Blake Can't Get a Break

Once again, James Blake is on the sidelines. Like Icarus, each time this gentleman of the courts flies a little too close to the sun, part of his apparatus comes undone and he tumbles back to earth. In this case, even as his marginally readable biography, Breaking Back, shows surprisingly solid results at the sales counter, Blake's hardcourt season fell into the shadows yesterday when he had to withdraw from the Rogers cup, citing abdominal problems. The Racqonteur hopes his tummy feels better before New Haven so that Blake can put on a show for his hometown crowd.

Rafa’s Perplexing New Playmate

What’s the deal with Rafael Nadal pairing up with Lleyton Hewitt in doubles at the Rogers Cup? On the one hand, the Racqonteur loves the idea of Nadal playing doubles with anyone—silencing haters who claim he’s a one-dimensional baseliner. But playing with Lleyton? The red-faced Aussie scream machine? Spider sense says there’s an underlying business reason for this dastardly duo. (Maybe their agents are in cahoots?) Also, where does this leave Rafa’s close friend, occasional roommate and frequent on-court partner Feliciano Lopez? Time (or perhaps one of the Racqonteur’s in-the-know readers) will tell, but until then, let’s hope Rafa doesn’t catch any of Hewitt’s a-hole cooties.