Instead, that came from a very unlikely source: the ball girl.

Yes, there was yet another Aussie Open ball girl making the highlight tapes.   You can check out this one’s amazing one-handed grab following a Roger Federer fault in the video below.

As we get closer to the U.S. Open finals, the grande finale of the 2011 tennis season, we here at Total Pro Sport thought it would be fun to have a look at who the world’s highest-paid tennis players. As you probably realize, the athletes getting the most money aren’t always the ones playing the best at the moment, which is bad news for indomitable tennis funny man Novak Djokovic but good news for guys like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. But don’t you go worrying about poor Novak. The world #1 did okay for himself this year and definitely will be able to pay next month’s phone bill.

Anyway, here’s a rundown of the top 9 earners from the world of tennis over the past 12 months. The people on the list probably won’t surprise you (if you follow tennis), but the order in which they appear just might.

9. Kim Clijsters

Clijsters may #3 among women in the world tennis rankings, but she’s currently #4 in earnings over the last 12 months. The 28-year-old had to pull out of the 2011 U.S. Open, so at the end of the calendar year she may slip a little further down the list, but so far she’s raked in $11 million in winnings and endorsement money. That’s pretty good for someone who retired in 2007 (at the age of 24), sat out two years, and came back in 2009. (I retired from writing 3 years ago, sat out for two years, and have made about $6,700 since returning.)

8. Venus Williams

Venus Williams is 31-years-old. In women’s tennis years, that’s about 93. Yet even at her “advanced age” and low rank (currently she’s #36)—and despite the fact that she’s played fewer than 15 matches all year—the former world #1 and seven-time grand slam winner can still pull in the bucks. Thanks to her endorsement deals with Wilson, EA, Kraft, Ralph Lauren, and Tide, Venus has netted $11.5 million since last September.

7. Caroline Wozniacki

Our third straight woman on the list, beautiful Belgian Caroline Wozniacki is currently ranked #1 in the world. But that don’t mean the 21-year-old is the top earning woman in the sport. No, that title currently belongs to someone else. Fortunately, Caroline still has the $12.5 million she’s earned in the last year to comfort her. She compiled that mound of dough by playing great tennis and negotiating fantastic incentive-driven endorsement deals with racket-maker Yonex and clothing giant Adidas.

6. Andy Roddick

Andy Roddick, 28, used to date American sweetheart Mandy Moore. Then she dumped him and married alt-rocker Ryan Adams. But Roddick should take heart, because he’s got one thing Adams does not: a ginormous…yearly income. Well, Ryan Adams’ income is probably pretty good too, but I seriously doubt the niche musical performer made $13 million last year like Roddick. Even though old Andy is only ranked #21 in the world right now, he’s got sweet deals with high-end brands like Lacoste and SAP to keep him afloat financially.

5. Andy Murray

Andy Murray is the fourth-best men’s tennis player at the moment, as well as the fourth highest-paid player on the men’s side. Still, on this list, the 24-year-old Brit weighs in at #5 thanks to a certain blonde bombshell. But to be honest, I wouldn’t have thought he would even be that high. Yes, he’s played some pretty great tennis of late, and yes, he gets about $4 million a year from Adidas. But why? The man has yet to win a grand slam tournament, and has only made the finals of a grand slam three times. Until he breaks through, he definitely has no business making any more than he has this year—$13.5 million.

4. Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has earned a cool $18 million over the last 12 months, so the guy isn’t strapped for cash. Still, in a perfect world, you’d like to see a guy who’s been so dominant and so likable come in at #1 on a list like this. Then again, if things keep going the way they are (coming into the U.S. Open Novak was 57-2 this year), it won’t be long before the 24-year-old becomes the richest tennis player in the world.

3. Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova is a fantastic tennis player. She’s won 3 of the 4 grand slam events, has been ranked as high as #1 in the past, and is currently #4 again after working her way back from injuries. So it’s clear she has earned a lot of her money through playing tennis. It’s also clear that there is no way she could have made $25 million in the last year simply by playing tennis. Being really hot helps. A lot.

2. Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal has been so freaking good over the last 6 seasons that it’s almost impossible to believe the man is only 25. But hey, the internets don’t lie. Anyway, by winning the U.S. Open last year, he became the youngest player ever to achieve the career Grand Slam (and only the 7th overall). Oh, and that brought his grand slam win total up to an impressive 10—truly elite territory. Hell, six of those are French Open titles. That’s dominance, folks. So if anybody deserves to have made $31 million last year, it’s Rafa.

