His confession to Police in the spot-fixing saga was under duress says Sreesanth.

Banned fast bowler S Sreesanth claimed innocence in a letter to the BCCI`s disciplinary Committee and said his confession to Police in the spot-fixing saga was under duress.

"Under the threat of arrest of my close relatives a statement was forcibly taken in the manner directed by the police," said Sreesanth, who was banned for life after being found guilty of spot-fixing in the IPL in an internal inquiry conducted by the Board`s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit chief Ravi Sawani.

"There is no confusion recorded by me willingly to the police. The police have mentally and physically harassed me and obtained signed statements. The conclusion arrived at by the Commissioner of Enquiry that I have committed offences ... is based on conjectures, guesses, inferences, and inadmissible police reports" Sreesanth said in the letter which was submitted to the Disciplinary Committee just before the hearing.

"The police have not intercepted any conversation between me and any others in support of the wild and fantastic charges levelled against me which has put me into manifest injustice and prejudice as I had no opportunity to refute them," said the 30-year-old pacer.

Sreesanth said it is too "distressing" for him because there is no concrete evidence against him.

"As regards seeking, accepting, offering or agreeing to accept any bribe there is no trace of evidence pointing out to any such incident at all," the Kerela pacer said.

"As regards the charges I respectfully beg to submit that all of them as has been conceded in the report itself are based on media reports and not any concrete and reliable evidence", he said.

"To cut short a cricket life like that solely on the basis of unreliable media reports, suspicions, generalizations, statement by accused etc will be too distressing to bear for me," Sreesanth said.

There are allegations that Sreesanth had given away 14 runs during an IPL 6 match and he had signaled to the bookies by putting a towel in his trousers and stretching before the over.

However, Sreesanth refuted all these allegations, saying it was a normal practice to use a towel or warming up before an over.

"It is not uncommon to use a towel in afternoon matches particularly in a place like Mohali in the month of April-May. Enough photographs are there to show that in many of the earlier matches I played, white colour towel had been used by me," he wrote in his letter.

"What is alleged as warming up against me is not really warming up but a manner of play which I did in other plays also. Conceding of 14 runs, I may respectfully point out that there was no guarantee that the Captain will ask me to bowl in a particular over," he said. 

Allow my son to be himself and to have his own identity," Tendulkar said.

Playing the role of a protective father, senior India batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday asked the media to leave his "cricket mad" son Arjun alone and allow him to play the game without any pressure.

Tendulkar, who was felicitated by the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai for scoring 100 international centuries, said that he wanted his 14-year-old son to have his own identity and not be compared with him.

"My son has played a match today. First club match, an official match. He is passionate, he is madly in love with cricket. But the other things that go around the cricketer and not just the on-field activity but whatever he gets to hear or gets to read or the way it gets projected, I would appreciate if everyone allows him to be himself and to have his own identity and enjoy his cricket above all," Tendulkar said.

"Since I am here and the entire sports journalists' fraternity is sitting over here, I am going to be a protective father. When I started playing cricket, though my father was a professor and was in literary field, at no stage I had this pressure from anyone who said you are playing cricket but how about following your father's footsteps," he said.

"At no stage of my life, there were comparisons. He (Arjun) started his career, so it is a humble request if he can live his life like a normal 14-year-old, without thinking about anything else except falling in love with this sport," he added.

Tendulkar, who became the first player to score 100 tons in international cricket, was conferred with a special award.

The senior batsman remembered the first time he was felicitated by the association in 1987, and said the rickshaw ride at that time was quite comfortable.

"I can't forget the rickshaw ride. It was really comfortable in those days especially when you are carrying big kit bags and travelling by train and bus. That evening was a memorable one especially as Sunil Gavaskar had just retired from Test cricket and he was present there," he said.

Tendulkar advised the other award winners to have a positive mindset to excel in their respective fields.

"From my own experience and my own journey, I can tell you he is enjoying every moment. There will be some challenges along the way but embrace those challenges. Don't find short cuts. Continue to make the nation proud. They (sports journalists) play a huge role in making players and not supporting players. You give them a reason to support you. Their actions are always followed by your performances," Tendulkar said.

