Wow, this is scary to read.

Yahoo News! Tennis stars escape hotel fire

I have to say the image of Mirnyi standing on the street in his shorts is captivating. Is that wrong?

Not as captivating as Roddick's pictures for Rolling Stone:)

Although the report did not say so I am sure Safin and Roddick were sharing a room wink

Well, Roddick did beat his ass bloody at the Pacific Open in Indian Wells but it's a known fact that Safin is often surrounded by a bunch of young women, the so-called 'Safinettes'.

excuse me. But I do not take kindly to being left out. I like to refer to our group as "The Safinettes plus one" thank you.

mmmmmmmmm what an image!

So who on the ATP tour you suspect might be 'family'? No need to discuss the WTA...

who knows for sure? as far as I'm concerned, that's up to them to disclose and it's between the players and their boyfriends.

I'm not saying I have never touched myself while looking at images of Safin, Kiefer or Nalbandian. But to me, it won't matter whether they're gay or not.

Try using a Roddick picture and let us know if it feels any different; I know it does:)

sorry. I even saw Roddick interviewed on Today show this morn... he really does very little for me. He is just such a twink. I se dudes like him (without the tennis skills of course) all the time at my gym or at my gym. Like I said Kiefer, Nalbandian and Safin are MEN!!!

ITA ung ... I can see how people can find Roddick attractive, but he really doesn't do much for me. In person, he has a very cute face, nice hair, a GREAT ASS (Not a butt, but an ASS), but his body does absolutely nothing for me. He has scrawny twiggy arms, very little bulk in his chest, a fuzzy chest (which isn't bad in my book, but most guys in this area like their men smooth), no definition in his abs (again, not bad in my book, but most people around here like a six pack), and he's as pasty as I am. Give me a man ... like Rusedski, Henman, Robredo ... I'll have my own little manwich, I'll have Roddick work the video camera.

Nick

YES! You filthy bugger!
Better to see Max in these shorts. wink

sa - woooon!

Roddick may not be perfect but he is definitely the best and most consistent player among the goodlooking ones- including Safin, Henman, Rusedski, and the Argentinians that were recently humiliated by Belarus while Roddick lead the US to victory against Sweden. In my opinion, Roddick is also the most attractive top four player; I trust no Federer, Ferrero, or Agassi fans will take offense. As for Safin, I guess it would be hard to overlook the love handles...

I prefer Ferrero over Roddick every day ... especially if we're going by the standard that love handles are unacceptable, . (I personally prefer a man with a bigger build and a bit of pudge instead of the A&F clones that are out and about. Then again, different strokes for different folks.) Ferrero has a great body, ripped abs, a tight chest, great thighs, and I wouldn't put a bag over his face or turn off the lights if I was rolling around in the sack with him.

Nick

No one on tour comes close to the hotness that is Marat Safin. That man is a porn star waiting to happen. He was probably the cause of that hotel fire in the first place, so hot is he. (Unknowingly, of course. He cannot be blamed for his beauty.)

[ May 04, 2004, 07:18 AM: Message edited by: Gaga4Gaby ]

Amen to that Gaby. The fact that someone may throw Marat Safin aside because he has little bit of pudge aka love handles is just insane. Again ... different strokes for different folks, but damn ... there is more to a man's sexiness than whether or not he has lovehandles.

As for Marat ... Gaby, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself. The boy is mine. *backsnap*

Le Nick

I didn't understand the mention of Safin's lovehandles ... if they're there, they aren't very big. And Andy Roddick's belly is kinda round and swollen looking. I'm not saying Andy isn't a good-looking fella, because I think he's grown up nice, but he doesn't have Jan-Michael Gambill's abs or anything. Now those are some serious abs.

As for Marat, sadly, I think his current girlfriend looks like she's mean enough to take us both down, Nick. frown

Out of the 57 pictures of Roddick I have from Indy, his stomach always looks round, undefined, and he has some noticable love handles. Andy is a cutie ... I forced my ex to take down his autographed poster of Roddick down from the ceiling because I "can't get in the mood (used a different, less classy term) by looking at that pasty spindly twink" ... but his body is less than stellar.

Jan-Mike ... Whew, that man is hot but he's a bit too Ken doll for my taste, but again, I wouldn't kick him out of my bed and hell, I'd probably break out the video camera. Good times.

