Practice Makes Perfect at the Western & Southern Open

Professional tennis players work to perfect their game every day. Here are some candid photos from the practice courts at Cincy's Western & Southern Open.

Even the world's best tennis players need practice and a coach.

Gold medal Belarusian doubles player Max Myrni.

Japan's Kei Nishikori practicing his backhand.

Spain's David Ferrer and France's Richard Gasquet,
warming up to play doubles (though not on the same team).

Canadian Milos Raonic - wondering what
else his coach wants from him.

Venus Williams - "Didn't we just practice that?"

Roger Federer reminding us - always hydrate. 

Professionals work hard on even the most fundamental shots - like the forehand.

Aussie Bernard Tomic shows step 1: prepare for the shot.

Croatian Marin Cilic has step 2: stay focused on the ball.

Sam Stosur and step 3: keep your wrist loose.

Step 4 from Novak Djokovic: follow thru.

Step 5 - Show your swagger
 like Italy's Fabio Fognini.

There are a few different ways to hit a backhand. France's Richard Gasquet knows them all.

The pros practice everything because they never know what's coming at 'em.

Poland's Aggie Radwanska can handle any shot....

...even on the run.

Argentina's Juan Monaco's prepares a half-volley.

Bulgarian up-and-comer Grigor Dimitrov stays low.

Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic skies for an overhead.

Whatever you do....never let 'em see you sweat.

Serena showing her frustration near the end of her QF match.

Roger Federer...always cool.

Notes and Photos From the Western & Southern Open (Women's Draw)

Venus Williams practicing her serve.

As with the men's draw, a busy summer tennis schedule and the Olympics have adversely impacted the women's draw at the 2012 Western & Southern Open.

Most notably, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, the two top ranked women in the world, are absent from Cincinnati. Additionally, No. 10 seed Ana Ivanovic was forced to pull out of the tournament with an injury to her right foot.

On the plus side, all the remaining players seeded in the top 10 have advanced to the round of 16, with the exception of France's Marion Bartoli who was defeated in her opening match by Johanna Larrson of Sweden.

Fresh from her Olympic gold medal victory in London, Serena Williams opened her campaign with a straight sets win and has to be considered the favorite at this point. Several other women could present challenges to Williams though, including older sister Venus and top-seeded Aggie Radwanska of Poland.

Incidentally, Aggie Radwanska's sister Ursula is also a professional women's tennis player - and interestingly, Ursula has also made the round of 16. Unfortunately for Ursula, her next opponent is Serena, so it is unlikely that she'll advance and it won't be possible for both sets of sisters to make the final eight.

One final name to note in the women's field is Sloane Stephens, a young American hopeful who has been climbing the rankings and whose first two showings in Cincinnati have been impressive.

Okay, on with the photos!

Serena looks intense even during her practice session.

Sam Stosur (Australia) - 2011 U.S. Open champ.

Venus Williams shows off the wingspan.

Lisa Raymond and Liezel Huber - 2011 U.S. Open Doubles champs.

Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) - practicing her volley.

Sloane Stephens (U.S.) charging hard up the rankings.

Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) - former world #1.

Caroline W's famous boyfriend and
world #1 golfer, Rory McIlroy.

Notes and Photos From the Western & Southern Open (Men's Draw)

Marin Cilic from Crotia

The addition of the Summer Olympics into the middle of an already overbooked and grueling tennis season has taken its toll on the men's draw at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Four of the top 16 players in the world (Nadal, Isner, Simon, and Tsonga) withdrew prior to the start of the tournament. World #3 Rafael Nadal continues to suffer from tendinitis in his knee, an ailment which he announced today will keep him out of the U.S. Open as well. Top American John Isner and Frenchman Gilles Simon also withdrew due to recent injuries. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 6th ranked player in the world, hurt himself off court last week, colliding with a fire hydrant in Toronto and getting several stitches in his knee as a result.

4th seeded David Ferrer of Spain

When you add to that list of wounded tennis warriors - the No. 4 seed David Ferrer appeared not exactly weary, but less like a hyperactive jack rabbit than usual in a straight sets loss, and the No. 7 seed Janko Tipsarevic was forced to retire from his second round match - you can only draw one conclusion: men's professional tennis is seriously banged up.