"To be able to perform consistently over the years, the mental frame of mind has to be positive at all times. You need positive energy flowing through your body, which will allow those free moments and bring out the best in you," he said.

He added that he was shy by nature and learnt to speak longer sentences to the questions asked by the media. 

Life ban for Sreesanth and Ankeet for IPL spot fixing.

Rajasthan Royals cricketers Shantakumaran Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan have been banned for life here Friday for their involvement in the spot fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

 

Amit Singh and Siddharth Trivedi, who too have been found involved in the scandal, have been handed down bans for five years and one year respectively. The bans were announced by the disciplinary committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

 

Young left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh has been let off with a warning while Ajit Chandila's case will be taken up later.

 

"Sreesanth and Chavan have been banned for life for their involvement in the spot fixing scandal. Amit Singh has been banned for five years while Siddharth Trivedi for one year. Harmeet Singh has been let off with a warning for not reporting to the authorities that the bookies had approached him," BCCI vice-president Niranjan Shah told IANS.

 

BCCI president Narayanaswami Srinivasan chaired the meeting with vice-presidents Niranjan Shah and Arun Jaitley, who were the other members of the panel.

 

"The evidence was different against each of the accused. The decision of the disciplinary committee is binding. Since the decision is about the players, it need not be ratified by the annual general meeting or any other body," Jaitley told reporters.

 

The cricketers were caught in the IPL scandal and chief of BCCI's anti-corruption unit Ravi Sawani recommended ban on them in his report submitted to the board last month.

 

Sawani, a former chief of the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption unit, was asked to investigate the alleged involvement of Sreesanth, Chavan and Chandila in conceding a pre-determined number of runs per over in exchange for money during the IPL's sixth edition which concluded recently.

Arsenal has pinned its hopes on record-signing Mesut Ozil.

With the disruption of the international break over, Premier League clubs will be looking for their late additions to make an instant impact this weekend.

Arsenal has pinned its hopes on record-signing Mesut Ozil, the only transfer fee paid out by the club in the recent market window.

The Germany playmaker is in line to make his debut at Sunderland on Saturday after joining from Real Madrid for 50 million euros ($67 million) on Sept. 2.

"Of course it is very physical here, but it is a man's sport and I am really glad to play in the best league in the world," Ozil said Thursday. "I want to prove myself in England."

After a losing start, Arsenal responded with back-to-back wins, and Ozil's arrival has further improved the mood at the Emirates Stadium.

"He has a style of play which can integrate with our style because we have a game which is based on movement, technical ability and creativity," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "He has all the attributes to be one of the leaders of our team."

Ozil's arrival was the sign of Arsenal exerting its financial muscle after years of limited spending.

"We had to go through some years when I signed a long-term contract where we had some restricted financial potential, and the target was to stay in the Champions League in this period," said Wenger, whose contract expires at the end of the season. "We managed to do it, and we are now in a strong position financially."

Manchester United had talked of making several additions to the squad to its Premier League title-winning squad. However, new manager David Moyes' only major recruitment was Marouane Fellaini from Everton on deadline-day for 27.5 million pounds ($43 million).

The Belgium midfielder joined after Moyes failed to land his first-choice targets.

"It is a big step for me," Fellaini said. "But I have played five years in England, I know the league and I know the players so I don't think I will have a problem with this move."

He arrives at a team that has endured a patchy start to the season.

It started on a high with an eye-catching win at Swansea, but a drab draw against Chelsea and a loss at Liverpool followed to leave United going into Saturday's match against Crystal Palace five points off the lead.

Liverpool is setting the pace so far as the only team with maximum points from a three straight 1-0 wins.

The 18-time English champions, who are at Swansea on Monday, have made their best start to a league campaign in 20 years.

Liverpool's big success over the offseason was not caving into Luis Suarez's demands by granting the unsettled striker a transfer, while bolstering its forward options on deadline-day by signing Victor Moses on loan from Chelsea for the season.

But striker Daniel Sturridge, who has scored all of Liverpool's goals this season, is an injury doubt after missing England's World Cup qualifiers over the last week with a left thigh injury.

