Nadal and Sharapova - Winners of BNP Paribas Open

Rafael Nadal won his first major tournament after his comeback from a long injury layoff... in a tournament which fared the entire fab four group of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. It is an amazing comeback by Nadal and looks like he is a force to reckon with again...

Rafael Nadal staved off quite a challenge by the tall Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro beating him 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the finals of the BNP Paribas Open 2013 men's championships.

Rafael Nadal with Indian Wells BNP Paribas trophy celebrating his big victory after a long injury layoff...

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal wins Indian Wells Open beating Juan Martin Del Potro in a hard fought victory

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

In the BNP Paribas Open women's championships, Maria Sharapova beat Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 for an easy victory. This is the Russian’s first title of the season and 28th overall.

Maria Sharapova with her BNP Paribas trophy after beating Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the finals at Indian Wells

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

Russian top seeded Maria Sharapova with her Indian Wells BNP Paribas trophy poses for a photograph in front of WTA 40 Love campaign

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

A good start for both Sharapova and Nadal.. hope they continue their form for the rest of the season too!
The men's season looks quite promising with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray in the race... plus Del Potro, Berdych and Tsonga giving a good fight too.. tight and fighting tournaments ahead for the mens :) 

Caroline Wozniacki's Rolex association

Caroline Wozniacki has been associated with Rolex since 2010 when she entered into an endorsement deal with the popular and traditional tennis time keepers Rolex. 

Caroline Wozniacki's Rolex watch print ad

Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki's Rolex endorsement

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Agnieszka Radwanska visited the Rolex hospitality prior their match as part of the Hong Kong Showdown at the Asia-World Expo on March 4, 2013 in Hong Kong, China. Some of the pictures of that Rolex event and other Wozniacki's Rolex print ad shared below. 

Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska visit Rolex hospitality in Hong Kong

Caroline Wozniacki standing infront of her print ad for Rolex watches

Caroline Wozniacki poses for the camera infront of her Rolex print advertisements

Caroline Wozniacki's Rolex watch endorsement deal is on since 2010

Denmark's tennis player Caroline Wozniacki poses for a photo shoot for Rolex watches

Pretty Danish tennis sensation Wozniacki in a Rolex print advertisement

Rolex watches endorsement by Caroline Wozniacki

Pictures courtesy from the numerous internet sites and some from Caroline Wozniacki's own website too.. 

WTA 40 Love Campaign launches...

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) will honor four decades of growth and achievements throughout 2013 with a season-long integrated marketing campaign named 40 LOVE, which was launched on Wednesday 6th March at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Sharapova launching the WTA 40 Love campaign celebrating WTAs 40 years success

Pic courtesy: Sharapova's facebook page

As part of the celebrations a special logo was been launched and there will be a one-time gathering of former world No.1s in London later this year.

"The WTA has a storied history that is both inspirational and empowering," said Stacey Allaster, chairman and CEO of the WTA. "Billie Jean King's vision has become a reality, and 40 LOVE is a celebration of the world's No. 1 sport for women."

Here is a video from WTA's youtube channel launching the 40 LOVE campaign.

Showcasing the pioneers of the game and the current stars that all contributed to the ongoing success of women's professional tennis, 40 LOVE is an international marketing campaign that utilizes multiple platforms, with a focus on increased fan engagement around the world. Leveraging the WTA's 54 tournaments in 33 countries and the game's global icons, the WTA will honor historic milestones, headlined by a celebration of women's tennis and the champions of the WTA at an event that will include the gathering of former World No.1s in London.

Maria Sharapova showcases 40 LOVE logo

Pic courtesy: Sharapova's facebook page

Russia's Maria Sharapova shoots for WTA 40 Love Campaign

Pic courtesy: Sharapova's facebook page

The WTA also launched a new, special anniversary 40 LOVE logo to celebrate four spectacular decades of women's tennis. This new mark is an extension of the current WTA logo, a distinctive and modern reminder of the captivating athleticism and excitement that has driven the international popularity and growth of women's professional tennis and placed it firmly at the nexus of sport and entertainment. The 40 LOVE brand mark will be fully integrated throughout the WTA and women's tennis, including through on-court net signage, in television graphics, print materials, tournament branding, advertising, promotion, and digital and social media throughout the 40th Anniversary season.

Tennis star Sharapova launches WTA 40 Love Campaign logo

Pic courtesy: Sharapova's facebook page

Fans can follow 40 LOVE throughout 2013 at wtatennis.com, facebook.com/wta and twitter.com/wta.

"It's the 40th anniversary of the WTA this year and I am helping them launch a cool new campaign called 40 Love. Here are some fun images we shot yesterday to celebrate," said Sharapova via her Facebook fan page and sharing some of these pictures from the photoshoot.

Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Azarenka & Ivanovic at Indian Wells expansion program

Getting Roger Feder, Rafael Nadal, Victoria Azarenka and Ana Ivanovic all under one frame is pretty rare. But, it did happen earlier this week at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the home for BNP Paribas Open.. which is a pretty popular tennis event outside the four grand slams. 

