Tommy Haas admitted he has contracted swine flu, which has forced him to withdraw from this week's Davidoff Indoors in Basel. The German is hoping to be back in action next week at the tournament in Paris.

The world No 17 dropped out of the Stockholm Open last week after he felt he was suffering from flu. However, the German had tests and it was confirmed that he had contracted the H1N1 virus.

"I did a test because I suspected I had swine flu and the test was positive," he said. "It was obviously a shock for me. I was really bad for three days and I couldn't leave my hotel room. I felt really bad." - Haas explains.

"I am quite relaxed because I know that swine flu is a particularly strong form of flu but when you are in a good physical condition like I am, then you can quickly beat it."

~jachal

Andre, what did you do?

2009-10-30T20:23:00.004+01:00

Roger Federer: "It was a shock when I heard the news. I am disappointed and I hope there are no more such cases in future... He has done a lot for tennis, both as a player and as a human being. Today, he raises millions of dollars for his foundation for children."

Rafael Nadal: "If the ATP covered for Agassi then I think that's terrible... The only thing I can say is that if they covered at that moment for the player and punished others for doing the same kind of thing then that would seem to me to be a lack of respect for all sportsmen... Now that he is retired [he] comes out and says this -- it's a senseless way of damaging the sport."

Andy Roddick: "Andre is and always will be my idol. i will judge him on how he's treated me, and how he has changed the world for better... if anything we [top players] are subjected to way more testing and attention.. thats just a fact.. and to be fair when andre wrote the reported letter, he was well outside the top 100 and widely viewed as on the way out."

~shaw

Dancing queens: Radwanska sisters

2009-10-29T20:58:00.000+01:00

Just look how this two can enjoy themselves. They look so happy.

~shaw

Feli, it's all about your outlook

2009-10-28T22:44:00.000+01:00

"I was losing so much that I just had to do something about it. I didn't know what else, so I cut my hair. All of a sudden I started to win, so I don't want to change a thing now."

- Feliciano Lopez on the reason why he suddenly started playing well.

~shaw

Not so fast! Santoro wants to play more!

2009-10-28T20:35:00.001+01:00

Fabrice Santoro, who will turn 37 in December, admitted in a press conference in Lyon that he is considering playing Australian Open 2010. Season 2009 was supossed to be the last one for Fabrice.

"Since a Canadian reporter told me I would be the first to achieve such a feat, I keep on saying to myself that it would be nice, it would be an unusual record." he said in Lyon.

"But if I want to be able to play five-set matches in Melbourne, I must not go skiing in December. I won't make that decision thoughtlessly."

Well, we love you so much Fabrice, that we would be thrilled to see you in Melbourne.

~shaw

2009-10-26T13:12:00.001+01:00

"When you wake up in the morning and you don't feel any pain, it's easier to play good tennis. I'm having a good run now and enjoying myself on the court. I'm hungry to do well and I want to come back stronger than before."

We think that you already managed to comeback Marcos, considering the fact that few months ago you were about 150 and now you are 41 in the ATP ranking. We are more than happy for you.

~shaw

Sampras beats Agassi in Macau exhibition

2009-10-26T05:57:00.001+01:00

Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi at an exhibition match in Macau 3-6 6-3 10-8. This was the first time that Sampras and Agassi played each other in seven years.

Serena, an eleven time Grand Slam champion, is someone who is more likely to be associated with the top spot and by many seen as the true world No.1 at the moment. This is the key argument she uses, while explaining why she deserves to be on the top of the standings, buty if you look closely at her results this year - they've been far from impressive (besides the Grand Slams). The American hasn't won a tournament outside of the Grand Slams for more than 1,5 year!!! From Miami til the French Open she couldn't win a single match, going on a 4 match losing streak.

Serena reaching the top spot perfectly exemplifies, that there's no real No.1 at the moment on Tour. Nobody has fully taken the initiative since Justine Henin's departure, so it won't surprise anybody if she would recapture her reign of the WTA. And it is kinda funny, that the only person, who right now looks like keeping her away from doing it - is her countrywoman - Kim Clijsters. We'll wait, we'll see as all this developes. If the Belgiums come back for good, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva will be kicking their own asses for not using the best chance ever, to make it the top of the rankings asd all the other players did...

