Our new feathered friend named Oscar

So for those who read the blog you may know that I lost my cockatiel just over a week ago (she got a tumor and we had to put her to sleep).

We've all been extremely depressed, and sad, and completely devastated about losing her so suddenly after 3 years. Our home has felt very empty and lonely.

So today we decided (quite impulsively) to go out and get a new type of bird to bring some life back into our household again.

We don't know for sure whether the bird is male, or female as the only way to tell is through a DNA test (which is quite expensive).

So it's a bit of wait and see. But for the time being we are going with he.

As I write this we've only had him for about half a day but he's already brought much laughter and happiness back into our lives.

He's very lively, rambunctious, adventurous and quite the little charmer. And definitely keeps us all on our toes.

I can't wait to see what else he has in store for us all on a daily basis. *goes off to read more about Green Cheek Conures* :).

He's currently much smaller then he appears in the pic (only just over 7 months old)

Martina Hingis World Team Tennis Magazine Interview

Martina Hingis explains why she enjoys World Team Tennis

Martina Hingis Tennis Now Interview

(July 23, 2010) Striking shots with mischievous intentions, Martina Hingis was up to her old tricks again. Playing against her former team, the New York Sportimes, in Monday night's World TeamTennis match on Randall's Island in New York City, the former World No. 1 was doing her best to drive her opponents up the wall.

Hingis, whose anticipation is still so sharp it sometimes seems she's playing a point she's already seen on TiVo, pulled out the seldom-seen lob volley to send reigning US Open champion Kim Clijsters scampering back to the baseline in pursuit.

Playing a point like this one against Hingis on the multi-colored court can feel like coming home to find the complete contents of your living room had been rearranged — everything is still right there somewhere, but you're perplexed by the positions you find yourself in while searching to make sense of it all.

The 29-year-old Hingis, the marquee player for the New York Buzz, and Scoville Jenkins built a 2-1 lead over Clijsters and John McEnroe in mixed doubles when Hingis, who was set to serve the fourth game, made an executive decision in installing doubles partner Sara Borwell as her replacement. Borwell held serve and the Buzz went on to win the mixed doubles, 5-3.

On a night when Clijsters overpowered Hingis, 5-2, in a battle of former World No. 1 players, Hingis wasn't always at her best, but showed flashes of the form that makes her one of only six women to hold the World No. 1 ranking in singles and doubles simultaneously.

It was a homecoming of sorts as Hingis, who led the New York Sportimes to the 2005 WTT championship and earned MVP finals honors in the process, returned for her lone New York City appearance.

And while her serving was spotty, she looked a little tight at times and spent some of her down time alternating between sending text messages and tapping her toes against the court while listening to the music played between serves, there was no mistaking the satisfactory smile the Swiss displayed after winning imaginative points.

While she concedes missing the competition, Hingis said she remains well aware of the time, work and dedication reaching the top 10 requires.

"Tennis, it takes you on," Hingis said during Wimbledon, where she partnered with olf friend and former "Spice Girls" doubles partner Anna Kournikova in the Ladies Legend doubles evnet. "Like I said, I mean, they come, they go, they have big serves, different kind of game. For me, it was much more work behind the scenes than the Williams sisters."

At her best, Hingis suffers a confidence crisis about as often as Atlas visits a chiropractor, but she got a real WTT wake-up call in her return to competition earlier this month. Hingis struggled to find her game in singles, but has picked up her play, particularly in doubles, as the season has progressed.

"The beginning was slightly rough," said Hingis, who ran out of racquets in her first match and had to borrow Borwell's Babolat to complete a match against the Venus Williams-led Washington Kastles. "I just came over from Europe and started playing straight away. But after I got into into and started playing a few matches I started feeling better. And we won some doubles matches as well."

Competing is still a Buzz, but the off the court work required for a touring pro — the endless practice sessions, training in the game and constant travel — no longer interests Hingis, who spends a lot of her spare time pursuing her passion: riding horses.

"What I miss is probably the winning moments — when you hold up the trophy and you know you are the best in the world and you end up winning Grand Slams. That is probably the moment an athlete is most happy," Hingis said. "You miss that, but you know that getting to that point takes a lot of years, a lot of hard work, a lot of practice. It doesn't come from heaven. You never forget how much work, how much pain, you go through to get there."

In WTT play, Hingis showed signs of the guile, touch and court sense that made her the top player in the world. Those elements can make her a successful doubles player. Hingis' shallow serve — by far the biggest weakness in her game — was exposed at times during near two-year return to the WTA Tour, but her serve is not nearly as big a liability in doubles where more often than not she can gauge where the return is coming. Additionally, if Hingis can partner with a younger, bigger-serving partner it will allow her to use her superb net skills in doubles.

So will she attempt a partial comeback to the WTA Tour as a doubles specialist?

