Roger returns…

Readers of my old Out In Hollywood blog know that I’m a huge tennis fan and, in fact, hope to make it next week to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. It’s great to see the matches but even more fun to go out to the practice courts and see all the top stars work on their shots. A lot of the guys like to do this shirtless since it’s so hot in the desert so that’s an added bonus! You should see the huge crowds that gather whenever Andy Roddick or Marat Safin decide to work on their tans the same time as they work on their game.

If we’re lucky, we’ll get to see another epic duel between top-ranked Rafael Nadal and the great Roger Federer, winner of 13 grand slam singles championships – including last year’s US Open. Federer has not played since losing an epic five-set battle against Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open and is eager for another shot at his great rival.

“I’ve got the motivation,” he said at a press conference Wednesday. “I don’t know how much better he can play or how much better I can play, but I’m right there and he’s playing the tennis of his life. I think for me that’s a good sign. He’s the greatest challenge I’ve ever had.”

I’m a huge fan of both Federer and Nadal so this is one of those rivalries where you can be happy for either one of them because they both are such greats sportsmen and play with so much heart.

UPDATE: I’ve just read on RogerFederer.com that the great star and his girlfriend are expecting their first child! Writes Roger: Mirka and I are excited to let you know that we will be parents this summer! Mirka is pregnant and we are so happy to be starting a family together. This is a dream come true for us. We love children and we are looking forward to being parents for the first time. Mirka is feeling great and everything is going well.