Daily Racquet

Bryan Brothers "Open My Heart" Now Available On iTunes

If you follow Mike and Bob Bryan on the tennis court and the stage, you'll be glad to hear that "Open My Heart" a new song by the Bryan Bros Band is now available on iTunes.

According to the World's #1 Doubles team, the song was inspired by Andre Agassi's best-selling book, Open. On their Twitter page the Bryans posted, "Agassi's book was the inspiration for Open My Heart. He was our idol, the reason we had dreams to play on the tour."

The Bryan Brothers have been playing musical instruments as long as they've been playing tennis, often performing for family, friends and charity events. The twins released their first CD Let it Rip in 2009. The album features Bob playing the bass and keyboards, Mike on the drums and David Baron playing both the piano and guitar as well as the lead vocalist.

Available online at iTunes.

Let It Rip This Christmas With World's #1 Doubles Team

A copy of Bob and Mike Bryan's new CD, Let it Rip is a perfect gift for the tennis music lover on your Christmas list.

The new album contains five songs that feature Bob Bryan playing the bass and keyboards, Mike Bryan on the drums and David Baron as the lead vocalist also plying piano and guitar. During this year's US Open, the music-loving Bryan brothers worked their magic to convince fellow tennis players Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic to lend their “talents” to a song called, "Autograph." The track is about the attention famous sportsmen receive from autograph hunters.

The Bryan Brothers have been playing musical instruments as long as they've been playing tennis, often performing for family, friends and charity events. In 2009, they performed at four different ATP World Tour events including San Jose, Delray Beach, Houston, Wimbledon and Arthur Ashe Kids Day.

But just to prove their new foray into the music business isn't taking anything away from their tennis, the brothers finished the year by clinching the World Tour Doubles Title and the #1 world doubles ranking.

Both on and off the court, the Bryan Brothers "Let It Rip!"

Available online at iTunes.

Mike and Bob Bryan Let It Rip At Arthur Ashe Kids Day

 #1 ATP World Tour Doubles Team Bob and Mike Bryan debuted three new songs from their new CD Let it Rip at Arthur Ashe Kids Day. The new album will contain five songs that feature Bob Bryan playing the bass and keyboards, Mike Bryan on the drums and David Baron as the lead vocalist also plying piano and guitar.

The Bryan Brothers have been playing musical instruments as long as they've been playing tennis, often performing for family, friends and charity events. In 2009, they performed at four different ATP World Tour events including San Jose, Delray Beach, Houston and most recently Wimbledon.

Scheduled to be released September 1st, the new CD will be available at bryanbrothersband.com and davidbaronmusic.com.

New Venus Williams Theme Song To Debut At US Open

The 2008 US Open starts today and with it comes the debut of Venus Williams new theme song "Venus (I'm Ready)", written and recorded by Grammy Award-winning musician Wyclef Jean.

Fans of each other — the two met when they were paired for an upcoming episode of "Iconoclasts," the Sundance Channel television series — the song was inspired by the spirit, character and prowess of Williams, who recently took home her third Olympic gold medal (with her sister Serena) in the women's doubles match at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Jean, the Fugees founder, says he was  inspired by the spirit, character and prowess of American tennis champion.

 "Venus' determination and mental strength inspires me!," exclaimed Jean. "Much like Isis, her strength should be celebrated."

Jean's sixth and latest studio solo album, "Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant," features the platinum-selling "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)," Wyclef's first Top 10 single as a solo artist.

You can hear the song by clicking here to get to Wyclef's website. It will play as the site comes up. For a download link go to thehiphopmusic.

Yannick Noah: Famous French Tennis Player Turned Pop Star

Yannick Noah, the 1983 champion, has been highly visible at the 2008 French Open as the tournament honors him on the 25th anniversary of his French Open victory.

During his years on the tour, Noah was a very colorful and popular player so it may not come as a big surprise to anyone that since his retirement from the game, he remains just as colorful and popular — as a tennis player turned pop star.

Performing throughout Europe, Noah released his first album Black or What in 1991, featuring the popular track "Saga Africa" which he made the stadium sing with his players after the famous Davis Cup final win. In collaboration with Jean-Jacques Goldman, Noah released a second album in 2000 entitled simply Yannick Noah.

His latest album, Charango released in 2006, features 14 reggae songs inspired by Altiplano Plateau and scored major French radio airplay with the hit single Donne-moi une vie.

Get in the rhythm and celebrate twenty-five years of French Open history Yannick Noah style —hitting notes instead of hitting winners!

Available online at Amazon.com.

Serena Williams Hits iTunes For French Open Tune-Up

Want to know how an athlete like Serena Williams achieves her combustible mix of electric speed and long haul endurance needed to win a Grand Slam Tennis Tournament like the French Open? Find out from her custom-made workouts that are designed to improve speed, build stamina, and give you a boost when needed.

The first workout out is a 30-minute interval run set to a series of high-octane hits by Timbaland, Nicole Scherzinger, Fergie, Daddy Yankee and other Interscope Records artists. While you listen to the music, Serena sets the pace and offer tips and encouragement to help you complete your run.

