Polona Hercog beat Roberta Vinci

Hercog beat Vinci, Peer lost, AMG beat Zakopalova, Pavlyuchenkova lost, Domachowska won, Groth lost, Petrova won, Cornet must be sick of playing Hantuchova, the Kuz won, Azarenka lost, Pennetta thrashed Chakvetadze, Jankovic dumped Cibilkova, Lisicki beat Schnyder and still no idea if Rus won in Makarska.

Feeling good about picking Murray to suffer on clay, but then again I also picked Davydenko to do well... Ferrer lost, Robredo won, Colic won, Stepanek won twice, Gasquet beat Tsonga and Gulbis, Verdasco won, Federer won and Nadal won.

Boris Becker’s getting married – live on TV

Video: Nadia Petrova gets a makeover
and plays tennis in high heels...

Marat Safin beaten by rain (and Marat)

Wozniacki beat Benesova in Stuttgart, Radwanska the Lesser lost to Zakopalova in Fes, it rained in Makarska, Luczak beat de Chaunac in Ostrava, Safin lost to Robredo in Rome and Maria Sharapova’s still injured.

Marat Safin was dominating Tommy Robredo until the rain hit Roma, then Safin dominated again in the second until well, basically he lost. We wouldn’t have it any other way Marat.

Guillermo Coria has officially retired – who knew he was still playing?

Lleyton Hewitt’s messy finances.

Dinara Safina’s Cake Day

Interview with Safina in Stuttgart. "I think I have a few qualities children can look up to.” – like I only eat cake on my birthday, which happens to be today – yippee!

The Myths of Tennis. An actual well-written forum post!

Wozniacki vs Benesova tonight in Stuttgart,
U. Radwanska vs Zakopalova in Fes,
Rus vs Martic in Makarska,
Luczak vs de Chaunac in Ostrava and
Safin vs Robredo in Rome.

Shahar Peer to play in Morocco

Shahar Peer scored a visa to play in Morocco. Not surprising after the kerfuffle in Dubai recently. “It’s purely a sports event,” the Tournament organiser said. “Politics has nothing to do with it.” Well said. Good to see the Israeli playing an ethnic Iranian in the first round.

The USA is hosting a shootout to decide who gets a French Wildcard. Contestants are John Isner, Scoville Jenkins, Evan King, Jesse Levine, Michael McClune, Nathan Pasha, Rhyne Williams, and Donald Young. Starts today. The women’s including Kristie Ahn, Gail Brodsky, Beatrice Capra, Lauren Embree, Nicole Gibbs, Madison Keys, Christine McHale, Asia Muhammad, Sloane Stephens, Stacey Tan, and CoCo Vandeweghe starts tomorrow at the Boca West Country Club. Personally I think they should just give one to Alexa Glatch.

They’ve already started in Morocco and already Kirilenko’s out, which is fast even for her. Loved the oh so disinterested look on Hercog’s face even as she won her final qualifying match yesterday.

Andy Murray thinks he can take third spot from current Rome champion Novak Djokovic. Someone tell him it’s the clay court season. James Blake too was spotted playing on clay - I’m not sure why, but at least it didn’t last too long. He won a pile of games in the middle to look like he knew what he was doing then gave it all up. Azarenka beat Suarez Navarro in Stuttgart and Wawrinka won in Rome.

Francesca Schiavone’s Fed Cup heroics

photo credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images

Zina Garrison’s lawsuit for unfair dismissal just got a lot tougher as Mary-Jo Fernandez’s no-names came back from the death to advance to the Fed Cup final. At a set and 5-2 down in the doubles it looked all over and then the Czechs took a deep breath and blew it. Team USA turned it all around and will play Italy in the final. Yes, Italy.