The strong start by Liverpool, which last won the title in 1990, has left the expected leading title contenders — Chelsea and Manchester City — trailing at this early stage.

Chelsea, which is two points behind, is at Everton on Saturday, when City takes on Stoke.

City is three points adrift of Liverpool along with Arsenal, Stoke and Tottenham.

The international break allowed Tottenham to settle following Gareth Bale's move to Real Madrid.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas will be hoping the loss in the last match at Arsenal proves to be a blip as he looks for his squad — reassembled by reinvesting the $130 million windfall from Bale's move — to gel quickly.

"After the defeat at Arsenal, we want to be back alongside the top teams," Villas-Boas said ahead of Saturday's match against Norwich.

Everton, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion are still searching for their first wins.

Although Everton has managed three draws from three games, Sunderland and West Brom are stuck at the bottom with one point each.

West Brom is at Fulham on Saturday, when Aston Villa hosts Newcastle and Cardiff is at Hull. In Sunday's only game, Southampton hosts West Ham — both teams with a win, a loss and a draw so far.

Nintendo drops Wii U price, releases new ‘2DS’ handheld.

Prepping itself for a competitive holiday season, Nintendo announced Wednesday that it will drop the price of its higher-end Wii U console and release a new handheld gaming device aimed at younger, or more casual, gamers.
The 2DS will play games designed for the Nintendo’s DS line as well as its three-dimensional handheld, the 3DS — albeit without the extra depth. The $129.99 device will come in red or blue, and is slated for an Oct. 12 launch.

Similar to the DS and 3DS, the device has two touchscreens, one on top of the other, and a control layout similar to Nintendo’s existing products. Unlike its predecessors, however, the 2DS does not fold in the middle. Nintendo has not provided measurements for the new WiFi-enabled device, which is still pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission. A commercial for the 2DS, however, seems to show that it’s about the same size as a 3DS or DS-line handheld when unfolded.

The same commercial, posted to YouTube, also seems to indicate that the handheld is aimed more at children than adults looking for a portable gaming option, though 2DS players can use the handheld’s WiFi capability to play games with 3DS or DS owners.
Nintendo also cut the price of its Wii U. The higher-end model of the Wii U got a $50 price cut, taking the console to $299.99 from $349.99. Plus, Nintendo will also throw in a copy of one of Nintendo’s most anticipated titles headed into the holidays, “The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD.”

The lower price, which takes effect on Sept. 20, takes the Wii U even lower under its nearest price competitor for the holiday season, the $399 Playstation 4. That’s a move the company undoubtedly hopes will convince gamers to pick up its latest console instead of, or in addition to, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One when they hit store shelves in November.
There is no word as to whether Nintendo will also drop the price of its basic Wii U console, which already costs $299.99.
Nintendo’s latest launch has been a bit of a struggle for the storied game company. The console followed Nintendo’s popular but fading 2006 Wii to market last September, and has not caught on as quickly. Nintendo reported last month that it was making a loss on the Wii U after nearly a year on the market, which belied suspicions that the company would lower the Wii U’s price to boost sales.
By way of comparison, Nintendo didn’t drop the price of the Wii until nearly three years after its launch.

Kristen Bell: 'Frozen' Is 'The Kind Of Movie I Wanted To See As A Kid'

'I always loved Disney animation, but there was something about the females that was unattainable to me,' 

Winter is coming. The next Disney animated film to hit theaters is titled — chillingly — "Frozen" and features the voice work of Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad in this loose retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Snow Queen." MTV News recently caught up with Bell, who explained what movie-goers can expect from "Frozen."

"The movie is about a pair of sisters — one who has the power to freeze things, and it happens when she is fearful or angry," Bell said. "And because of feeling terrified to show that to the world, she sort of runs away and freezes the town accidentally. I play the sister Anna, who makes it her mission to travel across these snowy lands and bring her sister back amidst the fact that they're fighting and kind of at that point hate each other. It's kind of how they make up and find love in the end."

Bell's voicework on the film isn't limited to dialogue — she sings too!