"Well, that was always the question. I mean early on I talked to Lindsay [Davenport] about it and maybe we could do it and get some wild cards," Hingis said. "But she already committed very early, in March, and I didn't want to. So she is going to play Stanford and San Diego and she wanted someone to commit really soon. I just wasn't ready for that. I wanted to see how it goes. I played some exhibitions in England. I just wanted to see how I feel."

It could be the latest chapter in a career that has seen Hingis capture five Grand Slam singles titles and eight major doubles titles. Hingis won 43 singles and 37 doubles championships in a career that began 16 years ago. She hasn't ruled out the prospect of playing limited doubles events as Davenport has done.

"Yeah, I'm thinking that I just might. But you need the partner as well, right?" Hingis said.

Hingis competes in some of the smaller equestrian events in Europe — "It is a passion and it stays a passion. It's a hobby I don't (pursue it professionally)," she — sometimes hits with juniors at her mother's tennis academy and still follows the pro circuit on TV and the internet, but spoke like a woman who appreciates the flexibility of her schedule these days. "You have a lot more time for your life and also been what I don't really miss is the travel," Hingis said. "Having to go week-to-week; the grind. I loved it when I was 17, but it's a bit different at 30." At the age of 14 Hingis made her professional in Zurich in 1994. Receiving a wild card into the main draw, the 378th-ranked Hingis beat American Patty Fendick, 6-4, 6-3, to record her first professional victory before bowing to fifth-ranked Mary Pierce, 6-4, 6-0, in the second round. At five-foot-seven, 130 pounds, Hingis was overshadowed by bigger, stronger opponents, but used her greatest weapon — her mind — to compensate for the significant size disparity she often faced. Former World No. 1 Monica Seles once saidHingis constructed points perhaps better than anyone she ever faced. "(My mind) was very important because I wasn't the biggest or strongest so I had to have technique and tactics to be successful," Hingis told us in a past interview. "For me, my mother was always the most important person in helping me. She taught me just every shot — from the time I was a little kid she had me work on every shot. So that (the mental game) was easy because I would go on the court feeling comfortable and secure. I knew I could do it in practice so there was no reason not to be able to do it in the match. I was already pretty confident from the time I was young. My mother would take me to her club and I would play with the kids and even though I was one of the younger ones I always wanted to be one of the best. And I had success at a pretty young age. My personality is very loose in general and I never made big trouble out of big shots. When I would get to a match point, I knew I'd come that far so I knew I could do it (close out the match)."

Tennis Now: Martina, how do you feel about the way you're playing? How has your level evolved as the season has progressed?

Martina Hingis: The beginning was slightly rough. I just came over from Europe and started playing straight away. But after I got into into and started playing a few matches I started feeling better. And we won some doubles matches as well. After that I was on a winning streak until the last one (laughs). Yeah, that was a rough one.

Tennis Now: John McEnroe came back to the ATP Tour a few years back and actually won a doubles title in San Jose. You're such a good doubles player. Why not just come back to the WTA Tour and play some select doubles events?

Martina Hingis: Well, that was always the question. I mean early on I talked to Lindsay [Davenport] about it and maybe we could do it and get some wild cards. But she already committed very early, in March, and I didn't want to. So she is going to play Stanford and San Diego and she wanted someone to commit really soon. I just wasn't ready for that. I wanted to see how it goes. I played some exhibitions in England. I just wanted to see how I feel.

Tennis Now: Would you consider playing doubles events in the future at some point?

Martina Hingis: Yeah, I'm thinking that I just might. But you need the partner as well, right?

Tennis Now: When you watch tennis today, who do you like to watch? Is there anyone who reminds you of you? Anyone who plays the Hingis style, using the angles, the finesse, playing all-court tennis?

Martina Hingis: Well, there's Justine. She's back on Tour again and she plays all court. With the younger players it's hard to tell. It's pretty much one-sided. They pretty much have the same kind of games, so it's tough to tell.

Tennis Now: You had a great rivalry with Serena. Where do you rank Serena among the greatest players you've faced and among the greatest players you've seen?

Martina Hingis: Obviously, she's still at the top. She's a tremendous athlete with enormous power. The strongest part of her game, I would say, would be the mental part. She can hit a huge serve when she needs to. I watched her match against Sharapova at Wimbledon and it was like "Wow!" to see that and to see how she can come up with shots when she needs them.

Tennis Now: Your game is so technically strong. Would you ever consider coaching either on Tour or at an Academy as John is doing with the John McEnroe Tennis Academy?

Martina Hingis: My mom is doing it. So I go there and play with the kids she has. She has probably 150 kids, but I don't play in their daily routine. There's one girl who is probably top in Europe in her age group so that's nice. I mean, my mom's doing it and I'm just trying to help (laughs). I like to help but I don't see myself being a coach. I've done that. I've been there, done that. I'd rather do it myself. But helping out every now and then and going to the big events, why not?

tennisnow.com

Kim Clijsters/Serena Williams Brussels Exhibition highlights

Martina Hingis from Tennis to Polo?

cbs6albany.com

Roger Federer, Kim Clijsters U.S. Open Series ads

Kim Clijsters one year later

A glistening, distorted toddler with blonde bouncing curls pounced closer and closer. Her mouth stretched from ear to ear on the silver reflection of the US Open trophy that her mother grasped tightly to her body.