Can we blame Tarpischev? The Russian tennis supremo dumped the underperforming Chakvetadze and pushed young Pavlyuchenkova into her first big match and lost Russia the tie. Remember this is the nation that left the world number one (and Elena Dementieva) on the sidelines and ended up having to rely on seventeen year old Pavlyuchenkova to get them through. Surely Safina or Dementieva would have chewed Schiavone up. Instead Tarpischev picked the out of form trio of Chakvetadze, Kuznetsova and Petrova. Congrats to Italy. After the Kuz destroyed Pennetta it must have looked ominous for Italy but Francesca Schiavone has a huge heart and just wore down the free hitting Pavlyuchenkova. Surely Italy on clay will be favourites for November unless the Williams sisters can be persuaded to play and even then clay’s not really their thing. Let’s keep that Glatch though.

Meanwhile Rafael Nadal won another trophy somewhere. Remember when it was boring with Roger Federer winning everything? Looks like we do it over with biceps.

Poor Alize Cornet has now lost six from six for France and was in tears again after collapsing in the final set against Cibulkova. Good match though, especially if you like raw emotion. France came through with Mauresmo beating Hantuchova and some doubles.

Australia forfeit Davis Cup

Dokic and Stosur destroyed Switzerland in the Fed Cup but Australia is forfeiting the Davis Cup tie against India. This means a one year ban for Lleyton and Co and more money for lawyers as everyone tries to argue exactly how likely are you to be blown to bits playing in India and whether that risk is worth playing. You get the sense Australia was never going to Chennai and the Indians are desperate to show that India can host world class sporting events. However since India moved its million dollar IPL cricket tournament because of security concerns - and in India cricket > tennis – and Australian cricket teams have been extremely reluctant to tour the subcontinent in recent years (but mainly Pakistan and Sri Lanka) this was always going to be a problem. Meanwhile now Hewitt may never play D-Cup again…

Nadal versus Davydenko and Ferrer against Gonzalez in Barcelona. All Spanish final anyone?

Rafael Nadal in Barcelona

Nadal won two matches although the second was a walkover as Nalbandian looked at Rafa and a possible three hour match on the dirt which he wouldn't win anyway and said "I'm out of here!" He also had some hip problem.

The Worm beat Wawrinka, Ferrer won, Davy won, Robredo won, Gonzo won and Verdasco won.

Ana Ivanovic says Ajde! a lot.

Andre and Steffi go shopping.

Vote for your favourite tennis babe in a bikini!

Ana Ivanovic is the world's 11th sexiest woman. Apparently this matters to some people. No idea who won.

Video: Maria Sharapova giving some footballer a makeover
E:60 Maria Sharapova and Matt Stafford Preview from ESPN Communications on Vimeo.

Feliciano Lopez in Elle

Davydenko won, Berdych won, Stepanek beat Tipsarevic, Robredo ended Gaudio’s comeback, Nalbandian won, Gonzalez beat Acasuso, Nadal won, Wawrinka beat Youzhny, Verdasco won, Lopez won and the Wimbledon roof will be controlled by the button pusher.

Lleyton Hewitt may never play Davis Cup again for Australia, according to Todd Woodbridge who wants the tie with India moved. But Lleyton says he’s playing.

Les Mousquetaires.

Delivery for Serena.

Ana Ivanovic is in Spanish Vanity Fair and Hot Spaniards in Elle.

Video: Murray and Beckham looking suitably awkward

Andy Murray and David Beckham

Andy Murray and David Beckham are fighting Malaria in London by dressing up in suits and playing football and tennis.

Future women’s rivalries.

Wimbledon now has a roof and has dropped prizemoney to pay for it (actually it’s more pounds but everyone counts in dollars these days).

Sabine Lisicki is hot (and poses with Charleston trophy).

Yahoo Tennis Blog - Safina’s curse and Serena Williams' left leg problem.

Dinara Safina on Marat – “When you talk to me, I drink your words”

Awesome piece on Dinara Safina.

