MELBOURNE, Australia(AP) Rafael Nadal has abandoned his trademark sleeveless tops and capri pants for T-shirts and above-the-knee shorts at this year's Australian Open.
Not everyone likes it.
Sports bloggers and fan forums have been puzzled by his new attire, with at least one female blogger complaining that she missed seeing his sculpted biceps.
Nadal shrugged off the interest.
For sure, when you have a change, some people like (it), other people don't,'' Nadal said.Not everybody liked the sleeveless. Right now (is) gonna be the same, no?''
The more restrictive clothing isn't hurting his game. Nadal advanced to the third round Thursday after beating Croatia's Roko Karanusic 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
I feel good like this,'' he said.Important thing in the end is not the clothes, (it) is the ball and racket and playing well.''
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QUIET, PLEASE: Sebastien de Chaunac appreciated his vocal fans during his second-round match Thursday - all but one, at least.
The Frenchman was serving to American James Blake at the beginning of the third set when a man courtside began to encourage him. De Chaunac asked the chair umpire to intervene. Later, during a big rally, the man started again.
It was a pretty big point, it was probably my last chance to break James ... and the guy was talking to me before every hit, saying, 'Come on, come on, yeah, yeah,''' de Chaunac said.I could have won the point but I lost it.''
De Chaunac approached the man and spoke to him: ``I just told him in a bad way in French to shut up.'' The man apologized but later was escorted out when he continued to talk during points.
De Chaunac lost to Blake 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
I don't know if he was doing it on purpose or he didn't realize,'' de Chaunac said.He looked so happy to be there, maybe more happy than I was. It was kind of an awkward situation. You want to keep him on your side, but on the other hand, he's too loud.''
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BATTLE OF THE GENDERS: Asked for her greatest win, Serena Williams nominated a triumph over Andy Roddick when she about 11.
There's an argument about the score,'' said the second-seeded Williams, winner of nine Grand Slam singles titles.I think I beat him like, 6-1. He says it was 6-4. He always says he's ready for a rematch, but there's no need for a rematch.''
She said Roddick, winner of the U.S. Open in 2003 and seeded seventh in the men's draw here, will ``hate me for saying that!''
Williams said her victory came in a practice match in Florida when they were both much younger, but noted that ``age doesn't matter.''
And she had other ``unofficial'' wins, she said.
Indirectly, you know, I've beaten a lot of people on the men's tour,'' she said, laughing.Indirectly I have wins over (Roger) Federer, (Rafael) Nadal. Just so exciting.''
Other memorable matches were against her sister, Venus, including six Grand Slam finals. The younger Williams liked her win in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open last year - ``I think it was a great match'' - and in 2001, which was the first U.S. Open final in which siblings competed.
Serena Williams won last year and lost to Venus in 2001.
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HOT STUFF: With a 104-degree fever the night before, Argentina's Gisela Dulko didn't think she'd be on the court against Serena Williams, let alone battle through 12 deuces during a game in the second set.
Williams defeated Dulko 6-3, 7-5 in Thursday's second round.
For one part I'm really disappointed because I felt at least in the second set I had it really close and I felt I could play the third set better,'' Dulko said.On the other hand I feel good because I didn't expect to be on the court today.''
Dulko played with a fever and sore throat to win her doubles match with Italian partner Roberta Vinci on Wednesday and had a fever that night. The doctor gave her antibiotics for a glandular virus, and her fever was gone Thursday. She still had a sore throat.
She said she enjoyed playing against Williams, and considers Serena and her sister, Venus, two of the best players in women's tennis.
They are very powerful,'' Dulko said.When you have a chance sometimes they make a great serve, very fast, and you can't do nothing about it. They are very solid from baseline and very complete game. For sure they are (among) the best players.''
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APPEAL FOR CALM: Bosnian-born American Amer Delic, whose last match was briefly disrupted due to boisterous Bosnian and Serb shouting matches, is appealing on his Web site for all Balkan fans to keep politics out of the Australian Open.
Delic has already expressed concern that the ethnic tensions could get out of hand at his next match, against 21-year-old Serbian Novak Djokovic on Friday.
As we all know, Bosnians and Serbs have had some differences in the past, however, this is not the place nor time to settle those differences,'' he wrote in his blog.Novak and I are tennis players playing in one of the greatest settings in the world of tennis. I am only hoping for a fair fight that all the fans will enjoy, with the key word being 'enjoy.'''
He said fans had a right to cheer for their players as long as they did not interrupt play.
Police removed some fans from the arena during Delic's match Wednesday against France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, who compared the noise and heckling to a football game.