What's surreal is that he delivered that quip to the host as the camera panned to his girlfriend, Kim Sears, off to the side, perched beside none other than the pristine Celine Dion as the interview proceeds.
DJOKE'S ON US Novak Djokovic won a lot of matches and lost none after submitting to Rafael Nadal in the U.S. Open final in September. Most recently, he tore through the ATP World Tour Finals field, and in style, a One Direction pop tart, Niall Horan, was on hand courtside for it. Seems fitting. The only direction for Djokovic seems to be up. The fight between the Serb and the Spaniard for the No. 1 ranking should make for a tantalizing plot line next season.
AS THE WORM TURNS Why try to summon a better headline than the one at left? That simply says it. If you don't know Radek Stepanek by now, you'll never, ever, ever know him—or you will, most definitely, by reading Ravi Ubha's definitive profile of his wacky 2013 season here. There's a lot to be writ, and it is there, about his young divorce from Nicole Vaidisova and fresh romance with Petra Kvitova.
EXHIBITIONS ABOUND Before 2014 strikes, there is, of course, a litany of high-end hit-and-giggle sessions that the pros have lined up. Two that appear stateside soon include the Ebix Charity Challenge—with John Isner as host and a cameo by Andy Roddick on Dec. 7—and Rajeev Ram's EntouRAJ for Kids event on Nov. 23, when Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan join him in your loyal Spin keeper's hometown, Indianapolis.
Which of these players or stories amuses you most, pulls you in? The Davis Cup final aside, we've got a short, seemingly long break now until these stars turn it on again professionally over the New Year's holiday.
Got a thought, a tip, or a point to make? Hit me on Twitter @jonscott9.