"We're singing the lovely songs of Kristen and Bobby Lopez, who wrote 'Book of Mormon,' " she enthused. "So it's really, really funny music. It's really good music. They're amazing to work for."

Yet, the thing Bell is most proud about when it comes to "Frozen" is embodying a relatable heroine — something you don't always find in your average Disney princess.

"I'm really excited to show it to people. I became a part of the kind of movie I wanted to see as a kid," she said. "I always loved Disney animation, but there was something about the females that was unattainable to me. Their posture was too good and they were too well-spoken, and I feel like I really made this girl much more relatable and weirder and scrappier and more excitable and awkward. I'm really proud of that."

"Frozen" debuts November 27.

From "Romeo and Juliet" to "Ender's Game," "Riddick" to "Oldboy," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest upcoming flicks in our 2013 Fall Movie Preview. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.

Lost Planet 3 game trailor and review.

Lost Planet 3 reveals new truths about the foreboding planet and the colonial history of E.D.N. III, returning players to the extreme and unpredictable conditions that characterized the Lost Planet series, now harsher than ever before. The game delivers a diverse range of gameplay including on-foot battles and intense first person action. With a number of multiplayer modes and a compelling single player experience, Lost Planet 3 will delved into the hidden truths within the unique and dynamic environment of E.D.N. III.

Lost Planet 3 introduces Jim, a rig pilot who leaves Earth to take on a hazardous but lucrative contract on E.D.N. III working for Neo-Venus Construction (NEVEC.) NEVEC's existing Thermal Energy reserve is running low, and the fate of the Coronis mission depends on the natural source of the energy supply being located. Realizing the opportunity for a huge pay-off and early ticket home, Jim braves the risk of the treacherous environment and threat of the indigenous Akrid. Acting as a home away from home and boasting an array of tools that can assist Jim on the field, the utility rig provides Jim's safety and is essential for not only his contract work but also his protection against the ever-changing climate.

Release Date: August 27, 2013

RP-T+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Teen or Above:

Genre: Action

Publisher: Capcom

Developers: Spark Unlimited,Capcom

Rain hits Australia`s victory hopes:5th Ashes Test, Day 4 news.

 Australia`s hopes of forcing a consolation win in their Ashes finale against England were left hanging by a thread after rain washed out the whole of the fourth day`s play at The Oval on Saturday.

Conditions worsened throughout the day and, with rain pelting down under increasingly dark skies, the umpires finally abandoned play for the day at 4.06pm local time (1506GMT) with only a handful of hardy spectators, some sheltering under umbrellas, still in the ground.

The bad weather was especially frustrating for Australia, who were seeking a first win in nine Tests and trying to avoid their first Ashes series without a Test victory since 1977.

England, who at 3-0 up had already won the five-match series and retained the Ashes, were 246 for four at stumps on the third day in reply to Australia`s first innings 492 for nine declared,

That left England 245 runs behind and still requiring a further 46 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Ian Bell, who came into this match having scored exactly 500 runs in the series with three hundreds, was 29 not out and Test debutant Chris Woakes unbeaten on 15.

The way England batted on Friday, scoring at barely two runs per an over, suggested they were in no mood to give arch-rivals Australia a sniff of victory.

Australia now face the improbable task of having to take 16 wickets for victory on Sunday`s final day -- if the weather allows.

However, England did take nine Australia wickets in under a session as they won the fourth Test in Durham by 74 runs with more than a day to spare. 

Planes movie trailor and news.

In theaters : August 23, 2013

Plot: Dusty, a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar.

Producer

John Lasseter

Genre

Adventure , Animation , Comedy

Madras cafe trailor and news.

In theaters : August 23, 2013

An Indian Intelligence agent (played by John Abraham) journeys into a war torn coastal island, to break a resolute rebel group. He deftly maneuvers his resources to make significant breakthroughs, amidst a scenario where the enemy has no face and the only counsel is ‘don’t get caught’. At various junctions he meets a charismatic and passionate journalist (played by Nargis Fakhri) who is following her will to reflect the truth behind the civil war. The story unfolds as their quest for the truth reveals a deeper conspiracy, by a faceless enemy, united to seize a common nemesis – India

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist news, Trailor.