Top tennis stars came to lay the foundation for the expansion of Indian Wells tennis garden with Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle and co-owner of the BNP Paribas event....

From left - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Larry Ellison, Ana Ivanovic, Victoria Azarenka and Novak Djokovic at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden expansion event

Pic coutesy: Nadal's facebook page

Some of the expansion ideas shared by Larry Ellison includes a court-side Sushi and a new 8,000 seat stadium. 

Take a look at some of the pictures taken during the ground breaking ceremony of the expansion program at Indian Wells Tennis Garden headed by Raymond Moore, the CEO of BNP PARIBAS Open.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Ana Ivanovic, Victoria Azarenka and Novak Djokovic serve during the Indian Wells expansion program ground breaking ceremony

Pic courtesy:  Azarenka's facebook page

"How cool is this!? Roger, Rafa, Ana, me and Djokovic serving at the photographers!! Sorry guys ;)," said Vika Azarenka on her facebook page

Ivanovic, Nadal, Federer, Azarenka and Djokovic does the ground breaking formalities at the Indian Wells expansion site with Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle and partner at the BNP Paribas Open

Pic coutesy: Nadal's facebook page

Azarenka shares a light moment during the photo shoot of the BNP Paribas Indian Wells event expansion program

BNP Paribas Open expansion ground breaking ceremony conducted at Indian Wells and attended by the tennis stars Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Azarenka and Ivanovic

Pic credit: Billie Weiss/BNP Paribas Open

Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy backing each other

Rory McIlroy, the World Number 1 Golf player and Caroline Wozniacki, a top tennis women player used to be the hottest couple in the town when both of them at their top of the games came together and started dating since the summer of 2011. But, all of a sudden the whole world is talking about these two stars whose form has taken quite a slump since they started seeing each other.

Northern Ireland's golfer Rory McIlroy and tennis girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark taking a hit in their careers but not in their relationship

Caroline Wozniacki's struggle to win a grandslam has tough been widely talked about, she was still good at her game but last year her ranking slipped further and she is currently ranked 10th and hasn't been doing well of late.
On the other side, Rory McIlroy has yet to make a cut this year, and last week he stormed off the course in the middle of an awful round and withdrew from the Honda Classic citing a silly reason too (a tootache!)

Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki with boyfriend Rory McIlroy during a vacation

Pic courtesy: McIlroy's twitter

Many predicted they might part ways but Caroline Wozniacki replied to a small group of reporters at the BNP Paribas Open, “We’ve been in the media spotlight for so long separate as well, you know, so it’s not like it’s something new. I think we’ve gotten used to that part of it. We don’t really pay attention to it anymore. Unless it’s a rumor like the there was the other day that we’ve broken up and I was like ‘Oh really? I didn’t realize that. Thanks for letting me know.’”

Rory McIlroy playing tennis with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki

Pic courtesy: UPI/John Angelillo

Madly in love - Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki dating

Golfer Rory McIlroy with tennis superstar Caroline Wozniacki sharing Christmas 2012 pictures with all the fans

Pic courtesy: McIlroy's twitter

Rory McIlroy and his girlfriend, tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, pose with his trophy (left) for winning the Europen Tour money title and his trophy (right) for winning the DP World Tour Championship

Pic courtesy: Michael Casey, Associated Press

Caroline Wozniacki supporting boyfriend Rory McIlroy at the golf circuit in Dubai

Cute couples Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy share a laugh

But seriously guys.... give these wonderful couple a break... Given the amount of scrutiny that goes into all these celebrity sportstar's lives, its tough to live upto expectations... heck.. its tough to even have a private life. I'm sure Rory will regain his form and come back strongly, though he should accept the blame himself and work on his game rather than finding excuses. As for Wozniacki, what can I say.... this pretty Danish star has got a good game but need to have the fire power to win grandslams.. She is still young.. so, lets hope she works on that and comes back to win a grandslam.
As for the couple, Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki... enjoy your time together.. thats what I'll say :)

Players with Legends - Djokovic with Pete Sampras

Another one in the Players with Legends series - World Number one tennis player Novak Djokovic met the legendary Tennis star Pete Sampras... one of all time bests in tennis...

Novak Djokovic shared this picture with his fans in facebook... was so happy to see these two players in one frame...

Legendary tennis star Pete Sampras of US with Novak Djokovic, the current World No.1 tennis player

Pic courtesy: Novak Djokovic's facebook

Players with Legends: Maradona meets Wozniacki, Sania and Bethanie

Starting a new series.... Players with Legends.... when current players run into the Legends of sports....

The first of the series is soccer legend Diego Maradona of Argentina Danish meeting tennis stars Caroline Wozniacki, Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the Dubai Championships on February 20th 2013.

Football legend Diego Maradona poses with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during the WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship.