~jachal

It's a miracle: Lukasz Kubot beats Andy Roddick...

2009-10-06T13:29:00.007+02:00

Guys, ARGWUS team is so happy about today's result that we have to post it here...

Lukasz Kubot from Poland recorded the biggest win of his career (first TOP 10 win ever) as he stunned defending champion and World No. 6 Andy Roddick 6-2, 6-4 in 1st round of China Open.

This season is just amazing for the Pole. He reached final in Belgrad, he won 2 doubles tournaments, reached his highest ranking of 112 and he is on the best way to qualify for ATP World Tour Final in doubles.

~shaw

Rafa's dreams

2009-10-06T08:57:00.003+02:00

"I would love to serve like Karlovic and volley like Federer."

- Rafael Nadal dreaming.

~jachal

Jelena Dokic bounces back once again

2009-10-05T22:35:00.004+02:00

Can we now oficially call 2009 the year of the comebacks. Tennis fans tend to get emotional, when it comes down to comebacks and we've been blessed with amazing ones this year - Kim Clijsters, Kimiko Date-Krumm and Maria Sharapova... They all have been spectacular, but, there is one comeback-kid that kinda tops it all (at least for the Argwus Team) - Jelena Dokic. Her amazing quarterfinal run at this year's Australian Open will always have a special spot in our hearts. Battling through the past, through form and confidence crisis and through her own demons - and that all with tears in her eyes. It's not possible to erase that picture. It wasn't easy for Dokic, even after that fabulous run, coz there was some more suffering ahead of her - mononucleosis. It seems like God chose for Jelena a path to happyness through hell. Now, she once again somehow made it happen - she won the Athens challenger without dropping a set, her biggest title since 2002. In the final she beat Eleni Daniilidou 6/2 6/1, who as you may already figure out is a comeback-kid herself.

Here you get the tournament's trophy ceremony and the speeches of both girls.

~jachal

Williams killer prepares 2 B killed

2009-10-05T21:01:00.005+02:00

2009-09-30T20:15:00.008+02:00

Tomorrow ends Martina Hingis' the two year drug suspention from the International Tennis Federation. The Swiss Miss, as her fans used to call her, was suspended for the use of cocaine before her 3rd round match against Laura Granville at Wimbledon 2007. The former world No.1 decided to immidietly retire from the sport, as she didn't want to get into a long term fight in the court, though her hair follicle test didn't show any traces of cocaine. Now, the The Sport Illustrated caught up with Martina, just to see how she was doing and if she would want to start a Clijsters-like comeback.

SI.com: From an emotional standpoint, how do feel you've handled the past two years?Martina Hingis: OK. There were hard times and it was frustrating knowing I did nothing wrong but couldn't really fight this. It was my reputation and I knew the truth. But the process didn't really let me fight.

SI.com: Given your outspoken personality, I think it surprised a lot of people that maybe you weren't as forceful, deciding, for instance, not to appeal. Do you regret that?
Hingis: Like you say, I always spoke [honestly] even if I wasn't always politically correct. I spoke the truth even when the truth may have hurt me. But the system was set up in such a way that there was nothing I could do.

SI.com: Bottom line: have you ever ...
Hingis: No. Taken cocaine? Never. No [recreational] drugs. I don't know even the effects. I've maybe been in a position where I could have. But never, no. If I had ever taken cocaine, I would have said so.

SI.com: Before this happened, did you ever worry about a situation like this?
Hingis: No, because I probably had between 80-100 tests and no problems. The only thing I would ever take was aspirin and I was very particular about these things. Even if I had a flu I'd call my doctor and say, "What can I take?" I was always very cautious. I never took anything that was not approved first.

SI.com: Were any players notably supportive?
Hingis: Billie Jean King wrote a letter on my behalf. But, you know, I wasn't allowed at the Grand Slams, even to enter the stadium during tournaments. So I had little contact with the other players.

SI.com: Richard Gasquet?
Hingis: No.