*sigh* ARGH Gaby! All of the good men are already taken ... I had such great plans for a ménage a moi avec Marat in Indy. Then again, with the way he goes through coaches, racquets, women ... there's a chance that he may be lonely in Indy, looking for company ... I'll be on him like white on rice.

Nick

Roddick lost today in the first round in Rome; we hope he will do better in Hamburg.
Andy may appear 'less than stellar' to some soft members, thanks for sharing, but just because he doesn't look like a steroid addict doesn't mean he is not athletic. Anyone able to serve at 135 mph deserves more respect than one-dimensional players like Ferrero that win only on clay courts in Spain and Monte Carlo.
As for Safin, he must have started that porn career already since hasn't won a tournamnet in more than a year and yes, the love handels ARE truly there and obviosuly not going anywhere.

You can prefer Roddick's appearance to Ferrero--it's a matter of taste, after all--but Ferrero is far less one-dimensional than Roddick? He has far more variety on his ground strokes than Roddick, and might even be a better volleyer. He certainly has a much better backhand, and his forehand is at least as good, certainly more consistent and flexible. Give Roddick an average serve and he's not top 20. As far as the clay court dig--Ferrero has been to the U.S. open final and the Australian semis in the past year, so he's hardly unable to win away from clay. How many non-hardcourt major finals has Roddick appeared in?

No one said Andy Roddick isn't athletic. A-Rod is obviously a great player, a great athlete, and a good looking guy. It isn't necessary to downplay other players' attributes, be they on or off court, in order to champion Andy. And it certainly isn't necessary to insult the other people posting in this thread. "Soft members"? C'mon, what's that about?

I agree with JC in terms of Andy's game, however. I'd say he's easily the most one-dimensional player in the men's top ten. His one dimension happens to kick quiteabitofalot of ass, but you still pretty much know what you're gonna get from Andy Roddick: big serve, big forehand.

I think this had an affect on Roddick losing in the first round yesterday. Next up, Hamburg...best of luck for Andy!!!

'Soft members'? Ummmm ... No. Poor naive circuitboi, you WISH that you could have my body. Frankly dear, I'm more cut and toned that you will ever be. The only circuit that you've ever been associated with is Circuit City. Moving on ...

No one EVER said that Andy isn't athletic ... but you're making comments about how Safin isn't attractive because of his "love handles" yet ... look at Andy, he has PROMIMENT love handles as well. I have pictures that I took to prove it dear. With your commentary about Safin, you sound like a hypocrite ... and if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck ... it probably is a duck.

As JC & Gaby said, you must be blind if you think that Ferrero is the most one-dimensional player in the Top 10. However, you must be blind if you can't clearly see Roddick's love handles ... so I understand your inaccurate perception of Roddick's game.

Nick

adding to what Hammerman said.... are you making fun of Safin's game?

Do you not remember in the US Open when Safin masically spanked your man, Roddick? Or does that not count since that wasn't a tourney win? and Safin's love handles? Puh-leeze. safin has a body that many of us would kill for. and the face? come on! Safin hands down baby!

Let's look at the facts and answer the questions:

JC, I have a tremendous respect for Ferrero and his Roland Garos title but it's funny that you mentioned the 2003 US Open final, as it was Roddick who defeated him in staright sets. Has Roddick appeared on major finals and won major tournamnets? 2003 season: 8 finals, 6 titles, including a Grand Slam, and semi-finals on two other Grand Slam tournamnets, all on three different surfaces.

UNG: you may have to follow ATP tennis more closely if you want to appear current on this discussion board: Safin defeated Roddick at the Australian Open, not the US Open; it DID count for all it was: a barely-squeezed victory in five sets that didn't do him much good anyway.

Nick: there must be more than one dimension to Roddick's play if he became No.1 and still IS ranked higher than Ferrero and Safin. On a personal note, I am glad to hear you have not only killer looks but also modesty.

Circuitboi, for somebody claiming to be so current on tennis, it's odd that you don't know that there are only four major finals a year. Roddick has only appeared in one of them in his entire career--last year at the U.S. Open. Even if you count the Masters series as major titles, he's never made it to a final on any surface other than hard court. Ferrero won the hardcourt masters series event in Madrid last year and made the finals of the Masters Cup in 2002 on a hard court. Houston, St. Poelten and the Queen's club are not major titles.