Wozniacki also got an autographed Maradona's football jersey

Pic courtesy: Caroline Wozniacki's twitter

WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis doubles champions Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands pose with soccer legend Diego Maradona

Pic courtesy: Bethanie Mattek-Sand's twitter

Caroline Wozniacki said in her twitter "Had the honor to meet and talk to the legend of football! :))"

Pic courtesy: Caroline Wozniacki's twitter

Soccer legend Diego Maradona kisses the doubles champion Bethanie Mattek-Sands of USA who won the women's doubles title with India's Sania Mirza

Pic courtesy: Bethanie Mattek-Sand's twitter

Football legend Diego Maradona meeting tennis star Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

Football legend Diego Maradona of Argentina meets Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during the WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship

Pic courtesy: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Rafael Nadal's Bacardi "Mix with Rafa" event..

Rafael Nadal is back in action.. this time off court as the global social responsibility ambassador of Bacardi's "Champions Drink Responsibly" campaign. 

Bacardi Limited's “Champions Drink Responsibly” campaign offers the chance to “Mix with Rafa” in a new online promotion to meet him in person. 

Rafael Nadal poses for Bacardi Limited's Champions Drink Responsibly campaign

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Fans who successfully answer three questions relating to responsible drinking behavior will go into a free prize draw to win a trip to “The Champions’ Party.” 

Nadal's "Mix with Rafa" contest poster to meet him personally at the Champions' Party

@championsdrinkresponsibly

This competition is open till 8 April 2013, and legal drinking age consumers can enter the competition via the “Champions Drink Responsibly” Facebook page. “The Champions’ Party” will be hosted by multiple Grand Slam winner and tennis champion Rafael Nadal. The Bacardi Limited Global Social Responsibly Ambassador has taken a personal interest in this new promotion and helped the “Champions Drink Responsibly” team select the location, entertainment, music, food and drink for the one-of-a-kind party. The undisclosed venue will be spectacular, with international DJs and world-class Bacardi mixologists preparing cocktails and mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) for the lucky winners and their guests.

"I try to beat everyone at tennis, not at drinking", says Rafa Nadal in the Champions Drink Responsibly campaign by Bacardi Limited 

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Rafael Nadal in Champions Drink Responsibly campaign for Bacardi Limited

Rafa saying "I'd always tell my friends where the line is"

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Rafa Nadal, the the global social responsibility ambassador of Bacardi Limited

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Rafael Nadal with a social message for Bacardi Limited Champions Drink Responsibly campaign

@championsdrinkresponsibly

Keep it together says Rafa Nadal in this poster for Bacardi Limited's Champions Drink Responsibly campaign

@championsdrinkresponsibly

The “Champions Drink Responsibly” campaign was first introduced by Bacardi Limited in April 2008 and featured seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher with the message “Drinking and Driving Don’t Mix.”

This is an important campaign and the message that these stars are trying to convey shouldn't be lost in the race to meet Nadal. But yeah.... try your luck in the contest @championsdrinkresponsibly and see if you can meet Rafa at the Champions' Party. 

WAGS: Rafael Nadal and girlfriend Xisca

Rafael Nadal and Maria Francisca Perello - One of my favourite tennis celebrity couple. Nadal and Xisca (as Maria Perello is fondly called) are seeing each other since 2005 and the relationship is almost 9 years old. The key to their strong relationship - trying to stay away from public eye and maintain their private life as quietly as possible.

Rafael Nadal and his girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello dressed for an event

Nadal has been dating Maria Francisca Perello who is an insurance company employee from Palma, Majorca. Xisca has also got a degree in Business Administration.

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal and his longtime girlfriend Xisca

In October, 2012 Maria Francisca Perello "Xisca" was appointed the Director for Social Integration of Rafael Nadal Foundation, in what appeared to be a big step into the future state of their relationship. 

Here are some more pictures of Nadal and Xisca.... some which I liked....

All pictures are taken from the public domain and I don't own the rights to any of them. 

Maria Francisca Perello and boyfriend Rafael Nadal 

Rafael Nadal's cute girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello or Xisca as she is fondly called giving a beautiful smile

Rafael Nadal and Xisca keeping their relationship low profile

Nadal's girlfriend Xisca cheering him in the tennis court

Rafael Nadal's beautiful girlfriend Maria 'Xisca' Perello

 Rafael Nadal's mother Ana Maria Parera (L), his sister Maria Isabel Nadal (R) and his girlfriend, Maria Francisca Perello, sit on Centre Court for Nadal's men's singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London July 3, 2011.

Pic courtesy:  Reuters 

Spanish tennis start Nadal's girlfriend Xisca attending an event

Xisca, Nadal's girlfriend, posing for the camera

Nadal and girlfriend Xisca holidaying

Nadal and his cute girlfriend Xisca's picture taken during their initial years of relationship

Nadal's longtime girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello "Xisca" was appointed the Director for Social Integration of Rafael Nadal Foundation

Hope we see Nadal and Xisca tying the knot soon enough... this is one couple I like to see go a long way...