Later, she was asked if she thought 18-month-old Jada Ellie knew what had just happened. Kim Clijsters simply replied, "No." Little Jada seemed to love the spotlight on court with her mother, aimlessly jumping up and down in celebration, clueless that she would become as much of the storyline as the former world No. 1 Clijsters' triumphant return to tennis.

Clijsters left tennis for two years and four months without a tournament, and in just her third tournament back she won her second, and sweetest, Grand Slam. She became the first unranked and unseeded woman since 1968 and the first mother since Evonne Goolagong-Cawley in 1980 to win a Grand Slam.

In a few weeks, Clijsters' second career will reach one year. In what has been a year of ups and downs, winning three titles and suffering a foot injury that sidelined her for the French, it will be the image of mother and daughter and trophy that will forever define it - not just the year, but perhaps her entire career.

"This wasn't a part of the plan," Clijsters said shortly after winning the 2009 US Open. "Not in my wildest dreams could I ever imagine this happening."

Check out photos of Kim's Flushing Meadows triumph here.

Clijsters is a winner of 37 titles, 11 doubles titles and reigned as the No.1-ranked player for 19 weeks. Her return to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour became heavily anticipated, only to be eclipsed by her fellow compatriot Justine Henin's return. However, it was Clijsters in the end that cast the shadow over Henin, defeating her in the final in Brisbane, again on her way to winning the title in Miami and finally holding off the hopes of Henin getting the Slam she never won.

The media has played up the Belgians' return, creating an older, more powerful women's tennis demographic that leaves no mercy for teenage burnouts. That trend looks as if it will continue as critics are quick to point that Clijsters may be better than she's ever been. Clijsters doesn't seem to always disagree. As a mother, she has more balance in her life and a fresher outlook on her career.

"Well, the motivation was missing then," Clijsters said about her game before her retirement. "I came to an age where I felt like, combined with the injuries, I wasn't 100% focused on my tennis anymore."

Now, Clijsters says she is much more organized than she was during her first career. As a mother, everything has to be a little more planned, and she has translated that ability to adjust on the court with her skill and emotion.

But to everyone's surprise, it's her even stronger body that has tennis bracing itself. The daughter of a former professional soccer player and a Belgian champion in gymnastics, pure genetics have always been the culprit behind Clijsters' raw power, but her new body as a mother has caused a stir in what scientists call the "baby boost." Researchers have claimed that childbirth can leave some women more able to cope with the demanding activity of professional sports. The body produces more red blood cells during pregnancy, improving the amount of oxygen that reaches muscles by nearly one third.

See 20 of Kim's best pre-retirement moments in this special gallery.

Debuting Fila's new Heritage Apparel Collection this year, there's no doubt that Clijsters is finding the perfect fit in her dual role as a mother and tennis player. The balance has given her a sharper focus. She is unwavering in her priorities as a mother and wife first and tennis player second, but she has also found ways to be much more beyond that - after winning Brisbane, she donated her $37,000 winner's cheque to the Royal Brisbane Hospital children's wing.

Now Clijsters is back in the Top 10 rankings, and even if her return to tennis isn't long term, she has let everyone know it is where she belongs. The 2009 US Open was an early statement in the comeback of her career, making history as a mother and player. She defeated Serena Williams in a controversial match, but now Williams is back to the top of her game as the Wimbledon champion, and tennis around the world will be holding their breath for a rematch.

Clijsters, of course, would embrace the challenge. For all the new passions in her life, tennis was by far the first.

"I feel very lucky that I've been able to do what I love to do for so long. But everything else that comes with it... I don't say to Bryan or Jada, Mommy is going off to work. I say, Mommy is going to try to train to get better."

sonyericssonwatatour.com

Roger Federer: Love & Passion

Martina Hingis continues to improve in WTT

ALBANY -- Martina Hingis felt old when sizing herself up against her singles opponent Wednesday night.

Coco Vandeweghe is still a teenager. The 18-year-old was only five when Hingis won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 1997. In fact, Vandeweghe didn't start playing tennis until she was 11, and by then, Hingis had already won all five of her Grand Slam titles.

"I remember when she came back (out of retirement in 2005)," Vandeweghe said. "I didn't catch her in her 'winning slams' days."

It's strange for Hingis -- who made her professional debut as a 14-year-old -- to be the savvy veteran, because her greatest success came in her teenage years. But after the 29-year-old won the women's singles match over Vandeweghe, she didn't feel nearly as old.

"I'm feeling very good about my singles (game)," said Hingis, who has won five straight women's singles matches for the New York Buzz.

Hingis has won her last four singles matches in as many days.