Serena coaches you through a dynamic sequence of running intervals developed with world-class trainer Jay Blahnik. It starts with a comfortable warm-up and then tackles three fast-paced 'hustles,' which are each followed by a recovery period that allows you to catch your breath and get ready for the next burst.

Tracks on Serena Williams' "Interval Run":
01. Whatever U Like (Nicole Scherzinger)
02. The Way I Are (Timbaland)
03. Give It to Me (Timbaland)
04. My Humps (Black Eyed Peas)
05. Makes Me Wonder (Maroon 5)
06. Tambourine (Eve)
07. Impacto (Daddy Yankee)
08. Out of Control (State of Emotion) (Kenna)
09. Glamorous (Fergie)
10. Fergalicious (Fergie)
11. Pump It (Black Eyed Peas)

Like the traditional Interval Run, the Spontaneous Speed Workout consists of a warm-up period, followed by time stretches of fast-paced running, each followed by a chance to recover with help from Serena's favorite music, a mix of Mary J. Blige, Vanessa Carlton, Timbaland, and many more.

This work out differs from the pervious run because the intervals are unpredictable, just like match play. In the Spontaneous Speed Workout, Serena coaches you through a series of high-intensity speed bursts, which can be as short as 30 seconds or as long as two minutes. Serena keeps you sharp with her trademark mix of wit and style.

Tracks on Serena Williams' "Spontaneous Speed Workout":
01. Family Affair (Mary J. Blige)
02. Just Fine (Mary J. Blige)
03. Let It Go (Keyshia Cole)
04. Instigator (Kaci Brown)
05. Release (Timbaland/Justin Timberlake)
07. Apologize (Timbaland/OneRepublic)
08. Give It To You (Eve & Sean Paul)
09. Unbelieveable (Kaci Brown)
10. Nolia Fairytake (Vanessa Carlton)
11. A Thousand Miles (Vanessa Carlton)

Available online at iTunes.com.

PumpOne For Tennis Fitness

Need a little incentive to help you get in shape for the tennis courts? Try PumpOne — a personal trainer that fits in your racquet bag.

Here's how it works — you download a workout program, sync it to your iPod, iPhone, Nano, Zune or cell phone, and click through your workout while listening to your own music. When you’re done with an exercise, click the next button for your next move. Single workouts start at $9, packages start at $49.

And for the tennis player there's even a tennis-specific stretch and core package.

Available online at PumpOne.

PumpOne For Tennis Fitness

Wouldn’t you love to have a personal trainer help whip you into shape for the tennis court? But who can afford one? Enter PumpOne.

PumpOne offers more than 1,500 downloadable workout programs. You can concentrate on strength, weight loss, flexibility, or preparation for an event—the sectional league tennis championships, for example.

Here's how it works — you download a workout program, sync it to your iPod, iPhone, Nano, Zune or cell phone, and click through your workout while listening to your own music. When you’re done with an exercise, click the next button for your next move. Single workouts start at $9, packages start at $49. And for the tennis player there's even a tennis-specific stretch and core package.

A personal trainer that fits in your racquet bag — why would you leave home without one?

Available online at pumpone.com.

Get Into The Beat With "Anna Kournikova"

Looking for some tennis music for your weekend listening pleasure?

Binge's new CD, Anna Kournikova is now available. This smashing 13 song gem is a great “intro to binge”, featuring the title track “Anna Kournikova” in 4 different versions (rock, acoustic, Euro Dance, and Sports Instrumental).

It also features “Surrounded” & “Lately” from their debut album Ghost of Girlfriends Past (heard on Dawson’s Creek and Party of Five), “The First Time” (Dawson’s Creek) & “Kiss Me Before the Cops Come” from Swimsuit Issue. Includes the new hits “Luv Is A Three Letter Word” and “Hey Babe” plus the bonus track “Mood Swings”.

Binge, led by lead singer John Macom, is a smashed up pop-rock band from Hoboken, N.J., that has had songs featured on popular television shows Dawson's Creek, Felicity, American Embassy and Party of Five. Macom and the band are probably best known for their original underground hit “Anna Kournikova” and their ditty "Krispy Kreme Donut Song."

Inspired by the success of "Anna" and his love for the sport of tennis, Macom, along with Brooklyn's Joe Titone, wrote follow-up songs "Grand Slam Man" about Roger Federer, "It's Andy Roddick" about the American standout and "Maria Sharapova."

To downolad these tennis inspired songs or to order the new Anna Kournikova CD, go to: tennistunes.com.

How About Blonde Redhead?

Ever heard of Blonde Redhead? Me neither but according to the LA Times, "It's art music and heart music, with equal appeal to a Serge Gainsbourg fan as to a Sonic Youth fan, without ever sounding like either act"

As rich and densely layered as their last album, "Misery Is A Butterfly", but the overall mood of wistfulness, melancholy, and regret has been replaced by one of mystical wonder and renewed energy.

You can purchase this CD at Amazon.com.