The United States has a military presence in two thirds of countries around the world. A group of 12 have had enough and initiate a terror ultimatum called the Blacklist -- a deadly countdown of escalating terrorist attacks on U.S. interests. Sam Fisher is the leader of the newly formed 4th Echelon unit: a clandestine unit that answers solely to the President of the United States. Sam and his team must hunt down these terrorists by any means necessary, and stop the Blacklist countdown before it reaches zero.
Unleash the power of the most lethal agent to ever exist. You've been given the ultimate freedom to protect innocents against the Blacklist terror attacks known as -- the freedom to use limitless force, to break every law, and to become the globe's deadliest operative. If you succeed, the President of the United States will deny you exist. If you fail, millions will die.

Release Date: August 20, 2013

M for Mature:

Genre: Third-Person Action

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Ubisoft Toronto

Saints Row IV trailor and review.

In the next open-world installment of Saints Row, Deep Silver Volition continues the story of the Third Street Saints by elevating their status to the highest level – the leaders of the free world. In Saints Row IV, the head honcho of the Saints has been elected to the Presidency of the United States. But the Saints are just getting started. Now the larger-than-life insanity of the Saints series gets a new twist with a catastrophic alien invasion, and the aliens have transported the Saints to a bizarro-Steelport simulation. Wield gargantuan superpowers and fight to free humanity from alien granddaddy Zinyak's mental grasp. Escape the simulation that's trapped the Saints crew, or die trying.

Saints Row IV lets players delve into an arsenal of alien weaponry and technology that will turn each Saint into an ultimate entity of destruction. Utilize out-of-this-world superpowers to fight all the way to the top. With intensified action and enhanced customization, players can use their newfound superpowers and leap over buildings, outrun the fastest sports cars, or send enemies flying with telekinesis in the greatest, most insane installment of Saints Row yet. Save the world, Saints Style.

Release Date: August 20, 2013

RP-M+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Mature or Above:

Genre: Action

Publisher: Deep Silver

Developer: Volition

The Bureau XCOM Declassified news and Trailor.

The battle of humans against an invading alien force erupts in The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a new story and unique gameplay experience set inside one of gaming's most storied and beloved franchises. Set in 1962 at the height of the Cold War, The Bureau tells the origin story of the clandestine XCOM organization's first encounter with a mysterious and devastating enemy. Originally established as America's covert defense against the Soviet Union, The Bureau must adapt and overcome a threat unlike anything the world has faced before. As special agent William Carter, players will call the shots and pull the trigger, leading their squad of agents in the high-stakes secret war for humanity’s survival. Paramount to repelling the outside threat is The Bureau’s ability to cover-up the enemy’s existence in order to prevent worldwide panic.

In the spirit of the XCOM franchise, The Bureau's calculated combat design requires players to think and act tactically. The game's third-person perspective gives the player a sense of spatial awareness and grants them the freedom to transition in and out Carter's unique Battle Focus ability seamlessly -- heightening the tactical shooter action. The Bureau also fully embraces the concept of permanent consequence. As our last line of defense, every command can mean the difference between life and death for Carter, his squad and mankind.

Release Date: August 20, 2013

RP-T+ for Rating Pending, Targeting a Rating of Teen or Above:

Genre: Third-Person Shooter

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: 2K Marin

Actor Ranbir Kapoor got into trouble after he allegedly mocked at the B-Town superstars

Actor Ranbir Kapoor got into trouble after he allegedly mocked at the B-Town superstars Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan in the trailer of his upcoming movie Besharam. But, according to the recent sources, the Kapoor lad believes that Besharam is his Dabangg. 

According to a leading daily, Ranbir Kapoor was the initial choice for Raj Kumar Santoshi's movie Phata Poster Nikla Hero. But later, Ranbir was replaced by Shahid Kapoor in the film. Finally, Ranbir became a part of the real Dabangg director Anurag Kashyap's movie Besharam. Interestingly, Besharam has a Dabangg connection in it, and as per Ranbir, this will be his real Dabangg movie. 