The former World No. 1's experience shined over Vandeweghe's youth, as the youngster committed a string of unforced errors in the three games she played against Hingis before being replaced by Raquel Kops-Jones. It's the second time this season she defeated Vandeweghe, and in both matches the teen failed to win a game.

"She's a smart player," said Vandeweghe, who is the niece of former NBA player Kiki Vandeweghe. "She's thinking two steps ahead of me and I can see her picking my game apart slowly as the games go by."

Hingis' effort in women's singles wasn't enough, however, as the Buzz lost 18-17 Wednesday to the Boston Lobsters. New York (1-7) failed to build off of its first win of the season Tuesday. Hingis started strong for the Buzz with a 5-0 victory, but the Lobsters took control by winning mixed doubles, men's doubles and men's singles.

Hingis and Sarah Borwell were able to win women's doubles, but the partners fell to Raquel Kops-Jones and Vandeweghe in a super-tiebreaker to decide the match.

If there's a bright spot to be found in the loss, it is Hingis. After dropping two of her first three women's singles matches to start the season, she has gotten back into the swing of things and looks more like the player who won five Grand Slam titles.

Once a young star herself when she began winning Grand Slam singles titles at 17, Hingis now relies on experience to beat younger, faster opponents. Still, it's strange for her to be competing against players who were too young to see her in her prime.

Said Hingis: "(It's) like at one point it was me who was 18."

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=950848&category=SPORTS#ixzz0tpIA7BCk

Yep, Hingis may be a veteran, but there's no denying she's still got it :).

Reading articles like these reminds me once again just how impressive Martina was to have achieved so much at such a young age.

It's a feat that seems to be hard to repeat with the new youngsters in the WTA these days.

Martina Hingis interview with Charlie Rose

It's a great interview from 2000.

I haven't seen it before, so thought I would share with others who may have missed it as well. Enjoy;).

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/3423

Unfortunately I wasn't able to find the Google embed. But the link seems to work just as effectively.

The 'love' in Tennis

In life, ‘love’ envelopes all that is good and passionate.

In tennis, ‘love’ is on the other side of the spectrum. It’s the equivalent of nothing, nada, rien, nichts.

How is it then that an Indo-European word meant to show great belief and affection turns to anger and disgust in the world of tennis?

When we are down love-40 in a game of tennis, it conjures up thought that we are inadequate, and that perhaps we should find a new job, hobby, or general change in the path our life is heading.

But what if being down love-40 is exactly what we need in order to breakthrough and perform our best?

Every day there are unnecessary things in life that bring us down and draw energy out of us. It’s those times when our character is tested that we see exactly how strong we are.

That we are indeed empowered, in control, and the serve is ours for the taking if only we believe.

The next time you are down love-40 in tennis or life, think of it as an advantage to prove your passion and dedication.

To a tennis player and spectator, love can turn from anger and disgust into glory and triumph in a matter of seconds. There is no greater reward than to come back from the depths of despair and stand up victorious and joyful.

This column is dedicated to the ‘love’ of tennis: the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s called Romi’s Rants, Raves and Missives.

So true and so eloquently put.

tennisgrandstand.com

Martina Hingis/Serena Williams WTT interview

R.I.P. My lovely cockatiel :(:(

I've been sitting in front of my computer screen trying to decide how to sufficiently express how I feel.

But I don't think there are any words that can properly describe the immense sadness I've been feeling since 6 p.m. this afternoon.

Over the past 3 weeks or so my cockatiel hasn't been herself.

At first we thought it was because she was having trouble laying eggs we bought her some vitamins and calcium. And made a little nest but nothing seemed to be helping.

Her behaviour was confusing because one minute she seemed completely fine the next she was anti-social and lethargic.

But she would still eat and exercise. Finally today I just couldn't stand it anymore and convinced my parents that we should take her to an avian vet.

We put her in a towel while my mom held her in her hands during the car ride. She was very calm and very interested in the world outside.

Once the preliminary questions were over, the vet came in and diagnosed it as tumor (2 actually to make things worse).

My dad had been saying something similar for days, but of course I didn't listen to him because who wants to believe something as horrible as that (even though in the back of my mind I feared he could be right).

But thinking someone might be right and actually having that fear confirmed are two very different things.

The moment he said the word "tumor" I felt like I've been punched in the gut, and my heart dropped into my stomach.

Naturally I just started weeping (and didn't feel embarrassed about it because I knew the vet probably dealt with that on a daily basis).

All the while my bird was on my shoulder as always cuddling up to me. He give me some time to compose myself and then asked me to make the hardest decision of my life.

Whether I wanted to have her be euthanized, or let her die naturally. I weighed the pros the cons but in the end the decision was simple.

I did not want to see her suffering. I wanted to remember her as she always was, lovable, playful, and full of life.

So as my last loving gesture I signed the euthanize order. He give her a pain killer followed by the euthanization drug that would put her to sleep.