SI.com: Lots of comebacks going on. You're 10 years younger than Kimiko Date ...
Hingis: I'll leave it Justine [Henin]! It's not so easy. You need to commit. You can't just do it when you want to. I know the women's game isn't at the highest point it's ever been. OK, look at Kim [Clijsters]. But she has the family support, the husband, she's physically strong. She played three tournaments and she's right back and I don't think anyone can hurt her on the court.

SI.com: What is your relationship with tennis?
Hingis: I love tennis, still a big part of my life. I didn't play much in the beginning of the suspension, but then I played more. Now when I play, a lot of the time it's with juniors. I've been able to [distinguish] between the sport and the administrators.

~jachal

Injured Murray withdraws from Tokio

2009-09-30T19:51:00.007+02:00

According to Andy Murray's website, curent world No. 3, has decided to pull off from Japan Open in Tokio due to wrist injury. His wrist problems got worse during Davis Cup clash against Poland last week in Liverpool, that Great Britain eventually lost 2:3.

"Andy is disappointed not to be competing in Japan, but on the basis of medical advice, he has decided to give his left wrist further time to recover. His injury is improving on a daily basis and Andy is very close to resuming full-training. The wrist will be assessed again this weekend." said the statement on official website.

After losing Federer few days ago, the tournament organizers must be really dissapointed. Thankfully for them Del Potro already arrived at Tokio, so he will be top seeded.

~shaw

Pennetta totally honest

2009-09-30T16:53:00.001+02:00

This will surely go down as Flavia Pennetta's year. You could see her constantly giving us reasons to talk about her. First she made an unforgettable appearance in the Fed Cup, where she came from match point down to beat Amelie Mauresmo, securing Italy a win against France and by the way causing a scandal when she showed the middle finger to the chair umpire. Then for the milionth time in a row, she reached the final in Acapulco. After a slump in the early part of the year, she showed some sort of form during the claycourt season, just to bow out in the 1st round of the French Open with an injury. Then when it seemed like, she lost her chance to ever make it to the top ten, she won Palermo & Los Angeles (her biggest title to date) in a row, went on a 15 match winning streak, with wins over Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Vera Zvonareva and Nadia Petrova. She made the Italian curse go away, by entering the Top 10. At the US Open, she made headlines, when she saved 6 match points to beat Vera Zvonareva in a fantastic night match and reach the quarters of the US Open for the second year running. And if U thought, this was all, then you are all mistaken. Flavia isn't done yet. She gave probably the most commentated and honest interview of the year for the Italian televison. Just watch this (and if you don't understand it, there's a rough translation taken from the www.tennisforum.com).

ROMA. The bigger is the amount of beautiful female players in the tour, the tighter is the connection between tennis players and sex. There were big rumors about Barbara Schett, a very beautiful player from Austria, and her habit of having sex after matches in locker rooms. Well known also the hard date fixed by Francesca Schiavone to someone who was watching her match in the stand. Follows that trend also Flavia Pennetta, who talked without taboos in a interview to the TV show “Le iene”. On a tone serious and facetious in the same time, the beautiful Italian player discusses burning issues, such as sex and doping.

A QUICKIE WITH SAFIN. She started recalling the well known love story with Carlos Moya: “During the tour, we shared the rooms and made not abstinence, we made free sex.” Currently Pennetta is single but she confesses that, in the tour, three or four male players (the latest one was a Brasilian player) tried to sexually accost her, but she refused because she didn’t like them. On the same issue, the Italian player said that Tommy Haas is the most handsome player, but she “ would make a quickie with Safin”. No chances to Federer, Nadal, Del Potro, Yannick Noah…and to Maria Sharapova. She admits that in the tour there are many lesbian tennis players, but she never had advances from female colleagues; then she jokes putting sexy poses, and she admits to have had sex in a locker room, on cement, on grass, and even in a airplane “during a long leg”

DOPING AND TENNIS. She said that Serena Williams always beats her because “she is an animal compared to me” and then said that Italian tennis players are non competitive because they are “not confident”. Then Pennetta doesn’t evade the question about doping in tennis: “I think it exists”. If some tennis player use cocaine, that’s for fun but she never used it. Finally she elects Kournikova as the most beautiful in the tour, and says that, on a aesthetic basis, it’s a big fight between her and Francesca Schiavone.

