Oooooh...Gossip!

Great site for juicy gossip! "Here is part one, of my exclusive interview, with a trusted member of the Cincy staff. In exchange for me paying the tab, as we chatted in the hotel bar of the Marriott Northeast, as well as a promise to keep the conversation "off the record," my source was eager to tell me what he has experienced, during his tenure as part of the Western & Southern Financial tournament elite.

DdV= Dani DeVine

CSI= Cincy Staff Insider

DdV: Which tour player is the easiest to work with?

CSI: Many of them are a pleasure to work with, like James Blake and Roger Federer. Andy Murray has always been low maintenance, despite his public persona. The best, in terms of sheer friendliness, and a total absence of that "I'm-a-huge-star," attitude, is Rafael Nadal. We all really like the guy, from the top tournament organizers, all the way down to the ballkids. No acting for the cameras with him; he is a genuine person.

DdV: You know I have to ask- who is the most difficult to work with?

CSI: (Laughing) Getting me into trouble early, here. Only a few players are a real pain in the **** to deal with. Haas and Clement are not the nicest guys around, and Safin can drive a sane person crazy. If I have to answer, I go with Nicolas Kiefer. He is the Big Three: unfriendly, uncooperative, and difficult.

DdV: Best sense of humour?

CSI: On a good day, Marat Safin can be a lot of fun. If we are talking about someone who is naturally funny, as a general rule, then it has to be Novak Djokovic. He's a good guy. (smiles)

DdV: Which player is the most likely to hook up with a groupie, or a fan?

CSI: (Laughing) How did I know this question would be on your list? I will not admit to knowing anything, but if I had to guess, it would be Safin. I have heard stories about Feliciano Lopez, Tommy Haas, and Mario Ancic as well. If the walls of the rooms in this hotel could talk....

DdV: Who do your female coworkers like the most?

CSI: You mean looks-wise?

DdV: Yes. That question was intended to be shallow. ;)

CSI: Roddick, on the American side. Verdasco, on the Euro side. I hear about that guy a lot. Roddick doesn't bother me, though. I'm better looking than he is, right? If I were insecure, Verdasco might make me feel a little bit bad about myself. (laughs)

Stay tuned for Part two! Until next time..." THERE'S MUCH MORE AT THE LINK!