The fact that he was ranked #1 doesn't make him any less one-dimensional. It just says--as gaga4gaby has pointed out--that his one dimension is a hell of a dimension. You absolutely can win major titles with one dimension--the name Goran Ivanisevic ring any bells? In contrast, if Ferrero is one-dimensional, what is his dimension? His forehand is probably his best shot, but it's not dominant enough for him to get by on. Opponents would just hit to his backhand all the time. Roddick's unfortunate opponents don't have the option of avoiding Roddick's serve.

Nowhere have I said that Ferrero is better than Roddick--only that he's less one-dimensional, and much better on hard court than you are giving him credit for. Actually, right now, Ferrero isn't very impressive on any surface--not sure what's up with that.

I have to ask--have you actually seen Ferrero play in any match other than that awful U.S. open final, where he was pretty much zero-dimensional?

Circuitboi ... I find it interesting that you feel compelled to give out advice on modesty given the way that you have conducted yourself in this thread. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones dear. When you have the nerve to imply that the people who aren't fans of Roddick are "some soft members" ... you better believe that I'm going to make a comment about that. Bottom line, your comments make you look silly ... and I would think twice before implying something like that about the members of this board.

As for Roddick's ascension to #1 ... He had a GREAT hardcourt season after Wimbledon, but now that players are starting to figure out his game, he's not having the same degree of success. *shrug* Granted, his opponents can't avoid his huge serve, but most opponents attack his backhand, which ... while improved, is still attackable.

In addition, Safin was injured for a MAJORITY of 2003, therefore he is going to be ranked below Roddick. No brainer there. As for Ferrero, I think that JC said things best and as usual, I fully agree with his comments.

Bottom line ... Roddick is more one-dimensonal than Ferrero. There isn't anything necessarily worng with that because Sampras was #1 for years and his game was rather one-dimensional, but his game is also easier to exploit than that of Ferrero, Safin, et al.

Nick

circuitboi,

before you give me or anyone else advice about tennis. Let me ask you... do you even play the game?

I love how in many conversations I hear people discussing this guys topspin forehand or that guys slice serve. But they can't hit a forehand to save their lives. They're simply regurgitating what they hear from TV.

so then... let me tell you... I am a former competitive payer who has won two tourneys and most recently payed t my USTA 4.0 team. My coach now tells me that I don't practice enough. But I'm willing to put my game against anyone else's. including your's.

so then.... I didn't get the tourney right. But what you point out only makes it more true because the aussie is a more recent tourney than the US. and barely eke out? Puh-leeze girl! Safin was coming back from his injury riddled season. played what the analysts said was double the number of hours on court before playing Roddick.

What Safin showed is that he and Roddick have very similiar games. Except that Safin is bigger stronger and does everything a little bit better.

anyway.. when you're not out X-ing, circuitboi, would you like to settle this on court? I'll even let you serve first.

woah... i believe the proverbial gauntlet has been thrown.

I threw that gauntlet at you years ago, curt ... but I throw like a girl, so I missed.

It's nice to see my posts are getting a lot of attention; let me assure all my friends here that I wouldn't even dare imply anything insulting about discussion board members, even after they have done so themselves and blamed 'unability to get in the mood' on a Roddick poster.

Now, JC, the facts: Roddick DID win St. Poelten, Atlanta, and USTA on Clay twice; therefore, you can't say he's never reached a final or won a title on other-than-hard surface, whether you consider a non-Grand Slam tournamnet 'major' or not.
I used 'one-dimensional' in the abstract sense of the word, implying 'too predicatble', 'boring', and 'plain dull at moments' rather than 'being able to do one and only one thing'. I guess that's just my opinion but I don't find Ferrero's game nearly as exciting as Roddick's. Andy's performance can be literally stellar at moments but he can easily lose control of the game, too, and that's his greatest weakness: lack of consistency and ability to give a 100% all the time, although he has improved tremendously under Brad Gilbert I guess his playing could be 'one-dimensional' at moments, too, if we consider Federer 'milti-dimensional' and Ferrero and Safin 'zero-dimensional' most of the time.

