In Their Words: Aussie Open Interviews Days 7-12

Ekaterina, is that you?

 No, the Italian food, I really like it (smiling).

-Ekaterina Makarova on how she doesn't like being called Macaroni but likes the food

I know her, but I don't think that we look similar.  You like strange questions (laughter).

-Ekaterina Makarova on being told she looks like Gwyneth Paltrow

I have spoken to her years ago, but, you know, she was all about Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

-Martina Navratilova on Margaret Court's view on same-sex marriage

No, she did ask me like what kind of shoes should I take to walk on the course.  Just the most comfortable ones. 

-Ana Ivanovic on the golf questions Caroline Wozniacki asks her

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Australian Open 2012: Fashion Hits And Misses

Check out the fashion hits and misses of the 2012 Australian Open as seen by Kait O'Callahan who is reporting from Down Under.

Caroline Wozniacki has had to wear some hideous things of late.  She's been in all manner of frills, puffballs, and fabric that add an extra 10kg to her frame.  Thankfully, Stella McCartney has gone back to basics for Wozniacki's 2012 AO campaign.  Her bright orange dress fits snugly to her body, which compliments Wozniacki's figure far better than anything loose and flowy.  The dress flairs out around her hips and adds a bit of glamour when she swings through her backhand.  My only criticisms are that the back of the dress is far longer than the front, the pattern looks a little weird, and the visor should have been white.  Other than that, the world number one finally looks great.

Final Grade:  8/10

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In Their Words: Aussie Open Interviews Days 1 - 4

Video of a ball girl afraid of a large cricket she had to remove from the court

Yeah.  Bugs fell on my back twice.  I hate bugs more than you can imagine.  I hate bugs.  Like, they kept jumping on me.  I just, Yuck!  So I'm going to request not to play at night anymore because I hate bugs, except for the final.  I heard it's at night, though.  I'll try to get used to them.

-Serena Williams on bugs

So everybody arrives late because they thought that I am late, no? (Laughter).

-Rafael Nadal on why people were coming into his presser late

Actually, I didn't get my coffee in the morning today, so I was really pissed off (laughter).  So tomorrow I'm definitely getting it. 

-Victoria Azarenka on being tired because she mised her coffee

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Reading Room

Hey guys! Sorry I've been gone a for a bit, my "work-life balance" recently tipped heavily in the direction of work, but now fortunately for you (and me) things are back to normal.   Above is the year-end video from the WTA and below are some tennis happenings around the globe to catch you up.  Enjoy! 

Rafael Nadal has been busy during the off-season.  He hit the red carpet with his girlfriend Xisca at the Juntos Por La Integracion Gala and he also presented two awards to singer Julio Iglesias who is retiring from music.

Novak Djokovic is more popular than the president in Serbia. Don't believe me?  Click here.

Bernard Tomic says that he is a victim of police harrassment.

Serena Williams showed off her superman onesie.  For realsie.

and last but not least

Maria Sharapova took a chapter out of Caroline Wozniacki's book and interviewed herself for her website. 

As long as she doesn't say that a kangaroo bit her, it's all good.

Caroline Wozniacki Ends The Year At Number 1

Caroline Wozniacki will end the season as Number 1 in the world for the second consecutive year.  There was a battle between Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova for the number 1 ranking at the WTA Championships in Istanbul, but because Maria had to withdraw from the event due to an ankle sprain, Caro locked down the top spot which she has held for 54 weeks this year, losing it only once in February to Kim Clijsters.

After her match yesterday, Caroline posed with the No. 1 Trophy and when I saw this picture all I could think was, "Forget the trophy, I want that watch!"

Congrats!

Photo:  Getty Images