As we head into the round of 16 on Thursday, an abundance of talented tennis players are still in the hunt for the title in Cincinnati though, and there are still a few things, or a few players rather, who have proven themselves to be as dependable as death and taxes. Federer, Djokovic, and Murray are all through to the next round without dropping a single set in their opening matches.

But enough of all that, here is the first installment of photos from various men's matches and practice court sessions so far this week. I'll publish more pics of the top guys in the game, and of course photos of the best women players in the world, later in the week. Enjoy!

Serious-looking Tomas Berdych, world No. 7 (Czech Republic).

Richard Gasquet (France) showing off his contortion skills.

Stan Wawrinka (Swiss) streeeetttching.

Viktor Troicki (Serbia) advances to the round of 16.

Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) playing frisbee.

Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia) - my favorite doubles guy.

Bernard Tomic (Austalia) - bit blurry but an awesome shot.

Headed to a doubles match - Mikhail Youzhny (Russia),
Philip Kolschreiber - barely pictured (Germany),
Jarkko Nieminen (Finland), and Stan Wawrinka (Swiss).

Milos Raonic (Canada) - note the 132mph on the
serve speed. He hit 140 mph later in the match.

Andy Murray (Great Britain), Olympic Gold Medalist

Roger Federer (Swiss) - G.O.A.T
Greatest Of All Time

Cincy Tennis - Day 4 (Roger Pics Finally!)

Quarterfinals day proved to be enormously difficult for some of the most beloved tennis players on the tour. Australia's Samantha Stosur was soundly whipped and knocked out of the women's draw, while Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were both taken out easily on the men's side. I can still be totally interested in the outcome of the tournament without these megalo-superstars, but I'm certain that ESPN and the rest of the sports world will care about Cincy just a little less this weekend with these guys gone.

Still, some big names remain in the semi-finals on Saturday. World #1, Novak Djokovic, will try to extend his unbelievable hot streak in 2011. With a record of 55-1, he has amazingly lost only one match since last December (his completely unbeaten streak ended with a loss to Federer at the French Open). He's won EVERY other tournament he's played in this year. Tomorrow, Novak takes on top ten player Tomas Berdych. The other men's semi-final features world #4 Andy Murray taking on top-ranked American, Mardy Fish (who I actually picked to win it all earlier this week!). On the women's side, Maria Sharapova is the most exciting name left in the draw. She's had a long comeback from shoulder surgery a couple of years ago, so I'm hoping she can prevail.

Having featured only women players yesterday, the pictures included below are the top four men's tennis players in the world, with the most attention given to Roger Federer because, well....he is the greatest player in the history of the game. We were fortunate to see all of the top four ranked guys play today - and that is the miracle of tennis in Cincinnati (who woulda thought that, right? I mean this is reeeally close to Kentucky!).

On a personal side note, this week has also been extremely difficult for my butt ...which can only take so much sitting on metal bleachers. I broke down today and bought a stadium cushion for $9. I'm happy to report that the pain in my ass has subsided and that there will be no photos of this particular tennis injury.

Andy Murray from Great Britain. Paul and I saw him when his first big title in 2007 when he won here in Cincinnati. He is a notorious ass to work with, but he's a pretty phenomenal talent.

Rafael Nadal (Rafa to those of us who know him so well)  is the talented Spaniard who finally ousted Roger Federer from his post atop the tennis world. After an 18-24 month run of seeming insurmountability, Rafa has finally shown some weakness in his game, and he has now been toppled from the top spot by Novak Djokovic. 

Novak Djokovic, proud Serbian, has had a remarkable year.  He has won a record-breaking five "masters" level tournaments (the most important tourneys other than the four Grand Slams), and winning Cincinnati would make six. He has also won two Grand Slams in 2011 (Australian Open and Wimbledon), and he is a favorite for the upcoming US Open. One thing I learned this week - don't piss off Serbian tennis fans. For them, tennis is not just a game, it's a matter of national pride. 

Roger Federer from Switzerland - finest tennis player ever, one of the greatest sportsmen in history, among the smartest athletes you could ever hope to meet (he speaks four languages), and all-around classy guy. 

Fed's grace is apparent on the court as well as off the court. On the court, he floats elegantly from baseline to net. Fed tennis = sports ballet. Off the court, you'll never find a more gracious winner or loser.

Remember, take the racket back early, stay poised and balanced, keep your eye on the ball, and don't forget to look like a graceful Adonis while you do it.