She went quickly and painlessly as I held her in my hands.

The vet was quite surprised because things like this don't usually happen with birds as young as her (we've only had her for 3 years).

He said he could try to do an ex-ray because sometimes it can be an egg problem, to fix that would require surgery, and even then it didn't guarantee anything. He seemed much more convinced about the tumor in the end.

Just before he injected the drug into my bird my mom and I pet her and give her kisses letting her know we were there.

Sometimes I wish humans didn't have the ability to love something so much be it animal or human.

But then I think of her and there is just no way a person couldn't love such a sweet creature. It's been over 6 hours now and I still can't believe she's gone.

I'm still expecting her to make noise moving around in her cage as she always did at night, even though logically I know that will never happen again, my heart hasn't yet caught up with my brain.

They say time heals all wounds, well right now I wish there was a way to make the time go faster so I could make the pain and sadness go away.

My feathered friend, thank you for being such a great companion and for providing me with moments of joy I will always cherish.

I will miss you very much, but I will never forget you.

R.I.P. :(

Roger Federer vacation pics with wife and twins

Ok, I admit to putting this one in purely for the sexiness factor

Roger Federer took his wife, Mirka, and his twins, Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, to an amazing vacation to relax a bit from the tennis world and tour.

Federer rented a luxury yacht to go around Corsican coast, via Calvi, Saint Florent Girolata.

All his family was with him, her adorable twins, his wife, his mother and step-mother!

First sea bathing for Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, who will celebrate just their first birthday July 23.

More pics at ohnotheydidn't

I don't usually post paparazzi pics, but these were just too cute not to share.

Roger the doting dad < 3 ♥♥♥.

Also the twins are getting so big!.

I can't wait to see them at the grand slams watching their daddy play :).

Martina Hingis World Team Tennis photos

Random WTT shots.

I wish this one was bigger I would so make it my new wallpaper

Martina Hingis and teammate Alex Domijan, give out autographs for clients at the Center for Disability Services in Albany. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

I'm putting this one in just 'cause it amuses me :)

All pics courtesy of jimmy62 from hingis.org

Celine Dion and hubby expecting twin boys!

Image Source

Celine Dion and Rene Angelil will be adding two little boys to their family!!

The 42-year-old singer attempted in vitro fertilization earlier this year and recently announced on her official website that she and her husband will be parents to twin boys. The couple announced that Celine was expecting back in May.

Celine and Rene are already the parents of 9-year-old Rene-Charles.

Read more: http://justjared.buzznet.com/page/4/#ixzz0tFkPN1Vy

Congrats to the whole family!.

Kim Clijsters wins over Serena Williams in Brussels

BRUSSELS — A world record tennis crowd has watched Kim Clijsters defeat Wimbledon champion Serena Williams 6-3, 6-2 in an exhibition in Brussels.

The crowd of 35,681 at King Baudouin Stadium on Thursday surpassed the previous record of 30,472 set in 1973 at the Houston Astrodome in the Battle of the Sexes match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.

Clijsters was originally scheduled to play Belgian Justine Henin, but Henin withdrew after injuring her elbow at Wimbledon. Top-ranked Williams agreed to replace Henin despite a foot injury.

The match was umpired by tennis great Martina Navratilova.

AP

Hell yes!. Note to tennis gods I would like a repeat of this for the U.S. Open please. Thank You.

It's really too bad for Justine.

Who I believe will now be out for 2 months no U.S. Open for her:(.

I was really looking forward to this exhibition battle (between the Belgians).

But at least the event still turned out successful.

Way to go Kim!.

Martina Hingis World Team Tennis videos

Lot's of videos lately.

Here's Martina playing against long time rival Venus Williams in the 2010 WTT.

Hopefully there will be more to come. Enjoy ;)

Memorable Martina Moment: Australian Open '06 Quarterfinal

Even though she lost this I had forgotten how entertaining this match was, and how incredibly happy I was to see her out on court again.

Making some very difficult shots look very easy especially for someone who had been away from the game for 3 years.

Her court finesse was a definite breath of fresh air. Damn do I miss those days....

Martina Hingis & Anna Kournikova BBC interview

Centre Court?. Damn that had to feel nice for both of them.

I haven't seen the match yet but I have no doubt the place was probably packed.

It seems like everyone believes Martina could still make another successful return, everyone besides Martina herself that is.

She must be getting real tired of answering that question too.

Another 'Grand Slam' gone

Well, today was the last day of the Wimbledon Championships won once again by none other then Rafael Nadal over Tomas Berdych (no big surprise there).

I didn't even bother watching since I got the feeling it was gonna be kind of boring after the thrillers that were Wimbledon '08 (Federer vs Nadal) and Wimbledon '09 (Federer vs Roddick).

A straight sets win seems quite dull in comparison (not to mention the complete lack of Roger Federer), don't even get me started I'm still too depressed about the whole thing.