1. Roger Federer

Roger Federer is probably the greatest tennis player who ever lived. He seems like kind of a prick, but you can’t deny his achievements: 16 grand slams titles, a career Grand Slam (like Pistol Pete Samprass, Roger has had trouble on clay over the years, but he managed to get over the hump in 2009), and $64 million earned in winnings alone. But obviously Roger doesn’t sit at the top of this list because of that $64 million. Nope, the 30-year-old (90 in tennis years) Swiss superstar earns the majority of his cash through endorsements. That’s how he cleared $47 million last year.

Source

Now that we know it was only a cramp Nadal had suffered, it is nice to see that some of his fellow tennis mates are getting a good laugh from the incident.  Caroline Wozniacki, the top-ranked female player, was among those poking fun at Nadal, as she decided to provide reporters with her best imitation of the second-seeded Spaniard following her fourth round victory at the US Open.

Perhaps next time Wozniacki decides to immitate Nadal, she should do so by winning a Grand Slam title, something she hasn’t been able to do during her WTA career…Sorry Caroline, but it had to be said.

Here is a look at Wozniacki imitating Nadal.

And for those of you who haven’t seen Nadal’s epic press conference cramp, here it is.

After losing the first set to Gael Monfils, Nadal stormed back to take the next three sets, winning the match 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.  That was enough to get him excited, but he wasn’t the only one.  As Nadal rounded up his racquets and towels, a fan found his way onto the court and was able to get right beside Nadal.  He gave the Spaniard a hug and kiss before being grabbed by security.

As for Nadal’s reaction, he showed that his calm under pressure extends beyond his tennis game.  Rafael embraced the fan and even went after him to give another hug as he was being escorted off the court.

The incident was similar to that of Jimmy Jump’s confrontation with Roger Federer at the French Open, but this fan was kind enough to wait until the conclusion of the match.

Rafael has been known to be quite popular among the ladies.  It is simply a shame for him that it was one of his male fans who fulfilled their dreams of locking lips with the world’s number two tennis player.

Here is a look at the post-match incident.

And here are the highlights of the match.

So who exactly is Jimmy Jump (you may want to check him out here).  He is not quite a streaker, but instead refers to himself as a “jumper.”  He has found his way onto the field of sporting events several times in his career (I guess by “jumping” over the crowd barriers), and will often attempt to put hats on players.  He has made his way onto soccer pitches, formula one tracks, and today he was present at the French Open.

During Federer’s match against Robin Soderling, which he won 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4, Jimmy interrupted play in the second set.  Between points in the fourth game, he came onto the court and approached the French Open champion, trying to get him to wear his hat before running away from several security guards who were trying to chase him down.  Jimmy made a nice hurdle over the net but was then taken down by a beautiful tackle which impressed even John McEnroe.

It was great to see Roger finally win that elusive French Open, and in the process tie Pete Sampras for most major victories of all time with 14.  Thankfully he was not rattled by the clothed streaker.  Maybe Jimmy Jump is his good luck charm, although I don’t think defeating Soderling required any luck from the man we may now refer to as “the greatest tennis player of all time.”

Here is Jimmy Jump’s moment of fame.

And here is a nice moment Jimmy shared with Lionel Messi in Munich a while back.

In addition, Federer is just one Grand Slam title away from equaling the great American Pete Sampras in career Grand Slams.  However, with the strong year had by Rafael Nadal in 2008, many believe this could be the Spaniard’s year to hoist all four prestigious titles.

In a disappointing 2008 season, the 27 year old Federer was only able to capture the U.S. Open, thus adding to his total of 13 Grand Slam Titles.  On the other hand, the 22 year old Nadal captured the French Open for the fourth consecutive year, his first Wimbledon crown, an Olympic Gold Medal and even bumped Federer for the number one world ranking which the Swiss star previously held for 237 consecutive weeks. However, Federer believes 2009 will be a better year.

”This could be a very meaningful season for me,” Federer said. ”I can equal Pete Sampras’ record. I can add another Wimbledon title and this is something that is very dear to me. I can also win my first French Open title, so I am looking forward to my season.”

”I feel much better this year,” Federer said. ”Last year, I couldn’t practice the way I wanted to because of health reasons. But this year I have trained really well and I feel very confident about myself. I have less pressure now and it is not a bad thing.” From the Canadian Press

Only time will tell if Roger Federer can return to top form.  After all, with the surge of his main rival in Rafael Nadal over the past season, nothing short of brilliance can earn Federer his place in history.