Five years ago the French newspaper L'Equipe asked Marat Safin to interview his sister. For his final question he asked her what she thought of him:
“You're my God. When you play, I love watching you. When you lose, I'm even sadder than when I lose. When you're hurt, I suffer. When you talk to me, I drink your words. When you come to see me playing, I'm beside myself with joy. I hate hearing or reading something bad about you. I know you are hard-working and that you do everything you can to be No 1. For me, you have the biggest talent of any player and I don't have half of your talent. The only thing I have more of than you is that I like working more than you do, I could be doing only this for 24 hours a day, and I know that's not so with you. In any case, if you don't practise for three days, you're still as strong. If I miss one practice, I regress and I'm unhappy. It makes me cry, just like when I went to school and had bad marks. I want to do everything perfectly."

Dinara Safina is the best woman in tennis

Dinara Safina is the best woman in tennis – just look at the rankings. We won’t be flaming Safina (not too much anyway) as we’re still bitter about the whole Jankovic experience and although everything that was thrown at Jankovic can be thrown at Safina, at least Dinara’s sufficiently humble about it all. And since Safina’s defending so many points on clay unless she quickly turns her game around there’ll be a new number one soon anyway. And then we can flame them if they’re slamless. Anyone else think pretty soon it’ll be Azarenka and Wozniacki fighting it out for top spot?

The new number one wasn’t included in the powerhouse Russian Fed Cup team which however does include three top tenners. Well if you have five players in the top ten you can afford to pick whoever you want. Either that or Safina isn’t considered above third in the Russian rankings. Dementieva also missed the cut wasn’t needed.

They’ll be playing Pennetta and co in the Fed Cup Semi. Is Roberta Vinci now the top Italian on clay?

Team USA ventures to the Czech Republic to lose to face Benesova, Kvitova and Safarova. As usual they’re Williamsless. Will the US have to get a new Fed Cup Captain (and lawsuit etc) if Oudin, Mattek and Glatch lose on carpet?

Caroline Wozniacki is now only a handful of points away from snaring tenth spot in the rankings.

In Barcelona Tipsarevic won, Andreev won, Gulbis lost, Kukushkin won, Berdych won and Ferrero lost.

Photos of Andy Roddick's wedding are here.

Sabine Lisicki wins Charleston

Sabine Lisicki overcame Caroline Wozniacki in a battle of the teens. Who said serve doesn’t matter on clay? Rafael Nadal gave the record books another smack and Novak Djokovic showed why he is a great player and also why he’s an infuriating lamer. At least it was a real match, no?

The men now head to Barcelona and the women get the week off or play Fed Cup. Hewitt may have to play D-Cup in India after all. There’s a chance the patriotic one may skip Davis Cup duty.

Caroline Wozniacki vs Sabine Lisicki

Maria Kirilenko barely turned up in a shocker to Roberta Vinci in Barcelona. Rafael Nadal’s up a set against Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo. The Djoker can't even go one set without calling the trainer. He plays well in patches but that's not likely to be enough to beat the Pirate King. Lot's of long games though.

The kids are alright - Caroline Wozniacki and Sabine Lisicki in Charleston. Elena the (almost) Great Dementieva may be more than usually disappointed.

The Global Financial Thingy claimed its greatest victim with the announcement that Laureus Awards have been cancelled. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams will get their trophies in the mail (if they win). Presumedly they mail back their acceptance speech.

Janko Tipsarevic’s got a girlfriend.

Venus Williams loses to Sabine Lisicki

photo credit: AP Photo/Alice Keeney

Federer’s wildcard adventure and honeymoon spoiler is over to Mirka’s delight and Roger’s disgust as Fed lost to Switzerland’s number one clay-courter Wawrinka. Hopes that the clay courts were going to be Roger’s salvation look unlikely. His new ad’s about confidence ironically (see below). They do understand irony in America right?

Venus Williams managed to lost to Sabine Lisicki. Lisicki played great but Venus stood looking awkward as too many balls flew past her. Bet she’s hoping for Wimbledon already.

Vera Zvonareva wrecked her ankle handing Razzano the chance to lose to Wozniacki who beat Peng.

Video: Roger Federer, Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter
“Here’s to confidence” - nice heels Fed!