I won't even bother mentioning who won the women's final, because that wasn't a big surprise either once Kim Clijsters went out it was pretty much a given as to who would win.

So Nadal won his 8th Grand Slam good for him (now he's got half of Federer's total).

I'm not going to say much about the Federer quarter-final loss other then do not count the man out, he's definitely not ready to hang up his racquet just yet.

Little bit of rest will do him a world of good so he can come back re-grouped and refreshed for the U.S. Open.

Despite it's anti-climatic result the women's final did manage to garner the attention of a famous former champ.

Yep, the swiss miss Martina Hingis herself :)

I have mentioned numerous times in the past few years how nice it'll be to see Martina Hingis sitting in the stands of Grand Slam events (for those who may not remember she was not allowed to even enter the grounds during her 2 year ban).

But it is so much sweeter to finally be able to actually see that, and to know that the ban days are truly in the past.

By the expression on her face I would say Martina would agree.

Good riddance to grass bring on the hard courts of the U.S. Open!.

Zac and wife Kate Hanson expecting baby #2!

There’s another Hanson baby on the way!

Zac Hanson and his wife Kate are expecting their second child, and the rocker couldn’t be more thrilled, he tells PEOPLE.

“I am so excited about the new addition to our growing family and for the stories and inspiration this person will bring to the world,” says the drummer, 24 — one-third of the trio Hanson — who just released their latest album, Shout It Out.

“Life is so short,” he adds, “And there is nothing better than getting to share life with our children.”

The new arrival will join older brother John Ira Shepherd, 2, plus a clan of cousins: Zac’s brother Taylor has four kids with his wife Natalie — Ezra, 7½, Penelope, 5, River, 3½, and Viggo, 18 months — and brother Isaac and his wife Nikki have two sons — Everett, 3, and Monroe, 2.

In addition to a built-in playgroup, the new baby is also likely to have an early shot at stardom — two of the younger Hansons, Ezra and Penelope, appeared in the band’s new hit video for their single “Thinking ‘Bout Something.”

people.com

So that makes baby #8 now all together.

Holy crap!. LOL

Here's hoping it's a girl so Tay's daughter Penelope can finally have a girl cousin to play with.

Congratulations to the soon to be parents! :).

Martina Hingis/Anna Kournikova post legends match conference

Q. What made you decide to come and play here?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Uhm, well, we were talking with Martina about summer plans, what she was doing, what I was doing and stuff. She told me she was going to be around here in Europe, Grand Slams, doing Grand Slams here in Europe, then she was going to play TeamTennis, which I'm also playing. We just came up with the idea. We thought it was a really good opportunity. Especially for me personally it's an amazing opportunity to be back at Wimbledon, my favorite grass courts. I haven't been here since 2002. I'm not getting any younger. So this is probably my last chance to play here, just to experience, uhm, being on the court with much less pressure than when you play professional. Playing with Martina, I mean, I think we just picked it up today where we left off eight years ago. Last time I played was eight years ago. I had so much fun today. Kind of jittery a little bit. You don't know how everything is going to go. But I had an amazing time.

Q. Anna, we see a Grand Slam winner, a Russian going very deep. Russians have had a huge impact on the modern game. Kafelnikov played a role, Maria. When you reflect, what do you think your impact was on Russian tennis?

MARTINA HINGIS: Huge (laughter).

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: You mean my personal impact?

Q. Yes.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: You know, I mean, it's nice. It's kind of a compliment. But honestly I don't really look at it that way. I don't want to take any credit.

MARTINA HINGIS: You should, and you have to. You look at Anna, you have the opportunities.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It was all about the timing also. I was kind of the first one after the Soviet Union, you know, to leave outside of Russia, to be able to practice in better circumstances, in a better environment, to go to the academy at a young age. Before that, we still had great players. We had Likhovtseva, Makarova, who were top 20, 30, 50. They were there. They just weren't as noticeable. We always had an amazing tennis school and clubs in Russia. It's just the opportunities never were really there when it was still the Soviet Union for them to travel. Everything was controlled by the Federation. I think once people and the kids and the parents saw I was the first one to kind of get out, they realized that there is that opportunity to be able to travel, to be able to go outside and compete internationally. I'm looking at all our girls. I'm so proud. It's so cool they're able to showcase their talents, they're able to travel, they're able to make a great living, to do what they love to do, keep all of their prize money. During Soviet Union, you had to share all of it with the Federation and everybody. I'm just so proud of the girls. They worked their asses off. Tennis is a grind. I think women in general don't get enough credit. It's a full‑time job, it's 24/7. You're week in, week out on the road for 10, 11 months out of the year. You have no personal life. You have no home life. It's very difficult. It's not glamorous at all as a lot of people think, you know, so...

Q. Martina, obviously with your skill level and with Anna, you could go into the main draw and be competitive.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, not me. She could be. Me, there's no way. I mean, I'm not ready for that at all.

Q. Why not just do it?

HINGIS: No, I don't think we would be.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: You could for sure.

