Love and Chopped Liver OT

Mornin', Tribe. This will be your Off-Topic/The Locker Room post for the next few days; I'll be posting later, of course, but then radio silence will prevail until I return to New York and post again, probably on Tuesday.

I don't know how many of you noticed, but Ana Ivanovic showed up to watch Novak Djokovic's quarterfinal match in the player-guest box, and then Jelena Jankovic did the same when Djokovic played Rafael Nadal. Hmmm. . . Ana is hotter than a two-dollar pistol, but Jelena is a pistol. Wouldn't it be fun if Novak had a sneaker for one of them?

And speaking of Nadal, did any of you catch his this exchange in one of his recent pressers:

Q.  I don't know if you keep an eye on the ladies tournament, but what do you think about the Belgian lady, Justine Henin?

A. Well, to be honest, I don't know much about the ladies tournament.  But, it is a bit different from the others -- but Henin is a bit different from the others.  She has a very complete game, and she's the one I prefer as a tennis player.

Q.  As a tennis player?

A.  Hey, hang on a minute (laughter).  What are you just saying?  I swear, I swear, this is not what I meant.  It's your fault, not my fault; okay. I was just saying this, because she can play beautiful backhands.  She runs more on the court.  She plays on the angles.  That's it.

Now wouldn't that be a pairing, Jet Boy and the Sister of No Mercy?

And since love is in the air, while monitoring the Jankovic-Nicole Vaidisova match via Eurosport's British feed, I caught an exchange between the commentators, David Mercer and Judy Murray (Andy and Jamie's mum). I'm going t paraphrase because I can't find the notes I jotted on it:

David: Ah, Judy, I understand that Jelena has a special "interest" in one of the Murray lads. . .

Judy (laughs): Oh, she seems to have an eye for Jamie, but that's not happening. . .

Shame on you, Judy, for being so indiscreet. Would you have been so forthcoming if it were Jamie with an unrequited crush on some WTA chica?  Hey, it's not like your boy is the next George Clooney, either. . .

Well, it seems like our Serbian friends have a healthy love of life, and since we're Ot. . . The other day, lovely Marie Jo, her sister, Isabel, and Rosangel (yes, our jet-setting, fly-in-for-the-semis Rosia) called me on the cell right after the Federer-Davydenko match ended, and they suggested we meet for a quick up of coffee. Sure, I said, figuring what the hail, the Mighty Fed presser can wait while I hang with the three lovelies for a bit.

I went out and over to the Flight Deck (the food court is raised on a giant platform), which is opposite the press center. I looked for MarieJ's striking white bandeau, or Rosia's raven hair, for a bit, but didn't locate them, so I figured I'd better get back to the press bunker. When I got there, I noticed I had a message on my cell phone: Hallo, Pee-ter. . . I instantly recognized Marie Jo's voice; it was breatlhess and excited. Sorry, but Novak Djokovic is coming on the court, see you later!

Hey, Marie, Rosia, Isabel - what's Novak got that I ain't got? (it's a rhetorical question, no need to answer that one, girls!). What am I, chopped liver?

Marie Jo and Isabel made it up to me when they insisted on buying me dinner that night. Think I'll start combing my hair like Novak.

BTW, does anyone think we need a social director to take up where Steggy left off? Anyone who wants to volunteer or nominate someone for the post, please email me via the Contact tab. On that front, I have a birth announcement from our resident tennis-playing, endurance riding cowgirl, Jess. She's had a busy spring; a late frost wrecked her garden, she's busy changing homes, and she's been playing 7.0 Leagues tennis. Plus, her fetching Arabian, Jessi, finally dropped her foal, of whom Jess writes: "She's a beautiful spitfire of a filly. She's dark bay now, but will turn grey like her momma. Three stockin' feet and the crooked-est little blaze, it's great. She was up and running in hours and Jessi is a great little mama."

Jess is a great little mama too; she's got toddler who keeps her plenty busy. The filly wasn't named as of last week, so feel free to throw out suggestions - and welcome the little pony  with the white stockings to the Tribe.