The trailer shows Ranbir telling Rishi Kapoor, "sirf naam Chulbul hone se koi Dabangg nahi ban jaata". This fun statement has offended the Salman Khan fans, as Sallu played Chulbul Pandey in his blockbuster Dabangg series. It is said that the Salman fans are extremely furious on Ranbir for making fun of their favourite superstar. If we look into this issue, Ranbir and Salman have another connection too, and that's none other than the gorgeous Katrina Kaif, who has been the duo actors' common love interest.

DHOOM:3 - MOTION POSTER AND NEWS.

Dhoom 3is an action thriller, written and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya and produced by Aditya Chopra. It will be the third installment of the popular Dhoom series.

Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra will reprise their roles as Jai Dixit and Ali Khan while Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif form the villian duo.

Dhoom 3 will be released on 25 December 2013 in regular 2D and IMAX formats.

Cast:
Aamir Khan as Jordan
Abhishek Bachchan as A.C.P Jai Dixit
Katrina Kaif
Uday Chopra as Ali Akbar Fateh Khan
Jackie Shroff
Tabrett Bethell

An ominously stormy sky, skyscrapers, choppers flying in the air and a topless man watching all this standing behind a window - this is the first look of the much awaited film 'Dhoom 3'. It's dramatic and makes you curious.

Although the face is not visible, the man in the poster looks like Aamir Khan giving a glimpse of his well-toned body, something which audiences appreciated in his 2008 hit Ghajini. He is seen wearing a pair of trousers and has teamed it up with a hat.

The film is scheduled for a Christmas release, an auspicious time for Aamir's films, and the poster's tag line proclaims: "This year will end with a Dhoom".

The 48-year-old is playing an antagonist in Dhoom 3, the third installment in the franchise that started in 2004 with John Abraham playing the villain. Hrithik Roshan played the negative role in Dhoom 2.

It is reportedly said that Aamir has used a lot of acrobatic skills to pull off heists in the Vijay Krishna Acharya directed action thriller that also features Katrina Kaif as his love interest.

Abhishek Bachchan once again returns to play a cop, chasing the super villain with Uday Chopra as his sidekick.

Nadal cautious about predicting how his body would hold up in the run.

Rafael Nadal was cautious about predicting how his body would hold up in the run-in to the U.S Open on Wednesday but did reveal that he had not missed the grind of the tennis tour during his absence from the game.

The 12-times grand slam champion, who took a break after his shock defeat at Wimbledon, ended his seven week hiatus from singles competition with an impressive two-set win over Canadian wildcard Jesse Levine in the second round of the Rogers Cup.

But the ongoing battle with the debilitating tendonitis in his knees is an ever present in Nadal`s life and a constant subject of inquisition for the Spaniard.

As he began a physically demanding north American hard court stretch - taking in Masters series events in Montreal and Cincinnati and culminating at the year`s final grand slam at Flushing Meadows - Nadal was choosing to adopt a wait and see approach.

"I am fine. The knee is not bothering me much," Nadal told reporters.

"The last couple of days, I was able to practise with no limitation. That is the most important thing.

"After seven weeks without playing tennis, you start a tournament on hard court, that is tougher for the body. You always feel a few things at the beginning.

"But hopefully that things will not limit my chances to play well."

Nadal`s 6-2 6-1 win over Levine was his first singles match since being upset by Belgian Steve Darcis in the opening round at the All England Club in late June.

The subsequent break from competition after Wimbledon arrived at the end of an incredible run of results for the 27-year-old.


Nadal had won seven tournaments in just four months, including an eighth French Open crown, since he returned in February from a lengthy injury absence that had kept him out of the sport since the middle of 2012.

Following his defeat on the grass courts of southwest London, Nadal returned home to take advantage of the rare opportunity to relax away from the spotlight while his chief rivals slugged it out for the Wimbledon crown.

"I cannot say I was very anxious during this period of time," a smirking Nadal said.

"I enjoyed being with the family, with the friends. It`s the summer there too ... Mallorca is a good place to be in the summer."

Nadal faces Poland`s Jerzy Janowicz in the third round of the Rogers Cup on Thursday.