MARTINA HINGIS: I haven't played that much in the last three years. For me it's less time being away. It's only three years. But still, I mean, you have to commit. The commitment is totally different.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Different mental commitment also.

MARTINA HINGIS: Being on the tour full‑time, you can't pop up and say, I'm going to come back and win Grand Slams, even if you have a great partner. It's great fun to be out there again with Anna. We had some great times. We're sharing some good time again. Totally different ballgame.

KOURNIKOVA: For me it would be impossible really physically to be on the tour. It even bothers me a little bit playing like today. I mean, it wasn't strenuous match. It was quite fun and giggly. I'm sure I'm going to feel it tomorrow and I'll be sore. Even to prepare for the specific tournament, the last two months, I've had to have therapy, like real therapy, every day for an hour, hour and a half. This is just for kind of the fun matches. I would have to live in the trainer's room for three hours every day. I have five different things wrong with my back from two herniated discs.

MARTINA HINGIS: It's a good day off tomorrow.

KOURNIKOVA: From two herniated discs to four cracks that I have. The right side is smaller than the left side.

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't want to hear it.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: All kinds of weird stuff.

Q. Do you not have any regrets when you see the Williams sisters dominating the women's game like they are? Do you wish you still could be out there challenging them?

MARTINA HINGIS: I did it. I had my comeback. I was very happy with it. I lived through all the emotions. I missed it when I was away for three years. That's why I did the comeback. Now it's different. I'm going to be 30 years old. Like I said before, it's a commitment you have to do. You travel 35, 40 weeks a year. I think I've played enough tennis in my life. Tennis gave me everything I have today. I'm grateful every moment.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's time to experience other things and grow and move on.

MARTINA HINGIS: Like I said, the commitment.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: The commitment's hard.

Q. With Venus going out today, do you think there are other women's players that can stop them?

MARTINA HINGIS: There are the young ones, hungry ones. It's not only the Williams sisters you have to face.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: They're triple the size and strong.

MARTINA HINGIS: You have to face every day, every hour. Like I said, it's not only like going out there getting the glamour, the glitter. Playing on Centre Court. It's six, eight hours of practice at home. Then you get the glitter and glamour at the end of the day.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's only for the top 10, the glitter and glamour, it's only the top 10 that can have a nice lifestyle.

MARTINA HINGIS: It's when I was young, 15, 16, you get on the tour, you're young, fresh, hungry.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Everything is new, you're excited. MARTINA HINGIS: When you get older, you have different priorities, lifestyle changes.

Q. Martina, are you a little bit sad when somebody like Venus has a match like today where she loses badly that most people didn't think would beat her?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: She lost badly?

MARTINA HINGIS: 2‑3.

Q. Do you feel badly?

MARTINA HINGIS: I mean, like I said, you have to go out there. They played yesterday, played a match, then you go out there again. Grass court can take you any day. I didn't always have the greatest moments at Wimbledon myself.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Come on. Winning is not the greatest.

MARTINA HINGIS: Next year or the year after, it was first round. It can happen to you on grass. I watched the match Clijsters‑Henin. It was so one‑sided, and Kim ends up winning that match quite comfortably. It can turn around.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What happened today, that she lost. That's sport.

MARTINA HINGIS: Tennis, it takes you on. Like I said, I mean, they come, they go, they have big serves, different kind of game. For me, it was much more work behind the scenes than the Williams sisters. Like Serena served unbelievable yesterday. She got so many free points. I watched the second part of the Sharapova match. Nice to be back at Wimbledon and see that.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: The game has definitely changed. It's just different.

Q. You were both household names at an early age. Doesn't seem to be that many teenagers at the top. You say the game has changed. Is that the explanation?

MARTINA HINGIS: I think it's mainly because of the rules, that they have so many restrictions, which I don't always agree upon.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I was under the restrictions.

MARTINA HINGIS: Now it's even harder.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I could only play eight tournaments a year when I was 16.

MARTINA HINGIS: Now it's even 18 and all these age rules. ANNA KOURNIKOVA: There's got to be a balance.

MARTINA HINGIS: You always have to find, like everyone peaks at a different time. When you're younger, you learn faster. I think when you're like 18, at that time it's already harder to learn.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: You're starting to analyze more, starting to be afraid more. You're not as fearless. When you're younger, you just go out there and you don't think about the consequences and stuff like that. You're fearless.

MARTINA HINGIS: Today you see the top girl who has pretty much been around Wozniacki, under 20.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Is she under 20?

MARTINA HINGIS: 19, 20. She's there. But then you see always the older generation still being there.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's hard to handle the pressure.

MARTINA HINGIS: I think it might be part of that, mainly the rules, the age restrictions.

Q. Could you both analyze the state of women's tennis right now, the popularity of the game, what you think it's lacking maybe.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think that right now there's still those amazing names: the Williams girls, Henin, Clijsters. Thank God they came back. I just think, to me personally from the outside, it looks like there's not that many household names besides those really four girls, plus Sharapova.

