Sports Business Journal is reporting that Nike is about to sign Roger Federer to a 10-year extension of its contract that “could be worth as much as $13 million a year.”

Rene Stauffer, the author of the book The Roger Federer Story, Quest for Perfection (click to purchase) also reports in Swiss Tages-Anzeiger newspaper that Federer’s potential deal would be more than what Nike paid Andre Agassi.

According to SBJ “sources close to the deal differed on whether that money was fully guaranteed or in part depended on how well tennis’ top male player performs on the court. If the contract indeed reaches that amount ($13 million a year), the deal would make Federer one of the top-paid endorsers at Nike in any sport.”

Just for comparison, basketball’s LeBron James has a seven-year, $90 million deal and is one of Nike’s top athlete contracts. Read more »

The most charismatic Russian tennis player Marat Safin is celebrating his 28th birthday today. Happy Birthday Marat! (TIB: Safin is scheduled to play for Russia in a Davis Cup tie against Serbia in Moscow from Feb. 8 to 10. He has also confirmed his participation in Dubai Tennis Championships.)

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Maria Sharapova for winning her third grand slam–the Australian Open title, reports Interfax news agency quoting Russian president’s press secretary Aleksey Gromov. Here is my beef with Putin. I remember somewhere (don’t remember where) reading Svetlana Kuznetsova’s interview, where she mentioned how she felt somewhat “left-out” when Putin didn’t call to congratulate her after winning the US Open in 2004. Earlier that year, Putin called to congratulate Maria Sharapova for Wimbledon, Anastasia Myskina for Roland Garros, but somehow things apparently got hectic for Mr Putin right around the time when Sveta won her title.

C’mon Putin. Pick up the phone and call to congratulate Kuzy! It is never too late…for Mother Russia!

Maria Sharapova beats Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3 to win Australian Open for her 3rd grand slam title.

Check out the image slide show of the 2008 Women’s Final.

When it comes to sponsorship and mega-million dollar endorsements, many talented athletes who see only prize money in their professional career, think “it is not fair.” But tennis, first and foremost, is business.

Marketers’ joy as Ivanovic, Sharapova face off

THE Australian Open has its dream final, a “glam slam” decider tomorrow between Russian temptress Maria Sharapova and Serbian siren Ana Ivanovic.

The two most photogenic stars in grand slam tennis will square off at Melbourne Park in a confrontation which has left fans and television executives drooling. Seven spokesman Simon Francis last night declared: “We are over the moon. Ana versus Maria is the stuff of dreams.

“Sometimes in sports television you hit the bullseye. We’ve hit it. Read more »

While Maria Sharapova’s father Yuri is “making” headlines for his “intense celebration” of Masha’s win over world number one Justine Henin, Maria does some explaining with media why her mother Yelena is never visible. Maria has been playing great tennis at this year’s Australian Open, and it is somewhat stupid that Mr. Sharapov has taken some of the attention away from his daughter’s exceptional tennis.

Q. Your father’s very visible. How would you say your mother contributes in a positive way to your career?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: My mom is just ?? she brings such good energy and positive chi into myself and all the people that are around her. She’s a very quiet and intelligent woman that, you know, that just is happy with life, with her life, you know, is happy for me. Read more »

If you have seen Serena Williams’ match against Jelena Jankovic (3-6, 4-6) , you already know that something was wrong with Serena. She didn’t move well, looked tired, frustrated, uninspired, and erratic. No fist pumping or “Serena-style-fired-up-staring” at the opponent. What was wrong with Serena? Was it mental? Was it physical? Both? During the match, the ESPN commentator Pam Shriver ran (literally) to talk to Serena’s camp to get some update on what’s happening. She was told Serena did have treatment to her right quad before the match, but nothing was serious. Serena’s explanation at the press conference, didn’t shed much light either as to what her problem was. But she was obviously not 100%. However, after reading her interview, it seemed to me the explanation was obvious.

You were quite listless in the first set there. Wasn’t an injury or a problem with movement?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I was having some issues, but I don’t like to make excuses. We won’t discuss those.

Read more »

Times Online conducted an interesting interview with Maria Sharapova before the start of the Australian Open. She dodges the question about the Playboy, but bares her soul on her dreams for the future, talks about her father Yuri, and childhood memories. The full interview is here.

It is very unhealthy to be David Nalbandian’s fan. He is absolutely unpredictable!!! When Nalby loses, I need at least one tennis-free day to recover, to digest his “I-don’t-know-why-I-am-playing-tennis” performance, and only then continue following the action. Nalbandian (the bookmakers’ fourth favorite) lost 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in the third round of Australian Open to 22nd-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero. It was unwatchable.

Que paso David?

(AP Photo/Rick Stevens)

We have officially reached to the point where Russian players start eliminating each other at Australian Open.

First Elena Vesnina was crashed out of the event by fellow Russian Maria Sharapova 3-6, 0-6. The winner of the next all-Russian match was Maria Kirilenko. She successfully eliminated sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze.

More Russian duels are on the way. Maria Sharapova faces another tough Russian on the fourth round namely eleventh-seeded Elena Dementieva. They have encountered on nine different occasions, with seven victories for Sharapova. In another all-Russian duel, big hitting Nadia Petrova meets Ekaterina Makarova.

On the men’s side, Nikolay Davydenko will play with Mikhail Youzhny.