More Daniela Hantuchova photos

Ivan Ljubicic ruined Del Potro’s day in Monte Carlo. He's an Argentine who prefers the hard courts that Del Potro. Fed, Nadal and the revived Davydenko all won as did Marat Safin who gets a last shot of glory against Rafa.

The Russian Rodionova – she’s only Australian for the Majors – is putting together some form, Vinci showed Pennetta the door and Kirilenko is loving the clay again. Mirza worked hard against Venus, Wozniacki and Vesnina rolled on, Rybarikova lost to a qualifier, Oudin scored a bagel and Kutuzova dumped Alona Bondarenko.

“The Idiot vs. Lord Farquaad The Destroyer” tonight. Hmm can’t wait.

More photo sessions for Dani Hantuchova. Please, try to get some practise in instead, hey?

Novak Djokovic and Jelena Ristic

Novak Djokovic and his girlfriend Jelena Ristic at some swank do in Monte Carlo, unfortunately it was wear your girlfriend’s coat day and Novak lucked out. He did get to meet Prince Albert though.

Vaidisova’s on a winning streak of one, Bremond beat the tricky wildcard Groenefeld, Kirilenko thrashed Pin, Cirstea disappointed, Malek rolled on, Vesnina’s still in form, Karatantcheva isn’t, Zvonareva cruised, Stevenson disappointed daddy, Petrova toughed it out against Mayr, Dementieva bageled Ditty and Cibulkova sent Paszek packing.

Monfils crashed on a bad day for the French and took Simon with him, Nalbandian beat Mathieu, Safin knocked Hewitt back down to the dirt – let’s see him try that with Nadal. Robredo lost and Murray actually won a match on clay.

Video: Monte Carlo is great etc and yes we all like to dress up


Video: Novak going all out

(This is an ad for a certain racquet company but it's actually great)

Alize Cornet slips on clay

photo credit: GotoTennis

Alize Cornet was the top seed for Barcelona. Not any more cause she played ‘diabolical’ and lost to journeywoman Cohen-Aloro. Let’s assume the transition to the red clay isn’t going well. Cornet is supposed to be a clay-courter and her ranking will plummet from the dizzying heights of number 15 and top seeddom down to whatever if she can’t get going.

Rybarikova beat Zakopalova, Errani beat Johansson, Pennetta won, Lepchenko won, Mayr won, Pivovarova lost, Bondarenko won, Domachowska lost, Brengle lost, Oudin won, Bubka lost, Benneteau lost, Schwank lost, Chardy lost, the worm Stepanek lost and Cilic won.

Andy Roddick is getting married (but not in secret).

Ana Ivanovic’s agent disses Sharapova, Jankovic and the Williams sisters. “the nice thing about Ana is she is very natural. She is very different to, say, Jelena Jankovic, the Williams sisters. You look at Maria Sharapova, these people, they are thinking: 'What can I do to be loved, to be more respected by my fans today?'

Moody Maria Sharapova’s learned the true way to wealth – you stop wasting time hitting all those balls and it leaves you so much extra time to promote more products. Anna Kournikova learned this a while ago. Seriously Sharapova has so much pressure on her to instantly perform when she returns to tennis that it almost certainly means she’ll disappoint, which will be a little awkward for all those sponsors that she’s promised so much to.

Lleyton Hewitt finally back?

He didn’t have to face any top players but he did win a title and he did it on clay - his least favourite surface - maybe Lleyton Hewitt is back? Let’s see how he goes against Safin and Nadal…

Wozniacki destroyed Wozniack in Ponte Verde, Hewitt beat Odesnik in Houston, Jankovic tossed Suarez Navarro in Marbella and Ferrero beat Serra in Casablanca.

Rumours abound about Andy Roddick doing a Roger and getting married too. And Roddick is skipping Monte Carlo though that probably has more to do with his allergy to clay then any honeymoon plans.

They play a couple of matches early in Monte Carlo just to stuff up the tipsters who like to wait to see the qualifiers before entering all their picks in the ATP’s bracket challenge. Thanks guys. Robredo, Wawrinka and Kohlschreiber all won, and Bolelli beat Soderling to ruin my chances. Meanwhile the qualifiers are still playing.

