Jelena Jankovic, Gracious LoserSerena Williams won the U.S. Open last night, leaving Jelena Jankovic free to be the sorest loser. Like she’s freaking McEnroe or something?
Why Do Weather Reporters Need to Stand IN a Hurricane to Report on It?Do we really need Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, and Brian Williams in Louisiana when they could cover the hurricane and the RNC at the same time? Plus, all your daily finance, real estate, law, and media news.
it just happened
Natalie Portman’s New Man Likes Walks in the Park
It looks like the romance between Natalie Portman and Nathan Bogle that was first snapped at the U.S. Open, has legs! Literally — the pair were seen walking hand-in-hand through Central Park today, and damned if they weren’t caught by the paparazzi. Bogle, the model-cum-designer-cum-boyfriend (he used to design for Rag & Bone), is quite the looker, so kudos to Portman. According to JustJared.com, they’ve actually been dating for four months! We can only hope that photo-stalking of them remains at a minimum, so they stay in New York rather than decamp to Los Angeles where their every Starbucks will be dissected. Nothing would thrill us more than to see the couple out and about together in the West Village and not acknowledge them.
Nathan Bogle and Natalie Portman Holding Hands [JustJared]
Roger Federer Makes Anna Wintour So Very HappyThe most interesting thing about Anna Wintour’s intense crush on Roger Federer isn’t just that she’s showing up at the Tennis Center for even his early-round matches — Miss Anna was there again yesterday, to watch her man beat Paul Capdeville of Chile in straight sets — but that, even more remarkably, she seemed to be happy. What’s come over her?
Earlier:
At ‘Men’s Vogue’ Dinner, Roger Federer Makes Anna Wintour Giggle
Anna Wintour Fails to Lighten Up, Even Under Blazing Sun
intel
Anna Wintour Fails to Lighten Up, Even Under Blazing SunWhy does Anna Wintour look so mad? She’s at the U.S. Open; she should be having fun! Is it because she’s been exposed to sunlight? Nope. It’s because one of her dreadful aides has failed her once again. A Daily Intel spy spotted Miss Anna reaming out the hapless helper outside of Court 13 on day one of the Open yesterday because she was briefly denied access to the stands. Seems officials wouldn’t let her — or anyone else, not that that matters — in until a changeover. Bad assistant! Very bad!
photo op
Tennis Shoes
The U.S. Open started today. Roger Federer, the No. 1 seed, played Scoville Jenkins, an American. Federer won in straight sets. These are his shoes. We can only imagine what parts of Federer the AFP will be offering by the time this thing ends, in two weeks.
party lines
Serena Williams Likes Nadal, Russians Not as MuchOn Friday night, the Garden of Ono was overrun by tennis balls and Heineken kegs to celebrate the U.S. Open kickoff. Like fillies just learning to walk, young lady tennis stars tottered around hesitantly, their knotty calves unaccustomed to stiletto heels. Men sporting blazers and bronzer gleefully spectated. “I really like [Rafael] Nadal,” said Serena Williams, who was avoiding alcohol and snacks for the night. We tried to get her to dish on what happens in the stadium locker room, but she upheld an Open oath of omerta. “What happens there stays there,” she said. “It’s kind of like Vegas.” Her sister Venus, who sneaked in the back, kept incognito under a tennis cap (except to say hi to Kevin Connelly and Andy Roddick). We asked Serena what new girls we should look out for on the court. “You know everyone now is so young and so good,” she said, shrugging. “And so Russian.“—Amy Odell
gossipmonger
It’s Not Easy Playing Graydon CarterJeff Bridges has to wear a coiffed wig to play Graydon Carter in How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, but he didn’t wear a fat suit. Roger Federer told Anna Wintour that he will be wearing blue and white during the day and black at night for the U.S. Open, and Andy Roddick says that Elton John actually has a good backhand. Vivica Fox was allegedly drinking at their birthday party Tuesday night despite a court mandate forbidding her to on account of her March DUI. “Obama Girl” Amber Lee Ettinger is actually more enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton. Christiane Amanpour and other CNN staffers often saw Ted Turner in a bathrobe when he lived above CNN Center in Atlanta. Elizabeth Taylor will star in a play with James Earl Jones in December to raise $1 million to fight AIDS. Bill Clinton ate at Serendipity. Justin Timberlake’s manager got him a round of golf at Glen Oaks Country Club on Long Island.