On the Safin topic, Ung, you say he is bigger and better but still hanging low; that doesn't make sense and it sounds like a late-night 'male enhancement' advertisment. As for your 'being on X' slur, I find it hateful and insulting. I don't think anybody on this board is interested in your career plights or practicing habits, either.

first) when did I say he was "hanging low"? Those words are not to be found anywhere in my post. so... don't know what you're talking about there.


second) I'm not sure what things are like in Little Rock. But in most cities, when someone describes himself as a "circuit boy", there is a very clear implication of circuit parties and use of X, K, G as well as others. what else do you think "circuit boy" means?
So is it hateful or insulting? No. I'm only going by your own description of yourself.

third) you post no reply about your own tennis skills nor to my challenge. point taken.

[ May 09, 2004, 07:04 AM: Message edited by: ung ]

Now that we got that out the way, it's too bad Albert Costa lost to Nalbandian. I was hoping to see that hunk on the court again today.

Was that your Gauntlet? I just thought you dropped an earring.

Not to be an instigator, but this back and forth stuff is riveting. It's almost as hypnotic as watching Conchita lob balls at Coetzer for three hours.

Ung, Circuit... you're both pretty. So are both Safin and Roddick. Now stoppit. But if you kids ever do decide to take this to the courts, keep us posted. I'd love to hear the post match commentary. I'm guessing one junkballs the other to the point of insanity and only fuels the rivalry more. Leading to snippy remarks about the other's outfit. Isn't that how it always ends?

Oh my God that was funny. I played in a tennis camp all weekend and am sunburnt so crispy that is hurts to move, plus I pulled some kind of chest muscle that I didn't even know I had, so that laughter this comment brought about was quite painful ... but it was worth it.

And can I just tell you that I've been looking for that earring all over the place!

Now, circuitboi, the facts: what I said was The answer is still zero.

MY outfits definitely won't win any awards. and to tell the truth, I got "short man syndrome" so I don't junk ball. I hit the shit out of the ball with a lot of topspin one handed off both sides. I like seeing my opponents running side to side. especially if they have a nice boo-tay!

and last but not least.. I agree! More Nalbandian!

[ May 10, 2004, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: ung ]

Stop it stop it!!

I suggest you take your tired eyes away from the over exposed Roddick and brain dead Safin and have a slow, but sensual, look at Ivo Heuberger and Feliciano Lopez. No love handles or soft abs there!!

It might help.

Ivo looks like Lurch. Not that there's anything wrong with that ...

Heuberger and Lopez are fine men but the pictures of Mirnyi in shorts on the beach and changing shirts are fantastic. Chieseld body, cute chest, and perfect abs; I wonder if 'unknown' marital status, according to his webiste, implies something...too bad he has won only one title (doubles) in his career but that means he probably has more time to please and be pleased:)

For me the best looking tennis player by far is feliciano lopez wink my god have you seen him lately? That man has the looks of a greek god! And his body is amazing, he's got the lot talent, good looks, and a fantastic six pack to boot. No sign of scrawney legs or a pot belly! I first noticed him at wimbledon this year and couldn't take my eyes of the screen, word has got around with my girlfriends and me that this young speimine of a man deserves to be worshiped!

For me the best looking tennis player by far is feliciano lopez! he is also a supprisingly differant kind of spanish player too. He can play very well on hard courts and grass as we saw at wimhbledon this year. If it's looks that you want then look no futher than feliciano he's beautiful! he looks like a greek god, he's got a fantastic body no sign of scrawney legs or a pot belly! andy roddick is also very attractive too in a differant kind of way, he's more of "a bit of rough" as we say in the u.k. My girlfriends and i belive feliciano deserves to be worshiped,and drooled over more than anyone else.

Also does anyone no who andy roddicks going out with now? the last one i can remember was that model lauren bedford, or am i so far in the past that andre aggasi still has a full head of hair?

Thanks: liverpool!

Liverpool not sure who Roddick is dating at the present time but if true to type, maybe another B-Grade Hollywood actress/entertainer like Sampras, Aggassi(first time)Ginepri,Flipper,McEnroe etc.

Actually, I believe I first commented in these columns about the attractiveness of Lopez about two years ago so you cannot now claim the discovery but I agree with your comments. lol.
Anyhow, I see you are from Liverpool, home of some pretty hot soccer players but appalling bad weather.

Good luck.