused him to take it down shortly thereafter.

You really want to tick off Argentine tennis fans Tomas?

I've come to decide that Tomas is a bit of an immature d*&k.