Roger Federer got married to Mirka Vavrinec

Wozniack verses Wozniacki in Ponte Verde, Hewitt against Odesnik in Houston, Suarez Navarro against Jankovic in Marbella and Ferrero versus Serra in Casablanca. Wozniack tossed Petrova out and Wozniacki overcame the surprising Vesnina. Don't listen to the Wozniack(i) match on the radio, it'll make no sense. 498 career wins now for Hewitt. He better get 499 today, it’s looking hard for him in Monte Carlo where he has Safin then Nadal in the first two rounds (that’s probably enough for him).

Roger Federer got married to Mirka Vavrinec in Basel. It’s about time. Not much of a honeymoon though.
Mirka: “I’m so happy Roger. Where are we going for our honeymoon? Bahamas? Dubai? That private island you bought last year?”
Roger: “Nope, Monte Carlo. I’ve just asked for a wild card.”
Mirka: “What!” (sounds of breaking china etc)

Caroline Wozniacki beat Daniela Hantuchova

Hewitt keeps winning. Odesnik is the only American left in Houston, Anyone left to stop Jankovic in Marbella? Wozniacki showed Hantuchova why you should concentrate on tennis instead of fashion shoots. Good win for Vesnina against the top Slovak (sorry Dani) Cibulkova and Petrova’s still there. Sprem won somewhere too.

Serena’s out of Charleston, Gasquet’s out of Monte Carlo – luckily Fed’s there to replace him.

Bernard (A)Tomic wants a French WC (from tennis Oz) as a reward for not managing to get suspended recently. Then again who else could they possibly give it to? Australian tennis is so rubbish that the only realistic contender for a WC would be Hewitt if he slid further but with him making at least the Semis in Houston that’s not going to happen and he’s guaranteed a place at Roland Garros. Yeah give it to the kid. At least then we can flame him when he draws Nadal in the first round.

Moody Maria Sharapova's flogging watches again. At least she looks good. Do rich people really go out and spend thousands of dollars on a watch just cause some hot sports star wears one? Sorry, forget I asked...

Alona wins the battle of the Bondarenkos

Ljubicic lost, Groth won, Starace lost, Melzer lost, Isner won, Hewitt won and Chardy lost. Vaidisova lost, Cirstea won, Cibulkova won, Petrova won and Vesnina beat Mayr.

Alona beat Kateryna Bondarenko in Ponte Vedra Beach as expected but it took three sets and a comeback by Alona. Alona decided not to call her coach for a chat when she couldn’t get her game going because it would have been unfair on her sister who couldn’t call her coach. That’s because Kateryna’s coach was sister Alona – her opponent. So although Alona thought about getting her coach / boyfriend / hitting partner in for a chat to help her at 4-1 down in the first, she decided against it since there was no way Kateryna was going to get any coaching help. Alona went on to win anyway.

The Bondarenko sisters get on fine together as long as there's no argument over using the toilet.

Klara Zakopalova slays Serena

Serena Williams’ attempt to defend her WTA top ranking against the onrushing overplaying Dinara Safina hit a bump yesterday when she lost to Klara Zakopalova in Marbella. Now Safina takes all and Serena can skip tournaments with glee (and injuries) and we all get to flame Safina and the WTA ranking system which ironically has just been overhauled to stop this sort of thing happening. While this will relieve Safina of her crown soon it won’t stop the hating. Btw props to Zakopalova who does this sort of upset now and then but usually spends her days trying to survive in the top 50. However winners of the sort of upset usually lose to Voracova in the next round.

Safina said all the right things and can’t go without mentioning Marat as usual. Of course Marat was a deserved number one so associating with him helps her look a little more favourable. It’s also good to get in ahead of the flamers:

“It’s a great honor to reach the No. 1 ranking and it is a dream that every girl who has ever wanted to play professional tennis shares. It is even extra special for me since my brother Marat was able to reach the No. 1 ranking and I am happy to share this achievement with him. There’s no question that while I am very proud of my results over the past year, I would have liked to reach this achievement in a different manner. I hope to prove to everyone over the coming months that I merit the honor of being World No. 1.”