~jachal

Cellphone curse

2009-09-30T16:18:00.011+02:00

There's something wrong with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour at the moment. The marky players are not able to compete at their highest level and are losing in their first rounds time after time right now. The plague hit the premier event in Tokio the hardest. With 9 of the worlds top 10 players at start, only two managed to win their first match. Terrible stats. Now, the Argwus Team found out a possible reason for their slupms - the stars are spending too much time, playing with their cellphones. Do we have a mobile phone curse? Just look at that...

~jachal

Gasquet uses Head & Shoulders

2009-09-28T00:08:00.000+02:00

Richard Gasquet is now making an ad campaign for Head & Shoulders. After difficult months, where the Frenchman had to stay away from the Tour, because of a failed doping test, he's now trying to start a comeback. Until now he's doing quite good, as he reached the semis in Metz last week.

But don't forget Richard - a good shampoo ain't gonna solve all your problems...

Roitman announces retirement

2009-09-27T11:04:00.000+02:00

While the whole tennis world is still talking about Argentina's biggest tennis sensation in many years - Juan Martin Del Potro, another Argentine tennis player, Sergio Roitman is about to finish his career. He will play his final match at a challenger in Buenos Aires.

“It is a strange moment for me, but the time has come for me to leave professional tennis. Physically, I cannot compete at the highest level anymore. I think this is the best place to retire, at a tournament that has given me a lot of pleasure and surrounded by people that have helped me and whom I love very much. I extend my warmest thanks to Ale (Lombardo), because he has always been by my side and with him I have achieved the best victories of my sporting career.” - said Roitman.

Rotman never won a singles title on The ATP World Tour, but managed to get two in the doubles competition. He reached a career high of No.62 in singles and 45 in doubles.

~jachal

Nude Radwanska? Quite possible soon...

2009-09-26T16:30:00.006+02:00

Agnieszka Radwanska, current nr 12 in WTA ranking, surprised tennis world one more time. In her interview for "Super Express" she said that she is willing to perform in a naked session...

"I'm 20 years old, so I don't know if I am in a proper age to do that... But I would like to do it one day. I definitely don't say no to a naked session..."

"I'm only afraid what my father will say - laughs Radwanska. "I will have the courage in the future, but I think I will wait a few years..."

What can we say Aggie? You surprised us one more time, but we are looking forward to seeing your performance...

~shaw

Comebacks update

2009-09-26T15:50:00.000+02:00

Plenty of comebacks this and next week...

1) The hero of the week is Kimiko Date Krumm, who at the age of 38 (she will be 39 in two days) has reached the Seul WTA tournament final. She outgunned in the semifinal the title defender Maria Kirilenko 3/6 6/2 6/4. On her way to the final she also managed to beat some other good names such as Hantuchova or Kleybanova. It's just incredible.

2) Joachim Johansson, who retired in February 2008 is trying to comeback to the circuit. The 27-year-old Swede sidelined by injuries and illness made a comeback in Stockholm just over eight months later, but has played sparingly since then, playing in only four challengers.

The former top-10 player receivd a wildcard into ATP 250 tournament in Kuala Lumpur next week. He will play Lleyton Hewitt in first round. Worth mentioning is the fact that Hewitt's sister, Jaslyn is Joachim's ex-girlfriend. The two were dating for 5 years and ended their relationship in 2005. Good luck Joachim!

2009-09-16T01:35:00.000+02:00

U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina is the fifth singles player to qualify for November's ATP World Tour finals.

The 20-year-old, who beat world No. 1 Roger Federer in five sets for his first Grand Slam title on Monday, joins Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and defending champion Novak Djokovic for the end-of-season event, according to an ATP statement.

Del Potro, who is ranked No. 5, will appear at the eight-man indoor tournament, which takes place in London from Nov. 22-29, for the second consecutive season.

Bolelli married

2009-09-12T01:56:00.000+02:00

Female tennis fans' hearts must have had broken when Simone Bolelli got married. The Italian married Uruguayan model Ximena Fleitas on 5th of August in Budrio (Simone's hometown)
According to a source, nobody knew about that until Ximena left a short message on her Facebook page, announcing that she'll soon be Bolelli's wife. Hollywood stuff...