MARTINA HINGIS: It's quickly changing.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: A true tennis fan, he will know who Jankovic is, Wozniacki, people that are between 5 and 10.

MARTINA HINGIS: Even Ivanovic.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Before, I think it was many more household names. Hingis, Williams, Clijsters, Henin, Pierce, Sanchez, Graf, Capriati. We played in an era where I think there were many generations. There was the older generation, the medium and the younger. I think I played the late '90s. It was such a huge mix of generations and people. But right now, anybody who is outside of top 5 or 10, a normal sportsfans, I don't think they would recognize the names of the girls, even though they're amazing and good.

MARTINA HINGIS: We just had different style. Everyone had its own style. That made it unique. Pretty much now it looks very much the same, like the hard hitting, yeah. I think they just don't teach it anymore.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Now it's about the power.

MARTINA HINGIS: We just played a lot more tennis, so... Different way, different way of coaching I believe, you know.

Q. How does it feel to be back at a tournament?

MARTINA HINGIS: I was very much looking forward to this. Like Anna said, I played three exhibitions in England already the last three weeks, so I had some match practice.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: At least you played singles.

MARTINA HINGIS: I played Nottingham, Liverpool and Manchester. It's not in England only about the two weeks of Wimbledon. It's getting the tennis a little bit outside Wimbledon, getting it closer to the public.

Q. I mean, physically being back at a tournament after two years.

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, it's great, you know. It's nice to be on‑site again.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It is my first time in eight years. MARTINA HINGIS: You played a Grand Slam?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. I haven't played a singles match in like six years. The last one I played was with you in Chile or Brazil. That was my last one.

MARTINA HINGIS: Okay, wow.

Q. Anna, you did not reach a slam final. But you achieved such an incredible fame, really more than any other tennis personality. Could you talk about that. Were you surprised sometimes by your own fame?

MARTINA HINGIS: It's great we got such a great crowd again, even today.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah, it's good for tennis, I guess, hopefully. No, honestly I don't really ‑‑ I never really thought about my fame. To me when I was playing on tour, I stopped at 21, but every time before that I never really even thought about it, analyzed it, planned it. There was no marketing strategy or anything. When I was playing, I played the match, I would come here, talk to you guys, just because it was obligatory. I can't say that word. I had to do it, I did it.

MARTINA HINGIS: Mandatory.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah, mandatory. It wasn't that I wanted to come talk to you guys. Now I enjoy it. But before all I really wanted was get back into the locker room, get my therapy done, get my stretching done, go home, have my room service, get ready for tomorrow. Really, uhm, you know, the fame and everything, I guess most of it was created by you guys, by the media a lot of times, most of the time the yellow press. Never tried to pay attention. I mean, obviously it was a little hard times dealing with it being 16, 17 years old, reading some kind of crap about yourself, you know. Most of it was made up. But at the same time I understand why because I wasn't giving a lot of information. My mom tried to keep me very protected, which a lot of times people didn't really like her that much for that because she was trying to guard me in a way. If I had a 16‑year‑old kid, I would try to guard them as much as I can and keep the focus on what the kid is supposed to do: play tennis, work out, do your therapy. It's hard. I was being pulled in every single direction. Really there was no guides or rules. My mom and me, we were just learning everything as we were going through it. I was here 15 years old, Wimbledon. I played a Centre Court match. I wasn't even seeded or anything. It's a lot for a kid.

MARTINA HINGIS: Because of you, it reached also other people, not like just tennis fans, but sportsfans in general. I liked reading your stories (laughter).

Q. It seems you're fairly determined not to be at the competitive level again. You're fit enough, as far as I'm concerned. You were saying we need household names. We do need you.

MARTINA HINGIS: Thank you.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Thank you so much for saying that. It's really nice of you.

Q. It would be nice to see you back. No way you want to come back?

MARTINA HINGIS: We're going to play TeamTennis, like Anna said.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I would love to. I'm really afraid. I'm the kind of person that I don't want to come back unless I'm a hundred percent fit. I wouldn't put myself in that situation. I wouldn't want to let me team down around me that I'm going to get hurt. I wouldn't want the fans let down. I don't want to set myself up knowing that there's a chance I can't perform, that I can't be healthy a hundred percent. I'm kind of OCD that way. I need to practice my three hours, my four hours, to feel confident, to feel good, to be able to go on the court. Honestly, I don't feel that my body can survive it. I have five different problems with my pelvis area, torso, back. I don't want to go out there false. It's like going on the court injured and you call the trainer two games later. It's unprofessional, unsportsmanship‑like to me.

Q. What was the trainer coming on today for?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: (Holding her hand up.)

Q. What is it?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's a blister that's like bleeding.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Really, that's it? Suddenly when I'm older, I'm enjoying the press conferences (laughter). I thought we were just getting started.

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