Amen Dinara.

James Blake out in Houston

Hrbaty won, Groth won, Gabashvili won, Ferrero won, Isner won, Hewitt won, Chardy won, Haas won, Fish lost, Dent won, Volandri won and Canas beat Blake. Bremond lost, Suarez Navarro won, Voracova won, Rus won and Jankovic beat Schiavone. Peng lost, Hantuchova won, Rodionova won, Petrova won, Bartoli lost and Wozniacki beat Stosur.

Hope James Blake wasn’t getting paid for one match only in Houston. The depleted field now looks devastated. Fish lost too, looks like it’s comeback boy Dent and man-mountain Isner to save the day for the US (ticket sales). Mmm suddenly Lleyton Hewitt looks like the title favourite – when was the last time anyone said that?

Maybe Serena will play Marbella after all. Which means she wasn’t so badly banged up in the Miami final as we thought. Which means Vika Azarenka is suddenly a lot better then we thought. Or Serena’s messing with us all and wants the promotional fee for turning up before she splits.

Dominika Cibulkova in Florida

In Marbella Rus qualified, Vaidisova won and Cirstea beat Olaru to define who’s the best Romanian around, in Ponte Vedra Cibulkova beat Gallovits, Mayr won, Pivovarova lost, Karatantcheva lost, Sevastova won and some fourteen year old American won, while in the Challengers, Voegele and Vandeweghe both won.

Aussie Fed Cup team has Moore. A certain Jelena Dokic who was complaining mightly about her schedule is still on the team too.

Serena hasn't pulled out yet but was spotted at the beach. No word on Sharapova yet. Who else besides Fed is looking forward to the clay?

It's Bondarenko vs Bondarenko in Ponte Vedra. Who will win? Does anyone care? (Alona in two).

Daniela Hantuchova's official site has a new photoshoot. She looks great. Now if she can only get some confidence in her game.

Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka

Novak Djokovic had his chances but failed to take them and Murray got back into gear to drive over him. Don’t you hate an anticlimactic final? Not that the final wasn’t exciting (well, maybe) but that all the interest goes after Roger and Rafa lose. Let’s all join Federer in eagerly anticipating the clay court season.

Serena can blame her injured thigh for her loss to Vika Azarenka but she didn’t, showing unbelievable grace to give all the credit to the breakthrough player of the year (sorry Caro). Can we stop laughing at those who tip Azarenka for a Major now?

The women are off to Marbella or staying in Florida, the men to Monte Carlo Casablanca or Houston.

Petrova, Wozniacki, Cibulkova and Hantuchova headline in Ponte Vedra Beach where the draw is so bad that Bethanie Mattek is a seed. Serena, Jankovic and nobody headline in Marbella where the draw is so bad that Kanepi is third seed. And with Serena just waiting to pull out it can only get worse. At least we have the men to watch, no wait… in Houston it’s Blake, Fish and Haas, in Casablanca it’s Andreev and er Schuettler. Let’s just call it a bye week.

In Marbella, Rus won and Brengle lost.

The tainted legacy of Shuzo Matsuoka.

Video: WTA photoshoot in Dubai

Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova in Miami

Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer who beat his racket and Andy Murray beat Juan Martin del Potro. Now we get to see whether Djokovic can hold off Murray who clearly wants his number three spot. What’s the bet the Djoker pulls out with breathing problems deep in the third…

Nice to see Roger has a temper even if he doesn’t believe he “lost it”. Oh yes you did…

In Marbella, Rus won, Brengle won and Borwell lost. There’s also some final on between the number one player and the girl she nearly lost to in January. Is Vika’s improvement enough to tempt anyone to tip her? Sharapova-lite in three.

I didn't know Enrique Iglesias was sponsored by Adidas...