~jachal

Rafa meets... a porn actor!

2009-09-06T18:07:00.003+02:00

After second round win against Nicolas Kiefer, Rafael Nadal chatted for a while with a famous Spanish actor Santiago Segura and his friend who turned out to be a porn star in Spain ;) Rafa was a little bit surprised but congratulated to him...

~shaw

Ivanovic is taking a break from tennis

2009-09-03T21:46:00.005+02:00

Ana Ivanovic, former world number 1, decided to take a break from tennis. After another bitter loss in the 1st round of US Open 2009 against Kateryna Bondarenko, Ana said it's time to have some rest outside tennis tour.

"This has to do with my lack of self confidence. I just kept choosing wrong shots and did not have enough confidence in myself ...For years I did not have a real vacation so now I want to 'switch off' from tennis for a while... I believe that will help me to get back on track."

"I would love to return to the tennis top and I'm clearly motivated to leave this crisis behind, but its just not working."

We will be looking forward to your strong comeback Ana!

~shaw

Rafa found his way back!

2009-09-03T20:58:00.004+02:00

Not only had he managed to comeback from his injury, but he also managed to find way out of his polo...

~shaw

Bye Bye Safin & Santoro

2009-09-03T20:16:00.006+02:00

"Where I'm different is like, I'm still enjoying to be on the court and to play tennis."

I am Sam

2009-08-27T10:14:00.005+02:00

Sam Querrey is really on the breakthrough this summer. Right after Wimbledon, the US boy reached three finals in a row, winning the title in Los Angeles. In Cincinnati he knocked out world No.5 Andy Roddick. Now, by virtue of reaching the quarterfinal stage in New Haven, he clinched the win in the US Open Series Championship. This means, whatever he earns at US Open, it will be doubled.

I am Sam - US Open Series 2009 champ - Querrey

The ranking of the Series is based on 10 tournaments, that are being played before the US Open. Querrey's win over Bjorn Phau leaves him with 145 points, equaling Andy Murray's result, but because the American has clinched 14 wins this summer, he'll get past the Brit in the standings.

“The most pressure I felt all summer was probably today, knowing that if I won it, I would win (the series) and if I didn’t it was third place. I don’t think if Federer is 15 points away from winning, or Nadal, I don’t think they’re going to take a wild card into this tournament and say, ‘Hey, if I get to the quarterfinals, I’m going to win that. But, I’m going to.” - he said

2009-08-22T18:49:00.003+02:00

"When Chris (Evert) and I were dominating people, (we would hear) it's always Chris and Martina in the finals. It's like we always know who's going to be there whereas with men, (we would hear) they have so much depth; you never know who's going to win. Now you have Nadal and Federer winning everything for five years, and women have been going back and forth, different No. 1s. Then it's: 'Well, with men we have Federer and Nadal. They're so great. But with women, nobody's dominating. It's like you can't have it both ways. So I find this double standard really annoying."

- Martina Navratilova responding to the WTA critics.

~jachal

Srichaphan postpones his comeback

2009-08-21T19:44:00.002+02:00

Former world No. 9 Paradorn Srichaphan made it perfectly clear, that he isn't ready to give hung up his racquet yet. The Thai, who was the first ever Asia-born player to make it to the top 10, plans to be fully back on the tour in 2010.

Srichaphan, who hasn't played on the ATP Tour since March 2007 due to a wrist injury, originaly wanted to come back last year, but the rehab didn't go as quickly as planned. He then, was scheduled to play at Thailand Open, but the 33 year old said it is more likely, that he'll start his comeback in the 2010 season.

"I'm not going to quit. I just want to be back when I'm really ready. My wrist is getting better but not good enough to let me hit like I used to. I wanted to come back in the Thailand Open but at this stage the chance to play any match this year is 50 per cent."

Being asked, if it will be possible for him to play again at the top 100 level at the age of 30, Srichaphan wasn't in doubt, he could once again make it happen.

"Age is nothing but a number. I have a protected ranking (top 80) and can use it anytime."

Good luck, Paradorn. Seriously!

~jachal