The Australian Open is already just around the corner! Australian Open 2012 was launched last week at Melbourne Park by the Premier of Victoria, Ted Baillieu, and Aussie legend Roy Emerson.

Australian Open 2012 is set to offer the highest prize money in the history of Grand Slam tennis. The total prize pool will be $26 million, with the men’s and women’s champions taking home a record $2.3 million each.

A few other initiatives have been announced:
- the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, will head to China for the first ever international leg of the Australian Open Trophy Tour this week.
- Hawk-Eye to be introduced on Margaret Court Arena
- bigger and better Grand Slam Oval following redevelopment work, with improved access and additional space
- expanded merchandise range to include prestige memorabilia collection
- Australian Open Kids Day returns with more activities and opportunities for kids to play on the Australian Open courts
- improved player facilities, with a new player lounge, gym and entertainment options including a shark aquarium and live music performances.

The Australian Open is my second favorite Grand Slam (the first being Wimbledon, of course), and I am always amazed by their innovations and how they take care of the spectators.

Stay tune for more coverage of Australian Open 2012!

The Homage T-Shirts are adorned with sports and pop culture references in perfectly done vintage printing. Two tennis-related shirts are on sale (28$): the Billie Jean King and the Battle of the Sex t-shirts.

On September 20, 1973, the Houston Astrodome hosted “The Battle of the Sexes,” in which 29-year-old Billie Jean King accepted the challenge of former Wimbledon men’s singles champion Bobby Riggs, who claimed that women’s tennis was so inferior to the men’s game that he could, at 55, defeat the current top female players. In front of over 30,000 fans and a worldwide TV audience estimated at 50 million people in 37 countries, King hammered Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Still considered one of the most significant events in garnering respect for women’s tennis, the match is one of King’s lasting legacies.

The Homage T-Shirts are adorned with sports and pop culture references in perfectly done vintage printing. Two tennis-related shirts are on sale (28$): the Billie Jean King and the Battle of the Sex t-shirts.

Over the course of her 25-year career, Billie Jean King won nearly 700 matches, 129 titles (including six Wimbledon and four U.S. Open titles) and was ranked #1 in the world on six separate occasions. Easily one of sports’ most intriguing and electrifying figures of the 1960s and ‘70s, King became the first tennis player (male or female) and the first female athlete ever to be named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, in 1972. By founding the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973, King helped unite all of women’s professional tennis in one tour, increasing financial opportunities not only in tennis but across women’s sports.

“Ever since that day when I was 11 years old, and I wasn’t allowed in a photo because I wasn’t wearing a tennis skirt, I knew that I wanted to change the sport.”

Some pics of Nadal rocking his Nike outfit during the Davis Cup semifinals against France:

Spain, Serbia, Argentina and France battle this week end for a place in the 2011 Davis Cup final.

Spain vs France

Spain leads by 1-0 after Rafael Nadal‘s easy win over Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-0 6-1. Gasquet lost his serve in the first game of the match and after that there was only one player on the court.
And 2-0 for Spain, David Ferrer dispatched Gilles Simon 6-1 6-4 6-1.
Llodra and Tsonga totally dominated Spanish heartthrobs Lopez and Verdasco 6-1 6-2 6-0. 2-1 for Spain before the reverse singles on Sunday.
Nadal secures Spain’s spot in final, the third in four years, with his win 6-0 6-2 6-4 win over Tsonga.

Serbia vs Argentina

Novak Djokovic pulled out of Serbia’s opening singles match against David Nalbandian. He was replaced by Viktor Troicki.
David Nalbandian gave the first point to his team with his four sets win 6-4 4-6 6-2 6-3.

Defending champion Serbia is in big trouble after Janko Tipsarevic’s loss to Juan Martin Del Potro.
The Serbian team came back to 1-2 after the victory of their doubles team.
In the fourth rubber, Novak Djokovic retired, trailing Juan Martin del Potro 6-7 0-3.

Argentina will face Spain for a remake of the 2008 Davis Cup final.

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Here’s a first look at Nike’s Roland Garros 2012 collection for Roger Federer.
Federer will wear his signature shoe, the Nike Zoom Vapor Tour 9 SL.

Via Sneakernews