Leading Off: Pictures of the Week

Leading Off: Pictures of the Week

Albert Gea/Reuters

Ducati MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi crashes during a practice round of the Catalunya MotoGP Grand Prix in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Spain's Rafael Nadal puts all his strength behind a forehand during his June 1 match against Robin Soderling in the French Open quarterfinals. Nadal would go on to win 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (3) to advance to the semifinals.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Sports Illustrated photographer Heinz Kluetmeier captured this psychedelic shot of Roger Federer serving to Gael Monfils during the French Open quarterfinals on May 31. Federer would go on to win 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 to advance to the semifinals.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

China's Li Na celebrates winning the women's final at the French Open after defeating Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6. With the victory, Li became the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Joerg Mitter/GLOBAL NEWSROOM/EPA

American Courtney Conlogue shreds some waves during qualifying for the Swatch Girls Pro in Hossegor, France on June 1.

Ennio Leanza/EPA

Carlina and jockey Pius Schwizer leap over a pristine pool during the FEI Nations Cup in St. Gallen, Switzerland on June 3.

James Benwell/Action Images/ZUMAPRESS.com

Gavin "The Rock" Rees takes a punch from Andy Murray during their European lightweight title bout at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. Rees would go on to win and hand Murray his first defeat in 25 fights as a professional.

Greg Nelson/SI

Heat guard Dwyane Wade dives for a ball during the Heat's 95-93 loss to the Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA finals. Wade would finish the game with 36 points, but it wasn't enough to outlast the Mavericks, who closed the game on a 22-5 run.

David E. Klutho/SI

Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk blasts a puck from behind the goal line during the Bruins' 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals.

Bob Martin/SI

Maria Sharapova reaches for a ball during her French Open semifinals loss to Li Na, the eventual champion.

John W. McDonough/SI

Mavericks guard Jason Kidd sends Heat guard Dwyane Wade airborne with a pump fake during the Heat's 88-86 win over the Mavericks in Game 3 of the NBA finals.

Robert Beck/SI

Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis flips Bruins leftwinger Milan Lucic in front of the Bruins' bench during the Canucks' 1-0 victory in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals. Hamhuis would leave Game 1 with an undisclosed injury.

Al Tielemans/SI

Toronto Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia skips over a batted ball during the Blue Jays' 8-4 win over the Orioles on June 3. Arencibia would finish the game with one home run and four RBIs.

Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Helge Meeuw strikes quite a face as he pushes off in the 50-meter backstroke at the German swimming championships on June 2.

Imago/ZUMAPRESS.com

Theresa Michalak of Germany proves that even the world's best swimmers have to come up for air sometimes.

Allan Henry/US Presswire

An epic shot shows Rory McIlroy teeing off at the first hole of the second round of the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, on June 3.

Kevin Dietsch /LANDOV

Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos and Phillies outfielder Jon Mayberry avoid a collision during the Nationals' 2-1 victory on June 1.

Alonzo Adams

California infielder Jace Williams wallows in the infield dirt after missing a ball during the Golden Bear's 1-0 loss to Alabama in the College World Series on June 2.