Serena Williams saves WTA

Serena beat Venus to save her number one ranking from going to Safina and advances to the final in Miami where she gets to chance to prove to all her doubters that Vika Azarenka merely got a jump on her at the Australian Open and isn’t seriously a challenge. Serena looked sluggish today and called a trainer but still gutted it out to leave the series with big sis at 10 all. Safina fans will no doubt blame Richard.

Seriously the extra pressure and (negative?) hype that would have surrounded Safina if she ascended to the WTA top spot and had to defend it in every Media Conference until she finally succumbs to the inevitable drop, would have been suffocating. She’s already having trouble just maintaining composure at the moment. Imagine if it ramped up to number one level.

Andy Murray thrashed Fernando Verdasco and blew any chance I had of winning the ATP Bracket Challenge. Thanks Nando. Fed vs the Djoker and Murray vs Del-Po. Who's the new favorite from this lot? (Answer Fed, unless he's faces Murray in the final.)

Boys come, boys go.

Del Potro dumps Nadal

Juan Martin del Potro was so good for part of last year, then just ordinary for the rest. Looks like he’s decided to ramp it up again. The Dream final’s gone with Nadal slipping to Del Potro and blasting the draw wide open. The seesawing match saw Rafa blow two breaks in the final set to let Del-Po back in and could only watch as the latter won four straight games to take control. Nadal fought back to make the tiebreaker but was stunned as Del Potro won the last 5 points in a row to take the match. What price Verdasco to upset Murray and make it three upsets? (after Djokovic and Del Potro)

Azarenka beat Kuznetsova in three to make her first big final. She’ll need all her fist pumping antics to beat whichever Williams sisters she’ll face. However she did have one of them on the ropes in Melbourne but couldn’t stay on the court. She’ll need all her reserves this time.

David Cup boots Sweden – ouch!

Novak Djokovic finally has something to cheer about

Serena struggled with Li Na, Venus not so much with Benesova - apart from the start of the second set when she either started playing sloppily or Benesova picked up her game depending on your perspective. Serena graded herself an F and Dad Richard had to go wake her up in the first set, while Li tightened up afterwards. Venus vs Serena now. The WTA will be cheering for Serena cause otherwise No Slam Safina gets the top spot. Safina of course was last seen heading for the exits in the third round so that’s not a good look for the tour. Venus has won the last two against her sister so she’s the favourite unless you still believe Richard decides the result in advance in which case Serena will win to make the series 10 all.

The Djoker beat Tsonga (finally) and Federer took three to beat Roddick. How is it possible for Djokovic to lose 4 times to Tsonga since last year’s Australian Open triumph? Is Djokovic finally back as a contender or was it Tsonga’s lapse?

Serena Williams is on Twitter http://twitter.com/serenajwilliams mainly plugging her website (and lipstick).

Boris Becker and new girlfriend at Miami.

Ana Ivanovic smoulders.

Moody Maria's quest for world domination is hardly slowed by her no longer playing tennis. (In fact playing tennis might get in the way of her promotional duties.)

Svetlana Kuznetsova playing like it’s 2004?

The Woz disappointed and Stosur underwhelmed. Looking more and more unfortunate to have two Williams sisters on one side of the draw and the other just making up the numbers. Vika’s playing well though. Stosur was until today. How does a player whose game is solely based around her serve not hold serve once? Guess the Wozniacki celebrations can also be put on hold for a while too. I repeat from yesterday, since when is Kuznetsova the best Russian around? Her interview makes good reading too “I enjoy my life. I don't care whether I'm under radar or on top of radar. Whatever.”

Nadal and Fed still on track for yet another historic meeting. All the others (Murray, Verdasco, who again whipped Stepanek – how the tables have turned since Brisbane – Roddick and Del Potro) are also just making up the numbers. Poor Murray, if only he was on Federer’s side of the draw.

Filippo Volandri’s three month ban for taking asthma medication has been lifted – one year later. He’s suing the ATP of course. http://tennis-atp.blogspot.com/2009/03/filippo-volandris-3-month-doping-ban.html

Video: Shakira loves Nadal! Oh and Lopez and Djokovic...