DWTS 13 Cast and partners revealed!

The participating professionals and the celebrities with whom they would partner were announced during the August 31 Good Morning America broadcast.

Granted, none of the names are complete unknowns to fans of Dancing with the Stars. 

Two of the new professionals, Peta Murgatroyd and Tristan McManus, appeared sporadically last season as members of the DWTS Troupe. 

This season, they have moved up to partnering with celebrities. The third new name, Val Chmerkovskiy, is the brother of DWTS mainstay Maksim and has performed on the show himself in the past.

The other nine professionals are veterans of Dancing with the Stars. 

With the exception of Derek Hough, who took a break this past spring, the returning professionals all appeared on season 12 of the show.

The official Dancing with the Stars season 13 pairings are:

• Ron Artest dancing with Peta Murgatroyd
• David Arquette dancing with Kym Johnson\
• Chaz Bono dancing with Lacey Schwimmer
• Elisabetta Canalis dancing with Val Chmerkovskiy
• Kristen Cavallari dancing with Mark Ballas
• Nancy Grace dancing with Tristan McManus
• Rob Kardashian dancing with Cheryl Burke
• Carson Kressley dancing with Anna Trebunskaya
• Ricki Lake dancing with Derek Hough
• J.R. Martinez dancing with Karina Smirnoff
• Chynna Phillips dancing with Tony Dovolani
• Hope Solo dancing with Maksim Chmerkovskiy

At first glance, there definitely seem to be some power couples going on here:

• Reigning champion Kym Johnson has pulled David Arquette -- arguably the most famous of the celebrities -- as a partner.
• Maksim Chmerkovskiy, widely believed to be due for a win, has a good chance with Hope Solo, provided that the girl has charisma to go with athleticism.
• Derek Hough might actually have a chance at a fourth win, dancing with Ricki Lake. The lady has more charisma and performance ability that you can shake a stick at.

Of course, this is nothing more than idle speculation until we see some performances from the stars and their partners. Until then, however, let the speculation begin!.

buddytv.com

Ok, totally called the Arquette/Kym Johnson pairing!.  As well as Chaz & Lacey. 

And I'm so glad Derek has Ricki.

Good choices!.

Looking forward to it already.

Didn't know Maks had a brother, wonder if they look alike.

Federer through 1st round at U.S. Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Federer showed that time was still on his side as the Swiss master rang the closing bell on Monday's opening day at the U.S. Open tennis championship with a quick victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Third seed Federer, who turned 30 earlier this month, completed a clockwork 6-4 6-3 6-2 win over 56th-ranked Colombian Santiago Giraldo to the delight of the Flushing Meadows night crowd.

The 106-minute sweep was the first step in Federer's quest to add to his grand slam record of 16 men's singles titles with a sixth U.S. Open crown.

A sixth title in New York would also break his tie with Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras for the most since tennis turned professional in 1968.

"It was a great atmosphere, great ovation when I walked out," said Federer, a favorite of the New York crowds. "I really enjoyed it.

"It's always one of those moments I guess you train for ... the first night at the U.S. Open."

Federer had little trouble disposing of clay court specialist Giraldo but the Swiss was not at his precision best, committing 35 unforced errors.

He looked shaky on serve-and-volley points by winning just one of six, while cashing in on 23 of 37 advances to the net.

Federer said the new surface at Flushing Meadows played slower than before and that he consciously had decided to work on coming to the net in the match.

"As the match went on, I think I started to get more solid and better, and that's a good feeling to have," he said.

Federer, who is also eyeing an Open victory to extend a remarkable string of winning at least one grand slam title in eight straight years, said playing at night provided a sort of sweet pressure.

"They can't wander around to different courts," the world number three said about knowing that all eyes at National Tennis Center nights were fixed on the marquee match.

"No avoiding the limelight. You do feel that pressure as well. When you miss a stupid volley, you go like, 'Yeah, everybody saw it. I'm a bit of an idiot right now. Better don't miss that next time because on TV everybody's watching.'"

The Open is Federer's last chance to add a 2011 slam victory to his prodigious resume after losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals in Australia, finishing runner-up to Rafa Nadal at the French and falling in the quarter-finals to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Wimbledon.

Federer next plays Israeli Dudi Sela, who battled back from two sets down to beat Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil.

reuters.ca

It actually wasn't as straight forward as the article is making it out to be, there were a few strange hiccups, but I guess the most important thing is to just get through the first one. 

I'm absolutely certain Fed will raise his level, and play more cleanly as he moves along (as per usual).

Novak Djokovic has fun imitating Maria Sharapova

The shtick maybe so 3 years ago, but it reminds me why I enjoy Nole in the first place (even if he is a constant thorn in Federer's side especially of late).

But damn, I mean come on the mannerisms are spot on! :D.

Martina Hingis Fancaster interview

http://www.fancaster.com/mediadetails.php?key=12439a2c6bdf94e7924e&title=Martina+Hingis+Exclusive

(Apologies Blogger does not like Javascript Embeds).

Agreed!.

The back to back Williams sisters beat-down is one of the single best match comebacks of her career!.

Remains a favourite of mine till this day.

Martina Hingis Kinect tennis game launch video interview

And here's a little video to go along with Sunday's post :).

Don't speak German, so feel free to translate ;).

Martina Hingis helps Microsoft with launch of new Kinect tennis game

Five-time Grand Slam winner Martina Hingis help Microsoft reveal that tennis will be one of the sports on Kinect Sports: Season Two. Martina played the controller-free game at Gamescom, a game convention in Europe.

Martina says, "It's really good fun and an enjoyable way to play tennis with my friends and family without needing a racket in my hand. With Kinect it's so simple, there are no controllers so all you need is your body!" 

Kinect Sports: Season Two is set for worldwide release from October 25, 2011. It features a slate of new sports, including tennis, darts, skiing, football and golf. The first game in the Kinect Sports franchise, Kinect Sports: Season One, has sold over three million copies since its launch in November 2010. 

shoppingblog.com

Hopman Cup wooing Federer and Hingis?

Tournament director Paul McNamee has announced his intentions of wooing Roger Federer and Martina Hingis to play Hopman Cup in January of 2012, after hearing of their potential partnership.

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 Aug 19, 2011 - A pairing that first gained attention as a hypothetical question after a World Team Tennis match in July could become a reality on the tennis court as soon as January.

If Roger Federer is able to convince Martina Hingis to return for mixed doubles at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the two might reunite on court for the first time in Perth, Australia at the Hopman Cup, the lone tournament outside the Grand Slams which features mixed doubles. 

Federer and Hingis teamed to win the Hopman Cup for Switzerland in 2001, which was Federer's biggest professional title at the time.

Russell Reid of The West Australian reports that Hopman Cup tournament director Paul McNamee plans to ask Roger Federer (again) if he is interested in playing Hopman Cup next year.

"I did get a no from Roger earlier in the year, but given there is this story circulating that he will be playing mixed doubles at the Olympics with Martina Hingis, I certainly will ask the question again when I go to New York," said McNamee.

McNamee's thoughts on Hingis' availability were considerably more definite.

"Martina has said to me that she would kill to come back here, she is a given."

Hardly sounds like he's talking about a woman who has expressed misgivings about coming out of retirement at all, does it?

sbnation.com